Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender. (I do own any characters I create.)

Without further ado…

Restoration

Chapter 4

Lee had fallen into a fitful sleep, leaning back against the cave wall. But his slumber was interrupted when Hana started coughing and gasping in between coughs as if each cough stole all the air she had. Lee opened his left eye to see that Hana was lying on her side curled up under the blanket facing the fire. Lee closed his eye once more to get a little more sleep, but something inside him wouldn't let him fall back asleep. Frustrated, Lee sat up irritated, added more wood to the waning fire, and walked over to Hana's sleeping form. He knelt beside Hana extending his hand out to touch her shoulder but halted when Hana shifted in her sleep mumbling something inaudible. After Hana was still again, Lee gently took hold of Hana's shoulder and shook her gently. Hana's eyes scrunched as she moaned trying to curl up into a tighter ball.

Lee shook Hana's shoulder again but a little less gently this time, saying, "Come on. It's warmer by the fire." At the word "warmer," Hana woke up and looked up at Lee, replying softly, "Alright."

Hana slowly got up trying to move with her stiff back. Seeing that he got her to start moving, Lee returned to his spot beside the fire trying to coax the flames to grow bigger. Hana slowly gathered up her mat of moss and blanket and moved to her original spot by the fire. Hana laid out her moss once again, wrapped the blanket around her, and lay down on her side facing the fire. As Hana began to fall back asleep, Lee got up, grabbed his sheath, and left the cave to find some food, because he knew that when Hana woke up, she would be hungry.

---------------Time lapse-------------------

"STOP!" cried Hana desperately as she sat up with a start. Hana took a look around her and sighed in relief that it was just a dream, and she was safe in the cave.

"Since I'm awake, mind as well get up." Hana said aloud to herself as she began to stand up and stretch. "Ouch. Damn." Hana cursed as she felt a scab rip or maybe two. 'Maybe that's not a good idea' Hana said to herself and stopped stretching. The young waterbender stepped out of the cave into the bright sunshine.

"Ah, sun, how I've missed you." Hana said as she closed her eyes and lifted her face to the sun so that the rays could spread kisses over her face. After relishing in the sun's warmth, Hana opened her eyes and noticed that the sun was close to the ten o'clock position. 'Wow, I got about seven hours of sleep in one shot.' Hana said to herself. She made her way over to the stream, which was a few minute walk from the cave. Walking up to the edge of the stream, Hana waterbended a small amount of water up into her mouth and took a drink. Looking back to the stream, Hana noticed a large fish swimming upstream. 'That fish looks good.' Hana thought as she placed a hand on her growling stomach. Hana easily bended the water around the fish and lifted it out of the water. The fish floated towards Hana and finally rested in her hands with the water falling to the ground. 'Wow, lunch is served. That was too easy.' Hana laughed inwardly and smiled in accomplishment looking down at the struggling fish in her hands. The waterbender made her way back to the cave stopping along the way to pick up a stick to skewer the fish on. As Hana neared the cave, she smelled roasting flesh. 'Smells like Lee had a little luck himself.' Hana thought to herself as she entered the cave. Lee did have a little luck as he sat by the fire cooking a skinned rabbit-squirrel on a wooden spit.

"There you are. Where did you run off to this time?" Lee said roughly.

Hana took no notice of his tone and simply replied, "Can't you tell?", as she held up the fish on the stick.

"Hn. Well, don't leave without telling me where you are going. The Fire Nation is probably still trying to find us." Lee said sounding more irritated.

"Alright." Hana said casually as if she didn't notice Lee fuming at her nonchalant answers.

Hana sat on her mat of moss and stabbed the stick into the soft ground at an angle so the fish was immersed in the flames. Lee turned to his side picking up something next to him. Reaching around the fire, Lee handed Hana a leaf full of red berries. After Hana took the leaf from Lee, she noticed that his hand was wrapped in the olive green material of her dress.

"How are your hands?" Hana asked.

