I'm sorry for the long wait, but I've had a lot of trouble writing this chapter. And I know it's not long, but I'm trying ok? There might be longer chapters in the future, but not right now ok?
I don't own Avatar or any related titles and characters, except of course Fiam, she is of my own creation.
Arrendi: I was trying to go for this thing where he has been greatly changed in a short period of time because he was 13 in the flashback and 16 in the real story. I was hoping that that was the over all feeling of the story so far, change.
b.ofors: Well thank you good sir curtsies Of course I would use your idea! It was awesome!
Bird o' Prey: Thanks, and I will, but sometimes it's just hard to catch things like that.
dancingirl3: I'm sorry, I'm working on chapter length but don't get your hopes up anytime soon, it'll be awhile before they get to terribly longer.
me: You will find out later on. I'm trying to get this story updated as quickly as possible.
There are two reasons why I will not really go into detail about the training, A) I would not be sure how they trained B) it's actually not all that important to this story.
Now training Aang was a blessing in disguise, for training him was like teaching someone who had had amnesia how to firebend, this wasn't the first time they had learned it, but they had forgotten it completely. It was familiar, but still needed teaching. So it was still hard work, and kept her thoughts off of her past. God it still hurt to think about that.
As Fiam taught Aang, the weeks flew past, and once again, the urge overpowered her, she rose from her sleep, her cloak firmly around her shoulders and she scaled the wall of rock to sit on it's soft top and stare up at the now full moon.
Now unfortunately for her, the firebenders of Prince Zuko's crew were camped on the island, after hearing of a rumor of fire appearing and disappearing for long periods of time without catching anything around from the villagers that fished the rich oceans that surrounded this isle. So they had the whole crew searching the island, and they were to call the Prince and his Uncle should they find anyone.
But it was the Prince's group that found the first person. As they walked, silent as cats, through the endless forest that blanketed much of the island, they suddenly came to the end of the forest. And beyond the edge of the forest was a cliff. And just on the edge of the cliff, her back to them, sat a girl, whose face was hidden by a cloak's hood, her shadow made longer by the full moon at which she was staring intently.
His soldiers looked to him for the command, and he gave it. They were on her and had her unconscious before she even knew what was happening. The men picked her up gracelessly and tore of the cloak that she had had wrapped around herself and tossed it to their prince. He looked at it for a second before he saw the tiny hint he was looking for, a single white hair, stuck to the outer layer of the fabric, looking at it closely, it became clear that it belonged to the flying bison of the Avatar.
He tossed the cloak lazily towards an oak tree nearby, his dagger following soon after, pinning it to a tree, a tiny flame licked at the very end of the hilt as his soldiers bound the girl's wrists and ankles together, to prevent her escape, should she awaken. The group headed back to the ship, Zuko and Iroh never looking at the girl closely, even as she was thrown into one of the prison cells below deck.
"She has to be a new companion… I haven't seen her before." Zuko mentioned to his uncle as they watched the guards lock her shackles to the wall, so that they crossed in an X formation at the wrists, locked together by a freshly done welding job, cooled off by water, yet still they could hear them burn her wrists with a satisfying sizzle. They were linked to the wall by exactly three iron chain links, all of them thick and strong. She was left in a sitting position, her legs tucked under her, splaying outward from the calf down. Her chestnut hair fell messily around her, blocking her face from view. Zuko, Iroh, and the guards left the room, locking it securely behind them.
Some time afterwards, Zuko stood on the deck of his ship, moving at full speed away from the archipelago, the first streaks of false down were just now beginning to creep across the over cast sky. He reached under his armor and pulled out a golden ring on a silver chain, he fingered it slowly, glaring at the tiny diamonds encrusted into it. Funny how this had once been a symbol of hope, now a symbol of the pain love brought, now a reminder that he had once been happy. It was all that he had left of that time.
Now that he thought back to it, it had been this very day, three years ago. Scowling he walked away from the side and back into the ship, feeling a powerful urge to go yell at somebody.
