Happy Reading! :).
"She's a fire bender!" Shi yelled, looking horrified.
Seeing his opponent caught off guard, Zuko took the opportunity rise to his feet and grab his swords laying beside him. He swung at them and startled man, forcing him back.
The man jumped before kicking Zuko, causing him fall into the mud. Quickly getting up he glanced over to see the older man make a run at Katara.
"I'll kill you fire bending whore." He swore. Katara felt her blood boil, and moved into a waterbender stance. Zuko yelled out to her only to watch her shoot fire trough her arms the man ducked from the flames just barely missing them. He stopped for a moment face red hot and then tried again.
Zuko made a run but before he could get there another shoot of Katara's flames forced him back, and he dropped his ax and fell back at the sight of her,
"Get away from her Shi." The man yelled, and the girl quickly moved away from Katara, and closer her brother.
"Get out of here, you bastards " Her voice was cold and hard, and it ran a chill up Zukos spine, the man eyed her warily and then Zuko who was still holding his swords, ready to fight.
"Damn you fire nation, you call us pirates and thieves, but you're the true criminals here, just your existence is a crime." The thief rose to his feet and went over to his children, he lifted up Chi and with the help of his daughter. He turned back to Katara Zuko stepped in front of her and raised his swords.
"Get lost before I show you what a real fire bender can do, you inbreed nit." His voice matched Katara's, and Shi's eyes filled with fear, but he turned away.
Zuko and Katara watched them go until they couldn't see them anymore. Katara let out the breath she didn't know she was holding, she felt strong, turning her gaze to Zuko he gave her an approving nod and smile, but his eyes shot to the figures behind her making Katara turn around.
There was the women, still clutching her baby tightly to her along with her father who was still mumbling incoherently. She gave them a small smile before walking over to them. "It's alright now." She said softy, but the woman's horror did not fade.
"They're gone and you're safe." She held out her hand to woman.
"Let us help you." She said
The woman's eye's shot up angrily.
"Please, just get away." She pushed Katara's hand away.
Katara stepped back away from the woman, her eyes were full of tears.
"But there gone, and we're not going to hurt-"
Her eyes narrowed at Katara.
"Just go, take whatever you want. Just go away!" She cried forcing Katara back further.
She felt a hand on her shoulder, and when she turned around she saw Zuko giving her a solemn look, but not giving up she turned back.
"I don't understand, we...I-"
"We don't want *your* help" the women snapped. It felt like someone had knocked Katara down, she stubbled backwards. Was this because she used Firebending?.
"Please, let me explain we-"
" One good deed doesn't make up for the hundred years of anguish, Just go!" The women shouted
Katara felt the first tear roll down her face, and she was about to plead again when Zuko grabbed her hand and turned her away from the woman.
"Come on Katara." He said, he turned back and glared at the women who was rocking her baby and father to her, there was nothing more they could do.
She began sobbing when they reached the animal, Zuko tightened his grip on her when he felt his breathing sped up.
"Katara." Zuko asked, worried as he watched tears fall from her eyes. He gently grabbed her shoulder hoping she would find the small gesture comforting, but instead she jerked away from his touch.
"Don't touch me." She hissed. He glared at the young women before she backed away. "This is all your fault Zuko, why must you act like this all the time" She snapped.
His eyes narrowed. "I told you to leave them Katara." He said clenching his fists.
She wiped her wet eyes. "If you wouldn't have given up then maybe I wouldn't of used your bending!" She yelled causing the beast next to her to step back and whine.
Zuko grabbed the Ostrich Horse before it could run off into the forest.
"What was I suppose to do let that woman kill you?" Throwing down the reins he stood right in front of her to grip her shoulders.
"Katara let me make thing one clear to you, if you die its very possible you"ll take my bending with you and if my bending dies and I'm stuck as a wimpy Waterbender for the rest of my life, the same goes to you, and now because of your newest stunt, we're not only going to have the my sister hunting us, but the whole damn Earthkingdom."
"They won't do that I'm a friend of the Avatar and a master Waterbender." She said through her teeth, struggling to get free, but he only tighten his grip and pulled her closer.
"Don't you understand that if we're caught we'll be executed there won't be any little Avatar to save you, there won't be your brother or even a friend just an ax." He continued, speaking in her ear, a shiver ran up her spine as he spoke.
