Avatar Zuko

Chapter 30

It was a day after they'd gotten out of the desert, and they were currently having a little break for some relaxation after the massive stresses of the past couple of days. Aang especially seemed pretty shook up after his outburst against the sandbenders and was much quieter than usual.

Everyone except Sokka was messing about in a pool at the bottom of a small waterfall, whilst the non-bender in question was looking over the maps he'd ‘borrowed’ from Professor Zei.

“Guys! Watch this: waterbending bomb!” Shouted Katara, jumping from the top of the waterfall and making an almighty splash that Sokka could barely protect his papers from. He was about to scold his sister when:

“Ha, I can do way better than that!” Called Zuko, making a similarly sized eruption of water and this time soaking not only the, now very annoyed, non-bender but the maps as well.

“Great idea guys! Let's make our only chance of finding a route to Ba Sing Se wet!” He complained, careful not to touch the paper too much incase he ripped it.

“Ohh, don't worry about it. I'm a waterbender, remember?” Smiled Katara, bending the water out of the scrolls and off of her brother, drying both as a result.

Sokka grunted slightly, not wanting to admit that she'd solved the problem, and went back to chartering a course towards Ba Sing Se whilst the others slowly gathered around the rock he was perched on.

“Okay, so according to my map the fastest way to Ba Sing Se is through the Serpent’s Pass, which begins just a mile that way.” Sokka pointed, and everyone except Toph nodded in agreement.

“So… Are we leaving now or can we spend another hour here?” Asked Zuko as persuasively as he figured the firebender was able, probably just not wanting to take down his father- but Sokka could see the Prince coming round to the idea… Slowly.

“We're leaving now, come on.” Decided the non-bender, getting up and letting the others gather whatever stuff they'd need.

Katara and Zuko refilled their water pouches for bending and everyone grabbed a bunch a drinking water. Aang also grabbed his staff and Momo (who had also been playing about in the water), then they were off. The group walked for about ten minutes before noticing three people travelling east, one of the women seeming pregnant from the large swell of her belly. As if they'd all decided as one, the five headed towards the other group.

“Hi, what way are you headed?” Asked Katara politely, probably figuring they could all travel together if these other people were also going to Ba Sing Se.

“Ba Sing Se, we'd like to start a new, safe life there.” Said the pregnant woman warmly, placing one hand to her baby bump and smiling at the man she was travelling with- presumably her husband.

“Great! We're going there too! Do you want to travel through the Serpent’s Pass with us?” Questioned Katara brightly, and Sokka was beginning to think his sister was the best one of them at communicating with other groups. Or, really, the only one who tried.

“What?! Only the truly desperate take that deadly route!” Exclaimed the woman, staring at them as of they were crazy.

“Really? Deadly, you say.” Zuko turned to stare pointedly at Sokka, who shrugged sheepishly and scratched the back of his neck.

“Wai- wait, Ying, don't you see who he is?!” Asked the man to the pregnant woman excitedly, pointing at the firebender who just looked confused.

“I- oh spirits! You're right, Than! It's the avatar!” Their small group of three gasped in shock and gained hopeful expressions.

“What?! How do you know that?!” Questioned Zuko angrily, not that three noticed his hostility through their elation.