Eyes gaped at the sudden appearance of a woman draped in red, mud covered clothes, stumbling into the village with a slight limp. This village seemed to not have many visitors, let alone people that came out of the forest- looking as if they had been thrown about by angry earthbenders; Azula was not surprised by their reaction, but decided to run with the best story she could make up on the spot.
"Ah! I found civilisation at last!" she piped up, pulling an exaggerated smile of relief to the villagers.
"Uh- " stepped in one of the villagers, an older man with a long beard and top-knot, "who are you- and why are you covered in mud? Did something happen in that forest?"
"Yes- indeed something did happen; my travelling companion and I found ourselves shipwrecked on the coast south of here- we have been walking for days to find a village like your own."
"Wow!" a young woman called out, intrigued by Azula with wide eyes, "So you walked the entire way through that forest-"
The man interrupted her, turning back to Azula, "We try not to go to far into there, it's quite easy to get lost."
"I simply ask that we have some place to rest and recuperate before find our way back to a bigger town- perhaps a port."
"Ah yes- there's uh- a port not too far down the road from here, half a days walk north-east. I'm sure you could find passage there- where were you going exactly?"
"Ba Sing Se, I have business there." she curtly responded.
The man's face became paler at realising he might be dealing with someone out of the ordinary, "Uh yes, but why would you go there if the Fire Nation is occupying the city; I've heard it's become rougher these past years."
"Well, I was called there for business- confidential I might add- I wouldn't want to spill my 'employers' secrets..." Azula bluffed, trying to cover her royal identity with as much smoke as she could.
She heard a huffing noise and pacing behind her, knowing all to well Sokka had caught up to her after racing away.
"Ah- so I see you're already talking to the locals." Sokka mumbled under his exhausted breath.
The older man looked at Sokka in slight confusion, "So- this is your travelling companion?"
"Ah yes, this is my helper-"
Sokka interceded, deciding to quickly give himself a fake name, "The name's Amaruq." before holding out his hand to shake, which the man agreed to with slight confusion, before he turned back to Azula, who smiled at the man as best she could.
"Excuse him, he's a bit dim-witted- not good with social cues" she made up to try and cover his abrupt intercession, Sokka frowning slightly at her remarks about him being 'dim-witted' but cover his face with a fake smile quickly enough.
"He could help you around the village if need be, if you desire payment for your assistance."
"Uh- that would be most appreciated- uh sorry- you didn't mention you name?"
"Ah- Z-zaira, my name is Zaira." Azula bluffed, thankful she was able to bull-shit a name so quickly on the spot.
"Well Miss Zaira- I hope I can help you and your friend be comfortable for the time being while you stay in the village, I'll go ask around if there's anywhere we can bed the two of you- just wait around for a moment- Naiko! You can show our guests around-" signalling the girl who had interceded prior to step forward.
"Ah yes- I can show you two around; maybe you can tell me a bit about your adventures- it must be interesting going around the world!" Naiko piped up, with a smile on her face.
Sokka and Azula both bared fake smiles at the girl- they for one didn't want to spout their adventures for the obvious reason of being neck deep in the war as well as the relatively traumatic experience they had at sea. Naiko led the two through the village- passing by a number of old ramshackle houses and huts, made out of a variety of stones and logs, not unexpected for a poor and isolated village. She first pointed out the town's lake which they used for bathing and cleaning, as well as a spirit grove that the villagers prayed at- Azula herself found a former noble's estate to be the most interesting aspect of the tour; it had been abandoned in the past year because it's occupants and been forced to flee as they had been supporters of the local war effort, going eastward to the remaining Earth Kingdom held lands. This new information calmed Azula's fears that they were far from Fire Nation authority, which she knew was disparate anywhere in the Earth Kingdom far away from naval bases and the larger towns and cities; Naiko was actually surprisingly apathetic about it, simply claiming they had more land to use for their farming now the nobles had fled.
