PROLOGUE

I've been with Zuko since the beginning. I was there when he was burned, banished. I was forced to watch him be scarred. And I hated his father for it. No child should be scarred and banished by their own father. I spoke up during the Agni Kai too. But I was banished along with Zuko.

The good thing about it was that General Iroh came with us. The happy man knew how to keep me in a good mood. But Zuko? Not so much. I have to calm him down myself. Sometimes he doesn't listen and just argues with me, and we both end up shouting until one of us leaves. Only once has he shot fire at me. But later that night, he apologized to me. He actually sounded sincere.

He's always on edge though, always angry. He thinks that by capturing a hundred-year-old man, he'll regain his honor and become the rightful heir to the Fire Nation throne again. I don't want him to be angry all the time. He's always talking about how he insulted his father by speaking up in the war meeting. He had a right to do that though. His nation's armies love and protected their land with their lives and his father was just going to throw them away.

So I guess you're wondering who I am. My name is Kiara, a Southern Water Tribe girl who was captured and given to Prince Zuko to be his personal servant. He's the same age as me. I respect him with everything I have because if I'd been given to Azula, she would've treated me like crap. Zuko told me himself when he was a calm boy who spent his spare time with turtle-ducks.

Now he's a hot-headed teenager.

Which brings us to where we're at in his search for the Avatar.

I tightened the red and black blanket around me, shivering at the cold temperature of South Pole air. When I heard that we were traveling to the South Pole, a spark of hope lit inside me. Then Zuko told me that if I tried to escape, he'd drag me back by force. I didn't want that, so I kept my excitement to myself.

Suddenly, a large beam of light shot into the sky, miles from where the ship was. "Finally," I heard Zuko mutter. He turned around and faced his uncle. "Uncle, do you realize what this means?" he asked the older man.

"I won't get to finish my game?" General Iroh asked, looking at his nephew. I couldn't help but smile.

"It means my search is about to come to an end," Zuko explained, looking back toward the sky where the beam had beened. His golden eyes were narrowed, his brow furrowed. I knew what he was thinking about. General Iroh groaned. "That light came from an incredibly powerful source! It has to be him!"

At this point, I just kind of blocked them out, looking out into the water. I started thinking. Would I see Katara and Sokka again? How's Mom doing? What about Gran-Gran? My thoughts were interrupted when I heard Zuko yell. I jumped at the anger in his voice and turned around.

"I don't need any calming tea! I need to capture the Avatar! Helmsman! Head a course for the light," Zuko ordered after blowing up at his uncle. I sighed. He's gonna be pretty disappointed later. Or angry. Or both.

After dinner that night, Zuko was standing out on the spotting deck, staring towards where the light was earlier. General Iroh and I walked outside into the night air to say goodnight. "I'm going to bed now," General Iroh said then yawned. No reply. "A man needs his rest." Still nothing. "Prince Zuko... You need some sleep. Even if you're right, and the Avatar is alive, you won't find him." Wow, General Iroh. Way to make Zuko feel hopeful. "Your father, grandfather, and great-grandfather all tried and failed." Again, way to go!

"Because their honor didn't hinge on the Avatar's capture. Mine does," Zuko said bitterly. "This coward's hundred years in hiding are over." General Iroh sighed, shook his head, and headed inside. I kept quiet, and followed him, but Zuko stopped me. "Kiara," he said, and I stopped, turning to face him. His back was to me. "Come here." I obeyed his order, going to stand beside him.

"Yes, Prince Zuko?" I asked him quietly.

"I want you to sleep in my quarters tonight," he said.

I looked up at him, shocked. "If I may ask, why?"

"It's too cold for you, I've noticed. It's warmer in my quarters."

I nodded. "I understand. Thank you, Prince Zuko." I looked back out to the ocean.

Then Zuko said, "You can go if you want."

I nodded and thanked him again, then went inside to his quarters. It was much warmer than my own. I sighed as I went to the bed, climbing under the heated covers. But there must've been a breeze coming from somewhere because I couldn't stop shivering, and it was keeping me awake. All until the metal door to the room opened and closed. It got warmer in the room when I felt the bed sink in on the other side, indicating that Zuko was now with me.

"Are you still awake, Kiara?" he asked quietly. I nodded, knowing he was looking at me. "Are you cold?" His voice was full of... I don't know. It sounded like he cared, like he was sincere.

"I'm freezing, Prince Zuko," I whispered, shivering again. I was curled up in a ball, but it didn't help at all. Not one bit. I felt an arm wrap around me, and his bare chest against my back.

"Does that help?" he asked.

"Yes," I said. I smiled lightly. "It helps a lot." I fell asleep not long after.