I don't own A:TLA. Sorry if this chapter is confusing, but a very thoughtful reader pointed out some plot holes in this story so I want to clear things up.

I was getting pissed at constantly awaking to a headache. I looked around and noted that I wasn't alone in the infirmary. Iroh sat by my bed and was sipping a cup of tea. I groaned and sat up.

"Avery, be careful. You lost a lot of blood." Iroh said. I stared at him. "Why didn't you say anything about your shoulder?"

"I'm stubborn when it comes to pain." I said, stretching slightly.

"Well, your stubbornness nearly got you killed." Iroh said. I sighed.

"I'm sorry, Iroh." I said. My nose twitched and I looked to the door.

"Is something wrong?" Iroh asked.

"Sorry, I thought I smelt something off." I said. "It was just a soldier who actually showers."

"Speaking of your sense of smell, may I ask you a question?" Iroh asked. I nodded.

"I noticed that as a shirshu, you didn't have eyes. Or at least visible ones. Either way, you saw with scent. How does that work when you're human?" Iroh asked.

"Good question. As a human, I'm mostly blind. I can only really see outlines of things. Most people don't suspect that since my eyes aren't glazed over. But I still 'see' with my nose." I said. "Make sense?"

"Yes?" Iroh said. I sighed.

"Okay, I'll try harder to explain. As a shirshu, everything is black and white. Scent appears as color. Scent is even more enhanced as an animal. Following?" He nodded. "Okay, well, since my nose isn't star shaped and huge like a shirshu's, my sight is even more deterred. So instead of just color blindness, I can only see outlines. Still following?" He nodded again. "So, I can only see outlines and the colors of smell."

"What color am I?" He asked. I shrugged.

"I don't know what to call it really. I suppose it would be the color of a newly bloomed flower. Slightly pink and slightly green. It's very pretty." I said. He smiled.

"Thank you, I suppose." Iroh said. A loud bang resonated from the far wall as the door slammed open. I looked over to see Zuko standing there. He did not look happy.

"Ah, greetings nephew. Did you have a pleasant nap?"

"Why the hell are you in here?" Zuko snapped.

"Which one of us?" I asked.

"Both of you." He said, striding over.

"I passed out from blood loss." I said.

"Stupid peasant." Zuko muttered. I quirked an eyebrow but stayed quiet.

"Uncle, why are you in here?" He snapped.

"I'm keeping Avery company. I wanted to make sure she was okay." Iroh said. I smiled at him.

"Why? She's just a prisoner."

"The prisoner of which you speak is sitting right here!" I said. He shot me a dirty look before turning back to his uncle. Agni, what was with him?

"Go to Music Night. I need to talk to the prisoner. Do not disturb us." Zuko said. Iroh got up and handed me a full cup of tea before walking out.

"Well, someone got up on the wrong side of the bed." I remarked, sipping my tea, Zuko growled and slapped the tea cup from my grip. It shattered on the ground.

"Hey! I was drinking that!" I said. "What is wrong with you today?"

"What's wrong with me? Says the shirshu." Zuko retorted. I snarled and slapped him. He growled at me and lit his fist on fire.

"Ahem, Zuko?"

"I'm not playing the tsungi horn!" Zuko yelled. I rubbed my forehead with a peeved sigh.

"We need to move Avery to a room." Iroh said.

"Throw her in the cell again."

"Her wound will get infected." Iroh said.

"Why should I care?" Zuko said. Iroh sent him a knowing look and his eyes widened slightly.

"Fine. Where?" Zuko asked.

"I don't know." Iroh said. "Put her in your room for now until the crew makes up a room of her own."

"What?! Are you crazy?! There is no way I'm let-" Iroh walked out and Zuko yelled in anger.

"Come on." Zuko said. I hopped off the gurney and followed him down the hallway. He opened the door to his room and I closed the door after us.

"Just sit in the corner or something. Don't talk and don't touch anything. Be glad I'm just letting you stay in here." Zuko said. I huffed and sat on the edge of his bed. He leaned against the wall and we had a stare off for about five minutes.

"What are you looking at?" He snapped.

"An Aye-Cat. What do ya think?" I retorted. He huffed.

"Stupid peasant." He muttered again. I scoffed.

"Really?! Earlier, you were a decent conversationalist, never minding the fact that you threatened to burn me to a crisp. Now you're just a whinny brat." I said. He growled at me and I quirked my eyebrow.

"You realize that growling at a shirshu is pointless and not intimidating, right?" I said. He slapped his forehead as the door opened.

"For the last time, I'm not playing the tsungi horn!" He said.

"No, it's about our plans. There's a bit of a problem." Iroh said. A large man stepped inside and smirked.

"Zhao?" Zuko said.

"I'm taking your crew." Zhao said.

"What?" Zuko gasped, disbelieving.

"I've recruited them for a little expedition to the North Pole." He said.

"Uncle, is that true?" Zuko asked.

"I'm afraid so. He's taking everyone... even the cook." Iroh said, saying the last bit like he was about to cry.

"Sorry you won't be there to watch me capture the Avatar. But I can't have you getting in my way again." Zhao said. Zuko went to charge him but I grabbed his wrist and held him back. Zhao looked to me.

"And who might you be, miss?" He asked.

"Nyla." I lied.

"Pleasure to meet you, Miss Nyla. Would you care to join my crew and leave Zuko?" Zhao offered. I frowned.

"I'm fine, thanks." I said. He frowned and looked to the far wall as he noticed something.

"I didn't know you were skilled with broadswords, Prince Zuko." Zhao said.

"I'm not. They're antiques. Just decorative." Zuko said. I could tell he was lying. Call it a shirshu's intuition.

"Have you heard of the Blue Spirit, General Iroh? Or you, Miss Nyla?"

"Just rumors. I don't think he is real." Iroh said evenly. Oh yeah, they were hiding something. Zhao looked at me.

"I've never heard of the Blue Spirit before, sir. I'm not from the Water Tribe and I couldn't afford the luxury of scrolls." I said. He blinked at me.

"Well, he's real, alright. He's a criminal, and an enemy of the Fire Nation. But I have a feeling justice will catch up with him soon." He was half way out the door. "General Iroh, the offer to join my mission still stands... if you change your mind. You too, Miss Nyla." Zhao said. I didn't like the look he gave me before he left. I shivered in disgust.

"That man disgusts me." I said.

"You just met him."

"And I never want to meet him again. He's a pedophile. I realize I'm dressed like a prostitute but he could at least have the dignity not to stare like a pervert." I snapped, crossing my arms in front of my chest. Zuko sighed angrily and Iroh's gaze dropped to the floor.

"Avery, your room is ready." Iroh said. I nodded and Iroh opened the door. I was half way out when I looked back to Zuko.

"Good night... Prince Zuko." I said quietly before walking away.