Chapter 10 - Flushing out the Venom

Zuko felt like he was floating in a dream.

"Mom, will be he okay?" the voice was small and frightened.

"Lee will be fine Ila," a differentvoice, older, calm and confident.

"It's all my fault, if I hadn't climbed that tree-"

"Sweetheart, there's no point in dwelling on the past-"

Both voices faded away as Zuko slipped back into darkness.

He returned to proper consciousness in fits and starts.

His eyelids fluttered, his fingers twitched, and he groaned in pain.

His chest still hurt, and his head was pounding.

He opened his eyes fully, and saw a blurry face with golden eyes hovering above him.

"A…zula?" he murmured in confusion.

"Who's 'Zula'?" the face came into focus. Although the eyes - their shape and colour - were very similar to Azula's, her hair was messy in a way that Azula would never allow, her expression open and full of concern.

Zuko couldn't remember Azula ever genuinely expressing concern towards him.

He felt a pang of sadness, what had gone so wrong between them?

"Lee? Are you feeling better?"

What he was seeing finally registered with his brain, it was Ila.

Zuko sat up, and as he did a cool damp cloth fell from his forehead into his lap. The snake bite on his arm had been heavily bandaged.

Every muscle in his body protested against being upright, but he forced himself to remain vertical.

"Here let me help!"

Ila arranged his pillows behind his back so he could sit up comfortably.

"How lo-" his throat was so parched that his words tripped up and he found himself coughing his lungs up.

Ila thrust a cup of water into his hands.

"Mom said you might be thirsty when you woke up," she explained, as Zuko gulped down the water gratefully.

When he was done, Ila took his cup and Zuko wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"So are you feeling better now?"

He was dazed and a bit shaky, but at least he wasn't on fire anymore.

"Yeah-"

He grunted as Ila threw her skinny arms around his middle and squeezed tightly. Zuko remained motionless, staring down at her messy black hair in bewilderment.

"I'm so glad! We were so worried!" she released him and stepped back, "I'm going to go get mom!"

She took up a pair of crutches that were leaning against the wall, and made her way out of the room.

The room he was in was large and airy. His bed was one of four that were arranged in neat rows, and a smell that reminded him of the infirmary on his ship permeated the air.

Zuko waited until the rhythmic thump of Ila's wooden crutch hitting the ground was out of earshot before moving.

He had no idea how long he had been out for, but his vision of Katara in the swamp was weighing heavily on his mind. He needed to leave now, he'd already wasted too much time.

Zuko pushed the covers off himself and swung his legs over the side of the bed.

As he stood, and was horrified at how weak he felt. Just shuffling a few steps forward had him panting with exertion and ready to keel over, but he was nothing if not determined.

He had managed to shuffle halfway across the room through sheer stubbornness before Ila returned with her mother and Ilesh in tow.

"What do you think you're doing out of bed young man?" their mother's voice was like steel as she stared him down. Despite being heavily pregnant and significantly shorter than Zuko, she was intimidating.

"I n-need to go-"

"You can barely walk, you aren't going anywhere," she said dismissively, "Now go and lie back down," she ordered.

"No, I've already wasted too much time-"

He tried to take another step towards the door, but his legs gave out and he collapsed to the ground heavily.

"Great, how am I going to get him back on the bed?" was the last thing he heard before passing out.

When he next woke up he was back on the bed somehow. He made as if to sit up, but a voice startled him into stillness:

"You better not even think about getting up. I'm seven months pregnant and I'm not meant to be doing any heavy lifting. If you pass out on the ground again, I will leave you there, even if you did save my daughter's life."

It was Ila and Ilesh's mother, seated at his bedside.

"Saved her life..? But… Ila said the snake wasn't poisonous?" he replied, blinking blearily.

"Do you feel like the snake wasn't poisonous?" she asked pointedly.

Every muscle in his body hurt. His head was pounding, his chest ached, and his nerves were fried and oversensitive.

"….No," he replied miserably.

"In all seriousness, adults generally survive fire snake bites. Its unpleasant, but you live. Children don't live. Ila told me what you did for her - thank you."

