Hayyy everybody! So yeah, you guessed it. I couldn't sleep all night so I decided to make yet another chapter(: Anyways hope you enjoy and leave many juicy reviews and critiques! By the way, this chapter will be Toph and Gaang free, but don't worry they'll be coming up soon. P.S( If you don't like this chapter suck it up, I had fun making it!)

Rating: T

Location: Western Air Temple

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender… Blah blah blah you know the rest.

CHAPTER 3: Wanted

It hurt… Everything hurt, from the tips of his fingers to the soles of his feet. The pain mostly seemed to gather around his chest.

Nerves on fire and tunic soaked with red, Zuko warily began to pull himself up using the support of the wall. About halfway up his ascend, the prince stumbled, dropping back to the ground helplessly.

What's going on? How did I get here?

Then it all came in a flash- The sparring, Toph, a boulder, un-bearable pain…"Listen, Sparky I need you to stay here for a little bit longer. I'm going to get Katara and she'll heal you right up."…

"Oh, and one more thing. Please, please! Stay awake." With another worried glance back, Toph sprinted off for camp, leaving for the injured prince against the wall.

"Ugh!" He grunted. He grabbed his side tentatively as another wave of pain rolled through his body. The prince was leaning on the wall for support, beginning to draw himself upwards once again.

This time, a success, he held a sweaty and blood covered palm to the stone, gasping for a breath of fresh air. As crisp air filled his nostrils, the fuzzy vision began to clear and his mind felt a bit more aware. The firebender continued to take in shaky breaths until he regained somewhat of a better composure.

Now a bit more stable and aware, Zuko realized something. The blood! He had to stop the bleeding before he completely bled out, causing him faint… or worse. Shaking those thoughts out of his head, the prince brought a shaky hand warily in front of him and ignited a small flame.

Now bringing the small flame (That seemed like it would flicker out any second) up to the right side of his abdomen, he gently pressed it to the bleeding area. Trying to suppress a cry of pain, the prince grit his teeth only allowing one quiet grunt to sneak past his lips.

His now cauterized side smelled freshly of smoke and burnt flesh. Well at least I'm not bleeding anymore. He thought tiredly.

He tried to focus, focus on anything but the pain.

Peering forward, Zuko began to watch the clouds roll by; their puffy white began to fade to an off white-grey as his vision began to swim and stir, fading to the darkness.

That's when it caught his eye.

A figure emerged from an ivory column, its dark outline barely visible in the foggy image of Zuko's sight. It seemed to stalk slowly into the area, like a predator observing it's soon to be prey.

"T-Toph… is that you? Katara? Aang?" He continued to ramble on the names of his fellow comrades. To his surprise none answered, and that's when worry turned into panic.

A soft whistling pierced the air as a silver glinted object cut through the atmosphere, directly in the path of the immobile firebender.

His eyes widened in shock as the small projectile tore through the skin on his left shoulder sending a whole new shockwave of pain through his body.

He stood like that for a while, unmoving, completely caught in a trance of pain. Body still shock, he continued to grip this wall as beads of sweat heavily rolled down his forehead.

Then he finally dropped to the floor. Hard.

The next thing that happened horribly shocked him. A series of wet painful coughs racked through the prince's body. As a result blood freely spilled down his bottom lip; crimson staining pale ivory.

No longer having the power to keep conscious, he allowed the darkness to swallow him whole.

The mysterious figure then strode over to the un-conscious boy and grabbed him roughly by the collar. Warm brown eyes stared coldly at the small gold slits that remained open but dead to the world.

"Well, well… what do we have here" A deep sarcastic voice chorused. "This must be my lucky day." With a quite dark and hearty laugh, the figure hefted the dead weight of the teen over his shoulder. Swiftly and quickly the man fled the area, prize in hands.

"Sweet dreams Prince Zuko." He exclaimed, venom dripping at the last ending words.

Hmm who do you think the mysterious man is? Take a guess, you'll never get it(: Haha I really hope you enjoyed this chapter but I'm gonna be completely honest. If I don't get more reviews soon I might not want to continue it so PILE ON THOSE REVIEWS. Critiques happily accepted(: Anyways stay with me here people and continue reading, I've got tons of fun surprises planned for the future so hang in with me here!

~ TheOneHope