A/N:

Readers,

Here I go again... Sorry sorry sorry! I am so sorry for these late updates! Summer is going crazy, and so is packing for college and everything else. I have no clue when the next chapter will be up, but I will work on it whenever I can. Please forgive me for making you all wait, and I think you for your continuous support and patience. I will try and do better. Thanks also for the reviews.

Best,

Faithy Waithy

Chapter 26: Glaciers

The hay moved beside me causing me to open my eyes groggily. Looking over at the young man who slept on the pile of hay next to me, I saw him grimace and turn in his sleep. His eyes were shut tight and his body shook at the dream that seemed to be plaguing him. As he grimaced once more from the nightmare, I quickly rolled so I could face him. Going to grab his arm, I stopped when suddenly he spoke.

"Mom…" His one word made my eyes widen. He was dreaming about his mom. From what I recalled, the only thing he knew was that his mom disappeared one night and was never seen or heard from again. He didn't go into much detail other than that. I'd asked him about her back when I was prisoner on his ship, and he told me he wasn't sure what happened to her. "Don't go… Don't…"

My fingers brushed against Zuko's forehead, pushing a few strands of hair from his face. When I did so, his restless body stilled and he sighed with relief. As he relaxed back against the hay, I lowered my hand from him wishing I could do more. His hand stopped me before I could break contact though, and I was surprised to find his dark amber eyes suddenly staring at me.

"It's hard to sleep when you do that…" He kept my hand against his cheek as he turned his body towards me.

"Sorry I woke you… I was just worried… You looked like you were having a bad dream…"

He grimaced from my perception, and I felt his hand squeeze my own for comfort. "Not really… It was memories… Just really bad memories."

"About your mom…?"

He let out a heavy sigh. With a nod, his hand released my own. He sat up and ran a hand through his messy hair trying to calm his nerves. Sitting up myself, I looked over at him with concern. He looked greatly disturbed from the memories he was forced to relive.

"I wish she were still with me…" He said softly. "She always knew how to comfort me when I was upset. She was one of the kindest women I knew in the Fire Nation. Other than Uncle, she was the only other person in my family who truly loved me…"

My heart tightened at his words. "What do you remember about the day she disappeared?"

He hung his head. "Not much… I remember that right before my last sighting of her, Azula had told me that father was going to kill me. Uncle had lost his son during the great battle of Ba Sing Se. With greed, my father told Fire Lord Azulon that since Iroh no longer had a bloodline the birthright to the throne should be given to the youngest son. I remember my Grandfather was outraged at my father's selfish words, and he told him that he would be punished for his actions. Then Azula joked father was going to have me killed, and mom overheard her… Later that night, I was woken by mom… She told me that everything she had done was to protect me... She told me that no matter how things may seem to change, I should never forget who I am."

His voice shook when he spoke a few seconds later.

"That was the last time I saw her… I… I wish I could go back… go back in time and tell her how much I love her… I never told her that night…" He covered his face to hide his tears. "I miss her…"

I scoot over and wrapped my arms around his waist to console him. He suddenly placed his arms around me for comfort, and pressed his face into my hair letting his tears soak away. I let him cry silently without saying anything, knowing he needed to let his emotions out. I had comforted Sokka in the past, so I had experience with consoling a crying young man. Just like Sokka, Zuko didn't need me to say anything. He just needed me to hold him so he didn't feel alone.

He stopped crying after a few minutes, and quickly tried to wipe away any sign of his tears. "Distract me," he said softly, his voice cracking slightly. "Tell me something you did at the South Pole… I... I don't want to think about my past right now…"

I nodded, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. "Okay… If it will help…"

He didn't meet my eyes, and I knew the memories of his past were beating him heavily.

After a second of gathering my thoughts, I began to tell my small tale. "When I was about eight, my brother and I decided it would be fun to sneak from the village and go climb Green Glacier... This particular glacier was used every year for a coming of age ritual. The young men would first pass the test of ice-dodging, and then follow with ice-climbing. If successful, they would receive marks of acceptance from the other warriors of the tribe. My brother told me that if we climbed the glacier together, we would both be seen as warriors. We'd always been a little jealous of Katara who had been receiving most of the attention since others discovered she could waterbend. We wanted to make our parents proud, and so we set off to do so."

Zuko was calming and his eyes met my own with curiosity. He seemed to be enjoying my distraction so far. I continued.

