Not So Bad.

She sank to her knees as fresh tears followed the same trail.

"It's gone."

The damp leaves had already soaked through her tunic. Her hair was out of its usual braid with brown locks flying with the slight breeze. She sank lower into the forest floor.

"I'm sorry Mommy.."

A twig snapping caught her attention as she quickly stood and readied her water.

"Who's there?"

The sigh came from the trees and soon a small fire came to life. the teenage boy soon came into view without his usual armor. With gold eyes blazing, he took another step toward the girl.

"I'm sorry. Um. I'm...not going to attack you. I promise."

The girl's eyes narrowed farther as she watched the fire in his hands. The night was bright without a cloud in the sky. "What do you want?"

"I-uh. I found something that I think belongs to you." He brought a hand from his tunic revealing-

"My necklace!" She gasped as her hand came to her throat. "How did you-"

"On the ship. With the earthbenders."

The teenage girl nodded as she came back to a bending posture. "Then I supposed you're saying I have to 'come with you' or 'tell you where Aang is?'"

His eyes narrowed and he distinguished the fire in his palm. "No! I-I just wanted to give this back to you."

She arched an eyebrow. The girl still held her stance. "That doesn't sound like you."

With a chuckle, the boy shrugged. Her eye's widened. He just laughed. She didn't think that was possible.

"Well I've been doing a lot of things that 'doesn't sound like me' these days." He sighed. "So...would you like me to..put it here?" She nodded and took a couple steps forward. Slowly the stone, along with its ribbon, slid out of his calloused fingers and rested on the forest floor. "Um..I polished it..Just in case..."

She stared at the blue stone with longing taking a couple more steps forward. It was right there. She stopped and looked at him.

"Where are your men?" Just a question.

"They're on the ship. I can promise you that." His eyes....He was telling the truth.

Without taking her eyes off of him, she  walked slowly toward her necklace as he took a few steps back. Finally, she reached down and felt the familiar silk and heaviness of the stone. She moved her eyes downward as she bent her head and when she looked up, he was gone.

The wind rustled her hair once again and she brought her hand to rest on her throat. "Thank you, Zuko."

She turned and walked into a different direction, not knowing a pair of golden eyes were watching her.

"You're welcome, Katara."