So! We had a little nit of a conflict back in the last chapter! I really hope that it was realistic and believable enough for all of you readers. It was more of a challenge for me to write, but I think I did an ok job. In this chapter I plan on having the group move forward more towards the unnamed island and the Fire Nation. Hope all of you enjoy it! Keep on reading and reviewing!

Tradition

It had taken Zuko nearly another hour to find the traveling group and at that point he had accidentally stumbled upon the resting group. He was about to protest at what seemed like laziness, but he realized how far they had really gone in a little over two hours. He cleared his throat and strode over to them. Iroh looked up at his nephew and greeted him, "There you are, Zuko! Did you find any sign of the Fire Nation soldiers?" His question confused Zuko, but then he glanced over in Zana's direction. She was busying herself with a conversation with Sokka. She bearly acknowledged his existence, but Zuko quickly came to the conclusion that Zana had covered for him with a skillfully thought-up story. "No, there was nothing. It was a false alarm," Zuko said before turning to the nearby Avatar.

Aang looked up from his cross-legged position at Zuko. "Do you still need to learn Fire Bending?" The question was awkward for him to ask, but Zuko knew that someone had to teach the Avatar that type of Bending, so why not let it be him-besides, it would help get out his aggression.

Aang stood with a small gust of Bended air, "Yes! Are you gunna teach me?" The young boy's voice was so enthusiastic and ready to learn…it somewhat reminded Zuko of a younger form of himself. Zuko shook the sad memories from his head and he gave a brisk nod as he walked over to the river's edge with Aang fast on his heels. In order to do so, however, Zuko had to pass by Zana. The girl barely looked up as he brushed by her, but if he had stopped and made a closer inspection, Zuko would have seen a deep blush creep its way up the back of Zana's neck to her ears and finally her cheeks. To her, it was a raging mixture of anger, embarrassment, and longing, but she dared not speak up, as she wanted desperately to hold her ground.

Her hands clasped tighter around the edge of her tunic that she had been toying with and her knuckles swelled to a stark-white hue. Sokka noticed and stopped mid-sentence to look at Zana, "Helloooo? You paying attention?" She snapped back to her conversation, trying her best to recall what it was they had been talking about. "Huh-oh no, I have never been to the Southern Water Tribe, but from what you have said about it, it sounds beautiful…" she covered her rear. Zana hadn't told anyone about the happenings in the woods, nor did she plan on it.

As Sokka continued rambling proudly about some tower he had built back home, Zana slyly stole glances over at Zuko and Aang. The younger boy was happily explaining to Katara how he was going to learn Fire Bending 'the right way this time'. Zana hadn't a clue as to what that had meant, but it was Zuko she was paying attention to. He was trying his best to mask how proud he was of himself that he had offered his services to the Avatar with his strong stance of crossed arms and cold features, but Zana saw through it. She realized that she was probably the only one who did…

As soon as Aang was done conversing with Katara, Zuko slid into a ready-stance and the younger boy mimicked. Zana proceeded to watch as Katara sidled a safe distance away to where Iroh was resting, giving an occasional nod in agreement or disagreement to Sokka's side of the conversation. She stared off at the young man attempting to teach the Avatar to create fire, watching as Zuko's every motion was smooth and purposeful. Zana was unable to clearly hear his words to Aang, but she could get the basic gist of it by the serious look on his face and the controlled tone of his voice.

