Chapter Text
Zuko woke up on the ground, covered in mud. The rain pelted down on his face, making him hiss in slight pain.
He tried to sit up, but his body felt mushy and broken, he groaned forcing passed the pain and sat up.
He was forced to hold himself up with his hands digging into the wet ground, mud squishing between his fingers uncomfortably.
His vision was dizzy, giving him flashbacks to when he got sick in Ba-Sin-Se.
He put a cold dirty hand up to his face, the wetness of the mud doing nothing to sooth the terrorist attack in his head.
He looked around, his blury vision clearing and giving him a momentary window of sight to see where he was.
It was night. Maybe early morning?
The owl fish hooted above him, flying down and snatching up a mouse that was on the rock next to him.He had to jerk sideways to avoid getting slashed by the owls claws, soft feathers brushing against his chilled arm. The mouse squeeked loudly when it realised it would be the owl fishes next meal.
Meal.
His stomach growled as he got to his feet. Slowly and wobbly but he had gained enough strength to stand. Albeit leaning some of his weight on the tree next to him, he panted. Trying to find his way back.
It was pretty obvious considering he could see the gangs camp fire from where he stood. Miles off but he would make it there before morning perhaps.
Zuko tried to think what the last thing he remembered was, but he couldnt remember anything after he got back with the gang from partying last night.
He croaked and hugged his stomach, making a sound that sounded embarassingly like a dying lemor as a new pain invaded his senses.
Thirst. It was a painfully persistent ache that clawed its way to full attention. It was all he could feel, all he could think. Water filled his mouth when he smelt something; it was sweet, but had a spicy scent that made his nostrils flare and his toes curl. The aroma had him salivating like a dog as the ache became too much to ignore.
His attention turned to the source of the smell, and to his right, a little ways away, he could see another small fire. It was so far that who ever it was wouldnt be able to see him until he was closer.
His vision was cloudy, darkness trying to overpower him as the pain became unbearable. He fell to his knees clutching around his stomach. The rain continued to pound on him like millions of knifes come down to punish him. Is this what death feels like? Is this him dying?
He couldnt move, couldnt breath, couldnt think about anything but the pain and the horrible thirst along with a desperate need for... Something.
With a final gasp, he was out.
...
Tired.
So tired.
Exhaustion was all Zuko could feel when he came to. He was in a different spot with no memory how he got there.
The last thing he remembered was watching a couple of campers sit by a fire amd then that horrible pain hit.
Well the pain was gone. And he felt less dead.
He shook his head at himself, probably just hung over, he had a lot of fire juice the night before.
The moon was still out, but it had stopped raining so hard. Now it was just a comfortable drizzle.
Zuko got up much easier this time. His bones however stilled ached from exhaustion.
Picking out leaves and grass from his hair, he looked for the camp he saw earlier that would lead him back to his friends. Catching sight of it almost imediatly.
With a pained groan, he started walking towards the camp.
After hours of painfully walking through the woods, he finally made it. However, unable to hold himself up, he passed out from exhaustion out of sight from his friends. Glad simply for the fact that they'll find him soon enough.
The camp was quiet, Sakka, Toph, Suki and Aang sat near a fire with bowls of soup being slowy consumed.
"Should we look again?" Aang asked, growing impatient as his worry grew.
The watertribe nonbender shook his head. "We've already searched this entire area a dozen times in the last couple days. I think were due for a few hours of rest, we can search again in the morning." Sakka said smoothly trying to get the Avatar to relax.
"I dont think I can rest. He's out there. Maybe hurt, its been two days; he would be back by now if he could make it on his own." The airbender said degectedly.
"Aang were all worried but this is Zuko were talking about, he's a survivor. Im sure he's okay." Suki added.
"Zuko?" Toph's head picked up as if she was looking at him.
Sakka stared at her blankly. "Are you seriously just catching on that were talking about him?"
"No! I mean Zuko." She pointed a pale finger to her right and everyone got up to run off in that direction, suprise and hope filling them.
They found him on the ground twenty feet away from the camp. He had fallen in a place out of sight but they were able to find him easily
Aang quickly flipped him on his back and looked him over. He looked like he had spent the last few days in prison. He was cold, and pale. But Aang couldnt see any injuries at first glance so hopefully thats a good thing.
Toph came over looking degected. She stared down at the body as if seeing him for the first time. Eyes tearing up.
"Guys. Theres no heart beat."