A/N: Guess who's back?? Yeah me. Sorry about the delay of a new chapter. I've been really busy lately and just got caught up in a new story im writing. If you read Twilight and think Jasper should totally take Edward's place go check it out! ;) lol. Thanks for reading! BTW: TODAY IS MY BDAY! happy bday to anyone else who shares this wonderful bday w/ me!

Previously...

"And one more thing." Iroh started. "Why did you insist that I call you Lee instead of Zuko? I'm sure they would understand-"

"No they wouldn't." Zuko interrupted quickly. "Uncle the whole firenation is after them! You saw how the Kyoshi girl reacted when she noticed we were firenation! Imagine if she found out that we were not only firenation, but two former Princes!"

"Hm...I see your point and I'll go along with it. But eventually you should come clean about your identity." Iroh finally agreed.

"We'll see." Zuko said, dismissing his Uncle as he returned to meditating.

"I know you don't feel like your a part of the group, and you have a habit of distancing yourself but it wouldn't hurt for you to join in on group activities Zuko." Iroh said eyeing the raven-haired teenager sadly.

"We need firewood." Sokka announced, sitting down on one of the logs that were placed around the bare campfire.

"Your right. Some nice warm tea sound good right now." Iroh said in agreement, his voice tinged with want.

I sighed, thinking about the easy days back home. There was always a fire and food at the table, ready for us. We didn't have to go trapezing through forests for things. Or take turns going to bathe in a stream.

"You guys are right." I inserted. "Someone will get sick if we sleep another night without a fire. Besides I already have my hands full nursing Toph back to health, I don't have time to do the same for anyone else."

"How is Toph?" Sokka asked, his eyes shadowed with sadness and...regret?

"Better." I replied. "She should be up and walking in a couple of days, a week at most.

Between Iroh and I, Toph would make a full recovery and not have any permanent damage. We had been very attentive to her, watching carefully for any signs that she was getting worse; and so far everything was okay.

"Kataaarraa." Sokka called, drawing me from my thoughts.

"What?" I asked with narrowed eyes. He wanted something.

"Could you go collect the firewood?"

"What? Why me?"

"Because your a waterbender and it's raining. You people like to be in the rain right?" He said lazily.

"Fine." I grumbled, not in the mood to argue.

I marched into the kitchen area and grabbed a basket to put the wood in, before starting for the path that lead to the forest.

"Wait! You can't go alone!" Sokka said sternly, snatching my basket out of my hands.

"Sokka I don't need a babysitter! I am perfectly fine going to gather firewood by myself! I said, crossing my arms over my chest.

Lee, and Iroh groaned at what was looking to be another fight.

Well they could deal with it until Sokka realizes that he's being ridiculous! I've been going off alone all my life practically! Why does he suddenly think I need someone to guard me like I'm defenseless?!?

"It's not safe and you know it Katara! Who knows what or who could be running through those woods! So either someone goes with you or we don't have a fire tonight!" Sokka argued, gesturing wildly.

"I'm better off than you would be Sokka! I'm a MASTER waterbender! I can take care of myself! Besides you had no problem with Aang going off by himself a couple of minutes ago to look for fruit! Why can't I then? I'm older than him anyways." I pointed out, narrowing my eyes at my brother.

"Because you're a girl!"

He didn't just say that.

"What does that have to do with anything!?! Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I'm weaker than you!" I said outraged.

"He actually has a good point." Suki interrupted, earning a glare from me.

"Hey, all I'm saying is that some men aren't as respectful as others, and you don't want to come across one of them alone." She added as an explanation.

I bit my lip and groaned internally. Well when you put it that way, she's kinda right. So far we had been pretty lucky and not ran into any truly nasty people, except Zhao of course. Who knows what he would have done if Lee hadn't showed up.

"Fine." I grumbled. "Come one Sokka let's go."

"Ahhh...No can do sis." He protested immediately.

"Why?" I asked through gritted teeth.

It was him who said I couldn't go alone and now he refused to come with me! I held my tongue to prevent any further arguments, while inwardly fuming.

