Blood in the Air: Changing Currents4
Aang stroked Appa's fur as they flew above the land, sensing his companion was growing weary. It became more obvious when the sky bison lowered his height, soon just planting his feet on the ground with a noticeable thud. Aang sighed, patting Appa's head before turning to the others. "Well, no more flying tonight. But it's nearly sundown, so maybe we should pick a place for camp."
"We went far for carrying so much extra weight," Katara said as she slid down from the saddle. Iroh frowned, glancing down at his belly, and shrugged before following suit. Sokka helped Suki down before he started unloading packs and sleeping bags with a yawn, "I'm with Appa, long day means a nice long sleep."
Aang grinned, jumping down with a few melons he packed just for the bison, and placed them in front of his large face. "Seems your getting stronger, buddy." Toph dug her feet into the cooling dirt, taking a minute to savor the feeling before molding the surrounding earth into eight stone teepees. "Ok, I made the tents, my part is done."
Mai refused to sleep in dirt, but she didn't say anything as she grabbed a packed tent and let it roll off the bison's furry leg and to the ground. Iroh simply jumped, misleading his age with a display of strength, and offered to help Zuko down. "Very clever, but not very discrete."
Suki whispered into Sokka's ear, giving him a kiss before going off on a search for twigs and dried plants. Fortunately Appa decided to land in an area that had a fair amount of flora, even if there were no trees nearby. A trickling creek lay fifteen feet away, clean enough to drink from.
Zuko was tempted to stay on the saddle, as he already nearly fell asleep before Appa deciding to land roughly. But from experience he knew the bison tended to roll over during the night. The firebender didn't even try to climb down on his own, accepting his uncle's aid.
Katara unrolled her sleeping bag, smoothing it out on the ground while Sokka gathered enough rocks to make a small circle. "Aang, see if you can find some wood and I'll start a fire." "Sokka... we have three firebenders here. They can just start one, can't they?" The hunter scowled, "But I want to do it!"
"With what? You do remember we haven't carried flint stones for a while now." Toph stated, sitting on the ground, and playing with Sokka's rock circle from ten feet away.
"I can rub sticks together!" Sokka waved his arms, feeling quite useless with all of these benders around, and as if to make a point Katara was now by the creek, bending fish out of the water for their dinner. "I've been replaced!"
Toph paused, turning her head toward Sokka. "Why not just use this as a break? Doesn't mean you've been replaced."
"You just put up eight tents in two seconds!" Sokka sighed and wandered off into the scrubs and bushes to collect berries with Momo close behind. Mai kneeled, resting on folded legs, "A bit emotional, isn't he."
"You, shut up." Aang frowned at Toph's curt reply, stepping in between them, in case of a fight. "So....lovely weather this evening, isn't it? Good night for camping, yes!"
"If you like sleeping in dirt, with bugs crawling all over you." Mai ignored Toph and unwrapped the tent, which nearly set itself up with a system of small pulleys and ropes. The war brought many innovations to the fire nation, none of which were kept from royalty. Iroh helped Zuko inside, where several pillows and padded blankets waited.
Toph smirked. "Of course I do, and it sounds like you could use a dose too." She stood, slamming a foot down to cause a patch of dirt and worms to jump from the ground and onto Mai's head.
Silence fell on the camp, blanketing every sound until only Mai's shuffling feet could be heard. She slowly rose, clumps of dirt tumbling to her shoulders and the ground around her robes. "You... dare... throw... dirt?!"
Aang paled, waving his arms in front of Mai, as if he could block Toph from view. "Ahhh She didn't mean it! We'll all just a little grumpy! Maybe? Lets just calm down!" Zuko paused just before the tent entrance, knowing it wouldn't end well if Mai got into a fight with a blind girl. He leaned over, gently tugging on Mai's dress, giving her a pleading look. "Mai..."
Mai didn't even notice Zuko, eyes locked only on Toph even though Aang tried to step between them. She reached inside her robe, drawing out three miniature daggers with razor-thin blades. "You don't need those eyes if you are blind..."
Zuko stood, wrapping an arm around the angry girl's waist, and placing a free hand on hers. "Mai, please don't." Aang acted defensively, calling on a gust of wind to pick Toph up and out of Mai's field of vision, causing the earth bender to scream in surprise. "NO! NO FIGHTING!!!"
Mai trembled with fury, wanting nothing more than to rip the little blind girl to shreds, but too many people were getting in the way. Only Zuko's touch kept her hand from flying forward and releasing the daggers to whatever bloody end. "You... despicable brat! If the avatar wasn't here you would be on the ground, begging for mercy!"
Aang twitched an eye, as Mai issued threats and Toph was now shouting obscene things at him. "Both of you quiet! Please! Can't we all just have a moment of peace?!" His eyes started to glow, his own calm starting to break. Zuko blinked, wondering what happened to make Aang this tense. He whispered into Mai's ear, slightly concerned about everyone's well being. "Mai...just back away slowly."
Nearly a half mile away, Sokka had no idea the camp was about to explode with avatar energy while be picked berries with Momo... who was more interested in eating all of them. Mai wasn't fazed by Aang's outburst, instead pointing an angry finger at the shouting Toph. "She started it! I didn't fling bug-dirt at her face!"
Toph suddenly dropped to the ground, crying out as she landed on her rear. Aang focused on Mai, who refused to back down from her tirade, and the irrational part of his mind labeled her a danger to those around him. "She didn't threaten you, leave her alone!" He threw a strong gust at her to knock her back a ways, and inadvertently Zuko as well, who had remained behind her. Zuko impacted on the ground first, sparing Mai the worst of it.
Mai felt tightly wound when she regained her footing, like a snake lion coiled to pounce, and being thrown to the ground was enough. She took one step when the air crackled with electricity, a great bolt of lightning shooting between the Avatar and his friends and Mai and Zuko. The ground was scorch black where it passed, one end leading into the creek and the other leading to Iroh. His fingers till smoked, disapproving eyes looking from one child to the next. "All of you need to calm down before someone gets hurt." Katara was stunned, having prepared water for bending a shield around Aang, but realized she was no match for Iroh's lightning.
Aang froze, reason returning to him like a hammer to the skull, and he dropped to his knees. The glow left his features, now only shock and regret. "I...I'm sorry." Toph rubbed her thigh, also stunned at the outburst, deciding it would be best to simply retreat to her stone tent without waiting for dinner. 'Wow....what a mess....'
Katara quietly joined Aang's side, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and guiding him away from the others. "Come on... lets make dinner. Sokka should be back soon." She knew he could use some time not worrying about everyone else, and in privacy he could talk to her as well. Iroh waited until the situation dissipated before suddenly shaking his fingers with a wince. "Ah, it has been too long since I tried that! Zuko, are you alright?"
Zuko refrained from groaning, feeling his back ache, as if the bruises from the explosion aren't enough. "I think my spine is bruised now too."
Aang didn't hesitate as Katara pulled him away, avoiding her gaze as his eyes watered. How could he let himself lose control like that? "You shouldn't be near me...I might hurt you too...."
"You wouldn't hurt me, Aang." Katara guided the distraught airbender to a flat rock near the creek's river rock shore, gently pulling him down onto it. "You are under a lot of stress right now."
