Zuko's head was throbbing seeming to pound his mind into mush. Thankfully he was sitting at dinner where everyone was talking happily. No one could tell that the fire prince felt like he was going to be sick. Except Toph.

"Hey, hot head, you going to eat that?" she asked. Without a word Zuko handed the bowl of rice to the earth kingdom girl.

His attention drawn over to the boy sitting a little ways away Sokka said "Zuko you don't look so good. Are you feeling ok?"

"M'fine just not hungry," muttered Zuko, wiping his sweaty forehead.

Sokka shrugged not wanting to get into a fight. The rest of dinner was spent listening to Sokka's jokes Aang's stories of the air nomads and random topics that arrived to their minds.

Zuko usually dint talk during dinner anyway because he just liked listening. Occasionally someone would catch him smiling to something someone had said but that night no one saw him paying attention at all.

Sure the Ember island nights were warms but this night the air around Zuko seemed like the inside of a volcano.

"I don't know about you guys but I am going to hit the hay," said Toph finally laying down and making her rock tent.

"Me too," agreed both Aang and Katara.

"I'm going to stay up a bit," said Sokka but no one but Zuko heard the boy's words.

When both the Avatar and his sister were gone Sokka pulled out his sword and began walking forward and back lightly stepping with his feet and brandishing his sword. As if acting on an unknown instinct he began fighting with an unseen opponent.

"Your guard is down on your left side, angle the blade vertically," said Zuko glancing slightly at Sokka.

Sokka raised his eyebrow at the other teen but took the advice and found that his jabs could be pulled off more easily. "Hey thanks Zuko!" then something occurred to him. "How did you know?"

Zuko again said nothing but reached over his shoulder and pulled his two swords slightly out of the sheath. Sokka's mouth turned into a perfect 'o'.

"I don't like relying on fire bending. In Ba Sing Se I couldn't use my bending at all without giving away our identity's I relied on my swords fully for every defense and offence."

"You said 'our' what do you mean?" asked the water tribe boy.

"Me and my uncle," Zuko's voice was almost a whisper and emotion was carefully hidden behind the words. His head hurt badly but it wasn't only because of the faint headache. It was also the pain of having lost the only person—besides his mother—who had ever loved and cared for him.

"Oh," Sokka knew somewhat of Zuko's uncle they had met a few times before and he seemed like a decent guy. He also knew how close Zuko had felt to his uncle.

Zuko shrugged and stood, smiling slightly. "Need a dueling partner?" he asked pulling both his swords from the sheath.

The other boy merely nodded wondering what it would be like to battle someone for real without them trying to seriously injure him. The only other person like that had been master Pi En Dow. And the last time he had fought with him was a little over two months ago.

They both got into their stances, and began circling each other, facing off carefully. Zuko struck first making a fake jab with the right and going for the left. He pulled short before he cut him but during his tiny moment of holding back Sokka twirled his sword under Zuko's right and disarmed him.

A small cut on his palm and his sword skittering away was Zuko's only price. But he did not drop his guard, while Sokka smiled at his victory Zuko shook his head and began walking to get his sword. At the last moment Zuko knelt and swiped the other boy off his feet. Sokka tripped and fell to the ground and while falling, Zuko grabbed the sword.

The water tribe boy looked incredulously up at the smirking prince. "Don't ever let your guard down I have two swords remember that." Zuko brandished the sword at Sokka's neck as if he were considering chopping his head off then turned the sword around offering it to the one on the ground. Sokka took it and once his hand was free Zuko pulled him to his feet.

Then he went to retrieve his sword. But when he leaned over his head felt like it was going to explode. Then he stood up and his dizziness gave another attempt to get his attention.

Zuko groaned slightly and held his head.

"Are you ok?" asked Sokka's voice form seemingly far away.

"Yea," Zuko lied, "just got dizzy for a moment." he put his word back and turned to Sokka

"You are great at sword fighting," said Sokka putting his sword back in its sheath. Zuko looked at his palm where the small cut was bleeding freely. "Did I get your hand?" Sokka asked. Zuko held up the bleeding cut. "Ouch, sorry about that."

