Chapter 7: A Wary Welcoming

Pakku's seal boots padded down the ice stairs at a leisurely pace, his hands folded behind his back. A frown was firmly planted on his lips and he found himself lost to his thoughts, trapped in his own mind like fish beneath capped over ice. Those fish were just swimming around rushing to keep from being eaten, to live and exist, yet on the surface none of this could be seen or debated. Pakku was like the element he was endowed with. He was frozen yet fluid, but mostly always still and stern, tepid when he had to be but mostly frozen on the surface.

The Avatar had fought at first when they hadn't known he was the Avatar, yet after he had been revealed to be the savior he had run. He had run away. That was upsetting, almost as troubling as the fact that the Dragon of the West was near their shores. He had seen the look in the Avatar's eyes after he had come down from what he could only deduce as the Avatar state. It was full of regret and disgust.

Did the boy regret being the Avatar?

Frowning at the revelation, Pakku continued forward looking at the icy ground only to stall in his steps, his shadow killing the glitter of the snow before him. He heard it then, the rapid slashing of waves. He had been ready to cross an ice bridge into the city when a ship all but flew under him, throwing up waves. Barely able to turn his head in time, he watched the water bender pushed his small craft through the water, just a flash of red.

His frown increased as he watched the bender head up a waterway towards the ice palace. Something was most certainly wrong. He didn't know much about the boatman despite seeing him around the ice palace occasionally, but he did know that the bender was not so spirited in his rowing even though he was the princess's row man.

Turning in the direction of the moving ship, his leisurely pace was now a sturdy jog. Something was amiss. The princess didn't seem distressed from this distance, but the driver seemed far too nervous. Yes, there was something not quite right here, and he was going to go poke at it.

Slowing his pace now that he could see the inhabitants better, he put on a slight smile. He thought he saw a flash of red when the ship flew underneath him.

Smirking to himself, glad for his leisurely pace, he found himself standing near the edge of the waterway, staring down at the russet dressed youth whose head was in princess Yue's lap. The girl, just noticing his intense gaze at Zuko, laid her two arms over the boy's neck and head as if to protect him.

"Master Pakku! Please, do not harm him. I know he is Fire Nation, but he asked for my assistance and as a princess of the people I must do my best to uphold such a request. I will not turn my eyes from such a request when it comes from one currently so helpless," said the young woman, he voice calm and clear but her eyes almost glaring. It was something he had never seen in the princess's eyes. He did not deal with her much, being that he had no purpose in doing such. The determination in those eyes and the clear placid nature of her tone reminded Pakku of her father though. She was her father's daughter, a leader of the people.

No wonder the spirits had spared her. She protected her people and coincidentally the Avatar as well. Far too much of a coincidence it seemed, but who was he to judge the actions of the spirits? Shaking off the thought, he turned his attention to the shivering teenager, stating simply, "Do not worry, princess. I wouldn't dream of harming the Avatar. It seems he does a fine job of doing that himself."

…

A touch of heated air woke him as if stocking his inner flame. It was warm, but not so much so that it burned. It was like the kiss of the sun through the leaves of a tree, coming and going with the touch of the wind. If he bid off the wakeful world just enough he could imagine himself sitting under a tree in the royal gardens, his head on his mother's lap as she whisper sweet nothings to her only son. Meanwhile, in the background, Azula's friends made 'eww' noises as she tried to feed them amphibians she found in the mud, their feet slapping as they ran around in the nearby pool. He could almost smell his mother as well as the smell of the water nearby… almost.

He missed his mother. He even missed his sister's evil little smirks before she'd pull a prank on him.

Slowly, he opened his eyes, knowing that there was no point in dreaming for such things. He blinked once, feeling the warm air drift up to his face, the shivering of his muscles and the rapid beating of his heart now realized. Luckily, there was a fire nearby; he could feel it trying to breath with him. He didn't will it though. The rapid beating of his heart was too concerning as if he had been training all day, his breath rushed and thin. He frowned, wondering why his body was acting in such a way, and then it occurred to him. He had nearly drowned.

He took in a pained and purposely deep breath as his hands became a fist on what surly had to be fur. He had nearly drowned. He had been in the water and then…

Why was he not dead?

Sitting up quickly, he raised his arms ready to attack as his body tried to remain sitting though just barely remained upright.

Fortunately, there was no one in the room. Zuko's shoulder's relaxed slightly at the revelation, and he swallowed, feeling his throat sting. With a noting eye, he quickly started to look around. It was best to know ones' surroundings so one could use the environment to their defense or offence. He seemed to be in a small, rounded ice-chamber with a fire pit in the middle of the room which was surrounded by earth and rock. For a moment, Zuko wanted to be perplexed by how the room wasn't melting but the howl of a breeze caught his attention. There was hole in the ceiling.

