By all means the Inn Hama was running was a very nice building. It was clean, big and spacious. The floors and walls were made of good quality dark woods. On the floors there were rugs in different earthly colours making everything look very nice and homely.
And yet Zuko still felt unnerved… maybe it was all that stupid talk of spirits that had gotten to him.
He had issues! Zuko knew he had issues! The image of the massive spirit La being right in front of him while Zhao was dragged away. Unable to get himself loose. Was just yet another picture that had been added to Zukos nightmares.
That wasn't even to begin with freaking Desiree! At least Yue had seemed kind of nice.
Now they were all seated in what looked like Hamas own dining room as she kindly served tea for all of them like promised.
Well… It did calm Zuko down and he inhaled the tangy scent of the hot drink before taking a sip. "This is green tea with a hint of ginger and some fennel right?"
Hama blinked. "You could tell all that from a taste?"
Aang smirked. "Lee is a bit of a tea expert." he informed.
"Not really. I'm nothing in comparison to my uncle." Zuko said as he took another sip and looked up. "It's good. Thank you."
"Well. It's nice with young people able to recognise the finer subtleties of tea." Hama smiled. "What a nice young man."
"It's a really nice inn you have here." Katara added as she looked around.
"Thank you. That's very sweet." Hama smiled. "I'm really glad I found you. You really shouldn't be alone out in those woods at this time."
"Yeah you… You said people had disappeared doing fullmoon." Sokka hesitated. "What did you mean by that?"
"What I said." Hama replied. "People go out in the forest at the time of the full moon and they are gone. Without a trace."
Everyone quieted as they looked wide-eyed at Hama.
"Does anyone want more tea?" Hama asked in a warm smile as she stood up as if the former conversation hadn't even happened. And everyone were just to stunned to even answer as they just wide-eyed looked at her. "Oh I know. Why don't I show you to your rooms?" she asked. "It's late and you all seem to be growing girls and boys. You need proper rest. You can enjoy your tea and relax, then get some sleep. I got plenty of work for strapping young lads tomorrow."
"…. Sure." Sokka finally said. "That sounds good."
Zuko had kind of assumed they would be more people being sharing a room. Potentially it would just be two rooms. One for the boys and one for the girls.
But no. Hama being all kind smiles showed them to each their own private room and suddenly Zuko was left alone in a big room with just one big bed in the middle of it.
… He hated it.
The wind outside made the woods of the building creek and the cold light of the moon was shining through the window.
This was so weird. Zuko had gotten so used to sleep close to the others that right now he really felt that missing space right next to him. Yes he would complain about Toph always wanting him to be her private pillow. But it was actually kind of nice… It was comforting. He got to feel safe and not so alone.
Only to well did Zuko remember the last time he had slept alone in a room which was back at Ba Sing Se and everyone was about to go to shit.
Well at least right now he knew exactly where the others were. There was only a single wall separating him from Sokka who was in the room next door and Toph across the hallway.
Just then Zuko heard taps on the window which almost made him jump out of his skin! Quickly Zuko twirled to face the window and he gasped. "Lin-Lin!" he yelled then ran to the window to let the turtle duck in. "You scared me." he sighed deeply.
The worlds most spoiled turtle duck didn't seem like it listened and just flapped right unto Zukos shoulder for a warm spot in the unusually chilly night.
Zuko sighed deeply. Well at least there was one person here who was sure to never leave him and Zuko couldn't help but admit that as he finally went to bed now hugging a purring turtle duck close to his chest he did feel kind of better. At least he was able to fall a sleep.
As usual Zuko woke up as the first lights of Agni was about to break over the horizon and he yawned deeply, somehow not feeling rested… At all. In spite of this being the first time he had slept in a bed since forever.
Weirdly enough Zuko preferred the outsides as well as a crowded tent shared with Sokka and Aang.
At least though some things stayed the same and Zuko quickly put on clothes then groggily walked to Aangs room to shake him away for their sunrise meditation.
Aang didn't look rested either. There were bags under his eyes and he was complaining annoyed, still they went outside just as the first rays of sun came and warmed up Zukos skin.
Maybe Zuko was just biased being a fire bender and all. But things felt better now that there was light and the warm rays of Agni was bathing him in light and energy.
As they had finished their meditation and a few stances both Aang and Zuko returned to the Inn, no one had woken up yet and Zuko headed to the kitchen to start tea like he always did. It was just habit.
"My you are up early aren't you young man?"
"Wuarg!" Zuko jumped back and twirled around to see a little old lady who was so skinny that it looked like a mild wind could knock her over.
Hama blinked. "I didn't mean to startle you."
"No. I… Sorry." Zuko gasped. "I guess I was just lost in thought and I.." he halted. "I'm making tea. I hope that's all right." he gestured. "I'm using my own tea leafs!" he assured. "I'm not stealing… I'm borrowing your kettle though. I'm sorry if that's not okay."
Hama chuckled. "Of course you can borrow the kettle. And the tea pot." she held up a hand. "I assume you're making tea for everyone."
"Yeah…" Zuko nodded. "It's rude not to make to everyone. That's what Uncle always taught me."
"What a polite young man." Hama smiled. "I'll be looking forward to taste the tea made from a real tea expert." she said amused.