She took his hand and squeezed gratefully. Zuko was too slow and weak to protest, but luckily she released him quickly.

"My name is Ming-Na, and lucky for you I'm one of the healers of this village, as well as Ila and Ilesh's mom. Are you hungry?"

Zuko's stomach chose that moment to growl audibly.

"I'll take that as a yes."

Ming-Na left the room, (after extracting a promise from Zuko that he would not get up) and returned a short while later with a tray of food, which she placed across his lap.

"Go on, eat before it gets cold," Ming-Na encouraged. She'd given him a bowl full of some sort of soup with noodles.

Zuko cautiously took a sip, and then he gulped a larger mouthful. It was good; savory, warm and filling. It awakened his appetite with a vengeance.

When he finished, Ming-Na wordlessly took away his empty bowl, and returned with a full one.

He drained every last drop, and felt much better for it once he was done.

"When can I leave?" he asked, getting straight down to business.

"You're very impatient, when you can walk more than four steps," replied Ming-Na wryly.

"How long will that take?"

"It depends on how long your body takes to flush the venom out of your system. It varies from person to person, but seeing as it's only been two days and you can already speak coherently, I'd say maybe as early as tomorrow. If you rest."

He'd been out for two days already?! He wanted nothing more than to spring up and leave that very second, the hole in his chest urged him to go, but he'd already fainted once. It would be foolish to push himself again, he'd only end up on the floor.

"So why are you in such a hurry to leave?"

"Uh… I'm… well, you see…" lying had never been his strong suit.

"Interesting..." remarked Ming-Na dryly, "What brought you to this town?" she continued.

He didn't even bother trying to stammer out a reply this time. He had no idea what to say, so he opted to keep his mouth clamped closed.

"Can you tell me anything at all about yourself? How about, how old you are?"

"I'm sixteen."

"That's awfully young to be travelling on your own," she stared at him pointedly, inviting him to elaborate.

He just shrugged. Ming-Na rolled her eyes.

"Okay fine, I won't pry. I do need to change the dressing on your arm though. Here, hold your arm out like this-"

Zuko did as he and told and Ming-Na unwrapped and bandages.

The twin puncture marks had scabbed over. There was a lingering puffy-pinkness around the area, but the snaking red vein-like lines were gone.

"This looks much better," murmured Ming-Na, "I was worried it would suppurate and that I'd have to do something drastic."

She applied an ointment to the pink area, before redressing his arm much more lightly than before.

It was strange allowing Ming-Na so close, allowing her to touch him. He'd been a terrible patient when receiving treatment for the burn on his face, lashing out at anyone who ventured too close.

He couldn't find it within himself to lash out at Ming-Na. There was something very maternal about her manner that he couldn't help but respond to with acquiescence.

"In a few days you won't even need to bandage it anymore."

She reached up towards his face suddenly, and Zuko flinched, catching her wrist in one of his hands.

"I just need to check your temperature; I was only going to touch your forehead. Is that okay?" she asked evenly.

Zuko nodded and forced himself to release her. Her hand felt cool against the skin of his forehead, and Zuko was forcibly reminded of when his mother had done the very same thing when he was a child.

Ming-Na clucked disapprovingly.

"Still too warm," she declared.

She gathered up the soiled bandages and left the room, returning a few minutes later with a steaming cup.

"Drink this tea, it'll help."

He accepted the cup and gingerly took a sip. It tasted sweet, but minty. There was a vague hint of ginger…

When he was finished Ming-Na took the cup off him and ordered him to lie down.

She put a cool cloth on his forehead, and it felt so good that he sighed in relief.

"If you need anything just yell. I'll leave you to get some rest. Try and sleep, if you can."

Once he was left alone, taking Ming-Na's advice was surprisingly easy.

He wondered if there was anything else in that tea, and then he dozed off.

He dreamed that Katara was up a tree picking moon peaches, and throwing them down to him. She reached out, too far out, for the last moon peach, and tumbled out of the tree. Zuko heard the thud of her body hitting the ground, he heard hissing.

He ran towards her but he was too late, the snake was lunging for her neck…

He woke with a start, drenched in sweat, and breathing heavily.

