CHAPTER 24: Scars

"The best thing we can offer another person is our true presence."

Zuko could never have imagined the pain he would feel as he laid his eyes upon the jungle below them.

Where he and Toph only a couple of days ago had seen a single trail of smoke rising above a rich sea of emerald green trees, his eyes traveled over a haunting tapestry of devastation etched into the vibrant canvas of the wilderness.

A huge scorched patch marred the verdant expanse, forming dark scars over the lush canopy below. Where once there thrived a bustling village full of life and children's laughter amidst the dense foliage, now lay the remnants of charred and smoldering huts.

Plumes of smoke rose lazily into the sky like ashen skeletal fingers, reaching desperately towards the heavens.

Blackened tree trunks stood as solemn sentinels, while the earth beneath was scorched and barren, bearing witness to the intense heat that had consumed everything in its path.

The group was silent as Appa neared the black scar in the jungle.

Zuko closed his eyes and turned his head away.

He felt a profound sense of loss wash over him. To him, it was a stark reminder of the destructive power of fire, the lives it had shattered and the homes it had destroyed.

Each blackened structure served to him as a poignant testament to the suffering endured by not only the villagers but the many innocent people of The War.

Mixed with his sorrow was a seething anger, directed towards those responsible. Towards his father.

The Fire Nation's aggression had left a trail of destruction in its wake, and Zuko felt the weight of that legacy bearing down on him.

Guilt gnawed in his throat, and a vision from his nightmare flashed before his eyes.

"You must pay for the sins of your father."

Zuko opened his eyes and gazed over at Aang.

As the stale taste of bitterness and guilt washed up in his mouth, he sighed out, seeing his friend and ally there with eyes full of concern for the people below.

He reminded himself of their deal.

He knew that Aang understood that this was not his work. This was not done by his Fire Nation soldiers.

Zuko gritted his teeth.

As Appa descended further onto the jungle ground below, he vowed to himself, as he had to Aang, that he would do whatever it took to make amends for the sins of his nation, to restore hope to those who had lost everything. He would not rest until he had brought peace and justice to the world, no matter the cost.

He wanted to find the Firebenders responsible for this destruction.

And right now, he wanted to burn them himself.

Zuko opened his eyes when he felt Katara's cool hand take his.

"Hey. This wasn't your fault. Zuko, look at me."

Katara's eyes were shimmering with empathy and worry, reflecting a gentle yet unwavering compassion. There was a depth in them, a depth of understanding that transcended mere words, a recognition of his inner turmoil.

It was as if they held the power to soothe the storm of fire raging within him, to offer a beacon of hope amidst his darkness.

"It's not your fault," she repeated with a soft voice as she reached up her hand to cup his face.

Zuko closed his eyes again and exhaled deeply.

He felt a glimmer of light amidst the shadows of his doubt and self-recrimination. Her voice seemed to carry with it an unspoken promise of acceptance and sincerity.

He unclenched his jaw that he absentmindedly had tightened.

As the group descended from Appa's saddle, they were all met by a deafening silence, a void that echoed through the charred remnants of the settlement.

The crackling of smoldering debris provided a haunting backdrop, punctuated by the occasional collapse of a weakened tree, its timbers groaning in protest before succumbing to the advance of the relentless flames.

The absence of life was excruciating, as they made their way into what had once been the village. Even the usual surrounding cacophony of jungle sounds seemed muted, as if nature itself mourned the loss of vibrant life that had once flourished within the now barren heart of the jungle.

Zuko could hear Nii crying.

Her cries spoke of a deep sorrow that crawled under his skin like fire ants.

He grabbed Katara's hand for support as they made their way towards what was once the gathering place in the middle of the village.

Now, other cries could be heard too.

The scene in front of them was horrible.

Some villagers lay sprawled on the ground, their bodies contorted in agony as they groaned in pain. Blood seeped from grievous wounds, staining the earth beneath them as they desperately clung to consciousness.

Others limped through the wreckage, their faces etched with shock and disbelief, their movements slow and unsteady as they surveyed the devastation that surrounded them.

The air was thick with the stench of smoke and burning debris, mingled with the metallic tang of blood, and Zuko noticed some men carrying a woman by her legs and arms towards a pile of…

He turned his face in the other direction.

Nii was already tending to the burn wounds that marred the bodies of those who were still alive.

Her movements were gentle yet purposeful as she carefully cleaned the charred flesh, her touch soothing despite the searing pain that each touch elicited. She yelled for whatever different salves and poultices that were left in her hut.

Katara let go of his hand.

"I have to…" she started in a soft whisper.

"Go," Zuko told her, and he watched as she ran over to Nii and quickly pulled out water from her bag.

Soon, the two young girls were working side by side, healing wound after wound, while murmuring soothing words of encouragement, their voices a balm to the wounded souls before them.

Out of the corner of his eye, Zuko saw the two villagers that had come to the temple for their help whispering wildly with other villagers, and he noticed one of them pointing at him, causing others to gaze over at him with widened eyes.

They looked scared of him.

He felt naked, raw, misunderstood.

He started walking towards them.

He wanted to tell them that this had nothing to do with him. He wanted to say how angry this made him. And he wanted to know who the culprits were.

However, before he could open his mouth, Aang stepped in, cutting him off.

He introduced himself as the Avatar, and he explained their situation and how he and Zuko were allies, which seemed to calm them down.

"Could you describe them? The attackers?" Zuko finally asked.

"Men," one of the villagers answered while he slowly lifted his head to look into Zuko's eyes. "Fire Nation men. In Fire Nation armor."

Zuko noticed the villager's jaw clenching and his fists tightening.

He felt a wave of anger wash over him.

He inhaled deeply before letting out a sigh.

"Listen. I need to make this very clear to you," Zuko said as he took a step towards the man, earning him to straighten his back, pulling slightly away from him. "Those were NOT my men. I DON'T have any soldiers here. I don't have any soldiers anywhere but in Fire Nation territory."

A moment of silence passed as they stared at each other.

"Uh…" Aang tried in a nervous voice, stepping in between them. "So if I got it right. They're not your soldiers, Zuko. But they were still dressed in Fire Nation armor. Right?"

The villager nodded.

"Did you notice anything else?" Aang asked.

"No, I'm afraid not, Avatar," the village said, still eyeing Zuko angrily. "I was busy trying to save my family from their fire."

Zuko felt another wave of anger washing over him.

Even though he felt for the village, he was losing his patience with this guy.

He was just about to snap when another of the villagers spoke.

"Although," a thin woman chirped in a frail voice. "I did hear them yell something. Something I've not heard before."

Zuko turned his full attention to her.

"What?"

The woman pursed her lips while her eyes held a distant gaze as if peering into the past through a foggy lens.

"Something about a… Phoenix King?"

Zuko widened his eyes, as a chill quickly crept up his spine, leaving a tingling sensation that sent goosebumps prickling across his skin.

Immediately, his heart quickened its pace, pounding in his chest like a relentless drumbeat, as a sense of horror settled heavy in the pit of his stomach.

His breath caught in his throat, and he felt a tightness in his chest.

This could not be.

Zuko quickly turned to Aang.

"I have to see my uncle," he said almost in a whisper.

"Take Appa. Go, now."