"Prince Zuko, why don't you sleep with us by the fire?" Iroh invited, patting the empty space beside his pallet. "It would be much warmer."

Zuko pretended not to hear the old mans offer, continuing his stride until he was about ten feet away from the others before he found a comfortable place to lie down. It wasn't a cold night, not to a firebender, in fact the soft breeze made the air pleasant.

Zuko knew that by bidding him to sleep by the others Iroh was trying to form a delicate thread of trust between his nephew and the group. He also knew that as usual his uncle was right and that he should be trying harder, but had no desire to go out of his way to bond with these people.

Under the convention of his uncle he had agreed to help the avatar, the one that he had once sought to capture so desperately, almost obsessively. Sitting in this camp with them now made all of the searching and planning he had gone through wasted effort.

It was a reminder that he had failed, that he had found the avatar just as his father had commanded, a task everyone, even his uncle, had deemed impossible, and then allowed him to escape, again, and again, and again.

Yet despite all of this, the boy had welcomed them into his group with the least hostility of all his friends but the young, blind girl his uncle was fond of. She didn't seem to care whether they joined or not, but then it seemed to Zuko that there was very little that she did care about. For all he knew she may have even been glad for their initiation, or at least Iroh's.

The avatar had done his best to convince the others that Zuko and his uncle meant them no harm. The two eldest still held their grudges from the past but Zuko didn't mind, he didn't trust them yet either.

The avatar's forgiveness astounded him, not once had Aang mentioned the past, at times he even went out of his way to try and include Zuko in group fun.

Maybe he was too forgiving, if this had all been a set up to gain their trust he would have already succeeded with pitiable ease.

Not very long ago Zuko would have leapt at this opportunity, to have these people at his mercy, to have the avatar in his custody. Even now he felt more than a little like a traitor as he lay in this wood among his former enemies.

Knowing that in the water tribe boy's bag was a scroll that held the secret to destroying Zuko's nation. The boy- Sokka, they called him- had tried to keep the scrolls a secret from the firebenders, it was only because Aang had let it slip that he and his uncle knew now.

Zuko had understood at that moment that he wasn't helping to escort them to Ba Sing Se just for the Avatar's safety; they had another agenda, to deliver these deadly documents into the hands of the Earth King.

Although he was now considered their enemy, Zuko loved his home, and more than once had wished Sokka had succeeded in keeping them in the dark about the scrolls, ignorance had been bliss.

But Zuko had known when he agreed to join the Avatar that the moment would eventually come when he would be faced in battle by his own people. People who would see him as worse than any of these whose company he kept, worse than the Avatar himself.

Worse because not only was he the disgraced, banished prince, but because at this moment he had the opportunity to win this war for his people, to redeem himself by presenting the Avatar to the Fire Lord. And instead, he chose to join him and help bring along the downfall of his birth land.

To be hated by ones people was a terrible price, but he mused that being the exiled prince was hardly anything to be proud of, and if they were going to look down on him anyway he had nothing to loose by setting a new record for testing the fire kings wrath. Its not like he had anything left for them to take away.

Someddy soon they would all see him for what he really was, when the Avatar-when Aang, restored the balance between the nations he would help his wounded country back to its feet, back to its former glory of the days before the war. That was his ultimate goal, and if that meant he had to suffer these peoples company, so be it.

Zuko lay flat on his back as a swift wind rustled the tall grass that swayed all around him, towering him as they reflected the silver glow of the moonlight.

He closed his eyes, but no sleep came to him, for what must have been hours he lay fighting for rest. It was an odd feeling to be surrounded by a group so large after becoming accustomed to traveling with only his uncle. Every strange noise made his senses buzz, every time someone rolled over or sighed in their sleep he found himself wide awake, muscles tense with the anticipation of some nonexistent danger.

If he turned his head to the left he could see Sokka, pretending to be asleep as he leaned against a giant stump, his arms clamped over his green bag and its precious contents, hugging them to his chest.

Zuko knew that he was being watched through the slits of the boy's eyes, he could feel the gaze as sure as he could hear the Avatars low snore. Had Zuko not been so insulted he might have been mildly amused. Sokka thought he was guarding his friends and scrolls from the evil firebenders. He didn't seem to realize that Zuko could have already burned them all to ash by now if he had wanted to.