"Seriously it's not that good." Zuko blushed deeply. "My uncles is way better…. I… I hope you'll like it though."
"I am sure it'll be just fine." Hama said. "Now let's get breakfast started to go with that wonderful tea. I'm afraid I don't have much. I hope porridge will be all right. At least I have some fresh fruit to put on it."
"That sounds great." Zuko said. "I'm sorry we don't have money to pay you."
"Nonsense! Nonsense!" Hama waved her hand at him. "To be able to spend a day with such nice children is its own reward! It gets lonely here from time to time."
"Oh. I see." Zuko nodded and finally returned to his tea brewing as Hama rummaged around for grains to start breakfast.
To be fair to Hama. She was be a perfectly kind and sweet host. Happy to make everyone breakfast and dish up plenty for them all saying they were all clearly growing and needed to eat. Then reminded them to put fresh fruit on too to get some vitamins.
After breakfast Katara insisted that they cleaned up and washed dishes while Hama relaxed, which Hama accepted while thanking them for their kindness.
Soon after they were off to the marked where Hama took full advantage of the help. Asking them all to carry the heavy bags of grain, rice, vegetables and other.
Hama seemed to be particularly enjoying Kataras company as the two walked in front, chatting and laughing with each other.
"Seriously is it just me or is something seriously off with that old lady?" Sokka asked.
Zuko repressed a shiver and then exhaled. "I don't know Sokka. Maybe she really just is an old lonely woman." he said.
"Yeah." Aang replied. "She lives all alone at that place."
"And yet all three of you are on edge." Toph commented dryly. "Katara is the only one relaxed."
Zuko closed his eyes as he concentrated on his breath just as a man spoke to one of the vendors.
"You really don't have any ash bananas?"
The Vendor sighed. "Sorry. To get them you need to get to the next island and it's a two day trip. And I rather not loose another errand boy."
"Oh right." The costumer stood up. "It's full moon tomorrow isn't it? Yeah better not risk it."
Zuko, Sokka, Aang and Toph all halted. They glanced at each other then finally they dared to slowly approach.
"Erhm excuse me." Aang politely spoke up. "Sorry. We're travellers. So it's true that people have gone missing doing the full moon."
"Yeah." The costumer nodded. "It's creepy. It only happens full moon. People go out and they are just gone! Not a sound or trace of them." he mopped his forehead with a handkerchief. "Listen kids if you are travellers just stay here for the next couple of days. And stay inside at night." he asked. "It's not safe out there."
"Thank you sir. We will." Aang politely bowed for him and the two men nodded before returning to their own talk.
Aangs own little group stepped back.
"Yeah that definitely sounds like spirit shenanigans to me." Sokka commented and Zuko shivered.
Aang nodded. "You know how it is with spirits. Someone must have done something to upset them. So let's… Figure what that thing is and fix it! And then it'll be all right."
Zuko blinked. "It's that easy?" he asked.
"Yeah." Aang nodded. "Spirits are mostly harmless as long as you don't upset them."
"Mostly harmless." Zuko replied dryly.
"Heh." Aang smiled apologetically. "Honestly, as long as you keep the spirits happy you're fine." he said. "That's my entire job as Avatar though! To maintain balance between these two worlds so the spirits aren't upset. That's literately the reason I exist."
"Oh… Right." Zuko nodded.
"So this is absolutely my area. Let's fix this and save some people." Aang beamed just as Hama turned back towards them with a kind smile on her face.
"I'm sorry I had you carry all that. It must be heavy." Hama said. "Why don't you head back while I ran the last few errands myself."
"Will you be okay?" Katara asked concerned.
"Of course." Hama chuckled. "I live here. It's nothing I am not used to doing. I just need to pick up a robe I had the seamstress fix the hem off and talk to that nice man who has been fixing my roof."
"I see." Katara nodded. "Well we'll meet you back at the inn then."
"Of course." Hama smiled. "And if you're hungry there are moon peaches in the bags! Have some." she offered. "I know lemurs love them. And prickle berries for your cute turtle duck."
Zuko smiled amused. "We're being spoiled." he said.
Hama shook her head. "I have no children of my own and thus no gran children. Let me have this." she asked.
"Of course." Katara smiled. "You've been so nice to us."
"Anything young lady. I'll see you around mystery kids." Hama nodded and finally walked away.
"Yeah…. Nice." Sokka commented. "Kind of too nice if you ask me."
Katara rolled her eyes. "Honestly Sokka. She's just a lonely old lady. She kind of reminds me of Gran-gran."
"Then what is that mystery kids thing about?" Sokka asked.
"She finds five strange kids in the middle of the woods with no adults in sight." Katara huffed. "Kind of mysterious isn't it?"
"Well who just invites strangers inside like that and offer them free food?" Sokka asked.
"My uncle…" Zuko said and they turned to him. "My uncle would totally do exactly that. So it's not… Impossible."
"Well your uncle isn't creepy." Sokka said.
"Sokka!" Katara exclaimed. "She can't help how she looks! Don't be so mean! She's only been nice to us."
"Yeaaah." Aang admitted. "Maybe it's just this entire place that's creepy. She just lives here."
Zuko exhaled deeply. "Let's just get back to the Inn." he asked as he felt his arms starting to ache from the things he was carrying around and the rest nodded solemnly.