Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar!
Yuri silently groaned as a bright light awoke her from the first peaceful slumber she had in years. She nestled closer to something warm that was beside her. She heard someone chuckle and opened her eyes to see Jet's amused ones. As a gasp escaped her lips, she scooted away from him.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to," she whispered.
"No, it's fine. Smellerbee and Longshot went in search of food, so they woke me," Jet explained.
Yuri nodded. "Can you move your arms and legs?"
"Yeah, but not a whole lot. Is that bad?"
"No, just means your whole body needs to heal."
"Good thing I found someone to help it," he joked.
Yuri smiled but rolled her eyes. "So, where are we going to go?"
"For now, we're going to stay here. Smellerbee and Longshot don't want to leave until I'm better. After that, we're thinking of returning to our old hideout. You're welcome to come with us," he answered.
Yuri's eyes widened. "Can I? Can I really?"
"Yeah. We could use a healer."
Yuri smiled with glee and hugged him. If Jet weren't against a wall, he would have fallen on the floor.
"Thank you! Thank you!" Yuri said.
"There's really nothing to thank me for. It's really me who should be thanking you."
Yuri pulled away and felt her cheeks fill when she realized that she was hugging a boy. She turned away from him and poked at the dying fire with a stick. She suddenly wished that Longshot and Smellerbee would return so the awkward moment would be diffused.
Unfortunately for her, they didn't. Instead, she sat in an awkward silence with Jet until he finally asked, "Are you okay?"
"Um...yes?" Yuri said it like a question.
Jet laughed. "Why are you on edge?"
"I'm not used to being around males unless they're the type to hypnotize me or something," Yuri said quietly.
"Hmm..." Jet thought for a moment. Teasing her would be a little cruel since the outside world was new to her. He didn't want to spoil her opinion of everyone in the world. "So, you know about the war. Why doesn't everyone else?"
"My parents and grandparents told me, but everyone else has forgotten and the Di Lee are using the Earth King as a puppet, so he doesn't know either," she answered.
"But, why would they do that?"
"I don't know. They probably think that nothing could ever happen to the Earth Kingdom, but they are wrong. Something bad will happen soon."
"You speak as if you already know."
Yuri looked at him seriously. "A foreseeing spirit saved my life by blessing me when I was younger. I sometimes have feelings or dreams about things that will come to pass."
"So, did you see me?"
Yuri shook her head. "I only see major turning points. Two things I know for certain are this: the Earth Kingdom will fall, and then balance will be restored by the avatar after that."
"I know the avatar. He stopped me from killing Fire Nation civilians," Jet said bitterly.
Yuri stared at him in astonishment. "I think I want to hear your story now."
Jet looked at her wide eyes and sighed. Then, he told her of his past. Everything from beginning to finish. Smellerbee and Longshot had returned while he was telling her all of this, but the two kept silent about it and made breakfast. They knew Yuri would need to know everything about them if she was to travel with them. Jet finished and Yuri shook her head slowly.
"It may not be my place to say, but you cannot blame one nation for the actions of the military. They are following the Firelord's commands. It is he you should blame. The Fire Nation are being blindly led by him, but there are those within the nation who do oppose his actions."
"No one understands," Jet said exasperated.
Yuri sighed and slapped him across his cheek. Smellerbee was about to slap her, but Longshot held her back and nodded his head towards Jet and Yuri. Smellerbee observed as well.
As he put a hand to his cheek, he looked at her; the fire in her eyes was enticing and frightning. "I do understand, but what you don't understand is that you were traumatized. Anyone would be. A child's mind is simple. You see one person do something bad and you think everyone that looks like that person are bad. That's the logic you used in your mind.
"It's the logic I used about the Di Lee as well. They tortured and wounded me. I still have the scars to prove it, but there was one agent who tried to get me out. It changed my whole outlook. And this is what I learned: you cannot simply judge a person based on where they come from or what they look like. That's how prejudice builds and hasty judgements are made. Those things are contributors of war. Open your eyes." Yur lectured. She then stomped out of the cave and went off somewhere. Longshot went after her while Smellerbee stayed behind and gave Jet some water.
"That girl is...something else," Jet said while watching the cave entrance.
"Jet," Smellerbee began. "I think she has a point. Maybe...you should listen to her."
He glanced at Smellerbee and then returned his gaze to the entrance. "I don't know if you're right or not, but I'll try to compromise."
Smellerbee smiled. "Now, I wonder if she'll come back or not."
Jet grunted, but kept his gaze where he had last seen Yuri.
Yuri grumbled curses as she made her to the stream. "Stupid boys. They're all the same. They never understand."
She sighed as she stepped into the stream and closed her eyes. She let her hair down from the combs that had been holding it up for the last several years. Relief washed through her scalp as the dark brown hair cascaded down to her waist. Her eyes slowly opened and she started to make movements with her body to bend the water. Unconsciously, she started to hum.
