This has been going through my head and I've finally been writing it down. This will be a short story but not one chapter. The rating may go up, I'm not sure if this falls under T or M in this case. If anyone has any idea, please let me know through a review or e-mail.
Note: This is most likely not for kids who haven't heard "the birds and the bees" speech or for the immature who are just going to yell at the posting of this. This deals with animals having offspring and will most likely have some details. This is NOT a romance fiction and is more for character development.
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar though I wish I did. I do own the animal healer…
Chapter 1 – A Surprising Discovery
There are several ways that today could've better. For example, the Avatar could've showed his bald head at any point in this meaningless trip. Though that would require several painful bruises after his initial defeat but still, it might've given him some excuse to get away from his uncle.
Zuko fought off the growing irritation by practicing his breathing while his uncle browsed very slowly through the market. There couldn't have been more than twenty-five stalls and yet they had been here for more than two hours and weren't even halfway done. He could somewhat remember what they had actually stopped for after several whiffs from a particularly strong perfume. Then he saw the large bullish animal grunting in impatience, tied to a cart and looking like he was going to gore the first person to walk near him.
"Uncle," he tried to keep his voice calm but it obviously failed as Iroh raised an eyebrow at him. "We're supposed to be looking for an animal healer."
"I know, Prince Zuko, I know," he replied before turning back to the merchant's selection. "I've been merely waiting for the right moment."
He gritted his teeth, forcing the negative thoughts out before they controlled him. "And when is the right moment?" he forced out, managing to not sound threatening. For once.
The ox near them snorted angrily as a large man, who resembled the animal, began to climb onto the seat of the cart. Iroh thanked the merchant, hands sliding into his large sleeves, and immediately turned after the bullish man. Zuko often forgot that his uncle was still in excellent health, despite the large belly, and had to run to catch up with him.
"Excuse me, sir!" he called out, effectively stopping the huge man.
"What?" The man sounded like a bull as well, the loud grunt echoing throughout the marketplace. He glared down at them with amber eyes, signaling his Fire Nation heritage.
"That is a very lovely ox you have there," Iroh began, smiling widely as he sometimes did. "I don't suppose there's an animal healer on this island that can take care of a fine creature?"
He snorted loudly, glaring at Zuko when he approached. "Yeah. Lives behind the town, go over the first hill. Has a small farm filled with beasts." Sensing that the conversation was over, he snapped the reins. It was a surprise to both Firebenders when the ox behaved and walked calmly down the street, as though his temper had faded with the sound of the reins.
"That was enlightening," Zuko mumbled dryly, earning a disapproving gaze from his uncle.
"Now, now, Prince Zuko," Iroh started, "you should be thankful for the knowledge he provided us." The two began walking down the street, Iroh still browsing slightly.
"We could've asked someone else and gotten a better answer," he retorted.
The elder Firebender didn't say anything but kept moving. Buildings began to fade into cottages, cottages into fields of grass and crops. He had stopped noticing the countryside as it usually was burnt to the ground to better invade towns. Food deprived towns were always easier to take over.
Zuko let out a small breath as the crest of the hill was covered. He really didn't like hikes anywhere. The exiled prince gazed upon the landscape, finding the small farm easily.
It wasn't what he expected.
The pasture was barely big to fit three Komodo Rhinos in at once, nonetheless the twenty or so Wooly Goats the grazed about. Most of the farm was built in large pens, each covered by a roof with about enough space to move into the sun. A large barn sat near the edge of the property, a few holes evident in the roof. Moss and vines were crawling up several walls but the pens for the animals remained clean and kept. Well, from the angle it looked so.
The two descended the hill, Iroh nearly slipping on a mud patch. The gate to the farm was open and nearly nonexistent. It was bent and hung on one hinge, nearly useless yet still hanging on.
The large, wooden sign caught their attention and Zuko frowned at it. Several colored sticks were stuck into slots, each one with characters written over it. Some he recognized like 'Komodo Rhino' and 'Hawk' but others he had no clue.
'Take the colored stick that states your creature and hand it to Shing.'
