Book 2: Water
Chapter 5: The Golden Claw
The tempestuous cold winds blow through the skies Unaraq and Suluk shivering in the cold Tanaraq, Aloi, and Rong Yan control their body temperatures continuing to stay warm. Rong Yan steered Shen a little bit lower so the winds wouldn't be biting on his non-bender friends' flesh. In the distance, Rong Yan could see a huge port city on the horizon as they flew ever closer to the city, it expanded in size. The docks themselves expanded nearly over a mile and a half full of ships while some were departing and a few were docking. The great city of Tianzhu, capital of the province of Wushan.
Rong Yan had only heard stories of the city from Head Sage Xiao, and the Fire Sages in the temple of Yin La. Men were seen below carrying crates to the market in front of the docks where the imported goods from other nations were sold. Some of the people who were walking, and working below Shen could see the long red scaly beast above their heads, as an elongated shadow quickly engulfed the streets below before passing on by like a quick-moving cloud.
Shen roared so loud that it echoed across the streets the children who witnessed the horrible screeches of a monster shrieked so loud that a few hid behind their parents and others ran inside their homes for cover. The stables were dead center of the bazaar district of the capital which consisted of a total of ten streets full of shops, restaurants, and market stalls. The ships near the bazaar district also had built-in shops for customers usually some of the imported goods that weren't sold in a shop were sold on these ships.
To the far left of the docks were other docks but they were off-limits to the citizens and visitors of Tianzhu. These docks were to only be used by the governor, the earth sages and the military. These were the only docks where the governor and the earth sages would feel secure. Soldiers were marching near the dockyard while others were boarding their ships for military exercises.
The stables were grand space of land it carried exotic mounts used by the nobles who arrived by carriages or bounty hunters. Common mounts were ostrich horses and eel hounds, common Earth Kingdom animals of burden like boar-oxen, and even a badgermole. Rong Yan and the gang landed directly where the stablehands gestured them to land Shen, jumping off Shen's neck he used air jets to slowly hover above the ground for a safe soft landing. Unaraq had slid off the back of Shen, Aloi too, Tanaraq stayed in the saddle to help Suluk get off Shen's back carefully without hurting him any further. Unaraq had given his parka to Suluk because Suluk's parka was torn and dirty the least he could for his father's best friend. Suluk reached into his sack to grab some bread and Tanaraq handed him her waterskin so he could quench his parched body.
Rong Yan ran off to speak with the stable master and rent a stable pen for Shen to rest in while his friends escorted Suluk to Pigu's family friend. Aloi went on ahead padding toward the bazaar to do some shopping for supplies. Unaraq and Tanaraq waited with Suluk for Rong Yan so they could head over to the docks together since Rong Yan carried the scroll to hand to the ship captain they were to meet.
Aloi walked toward some of the stands various ones who were selling fruits, nuts, and vegetables. Her mouth watered when she eyed a bakery that had egg tarts as their weekly special. Padding inside with a small woven basket in hand that was gifted to her by the villagers back in Sichuan village. A fat Earth Kingdom man with an apron with a few splotches of oil stood behind the counter he waited for her to order, he gave her a menu while she looked to her right where several different baked goods sat steaming and fresh out of the oven.
Skimming through the menu she noticed the egg tarts were a mere ten copper pieces, she had a full coin pouch from when Chief Unirak gave her and Rong Yan a monetary reward for taking out the Fifth Nation ship that invaded southern waters near the town of Kalluk.
"I'd like to order two egg tarts please," she smiled, the man behind the counter then asked her, "What size?" she was surprised that he asked her such a question they were normally made a medium-size or what airbenders would have known as just regular size.
"There's a size?" she questioned him, he nodded, "Well I'll take two large egg tarts!" she responded. The fat chef paced over to the right where under the counter he placed two large and fresh egg tarts placing them in separate boxes and stacking them on top of each other sliding them across the counter. Aloi grabbed them and placed them inside of the woven basket and walked out of the bakery.
"Sorry I took so long I was having a small conversation with one of the stablehands," Rong Yan apologized to Tanaraq, Unaraq, and Suluk. Unaraq responded, "It's alright but I think we should hurry at least before Pigu's family friend departs. Pigu mentioned that the ship usually departs two hours past noon and according to the sundial over there it's noon." They padded toward the bazaar's south heading to the docks where they would drop Suluk off. Rong Yan opened the scroll again to remember the name of the ship captain his name was Duizhang. He closed the scroll up once more and tucked it under his belt.
Aloi ran into them she waved her left in the air so that Unaraq, Tanaraq, Suluk or Rong Yan could see her. Unaraq finally saw her, he pointed over to her and they met up with her together. Suluk drank out of the waterskin again before capping it and handing it back to Tanaraq, they took another hour carefully and safely making it through the bazaar, there were roads where they had to wait before it was clear of carriages, carts, and people on mount animals. They finally reached the docks where there were several ships docks the shadows that appeared were growing every hour of the day. The boardwalk was filled with dockworkers, a man was taking a break, his hair was held up neatly in a topknot tied and held by a sangtuwan and pin. He was lunching on a meal Rong Yan approached him inquiring, "Do you know where we could find Duizhang's ship?"