His eyes widened. There was no denying that he was the Northern Water Tribe's captive, but they wouldn't be stupid enough that they wouldn't only leave him alone but also leave an escape route, would they? Turning a worried eye to what he could only presume was the door, covered in a heavy white fur, Zuko rose to his feet nearly falling to his knees as not only the cold hit him but weakness. He growled in the back of his throat as he looked down at his bare chest.

Those water savages had not only attacked his ship and captured him, but they also stripped him of his red clothing. The cold biting at him, the prince stopped looking at his nearly naked form and grabbed for the furs that had been wrapped around him as he slept on a pile of furs. Shifting and pulling the fur close to his neck, he moved forward on his knees, looking upward. It really couldn't be this easy to escape, would it? It looked high but…

"I wouldn't bother, if I were you," came a voice that made the teenager stall in his plans, making the youth jump to his rigid legs in a kata stance, his blanket nearly falling into the nearby fire.

Fur lifting in the doorway, Pakku eyed the awakened teenager, giving him a defiant stare before turning around and whispering to the door's unseen guards. He then allowed the fur to drop before he stepped in, stating in a drawn voice, "You are not only mean like a water-snake, but you are slippery like one to."

Zuko kept up his guard, ignoring the sting of the cold air in his lungs. Baring his teeth, the fire-bender growled, "You will release me or suffer the consequences!"

Pakku raised a brow in question, smiling before grumbling, "Please boy, you are not going anywhere. Now sit down and cover yourself up before you get a cold."

Standing defiantly, the prince did no such thing. Instead, he snorted out some flames, changing his stance slightly so he would be closer to the fire, his own inner flame weak. His eyes narrowed, challenging the older bender.

Pakku merely sighed, shaking his head slightly, "Fine, then I will make you sit."

Not ready for the quick fluid like motion, one that he recognized, his leg was suddenly grabbed from under him by an ice whip, and he fell to the rug with a huff. Air stolen from his lungs, Zuko's inner flame wavered as he struggled to take in a deep breath, coughing as the cold hit his throat.

"Now remain down, boy, or I'll give you chilblains. Chief Arnook is coming to speak to you and you will speak with him. Depending on how you act you may or may not be allowed to survive. So, watch your tongue," grumbled Pakku as he took a step back and peeked out of the fur door. He then turned to look at the teenager that was openly glaring at him, half naked on the floor as he tried to get up.

Snorting in disgust, Pakku leaned down to grab him by the armpits and place him back on the furs. Zuko pulled his arm away rather violently though, growling, "Don't call me boy and I can walk."

With heavy breathing, Zuko returned to the furs. Pulling the fur blanket back over his shoulders the prince tried not to twitch as the old water-bender sat down not far from his side. He wanted to lash out, burn off that smug expression that was just wishing to rise to the old bender's face. He would not though. Despite the almost cocky visage of the old man, Zuko knew the water-bender's words were truthful.

His life depended on his actions. Zuko knew he was on thin ice and being so weak (he was fairly sure his shaking limbs, shortness of breath, fluttering heart, and bluish tint were all symptoms of moderate hypothermia). He was in no condition to rebut or even fight his capturers. Regardless, he would die if he went back outside, especially without his cloths.

Shivering a little at the thought, he was suddenly glad he had not worn his traditional gold-marked armor that meant he was royalty. If he had worn that… he would now be a resident of the spirit world. Swallowing, he stated, "Where are my clothes?"

Pakku, who had been eyeing the boy silently from the corner of the room, answered simply, "They were wet. They were removed."

Zuko glared at the man, asking softly, "When will I be getting them back?"

Pakku, whose head had been turned towards the door a moment ago, raised a brow as if the question had been ridiculous. Zuko's constant cold glare told him he demanded an answer as if the cloths were sacred. Pakku's lips became thin in contempt. Then, opening his mouth he was about speak but stalled when the fur was thrust upward, two warrior-class men entering as well as a middle aged man who Pakku immediately inclined his head to.

It had to be the chieftain. He was not a bulky figure or even seemed to be very threatening. There was an air about him though. It was the same feeling he got when he was young and had watched a man walk down the darkened street in his home land, the lanterns lighting merely because he walked by them even though he made not a single move to will the flame to life. Zuko's shivering muscles tightened, his teeth becoming braced.

