Here's another update on the story. Tell me what you think!

For those who are following, a small (and last) reminder to first read the first chapter before continuing with the upcoming chapters (because it became a whole other story... sort of).

Feel free to ask questions or to leave a review, it helps me a lot.

That's all.


The morning passed by flawlessly. As expected, Surya stood in front of Iroh's chamber on time and no foul word came from his mouth during the meeting. But that didn't mean that Iroh wasn't pissed anymore, in fact: he still was. He leaned back as he read some reports that they had received for the last couple of days. It had been piling up is desk, too long for his taste. Reports of pirates. Reports of smuggling illegal materials and other disturbances. He turned his chair and stared at the foam on top of the breaking waves. Iroh answered the soft knock on the door.

'Come in.' He turned around, but other words got stuck inside his throat.

'General, you have a visitor.' The man stepped aside to let the woman through. 'She wants to apologise for last night.'

'I can speak for myself.' The woman angerly retorted.

Iroh was still struck by the fact that she came and the only sound that he could make was: 'Oh.'

There, she stood, awkwardly fumbling with her fingers, not knowing where to look. Iroh cleared his throat. He stood up from his chair, feeling the need to do so.

'Thank you. Could you give us some privacy?' The sailor nodded, closing the door behind him. Now it was just the two of them and neither spoke a word. This strange feeling in his stomach made him stutter.

'Please, please take a seat.' He gestured at the empty chair in front of his desk. She eagerly accepted his offer and sat down, still not looking at him.

'I wanted to apologise for my behaviour last night.' Her cheeks grew pink. 'But you already knew that just now.'

'I do highly appreciate it, though.' When he spoke those words he earned a surprised look from her. 'I can imagine you must have been scared.' Iroh tried to loosen his tucked away scarf that was part of his uniform. He couldn't remember it being so hot in here. Iroh waited for her reply, but she only nodded. He fiddled with the cap of his pen. Clicking it on and off repeatedly.

The woman spoke again. 'Could you stop that?' Iroh jumped up in his chair. 'It is very agitating.'

'Oh, yes, uh, my apologies.' Iroh closed the cap and put his pen away. She smiled apologetic. He stared at the woman, who had her eyes focussed at the large bookshelf. Iroh observed the change of clothing, the burnt clothes and the nightgown had been replaced for a non-bender soldier uniform that was clearly a little too large for her. Her long brown straight hair was no longer a mess, but rather neatly bundled together in the form of a single braid.

'Is something wrong?' Iroh hadn't noticed that she had been spying him from the corner of her eye.

Then a thought came to his mind. 'Would, would you like… some tea?' There was no end to his stuttering. But the woman smiled.

'Yes, thank you.'

Iroh rolled his chair backwards and was happy to create some distance with the strange woman. The familiar clattering brought ease to his mind and a smile on his lips. He could always think more straight after a good cup of tea.

'You know,' he dumped some fresh tealeaves in the teapot, 'you haven't told me your name yet.'

He handed her a cup, watching her sip the water softly even though it was still hot. Iroh noticed her sharp cheekbones and questioned himself if she had already had breakfast.

'Chayana.'

Iroh smiled at the small successes he got with her, considering that she wanted to jump of board a few hours ago and now she was already telling her name. There were a lot of other things he wanted to know about her. He was dying to know how she got on the pallet and why she was alone in the middle of the ocean. He wanted to know where she came from and where she was going, but figured that now was not the time to ask these things. Small steps bring forth great succession. So his grandfather would say.

'Well, Chayana.' He enjoyed her name. 'We haven't formally welcomed you aboard yet.'

A grin revealed straight white teeth. The excitement reflected in her eyes.

'Welcome aboard the first division fleet of the United Forces.' Iroh stroke his chin for a short second, pondering what to do next. 'If you'd like, I could take you on a tour around the ship. Get you familiar with some of the crew where you can ask your questions.'

Chayana almost jumped up from her chair, barely able to contain her excitement. 'Yes, I would love that.'

'Then by all means, follow me.' Iroh held the door for her and together they walked down the stairs to the first room they saw. The canteen. The room was filled with long tables, chairs for hundred men and the lingering smell of freshly baked bread. Although the room was abandoned by any signs of life, it still felt lively. Iroh offered her one of the leftover buns, which she eagerly accepted. Each room that followed had its own story, its own memorable moments. Iroh picked up her love for these stories, based off the millions of questions and the multiple "Ooh's" and "Aah's". After visiting the training hall, the two made it to the top deck. Hearing the loud music coming from behind one of the guns, Iroh grumbled in annoyance and marched with an aggressive note in his footsteps towards the sound of the radio, making it his mission to find the culprits who were slacking off. Chayana followed closely in his shadow.

'What is this nonsense? Why are you not at your station?' Iroh bellowed. Chayana shoulders stiffened and swallowed her witty remark that lay on the tip of her tongue. The three men, two firebenders and an earthbender, turned their heads immediately.

