ENJOY!

I pushed myself to run as hard as I could, effortlessly weaving through the rough terrain. The only thing I could hear was the blood rushing through my ears, drowning out everything else. The vision I had seemed to be compelling me forward and sending my body into over drive. I sensed I was near as my body seemed to grow electrified. I could hear screams now after about five minutes of intense running and a deep roar of the platypus bear. I finally stumbled into the clearing, legs shaking with exhaustion. I imeadiately saw the towering beast swatting at a tree a hundred yards away, where presumably Ruth was.

"It's you!" He screamed, immediately spotting me "Be careful! Go get help, he's trying to knock the tree down but I think it can stand for a little longer! Don't try and fight it please!"

I sent him a pleading look to hold on. The two of them were about a hundred yards away from me, and I knew I couldn't bend, even if it cost me serious injury. I had taken down plenty of animals before, a few platypus bears too, but none as big as this one. The bear had a deep chestnut brown fur, taught muscles that rippled and flexed with every forceful blow to the tree. His claws where several inches long and he stood 11 ft tall on his hind legs. The tree was giving way a bit, but Ruth was underestimating the time he had. I gripped the dagger in my hand tightly, closed my eyes, and took a deep breath. Opening my eye's, I smiled and let out a howl, bouncing on the balls of my feet as exhilaration flooded through me. This was going to be a fun challenge.

The bear stopped its assault with a grunt and turned to face toward me, I thought he was going to turn back to Ruth until he slumped onto four feet. The bear started to bound toward me and I stayed statue still. I had to time this perfectly as my gaze flicked to the rock about twenty yards away. The rock was about was steady incline about 8ft off the ground, enough that I had some leverage on the bear. Eye's on the bear I heard running behind me, and I exploded into a furious sprint straight for the rock. I sprang onto the rock not breaking my stride I jumped into mid-air just as the bear was passing the rock. I pounced onto the bear hooking my dagger deep into its neck and swinging onto it's back. The bear roared in agony and reared on its hind legs. I dug my nails into the bear's fur and stabbed the bear again to where it's jugular was, I screwed it in deep and held on tight as he kept flailing and trying to throw me off. I had to keep ducking down out of his claws reach.

Almost there.

His muscle's rippled and then grew lax, I pulled myself up some and braced for him to fall.

Thud

My heart was beating fast and my muscles lapsed into exhaustion for a quick second before bouncing up again. I looked up and saw Jet about ten feet in front of me, he was breathing heavy with a mixture of relief and confusion on his face. I could hear Ruth yelling something indistinctly in the background, but my eyes were now focused on the girl with the loaded bow just behind Jet.

Whoosh

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Shock

It jolted through Jet as the arrow landed in the girl's shoulder with an audible thump. Before thinking he bolted forward as he saw her lean forward, starting to fall. Three bounds and he was able to catch the girl and gently held her in his arms. She was still awake, but in a great deal of pain, her bright green eyes fluttering weakly. She looked up at him with a tender gaze, which sprouted a warmth in his stomach. She reached up and caressed his cheek, warm fingers trailing his jawline and then pointed to her chest.

"Hunter" She spoke softly, and then her eye's closed.

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Anger.

It rolled over him in waves, swallowing him whole. Jet's head snapped to Meela, who visibly flinched at his gaze, she knew she was in trouble.

"GO GET MAGGIE" He roared "WITH CHIP! IF SHE DIES SO HELP ME YOU'LL REGRET THIS"

Jet watched her sprint away was surprised he was having such a strong reaction to this. Granted the shot she took was supposed to maim the girl, not puncturing anything vital, but still. She had not asked for his permission, which she always did, so that was direct disobedience. Meela was like him, ruled by her hatred for the fire nation, but things had to have order with that.

But right then she had been feared by her fear of this girl. The girl who could both disarm and knock out one of his quickest fighters, and take down a fully grown bear with just two accurate jabs to the neck. Jet shook his head, it all made sense now, once she said she was a hunter.

Hunters were owned by high lords of the fire nation, who made sure they were raised at a young age to become hunters. Hunters faced against each other, seeing who could kill the biggest game in a set amount of time, and the lords would reap the spoils. It was a degrading and unspeakable sport, even he had sympathy for the fire nation people who were subjected to that life.

She was dangerous and he still didn't fully trust her, there was something deeper she was trying to conceal just below the surface.

Jet was conflicted though, his feelings for this girl changed, after what that old woman said to him at Kouda…

The rumbling of his earth bending companion interrupted his thoughts and his head snapped over to the new arrivals. Ruth was still by his side with tears rolling down his face, he gave him a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder.

Maggie was by his side in an instant, he looked up at her trying to conceal the turmoil of emotions going through him.

"Come now, let me have her." She said gently and he obliged imeadiately.

He didn't want to hover over her as she began to heal the girl, so instead he started to march toward Meela with a dark aura surrounding him.

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Jolting awake wildly light disoriented me and I felt someone grab my arm. Without hesitation I switched our grips and seized their neck wild eyed. Heart racing my eye's focused and my head cleared and relaxed. Golden eye's met mine , a warm relaxing wave settled over me. He was looking at me evenly, with a neutral expression on his face. I pulled away instantly, cursing my innate reflexes. I glanced away, feigning shyness and discomfort.

"Thank you." He murmured.

My head snapped over to him, confused. I read his expression and it seemed genuine. I guess it was for saving Ruth, but at the same time I did harm one of his people. I remember him shouting at her though, with extreme anger in his voice. Either he hated to be disobeyed, or he might have cared if I had gotten hurt. Jet was kneeled near my side, adorned in black pants and a green tank top. We were sitting quite close to each other and I shifted away slightly. He noticed this and leaned back a bit.

"For saving Ruth," He explained, and paused " If you had mentioned you were a hunter sooner, if would have made a little more sense. But I bet you knew I wouldn't have believed you ."

Ah yes, I pulled the Hunter card. Granted I was taught the ways of a hunter, but I was much more skilled at being a human assassin. I looked at Jet with an apologetic look.

"However you harmed one of our own, to save one of our own, so I will excuse you there." He said, "But what I want to know was how you knew he was in trouble? I know they say you hunters have better senses and intuition than most, but we were still about a mile away…"

Shit.

What was I supposed to tell him ? I saw an old woman in my head who gave me a vision? Like he would believe that, and besides I still had my silent treatment going on. The less I talked the better. I looked at him woefully, then looked down and bit my lip. I tried my best to portray uncertainty and innocence, but I really didn't know what to say.

Warmth.

I felt his large hand wrap around one of mine and my eyes shot toward his. His golden eyes made me breathless and the warmth spread throughout all my body. He was studying me, trying to figure out whether to trust me.

"If you want to stay here," he began "you have to contribute you to our society. Which means you need to communicate with us, even if it's just barely. You possess great hunting ability, teaching others and sharing more of your knowledge would prove most beneficial. I will not tolerate anything less."

I looked into his eyes and nodded.

"Now," He said "what can we call you?"

There was a pause.

"Laurel." I whispered, "You can call me Laurel."

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EN FIN! Sorry that took forever, my motivation has been kind of blah lately. Any suggestions as to what you want to see in the next chapter? ALL EARS ! LOL Please Rate and Review ! You guys are the fuel to my fire ! THANKS BEBES!