Author's note: Hi all! Thanks for your patience! I'm in my new place, but still working on unpacking. I'm getting there!

Sorry I didn't have time to reply to reviews…I'll just say one big THANK YOU right here. You guys are the best!

I hope you all enjoy this new chapter – it was quite a feat for me to post it today!

Chapter 1: Temper

I will read ashes for you, if you ask me.

I will look in the fire and tell you from the gray lashes

And out of the red and black tongues

And stripes,

I will tell how fire comes

And how fire runs as far as the sea.

--Carl Sandburg "Fire Pages"

Fire Lord Zuko stalked the halls of the palace, his features etched into a scowl. Word had passed around the palace that their monarch was in a foul mood once more today, and servants scurried out of the way as they heard his approach.

Several rumors had been flying around the palace that day. There was much speculation as to why the Fire Lord was in such a rotten temper. Some whispered that his sister had once again bested his forces in the Earth Kingdom; others proposed that he had been jilted by a lover – who by now must surely be a pile of ashes.

There were rumors that the Fire Lord had threatened to incinerate anyone who looked at him wrong (which were true), and rumors that he had already incinerated a servant who had tripped in front of him (which were false).

No one, however, could guess the true reason for Zuko's fiery temper that day. Besides himself, the only ones who might venture a correct guess were following a small fleet of Water Tribe ships in the northern climes of the ocean.

Zuko watched in disgust as everyone, nobles and servants alike, quickly moved out of his way as soon as they heard the definitive stomp of his boots on the polished marble floors.

He was headed to the training arena to let off some of his frustration before he really did burn someone who looked at him the wrong way.

Two days. It had been two days since the next missive had been due to arrive. The messenger hawk had yet to arrive. If his team of trackers had lost the Water Tribe fleet, he would hunt them down and kill them himself.

He thought he had made it abundantly clear that failure was not an option.

The only explanation he could think of for the lack of a message was that the fools had lost their quarry and had made a run for their lives.

He could feel the heat of the sun beating down on him as he reached the arena. The space was, understandably, empty. He soaked in the energy of the sun, relishing the feel of the fire that Agni sent through his veins.

He stripped off his tunic and stepped into the arena.

Sweat beaded on his face as he moved through his forms, the droplets glinting in the sunlight. He concentrated on controlling the temperature of his flames. The inferno emerging from his palms and feet shifted from orange to blue to nearly white.

After several minutes, he stopped to rest, his well-muscled chest heaving in the aftermath of his display.

He sighed as he realized he still carried all of his pent-up frustration.

Focusing, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He felt the familiar electricity course through him as he swirled his hands in a circular motion. Finally, he released it to the sky. A brilliant bolt of lightning shot out from the tips of his fingers, and the thunder echoed around him.

The feeling was always satisfying. It always served to remind him that he was immensely powerful, and people were fools to stand against him.

He strode back out of the arena, the gravel crunching under his boots. He spied a servant heading toward him with a flask of water.

"Water, my lord?" the servant asked, his hands shaking in obvious fear. He had, after all, just witnessed precisely what his monarch was capable of.

Zuko looked at the water skin in distaste. His mind rebelled against requiring that particular element. "No, I don't need any water," he replied, although he was talking to himself more than to his servant.

He stalked off, ready to confront his political duties once more.

Katara stood at the stern of the ship, resting her slim arms on the wooden railing. The violent storm had finally let up. A light wind buffeted her small form, and misty drizzle fell from the sky. She breathed in the salty air; her lungs filled with the cool air. The temperature was dropping. Soon the precipitation would turn to snow.

She looked out over the horizon toward the Fire Nation. Her mind and body were exhausted – her endless thoughts had exhausted her mind as badly as the storm had exhausted her body.

She had felt Bato's concerned gaze on her nearly constantly over the past two and a half weeks. She had managed to avoid his questions, mostly thanks to the distraction the storm had caused, and they were soon due to arrive at what was left of the Northern Water Tribe.

Katara knew she should have been touched by his concern, as he had been a father to her nearly as much as her own father had been. However, she found herself becoming annoyed by it. She knew he saw the physical evidence of the effects of her captivity. The skin on her neck was still healing. She had marks around her wrists and ankles where the chains had chaffed her. Her bones jutted out unnaturally under her skin. She had required a new piece of leather for her mother's necklace. He hadn't asked, but she could tell from his gaze that he knew she had been mistreated.