Aang's eyes cracked open slowly, the darkness of the cave being overpowered by the light entering through the mouth of the cave meaning Appa must have left already, which surprised him. Fiam was supposed to have woken him up early, as in before dawn, for a hike across the island to a secluded waterfall to carry on their meditation training. So why was he still here when the sun was high enough to see by?
He walked through the cave, careful to avoid the still sleeping Sokka. Katara must have already left for the lake to bathe; she probably took Appa with her.
Aang stepped from the cave into the bright sun light of mid-morning, squinting as he did so, protecting his eyes against the light.
"That's funny…" He muttered to himself, judging by the sun it was around 10, Fiam wasn't in the cave so where would she be? He hadn't known her long, but she didn't seem the type to ditch something that was her responsibility.
"Aang!" A worried Katara called as she and Appa descended from the air.
"Katara?" Aang asked slightly confused.
"Firebenders, they were on the island not to long ago. The villagers on one of the other islands said that they stopped by not to long ago for supplies, one of the soldiers let it slip that they had a prisoner on the ship." Katara told him as Aang climbed up onto Appa.
"You don't think…?" Aang let the half question hang in the clear air. Katara didn't answer, but pulled out a rough cloak, it had a tear in it near the middle, and singes around the tear, as well as a dagger with an ebony handle, the very end of the grip was burnt.
"She's still alive; I found this on the top of the cliff." Katara told him "Go wake Sokka, I'll start packing.
"How long ago did you think they left?" Aang asked jumping down with Katara.
"Hours ago. We have to go fast if we're gonna catch up," She told him as she quickly gathered their things as Aang shook Sokka awake.
"Mommy, five more minutes…" He mumbled rolling over. Aang sighed irritably.
"Sokka! FIREBEDERS!" He shouted in Sokka's ears, as a flame appeared in his hand, holding it close to him. Sokka shot straight up.
"Ah! WHERE?" His head spun wildly around looking for the soldiers.
"Out at sea, they captured Fiam." Aang explained pulling him up "We have to get going." Katara slipped the bed roll out from under the half asleep Sokka, rolling it up quickly.
"They already have a head start, Sokka grab some stuff and load up Appa." She ran off, gathering Fiam's blanket as she went, Aang and Sokka gathered their bed rolls before rushing after Katara. They loaded Appa in a hurried panic, forcing him to take to the air. They had a friend to save.
Fiam opened her eyes to a sharp pain. She shut them quickly in hopes of dispelling the ache, but it only grew worse. She made to cup her head in her hands, but found them restrained. She risked opening her eyes, but quickly grew distressed.
She was in the holding cell of a Fire Nation Navy ship. The soft glow of a candle fell in a shaft from the bared window in the door. Voices were heard from outside her cell.
"Are you sure we shouldn't check on her? Most people would be awake and struggling by now. Are you sure we shouldn't call the healer my lord?" A deep voice asked quietly, in submission to someone, obviously a higher ranking official.
"She doesn't need a healer. And I'll check on her myself." That voice was familiar, but where…
Zuko.
The memories rolled over her like a tidal wave; she barely held back the cry of pain. The door unlocked and the handle was turning. She shut her eyes and began to raise her body temperature as it opened; she heard the heavy footfalls of two men in full armor, one man in less than that.
"She's still not awake sir." The deep voiced man said, stating the obvious.
"If she's not awake in three days, call the healer. Alert me as soon as she wakes up." The Prince commanded.
"Yes sir." The two soldiers said, probably saluting him as Zuko left the room. The heavy foot falls sounded again and the large iron door slammed shut; she heard the locks clicking together.
Three days huh? She could live without food for three days. And at least she got to sleep some. She would have to keep her body heat up for this plan to work, but it might be possible. She resisted the urge to smirk, keeping her face smooth and peaceful. Wait for Aang, Katara, and Sokka, then escape. But even if that didn't happen, if she didn't wake up, they would eventually stop at a larger port to get her checked out and make sure whatever she have wasn't contagious. And then, under a lesser guard, she would be able to get away. She almost sighed, until she stopped herself, remembering her façade.
This was going to be long three days.