The tour ended at the local drinking house- or tavern as it might be called elsewhere- but this place had no bedding and not much alcohol either, just a bunch of middle-aged men lazing about in the early morning; Azula admitted to herself she didn't know much about the daily life of the peasantry, but she assumed there would be a lot more hard work involved and less lazing about- then again they didn't have the same obligations and duties like herself. Sokka smiled to and thanked the girl who guided them, making Azula twitch herself for a moment before interrupting him.
"Now S-Amaruq, we need to go meet with that man- he'll have us somewhere to stay for the moment."
Naiko intervened, smiling widely at the two of them, "Yes- come this way- I'll show you to Gang, he'll have got something for you."
Entering the drinking house they saw Gang- the man from before- talking to a number of villages, and pointed out Sokka and Azula as they entered.
"Ah here they are- the shipwrecked travellers! My friend Xu here has some room in his barn- he should be able to set you both up for the night." Gang explained, the man they presumed was Xu waving curtly at them and lifting his drink.
Xu smiled almost dopily at them, "No worry friends- always here to help travellers in need- you two sound like you've been through a lot, how about we get some stories?"
Azula decided she wasn't feeling too comfortable and made an excuse "Ah- well my ankle's very sore, I'll need to lie down for a while, but I'm sure Amaruq can give you all the details." before Sokka looked at her with slight contempt.
"You're the better bullshit artist..." he mumbled to her, as she turned to ask Naiko for directions.
"Shut it- now Naiko, that's your name right?" she asked out, trying to ignore Sokka, "I'll need some directions, I'm sure you can help me get to Xu's place."
"Ah yes- just this way" the girl grinned, grabbing Azula by the arm and taking here out of the room; Sokka tried to make a short wave, but Azula disappeared behind the door and he was left alone- well not really, but he knew it would be weird without her after all shenanigans they had to deal with over the past few days. He turned back to the men sitting by the bar, all drinking- despite the hour of day.
"So boy- what went down? You say you got shipwrecked- must have been during that storm a few days back- hell of a night to be on the water." Xu asked, figuring out as much as he could on the spot.
"Ah- yeah it really was- our ship wasn't faring well you see," he told, trying to make up a story that missed the entire issue of them having a battle and sinking the ship, "so by the time it was actually sinking, me and A-Zaira, we got out in time and were able to float until we washed ashore."
"Wow, do you know what happened to the others on board?" Gang asked, curious to the seeming tragedy they were being told of.
"No- not a clue, I hope we can get some information once we reach that port- perhaps someone sailed through." Sokka thought out loud, genuinely wanting to know what happened to those who didn't make it back to the ship like him.
"Then we ended up walking through the forest- luckily I knew how to hunt, being from the Water Tribe and all- and it took us about two days walking to get here."
"Damn kid- doesn't sound like you've had a good week, barring being stuck with a woman- can't tell if that's a good or bad thing actually." Xu waffled on, going from empathy to out right joking in the span of a sentence; Sokka could tell he'd probably already had too much to drink.
"U-uh yeah- she's tolerable; I don't think I'd have got out of the forest as easily without her constant nagging." Sokka joked, making the men laugh in cohesion, before Sokka further explained "We're just conflictive- I'm lazy and sensical, she's determined and crazy."
"How long have you know each other?" one of the other men asked, intrigued in their relationship.
"U-uh, well we- uh-" Sokka mumbled, unsure how to plot their story now- he had only met her a few days ago, and knew little about her, would it be sensible to tell a tale about them meeting some place else.
He decided to make a kind of middle ground that Azula could probably bull-shit upon if need be, "I mean I don't know exactly how long- we met on the ship, and then we've only really got to know each other since we shipwrecked."
"A-ah... I thought you two were more than acquaintances." the man admitted.
"Wait- oh spirits, you didn't think-" Sokka thought out loud, his face paling in embarrassment and fear; he trembled at the thought that people really think he and the Queen of Snarkiness were some kind of 'thing'.
The men began to bellow in laughter again, realising his embarrassment, "Ah kid, we're just teasing ya." Xu admitted, patting Sokka on the back.
"Ah- well how did one of you Water Tribesmen end up on a boat this far from the poles?" another man asked, older and less drunk that the others.