In her heart, she knew she was annoyed because it would eventually bring out the truth she wanted to hide forever. She loved the Water Tribe's worst enemy. She hated herself for it, and she knew everyone else would hate her for it.

Katara cringed as she heard Bato approach behind her and take a place next to her. She could feel the slight warmth from him; the leather of his boots creaked as he shifted his weight. It was cold enough now that their breaths escaped their noses in puffs of white vapor. He stood next to her quietly for a few minutes; both of them stared out at the waves on the horizon.

Finally, he spoke.

"Katara, you keep staring over the horizon back at the Fire Nation. Shouldn't you be at the bow, looking toward home?" he asked sadly.

The sharp wind continued to whip her hair wildly around her head. She couldn't even begin to formulate an answer. She merely shook her head and stared numbly at the horizon.

She felt him shift his weight as he tried to come up with appropriate words.

"Can you really not let go of the pain?" he asked, gently taking her shoulder and turning her toward him.

Guilt over her feelings gnawed at her mind. Bato thought that she looked toward the Fire Nation because she couldn't forget the pain. In a sense, it was true. The memories brought pain. But they also brought love…and longing.

"Katara, what did he do to you? Even in the worst of circumstances, your eyes have always remained bright with hope! Now, all I see is despair," he said forlornly. His eyes suddenly narrowed as a thought occurred to him.

"He didn't…touch you, did he? By the spirits, please tell me he didn't-" his ice-blue eyes drilled into her as he searched for an answer. "Tui and La, if he did, I'll kill him with my bare hands," he swore.

Katara gathered enough courage to look up at the man she considered to be an adoptive father. She tried not to cringe. Zuko had not taken her as a man takes a woman, but they had kissed and touched…and she had wanted him to.

She swallowed and answered. "No Bato, he did not violate me."

The man's shoulder's sagged in relief, and the lines in his weathered face relaxed a bit.

"I am relieved, but surprised. The man has no honor," he snarled.

Katara felt her shoulders tense at his words. Zuko was honorable in his own way – and she knew he would never forcibly take a woman. She bit her tongue against defending him.

"I swear to you, Katara, we will conquer him and we will kill him. We will show him no respect in death – we will leave his miserable carcass out for the carrion birds to pick at. He doesn't deserve to-" he stopped his fervent declaration as Katara interrupted him.

"No! No. I will hear of no such thing. Despite everything he's done, he is still a human being. You can't-" she abruptly broke off as she realized what she had given away. She had essentially admitted she did not hate Zuko. Before her capture, she had talked about the Fire Lord with as much hatred as the rest of the world did. She had hated him, and would have agreed wholeheartedly with Bato. And Bato knew it.

Bato's eyes widened at her words.

"Y-you defend him? After everything he's done? After he has eradicated your home? Killed your family? Tui and La, Katara! He tortured you! I've seen the marks the chains left behind! Do you think I'm blind? Do you think I've not seen the healing burn around your neck?" he said, his voice increasing in volume with every accusation.

"I know, Bato! Spirits, I know!" she cried, turning away from him once more. "I was there! I was there when he captured all of us! I was there when he killed Akiak! Yes, I was chained, but I was a prisoner! Yes, he burned my neck, but I must admit I was about to poison him!" she yelled, fists balled at her sides. Bato's head snapped up at her last statement. She felt the curious gazes of the men on deck.

She continued in a whisper.

"I was also there when he showed me kindness. I was there when he-" she broke off, shaking her head. She had been about to finish with the words kissed me.

Her face burned in horror at what she had nearly revealed. She had done enough damage already. She had justified the Fire Lord's actions.

Bato just stared at her, something akin to disappointment and loathing in his eyes. He took a step back, putting physical as well as emotional distance between them.

His eyes narrowed in anger, and he roughly grasped her upper arm. She felt each one of his fingers digging into her flesh.

"Did you lie to me when we left the city? You knew we would have killed him if it had been possible. Did you lie?" he growled at her.

"What?" she asked, confusion coloring her expression.

