Under a Sapphire Sky
Chapter Seven
By: Refe
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Air bender. They belong to their respective creators, owners, licensees.
For a human who had just witnessed the gruesome beheading of a monster, after being carried through a dark forest by a stranger, he thought she was sleeping much too peacefully. Zuko narrowed his eyes as he sat at the base of a tree across from the rest of the group.
His swords rested against his shoulder as his figure melted into the shadow of a tree in the early morning light. His jaw clenched. This was not supposed to happen. Their mission wasn't supposed to become this… complicated. How else could he have put it? Two humans were caught in the cross fire of an immortal fight. Two humans witnessed a centuries, even millennia, old hunt. Such a thing could get even the most skilled hunters banished from a guild.
And rather than allow the one mortally wounded to die, his sister, his perfectionist sister, had chosen to not only heal him, but bring him with her. It unnerved him to see her actions towards the human male. The way her eyes drank in his body, the way her tongue and lips caressed his wounds. Even the way her hands slowly ran up the length of his exposed torso as she feigned examining said wounds.
The other two, Jet and Aang, might not have noticed it, but he had. Azula was a calculating creature and never did anything that had no benefit to her in some way. What would saving the life of a mere human bring her? She already had it all – their father's approval, wealth, power, respect, and a position of honor in a high clan. She was a princess in their vampire world. There was only one thing she lacked as a psychic vampire and Zuko was not sure he approved.
The heir's amber eyes drifted down to the sleeping human male. Zuko made a note to taste his blood when he had a chance. If only to confirm his suspicions.
"What's the plan?" a voice asked above him. "You don't really intend on sending her back, do you?"
"If I am, that is none of your concern," the dark haired vampire replied calmly. Above him, he could barely make out the shifting of the branches as weight shifted. "I've already made my decision."
"Hmph…" An irritated sound came from the ruby lips of his sibling. "It is not up to you to make the decision, brother. It's not what you want that matters. It is in destiny's hands."
"And so you'll so easily accept it?" It was directed at both her thoughts on his prospective mate and her thoughts on hers. Silence drifted between them, their low voices no longer heard in the chill morning air.
"It is beyond my control," she finally responded. "I would let fate play out."
Zuko closed his eyes. "Even if it is against father's wishes?"
She scoffed. "This has nothing to do with father's wishes, Zuzu. Don't use that as an excuse or even act as if you want to wed that wench from that other clan. Everyone knows you don't want to."
The corners of his lips curled up. "She believed it. That's all that matters."
Azula's eyes lowered. "That is unbecoming of you," The branch shifted above him as she slipped off and landed gracefully behind him; the dead leaves on the floor hardly rustling as her feet touched the ground. "We'll see what happens, brother."
"You sound so sure of yourself."
"I am," she replied coolly. He saw her walk past him and head back to the small camp close to the fire, where two human bodies laid in slumber. "Because I know something you do not."
His eyes rose, somewhat intrigued. "And what is that?"
She stopped and looked down at the sleeping waterbender wrapped snuggly in a sleeping mat. "It is now far too late for you both."
Zuko closed his eyes and gripped the sheath of the swords in front of him. Far too late… Sister… I'm afraid it was far too late the moment she fell into my arms. Behind him, he heard the steady, unguarded footsteps of Jet. The tall vampire walked passed Zuko without a second look.
His hair was wet, his armor off and being carried in one hand as he arrived. "Are they still sleeping?"
"Do they look awake?" Zuko grumbled behind him. Jet merely rolled his eyes. "Aang went to find them food." Jet chuckled and knelt down by his bag.
"Does he even know what to get them that won't kill them?" he grinned as he shuffled through his bag. "Anyway," he began distractedly. "The river is free if you want to go bathe. No need to offend our guests with your… aroma." He looked over his shoulder with an amused smile as Zuko shot him an annoyed look.
"My only aroma is my blood scent," Zuko frowned. "But if it's a chance to get away from you, I'll gladly take it." He grumbled as he stood up. He slung the sword over his back and brushed off his pants before turning around. As he passed his sleeping beast, he reached out and gently patted one of his horns.
The komodo rhino lazily opened one eye and let out a snort to acknowledge his rider before closing it and returning to sleep. The heir looked towards the other riding animals. The lizards were still curled up against each other, all sleeping peacefully. With the threat eliminated, they seemed more relaxed.
Zuko suddenly felt envious of the animals. He wished he could relax or at least put his nerves at ease. For the time being, it seemed things had become much more than he bargained for. His eyes looked ahead, easily adjusting to the daylight as he wove silently through the forest. His mind replayed the events of the night before. The events that happened by her side, as she allowed sleep to finally take over her worn body.
Her eyes that haunted him across a continent and an ocean peered up at him. Despite all he'd dragged her into, despite the horrors he'd led her to see, they still looked up at him with trust. Amber eyes closed once more as he tried to seal away that look. He was undeserving of that trust. He had brought her into a fray she did not need to be in.
It wasn't merely because she was caught up in a hunt. It was because she inadvertently became the bait… and it was his fault. His tongue peeked out from between his lips and slowly ran itself over the swells. The sweet taste of her blood, the feeling of her warm, full lips against his… it spiked his senses only to drown them in her. They were connected.
At first, he didn't know how exactly, but they were connected. Thoughts of her penetrated every thought of his and, in the end; he could not wait to get away no matter how far he went. The thought that something so strong could hold him terrified him. His life was not a life meant to be shared. He was the heir of the most powerful vampire clan in the world.
His hands tightened at his sides. He had seen what a position like that could do to a leader and his wife. No matter how much love one had for his partner, in the end, the clan came first. The clan came before immediate family. The clan came before him. Before Azula. Before their Uncle. Before their mother.