Zuko stood near the lapping river's edge with Aang by his side. It was such a strange thing to comprehend-that he who had once hunted the Avatar for blood, if necessary, was at that moment teaching him Fire Bending. He was amazed by the vast amount of trust the young boy had for anyone willing to show him even the slightest bit of kindness. Zuko looked down at the boy's small frame and commented briefly on his stance, saying, "You are standing like a Water Bender, you need to be stronger. Fire Bending is all about finding your opponent's weakness and then exploiting it as much as possible…" Aang gave a solemn nod and did as he was told. Zuko gave a small grunt of approval before returning to that place inside of himself. He heard the Avatar's concentrated breathing beside him. It was obvious he had had some-but hardly any-training prior to befriending Zuko by the way he knew how to pace his breath. A slight memory ran through his head; back from the night where Zuko had pretended to be the Blue Spirit in order to capture Aang back from Zhao. True, he had wanted the Avatar for selfish reasons, but in the end, it had been Aang who had saved him and when Zuko awoke the young boy had asked him if they would have been friends if they had met way back before the War began. Peeking out from beneath one of his lids, Zuko thought that that might just be possible now that they were an alliance instead of ruthless enemies.

Then, there had been that time weeks ago when he had been rescued from the wilderness of the North Pole. There had been no one else who would have even considered saving their captor, but Aang had done so. It was then that Zuko realized that Aang really would be a truly great and completely unbiased Avatar.

Zuko cleared his throat and turned to face Aang-the boy just didn't understand the meaning of aggression, but then he really didn't know what to expect from an ancient Air Nomad Monk. "Here," Zuko took one of Aang's wrists in his strong hand and positioned it tightly at his side. With a frown, he wondered if he had been that difficult to train at Aang's age. Aang watched and allowed himself to be manipulated into the correct stance.

The whole situation was hard for the boy to comprehend or even grasp. Only a few weeks prior to that moment, Aang would have done anything in his power to get away from the banished Prince now teaching him Fire Bending. From the expression on Zuko's face, Aang could tell he was having similar ideas running through his mind. "Um…Zuko?" came his meek voice. Zuko looked up as if startled from a daydream-though that could not have been possible since he was busy concentrating on the last few minor adjustments of Aang's legs. The younger boy took that as his cue to continue talking, "Well…I just wanted to say…thanks." Aang gave one of his big, goofy, nervous grins, "For teaching me Fire Bending and…not trying to kill or capture me any more," he followed up his jumbled words with a shaky giggle.

Zuko stood as the younger boy spoke. It was the second time that day that he was at a complete loss of words. It was as if Aang had read his thoughts while Zuko had reminisced of the numerous times the Avatar had saved his own life-and how he had deep inside known that the right thing to do was to thank him. The fact of the matter was that Zuko, himself, was no good at thanking anyone. So, instead of causing yet another fiasco with the words he seemed completely incompetent in uttering, Zuko just gave a grunt in agreement and held his palm out to Aang. The young boy looked at him quizzically, "What do you-" Aang began, but was instantly cut off when he saw a flicker of fire produce in the center of Zuko's hand. "You have the stance and breathing, so why not try to work with the fire as well?"

Aang straightened up, "Really? Already?" "Don't break stance!" commanded Zuko and the young Avatar returned to the ready position. "Only because I can tell you have had some training prior to this," he continued. "Yeah, but-" "Who is the teacher here?" Zuko interrupted Aang, "Do you want to learn Fire Bending or not?" With that, Aang shut his mouth tightly. Zuko waited to make sure that he would not be interrupted again and then he held his hand out to Aang for the second time. "You probably won't be able to create fire for a while, but you might just be able to manipulate it," Zuko's other hand hovered above the flame. Aang's eyes grew wide with wonder as the older boy's fingers flicked back and forth across the flame, seemingly causing it to dance.

"This type of Bending comes from deep within-from the very core of the being. The stance you are in right now is for optimal breath enhancement and strength," Zuko's hand left the flame and it was alive on its own again, elevated ever so slightly above his palm. "You try now," Zuko said calmly. Aang opened his mouth to protest, but was once again interrupted, "Breathe from the very back of your throat so you can feel it throughout your body," Aang did as he was told and held his breath in. "Now put your hand above the flame," the Avatar's hand hung hesitantly above the small fire contained on Zuko's hand, "Focus on what it is you want the flame to do. As you exhale use slight and deliberate movements of your wrist and fingers to will the fire to do your bidding."

