"Prince Zuko, I understand you want to be thorough with your search, but we're wasting our time here," Siyoh said, standing just behind the Prince, "There is only one village anywhere near here, and I can guarantee that the Avatar isn't there."

Zuko stared into the distance, "Only one way to be sure."
A bright beam of light shot into the sky, catching them both off guard.
"Finally!" Zuko exclaimed. He quickly turned to face his uncle, who was playing a game by himself.
"Uncle, do you realize what this means?"
"I won't get to finish my game?"
"It means my search is about to come to an end."
Iron and Siyoh both sighed. This wasn't the first time he had said that and it won't be the last.

"That light came from an incredibly powerful source!" he continued, "It has to be him!"
"Or it could just be the celestial lights," Iroh sighed, "We've been down this road before, Prince Zuko."
Zuko turned to Siyoh, who was bundled tightly, yet still shivering in the cold.
"Siyoh, you grew up here. Did that look like any celestial lights you've ever seen?"
"I-" she paused. There's was only once she had seen a light like that, and she wasn't even sure she saw it.
Iroh took advantage of her silence, "I don't want you to get too excited over nothing. Please, sit. Why don't you enjoy a cup of calming Jasmine tea?"
"I don't need any calming tea! I need to capture the Avatar! Helmsman, head a course for the light!"
With that, Zuko turned and stormed inside, supposedly to calm down.

Siyoh used to jump when the Prince has an impatient outburst, but after nearly half a year with him, she had grown used to it. Even Mizui hardly reacted anymore, despite his acute hearing. Instead, the large wolf simply looked at the Prince before deciding it was unimportant and returned to his nap.
"I'll have some tea with you, Iroh." Siyoh promptly sat across from the old man, as she usually did.
"Wonderful!" He smiled, pouring her a cup. He had learned to heat the cup before handing it to her when the weather was cold. He made note of her outfit: layers of dark blue and white robes were piled onto her petite body only to be buried underneath a sealskin coat and finally the usual black cloak she used when she wanted to keep her face hidden. Despite all that and her freshly warmed tea, the girl was still shivering.

"If you don't mind me asking," Iroh began, "How is it you managed to survive down here?"

"Do you mean my people or me in particular?" Siyoh took a sip of her drink, letting the liquid warm her insides.

"Either one. It is very cold."

Siyoh paused for a moment, gazing at the passing glaciers. "If you build an igloo correctly it will work just as well as any other home. Keeps the heat in and the cold out. As for me... I have Mizui to thank for keeping me alive." The water wolf gazed up at his owner at the mention of his name, tail thumping the deck.

Mizui found Siyoh alone and half-dead on an iceberg in the middle of this ocean. While he couldn't get do much, the wolf kept her warm, refusing to leave her side until she was safe. Ever since the wolf had stayed with her as she traveled the world. Siyoh secretly believed that Mizui was sent to her by the spirits to keep her alive and safe. Maybe it was part of the deal.

They sat in silence for a few moments longer as Iroh continued with his game. As he placed the last piece, Siyoh asked the question that had been on her mind.

"Do you think it could be the Avatar? The light, I mean."

"Do you?"

"I've only ever seen a light even remotely similar to that one once: When this happened," she said, pulling back her long bangs to reveal her face. She let them fall back into place a moment later.

"I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean."

"When I was very young I was sick, dying. My parents took me to the southern oasis to pray for the spirits to heal me, and they did."

"I thought the oasis was in the North pole."

"There's one in both. Balance is very important in Water Tribe culture. There are always two. Ocean and Moon. Push and Pull. Light and Dark. Life and Death. North and South. But the oasis is in the south is much more dangerous. The spirits are usually angry. It's hard to get there. Around the same time I got sick, another girl in the North was dying. The spirits healed us at the same time to maintain the balance. When we were healed, a great beam of light came from the oasis."

"You are suggesting the light came from the spirits?"

"I'm suggesting that the light is definitely connected to the Spirit world and the Avatar-"

"- is the bridge between worlds," Iroh finished grimly. "It won't be good news for your people if the Avatar is hiding there."

"If the Avatar is there, he hasn't been there for long," Siyoh defended her home, "He wasn't there when I left three years ago."

"Remind me again why you left?"

