The sky was rapidly growing dark now. Zuko had made the call that they should make camp, and Katara had to admit that she was glad that he did. Even when the sun was high, there was something very dark about this forest. The way the branches curled in on themselves reminded Katara of people doubled over in pain, the shadows held dark secrets from the past, secrets meant to remain hidden; but most unnerving was the silence.

In the forests surrounding her hidden home, there were beautiful birds and crawling crickets to be heard. But not here. Here the only noise was her own steps, crunching on the dead leaves; and the sound of her breath coming in short puffs.

The silence made chills run up and down her spine and gripped her core. She was tense, too tense. Katara had never been a stupid girl, she knew that when you are tense is when you make the most mistakes. If something or someone was to startle her, she could end up killing them before even knowing if they were friend or foe.

She did one more aerial check, still not satisfying the feeling of someone breathing down her neck, before bending over to pick up a thick stick from the ground.

"AH!" She screamed, automatically dropping the firewood and whirling around when she felt something jabbing sharply in her sides, only to have her fist stopped from knocking her attacker out cold by a smirking firebender.

"Zuko!" She yelled, frustrated beyond on means by his chuckles of amusement.

"What?" He asked innocently with an impish grin, "Did I scare you?" He asked grabbing her hands away from swatting at him and getting right in her face, still smiling like a fool.

"Of course not, you just startled me." She said stubbornly, pushing him away from her. He backed off good naturedly before he bent over and helped her pick up her collected firewood.

"I'm sorry, but I couldn't resist. You're too tense, that's not safe for a fighter," he reminded her with caution evident in his voice.

"Ya, no kidding," she grumbled, "Hey, where is your wood?" She asked realizing that the only wood they were holding she'd gathered alone.

"I piled it up by our stuff," he replied gesturing over his shoulder to where they had thrown their bags while they separated to gather wood. They walked back together and Katara got out bread and their canteens while Zuko started a small fire.

They ate in silence, for there was nothing to be said. Both had their thoughts on the dangers ahead, and the magnificent mountains they'd have to overcome in order to do what they must. Katara didn't know if Zuko feared the unknown obstacles that they faced, but she knew that she did.

They grabbed their thin blankets from their bags and settled down on opposite sides of the fire. Zuko volunteered to take first watch and sat against a large trunk.

Katara tried to sleep; but she made the mistake of opening her eyes and looking across the fire at her companion. It looked like the flames were engulfing him. He was staring into the fire as if lost in thought, and the flames glittered in his golden eyes and reflected off his angular facial features. Even thought he probably didn't intend to, he looked powerful in that moment; and she knew then that it could have never been anyone else. His entire being radiated such a calming confidence, even now knowing the odds that were against them. And he was prepared to charge into enemy lines with her to fulfill his destiny.

Destiny; such a cruel concept. Those who bear its mark feel its call their entire lives until it is complete. Even if such a destiny means one fall into death's grasp, never again to walk among the living.

Yet there he sat. Confident and prepared for whatever he'd have to do. She couldn't help but think that he looked a bit like royalty; she didn't know why she hadn't noticed before. There was nothing that stood out as noble as far as his physical features; but it was the way he carried himself with his cool confidence.

Perhaps he should have been the Prince; he would've made a far better Fire Lord.

For a moment, just a moment, she saw something else sitting in his place; or rather someone else. It was a boy, at most 17, his raven hair hung in his eyes and an angry red scar ate up most of the left side of his face, leaving it contorted in a permanent scowl. His eyes were filled with so many conflicting emotions, waging war in his mind.

A small gasp escaped her lips and she blinked and the image was gone. The man she saw now looked at her with concern and had one hand on his swords as his eyes darted quickly around, searching for the cause of the sound.

"It's nothing," she said a little too quickly, "I just shifted onto a small rock, that's all," she falsely admitted when she saw that he didn't believe her.

"Do you want to move on this side?" He asked, "I didn't see any rocks when I put my blanket down."

Katara nodded and moved over so that she was sitting next to him; both of them leaning against the large trunk of a tree. She felt slightly more self conscious about sitting so close to him after what she'd just seen. She didn't understand it. After her father finally told her about the prophecy she would often have dreams about the scarred teen, later thinking that he was perhaps the Dragonborn. But she'd later discovered that the boy in her dreams bore resemblance to the Fire Prince; she then changed her mind into thinking that he was the one destined to kill her.

Perhaps she had nothing to worry about; the man next to her wore no such mark, nor did he seem angry or confused.

She dared sneak a quick glance to the side to see him looking down at her. She moved her eyes back to the fire, but did not feel his burning gaze lift off her,"You're staring," she said quietly.

"I am," was his simple reply.

She turned her head so she was looking right back at him, "Are you looking for something, Dragonborn?"

The corner of his mouth twitched up at his title, "I am, Princess."

She raised her eyebrows in amusement and a small smile graced her mouth, "A princess am I?"

"I'm sure legends will always refer to you as a princess rather than 'the daughter of ice'. It's far more accurate anyway," he shrugged with a grin.

Katara used her shoulder to nudge him playfully while a blush graced her tanned skin. After a few minutes of comfortable silence, she pulled her blanket up around her and rested her head on his shoulder, then feeling his arms wrap securely around her. Her eyelids grew heavier and she felt them fluttering closed. She'd sleep in the security of his strong arms tonight.

I'm not dead! So sorry for my long hiatus, I agree that it's been far too long since I've updated and you all have my sincerest apologies!

So I hope that you guys have been seeing improvement in the quality of my writing. I've been trying to get better and make them better for you guyyssss.

Also! Feedback, I love you guys who have actually been reviewing almost every chapter you guys rock! :) And for everyone else, I don't expect an update every other chapter but it'd be nice if you could let me know when you see something specific you enjoyed.

Long list of pointless excuses for not updating:

1.) School has been rather rough. For someone who has been homeschooled almost their entire life it's been a HUGE change. And smack dab in the middle of the school year? Everyone had their besties so I was kinda a loner for a really long time.

2.) I moved across the country a few months ago (which you know if you've been reading these ANs) and so just getting use to the different culture and people has been hard, but finally things are getting better.

3.) TESTS I hate them! Agghhhh studying is NO FUN but it seems like I have like 3 every week -.-

4.) Since I've been doing so much more I've been using my (very little) free time to watch Lost and Doctor Who (My homeroom teacher went to school with Sawyer! How cool is that?!) Who else cried watching The Angels Take Manhattan? Gosh I balled :,( I loved Amy and Rory but Clara is pretty awesome too.

5.) ...I've been being kind of in a rut for my writing, sorry guyzzz :(

Love you guyz so so so much!

Kmsitterley