"The trek is about three miles from the village. It took us an hour to trudge through the snow and reach the giant glacier. When we arrived though, we were more determined than ever. Sokka went first up the steep icy slope, and then I followed. At first the climb seemed easy, but then the angle grew more sharp. We started to have to use the indents in the ice to climb. I think the both of us had doubt in the beginning that we would reach the top, but we kept climbing not wanting to fail. We climbed for what felt like forever, and at times we both almost fell off the giant structure. We were thrilled however when we both finally reached the top."

I smiled remembering Sokka grabbing my small hand and pulling me onto the flat top of the glacier. We both had been out of breath as we sat on our knees in exhaustion.

"That day we became the youngest ever to climb Green Glacier. We both carved our names into the ice, and managed to clamber back down without falling to our deaths. When we got back to the village, we were excited to tell our parents what we did. Of course, they didn't believe us and thought we were making the whole thing up. The next day though, a group of young men climbed the glacier to complete their rite of passage. When they got up and saw our names carved in the ice, they were amazed and returned down to tell our dad what they saw."

My memory pictured my father's face as the young men stood before him having received their marks. They told him about our names carved in the ice one hundred feet above, and I was certain my father's jaw had dropped.

"When dad returned to report to the villagers the men had passed their test, he also told that his children had climbed the glacier the day before. Instead of receiving congratulations like we expected, we were grounded for a week for endangering ourselves and ruining the test. The villagers decided that if two kids could climb the glacier at eight years old, then anyone could pass the test and become a warrior. They did away with climbing Green Glacier's that day, making the sole becoming of age test Ice-dodging. Sokka and I changed a three-hundred-year tradition."

Zuko laughed and shook his head in disbelief. I was glad to see my story had cheered him up. "You must've made those other men feel embarrassed that two kids beat them to the top. I can't imagine what your dad thought."

I smirked. "He never doubted Sokka and I again after that day. The next month when we told him we were almost eaten by a polar-wolf he believed us."

"I'm surprised your dad left you to go to war… I would've been too worried you'd fall in a pit somewhere."

His words made me cringe as I remembered the day before my father left. He and my Gran-Gran were having a conversation outside while the rest of us slept in our small igloo home. I'd been awake and could make out the conversation through the thick ice wall.

Laying on my mat, I opened my eyes in defeat unable to drift to sleep. My father had given us all the news he and the other men would be leaving for war. He'd asked Sokka to take care of the tribe during his absence, and told Katara and I to watch over the women and children. Katara had begged father to stay, while Sokka pleaded to go with the warriors. I stayed silent, too hurt that father was leaving us and his people to go fight a war I didn't believe could be won.

Pulling my fur blanket tighter around me, I suddenly heard a voice seep through the air. "Why are you really doing this, Hakoda?" My Gran-Gran's tired voice fell into my ears, and I scoot slightly closer to the cold wall to listen.

"I have to do this Kanna…" My father spoke calm but firm. "I must protect you and the rest of our people from those Fire Nation beasts. If me and the men can take out their fleets with our warships, we may have a chance of strengthening our allies. The Earth Kingdom can't fight this battle alone."

There was silence for a moment, and then my Gran-Gran spoke again. "We need you and the men… Our Tribe is weak. If an attack comes then-"

"There will be no attack. Our tribe is practically invisible from the Fire Nation. We are so small in number that they will brush us aside like ice-drifts. There is no reason for the Fire Nation to have any desire to attack our home, when there is nothing to attack."

"We thought that before… Before Kya was killed we never imagined the tribe would be attacked…"

"Which is why I must do this! The more Fire Nation we destroy, the safer you and the others will be. I will not stand by and allow the enemy to hurt my people again. We lost too many that day."

"What about your children? You would leave them to go on this dangerous quest?"

A brief pause passed, and then my father spoke again. "Leaving my children will be the most painful thing I've done… But I must… I- I can't stand to look at Crystal any longer and see the past… The more I see that mark left on her by those monsters I feel nothing but anger." My eyes widened and my hand moved up to brush against my cheekbone. "That scar is a reminder of my failure to protect this tribe and family. It's a memory of the woman I lost… The woman I once loved more than anything in the land. If I stay here and see that mark any longer, I fear I may lose myself to both anger and grief."

"Hakoda… Your daughter's scar reminds us all of the pain we experienced that day… but we must move on for her. It's not her fault that those savages killed Kya… You should not be ashamed of your own daughter because of her permanent wound."

"You think I'm ashamed…? I'm not… I just want to make up for my mistakes in the past. Crystal would've never been hurt if I was more aware of the enemy. I will go and fight them head on this time before they have a chance of stepping foot on our land!"