Both of them looked at each other before Iroh shrugged. Zuko rolled his eyes and grabbed the brown stick, irritated at this obstacle.
Something barked near the gate. The two turned to the thin dog standing stiffly by the fence, gazing at them with a slightly dull expression. White fur covered his thin body, hanging off in clumps where mud caked in it. Long, straight legs supported him, his head cocked to one side. He barked again, tongue lolling out of his mouth.
"I do believe that is Shing, Prince Zuko," Iroh said, smiling softly. When his nephew didn't move, Iroh plucked the stick from the prince's hands and passed it to the canine. Shing took it gently, turning slowly and began limping down the path. His right, back leg was too stiff to bend anymore, bringing a slow, jerky pace. Zuko found it absurd that anyone would keep a dog like this, especially one so old and disabled.
The trip would've been cut in half if the animal could actually walk, in Zuko's thought at least. Iroh was happy for the slow walk, enjoying the sights of the many creatures lounging in pens or grazing in the pasture. Zuko managed to pinpoint three Komodo Rhinos sleeping soundly in the sun, two of the large beasts horns cut down to almost nubs. A smaller one with all three horns intact looked up from his nap, snorting at them before rolling onto his side.
The dog stopped at a rounded pen, sitting down stiffly and waiting. Inside, a large, horse-like creature trotted about, tossing his head and stamping the ground hard. His halter received a small pull every time he did so, slowly correcting his aggressive behavior. He began to move smoother after a short while, surprising the prince as his gait lengthened and sent him further.
The one controlling the horse nearly blended in with the décor. She followed his movements with critical gold eyes, correcting anything she could find wrong with his carriage, gait, or behavior. The only item holding the horse was the lead rope connected to his halter, effectively keeping him under control.
She clicked her tongue and he slowed down to a walk, head still up. His walk was more of a high stepping prance but she didn't change it. Another click had him stopping, head shaking from side to side. Whinnying softly, the horse approached her, shying away slightly when she rubbed his ears. Gripping the lead rope tighter, she opened the gate to the pen and walked the creature out.
Barely pausing, she took the stick from the dog's mouth, gave one look at the color, and handed it back. She handed him a treat from a pocket in her pants and sent him back. "Follow me," she ordered, leading the horse.
Zuko was about to stop her but his uncle held out his arm. "Patience, Prince Zuko. You don't want your rhino dying."
He snorted, smoke billowing around him. Zuko followed a couple of steps behind the horse, not wanting to be kicked. His eyes began to critique the woman, finding she was shorter than many of the Fire Nation but stockier. She seemed plain but his warrior's training had him seeing the large muscles that had developed from years of working.
"Sick Komodo Rhino, is it?" she asked, throwing a glance over her shoulder.
Zuko just nodded. Iroh decided to speak for him.
"Yes, very young too. He's only five years old and is looking terrible," the elder man explained.
She unlocked the pen and the animal trotted inside, whinnying softly. The woman slipped the halter off of his head, throwing it over her shoulder and shutting the gate.
"What's this rhino doing?" she asked, attention now fully on them.
"His stomach's swollen and he's eating too much. Every time we cut his feed, he doesn't function well. He's been getting restless as well and won't let anyone touch him." Zuko held her gaze with his own as she frowned.
"Never heard of that before in a male," she mumbled softly. "Bring him over here and I'll see what I can do."
Temper burning, Zuko snarled. "Why can't you just come to the ship? It'd be easier."
"I don't know what's wrong with your rhino. I'd have to go there, check him, come back here for supplies, and then go back to your ship. It's a waste of time." She turned then, waving behind her.
Zuko growled but kept his anger in check as his uncle gave him 'The Look.' Fine, he'd go get the stupid animal and drag it here himself if he had to.
It ended up that the Komodo Rhino had managed to walk by himself but Zuko had one of his soldiers come and help Irohpush him along when he paused. He grunted, muscles trembling as he lumbered down the road.
Shing met them at the gate again, the old dog climbing stiffly to his feet. He moved at his turtle slow pace down the worn path, limping heavily all the way. Zuko held onto the rope connected to the beast's halter, tugging on it when he refused to move.
