The three of us wondered through the earth kingdom for days, finding spare earth kingdom clothes to change into. The three of us split up to try and find some food but with no luck. I came back to find Iroh hunched over, staring at a plant just before Zuko came through the bushes. " I couldn't find anything to eat, I can't live like this! I wasn't meant to be a fugitive this is impossible!" He yelled. Iroh sniffed the plant in front of him " Uncle what are you doing?" " You're looking at the rare white dragon Bush. It's leaves make a tea so delicious it's heartbreaking" He swooned. " That or its the white jade bush, which is poisonous", I couldn't help but laugh at Iroh " We need food not tea" Zuko groaned at his uncle " I'm going fishing" He said before storming off.
I sighed before turning to Iroh, " I'm going to see if I can find anything, don't you dare even think about drinking from that flower Iroh" I warned him. " I promise I won't! I wouldn't dream of risking the poison", I shook my head and smiled before walking back into the forest. I looked around carefully, for any animal or nut or even berries that we could eat. I found a handful of chestnuts we could roast, and luckily even managed to find a rabbit that we could cook. I made my way back to our small camp, " Iroh I found something we could eat" I smiled proudly before noticing his face. I dropped all the food I had found, the rabbit running away " Iroh what did you do?!" I yelled at him.
Zuko came back with a gloomy look on his face, a large stick on his back and the smallest fish impaled on it. Uh oh, " Whats wrong now?" He sighed " You know that plant I thought might be tea?" " You didnt" his eyes widened. Iroh turned around with a smile on his face " I did, and it wasnt" He said scratching himself. Zuko jumped back " When the rash spreads to my throat, I will stop breathing". " Why are you saying it so casual!?" I yelled at him " But look what I found?!" He showed off a stick " These are pakui berries". I sighed as he went on about the berries, I quickly pulled the stick from his hands and threw it away " We're not having you eat random things that can kill you!" " Scarletts right, we're not taking any more chances with these plants. We need to find help" " But where are we going to go? We're enemies of the earth kingdom and fugitives from the fire nation".
" If the earth kingdom discovers us, they'll have us killed" I spoke up " But if the fire nation discovers us we'll be turned over to Azula" Iroh replied. " Earth kingdom it is" Zuko said, they nodded at each other before walking deeper into the earth kingdom. I smiled and shook my head before following the two men. " How you feeling Iroh?" I asked as he continued to scratch himself " I'm fine Scarlett, don't worry about me" He smiled .
We eventually made it to a small town, quickly making our way to the healers so Iroh could be looked at. " How may I help you?" The woman smiled at us " My uncle, he ate a poisoned bush" Zuko spoke up. The woman welcomed us inside as she treated Irohs rash, Zuko and I sitting beside each other " You three must not be from around here" the woman spoke up. " We know better than to touch the white jade, much less make it into tea and drink it" " Oops" Iroh chuckled. " So where are you travelling from?" " Yes we're travelers" Zuko shot up " Do you have names?". " Of course we have names" Zuko smiled nervously " I'm Lee, this is my uncle Mushi" Iroh gave Zuko a glare which I couldn't help but laugh at. " It's nice to meet you both, what about you? What's your name?" She smiled at me " I'm Poppy" I smiled.
"My name is San, you three look like you could use a good meal. Why don't you stay for dinner?" " We can't, we need to be moving on" " Too bad, my mom makes too much roast duck" " Where do you live exactly?" Iroh smiled. I laughed at Iroh, Zuko groaning in annoyance. Once Iroh was dressed we followed her home, where she introduced us to her mother. " Mom, this is Junior, Mushi and Poppy. Is it okay if they stay for dinner?" " Of course, come in". We took our shoes off before following San inside to the dinner table. San's mother placed delicious food in front of us and smiled " My daughter tells me you're refugees, we once were ourselves". " The fire nation raided our village, all the men were taking away that was the last time I saw my father" she looked down upset.
" I haven't seen my father in many years" Zuko spoke up " Is he fighting in the war?" " Yeah". I gave Zuko a sad look " What about you Poppy?" " My father is fighting in the war too, my mother died when I was a baby" " I'm so sorry, were you hurt?" San asked " Your eye, you've kept it covered since we met. If you want I can take a look at it" " Oh no thank you, its something I was born with. So I cover it up".
Once dinner was finished we stood outside and thanked them for the meal, " Thank you for the duck it was most excellent" Iroh bowed. " You're welcome, here I packed you some food for your travels" the woman said handing Iroh a dish. Zuko turned to walk away " I know you don't think there's there's hope left in the world but there is, the avatar has returned" " I know" He said before walking out the gate. Iroh and I followed him as our hosts walked back inside, Zuko suddenly stopped and turned to look at one of their let's and taking it.
" What are you doing? These people just showed you great kidness" " They're going to show us more kindness, well?" Zuko asked Iroh. Iroh sighed before getting on behind Zuko, " Come on Scarlett" " Zuko this is wrong" " It's either this, or weeks worth of walking from town to town". I sighed and grabbed his hand, sitting in front of Zuko as he grabbed the reins and ran off on the stolen bird. We all stayed quiet, Iroh and I felt absolutely terrible, I can't even tell if Zuko felt any sign of remorse.
I looked back at the house, guilt consuming me. They were kind people who helped us and we repayed them with theft, I just hope one day I can be able to repay them.
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Zuko's Girl
FanfictionScarlett is the best friend of Sokka and basically a big sister to Katara. Scarlett, just like her friends lost her mother and father to the war and helps the village the best she can. With her father gone, she seeks answers about her mother as well...