From her position yards away from where Zuko and Aang were, Zana continued to stare on as a banished, teenage Prince attempted teaching the boy Avatar to Fire Bend. She was still unable to tell exactly what it was that Zuko was saying to Aang, but she didn't really need to. She just flashed back to her own very first Fire Bending lesson. She was told how dangerous and powerful fire could be at the same time and how, if one used it correctly to his or her advantage, there would be no competition in any battle.

She kept on watching as Aang put his hand over the glow in Zuko's hand. She found herself wondering if Zuko would actually allow Aang to work with fire at his very first lesson. Zana remained unblinking as Aang's actions cause the glow to flicker more than a normal flame, indicating that he had successfully manipulated the fire. She grinned to herself. As she looked on, Katara walked up beside her. Standing over Zana, she spoke, "You are staring," she said it with a giggle. Zana averted her gaze quickly to face Katara, and, if she wasn't mistaken, there was a blush on the sitting girl's cheeks. "Oh, well it is a once in a lifetime thing to see-an Avatar learning a Bending art," Zana stood and brushed herself off. Sokka had long since ended their conversation in order to find something to eat and Zana had been left to her own devices: which she chose to stare and gape at Zuko…

Katara nodded in agreement, "Yeah, I just never in a million years thought that it would be Zuko who taught Aang Fire Bending." Katara patted Momo who was happily perched atop her shoulder."Things change…" Zana said, but frowned afterwards-recalling how she had hoped so much that Zuko would have changed enough to tell her three simple words. "What's wrong?" Katara looked into the other girl's normally bright eyes that were becoming clouded with emotion. "Oh, absolutely nothing," Zana responded. She was making all attempts not to reveal what had gone on between her and Zuko back when they had snuck off into the forest earlier. Now that she began to think about it, Zana thought the whole thing seemed childish-they were warriors and they really should have started acting like them, but there was something nagging inside of her that screamed otherwise.

"I am just a little run down from traveling-my scars are kind of sore," Zana hated lieing to her friend, but it was the only way she could think of to put Katara's mind at ease. "You know..." Katara began somewhat apprehensively, "my offer still stands about trying to heal all of your scars..." She waited to be snapped at, but all Zana said was, "No, but thank you again. It's kind of like they are some sort of reminder that-I don't know-that the past is really real and that no matter what happens, it follows you." There was a sorrowful expression on Katara's face, "That's so sad..." Zana gave a cheeful smile and dismissed the Water Bender's simpathy with a wave of her hand, "Everyone has something that they regret or that is painful." "Maybe some more than others," Katara made a subconscious gesture towards Zuko. "Right, but there is always a way to supress it, but no matter what, it is always in the back of your mind," Zana spoke quietly. She spun and quickly redirected the uncomfortable conversation to something a little lighter, "So, has Sokka returned with any food yet?" "Please...my brother-returning unscathed and in timely manner with food?" laughed Katara. Zana snickered as well, "Yeah, guess you're right. When do you think we should expect him? One hour-two tops?" The Water Bender rolled her eyes in jest as they both walked over to Iroh, "I'm thinking not until Zuko flushes him out with flaming death threats!" With that, both girls were laughing as if they had nothing to worry about-no future hardships to endure.

Iroh looked up tofind the cause of the approaching laughter to see Zana and Katara walking towards him. He gave a wide smile in a greeting, "What is all this laughter about?" Zana came up beside him, "Oh, nothing-" "Just some self-inflicted anguish," finished Katara and both girls continued to release ringing laughter.

There was an aggravated noise that came from the river's edge. All three of them turned to see that it had come from Zuko. He had been attempting to teach something to Aang, but it was obvious that it was not working. Zana felt her heart sink. Earlier, Zuko had been so patient with Aang that her hopes had soared for some sort of a reconcilliation with him, but that was all overshadowed by the fact that Zuko's slightly pissed off frame was now approaching their small group.