"We hold no cards in this game Katara, it's just you and me against everyone else, and I won't let you ruin my chance at getting home." He growled, pushing her away from him. He watched her eyes widen with fear and surprise.
She watched him walk over to the animal and and place the bag that had fallen off and place it back on. Katara was getting a good look at the future Fire King and it frightened her, because she knew he was right. After checking everything he gracefully jumped onto the beast, while Katara still stood there quietly and watched him present his hand. She simply starred at him for a moment before she let him help her up into the seat, she sat in front of him again making her feel a bit uneasy.
"Why didn't you say you were hurt?" He asked, breaking her out of her thoughts.
"What?" She asked confused, until she saw the gash on her arm, she hadn't even realized she was cut. Zuko pulled out a piece of cloth out the bag and placed it around the cut before tearing it off. She watched him with curiosity as he gently wrapped her arm.
She watched him trying to hold back the sob trying to escape from her mouth. He reached into his back pocket to pull out a knife he cut the cloth and tied it off.
"We'll find an inn at the next town, and then I'll clean and wrap it better." he said.
She stuttered shifting to find a good place that was comfortable, she felt him place his hand move her over the reins and over hers.
"Don't worry Katara, I won't let them take your honor, or mine." He said simply Katara turned away from him and looked to the hill again.
Zuko watched a tear fell down her check grinding his teeth. 'Oh God don't cry' he thought freezing on the spot, her sob's were silent, he knew it would only be a moment before she would start crying. Katara pulled her hand over her mouth trying to stop the whimpers. Zuko bit his lip and grabbed her shoulders
"Katara" he whispered softly, keeping her eyes closed she shook her head trying to find her bearings. Zuko brought her closer to him like he had the first time only he touched his forehead to hers.
"Katara, yell at me" he said softly, she stopped sobbing to look up.
"What?" She whimpered, confused, he shook his and pulled her tighter into him. She felt her heart pound in her chest, it was like the night in the Inn.
"Yell at me, hit me, hell throw fire at me, just don't cry anymore." He almost begged.
she turned her head away only to feel his lips on her forehead. 'why did this have to happen to her' she thought trying to break away.
"Damn it Katara when will you start trusting me?" he snared in a low voice. Turning her head up she bared right into his golden eyes.
"When you give me a reason to." She said, trying to pull away again, he kept her firmly pressed onto him and her stomach flipped and her breathing speed up, when his mouth made contact with her skin.
"Zuko, what are you?"
"Shh." He interrupted placing small kisses on her hair line. She bit back a moan as he continued to plant soft kisses on her. Ever part of her screamed to get him off but she couldn't it felt to...good.
"Zuko." She whimpered again pathetically trying to push him off again, he lips moved to her ear making her open her mouth in surprise.
"Trust me." he whispered into her ear, Katata stiffened at the words, and placed her hands on his chest.
She sucked in a breath when she felt him place small bites onto her neck, somewhere in her brain was the common sense to push him away, to tell her this was wrong, very wrong, and that.
"Ah." she gasped when he bit behind her ear, and that's when she gave up. Her small hands griped his shirt pulling him closer, he complained happily and buried his hand in her thick hair pulling out her hair tie making her hair fall around them.
Katara sounds were driving him crazy, he pulled her hair a bit and unlatched his mouth from her rich neck, she cried on protest until she felt his lips on hers.
It took her a moment to adjust to the kiss his lips moved hot and passionately, making her body tingle. She opened her mouth to suck in some much needed air and he slipped his tongue inside her mouth. His hands left her hair and landed on her hip, he pulled his waist into hers.
"Zuko" she whispered into his mouth when she felt his hands on her hips, he slid them up her sides. His hands squeezed her waist and pulled away. Zuko and Katara breathed heavy, her face was stained with a blush.
Still breathing heavy and flustered, she brought her hands on his face. He flinched when she touched his scared check and backed away.
"What are we doing?" She asked trying to regain her breath.
He turned back around. "Releasing the tension." He said softly.
"I've always wanted to go to a bar!" Sokka beamed, and Iroh smiled at the excited boy. Instead of sitting in a hotel for the next week, he decided that it was more fun to go out for an old fashioned drink, Aang has decided against going and was meditating back in their room.
"I'm glad you're excited my boy." Iroh had grown very fond of Sokka, and while he thought he was a bit goofy, some of his brilliant ideas reminded him of his own son.
