"Avery, wake up." Someone said. I groaned and cracked open my eyes to see Iroh hovering over me. "Are you alright?"
"Just peachy. Why, did something happen?"
"Well, Zuko found you asleep outside the bar." He said. Then it clicked and I remembered what happened.
"Oh, geez. Don't worry, I didn't drink anything. Or eat for that matter." I said, rubbing my stomach. "What was wrong that you had to wake me up?"
"You were screaming and whining in your sleep." Iroh said. My eyes widened.
"That's never happened before. Sorry." I said. Zuko appeared from behind a tree and dropped two barrels of food at Iroh's feet.
"Where did you get these?" Iroh asked.
"What does it matter where they came from?" Zuko snapped, walking away. Iroh wore a serious expression on his face.
"Mmmm..." He took a bite out of one of the cupcakes Zuko brought. The jam dripped off his chin. "...mmmm!"
"Hand me one?" I said. He nodded and handed me a cupcake. I bit into it and nodded.
"These are good." I said. I stood, wobbling at first, but walked over the barrel. I pulled out another cupcake.
"I'll go after him." I said. I walked from the cavern and followed Zuko's amber colored scent before finding said teen.
"Hey!" I called. He paused, turned, and gave me a grumpy look.
"What?" He snapped. I huffed.
"Geez, no need to be a grumpypuss." I held out the cupcake I brought for him. "You deserve one too. It's not easy to lie to a loved one."
"Right." He said darkly. I sighed as he continued staring at the pastry.
"It's for eating, Pouty. It's good, try it." I said. Zuko took the fluffy pastry from my hand and took a small bite. His expression turned less grumpy. "Better?"
"Yeah." He said, taking another bite. I began walking away. "Hey, where're you going?"
"To find a river!" I called cheerfully.
"Why?"
"Take a guess, Pouty." I said.
I blew my dripping hair from my eyes and shook out my head. I wrapped my freshly washed bindings and tugged on my clean clothes. I headed back to the cavern and my jaw dropped.
"Looks like you did some serious shopping." Iroh said, beside me. He picked up a big, gold-colored teapot. "But where did you get the money? Avery gained us a lot, but not enough for this."
"Do you like your new teapot?" Zuko asked, avoiding the question.
"To be honest with you, the best tea tastes delicious whether it comes in a porcelain pot or a tin cup." Iroh walked over to Zuko and squatted down beside him. "I know we've had some difficult times lately. We've had to struggle just to get by." He placed a hand on Zuko's shoulder who closed his eyes as if he was holding something back. "But it's nothing to be ashamed of. There is a simple honor in poverty."
"There's no honor for me without the Avatar." Zuko said.
"Zuko..." I said, but trailed off, not knowing what to say. Iroh swooped in to finish for me.
"Even if you did capture the Avatar, I'm not so sure it would solve our problems. Not now." He said. Zuko turned away from his uncle.
"Then there is no hope at all." Zuko said. I frowned. Zuko went to stand up and leave the cave, but Iroh grabbed him by the shoulders and sat him down.
"No, Zuko! You must never give in to despair. Allow yourself to slip down that road and you surrender to your lowest instincts." Zuko bowed his head as he listened to his uncle's wisdom. "In the darkest times, hope is something you give yourself. That is the meaning of inner strength."
Zuko turned to face his uncle, who looked back at him with a sad look upon his face. Abruptly, Zuko pulled free from Iroh's grasp and headed out into the forest. I sighed.
"It was worth a shot, Iroh." I said, placing a hand on the wise man's shoulder. He sighed too.
"Knowing my nephew like I do, he is going to take my words and make a rash decision in response." Iroh said sadly. I smiled sadly.
"Let's hope he doesn't." I said.
"Uncle..." Zuko said, breaking the sad silence that had settled over the cavern since he left hours earlier. "I thought a lot about what you said."
Iroh's sad expression cleared up as he heard Zuko talk. I knew better though and my grip tightened on the pack at my side.
"You did? Good, good." Iroh said.
"It's helped me realize something. We no longer have anything to gain by traveling together." Iroh's brightened expression quickly disappeared again. "I need to find my own way."
Iroh bowed his head in sorrow. Zuko looked at his uncle for a moment before grabbing his backpack and walking away. I stood along with Iroh. Iroh saw the pack in my hand and nodded.
"Wait!" Iroh called. Zuko paused and turned. Iroh handed Zuko the reins of the ostrich horse. Zuko mounted, looked at his uncle one last time and went to head off, but I stop him. I jumped on behind him and he gave me a look.
"I promised to stay by your side, remember?" I said softly. He looked surprised before nodding. And we left.
I feel evil.
Disclaimer : I don't own ATLA, just Avery.
(A side note, if you're going to make my day and review, don't review with chain mail. It's obnoxious. Thank you.)