Disclaimer: I do not, I definitely do not, own Avatar: The Last Airbender or its characters.
Pale, slender fingers had slipped through the lush and curly mane on top of her head as her eyes were half-opened, staring at the blankets that had covered her legs. A light sheet of sweat glistened on her forehead as her heavy breathing had begun to become steady and regular. With a sigh, she had fallen back down on the futon and closed her eyes, her hands now at her side as she had tried to calm herself down now that she realized that it was all just a dream and nothing more. There was no need to panic, it was over. She had rolled over to her side and began to clutch her pillow, nuzzling her face in it as she had tried to force herself back to sleep. It wasn't working though; she was now fully awake and annoyed.
"I hate nightmares…" She had mumbled under her breath as she had heard the door to her room open, she had opened one eye and saw a face she didn't think she would be seeing until later in the day. "Rise and shine, huh?" She had asked, the male nodding his head with his trademark grin on his face. "Do I really have to get up?" Another question had left her lips and she was given another nod.
"You're on patrol duty today, Curly. You can't just lie around." He had said as he placed the blade of wheat grass in between his teeth as usual. "So get up and at it, I'm sure Smellerbee could use the help." He had then turned around and walked out, leaving Curly in her bed and letting out a sigh. She had kicked the covers off her form, exposing her bare legs to the air, shivering a bit as she had missed the warmth of the blankets. And so the black-haired girl climbed out of the bed, stretching her arms over her head as she had let out a long yawn.
Her arms had then fallen to her sides, her right hand scratching the back of her head as she had closed her eyes and thought about her duties today. Today, it was her turn to patrol the area to make sure no Fire Nation soldiers were roaming about. She would deal with them however the situation called it, which usually meant fighting them but she didn't mind. Curly had always loved to fight. She wasn't necessarily should why she had liked a good fight now and then, maybe because she liked knocking those Fire Nations soldiers around and giving them a taste of her own medicine.
"Damn…" She had muttered, "Might as well get ready." She had said as she had walked over to her makeshift closest and pulled out her clothes, adjusting her bandages to make sure they were fresh and tight, and that no accidents were bound to happen. Her black Capri tights were still in mint condition even though she knew that it wasn't wise to sleep in them. Curly had placed on her black long sleeve shirt and then her red vest before tying her hair in a ponytail with her usual fringe, her red sword belt was placed on next and she had inserted her katana sword in it. She had then put on her red boots and walked towards the door.
Her bed was still a mess but she didn't care, it wasn't like anyone else was going to be bothered by it if she wasn't. She had left her tree home and walked along the walk away, seeing the other use vines to take the fast way down. "Mornin' Curly!" One of the fighters had waved as they had went down the vine, she had waved back with a smile. Her golden eyes had looked around the place and then she had found the mossy tree, a playful grin adorning her face.
"Curly, shall we skate down the branches to the ground?" Curly had asked herself as if she was someone else, her hands on her hips. She had then folded her arms and tilted her head to the side. "I don't know… Jet always said it was pretty dangerous even though he used to do it with me and I get a feelin' that he still does~" She had cooed in reply, now looking at her nails nonchalantly. "You could always use the vine like everyone else though." Curly had pretended to be someone else again. "But I like to be a rebel sometimes, to now follow everyone else." Now finally getting serious she had rolled her shoulders and looked at the moss-covered branch. "Gonna go with sliding!" Curly had ran forward and jumped on the branch, sliding down like it was a skateboard.
When she had finally neared the ground, she had jumped down and then went to the meeting area for patrollers and made sure she had played it off like she hadn't used the moss tree. When she arrived, she had caught up with the others. "You're finally here. Some of the others said they had seen you a few minutes ago." Smellerbee had said, rubbing her nostrils with the back of her index finger as she had her other hand on her waist.
"Sorry, Jet actually had to wake me up this morning." Curly had said truthfully, "For the past couple of days I've been so tired in the morning." She had said as she had folded her arms under her bust, her eyes looking down on the ground.
Smellerbee had tilted her head, "You have been a little off…" The girl had said, now noticing that Curly had been more tired than usual but had pushed it aside before, thinking nothing of it. "If you're sick or something, I dunno, maybe you should go back home?"
Curly had looked back at her and shook her head, "No way! I can't do that. I'm fine. Knocking some heads around is bound to lift me up." She had said with a quirky grin, forcing herself to appear her lively and usual self. Smellerbee had smirked and then shrugged her shoulders as her arms were akimbo.
"Alright, I'm just lookin' out for you. Already everyone, let's—Jet?" Everyone had looked right to see the Freedom Fighter leader walking towards them.