The man swallowed his food and gulped some water from the bottle that rested on the crates he sat on he replied, "Yeah Captain Duizhang, three ships and then to the left is his." Rong Yan slightly bowed his head to the man as a thank you and led his friends just three ships down and to the left where a large wooden ship floated and docked a wooden ramp led to the deck of the ship. They each moved to one side as workers passed by and up the ramp with heavy crates containing exported goods to the Southern Water Tribe.
Another man on the deck of the ship was ordering the crew around his hairline receded quite a bit he held his dark brown hair parted in a topknot while the bottom half of his hair hang loosely. He wore an olive green tunic and dirt brown slacks with olive green stitches shoes on his feet, he had tan skin tone and dark brown sideburns. A tattoo of a religious scripture covered the forearm of his right arm. The man noticed the group at the bottom he signaled for the men to stop, he strode down the ramp to speak to the group.
"Is there anything I can help you with? Are you lost?" the man questioned the group, they all shook their heads.
"We're looking for Duizhang, one of the dockworkers down there gave us directions to his ship," Tanaraq replied.
"What is your business with the captain?" he inquired to the group, Rong Yan pulled the scroll from underneath his belt handing it to the man for a better explanation. He opened the scroll and read it nodding and closing it.
"I am Duizhang, which one of the Tribesmen is Suluk?" he asked, Unaraq and Rong Yan stepped aside, Suluk still thin and malnourished bowed his head to the captain of the ship, "I'm Suluk." He slightly frowned at the sight of Suluk feeling bad for the terrible state of health the former prisoner was.
"How our Lieshi and Pigu doing?" Duizhang wondered Rong Yan stepped forward, "We never met Lieshi he was..." pausing to find a good word to describe that Lieshi was murdered, "...he was slain by a man who took over Sichuan. And well Pigu is doing a lot better the other villagers lied to the man and told him his grandfather just disappeared because they felt it would be easier on him."
A tear fell from Duizhang's eye quickly wiping it away with his right index his head dropped from above his shoulders expressing sadness over the loss of his friend Lieshi. He nodded and then raised his head accepting the death of an old friend, "Pigu would understand death I just hope he doesn't obsess over Lieshi's demise, he's a good man never hurt a spider fly I can tell you that. I'll visit him after this shipment. Thank you."
Tanaraq, Aloi, Unaraq, and Rong Yan bowed to Duizhang and then Suluk to say their farewells to Suluk for now. Suluk wasn't able to bow his body was still too weak Duizhang did Suluk a favor and lifted him, his feet sprinting up the ramp with Suluk in his arms. They disappeared below deck they turned around and headed back to the bazaar of the city of Tianzhu.
Once upon reaching the bazaar which was a few feet from the docks they noticed a merchant stand to their left which they didn't even see before. The man behind the stand had various doodads and relics across the merchant a ship was docking. Unaraq slightly turned to see the huge ship being docked by dockworkers. The spinnaker pole had ropes tied to it to which the crew atop the ship were lowering their sails. The material of the sails were of a black pigment Unaraq noticed the ship that just arrived was a Fifth Nation pirate ship but he knew they wouldn't dare attack Tianzhu, the military docks nearby were just a few yards to their left they would easily decimate the ship and their crew let alone all the citizens who would defend their city.
Unaraq usually shuddered at the sight of Fifth Nation pirates most of them were crazy, murderous, rude and a few were weird. They approach the merchant stand, the man behind the stand gestured them with his arms to come closer, "You there come closer." They huddled close to the stand now giving their attention to the merchant.
"Are you four, treasure hunters?" he questioned them, "Well we're not treasure hunters or mercenaries. My friend over here is the Avatar, that's my sister and we made friends with an airbender," responded Unaraq.
"The Avatar is good enough for me I've been seeking individuals who are brave enough to retrieve for me a relic known as the Golden Claw," the merchant disclosed.
"I'm a historian who sells things on the sides sometimes common artifacts from periods of the past," the historian mentioned.
"The Golden Claw?" wondered Aloi.
"Yes, my Air Nomad friend, the Golden Claw, it is a rare artifact known to be hidden somewhere within this very land. I traveled far and wide and studied for years to find the clues to where the Golden Claw is hidden in. I've even traveled to Han Tui but the trail ran cold, eventually, I was led here," he explained.
"What's the story behind the artifact you're looking for?" Unaraq questioned the historian.
"The Golden Claw was once owned by a very rich and powerful noble family, the relic was passed down as a family heirloom throughout generations. It belongs to the Zhu family from the city-state of Ba Sing Se, the family has been around since the time before the Tong dynasty so as you can imagine the claw alone is old. The origins of the claw are unknown but it was discovered by a noble who explored a deep vast cave with hired men, eventually, it was passed down to an old woman named Shenqi Zhu who moved to Tianzhu with her husband at a young age," the historian claimed.
