I was really glad that I was able to finally bring some of the other main characters of Avatar: The Last Air Bender in! I think it makes the story more realistic, but it is a little harder to make all of the personalities true to the actual characters…let me know what you think, please! READ AND REVIEW!
Father
Several days passed by slowly as the travelers grew more accustomed to each other's presences. Zuko said hardly a word to Aang, Sokka, and Katara while Zana acted as sort of a median between the two parties.
The troop had wandered through the woods of the island trying to plan their next move. They stumbled along exhaustedly up the river. There had been an inevitable battle with a few Fire Nation soldiers out looking for them, but they had been easily defeated. The only problem was that the survivors would now report back to Azula, letting her know that her fugitive brother was still alive and was traveling with the Avatar. Since then, all of them had been walking with nary a break. The Avatar was practically sleeping on his feet. The moon cast a silver glow on all of the weary faces. Zana looked up beside her at Zuko's features. As usual, he was putting on a brave strong front, but she could see in his amber eyes how tired he was. "Why don't we rest here for tonight?" Zana spoke up. "No, we'll make better time if we keep going. It's a big island…" Zuko grunted in reply. "But everyone's so tired, Nephew," Iroh whined. Zuko rolled his eyes, "Fine, we'll camp here." With that, Sokka dropped to the gravel and was instantly snoring. Aang soon followed with his flying lemur resting on his chest. Katara snickered, but basically collapsed where she stood.
As everyone got settled, Zana and Zuko gathered enough wood for a small fire that was started in moments. When Zana sat, Zuko still stood, staring at the flames. "Sit down, you're exhausted…" she tugged gently on his hand, but it didn't take much for him to obey. As he was settled, Zana realized their hands were still entwined. Blushing, she released him. Zuko looked over at Zana's darkening features. The place on his hand she had touched was still warm. They were the only two awake amidst the rhythmic sleepy breathing.
Zuko suddenly had a flashback to the kiss they had shared only days ago. He had used a lame excuse to cover it up at the time, but how he wanted so badly to do it again. Just as Zana looked up, he looked away and into the fire. Zuko felt something gently land on his shoulder. Slowly turning his head, he could see the top of Zana's dark head resting on his arm. He could feel her breathing even out as she fell into a deep sleep. Zuko cleared his throat in confusion-he didn't want to disturb her, but he himself was tired too. He gently placed his arm around her shoulders and laid both of them back slowly. He stretched his legs out in the direction of the warming fire and softly tugged Zana's cloak around her body as she gave a small shiver.
Just as he was about to pull his arm free of Zana's body, she made a small, contented noise in the back of her throat and clutched the breast of Zuko's tunic in a white-knuckled fist. His eyes widened as her slight body curled up to the contours of his. He was able to feel everything while her body tightened against Zuko's side. Strange sensations ran up and down his spine-and he liked it. He reluctantly decided to allow the distractions to take over, just that one time.
A tiny whimper emanated from Zana. She was dreaming. Tears seeped from beneath her dark and closed lashes, causing his heart to melt for the first time in years. Zuko couldn't help but reach over and brush away the salty drops from her cheeks. She let out another miniscule cry and, without thinking, he shifted to drape his other arm across Zana's shoulders. Her body relaxed almost immediately and she buried her face in his chest-her breath warming his skin.
Zuko's eyes began to close while the fire started to die out. Zana was so warm against his body… As he began to drift off, he wondered what she had been dreaming about that upset her so badly. Even in the short time Zuko had known her, Zana was always so brave and standoffish-never giving in, but with that last thought, his eyelids fluttered to sleep.
Zana awoke before the sun. Despite the dew misted upon everything exposed, she was pleasantly comfortable. As she became more awake and her mind began to stir, she realized something heavy was laying across her waist. Zana ran her hand down her side to find a weighty hand encircling her. Startled, she quickly rolled over to come face-to-face with Zuko's sleeping features. Zana's breath caught deeply in her throat. Did I really pass out on Zuko last night? She wondered. Her night had been full of fitful dreams from her childhood, until something or someone shielded her…
Zuko frowned in his sleep and tightened his hold on Zana's hips, pulling her against him. Her eyes enlarged-her raised arms were the only things keeping her separated from Zuko. Her forehead was snug in the crook of his neck, just below his chin. For a moment, Zana gave in and inhaled his strong scent of masculinity and the power of fire.