He smiled again as Sokka barged into the pub and sat down smacking his hand on the bar table. "We will have two of your strongest drinks." He said with a toothy grin.
Iroh laughed at the glaring bartender and joined him. "You heard him." Iroh said, tapping his fingers lightly.
Zuko and Katara avoided eye contact as if looking at one another would give them the plague. They were once again moving in silence and Zuko glanced at his feet for the tenth time in the last five minuets, while Katara kept her eyes straight in front of her steering the Ostrich horse, it had been easier then she predicted and reminded her of driving Appa.
She looked at the white cloth wrapped around her arm, it was itchy and stung like crazy and she wanted to do was pull out some water and heal it herself. If the day got any worse then Katara just might have to kill herself. Sighing the animal she was driving hit a bump causing her to hiss in pain.
Zuko watched Katara grip her arm and he felt guilt wash over him, he sighed trying to figure out what to do with her. There was too much tension (way to much tension) and it was driving him crazy. At the heat of the moment it seemed like a good idea, but he was wrong. While pressing his fingers to his throbbing temple, Katara stopped the beast suggesting that they should take a break, he simply nodded and watched her climb off.
Sighing his frustrating he looked upon Katara again, as she drank from her water basin. He felt his pants tighten when he saw her pour the water onto her chest.
'Damn it' he thought, why couldn't she just be some damn ugly water tramp. Zuko jumped down after Katara and walked to his backpack, and turned around. Wanting to ignore stupid warm feeling passing he grinned his teeth and spoke.
"Katara" he said not meaning to sound so rough
She turned her head back a little
"Yes?" she asked softly, he swallowed.
"I'm... I'm" he couldn't say it yet
'Was he sorry?' Hhe didn't know, he was simply standing there scratching his head.
"You don't have to say it Zuko." She said softly, he stopped and looked her. "I know your sorry, i'm sorry too Zuko, look we don't need to fight we"ll be at the village soon." She babbled.
Zuko shook his head
Katara bit her lip and too a breath, she didn't know if she could get over the kiss.
When Jet had kissed her she could remember the nasty feeling that bubbled inside of her, it was a little later she had realized that it was her gut telling her he was bad. When Aang and her kissed she had gotten the same feeling only it was more like a kissing your brother feeling, slightly different then kissing a creepy perv, but still unpleasant. When Zuko had kissed her she felt neither grossed out or angry she felt... Shaking her head she decided to forget about incident, It was just a kiss. Nothing more...
Glancing at Zuko a crazy idea ran trough her head, since his little speech she couldn't help the sick feeling that passing her, butterflies shifted in her stomach and she was trying to stop the tingling in her body. This was wrong so wrong, Katara should be pissed, but she couldn't seem to keep that thought.
Zuko was a strange man with strange motives, and she wondered why he would lay down his life so easy, even if it was just for his bending. She couldn't help but feel safe with him around even if her ideas about why were still just a theory.
"You know..." She said wanting to make the silence stop.
"Know what?" He asked.
"My Waterbending can do more then just move water, It can heal too." She stated.
His eyes shot up. "I've never heard of anything like that." He said
She smiled. "It's kind of rare for men to be able to do it, but pretty much all the women in the North Pole can heal, they can mend bones, heal fevers, even arm gashes." She said.
He stopped and raised his eyebrow. "What are you getting at Katara?" He asked.
"Zuko what if you healed my cut, it would only take you a moment." She said.
Zuko looked a bit nervous. "I don't think that's a good idea, if we start just using each others bending who knows what will happen." He said.
"But I have used your bending twice now, and once in battle." She brought the animal to a stop. "Let me teach you, it could come in handy."
"It's not a good Idea." His voice was firm as ran his finger trough his hair.
"Trust me Katara, we're going to get our bending back soon enough we don't need to learn each others bending. " He said, trying to convince himself more then her.
She snapped her leg and the ostrich horse moved again. "It was just an idea." She said. "Come on I can see the town."
It was almost dusk when they reached the small town, it was just a days ride from the village Aunt Wou lived in, it was a small town, but it had all the important things, They found an old house just outside the gates of the city. Much to Zukos dislike an older couple, a much older couple lived there.
Since Katara and Zuko had no money to spare on this trip when they appeared cold, hurt, and wet the couple agreed to patch up Katara and give them shelter.