He could clearly remember the pain in his beautiful mother's golden eyes whenever his father pulled away. Even when he said he loved her, he loved the clan more. His mother knew it. His mother understood, but that didn't mean she didn't suffer. There was no room for such a thing in his life if he were to be drawn into it. An arranged marriage he could handle. No one expected him to really love her and she knew what was expected of her.
But how could he do that to his mate? The one creature in the world, in a lifetime, that would not only bond to him, but carry part of his soul within her for eternity. She would be exposed to things she should never be exposed to. How could he do that to her? An innocent human. A chance meeting. A cruel twist of fate.
Zuko opened his eyes. The clear, cool water rushed before him; sounding smooth and even regardless of the volumes of water that moved in its current. His sword was placed to the side, high enough so it wouldn't be swept away, but close enough for him to snatch it with ease in case of an attack.
His clothes fell to the ground. He didn't bother folding them as they lay on the smooth, river tossed stones. Pale feet slipped into the water, slowly carrying him in and ignoring the chill as the river lapped at his body. As he stood waist deep, his hand brushed the surface before him.
He closed his eyes and lowered himself into the water. If he could not have her, if he would have to live his life as a worn, wrinkled vampire to spare her the pain he would undoubtedly bring, he would surround himself with her element to bring himself relief that should otherwise would've given.
Long ago, he was told that water would always return to water. In a small place, in the back of his mind, he wondered. Perhaps the water that enveloped him would one day pass through her hands.
Her throat was dry. Even half asleep, she tried to swallow to relieve it, only to grimace at the resistance. "Don't even try to talk," a gentle, amused voice said above her. She felt a warm hand slide behind her head and carefully lift her up. Another hand reached over her face and carefully pushed aside the stray locks of brown. "Drink first."
Her eyes tried to open. It was daylight; she could tell from the brightness that assaulted her unadjusted eyes. They quickly shut. She felt something against her lower lip. Something cool. A cup? Her mouth carefully opened and she felt someone lift the cup up and pour a bit of its contents between her lips.
The liquid rolled down her throat, immediately soothing it. "Are you hungry?" another voice asked.
"Wait a second, Aang," the first voice said. "Let her wake up first." He chuckled.
Eyes lined with dark lashes slowly opened and looked up at the man who cradled her in his arms, as if she were the most precious cargo in the world. "…Jet…"
"Good morning," he smiled softly. "Think you can keep something down?"
Her eyes crinkled up and he watched her emotions go across his face. He could almost see her mind retelling what had transpired the night before as he watched her eyes glisten from confusion, to shock, to horror, and finally to uncertainty. Her body tensed in his arms and she turned away from him, her eyes searching for someone else.
"Haru..." her voice cracked even after the drink. "Where is he…?" Her body twisted out of Jet's arms as she tried to get herself into a seated position. As she managed to roll over on her side, she caught sight of the sleeping earthbender across from her, on the other side of the dying campfire. Katara closed her eyes and released a deep breath. "Is he…?"
"He's all healed," a confident voice said. Blue eyes went rose and saw the neatly dressed firebender seated comfortably beside her friend. Azula was calmly studying her nails as she reclined on her side. "He'll be waking up soon."
"You should eat," another voice said before she could say another word. Katara turned back to her right and saw the encouraging smile of the airbender. In his hands were a few meager berries. "I have some more, but you should only eat what you can."
"Are you sure those are even edible?" Jet asked, raising an eyebrow. Aang frowned at him and nodded.
"I'm positive." He insisted.
"Thank you." Katara's scratchy voice drew the attention back to her. She finally pushed herself into a sitting position and tucked the edge of her blanket around her waist as she held her hands into a cup shape. Aang dropped the multicolored berries into her hand before reaching over and filling a small cup with more water.
Carefully, Katara examined the berries. She'd lived in the Earth Kingdom forests long enough to be able to decipher the edible from the poisonous and decided that the berries were fine to eat. "It's already been decided," Jet said as he sat beside her. He stretched his legs out and leaned back against his arms as he looked at her. "We'll take you to back today, as long as your friend can travel."
"He can travel," Azula's annoyed voice said. "If you're suggesting that I can't properly heal."
"You could've let us take a look to make sure, but you were being all possessive and – hey!" Jet fell back against his arms as a small ball of blue fire flew past his head. He shot the firebender an annoyed look. "Damn it, Azula!"
"Watch your mouth," Azula hissed in a low voice. Her eyes were narrowed as she lowered her hand and returned back to her reclined position. She locked gazes with the waterbender. "He can travel. His wound is all healed, as I mentioned earlier. There is no need to worry about his condition."
"His condition…" Katara whispered in a low voice. Her hand slowly lowered as she ate the last of the berries, and rested on her lap as she looked back at her friend. Her eyes crinkled up as eyed the blanket over his midsection. Her hands dug into the blankets on her lap. Her eyes rose and met Azula's once more. "How did you heal him?"
"Oh? Don't you remember?" Azula purred as she smirked. She lifted one hand and placed the edge of one sharp nail against Haru's flawless cheek. She pressed it against his skin and Katara's eyes widened. "Shall I show you once more?"
"Azula." The amusement from her face quickly faded into annoyance as she drew her finger back. She let out a heavy sigh and moved back as a figure emerged from the trees.
"Welcome back, Zuzu," his sister cooed as she casually brushed back her bangs. "How was your bath? Refreshing?"
Katara turned her head and followed Azula's gaze. A tall man was approaching them, his thick dark hair still wet as he glared at the group. His clothes were loose; the ties and belts of his armor not tightened the entire way. Yet, he still stood proud and tall. For a moment his eyes met hers.
She felt her heart tighten at the glimpse. Her cheeks warmed and even as his eyes quickly tore themselves from hers, she could still feel the heat of his gaze upon her. "Is the earthbender awake?" he asked as he walked towards a pack resting by the others.
"No," Jet replied from Katara's side. "Katara just woke up, so it shouldn't be long until he wakes," He grinned at his friend's back. "Aren't you going to say good morning?" Zuko merely remained where he knelt, going through his things in silence.
