Katara worked hard and sloppy in the kitchen that morning. She threw a pot on the counter and tossed a few cups of dried oats in it. She was too angry to even waterbend the water into the pot and she didn't bother with measurements. She cooked the rest of the meal in the same incoherent fury, chopping crude vegetables like onions and peppers that were uneven and unfit for oatmeal. She mixed in the moon-peach Aang saved for her yesterday, not even bothering to cut it. She just squeezed the life out of it and threw it in. She even tried to crack an egg but she couldn't manage to break it delicately. Instead she crushed it in her fist over the pot and threw what was left in her hand on the floor.

She imagined Zuko's face on every onion she slaughtered, every egg she crushed, and she beat the over-cooking oatmeal with her spoon instead of stirring it. By the end of it she looked just as crazy as she felt. She had flour and egg on her arms, clothes, and even in her hair, causing strands to stick out unevenly.

She picked up the sticky pot and carried it over to the table. She was acutely aware that everyone was watching her warily. She got the sense that they all wanted to flee but were too afraid to actually do it. The only one not here was Zuko and she was so furious she couldn't even spare a moment to be relieved at his absence. Instead she pictured his face turning blue while she strangled him, or how he would look with one less arm. She felt a twisted smile stretch across her face.

"Is everything okay, Katara?" Aang asked softly.

"Fine," she said automatically, "everything is fine, why would you think otherwise? Now hold out your hand." She continued without waiting for an answer and Aang reluctantly did as she asked. She spooned up a large amount of the glob that was supposed to be breakfast. It was hard and chewier than oatmeal was ever meant to be. She scooped up the mangled peach with the rest and slapped the mess in his hands.

Aang's face turned a little green as he looked over his food but he bowed to her, forcing a smile on his face, "Thank you Sifu Katara." She began to serve everyone else after that. They all followed suit with Aang, holding out their hands and thanking her quietly. Katara had to hold Toph's hand for her because she couldn't see the spoon. The only person who didn't eat was Sokka, who left after Aang was served. She let him go in silence, knowing he felt at least some of the pain she did.

She sat down with her own scoop and shoved a large mouthful in. She couldn't smell it or taste it and she didn't care. She chewed it quickly and ate more when she was done. Halfway through her second helping Zuko came in. He hovered by the doorway and called out to Aang.

"Zuko," Katara chimed out, trying to sound polite and failing horribly. "You missed breakfast." She scooped up a large amount and flung the rocky oats at him. He ducked just in time as his breakfast flew into the wall behind him. It lodged itself into the foundation, cracking the stone around it. He looked at her wide-eyed for a moment and then turned to Aang.

"I'll be on the top balcony, don't keep me waiting," he said as if nothing had happened. Then he ducked out of the room just as Katara flung his second helpings at him. It hit the wall just a few feet from the first one. She looked at everyone else as they gawked at her.

"Breakfast is over, everyone out please. I need to clean." She was glad she didn't need to ask twice.

Sokka sat against the railing in the training balcony with his bag of metal objects sitting next to him. This balcony was designated for training because it was perfect for any element. There was a small water fall from the cliffs above that fell into a rather large pool and then traveled a small rivet off the balcony, and enough rock from the cliffs to satisfy any earthbender. It was also the highest balcony so no one had to worry about getting burned. Toph and Sokka had decided this would be a good place to work since Zuko's lessons would be starting soon. He was sure Katara wouldn't be around for awhile. He just had to wait for Toph to escape from breakfast.

Katara had definitely been in one of her moods this morning, though Sokka doubted he had ever seen her this angry. He hoped she didn't hurt anyone today. Who knows what that food would do to them? Maybe someone else should take over cooking for awhile. Or permanently. Katara was not the best cook by a long shot but he certainly couldn't do better. Aang was pretty young, and he mostly just ate fruit. Toph was blind so she was out. Maybe Zuko? But he lived a life of royalty so he probably wouldn't know how either.

Zuko stormed in then, fire pouring from his lips, "What is wrong with her?" He shouted to no one in particular. Sokka still felt inclined to answer.

"I told you to stay away from her."

Zuko turned to Sokka, surprised to see him there. He moved his hand through his hair a little nervously, "yeah well, that was easier said than done. It doesn't help that Aang follows her around like a quail-puppy."

Sokka laughed, "Yeah I don't get it either, but Aang seeks her approval for something. It's silly because Aang's probably the only one of us that couldn't do anything wrong."

"And I can't seem to do anything right."