The women named Chiharu with short white hair and tan skin, patched Katara's arm, even though her arms shook so much Katara thought that she was going to miss the gash.
"There you go dear, all done." She said shaking her head at Katara's wet state.
"Thank you very much." She said, adding a small bow to the woman.
"A young lady and her husband shouldn't be out in such weather. Although it is your husband who should have thought ahead." She added in a cold voice.
"Lee." Katara said holding her tone.
"I beg your pardon?" She asked while putting back the other bandages.
"Lee." Katara said again, smoother this time. "That's my husband name, and we were fine, well until I got injured."
Chiharu let out a small chuckle. "I bet, and might I ask how that happened again, dear."
Katara did not like this women's tone. "Our horse tripped over a rock and I fell off." The woman raised her eyebrow.
"Now, now dear quite pestering the poor girl." The old bold man limped into the room, his bald head, made her think of Aang, and his goofy smile Sokka. He walked with a wooden cane that was tipped at the bottom, and he was short and hunched over; much like Chiharu, he wore green robe, with the gold Earth Kingdom symbol patched on his shoulder and back. Katara could see Zuko walking behind him running a towel trough his wet hair.
"Akio!" The women scolded.
"It's rude to walk into a ladies room without her consent." Akio scolded.
"Forgive me dear." He said, adding a playful bow, she waved her hand at him in a annoyance, and then her eyes moved then moved to Zuko and flashed with annoyance. "What are you doing?" She yelled getting up. Confused, Katara watched Zukos terrified expression, and then saw the mud track. "My floor!" Chiharu yelled.
Akio insisted they stay for dinner, Katara sat the oversized table next to Akio who was patiently listening to his wife ramble on about her muddy floor.
"Darling please, leave the poor boy be you've been chewing his ear out for an hour now." He said with a small chuckle, poor Zuko had been sitting at the far end of the table.
"Where are you two kids heading after this." Akio continued taking a bite of his bread.
"We were just heading to the next town." Zuko said simply, trying to stay as quiet as possible, he was sitting next to Katara at a table that could easily seat fifty people. They were quite wealthy, and looking around Zuko could think of all the pretty things they didn't need.
"So, do you guys have any children?" Katara asked when it became silent.
"Yes, we have three." Chiharu said simply taking a sip of her tea.
"Our two sons are in army." Akio added.
"Our daughter is married to a Lord that lives in the village, she just had a son we're very proud of her." Chiharu said smugly, ignoring her other two children.
Katara could see the worried look in her eyes, she had felt the same way when her father left for war. "You must be very proud of your sons."
"For what?" Chiharu snapped.
"For their bravery, I can understand that, my father is in the army and I'm very proud of him." She said half lying.
"You mean fighting in a pointless war thats been going on for a hundred years." Katara fell silent, and Zuko glared at the old women.
"Do you have any children?" Chiharu asked before Katara could ask more questions. Zuko kept his eyes down at his food, listening to curiously.
"Oh no, Lee.. you see Lee and I have only been married for a….year." She stuttered.
Chiharu huffed. "That's plenty of time."
Akio laughed. "Are you having trouble conceiving." Akio loudly whisper to Zuko, who about just about spit his soup out.
"No….No we're just…..Not, ready." She stumbled, unable to look at Zuko, who trying his hardest to ignore this whole topic.
"Children are the most wonderful gifts." Akio said taking his wife's hand, who was looking at him from across the table, Katara blushed and refused to look at Zuko. Fortunately, they were interrupted by two servants brings in bowls of soup, Katara wasn't used to being served.
"Now eat up." Akio said, rubbing his hands together. Katara looked at the greenish black soup that was placed in front of her, she looked at Zuko who shrugged and placed the spoon on his mouth.
"What is this?" She asked not so convinced it was something she should be eating.
"It's a simple stew with meat, cabbages, and turnips." Chiharu said, eating her soup. Katara put the spoon to her mouth and when the liquid hit her taste buds she let out a humming sound.
"Wow! I make this all the time, and it never tastes like this." She said sticking another spoon full in her mouth.
"Ah well by its self its very bland, but what really makes it taste good is the special herb from Chiharu's garden." Akio said. "It's why it has the black tint too".
Zuko who was about half way through his bowl, he was starving and hadn't eaten anything but jerky for almost a week.