"Are you okay?" he yelped in surprise to find Ila's face inches from his own. Her small hand was gripping his.

"I'm fine," he choked out, shaking her off and shifting to put more distance between them.

"I heard you talking in your sleep and it looked like you were having a nightmare, so I woke you up," she stared at him expectantly, eyes luminous from the light of a candle on the side table. It was dark out. How long had he slept for?

"Are you really going to leave? Tomorrow?" questioned Ila, fidgeting with the handle of one of her crutches.

Zuko nodded in confirmation.

"Mom thinks you should stay longer and rest more so you heal properly," fretted Ila.

"I'm stronger than she thinks," Zuko replied.

"Do you have to go?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure? Because… you could stay here with us. You could have my room; I don't mind sharing with Ilesh-"

"I can't stay. There's someone I need to find," said Zuko firmly.

"Are you looking for your family?" she asked with no guile, just honest curiosity.

Zuko's shoulders slumped.

"No… I haven't really got a family…" not anymore.

"We could be your family!" replied Ila excitedly, "You can be a family even if you aren't blood related. My birth mother died when I was a baby, so mom took me in... We could be your family too. All you need to make a family is love," her naivety and earnestness brought a lump to his throat.

"You don't want me in your family. Trust me," he dismissed roughly.

Their conversation was cut short when Ming-Na appeared in the doorway.

"Ila, leave Lee alone. He needs to rest, and you should be in bed."

Ila pouted, but obeyed her mother.

Instead of shutting the door and leaving him alone (like he wanted) Ming-Na entered the room.

"You look much better," she said, laying the back of her hand against his forehead. This time Zuko kept obligingly still.

"Your temperature is much better too. You slept so long that you missed dinner, I'll bring you something."

Once he had a tray of food on his lap, Ming-Na took the seat at his bedside and neatly folded her hands together on top of her round belly.

"Go on, eat," she encouraged when Zuko eyed her warily. She was making herself comfortable, which meant that she was probably going to ask him some more questions he couldn't answer.

"Ila didn't tell you the whole story," she began.

Zuko chewed his roast duck and swallowed before replying.

"About… the snakes?" he guessed. Ila had talked a lot of things at him. Ming-Na chuckled.

"No. Not about the snakes. About her mother."

Her mother…

Ming-Na's voice took on a much more serious tone.

"I was the healer than attended Ila's birth. She was born in a town closer to the coast… my birth town. It's gone now," Meng-Na got a far-away look in her eye, like she was picturing a place dear to her heart that didn't exist anymore.

"For Ila's mother, the labor was very difficult. Halfway through, there was a Firenation raid, but by then it was too late to try and move her. By the time Ila was actually born, everything was burning."

"Everything?" Zuko echoed.

"The houses, the crops, and market place, and Ostrich horse stables, everything went up."

"Why did the Firenation attack your town?" Zuko asked.

"Apparently it was on top of a good source of metal ore. They burned everything down to make way for a mine."

Something cold and heavy settled in Zuko's stomach. They weren't supposed to be burning down villages, the Firenation was supposed to be improving them. Giving people a better life with their superior technology.

"Anyway, after the birth, Ila's mother was very weak... She'd lost a lot of blood. She begged me to take her daughter and run. The house next door was on fire, and the soldiers were closing in, so I did as she asked. I fled," there was a lot of pain and bitterness packed into that single word.

"Ila has been with me ever since," Ming-Na continued, "I've raised her as my own. I love her as if she were my own."

"Why are you telling me this?" Zuko asked, genuinely confused. This story was personal. He was practically a stranger.

"Because, you could stay with us Lee. If you wanted too. I hope I'm not overstepping any bounds when I say that this town is very tolerant of children of with Firenation blood."

Zuko flinched, and broke into a cool sweat.

"W-what do you mean? Y-you think I have Firenation blood?" he stammered.

"Are you saying you don't?" challenged Ming-Na. Upon seeing the stricken look on his face, she continued.

"Relax, I don't hold it against you."

"How did you know?" Zuko questioned hoarsely.