"I just hurt Toph, and Mai and Zuko." He slumped onto the rock, as if his bones turned to jelly. "I'm supposed to handle stress better then that...!"
"You are thirteen, Aang, and for a long time you haven't had guidance to help you learn how to deal with stress." Katara swirled her hands in the creek, drawing some pure, cool water to a cloth and dabbing it on his cheek. "I guess it is easy to forget you don't have any parents. I'm sorry, Aang."
Aang grimaced, remembering the fate of the one man he ever considered to be a parent. "I never knew my father or mother. But it never mattered, because I had Gyatso. Untill..." He drifted off, as Katara already knew that part of his history.
"You miss him a lot. Even though years have passed, I still miss mother... I don't think I will ever stop missing her." Katara let out a shuddering breath and fought back tears. "You're not alone anymore. We're not Monk Gyatso but we will never abandon you... no matter how many times you lose control." She held Aang tightly.
Aang returned the embrace, as if Katara was life itself. "Thank you Katara....I don't know what I'd do without you...I'll never abandon you either." He breathed deeply, trying to expel the darker emotions swirling within him.
"There... isn't that better? Come on, I think I saw some turnips growing on the other side of this creek." Katara took Aang's hand in her own, pulling him toward the rippling water. He needed just one evening to himself, with a warm supper and warm sleeping bag, and no worries.
Aang didn't hesitate to follow her, willing to walk off a cliff if she deemed it right. On the other side of camp, Appa had made his way over to Zuko, sniffing the firelord's clothing as he lay in the dirt. The bison grunted, then promptly moved to lay on top of the teenager, as if being covered with hot fur several tons of weight would cure all that ailed him.
"No, no! Off with you before you crush him." Iroh shoved at Appa's side, back toward the melons Aang set out for him earlier. After talking down Mai he helped Zuko into the spacious tent and into bed. "This journey is becoming more and more dangerous..."
Appa grunted at Iroh's prodding, refusing to move for a few seconds, but relented when Zuko tried to wiggle underneath him. The bison moved on, laying next to the melons but not consuming them. Those he would save for a midnight snack. Zuko coughed as soon as he got fresh air, now covered with strands of bison fur.
"Easy, easy." Iroh took care to move Zuko gently, knowing he still recovered from poison and now mounting injuries. It wasn't the first time he cared for his young nephew when he was hurt... or burned. "Lay still and breathe."
'I'm trying to..' The firebender thought to himself as he coughed again, trying to remove stray hairs from his mouth. "Is this some sort of bizarre afterlife? Did I die and not know it?"
"The avatar's sky bison sat on you." Iroh said matter of factually while heating a cast iron kettle filled with water. In moments it was steaming and he added a pinch of fragrant herbs.
Zuko eyed the bison, sitting on the other side of camp and standing guard over his two melons. He crawled into the sleeping bag, wishing this was only a dream. Then it wouldn't hurt so much when he woke up. "Hmn."
"Drink this and sleep. It has been a... very confusing day." Iroh set a cup of tea near Zuko before he left the tent, leaving him with Mai who was only now calming down. She finished brushing the dirt from her hair and sat down next to him with a sigh. "This is why I never went camping. It is disgusting."
Zuko glanced up to, fingering the cup that his uncle left for him. "You'll get used to it. We might have to continue camping at night until we reach the fire nation."
Mai leaned back on her palms, crossing her ankles and gazing upward at the tent's thick canvas top. The fire nation symbol was stitched in black, bordered with gold, and set on red. Classic colors of royalty... in the middle of nowhere. "If it keeps you safe... I guess there is no choice. Just promise me yo don't do this for fun?"
Zuko smirked, unable to resist teasing a little. "I don't know...I've become attached to sleeping in the dirt...I'm thinking of filling all the palace rooms with dirt and woodland critters...."
Mai stared at Zuko, as if she could see mold and fungus growing all over him from living like a wild man. "...I might need to rethink breaking up with you, if you do that."
Zuko chuckled slightly, sitting up just enough to sip the tea. "I'm allowed to think weird things, after today. You feeling better, or do you need tea as well?"
"I would feel better if there was a hot bath with fire salts." Mai edged closer, the corners of her mouth upturning slightly, "Being near you is good enough."
"Even if i'm covered in fur?" He gathered a wad, waving it in front of her face. "Hmm...could make some new clothes with this."
"Uh, don't remind me that you now smell of unwashed bison. You are lucky that tea smells of flowers."
"Shall I bathe in tea then?" He dipped a finger in, and let several drops land in his torn shirt. He finished the tea, setting the cup aside for now.
"I think your uncle would cry." Mai traced a finger along Zuko's jawline, guiding his mouth to hers, and their lips met.
~~~~~~
Suki spend half an hour gathering dry weeds and stick like bushes for a decent fire, storing the most of it in a pouch tied to her waist. The chittering of a hungry lemur caught her attention, and she spotted Sokka attempting to gather berries that were promptly eaten by the mentioned monkey. "Well, it seems Momo is happy."
"Huh?" Sokka looked into the berry pouch at his side, eyes widening when he saw it was empty. "Momo! Those berries were for all of us!!"
Suki gave him a sympathetic glance, drifting to plant a kiss on the warrior's cheek. "Need help?"
"But... the berries! Now what are we supposed to eat?" Sokka sighed, his arms turning to limp noodles at his sides.
Suki frowned a little, stroking Sokka's cheek. "There's plenty of berries around, as well as fish in the creek. But there's something more, isn't there?"
Sokka sat down on a nearby rock as Momo cleaned out the bag again and leaped into the nearest berry bush. "Suki, I feel useless. I don't have super awesome bending powers and I'm not a political figure. Everyone else has something to do, but unless there is fighting... what use is a warrior?"
Suki watched him for a moment, wondering if he felt this way often. "Sokka...Do you think I'm useless as well? I'm not a bender either."
Sokka suddenly looked as if he deeply offended Suki and waved his hands back and forth, "You're not useless! Even when Kyoshi Island didn't need you, you found a way to help people escape from the war. You could do that again."
Suki smiled, letting him know she wasn't offended at all. "So why do you feel useless? Because you can't bend a fish out of water? Because you can't put up stone tents?" She leaned in close, her face inches away from his. "A fishing pole would also produce a fish, and I'll let you on a little secret...Sleeping under stone isn't all that comfortable."
"...are you sure? Have you tried?" Sokka breathed deeply, letting his insecurities go. "I just wish there was something else I could do. I don’t even have space sword anymore."
Suki sat next to him, lifting her gaze to the darkening sky. "You know, when the other warriors and I finally left the island, people were shocked to learn about us. They could barely believe that the greatest fighters, from Avatar Kyoshi's own birthplace, weren't earthbenders at all." She rested a hand on his shoulder. "Sokka, for people like you and I, our greatest strength is that we don't need bending. Even out of battle, and without weapons, our strength of body, and purity of heart always remain with us. And no force on earth, or eclipse, can ever take that away from us."
In that moment, Suki's words had more impact on Sokka than a thousand of grandma's sayings borne of both wisdom and strife. No master, no wise man, could have opened his eyes the way she did just now. Sokka always felt inferior compared to Toph, Aang, and even his own sister because he had no elemental mastery. But what Suki said now made him realize the simple truth. "Suki... I never thought of it that way. But you're right, we don't need to throw rocks to be strong."
