Cold sea winds brushed across the bodies of the men on the ship's deck. The heat that pulsed from their body kept the cold at bay as they watched for other ships. Nothing could be seen for miles and many returned back to below the decks for tea and to hear war stories from Iroh. One stayed at the bow of the ship, watching the ship cut through the water with ease. He turned back, a large flame shaped scar surrounded his eye, moved slowly as he observed his surroundings. He sighed and turned his attention back to
the water. Not a moment passed before he shouted a command.
"Lily! Come here!" he beckoned.
A wolf like creature slowly padded over to the young prince, tail between her
legs. The flame that normally flickered brightly on her head was now small, barley lapping at the bright red crystal on her head. Her body was full of fear, afraid of being scolded or even beaten for being disloyal.
He turned to face her and his cold amber eyes looked into her ruby ones. He could
clearly see she was terrified. He let out a small sigh, his eyes begging to move
away from hers.
"Tell me Lily...Why are you even here?" asked the prince, his right foot slowly
hitting the metal floor of the ship.
"T-to help you find the Avatar, Prince Zuko..." she replied, looking down at her paws.
She could not speak the normal language of humans in the form she was in, yet her mind
was connected to Zuko's. They had a special bond, and with that bond, he was able to hear
her thoughts clearly, as if she were speaking out loud.
"Then why is it…Every time you have a chance to take him down or at least get rid of his
little friends, you never do?" his voice rose to shouts as he continued to speak.
Lily squeezed her eyes shut, she hated to see him so angry with her.
"I-I...I don't mean to..." she said, her voice cracking.
"Are you afraid to become just a tool or losing your humanity? WELL?" he shouted at her, fire
shooting out of his clenched fists.
"...I don't know..." she said as she turned her head , making sure Zuko couldn't see her face,
not allowing him the chance to yell directly at her.
Zuko spat at her and the wad of spit landed on her cheek. She made no effort to wipe it off, he
would just scold her more for no reason.
"Your people used to be proud...willing to give you own lives if necessary to make sure you gained your masters approval. Now look at you...Last of your own species and your a coward, hiding behind me and Uncle just to ensure your own survival...Next time the Avatar shows, you better deal with him or his friends...or I can guarantee, you can't even imagine what will happen to you if you fail. Now get out of my sight."
She moved away and headed to the lowest part of the ship. Her small bed was at the farthest part of the
ship. Fire surrounded her body and she turned into a young human woman, only two year older then Zuko.
Her body was slender and tall, every part of her seemed perfect except for the ragged clothes she wore that barley fit her. In the darkness, her skin looked as if it were flawless. As she moved over to the window to look out at the sea, her arms were covered in scars caused by deep cuts and burns. Her legs had the same kind of scars, yet not as many. As she changed into her ragged bed clothes, the scars on her back and abdomen became visible. She knew all to well, the consequences of failure with Zuko.