"Don't worry about it I have gone through worse," Zuko waved his un-injured hand at his face, "and that isn't the worst of it… just the most noticeable." Zuko poor water on his hand and wrapped a cloth napkin around it.

"Um no offence but what could be worse than that?" Sokka asked walking over.

Zuko's answer was cut off by Toph opening the door of her tent. "I know you two are having a bonding moment but could you go out of the courtyard I'm tired!"

"Sorry," apologized Zuko and Toph repaired her tent.

"I can practice with you still if you'd like," offered Zuko.

Sokka shook his head. "Nah, I'm beat yawn see you tomorrow." He started to walk away but right before he entered the house he said "you know Zuko you're not half bad."

Zuko smiled until Sokka was gone then his shoulders slumped and he put his hand to his head. It took all his will power not to groan out loud. He wasn't going to be able to sleep with his pounding head and rising temperature. Stumbling away from the building he tried to keep his steps steady for Toph's sake.

Once he was a little ways away, sure he was out of the earth bending girl's interest zone he leaned against one of the trees and let it carry most of his weight. He felt week and shaky and the fight with Sokka had made it ten times worse.

If he didn't get help he would most likely pass out. No he couldn't do that. He was only barely on good terms with Katara and what if he was just exaggerating and it was nothing she would be mad that he had woke her up in the middle of the night. He would live.

Standing he stumbled even further away from his old vacation home trying to find the beach and its cool sea spray. He thought that if he could find the cool breeze and salty air then he might feel a little better.

"Stupid trees," said a quiet ruff voice.

Zuko quickly and quietly scrambled up a tree and listened closely to the gruff voice.

"On vacation!" he spat, "more like another mission. Stupid general I should relax. The stupid islanders are tryin' to mess with my head."

"Need help?" said Zuko coolly looking down at the man who had just come into view. He had a large biceps and a big tattoo on his head and neck. The tattoo seemed to have been put on carefully so it couldn't be seen under a helmet. It was one of a dead dragon with a sword sticking through its head. It was a gruesome sight and momentarily took Zuko's attention from the man's fierce face and the bow and arrow in his hand.

But he noticed the bow and arrow when that solid arrow struck his shoulder. Before the man could think there was yet another arrow in Zuko's side as well.

Zuko was too stunned to say anything, or even do more than cough as blood filled his throat.

"Evil spirits! Evil spirits in the jungle" the man screamed at Zuko and began to run in the opposite direction.

Still no words came to Zuko's mind and his stunned silence did not let the rising cry of pain out. He slid down the tree, well more like fell out of the tree. The arrows were nearly as big around as his finger and had large feathers on the end. The feathers were brightly colored and hard to miss in the faint moonlight.

Sitting up Zuko pulled the first arrow quickly out of his arm. The only sound he would allow to escape his lip was a small whimper as blood began pouring fast and hard out of the hole in his shoulder. Prodding at it carefully he found the arrow had nearly gone though his arm but it had not hit anything vital in his arm. No veins or bones had been harmed. It would heal in a little fewer than three or four weeks. There was a month and a half before the comet so he was safe. Ripping off the outer coat he bandaged his shoulder fast, being sure not to bump the other arrow embedded in his flesh.

Once the deed was done he inspected the second wound. Cursing the man—who was most likely hallucinating or knocked over the head—he explored the scrape. This one had not gone in too far and, thankfully, not hit anything important. But still it was deep and messy. Deciding it was better to pull out he steeled himself and tugged.

A cry of pain escaped his clenched teeth and echoed around the empty landscape and blood began pouring onto the ground. This one would take a little longer to heal than the other one.

Go to Katara you need help, said a voice in his head.

"No," Zuko said out loud, "don't wake her and don't worry anyone else just ignore it you'll heal." Bandaging this one as well he stood, forgetting his dizziness.

But he remembered quickly. His sight was blurry, he knees were trembling, his head hurt, and he was covered in his own blood. The next day would not be fun.

i know it is totally random and not very well written but it's random and i liked writing it. tell me if you like it there will be one or two more chapters

R&R!