Suki nodded, wrapping her arm around him. "Being a simple warrior is something to be proud of. You've certainly impressed me."
Sokka's cheeks reddened and his heart felt as if it would leap out of his chest for joy. "Maybe we should just stay out here tonight and I can impress you some more..."
Suki rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "There will be plenty of time for that later. If we don't return soon the others might worry."
"Awh... let Katara keep them calm! But you're right. Momo ate all the berries so we should go back and catch more fish."
Suki took Sokka's hand, leading the way back to camp, only to see it was seemingly empty. The only visible being was Appa, who welcomed them with a grunt. "Or I could be wrong, and no one's here." Suki removed the plant matter from her pouch, placing it in the rock ring Sokka put together earlier.
"And they didn't even build a fire!" Sokka huffed, walking around the camp and kicking at the scorch mark. "Did they miss or something?"
Suki followed Sokka's path with her eyes, frowning when he stepped over the darkened ground. "Sokka...what is that? Was there an attack while we were away?"
Kneeling, Sokka touched the mark and rubbed the soot between his fingers. "I don't think so... there are no signs of fighting, and this isn't from fire. But where is everyone?"
Suki bit her lip, now on guard as she examined their campsite. Appa certainly was calm, but he couldn't exactly tell them where the others went. The coverings that Toph made were still there, but now a fabric tent rested in the middle, and Suki cautiously peeled backed the front flap. Zuko lay inside, silent and still, but also obviously only asleep with Mai by his side.
Mai fell asleep not long after Iroh left, having draped an arm across Zuko's chest and feeling content for once. Candles dimly flickered around the tent's interior, providing a soft golden glow. Outside, Sokka checked each of the stone tents and only found Toph's feet sticking out of one of them. "Psst... hey!"
Toph waved at Sokka, still wide awake. "Oh, hey there. About time you came back." Suki replaced the flap, letting the sleeping couple alone and walking over to Sokka and Toph. "Everyone went to bed already? " Toph paused, actually appearing sheepish for once. "Eh...things kind of fell apart after you left."
"Did someone explode? We saw the mark outside and Aang and Katara are gone." Sokka frowned, wondering what happened during the short time he went berry picking with Suki.
"Hehe...long story short, Mai insulted you, I threw dirt at her, Aang snapped and knocked us all back with wind, and Iroh threw lightening at the ground." Toph shrugged, as if it was no big deal.
"Suki... we're not allowed to leave these people alone. They will tear each other apart over.. dirt!" Sokka covered his face with a palm.
Suki sighed, shaking her head at Toph. "Looks like you're more needed then you thought you were. But where are Aang and Katara now?" Toph pointed to the side. "Other side of the creek, playing with vegetables."
"...is that code for doing sexy things?!" Sokka burst out of the stone tent, screaming, "AANG! NO sexy time with Katara!!!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aang paused, hearing Sokka's voice even from his distance. He glanced back to camp, but it was too dark to see anything. "Well, Sokka's back."
Katara dug another turnip out of the ground, adding it to the pile Aang had been fashioning into a pyramid. "Good, maybe he found some berries..."
"He said we're not allowed to have sexy time." Aang rose an eyebrow, but shook his head before turning back to the structure. "He confuses me."
"Sokka is being stupid. Its a trait he has, sometimes." Katara wasn't about to be perturbed by her brother's odd accusations. "He thinks we are having sex."
Aang picked up some water from the creek, bending it around the vegetables to make a fountain out of the pyramid. "He's the one who told me to be sexy, now he's mad about it."
"Aang, do you know what being sexy and sex is? That doesn't seem like something monks would teach..."
"No." Aang stated matter of factually. "Sokka was vague about it when he first mentioned it, but i know it makes people angry." He thought back to Katara's reaction when he followed Sokka's advice, and now Sokka himself was yelling across yards of space.
"Erm... this is... awkward. Hey, maybe Iroh can explain it! This is really a conversation to have with an adult."
"Ok. Hey, check this out!" He chewed his lip, concentrating deeply as the water flowed around the turnip pyramid. It stretched to form an arc above it, shifting to resemble two hearts interlocked with each other.
Katara watched the hearts in awe, their reflection glittering in her pale blue eyes. "Aang... that is beautiful."
Aang smiled shyly. "I've....been practicing...just for you."
Katara's heart fluttered and she folded her hands for lack of anything better to do with them. She felt a little nervous, knowing what was at risk with the next question. "Aang... how do you feel about me?"
"I like you. I told you that." Aang let the water recede, pushing it back into the creek. "I'm going to save these turnips for the journey back to the fire nation."
Katara wondered if Aang merely liked her, or if his feelings ran deeper. She sighed, sensing he wanted to change the subject, and gathered a few turnips. "Alright. Lets go back to camp."
Aang paused, seeing a flash of disappointment. "Is something wrong? Do you not believe me? I really do like you!"
Katara dropped another turnip into a bag that hung by her side, trying to calm her own emotions and hopes. Aang didn't need to worry about another person with so much stress on him already. "I believe you. Its just... nevermind. I believe you, I always will."
Aang gathered the rest, smiling happily as they packed the vegetables. 'I'll always like you, Katara.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aang set a pot of water and berries on a prepared fire, a mixture that would cook down into jam for breakfast. Zuko was also awake, sitting just outside his tent without any interest in moving closer to the fire, and Toph was handing him a cup of fresh brewed tea she retrieved from Iroh's empty sleeping space. Aang glanced over to Katara as she emerged, waving excitedly. "Hey, I just put breakfast on. Should be done shortly."
Katara brushed a loose lock of hair from her face, tying it behind in a loose braid as she emerged into the sun. She spent hours laying awake during the night, thinking about Aang and his extreme "like" of her. Did those feelings go any deeper? Was he old enough to even have those feelings? "Oh... thanks. I think we have some bread in one of the packs." She kneeled near the creek, dipping her hands in the cool water and splashing her face.
"Did you sleep well?" Aang followed her to the creek, circling her before presenting a white flower. "I found it this morning."
"I slept fine," Katara said absentmindedly, again splashing her face with cool water. She glanced to his open hand, finding the flower, and felt conflicted again. "That is very pretty."
"I'm glad Appa didn't disturb you too much." Aang grinned, letting her have a minute to herself and returning to the campfire. He glanced toward Zuko again, this time noticing he was rather pale, with tired and bloodshot eyes. "Ah...I guess you didn't, then. By the way, have you seen your uncle?" Zuko grunted, taking another mouthful of tea. "Not since last night."
"He wasn't in his tent this morning, either." Sokka said as he added a handful of sticks to the campfire and stirred the jelly pot. "Mmm... not meat, but smells good!"
Aang frowned, wondering why the elder had disappeared. "But I need to talk to him! Why did he leave?"
"He's a mysterious old man, who knows! I'm sure he will be back before we leave. Why do you need to talk to him so badly, anyway?"
"Because I need too!" He scooted closer to Zuko. "He's your uncle, surely you know where he is! Tell me!" Zuko rose an eyebrow, too tired to care why Aang was so insistent. "I don't know." The firelord sipped from the tea cup, pausing as he felt something wiggling in his mouth, and forcefully spitting it on the ground. A green colored winged insect writhed on the dirt as Zuko twitched an eyebrow and stared at Toph. "Why are there grasshoper-bees in here?!"
