"What are you doing?" Zuko demanded.
Katara looked up from her task and smiled at him, completely unconcerned with the harsh tone of his voice.
"I'm tying this ribbon around Kaiya's neck so that I can tell her apart from the wild turtle-ducks in the pond," she replied as she tied off the bow.
"What wild turtle-ducks?" Zuko asked, confused.
"The ones that have come in for Mating Season."
"MATING SEASON?!"
"That's what Iroh tells me . . .," Katara trailed off as Zuko snatched Kaiya up and took off towards the palace at a brisk walk. She jogged to catch up with him. "What's wrong?"
"Kaiya is not going to have a Mating Season, she's far too young."
"Zuko, she's a year old now, and according to the book we read, that's when turtle-ducks are mature enough to start a family."
"I said NO!"
Katara sighed as she watched Zuko's retreating back. Really, she thought, He's got to let his "daughter" go sometime.
He did just that the next day, large bruises under his eyes giving a silent testimony to his sleepless night. Katara stood back and watched him as he watched Kaiya paddle over to the other turtle-ducks. She knew he needed some alone time, but she also knew that she would be there when he needed her.