They'd searched everywhere. No sign of Iroh or the Earthbenders, and it was getting dark.
"Zuko, let's call it a night. I think your rhino's getting too tired to move," Mai yawned. "I'm sure your uncle's fine, wherever he is."
Zuko opened his mouth to snap at her, but deep down he knew she was right. The trail was going for miles and miles and it would probably be daylight before they caught up to the Earthbenders.
Suddenly, Zuko noticed the familiar form of Appa flying overhead and his eyes narrowed.
"The Avatar! Mai, let's-"
He caught a whiff of the sandal again, and Mai gave him a look.
"So, the big decision," she chuckled. "Catch the kid or save the old man, what'll it be?"
Zuko glanced between the direction the bison had flown and the trail Iroh had left. Finally, he turned towards the trail.
"We'll have another chance to catch the kid," he said, nudging the rhino. "Let's go save Uncle." Mai looked genuinely surprised.
"Wow, I always wondered what it would take for you to forget the Avatar for even a moment," she snorted. Zuko blushed, glaring at her a little.
"Just to save you the embarrassment of asking, yes, I would do the same for you," he said. She rolled her eyes.
"My hero," she said dryly.
*
They caught up to the Earthbenders just before one brought a rock down on Iroh's hands, and managed to drive them away in no time flat.
"I knew I could count on you two," he said. "Good work, Prince Zuko. Lady Mai...but I could have sworn I saw a bison fly overhead a few moments ago."
"Don't remind us. It was one of the toughest decisions our prince ever had to make," she teased, and Zuko glared at her.
"Come on, let's just get back to the ship before they send out reinforcements."