The villagers, soldiers, and I trekked the woods back to the Fire Nation camp that Jet's gang had ambushed a few days ago. Next to me, a little girl cradled her doll, affectionately called "Miss Pretty." One time, during our walk, I heard her start to fuss and complain of being tired from walking. Her mother looked exhausted herself and ignored the child's cries. My brow had furrowed, and I gently knelt beside her. I carefully took Miss Pretty and put her in the child's arms, and with gentle guidance, made her imitate a rocking motion. As I did, I started singing a soft lullaby that I had once sung to Aang;

"Warm sunny winds

Blow around your sleepy head

Still your mind, close your eyes,

Rest sweetly in your bed"

The lullaby and the rocking had soothed her. I heard her humming it to Miss Pretty, until eventually, she had fallen asleep. Laughing, I had scooped her up and carried her in my arms. Seeing her sleep soundly reminded me of soothing Aang to sleep. A soft smile crossed my face, even with a tiny pang in my heart.

Much to my surprise, the only Firebenders that had been in Gaipan were the soldiers stationed in the area. I had asked one of them why they had been stationed, and the only answer I was given was that they were there in case Earth Kingdom soldiers tried to reclaim the town. But when none came, they became jaded and simply lived their lives amongst the simplicity of the village. One of them regretted not having studied the trees sooner.

Upon arriving at the safe camp, some of the troops that I had fought recognized me. But before I could be arrested and grabbed, the old man that Sokka and I spared appeared and helped explain what happened. The guards listened intently and looked at me.

"These people have nowhere to go," I said simply. "Their village was destroyed by a flood."

One soldier clapped me on the back. "Her bravery saved many Fire Nation citizens. And she's kept the people calm. She may be the Avatar's sister, but she's shown us kindness and integrity."

"You're welcome to stay with us, then. As a thank you."

I bobbed my head down low. "Your offer is tempting, but I need to move on."The further I got away from the coast and closer to Earth Kingdom territory, the safer I'd feel. Aang was protected, but I was on my own. Unless…

"Could you show me a safe path to Omashu?"

If I showed up at Bumi's door, he wouldn't be able to turn me away.

The guards walked me to one of the red and white tents. The maps hadn't been taken by Jet and his thugs. After seeing what they had done to the small mining town with only a few civilians, I would hate to have known their plans for bigger places. They traced a route from a location marked with an x and drew a line to a scrawled variation of Omashu. I was even given a sackful of gold pieces and small rations to take with me.

"You're going on foot?" one of them asked me in concern.

I shrugged. "I can take care of myself."

I was eating that statement when I arrived at a shantytown just up the bend. Simply walking into town had drawn the attention of a local gang. Upon seeing me, one of them commented on my attire.

"Not too many dress like an Air Nomad," I ignored him. This caused a wall of rock to cut me off. Earthbenders. Of course. I turned around. There were three of them. One of them was holding a knife that glinted coldly and probably had tasted more blood than if was worth. He pointed it at me. "We were talking to you, girlie."

I narrowed my eyes. "I don't owe you anything."

He looked between his companions. "No, but something tells you owe the world a favor. What gives you the right to dress up like the Avatar? Looking for attention?"

"No." I pulled out my staff and took a fighting stance. "I'm just passing through,"

Suddenly, one thug looked at me. He pulled out a scroll. The contents made my heart sink. It was a sketch of me, holding my staff.

"Looks like the Fire Nation will pay a hefty price for you….and the Pebble Patrol always deliver."

My eyes widened. Here I thought the Earth Kingdom were the good guys. Oh, what was I thinking? There were crooks in every nation. Jet was a crook! The Pebble Patrol stepped forward. I checked my options of escape. The only way out was through the backstreets. I jabbed the Earthbender in the stomach. As I heard him grunt, I took off. I ran through the back alleys, hearing shouts. An Earthbender threw a rock, which made the ground crack beneath my feet. I was able to catch myself before I landed on my face, yet my balance was off.

I held my staff up. Each alleyway was blocked by members of the gang. Between bending and elements, I had no clue where to strike first. If I went for the long range weapon, the Earthbender would take advantage of my distraction. But if I went for the bender, a weapon would be at my back.

