An Anchor In The Storm

Chapter 4

“How high do you think he is going to blow?” Kai asked Iroh walking down the corridor.

"Higher than needed," Iroh sighed, coming to a stop at Zuko's door.

Sitting in front of an alter cross-legged, Zuko was meditating. Four candles burned, the flames fluctuating with each of Zuko's breaths. When Kai and Iroh entered the room Zuko spoke without moving, "the only reason you should be interrupting me is if you have news about the Avatar." Zuko's voice was so silky and smooth it was almost concerning.

Iroh stepped further into the room holding a map, "well, there is news, Prince Zuko, but you might not like it. Don't get too upset," he cautioned.

In an eerily calm voice Zuko replied, "uncle, you taught me that keeping a level head is a sign of a great leader. Now whatever you have to say, I'm sure that I can take it."

Skeptical of Zuko's calmness, Kai spoke up, "okay then.... we have no idea where he is."

"WHAT!?" Fueled by Zuko's rage, the flames on the candles burst, flaring right to the ceiling. Kai backed away protecting his face from the flames.

Zuko stood and turned to face the others. When the flames subsided, Iroh pulled out a fan and started fanning himself, "you really should open a window in here."

"Give me the map," Zuko snapped, snatching the map from Iroh.

Zuko rolled the scroll out studying it closely. Kai stepped up beside him, "there have been multiple sightings of the Avatar, but he is impossible to track down," Kai explained.

"How am I gunna find him?" Zuko shook his head looking at the map, "he is clearly a master of evasive maneuvering."

"I don't know, it seems too random. Also, they keep backtracking," Kai pointed out, observing the crisscrossing lines on the map.

"He's doing it to throw us off his trail," Zuko insisted.

"I think Kai may be right. It almost seems like too much back and forth to be deliberate," Iroh chimed in.

"Well that's why I think it is deliberate," Zuko turned to Kai, who shrugged. He growled in frustration and shook his head. "Dammit, what am I supposed to do now?!"

Kai placed a hand on Zuko's shoulder, "just take a breath right now. We will find him and capture him."

"Well let's think about what his most logical destination would be. Where does he most need to go?" Iroh contemplated still fanning himself.

"Well judging by how he only used airbending against us, I would say he only knows that. Although there was that giant water funnel, too." Kai wondered out loud.

"That was the Avatar state. One of his past lives did that," Iroh explained moving toward the door, "I believe you are right Kai, he will be looking for masters to teach him, now I am going to leave you boys to look this over. Have fun." He left closing the door.

"Okay then... anyway, they will be heading to the Northern Water Tribe," Kai stated.

"Why go all the way north first?" Zuko questioned.

"Well I think that I had read that the Avatar has to learn in the order of the cycle. Water is next in the cycle. Plus with Katara being a bender too it's the most logical first destination. It will be better for them to have them both master it first to strengthen their defenses."

"Okay, I trust your instincts. We'll cut them off heading north," Zuko agreed. They continued to study the map, trying to find anyway to cut the Avatar off.

After a bit more strategy talk, Kai had to go do his rounds. He kept zoning out while on duty, his mind wandering to his old friends. Not noticing how much time had past, Kai jumped slightly when there was a tap on his shoulder.