"They are fine. The salve, which you made, works well." Lee said looking away. Hana sat stunned at what he was saying. 'Is he trying to say thank you?' Hana thought while keeping a straight face.

"I'm glad that it helped. Let me know when you need more salve for those burns." Hana replied. Looking down at the leaf she took from Lee, Hana asked, "What are these?"

"Those are raspberries." Lee replied. Hana tried one. Finding the berry to her liking, Hana devoured the rest of the berries. "Wow, those were good." Hana said picking out the seeds stuck between her teeth. Lee only nodded acknowledging the remark.

"The rabbit-squirrel should be ready in fifteen minutes." Lee said. Hana nodded saying, "Ok. You can try some of the fish if you want."

"I don't like fish that much." Lee replied.

Hana suddenly felt tired and let a yawn escape from her. "Well, let me know when the rabbit-squirrel is done. I'm going to shut my eyes for a few minutes." Hana said lying on her side pulling the blanket over her for extra warmth even though it was almost noon.

"Hana…Hana." Lee said trying to wake Hana up. "Mmhm. I'm up. I'm up." Hana said groggily sitting up.

"Are you hungry?" Lee asked. Hana's stomach growled. Giggling Hana said, "Does that answer your question?" Lee's frown momentarily lifted long enough for Hana to notice, but she kept it to herself.

"Do you want a leg or a piece of the breast?" Lee asked. "Leg, please." Lee cut one off and handed it to Hana. Hana replied, "Thanks", as she took the leg from Lee. Hana sat eating her meager meal as Lee cut a piece of the animal and ate in silence as well.

The rabbit-squirrel did not have a chance against two hungry teenagers, and soon it was picked clean. Hana was still hungry so she borrowed Lee's sword and skinned the fish. Carefully, she cut it into bite size pieces and ate what little of the fish, that she could carve from the skeleton. After cleaning up from their small "feast," Hana turned to Lee saying, "You look tired. I can keep watch for a few hours while you rest."

"Ok." Lee replied lying down on his mat and pulled the blanket up over him. Hana sat on her mat and watched the fire die down. It was already midday so it was starting to get warm in the cave. Hana glanced at Lee's sleeping form. Seeing that Lee was asleep, Hana got up and left the cave. 'I'll be able to keep a better eye on things from higher ground. Now what did Aang say about how he flew up into trees.' Hana thought as she came to stand at the base of a giant sequoia tree looking puzzled. 'Aah, yes, I remember' Hana said to herself as she rocketed into the air spinning between two sequoia trees until she was half way up the tree. Resting on a large branch, Hana took in the beautiful surroundings. Hana scoured the forest floor to make sure that there weren't any Fire Nation soldiers nearby. Seeing none, Hana relaxed a little letting herself drift off into her mind.

'I wonder why Lee is so far from the Fire Nation, alone. I am pretty sure that it has something to do with that scar on his face. It looks like a battle scar. He's probably too stubborn to talk about it. I have to admit he definitely is an unusual person. I hope that he will open up a little bit. Maybe he is so distant because…' This is how Hana's mind wandered as the sun continued to pass across the sky.

As a cool wind blew through the trees, Hana shivered breaking her out of her thoughts. Hana gazed up at the sky amazed at how long she had been sitting up in the tree. 'Wow, I didn't realize the time. Life definitely can get complicated fast, but it's quite an adventure. I wonder where this life will take me next. Don't worry Aang I'm on my way.' Hana rose and checked for Fire Nation soldiers. Seeing none, Hana airbended her way to the forest floor and walked into the cave. Lee was still sleeping soundly. At seeing Lee resting so peacefully, Hana smiled thinking 'he looks so harmless when he's sleeping.' Hana walked over to the boulder, which had the remaining flowers, and began to make more salve for Lee's wounds.

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These couple chapters have been pretty uneventful, but the next one is more intriguing. Zuko starts asking questions. Hmmmm, I wonder what Hana will do or how she will respond.