Chapter 11: Conflict

That evening everyone in the Freedom Fighters was sitting on or around the dining platform, eating dinner and eagerly awaiting Jet's speech. He always made one after successful attacks, and it was always good. Smellerbee was a little irked that the newcomers were still there, but shed resigned herself to simply waiting until they left. All that they'd heard about the Avatar before his arrival indicated that he had been traveling around. There was no reason he'd stay here any longer than he stayed anywhere else, Smellerbee told herself.

When Jet stood, everyone immediately quieted down and fixed their eyes on him. He smiled for a moment before beginning. He loved their rapture. "Today, we struck another blow against the Fire Nation swine." He raised his glass to them, and they shouted triumphantly. "I got a special joy from the look on one soldier's face when the Duke dropped down on his helmet and rode him like a wild hog monkey." The child stepped up onto the table and walked in a circle, pumping his arms victoriously as everyone cheered for him. "Now, the Fire Nation thinks they don't have to worry about a couple of kids hiding in the trees," he paused for effect while everyone jeered and booed appropriately. "Or maybe they are dead wrong." Everyone cheered again, but Smellerbee felt slightly uncomfortable. There was something dangerous in Jet's voice she hadn't heard before.

Jet sat down and began talking to Katara, and Smellerbee feigned interest in her food while she listened to every word.

"Hey, Jet, nice speech," Katara said.

"Thanks. By the way, I was really impressed with you and Aang. That was some great bending I saw out there today." Smellerbee could tell it wasn't just an innocent compliment – he wanted something from them.

"Well, he's great. He's the Avatar. I could use some more training," she said.

"Avatar, huh? Very nice," Jet said appraisingly. Yes, he was definitely planning something.

"Thanks, Jet," the Avatar said.

"So I might know a way that you and Aang can help in our struggle," Jet said.

"Unfortunately, we have to leave tonight," Sokka said, standing up and walking away. Good, Smellerbee thought.

"Sokka, you're kidding me!" Jet said emphatically. "I needed you on a special mission tomorrow." Are you serious? Smellerbee thought. You need him on a mission? Then she realized that he probably just needed to win over Sokka to keep the other two around. Please see through him, Smellerbee thought. But Sokka said hesitantly, "Okay. I guess we can stay a few more days."

I hate you.

:–:–:–:

It was Longshot and Smellerbee's turn to wash all of the dinner dishes in the second shift of the night (they always worked in pairs in two shifts; one pair did the first half of the dishes, the second pair the second half). They were standing over a basin of water, scrubbing platters clean, Smellerbee still fuming, making the normally calm silence between them harsh and uncomfortable.

Longshot splashed water at her without warning.

"Hey!" she yelped, glaring at him. He was smiling, almost laughing, telling her, Come on, lighten up. She splashed him back and his smile broadened. She laughed as he pulled a mock angry face at her and went to splash her again, but just then The Duke walked in. They both stopped what they were doing immediately. The Duke looked at them strangely for a moment before he said, "Smellerbee, Jet said we wants to talk to you and Pipsqueak." Smellerbee glanced at Longshot and he nodded to her then looked at The Duke, who just stood there dumbly while Smellerbee dried her hands.

"He wants you to help him finish," Smellerbee said to The Duke as she passed him.

"I know," The Duke said sadly. "I wanted him to tell me that."

"He was telling you," Smellerbee said as she walked out the door. "You just weren't listening."

She headed for Jet's treehouse and found him and Pipsqueak already there waiting for her.

"We're going out scouting tomorrow afternoon," Jet said. "Sokka's coming along, but I don't know if we can trust him – he doesn't like me much. We all have to keep an eye on him, got it?" Pipsqueak and Smellerbee nodded. "Good. I'll see you both tomorrow, then." That was their cue to leave.

"Hey, Smellerbee," Pipsqueak said once they were out of earshot of Jet's treehouse. "D'you think that Jet likes that girl, Katara?"

"No," she answered immediately. "He's just being nice because she's friends with the Avatar and he thinks we could use the Avatar's help."