Just as my eyes got dizzy from darting back and forth, a large fireball careened at the feet of the Earthbender. He dropped his rock and hopped away. His friends followed suit, leaving the alleyway open, but filled with a tiny fire. Just as I was ready to attack the other fighters, someone stood in front of me. Seeing him, the other fighters fled.

I hated admitting it, but I had never been happier to see Prince Zuko in my life.

"Are you hurt?" Predictably, the question was phrased more like a demand.

"No." I kept my eyes on his shoes.

He huffed in response. I slid my staff back in its holster and turned to walk away. I had only taken a few steps when he spoke again. "And where exactly are you headed?"

I didn't turn around. "Somewhere that isn't with you. You saved my life but that doesn't mean I owe you anything, Your Highness."

"You have nowhere to go." A comment more than a question.

I tightened the grip on my staff. No, I wasn't going to rope Omashu into Fire Nation business. Bumi didn't need to suffer Prince Zuko's wrath. No need to make a stronghold for the enemy in Earth Kingdom territory. Now that Zuko found me, he'd be insistent on making sure I didn't run away again. But if I was going to be a war prisoner, the least I could do was provide honest intel. At least, not at risk of my brother's capture. Jet, on the other hand, deserved punishment. "You're wasting your time asking me questions. I lost my brother's location when Gaipan was flooded."

Telling the enemy the truth was strange. I shouldn't have said anything in regard to his side of the war, but I did. I tried to stay out of the fighting. My job was to keep Aang safe. I had done that…to an extent. Katara and Sokka had done my job far better than I ever could.

"How did it flood?" Zuko asked.

I felt no remorse as I spoke. "A group of rebels hiding in the forest. They used blasting jelly stolen from an outpost to blow up the dam. But luckily the civilians were warned and everyone evacuated safely." I left out that I had partnered with Sokka in the rescue. Or that I rescued an old man.

"You helped them, didn't you?"

"So what if I did?"

"You didn't need to."

"No, but I wasn't about to let a bully hurt innocent people. It doesn't matter what nation they're from, no one deserves death."

I could feel Prince Zuko staring at me. But for some reason, it wasn't as antagonistic as it had been before. I turned around and looked at him. Shocked was the only word I had for it. After a while, his golden eyes became neutral and he said blankly, "I suppose I should thank you for saving Fire Nation soldiers and families."

Somewhere in that stiffness, there was an air of something that I had never heard, or rather something not directed at me, but rather his uncle; gentle uncertainty.

I played with the end of my ponytail. "Also, no, they weren't under Zhao's command. At least I don't think they were."

"Sounds like we have something in common," Zuko huffed, "we both don't like a specific commander."

He was right. The comfort in knowing that we had an agreement about something was strange. It didn't feel bad, but rather warm and familiar. Unfortunately, one common thing didn't take away the fact that he was still hounding my brother. Evacuating innocents was the most help he would get from me. I wasn't about to warn all the camps stationed in the Earth Kingdom about robbers on the road. I was not going back to his ship, no matter how much I liked Uncle Iroh and knowing a ship's ride to a port could save me a trip on foot.

"Well, Your Highness, this has been…" Been what? A surprise I actually didn't mind? An unexpected crossing of paths? Both? "...an unexpected surprise, but I should be getting someplace before nightfall. I have some money that I plan to spend on a hot meal and a bed. Tell your uncle I said hello."

I walked past him and began my way down the main road. Prince Zuko didn't follow me. I didn't recognize any of the buildings or any of the signs. Where was a stupid inn when it was needed?

"What if you're robbed again?" Prince Zuko appeared next to me. At my reaction of reaching for my staff, the ghost of a smirk that usually showed when he was pleased with himself crossed his face. "After your last two encounters, even you should admit walking through these small areas isn't safe. I won't be around to save you when the Pebble Patrol try to jump you."

I folded my arms over my chest. "You're not exactly good at being comforting. Also, your form of persuasion is, oh, how do I put it? Rude. And like I said, I don't know where my brother is, so me being aboard your ship would only put a target on your back from any other commanders trying to search for the Avatar." I waited a beat before giving him the one shred of intel I had, "The only thing I know is that he's heading north."