"One stormy evening when Shenqi was sleeping in her home a thief had broken into her estate and stole the claw from her land. The thief traveled to a nearby cave here by Tianzhu and hid there for the night while the storm blew over. The next morning Shenqi had awakened to a trashed home to find that her family heirloom which gave her good luck was gone. The claw was the only possession she had of her family. Shenqi and her husband couldn't have children and her and her brother were last two descendants of the noble family," the historian continued.
"Because of the loss of her family heirloom she fell ill and days later, Shenqi passed away in the early morning of the next day. News eventually reached Ba Sing Se that the claw was stolen and the death of his older sister sent Ping Zhu into depression. Not two nights have passed when the thief had woken by a strange noise while he lingered inside that old cave. He believed it must've been an animal he decided to take shelter in the cave. Eventually, it would go away, the noise persisted throughout the night that it angered him. Legend has it, his fate was met in that very cave, the old woman's spirit appeared to the thief and scared him to death," the historian told the group they were so far fascinated by the tale.
"Don't worry, rumor has it the spirit of the woman was put to rest when she frightened the thief to his end. Although maybe the ghost of the thief might have stuck around throughout all these years. Anyways, I've had a recent buyer for the Golden Claw who is best friends with the last descendant of the Zhu noble family, he wants to surprise his friend for his birthday with the heirloom. If you could retrieve the Golden Claw for me, I'd toss in a large sack of gold coins for you," the historian reckoned.
"Where exactly outside of Tianzhu is this cave?" wondered Unaraq while he strafed the minimal hairs on his chin.
"Good question I have two maps I've acquired at the local library here, the first map is of the outskirts of Tianzhu," the historian answered then paused pointing at the river on the northwestern corner of the map he noted, "Right over here is the Tianzhu river which isn't too far from the western entrance to the city. If you leave through the western exit of the city you can cross the river by using the bridge. From there it's directly north of the bridge, I hired a guy once to retrieve the claw for me but to no avail I assume he lost interest but this second map found its way to me, the words on the bottom left say it belongs to the cave near the Tianzhu river. Whoever charted a portion of the cave might have explored that area so this might prove useful to you, I wish every one of you the best of luck."
Rong Yan and his friends walked back a bit to let others browse the historian's goods studying the first map. They padded off to the western exit where they could cross the Tianzhu river if they strolled over the bridge. At the same time, one of the men from the ship happened to be nearby setting up a sign of advertisement so that potential customers could visit the ship's store. He happened to be hearing the conversation Team Avatar had with the historian a few feet from where he was setting up the sign.
He scurried up the ramp of the ship and bolted to a man in a black silk tunic, black pantaloons, black leather boots, he was pale-skinned, had gray eyes, a black fu manchu mustache, and a black tricorne hat covered his bald head. The unique feature of this man was he had tattooed writing angled diagonally across his face written in Earth Kingdom language. He had the Fifth Nation code tattooed on his face which contained only eleven rules all must abide by, rock the vote, do not steal from other pirates, gambling's for landlubbers, mind the curfew, keep battle-ready, never bring your date home, stand by your hearties, settle disputes onshore, lose a limb get worker's comp, rank has its privileges and giving the band a break. Breaking most of these laws of the code is punishable by death.
The man had a lizard parrot on his left shoulder these avian creatures were quite rare and put a nice price on the black market in the province of Han. The pirate shouted to get his captain's attention, "Captain Sao Feng! Captain Sao Feng!"
Captain Sao Feng the captain of the ship was daydreaming about raiding a remote coastal village on the Earth Kingdom full of treasure. When he heard the loud squeaky cries of the schmuck crewmember that Iminaurak assigned to Sao Feng, he sighed, "Yes...Tuoba, what is it now?"
"Captain, I overheard the merchant down there talk to a group of hoodlums about the Golden Claw we came here for!" shouted Tuoba.
"Hold that thought, Da Fu assemble the men Tuoba knows the location of the claw!" he exclaimed, parading across the deck toward Da Fu. He then added, "I need two rowboats, one for us and the lowly deck swabber and another for five of our crew." Da Fu slightly bowed his head to his best friend before yelling to the men to assemble and ready the rowboats.
"Good job, Tuoba you're finally useful for something! Now head over to Quartermaster Junxu and tell him he's leading the crew until I return!" Sao Feng barked orders at the lowly pirate, he scurried down below deck to let the quartermaster know. Two boats dropped to the waters below caressing the rowboats. The first rowboat consisted of Captain Sao Feng, First Mate Da Fu, Tuoba, and their healer Yi Wu Shi, a waterbender of both Earth Kingdom and Southern Water Tribe parentage. Tuoba and Yi Wu Shi were assigned to row the boats toward the river while waterbending pirate sat in the other boat and propelled his group toward the river quickly.
Meanwhile, Rong Yan and the gang wandered off north Unaraq leading the group forward while he read the map and peeped up every few seconds to see where he was heading off to. After a few minutes, they finally stood in front of the cavern where the Golden Claw was said to be contained in. Unaraq folds up the first map and takes the second one out of his pocket, unfolding it to find exactly where they're at, on the paper the map ends at a fork in the cave. Maybe that's where the other treasure hunter left off before abandoning the lone expedition.
"Where exactly does this river lead to Tuoba?" inquired Sao Feng.
