Chapter Three:

-Katara-

What's going on? Where am I? Am I still in the woods? Why is it so warm? All of these thoughts were racing through my head as I finally start to feel myself wake up. I slowly opened my eyes to see that I was lying by a small fire with a small teapot stand over it warming up a pot of tea. This doesn't make any sense, wasn't I just in the woods looking up at the moon a minute ago?

Suddenly I felt a warm hand just barely brush against my shoulder. I bolted up right and backed away from the owner of the hand.

"It's alright my dear you are safe now" I heard a gravelly voice say. I looked up to find the owner of the voice to be an older man with gray hair and a gray beard. He had pale skin and dark gold eyes. A part of me noted that this was not the man that held me captive before, but then I remembered how I had gotten away from that man; a young man had come to my rescue. I guess he must have brought me here, but why? And if that is true than where is he? But more importantly who is this man in front of me?!

"Wh – Who are you?" I whispered.

Just before he could answer the young man had entered with me just realizing that we were all inside of a cave. With the help of the firelight I was able to get a better look at him.

He looked like he could be my age, give or take one to two years. He was tall with the same pale skin as the man who was knelt beside me after I realized he had just been trying to cover me with the blanket that was still in his left hand. His hair was a raven black color and looked like it was at the beginning stages of reaching his cheek bones. There was absolutely no childhood roundness left in his face, but I did note that some of his facial features seemed relatively similar to the old man closest to me. My eyes then reached a scar on his face that completely surrounded his left eye and looked like it went up to reach his ear. Did he have that scar before? Oh yeah he did. I guess I didn't notice because I was too scared. Finally my eyes reached his eyes to see that they were like the gold in a sunrise. Wait, those eyes seem so familiar to me. Have I met him before tonight? Oh my head!

"Good you're awake" the young man stated in a voice that was rough, but at the same time – gentle.

"What do you mean?" I asked confused, as normal.

"I wasn't sure if you were going to wake up after you fainted" he explained in that same voice.

"O…kay?" Someone please explain to me what is going on!

"Can you tell us what happened to you my dear?" the old man called out to get my attention.

I thought about it and shook my head no repeatedly. I don't know these people! Why should I tell them anything?!

The young man approached me slowly so he could stand in front of me. He seemed slightly annoyed so I backed up until my back was straight against the wall of the cave. He kneeled down in front of me and I vaguely saw the old man give him a look that seemed to be a little bit of a warning. "Then can you tell us how you got out here so we can take you back to your friends?" he asked in that rough voice.

What's with the questions?! I'm not answering! I have my own questions!

"No!" I shouted stunning both of them. "No I won't tell you anything! I don't know who you are and I don't know what I'm doing here! Why did you bring me here?! Why do you keep asking me questions that I don't even know how to answer?! But more importantly, who are you?!"

Then both men looked at me like I had gone crazy. The old man put a hand on the young man's shoulder as a way of telling him to back up.

"My name is Iroh young lady" he stated kindly, like we were old friends. "My nephew and I are originally from the Fire Nation, but we have been living in this cave in the Earth Kingdom for about two months now."

"Uncle" the man's nephew said in a warning tone as if he was giving away too much information.

"Then who are you?" I asked the young man as calmly as I could.

Iroh's nephew turned to me with a stunned expression. "What are you talking about? You know who I am." I just shook my head confused. "You know…Zuko." I shook my head again. "Don't tell me you don't recognize this!" he pointed in disgust to the scar on the left side of his face. I squinted at him to get a better look and try to picture him in my mind, but all that came was his eyes; they were the only thing that seemed to stand out. However I couldn't tell him this without him thinking I was a creepy lunatic so I just shook my head again.

That seemed to be the wrong thing to do because he just growled in frustration as I cowered more into the cave wall.

"Zuko" Iroh called out sternly.

Zuko looked back at me, but I could tell he was still frustrated. "You have to at least remember something!" he shouted in a slightly controlled voice. "I mean you know what your name is right?!"

I can't take much more of this! "Stop shouting at me! I don't know!" I began to cradle my head in my hands like I would do whenever I was upset lately. Suddenly I felt warm, strong hands gently grip my forearms. I looked up to see Zuko bring my arms closer to him and the firelight. I saw him looking at the bruises that wrapped around both of my wrists.

"What happened to you?" he whispered so softly I wasn't sure I heard him. Then I saw a picture form in my head. It was of me and him together; except he was dressed different and most of his raven black hair was gone aside from his ponytail. He was holding onto my wrists and said in a controlled whisper, 'I'll save you from the pirates.' Then the picture disappeared.

"You…," I started and tried again. "You saved me from pirates?"

Zuko looked me in the eyes, confused. "What?" was his only response.

"Zuko, let's leave our young friend to rest now. I need to talk to you outside" Iroh stated. Zuko looked briefly into my eyes then turned to his Uncle and nodded, releasing my arms gently. Then he handed me the blanket as they both walked outside.

I lay back down and rested my right arm under my head. I don't understand any of this and I don't like it. This is all so confusing and I'm not waiting to figure out what they want with me. As soon as they are both asleep I'm out of here.

With my mind set I closed my eyes so I could rest them while I listened for the two of them to go to sleep. It may take a couple of hours, but I don't care. I'm not staying here. I'm not going to let them hurt me too.