"It doesn't help when you yell at her for missing her mother," Toph said as she walked in. Zuko cringed at the reminder.

"You what?" Sokka said as stood up defensively. He seemed to stare right through Zuko. It was clear to Zuko that regardless of whether Sokka was warming up to him or even agreeing that Katara was a little crazy; Sokka was going to defend her. Their relationship was like nothing he had ever seen. They would fight and shout at each other all day and still come when the other needed help. He guessed that was what siblings were supposed to be like.

"I didn't yell at her for being upset, I just told her not to blame me for it." He looked between Sokka and Toph, hoping for some understanding in one of them. After all, these two were his only allies right now.

Sokka finally sighed and sat back down, "That was kinda stupid there Sparky."

"Sweetness is going to kill him."

Zuko pinched the bridge of his nose, "I just can't take her crap anymore."

"He's braver than I first thought," Sokka mumbled to Toph. He turned back to Zuko, "I won't stop you if you want to confront her." He stood up again and faced Zuko. "I know she's a lot sometimes but she's my baby sister. Remember that before you make this day any harder for her." Zuko noticed then how sad Sokka looked. He didn't look frightening like he did last night. He hadn't been making many jokes this morning and it looked like he didn't have the energy to even properly threaten him. Zuko just nodded his agreement. He didn't really want to confront Katara, but it was clear that if he did, he wouldn't have Sokka's support.

"What's going on," Aang asked as he glided in through the balcony.

"You're late, Aang." Zuko was all business now. He was done talking about Katara.

"Sorry, Sifu Zuko," Aang bowed low to his new instructor.

"Forty hotsquats, then we will meditate." Aang sighed low and then started counting.

"Let's start making that pot," Toph said as she moved over to sit with Sokka.

A few hours later, Katara stood inspecting the holes she had made in the wall. She had no idea she had that kind of strength, but then again she was always her strongest when she was angry. She had gotten one of her abominations out but the other was stuck in there good. She kept pulling at it anyways, regardless of how futile it was.

"I can help you with that." Katara jumped a little at the unexpected company. She turned to see Haru standing attentively in the doorway.

"Uh, sure. If you don't mind." She ran her fingers through her messy hair.

"Not at all." He moved into a stance and pulled the wall back to its normal position, causing the chunk of oatmeal to fall to the ground.

"Thanks." They stood in silence for a moment. The air was getting awkward and Katara just wanted Haru to leave. Things were strange around him now. He seemed different, too different. Katara suspected the mustache had something to do with that.

Haru reached down and picked it up. "It's as hard as rock," he said more to himself than Katara. "I wonder how this would react with explosive peanuts." He turned back to Katara, "How did you make this?"

"What? I don't know." She was getting frustrated with him already, "I wasn't exactly paying attention."

"Is it because of Zuko? Did he do something to you?"

"Yes… no… ugh, it doesn't matter, okay?" She threw her arms in the air, "No one cares that he's been on the wrong side of this war his whole life. Or that he has caused this group almost as much trouble as Azula. Or that he betrayed us before. Aang said he could stay so nothing else matters."

"He is the Avatar. Don't you trust his judgment?"

She didn't like the hidden accusation behind his words. "It's not like that. It's just, Aang is still a little kid. He doesn't know what's good for him."

"And you do?" Katara leveled a fierce glare on Haru. He seemed to lean away from her a little, too afraid to flee but too afraid to stay. She took the choice out of his hands and brushed past him.

She had more chores anyways. She had decided this morning that she needed to wash everything. After all they had been using blankets that have probably been collecting dust for years. She went into everyone's room, collecting their clothes and blankets. The younger one's rooms were messy and she made a mental note to come back and clean them. She stopped when she made it to Zuko's room, setting her basket of blankets down in the hall.

She had avoided this room since that first day he had been in here. She looked down the hall first and then opened his door. He wouldn't be here, he would still be training Aang for a few more hours.

Zuko's room was very clean. He didn't have anything out except for a picture of that old man he always traveled with. Katara remembered Zuko calling him Uncle once. She wondered where he was now. There was a lot about Zuko she didn't know about.

Pushing Zuko from her mind, she picked up his blanket and headed to the Training balcony. It was the best place to wash clothes since it had the largest fountain.

"Don't use your other abilities," Katara heard Zuko shouting. "You need to parry the fire with only your firebending." As Katara moved into the building she was surprised to see Zuko throwing wave after wave of fire at Aang. "Take the control of the fire away from me. You can control it. Just as the fire is about to burn you, bend it away."

