He struggled to catch his breath. Running non-stop for the past two days now. Surely he had already covered a good number of miles. It was a pretty sure bet that they've lost his trail. It was safe. It should be. There was nobody else out there. He leaded against the aged trunk and basked in the shade of the thousand pine needles. The breeze restored some of his vigor. Perhaps an hour of rest wouldn't be so bad. He saw a pond some meters back. He could fish and cook himself up a decent meal. The sun was setting now, enveloping the land in its majestic orange glow. Just a few more miles until he reached the border. Then it was going to be smooth sailing after that. It seemed like a plan. That was until he felt a boot crush his side. He crashed against a tree and rolled down the slope. He scrambled to his knees and glanced frantically about. What on earth just hit him? He unleashed a jet of fire upon the tree line to his right. "Who are you?"

Only silence.

"Come out and face me!" he issued the challenge. And he regretted such foolishness. The same searing agony tore across his back as the face of the earth rose to greet him. Everything was black. He tried to recall the days before he ran for his life. The docks had more than enough men and therefore had to let some people go. He was among them. With no money and a rumbling stomach, he stole some pieces of bread. A boy from on of the Earth Kingdom colonies saw him. In panic, he struck. He didn't mean to. It was never his choice to become a thief and killer. Society shaped him that way. In minutes he was arrested. Gagged, bound, and beaten. Trial came very soon after. There was a malicious twinge of hope in him, that the throne would favor his desperate self for he was a son of Fire. Oh, how cruel was fate, betraying expectations. "You favor slaves and prisoners over your own?" he remembered shouting at the council as they dragged him away to stand for his crimes. He was made to choose between four decades in a cell with his hands cut off, or face the noose. He chose freedom. And now there he was, lying flat on his face with a couple of bones probably broken. He groaned and clung to one of the trees for support.

"I wasn't hiding by the trees." A voice spoke from somewhere he could not rightly place. The man hadn't the slightest idea as to where to cast his eyes. "And I wouldn't try bending again, if I were you." It spoke again. This time, however, he was pretty sure his attacker was right behind him. "Kazure the convict, I presume?"

He spun in a wake of flames, high hopes his target would be caught in the blast. But there was nobody there, save for the small wandering flares and coals from earlier serving as witness to his empty display. He hadn't even finished blinking when all of a sudden a powerful grip seized his still outstretched arm and twisted with such force, splitting the bone into two with a rising cupped palm. Kazure fell to his knees as mountains of pain shattered his senses, and his assailant standing triumphantly before him.

"It would be better you listen to me if you wish to get back to the capital in one piece. My contract states I bring you back whether dead or alive. And I'm not really choosy when it comes to getting the job done."

He wanted to look away, but found himself unable to do so, to hide from the inhuman gaze of that creature. "Who are you?" Kazure flapped his jaws hysterically. That long black hair, those piercing gray eyes.

"That does not concern you."

"A bounty hunter, then?"

"Mercenary." He corrected.

"Why bother? There are worse dogs than me."

"I couldn't care less even if you ran amok and set the whole countryside on fire." He explained. "But I was paid to track you down and retrieve you. And as a man of principle, I will not dishonor that contract."

The runaway spat at his captor's feet. There was more blood than saliva.

"I'm going to forgive that." Said the young man, but slugged his prisoner still. Kazure fell hard on his back. He tugged at the convict's tunic and wiped the stain of his boot.

Kazure looked up at the stars. Defeat brought an unusual calmness. The mercenary towered over him. He finally accepted his course. His body felt numb. The injuries were there but they no longer hurt. Then his captor did something strange. The young man grabbed him by the collar. To his horror the stars vanished, pure night sky bearing down on him in unbridled rage. It was total darkness. He wanted to scream, but his tongue was frozen. The blackness closed in, choking him, and he felt his whole person displaced. Seconds passed like hours. And existence seemed to slip from his grasp. His vision blurred. The world around him dissolved. He closed his eyes.

But the pain he had expected did not come. It was a good thing that pain surged throughout his body once more. It meant he was alive. Kazure opened his eyes. There was light. Torch light. He blinked repeatedly, making sure it was no hallucination. He felt like a straw doll with the stuffing taken out and then shoved back in. He shook his head, shook the grogginess away. He then looked around. His hands were chained before him, his feet to the wall. What? How was it possible he was back in the capital so fast? Was it all a dream? But his body ached. The bones were still broken. He breathed heavily. Confusion devoured his mind. Then he heard some people talking, their voices echoing throughout the hallway, coming his way.

"Fine work there, kid. Looks like you were worth the money."

"Don't you forget it."

A small group entered the holding area. Kazure studied his guests. Two of them were very familiar. One was the warden of the capital prison. The other the demon that gave him a serious beating. He trembled uncontrollably, on the verge of tears.

"Guards," said the prison head. "Get this dreg patched up. Give'em a warm cell and make sure he eats a lot. Best he enjoys his last night."

Last night? He was going to die? He couldn't believe it. He would have none of it. The soldiers saluted and helped the prisoner up. But the moment his feet were free he shoved the guards aside, called forth his firebending and melted the chains apart. The blisters did not bother him as he ran straight for the man who brought him back to that miserable fortress. His bones still hurt like hell but if he was going die, then he might as well take that beast with him. "I was so close! I was so close!" he screamed, throwing fireballs as he went. All but the mercenary dove for cover. "Freedom was so close!" Kazure pulled back his unbroken arm and prepared to deliver his final, most powerful blow before all strength left his body. The young man just stood there and watched. Kazure drew nearer and nearer, his fist leading the way.

"Saaya, look out!" the warden called. But it seemed too late.

Then the young man vanished in a puff of black mist.

The convict stumbled forward but managed to stay on his toes. Kazure hung head in disbelief. Then there was a loud snapping, crunching sound. He felt a sudden jolt of pain on his nape. Then his eyes rolled back. The mercenary slowly withdrew his striking arm, prying his weapon free from the convict's neck. There was a loud thud as the man known as Kazure fell to the floor lifeless.

In his hands were twin slender iron rods some three feet in length, the upper half of each baton lined with small iron teeth. He swiped off the blood and gore that stained his weapon and sheathed them. Then he walked towards the still stunned guards. The warden, after picking up his jaw from the floor, handed the mercenary a small bag of gold. The young man smiled, nodded his farewell, and headed towards the shadowy end of the room where he melded with the darkness.