Azula smirked. "Don't be rude, Zuko. She's our guest. You should be hospitable." She urged condescendingly.
"It doesn't matter," Zuko stated as he stood up. He picked up the pack and examined it to make sure it was tied up securely. "She won't remember any of this anyway."
Jet sighed heavily and looked over at Katara apologetically. "He's always like this. Just ignore him."
She opened her mouth to answer, when she saw Azula shoot up into a sitting position from the corner of her eye. Katara turned and saw Azula shift in her seat. Her eyes were focused on the sleeping earthbender beside her. "He's waking," She said in a low voice. Her eyes shot over to Aang. "Water." She demanded in a stern voice.
The airbender nodded his head earnestly as he grabbed another cup and poured some liquid into it. He then stood up and scurried around the camp to Azula to hand it to her. Carefully, the female firebender reached down with one arm and lifted Haru's head gingerly.
A small groan escaped his lips and as the dark haired female placed the edge of the cup against his mouth, as Jet had done with Katara earlier. A hot breath came out as his eyes moved beneath his eyelids. "…ara…" His voice was just as raspy. His face twisted with a cringe. "…ka…ra…"
Zuko frowned from where he stood, beyond the campsite and beside his komodo rhino. He could clearly make out what he was saying and gritted his teeth as he tugged the rope that held his things up on the rhino's saddle securely into place. "I'm right here, Haru," her voice was gentle and reassuring. "It's okay." Zuko clenched his teeth.
"Have him drink some water." He wasn't the only one that was irritated. He turned around just as Azula handed the human female the cup. A displeased scowl was on her face as she watched Katara stumble forward on her hands and knees, trying to reach the man.
Jet was right beside Katara, holding on to her sides incase she fell. He dutifully knelt down beside her as she smiled at her friend warmly. "You're okay…"she whispered as her hand reached down and grasped his.
Zuko turned his head back and focused his glare on to his rhino's hide. His hand tightened around the length of the rope as he fought down the memory of the warmth of her hand from the night before; when her fingers blindly coiled between his as if she needed nothing else in the world.
"Katara…" Relief laced Haru's voice as he looked up at her, a small smile on his face. "You're okay…"
"You are, too," she smiled as her hand squeezed his. "Does anything still hurt?"
"Hurt…?" His eyebrows furrowed as he squinted. For a moment, he went silent, as if trying to feel anything out of the ordinary. He finally looked up and shook his head. "No… no, I feel no pain…" He pulled his hand from hers and placed it beside him to help him sit up. "My stomach…" His other hand lowered to his bare midsection as the blanket fell to his waist.
Katara watched as his fingers slid across the taunt skin stretched across hardened muscle. Not a single scratch or bruise. No evidence was left of his wounds from the night before. Haru lifted his head and looked at her in amazement. She smiled back at him. "Everything is healed."
His eyes softened. "Thank you, Katara."
Everyone but Zuko missed the deadly gleam in Azula's eyes as the human's gratitude was directed to someone else. "It wasn't me," Katara told him. She looked unsurely at Azula, who still sat beside Haru with a tight-lipped expression. "She healed you."
"She…?" The brown haired earthbender tilted his head to the side and then slowly followed Katara's gaze. His eyes widened. He hadn't even realized someone else was sitting beside him. "You… healed me?" He asked, hesitantly.
Azula merely raised an eyebrow and turned her head away from him, as if he wasn't worth her time. "There are some things waterbending can't heal fast enough," She told him coldly. Behind her, Aang raised an eyebrow, surprised by her sudden cold response. Azula stood up in one smooth movement and casually brushed off her pants as she walked around the man's sleeping mat. "Now that you're up, hurry and get off my sleeping mat so we can leave."
Haru's eyes widened and shot down to the mat and blanket that enveloped him. Deep red met his gaze and he sucked in his breath. He looked back up and bowed his head to the back of the firebender. "Thank you," he said quickly as he raised his head once more. "I'm sorry to have troubled you."
A scoff reached his ears. "I have no need of thanks from those like you," Azula spat out, still irritated, as she grabbed her pack easily with one hand and lifted it up. "Aang, give him something to eat," she commanded as she walked towards the tree line. "The sooner he eats, the sooner we can take them back."
"Right," Aang nodded. He dug into the pouch on his side and opened up the drawstring. "Only eat as much as you can…"
Beyond the camp, the female firebender called for her mongoose dragon. Obediently, the animal rose from where it was resting and crawled over to her. As she tossed her belongings over the side of the animal, a low voice edged with amusement reached her ears.
"You don't seem too happy with destiny, sister," Zuko smirked behind her. "Jealous?"
"Not as jealous as you," Azula replied coolly. "Don't think I didn't see you tightening your fists when he called for her and she came."
"Same to you," her brother replied. "He'll leave, you know. He has a family to return to. What will you do when leaves you for them?" Azula went quiet. Her motions slowed down for a moment as her eyes narrowed. Her brother glanced down at her and noticed the chilling look on her face. His head tilted forward as his eyebrows furrowed. "His family…"
"You'll see when we get there." Azula told him in a low voice. She pulled on the bindings once more to secure her bag and turned to head back into the camp when Zuko's arm shot forward and grabbed her upper arm, pulling her towards him roughly.
"Azula, what did you do?" he demanded venomously. Azula's eyes narrowed and shot him a glare.
"I couldn't do anything," she hissed back dangerously. She pulled her arm out of his grasp and took a step back. "I had my options in front of me and I chose what I valued most."
Zuko slowly drew his arm back and studied the serious look on his sister's face. He took a deep breath and turned his head away. "None of this reaches their ears."
"They will find out when we bring them there," Azula told him as she turned away and looked on at the group. "Be prepared, brother. You may not have exchanged blood with her yet, but you've already tasted her sweetness and when she reaches her peak, you will feel her pain."