"U-uh I work as a ship-hand actually- the work pays better where people can actually pay you." Sokka made up again, making the men nod in agreement.
"The Poles are mysterious places to us boy, the only things we've heard is that it's cold and days and nights last the whole year." Gang mentioned, making Sokka sigh in relief; at least they wouldn't figure out that he was from the South and a lot of people- even random Earth Kingdom farmers- knew the Southern Water Tribesmen only came north to fight the Fire Nation.
"What's with all the weapons though- that's a lot for some one who works as a ship-hand." one of the men asked, punching a hole in Sokka's story, which he quickly tried to cover up.
"Ah- well these are my traditional weapons, from my homeland- they are good for practising my skills and remind me of where I came from."
"So you can use 'em, whassa the weird metal thing? Some kinda curved knife?" one of the men asked, his slurring making his words near unintelligible.
"My boomerang- it's my most prized possession- and it's my weapon of choice." Sokka explained, pulling it from its sheath for the men to look at, their eyes focusing on the unusual weapon.
"Huh- what does it do? Just looks like a weird knife to me." Xu asked, somewhat confused.
"No- you throw it and it comes back." Sokka explained, the men's eyes opening in amazement.
"Wait what? It comes back, like if you throw dog a stick?" one of the men asked.
"Ah- I guess so- It's more throwing it away and then it glides back in a circle." Sokka tried to explain in more detail.
"Can we see it?" one of the men requested, making the others slam their hands on the bar in excitement.
"I don't see why not..." Sokka smiled, happy he'd been able to show off and wow his new acquaintances.
Azula stood looking upon her and Sokka's lodging for the night- a somewhat stinking barn, filled with hay- she guessed Xu had bedding that they could use- she certainly didn't expect to be sleeping on straight ground for a third night in a row. Turning to Naiko, she asked the girl for a bit of information.
"So, this is where I'm sleeping?" she asked her- in the least aggressive tone she could make out.
"Yes- I'm sure Xu has bedding; did you want to know anything else?"
"Ah- yes Naiko, I'm curious as to what you actually do?" she questioned, Naiko reeling back in a slight offence and fear in the girl's dismissive tone.
"I work at the mill with my family, it's my break at the moment- luckily I got to meet someone new and interesting like you- and your companion." emphasising at the end, making Azula twitch her eyebrow again.
"Are you really that enamoured with boy- you've literally had half a conversation with him."
"O-uh I find him interesting- just like you- both travellers from places I've probably never heard of..." Naiko excused herself, blushing slightly.
"You probably have-" Azula mumbled under her breath before realising she had to keep her image up, turning to the girl with a smile, "Thank you Naiko- your assistance and guidance was most helpful- I'll be sure to ask you for any more information if I feel like it."
Naiko smiled back sincerely (unlike Azula) and nodded curtly, "Yes, be sure to see for me at the mill, I'll be there most hours of the day; have a good afternoon Zaira." she slightly bowed in deference, before turning around and walking back down toward the centre of the village, waving to Azula as she disappeared into the distance, making Azula force a wave back- she didn't enjoy the niceties of small talk as much as she assumed Sokka would.
Walking into the barn, she immediately found it far too dirty to sleep in- not that she would need to in the middle of the day; Azula decided that it would be far easier to just lay outside to rest- the sky was clear- she wasn't going get rained on. Lying down Azula's mind crossed the days events- all of the labours she had undergone would hopefully be worth it in a days time when she reached some Fire Nation officials who could take care of her needs- it had been far too long since she had a bath, or any kind of cleaning for that matter- she was still wearing her mud covered undergarments which luckily for her were fine enough looking to wear outside- it made her mind cross the thought of whether Xu had a bath- she could easily enough bathe herself, she had her firebending to heat the water- and she would do it without hesitation if it were not for the threat of another walking in on her. Azula was half asleep when a shadow covered her view, and she could tell from the dirty blue garbs that it was her 'companion' and not their host or some other Earth Kingdom peasant; he was even more exhausted looking than before, and she couldn't tell herself if it was from drinking with those men or labouring away like she had expected of him.
