Zuko
In through the nose, out through the mouth. In through the nose, out through the mouth. I do what Uncle has taught me, controlling my bending with my breath. The candles in front of me get slightly bigger with every release, and slightly smaller with every inhale.
What do I know? I've been on my quest to hunt down the Avatar for almost three years, ever since my father burned and banished me until I complete this task. Everyone thought it was a wild goose chase that would last me the rest of my life, but today, I proved them wrong. I found him.
His name is Aang. Somehow, he's still a child. He's a master Airbender, but doesn't seem to be able to control the other elements yet. Except water? But he didn't seem in control of himself when he was waterbending to escape. Which means he's heading to the North Pole. He has a flying bison, thought to be extinct. He's traveling with two teenagers from the Southern Water Tribe.
What do I know about his companions? That might give me insight into how they'll travel. One boy, 15 or 16 years old. He's clearly brave, but doesn't have experience or training and doesn't think things through. The Avatar called him Sokka. And the Girl. I heard them call her Katara. Water Bender, but clearly amateur. Tan skin. Dark hair. Blue eyes. 14 or 15 years old. Seemed protective over the children of her tribe and over the Avatar himself. Not over the boy, though. What are they to each other? Lovers? Friends? Siblings? I don't know, but I do know she was beautiful.
I shake my head. I should be thinking only of her skills to help the Avatar evade me, not of her Beauty. It's just hard when she's the first girl I've seen in months. And it's especially hard when her beauty is so striking and distracting. What does her hair look like when it's down? I wonder what her figure looks like under her heavy coat? Based on how sharp her facial features were, I'm willing to bet she's slim and toned. Not starved, as some of the people I've come across have been, and she's clearly athletic from the harsh working conditions that come with living in the South Pole.
And what happens when I do capture the Avatar? Do I capture his Water Tribe companions as well? Not the boy. He's not skilled enough to be a threat, and would simply expend our resources. Katara though…She's a Waterbender. The Fire Nation has had orders for seventy or so years to capture as many as we can. It's made their tribe weak, as I just saw yesterday. But once she's aboard the ship…then what?
As prince of the Fire Nation, I could keep her as my own. She'd be a prisoner of war that I could use how I like. But…no. I could never do that. I remember my mother, and how she was forced into marriage with my father, and how horrible it was for her, Even though she tried to make it seem otherwise for my sake, and Azula's. And in this case I wouldn't even be marrying the girl. I wouldn't give her children that would make her life worth living. No, I could never do that. I'd think of my mother every time I looked at her. Better to put her out of my mind entirely, except for how she can help the avatar and therefore hinder me.
I lay down on my bed to try for sleep, trying to put the thoughts from the day out of my head. But as I close my eyes, I have a feeling the Waterbender with blue orbs and chocolate tresses will make her way into my dreams.