"When I asked you if we could take the city, you said it wasn't possible," he explained, his voice escalating in volume. Katara blinked at him. Her response died on her lips when she saw the furious expression on his face. She had never seen him so livid. His blue eyes bulged out; his skin was flushed and mottled from the fury he was only barely holding in. She felt herself shrinking back from him.

"Did you lie to me?" he yelled so furiously she felt spittle hit her face. He released his grip on her arm, and she stumbled backwards.

Every head on the deck turned to look at the spectacle that was now unfolding at the stern of the ship. Katara felt her own face begin to burn with a mixture of embarrassment and anger.

"Of course not!!" she screamed at him, her stance as stubborn and unyielding as an earthbender's. Suddenly mindful of the curious eyes on deck, she lowered her voice. "Do you really think that I would so quickly betray my tribe? My people?"

Katara felt her stomach plummet to the ocean floor when he merely stared at her with a skeptical expression of barely contained rage.

He doesn't believe me. He thinks I lied to protect Zuko. Her mind reeled in panic. Never in a thousand years would she have imagined Bato to believe the worst of her. He had been her surrogate father; she choked back tears as his face cooled into a stony mask.

"Just answer me this," he said wearily. "When you parted, he instructed you to remember what he told you." He met her eyes. "What did he tell you?"

Katara shook her head, unwilling to answer.

Bato lowered his head in sadness. "Katara, how can I trust you? How do I know you will not send him some message as to our location? How do I know you will not betray us?"

Katara looked at him in horror. "I thought you knew me better than that. I would never betray my people," she hissed through gritted teeth.

Bato looked away as he answered. "You already have."

Tears seeped out of Katara's eyes. It was exactly as she had feared. Her secret was out, and the one man who should trust her more than anyone already thought she had betrayed them all.

Furious tears continued to pour down her face as Bato turned to her once more.

"Do I need to confine you to your cabin?" he asked pointedly.

She had no choice but to tell him.

"Fine. This is something that should have remained private, but I will tell you. It was a warning," she stated.

"A warning?" he asked with alarm evident in his voice.

"He warned me that if we met in battle, that he would kill me," she said softly. There. The terrible words were out.

Bato looked at her, confusion in his gaze. "And why would he even give you a warning?"

"I think he hopes that I will avoid battles with the Fire Nation. I do not doubt his warning. He warned me because I do not believe he wishes to kill me," she said, defeat coloring her voice.

"You are his enemy. Why would he not wish to kill you?" Bato asked.

Katara answered in a whisper so faint that Bato was not sure if he heard the words.

"Because he loves me."

Bato looked up at her sharply.

"And do you love him in return?" he asked accusingly. His voice was hesitant, as if he did not want to hear the answer.

The young waterbender turned away from him, unable to answer. In her heart, she knew the truth, and it was a truth she could not admit to him, although her silence was confirmation enough. She stared out over the water, her eyes reminiscent of hard blue stone. She ignored him as he ordered her to her cabin. It was only when he threatened to drag her there himself that she complied. She walked past him, her face blank of all expression, and wordlessly left the deck.

Several days later, Katara sat alone in her cabin. Despite telling him about Zuko's warning, Bato had confined her to the small room for the remainder of the trip.

She was a prisoner once more. Worse still, Bato had not spoken to her since that fateful day when she had revealed at least part of her secret. It killed her inside to realize he could not even look at her.

She took a breath of the stale cabin air. She longed to be outside and breathe in the cool ocean air. The sun was shining once more, and she craved its presence.

The only other people she had seen in the past days were the Water Tribesmen who came to bring her food. The first time one of them had entered, her stomach had fallen to her feet. He would surely hate her, for she was certain Bato would have had to explain why she was remaining in her cabin.

She had blinked in amazement when she realized that Bato had given a false reason for her confinement.

"Are you feeling any better, my lady?" the man had asked with concern in his voice.

Her mouth worked as she grasped for words. "Better?" she had finally choked out.

The man had raised a dark eyebrow at her. "Yes, Bato said that you were very weak from your ordeal, and your injuries were still healing. He said you nearly collapsed on deck, and explained that while you were recovering, you would be confined to your cabin," he said. He offered her a smile. "He said you hadn't taken too kindly to being cooped up, but that's what was best for you."

Her mind barely had time to gather its wits before he was done with the explanation.

"Oh. Yes. I haven't been…well…since my rescue. I don't like it, but I suppose Bato knows best," she had forced out, trying not to grit her teeth.

