Too Far Away

Chapter Three: The Clouds Through Your Window As It Rained

The Second Letter

Zuko's eyes lingered on the horizon. He didn't smile, but it was undeniable that the feeling blooming in his chest was a hopeful kind of victory that he hadn't felt for over two years.

On the line where the clouds met the ice, a great beacon of blue light had risen into the sky. It was a sign that he was close.

"Finally," he said to himself. He raised his voice, and to his Uncle, who was sitting behind him, he said, "Uncle, do you know what this means?"

"I won't get to finish my game?" replied Iroh.

Zuko repressed an irritated sigh. "It means my search—it's about to come to an end."

Iroh groaned.

"That light came from an incredibly powerful source!" said Zuko. "It has to be him!"

"Or it's just the celestial lights. I'm sure Song Lee would know; you should ask her. We've been down this road before, Prince Zuko. I don't want you to get too excited over nothing. Please, sit. Why don't you enjoy a cup of calming jasmine tea?"

"I don't need any calming tea!" yelled Zuko. He felt like his rage would explode out of him at any moment. "I need to capture the Avatar. Helmsman, head a course for the light!"

Before the last word had left his lips, a dark sharp hurtled past him. He ducked on instinct and straightened, ready to hurl fire, but it was only Tongyi. He flapped around his head, and Zuko felt like he was being laughed at.

Zuko turned his eyes back towards the horizon while Tongyi landed on his shoulder. For a moment, he let himself linger, searching for the source of the light, for the Avatar, but then he turned and brought Tongyi back inside. The warmth of the ship made his shoulders relax, and for some reason, he was able to breathe a little easier. Song Lee's letter was in his hand before he had even made it to his room.

Prince Zuko,

If I could speak Falcon, I would certainly get Tongyi to apologize for almost biting you. Perhaps the two of us should learn Falcon together so as to scold Tongyi and to hear his apology. Thank you for neglecting to harm him when he attempted to harm you. I asked my father if attempting to bite the prince of the Fire Nation was a capital offense, but he was not sure. Is it? I find myself curious on the matter. Whatever the reason, I was pleased to see Tongyi alive and, other than his pre-existing scar, unharmed.

Zuko smiled at that, though he quickly concealed it. He made it to his room, and he closed the door quietly behind him before sitting down.

At the rate you search for the Avatar, I am sure that your journey will come to an end soon. You show far too much determination and resilience for it to turn out otherwise. When you return home, will you think of me? Will you still wish to receive letters through Tongyi? I am not sure if it is out of line to ask that. I apologize if so, and you do not have to answer. I would certainly think of you. At this point in time I consider you a friend.

Even disregarding his scar, Tongyi is a very strange falcon. His favorite food is cake. Any kind of cake, really, other than chocolate, because messenger falcons cannot consume caffeine. Most falcons eat living things, actually; I once witnessed a falcon about two-thirds the size of Tongyi consume an entire full-grown badger-frog. It was a sight to behold. My father, who was with me at the time, thought it disgusting. We disagree sometimes. Tongyi can and will eat living things, which is what he does when he needs to make long journeys between the naval base and the Fire Nation, but it is important to note that he loves cake more than all other things in the world, including me, even though cake is bad for him.