Time and Time Again

Chapter 20: Sweet Child of Mine

Thick, warm blood coated Katara's hands. Nevertheless, she kept them steady as she guided the sharp rock through the soft flesh of the rabbits stomach. She had already thanked Tui and La for the life of the rabbit and was preparing to cook it. She had sent Jet off in search for herbs and berries to flavor the meat with. She needed the space. For the past week, Jet had stuck to her like a polar bear-dog to her pup. Katara appreciated the lessons in self defense, but sometimes Jet got just a little too close. Like at night. Katara would fall asleep alone, and wake up with his arms wrapped around her. She had to admit, at first she had rather enjoyed the closeness...but lately...she just wished he would back off. There was something off about Jet. He would go into a rage if she mentioned Zuko and forbid her from ever seeing him. Not that she was likely to go looking for him, but he had no right to forbid her anything. The one time she had snapped back at him, he had given her a look that turned her blood to ice. His hands had formed tight fists at his side and without warning, he punched the nearest tree. Katara made some excuse and had run to the stream. Water had always given her comfort. A couple of hours later, Jet had come marching up to her and resumed their training. As if nothing happened.

Katara sighed. It was just her luck to be stranded on a deserted island with not only one, but two psychos. She idly wondered how Zuko was fairing. She hadn't seen hide nor hair of him since Jet told him off the week before. Is he even still alive? She wondered. A sadness filled her at the thought of him dead. Sure, he was her enemy, she should be glad if he died but...

No. She told her self. No, I don't care. He could be rotting on the beach for all I care. Serves him right. But her heart wasn't entirely in it. Much as she should hate Zuko...

Zuko grunted as he threw the last log onto the pile. He stood back to admire his work. The wood was piled above his head, it would take a second to set it ablaze. The fire should be visible for a couple miles, the smoke column, even further. He was going to get off this island. He refused to die alone, without honor.

I wouldn't be alone if it weren't for that boy. A fresh wave of anger surged through Zuko at the thought of the newcomer. Of all the people in the world, why did this one have to wash up? Why couldn't it have been someone from the Fire Nation. Or at least someone smart enough to fear me? The arrogant boy had not only disrespected Zuko, butthreatened him! The prince thought that there must be something wrong with the world these days, no one seemed to respect status and rank!

Zuko trekked back into the woods, mumbling about peasants and titles. Once back in his own camp, Zuko sat against a tree and stared up to the leaves above him. Light gently filtered through the swaying leaves, reminding Zuko of when he used to sit with his mother by the pond in the palace. One of his strongest memories was when a family of turtle-ducks had ventured near the young prince and his mother. In a childish impulse, Zuko had thrown a small pebble at one of the baby turtle-ducks, the baby, not expecting the rock, was knocked underwater for a brief moment. Zuko already had a second pebble in his hand when Ursa had grabbed his little fist in both of hers.

"Zuko-" She had said in her lecture voice, but before she could continue, the mother turtle-duck squawked angrily and ran out of the pond to bite the young prince. Not understanding why the turtle-duck had attacked him, Zuko broke out in tears. When he asked his mother why the animal had bit him, she took him gently in her arms.

"She was protecting her babies. A mother would do anything for her children, Zuko. Turtle-duck or human." She hugged him fiercely.

Zuko smiled at the memory, one of very few good memories from life in the palace. There were times when it seemed like the only good memories were from when his mother was alive. Zuko had spent many a night wishing for her to come back. If she were still alive, he probably would never have been banished. He would have never ended up on this stinking, stupid island with these stinking, stupid, peasants. A scowl pulled at Zuko's lips as he thought about the water bender and "Jet".