He just refuses to listen to me! Zuko growled inside, though he knew that it was untrue by the similarly frustrated look on the young Avatar's face. Zuko had been attempting to show him a manipulative sequence that he would be able to use withouthaving to produce his own fire, but no matter how hard Zuko tried, he was completely unable to make Aang understand that he had to use much stronger moves than that of a Water or Air Bender. "I'm sorry," came the younger boy's slightly annoyed voice, "I'll keep practicing!" Zuko gave a half-way sympathetic sigh, "Look, we'll just...try again later." Zuko gave a rough scoff and turned away from Aang. From behind him, the younger boy shouted, "But I know I can do it!" Zuko spun around to face him, "There is no point in doing something if you are just going to end up hurting yourself because you act more like a defensive fighter than an offensive one!" he snapped a little louder than he had intended to. In teaching the Avatar some minor Fire Bending skills, Zuko had hoped to release some of the pent up tension inside of him, but all that had happened was for more anger to well up inside. He felt like there was just no way for him to catch a break, but that feeling was nothing new to him. With the look on Aang's face, Zuko apologized-but in his own way, of course, "We can try this again later, but let's eat first...you need to keep your strength up if you are even thinking of going at it again." Zuko turned away from Aang again and proceeded to head back to the rest of the group who were all situated around the fire.

The Fire Bender tensly rubbed the palm of one of his hands across his forehead. There were the makings of a major headache there and all it took was one more thing to throw Zuko off. He looked up to see only three other humans and one Flying Lemur staring back. Zuko stood up straighter, "Where is the Wat-Sokka?" He noticed Zana sit back and look away and Katara spoke for her, "He went out looking for food." The young man raised an apprehensive eyebrow, "How long ago was that?" The Water Bender squinted up at the sun, "Oh, he left only a little while after you started showing Aang Fire Bending," she gave a little snicker and gestured to the girl beside her, "I guess he got tired of having a one-sided conversation with Zana, here." Zuko glanced out of the corner of his eye to try and see if there was any hint of Zana not hating him as much as he thought she did, but all he got in return was a cold shun that, surprisingly to Zuko, stung a shocking amout.

Aang walked up beside him. Zuko spoke, "You allowed that dolt to wander off on his own," he gave a muted and dumbfounded laugh from the back of his throat, "We won't be seeing him for a while." Iroh stared up, wide-eyed, at his nephew, "And you are not mad that we will not be leaving as soon as you had hoped?" Zuko elicited a groan from the depth of his chest, "No, no. I will..." he sighed,"try to refocus." He uncharastically streatched his hands above his head and stepped a few paces back from Aang and the group where he proceeded to close his eyes and prepare to go through the basic body movements of Fire Bending.

Zana looked away from Zuko and the only way she was able to do so was by averting her eyes in Katara's direction. She watched as Momo reached down and grasped something that hung around the Water Bender's neck. "Momo! Stop that," Katara laughed and brushed the animal's tiny hand away. As she did so, Zana was able to see what it was Momo had been so interested in-it was askillfully crafted necklace. "Wow, that's really beautiful. Water Tribe craftsmenship?" Zana spoke up-she may have been a warrior, but she was still a teenage girl who could appreciate nice things once in a while. Katara's fingers found the trinket around her throat, "My necklace? It was my mother's..." There was a noticeably sad tone to her voice and Zana's heart went out the the girl, but she was still curious to learn more about it. "It's good that you have something so nice to remember her by. Where did she get it?" At the last question, Katara's face lit up, "It's actually an engagement necklace. It was my Gran Gran's, but my mother got it when she was to marry my father and now I have it." Katara's chin tilted upwards in Zuko's direction, "He actually held it hostage to use as a bargaining chip to get to Aang." Zana's eyes grew wide, "How did he get it?" Secretly she thought, How could Zuko have done such a thing? but she kept that to herself as she eyed the young man that occupied her thoughts. He was performing a simple sequence involving an upward thrusting motion of his arms and a strong leg stance. Though she was still upset with him, Zana couldn't help but admire his grace.