"That's a girls job Katara. Men don't gather firewood, they hunt." He boasted, puffing out his chest.

I opened my mouth ready to retort when I was interrupted.

"What was that Lee? You said that you will volunteer to accompany Katara? How wonderful!" Iroh exclaimed pushing his nephew forward.

"What the hell Uncle?!? I never said-"

"That is so thoughtful of you Lee! Run along now! You don't want to keep Miss. Katara waiting!" The cunning old man inserted shooing Lee away.

With one last glare backwards, the obviously reluctant firebender stalked forward. "Let's go. The sooner we leave the sooner we get back."

"Nice to see you're having a good day." I said dryly, annoyed and a little hurt at him not wanting to come with me.

He ignored my remark and started our long walk to the forest. Huffing at his rude and indifferent attitude, I hurried to catch up with him; but not before seeing the triumphant look on Iroh's face.

Lee and I had to walk pretty deep in the woods to get to useable wood. It had rained during the night so most of the wood was wet and therefore useless to us. We had been walking for what felt like hours before I decided that he had gotten us lost.

"How much longer?" I asked, attempting- and failing- to make eye contact with Lee.

"I don't know."

"How can you not know? We've been walking for miles, it can't be that much farther." I insisted. My feet were sore and my legs were tired from all the fast-paced walking.

"Would you rather us get wood that was too damp to use and then have to come back and get more?" He questioned, raising an eyebrow at me mockingly.

I kept silent and turned my gaze to the floor in anger.

"I thought so." He murmured, quickening the pace.

Why does he have to do that? I was just curious! I wasn't being rude or insulting to him at all, so why does act like that all of the time? Is this what happens when two people of opposite elements are around one another?...No. Toph and Aang get along just fine. They get along great actually. So why does it end in a fight everytime Lee and I are together?

We walked for about another mile before he stopped. I watched as he lifted a small branch off the ground and lit it on fire, watching as it burnt black before crumbling into ashes. He nodded to himself and started gathering sticks and branches.

I sighed and placed my basket on the dry floor before helping him.

I sang softly to myself as I worked, trying anything to distract myself from the boring afternoon that lay ahead of me. I knew that once Lee and I returned I would have to cook, and the clothes were piling up so I'd have to wash them, and the place needed tidying up...the list goes on and on! I don't know what the gang would do if I wasn't here! Sheesh!

A hand clamped over my mouth suddenly, startling me. I dropped my collection of branches in shock and struggled briefly before I heard Lee's voice in my ear.

"Quit it!" He growled lowly, his breath warm against my cheek. I stopped moving immediately.

Seeing that I realized that it was him, he let go and pulled me behind a tree.

He pushed my back against the tree, his arms against the tree on either side of my head, and stepped close in front of me so that we were almost chest to chest.

"What are you doing?" I mouthed, not daring to utter a sound.

He didn't answer. His gold eyes were sweeping the forest for whatever he sensed. Then he froze.

Lee cursed under his breath before grabbing my shoulders and finally speaking. "Run."

I looked at him with wide eyes before grabbing his hand and darting out from behind the tree. We ran through the trees, my heart pounding madly in my chest, as I dodged branches and bushes.

Finally, When I felt as if my lungs would burst, I stopped running and hid behind a small bush. I closed my eyes and sat there for a couple of seconds catching my breath. My hands were trembling and my legs were cut from the thorns and branches that had slashed me as I ran.

Then it hit me. Where was Lee? When I started running he was right next to me, and now he wasn't here. My heart stopped. Had he been caught by whatever we had been running from? Had I abandoned him without even knowing I had done so?

I stood up instantly and retraced my steps back towards where he had pushed me against the tree to hide. How could I be so careless? Now because I panicked Lee may be in trouble. And I have no idea as to why we were running if the first place. All I know is that it must have not been good. I could tell by the look in his eyes. It was one I had never seen on him before. Fear.

That was my last thought before I blacked out.

A/N: Like it? Disappointed? Let me know! Reviews are appreciated!