It's been awhile since we had the run in with Azula. Zuko's hair had grown and was now like a buzzcut. I constantly teased him and made sure to piss him off by rubbing his head and cooing that he was like a puppy-kit. Yeah, he got so pissed once, he threatened to burn me, to which I responded by zapping him. The lightning seemed to still be in my system, because I could control shocking people. It was really fun. Anywho, Zuko bitches more than a spoiled toddler who didn't get the toy they wanted. Today was Zuko's turn to go hunting, and judging from his reaction, he sucked at it.
"I didn't find anything to eat! I can't live like this! I wasn't meant to be a fugitive. This is impossible! Avery, Uncle, what are you doing?" Zuko asked. I grinned.
"Just hangin'." I replied, hanging upside down from a tree branch. Zuko gave me a look and I shrugged. "I tried."
"Uncle..."
"You're looking at the rare white dragon bush. Its leaves make a tea so delicious, it's heartbreaking. That, or it's the white jade, which is poisonous." He said. "Avery, can you tell what kind this is?"
"I've never smelt either, so I can't tell. Either way, I suggest not eating it." I said, placing my hands on my knees to peer at the delicate flower.
"We need food, not tea. I'm going fishing." Zuko said.
"I'll join you." I said. I stood and followed him.
"Dude, you suck at fishing." I laughed. He had only managed to spear a tiny fish, which was flapping like a kite in the wind. I pulled off my shirt and pants. "This is how you fish."
"Avery!" Zuko yelped as I dove headfirst into the stream. I surfaced and spat water at him.
"Oh calm down, Pouty." I said. I saw a small school of fish nearing and stood perfectly still, hand poised above the water.
"What are you-" I cut him off as my hand sliced through the air and grabbed one of the largest fish. I held my free hand out.
"Spear." I said. He handed me the stick and I stabbed the fish. I nodded in accomplishment, grinning. "That's how you catch a fish."
"Show off." He muttered as I stepped from the water. I handed him the speared fish and winked before wiping my head back and forth, spraying water everywhere.
"Gah! Oh come on!" Zuko exclaimed. I laughed.
"Sorry, Pouty." I said. "C'mon, Iroh's waiting."
"Iroh? Are you alright?" I asked.
"Um, remember that plant I thought might be tea?" Iroh said. I slapped my forehead.
"You didn't..." Zuko said, shocked.
"I did... and it wasn't." He turned and revealed himself to be swollen and covered in red marks.
"When the rash spreads to my throat, I will stop breathing. But look what I found." He held out his arm to reveal a handful of berries. "These are bacui berries, known to cure the poison of the white jade. That, or maka'ole berries that cause blindness..."
"We're not taking any more chances with these plants!" Zuko said. Grabbing the branch of berries, he hurled it into the bushes. "We need to get help."
"But where are we going to go?" He kneeled down and scratched his rash vigorously. "We're enemies of the Earth Kingdom and fugitives from the Fire Nation."
"If the Earth Kingdom discovers us, they'll have us killed." Zuko thought aloud.
"But if the Fire Nation discovers us, we'll be turned over to Azula." I added. They looked to each other, to me, and back to each other before nodding in unison.
"Earth Kingdom it is."
A girl a bit older than me treated Iroh's allergic reaction while Zuko and I sat on a bench.
"You three must not be from around here. We know better than to touch the White Jade, much less make it into tea and drink it." She said, flicking Iroh's hand away when he tried to scratch his rash.
"I actually am from the Earth Kingdom and I know the horrible effects of the plant. By the time I realized he had a hold of some... Well, you can see what happened." I lied, sending Iroh a real look of disappointment.
"Whoops!" He said.
"So where are you two traveling from?" She asked.
"Yes, we're travelers." Zuko stuttered nervously. I sighed.
"They aren't very open about their past." I said with a light laugh. "Could you tell?"
"Do you have names?" She said with a pretty smile.
"Names? Of course we have names." Zuko said. "I'm, uh... Lee and this is my Uncle, uh... Mushi?"
"Yes, my nephew was named after his father, so we just call him Junior." Iroh said as she began applying lotion to his inflamed skin.
"Mushi and Junior, huh? And you?"
"My name's June." I said. Zuko quirked an eyebrow but I threw him a gesture that meant 'tell you later'.
"It's nice to meet you. My name is Song. You three look like you could use a good meal." Song slapped Iroh's hand away again as he went to scratch his rash. "Why don't you stay for dinner?"
"Sorry, but we need to be moving on." Zuko said gruffly. I flicked his arm.
"Besides, you've already been so kind. It would be rude." I added.
"That's too bad. My mom always makes too much roast duck." Song said, an innocent smile hiding her cunning look.
"Where do you live exactly?" Iroh said excitedly. I slapped my forehead and Zuko sighed.