"So you got to sleep- while I carried water around all afternoon."
"Ah- don't complain too much, I couldn't have done your work with this bad foot." Azula smirked, excusing herself with the injury he had been berating her about.
"My argument is broken again- is it?" Sokka sighed, before sitting down beside her.
"What story did you speel to the men at the bar, Amaruq?" Azula asked, using his fake name to remind him of their false identities."
"U-uh I just told them that we met on 'the ship', we were ship-wrecked in the storm- which is true, and that we survived in the forest, and headed overland to find a village."
"Well let's hope they don't know of or speak with those Earth Kingdom bandits- they'd be a nuisance if they got the people up and about knowing they were harbouring a firebender."
"That would be- well it'd be fucking annoying, if I'm going to be completely honest." Sokka admitted, making Azula smile at his agreement.
"Yes, I'm glad we're on the same page with that- I'd thought you'd go soft wanting to help the poor 'Earth Kingdom' soldiers who lost their war."
"Not really- they seem like they've abandoned their honour and tried to use their 'skills' not to defend their country but to ravage it- that's the worst thing a man could do to his people." Sokka explained his opinion, making Azula curtly grin at realising that Sokka had aligned with her interests almost perfectly in their situation.
"Don't get too happy- I'm not going to just swear fealty to the Fire Nation after seeing how dickish Earth Kingdom people can be!" he piped up at her, making Azula frown slightly before dismissing his comment; she knew she'd win him over soon enough.
A few moments later, they heard a call from down the path, and looked over to see a somewhat drunken Xu returning from his afternoon errands, "Ah my new friends- it's boomerang boy!" he proclaimed in a stupor, reminding Sokka of the show he put on to the amazement of the men.
"I know this is probably a bad time to ask, but could you show us where you've got your bedding and all- I don't think the lady's going to approve of sleeping on the ground again." Sokka asked of Xu, who looked at him and grinned almost jokingly back.
"Ah yes- don't you worry about a thing." he told him, winking at Sokka as he said 'you', as if to jest at him like before about being 'acquaintances' with Azula.
"Thank you very much." Sokka held a hand out- but his face remained less positive in frustration after Xu's remarks; Xu shook his hand sloppily and guided the two of them into his house, a stone cottage with the barn annexed to the side.
"A-uh d'bedding is-ah stored under me and m'wives bed." he explained, his words slurring perhaps unintentionally from his drunkenness; Sokka quickly went to the bed and pulled out the blankets and thin roll up mattress, probably used as extra layers for Xu's own bed.
"Thank you Xu, again- it's really kind to offer your space and things for us." Sokka thanked, patting the man on the shoulder.
"N'worries my friend- nothing wrong with a little love in the world." he jested again, elbowing Sokka, much to his disapproval.
"We'll see ourselves out- where do we get food?" Azula intervened between the two, Xu stumped for a moment before recollecting his thoughts.
"Ah yes- food! You can go down to Gang's house- he's the baker, ought to have something spare for y'all to eat."
"Thanks- we'll do that." Sokka acknowledged, walking out of the house as quickly as he could- he didn't want to find out the other embarrassing things Xu would joke about while drunk.
The two walked down the path back to the village, returning to where they first arrived- which happened to be Gang's bakery. The sky was getting low and it looked like he was just about to stop working for the day; Sokka called out to him to get his attention.
"Hey Gang! We heard you have food!" Sokka bluntly requested, Gang's head peeking out from his kitchen.
"Why of course- I'm the baker, and you're my esteemed guests." he remarked, smiling courteously at the two of them.
"Well- I wouldn't say esteemed-" Sokka commented, interrupted by an elbow to the side from Azula- telling him to shut his mouth, as per usual.
"We are very grateful for your generosity." Azula curtly stated, making a short bow, which Sokka copied in unison.
"Ah- you're too kind- you've had a rough few days, it's the least an old fellow like me can do."