I stopped listening and shut my eyes tight as a tear escaped my eye. Father was leaving us, and it was because of me. I caused him pain… My scar caused him pain…

"Hey… You okay?"

Zuko's question made me jump, and I quickly realized I'd zoned out for a moment. I smiled weakly and gave a small nod. "Yeah… Got a little distracted. Sorry."

He smiled weakly. "We should try and get some sleep… We need to set out tomorrow."

The both of us reclined back on the hay again, and I drifted back to sleep a few minutes later. As I drifted, I dreamed about the past just as Zuko had. Our two pasts were different, but in a way more similar than anyone could've imagined. Although we came from two different worlds, both of us lost our mothers at a young age. We both bore the blame of our loss… We both were permanently marked with a symbol that forever reminded others of the past.

Fate had a strange way of bringing two opposites together…

When I woke up later that morning, I found Zuko wasn't in the small barn we were staying in. Leaving the shelter, I noticed him petting Zan over by a pile of feed preparing for our journey. Heading over, he looked up when he heard me approach.

"We have enough feed?"

He looked over at the feed tied to the back of Zan. "Hopefully it will get us to Uncle… We don't have money for more…" He managed to hoist himself onto Zan's saddle then, and a second later he managed to pull me up behind him. I quickly grabbed around his waist so I wouldn't fall.

"Headed off you two?"

Gansu's voice took us both off guard. We turned to see Lee and his family heading over to us. Lee seemed to be in a good mood as he grinned from ear to ear. Sela stepped up to us and handed over a package.

"Here. This ought to get you through a few meals."

I smiled at her with gratitude taking the gift. "You've done so much for us. Thank you for your kindness."

Gansu stepped over placing an arm around his wife's shoulders. "I wish we could do more for you kiddos. Hopefully you get to your destination soon though. You two look like you've been traveling for a very long time."

"Yeah. Very long," Zuko admitted with dismay.

The sound of approaching ostrich horses was suddenly heard, and we all turned our head to see Gow and his men headed a straight beeline for all of us. Zuko scowled, and I hugged around Zuko's waist tighter with uncertainty. Whatever these cruel men wanted would not be good.

Gansu sounded both annoyed and concerned as the men headed straight our way at full speed. "What do you think they want?"

Zuko held firm to Zan's reins to keep from losing his temper. "Trouble."

As the rogue Earth Kingdom soldiers stopped their mammals before us, Gow eyed our group with disdain.

"What do you want, Gow?" Gansu was direct and seemed eager to get the men off his land and away from his family.

He grinned. "Just thought someone ought to tell you, your son's battalion got captured." Both Sela and Gansu turned pale. My eyes widened in horror. "You boys hear what the Fire Nation did with their last group of Earth Kingdom prisoners?"

One of his comrades stated, "Dressed them up in Fire Nation uniforms and put them on the frontline unarmed, way I heard it." He spat saliva on the ground at Gansu's feet. "Then they just watched."

My hand clutched the pack of food Sela had given us with agony. Were the Fire Nation really that ruthless? My heart ached at the thought of Gansu and Sela's eldest son getting killed in battle. It would destroy them.

Gansu didn't want to believe Gow. "You watch your mouth!"

The harsh man moved his ride forward as if to threaten Gansu, but Zuko was one step ahead. He moved Zan into Gow's path forcing the man to pull back on his reins. Gow didn't seem at all pleased.

"Why bother rooting around in the mud with these pigs?"

I couldn't hold it back anymore. "Better than associating with a couple of criminals."

There was a pause of silence for a second. Gow was stunned I had spoken, and so were the others. Then he regained his composure, scowled, and pointed a finger at me. "You better watch that loose tongue of yours, girl. It will get you into trouble one day." He sneered at Lee and his family, and then turned his animal leading his group of men away.

Once they were far enough to be just hazy figures in the distance, Sela turned to her husband in horror and pressed her face into his chest.

Lee's chipper mood had flooded away and his eyes were pained. "What's going to happen to my brother?"

His father seemed uncertain, but tried to stay strong for his family. "I'm going to the front. I'm going to find Sen Su and bring him back." He led Sela away from us back towards the house. The woman was beginning to look faint, and I knew she was sick from worry. As they headed away, Lee straggled behind.

The young boy turned to Zuko with moisture in his eyes. "When my dad goes, will you stay?"

Zuko seemed to hesitate, and then sighed heavily. "No… We need to move on." He took his knife from his side and held it down to the young boy. "I want you to have this. Read the inscription."