"It was the way the snake bite affected you. You burned much too hot when the venom was in your system to be anything other than a firebender."

"If you knew I was a firebender… why did you help me?"

"A few reasons. First, because you saved my daughter's life. Second, because you're just a kid, and third… because of your scar."

Zuko reached up to touch it involuntarily. It was as waxy and lifeless as ever.

"My scar?"

"I'm a healer. I can tell that wound was inflicted on you deliberately by a firebender. How old were you?"

"…T-thirteen," his voice hitched. The pity on Ming-Na's face was almost more than he could bear.

"The firenation has hurt you too," she said simply.

I deserved it! It was my own fault! Zuko wanted to scream. But he didn't.

"Are you any good? As a firebender I mean?" asked Ming-Na briskly. She seemed to sense that he had been about to snap, so she moved the conversation along.

He thought about Azula overpowering him with pathetic ease. He thought about her lightening…

"Not really," he said baldly. Ming-Na looked disappointed.

"So you're untrained too?"

"I didn't say that, I've had training."

In the firenation, all firebenders got at least basic training for control. Untrained, a firebender was a hazard to themselves and everyone around them, liable to accidentally set things on fire and burn things down.

"Ila is a firebender. There are three or four other children in the village that are probably going to turn out to be firebenders too. They're younger than her, so we aren't sure yet, but all of them will need training. Ila nearly burned the house down last time she had a nightmare-"

"Wait, hang on. I don't understand. Ila and these other children… they have firenation blood? How?"

"Their fathers were firenation and their mothers are Earth Kingdom."

"And you… You want me to stay and train them?"

"Yes. You could settle down here. You would be accepted if you did that for our children, no matter what your background is."

Privately Zuko disagreed, if they knew who he really was he'd be dead. There was one point about her story that was bothering him…

"If these kids all have fathers that are firebenders, why do you need me?"

Ming-Na eyed him oddly.

"...Can't- Can't one of their fathers train them…?" he clarified haltingly.

"None of their fathers are here."

"But… But why? If they married Earth Kingdom women and had children with them-"

"None of them married."

A tendril of unease uncurled itself in the pit of his stomach.

"I don't understand."

"Lee, there isn't nice way to put this, but… none of the women consented to becoming pregnant. Do you understand? They were forced by firenation soldiers."

Zuko's face blanched. His stomach revolted. Ming-Na's face swam out of focus in front of him.

"No… That-that's sick and wrong! W-why would they do that?!" he cried. Something in his chest was cracking, fracturing.

Firenation soldiers were supposed to comport themselves with honor.

They weren't supposed to rape women, and father children. They weren't supposed to abandon those children in a foreign nation where no one knew how to train firebenders.

"How could this have happened? Why didn't anyone stop them?"

"I don't know why Lee. The world is at war. Awful things happen," replied Ming-Na sadly.

"It shouldn't happen!" he snarled vehemently. The Firelord shouldn't allow it to happen…

A horrible thought occurred to him.

"Ming-Na… you- you're-" his eyes darted down to her swollen stomach. Ming-Na's eyes widened in understanding.

"No no, I have a husband. He's away fighting in the war, but he is this little one's father, as well as Ilesh's," she explained hurriedly.

"I didn't mean to upset you Lee," she continued.

"I'm not upset," he snapped.

Ming-Na just looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"You've barely touched your dinner."

He hadn't taken another bite since she'd started talking.

"I'm not hungry anymore," he said churlishly.

"Lee, please just think about what I said. About staying here with us, and teaching Ila and the others. You look like you've been through a lot. You could stop running, and make a home here. If you want," said Ming-Na gently.

She took his barely picked-over plate away, and blew out the candle, wishing him a good night as she left.

Ila and the other children needed someone to teach them. Of that he was certain.

He was equally certain that it couldn't be him.

He needed to find Katara.

He resolved to leave at the earliest opportunity to continue his search.

This chapter was soooo hard to write! Every sentence was like pulling teeth ugh! I'm not even sure if I'm very happy with it! Sorry if this was boring to read, I feel like nothing much happened, but Zuko needed time to heal and its over now, on to meeting up with the Gaang! :D