"On the southern end where we're at it leads to Tianzhu Bay, on the northeastern end it leads to the Gulf of Zhi Hong. Our destination isn't that far it's just past the bridge and then another five miles," answered Tuoba.
At the same time as Sao Feng's crew rowboats toward the cave, Team Avatar is exploring the cave at the pace of which Unaraq reads the map. Rong Yan lighting the way with a fireball in his left hand. They finally come to the end of the map which was in progress, the fork within the cave the left path leads somewhere and the right path leads to another. Before they continue they pause Unaraq deciding on which path to use, Rong Yan brought up to Tanaraq, "Hey while we're taking you to the North Pole your dad mentioned you could teach me some waterbending. Is there any way we can start that soon?" he asked her.
"So you do want me to teach you waterbending?" she returned an echo question, Rong Yan nodded, "Yeah I wouldn't I?" Tanaraq wanted to be sly she observed to Rong Yan what Aloi told her that day they went out for breakfast back in Iqaluit. She thought she was clever and disclosed the information but in the Tribesman language. Unaraq and Aloi were discussing the map and where to head onto.
"Hey didn't you say you can hear sounds in the air?" Unaraq brought up to Aloi. She corrected him, "Not hear but see yes I can," he tittered then asked her, "Do you think you can be kind of and use your ability for us?" She smiled and nodded, closing her eyes she took in a deep breath and amplified her hearing in the right tunnel first.
"When we were waiting for our food in Iigaa's Noodlery I wanted to get to know her better, I casually mentioned that I was willing to teach you waterbending if you were planning on staying in the South Pole while waiting for Naartok. She insulted me by saying that you prefer masters that are confident in their bending form preferably those of over thirty years," Tanaraq recalled.
"The argument escalated warning me to never go against the Avatar's past life's wishes, I suppose your past life has arranged masters for you," she said.
"Indeed he has, but it wouldn't hurt to learn from someone else while I wait for the arranged master to return," Rong Yan agreed.
"Thank you for agreeing with me, as I was saying, I don't know what I said to get off on the wrong foot with her. She even dared to threaten me by telling me that your past life would punish me for going against his wishes by forcibly manifesting from your body to end me!" she divulged everything that Aloi said to her when they went to the noodlery.
"You know I expected airbenders to be more polite, tranquil and docile but she's the complete opposite she's rude, violent and bitter," Tanaraq remarked.
When Tanaraq was divulging everything that happened in the noodlery to Rong Yan, Aloi's sonic sense caught the words that were coming out of her mouth while she saw the sounds in the right cave. From what she heard in the right path was a waterfall deep in the right tunnel. She was rather irritated that Unaraq's sister would gossip to Rong Yan about what happened at the noodlery but she knew it would eventually reach her friend's ears.
Aloi interrupted Tanaraq who gasped taking a step back, "You do realize I can understand and hear everything you're saying right?"
"You would gossip to my friend about what happened at the noodlery and make a nasty comment about me and my people? How dare you!" she exclaimed, she stomped over to Tanaraq irritated but not enough to reach the boiling point.
"Admit your wrong and I'm right, you insulted and threatened me, I expected better from an arrowhead!" Tanaraq insulted Aloi again. This time she was now exasperated she screamed at Tanaraq while pointing her finger at her, "Someone needs to teach you some manners! That's a very offensive word! You call yourself a princess but you're nothing but a venomous, unladylike, immature brat!"
"You act like a disrespectful nasty witch! I'm surprised you survived this long because continuing to act like this you won't make it very far! You put all princesses to shame, the Princess of the Fire Nation wouldn't even associate with you!" Aloi taunted Tanaraq her voice quavered.
Unaraq stepped in between both girls, Aloi shifted into the li gua stance while Tanaraq in the gong bu stance, they were ready to fight. Rong Yan shouts, "Enough!" while at the same time Unaraq yells, "STOP! This ends here! I'm tired of you two wanting to tear each other apart like hog monkeys! You two need to need to stop fighting and focus on the job!" Rong Yan grabbed Tanaraq by the wrist leading her a few steps back, while Unaraq pointed to the left cave then placing his hand on Aloi's shoulder, "Please focus," he calmly said. She was still angry but took a few deep breaths to calm herself down.
Shutting her eyes again she focused on using sonic sense in the tunnel harking everything within. She wasn't able to hear much as it remained silent, they were in a cave it could be an obvious sign of a cave-in that might have happened in the past. Maybe it was caused by the treasure hunter that was sent here by the historian all that time ago. She lowered her head in shame for angering both her friends Rong Yan and Unaraq she sniffled before sucking it up and pointing to the right tunnel declaring, "This one, the other is silent I'm guessing it's caved in."
Meanwhile, the pirates were arriving at the Zhu cave named after the Zhu family where the supposed Golden Claw's final resting place was rumored to be. Sao Feng ordered Tuoba and Yi Wu Shi, "You two pull up right here on the sand, we're here."
Immediately the rowboat they were in came to a soft landing next to the other rowboat steered by the waterbender in Sao Feng's crew. They grabbed their weapons and what other else they needed and headed toward the cave nestled into the monadnock. Da Fu opened his satchel grabbing spark rocks while another pirate handed out torches. Lighting two torches one for two pirates to carry and lead the group of nine into the caves.