Toph shrugged nonchalantly. "Hey, I got the tea from your uncle's tent. If there's bees in the tea, then there was bees in the mix. Not my fault."
Mai smirked, flicking the bug away as it dared to crawl close to her feet. She sat near Zuko, close enough that he could lean on her a little without it being obvious to the others. "Bee tea sounds like something he would drink."
Zuko grimaced, hesitating to continue drinking, even more so when he saw what was at the up. "Ugh..." He tipped the cup, letting the remaining tea, and a dozen more bees, drip to the ground. Momo pounced with a chitter, collecting all the insects and stuffing them in his mouth.
"I'm sure Iroh will make you something without bugs when he gets back... if he gets back." Sokka looked around the camp, perplexed. "How does a man that big vanish without making a sound?"
"Hmm...I'll have to ask him that as well. I'll find him!" Aang quickly retrieved his gilder staff, jumping into the air to search for the wise elder. "Iroh! Where are you?"
Before sunrise, the old general rose and tip-toed out of camp to find a quiet place to meditate. A shade tree hanging over the creek, further downstream, made an ideal place... a little too ideal, since he fell asleep shortly after dawn. Aang's call was answered with snore.
Aang lowered himself when he heard the noise, soon found Iroh. "There you are! Wow, you can sleep anywhere!"
Iroh suddenly sat up with a snort, "Uha! Oh... Avatar, I didn't see you. I was... deep in meditation."
"Must be very deep, because you were snoring. I wanted to asked you something." Aang sat right in front of Iroh eagerly. "Katara said I should ask you about sex."
Iroh's face suddenly twisted into an expression of stunned confusion as Aang sat, like a pupil ready to learn from an experienced teacher. "Ask me about s... sex..."
Aang nodded. "Yes. And why it makes people angry."
Iroh cleared his throat, leaving back and stroking his trimmed beard. "That is a very delicate subject. It is best if you ask someone who you trust, not a retired general."
"But Katara said it's best to ask an adult, and you're the only adult here." Aang fixed his gaze on Iroh, wondering why he was hesitating so much.
"Ah, so she is right, but I am just an old man who knows about war." Iroh said matter of factually, clearly trying to avoid the discussion. "You should ask Zuko. He knows."
Aang paused,blinking several times. "Zuko? Eh...I don't know, he's kind of grouchy right now. And the bees didn't help, either."
"Bees? Did he set a nest on fire?"
"No, Toph prepared some of your bee tea." Aang sighed, standing up now. "So you don't know anything about sex? Nothing at all?"
Iroh sighed, shaking his head,"I don't have bee tea, and this subject... well, you are a bit young for it now, Aang."
Aang frowned, now appearing irritated. "But I'm not too young to face three seasons of danger and war torn villages, stop a century old year, spend the rest of my life making world peace, and venture into a former hideout of a dangerous enemy to collect a maimed body of a vengeful ghost?"
"Ah... well, maybe you have a point, but this is not like the conquest of war and good versus evil. Love and how to express it is a very delicate and tender act that you must not rush into." Iroh stood unsteadily, straightening his back with a crack. "Oh, I am getting too old to sleep under trees."
Aang relented, accepting the fact he wouldn't find out from Iroh. "Everyone's wondering where you went. Are you finished with your meditation?"
"Yes, lets go back." Iroh shuffled alongside Aang as they made their way back to camp. "I am curious, young avatar... who is it you love?"
Aang grinned, Katara's image flashing through his head. "It's Katara..."
"Ah, I see... she is a lovely young woman. Have you told her?"
"Kinda...I don't want to come on too strong. I did that once before, and it didn't end well." Aang lead the way back to camp, walking instead of gliding. "But now that we have peace, we have the rest of our lives to be together."
"Love is more powerful and more volatile than any force on earth, even bending. It is tender, is is strong, it is joy and it is sadness. But it means nothing if she doesn't love you in return. What did you say to her?"
"You think she doesn't the same? But I thought we understood each other!" Aang rubbed his hands together, becoming upset at the thought that Katara never really understood him. "Oh man..."
"Not at all, I think she cares for you very much. That is obvious to an experienced eye. But does she know how you feel about her...?" Iroh watched Aang, smiling warmly.
Aang barely heard Iroh now, talking to himself as the camp came within sight. "That time on the boat, and then during the play, and the Earth palace, and it didn't mean a thing. She'll never see me as more then a friend." Aang let out a drawn sigh, walking through to his tent, and crawled inside.
Iroh shrugged, figuring Aang would get his head on straight sooner or later, and returned to his tent. A cup of tea was quickly brewed, and he mixed it with a little berry juice before bringing it to Zuko. "I hear you had a bad run in with bees."
Zuko eyed the cup suspiciously, drawing back slightly. "Yeah....I'm swearing off tea. Where did you go?"
"This has some juice mixed in, better for breakfast. Drink it, you need energy." Iroh stood near the fire now, prodding the burning embers with a stick. "I went to find quiet to think and reflect. Something that is not easy to do out here."
Zuko grumbled as he held the warm cup, but the second Iroh turned his back he poured the liquid onto the ground, and shifted a feet to hide the puddle. "Good thing there wasn't any earthbenders nearby."
"An earthbender would be foolish to think I am an easy target. You shouldn't waste tea, nephew."
Zuko grunted, placing the cup on the ground in front of him. "I'm fine without tea." Even after all the night disturbances, Sokka's yelling, Appa's crunching, and then Iroh's inescapable snoring. At least he told himself he was fine.
"Are you so certain?" Iroh shot Zuko a knowing glance, imperceptible by the others, able to sense that the young firebender's flame was low. "if you say so. A man knows when he is fine and when he is ill." Mai leaned in a whispered, "Your uncle is weird."
Zuko rose an eyebrow at his uncle, the discreet point flying over his head. "What do you mean by that? I'm tired, but Im not sick."
Iroh briefly rolled his eyes, guessing many things soared over Zuko's head. "You are pale, and maybe cold..." Another hint, maybe he would sense this one?
Zuko frowned, his eyes widening slightly as it now struck him on the skull, then narrowed stubbornly. It was one thing that Mai had discovered yesterday, but having Iroh almost state it out loud, he felt uneasy and weak. Was it obvious to everybody, and they were holding their tongues while thinking how pathetic he was?! He huffed, one hand clenching into a fist. "I'm not cold!"
"Maybe you are right." Iroh let the matter drop now that Zuko knew his weakness was not invisible. He doubted any of the others knew, and hopefully no enemies would know until Zuko recovered. Katara finished stewing the berries, cooling them quickly with ice bended from the creek, and passed out small bowls with jelly and bread. "Here, breakfast is ready."
Zuko seethed, strands of paranoia gripping his brain as he decided to show just how un-cold he was. He started with Mai's tent, breaking it down to repack, and storing it in Appa's saddle. Suki gratefully accepted a bowl, sitting next to Sokka. "Thank you Katara."
Mai wondered what suddenly crawled up Zuko's butt and sighed, rising and brushing dirt off her robes. She would help, and then ask what was his problem. Sokka chewed a piece of dried fish, made the night before, refusing the bowl of jelly. "Thanks, but Appa would enjoy it more. He needs the energy if we plan to fly far today."