Lee took the knife with surprise, and red the engraved letters on the handle. "Made in the Earth Kingdom."

Zuko shook his head. "The other one."

He gazed at the steel of the knife with question. "Never give up without a fight." A smile spread over his lips. He looked up at Zuko and nodded letting him know he understood.

We turned away from Lee then and made our way from his distressed family. As we distanced ourselves, I pressed my face into the back of Zuko's shirt feeling my eyes water and heart ache for the people we were leaving behind. Zuko seemed to be lost in his thoughts as we moved through the farming village and headed south.

We didn't get very far before Zuko stopped Zan under a tree of shade by a small stream. He stated he was tired from being up all night unable to sleep, and that he needed to clear his thoughts for a little bit. I didn't pester him about it, and instead sat beside him in silence. The two of us leaned against the tree, Zuko pulling his hat low over his face.

We only sat two minutes in silence until I could no longer hold it in. "I wish we could've done something for them. They were so upset… So worried…"

Zuko took in my words, and then softly stated, "It's best not to get involved… If the Fire Nation really did capture their son's fleet, then there's nothing anyone can do." His words made my eyes fill with moisture. "The Fire Nation is a powerful force that can't be stopped."

"They can… No one's invincible," I whispered, although my throat had tightened as I tried not to cry. "Aang will stop them…"

A heavy breath sounded from the young man beside me. "A twelve year old kid is no match against my father's army… He will fail…"

Shutting my eyes hard, I felt a tear slide down my cheek. "You're wrong… He can win…"

"Even if that's so… By the time he does, many will die by the hands of the Fire Nation," he muttered. "Even if he somehow stops my father, he can't bring back the dead…" Zuko took a moment, and then spoke again. "War is a bloodbath, Crys. No matter how much I wish we could save every man out there from dying, death is inevitable."

Hanging my head, I recalled the scream of my mother as she was heartlessly killed by the monster so long ago. How many more would have to die for this war to finally end?

We sat the rest of our time in silence, the both of us utterly lost in our wild thoughts. As we wandered in our own minds, I pictured my family and friends of the South Pole. My stomach twisted as I imagined what I would feel if the Fire Nation captured them and killed them all. The thought seemed so unbelievable, but I knew with great terror that the Fire Nation could fulfill such a massacre if they desired. My people were weak, poor, and unprepared for any form of battle. If the Fire Nation attacked, they would be wiped out in a matter of seconds.

"Help!"

A familiar voice called out in the distance, and we looked up in surprise to see Sela racing over to us on a cart dragged by their ostrich horse. She pulled the handmade wagon over to us, and I could see immediately she was in distress. Getting off, she scrambled over to us with desperation. Standing quickly, I met her half way and she grabbed my arms with agony.

"You have to help. It's Lee. The thugs from town came back as soon as Gansu left. When they ordered us to give them food, Lee pulled a knife on them. I don't even know where he got a knife! Then they took him away. They told me if he's old enough to fight, he's old enough to join the army. I know we barely know you, but..." She released me and broke into tears. "Please… He's my baby."

My eyes shot back over to Zuko whose fists were clenched tight as he thought about Lee. He stood then and turned to Sela with confidence. "I'll get your son back… I won't let him get hurt…" He walked over to Zan and hopped onto the saddle. Then he turned so his eyes stared off towards the direction of the village. He gripped the reins with determination. "You two stay safe. This will be over soon."

My eyes widened. I realized then that he was going on without me. "What?! Wait!" He ignored me and forced Zan forward towards the town. His figure faded as he grew further. My heart skipped a beat as I pictured Zuko taking on Gow and his men. He would have to firebend, and if he did that then everyone would know his true identity.

"I have to go help him!" I started to move forward, but Sela grabbed my arm to stop me.

"No. Hop on my wagon. We'll get there much faster," she urged. I didn't argue. The both of us loaded onto the wooden contraption, and Sela snapped the rein to move the ostrich horse along. As we followed Zan's tracks back towards the village, I held my head in my hands not sure what I would find when we caught up. I was glad Zuko desired to save Lee, but he was outnumbered.

"I'm so sorry… Fo- for bringing you and your friend into this." Sela held to the reins as tears fell down her cheeks. "I- I just didn't know what to do… I- I can't lose my baby… I can't lose both of my-" She broke off and lowered the reins which slowed the cart. As she did so, she broke into sobs and dropped her head. "I can't even protect my sons… What kind of mother am I?"