"What are you doing to him!" Katara dropped her basket of clothes. Zuko stopped and turned to her. She could see sweat across his chest. Neither him nor Aang were wearing shirts. She was used to seeing Aang this way but she'd never seen Zuko half dressed before. She could feel her face redden a little.

Her attention was pulled away from Zuko to Toph and Sokka, sitting in a corner when she heard the earthbender swear.

"You were supposed to be watching for her," Sokka said as he threw his body over what looked like a rock.

"I was busy," Toph stood into a bending stance and brought her hands up. The ground seemed to swallow them up and then they were both gone, rock and all.

Katara stared a little dumbfounded at the spot they once were. "That was weird," she said to herself. Aang was looking behind him as well. "What's up with them?" She asked him.

Aang just shrugged and Zuko looked at her. "You weren't supposed to come up here. Now are you done interrupting my training?" he said angrily.

She put her hands on her hips, "Who says I can't come up here. I can go anywhere I want to. And you call that training? You're too harsh on Aang."

He took a step forward, obviously angry with her. "And you think that Ozai will go easy on him?" he pointed at Aang. "He needs to learn as much about defending himself against fire as he can!"

"He won't be any good in defeating the Fire Lord if you take him out first." She marched up to him and jabbed her finger into his chest.

"Katara, it's okay. Really," Aang tried to calm her down.

"Don't jab me," he pushed her hand away.

"I'll jab you if I want to," this time she shoved his shoulder.

"Very mature, Katara."

"You want to see mature? I'll show you mature." She turned around and began shifting through her basket of clothes until she found the ones wanted. She stood up and held them out to Zuko. "Recognize these?"

His brows furrowed in confusion, "How did you get those?" He moved forward to snatch them but she pulled them away and darted to the edge. Knowing he was right behind her, she moved to throw them off the edge. Zuko tackled her, trying to save his only extra set of clothing. They both lost balance as they fought over the garments and before they knew what was happening they were flying through the air.

Katara hardly had enough time to scream before she hit the ground. The ground knocked the wind out of her and then Zuko landed on top of her, damaging her further.

"Katara?" Sokka shouted, "What the hell did you do, Jerkbender?" he ran up to them. Katara was struggling to catch her breath while Zuko tried to get off her. He leaned over her, his face filled with regret and concern.

"Katara, are you okay?"

"Get off me!" She kicked out with her feet, hitting Zuko in the stomach hard enough to make him keel over. Aang flew in from above and landed next to her.

"Katara, Zuko, are you guys all right."

"What happened?" Sokka turned to Aang, too impatient to wait for Katara to catch her breath.

"They were fighting and then they fell off." He scratched his bald head and looked up at the balcony, "It's a good thing this balcony stretches out more than that one." He bent over to help Katara to her feet. She stumbled a little and Sokka helped support her other side. She could feel her ankle was either twisted or sprained but it didn't matter. She could easily heal either one.

"They fell? Or he pushed her?" Sokka glared at Zuko.

"Or she pushed him," Toph added, ever so helpfully.

"No it was my fault," Zuko winced as he stood up. Toph took a small step back.

"You really pushed her?" She sounded incredulous and almost afraid to hear the answer.

"No," Zuko protested, looking back and forth between Toph and Sokka. "I mean, well…I…I didn't—"

Katara could see him stumble for the right words. See how guilty he must have looked to Toph and Sokka. She knew it would be easy to say he pushed her. Even Aang, who saw what happened, wouldn't be able to argue much. It probably had looked like Zuko had pushed her, at least enough to give everyone doubt about him. A part of her wanted to take it. This would finally give her the support she wanted from everyone, finally get rid of Zuko.

But she couldn't bring herself to say it. Something about the guilt that was so clear on his face made her think twice. He was clearly blaming himself even though it wasn't entirely his fault. She had helped them fall as much as he did, but the fact that he felt responsible was too much. She couldn't do it.

"Stop it. He didn't push me, okay? We fell. End of story." To emphasize the end of the conversation she brushed Aang and Sokka off and did her best to leave without limping.

Sokka debated on whether he should go after her, but Aang spoke up first, "I'll go make sure she's okay." He ran out the door she had just passed through.

"So you didn't push her?" Toph asked directly, wanting a clear read on his answer.

He hesitated, looking defeated, "Not on purpose."

Toph nodded once, "Are you hurt?"

He shook his head, "Do you think Katara's all right?" He looked at the doorway.