Prince Zuko raised an eyebrow. I stood as still as possible. I was telling him the truth. He turned away and murmured to himself, "Of course. A scroll could only teach him so much, same with her."

"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you much." I was lying through my teeth in the last sentence I uttered. But as I was ready to make my way to the streets, I hesitated. If I did go back to Prince Zuko's ship, I would be spared from running into more thugs, or worse, Zhao. I would be closer to the prince and continue to mislead him. Aang would get to the north faster. Of course, as I knew, he could alter course any moment. That painful reminder hit me. I couldn't dissuade Zuko for long. And, in his defense, despite his anger, he had never tried to hurt me. The most he did was throw a tantrum. He also had Katara's necklace. If I played the "dutiful helper," then I could get it back and when the opportunity for me to escape came again, I could return it.

I wrung my hands idly, "So…is my room still available on your ship?"

Hard to tell, but something like happiness briefly flickered in the prince's eyes. "Uncle insisted we leave it. Does this mean you're coming with me?"

I also hated thinking about how much I had missed Iroh. He was the first to be kind to me. A part of that extended to his nephew, even if he showed it rarely. I didn't hesitate with my answer, the thought of the general's happy face greeting me guiding me.

"Yes."

Loathe to admit, staying on Prince Zuko's ship was a safer option than walking to Omashu. I was greeted happily by Uncle Iroh, who insisted that I join him for a game of tiles to break his boredom. My room had been kept as it was, just as Prince Zuko said, and I had flopped onto it with a sigh.

Several days went by uneventfully. The only thing of notice was the cook, who was also happy to see me back aboard, had me taste their take on the chrysanthemum mushroom dumplings I had told them about. The greens had been dried out slightly and the mushrooms were chewy, but the taste was close to Airbender cooking. We spent the next few hours perfecting the dumplings until I was able to eat one with a hum of approval.

One day, I went out on the deck for some needed outside time and to stretch my legs. As I left the tower, I saw Iroh and Prince Zuko standing by the bow. While the prince was staring through a telescope, Iroh was sniffing the air, his face grim.

"There's a storm coming." Iroh said. "A big one."

Prince Zuko lowered his telescope. "You're out of your mind, Uncle. The weather's perfect."

If by perfect, he meant perfect by winter standards, then I would agree. There was no wind coming from any direction except for the speed from the helmsman. A flock of birds flew through the bright blue sky in a perfect V. The ocean was calm. The temperature was still chilly, but only if I stood still in one spot for too long.

Iroh's gray brow furrowed. "A storm is approaching from the north. I suggest we alter our course and head southwest."

"The Avatar's sister…"

"…is right here." I interrupted Prince Zuko before he dared to put words into my mouth. I glared at him. "Go ahead and continue talking like I'm not aboard. I can speak for myself. What about me?"

Zuko stared at me with a hardened expression. "You said the last place you saw your brother was Gaipan."

"I also said I didn't know where he was because we parted ways," I fenced. "I'm not just a radar for the Avatar. I'm a human being." I dared to walk directly up to him and planted my feet firmly, straightening my back so his scarred eye met mine. "I'm a human who deserves respect and fair treatment aboard this ship. You may think that you can speak for me because I know the Avatar, but that just proves how little about me you know, or even care to know."

Whatever cold was in the air was replaced by a heated heaviness. Zuko's glare grew harder. I refused to budge or wither. Angry faces only showed me that he had little to support any argument he had. Finally, he turned away from me. I spun on my heel and marched to take steps down to the galley.

I passed by Lieutenant Jee, who looked at me. "Did he offend you in any way, Gitan?"

I shook my head. "Actually, I think it's the other way."

He smiled. "Honestly, it's about time someone stood up to him. You make us seasoned veterans look like fresh recruits. What exactly did you say?"

"That he knows nothing about me."

He folded his arms. "He doesn't know anything about anyone here. We're here because a great general needed help." He looked down at me. "You don't deserve to hear my griping. All I can say is good for you for putting him in his place."