The man put on a soft, almost doleful smile regardless of Zuko's stern appearance. He then turned to an unknown figure outside the room and took a bowl from a pair of gnarled hands outside. He thanked the figure before entered the room completely once more, giving another, forlorn smile to Zuko before sitting down on the furs before the teenager, towering over him slightly.

For some reason Zuko suddenly felt ten again, sitting in his grandfather's presence. He resisted the urge to look away. He had to look the man in his icy blue eyes.

Arnook gladly met Zuko's gaze.

So this was the boy, the fire-bender who was almost in the grips of becoming a young adult, which was meant to save the world. This boy had defiant eyes and that scar. It seemed the Avatar represented the world so appropriately it almost pained him. The Fire Nation's actions had scarred the world, even the spirit world was showing its pain on the face of this boy it seemed.

He could tell the Fire Nation Avatar did not wish to speak to him, but he had to try. Arnook hoped that the young man was not too corrupt, because, depending on how violent or accepting the fire-bender was, it would decide if he would survive this night. He did not want to destroy the bridge to the spirit world, but he would if he had to.

Offering a warmer smile, he lifted the steaming bowl towards the teenager in his first test of the young man's aggression, stating, "It is not wise to jump into the waterways. Here, this will chase the chill from your bones."

Zuko eyed the bowl for a moment. He didn't want to take it. He didn't want to even dream of getting near the water leader, but he felt like his inner flame was being smothered and any heat, even a bowl of some unknown blend, might keep it stoked. Slowly, he reached forward with shaking hands and took it, his pride snapping at him. Pulling away from the rough touch of the man's skin when their fingers briefly touched, Zuko brought the mixture up to his lips and nearly choked on it during the first sip, the brown liquid dribbling down his chin.

"Yes, it's never pleasant, but it warms you internally, keeping hypothermia and dehydration at bay. It's made of fire root that can grow even in ice, seal fat, and red-whale…"

"Blood," whispered Zuko, noting the metallic flavor. Part of him wanted to lean forward and release his newest stomach contents all over the fur-covered floor. He did no such thing though. It was an old trick that Fire Nation soldier's used from time to time: drinking of red whale blood. Zuko had always thought it was disgusting, glad he had an inner flame to keep him warm. Now part of him was wishing he had tasted it sooner so at least he wouldn't had seemed an imbecile in front of the enemy.

"Yes, blood," stated the middle aged man with a worried look, frowning for a moment as he eyed the young man and how he held the bowl a few inches from his face but refused to bring it to his lips again. "You should drink the rest."

Zuko watched the brown mixture of questionable root and flesh, before stating, "Why am I still alive?"

Chief Arnook, leaning back, frowned and stated, "Master Pakku was able to get most of the water off of you and to the healers," the prince continued to watch his soup, "but that's not what you meant, is it?"

Pulling the furs closer to his mostly naked body, he stated in a dry voice trying to ignore what the man before him was about to state, "It's cold in here. Can you stoke the fire more?"

Pakku frowned at the young man's obvious evasion tactic, but held his tongue when the chieftain gave him a warning look. He groaned slowly as he stood, old joints complaining slightly as he rose and threw a piece of wood into the fire that was centered in the middle of the room. He thought the room too hot already, but stone and bone had been added to the walls mere hours ago just for the Avatar's unique nature, so the walls could take the heat. He hoped it wouldn't be this hot in here all the time. Wood was not a overly-common item in the pole, obliviously, but it was gathered a few times a year from a nearby island tundra where the fire root grew plentifully as well. Part of him was surprised the teenager hadn't spit it out… it was not something easily swallowed.

Watching the flame grow, part of the prince momentarily wondered if he could control the blaze as a distraction and try to escape again, but he knew better. Weakness was a new flavor for him to swallow. Besides, such an action was unwise. It seemed the young guard near the fabric covered door had the same thoughts as Zuko, his grip on the weapon near his leg becoming tight. Noting that as the only warning he was going to get, Zuko looked away from the fire and, pushing down his gag reflex, took another sip of the concoction.

The leader, at least Zuko had to presume he was given how the old bender had acted towards him, spoke again, his words careful, "I am Chief Arnook of the Northern Water Tribe. What is your name, young Avatar?"

His fingers tightened on the bowl and he swallowed, whispering, "I am not the Avatar. You are mistaken."

The few figures that occupied the room, frowned, shifting slightly in a nervousness at the grinding of the young man's voice. Arnook remained stoic in reaction and expression though, his voice level, "I was told about what happened on the ship. You are the Avatar. If you were not, you probably would not be here or alive. Now tell me young Avatar, what is your name?"

