It was surprising to see a dry deck; the sky ahead was blackened with heavy storm clouds. I could hear Uncle and Zuko arguing outside of my room about whether to continue into the storm or turn around. I didn't need to hear Zuko's answer to know we would continue. I stepped outside for some air, and to glance ahead at the menacing clouds. The head crewman was yelling at the prince, something about disrespecting the crew. I can believe that, I thought to myself. "You are nothing but a spoiled prince!" were the last words out of the crewman's mouth before Zuko stopped walking away. I could feel the tension in the air; anger floated around Zuko as he turned around and raised his arms to fight the sailor. Thankfully, Uncle Iroh stepped between the two and stopped them before anything could happen.
Then the rain came, suddenly, and ferociously. I jumped a bit, and ran back inside. The crew raced to their positions and tried to take hold of the ship before the worst of the storm arrived. I stayed inside, thankful for a dry blanket, and watched the sailors face the perilous sea. Conditions grew worse by the minute, and a climax was reached with a loud crack. Lightning struck the back end of the ship. I stepped outside for a moment and was horrified to see one lone sailor at the top of the ship, dangling from a rope he'd gotten tangled up in. He was alive, but seconds away from falling. Something above me caught my eye, and two men were climbing a ladder to the top of the mast, the head crewman and Prince Zuko. I screamed when the sailor fell, but with a great show of strength, Zuko grabbed the man as he fell and the both hung onto the ladder with superhuman agility. I sighed as the three men climbed down to safety.
Not a moment later, the oh-so-familiar flying bison soared through the black sky. Zuko and the crew stopped to gaze sadly at the sky. "What shall we do, Captain?" asked the head crewman. Everyone looked to the prince. He sighed and hesitated. "We must get out of this storm. To the eye of the storm!" he cried, painfully. The crew leapt back into action, but Zuko gazed once more into the sky. When he looked down, I was in his line of view. He yelled, "Sing! Get inside!" then turned and marched below deck.
After the storm was past, and the crew at ease, Zuko returned to his room, where I was waiting. I offered him dry towels, and warm bedding. After he was settled, I bowed and said to him, "You showed great bravery today, Master," and left the room.