Burning Souls - Book 2 // Zuko

Chapter 4

Raven crouched down next to the river and filled up the bucket with water, checking it to make sure it was not full of debris. Lifting it up, she hauled it onto her shoulder before heading back to the cave. She was just approaching when she saw Iroh standing near the entrance of the cave with his back to her.... standing between Raven and Iroh was Zuko, the boy looking at the back of his uncle from a distance. They were talking about something but the way she saw Iroh's shoulders slump, she knew it wasn't good.

She saw Zuko walk over to his pack and lift it onto his shoulders. He turned and began to walk in her direction before he lifted his head and spied her. His face was determined but she could see the pain in his eyes.... He was leaving!
The girl's eyes widened in shock as the bucket in her hand dropped to the ground, spilling the contents. Zuko quietly approached her, staying a good arm's length from her.

"I'm off," he replied in an even tone.
"Where.... Where are you going?" Raven asked, not in the least bit surprised that her voice was shaking.

Zuko looked down at his feet and shook his head, "I don't know. I just need to find myself...it is best if you stay with my uncle."
Raven opened her mouth to speak but Zuko looked down as if pleading with her to not make it harder than it already was. The girl sighed before taking a step forward and gripping his upper arm gently.

"I hope you find what you're looking for," she said, smiling at him even though her eyes were glistening with unshed tears.

Zuko lifted his golden eyes to her blue ones and gently he grasped her by the shoulders, drawing her near before pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.

"Take care of my uncle for me?" he asked in a low voice. "He gets into trouble easily."
Raven chuckled painfully before she nodded, feeling Zuko's lips still against her temple.

The girl wanted to fall into his arms and not let him go but Zuko pulled back before she could even move, and he had walked off without another word.

"WAIT!" Iroh called, bringing the beast over to Zuko and holding out the reins. "You'll need this."
Zuko considered the reins before looking at his uncle then at Raven, both of whom nodded. Taking the reins silently, he mounted up and with one final glance back, he urged the beast onward and disappeared into the thicket.

Iroh turned around once the boy was out of sight, only to see Raven slowly picking up the now empty bucket, her shoulders slumped in almost defeat. Walking over, he patted her shoulder.

"He'll be alright," he assured her. "He just needs a few answers that only he can find."
Raven nodded, keeping her eyes down as she hugged the bucket to her chest, "Yeah...he said he needs to find what he is looking for.... I'm just worried because he doesn't even know what that is."
With that, the girl walked toward the cave, leaving Iroh alone outside. The old man looked at where his nephew had disappeared and sighed, "His mind doesn't know, but in his heart, he does.... His heart knows that he already found what he is looking for..."
He then turned to look at where Raven was beginning to start a small fire. Things were going to be interesting the next few days.

**********

"You don't by any chance feel guilty of spying or following someone without their knowledge?" Raven inquired as she trekked after Iroh.

Iroh shook his head, "Not at all. We're keeping a good distance behind Zuko. Just so long as we......"
The old man was cut off when a rock slammed out of the earth as if by magic, knocking the old man onto his back. Raven immediately gripped the hilt of her sword but stopped when she saw who was behind the rock. A small girl, probably about ten years old but only about the height of an eight-year-old stood across the clearing from them. She had thick black hair and wore earth kingdom clothes.... But her eyes were almost white. She was blind!
"That hurt," Iroh groaned.

"Who are you?" the girl asked in a commanding voice.

Raven released her sword and took a step forward but froze. She saw the girl's ears twitch... so that's how she bended and saw.

"We're not here to hurt you. We were just passing through when you tripped my companion."
The girl paused a moment before nodding, obviously believing Raven.

"What about you?" Raven asked.

The girl sighed. "I'd rather not talk about it."
"Okay," Raven remarked. "I'm Raven by the way."
"I'm Toph."

A few moments later Raven had started a small fire and Iroh was making a pot of tea while the girl Toph explained that she had gotten into an argument with her friends.

"I know the feeling," Raven observed. "We're following a friend of mine...."
"My nephew," Iroh added. "He's trying to solve problems on his own...."
"But you think he needs to let people help him?" Toph finished. "You both care about him."
Both Iroh and Raven nodded and the girl Toph smiled. "You..." she said, turning to Raven. "You feel guilty. Why?"
Raven sighed, "I have known my friend for a long time... but a few years ago I was brainwashed, and I forgot everything including him. I feel guilty because I am afraid, I am not the person he knew before I lost my memory."
Toph smiled and reached out, patting the girl's hand as she sipped on the tea that Iroh handed her, "I don't think it matters to him. I can feel the vibrations of your heart. You are worried about him and you care for him. I don't think it matters to him if you do not remember him from the past....because you know him now and even if you don't remember him, you still care for him."
The girl set her tea down and rose to her feet, "Thank you for the tea... and the advice."
With that, she grabbed her bag and slung it onto her shoulder before pausing, "And maybe... when you find your friend and nephew.... Maybe tell him that you two need him too."
With that, the girl skipped away as easily as if she weren't blind. Raven watched her go before she downed her tea and turned to Iroh.

"Who knew that a child knew the answers better than we huh?" she chuckled.

Iroh smiled, "You knew those answers.... Deep down. You just needed someone to tell you."