"It's wonderful." Katara said, taking another bite.
"I'm glad your enjoying it dear, and I can see your husband is enjoying it as well, that's good." He leaned over to Zuko.
"The herb is especially good for fertility." Zuko choked and spit out his soup.
"Place your bets gentlemen."
Sokka placed the bag of coins on the table and let out a smirk, he was down to one man, the one who refused to give up. Sokka knew if he won this hand he would be rewarded with coins, jewelry, and some other things that the other unlucky betters had placed on the table.
"Careful young warrior, don't let him see your face, luck can go just as quickly as it comes." Iroh whispered in his ear, for the last three hours Sokka had been on a hot streak, cleaning out all the locals of money and valuables.
"Come on, last chance people." The man called again, Sokka tossed some coins onto the table.
"Let's make things interesting." Sokka said, and the man across the table grinned.
"Winner take all." He said, tossing all of this money onto the middle with Sokka's.
Something on the table caught Sokkas eye. It was a rolled up scroll it was old looking held together with a red bow, he glanced up at the owner, he was a big scruffy looking man, with deep gray eyes and pale skin. His muscles were covered in cuts and scars, alone with a scar that ran across his whole face. He smiled a toothy grin reveling his black teeth mostly missing teeth.
"Don't look to eager boy, I have no intention of losing that" The man said in a deep voice.
"What is it?" Sokka asked picking it up. "Some kind of scroll." He began to undo the knots when the man grabed it and placed it back into the middle of the table.
"No looking son, and it's not a scroll its a map, a Fire-Nation map to be exact." He said.
Sokka raised his eyebrow. "Why would I want a map of the Fire nation, your just a cheapskate." He added picking up another card.
"Stupid boy, its not a map of the fire nation, it came from the Fire nation, it's a map to buried treasure." He said licking his lips.
"You're full of shit, even if it was a treasure map, why would you be here betting it on cards, wouldn't you be out looking for it." Sokka laughed.
The man growled. "Its not a simple map, its coded only a fire bender can read it." Iroh then raised his eyebrow.
"Really, hmm, well whatever prepared to lose it." Sokka said confidently.
The man smirked and then placed down his cards. "Four of A kind boy, oh and I never lose that map, its lucky I always bet it when I'm on a roll, I'll be taking my winnings now."
Iroh went over and waved the man's hand away from the winnings. "Its rude to assume you're the winner when you haven't won yet." Iroh said smoothly.
The man growled. "Strait flush!" Sokka yelled throwing his cards down for everyone to see, the crowd went crazy, with gaps and cheers.
"What no… I never lose I-" The man stormed out of the bar. Iroh figured he didn't need to be in jail tonight.
Sokka pulled out his bad and began placing the winners inside. "What do you know this map is lucky." He said placing it into the bag with the others.
"Rich bastards." Zuko mumbled, trying not to sink into the mud, while holding a stack of blankets almost as big as him.
"it was still nice of them to let us stay." Katara said, trying to block the rain and lead their horse.
"Nice? They're making us sleep in a barn, what's nice about that?" Zuko snapped, glancing behind him at the house and glaring. "That place has about thirty rooms and they couldn't spare one." He added.
Katara gave him a sympathetic look. She knew what they were doing was rude and selfish, but after traveling for so long, having anywhere to sleep that wasn't under a tree was wonderful to her. "We are strangers Zuko, but you're right, It would be nice to sleep in a real bed again." She said mostly to herself.
Zuko grunted in annoyance and kept on walking until they reached the large barn.
"You take him to the stables, I'll take those inside." She said, handing the rains off to Zuko, he rolled his eyes, was he every going to be dry, he handed the blackest and grabbed the beast.
"Come on." He said taking it to the stables that housed the horses right next to the barn.
Katara opened the barn door, and looked around, the barn was huge, and clean, she couldn't really complain, it was stuffed with hay and the tools Akio used for farming, she walked up the ladder to see the top, it was a nice clear area covered by bundles of hay, and a small window letting in a bit of fresh night air. It would be good to get out of the rain, she unfolded the blankets and began to place them on the hey making a small bed for thought back to this afternoon, but quickly pushed those thoughts away, sighing she knew that she needed to stay away from those thoughts lingering in her head, Zuko was the enemy simple as that.
