The moon was full as I ventured into the forest that night. It floated high overhead, nothing more than a small circle of white hovering in the violet night sky. Koda was already waiting for me. He jumped down from his hiding spot in a nearby tree, ready for an explanation. I sat on the forest floor, leaning back against the gnarled, ancient trunk of an oak tree. I unwrapped the cloth from around my head yet again, enjoying the cool feel of night air. Koda's eyes widened.

"What do you think you're doing, Z?" I smiled.

"I can trust you, can't I?" He nodded and laughed, removing his own mask and sitting next to me.
"So start talking."

"My mission was to kill Zuko." Koda's eyes narrowed. He was from the Fire Nation, and had always respected Zuko. Part of the reason I hadn't wanted to tell him earlier.

"The first time, I was attacked by the Yu Yan. Zuko captured me, and I was a prisoner on one of the Fire Nation ships."
"Not for long, I trust?"
"Not really. I had to find the weapons they stole from me, including the katana." I showed it to him.

"Cyra?" he asked, recognizing the workmanship.

"Precisely. That's why I needed it. In a roundabout way, I attacked Zuko and missed, injuring a Water Tribe girl instead. Here's the fun part: she's friends with the Avatar."

"Wow. You must have gotten in trouble for that." I sighed, staring up at the stars.

"That's the thing. As far as I know, the Order does not know anything about this. I helped heal the girl, even though she did most of it herself, and told them about ninjas. They promised not to talk about it."

"And you trust them?"
"I'm not done." He held up his hands, palms facing me.
"Sorry. Please continue."

"Later on I ran into Cyra. She wasn't too happy about the whole thing, but I convinced her not to tell. At least, I hope she won't. On my way back, I ran into Zuko. He was disguised with a mask, but he fights the same with or without one. Then…" I stopped. The next part was almost impossible to say. Koda would not like it.

"You read his memories, didn't you?" I silently nodded. "And you didn't like what you saw."

"Do you know what happened to him?" He shook his head. "His father attacked him and gave him the scar. He sent Zuko on this ridiculous quest for the Avatar, hoping never to see him again. I can't kill him, Koda. He's almost completely innocent." Neither of us spoke for a long time, listening to nature's sounds and the occasional sounds of other ninjas. They were too far away to hear us, distracted by their missions.

"Well, Z, this is quite the mess you've gotten yourself into," Koda finally said. I nodded.

"Unfortunately, I don't know how to get myself out of it."

"Well, you can't talk to them, you can't kill Zuko, and you can't not kill Zuko. This is not good." Finally, someone understood me. A second later his face brightened, as though an idea had just dawned on him.

"I'll talk to them." I blinked.

"What?"
"I'll talk to them. I'll say you got hurt and asked me to finish your mission for you. I agreed and then all of this happened. Maybe I can get some answers."

"Koda, what if they kill you?" He shrugged, shirking off the probability of death as though it were nothing.

"I've lived a good life."
"You're only sixteen."
"I said good, not long." I looked away. That wasn't funny. He deserved a long life. Koda stood and pulled me to my feet, holding my hands in his own.

"Z, don't worry about me. I promise that whatever I say will not get you in trouble. I'm going to fix this." He gave me a swift, short kiss, then took off into the forest. A single tear slowly worked its way down my face.

"Goodbye, Koda," I said sadly.

"Goodbye, Z," he said in that whispering voice. I returned to the cave, finding an unexpected surprise. A new set of people had camped in and around the small cave: Zuko and crew.

This was going to end badly. I would have to hide in the cave when the sun rose in order to avoid detection. I could stay in the forest at night, but there were fewer shadows during the day. I retreated to the shadows for the time being. I would need news from Koda, and soon, before I made my next move.

The next morning the soldiers were up before sunrise, already taking orders from Zuko. From what I heard they were not leaving, merely resting for the next day or so. I wondered why they awoke so early, especially since this did not come across as relaxing to most people I had seen. I later learned that they were soldiers still in training, and that they would be running various military drills for the remainder of the day. Boring for everyone, including myself. I was still on edge, waiting anxiously for Koda's return, but that would not make time pass any faster.

I crept into the back of the cave when they were all gone, preparing to wait until sunset to leave. Ninjas could meld with the darkness for short amounts of time, usually no more than a few hours, but it would be time enough for me to escape. Until then I decided to rest. I would have been bored if not for my nervousness.

Around noon the soldiers returned, looking weary and ready for a break. Zuko grudgingly allowed it on the advice of his uncle. To anyone else this would be seen as a mark of harshness, but I knew better. Desperation can make people do things they wouldn't normally do. He hadn't always been the person he was now.

The soldiers went to sleep just before sunset. Zuko remained awake, staring intently into the small fire. I assumed he was thinking, and decided to leave him alone. I arrived at the now familiar spot in the forest, eagerly awaiting Koda's arrival. A ninja appeared soon enough, all right, but it was Cyra. A sickening feeling overtook me.

"Z, I'm so sorry," she said hoarsely. I could hear that she had been crying, or was about to. Fear, the one emotion I supposedly lacked, gripped my heart with an iron hand.

"What? Where's Koda?"

"He's dead, Z. The Order killed him."