I shrugged. "I only spoke the truth. If he doesn't like what I have to say, it's not on me."

When I came back outside after meditation that turned into a nap, I grimaced. The horizon was dim with clouds the color of bruises. They loomed in front of the bow, its metal looking sickly against the darkness. Jee, Iroh, and the Firebenders all looked at the clouds. No sooner had I stood beside the general that Prince Zuko joined us.

Jee's face was full of smug delight. "Looks like your uncle was right about the storm after all."

Iroh shrugged. "Lucky guess."

Zuko scowled. "Lieutenant!" he barked, "you'd better learn some respect!" He poked Jee in the chest, "or I'll teach it to you."

Jee frowned at Zuko's retreating back. "And what do you know about respect?" Suddenly, the tension I had felt during my earlier confrontation with Zuko was back. No one else said anything to stop the lieutenant. I heard Iroh making noises of distress and even signaling for Jee to stop, but it went unheard and unnoticed by anyone but me. Normally during debates, he would lighten the mood or change the subject. This time, he wanted to avoid the topic altogether. "The way to talk to everyone around here, to your hard-working crew, to the Avatar's helpful sister, to your esteemed uncle, shows you know nothing about respect!" Iroh made a tiny gasp before rubbing his face in resignation. Jee continued his rant, but I had stopped listening to what he had to say. My standing up to the prince hadn't seemed dumb at the time, but after hearing Jee's words, I knew nothing good could happen next. A part of me felt validated, proud even. Jee had spoken what the crew was afraid to say directly to Zuko's face. Yet it had taken me saying something bold directly to the fire prince that initiated the words being said out loud.

Prince Zuko's fist clenched tightly for a moment. It shook before relaxing. Silently, he turned with an an enraged expression. His right arm was extended in a combative stance. Jee did the same motion. They wrist-blocked one another's arms. Smoke was rising from the point they crossed. Another Agni Kai? On the deck of a ship? That was a reckless move even for the prince.

"Enough!" Iroh broke Jee and Zuko apart. The smoke disappeared. With its vanishing came my breath of relief. "We're all a bit tired from being at sea for so long. I'm sure after a bowl of noodles, everyone will feel much better."

Noodles were the last thing on my mind. All I wanted was to hide in my room until both the storm and the crew's bickering had passed. Jee walked away from Zuko, gave me a gentle pat on the shoulder, and walked off towards the edge of the ship. Following his lead, the crew returned to their daily routines.. As I looked over at the storm, I saw Prince Zuko was rudely shoving Iroh away out of the corner of my eye. The hurt look on the general's expression cut me deep. I gave a dirty look at the prince's back.

I went back into the structure and shut the door to my room. I lay on my cot and stared at the dark gray rivets that made up the ceiling. I heard rain hitting the metal, and tears began hitting the blankets. My brother was somewhere with Sokka and Katara, while I was here, trapped amid complaints and arguing and resentment. I should have gone with them, or stayed with the villagers. At least I'd be having fun, not walking on eggshells to avoid angering a fire prince. Cooking had given me a sense of routine aboard the ship. A sense of purpose apart from lying to Zuko about where Aang was. It was all I was on this ship. The Avatar's locator, who knew where he was going and why. But I didn't know. Yes, he was going to the North Pole, but that was the only real thing I knew. What was the point of it if Katara had basically taught him Waterbending? To get extra practice?

My stomach gurgled. Noodles suddenly sounded good. I walked down the halls to the stairways leading to the galley. Just as I was about to head in, I stopped when I heard Iroh's voice.

"General Bujing had planned new recruits as bait to distract forces from a rear attack. However, using an entire new division was an unwise, cruel move, and Prince Zuko objected to it. Zuko was right, you see, but it wasn't his place to speak out. And there were dire consequences."

I poked my head far enough to where I could see Jee, Iroh, the cook, the head engineer, and a training Marshall huddled around a small fire pit. Iroh was stroking his beard as he spoke.

"After Zuko's outburst in the meeting, the Fire Lord became very angry with him. He said the challenge against the general was an act of complete disrespect! And there was only one way to resolve this."