He handed them a loaf of bread each, each of them thanking him in response with their best imitations of Earth Kingdom bows; he appreciated it and was near flustered; Sokka was about to thank him for the company at the bar, but Azula grabbed him by the arm and they were on their way.
"You've had enough social interaction today- we can't have you blabbering too much." she remarked, making Sokka cross his arms in frustration as they walked back towards Xu's place.
"Aw- you're such a meanie- really; could you go a day without being all-above-every-other-person-alive and be nice for a change." he asked of her, making her genuinely laugh at him.
"Ah no savage- my title gives every right, and my merit as well- you know what happens to those who cross me."
"Not exactly- I never crossed you- I was never your subject- I'm an enemy combatant." he refuted, genuinely not knowing what Azula did to the people she didn't like; he had a good enough guess however.
"Combatant! Ah- you're piss-weak at fighting- I beat up most of those bastards yesterday." she laughed at him, making Sokka's face scrunch in frustration.
"You're lucky I haven't tried to haul you away as my prisoner; I happen to be forgiving and kind on the matters related to the war that killed my people and that's been going on for like- how I don't know- a century?" he explained to her, and she nodded in agreement.
"That's why it's so much more fulfilling to see you do my bidding!" she jested at him, making Sokka's face go red with anger and embarrassment.
"This is why I don't like talking to you!" he nearly shouted, going his separate way as they arrived at the barn- walking off to sit in the grass, making Azula chuckle at his behaviour.
Azula walked into the barn, dismissing Sokka's frustration and prepared to set up her bedding; pulling out the roll up mattress she immediately noticed that it was a single mattress- meaning they would have to sleep in the same bed. She cringed at the thought but got to work anyway, clearing away the hay from an area near a work-bench- it had a small gate separating it from the rest of the barn, ensuring that the livestock wouldn't accidentally walk into their bed while they were sleeping. Laying the blankets on the bed she sighed with relief, knowing that she would at least have a good sleep for the first time in three days; her previous bed was at the bottom of the Eastern Sea at the moment, so she hoped her current bed would not face a similarly bad fate- she needed to actually sleep well after her recent experiences. She walked out from the now set bedding, and looked at Sokka- he was sitting on the grassy knoll, looking out on the village an at the orange haze that was forming from the falling sun, behind Sokka, giving him an orange hue.
"So are you over your tantrum?" she asked him, hearing a gruff dismissing sigh- she responded by walking up behind him and sitting down.
Hearing her sit, he turned to her- his face contorted into one of chagrin, "Here to berate me about being a weak little servant again?" he asked, his tone genuine and serious.
"No idiot- I just wanted to talk." she dismissed his claim, making Sokka gasp sarcastically.
"And what about? Your secret tunnel in the Fire Nation capital- no- the wealth and prosperity your people are bringing to the Earth Kingdom? What else could you further say to make me feel like your friend." he asked her, his tone spiteful and dismissive, "These people here, they treat you with respect and deference- do you think you deserve it?"
"No- I don't think I do." she admitted, making Sokka genuinely look back in shock.
"Wait what? Where did the domineering and ruthless Fire Princess go?" he asked sarcastically, pretending to look around for her.
"These people are Earth Kingdom- I don't think the Fire Nation has anything to do with these people. Why should they respect me if I don't have any actual power over them- I don't have an army to force them to pay tribute, do I?"
"No you don't... But one day- maybe not tomorrow, but eventually- the Fire Nation will come here and force their 'progress' on these people- just like they did to mine." he explained, Azula nodding at him.
"It's an inevitability- you don't see it the same way as the people of the Fire Nation would- they are going to win, and if the world submits- becomes one nation, we will all be better off because of it." she explained.
"That's some pretty flawed logic- the Air Nomads weren't given a chance to join in your march of progress- they were annihilated."
"The Air Nation is gone- they won't be back again, and now there are three elements- if the Water Tribes continue to resist- there will be two."
"I know that well enough- my mum's dead because of it."
"What? Oh- so you're angsty over your mother being killed by the Fire Nation? That's why you're doing all of this." Azula replied in realisation.