"Next time we keep walking until the next house." Zuko said coming up the stairs Katara jumped a little as he pulled her away from her thoughts. Letting out a small smile, she tossed a small towel to Zuko, who was still dripping on the floor.
"At least its dry." She said spreading another blanket.
He snorted. "I'm royalty, they should have given me their room." He said, instead of insulting him she simple raised her eyebrow, he glanced at her and then went back to drying off, he knew he sounded petty, but sometimes he couldn't help it.
"How's your arm?" He asked taking his wet shirt off.
Katara blushed and went back to her work.
"It's fine, it still stings though." She said touching the patch on her arm.
He nodded and reached into his bag, Katara glanced at his naked torso though her eyelashes, it was amazing how much one man affected her, she shook her head trying hard to ignore it.
"You know it would feel even better if it was healed." She stated simply.
Zuko turned around and let out a breath of air, but held his temper.
"Katara, I don't feel comfortable using your waterbending, its not right." He said the last part softly.
She turned to him, as he slipped on a long sleeved red shirt with a slit down the chest and a high collar along with back slcks. She shook her head and set the blanket down before she walked over to him.
"I'm not asking for a miracle Zuko, I'm just asking for a favor, come on it probably won't even work, what's the harm?" She asked. He didn't talked for a few minutes
"Just trust me Zuko." She said.
He looked at her and then sighed and pressed his fingers to his temple, it was getting harder and harder to say no.
"Fine, but if it doesn't work then we never bring it up again."
Her eyes lit up. "Thank you, thank you Zuko!"
She said, and reached out and wrapped her arms around him, he froze, and she quickly pulled back. "Sorry." She said.
"Um ok, come here i'll walk you through it." She said, leading him over to the bucket of water that Zuko had brought with him from outside.
He sat down next to her, as she turned to the water and then took a deep breath.
"Give me your hand." She said, he obeyed and she placed it into the water.
"Now try to wrap the water around your hand like a glove". He nodded and concentrated on the water, but nothing happened.
"That's ok, just try to imagine your hand and the water is one."
He gave the water a cold look. "My hand and water are one, my hand and water are one, my hand and, this is so stupid are one, my-"
"It's working." Katara smiled, and he lifted his hand along with the water.
He watched amazing as the water wrapped around his hand, it felt like cool and clean, and he slowly moved his hand up until it touched Katara injured arm, she removed the patch and tossed it aside.
"Alright now, with the water feel the energy and move it to the water."
He started at water and felt a tingle go though his hand, the feeling made his hand jerk and the water fell to the floor. He huffed angrily, and began to get up.
"Please Zuko, try again you almost had it, here." She set her injured water into the bucket of water.
"Katara." He pleaded.
"Please Zuko, just one more time." She said, and he bend back down.
"Here, you don't have to pick up the water this time, the first time I ever healed was after Aang burned me, I stuck my hand into a stream." She said, he ignored her and placed his hand into the water and covered her gash.
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, he tried to feel the energy like she said, it was just like at age ten when he first time he tried to conjure a flame from the sun.
It took Azula a whole ten minuets to do it perfectly, while he had spent hours among hours trying, his teacher had given up and went back inside, Zuko on the other hand stay out until the sun went down.
It was there his mother found him curled up under the stars, he remembered the rambles of his father yelling at his mother about their worthless son, but he could also remember his mother voice after she placed him into bed.
"Zuko, no matter what, I'll always be proud of you, of anything and everything you ever do." She whispered. before she kissed his check.
"Zuko, Zuko." He was broken from his thoughts with Katara's voice, he looked at the water and then at Katara, nothing was happening, and he pulled his hand away and then stood up.
"I can't do it." He said, Katara stood up and wrapped her hand around her arm, Zuko walked away to his bag.
Her face softened; she walked over behind him touched his shoulder and squeezed it gently.
"Thank you for trying." She said, he didn't turn around, and Katara went and sat on the straw bed. She examined her arm and sighed softly.
Zuko reached into the bed and pulled out a few bandages.
"Come on, lets do this the old fashioned way." She smiled and drew her arm out and let him bandage it.
Zhao stared at the letter in his hand, a faint smile came to his face as he read it again. He was moving up in the world.
"Admiral, Lady June says the scent is getting stronger." A soldier stated.
"How long?" He barked, not tearing his eyes away from the scroll.
"About four days sir, she thinks she knows where they're heading." She solider added.
Zhao nodded.
