I only own Zera and the changes in plot line, I don't own the songs I use either:
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You could almost cut the tension in the air with a knife. I tried my best not to glance at the villagers, unsure if I could handle whatever else I'd see on their faces. I couldn't decide if their shock or Aang's unadulterated joy was worse. So, I hedged my bet and locked eyes with the angry teen. He'd risen from his crouch, glancing suspiciously around the gathered villagers.
"How many?" he hissed. I raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
His eyes flicked to Aang and then back to me. "How many of you are there. The Fire Lord was all but certain we wiped all of you out years ago."
I snarled but didn't dare move. Aang looked ill at the thought of his people, but as he saw the teen fall back into his aggressive stance he shook himself.
"If I go with you," He holds his staff in front of him as an offer, making sure the teen understands that he does not wish to continue fighting, "will you promise to leave everyone alone?"
Expression guarded the teen nodded and glanced to the circle of soldiers. "Take the Airbenders into custody."
My blade swiped at the first soldier to reach for me, and he leapt back. "Oh, hell no! I'm not going anywhere with you pit spawned son of a …." My voice trailed off as the three soldiers outside the ones circling me moved toward the villagers. I jerked into motion but was held up by the benders in front of me, dodging punches, and deflecting what fire I could. Which wasn't well considering I was at point blank range and the next fireball grazed my side, near my hip. I hissed in a breath through my clenched teeth and spun in a quick, tight circle. Sending out a small burst of air forcing the soldiers to stumble back. However, the other soldiers had reached the villagers two pushed Kanna and Katara back as the third reached down and grasped Sokka by his ponytail and yanked him to his feet. Sokka went to struggle until his captor created a fire dagger and held it just under Sokka's eye, causing him to flinch back from the heat.
Cries of fear echoed from everyone and Kanna had to hold Katara back. The Angry teen raised his hand, forcing instant stillness from his men. His eyes never leaving mine he raised an eyebrow almost mockingly.
"I suggest you come quietly, or the wannabe warrior will have his eyes burned from their sockets." His lips quirked viciously as I cursed at him. "I hear its very hard to be a hunter without sight."
My vision blurred slightly as I furiously bit back tears. I rose from my defensive stance and with a flick of my wrist my blade was pointed toward the ground. And I raised my hands above my head.
"Disarm, now." The soldiers barked and I swallowed the bile that rose in my throat. I said a silent apology to Koda as I placed my blade on the snowy ground and took a step back. I nearly chocked as one of the soldiers kicked it back and another picked it up.
The remaining soldiers converged on me, and I couldn't help but struggle as they forced me to the ground, pulling my arms behind me and binding my writs tightly. I kicked back and heard a crunch as my heel connected with one's nose.
"You bitch!" he hissed, and he surrounded his hand in fire, grasping the back of my calf. I screamed. Bucking and twisting I threw a few of them off, tears trailing pathetically down my face. All this continued until I heard Sokka cry out and I froze. The soldier holding him had brought the fire dagger into contact with this cheek just below his right eye, burning him, he tried to struggle but his captor's grip on his ponytail prevented any movement.
My shoulders sagged, and I felt someone's hand twist into my hair and slam my face into the snow with a soft thump.
When they decided I was sufficiently subdued I was dragged to my feet by my hair. I couldn't look at my family, I glanced at the ship, seeing a bound Aang already disappearing within as I was dragged forward. I heard someone calling out to me, but I couldn't look back. I was pulled to a stop in front of the teen who had a cocky smirk and his arms crossed.
"I have quite a few questions you're going to answer airbender." I spit at him and was subsequently backhanded by one of my captors.
"Insolent bitch, you will show respect for the Fire Lord's son."
I smirked as bitchily as I could managed with my cheek stinging. "Oh goodie, so an important errand boy then." I could almost swear I could see steam pouring form his ears as I was dragged up the ramp into the ship. Glancing back, I could see Kanna, crouched over Sokka, who was on his but again, and she was tending to the burn under his eye. But his and Katara's eyes were locked on me. Sorrow constricted around my heart, and I sent a silent prayer to whatever spirits felt like listening.
'Be safe pup, take care of kit.' And the ramp began to raise as the princeling entered, effectively cutting off my line of sight and casting us in a brief darkness.
