Zuko has decided that he hates the North Pole. Hates it.
For the love of Agni, why on earth would these grubby, backward peasants even want to live in such a place? It's cold, desolate, cold, bleak, cold, cold, cold-
Almost as an afterthought, he remembers his breath of fire. He mutters a silent thanks to his uncle, concentrates, and inhales. Slowly, he warms his fingers, his hands, and lets the heat diffuse throughout his body.
Warmed, he straightens himself and takes in his surroundings. He is in a narrow passageway surrounded by walls of ice and snow.
He frowns and placed a hand on the wall behind him. It isn't his imagination. The wall is slightly warm, like there was something radiating heat on the other side.
He places both hands on the ice wall. There is a hissing sound as the wall begins to melt.
XXXXX
"Maybe we should get some help," Yue suggests as she watches Aang warily. The Avatar's eyes glow a brilliant silver.
"No, he's my friend," Katara reassures her. "I'm perfectly capable of protecting him."
"Well. Aren't you a big girl now."
At the sound of the new voice, her blood freezes, despite the warmth of the Spirit Oasis. It can't be. They haven't seen him for weeks, he hasn't haunted her nightmares for almost as long. He can't be here.
"No," she whispers aloud.
"Yes."
And there he is, as constant as a shadow. Like the ghost she thought him to be, he has followed them, has managed to steal into the North Pole, into this sanctuary.
"Hand him over," Zuko orders as he strides towards her. "And I won't have to hurt you."
At this, she bristles and shifts into a defensive position. She isn't a helpless little girl anymore. She is a Waterbender, and she can fight back.