"No, she's not," Sokka shouted at Zuko. "She hasn't been okay all day. I don't know what you did to her and I don't care!" He lifted his hand to eye level and pointed at Zuko. "Just fix it." He tried to make his voice as scary as possible, Water Tribe style. He wouldn't say Zuko looked afraid of him. Zuko never looked afraid of anyone. But at the very least he looked regretful. It would have to be enough.

"Though I'd give her some space first," Sokka added after a moment, his tone softer. "Trust me on that." He was definitely in a sour mood. It was hard not to be when Katara was running around, being a constant reminder of the pain he should be feeling. It wasn't manly to be showing so much emotion like this. His eyes widened a little at his new idea. "That's it!" He shouted excitedly, causing Zuko to startle a little.

"What?" Zuko and Toph asked together.

"It's all this estrogen, that's the problem." Zuko tilted his head in confusion.

"You wanna say that again, Snoozles?" Woops, he sometimes forgot that underneath Toph's dirty and tough exterior, she was a girl too.

"Not you Toph, you're different from Katara. You don't get all emotional all the time."

She laughed, seeming appeased, "You'd better not let Katara hear you talking this way."

"I still don't follow you," Zuko said.

"Katara's emotions are probably going to be on hiatus all day. What we need," he gestured to Zuko, "is a manly outing!" He turned to Toph, "Can you finish the pot on your own?"

Toph shrugged, "Sure, but you know how it is, more work more credit."

"Okay deal."

"Good, I want to make sure that when Katara finally looses it, I'm on her good side." She headed back towards their work area.

"What exactly entails of a 'manly outing?'" Zuko asked cautiously.

"Hunting of course! It's the most manly thing we could do besides making offspring." Sokka had already started walking towards the exit. "I'll go see if Haru wants to come. Meet me at Appa's when you're ready." And then he was gone, excitedly planning for the manly outing.

Zuko could hear Toph laughing.

An hour later and the three of them were stalking through the forest looking for tonight's dinner. The forest was thick with trees that soared high into the sky. The ground was covered with strange plants and stranger insects. Zuko could see a storm beginning to blow in. They should be back before it hit though.

Sokka had his boomerang in one hand and his sword in the other. Both Haru and Zuko had decided to leave it to their bending. After all, it would be more difficult to sneak up on pray with two clanging swords. A fire ball from a distance would probably have a better effect. Haru simply didn't have a choice. As far as Zuko was aware, he had had no training in any weapons.

"Does anyone know what kind of animals we can expect in this forest?" Sokka asked as he stepped around a tree.

Haru shook his head.

"Parrots, snakes, tigers, that sort of thing. I'd avoid anything brightly colored," Zuko said as he ducked under a low branch.

"Why's that?" Sokka sliced through a big leafy plant that looked like an elephant's ear.

"Because that usually means it's poisonous. Or it's mimicking something else that is poisonous."

"But everything here is colorful," Sokka exclaimed hopelessly.

"How do we tell the difference?" Haru asked. He was a few paces ahead of Zuko, using his earthbending to make a bridge over a small river that weaved in front of them.

"You don't."

"I get it. The only way to tell the difference would be to eat it and hope you don't die."

Zuko nodded as he leapt up in a tree.

"Hey where are you going?" Sokka stopped moving and stared up after Zuko.

"The poisonous animals are usually ground-dwellers. We're more likely to find something edible up here. Maybe a monkey-tiger, that would feed us for awhile."

Sokka sheathed his weapons and moved closer to the tree. "You really think we could find a monkey-tiger?" His eyes glossed over as he thought of all the meat he could eat. Zuko just shrugged. "Good plan Sparky. Okay Haru, we are moving up." He raised his hand, pointing to the sky, and then jumped to the nearest branch. He caught the branch at his stomach and swung his legs back and forth, trying to find footing. Haru had earthbended himself up to a branch about half way up the large tree.

After watching Sokka struggle for a bit, Zuko finally moved down and reached out a hand to help.

"Thanks," he said as he stood up and pulled out his boomerang. "Now let's go find some monkeys!"

The trees were so thick with branches that it was pretty easy to move through them. Zuko felt better up here, not so vulnerable.

"You know, the chances of us actually finding a monkey is pretty small. In fact with all the noise we've been making we'd be lucky to come across a squirrel."

"I don't care what it is, as long as it's meaty," Sokka licked his lips as he said it.

