Time and Time Again

Chapter 18: Voices

By the time the two teenagers had made it back to Katara's shelter, the sun was setting. Katara was surprised how fast the day had passed. The boy, Jet, was lying in the cave; the last of his strength having been used by the journey. Katara, in an effort to help the boy, had attempted to use her bending to bring him some water to drink, but was too tired to concentrate fully and ended up dropping the ball of water next to him on the floor. Katara stomped her foot in frustration.

"I'm sorry, Jet, I'm just too tired to bend." She murmured. Jet muttered something, but Katara didn't catch it. She leaned down close to him and asked him to repeat.

"Use..moss."

"Moss?"

"Take a...chunk of moss and...let it soak up water." He rasped.
"Are you sure it'll work?" Katara asked doubtfully. Jet slowly nodded his head in confirmation. Without wasting a second more, Katara did as he asked. She found a patch of moss and ripped out two large chunks. After submerging them in the water for a minute, she carried them back to the boy. She gingerly pressed the moss to Jets lips and he slowly sucked out the water. Some of the water dripped out of the corner of his mouth onto the ground. Once he finished, Katara wiped his face dry with the hem of her dress. Katara "refilled" the moss once more before she was overcome with exhaustion.

"I'll get you more water tomorrow, as well as some food. I promise." She whispered as she checked his forehead for the telltale heat of a fever. He was slightly warm, but it wasn't too bad. He would be fine if she took a quick nap. Giving Jet as much space as she could (which wasn't a lot due to the smallness of the cave), Katara lowered her body to the ground and was instantly asleep.

Zuko glared out into the darkness. His stomach growled like some kind of beast. He hadn't eaten all day. He could find no easy prey to hunt and he didn't know what fruit was edible and what fruit was deadly. I bet you she knows. The snide voice hissed. He had to find her again. This time, she wouldn't escape.

Why don't you just ask for help? A new, timid voice asked. Yeah, look at how well that worked out last time.

Well, if you could control that temper of yours, she wouldn't have run away, you know.

Sure, she would have. Why would she stay with me?

I don't know, maybe because you're the only other human on this island?

So?
So? So a girl gets lonely being by herself. Do you really think she would rather be alone when she could be with someone? Even if that someone is you?

Yes. I think I'm the last person she would want to be with.

But you are the last person here. It doesn't matter who it is, as long as she has some form of company.

Well, with that logic, why didn't she stay last time? Huh?

You know why.

The silent argument with himself went on and on until the late hours of the night. Before Zuko passed into the realm of sleep, the voice whispered, "Remember, you are not your father".

"Stupid, stupid birds." The Prince grumbled as he sat up. The sun had only just risen and the birds were already making enough noise to wake an army. Zuko crawled out of his hut, blinking as the sunlight filled his vision. He felt...different. Lighter somehow. Here, on this island, there were no nations, no war, no royals. Just him and the island...and the girl. He was just a normal human, just like her. There should be no reason why they couldn't get along. Hope sparked within him. He could make it work. All he had to do, was be civil. He wouldn't threaten her or harm her, he was not his father.