Zuko closed his eyes tightly. "And you will feel his," he whispered. He heard Azula's clothes shift as she walked away from him. "Destiny…" he mumbled to himself as he opened his eyes. "Is so cruel."
"Ah!" Zuko rolled his eyes. He had lost count of the number of times the human male had cried out with yet another unexpected jerk. Zuko didn't have to look over his shoulder to know that the earthbender was currently clinging on to his sister, as if he would fall off with the next step the mongoose dragon took.
"It's okay, Haru," Aang attempted to calm him down once more from his seat on the other giant lizard. "You're not going to fall off."
"I'm just… this is just my first time on…" The green-eyed brunette swallowed nervously. "On one of these things."
"It's not an ostrich horse, but they're better at getting through obstacles like rivers," Jet agreed behind them. Seated in front of him, with his arms securely on either side of her, was Katara. Her hands were clamped tightly on to the edge of the saddle as she watched the back of the mongoose dragon's head wave from side to side. "The saddles are on securely, so don't worry about falling off."
"It's not so bad, Haru," Katara added. "You get use to it." She lied. She could feel the thin bones of the creature beneath her move with each step it took and she inwardly cringed. Being on the mongoose dragon, despite its size and its current slow pace, still left her wary. Her eyes rose and looked at the hindquarters of the lumbering creature in front of her.
Zuko was sitting comfortably on his saddle, looking straight forward as his massive reptile carried him. His body wasn't shifting as much as the others' were and Katara wondered if that was because of sheer balance or if it was because the komodo rhino was much sturdier.
"Try to get your mind off of it," Aang piped cheerfully. "If you keep thinking about it, it'll only get worse. You might even get motion sickness."
Azula snapped her head to the side and shot him a glare. "Careful what you suggest, airbender. He right behind me." She warned. Aang smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Sorry."
"That's a good idea though…" Haru said as he tried to sit up straight. He had been leaning forward, his body pressed against Azula's back as she sat in front of him with the reins in her hands. "It might help take my mind off of things... and I never did properly thank you."
"That's okay," Aang smiled. "We were in a rush. It's best that we get an early start, anyway. By the time we'll get there, it might already be night fall and I'm sure your parents are worried."
Haru's eyes lowered. "Yes… providing that the… what did you say it was?" He asked as he turned to look at Jet on their other side.
"Convict," Jet told him with a convincing smile. "A… serial killer we were tracking down."
"Right," Haru nodded, looking concentrated. "So long as that convict didn't stay and inflict any more damage," He tilted his head to the side and looked up at the komodo rhino riding ahead of them. "You said that he followed you into the forest?" He called out.
Zuko could feel several eyes looking at him, waiting for his answer. He took a deep breath and then exhaled. "He followed us," he answered, his voice suggesting that he didn't feel like talking. "We lead him away and were able to inflict his punishment."
Haru nodded. After he had eaten some berries to at least curb his hunger, he began asking questions. He didn't remember anything after the other earthbender's attack. Jet and Aang, who weren't even there, were the ones that told him what had happened. A serial killer, Shu, had escaped and had attacked his home.
He was knocked out after trying to save Katara's life. Since Katara was the target, they took her to lead her away from the others. Shu followed. Haru was wounded and Azula saved him. She brought him with her when she went after Shu. It was because of her that he was still alive.
Firebenders had no healing techniques that Haru knew off and when he asked how she managed to heal him, Azula merely told him to be grateful she didn't leave him behind to die. Her voice was cold and stern, but her eyes accepted his thanks. When the time came to leave and take them back, Haru was assigned to Azula's dragon.
It was the largest of the three and she was an expert rider, Aang had assured him. The entire time, Azula never once loosened from her poised posture on the back of the riding lizard. It only served to remind him what Katara had told him just a day before; they were wealthy and Azula and Zuko's bodies and actions all but screamed that. Just a day before, the first time he had seen Azula, he couldn't deny that. A day before suddenly seemed so long ago. Before he woke up in the middle of a forest, before he was nearly killed…
"Aang said he was burned…" Haru mumbled distractedly.
"It is the way of our kind," Azula said solemnly before him. In the daylight, she could recognize the forest around them as clearly as she could in the night. It was late afternoon, but they were closing in on town that had been burning and the human's home she had turned her back on. "Fire returns your body back to the earth quickly."
Fire… The waterbender's head rose. "Azula," Katara began carefully from her seat in front of Jet. "You were the last one to leave the area last night. Do you know what happened to the village?" The poised female on the lizard next to hers didn't move a muscle. A moment passed and she still didn't answer. Katara tried once more. "Azula-"
"I saw flames," she stated. "But that was all."
"Flames?" Haru frowned. His eyes widened at the implication of flames. "Fire!?" He turned to Katara, a frantic expression on his face. "Katara, what did you see last night? Did you see fire?"
I saw many things last night... she wanted to tell him. "You didn't see it," Katara whispered as her eyes focused on the back of the lizard's head. "But the village… I could see smoke coming from it."
A sharp breath caught in his mouth. "No…" Azula felt his body jerk back behind her. "Are you sure? Are you sure you saw fire in the village? Perhaps it was just smoke from people's houses-"
"I know what I saw, Haru," Katara told him sharply. The image was unmistakable. "But we couldn't get there. Not with that monst… killer on the loose." She added quickly.
"Then we need to hurry!" Haru insisted suddenly as he whirled forward. He looked towards Zuko beseechingly. "Quickly! Isn't there any way we can hurry?! The villagers-"
"Even if we quicken our speed," Zuko said began. "What do you expect to find when you arrive?" His voice was deep and foreboding. It brought up images that no one wanted to think about. "If there was a fire and it raged on all night," He added, remembering the buildings he had walked through made of wood and earth. "There might not be anything left."
"Don't say that!" Haru exclaimed. Azula narrowed her eyes. She could feel his apprehension, his worry behind her. "You don't know what happened!"
