Katara
I yawn and stretch when I wake up, reaching for Zuko beside me, frowning when he's not there. I sit up and look around. All of our stuff is here in the cave, so he couldn't have gone far.
Last night was amazing. I've never felt so close to someone, and so happy to be vulnerable with him.
Now, just to ask him not to leave when we get to Ba Sing Se.
While I wait for him to get back, I start packing up. But when I get to the bedding, I find a letter.
Dear Katara,
It's less than a Day's Journey to Ba Sing Se from here. It's best we part ways now.
I know you want me to join you, but that's never going to happen. It can't. I'm going to make sure my Uncle's settled, then I'm continuing my quest to capture the Avatar and return home.
Nothing that happened was a lie. But I'm not a traitor either. I hope you find your brother, but I also hope you're not there when I face the Avatar again. If you are, we'll fight as enemies as we always have before.
Goodbye, Water Princess.
Zuko
Tears spill over my cheeks. I can't believe he left without saying goodbye. I stumble over to the bedding and try to steady my breathing, but eventually give in and start sobbing.
I don't know why I'm surprised. He's told me from the beginning he wasn't going to switch sides. But for some reason I believed I could change his mind. I was wrong. And now it feels like a chasm has opened inside of my soul.
Once I finish crying, I strip naked and take a proper bath in the Hot Spring, then get dressed and finish packing the supplies up.
"Screw you, Zuko. I'll get there alone. And by the time you realize you chose the wrong side, it'll be too late."