She heard someone approach and looked to see Longshot. "I know. I shouldn't have run out like that," Yuri said as she stopped moving and stepped out of the stream. She redid her hair with the combs as Longshot gave her some hard looks. Yuri sighed in resignation as Longshot started to walk back to the cave. Reluctantly, Yuri followed him. When the two returned, Jet smirked at her.
"We weren't sure if you were coming back or not," he said.
"I've got to finish healing you, don't I?" she said sulkily.
"And, what about when you're done healing me?"
Yuri didn't answer. Instead, she grabbed some of the food that served as breakfast. She ate silently, refusing to even look at Jet.
Smellerbee sighed and gave Jet his share. The four ate in a tense atmosphere and no one even attempted to break the silence. Yuri finished first and went to sit outside. Smellerbee joined her.
"You know, Jet's not a bad guy," Smellerbee said.
"I know. He's just an idiot, and don't say he isn't or else I'll start to think you're defending him," Yuri replied.
Smellerbee smiled and looked at the sky. "Jet saved us, the Freedom Fighters I mean. We all had some bad run-in with the Fire Nation. Longshot and I were the first to have been saved by him."
"The three of you have been friends for a long time. I can understand why you would want to defend him and your views of the Fire Nation, but it isn't right to hurt innocent people who are misled," Yuri said softly.
"We know that now. It's why we decided to become refugees, but Jet is still stuck in the past. He even went crazy, claiming there was a couple of fire benders in the city. Maybe you can help him wake up."
Yuri smiled faintly. "One can only hope."
The two sat in a friendly silence until the sun rose higher. "I guess Longshot and I should go check the traps we set," Smellerbee said.
Yuri nodded and went to get Longshot. As soon as he left, she looked at Jet who was making bird noises. Yuri laughed and Jet stopped to look at her. "What's so funny?"
"You're bored, aren't you?" she said, while still giggling.
Jet rolled his eyes upward. Yuri walked over to him and knelt down. The laughter in her eyes faded into a serene emotion. "Would you like to try walking for a bit?"
While thinking it over, he made eye contact with her. Those peaceful eyes literally made him speechless, so he nodded. Yuri stood and held out her hands. He took them in his own and stood. His leges felt like jelly and it was painful. Yuri placed on of his arms over her shoulder.
"You can lean on me," she said. Jet was grateful and leaned on her a little. The two made their way outside the cave and sat against a tree.
"I'm not upset anymore," she said, breaking the silence. Jet whipped his head to stare at her. Her gaze was on the sky. "I can understand your feelings since I, myself, used to be that way. Once I escaped from the lake and lashed out on the people of the Earth Kingdom. I kept screaming at them Why? Why is it like this? Don't you understand? The Di Lee quickly found and incarcerated me. A Di Lee Agent was assigned to give me food and water. I merely threw it back at him.
"One time, I heard him speaking with a fellow agent. They were arguing, saying that I should be force fed, but this agent firmly told his comrade no. After that, I started to eat and realized that not everyone is the same," Yuri explained and smiled at him.
"Even after all you've been through, you can still smile like that," Jet said.
"You can still smile, too. We've both had tragic pasts. You can't change it, so the only thing you can really do is accept it," she replied.
Jet sighed. "You really are something else."
"Ah, look, a bird!" Yuri said as she pointed. "I haven't seen one since I was twelve."
Jet smiled and started to make bird call sounds. The birds replied and Yuri stared in amazement.
"You're still such a child," Jet said after he stopped the bird calling.
"I haven't really seen the outside world for awhile," she mumbled.
He put a hand on her head. She protested and scooted away from him. Jet laughed and tried to follow, but due to his weak body, he ended up falling on her, and it was at that exact moment that Smellerbee and Longshot returned.
The two of them helped Jet right himself and Yuri glared. She quickly walked into the cave.
"What were you two doing? Hmm?" Smellerbee mockingly asked.
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing," Jet replied.
"I think you like her. What do you think Longshot?"
Longshot's eyes smiled in a teasing manner.
"Will you two stop? Are you going to tease Yuri, too?" Jet demanded.
Smellerbee shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe."
Jet sighed. "Will you at least help me?"
Longshot walked over and helped Jet. The two walked into the cave only to find a giant hole at the back instead of the cave wall. One of Yuri's combs was on the ground.
Replies:
Woodshrew: Thank you very much! :) And, I intend for this to be completed soon. I have some free time and will be writing at my leisure! :D
A/N: So, this is a bit shorter than the first chapter, but you know that's better than no update. Besides, variation is good for the soul. ;) To you wonderful people out there, I appreciate you reading, favoriting, or subscribing. And to those who just stopped by for the sake of curiosity, thanks! :) Oh, and yes, I do know I'm horrible by leaving a cliff hanger, but I promise to update in two weeks at max, two days at mim...maybe. :)