"We should able to find this claw with some light hopefully the map my grandfather had drawn out of the cavern is correct. Let's find this artifact and get out of here before those kids show up, I don't plan on dying in this cave, my great grandfather did after he stole the claw from that old hag," Sao Feng chatted to his crew. The small crew roamed inside the cavern with their lit torches Sao Feng and Da Fu led the group through the deeper tunnels. Tuoba couldn't wait to get his hands on the Golden Claw for his captain, maybe then would Sao Feng would give him some respect.
Upon reaching the fork in the road the pirates take the left tunnel which according to the map was the safest route when it was cartographed. It was nothing but a pure boring straight tunnel with no surprises that led to the chamber where the claw laid in. Much to the dismay of the Rong Yan and his friends who only have a half-finished map of the Zhu cavern both the right and left tunnels lead to the final chamber in the version that the pirates had in their possession.
The roaring echo of the waterfall got louder as they neared the waterfall, there was a larger chamber within the right tunnel, a waterfall was to their right and underneath was a stream of water that led either deeper into the caverns or connected to the river outside of the cavern. There was only half of the natural land bridge that would help them cross to the other side of the tunnel. The other half was missing it could've been a cause from stalactites falling from the ceiling of the cave or so Rong Yan thought.
He requested from Tanaraq, "Can you use the water from the waterfall and create an ice bridge so that we could get across?"
She smiled, "Sure can," she shifted into the universally Gong Bu stance that's shared by both the southern and northern styles of waterbending. She swished her right arm to the right and pulled some water with her left, channeling this a bit more to take more water. Tanaraq concentrated on forming the other half of the land bridge with ice, making it as thick as possible to prevent it from shattering and causing them to fall to their deaths.
As far as the little argument they had earlier Aloi didn't trust Tanaraq with her safety if she decided to cross the ice bridge. She padded back a few feet from her friends deciding to go last. Rong Yan and Tanaraq were the first to cross, Unaraq noticed that Aloi backed up a bit, concerned he questioned her body language, "What's wrong?"
"I don't trust your sister, it's better if I jump over the bridge she made," Aloi confessed to the omission she wasn't willing to give him.
"Cross with me she wouldn't collapse the bridge if I'm on it," he assured her. Unaraq extended his palm with a small smile, Aloi gazed at his hand and then placed her hand on his. He led her across the land bridge and then the temporary ice bridge his sister formed. Tanaraq was about to collapse the bridge when Rong Yan stopped her, "Wait don't, we should leave it so that we could return this way," she nodded to his suggestion. The ice bridge connected to another piece of ground that was raised high above the cavern grounds, they walked down the natural ramp into what they believed was the final chamber in the cave. Rong Yan's arm was tired so he put out the flame and started a new one on his right arm, increasing the size of the fireball in his hand to extend the radius of the light.
Laying upon a rock was the old skeleton, the bones of the skeleton were now dry and brittle, there was moss that had grown on some of the hand bones of the skeletal remains they found. The moss extended on the rock, the skeleton sat beside the rock, a few bones were missing on the body like its right leg. Maybe one of the scavenger creatures that call this cave its home could've eaten the bones for the calcium. The old clothing the skeleton wore were torn heavily and stained with the bodily fluids it released during decomposition of the body.
At the same time the pirates reach the end of their tunnel, Sao Feng gestured his men to stop they all could see the faint glow of a fire. Da Fu now a bit worried whispered to his best friend, "So the stories are true, this cave is haunted." Tuoba squirmed at the thought of the apparition of the old woman or Sao Feng's great grandfather patiently waiting for them to take the claw. Sao Feng heard the soft squeal that emitted out of Tuoba's mouth another pirate covered Tuoba's mouth.
"Tuoba sneak on over and grab the claw and then run back down this tunnel we'll be waiting for you here," ordered Sao Feng.
Tuoba shook his head quickly denying the orders because he was too frightened to do what he was told. Sao Feng grabbed him by his tunic softly slamming him into the wall, "Listen here I order you to get that claw and you will do it or else I'll eviscerate your gut here and this'll be your grave. Are we clear?" he threatened Tuoba in an intimidating manner, Tuoba tried to squeal again but instead, he nodded repeatedly. Tuoba minces forward at the end of the tunnel before entering the final chamber he stood there hesitantly until one of the pirates pushed Tuoba in the larger chamber, without a torch he was in the dark alone while his crew padded away to abandon him there while they ran back to the fork.
Tuoba carefully pussyfooted and tiptoed through the darkness he stayed silent the entire time as he approached the light that emitted from behind a large rock. He attempted to remain hidden as much as possible hoping the ghost wouldn't detect him. Tuoba heard communication between different voices, the darkness twisted the thoughts in his mind. Rong Yan, Unaraq, Tanaraq and Aloi stared at the skeletal remains of the former thief in his right hand he clutched the claw. The large golden claw had three talons and was made of pure gold. On the claw was etched writings in Ba Sing Seian dialect they weren't sure what the writing on the claw said. Aloi argued with Unaraq about the claw, "I'm not going to be a part of this desecration!"