Zuko's lip twitched, his fingers becoming tightened on the bowl. He wanted to spat his full title and throw the concoction in the other's face. He would not though. He needed to survive if only for Uncle and his crew. He closed his eyes, willing away the anguish that stung at his heart. Was Uncle even alive, was the crew?

"First tell me what happened to the ship I was on?" he stated, trying to keep his voice even. He couldn't call it his ship or they'd be suspicious. They'd kill him without a second thought if they found out he was a Fire Nation prince. He needed to swallow the honor of his title…

It seemed he was running out of honor.

Arnook frowned, looking at Pakku. The boy had been out for nearly a day after the water channel stunt, the battle long since over. He frowned at the thought, recalling the smoky Jayendra as he stomped past a laughing Pakku and into his chambers to give a full report of what had happened.

Raising a brow, he couldn't help but notice the boy's nervousness. He smiled at the realization, making a statement, "The crew is important to you. Your uncle was on the ship, wasn't he?"

Before the banished prince could stop himself, he rose to his feet, bowl falling to the floor and spilling the contents nearly over Arnook's shoes. His voice was deep and full of venom despite his shivering limbs, "What have you done to my uncle?! If you have hurt him, I'll…"

Arnook allowed the teenager to yell, the words lost to him as he paid more attention to the teenager's actions more than his words. His fists were shivering with rage. The Avatar was angry. He was enraged, but he was not striking out. He was scared, weary even, keeping himself in check not for himself but for someone else. He was not entirely selfish or dishonorable like most Fire Nation citizens their water tribe had encountered. He was thinking of another over himself, his uncle. That was admirable. The water tribes always held family in high regards.

Though, now looking at the boy's now steaming fists, he was certainly an angry young man. Or, more accurately if the scar was any indication, the Avatar was probably more broken that angry. He was not stained by the Fire Nation propaganda completely, just broken by it. Luckily, with his show of restraint, it seemed that someone had influenced his young mind correctly in one form or another.

The teenager had finally stopped ranting. The fire was now blazing without the help of added fuel or wood as he glared at the chief. Arnook finally stopped eyeing his form and looked him in the eye, stating that he was now listening.

"Answer me?!" Zuko yelled, caring little that Pakku and the other water tribesmen were now on their feet, expecting a battle.

Arnook strangely smiled as if he was about to scold a child, "It is good to see some Fire Nation children are taught to have emotions, to love and respect family," Zuko seemed confused, his anger dropping slightly with the height of the fire in the pit. "They got away, young Avatar. It seems that your fellow crew members are far more slippery than we expected."

Zuko, feeling the after effects of his panicked fit, dropped back down into his furs looking stunned before whispering, "They are okay?"

"Maybe some frost bite," he stated in almost a joke. "But… I can't promise that they will stay safe."

The relaxed disposition melted immediately, Zuko sensing the threat and snapping, "What?"

Arnook continued calmly, "They are on our water's boarders. As long as you cooperate, no harm will come to them if they remain benign. I promise with my honor as the Northern Water Tribe Chief. Now, what is your name, young Avatar?"

The chieftain watched a horrified expression threaten to cover the boy's face, even a flash of rage, but the Avatar slowly looked away, his fists shaking on his knees. The warning had been a low tactic, he knew that, but the boy would see it their way. He needed to be the bridge, he needed to return balance. He needed to be the Avatar.

Almost whispering, the boy stated, "You can call me Lee."

Giving a nod, Arnook stated sadly, "I'm sorry to seem cruel, Avatar Lee, but you needed to learn so you can not only protect your uncle and fellow crew members, but the world. I know your nation taught you that the Avatar was a malignant threat to your Nation's common wealth, but that is a lie. The Avatar has and always will be a form of hope. We will help you see that." The Avatar would not look him in the eye, so Arnook stalled his speech and stated simply, "I will send more medicine for you. Omu and Tienmo will be here all night. If you need anything, please ask them. You are our guest and we want your stay to be as comfortable as possible."

Rising, Arnook gave a slight bow to the Avatar, wishing him a good night as he and Pakku left. Zuko merely glowered at the man, nostrils flaring before he turned to glare at his babysitters. The non-bender merely frowned, sliding back against one of the walls before he pulled out a small whale bone and started to sharpen it, probably for a knife. The other bender was a few years older than Zuko but close in age. He merely smiled and waved, stating in almost a happy voice as he settled down for a long night in another collection of furs, "So… you're the Fire Nation Avatar. Hmmm, so tell me. Are Fire Nation girls hot?"