She heard a dull rustle nearby and reluctantly wriggled out of Zuko's grasp. Zana stood, stretching nonchalantly to see Katara rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "Morning," Zana whispered to her across the smoldering ashes of the fire. The Water Bender rose and stepped over her grumbling brother, "Dolt…" Katara snickered as the two of them stepped over to the river to wash up.
Both coaxed small snakes of water from the flowing river. Katara grinned to herself-she had seen the way Prince Zuko treated Zana that night. Washing her face, she recalled how tenderly he had cared for Zana. It was true Zuko had a cold-hearted mean streak, but there really was a highly guarded softer side to him as well.
Katara finished washing and joined Zana watching the sunrise. The two of them had formed a sort of bond from being the only women in a hoard of men. They jokingly considered themselves to be the only actually sane ones in the traveling group-next to Momo of course.
Without turning her head, Zana spoke, "My father and I used to watch the sunrise every morning." There was a deeply pained undertone that Katara caught onto. "You and Zuko both left bad lives behind, didn't you?" Zana didn't answer right away-she wasn't feeling like explaining her past yet again, "I guess you could say that…" She wrapped her arms around herself after shrugging off her cloak.
"My mother was killed when the Fire Nation raided the South Pole Water Tribe…I haven't seen my father in years-ever since he went to fight in the War," Katara made an attempt to show how she felt for Zana's pain. Katara's words made her head turn, "My mother also passed away when I was younger." Zana smiled at her, "But you're lucky to have Sokka, I am an only child." The Water Bender giggled, "You say that now, but I've had to live with him for fourteen years!" She looked over at Zana, "Then again, I guess you've been alone longer than that, though." Zana gave a thoughtful grunt, "Nearly seventeen…" Katara was surprised. Zana looked a lot younger than she actually was-maybe fifteen, but not as old as Zuko and Sokka. Katara thought it must have been because of how tiny Zana was. It wasn't like she was waif thin, but toned as a warrior should be.
Katara decided to change the topic, "So, I'm still unclear as to why Prince Zuko has decided not to attack us for Aang any more." Zana stepped to the side and proceeded to stretch again. "First of all, Zuko is no longer a Prince. He has disowned the Fire Nation and, therefore, his own father-the Fire Lord. It was he who gave Zuko his scar," she bent backwards. Her words appalled Katara, "You mean…" "Yes, it was punishment for voicing his opinions," Zana continued, "It is a constant reminder of his 'insolence' for voicing his opinions and attempting to protect an innocent battalion of soldiers from being sacrificed in the War…Anyway, Zuko was banished and told that the only way he could return was if he brought the Avatar with him." Zana thrust her arms above her head as the sun bathed her body and heated her core while she sighed.
"Since Azula, Zuko's kid sister, attempted tricking him into coming back to the Fire Nation as a prisoner, he has decided never to go back," Zana went on, "So, I made it my business to put the rightful Crowned Prince back on the throne in place of his blood-thirsty father; therefore getting myself banished in the process of a rebellion." Katara thought Zana seemed a little too alright with the fact that she could never return home, "How do you plan on doing that?" Zana turned to her, "I guess we have to find a way to defeat the Fire Lord…"
Back a little ways downstream, at the makeshift camp: Zuko was awoken with a cold spot beside him. Either Zana had left or all he had done that night was a dream. "I miss Appa…" whined a voice nearby. Zuko sat up quickly, causing the two other boys to jump, "Jeeze!" cried Sokka. "Sorry, Zuko, did we wake you?" the Avatar asked innocently. Zuko stood without a reply-their relationship was still a little dodgy after such a long time of fighting each other.
Iroh was still snoring loudly beside him and Zuko went over and nudged his uncle with his shoe. "Uncle, it's morning," he said in a somewhat weary voice. The little group had traveled nonstop. Zuko felt that even he needed a break, but he would never actually admit it aloud. True, the Avatar had offered the services of his flying bison, but the group was constantly split over where to go to get off the forsaken island crawling with Fire Nation soldiers.
"Uncle!" Zuko said a little more forcefully that time. "Let him sleep, Zuko," came a voice over his shoulder. He spun around, prepared to bite the head off of whoever dared tell him what to do, until he saw Zana. The confident look on her face showed absolutely no hint of the vulnerability she'd shown the previous night. Secretly, Zana had decided not to bring up her incident with Zuko at all so neither would be embarrassed if it were just a fluke.