"He's dead, he won't be needing it anymore. Plus, he stole the claw from the old woman we'd be doing her a favor by retrieving the claw for her," Unaraq countered trying to convince Aloi that the skeletal remains of the person belonged to a bad guy and that it was okay to defile the corpse and remove the artifact from its cold bony fingers. The skeleton must have been at least century-old for the state it was in. Rong Yan continued in silence holding up the flame that was now reduced to a radius around them covering half of the rock where the bones rested.
It became clear to Tuoba as he got closer that the fire was created by the firebender who was surrounded by three others, two women and another man. He silently shuffled toward the claw and waited for them to become distracted. Rong Yan joined the argument as the middle man while Tanaraq rolled her eyes and extended her hand out to reach for the artifact trying her best to avoid contact with the bony hand of the dead thief.
It was now or never while the other three argued he saw one of the women kneel before the cadaver reaching for the claw. He shuffled quicker and soon met the woman's gaze he saw that she was of Water Tribe descent, sweat began to pour from her nice and smooth brown skin, and also found it weird that her hair was white like snow but she showed no wrinkles.
"Yoink!" Tuoba piped yanking the Golden Claw out of the bony hand of the long-dead thief, the hand came off the skeleton along with artifact clutching it tightly. When Tanaraq met eyes with an olive-skinned man with dirt on his forehead she shrilled releasing a deafening shriek. The echoing of the shriek reached the end of the left tunnel where the pirate crew waited for the impoverish and squeamish pirate. Except what startled them was that it wasn't the same squeal that came out of Tuoba's mouth rather a more feminine shriek. Tuoba bolted down the left tunnel giggling nervously and full of fear, instantly Rong Yan, Unaraq and Aloi's argument about desecrating the skeletal remains of the thief came to a sudden halt they looked at Tanaraq who was shaking in fear, Rong Yan noticed the claw was no longer in the skeleton's hand.
"What happened to the claw?" he asked Tanaraq.
"The thief's ghost took it!" she screamed.
"What are you talking about?" Unaraq inquired trying to calm her down, Aloi used her sonic sense to try and find any sounds nearby. She was mentally able to imagine small feet hitting the ground at a rapid rate.
"I saw the thief's face! He was of Earth Kingdom ethnicity, and he had long dark brown hair!" she shouted breathing rapidly scared she dug her nails into Unaraq's arm clenching his arm frightened.
The pirates screamed in unison and sprinted out of the cave entirely, Sao Feng took a brief glimpse at the sky seeing the sun was closely positioned near a mountain to the east, it was now five hours past noon and the skies began to turn an orange color with a tinge of purple.
"No it's not a ghost, it's a person and he ran down the left tunnel that I thought was caved in," Aloi surmised.
"Wait are you saying we were followed?" Rong Yan guessed.
"Well seeing as how I saw his footsteps then your guess is as good as any," Aloi responded. Rong Yan split the flame in his right palm into two, lighting up the cavern, Aloi, Unaraq, and Tanaraq ran through the left tunnel of the cave while Rong Yan was behind them keeping flames a sizable amount in his palms lighting the tunnel. Sao Feng and the crew were preparing to leave on their rowboats after Tuoba was discovered by what they thought was the apparition of the old woman or the thief, they felt like they greatly angered the ghosts and needed to depart swiftly to avoid coming in contact with the spirits.
All of a sudden Tuoba darted out the cave-like a catapult flinging a flaming rock across the sky, with the claw in clutches. He hit the sand Sao Feng, Da Fu, Yi Wu Shi, and the others jerked their heads to the sudden sound of a thud to see Tuoba holding the Golden Claw. "Captain! Captain! I got the claw!" he shouted, the pirates cheered then Tuoba studying the claw in his hands then discovered the skeletal hand came off with the artifact he screamed and squirmed dropping the claw to the sandy ground. Da Fu rolled his eyes and got off the boat tramping over to the claw to pick it.
That's when Aloi, Unaraq, Tanaraq, and Rong Yan emerged out of the cave Da Fu stared at the four treasure hunters that ran out of the cave as well. Tanaraq, Da Fu, Tuoba and Rong Yan eyed each other then back at the claw. With fast reflexes, Rong Yan sent an uppercut of flames at Da Fu while Tanaraq slapped Tuoba in the face with a water whip.
Tuoba was knocked down to the side of the claw shouting at Sao Feng, "Captain! THE CLAW!"
Sao Feng quickly reacted pulling his cutlass out of the scabbard on his waist, "PIRATES! TO BATTLE!" The pirates roar only about six of them pull out their cutlasses while the other three Yi Wu Shi and two others hopped out the boats shifting into stances. The two waterbenders shifted into a xu bu stance showing off that they were northern style waterbenders, despite only one of them being from the South. Xu Bu was similar to gong bu but balanced on one foot while the other foot was raised and their back arm was extended out more while their dominant arm extended out in front of them, their hand was closed into a fist except for the index finger that was raised. The earthbender stood in the Ma Bo stance, he grinned knowing he was pretty skilled in sandbending.
