Bittersweet Loyalty (Zuko's Daughter)

Chapter Eight: A Familiar Face

A dense forest, the air thick with humidity, with sounds of wildfire. Zuko pushes through the wooded area doing his best to shield Katara from the thorns and other sharp plants. The trees were short compared to the ones where the Freedom Fighters had once lived. It wasn't long before they left that the freedom fighters were arrested. Katara had bittersweet thoughts on that fact. They were just refugee kids. The leader, Jet, was around eighteen like herself. She shrugs the thought off as they struggle further into the forest. The branches hit her in the face, cutting up her darkened skin.

She winced as a thorn pierced her ankle. Zuko turns with a concerned look as she steps out of the thorns only to feel a light stinging down her ankle.
He sighs before quickly helping her out of the forest. The two royals make it to a more open space. Looking around the strange area, Katara and Zuko both come to an understanding that some kind of battle has transpired here. Scorch marks dotted the once bright brown tree trunks marking them with an ugly black haze. On the ground was upturned soil, ash, and when she looked closer she understood that it was not just any battle but a battle with her people. Stuck in a tree was a whale's tooth sword.
It shines in the light and the blue handle with a black moon told her that it came from her dad's fleet of warriors.

The Southern Water Tribe Warriors had fought here and it seems they may have even won. She comes to the sword and yanks it from the tree falling back into Zuko's chest with a thud. "Sorry." She mumbles quickly backing away from him to examine the weapon closer.

"That's from the Water Tribe isn't it?" Zuko questions her but she merely nods her head.

"Yeah, it's from my dad's fleet or it seems to be."
She hums looking around to see a clearly broken trail of tree branches. She points excitedly, "There! My warriors must have gone through here."
She hurriedly runs towards the trees at full speed with the sword secured around her waist band. Zuko rolls his eyes but runs after her.

The sun had started to set a while ago so it was of no surprise to either of them that in the dark, they had fallen suddenly. Together the man of fire and woman of water, stumble down the hill. With an 'umph', Zuko lands on top of Katara as she screams in surprise. Zuko grunts as he lifts himself off of her to find himself straddling her. "Be quiet. I fell too, ya know, and you don't hear me screaming."

A menacing voice sounds from above him. He can't quite crane his neck to see the man so he just shivers at the voice.
"You'll be screaming soon if you don't move away from the girl."

Zuko takes a breather, "It's really not what it looks like and I'm more than happy to move."

Zuko rolls over onto the sand. He hears the soft whistle of the sea letting him know that he is now on a beach. The moon hung over head reminding Zuko of the girl beside him. In the dark he almost couldn't make out her features. Yet her blue eyes seemed to glow in the soft moonlight.

"Katara, you okay?" Zuko questions. She nods and allows the strange man to help her up. As he reaches her, she comes to notice eyes similar to hers. They were a deep darkened blue hardened by war and loss. The man on further inspection was injured, wrapped in bandages and sporting a cane.
The man gasps looking upon Katara, "Princess?"

"Bato!"

The two hug with Katara being mindful of his possible injuries. "Katara, you've grown, our little water bender."

"Uncle Bato, it's so nice to see you. Are you okay?"
She questions stepping back from him. She eyes his bandages that she can hardly make out in the dark.

He motions for her to follow him, "Come, Katara, and whoever you are, I suppose." He points to the campfire ahead and a large pitched tent near it.

Katara holds onto Bato's arm as he walks her to the fire. Zuko slowly follows behind them and takes a seat in front of the fire. It calms his nerves letting the heat set in during the night. The sun was not awake but the fire was still alive in front of him. The heat sinks into his skin allowing his inner fire to soar in a controlled manner. The flames grow brighter before his eyes allowing Bato to see exactly who he is.