'We're just having a break, sir.' One of the firebenders explained. Chayana studied Iroh's face, noticing the throbbing vein near his temple. She clapped in her hands, leaving the general' shadow, earning everyone's attention. Iroh forgot his anger instantly.

'How exciting? What are you listening to?'

The three sailors gave each other a puzzled look before answering. 'Uh, probending?'

Chayana's interest was piqued and she sat down on one of the empty crates. The group listened as the commentator continued to recite the match.

'Looks like the earthbenders will collide in the tiebreaker face-off.' The commentator rapidly spoke through the radio, barely keeping track with what was going on, on the field. 'Bolin goes in for the grapple. Cheng reverses. Bolin strikes from mid-air, knocking Cheng to the edge of the circle. Another strike from Bolin and Chang's in the drink!'

The men yelled in rejoice.

'Oh, that was a close one folks! Youth trumps experience tonight.'

An advertisement of Flameo noodles bounced through the speakers.

'That sounded very impressive.'

'Impressive? You're talking about the fireferrets, you know? The underdogs of the whole tournament and they just won their quarterfinal match! It's not just impressive. It's moving. It's overwhelming. It is wild!' The other firebender threw his hands in the air, emphasizing his statement. The earthbender next to Chayana nudged her with his elbow.

'You can see who's the biggest fanboy on the ship.'

She laughed out loud. She loved how relaxed they were around her and general Iroh. Her laugh died as she witnessed his baffled face. The men talked about the match, but Chayana had already lost her interest. It was now focused on the back of the general who spoke with someone as he got a telegram handed to him. He and the telegram man excused themselves and left.

'I'm sorry, but I didn't get your name?' The earthbender scooched closer to her. She woke up from her stare and answered.

'Chayana.'

'So, Chayana. How did you find your first experience with probending?'

She tapped her finger a few times on her lips. 'I guess I like it?' Chayana shrugged. 'I mean, I still do not know the rules. But it sounds exciting.'

The earthbender chuckled and bended an earthdisk from the lower deck, forming and reshaping it until it looked like the bending arena. He explained everything around probending in fine details and she had a hard time keeping up.

'And did you know that the Avatar is a participant?'

This was also new for Chayana. 'The Avatar is?'

He nodded. 'Yup. She's the fireferrets waterbender.'

The fanboy firebender butted in. 'Which is all the more reason to cheer them on right? Otherwise she will haunt and stalk you in her avatar state.' He wiggled his fingers too make his remark more haunting.

Chayana faked her laugh. The earthbender hugged her shoulders with one arm, having the idea that she may be scared.

'Relax, rumour has it that she has trouble finding her spiritual side.' He stroke his beard, thinking out loud. 'Must be the main reason for the equalists to step up their game.'

'Equalists?'

They all had a perplexed look plastered on their faces. Chayana felt her cheeks burn.

'What?'

'You, you don't know about rising non-bender resistance that has been growing in Republic City?' The other firebender sounded suspicious. She shook her head.

The earthbender shifted in his seat. 'There is this man, ruffing up the non-bender citizens to claim their rights of freedom. Saying that the non-benders have the right to be equal and stuff like that.'

'Are they not? Is there any inequality between benders and non-benders?' Chayana felt the conversation getting colder and colder, realizing that she may have hit a sensitive subject.

'Pff, off course not! Have you seen Republic City? It's one gigantic melting pot of people from every corner of the earth.'

The men scattered, leaving Chayana alone on her crate. She decided to just roam around the main deck, before heading back to Surya' ship. Every now and then she talked to the sailors, asking anything about the ships and it pasts routes. And thank the spirits, the day went by quickly. Iroh kept track of her whereabouts until she retreated inside, guilt whispering in his ear like the sea wind. He noticed the waves becoming rougher and the wind swelling.

'Sir?'

Iroh sighed, it was not like him to be far away in his mind. 'Yes?'

'How do you want to handle the report on the sea serpent's behaviour?' There was no worry in Armit's voice, he only needed the general's verdict.

'What about it?'

'It's becoming more violent. Attacks becoming more and more frequent.' Armit looked up from his paper. 'Seven attacks in the last three weeks. Its victims are mostly small fishermen, but there are reports that cruises are being attacked as well.'

Iroh turned around. 'If it becomes a threat to international sea travel, then we have no other choice but to neutralize it. Inform all personnel and the nearby villages.' Iroh faced the ocean again, scanning it for any abnormalities.

The night fell, but it was a first that the rocking of his ship made him feel nauseous. He made his way to the bridge. Iroh never felt more miserable. Then, as if things couldn't get worse, they got hit.

They had clashed with Surya's ship. The screams of men bounced of the waves. He didn't need to see what the cause was as another sound joined. The raging roar of the Unagi.