I do not own ATLA

All was quiet in camp that night. After flying for 8 hours straight the gang were happy to fall into a deep slumber and give up fighting to stay awake.

Aang lay on his back near the fire in the green clearing. The young airbender's chest rose and fell gently with every breathe of air he took. No emotion passed over his serene face as he slept the stress of the past day away.

The same could not be said about Sokka. The water tribe warrior had fallen asleep right across a decent sized boulder. His feet and head braced himself on the ground as he balanced delicately on his back. Needless to say he wouldn't be able to walk properly tomorrow. His soft snore graced the air every 10 seconds; his mind far off in the spirit world's land of dreaming.

Katara couldn't sleep though. Seeing her brother and new friend fall asleep so easily did nothing to soothe her irritable mood. Tossing and turning on her sleeping bag she just could not get comfortable. The full moon gave her extra energy and she felt restless.

With a sigh, Katara rose to her feet and walked into the forest away from the Gang's makeshift camp. Soft distant sounds of moving water reached the water girl's ears. Striding ahead purposefully, Katara walked towards the sound. The water's feel drew her in, a natural feeling for a waterbender.

Pushing back the branches and bushes with her tanned hands, Katara stepped out into a large clearing. Up ahead was a waterfall. The water glowed with an ethereal quality; illuminated by the light of the full moon. Water from the waterfall collected in a small pool before running in a small stream towards the nearby beach. Blue eyes lit up as they took in the tranquil setting. Stripping her outer clothes and leaving her white undergarments on, Katara quickly hurried to the bank of the small pool, delicately testing the water with the tip of her foot. Satisfied that the temperature was bearable she raised her arms above her head and gracefully dove into the deeper area of the pool; careful to avoid any rocks on the bottom she swam slowly underwater clearing her head of her frustrations.

Breaking the surface with a gasp, Katara floated calmly on her back with her eyes closed. Her breathing slowed as she stretched out and relaxed. Not noticing anything around her she didn't realise that she had started to float downstream, or that a pair of piercing gold eyes were watching her.

Zuko had been out scouting again; in desperate search of the avatar. A twig snapped somewhere behind him. Jumping in to the nearby trees to conceal himself he waited for the intruder. A flash of blue caught his eye he peered from his perch to set a closer look. Surprise flickered across Zuko's features as he recognised the young girl that was now walking towards his tree. Taking in tan skin and blue eyes he watched her walk past. Katara, but what's she doing here? The avatar, he must be near. Following her carefully, he picked his way across branches and watched her stop in a clearing.

What is she doing? From Zuko's position he could clearly see her taking off her clothes. A blush quickly rose on his cheeks as she stripped herself of her outer robes, leaving her hardly covered by her white undergarments. The Prince drank in the sight of her tanned and slim body, noting how she was starting to fill out quite nicely. I didn't notice that a week ago.

Zuko watched silently as she tested the water and finding it to her satisfaction and dove in. he couldn't seem to take his eyes of her as she swam around with a peaceful smile on her face. Jumping down from his branch he landed silently and crept over to the water's edge. She hadn't noticed him as she floated with her eyes closed. Contemplating if he should disturb her, Zuko edged closer and studied her small face.

Noticing that she was starting to drift, Zuko walked along the bank beside her, ready to jump in if she got into strife. Noticing that she was drifting faster, he started to panic. Her face was so peaceful, was it really possible she wasn't aware what was happening to her? Zuko asked himself.

"Oh Shit" Pirates were right ahead of her just up the stream. Zuko made a wild decision, bracing himself he jumped into the cold water and swam after her. Reaching out in front of him, he grabbed her arm and pulled her towards him. No response came from her. Gathering her in his arms he kicked powerfully towards the bank. A branch hung above coming from the trees above the stream. With a lunge, Zuko grabbed it and heaved himself and the girl onto the bank. Scrambling away from the water, Zuko panted from the exertion and glanced at the girl in his grasp. She still had not responded at all and her peaceful expression unnerved the sodden Prince.

Yells and growls could be heard in the distance pirates he thought. Making a hasty decision, Zuko heaved the girl into his arms and stood shakily. The adrenaline was still pounding through him, and without a backward glance he ran into the forest with the girl in his arms. The pirates were coming.

i'm sorry this chapter is really short but school work is taking it's toll on me. I'm really grateful to all the people that have reviewed so far, they have been really helpful. i hope to post something soon until then enjoy!