He had grabbed the blade of wheat grass in between his index finger and thumb, leaving it inches away from his mouth. "I was thinking about going with you guys today. It seems that we're really good as far as food is concerned."
Curly had then walked over to Jet, elbowing his side playfully as the right corner of her mouth had lifted up in a playful smirk. "Nah, you just want to go fight some Fire Nation soldiers. You're hoppin' out of your responsibilities."
Jet had chuckled, caught. "You're right. But I'm really serious on food though." He had said, "But Curly has the right idea why I'm here."
"I don't see nothing wrong with you joining us." The Duke had said with a smile. "It'll be fun seeing Jet in action!"
"I know, right?" Pipsqueak had added in, throwing his fist into the air. "We always work better and even harder when Jet is around."
"Hey!" Curly had said, her hands on her hips. "I worked hard and good when Jet isn't around, that's not for everyone!" She had said, sticking her tongue out at Pipsqueak.
The group had laughed at Curly's childish antics, and she had joined in the laugh as well. "No time for playin' around though. Let's get going." Jet had said as everyone had followed him.
"I hope today isn't a bore." Smellerbee had added as they had searched around on foot while a few others were in the trees.
Curly had agreed, nodding her head. "Same." She had sighed, "I hope these soldiers pack more of a punch, so it'll be extra painful and beat them to a pulp!" She had smacked her fist into her open palm, a dream gaze over her golden eyes she had thought about it.
"Sounds like you're pretty hyped up than how you were this morning." Jet had said as Curly had glanced over to him.
"Of course! I was lying in bed after all. I'm up, walking, and talking. That makes the difference!" She had said confidently as they had walked.
The Duke was the first to pick up some noise. "Everyone shhh!" He had said in which everyone had immediately hid behind a tree before climbing up them, getting as high from the ground but not too far that they couldn't see.
They had jumped a few branches until they had seen Fire Nation soldiers chasing a group of two teenagers and a kid. Curly had narrowed her eyes, looking at Jet as he was preparing a cue for when they would jump in. Her hand had wrapped around the handle of her sword, ready to fight.
"Sokka, your shirt!" The young, bald boy had yelled to his friend, whose sleeve was a flame.
The boy in the blue tunic had panicked, looking at his arm frantically and too busy panicking to actually attempt to pull out the flame. It was the girl in the blue tunic had who had bended a small, flow ribbon of water and splashed the fire out before redirecting it back in what appeared to be a water skin.
Maybe they could handle themselves. Is that why Jet was taking his time? Surrounded now, the trio had pressed their backs together as they had faced the soldiers, preparing themselves in fighting stances. "If you let us pass, we promise not to hurt you." The boy in the blue tunic had said.
Curly had let out a muffled snort, admiring the cockiness that seemed to radiate from him. The girl didn't seem to like what he said and whispered a retort. Her golden eyes then traveled to the one-eyed soldier, seemingly the Captain of the soldiers. "You? Promise not to hurt us?" Of course he would sound so arrogant.
Suddenly, she had noticed that Jet was gone and was now at a lower tree, standing on the large branch of it. Curly had rose a brow at Jet's rather outlandish entry. "Look!" The waterbending girl had said as she had pointed to Jet.
"I guess that's our cue." Curly had mumbled as she and the others had jumped down right when Jet began to attack, one of the soldiers. Curly had dashed right, unsheathing her sword and lunging the blade at one of them who had blocked her sword with one of his own. She had jumped back and brought the sword over her head, using her strength to overpower him as she had lowered himself to the ground.
Her right foot had come up and slammed right into his face, knocking him out instantaneously.
Her sheath was what she used next, using it to knock some of the soldiers heads and even their lungs to knock some air out of them. It didn't take long before the battle was over and all the soldiers were gone with their tails between their legs. Curly had looked around the camp in triumph before turning her attention to the bald boy who had spoken. "You just took out a whole army almost single-handed!" He was obviously awed by Jet's skills.
"Hey, he didn't do it all by himself." Curly had said, jealous that her skills where downplayed.
The bald boy had then laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "You too, I know."
"Army?" Her eyes then turned to the boy in the blue tunic, "Pfft. There were only, like, twenty guys."
Arching a brow, Curly had walked over toward him with her sword sheathed in the sword belt and her hands on her hips as she had leaned closer to the blue-eyed boy, who blushed out of surprise out of how close she was. "You tellin' me you could handle them all by yourself, big guy?" She had then let out a snort, "'Cause it seem so from what we could see, buddy ole pal!"
