A/N: Alright so, I won't have a lot of time to update this coming week, if I have any at all because finals are this week, and I REALLY need to pass them. So I have a lot of studying to do. But I decided to update so you guys won't be deprived for too long. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar, just Serenity.
"Zuko….I'm hungry…" I whined as we rode the ostrich-horse. I wasn't sure how long we've been riding, but I know it had been forever since we ate something.
Zuko and I had both changed clothes. Zuko was wearing a brownish top that went to his knees and gray pants, while I was wearing a dress type thing that was brown with green lining the edges. I still wore my black leggings underneath, with a pair of black shoes. I was glad Zuko had stolen some clothes for us. I was tired of wearing the same thing every day.
"Zuko…." I whined again after not getting an answer.
"I know!" he said angrily. And loudly too.
I glared at him. "Well okay Mr. Grumpy Pants. You don't have to go and get all loud with me. I just want some food."
"So do I. But there's not much we can do about that now is there?" He said.
"Well you should have brought more food." I muttered, earning a growl from the teen in front of me. I sighed and leaned my forehead on his back. Times like these were when I really missed the South Pole.
I groaned and placed a hand on my stomach as it growled. "Zuko, I'm still-" I cut off though, as I smelled something in the air. Apparently Zuko did too since he was looking over at something. I followed his gaze and saw what he was looking at.
A man was cooking a piece of meat over a fire. But there was another person with him. Looking closer, I noticed it was a woman, and she appeared to be pregnant. I smiled, noticing my hand still on my stomach. I wondered briefly what it would be like to have a baby. I had never really thought about it before, even with all the pregnancies and birthing processes I had helped with in the Water tribe. But the thought of having my own child never occurred to me, seeing as how I had never had feelings for any of the guys in the village.
I glanced up at Zuko, wondering what it would be like to have a baby, when my thoughts were cut off as he grabbed his dagger. "Zuko what are you doing?" I asked shocked, though I knew the answer. "You can't take their food, she's pregnant!"
Apparently, his hunger didn't mess with his heart, since he slowly let go of the dagger, and continued on. I stared up at him as we rode off, as my thoughts from a few seconds ago came back to me. What would Zuko be like as a father? Would he be kind and gentle like my own father? Or would he be cold and hateful like his father? Or maybe….he'd be completely different…
"What?"
I jumped, and noticed his head was turned slightly towards me so he could look at me. "Um…nothing. I was just thinking." I said nervously.
Zuko watched me for a few more seconds, before turning back around. I sighed. What was I even thinking about all this for anyway? There was way too much going on right now to worry about that kind of stuff. But still, a girl can dream right?
I leaned on Zuko's back, resting slightly. I felt him start to wobble, and knew he was getting tired. "Zuko why don't you let me take the reins now?"
"No. I'm fine." He said, though I could hear the tiredness in his voice.
I sighed. "You don't have to push yourself. I can do some of the work too, you know. Why don't you take a rest?"
"I said I'm fine." He said angrily and I glared. Zuko was irritable when he got tired. And me and an irritable Zuko did not get along well.
"Look Zuko. Just because you're tired doesn't give you the right to-"
"Shut up and look." He said cutting me off and I growled, but stopped when I saw what was in front of us. A small village was up ahead, and that sent my anger away very quickly.
"Finally! A village!" I said happily as we started towards the village.
The village looked pretty poor as we rode through it, but it had to have some type of food, so it was good enough for me. As we rode down a street, I looked over at some noise I heard and saw three guys playing dice or something. I stared at them as they looked over at us. They locked eyes with Zuko first, before glancing at me. Smirks spread across all their faces as they observed me, and I glared at them. Why did men have to be such pigs?
Zuko stopped the ostrich-horse at a vendor, and we both climbed down. I stayed close to him though, glancing behind my back every few seconds. I wouldn't put it past those creeps to try something.
"Can I have some water, a bag of feed, and something hot to eat?" Zuko asked the vendor.
"Not enough here for a hot meal." The guy said. "I can get you two bags of feed."
I sighed sadly. Guess we were going to starve then. Or have to live off the ostrich-horse food…..I think I'd rather starve.
I looked over as I heard a giggle, and saw two young boys who looked like they were up to no good. The one stood up, and threw an egg at the men playing dice, hitting one in the head. I giggled, but covered my mouth when Zuko gave me a look.
"Hey!" the one guy said angrily. I guess he was the leader since his clothes were different from the others. Him and the other guys walked up to us. "You throwing eggs at us stranger?"
"No." Zuko said shortly.
"You see who did throw it?" the guy asked.
"No." Zuko said again turning to them and placing his hand on his dagger. I reached my hand out and grabbed his sleeve lightly as a warning. I didn't want him to start a fight here. These guys looked pretty rough, not that I didn't think Zuko could take them. I just hated unnecessary fighting.
"That your favorite word? 'No'?" one of the guys asked.
"Egg had to come from somewhere." The first guy said.
"Maybe a chicken flew over." Zuko said turning back around, and I had to cover my mouth to hold in a laugh, as one of the guys laughed too, earning a glare from the leader.
The vendor handed Zuko the two bags of feed, but the leader guy took them before we could. "Thanks for the contribution. The army appreciates your support." He said walking away.
I growled and clenched my fists, wishing there was water around here somewhere. So these guys were from the army. They sure as hell didn't act like it.
"You better leave town." The guy said. "Penalty for staying's a lot steeper than you can afford stranger, trust me." He patted his weapon then looked at me smirking. "Unless of course you'd like to make a trade."
I glared at him, taking a step back, as Zuko took a step to stand in front of me. The guy only laughed and walked away.
"Those soldiers are supposed to protect us from the Fire Nation." The vendor said. "But they're just a bunch of thugs."
Zuko grabbed my wrist and dragged me over to the ostrich-horse. However when we got there, one of the boys from earlier popped up on the other side of it. "Thanks for not ratting me out." He said smiling as Zuko and I climbed on the animal.
I smiled at him as Zuko ignored him and began to ride off. But suddenly we were stopped by the boy grabbing the reins of the ostrich-horse. "I'll take you to my house and feed your ostrich-horse for you! Come on I owe you!" he said, as he started walking us away.
Maybe this meant we'd finally get to eat. My stomach growled at the thought, and I smiled. Coming to this town might not have been such a bad idea, as long as those soldiers didn't come back. They were such jerks and they gave me the creeps. Soldiers were supposed to protect their people, not push them around. Thinking about soldiers and the war, got me thinking about my father. I hadn't seen him in years, and I wondered where he was right now. Was he fighting the Fire Nation at this moment? Or was he…..no. I wouldn't let myself think that. I'd hear something if he died. But then again, how would someone find me to tell me? I sighed and looked up at the sky. Dad I hope you're okay….. I thought for a second. You too Katara, Sokka….and Aang.
A/N: Alrighty well that's it for now! Hopefully I'll have a little time to update, since I only have 4 finals to study for this time instead of 5 like normal. So please review and let me know what you think!