They saw her walking away from them, a water bucket dangling from her hands. She walked quickly, almost moving like a thick bodied horse. Zuko lost sight of her as she moved into a pen, reappearing once again without the bucket.
She looked up when the creature gave a small snort and moved away from the gate. The three Firebenders managed to drag the rhino into the large pen. He moved to take the entire halter off when her voice rose over the creature's protests.
"Leave it on but take the rope off. We may need to move him again." She walked in, shutting the gate and closing it firmly.
Zuko untied the lead rope from the creature's halter, watching as he snorted, examining the enclosure. The Firebenders backed away as he grunted and shoved his snout and horn into the straw bed along the side. Snorting, he lumbered and collapsed onto the straw, panting heavily.
Moving forward, the woman dodged the long horns and knelt down by his head. Zuko watched her carefully; he didn't want to get another Komodo Rhino anytime soon. She hooked one finger onto the rhino's dental pad between his teeth, prying his mouth open. Her inspection of his mouth lasted less than ten seconds. His eyes appeared normal and there were no residues around them. Humming, the woman backed off and frowned.
"He's very alert and there's nothing wrong with his face or mouth," she clarified. Her eyes traveled over the large expanse of the creature's stomach, swollen and barely moving when he breathed. "He looks bloated though. Has he eaten anything he shouldn't have?"
"He's been like this for two months. We've been shoving mineral oil down his throat since it started but it hasn't done anything but make a mess," Zuko grumbled. "It's gotten bigger every week."
She tilted her head, striding over to the huge stomach. The animal healer pressed down with both hands, barely moving anywhere. Her ear rested on the stomach, listening to the deep inhales and exhales. She rose to her toes every time he took in a breath, moving with him. Frowning again, she backed up and rubbed her chin.
"I'd like to move him somewhere else."
Zuko clipped the lead back on while Iroh and the soldier tried to roll him on his stomach. He didn't seem to want to move and there was no way three humans were going to make him get up. The woman walked over to the rhino's head when it was apparent they couldn't get him up. Two fingers slid gently into the beast's nose, pinching where the nostrils where separated by the thin skin. He let out a pained yell and immediately leapt to his feet, trembling again.
The four shoved and pulled him to the broken down barn, making sure to keep him moving at all times. Inside was almost as bad as outside but it was drier. Wooden panels were thrown together in one corner of the dark barn but it was the nicest looking thing in the barn. She opened up one side of the makeshift pen and the three forced the Komodo Rhino inside.
Her hand waved over a lamp, the flame flickering on. Light traveled over the huge creature as Zuko took the lead off again. She hopped the fence and watched as he rolled over onto his side and laid still. Zuko stood back again as both Iroh and the soldier climbed out of the pen.
She tugged down a length of chains hanging above them, revealing a nasty looking hook on the end. The animal healer wrapped the chain around one back leg and securely fastened the chain with the hook. Moving slowly around the large rhino, she pulled on the other end of the chain, Zuko now seeing the pulley system along the ceiling of the barn. His back leg lifted slowly into the air until she deemed it safe, securing the chain against a large nail.
Rubbing her hands, she returned to her patient and started examining the area. Zuko had learned some of Komodo Rhino's anatomy and just stared as she managed to find the area where, well, the reproductive organs were. Komodo Rhinos were built like reptiles in that department; everything was inside. When her hand suddenly slid into the protective covering, he blanched and nearly ripped her away from the surprised rhino.
"What are you doing?" he yelled, staring at her as if she was a monster or some other horrible animal.
Not replying, she felt around, her entire hand inside the creature. Golden eyes lighting up in surprise, she retreated and picked up a dirty towel. She seemed to be trying to figure out what to say as she wiped her hand off.
"Well, there is some good news. Your rhino isn't sick or ill in any way," she responded.
The three were still in slight shock at her intrusion into the creature.
"There is one problem though."
Six eyes went to her as she leaned against the wood paneling.
"Your he is actually a she and she's about to give birth."