There was a rustling above them and Sokka stopped moving. He gazed upward with a dead seriousness and held up his boomerang. He let it go at just the right angle as it flew through the air, missing all the branches. Zuko heard something cry out as the boomerang made contact and then a bird fell from the higher branches. As Sokka turned to catch his boomerang the dead bird hit him in the head. Zuko moved forward to grab him before he fell but he was a moment too late. Sokka shrieked as he fell from the branches and then made a very inhuman sound when he caught another branch between his legs.

Haru and Zuko both looked away and grimaced as he slid off the branch and hit the floor. The two still up in the trees moved down to the ground to help their fallen comrade. Zuko tried not to imagine the pain that kind of damage would cause. They found him stiff on the floor, huddled into the fetal position, hands between his legs.

"Would you look at that," Haru said as he bent to pick up the bird. "It's a squirrel-bird." He laughed at the irony.

"Not…cool," Sokka managed to get out while he tried to sit up. Zuko lowered a hand to help him.

"Come on Sokka, it's not so bad. Just walk it off," Haru said.

Sokka reached for his boomerang and set it off. It circled the group and hit Haru in the back of the head. He pitched forward and ended up with a mouthful of dirt.

"How about you walk it off," Sokka said angrily, though he did stand up and began to move around slowly. Zuko tried to keep from laughing as Haru spit the dirt from his mouth. After a few minutes of recovery, Sokka seemed ready to move on.

"Let's stick to the ground from now on."

They traveled in silence for awhile, trying to sneak up on the next victim. Haru moved ahead, trying to get the next kill. By the second time Zuko had to move Sokka away from a snake coiled around a low branch, waiting for an unsuspecting lunch, he decided to hang back with Sokka. After all, someone had to keep him from further injuring himself.

Sokka slowed to a stop, "Let's take a break and stay here. Haru will probably have a better time by himself anyways." He wiped the sweat from his forehead, "It's hot here."

Zuko nodded, "We're pretty close to the equator."

"I don't know how you stand it. You're barely even sweating," Sokka pointed out. Zuko hadn't noticed before but he was right. After all, Zuko grew up in this climate, he felt comfortable here.

"Yeah well, I don't know how you stand the South Pole. It was like Hell frozen over."

A small smile formed across Sokka's face, "Isn't it great? I never missed the freezing temperatures until I came to the Fire Nation. It's kinda funny how that works, you know? You never miss home until after you leave it. Then you realize how great it was all along."

Iroh flashed through his mind before he could stop it. "That's true of a lot of things." Once, Zuko thought he didn't need his Uncle. All he needed was to go home to his family. It wasn't until he got home that he realized he left his family in Ba Sing Se. Now he didn't know where his Uncle was, or if he'd ever see him again.

Zuko shook the thought off and ran a hand through his hair, "We should probably move on soon." He moved off the tree he was leaning on and started off in the direction of Haru.

"Right," Sokka stood up, brushing a brightly colored plant with his knee. The plant jerked away from him, then moved slowly back and rubbed up against Sokka's leg. "That was weird," he said as he bent back down to study the plant. He reached out with his hand to touch the big, green flower that hadn't budded yet. As his hand brushed it, it opened, slowly revealing a bright red center. Another larger plant next to it also opened slowly. "Zuko, come check this out. It's just like an animal." Zuko turned back to see what was keeping him. His eyes widened as he recognized the plant Sokka was playing with.

"Uhh Sokka, I wouldn't touch those if I were you."

Sokka laughed, "Why not? Come on Zuko, don't tell me you're afraid of a little plant." He turned back to the plant, "Is the big scary plant gonna eat you?" He spoke to it the same way he spoke to Momo.

"Well maybe. That plant is a carnivore."

Sokka laughed again, "That's impossible. Plant's don't eat—" The plant he was touching closed around his hand then and the larger one came down on his head. The plant muffled Sokka's scream as he tried to move away. Zuko quickly grabbed Sokka's other hand and pulled. After a moment of struggle they both fell backwards.

Sokka made a strangled sound of disgust as he looked at his hand. It was covered in a light pink, sticky slime that oozed off of him like an egg white. Sokka whimpered, "This forest hates me!"

Zuko couldn't help but laugh. It sounded strange as it came out of his unused throat, it had been a long time since Zuko had laughed at anything. He could only laugh harder when Sokka started scooting his face across the dirt in an attempt to get the slime off.

"This is so not funny!" Sokka shouted as he tried to flatten his wolf's tail.

Zuko stood up and brushed the dirt off his pants, "It is a little funny."