He clenched his eyes shut as someone yawned rather loudly, disrupting his thoughts and once again sending him into a state of alertness, momentarily giving up on his battle with sleep Zuko allowed his eyes to drift open.

He found himself starring into the night sky, brilliant with starlight. As he lay there gazing he realized that he hadn't done this for years, not without the clear purpose finding north.

It had been so long since he had simply looked at them for no reason but to enjoy their beauty, not since the night his mother had disappeared.

As a child his mother had taught him to find comfort in these stars, she had shown him every constellation that she knew and the story behind it so well that he had already spotted three as he gazed.

Zuko forced his eyes shut; he didn't want to think about his mother right now. Physical pain was what Zuko knew how to deal with, he could endure that, and he could heal it. But emotional pain, that was something that he found unbearable. It was something that he was untrained to deal with, and that he felt helpless against, it made him feel weak. From an early age Zuko had been taught that silly emotions like sorrow or compassion were not to be flaunted, they were shameful.

Azula had mastered her emotions, even as a child she had shown the cold indifference that their father desired in his children. She was, in their world, the perfect warrior and someone who would one day become a powerful Queen.

Yet Zuko knew that there was no one who had ever lived or would ever be born that he wanted to be less like.

He rolled onto his side, Azula was a monster, but he had also been taught the philosophy behind her actions and so he could easily see the logic in her insanity; Emotions were dangerous, they were weakness, and they could get you killed.

The major difference between Zuko and his sister was that Azula enjoyed it, enjoyed it immensely.

A twig snapped, Zuko rolled on his stomach and raised himself into a crouch. Startled by the sound that could not have come from the four sleeping by the fire, nor Sokka who had now abandoned his pretense of sleep and was openly watching him carefully.

Zuko ignored him, peering over the grass into the direction of the sound, the woods to his right.

He heard Sokka unsheathe his boomerang, either he had gotten the idea that something dangerous could be lurking nearby or his paranoia of firebenders had kicked in and he was about to attack Zuko.

Zuko knew that to raise his hand to warn and silence him would be a mistake, Sokka would probably take the motion as a fire bending attack and let his weapon fly straight at Zuko's head. Not only would a blow at this distance likely knock him out and render him useless should anyone be lurking in the woods, but the idea of that thing colliding with his skull was not a pleasant notion.

He decided to risk a quick shush, and hoped that the Sokka, for his own sake, had heard him. Zuko would hate to go back on his word and kill this little water tribe boy before his third week in this company was up.

Even though the moon illuminated the clearing they slept in, the woods seemed consumed in the shadow projected by the giant trees. Zuko strained his eyes, feeling his fist grow warm as the fire within him rose in the anticipation of a battle.

Finally Zuko saw something move low to the ground, possibly someone crawling within the shadow to avoid being seen in the moonlight. Yet this figure was strange to Zuko's trained eyes, it moved oddly, quickly but quietly in a manner that he didn't recognize as a soldiers, or even human.

Zuko dismissed it as some woodland creature and turned around to tell Sokka to be at ease when something suddenly leapt from the woods, Zuko turned in time to see a pair of bright green eyes just before it soared over him, coming so close that he felt its fur brush against his forehead.

Quickly recovering from his shock Zuko leapt to his feet, fists ablaze and ready to pry some creature off of his new companions, but rather than hearing their screams of agony, it was laughter that rung in his ears.

Zuko's flame promptly extinguished when he saw the creature hiding behind Sokka's legs while he went into a fit of laughter. The beast that had leapt from the forest was that flying rat, Momo, the avatar's strange pet. Zuko grimaced as Sokka continued to laugh, dropping his bag and clutching his side.

"What's going on?" Katara moaned as she propped herself up on her elbows her heavy eyelids barely open.

"I'm trying to sleep," Toph growled. "what's your problem?"

"A little startled, Princess?" Sokka howled.

Zuko glared at him, "Shut up, peasant!"

"What happened? Sokka, what's so funny?" Katara asked, now awake but quite confused.

"Momo almost made Zuko wet his pants!"

Zuko's eyes narrowed, his fists clenched as he prepared to yell a threat at Sokka, but at the last second he had a better idea. His fists cooled down and Zuko smirked, his hand flicked in Sokka's direction, a tiny spark of fire flung from Zuko's fingers landing on the laughing boy's shirt and igniting with the fabric.