"But I know fire," Zuko said, without looking back so much as once. "I'm just saying to expect the worst."
Haru's eyes narrowed and glared at Zuko's back. Katara lowered her head. An empty feeling spread through her stomach and she subconsciously reached down and placed her hand over it. Something was wrong. No one was talking. Azula and Zuko were quiet; no longer taunting each other like how she remembered them the first time they met.
And Zuko's words left them to mull over the dreadful possibilities. Had the fire consumed the entire village? Did anyone survive? What about Haru's house? His family? The other mercenaries? Katara released her grip on the saddle and silently wrapped her arms around herself. No matter how hard she tried to ignore the nagging question, it still bore endlessly into her mind.
What about Sokka?
Her eyes closed tightly. She didn't want to think about it. She had been worried when she awoke; wondering if her brother was worried about her. Now, the chilling thought she couldn't help but wonder was if her brother was even alive to do so.
She could feel her heart twisting painfully beneath her breast. Her only family left. The only one who understood where she was coming from; who knew her pain. She couldn't lose him.
Jet felt her trembling in front of him and glanced down. He frowned as he saw her reaction to Zuko's words and mentally cursed his old friend for his careless words. Her lips were pulled into her mouth to keep from shaking; her arms had wrapped themselves around her body as her eyes shut tight. Against his chest, he could feel her heart's heavy beating, and sense the anxiety rising around her.
One hand dropped the leather chord as the other hand wound it around itself. Jet leaned forward, drawing Katara closer as his left arm wrapped around her shoulders tightly to comfort her. He rested his chin gently against the side of her head.
"It'll be alright, Katara," he whispered quietly in her ear. "Don't think about that…"
She could feel his body closing in around her, as if trying to keep her safe. Katara merely sat there, unmoving, and silently praying that the gods had spared her one more tragedy as Jet rested his head atop hers.
For endless moments, she lost herself in her thoughts, unable to contain her worry that her brother did not make it. She didn't know who started the fire or whether or not it had been put out or even if the fire had somehow reached the house and the barn. All she knew was that there was a chance that, however small it was, Sokka was gone.
"Spirits…" a low voice whispered above her. She felt an arm relax from around her and drop to her lap as the body behind her straightened in their seat. Katara opened her eyes. She hadn't felt the lizard stop or realize why until she saw what lay before them.
Zuko had stopped ahead of them, unmoving as they surveyed the damage around them. Aang slowly rode his lizard forward, stopping beside Zuko's komodo dragon as wide gray eyes stared at the smoldering mess. Azula's eyes narrowed warily. Jet felt his breath hold.
Just the day before, the small town was bustling with people. Now, nothing was left but crumbled buildings that had caved in. Smoldering pieces of wooden beams and roof tiles lined the area. Stone was scorched by fire. Azula lifted her head and sniffed the air. Behind Katara, Jet repeated the action and scowled.
"What happened…?" Haru's voice was quiet, but a shocked whisper that rang through the collapsed, fire raped town. Pained green eyes slowly ran across the expense, unable to believe what they were seeing. "How could this happen…?"
"Aang," Zuko said as a familiar scent burned into his senses. "Find out what happened here," The airbender didn't say a word. He merely nodded and slipped off his ride. He could smell it, too. So could Azula and Jet. It stood out amongst the burnt wood and the scorched earth. "This wasn't an accident."
Katara lifted her head up as tear rimmed eyes tore themselves away from the village's remains. "Zuko." Azula's voice called out.
The group turned towards her and followed the direction of her gaze. From where she sat, Katara couldn't make it out. It was just another pile of burnt wood. Aang approached the collapsed house. Carefully, using airbending to keep him light on his feet incase the foundation gave out; he made his way to the pile of rubble. A pale hand reached forward and took hold of a charred piece of wood.
A sharp gasp escaped Katara's lips as she turned her head away, closing her eyes tightly as she covered her mouth. Had the gods no mercy? Behind her, Jet swore and wrapped his arms around Katara.
"Hana…" Haru's voice was shaking. His eyes were wide and sunken as the burned face stared at him with an unmoving, terrified expression. Aang turned his head away and gently lowered the piece of wood back over the dead child's face. "How…?"
"…burned alive…" a low voice whispered before them. Zuko's hands tightened around his rhino's reins as the utter feeling of disgust and anger coursed through him. What had happened? Narrowed eyes looked up. He snapped the reins in front of him and the animal bellowed.
"Zuko!" Jet yelled as he realized what was going on. Katara looked up. The lumbering beast was charging forward, kicking up dust and ash as it raced towards the hill where Haru's family lived. "Zuko! Damn it!" Jet grabbed on to the reins with both hands, making sure to keep Katara firmly between him.
"Aang! Stay here and find out what happened!" Azula ordered as she grabbed the reins of her mongoose dragon with one hand. The other slipped behind her and grabbed the hand of the stunned earthbender. She pulled his arm around her waist and held on to him tightly. Her voice was low. "Hold on."
Another snap broke the deathly silence as Azula's ride let out a trill and ran forward. Beside her, Katara held on to Jet's arms as the wind whipped past her face. She could see Zuko's rhino in front of them, tearing through the trees without remorse as he ripped through the forest to get to the house.
"Zuko!" Jet yelled, irritated as branches, leaves, and even small trees were tossed in their direction by Zuko's stampeding ride. "Zuko! Watch out!"
"Take another path!" Azula shouted. She pulled her reins to the side and steered her animal around as Jet did the same into the other direction. Katara's body was frozen in place as the creature tossed her up and down, from one side to the other as it twisted its body to get around the trees and shrubs.
Behind her, Jet was gritting his teeth trying to keep control of the beast as they tore recklessly through the forest. At any moment, Katara was sure they would fly off.
The lizards jumped out of the tree line as it broke ahead of them. Instantly, the riders pulled back on the reins to stop them, making them skid to a stop. Katara's eyes widened. She suddenly wished the ride could've gone on forever.