And so she sat alone in her room, awaiting her next meal. She heard movement at the door, and expected one of the warriors to enter bearing a tray of food.

To her dismay, it was Bato that entered. She stiffened as he walked over and sat on the furs next to her. For a moment, he ran his hands over the soft furs as he tried to come up with words to say to her.

Katara broke the silence.

"So, you didn't tell the other warriors about…me," she began.

Something seemed to break in him as he began to speak.

"Katara, I couldn't. If they knew-" he faltered a moment "-they would likely kill you."

Her head dipped toward the floor, her dark hair covering her face.

"I know," she whispered. "I feel as if I've betrayed them."

She felt him move in front of her, and looked up at him through the curtain of her hair. He took her small hands into his own callused hands.

"Katara, I love you as my own daughter, and do not wish to see you hurt. But La! I cannot imagine what would make you care for such a man!" he said, his voice breaking.

He continued speaking, desperation in his voice. "They say…they say that sometimes prisoners fall in love with their captors – that the mind accepts small acts of kindness as love and-" he stopped as Katara vehemently cut him off.

"No! It's not like that. Bato, I have always been a strong woman, do you not agree?" she asked.

He nodded his head.

"I wouldn't be so weak as to fall into that mindset. Don't think that of me," she said bitterly.

She was desperate to make him understand that she hadn't betrayed their people.

"Bato, you must know one thing," she said, urgency in her voice.

He looked into her eyes, searching for the truth. "What is it?"

"I would never betray my people," she said with certainty. "And I will not shy away from a battle to protect them. After…after he told me he would hold nothing back in battle, I told him I would do the same," she admitted. She couldn't quite keep the waver out of her voice.

"He said he would hunt me down, and I know he spoke the truth. We must be ready," she said sadly.

Katara couldn't stand the look he gave her. It was a look of pity. She shied away from his gaze.

"We will be home by early morning. We will begin making preparations right away," he said. He turned and left the room, leaving Katara to her haunted thoughts.

In the Fire Palace, a messenger ran with all haste to deliver the message to the Fire Lord. By now, the entire palace knew he was waiting for an important missive, and its occupants breathed a collective sigh of relief when the messenger hawk arrived.

Zuko practically tore the scroll from the messenger's hands when he arrived. He ripped off the crimson ribbon and broke the golden seal that signified the message was for his eyes only.

A thousand apologies for the tardiness of this message. A fierce storm overtook both our ship and the Water Tribe fleet. I am happy to report that all ships survived intact, and we are still on the tail of the enemy ships. We are quickly approaching the Northern Water Tribe's lands. Even now, I can see the ice formations in the distance.

Upon arriving on land, we will ascertain the location of the Water Tribe remnant and report to you immediately once we have found it.

He quickly burned the parchment to ashes. So, they hadn't lost the Water Tribe ships. Katara was still in their sight.

Katara.

He had tried not to think her name. He had tried to ignore his feelings for the accursed waterbender. And yet he could not. He found himself wondering what she was doing at that moment. He wondered if she had arrived safely on that chunk of ice she called home. He wondered…if she missed him.

The dreams – the nightmares – still plagued him. They were coming with more frequency now. Several times a night he would wake up in a cold sweat, his own cry awakening him. Each time he awoke, he was haunted with the image of her beautiful face burning. The blue fire would crackle around her, blending with the ice, consuming her. She would cry out his name, he would turn his back to her, and the world would bow before him.

Is it worth it?

As much as he wanted his tracking team to determine her location, a small part of him wished she would disappear forever, so she would remain safe from him. The rest of him knew that he would conquer the Water Tribe, and nothing, not even her, would stop him.

An irrational whisper spoke seductively to him. It whispered that she would see that she could only be happy with him; she would defect from her nation and run to him. A tendril of hope would wrap around his heart, then would disappear as smoke when he realized she would never betray her people.

Perhaps she could once more be taken prisoner. She would be under his protection; she would be his. Then he would shake his head to rid himself of the thought. She could never remain a prisoner. She was meant to be free. She was a bird that was meant to fly – not be kept in a cage.