"Are you sure?" Pipsqueak asked.

"Yes," she lied.

:–:–:–:

That night, just before she fell asleep, Smellerbee realized that that evening was the very first time she'd seen Longshot truly smile. She liked to think there might be a side of him only she got to see.

:–:–:–:

Early the next afternoon, Jet pulled Smellerbee and Pipsqueak away from their daily activities to tell them that it was time to go. They found Sokka and Jet said offhandedly, "Hey, we're going out scouting and could really use your help."

"Okay," Sokka said eagerly. "Where are we going?"

"There's been a lot of traffic through the forest recently," Jet explained as they all headed for the descent platform. "We need to keep an eye on who's coming and going – we've got something big planned soon and we need as much information as possible. We need to know who's coming through here, and why. We need to keep them scared – they need to remember who they're dealing with."

Smellerbee and Pipsqueak glanced at each other. Neither of them had heard of this big plan. It was very unusual. Once Sokka had dropped to the forest floor, Smellerbee spoke up.

"Jet, what –"

"Not now, Smellerbee," he said. "Let's go."

Jet dropped down and Smellerbee watched him. Something was going on. There was something, barely recognizable, but something different. That indefinable sense of danger was back. She and Pipsqueak followed without speaking. The four of them walked through the forest just to the side of the path until Jet stopped them and said, "Smellerbee, Pipsqueak, you two go over there. Sokka and I will stay here. You know what to do." Smellerbee nodded and she and Pipsqueak darted across the path to find a suitable tree to hide in. They hadn't been waiting for more than half and hour before they heard a birdlike whistle – Jet telling them to be ready. They moved across their branches to where they'd have a better view. Smellerbee whistled back. We're ready. A moment later, Jet whistled again – only one approaching. Standby.

Smellerbee looked through the leaves and saw a single old man dressed in red moving slowly down the path. Smellerbee felt her blood rise. His clothing looked like that of the Fire Nation guests at Kohana's wedding.

Jet dropped to the ground in front of the man, swords drawn, and Smellerbee heard his voice, clear and strong, demand, "What are you doing in our woods, you leech?"

"Come on," Smellerbee whispered to Pipsqueak, and they started to head down the trunk of the tree as they heard the man say, "Please, sir, I'm just a traveler." The hell you are, Smellerbee thought. Probably traveling between towns your friends have enslaved. It's nice to be free, isn't it?

Pipsqueak was already on the path, and the man backed into Pipsqueak's broad chest and fell to the ground. He moved to crawl away, but Pipsqueak put his foot on the man's bony back, keeping him there with barely any force.

"Do you like destroying towns? Do you like destroying families?" Jet shouted. Smellerbee had never seen him one-on-one with a Fire Nation civilian, and she had to admit he was a little frightening.

"Oh, please, let me go! Have mercy!" the man begged pathetically.

"Does the Fire Nation let people go? Does the Fire Nation have mercy?" Jet was growing more and more angry and wild. He drew his foot back, aiming for a kick –

"Jet, he's just and old man!" Sokka had caught Jet's foot with his club. Smellerbee had forgotten Sokka was even there; she was so fixated on Jet and the old man.

"He's Fire Nation! Search him!" Jet ordered. Pipqueak lifted the old man up by his shoulders and Smellerbee stepped forward to rifle through his coat.

"But he's not hurting anyone!" Sokka said emphatically. Not yet, at least, Smellerbee thought.

The man had nothing on him but a black satchel. She was about to open it and search it while Jet shouted at Sokka, but then she heard him say, "Remember why you fight!"

"We got his stuff, Jet," Smellerbee said, forcing a smile. She wanted to leave. She was painfully remembering her brother's last words to her. Remember what you fight for.

Smellerbee moved away from the old man. She couldn't look at him. She walked away and Jet and Pipsqueak followed her, leaving Sokka behind for a moment until Jet called him back.

Smellerbee didn't hear any of it. She was still reliving her brother's last stand again and again.

Remember what you fight for.

Remember why you fight.