Da Fu lunged at Rong Yan while Sao Feng and the other six non-benders charged to battle upon hearing their captain's battle cry. Aloi swiftly wrapped Da Fu's ankle with air using suction to yank his ankle and knock him off-balance. Da Fu faceplanted hard onto the sand, Tuoba tried to sneak attack Tanaraq who was focused on redirecting whatever the two waterbenders could throw at her, just a few centimeters from the girl before her brother rushed quickly using the pommel of his machete to slap Tuoba across his face. The two waterbenders pulled a wave out of the river raising it to land and attempting to wash Team Avatar away. The earthbender focused and surrounded Team Avatar and the pirates in big fortified walls of earth to prevent the outnumbered enemies from escaping but instead facing their ends.
Tuoba rolls away going for the claw once again Rong Yan kicks the claw out of Tuoba and Sao Feng's grasp. Tanaraq being the waterbending master she was, took control of the wave she surrounded herself and Unaraq in a disc of pressurized water. The earthbender's attempts to break through the shield of water were fended off. Even though the main purpose of the surrounding walls was to trap them he instead used portions of them to shatter Tanaraq's shield. Tanaraq dodged the wall portions while holding the barrier of water before the earthbender broke it with a solidified stalagmite out of the ground. It surprised her because it caused her to stagger. The water splashed around her a small boulder flew at her before it was knocked off course by Aloi's airbending. She turned to see who knocked the boulder away and preventing it from hitting her, she met eyes with Aloi. She nodded quickly rising to her feet she pulled the water out of the sand and used to clash with the two waterbenders striking both men slamming them into the river.
Yi Wu Shi was stronger than the other waterbender while the current swept away the other waterbender. He quickly used the water to jet him back to shore pulling the water with him before releasing a torrent of water that gushed at Tanaraq hitting her. She dropped to the sand, the earthbender rolled to his left another large ball of fire flung toward Da Fu. He rose a wall of sand solidifying it to take the impact of the fireball without breaking. Another rather large pirate clashes blades with Unaraq, Sao Feng charging at Unaraq with his cutlass out in front of him. A conjured blast of air in a crescent-shape wave collided with Sao Feng pounding him and sending him flying his cutlass falling into the sand blade first.
Unaraq parried the blow of the cutlass by holding his machete vertically in the small window of opportunity he kicked the man in the stomach as hard as he could. The pirate slumped and passed out from the injury to his stomach. The kick caused internal bleeding. Unaraq's eyes scanned the battle to see he could help, only seven pirates remained.
Another pirate tries his luck at grabbing the claw Tanaraq freezes him encasing the entire pirate in ice save his hand that struggled to break free, he stood frozen. His screams muffled by the thick ice that surrounded his body. He dropped the claw and she picked it up finally, she hid it inside her robes and decided to continue helping out Rong Yan, who was fighting the earthbender, Sao Feng, and Da Fu while Tuoba was still unconscious, and three pirates were fighting Aloi.
Unaraq ran over to assist Rong Yan, then Rong Yan leaped into the air flipping forward and conjuring a wheel of fire and that spun toward the earth wall breaking it into two. When the smoke dissipated all that remained was the burnt corpse of the earthbender it was clear that the fire wheel injured his face and the crumbling wall finished the job. Sao Feng and Da Fu noticed their earthbender was dead both running opposite sides. Sao Feng scanned the area for the claw but did not see it anywhere hoping Tuoba grabbed it and ran only to discover that Tuoba was unconscious on the ground.
Aloi was surrounded by three pirates with cutlasses each one trying to slice and dice the airbender but to no avail, she dodged every blow that came at her. Yi Wu Shu formed the water from his waterskin into a tentacle that wrapped around her ankle forcing her to crash into the sand. This was enough for the pirates to move in and make the kill, the chubby pirate jogged forward ready to impale the airbender on his blade.
Rong Yan attentive decides to make his next few moves, he yells at Aloi warning her about the incoming thunderclap, "Aloi! Thunderclap incoming!", circling a muffle barrier around himself, Unaraq and Tanaraq. Aloi rolled to her right before using the soundwaves around her to create a sound barrier to protect herself from the thunderclap which was a part of the calamity tree of soundbending. Rong Yan swiftly switched into Simha stance which was one of the six calamity stances of soundbending. Both of his legs were shoulder-width apart facing forward, his body was facing to the side in a pivot and his arms were extended and shaped like a saber-tooth moose lion's mouth while his hands are forming the fangs of the beast. The pirates continued trying to stab her while she rolled around that's when Rong Yan slammed both of his hands into each other.
Thunderous blast emitted from his hands the three pirates that remained were flung into the air, two were flung into the river and dragged by the current while the other flew straight up and hit the ground. His sword fell soon after plunging into his chest. Fortunately, Tuoba, Sao Feng, Yi Wu Shi, and Da Fu were at a distance at the time of the thunderclap Yi Wu Shi carried Tuoba dropping him as soon as the blast hit his ears, falling on top of him. All four of their ears were ringing ever so loudly that even Da Fu threw up from it.