"Im sure Appa will appreciate your sacrifice, Sokka." Aang patted his shoulder before before digging into the fruit mixture. It was simple things like this that let him forgot the stressful duties of being an avatar. For now, the world could wait while he chatted with his friends.
"We went far for carrying so much extra weight," Katara said as she slid down from the saddle. Iroh frowned, glancing down at his belly, and shrugged before following suit. Sokka helped Suki down before he started unloading packs and sleeping bags with a yawn, "I'm with Appa, long day means a nice long sleep."
Aang grinned, jumping down with a few melons he packed just for the bison, and placed them in front of his large face. "Seems your getting stronger, buddy." Toph dug her feet into the cooling dirt, taking a minute to savor the feeling before molding the surrounding earth into eight stone teepees. "Ok, I made the tents, my part is done."
Mai refused to sleep in dirt, but she didn't say anything as she grabbed a packed tent and let it roll off the bison's furry leg and to the ground. Iroh simply jumped, misleading his age with a display of strength, and offered to help Zuko down. "Very clever, but not very discrete."
Suki whispered into Sokka's ear, giving him a kiss before going off on a search for twigs and dried plants. Fortunately Appa decided to land in an area that had a fair amount of flora, even if there were no trees nearby. A trickling creek lay fifteen feet away, clean enough to drink from.
Zuko was tempted to stay on the saddle, as he already nearly fell asleep before Appa deciding to land roughly. But from experience he knew the bison tended to roll over during the night. The firebender didn't even try to climb down on his own, accepting his uncle's aid.
Katara unrolled her sleeping bag, smoothing it out on the ground while Sokka gathered enough rocks to make a small circle. "Aang, see if you can find some wood and I'll start a fire." "Sokka... we have three firebenders here. They can just start one, can't they?" The hunter scowled, "But I want to do it!"
"With what? You do remember we haven't carried flint stones for a while now." Toph stated, sitting on the ground, and playing with Sokka's rock circle from ten feet away.
"I can rub sticks together!" Sokka waved his arms, feeling quite useless with all of these benders around, and as if to make a point Katara was now by the creek, bending fish out of the water for their dinner. "I've been replaced!"
Toph paused, turning her head toward Sokka. "Why not just use this as a break? Doesn't mean you've been replaced."
"You just put up eight tents in two seconds!" Sokka sighed and wandered off into the scrubs and bushes to collect berries with Momo close behind. Mai kneeled, resting on folded legs, "A bit emotional, isn't he."
"You, shut up." Aang frowned at Toph's curt reply, stepping in between them, in case of a fight. "So....lovely weather this evening, isn't it? Good night for camping, yes!"
"If you like sleeping in dirt, with bugs crawling all over you." Mai ignored Toph and unwrapped the tent, which nearly set itself up with a system of small pulleys and ropes. The war brought many innovations to the fire nation, none of which were kept from royalty. Iroh helped Zuko inside, where several pillows and padded blankets waited.
Toph smirked. "Of course I do, and it sounds like you could use a dose too." She stood, slamming a foot down to cause a patch of dirt and worms to jump from the ground and onto Mai's head.
Silence fell on the camp, blanketing every sound until only Mai's shuffling feet could be heard. She slowly rose, clumps of dirt tumbling to her shoulders and the ground around her robes. "You... dare... throw... dirt?!"
Aang paled, waving his arms in front of Mai, as if he could block Toph from view. "Ahhh She didn't mean it! We'll all just a little grumpy! Maybe? Lets just calm down!" Zuko paused just before the tent entrance, knowing it wouldn't end well if Mai got into a fight with a blind girl. He leaned over, gently tugging on Mai's dress, giving her a pleading look. "Mai..."
Mai didn't even notice Zuko, eyes locked only on Toph even though Aang tried to step between them. She reached inside her robe, drawing out three miniature daggers with razor-thin blades. "You don't need those eyes if you are blind..."
Zuko stood, wrapping an arm around the angry girl's waist, and placing a free hand on hers. "Mai, please don't." Aang acted defensively, calling on a gust of wind to pick Toph up and out of Mai's field of vision, causing the earth bender to scream in surprise. "NO! NO FIGHTING!!!"
Mai trembled with fury, wanting nothing more than to rip the little blind girl to shreds, but too many people were getting in the way. Only Zuko's touch kept her hand from flying forward and releasing the daggers to whatever bloody end. "You... despicable brat! If the avatar wasn't here you would be on the ground, begging for mercy!"
Aang twitched an eye, as Mai issued threats and Toph was now shouting obscene things at him. "Both of you quiet! Please! Can't we all just have a moment of peace?!" His eyes started to glow, his own calm starting to break. Zuko blinked, wondering what happened to make Aang this tense. He whispered into Mai's ear, slightly concerned about everyone's well being. "Mai...just back away slowly."
Nearly a half mile away, Sokka had no idea the camp was about to explode with avatar energy while be picked berries with Momo... who was more interested in eating all of them. Mai wasn't fazed by Aang's outburst, instead pointing an angry finger at the shouting Toph. "She started it! I didn't fling bug-dirt at her face!"
Toph suddenly dropped to the ground, crying out as she landed on her rear. Aang focused on Mai, who refused to back down from her tirade, and the irrational part of his mind labeled her a danger to those around him. "She didn't threaten you, leave her alone!" He threw a strong gust at her to knock her back a ways, and inadvertently Zuko as well, who had remained behind her. Zuko impacted on the ground first, sparing Mai the worst of it.
Mai felt tightly wound when she regained her footing, like a snake lion coiled to pounce, and being thrown to the ground was enough. She took one step when the air crackled with electricity, a great bolt of lightning shooting between the Avatar and his friends and Mai and Zuko. The ground was scorch black where it passed, one end leading into the creek and the other leading to Iroh. His fingers till smoked, disapproving eyes looking from one child to the next. "All of you need to calm down before someone gets hurt." Katara was stunned, having prepared water for bending a shield around Aang, but realized she was no match for Iroh's lightning.
Aang froze, reason returning to him like a hammer to the skull, and he dropped to his knees. The glow left his features, now only shock and regret. "I...I'm sorry." Toph rubbed her thigh, also stunned at the outburst, deciding it would be best to simply retreat to her stone tent without waiting for dinner. 'Wow....what a mess....'
Katara quietly joined Aang's side, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and guiding him away from the others. "Come on... lets make dinner. Sokka should be back soon." She knew he could use some time not worrying about everyone else, and in privacy he could talk to her as well. Iroh waited until the situation dissipated before suddenly shaking his fingers with a wince. "Ah, it has been too long since I tried that! Zuko, are you alright?"
Zuko refrained from groaning, feeling his back ache, as if the bruises from the explosion aren't enough. "I think my spine is bruised now too."
Aang didn't hesitate as Katara pulled him away, avoiding her gaze as his eyes watered. How could he let himself lose control like that? "You shouldn't be near me...I might hurt you too...."
"You wouldn't hurt me, Aang." Katara guided the distraught airbender to a flat rock near the creek's river rock shore, gently pulling him down onto it. "You are under a lot of stress right now."
"I just hurt Toph, and Mai and Zuko." He slumped onto the rock, as if his bones turned to jelly. "I'm supposed to handle stress better then that...!"