Katara gave an awkward laugh, "It is actually an interesting story...it involves my being tied up and a band of rogue pirates." "Well...wow..." Zana was at a loss of words. She had never heard anything so ubsurd. "And you are still willing to travel with him after that?" "I got it back unharmed, didn't I?" Katara gave a quick smile. "True..." Zana said and completely went off into her own world as she stared at Zuko's deliberate movements.

"Do you have anything like an engagement necklace back in the Fire Nation?" Katara asked. It was her turn to be curious. Zana was taken aback by the abrupt question. "Well, not exactly...You see, most families in the Fire Nation still follow the tradition of an arranged marriage," Zana began as well as she could explain it in a way that Katara would understand. "My family, for example, was one of the families to practice that tradition," she continued. Katara leaned in closer, "I could never let my husband be chosen for me. I want to find my own." Zana gave her a brief smile, "That is not really something children are taught back in the Fire Nation-to think for themselves. Anyway..." she kept on speaking.

Zuko slyly listened to Zana and Katara's nearby conversation. It was not like he had intended to or that he didn't have anything better to do-he just was unable to get their voices out of his emptied mind as he rhythmically went through the motions he knew so well. As Zuko listened, the more he was able to decipher that they were discussing marriage. The notion of the topic caused his heart to sink deep to the very pits of his chest. He abruptly performed a stiff-legged sequence as Zana's soft voice spoke up, "So, the common case is that we are engaged at birth, but the children don't learn who it is they are to marry until they become sixteen years of age," she released a small glimmer of laughter, "Sometimes one can be betrothed to their best friend and not even know it." Zuko continued listening as he thrust one of his fists in front of him at an invisable opponent. He coyly took a step towards the conversing girls. He was unable to help it-Zuko was unbearably curious. He hadn't really heard the tradition from the point of view of the opposite sex before.

"Do these marriages work out?" Katara piped up. Zuko knew the answer even before Zana could say it aloud, "Sometimes, but there really is no choice in the matter. You are your father's property until marriage and disobedience risks banishment." She cleared her throat and continued the tradition, "You are then officially engaged at that time and then there is an exchange of dowries. It is usually where the girl receives a piece of jewelry to symbolize her betrothal and the boy, in return, receivesa great sum of gold or wealth as a welcoming to the family-" "Seems like a bribe to me," scoffed Katara. Zana made a thoughtful noise in the back of her throat, "Now that you mention it, that is actually what it seems like...Still, they are then married at eighteen and from then are on their own."

"That whole thing seems pretty harsh-no love whatsoever involved," said Katara sadly. Zana perked up, "But there can be," she sounded almost hopeful as if she was trying to convince herself, "If you're lucky-that is." Zuko spun and prepared for a complicated and balanced kick sequence. "Zana?" began the Water Bender, "Were you engaged before you were banished?" The question was asked meekly, but it was enough for Zuko to pause for a moment and strain for the answer. Zana hesitated but asecond before replying, "I left just a short time after I turned sixteen, so...yes, I was..." The revelation caused Zuko to choke on one of his controlled breaths and trip up his legs, causing him to stumble greatly. Zana was engaged was all that was running over and over through Zuko's head. He quickly tried to recover by dropping down into a crouched position as if he had deliberately faltered. He glanced over his shoulder to see if either of the girls had noticed, but both had continued on to a different conversation. Zuko released an aggrivated sigh through his teeth. He felt so unbalance inside that he was worried he might just go off and have no escape route. Zuko knew he shouldn't have had those feelings-it wasn't like Zana said she had had anyemotions for her betrothed, but no matter how many times he told himself that he had no feelings even remotely like love for Zana, he kept wondering if banshment was a ground for engagement enullment...