It was nighttime at Song's house. We say in an open-wall dining room where Zuko, Iroh, and I sat around Song's kitchen table. I sat across from Zuko and Iroh, next to Song. Song and I made small talk, discussing girly things like our favorite colors and activities. Song's mother, Harmony, came in with a platter of roast duck and took a seat at the head of the table.
"My daughter tells me you're refugees. We were once refugees ourselves." Harmony said.
"When I was a little girl, the Fire Nation raided our farming village. All the men were taken away. That was the last time I saw my father." Song said. I placed my hand on hers and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
"I've never met my parents..." I told her.
"I'm sorry." She said. I smirked mentally. I dunno, do you want a giant shirshu traipsing around the globe instead of the Spirit World?
"I haven't seen my father in many years." Zuko said.
"Oh, is he fighting in the War?" Song asked. Zuko hesitated before bowing his head.
"Yeah..." He said. I sighed and continued to eat. I wasn't very hungry.
"So, June, do you know what happened to your parents?" Harmony asked hesitantly.
"Dad left me for dead, Mom sold me." I said tersely. The four others in the room gave me surprised looks. I sighed, uncomfortable being the center of attention. "If you'll excuse me."
"June..." Zuko called after me as I got up and headed outside. I sat on Song's front porch and pulled my legs to my chest, resting my chin on my knees. I heard the door open and close behind me before I saw someone sit next to me out of the corner of my eye. The someone was Zuko.
"Avery... Is that true?" Zuko asked. I sighed, closing my eyes.
"Mostly. My dad had to leave, ya know, had to be up there." I said, pointing up. "But when my mum discovered my ability, she gave me up, claiming she was selling a shirshu pup."
"But you said that you-"
"I lied, okay? I didn't completely trust either of you yet. I still can't believe I admitted this to you. But what I said about June was true. She did take me in." I said, gritting my teeth to keep my tears back. Over my travels with Zuko and Iroh, I learned that crying didn't really help. I felt a warm hand on my back and my eyes snapped open. I looked to Zuko in surprise. I smiled at him. Our heads snapped up as the door opened and Song stepped out. She sat beside Zuko.
"Can I join you? I know what you've been through. We've all been through it." She must've noticedZuko's scar. "The Fire Nation has hurt you."
She reached out to touch his scar only to have Zuko push her hand away.
"It's okay. They've hurt me, too." She said compassionately. She pulled up her pants leg to reveal burn scars on her leg. Zuko casted her a surprised look upon seeing this.
"I haven't necessarily been hurt by the Fire Nation." I said. "But I was hurt by the woman who bought me as a slave."
"Can I... can I see?" Song asked. I nodded and stood. I pulled off my shirt and shifted so that my shoulder was in the light, showing the grizzly scars. Song gasped before frowning.
"The Fire Nation citizens are nothing but monsters." Song said. I gave her a cold look.
"My parents and the woman who bought me are Earth Kingdom." I said. I slid my shirt over my head. "The Fire Nation isn't the only monster. And the other nations aren't all saints."
"I..." Song trailed off in shock. Zuko held an alien expression in his eyes. Was it... admiration?
"I believe we're leaving." I said. True to my word, the door slid open and Iroh and Harmony stepped out.
"Thank you for the duck. It was excellent." Iroh said.
"Yes, thank you." I said.
"You're welcome. It brings me pleasure to see someone eat my cooking with such... gusto." Harmony said, mostly to Iroh, who grinned and patted his stomach.
"Much practice." He said. Zuko was already off the porch, ready to leave already. "Junior, where are your manners? You need to thank these nice people."
"Thank you." Zuko said, bowing.
"I know you don't think there's any hope left in the world, but there is hope. The Avatar has returned." Song said to Zuko. I quirked an eyebrow. Where'd that come from?
"I know." Zuko said. "And so have the spirits."
He left, leaving Iroh and I alone with Harmony and Song.
"It was nice talking to a girl my age." I said. I smiled at Song and she beamed back. We hugged.
"I'll miss you, Song."
"You too, June." She said. Iroh bustled away to Zuko who seemed to be riding the animal. Harmony headed inside.
"By the way, Song. Have you ever heard of the spirit Avery, daughter of shirshu spirit Chi and the mortal woman Lin?" I asked.
"I have actually! She was seen last in the Northern Water Tribe! Why?"
"Just curious." I said, grinning. I walked away, and gradually shifted into my spirit form as I grew closer to Zuko and Iroh. I turned and waved daintily at Song, who stared with a dropped jaw, and then shifted back, disappearing into the shadows.
"What was that about?" Zuko asked atop an ostrich-horse. I smirked.
"Giving her hope." I said. Zuko rolled his eyes and held out a hand. I took it and he pulled me up behind him. "Taking a souvenir?"
"Yup." Zuko said. Iroh sighed and climbed up behind me. I wrapped my arms around Zuko's waist.
"Let's go."
Disclaimer : I don't own ATLA