Laughter turned into a scream of surprise as Sokka stopped clutching his side and started pounding his chest in an attempt to put out the flame. Now it was Zuko laughing as Sokka dropped to the ground and proceeded to roll, all the while yelling curses on the fire nation.

"Zuko!" Katara scolded angrily, drawing water out of her pouch and sending it through the air to her brother.

Finally content that he had smothered the fire Sokka sat up and proceeded to examine the damage "My. . ."

Liquid suddenly fell over his head like a miniature waterfall, still holding the singed fabric from his body, water dripping down his nose as he turned to see his sister, her arm outstretched and fighting back a smile.

". . . Shirt."

"Sorry." She told him, pulling her hand back to her side.

Iroh yawned, stretching his arms wide and then scratching his belly, "Still a bit dark to be stirring isn't it?" Iroh asked, sensing the tension between the two boys. "Did I miss anything while I was asleep?"

Neither boy spared him a glance, Sokka because he was too angry, Zuko because he knew his uncle wouldn't have approved of setting anyone on fire.

"You . . . this is the only shirt I have!" Sokka yelled, glaring at the smirking firebender.

"It's about time for a new one," Zuko snarled. "that one was beginning to stink."

"That was harsh, Zuko." His uncle told him as he wondered what was wrong with the boys shirt.

Sokka stood on the bent grass that he had just flattened by rolling and picked up his boomerang.

"So tell me, scarface," Sokka taunted as he heaved his weapon over his shoulder, preparing to throw it."Does that thing make it harder to get dates? Is that why you're always so moody?"

"Don't fight!" Aang ordered. "We're a team now! It was just a silly mistake. . . Please apologize to each other."

With an effortless airbending move he landed by Sokka's side. But the Avatar's words had little effect on either of them; they continued to glare at each other.

"Zuko . . ." His uncle's voice wasn't harsh, but soft, almost like a plea.

Katara looked at the expression of Zuko's face and felt herself flinch.

With Sokka's one comment the simple competition of insults had become something much bigger, something dangerous.

Zuko's face morphed from one slight amusement into one of total loathing. His eyes narrowed into slits and his upper lip pulled back into a snarl.

What Sokka had said about the scar had hit a nerve in Zuko, Katara had never thought much about how he had gotten his scar and now as she looked at the fury mounting in the former prince's face she felt less desire than ever to find out.

He seemed to be trying to contain himself, his glowing fists shoved into his pockets, but his gaze never left her brother. Katara knew that if Sokku lost his temper and threw his boomerang it would turn into more than he bargained for.

"Sokka, calm down it's just a shirt," Katara interrupted as she stood up in the grass and deliberately moved between the two boys. "besides, we can get you another one, when we get out of this forest we'll find a town and buy you new one"

"Unless you can shake that tree and make some coins fall out," Sokka told her as he lowered his boomerang and folded his arms. "we haven't got enough money for a shirt and supplies."

Katara examined the scorched cloth, an almost perfect circle was black but only a few small holes pierced the fabric. She was surprised to see that his chest wasn't even red from the fire. In the corner of her eye she looked to fire bender, this attack was only meant to startle Sokka; Zuko had carefully controlled the fire the entire time, which was probably why Sokka had such a hard time putting it out.

"Then I guess you can either go on a diet or get a new shirt, your choice." Katara told him simply.

"Come on, Katara, this is serious!"

"Well, you stop eating so much and I'll stop trying to think of a way to pay for it."

"I don't eat any more than anyone else in this group!" Sokka defended.

"No more than Appa maybe."

"I would be happy to buy him a shirt." Iroh said gleefully as he got to his feet and made his way to his nephew's side.

"No thanks." Sokka muttered, sounding ruder than he had intended.

Katara glared at her brother, Sokka pouted and slid his boomerang back into its sheath.

"Sorry," He muttered. "but no thanks."

"Very well then, I suppose I won't have to collect the money Zuko owes me from cards last night." He grinned at his nephew, who now glared at the ground. Iroh moved to place a hand on his shoulder but Zuko shrugged away and strode back to where he had been laying.

Iroh shook his head and yawned again. "I'm going back to sleep . . . Sokka?"

"Yeah?"

"There's still some tea in the kettle, it might help you stay awake while your guarding us, help yourself."

Sokka's face fell even more. "Thanks for the tip."