Siyoh took a long sip of her tea, "I didn't feel welcome anymore." She didn't elaborate further. She never did.

Hours past. Zuko had calmed down and had returned to staring into the distance. Siyoh chose to join him. Neither said anything. They had an unspoken understanding of each other. Neither spoke of their scarred faces. Neither spoke of home. Both knew when to stay out of the other's way. Maybe they weren't friends, but they trusted each other, and isn't that enough? Maybe they are friends, but that didn't feel like the right word.

The sun began to dip low on the horizon; it was as close to night as it would get in the south. Siyoh began to shiver again; she never could generate quite enough body heat to logically keep living here. She was tempted to turn in for the 'night', but she felt bad leaving Zuko alone. She had a feeling he would not go to bed anytime soon.

Out of the corner of her eye, Siyoh noticed Iroh approach. She turned to face him and silently gestured to the prince. The old man took the que.
"I'm going to bed now."
He yawned, streatching his arms, "Yep. A man needs his rest."
Zuko did not acknowledge him.
"Prince Zuko, you need some sleep."
Nothing
"Even if you're right, and the avatar is alive, you won't find him. Your father, grandfather, and great-grandfather all tried and failed."
Zuko finally spoke, "Because their honor didn't hinge on the avatar's capture. Mine does. This cowards hundred years in hiding are over."
Siyoh spoke up, "That doesn't change the fact that you need to sleep."
Zuko shot her a look.
She continued, "If that really is the avatar, you will need to rest so you can be fully prepared to face him."
He seemed to consider it, but still refused to give in.

This was when Iroh chose to leave them alone.
"How about I stand watch for a few hours while you get some sleep?"
Zuko took in her appearance. She seemed so small, wrapped in so many layers, but still violently shaking. As tired as he was, he couldn't in his right mind let her stay out here alone.
"No. Infact, you should go inside. You look cold."
"No." He frequently heard her stubbornness, but was still surprised every time. "You are going to freeze and exhaust yourself and get sick."
"I could say the same thing about you."
"I'm not going anywhere."
He stared at her shaking form. Perhaps from the anger. Perhaps from the cold. She was serious.
"Fine! If I go inside will you go inside?"
"Yes!"
"Fine then!" He stormed to the door, but paused and waited for her, "Well?!"
She let out a shaky huff. She want to be out of the cold as fast as possible, but refused to give him the satisfaction. However, they had made a deal, so she held her head high as she walked past him.
She faintly heard Iroh from down the hall, "Those two fight like they're married."
She disregarded the comment. Being the only girl on the ship close to the prince's age and status tended to lead to rumors.

When she reached her room, she slammed the door behind her. She didn't know why she was so frustrated. The goal was to get him inside, right? And now he's inside, so what's the problem? He won't listen.
Siyoh took a deep breath. Being angry doesn't solve anything, especially when there's no good reason for it. Anger is not becoming of a Spirit Keeper.
Mizui had risen from his place at the foot her her bed and began to muzzle her hand. "I guess it's snack time huh?" The water wolf let out a mighty 'bork' in response. Siyoh smiled, "Okay! I'll go get your food and then it's bed time."

It had been hours, but it was so hard to tell at the poles. The sun never sets at this time of year. Something Siyoh did not miss.
Her morning routine was the same as always: stretch, meditate, eat, feed Mizui, and take a stroll around the ship, ending with a small workout. Siyoh was at the end of her stroll when she came to the main deck where Prince Zuko was well into a training session. She decided to plant herself next to Iroh to observe as the prince sparred with two guards.
"Again."
The prince immediately kept into the air, shooting fire from him hands and feet midair. It would be impressive if it weren't so sloppy. He left himself too exposed and relied too strongly on sheer force. As an archer, Siyoh could've easily taken him out. Iroh's sigh indicated that he seemed to draw a similar conclusion.
"No! Power in firebending comes from the breath! Not the muscle. The breath becomes energy in the body. The energy extends past your limbs and becomes fire." He shot a burst of flames towards the prince's face. "Get it right this time."
"Enough!" Zuko growled, "I've been drilling this sequence all day." It's mid morning. Didn't he sleep at all? "Teach me the next set. I'm more than ready."
"No! You're impatient. You have yet to master your basics."