For a moment, time stood still. An eerie silence was spread across the area. No birds chirping. No cicadas welcoming the rising moon. No people. Zuko stood alone on the upturned pile of earth that was once the grassy hillside between the house and barn. On either side of him were the crumbled remains of the two structures. Small pillars of smoke still curled up from the rubble. Stone that was once an earthen brown were scorched black by fire.
Katara's eyes widened the color drained her from face. She was just there a few hours ago. She could feel the hot tears rimming on her lashes as her eyes looked over the tattered landscape. The ground she had walked on had been over turned. Mounds of misplaced earth lay forgotten in clumps around the area as holes dotted the once smooth surface. The two buildings that stood adjacent to each other had been reduced to nothing but piles of smoldering rock and ash.
"Katara." She heard Jet's voice behind her laced with concern. "Katara, breathe."
She was breathing. Didn't he hear her? Her breath was ragged and shallow; shaking just as badly as her body. She could feel the air burning in her lungs with each forced breath. She could feel her heart slamming against her breast as the salty drops seared a path down her brown cheeks. This was not happening.
"Sokka…" It hurt. "Sokka…?" It hurt all over. Her breathing was broken. Somewhere, she heard her name being called as she batted away concerned hands. The uneven ground seemed to jut up beneath her, purposely knocking her off balance as she stumbled forward, blindly reaching in front of her. "Sokka?"
The debris shifted beneath her as she stepped on the remains of the building. Large blue eyes glazed over as they settled on the broken, crumbled, unidentifiable pieces that littered the ground. The shock settled in; her legs gave out beneath her and she fell to her knees. Tears poured from her eyes as her lips trembled, unable to put together words as shaking hands shifted through the ash and dirt.
Her chest constricted. The world around her was shut out. She could no longer feel the kiss of the evening breeze against her skin or the fading warmth of the sun as it began to disappear. She couldn't hear frantic calls of her name or the firm hands on her shoulders as they tried to pull her away. There was only her... and her brother.
"Sokka!" Jet found himself shoved aside violently as Katara crawled forward. He stumbled back as he watched her grab the closest piece of rubble and throw it away from her. "Sokka! Sokka!" She screamed as she dug through the debris.
"Katara!" It was dangerous. Her smooth hands were getting dirty. Jagged stone and splintered wood scraped her skin. "Katara! Stop it! You're going to get hurt!" Jet exclaimed as he threw his arms around her and pulled her back.
"Let me go!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. Her body twisted and turned in his arms, struggling for release as she screamed. "Let me go! He's all I have!" She cried out, unable to stop her tears. "You don't understand! He's all I have left!" Her words burned in her throat as air struggled to go through. "He's all I have…!" She repeated desperately as she strained against Jet's tight hold. "He's the only family I have left!" She sobbed as her flailing arms fell helplessly.
Jet dragged her body away as sobs wracked her figure. Shoulders heaved up and down, cries choked in her throat, and tears continued to come. "Katara! Katara, get a hold of yourself!"
Pained wails pierced the air. Zuko stood rooted in his spot, his features unwavering as her cries wrapped around him. It hurt to watch her. To even hear her. His eyes closed tightly. He could feel it already; her pain wrapping around his heart, tightening around it and threatening to make it burst under the pressure. And at the same time, he felt the void she felt. He felt the fear, the horror, and the unspeakable sadness that was consuming her.
He would sell his own soul if he could just take her pain away, for even a brief moment.
"How could this happen…?" A voice, stunned and lost, spoke up quietly behind him.
From her saddle, Azula maintained her composure. It was strange. She, a hunter, was no stranger to death. She never cared about the lives of humans; they were never any of her concern. Yet as foreign feeling spread throughout her body, pale, slender fingers wove into work worn tan hands.
"I am…" she began carefully, her face remaining expressionless; a testament to her discipline. "I am sorry."
"No…" Haru could barely breathe. She could feel his heavily beating heart and sense his turmoil. His hands slipped from hers and for a moment, she felt abandoned. Silently, he slid off the riding animal. Shaking legs barely held him up as he stumbled forward. First the village, now his home. "How could this happen?" he whispered. "My father… my father was here…"
No one answered him. No one knew how to answer him. Slowly, the earthbender approached his fallen home, his hands limply at his side as he stared down at the rubble. Hours had passed… hours, not a lifetime. How could things have changed so quickly? Wasn't he just there on the grass? Innocently walking his friend to the barn? He shook his head.
"There are scorch marks," Zuko said from where he stood, unwavering as he kept his sharp eyes on the debris. "But it was burned last… The earth has been over turned… the stone work of the house had been broken first…" His voice was low. No one was burned alive… at least not before being crushed from the falling walls and ceiling. Slowly, he turned around and eyed his sister. "Azula," He began as she looked up. "What did you see?"
The dark haired firebender remained seated on her lizard, her hands wrapped around the leather reins tightly. Several pairs of eyes fell upon her. Zuko could see her hesitation to answer. Haru stood up, a clump of crumbled stone in his hands as he turned around looked at the woman. "Who did this?" he whispered, his eyes searching her amber ones for an answer he desperately needed to hear. "Please, if you know, tell me." His raspy voice pleaded.
She refused to meet his gaze. "Men did this," she stated as emotionlessly as she could. "When I carried him away, there were men in green."
"This is the Earth Kingdom," Jet frowned as he sat by the piles of debris, cradling a broken waterbender in his arms. Narrowed brown eyes glared at the ground in front of him. "That doesn't tell us anything."
Azula closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It was the policy of her kind not to involve themselves with humans. Human fights, human skirmishes, and wars were none of a vampire's concern. So, why did she have to tell them now, when they knew what it meant to do so?
"Azula," Zuko began coldly. "What did you see?"