As much as he loathed the thought, the confrontation was coming. She would be there, defending her home, and he would be there, trying to take it from her. The war could not end until the Water Tribe was under his control. As long as she lived, there would be a master waterbender to teach future generations. One master had eluded him long enough; he could not allow two to exist. He would find them both and end the waterbenders once and for all.

He only hoped that he would be the one to find her and defeat her. He would make certain that her death would be quick. He closed his eyes against the thought of her suffering. He could not rid himself of his dream images of the waterbender burning.

As soon as the next message arrived detailing the location of the Water Tribe remnant, he would gather his military for a final and decisive blow on the Water Tribe. He would then concentrate all efforts on finding and defeating his sister, and then the world would be his.

And he would never think of the captivating waterbender again. He only hoped that if he lied to himself long enough, eventually he would believe it.

Katara felt the change in the motion of the ship as they prepared for their arrival. The temperature had dropped considerably, and Katara's muscles gave a small shiver. She had grown accustomed to the warm, humid air of the Fire Nation over the past months.

Bato had released her from her cabin, although she still felt as if he did not trust her completely. She feared he never would again. His eyes were constantly on her. It almost seemed as if he were waiting for her to make a move against them.

She let out a shuddering sigh. If Bato was waiting for her to betray her people to Zuko, he would be waiting forever. It was just past dawn, so she pulled on her boots and parka and climbed up on deck.

She couldn't suppress her smile as her gaze landed on the ice floes surrounding the wooden ship. The ice had always been beautiful to her. The delicate colors changed depending on the angle of the light and the time of year. Today, at dawn, the ice was an iridescent blue with delicate pinks and purples mixed in. The frigid air burned in her lungs; to her, this was a comfort. It felt like home.

Her eyes drifted away from the icebergs to land on the mainland. Her brows furrowed in confusion, since she didn't recognize the area the ships had set a course for. The icy land was always changing, but she knew this was a completely different area from the small village of tents and igloos the remnant had cobbled together.

A hint of recognition shot through her. If she looked closely enough, she could almost make out the ruined gates of the former capital of the Northern Water Tribe. She blinked, attempting to sort out what she was seeing.

Bato walked over to her, and she looked at him in confusion.

"Is that – the capital?" she asked.

"Yes. The remaining waterbenders have been working for months on making the city livable," he explained.

"But – it still looks abandoned," she stated.

A small smile came to Bato's lips. "Precisely. The waterbenders have carved out a series of catacombs and living quarters under the ruins. On the surface, the city still looks abandoned. It's the perfect hiding place," he explained.

A short time later, the ships had docked, and the weary warriors had disembarked. Katara was eager to see the work that the other waterbenders had accomplished in her absence. She entered the newly-formed city through a fissure in the ice.

Outside, the ruins of the once-great city appeared to remain abandoned. The Water Tribe remnant had taken great pains to minimize evidence of human habitation. Walkways were regularly cleared of footprints. A complex venting system had been carved in the ice to whisk away smoke from fires that burned. Refuse was burned or thrown into the sea.

She entered a vast chamber in the ice cave system, and realized that it was something of a town square. A natural skylight lit the large room. A group of people were gathered, and her eyes landed on a familiar face.

"Pakku!" she cried while running at full speed toward him. Master and student engulfed one another in an embrace.

"Katara. I thought you were lost to us forever," he said, attempting to keep a hint of sternness in his voice. He failed miserably.

A genuine smile graced her lips for the first time since being released from captivity.

"No, Pakku, I'm here. I'm home," she said as much to reassure herself as him.

"Come, child. Let us find you a room so you can settle in," he said, leading her off toward the residential area.

She trailed after him, and hoped to find her place among her people once more.

Admiral Shou and his team stealthily scaled the ice behind the Water Tribe people. Their job was made much less difficult since the returning warriors provided a distraction for the guards. Joyful reunions lessened the strict attention of the lookouts. Soon, the small Water Tribe group disappeared into various fissures in the ice.

Genius. They have hidden in plain sight. They are hiding in the ruins of a city we have already conquered.

He shuddered to think of the Fire Lord's fury upon learning that the Water Tribe remnant had apparently been here all along.

The men carefully descended their icy perch, and returned to their well-hidden ship. The floating icebergs were treacherous, but provided excellent cover.

As soon as he returned to his quarters, he penned his update to the Fire Lord and sent the messenger hawk on its way.