"Head a course for the Fire Nation. I'm going home." The Teen barked as I was dragged along, and my eyes began to adjust as I felt the metal beneath my feet shudder as the ship started to move.
I stumbled as the prince shoulder checked me as he passed, following a few of the guards leading Aang up a flight of stairs. He didn't even glance behind him as he barked orders to have me locked up. I silently called him every curse word I could remember as I was jerked to a stop outside a metal door. Dragging me inside I glanced around. the torches on the one wall did very little to lighten the dark space and I was shoved forward toward where one of the soldiers was unlocking a door set in a metal cage. I started to struggle but a firm hand grabbed the back of my neck and shoved me forward.
I hissed, and bit, and kicked to no avail, only earning an elbow to my burnt side for my effort. The only wall not made of bars in the cell, was part of the outer hull of the ship and had a single small port hole, too small to do more than taunt with a view of the outside world.
I was forced to my knees, near a metal pole, in the middle of the cell. The cut my bound hands and forced them in front of me, taking a set of chain cuffs and clicking them into place around my wrist. And I had no more than a foot or two of slack in the chain. I sprang to my feet and tried to kick out at the soldiers who hopped back out of reach and laughed as they exited my cell.
I winced as the sound of the lock on my cell clicked, and dread filled my gut as the metal door to the hall slammed shut. I sank to the floor, hugging my knees to my chest and my shoulders shook as I silently cried. I don't know how long I sat their in the dark crying, but as my sobs eased I raised my eyes to stare lonely out the porthole and I don't know what spirits I wanted to plead with but my alto voice sung out, slightly brokenly as I prayed like I hadn't in years.
I pray you'll be my eyes
And watch them where they go
And help them to be wise
Help me to let go
Every mother's prayer
Every child knows
I hoped Sokka could handle leading on his own. I hopped Katara would be strong enough to stand beside him. but I hopped they would forgive me, for hiding my bending, for being part of the reason they were in any danger in the first place. "I….I"m so sorry Koda," I sobbed "I failed you."
Lead them to a place
Guide them with your grace
To a place where they'll be safe
pray she finds your light
And holds it in her heart.
As darkness falls each night
Remind him where you are
Every mother's prayer
Every sister knows
Need to find a place
Guide them to a place
Give them faith so they'll be safe
Lead her to a place
Guide him with your grace
To a place where they'll be safe
Sorrow chocked off my words and I let my head fall into my chained hands. A metal creek had my eyes jerking to the door, but I was shocked, to meet the gentle smile of a grey haired, rounder man in fire nation soldiers clothing. My face shifted to angry disinterest as I turned my back to him as he neared my cell, his hands hidden in his sleeves. He introduced himself as Iroh. But I didn't really listen to him. I actively refused to acknowledge his presents at all until he signed disappointedly, and several other soldiers came in. I turned as I heard the lock in the key and my eyes narrowed and a barred my teeth in a snarl as the little princeling stalked in, a superior smile gracing his face, flanked by four of his pet soldiers.
I flinched slightly as on cracked a whip and as two of the soldiers stopped behind me one grabbed me by the back of the neck and slammed me face first to the floor.
"You will bow to Prince Zuko when he enters your presence Air bender bitch!" the soldier hissed in my ear.
Turning so my cheek was pressed to the floor I spit, which landed wetly on the princeling's shiny shoes. "Not my prince asshole." I don't know when the guy with the whip got behind me but the sting racing along my back definitely told me he was definitely there. I bit my lip so hard I could taste blood, but I didn't cry out. The bustards would have to do better than that.
The prince, Zuko, dragged the toe of his shoe across the floor to clean my spit off. He then used the point to leverage my chin up to look at him.
"I have questions, and if I don't get answers, or I don't find them satisfactory Crewman Juno is going to turn your back into a bloody mess." Though my glare never wavered I could feel terror making my insides quiver. And not for the first time, I questioned my resolve.
"Are there any other Airbenders that escaped? How did you survive the purge? How long were you hiding with the water rats?" Zuko fired off questions rapidly. And I paused in thought. Anything I said he would either not believe, or he would use to hurt the water tribe. After everything Koda and the others did for me, after the love the tribe gave me. I couldn't turn the ire of the fire nation on them no matter what the cost. I took a deep, steadying breath as the guard on my back released my head allowing me to look up and meet Zuko's glare with one of my own.
"Go fuck yourself hot head."