"You are thirteen, Aang, and for a long time you haven't had guidance to help you learn how to deal with stress." Katara swirled her hands in the creek, drawing some pure, cool water to a cloth and dabbing it on his cheek. "I guess it is easy to forget you don't have any parents. I'm sorry, Aang."
Aang grimaced, remembering the fate of the one man he ever considered to be a parent. "I never knew my father or mother. But it never mattered, because I had Gyatso. Untill..." He drifted off, as Katara already knew that part of his history.
"You miss him a lot. Even though years have passed, I still miss mother... I don't think I will ever stop missing her." Katara let out a shuddering breath and fought back tears. "You're not alone anymore. We're not Monk Gyatso but we will never abandon you... no matter how many times you lose control." She held Aang tightly.
Aang returned the embrace, as if Katara was life itself. "Thank you Katara....I don't know what I'd do without you...I'll never abandon you either." He breathed deeply, trying to expel the darker emotions swirling within him.
"There... isn't that better? Come on, I think I saw some turnips growing on the other side of this creek." Katara took Aang's hand in her own, pulling him toward the rippling water. He needed just one evening to himself, with a warm supper and warm sleeping bag, and no worries.
Aang didn't hesitate to follow her, willing to walk off a cliff if she deemed it right. On the other side of camp, Appa had made his way over to Zuko, sniffing the firelord's clothing as he lay in the dirt. The bison grunted, then promptly moved to lay on top of the teenager, as if being covered with hot fur several tons of weight would cure all that ailed him.
"No, no! Off with you before you crush him." Iroh shoved at Appa's side, back toward the melons Aang set out for him earlier. After talking down Mai he helped Zuko into the spacious tent and into bed. "This journey is becoming more and more dangerous..."
Appa grunted at Iroh's prodding, refusing to move for a few seconds, but relented when Zuko tried to wiggle underneath him. The bison moved on, laying next to the melons but not consuming them. Those he would save for a midnight snack. Zuko coughed as soon as he got fresh air, now covered with strands of bison fur.
"Easy, easy." Iroh took care to move Zuko gently, knowing he still recovered from poison and now mounting injuries. It wasn't the first time he cared for his young nephew when he was hurt... or burned. "Lay still and breathe."
'I'm trying to..' The firebender thought to himself as he coughed again, trying to remove stray hairs from his mouth. "Is this some sort of bizarre afterlife? Did I die and not know it?"
"The avatar's sky bison sat on you." Iroh said matter of factually while heating a cast iron kettle filled with water. In moments it was steaming and he added a pinch of fragrant herbs.
Zuko eyed the bison, sitting on the other side of camp and standing guard over his two melons. He crawled into the sleeping bag, wishing this was only a dream. Then it wouldn't hurt so much when he woke up. "Hmn."
"Drink this and sleep. It has been a... very confusing day." Iroh set a cup of tea near Zuko before he left the tent, leaving him with Mai who was only now calming down. She finished brushing the dirt from her hair and sat down next to him with a sigh. "This is why I never went camping. It is disgusting."
Zuko glanced up to, fingering the cup that his uncle left for him. "You'll get used to it. We might have to continue camping at night until we reach the fire nation."
Mai leaned back on her palms, crossing her ankles and gazing upward at the tent's thick canvas top. The fire nation symbol was stitched in black, bordered with gold, and set on red. Classic colors of royalty... in the middle of nowhere. "If it keeps you safe... I guess there is no choice. Just promise me yo don't do this for fun?"
Zuko smirked, unable to resist teasing a little. "I don't know...I've become attached to sleeping in the dirt...I'm thinking of filling all the palace rooms with dirt and woodland critters...."
Mai stared at Zuko, as if she could see mold and fungus growing all over him from living like a wild man. "...I might need to rethink breaking up with you, if you do that."
Zuko chuckled slightly, sitting up just enough to sip the tea. "I'm allowed to think weird things, after today. You feeling better, or do you need tea as well?"
"I would feel better if there was a hot bath with fire salts." Mai edged closer, the corners of her mouth upturning slightly, "Being near you is good enough."
"Even if i'm covered in fur?" He gathered a wad, waving it in front of her face. "Hmm...could make some new clothes with this."
"Uh, don't remind me that you now smell of unwashed bison. You are lucky that tea smells of flowers."
"Shall I bathe in tea then?" He dipped a finger in, and let several drops land in his torn shirt. He finished the tea, setting the cup aside for now.
"I think your uncle would cry." Mai traced a finger along Zuko's jawline, guiding his mouth to hers, and their lips met.
~~~~~~
Suki spend half an hour gathering dry weeds and stick like bushes for a decent fire, storing the most of it in a pouch tied to her waist. The chittering of a hungry lemur caught her attention, and she spotted Sokka attempting to gather berries that were promptly eaten by the mentioned monkey. "Well, it seems Momo is happy."
"Huh?" Sokka looked into the berry pouch at his side, eyes widening when he saw it was empty. "Momo! Those berries were for all of us!!"
Suki gave him a sympathetic glance, drifting to plant a kiss on the warrior's cheek. "Need help?"
"But... the berries! Now what are we supposed to eat?" Sokka sighed, his arms turning to limp noodles at his sides.
Suki frowned a little, stroking Sokka's cheek. "There's plenty of berries around, as well as fish in the creek. But there's something more, isn't there?"
Sokka sat down on a nearby rock as Momo cleaned out the bag again and leaped into the nearest berry bush. "Suki, I feel useless. I don't have super awesome bending powers and I'm not a political figure. Everyone else has something to do, but unless there is fighting... what use is a warrior?"
Suki watched him for a moment, wondering if he felt this way often. "Sokka...Do you think I'm useless as well? I'm not a bender either."
Sokka suddenly looked as if he deeply offended Suki and waved his hands back and forth, "You're not useless! Even when Kyoshi Island didn't need you, you found a way to help people escape from the war. You could do that again."
Suki smiled, letting him know she wasn't offended at all. "So why do you feel useless? Because you can't bend a fish out of water? Because you can't put up stone tents?" She leaned in close, her face inches away from his. "A fishing pole would also produce a fish, and I'll let you on a little secret...Sleeping under stone isn't all that comfortable."
"...are you sure? Have you tried?" Sokka breathed deeply, letting his insecurities go. "I just wish there was something else I could do. I don’t even have space sword anymore."
Suki sat next to him, lifting her gaze to the darkening sky. "You know, when the other warriors and I finally left the island, people were shocked to learn about us. They could barely believe that the greatest fighters, from Avatar Kyoshi's own birthplace, weren't earthbenders at all." She rested a hand on his shoulder. "Sokka, for people like you and I, our greatest strength is that we don't need bending. Even out of battle, and without weapons, our strength of body, and purity of heart always remain with us. And no force on earth, or eclipse, can ever take that away from us."
In that moment, Suki's words had more impact on Sokka than a thousand of grandma's sayings borne of both wisdom and strife. No master, no wise man, could have opened his eyes the way she did just now. Sokka always felt inferior compared to Toph, Aang, and even his own sister because he had no elemental mastery. But what Suki said now made him realize the simple truth. "Suki... I never thought of it that way. But you're right, we don't need to throw rocks to be strong."
Suki nodded, wrapping her arm around him. "Being a simple warrior is something to be proud of. You've certainly impressed me."
Sokka's cheeks reddened and his heart felt as if it would leap out of his chest for joy. "Maybe we should just stay out here tonight and I can impress you some more..."