Amber eyes flashed open. "I saw green dressed men with hats and gold tassels adorning them," Azula added sharply as her eyes narrowed. "I saw a symbol on their chests as I left. I saw stone gloves encasing their hands. I saw Dai Li," she spat out. She lifted up her head and scowled. "The earthbending style; precise movements, the remains of their ridiculous stone gloves littering the ground… don't tell me you didn't know." She hissed.
Zuko didn't answer. He knew. From where she was held, Katara's eyes widened and shot back to Haru. The earthbender fell to his knees as the realization sank it. "They found us…" he whispered in a low voice. "They found us and the rebellion…" His eyes crinkled up as his hands dug into his pants. "Oh, gods…"
"The Dai Li are strong," Zuko frowned as he looked back at the area. "But it would've taken at least a dozen of them to bring down structures the size of the barn… especially if there were others to stop them."
Azula turned her head away. "Think for a moment, brother. Think," she told him remorselessly as she gripped the reins. "We left because they were waking up. If they came out, they would've spread out to find these two. One human… even an earthbender, against an elite Dai Li…" Her voice was bitter and laced with frustration. "Do you think they would've been able to stop them?"
"No!" Haru's voice rang out as he jumped to his feet. He shook his head and shot Azula a glare. "I refuse to believe that they would've lost, even against the Dai Li! There were many earthbenders in the village! Why didn't they stop them!?"
"Because they were locked into their homes and burned alive," Zuko's chilling, authoritative voice silenced him. "No one could've gotten here in time..." His hands clenched at his sides. "No one could've escaped."
The group went silent once more. Jet comfortingly stroked Katara's head as he released her. Unmoving, she sat in her spot, her eyes staring out blankly in front of her as silent tears coursed down her face. The vampire stood up and looked around. The smell of burnt flesh was as clear to him as the smell of burnt wood.
It was the same smell that hovered over the village and it was a smell he was all too familiar with. It assaulted his senses. As he took another deep breath of the air, he could pick up another scent. Human blood – not burned, but not alive either. Silently, he followed the scent.
Standing by the fallen house, Haru shook his head slowly. "I refuse to believe that," he whispered. "I refuse to believe they would've all…" his shaking voice trailed off and he turned his head away from the remains of his home. "My father was a master earthbender. He would've done something. He would've-"
"Held them off," Jet stood across from them, holding back some branches as he looked into the forest behind what was once the barn. He lifted his head up and looked at Zuko. "Dai Li all right."
Haru's eyebrows furrowed. Carelessly, he struggled to stand and then shuffled towards Jet. No one tried to stop him as he pushed Jet aside and pulled apart the branches. A pained groan escaped his lips as his body froze. Katara closed her eyes. Bodies. She knew he had found bodies. Her mind began to chant silent prayers to whatever deity was listening.
Please don't let it be Sokka. Please don't let it be Sokka. She forced herself to stand. She needed to see for herself. Shaking legs lead over the uneven ground and past Zuko. Her body was shaking as she watched Haru fall to his knees and hunch forward as if his very soul had been ripped out. How many bodies had he found? Please don't let it be Sokka! Please don't let it be Sokka!
A hand shot out and grabbed her before she could reach Haru. She whirled around, a fierce look on her face, and saw Zuko shake his head. "He's not there." Her eyes crinkled up and she glared. How would he even know?
Her breathing was uneven. She could barely walk on her own and her voice was shaking. "Let. Me. Go." He hesitated, his cold eyes giving her one final warning before he released her arm. She twisted herself away from him, giving him one last glare before she followed her friend and peered over the bushes. Her years as a mercenary seeing carnage no youth should've ever seen paled in comparison to what her eyes beheld then.
A second later, she was on her knees; throwing up the berries Aang had painstakingly collected as her stomach churned violently at the sight.
"Katara!" Jet yelled and dropped the piece of stone he had been studying nearby.
"Leave them be!" Zuko barked as he held his arm out to stop Jet from running to her. He turned around and looked at the two vampires. His arm lowered. "Clear the debris."
"What?" Jet asked, his eyes looking at Zuko as if he had lost his mind.
"Clear the debris," Zuko commanded once more, his voice stronger as he walked past Jet. His eyes met Azula's. "You, too."
Instead of arguing, as was expected, she slipped off the saddle and obediently followed her brother's orders. She stalked up the hill and began digging through the earthen slabs; searching for something her nose told her was buried beneath. Jet stood by the edge of the fallen barn, watching with confusion as the vampire siblings grabbed on to the crumbled remains and began tossing them to the side. He shook his head. Had they gone mad?
"What are you doing?" he mumbled.
"Looking for bodies," Zuko stated as he easily lifted up a slab and tossed it to the side. "I smell corpses buried beneath the rubble."
"There were still people inside when it caved in," Azula added as her eyes narrowed. "Six bodies, if the scents are any indication."
Jet looked down at the material at his feet. "But why?"
"Why do you think?" Azula snapped as she stood up and shot him a deadly glare. "Nothing is worse that not knowing, you ignorant fool," she hissed. "You found his father," she added coldly as she reached down and grabbed another piece of what was a wall. "But what about his mother?"
"Get to work," Zuko ordered as he threw another piece of stone off to the side. "It'll be dark soon… and they will have to identify the bodies."
Somewhere in the back of her mind, she heard them talking. Their voices so calm, it made her hate and envy them at the same time. How could they be so unaffected? Crumbling stone sounded behind her as another slab was flung away and another layer of rubble revealed. Katara closed her eyes. She'd just seen the mutilated body of Haru's father and the corpses of 'men in green'. Two earthbenders she had traveled with lay with their bodies crushed by stone a few paces away from her.
Who knew how many others lay unseen in the surrounding forest? Or even in the collapsed remains of the barn? Katara closed her eyes and wiped the bile from her lips. And why were they even bothering to search? What difference did it make when everyone was gone?
"Male!" Azula shouted. She paused as she moved the male aside and found another body beneath him. She could already tell what had happened; he had tried to protect her from the falling wall… and failed. "And female!"
