Author's Note: Well, long time no post, right? I must apologize to my readers here. I've been so concentrated on writing for Nick's Message Board and ending the story that I neglected the responsibility to rewrite each chapter and post them here. I am currently at Ch. 35 in writing for the message board, and usually I like to rewrite them to have better quality than the first go.

NEway, again I apologize. Also, if you're a reader from the board you'll find this chapter is completely different from the chapter posted there. The plot actually contains events from Ch. 28 and 29, condensed and with a lot of extra discarded. I hope you all enjoy. Please leave a comment on how you feel about this chapter. If I feel I have no readers on this site I may stop posting them here. (which wouldnt' be much of a change, seeing as I never update!!)

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Old Memories Tell All

The night was chilly at half-past midnight. On the bison it was windy. All nine of them, including Chloe, Xuan, and Iroh, were aboard. Appa was mighty tired with so many people, but so were his passengers. This night had suffered many sores and many bruises for Chloe and the ex-admiral. The avatar's three friends rested in ease, asleep for a while now. Karon was half-way there and Iroh as well. Chloe, however, with Zuko and Xuan, were wide awake and unlikely to pass.

"I couldn't think of resting 'til I knew you were with us," said Karon in a trite bit of cliché.

"Well you can rest now, Karon. Your eyes have bags the size of a hogmonkey and we've got a battle coming up for us. Azula's going to be coming for us soon." He nodded with a hug and joined the others in sleep. Chloe, still half-full of vigor, scooted towards Zuko and put a smile on her face.

"Well if it isn't the blue spirit himself. I ought to be asking for an autograph, you know? You're real popular with the bounty hunters." Zuko was silent. Being serious this time she added, "What you did was brave, Zuko. Thank you for coming for us, otherwise (and she said this in a whisper) I would have been in a situation and unable to get out." Xuan luckily was in his own world, oblivious to her words.

"You think I would have left you to rot in prison?" The boy's voice was almost indignant. Chloe gave a smile and shook her head. She gave him a grand hug and retreated to her thoughts for the rest of the trip.

Ex-Admiral Xuan was also enveloped in thought; though it was more of an emotional analysis than philosophical reasoning. His brain worked its way through the battles of right and wrong and naivety and logic. Finally, after his feelings of doubt and alienation eased off he retraced the events of the night.

On his way back Isamu Xuan shook contritely, as if he had committed treason already. His bones were rattling, some from the chill of the night, and when he reached the prison hold's entrance he finally settled down. He entered the corridor and paced quiet as he could. At last he felt safe; then a hand hit his shoulder.

"Admiral, what are you doing out and about at this late hour?" Xuan turned and found, with a sigh, Makoto, the soldier boy.

"I just needed some fresh air."

"I hear you get plenty, taking that prisoner out every day. What is this rumor all about?" Makoto smiled, whisking his heavy brown hair out of his eyes.

"Oh, that girl; she's so whiny… Really, I use the time to avoid the princess. Does she not send chills down your spine?" His fists unwound, unloading his tension.

"Yes, yes, I know. Well, I suppose I should resign to my quarters. Azula ordered all men to bed an hour ago. Early for that isn't it?" Xuan nodded. "But first, I must share some news with you."

"News?" Xuan listened intently.

"Yes, Azula announced this evening that we head for The Fire Nation capitol tomorrow. It's quite a plan. She intends to send Iroh and the girl there so prince Zuko will trail after and make an attempt. Then we'll have both traitors in our hands." The boy grinned and left him.

Xuan felt lucky such events had occurred this night, for if they had taken place later they'd already be on their way to the Capitol, and who knows what charade Zuko would have pulled. A deep breath flowed out like steam and Xuan met Iroh's door. With a knock and some seconds he heard "You may come in." The man retrieved Iroh, slithered through the camp back into the woods, and joined the two teenagers. The reunion was made and with all its wonders they boarded the bison and departed the forest.

Morning came too soon for many of the young (and old) travelers. Near two a.m. they had found the abandoned village in the mountains and everyone had gone straight to sleep without even bothering to set up. Now it was three hours after dawn, the avatar and his friends were training, Karon was brewing soup, and the remaining four found leisure in conversation and relaxation. Eventually boredom ensued and Chloe and Zuko took off into the slope of the mountainside, which was played with colorful evergreens.