Suki rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "There will be plenty of time for that later. If we don't return soon the others might worry."
"Awh... let Katara keep them calm! But you're right. Momo ate all the berries so we should go back and catch more fish."
Suki took Sokka's hand, leading the way back to camp, only to see it was seemingly empty. The only visible being was Appa, who welcomed them with a grunt. "Or I could be wrong, and no one's here." Suki removed the plant matter from her pouch, placing it in the rock ring Sokka put together earlier.
"And they didn't even build a fire!" Sokka huffed, walking around the camp and kicking at the scorch mark. "Did they miss or something?"
Suki followed Sokka's path with her eyes, frowning when he stepped over the darkened ground. "Sokka...what is that? Was there an attack while we were away?"
Kneeling, Sokka touched the mark and rubbed the soot between his fingers. "I don't think so... there are no signs of fighting, and this isn't from fire. But where is everyone?"
Suki bit her lip, now on guard as she examined their campsite. Appa certainly was calm, but he couldn't exactly tell them where the others went. The coverings that Toph made were still there, but now a fabric tent rested in the middle, and Suki cautiously peeled backed the front flap. Zuko lay inside, silent and still, but also obviously only asleep with Mai by his side.
Mai fell asleep not long after Iroh left, having draped an arm across Zuko's chest and feeling content for once. Candles dimly flickered around the tent's interior, providing a soft golden glow. Outside, Sokka checked each of the stone tents and only found Toph's feet sticking out of one of them. "Psst... hey!"
Toph waved at Sokka, still wide awake. "Oh, hey there. About time you came back." Suki replaced the flap, letting the sleeping couple alone and walking over to Sokka and Toph. "Everyone went to bed already? " Toph paused, actually appearing sheepish for once. "Eh...things kind of fell apart after you left."
"Did someone explode? We saw the mark outside and Aang and Katara are gone." Sokka frowned, wondering what happened during the short time he went berry picking with Suki.
"Hehe...long story short, Mai insulted you, I threw dirt at her, Aang snapped and knocked us all back with wind, and Iroh threw lightening at the ground." Toph shrugged, as if it was no big deal.
"Suki... we're not allowed to leave these people alone. They will tear each other apart over.. dirt!" Sokka covered his face with a palm.
Suki sighed, shaking her head at Toph. "Looks like you're more needed then you thought you were. But where are Aang and Katara now?" Toph pointed to the side. "Other side of the creek, playing with vegetables."
"...is that code for doing sexy things?!" Sokka burst out of the stone tent, screaming, "AANG! NO sexy time with Katara!!!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aang paused, hearing Sokka's voice even from his distance. He glanced back to camp, but it was too dark to see anything. "Well, Sokka's back."
Katara dug another turnip out of the ground, adding it to the pile Aang had been fashioning into a pyramid. "Good, maybe he found some berries..."
"He said we're not allowed to have sexy time." Aang rose an eyebrow, but shook his head before turning back to the structure. "He confuses me."
"Sokka is being stupid. Its a trait he has, sometimes." Katara wasn't about to be perturbed by her brother's odd accusations. "He thinks we are having sex."
Aang picked up some water from the creek, bending it around the vegetables to make a fountain out of the pyramid. "He's the one who told me to be sexy, now he's mad about it."
"Aang, do you know what being sexy and sex is? That doesn't seem like something monks would teach..."
"No." Aang stated matter of factually. "Sokka was vague about it when he first mentioned it, but i know it makes people angry." He thought back to Katara's reaction when he followed Sokka's advice, and now Sokka himself was yelling across yards of space.
"Erm... this is... awkward. Hey, maybe Iroh can explain it! This is really a conversation to have with an adult."
"Ok. Hey, check this out!" He chewed his lip, concentrating deeply as the water flowed around the turnip pyramid. It stretched to form an arc above it, shifting to resemble two hearts interlocked with each other.
Katara watched the hearts in awe, their reflection glittering in her pale blue eyes. "Aang... that is beautiful."
Aang smiled shyly. "I've....been practicing...just for you."
Katara's heart fluttered and she folded her hands for lack of anything better to do with them. She felt a little nervous, knowing what was at risk with the next question. "Aang... how do you feel about me?"
"I like you. I told you that." Aang let the water recede, pushing it back into the creek. "I'm going to save these turnips for the journey back to the fire nation."
Katara wondered if Aang merely liked her, or if his feelings ran deeper. She sighed, sensing he wanted to change the subject, and gathered a few turnips. "Alright. Lets go back to camp."
Aang paused, seeing a flash of disappointment. "Is something wrong? Do you not believe me? I really do like you!"
Katara dropped another turnip into a bag that hung by her side, trying to calm her own emotions and hopes. Aang didn't need to worry about another person with so much stress on him already. "I believe you. Its just... nevermind. I believe you, I always will."
Aang gathered the rest, smiling happily as they packed the vegetables. 'I'll always like you, Katara.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aang set a pot of water and berries on a prepared fire, a mixture that would cook down into jam for breakfast. Zuko was also awake, sitting just outside his tent without any interest in moving closer to the fire, and Toph was handing him a cup of fresh brewed tea she retrieved from Iroh's empty sleeping space. Aang glanced over to Katara as she emerged, waving excitedly. "Hey, I just put breakfast on. Should be done shortly."
Katara brushed a loose lock of hair from her face, tying it behind in a loose braid as she emerged into the sun. She spent hours laying awake during the night, thinking about Aang and his extreme "like" of her. Did those feelings go any deeper? Was he old enough to even have those feelings? "Oh... thanks. I think we have some bread in one of the packs." She kneeled near the creek, dipping her hands in the cool water and splashing her face.
"Did you sleep well?" Aang followed her to the creek, circling her before presenting a white flower. "I found it this morning."
"I slept fine," Katara said absentmindedly, again splashing her face with cool water. She glanced to his open hand, finding the flower, and felt conflicted again. "That is very pretty."
"I'm glad Appa didn't disturb you too much." Aang grinned, letting her have a minute to herself and returning to the campfire. He glanced toward Zuko again, this time noticing he was rather pale, with tired and bloodshot eyes. "Ah...I guess you didn't, then. By the way, have you seen your uncle?" Zuko grunted, taking another mouthful of tea. "Not since last night."
"He wasn't in his tent this morning, either." Sokka said as he added a handful of sticks to the campfire and stirred the jelly pot. "Mmm... not meat, but smells good!"
Aang frowned, wondering why the elder had disappeared. "But I need to talk to him! Why did he leave?"
"He's a mysterious old man, who knows! I'm sure he will be back before we leave. Why do you need to talk to him so badly, anyway?"
"Because I need too!" He scooted closer to Zuko. "He's your uncle, surely you know where he is! Tell me!" Zuko rose an eyebrow, too tired to care why Aang was so insistent. "I don't know." The firelord sipped from the tea cup, pausing as he felt something wiggling in his mouth, and forcefully spitting it on the ground. A green colored winged insect writhed on the dirt as Zuko twitched an eyebrow and stared at Toph. "Why are there grasshoper-bees in here?!"
Toph shrugged nonchalantly. "Hey, I got the tea from your uncle's tent. If there's bees in the tea, then there was bees in the mix. Not my fault."