Zuko merely groaned, throwing himself into his furs as he tried to ignore the annoying water-bender's voice. This was a form of torture, wasn't it?

He had to find a way out of here and back to his ship.

…

"So, he got the water-snake to calm down when he mentioned his uncle. How did he even know the boy had an uncle on the ship? Though it would give an explanation as to why he wasn't dead before we got there," stated Jayendra as he walked down an ice hall in the palace, frowning.

"He talked in his delusional haze last night when the healer was perched over him, and don't change the subject. You weren't able to sink the ship," stated Pakku as he walked down the hall beside the other man, a slight grin forming firmly on his usual resigned face.

Jayendra continued onward, picking at a burned spot on his parka he had yet to change, "So which one do you think was his uncle? We knocked off as many helmets as possible. Yes, most were middle aged men, but not very many that seemed any angrier than any of the rest of the crew when we took the boy."

"Didn't Nguyen say he met one mean rattlesnake down in the bowels of the ship?" added Pakku, trying not to grin at his competitor's obvious distraction.

"Yes," stated the other Master. "The fire-bender was apparently graying, so he was old enough, seemed of high standing, and he admitted an attachment to the Avatar. It might have been him." Then, stalling for a moment, he added, "Or maybe it is the Dragon of the West."

Pakku turned a surprised head to look at the other Master. Then, staring at each other for a moment as if contemplating those words, they both started to laugh walking down the halls in near hysteria only to be stared at by students and warriors alike. Pakku knew it was because the two of them were known for being ruthless fighters and benders, but even Masters at time laugh, correct? That was probably the only reason he hadn't tried to kill Jayendra after all these years. The man irritated him to death but could also make him laugh.

"You still lost the bet," added Pakku with a wicked grin, a rare humor now in his blood. "So the winner gets the Avatar and the loser…"

"I did not lose! I caught the water-snake. You should have stayed and sank the ship since I fulfilled your part of the bet," argued the younger bender as the two of them turned the corner, heading through a doorway that led to a well lit room of ice windows. The smell of dried sea weed and other grains hit them immediately, the grains having been gathered during the short tundra summers or through trade with the pirates or the rare Earth Kingdom ship that bothered coming into the territory.

Walking past a few beasts of burden, the two came to a halt in front of a collection of white, poofy birds with long, pointed ears and bushy tales. The creatures, which all seemed to be asleep a moment ago, suddenly lifted their heads from underneath their wings and hooted. Each man put out an arm towards the nearest fox-owl, the birds jumping to their present handlers. Jayendra cooed back to his and scratched behind its long pointed ear, the creature yipping as it leaned into the itch. Pakku did no such petting. He wasn't a big fan of animals of any inclination.

"Quit spoiling that thing and start thinking of what you are going to write our Earth Kingdom ally. Tell him to at least…"

"Wait, what? Stop right there Pakku. I am not writing those eccentric earth-benders. They'll send some insane, military-craze, barefoot madman up here to bug us to train faster or try to take the Avatar to Ba Sing Se. You write them. Or better yet, neither of us writes them until the Avatar is about thirty, and they can't kill him off," stated Jayendra, his humor slowly dripping away like a melting icicle. Their connections with the Earth Kingdom were not unstable like a pebbled road up a mountain. They were rocky at best. The earth-benders were a stubborn people and did not know how to bend and flow like water did. One had to have a heavy hand and resonating voice it seemed to get anywhere with those people.

Then again, those stubborn ways were what had kept the Fire Nation at bay this long.

"You lost the bet. So you have to write the domineering earth-benders and deal with all that tragedy," mocked Pakku as he headed for a corner to sit in and write a note to Master Yugato, leaving the other Master there to simmer. Oh yes, he knew he had not heard the last of this argument and that he'd probably pay in blood for making Jayendra write the eccentric earth-benders, but when writing an air-bender one had to have a type of finesse about them which Jayendra generally lacked. Air-benders were flighty like scared, little, snow birds after all.

XXX

Paw07: I'm so glad I designed Jayendra's character. I know everyone thinks of Pakku as a stoic, even cold except for his fondness for Katara's grandmother. I doubt he spent the last fifty or so years only dwelling on the fact that he was rejected. True, he is still bitter, but I'm sure he moved on in other aspects of his life: friends, students, and hobbies. Jayendra reveals one of these aspects though it borderlines between friend and enemy it seems. Now, I know half of you were wondering why I'm not talking about the last sentence of the chapter, but what fun would that be?

Next update should be on Monday.

(Revisions March 2015)