Jee sounded remorseful. "Agni Kai…"

I bit my lip to keep from crying out. Prince Zuko was punished for speaking out in protest of a bad war move by having to fight? What kind of rule allowed that treatment?.

I staggered up the stairs. If I stayed and listened to more, I was going to scream. The Fire Lord was horrid. Why did the monks not say so to Aang? To avoid scaring him? Or maybe it was to avoid Aang dying in an Agni Kai, because apparently, Firebending culture meant someone had to die or be brutally injured if you so much as said one thing wrong. Then there was Prince Zuko's comment about disrespect. He had been projecting the same anger that had been put on him at a younger age. At once, I pictured Aang in that position, and the situation immediately became much more dire. A sobering thought hit me. Zuko made a mistake and was given a consequence, so what? Was I feeling sorry for someone that wanted to capture my brother and bring him to be roasted alive by the Fire Lord? Then why was I feeling bad?

As I made it to the second landing, I ran into someone's chest. After I recovered from the accidental run in, I was looking up at the stoic face of Prince Zuko. There was no anger, just blankness. I shouldered past him silently, refusing to apologize for bumping into him.

"You were right, Gitan."

I froze. He had never admitted that I had been right about something. Rather anyone else being right. I slowly turned around. He was avoiding my eyes, finding the railing more interesting. "You were right in that I don't know anything about you. I've been treating you poorly, and that was wrong. I was looking for you to help clear things up. You weren't in your room."

He opened the door next to him. I recognized the four lit candles on the table and the banner on the wall. His cabin. Anxiety crept its cold fingers down my spine. I didn't like anything that meant being alone with him in his quarters. I didn't have a staff to defend myself. But then I looked closer. The candles usually had one pillow in front of them. This time there were two. Small little cups were out next to them. He had set up his version of the fire pit down below.

I followed him inside and sat at one of the pillows. Prince Zuko sat across from me and handed me one of the tins. It was filled with a tiny amount of water. But then as I raised it closer, I smelled incredibly oversteeped leaves. He had attempted to make tea. Poorly, but it was a gesture I had never seen him do. I took a sip, ignoring the bitter taste.

"The Air Nomads…how did they treat nonbenders like you?"

"Well, I didn't get special treatment, if that's what you're asking. The monks believed in equality be they bender or no bender. Yet, looking back, because I was a nonbender, they loaded me with more work to make up for my lack of bending. Every day there were chores or lessons or whatever spiritual ritual was planned that day. But when they told Aang the truth, things changed…"

So I told him everything. How Sister Wei's etiquette lessons were balanced in staff training by her and Gyatso. How Aang and I were one another's companions when his friends rejected him. And how we ran away when the inevitability of separation hovered like a storm cloud. It was a longer account than what I had tried to tell him when we first met. Yet this time, there was no rage or accusations. He was in front of me calmly, his facial expressions changing based on the story.

"Next thing I knew, I was waking up to your face after you found me in the iceberg."

Prince Zuko looked away. Immediately, I realized my mistake. Of course he would be self-conscious about his scar. How could he not?

"Oh. That wasn't…I mean…I didn't mean…" I stopped myself. If I said anything else, it would make him angry. I had once insulted his scar once out of sheer anger.

Silence settled between us. His golden eyes met mine, and in them I saw an emotion I couldn't quite place. I saw unhappiness yet I also saw something…vulnerable.

"You were challenged to a duel just for standing up for new fighters?" I treaded on my words carefully. "That general deserved a hit of fire, then. Who sends inexperienced people out…"

"It wasn't the general." His interruption was cold and blunt. "It was my father."

I dropped my cup. The tea splashed out and made the tiny flames hiss. Instead of a general, the prince had to fight his own father?! The Fire Lord? All of this for simply speaking out of turn? The only consequence I got for speaking out against the monks was a more tedious chore like scrubbing the bison stables. I picked it up hastily and took a sip of bitter but perfectly warmed tea to avoid asking anything else stupid. Instead, I just asked, "Why?"