Mai smirked, flicking the bug away as it dared to crawl close to her feet. She sat near Zuko, close enough that he could lean on her a little without it being obvious to the others. "Bee tea sounds like something he would drink."
Zuko grimaced, hesitating to continue drinking, even more so when he saw what was at the up. "Ugh..." He tipped the cup, letting the remaining tea, and a dozen more bees, drip to the ground. Momo pounced with a chitter, collecting all the insects and stuffing them in his mouth.
"I'm sure Iroh will make you something without bugs when he gets back... if he gets back." Sokka looked around the camp, perplexed. "How does a man that big vanish without making a sound?"
"Hmm...I'll have to ask him that as well. I'll find him!" Aang quickly retrieved his gilder staff, jumping into the air to search for the wise elder. "Iroh! Where are you?"
Before sunrise, the old general rose and tip-toed out of camp to find a quiet place to meditate. A shade tree hanging over the creek, further downstream, made an ideal place... a little too ideal, since he fell asleep shortly after dawn. Aang's call was answered with snore.
Aang lowered himself when he heard the noise, soon found Iroh. "There you are! Wow, you can sleep anywhere!"
Iroh suddenly sat up with a snort, "Uha! Oh... Avatar, I didn't see you. I was... deep in meditation."
"Must be very deep, because you were snoring. I wanted to asked you something." Aang sat right in front of Iroh eagerly. "Katara said I should ask you about sex."
Iroh's face suddenly twisted into an expression of stunned confusion as Aang sat, like a pupil ready to learn from an experienced teacher. "Ask me about s... sex..."
Aang nodded. "Yes. And why it makes people angry."
Iroh cleared his throat, leaving back and stroking his trimmed beard. "That is a very delicate subject. It is best if you ask someone who you trust, not a retired general."
"But Katara said it's best to ask an adult, and you're the only adult here." Aang fixed his gaze on Iroh, wondering why he was hesitating so much.
"Ah, so she is right, but I am just an old man who knows about war." Iroh said matter of factually, clearly trying to avoid the discussion. "You should ask Zuko. He knows."
Aang paused,blinking several times. "Zuko? Eh...I don't know, he's kind of grouchy right now. And the bees didn't help, either."
"Bees? Did he set a nest on fire?"
"No, Toph prepared some of your bee tea." Aang sighed, standing up now. "So you don't know anything about sex? Nothing at all?"
Iroh sighed, shaking his head,"I don't have bee tea, and this subject... well, you are a bit young for it now, Aang."
Aang frowned, now appearing irritated. "But I'm not too young to face three seasons of danger and war torn villages, stop a century old year, spend the rest of my life making world peace, and venture into a former hideout of a dangerous enemy to collect a maimed body of a vengeful ghost?"
"Ah... well, maybe you have a point, but this is not like the conquest of war and good versus evil. Love and how to express it is a very delicate and tender act that you must not rush into." Iroh stood unsteadily, straightening his back with a crack. "Oh, I am getting too old to sleep under trees."
Aang relented, accepting the fact he wouldn't find out from Iroh. "Everyone's wondering where you went. Are you finished with your meditation?"
"Yes, lets go back." Iroh shuffled alongside Aang as they made their way back to camp. "I am curious, young avatar... who is it you love?"
Aang grinned, Katara's image flashing through his head. "It's Katara..."
"Ah, I see... she is a lovely young woman. Have you told her?"
"Kinda...I don't want to come on too strong. I did that once before, and it didn't end well." Aang lead the way back to camp, walking instead of gliding. "But now that we have peace, we have the rest of our lives to be together."
"Love is more powerful and more volatile than any force on earth, even bending. It is tender, is is strong, it is joy and it is sadness. But it means nothing if she doesn't love you in return. What did you say to her?"
"You think she doesn't the same? But I thought we understood each other!" Aang rubbed his hands together, becoming upset at the thought that Katara never really understood him. "Oh man..."
"Not at all, I think she cares for you very much. That is obvious to an experienced eye. But does she know how you feel about her...?" Iroh watched Aang, smiling warmly.
Aang barely heard Iroh now, talking to himself as the camp came within sight. "That time on the boat, and then during the play, and the Earth palace, and it didn't mean a thing. She'll never see me as more then a friend." Aang let out a drawn sigh, walking through to his tent, and crawled inside.
Iroh shrugged, figuring Aang would get his head on straight sooner or later, and returned to his tent. A cup of tea was quickly brewed, and he mixed it with a little berry juice before bringing it to Zuko. "I hear you had a bad run in with bees."
Zuko eyed the cup suspiciously, drawing back slightly. "Yeah....I'm swearing off tea. Where did you go?"
"This has some juice mixed in, better for breakfast. Drink it, you need energy." Iroh stood near the fire now, prodding the burning embers with a stick. "I went to find quiet to think and reflect. Something that is not easy to do out here."
Zuko grumbled as he held the warm cup, but the second Iroh turned his back he poured the liquid onto the ground, and shifted a feet to hide the puddle. "Good thing there wasn't any earthbenders nearby."
"An earthbender would be foolish to think I am an easy target. You shouldn't waste tea, nephew."
Zuko grunted, placing the cup on the ground in front of him. "I'm fine without tea." Even after all the night disturbances, Sokka's yelling, Appa's crunching, and then Iroh's inescapable snoring. At least he told himself he was fine.
"Are you so certain?" Iroh shot Zuko a knowing glance, imperceptible by the others, able to sense that the young firebender's flame was low. "if you say so. A man knows when he is fine and when he is ill." Mai leaned in a whispered, "Your uncle is weird."
Zuko rose an eyebrow at his uncle, the discreet point flying over his head. "What do you mean by that? I'm tired, but Im not sick."
Iroh briefly rolled his eyes, guessing many things soared over Zuko's head. "You are pale, and maybe cold..." Another hint, maybe he would sense this one?
Zuko frowned, his eyes widening slightly as it now struck him on the skull, then narrowed stubbornly. It was one thing that Mai had discovered yesterday, but having Iroh almost state it out loud, he felt uneasy and weak. Was it obvious to everybody, and they were holding their tongues while thinking how pathetic he was?! He huffed, one hand clenching into a fist. "I'm not cold!"
"Maybe you are right." Iroh let the matter drop now that Zuko knew his weakness was not invisible. He doubted any of the others knew, and hopefully no enemies would know until Zuko recovered. Katara finished stewing the berries, cooling them quickly with ice bended from the creek, and passed out small bowls with jelly and bread. "Here, breakfast is ready."
Zuko seethed, strands of paranoia gripping his brain as he decided to show just how un-cold he was. He started with Mai's tent, breaking it down to repack, and storing it in Appa's saddle. Suki gratefully accepted a bowl, sitting next to Sokka. "Thank you Katara."
Mai wondered what suddenly crawled up Zuko's butt and sighed, rising and brushing dirt off her robes. She would help, and then ask what was his problem. Sokka chewed a piece of dried fish, made the night before, refusing the bowl of jelly. "Thanks, but Appa would enjoy it more. He needs the energy if we plan to fly far today."
"Im sure Appa will appreciate your sacrifice, Sokka." Aang patted his shoulder before before digging into the fruit mixture. It was simple things like this that let him forgot the stressful duties of being an avatar. For now, the world could wait while he chatted with his friends.