Iroh smiled and lay back down on his pallet. He was glad that Katara had seen what was happening to Zuko and had calmed her brother down. Sokka didn't know about the pain behind that scar his nephew bore, didn't realize how hard of a blow he had dealt on Zuko with that insult.

If Sokka had continued then his nephew might have retaliated rather harshly and Iroh would have had to stop him from hurting the boy, something that would have humiliated him in front of the entire group.

He knew how hard it was for Zuko to let himself grow attached to anyone, his fear caused him to keep himself at a distance. Fear of weakness and, Iroh suspected, fear of pain. He alone understood this secret trait of Zuko, no one that his nephew had ever loved before had remained by his side. His sister had become is adversary from a very young age, his mother, sweet Ursa, had simply vanished one night, and his father, the man that Zuko had once wanted to please more than anything, had given him that horrible scar.

Iroh remembered the shock that had come over the boy when he told Zuko that he was like a son to him. Iroh had sensed his confusion as he had taken his nephew into an embrace, Zuko couldn't understand.

Iroh had hoped that being around these people would cure his nephew, and perhaps in time it would but for now Zuko seemed little less than miserable, his new hopes in what the avatar could help him restore were the only things that kept him here.

He will learn, the old man assured himself, perhaps the Avatar will teach him comradeship. The child seemed so intent on becoming friends with him, sometimes comparing him to a long lost friend named Kuzan. Iroh smiled to himself, it was so strange to listen to one so young talk about things that happened a century ago.

Katara glanced at Zuko and saw that he was now sitting in the grass, probably meditating again.

Thank Gods, she thought to herself when she turned her face back to Sokka, she realized he had seen her gaze. He looked at her now like a father who had just caught his daughter doing something naughty.

"What?"

"You know what."

"What?" Aang asked curiously.

"Nothing Aang, Sokka's just being over suspicious again."

"We're going to have to learn to trust each other," Aang said sternly. "or we'll never be able to work together."

"Incase you've forgotten Aang . . ."

"I haven't forgotten, it was me that he was always after wasn't it? If I can trust him, then why can't you?"

"No offense, Aang, but your very gullible," Sokka told him. "your too innocent for your own good."

Aang stared at the ground," Well, you trust me don't you?" he asked in a strange tone.

"Err . . . yeah of course but. . ."

"Then trust my judgment, I say he's good."

Sokka was about to say something else but Katara sent him a look that silenced him. She put a hand on Aang's shoulder; the child looked up at her sleepily.

"Why don't you go back to sleep, Aang? You're going to need your rest for tomorrow."

Aang stretched and yawned, "Alright," he said, his voice reflecting his disappointment in Sokka "goodnight."

When Aang was back in his sleeping back, Sokka spoke again. "Katara, I have every right to be suspicious, his old hobby and obsession was hunting us down and trying to kill us!"

"Sokka, you've barely slept at all for almost three weeks."

"I've been taking naps in the day." He defended.

"What happens when we are attacked and you're too weak to fight?"

"Maybe we could take turns watching them," Sokka suggested stubbornly. "until we know for sure."

"Sokka, Toph can feel every move they make."

"She's asleep."

"That's never stopped her before."

"But she trusts Iroh," Sokka said angrily. "She might trust Zuko because of him."

Katara sighed, there was no point in arguing with Sokka when he was like this. "I don't trust Zuko anymore that you do, but we need Iroh here to teach Aang to firebend, he seems good Sokka, and the added protection is a plus, especially with Azula after us."

"Protection," Sokka sneered. "She's their sister and niece, they're probably planning. . ."

"Sokka, you saw what his sister did to their uncle, I doubt Iroh's going to join her anytime soon, and you saw how hurt Zuko was. . ."

"Not hurt enough to let you help."

"He didn't trust us I guess."

"Well I don't trust him." Her brother said stubbornly.

"Neither do the rest of us," She reminded him again. "but we have enough faith in Toph's ability to sleep."

"I don't doubt Toph." Sokka said, feeling a bit guilty. He knew how powerful Toph was and that despite whatever loyalty she had to the old man that she would act in Aang's best interest. But he felt himself to be the protector of this group, for anything to happen to any of them would be something that he would never forgive himself for.

Katara looked at her brothers heavy eyelids and softly laid her hand on his shoulder. "Get some sleep Sokka, we'll be fine,"

He said nothing, she turned back to her sleeping bag, but didn't leave him until she whispered. "and don't say anything else about his scar."