"Bring her here." He ordered; the soldier bowed and then left the tent.
Moments later June walked into the tent looking unimpressed.
"I don't like being summoned, what do you want?" She snapped.
"My soldiers have really taken a shine to you June." He said, ignoring her annoyance.
She sat down across from and grabbed his drink, he glared as she drank from his cup shaped like a snake.
"Maybe they like me because I'm not a crappy leader."
She stated casually, watching as he pulled another cup from a drawer and poured himself another drink.
"I'm only going to say this once." He looked up. "Do not get in the way of my plans, you're here for one reason, to help me capture the Avatar, thats what your getting payed for."
"That's what I'm doing." She glared. "It's not my fault your men look up to me, maybe if you weren't such a hard ass your men would look to you for guidance instead of me."
Zhao let out a humorless laugh. "Look up to you, oh please, the only reason my men even bother look at is well… I think we both know why." He said running his eyes over her body.
She stood up angrily, knocking her cup over and not caring as it shattered all over the hard ground. "How dare you, speak to me like that." She yelled.
Zhao calmly took a drink of his newly poured drink. "Like what, the trash you are, your nothing but a rebel." He said, as he stood up.
"We're done here, get out of my tent." She gripped the sword on her right hip, as he continued.
"Just remember who you work for June, and we'll get alone nicely." He finished as she slowly let go of her sword and turned to leave.
"You really are an ass Zhao." She said as an afterthought as she walked out of the tent.
He smiled brightly and picked up the letter from the Fire Lord again. "You may be right." He said smirking to the empty space.
"Zuko, I know you said something about the sun making me sick, what did you mean by that?" She asked.
Zuko was still in the process of patching up her arm, and she had to admit he was pretty good at it.
"It's a Firebending thing, your body is still adjusting, the sun gives you power and since its been rainy and cloudy you've been grower weaker, but it will go away when the sun comes out again." He said.
She nodded in understanding. "It's the same thing with water, when I'm away from it for too long I get weak and sick."
"Exactly." He said, wrapping the bandage tight so it wouldn't fall off.
"It's one of the main reasons, the Firenation hasn't taken over the South Pole, we have Midnight Sun." Katara said as both a statement but also as a question.
Zuko simple nodded.
"Fire benders can't survive that long without the sun." He said, although his father had told non-benders they were welcome to live, but fortunately for the water tribes no one in the Firenation really wanted to move there, but she didn't need to know that.
"At least there's one thing you guys can't take from us." She muttered, and glanced up as Zuko turned to look at her, she turned away. "Sorry."
He nodded and then place his arms down.
"Done." He said standing, she looked at the patch and smiled.
"Thank you Zuko." She said, and he ignored her and walked over the window, it was raining again.
It lit up in the darkness and he was actually thankful for the barn on this dark cold night.
Katara was laying down with her arms and legs speed out her long hair was all around looking like a river of curly chest nut brown.
"How are you feeling?" He asked Katara, walking over to the hay bed.
"Fertile." Katara smiled when her joke turned Zuko bright red.
"Alright then, I will be sleeping on the floor." He said half serious, and Katara laughed not looking at him.
"No stay, I'm fine, I just feel a little sick." She said curling up into a ball.
"There is a special tea my Uncle used to make me, I'll make it for you tomorrow it should help, whenever it gets really bad just a take a deep breath and try to relax, the more you panic the more your inner fire will ignite." He said.
She turned to look at him.
"Before you go to sleep try to meditate a little, it will help at night with the hot flashes." He stated.
She smiled a little and then sat up. "Alright, maybe tomorrow before we leave you could give me a few pointers?" She asked, and he then walked over to the hey bed and laid down next to her.
"Sure." He said.
Katara stood up and put out the lanterns, she didn't want to risk them being seen, and she crawled back into the bed.
They weren't touching but he could feel her body heat, Zuko closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Katara laid there for a few moments, before she finally shut her eyes.
"Good night Zuko." She said quietly.
"Good night Mai." Zuko mumbled.
Katara eyes shot open and she turned to look at him, he was fast asleep, but a pain hit her heart making her chest hurt. 'Who was Mai?'
A want to give a big, BIG Thank You to everyone for reviewing and reading. You guys are amazing I love reading what you guys think.
Stay tuned for Aunt Wu's Village coming up Next...
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MadGirl :)