Sokka growled back at her, "Shut up- that's not all of it- my fight is an honourable one, to protect the world from the likes of you."
"It's not like I've killed anyone- I haven't actually!" she exclaimed in frustration, making Sokka almost sigh in relief, although Azula was unsure if it had been sarcastic or not.
"Well isn't that great for the world- but I'm sure thousands will die on your commands once you take the throne- is that an inevitability you will tolerate?" he questioned her.
"I don't know- it depends on who needs to die." she admitted.
"What kind of statement is that? When do people ever need to die?" he started shouting at her in anger, shocked that such words could be uttered about human lives.
"How about when you're about to have your chest caved in by a hammer?" she asked him, reminding him of his 'blooding', as he had called it.
"A-urgh!" he frustratedly shouted, "You're right- I guess you're actually right for once." he admitted.
"For once- I've been right most of the time actually." she corrected him, making Sokka sigh.
"No- you're right about something serious this time." he admitted to her, making Azula reel back in appeasement- Sokka actually wanted to admit she was right.
"So does that change your mind?" she asked him, making Sokka grunt in anger.
"No- I am forever loyal to my nation- as I guess you will be to yours." he told her, before looking out onto the horizon, "I guess this journey will change me, maybe for the better."
"Why is that?" she intruded, making Sokka sigh again, his constant 'down-attitude' making Azula frustrated in and of itself.
"I never want to kill anyone again- within reason; I know well enough that you probably won't try to kill anyone, and that's enough to keep my mind at rest about fearing letting you go."
"So you've given up on your duties as a warrior?" she asked him, trying to mock him for his weak attitude.
"That wasn't my job- my job was to follow my father's orders- and I don't think he'll mind if he gets his son back if the enemy gets away."
"Families important to you- more than your quest against the Fire Nation?" Azula questioned again, Sokka turning to her.
"You're not evil- firebenders might not all be evil- if that's the case, why should I treat you like you're not even people."
he told her, smiling at her genuinely now.
"Wow- was that an underhanded way to say I'm a nice person?" she immediately questioned him, souring Sokka's mood instantly.
"U-uh no- I still can't trust you for the life of me. So now I've speeled my stuff, can you speel yours? I don't know anything about your nation other than the fact you believe that a global war brings progress."
"Not just yet Sokka- not until it suits the situation." she smirked, making Sokka look at her in dismissal, but no longer angry, and looked back out in wonder at the orange and pink haze of the dying day.
As the day drew to a close, Azula was secretly happy that Sokka was so willing to make dialogue over their issues- mostly political and moral- where she was able to actually show him why his arguments were flawed and somewhat revanchist; she knew deep down that maybe Sokka was right about the Fire Nation and their march for progress being wrong- killing people and taking their land, but she had no real idea how it could be done otherwise- how could the war end in peace if the nations themselves could not be at peace with the outcome. Perhaps if the relationship Sokka and Azula had built for themselves in the short time they had known each other could be extended to the rest of the world- so maybe, just maybe there could be peace- lasting peace.
Walking along a haphazard track, the morning sun peering just over the horizon, five Earth Kingdom deserters filed along, all tired and pained from their battle two days prior- they had gone east to a nearby village to recuperate, intimidating the villagers into helping them- not that they really had a choice in the matter. Their new 'leader' Huang- the only Earthbender in their squad- held his shoulders high at the front, looking out to see if the next village was anywhere nearby; the path itself was old and not well travelled, and the villagers themselves only had vague estimations on how long it would take to travel, let alone when injured. Huang knew that his injuries were the most superficial out of the the group, only having been incapacitated by a weapon that Yang described as a flying blade, although it didn't necessarily cut; he had missed the fight in the village, where a firebending woman beat the shit of his comrades- they had no chance against her- the only one who could face her, their former leader Bao had paid the ultimate price in battle- they found him with his throat slit- the Fire Nation wench and her blade-throwing ally had killed their hero- he had guided them away from the troubles and sufferings of the war and gave them a life- it might not have been the most honourable life, but for what did they care- the Fire Nation didn't have honour, so what was point of them having it too?