Tomorrow was set for the group's departure from the woods, on towards who knew where. Anywhere far from Azula and her men was a reasonable destination. With this in mind, Chloe wished to enjoy the day in the mountains, which she had scarcely been able to cherish from living in a mountain-less plain.

"The weather is wonderful, isn't it?" Zuko nodded, though dark clouds were approaching. "Hopefully it will last long enough for us to enjoy." Zuko again nodded. "I really wish I had grown up in the mountains; they're much more interesting than prairies." Again Zuko nodded.

"Well, Zuko; you're really talkative today," commented Chloe, stretching her limbs. "Is there something wrong?" Finally, he gave an answer of,

"No." Apprehensive, he then commented, "You've never talked much about your childhood."

For a few moments Chloe pondered on what to say. "Yes, well, I don't like to dwell on the past too much; I'd much rather focus on the present."

"Yes, but –," he began, but a bolt of lightning cut him off. It had hit about half a mile away and made their ears ache. Apparently the storm had arrived sooner than they expected.

"We need to head back," Chloe said over the receding thunder. A few minutes later heavy rain poured down on them.

"It's too far! Look," yelled Zuko, pointing towards a sheltered opening into the mountains. They both ran towards it and shook the water off them. The storm grew stronger as they sat under the mountains. For a while they were there in silence, trying to warm up; Zuko made a small fire to huddle around. After the silence drove him irritable the boy said,

"So… what was your childhood like?"

"I'm sure you don't want to hear about it. It's a bit boring," the girl assured him. She tied her arms around her knees.

"But I do want to hear about it, Chloe. Where did you and Karon grow up?" Zuko sounded intrigued, a surprise to Chloe. These questions were rhythmic, and a bit annoying to her, especially because she didn't want to answer.

"Well, my family and I live on a farm about two days north of Omashu, across the Jia Xiu River. There's a village about two miles west of us, Yong Shi."

"Oh, I see; that sounds… exciting."

"Trust me, it is," Chloe said with sarcasm. She thought that could end the conversation, but Zuko continued.

"What kind of farm does your family own?"

"We mostly harvest wheat and barley. But up in the north we assist the rice fields. At least we used to; the droughts have ruined the crops over the last few years, and the farmers. They've really been struggling." Chloe would have continued on and on but Zuko interrupted.

"You mentioned you had a grandfather, a long time ago. What's he like?" Chloe felt like she was being interrogated now.

"Yes, but he passed away about a year ago, after I had left home. He was a very kind man, like a best friend to me."

"Your family must have had conflicts with you leaving to find your brother. You couldn't have been very old." Chloe dawned a half-smile. Did Zuko think she was a child?

"I was thirteen, about fourteen when I left. And yes, my mother was really concerned about my traveling alone. She had hoped my cousin, Haru, could assist me, but we didn't hear from him for a long while. My father refused to let me leave for a very long time. When we didn't receive any news about Karon for over a month I think they gave up hope." Chloe stopped to take a breath, looking out into the storm. "That's why I left, in the middle of the night, without telling them."

"You mean you ran off?" She nodded. "They must have been so worried about you."

"I had left them a letter describing why I had to leave… And I'm sure they weren't too taken by it, well my father at least."

Chloe went out to test the weather and see if they could return; she dearly wanted to; but the wind nearly thrust her in. Apparently the storm wasn't ready to part for her sake.

"What do you mean they weren't taken by it? They're your parents!" Zuko stood and came to her.

"They always loved Karon so much… I guess in their eyes I was lesser than he was; probably because I wasn't theirs."

"Wasn't theirs…?"

"They adopted me when I was a baby. Villagers of Yong Shi had found me in a field when I was about nine months old. We never knew what happened to my real parents, or even what nation they were from. So many merchants would come through, and Fire Nation soldiers as well."

"I never knew that. But that is no reason for your parents to discard you."

"Oh, Zuko, they don't. My mother is very kind. My father and I however, well I'm not really certain. We just don't resemble family, I guess you could say. In his eyes I'm more of a guest or servant in his house."

"Chloe, that's horrible." She shook her head in disagreement. "Why would he be so?" In a simple reply, the girl assured him,

"There is no reason. Don't worry about such things." With that the conversation was disclosed, excluding a hug given by Zuko. They returned to the camp once the storm ceased, and dispersed all thoughts of the conversation.