Sokka just stood up and stormed past him in response. Sokka wasn't in the mood to talk after that so they moved through the forest quickly and silently. It was long after they began chasing Haru that they heard something running towards them. Zuko figured at first that it was probably Haru, instead of some crazy beast trying to run them down. But if Haru was running like that then it meant he was probably being chased by some crazy beast.

"Something's coming," Sokka said as he moved behind a tree and pulled out his sword. Zuko moved behind a tree opposite of Sokka and readied himself.

After a tense moment of waiting, Haru popped out of a bush in a panic. When he saw Zuko he stopped running.

"I…I don't… Know what… It is," he said in between his labored breath, hands resting on his knees. Zuko heard a small rustling in the bush behind Haru and moved forward to get a better look. The bush rustled again and then a little black and white mammal stepped out. It had a long and skinny face with eyes on either side. It had scales across its back like armor and black and white tufts of fur poking out underneath. Sharp claws came out of its little white paws and a long, poufy black tail with a white stripe down the center.

It's little nose moved up to sniff the air, not trusting his eyes. Then he rolled into a ball. Zuko lifted one of his feet, watching it curiously as it rolled past him and stopped at Haru's feet. Haru just stared at it, not sure if he should move. When it uncurled, its butt faced Haru and then it was over. Too late Zuko realized what it was: Pangolin-skunk.

At the same time Zuko realized what it was, Sokka shouted "Hit the deck!" They all jumped down to avoid the small creature's attack, but to Haru the damage was done. His face was green and his eyes were a little glossy from the fumes.

Zuko covered his nose with his shirt when the scent made its way to him. It was quite possibly the foulest smell in all of the Fire Nation, if not the World. Sokka stood up again and waved his hand furiously in front of him.

"Ugh! That's the worst smell ever. And I thought Katara's experiment dish with the oyster-eel smelt bad." Haru groaned and collapsed from the smell. The movement spooked the pangolin-skunk and it darted for Zuko. He dived quickly to the side and tossed a few fire punches towards the animal. It jumped up in the air, screeching at the fire and tackled Sokka.

Zuko jumped up to help him get the animal off but Sokka kept moving. He rolled on the ground like he was on fire, shouting for Zuko to scorch it.

"I can't if you don't hold still," Zuko chased after him, trying to get him to stop moving and hoping the little animal didn't choose now to set off another stink bomb. Finally Sokka sat up, hands shaking.

"Get it off now." Zuko moved closer to inspect the animal attached to Sokka. It didn't look good. It was on his back, all four claws digging into his skin. The really sticky part was that the pangolin-skunk had sunk his teeth into Sokka's neck. He had his mouth locked onto Sokka and it didn't look like he would be letting go anytime soon.

"I don't think I can," Zuko was afraid to even touch the little pangolin. As it was, it was the only thing keeping Sokka from bleeding out. He moved around to face Sokka, "It's clamped onto your jugular. If I move it, we might not be able to stop the bleeding."

Sokka's eyes darted to Zuko's direction. "What are you talking about? You're a firebender! Use your Fire-mojo to cauterize the wound."

Zuko shook his head, "I can't stop bleeding from your jugular. That's your largest artery! The blood would move too fast." He paused for a moment, trying to think of something else. It was no good, there was only one thing they could do. "We need Katara's help."

Sokka groaned, "This whole trip was supposed to be to get away from Katara. Isn't there anything else?"

"Any other way would end up with you dead, and if I thought Katara wanted to kill me earlier she would definitely kill me if I brought you home dead." Sokka nodded solemnly and stood up, trying not to jostle the pangolin-skunk too much. Zuko stepped closer to Haru, trying to wake him up. He grimaced at the smell. "We'll all probably smell for weeks, just by being near him."

"I wonder what he did to piss off the pangolin," Sokka wondered.

Zuko took a quick breath before resigning to pick Haru up and carrying him back. He had been hoping Haru would wake up and walk himself, maybe even a few hundred feet ahead of them. But Zuko was not so lucky and since Sokka had the pangolin on his back that meant Zuko would have to put Haru on his.

Sokka waited, with some humor across his face, while Zuko lifted a stinking Haru off the ground and started off towards the temple.

"You know, suddenly I don't feel so unlucky," Sokka stated happily as he followed Zuko.

A/N: Poor Sokka. I couldn't help but pick on him some. I just re-watched The Fortuneteller. "Your future is full of struggle and anguish, most of it self-inflicted." I know it has been awhile since I updated. You know how this goes, life and all. So as a special treat I'll be posting the next chapter too! Yawhoo! And remember, for every review, Sokka's luck will come one step closer to fortunate.