Huang knew they hadn't been to the upcoming village before, so he knew that they could foil the villagers with an act of them being guerrilla soldiers, who were in desperate need of resupply. Such a farce was partially true- they were soldiers fighting the Fire Nation, but they had no King or commander to tell them what to do, they would take what they needed for their own sake- their duty was to slaughter as many of the bastards as they could, and then maybe buy themselves some retirement package in Ba Sing Se- if they'd be allowed in to begin with. Huang himself hadn't seen a real battle in over four years- the last one he fought was against a massive Fire Nation force with his battalion- most of which were slaughtered, Bao and him were the only ones he knew that avoided capture or worse by the Fire Nation.
The other village had known of their origin as deserters, due to them previously stealing from the village on their return journey from the Si Wong Desert- they had been trading with sandbenders captives and goods they had taken on a raid on a Fire Nation colony on the shore of the West Lake- it had been a tough fight and they had lost a few men- but that was against Fire Nation villagers and a small garrison, not a firebender and a single nonbending warrior; they had been bested by amateurs at most, although Huang had heard from Yang of the girl's blue fire and that scared him- that was something unknown to him, a soldier of nearly ten years- he had fought countless firebenders, powerful and weak- none bore blue flames.
Following the track, the group finally made it to a clearing where they could see the multicoloured fields of grain- they had found a settlement, from what it seemed- perhaps these people would be more forthcoming in information- the two could have gone over the few valleys between the mining village and this area- Huang considered it likely- they couldn't have reasonably gone south- there was nothing much in that direction within a few days walk.
"Do ya think they've holed themselves up somewhere 'round here Huang?" Yang asked him, pointing out the village in the distance- dozens of houses packed together amongst the fields of grain and grass.
"Probably mate- we're gotta find those bastards and teach them a lesson." he smirked back, Yang replying with the same face- revenge was sweeter when it involved your friends.
Walking up into the village, they noted it was empty at such an early hour, but decided to door knock anyway- most of the villagers quickly called out to go away at such an early hour, but one opened the door.
"Ah- soldiers of our great nation? Why do I have the honour of receiving you at such an hour?" he asked them, acting as courteous as possible in front of who he presumed were veteran soldiers; they were so, in a way.
"My friend- we seek out enemies of the Earth Kingdom- they ambushed our men when we were scouting and killed our commander- they stole our supplies."
"Really?! Who would dare efface our nation's beloved soldiers?" the man responded in genuine shock.
"A firebender and her Water Tribe lackey-" Huang begun to explain, wanting to give a good story so the villagers would back them.
"Wait- you say a Water Tribesman? There's one in this village right now! He came with a girl looking for shelter after a shipwreck- that girl's a firebender?!" the man gasped in shockingly realisation.
Huang looked at the man with a smirk and responded, "The woman's far more dangerous than the boy- it's paramount that we find and capture her- for the security of our nation."
"Of course- they're staying with a villager- I don't know which one exactly- you're going to have to ask around." he admitted, Huang looking back to his men.
"Tell the villagers what I told this man- ask about the Fire Nation girl and Water Tribesman- we'll have them in our grasp soon enough!" he ordered, his men nodding in agreement before racing off into the village to look for awake villagers to interrogate.
Not too far from them had been Naiko, who was fetching water from the village well for her family's breakfast- immediately realised who and what they were talking about, she looked as if she was focused on her chores as one of the men came up to her.
"You- girl! Have you seen a Water Tribesman and a firebending girl?" he asked of her, confirming her suspicions that they were looking for Amaruq and Zaira.
She bluffed to the man, "Uh- yes! I remember them from yesterday, they were being lodged by the baker Gang; he lives down the street, back the way you came- ask him for information."
"Thanks girl- your help is appreciated." the man curtly bowed before picking himself up and running back down the street, when he was out of sight, she dropped her water bucket and ran between two adjacent houses- disappearing from the street and heading into the pastures behind the village; she would inform her new friends that they were being looked for- whatever they had done with those Earth Kingdom soldiers- it didn't seem like they were who they claimed.