They decided that Zuko would teach Aang the beginnings of firebending. Aang liked Azula, he really did, but sometimes she was too blunt and sharp with her criticism. Zuko had more patience with Aang's hesitancy, which was something that he greatly appreciated. Fire could be so dangerous- look at what it had done to his people.

He knew it was his responsibility to learn the element to defeat the Fire Lord, but their recent run-in with the Fire Nation at the Northern Air Temple reminded him of what was at stake. His people, reduced to nothing but forgotten ruins that refugees unintentionally desecrated, was something that could still happen to the other nations. It was already happening to the Southern Water Tribe. Did Aang even want to learn to wield the very element that destroyed so much?

Azula's impatience did not help his anxiety. That was when Zuko stepped in, and Azula agreed to take over once Aang had the basics down.

Under Zuko's guidance, Aang was able to create his own flame while they meditated. "You already have control of your breath," Zuko said to him. "But meditating with your fire is a good way to become familiar with it." Every morning, Aang would meditate with Zuko before they started their training. And slowly, he became more comfortable with fire and was soon ready to learn blocking and defensive moves.

With time, Aang realized that there was no evil element. Fire had been used for so much destruction, but it was also vital to life. It was energy. It was the very chi that flowed through their bodies. It was what provided sun for their crops and warmth for the cold nights. An element that, just like the others, was not good or bad- it was the people who used it who were to blame.

"So you just hide?"

"Yes, and I seek."

"And there's no explosions at all?"

Sokka sighed. The Fire Nation was messed up. Sure, there was the whole take over the world thing they had going on, but adding explosions to hide and seek? What next? They already had to ban Zuko from handling the spices when making food. Sokka was still recovering from that curry he ate the other night. Does the Fire Nation need to add pain and misery to everything they do?

"What are you guys not understanding? You just hide, and I seek until I find you. That's the game."

Zuko and Azula exchanged confused glances. "That sounds boring." Azula said flatly.

Aang bounced next to her. "Azula," he whined. "You promised we could play after my training."

She rolled her eyes as he clung to her arm. "Fine, we'll play your stupid game."

"You're going to love it! I was the best hider at the air temple, and I bet you'll be great, too!"

Azula's eyes narrowed, and she exchanged another glance with Zuko. "So it's a stealth game," Zuko said. "The last one to be found wins?"

Sokka didn't like the matching grins on their faces as they started the game. He had volunteered to be the first seeker, which he was beginning to feel was a big mistake.

He found Katara pretty quickly- he knew that she liked to hide under things, and there was not much for her to hide under in a forest. Aang was trickier, but Sokka found that all he had to do was sit still for a moment and listen. A minute later he could hear quiet giggling as Aang shifted in the tree above him with Momo.

Azula and Zuko, however, were nowhere to be found. After a while even Aang and Katara helped him look. They were in a forest! Where could even go?

After nearly two hours of panicked searching, they gave up and began to make dinner. Zuko returned just as the soup was finished. He proudly told Sokka that he had walked by Zuko several times while he was seeking. Apparently he had woven branches and leaves together and used it to hide him in the trees. You know, like a normal person does when playing hide and seek.

But Sokka truly lost his mind when an hour after dinner Azula appeared next to him, looking unbearably smug and covered head-to-toe in mud. She had used it to camouflage herself.

He was never going to play hide and seek ever again.

Katara could tell something was wrong the moment she saw Zuko that morning. Instead of meditating with Aang like he usually was when she woke, he was still lying in his bedroll. Thinking he somehow overslept, Katara rose and began to walk to his side, intending to wake him, when a sharp voice interrupted her.

"Let him sleep!"

Startled, Katara turned to see that Azula was leading Aang through some katas. But now she was stomping forward, her face furious. "Leave him alone," she snapped.

Katara stepped back from Zuko and raised her hands up. "I was just-"

"Just leave him be," Azula cut her off. "He needs to sleep."

Katara studied her face, and was alarmed to see the girl so pensive and strained. "What's happened? Is he okay?"

"He has a migraine," Aang answered. "He said he's fine, he just needs to sleep it off."

It was a reasonable enough explanation, but something told Katara that a simple migraine was not enough to set Azula off, no matter how much she cared for her brother. But she let it be, and instead began to make breakfast while they returned to their training.

Soon the smell of food cooking woke Sokka, and the others returned to the fire to eat. Azula, however, began brewing tea, something that normally Zuko did for them in the morning. She swatted Aang's eager hands away when he reached for a cup.

"This is for Zuko," she explained as she poured the tea. "The crazy old bat from the herbal institute gave this to him to help with his migraines."

"So he gets them a lot?" Katara glanced at Sokka as Azula's shoulders tensed. She was always so touchy about Zuko. The other day she practically exploded when Sokka tossed an apple to Zuko and instead hit him in the face, not knowing that he couldn't see from his left eye.

"He gets them a few times a month," Azula answered tersely. Rising quickly, she knelt beside Zuko and shook him awake. He sat up, wincing at the sun that shone brightly overhead. Katara was shocked to see how pale and drawn he looked. He smiled weakly as Azula handed him his tea, but as soon as he finished it he hid under his blanket again.

They stayed at their camp for the rest of the day while Zuko rested. Even Sokka did not object to their delayed schedule. They have not been traveling together for very long, but Katara found herself missing Zuko's calming presence as she cooked dinner. Both him and Azula had become very important to her, and she always hated to see someone she cared for in pain.

For now, the only thing they could do for Zuko was make him more comfortable during his flare ups. They were a family now. Azula won't have to take care of him by herself anymore. Azula never explicitly thanked them for their help, but she wasn't as sharp and abrasive as she was when they first met her. She had softened towards them, gradually, and Katara found that she could call her a sister.

And as for Zuko; Katara had never had such a connection with another before.

She hoped he felt better soon. She already missed him. Maybe they could find help for Zuko in the Northern Water Tribe. She had grown up hearing stories from Gran Gran about their healing powers.

But they still had to cross the ocean before they reached them.