At the same time, in the city of Tianzhu the thunderous clap echoes through the skies many looked to the skies thinking it was a thunderstorm only to discover there were no clouds in the sky. Now they thought it was a booming roar from Tiandi himself, maybe angry at the Earth Kingdom pantheon. The military docks filled with troops stopped marching they were startled by the sudden boom that they readied their weapons as if awaiting something. The governor stepped out of his estate requesting a guard tell him what was going on, the guard confused shrugged at the governor.
Meanwhile back at Zhu cave in a last attempt move, Sao Feng tossed his cutlass at Aloi, who blocked it with a powerful air shield. Rong Yan sent a scorching fireball directly at Sao Feng's face hitting his left eye. He tripped falling back inside the rowboat. Da Fu yelled at the top of his lungs, "RETREAT!", Yi Wu Shi leaped on the boat, quickly composing himself then using his waterbending to steer the rowboat back to Tianzhu harbor where the rest of the crew waited petrified at the thundering sound that echoed and shook the buildings of the city.
Rong Yan deemed it necessary to drop the muffle barrier now seeing as the pirates fled the battle like the defeated cowards they were. The current of the river went south Unaraq knew a pirate's grave was the scene. The pirates though being criminals fought bravely and he felt they deserved at least a proper funeral rite. He looked over to his friends, "Pile the bodies of the dead please," he requested. Rong Yan and Aloi grabbed the only two dead pirates and dragged them over to the shore where Tanaraq used her waterbending to envelope the two bodies dragged them into the river and letting them float to see. Unaraq knelt on the sand giving them a blessing to Anguta the god of death.
"Where's the Golden Claw?" inquired Rong Yan looking all over the beach, Tanaraq pulled the claw out of her robes, "I got it right here," she answered waving the artifact around. They headed back to the bridge which was five miles south of the cave where they would cross the bridge and back into the city to return the artifact to the historian. They reach the city again in two hours, seven hours past noon almost nearing the evening. The sky was dark now Rong Yan lit the roads for his friends to the harbor where hopefully the historian would still be waiting if not they could return the very next day. Upon reaching the harbor the historian was bagging things up into a few crates and sacks before heading off to archaeology guild headquarters right in Tianzhu for the night.
Stooped over tying a sack he overheard a group of footsteps approaching him he took a brief gander behind him to see Rong Yan and his friends arrive. His eyes beamed at the sight of the Golden Claw in Tanaraq's hands he spoke up, "The Golden Claw! You found it!"
"Wow it is made of pure gold!" he marveled at the sight of the golden artifact, Tanaraq handed it to Rong Yan who placed it on the counter of the stand. The history merchant grabbed it and placed it in a small crate inside of his cart. Thanking the group he says, "Thank you so much for retrieving this, I'll make sure it gets to the last descendant of the Zhu family, I'll never forget this. If you're ever Ba Sing Se stop by the University, I'll try my best to get you the best beds in town!" Rong Yan, Aloi, Tanaraq and Unaraq bow to the historian, he returned the same in respect chuckling at the sight of the claw in his possession.
Meanwhile, out at sea, Yi Wu Shi is hovering a glob of water over Sao Feng's burned eye healing the wound hoping Sao Feng would be able to see again. But to no avail, Yi Wu Shi sighs dropping the glob of water back in the pot within his infirmary below deck. He turned to his left side grabbing some bandages to wrap around Sao Feng's left eye.
"I'm doing the best I can, captain. In no time you should be able to see from that eye again. But grab some rest, for now, I'll heal it again in the morning," advised Yi Wu Shi. Sao Feng was a bit irate at the moment he quickly rose from the cot and marched outside where Tuoba was swabbing the deck as usual. Da Fu stood idly looking at out at sea with the spyglass watching the harbor of Tianzhu. Tuoba waved at Sao Feng, before lumbering over to Tuoba he shouted at the cook, "You swab the deck!"
Approaching Tuoba he barked in his face, "And you! I'm so very exhausted of you! You must walk the plank!"
Tuoba tried to reason with the captain but he would hear none of it he pulled out the cutlass off the other pirate's sash pointing it at Tuoba warning him, "If you don't walk off that plank right now I'll gut you like a fish and cut off your head!"
Tuoba squealed like a girl that he back up and questioned the captain, "Why?"
"Because of you..." he paused.
"I lost possession of the Golden Claw you, imbecile!" Sao Feng hissed.
"Walk the plank!" he ordered Tuoba who was trembling with fear this was his fate. First Mate Da Fu pulled out his cutlass as well pacing over to Sao Feng standing beside the captain not giving Tuoba much of a choice now that two cutlasses were being pointed at him. Tuoba lets out a girly screech running off the plank and into the big drink. He began to swim toward the shore at this point if he ever showed his face on Kauk or to Sao Feng's crew they would execute him on the spot.
Captain Sao Feng jerked his head to bark orders at the sailing master, "Chuanzhang head a course for Taku!" The sailing master bowed to his captain's orders mincing over to the ship's wheel. The others got busy with their positions while they headed toward Taku. Sao Feng retired to his quarters where he would rest until they arrived at the capital city of Taku, Taku City, as advised by the ship surgeon Yi Wu Shi.