Mutual Resentment

I do not claim the right to any involved party or characters associated in around and through the avatar world domain company or anything else. This is a work of fiction, not reality so get your panties out of the bunch.

Chapter one

"The avatar is in the city"

The young boy's breath began to become ragged as the cloaked figure in front of him made its way down and through alleys the large buildings left in their wake. Sweat dripped from his forehead as he struggled to listen to the noise that might lead to his own demise. Their shadows danced at their heels in the dull city lights. The world was going dark at the sun faded into the distant sky though not visible from their current location. Shouts echoed through the tight alley ways hitting the ears of those trying to run unseen through it.

"Split up, they couldn't have gotten far!"

Another cloaked figure came into his view as the first one slowed almost to a stop catching its breath, it was a long run but it seemed they were out of the line of fire. The second figure ushered the two into a back room of a closed shop. His young face was light sepia and his eyes crystal blue. Both sides of his narrow head were shaved while rich brown hair on top of his head pulled back to a wolfs tail near the back crown of his skull. "Seems we're safe for the moment" The first cloaked figure nodded her slim figure shown in the dim light of the shop. Pulling the hood away from her face she had deep brown hair and the same skin tone as the first. Her long hair was pulled back into a bun as well as a braid. From the running strands had fallen framing her face well, she cast a tired smile at the last member of the party.

"Aang how are you holding up?"

Grinning at the woman he laughed quietly and let his eyes rest closed. "Great" His face was flushed a bit, from fever, whoever said airbenders never got colds was lying. He covered his mouth letting out a sneeze, they'd been looking for a place to stay in the city for a while, their plans were changed once they heard the shouts and calls through the town. This far from the ports, they doubted they'd know anything about the avatar, news spread quicker than they had imagined. Before the boys eyes lights started to swirl along with the faces of his companions. "Kata-ara….." His breathing hitched and he would have fallen back if it weren't for the two sets of arms that caught his quickly weakening body. Under normal conditions sleeping it off would have been fine, but they had to creep about this forsaken city for hours, it was lucky they found the empty shop when they did. Any longer may have weakened the boy more that he already was.

"Sokka go find me some water and a cloth" Face strewn with worry the girl helped the young bald boy down onto the floor letting him use her cloak as a cover. His worn yellow and orange clothing had seen better days, trekking through the wilds in this condition only managed to make what started out as a minor head ache, escalate into this. Tired bows knit together in discomfort and pain, had they continued on… well anyone would get this picture. This was no good; he wasn't getting any better with all this running around. The other boy nodded springing into action searching about the abandoned shop for the things they needed. When he returned it seemed the kid had fallen into a fit-full sleep. "Thanks…."

"Is he going to be okay?" Even someone as childish and immature as the water tribesmen had his moments, this was one of them, cracking jokes would not make things any better. The calls outside were still ringing through the town and it began to bother the two members of the group still awake. Appa and Momo were hidden in the forest, if they were found they'd no doubt be able to escape… it wasn't them they were worried about. The flying bison was a massive creature in and of it's self. Anyone who wanted too take him on would have hell to deal with. While Momo the flying lemur would be able to outwit the captors. Another cough erupted into the air from the exhausted airbender and the attention of the two older children turned immediately to the source.

"I'm sure his fever will break soon……" The brown haired girl looked toward the front of the empty store praying no one would come in soon; still it was troublesome having to hide out like this. A boy, a sick boy, this was the worlds last hope and still the world tried to kick them while they were down.

"We found the avatar hurry"

Sokka and the girl blinked looking at each other "They're not after us?"

Less than three blocks away from the shop where the three companions hid a group of ex-firenation soldiers closed in on their pray. Panic crossed their targets eyes as she thrashed about swinging a long wooden staff in each direction at the opposing forces. Her deep brown hair was thrown about as she kept the soldiers at bay, wild brown eyes darted from one of the men to the other. The heart in her chest quivered like a frightened rabbits only she had no where to run. Soft leather boots scrapped against the dirt street as she turned in circles watching the men. She had some experience fighting groups, but nothing like this, no amount of training would have prepared her to come up against actual firebenders. Brown baggy pants she wore hid some of the movements her legs made but the men knew she was out numbered and out classed.

"Any last words airbender?" A scruffy black haired man smirked at the girl, she fit the profile perfectly. Lanky air nomad child who may be disguised as an earth nation citizen with a staff and brown braided hair. She was obviously an air nomad, the woken necklace she wore bore the sign of the air, her arms had the blue arrows of the monks. Even her movements, screamed of the air nomads, or at least the tales that many had been told of them. This was their lucky day, surely the Firenation would welcome them all back with open arms if they returned baring the avatar.

" I'm no-!" The girl dropped her staff and well to her knees feeling the blow to the back of her head forcing the blackness into her vision. Her hands touched the ground to keep her from landing face first into the dirt of the street. The stark white coverings on her arms bore the blue arrows of the air nomads, it was true, but she was no airbender, nor was she the avatar. Blackness and finally emptiness made her finally give into their brutality. While in an abandoned shop down the road a young airbender finally fell into a comfortable sleep.