Watch it Burn

Chapter 5

We all sat in a circle on the forest floor. We had been traveling all day and finally we found a clearing in the forest to rest. Sokka and I had been quietly debating the ethics selling our bodies to get extra change for food when Aang interrupted them.

"Hey Guys, where's Momo?"

We all looked around for a moment before hearing a screech that sounded suspiciously like the lemur echo out. We all set out to find where the screech came from when Katara pointed up at the top of the forest.

"Look guys!" she said. We followed her pointed finger to see several traps hanging from the tall trees. Sure enough Momo was in one.

"Wait Momo," called Aang, as he used airbending to fly up, "I'm coming for you!"

He lowered down the trap and Sokka and I freed the lemur. Once he was out he snuggled up against me, purring. I looked up and saw other animals inside, making crying noises.

"Alright you too!" Aang said and flew up to help them.

Once they were on the ground, safely, Aang came back down.

"These are fire nation traps." Sokka said, "You can tell from the metal work."

Right as I got on Appas back sokka said:

"No flying this time. The fire nation and zuko are able to find us every time because Appa is just too noticeable."

"Appas not too 'noticeable'" Katara shot back.

"Just trust me guys, that's what my instincts say." Sokka said as he started walking.

I huffed and lied down on Appa.

"Amara? Are you coming?" Katara asked.

"Nah. I'll stay on Appa." I responded, "As long as Appa's ok with it."

Appa grunted in approval.

"Hey who knows maybe walking will be fun!"

"Yeah, sure," I said, "you enjoy it then."

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Zuko's POV:

"I'm going to make her pay for disrespecting me," I yelled, stalking back and forth.

"Calm down Zuko," chided the old man, pouring tea, "stress ruins a good cup of tea."

"How am I supposed to be calm Uncle when that girl continues to trash my honor? I am a prince!"

"A banished prince," Uncle Iroh corrects, smiling to himself. I shoot him a heated glare that he pointedly ignores, and I go back to stalking around the deck.

"You know Zuko, maybe you could learn a lesson from the girl," he says to me while watching me quietly fume.

"And that is?" I ask him.

"Don't take yourself too seriously. Have some fun once in a while. You're so angry all the time, maybe you could learn to let loose." he said.

Of course he doesn't understand, no one does. I don't have time to be foolish. I have to capture the avatar and restore my honor, that's the only way my father will ever love me.

I squeeze my eyes shut, gently touching the burnt skin around my right eye. I thought back to the day that I received the scar. When my own father challenged me to an Agni Kai. When I was banished from my own nation.