"Move them to the side," he told them. He looked up and glanced at the two dark haired heads that were being pulled lifelessly from the debris. They looked to be a young human couple… too young to have died so early. "Be careful where you throw things next."
The two bodies were dragged to the side and placed beside each other. Three more were found. Then, finally, an older woman. Azula stopped as she prepared to move the body. Her eyes closed as she turned her head away.
"Azula," Jet frowned as he looked up and noticed the usually composed bender sway. "Azula?"
"I found her," her voice was low. The woman's scent was familiar. Not because she had smelled it before but because it matched well with someone else's scent. Her eyes rose and placed themselves on the languid figure staring dazed out across what was once his home. "Haru." She called him by his name. Glassy green eyes rose to meet hers. She didn't know what else to say.
Huddled up against the resting komodo rhino, her arms wrapped around her body as her knees reached her chest, Katara watched. Azula sat by the body, her eyes downcast in silence. Haru's body gave way and he fell beside his mother's body. His head hung low as his shoulder shook with silent sobs. Everything had been taken away from him at once. Everything.
Katara willed herself to move. To go to him and offer her arms, but found herself unable to move from her spot. Her eyes, swollen and red, threatened to cry once more. Her vision grew hazy. They still had to find her brother. They still had to find him and she couldn't even stand.
"He's not here," a voice said above her. "I checked."
Her eyes watered as she looked up at Zuko. "Then… where?" she croaked out.
Shadowed eyes drank her in as her he felt the pressure in his heart return. "He's alive," another voice assured her. Jet knelt down beside her and stroked her hair back. He offered her a small, reassuring smile. "He's alive, Katara."
She wanted to believe him. Desperately, but she was afraid. She wouldn't hold on to false hope. She had for years, hoping and praying that her parents were alive, even when deep down, she knew they were gone. Her eyes closed tightly and she buried her face in her arms. "If he's alive… then where is he?"
Jet looked up at Zuko helplessly. "We don't know," the hunter stated simply. "But he's not here," He reached back and pulled out an angled, blue weapon that he had found buried. "A Water Tribe weapon," he sated as he examined it. "It was found near some children's toys."
"He must've taken the children and escaped…" Jet mumbled. He reached up as Zuko handed him the weapon. "Katara," he nudged her gently. "Is this his?"
Part of her was afraid to look up. Slowly, she lifted her head. Gleaming blue greeted her and her eyes widened. Her heart leapt to her throat. Her voice was strained. "His boomerang…" She never knew she could be happy and sad at the same time.
"Zuko!" A voice shouted. The vampire heir turned around. "Zuko!" A mongoose dragon jumped out of the tree line and skidded to a stop.
Amber eyes narrowed as Zuko turned his back on the waterbender as she gathered the weapon against her and clung to it like a talisman. "What did you find?"
"Like you suspected," Aang exclaimed as he jumped off his ride. He looked around and knit his eyebrows together. "What happened?"
"We'll tell you later. First tell me what you found out."
Aang nodded and looked at his leader. "The houses had been locked from the outside then set on fire. Everyone was burned alive."
"Was it Dai Li?" Zuko asked firmly. Aang nodded.
"But I found something else," He dug through the bag hanging across his body and pulled out a small bag of stones. "Dai Li stone glove pieces."
"We already know its Dai Li." Zuko frowned.
"No," Aang insisted as he held it up to Zuko. "Limestone. It soaks up scent. Smell it."
Zuko's eyes narrowed and he took one the pieces and waved it over his nose. His eyes widened. "A blood scent…"
"Zuko, the Dai Li are human, aren't they?" Aang asked in a low voice. "Elite earthbenders from Ba Sing Se…?" Amber eyes widened. The stench of burned flesh and wood had been heavy over the area. So heavy, it had blocked out another scent. Zuko whirled around and stalked forward. "Zuko!?"
He grabbed the shoved aside the branches and shrubs behind the barn and stepped into the area where a massacre had taken place. Why didn't he smell it before? His hand grabbed the head of a Dai Li agent. Vampire blood scent… freshly turned, but too inexperienced to master their healing fast enough for them to save their own lives.
"Azula!" Zuko roared as his fingers dug into the scalp of the dead agent viciously. "Contact Uncle Iroh!"
"What for?" Azula asked as she looked up from where she was sitting.
Zuko dropped the head and reached up to unsheathe his swords. "We'll be in the Earth Kingdom a little longer," he scowled as he pulled apart the blades. "We're going after the Dai Li."
"Zuko, have you lost your mind!?" Jet exclaimed as he stood up. A hand shot up and grabbed his arm. He looked down at the trembling waterbender crouched down beside him.
"I'm going with you."
"Katara-"
"As am I." another voice added. Jet looked over at Haru disbelievingly. Azula's eyes narrowed and drifted over to her brother's figure. He brought his sword down and took the head off of an agent.
"Zuko," she began as she watched him move to another agent and repeat the action. Two humans wanted to come with them as they went after the Dai Li. It was unheard of. "What do we do now?"
Sharp blades cut through tender flesh and hard bone. Blood splattered against clothing already red. "Bury the bodies," Zuko stated as he looked down at the ground. "Bury the village. Let no human find out what has happened here."
Azula narrowed her eyes. "And them? They are humans."
His hands tightened around the swords. "We don't have a choice," The swords whistled as he whipped them to the sides, forcing the blood on their edges to fly off cleanly. "We bring them with us."
The corners of Azula's lips curled into a curious smirk. "Is that what you want?"
"I recall you telling me that what I want doesn't matter," Zuko spat out as he slid the swords back into place. His eyes rose and met theirs, unwavering. "It's all in the hands of destiny."
A.N. – Here we go; chapter 7. Haru's left an orphan and Sokka is MIA. Questions? Comments? Conspiracy theories? You know how to reach me. Thanks for reading!
