Responses to Reviews:

RonaldM40196867: No, I understood the question. I was not sure about my answer to it because I did not have one. And bending is so inextricably linked with their society that it's probably difficult to tell either way. I would have thought it does though.

Zigzagdoublezee: Yes, I can see your point. On the other hand though, they run the risk of dying with things between them left unsaid.

As Always, Please Review!

For the second time, Zuko awoke to a suspicious rustling in the trees. He sat up, pulling his mask over his head, and listened intently. The moon hung low in the sky, and it was another clear, cloudless night.

He sighed.

So we're doing this again. Well, let's get it over with.

He stood up, and stretched, looking around nervously. There looked like there was nobody around. The only thing he could see were the burning embers of campfires, the occasional cart, with ostrich-horses sleeping peacefully beside them, and the refugees, slumbering in groups in anticipation of their imminent arrival to the metropolis of Ba Sing Se, and safety behind its mighty walls.

He took in this sight for a few seconds before stepping over to the cart and pulling out the swords that belonged to Bei, the old soldier. They were becoming like old friends to him at this point. He took a few moments to reacquaint himself with their weight, the way they felt in his hand, the way they behaved in the white heat of combat. He just had time to separate them before he heard a noise behind him, and spun. The masked figure's attack forced him back, and he slammed into the cart with a grunt as he parried their swing.

"Where is he?" It took Zuko a moment to process the fact that the figure had spoken. It was a female voice.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Zuko replied, doing his best to disguise his voice. He kicked her, and she rolled backwards.

"Yes, you do," she said. "I've seen him, around this campfire."

"Who?"

"Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation."

Zuko's heart lurched. So he had been recognised. But he could still deny everything.

"You're wrong. I think we would know if he was here," he tried, before lunging with his sword.

"Don't lie to me." The response was curt. Zuko narrowed his eyes. He might have been imagining it, but did he recognise that voice?

He had no time to dwell on it. The figure responded by lashing out with her sword, jabbing it at his face as he batted it aside. They went around in a circle like that, taking in turns to attack and defend.

"Where is Zuko." The figure repeated. Then she cocked her head.

"Unless..."

Zuko realised the gears must be turning in her head. He pointed at her.

"No. You're wrong."

"Then tell me where he is."

Zuko attacked, swinging his sword. His opponent jumped backwards, accidentally standing on the hand of a sleeping refugee. She leapt off it again, but the damage was done. The refugee leapt out of bed with a colossal shout of pain.

"Yeooooow!"

His call was answered by more movement, all across the camp, as refugees began to realise that something was wrong.

"I think this is where you leave," Zuko gestured into the distance. The figure looked where he pointed, then back to him, and shook her head.

"No. Not this time. I came looking for Zuko, and I intend to get him."

"What if he doesn't want to be found?"

The figure shrugged.

"My orders did not take his feelings into account."

Zuko attacked. Refugees dashed for cover as their blades clashed, dancing back and forth.

"Li!" Zuko saw Chen rushing towards them, looking like she had just woken up, the rest of her family following.

"Li... Is that your name?" The figure backed away and levelled her sword at him. "I have no quarrel with you, Li. Just tell me where Zuko is."

"What's she talking about?" Lian asked, obviously baffled. "Who's Zuko?"

"I don't know," Zuko replied, calling over his shoulder.

"I know he's here, I've seen you talking to him." The masked figure addressed Chen. "So you'd better remember soon."

"Or what?" Zuko swished his sword menacingly.

The figure did not answer, instead charging forwards. Zuko parried her blade, twisted under it, and kicked her in the chest, sending her stumbling backwards with a grunt. There was a cheer from the refugees.

"Get her, Li!" He heard Chen say. "Get her!"

Zuko charged, feinting with one blade and swinging with the other, their swords connecting with a great noise as he forced her back.

Zuko's not coming home with you, he thought vengefully. Not now. Not ever.

The shouts of the crowd grew louder, and more vengeful as they danced around each other, the group whipping itself up into a frenzy as they watched one of their number fight a hated invader who was threatening them. A projectile sailed out of the crowd and nearly hit Zuko's opponent, who sidestepped it.

"They hate you," Zuko pointed out.

"Makes no difference to me."

"It will if you stay here for much longer."

Zuko continued circling her, trading sword blows, as the crowd continued to chant their song of hate. Suddenly, he saw Bei step out of the crowd. The old soldier held his finger to his lips as he crept up on Zuko's opponent from the back, as quietly as he could. The message was clear; keep her distracted.

Zuko redoubled his attack, catching her blade with his and attempting to disarm her, but she was smarter than that and managed to wriggle out of it.

"I know that move," she said. "That's from the Fire-"

Bei's improvised club caught her in the back of the head and she stumbled forwards with a surprised grunt of pain. Her mask flew off her face and her hood went down, and Zuko's world came grinding to a halt as he found himself staring into the face of-

"Mai?"

He had forgotten to disguise his voice. What on earth was she doing here? She couldn't be here. He had expected his father would send people after him, but her?

Mai's stiletto knife came at him faster than he could react, caught off-guard as he was, and it slammed into his forehead. The mask protected him from dying outright, but he was still knocked onto his back, seeing stars, both real and not, as his vision swam.

"Ow."

He sat up, rubbing his head. Everyone was staring at him, most in concern, but Mai was looking at him with mingled shock and recognition. It took him a moment to realise he had lost his mask.

"Zuko!" Mai cried, pointing at him and looking like she had seen a ghost.

Oh, Agni.