Searching (Zuko x OC)

Chapter 7

Zuko's POV:

I was holding on to the Avatars staff as I heard Sora scream. I followed the sound and found her falling off the ship. She looked at me and I could tell she was frightened. She hit the water and drifted down out of sight.

"She's fine," I assured myself, "She'll pop up any minute now."

I used the staff to try and get my way back up on the deck, but I saw the boy from earlier holding onto the other side. He hit me in the head with it and sent me falling down the side of the ship. I managed to grab onto the anchor just in time.

"Ha! That's from the water tribe!" he said before disappearing out of sight.

I looked back down at the water but didn't see Sora. My heart started racing. She knew how to swim so why wasn't she there?

I saw the fluffy bison soar off into the sky and cursed myself. I had to save Sora. I couldn't risk her life for the Avatar's.

"Shoot them down!" I yelled up at the crew before diving into the water.

It was absolutely freezing. My whole body stung, not only from the cold but from the impact. I swam towards the area she had fallen and began to look for her. I was searching frantically and I started to get nervous. I was about to lose hope when finally off in the distance I saw her form slowly floating up to the surface.

I swam as fast as I could over to her and pulled her above the surface. She violently coughed up some water and started gasping for breath.

"Z-Zuko?" she asked, her eyes clouded with uncertainty.

"I'm here. You're safe," he said just before she fell into unconsciousness again.

He swam over to the ship where the anchor was. The crew had lowered it into the water so that he could grab onto it and be lifted up. He got himself situated and made sure that he had Sora grasped firmly by his side. The crew pulled them up and immediately helped them on board. As soon as Zuko was on board he began to scream orders.

"Take her to the medic! Now!" he yelled at the two nearest free soldiers.

They didn't hesitate. One of them picked her up while the other went to go alert the medic about her arrival.

A breeze ran through the air and he realized just how cold and wet he was. He began to regulate his temperature to warm himself up and hopefully dry out his clothes. His uncle came running over to his side.

"Good new for the Fire Lord. The Fire Nationa greatest threat is just a little kid," he said calmly.

"That kid, Uncle, just did this. I won't underestimate him again," he responded.

He turned to the rest of the crew, some of which was still stuck in ice.

"Dig the ship out and follow them," he demanded until realizing that they were somewhat preoccupied and adding, "As soon as you're done with that."

"Where is Sora? She never misses a battle," Iroh asked, looking around.

He clenched his fists in anger. He turned to look at Iroh with a menacing look.

"The Avatar knocked her overboard. She went unconscious and she's with the medic now," he growled angrily.

"I see. Is she alright?" Iroh asked.

"Do I look like a medic to you!?" he yelled at his Uncle furiously.

He stormed past him and into the ship to get an update on Sora's condition. It would be a while until the ship was moving anyways, so there was nothing to do but wait.