Disclaimer: Have I mentioned how much I hate pointing out that I don't own Avatar?

A/N: Slight breaking of the fourth wall.

"Can't you do anything, Zuko?"

The necromancer groaned in frustration, before saying for the dozenth time, "Its a green dragon. I can't do anything."

Toph looked up from where she was trying to seal the boulder to the cave opening and said, "Thanks for telling, because I had no idea what color my death was going to be."

"You, back to sealing and you, explain better," Katara said.

Katara was a healing priest and therefore, used to as much order as she could get. The group let her order them around like some sort of General, because they often found that she was the best when a situation dissolved into figuring out how to keep everyone out of harm and then patching them up if something did go wrong. They had all discovered that Katara also had the ability of trying to make their healing as painless as possible and that if you went against her she might heal you, but you might also feel like you were being tortured in the process.

"Don't you people know anything about dragon?" Zuko asked.

The group gave short replies or shook their head to all mean only one answer; No.

"For the love of all things magical! You people deal with this kind of stuff and you can't even tell the difference?" Zuko said in exasperation

"Actually, we make it a policy not to deal with this kind of stuff," Sokka said.

"Besides, didn't you deal with a dragon before?" Aang asked.

"That was a red dragon, this is a green dragon!"

"Apparently, we are losing something in translation here," Katara pointed out.

"Red dragons breath fire. I have an affinity with them, because I'm a fire natured warlock. Much like Toph being an earth mage. By all rights, you guys forced me to stop calling myself that after I joined and agreed that with my talents, I'm far more suited to being a Necromancer. I'm not asking Toph to deal with water elementals, don't ask me to deal with green dragons," Zuko said.

"Don't all dragons breathe fire?" Sokka questioned.

"We are not in that kind of story! The different colors mean what they breath here. A white dragon breathes ice. A blue dragon will breath lightening. Obviously, the red dragons breath fire," Zuko explained.

"Well genius, what do green dragons breath?" Toph asked

"Acid, of course."

"Are you serious?" Toph asked in a panic.

"No, I find this to be one of the most amusing joke," Zuko said dryly.

"I think it's time to run then," Toph said turning to them.

"What do you mean? Shouldn't it be properly sealed?" Katara asked.

"I set that up thinking it would have to stand against fire! I had no idea it would have to hold up to acid! It will probably be melted in a matter of minutes!"

"Yup, time to run!" Katara said.

The caves entrance was located up a steep hill that some might consider a small mountain. The group picked its way down as fast and carefully as possible. The ground rumbled under them repeatedly.

"It's going to be free in a moment," Toph called as she made her last jump to the bottom of the mountain.

"Scatter. More targets will up the odds. The best bet is to hide your scent and yourself. Well meet up around here after it settles down!" Katara commanded.

Aang could feel the group start to spread out and ran toward the forest nearby. He stopped for a moment trying to catch a breath as he leaned against a tree. As his eyes scanned the forest looking for somewhere to hide, the ground rumbled under his feet again. A sound much like too close lightening striking filled the air and Aang turned just in time to see the giant green dragon fly into the sky. His eyes widened as he realized the dragon was heading toward the forest.

His feet moved on their own. Deeper into the woods he fled. He could hear angry yells the dragon made. His already sped up heart raced. When a hand gripped his wrist he felt like his heart must have stopped from shock. His eyes traveled from the hand of the person holding him to up the arm and finally to the familiar face of his companion. Scared silver eyes met worried golden ones.

"This way," Zuko mumbled.

Zuko let go of his wrist, but before he could fully move his hand away, Aang grabbed hold of it. Their fingers entwined. Aang wondered if Zuko merely saw him as the scared child Aang felt himself to be. He sped his pace up to match Zuko. The taller boys long stride making Aang take a step and half to every one of his just to keep up. Even with all his effort, Aang still felt like he was chasing after the older boy. His heart thudding loudly in his ears with his steps.

"This should work," Zuko said as he stopped at natural ravine.

A small stream ran along the bottom of ravine and Zuko led them into it. The water was chilly, but Aang's skin felt too hot in the already warm summer air. Zuko let go of Aang's hand and bent down into river reaching in with both hands. He made a look of mild disgust, but pulled up a hand full of mud.

"You are not going to do what I think you are going to do with that are you?" Aang asked.

"If you think I'm about to cover myself with this to lose the scent then you are right."

Aang pulled a face and was about to make a comment, but was cut off at the loud sound of a snarl not far.

"Ok, give me the mud," Aang said and reach out to take some.

They took turns making sure they were thoroughly covered. Aang tried not to linger longer then needed in any area, but was glad they had covered him in the mud first, so Zuko couldn't see just how red his face had actually gotten. When they were fully covered, Zuko led the way along the stream.

"The rest are never going to stop laughing at us," Aang grumbled a bit.

"Would you rather have them laughing or would you rather be eaten by the dragon?"

"Point made," Aang responded.

Aang had to admit that since they had covered themselves and moved down stream the dragon seemed to mostly move on. They walked on in silence.

"Hey, Zuko."

"What?"

"Thanks for, ya know... saving me. I guess I got really lucky to bump into you in the forest."

"Yeah. Luck. It must have been luck," Zuko said looking away from Aang.

Aang could tell he was hiding something, "Zuko..."

"It might not have been just luck," Zuko admitted and Aang could tell he hated to do so.

He pieced it together in his head and said, "You ran after me!"

"Well, I wasn't just going to let you get eaten," Zuko said defensively.

Words rested on Aang's lips, but he knew once spoken they couldn't be taken back. He let them die there.

"Thanks, Zuko. I really felt better knowing you were there," Aang admitted.

Zuko smiled at the smaller boy, "Any time, Aang. Any time."

FN: Prompt: Something trying to eat you without provocation (#18 of 50)