Her pain caused me to feel great sympathy for her. As she cried, I took her hands in my own and gave them a reassuring squeeze. "Your sons are lucky to have you," I reassured. "You're such a loving mother. You're willing to do whatever you can to protect your children." She looked at me with surprise. "A true mother protects her children with all the strength she has."

Sela seemed comforted by my words, and nodded with a small smile. She pulled from my hands then and flicked the reins once more. As the cart moved forward once again, I pictured my own mother in my head.

She had protected me… She had given her life to protect me… So had Zuko's mom… She gave her life to protect him… I couldn't let another child be torn away from their mother. I refused.

We eventually arrived in town where a crowd had gathered. There were shouts and grunts heard when we arrived. Hopping off the wagon as soon as Sela pulled it to a stop, I raced through the crowd to break through. Reaching the center, I saw Zuko was going head to head with Gow and his men. He was using nothing but his bare hands to fight, and I saw with thrill he had sent two men running already.

Gow backed up with terror as his last man ran forward to attack. He lunged a spear towards Zuko with a shout. Zuko easily kicked at the wood of the spear, breaking it in half with the force of his swing. The henchman looked at his broken spear with horror and then turned on his heel following the other men who had run. That left Zuko with the leader, and I could tell Gow was enraged by his men's cowardice.

"He's amazing…" Sela stood beside me watching Zuko's skills with astonishment.

Gow stepped forward and grabbed his two war hammers which were held on his back by a strap. He then let out a shout and smashed one hammer on the ground. The impact caused a boulder to lift from the earth, and Gow batted it with his other hammer sending the rock straight towards Zuko.

Two broadswords were suddenly wielded in Zuko's hands as he managed to slice through the rock sending the rubble around him. Gow shot three more similar attacks towards him, and to my horror the third hit him straight in the stomach. The attacks continued, and after a few more heavy boulders I could see Zuko was beginning to tire out. After a few more close calls, Zuko was hit again by a large rock. Panic shot through me as Zuko stumbled back, and with quick thinking I yanked some water out of a pot that was being carried by a passerby. The woman was too busy watching the fight to notice my petty theft.

As the tyrant went to throw another rock at Zuko, I rushed through the crowd and out into the open. Then with force, I thrust a strong stream of water straight at the grinning man. The water hit him hard in the side, and he shouted as he was pushed to the ground. His wet body slid in the dirt, and then came to a halt. The hammers landed a few feet from him. The crowd gasped at my attack, both shocked and thrilled by my waterbending. Gow turned his eyes towards me with astonishment.

"Wha- You're a waterbender?!"

Stepping over to him, I tightened my fists ready to attack again if I had to. There were other sources of water around us that I could use. "And you're a filthy crook! You don't deserve to be called Earth Kingdom soldiers! You're no better than a snow-worm!"

Gow's menacing glare was enough to convince me that my words had impacted him. He tried to stand, and I could see he was irate by my insult. His eyes shot back to Lee, who was tied to a watch tower post. "Your friend just opened her mouth for the last time." He turned back to me, his rage taking over his senses. "I'll teach you some respect you wench!"

Taking a step forward, I sensed water in a trough for animals nearby. "Go on and try!"

Gow let out a shout and raced towards me without his hammers. Thrusting my hands in the air, I yanked the water out of the trough and straight towards the dirt between Gow and I. Then I froze the earth just as Gow stepped onto the covered path. His foot slid forward, and the rest of his body followed suit. He shouted in surprise as he slid right past me towards the crowd. Cheers erupted from behind as the man lied in bewilderment.

Zuko had recovered at this point and stepped over to me. "What are you doing?!"

His vexing eyes took me off guard. My jaw dropped in disbelief. "What do you mean? I'm helping!"

"You could get hurt!" He turned his eyes back at the man who was returning to his feet. "If you want to help untie the kid!" He turned fully back to his opponent.

With disbelief, I turned away from him and headed over to Lee. He watched Zuko fight from around me as I untied him from the watch tower. "He's amazing! I knew he'd come to rescue me!" Lee's praise towards Zuko made me slightly jealous. I'd taken Gow down twice… Where was my thanks?

As I managed to pull the rope from Lee, Sela raced over and pulled her son into her arms with utter relief. My eyes shot back over to Zuko who was once again hitting Gow's attacks out of the way. Sela placed a firm hand on my shoulder as the two fought. "I knew there was something special about you. What's a waterbender doing so far from home?"