Sokka had looked away from her, frustrated and embrassed as there were snickers around them from everyone else. Curly had then turned her back to him and stood a few inches away from Jet. "My name is Jet, and these are my Freedom Fighters. Curly—" He had pointed to the golden-eyed girl, who gave a swift salute. "Sneers—" He had then motioned to the large by who didn't have any sort of weapon and was eating out of a bowl that one of the soldier's was eating out of. "—Longshot." The boy with the bow and arrows was then pointed to; he had worn a paddy-hat, which he raised at the sound of his name."—Smellerbee." Smellerbee, who adorned war facepaint and a knife between her teeth, a slung a Fire Nation sword across her back with another in her other hand. She had brandished them when Jet mentioned her name. "—The Duke and Pipsqueak." Both boys were together, The Duke riding on Pipsqueak's shoulder and raised his quarter staff slight at his name while Pipsqueak had put his log away upon his name being said.
Curly had turned her attention to the Avatar, who had approached the two of them. "Pipsqueak—That's a funny name." He said while chuckling as Curly and Jet looked at each other, wondering Pipsqueak's reaction his time around.
"You think my name is funny?" said Pipsqueak as he had slightly glowered, bending down as his face was just a mere few inches away from the bald boy's.
The boy looked a bit nervous, a smile plastered on his face however. "It's hilarious."
In a matter of seconds, Pipsqueak's tough demeanor had shattered into the big, cuddly bear that Curly knew he was as all three boys had shared a laugh together, Pipsqueak going as far as to attempt to "lightly" slap the bald boy's back even though there was too much force behind it which unintentionally knocked the boy flat on his face. The Duke had stopped laughing, but smiled again when Aang had looked up and gave a weak chortle.
Curly had then walked over to them her hands reaching out for The Duke, "I haven't seen you in the past two days!" She had said as the boy had jumped off of Pipsqueak's shoulders and down to the girl's arms to be caught in a warm and tight embrace.
"Me and Pip were busy." He had said as he had pretended to not enough her hug to keep his tough guy act even though he had enjoyed how warm and affection her hugs tended to be. "C'mon Curly, you're squeezing me to death." He had said in a strangled voice. "Also, not in front of the guys." He had whispered as she had smiled.
The Duke was what Curly considered her baby brother and she had enjoyed treating him as such, she knew that he had liked it too because he had reminded her of the older sister that he had lost before. "Sorry, I just can't help myself." She had said as she had placed him down on his feet and then looked over to Jet.
"Alright Freedom Fighters, raid the camp and find what we need." He had ordered as everyone had gone to work. Longshot had checked weapons, Sneers investigating the supply crates. Curly had gone inside the tents to see if she could find anything useful.
She had walked over to what was a desk and seen there were a lot of scrolls. She had picked up one and read the contents of it, and appeared to be from what was an order from Commander Zhao. Commander Zhao must've been some big time guy, or at least an important figure in the Fire Nation army. Curly had liked to check up on these like this, just so she would know if she was daling with someone topnotch. "Look out for exiled Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation. The Avatar and his group have fled on a flying bison towards the Earth Kingdom. I imagine that they haven't gone too far but Prince Zuko will follow. Keep watch and report anything suspicious back to me. Commander Zhao."
Curly had arched a brow, her eyes following the name of the Fire Nation prince. "Prince Zuko…" The girl had whispered his name as she had tried to think of why she felt like there was something more that she should know about the Prince. "Why…Why do I feel like I know him? I mean, I know who he is kinda but…" She had continued to talk to herself, trying to figure out why she had felt so strange suddenly. "Maybe I'm just still tired."
"Curly!" The girl had jumped as she had turned to see Jet, "What are you doing in here? Find something useful?"
Curly had shook her head, "No. I didn't." Curly had said as she had lowered her gaze, "Nothing but typical Fire Nation history stuff, ya know." She had shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.
"Really? I'll be sure to burn these tents down." He had said as he had crossed his arm, chewing the blade of wheat grass. Curly had threw the letter back on the table quickly behind her, pretending she wasn't doing anything questionable.
"Yeah, haha, burn it down." With a nod, she had looked at Jet with a smile. "Anyway, are we taking those three to the hideout?"
Jet had gave his trademark self-assured smile, "Of course."
"It's not because you're checking out the waterbending girl, are you?" Curly had outright asked him, tilting her head to the side as she had folded her arms under her bust.
The boy merely chuckled. "So what if I am? Jealous?" He had teased her in which the girl beside him had rolled her eyes.
"Why would I be jealous? I hope she can deal with your big-headness." She had said, "She's got her hands full."
And with that, Curly had walked out of the tent leaving Jet with a frown on his face. "What does she mean by that?" He had questioned before following behind her.
What do you think of the first chapter? I kept it short because I want to see if it would do well.
Leave a review please!