Aang and Suki got back to Katara who was sitting on a rock patiently waiting and heard their foot steps before lifting her head to see them, reading their expressions so see what the news might be.

"How'd it go?" She asked calmly.

"There's a change Ozai might be alive, there's no word on the death," Suki told her as Katara stood to meet them in the middle.

"So then.. we're not done," Katara pursed her lips looking down.

"No, not yet," the red head shook her head disappointed.

"Is there any word on Zuko? If he's a prisoner or if he's dead?" Katara gulped keeping her eyes down and crossed her arms not really ready for what the truth may be.

"Neither," Aang eased her worry.

"Zuko escaped, buts he's on the run now, zhao is looking," he explained kindly.

"Where is he? Or was last seen?" Katara snapped her head up with wide eyes.

"Since the capital, they're heading towards the colonies and possibly the earth kingdom, not sure how far his trail is," Aang nodded as Suki looked to the side.

"Alright, I'm sure he'll find a white lotus base in the earth kingdom, he'll notify Yue and Sokka Probably," Katara inhaled a deep breath placing her hands on the back of her neck.

"We need to get to the temple though, sooner we get to appa then we can keep going to find my brother and then zuko," she smiled at them as the two agreed with assurance.

They started to walk again and Suki stayed close to Aang, walking a little slower behind Katara, enough distance to whisper without her hearing.

"Maybe we shouldn't have lied," Suki whispered under her breath.

"No, she thinks she'll be notified before the week is over, we have time now to focus on the mission," Aang shook his head.

"I just want to shave my head as soon as we aboard the water tribe," he whined making Katara look over her shoulder with a laugh.

"Right, monks are usually bald," she turned and walked backwards to talk with the others.

"Yep, so this is the worse I've ever had my hair, the growth is horrible," Aang smiled a little goofy.

"I don't know if I could cut my hair super short," Katara nodded.

"Cutting my hair short was the best feeling, I had to when I became a kyoshi warrior and just kept it that way," Suki teased a little as everyone was feeling less tension from the recent events.

"Makes sense, women in my village always kept their hair long, the cold probably was main reason but a lot cut their hair after they're married or if they loose a loved one, just a little tradition," Katara explained her culture a little.

"Did You not want to when you married Zuko since it was an arranged marriage?" Aang asked bluntly but didn't mean any rudeness to it, Suki gave him a look but he shrugged not sure why.

"Maybe, when I came to the fire nation I was very determined to keep as much of myself and my tribe, so I didn't lose who I am here, I never really thought about cutting my hair so I guess your right," Katara didn't take it in a negative way and answered honestly.

But in a way he really was right, she wasn't in love with Zuko when they got married, not the day of or she only had those crush kind of feelings for her best friend, maybe one day she will. Maybe after the war they could date like they weren't forced to be together before, to feel like they have a normal relationship...

She just hoped Zuko was alright till then. She couldn't help but miss him.

She felt so stupid for missing him, Katara walked into fire nation land for the first time with hate in her heart for marrying the prince, she hated him for just existing. But She didn't know she's be getting to know Zuko, not the fire nations prince but Zuko. He was his own person and she wished she knew what she knew now when she first met him. They're going to change this world for the better. But she missed the love of her life so much.

She was in love with him and she wished he knew just how much. She wished he knew.

Katara looked at the two in front, her eyes darting from Suki to Aang, they were hiding something from her. She could feel it. But for now she wouldn't push it, she'll play dumb for now, see what they could be hiding.

Inhaling a deep breath Katara kept moving forward, Suki and Aang had their own conversation going now but she kept quiet.

She had to play this war smart if she wanted to win.