"Because I had insulted him. And even then, I didn't fight for my honor…" There was a beat of silence before he continued, the candlelight's flickering on the left side of his face, casting harsh shadows on his scar, "and I was shamed for my weakness."

My eyes widened in horror. Of course, even a noble son would be afraid to face the fire lord himself. But to burn someone who refused to fight? I couldn't get the image I had painted in my mind out of my head. How the fire lord charged without mercy to a surrendering young prince in front of an entire crowd. How the burn would become the angry scar it was today. My hands shook. I set the cup down to avoid spilling more. It all made sense. For refusing to fight, Zuko showed weakness and was banished for losing. To regain his title, he had to do something worthy of his father's praise. Something big like…like capturing the Avatar.

"So that's why you're so obsessed. Capturing him is the only way you can go home and…things can return to normal," I said.

"And you fight to protect him not just because he's your family, but because the Air Nomads never gave you a chance to be anything else other than his only friend," Zuko replied.

I let a very small smile cross my face. "Yeah. That's a good way of putting it."

I wasn't sure what to describe the feeling that lingered over the tiny candles as we looked at each other. There was no hatred. There was no sense that we'd start bickering or using our fighting skills to prove a point. It was a strange, comfortable feeling of truly seeing each other for the first time. The Fire Prince sitting across from me was a hurt, young man who was as isolated and lonely as I was. It didn't excuse his hunting of my brother, but it did help me understand his motives. In that same way, he understood mine. I didn't want to fight him, and he didn't want to fight me. I knew him and vice versa.

I stood up finally, setting the cup down. I was letting my guard down. I may have won Prince Zuko's respect and he had won mine, but we still had our respective missions. It had made it impossible to pursue something beyond mutual respect. We would never be friends, even though deep down, I wanted to be. "Don't think my sympathy for you means that I won't stop protecting the Avatar, Your Highness. Am I clear?"

The prince faced the candles. "I won't make the same mistake twice." When I didn't move, he said gruffly, "Well? What are you waiting for, a formal resignation? I'm an exiled prince. Go whenever you want."

Before I walked out, I stopped at the door and let out one final thought slip out. "I don't just protect my brother. I protect the hope he gives people, and that includes you."

As I closed the door behind me, I exhaled. Pity for Prince Zuko felt wrong, but at the same time it felt…normal. Stranger was how he had presented himself to me. He wasn't talking down to me or telling me what I should and shouldn't do. He had shared a drink with me and told me the truth of his exile, of his father's cruelty, and how he got his scar. He wouldn't have told anyone. But that was because besides his uncle, he didn't have anyone to tell…except for me. He trusted me with the story of his father's horrid actions. Flattery beat in my chest and I descended the stairs to my room.

No. Prince Zuko is still trying to capture your brother. It doesn't matter how bad his banishment was. I breathed again, and came to a compromise. I would still respect and pity him, but I didn't have to like him. But perhaps a tiny part of me did like him when he wasn't acting like a haughty prince. When he wasn't filled with anger and frustration and blind focus, he could be gentle and considerate.

The ship suddenly jostled with an incredibly loud crashing sound. I pressed my hands firmly against a wall to keep myself from falling over. My frustrating thoughts turned to survival. I grabbed my staff from my room, clenched it tightly, and rushed out onto the deck.

The rain was falling in cold sheets with no sign of stopping. The sky was a greenish gray, traced with purple. The waves were growing in size. Some were splashing onto the metal deck as everyone on board tried to stay on their feet, battered by the water and swaying with the flow.

"Look!" Iroh pointed up towards the watchtower. Smoke was pouring from a hole that was not there before. The metal was jagged and charred. The railing that held the ship's wheel in place had been thrust downward, as if it were simply crushed. Lightning began flashing in bright yellow flashes. Thunder accompanied the strikes. So that's what caused the hit; lightning. The flashes were enough light to reveal that hanging from the twisted railing was…

"The helmsman!" Prince Zuko cried.

Without any other words, he rushed to the metal ladder leading to the controls and began climbing quickly. Jee followed close behind. The ship hit a large wave, making the bow dip violently. I dug in with my feet and staff. The cold water seeped through my shoes. I stole a look up to the crow's nest after hearing a loud clap of thunder. Zuko and Jee were helping the helmsman down safely. I sighed in relief.