"Yeah," spoke up the Water Bender, "we have made up more than enough time walking for so long. Besides, Appa is safe on the deserted side of the island and I think he's actually enjoying the time off." Zuko feigned aggravation, but gave in soon enough, "Fine, as long as it will stop all of your complaining." "Great, then I'm going back to sleep," yawned Sokka. Zuko's eyes rolled at the so-called "warrior's" laziness.
Aang stood via a gust of Bended air, "Hey, Katara, think we could practice some Water Bending while we're here?" Katara smiled, "Sure, maybe Zana could join us?" Zana turned to her, "I guess so…" Zana was a little apprehensive since she had been very sore after traveling so long and so far. Aang ran over and clutched Zana's narrow hand in his childish one and dragged her to the water's edge.
Zuko looked on as the three of them used fluid movements in unison to push, pull, and manipulate the liquid. The smile that spread across Zana's face was beaming, causing his chest to throb. He watched them for a long while, motionless, until Zana turned and called back to him, "Zuko! We never finished our match!" His eyebrows rose, "Is that a challenge?" Zuko strode over to them; his eyes alight. Zana crossed her arms on her chest. Aang and Katara just stood and watched the back and forth banter. They sure have an odd way of showing that they like each other, thought the confused Katara.
All of a sudden, Zana reached back and caused a splash of water to soak the front of Zuko's tunic. It was in precisely the same place she had singed his clothing during their earlier match. "That's it," he said with a flicker of a smile, "You won't win this time." Zuko assumed the ready stance as the Avatar and Water Bender stepped back. Just as the sparring was about to begin, Iroh and Sokka walked up behind Aang and Katara-unable to sleep with all of the ruckus. There was finally a hiss as elements clashed.
Zana spun into a fiery leap, but Zuko caught her foot and she flipped backwards with a cry. Landing on her feet, she was able to recover quickly. To the onlookers, it looked more like a dance than a battle between two of the most trained warriors the Fire Nation had to offer. They would have been valuable assets to their dominating side of the War, had they not been banished. The match did not last long, however, with Zana delivering a majority of the flinching blows. That was until Zuko grabbed one of her flying arms and swung it back and up across her back. He was all riled up by then and had no intention of stopping. His other arm was hugging her waist and cupping her side tightly in a more violent way than it had when they woke up that morning. Zana gasped and flinched at the excessive force he was using on her wrist. "I win…" he breathed heavily in her ear. "Let go…Zuko…" she huffed. Her breathing was even faster paced than his: coming in raspy gulps. Her face was twisted in severe pain. "Zuko," Katara spoke up cautiously at first, "she said let go!" He scowled in reply, "Not until she gives." Zana winced in response to his harsh words growling in her ear. "Let go of her!" Aang rushed forward and pried the two apart. "You took it too far, Nephew," Iroh said from his distant position. Katara jogged over to the collapsed Zana-she was on her knees with her head down and clutched her arm.
"Come on! I wasn't pulling that hard," Zuko defended himself. "She's bleeding!" cried Katara after examining Zana's arm. He looked down at his own hand to see a burgundy film dripping from it. The sight shocked him-he didn't know how he could have broken that much skin just from putting her into an arm-hold. Zana looked up at him with tears in her eyes and glared at him. She pulled away from Katara and stormed up to Zuko, "I told you to stop!" she cried as the first tear trailed slowly down her cheek. He was nearly speechless, "I thought you weren't in any real pain…" the look in her eyes hurt him.
"Real…pain? You think I don't know any real pain?" Zana's face twisted and with a painful cry she tore off her tunic. Katara rushed to her side, "Zana, stop!" She didn't listen, though, and continued ripping off her long-sleeved undershirt, revealing her thin-strapped beneath shirt. She faced the dumbstruck Zuko as the rest of the group gasped behind her. There was no stopping the flood of salty tears plummeting from her crystal eyes. "Tell me…I don't know pain…"
Zana spun around, revealing a maze of scars that matched the gruesomeness of Zuko's. There were so many burn marks running together that it was difficult to distinguish where one ended and the other began. They ran down her outstretched arms and shoulders. There, on her forearm was where Zuko had put too much pressure on a scar and now caused crimson blood to drip steadily to the pebbles below.
"Who would…do such a thing?" Zuko's hand raised in disbelief. Zana began to sob. She hated showing any type of weakness, especially when it came to her past. "My father," she dropped to her knees again and Sokka and Aang were at either side of her immediately. "But you already know him…General Zhao…" Zuko took a step back and nearly fell in horror.