My eyes widened at her interrogation. Pulling from her grasp, I said without meeting her gaze. "Sorry… I can't tell you."

The crowd suddenly gasped, and my attention quickly returned to the battle. My eyes widened in horror when I saw Zuko had lost his footing from being struck by a large rock that rose from the earth. He was lying on his back, and I could tell he was greatly hurt.

"No!" I went to step forward, only for Sela to grab me on the arm so I wouldn't get hurt.

"Get up!" Lee cried only a second after my call.

Zuko lied there for a moment, most likely winded by the blow. Gow snickered and stepped forward. "Who's going to save you now, boy?" He took another step forward, ready to smash his hammer against Zuko's skull.

Panic sunk through me at the thought of Zuko being defeated. "Get up! Please!"

As if my words awoke him from his momentary stun, he suddenly did a twist on the ground sending a circle of fire in the air. Gow stepped back in shock at the sudden heat that blasted his way. The crowd gasped in horror as they saw the fire dissipate in the air. Zuko was on his feet again, and this time he shot a straight blast of fire at Gow's stomach sending the man falling on his back to the ground. He lay there in the dirt with both terror and shock.

Gow's voice shook. "Who are you?"

Zuko picked up his swords from the dirt, and then stood tall. "My name is Zuko. Son of Ursa and Fire Lord Ozai." He sheathed his swords to their holder. "Prince of the Fire Nation and heir to the throne."

He spoke with such confidence, and I wondered where the mood had come from. However, an older man from the crowd quickly shouted, "Liar! I heard of you. You're not a prince, you're an outcast! His own father burned and disowned him."

Sela released her hold on my arm with shock, and as soon as I was free I raced over to Zuko. He looked disturbed by the man's comment. Throwing my arms around him, I hugged him for comfort knowing he was upset about being called an outcast. He hugged me back with pain, and I wished there was a way I could comfort him more.

"Get out of our village you monster!" A woman's shout from the crowd made me only hug him more.

Zuko pulled from me a moment later, and then he stepped over to Lee. Bending down, he picked up the dagger he had given to Lee a few hours ago and then extended it towards the boy. The boy stared at it with malice, while his mother stepped between him.

Sela shouted with fury. "Not a step closer!"

Zuko ignored her, inching the blade closer to Lee. "It's yours… You should have it!"

Lee scowled, pressing into his mother's side. "NO! I hate you!" Tears of anger trailed down the boy's cheeks.

I stepped over in defense. "Please… He's not the enemy…"

Sela narrowed her eyes at me. "Coming from the mouth of a traitor. Leave with him! You've turned your back on your people by being with the enemy!"

My heart ached at her accusations. "You've got it all wrong… Please, Sela. You have to-"

"She said leave!" Lee shouted. "I never want to see either of you again!"

Zuko stepped back from Lee. Then a second later his hand slid into my own. "Come on, Crys… Let's get out of here…"

Nodding, I followed Zuko as he pulled me through the crowd. They all stepped back to let us through like we were the plague. When we got to Zan, we both mounted and headed away from the hateful gazes of the crowd. As we went, I hugged Zuko tight around the waist. He kept his eyes on the path before us, but I could tell from his slumped shoulders he was disturbed by the hate shot his way.

"They're wrong, Zuko…" I whispered to him. "You're not a monster."

He hung his head, and I saw his grip on Zan's reins tighten. "No… I am…" He looked up at the sky as we headed further from the cruel gazes of those we once were accepted by. "I'm the spawn of my father who is seen by these people as the enemy… I will always be a monster in their eyes."

My head dropped against him. "It doesn't have to be that way… You can change their minds."

He fell into thought for a moment, and then he stopped Zan. As he was lost in contemplation, I stared back at the village which was beginning to shrink in the distance. I couldn't believe after everything Zuko had done for them, they were still so cruel towards him.

"You're wrong… The only way I can fix any of this is by returning to my original quest." He suddenly slid off of Zan and picked something up from the ground. He examined what he had found, and I tried to see what he clutched so desperately to. When I finally caught a glance at the thing in his hold, my blood ran cold.

Long white fur was held firm in Zuko's clutches. He stared at Appa's familiar fur with a new found determination. "The Avatar's in the Earth Kingdom, and by the looks of this he's close." Zuko looked up at me with fire in his eyes. "I will not let him slip away again."

My eyes widened, my heart stopped beating, and my breathing hitched as I realized what Zuko was saying. He was returning to his hunt… He was going after Aang and my family again… He had once again returned his focus to restoring honor.

I had to stop him.