No sooner had everyone returned to the bow safely that I saw a familiar flying bison cut in through the dark clouds. Everyone was eyeing Aang. He was literally over our heads, flying through the storm. What was he doing? There weren't any tricks thus far out at sea for him to try. Did he make a wrong turn?

"What do want to do, sir?" Jee asked the prince.

Prince Zuko cast one final look at Appa flying away, then to everyone around him. His eyes fell on me briefly. After a few seconds, he gave an unexpected order. Calmly.

"Let him go. We need to get this ship to safety."

Iroh pointed forward, "Then we must head directly into the eye of the storm."

I eyed the bridge bay skeptically. The helmsman nearly died from the lightning. The walls had saved him, but if there was another storm, he wouldn't be so lucky. I looked at the crew and held up my staff. "Hold on. The roof needs more support until we can get repairs. Who knows if we'll run into another storm? Besides, this is made of wood, not metal; lightning won't break it."

"Be careful, Gitan." It was so strange hearing Prince Zuko speak with concern and not a command. I had little time to soak in the positive interaction. The faster we got out of the storm with a partially repaired boat, the better.

I tucked my staff into my holster and grabbed the first rung of the support ladder. Rain made it slick, so hopping several rungs too quickly would spell danger. I put one foot into the rung below and began a steady climb. The higher I climbed, the wetter the metal. The rain got colder, too. But I continued to climb. The broken platform was a foot's length away.

I lifted my staff and jiggled it snugly into where the platform of the broken crow's nest jutted. After climbing a few more rungs, I carefully placed my foot on the beam I had created. I kept one hand on a ring as I used the other hand to steady myself. When my other foot was safely crossed over the other, I let go. Arms on either side, I exhaled and kept my eyes on the steering wheel sitting untouched. In two strides, I was in the console room. Broken glass and metal littered the floor. I knelt to retrieve my staff and jiggled it free from its balance beam line. It was ready to be a temporary pillar until the ship was repaired. I leaned it at an angle, eyeing where the support would end. As the tip of my staff scraped the end of the loose metal, I kicked as hard as I could. The staff straightened. With it, the roof was lifted high enough. No more rain was puttering through. The helmsman would be safe. Below me, I heard the crew cheer. I descended the ladder and was greeted by smiles and claps. Among them was Prince Zuko. I wasn't sure what to feel. Pride? Satisfaction? Joy? The emotion was a vortex of all of those.

The helmsman climbed back to his post after I had descended. The boat bobbed through the rough waters. This time, I only had the side of the ship to lean against. The cold metal was wet, and the heavy iron smell clashed against the scent of the clouds. As the ship cut through, the waters grew calmer. The rain was slowing into a drizzle. Finally, after some time, a patch of blue sky cut through the gray. The helmsman eased on the steam, and the ship slowed to a coast.

I wrung out my wet skirt. Water splattered onto the deck in heavy droplets. My hair was stuck to my head from the storm, not to mention the sweat from fixing the roof was mingling with the rain water. I needed to dry off, otherwise I would be lying in my cot with a nasty cold. Aang didn't need me to be sick.

Just as I was heading towards the structure, I overheard Zuko and Iroh exchanging an apology. I smiled. The elderly general was smiling as well. Pride was gleaming in his eyes. I could understand that feeling.

A few seconds later, there was a loud burst of water. The ocean spray hit my face. But the ship hadn't hit a large wave. Had it? After I swiped the water from my face, I saw Appa flying rapidly up through the air. Where had he come from? How did he get in front of the boat? Aang looked over his shoulder, but I saw his eyes weren't on me. Instead, they were on Prince Zuko, who was also watching Appa ascend. I kept my gaze on Appa until he became hard to find amongst the clouds.

Prince Zuko looked at me. "I take it you know where he's going."

I shook my head. "Wherever he's going, it's not the direction he told me."

He nodded. "Your honesty is appreciated, Gitan." The smile he gave me made my heart still for the briefest moment.