Soraya lay staring, paralyzed. What was she to do?
Could it have been a false alarm? The ship had just slowly sailed away!
She gripped the tree trunk so hard her knuckles paled and the sharp wooden shards cut her hand. Too stricken by panic to notice she leaned on the tree, her head spinning and heart pounding. She put her hands to her temples. It was as if the ground was rotating. Soraya spun and crashed to the leaf-covered ground. The smell and feel of the moist, olive, leafy carpet beneath her brought her to her senses. She had to get out and warn the guards.
She turned to run when a weak groan awoke her. Soraya stepped out from her cover and glanced at the shore. A child wearily trudged out from the water, rubbing his head. He wore a short crimson poncho that grazed his ribs, and beneath that an orange body suit tied together with a red band around his waist. Lastly, he wore russet leather boots. Soraya narrowed her tourquoise eyes.
His clothes. They are not normal; not of this period'.
Something dripped down Aang's ear and streamed down his neck.
Am I still under water?
He blinked to get clearer vision and saw a young woman bathing his brow with a damp cloth.
"He's awake" she sang pleasantly to the two nurses to her right and left tending to
Sokka and Katara.
Sokka sputtered out water and began coughing as the nurse grimaced and stepped out of the way.
"What do you suggest we do?"
"I'm not sure. I haven't had the time to meet them. I say keep them here; but well watched. We don't know who they are or where they come from. And it isn't our job to house every pitiful vagabond that struts on over here!"
"Mother! Well, I think he may be…may be…the Avatar…"
"That's preposterous! I know we received those tidings from Great Uncle Bumi but-"
"Well take a look at his clothes! They are most certainly not from this time period! He is not from the Earth Kingdoms or the Water Tribes! He-"
"Must be from the Fire Nation!"
A guard burst in the door. Unlike Fire Nation gaurds they had so much time with, he wasn't snarling or glaring at them. He was merley serious. "The princess wishes to speak to you. Come quickly." He said soberly.
"Wait!" Katara yelped. "Where are we?"
He stared at them curiously for a minute unsure of what to say. He exhaled sharply. "You are in the Palace of JinOKai."
Katara's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she exchanged stares with Sokka. Aang smiled happily and leapt off the cot he was in. Once out in the hallway Katara walked up to Aang. "What is this place?" she said in awe, staring at beautiffly ornamented walls and furniture. Everything had an olive tint, signaling they were somewhere in the Earth Kingdom.
Aang shrugged and continued glancing at his feet. He wasn't totally relaxed yet. What had happened to Zuko and the other firebenders? For all he knew; these people could be allies of the Fire Nation! And he hadn't any time to waste. With each setting of the sun, summer's end crawled closer and closer…
"You must be fatigued after such a harsh trip!" Soraya stated meekly, breaking the silence.
She turned and nodded to the guards.
"Take their bags and show them to their rooms. Prepare them a…'banquet' well suited to there appetites."
She glanced out the window at the setting sun and grimaced, (though she tried to hide it) wishing the travelers would hurry. She had something important to take care of, and she didn't want the Avatar to know. It would be best if no one did.
Aang cocked his head to the side and stared at her, studying her every move. Her happiness in meeting them didn't seem artificial but… He still didn't really feel accustomed to this area. He didn't exactly know there location but it was somewhere close to Fire Nation waters. Though Sokka and Katara had leapt with joy at the mention of copious food; he still found the fact that none of them had heard of the island before perturbing. And there seemed to be guards striding around them everywhere! They would have very limited liberty, which was always a foreboding sign. Prince Zuko had even been hunting them here! Was it possible he was trying to get the soldiers here to ambush them? Aand shook his head. No. He would follow them no matter where they went. And he seemed hesitant and clandestine when following them to the Fire Nation once before. His confrontation with that callous commander hadn't been to soldier-like; meaning he wasn't a very valued member in the standings of the army. Aang reeled back with shock. If Zuko wasn't an important individual in Fire Nation ranking; and he was considered a formidable threat to Katara Sokka; than what would the Fire Lord be like. Heaving a sigh Aang began trudging forward. What was he to do.
"Hurry now! I'll meet you in the dining hall in a few minutes" She said pleasantly.
Sokka inspected the palace, glancing at the designs.
Amazing how the Fire Nation hasn't found it yet.
"Uh, can you tell us which way that is?" Katara asked eagerly. She too had her doubts; but each time her conscious mind ran over the word 'banquet', her worries seemed to dwindle. Those weeks of pricking hunger! A tingling sensation nipping behind her eyes! Her stomach muscles constantly and mercilessly condensing! Pressure throbbing through her skull! The troubling fatigue merely breathing would convey! And it wasn't even breathing; they were gasps of air just barely enough to suffice her natural need for air. In the weak, malnourished state they were in, it was obvious where her decision would be. The last factor they would be caring about right now was there safety. Just anything to rid that ruthless, gnawing hunger!
Oh the gaurds will direct you to it! Have fun!" she waved them away.
As soon as they left, Soraya bolted to the stairway. Abruptly, she stopped and glanced out the window, smirking. She walked to the end of the hall to steady herself, then with all the speed she could manage, sprinted toward the window. Soraya leapt out and magnetized rocks to make an earthen stairway. Deftly sliding down it, she jogged to the royal stables and looked for the correct stall.
"Hey buddy!" she whispered to an emu-like creature. He lifted his head and looked at her, suspicious. Slowly, he squawked and followed her out the stables. She saddled him and quickly made sure there were no guards. If she was caught doing this… she shuddered.
But she couldn't help herself. She had always been starving for adventurous exhilaration and her duties as a princess never sufficed that cause. Besides that, this wasn't about a little immature exploration. She wanted to find out where that ship had gone and why the "Avatar" had been fleeing it.
That must mean it's a direct peril to JinoKai. And if it has anything to do with harming the palace; I need to stop it. It'll be too late to arouse the guards now anyways, it already passed. They'll be infuriated over why I didn't choose to explain sooner, therefore endangering everyone there. I can't let that happen. I need to show them that I am indeed worthy of the throne rulling all of the Earth Kingdoms.
Mounting her steed, she gently nudged his sides and clucked, sending him forward. He briskly cantered for a while until he abruptly halted and began to wail woefully. He snorted and began lifting his giant bird-like claws and pounding them on the forest ground. Being an earthbender, his stomping caused the ground to tremble violently. Soraya tried to steer him with prods from her heels and the reigns but he refused to budge and kept on wailing. Her emu-like creature plopped down on the ground with a thud, causing the earth princess to nearly lose her balance.
"What's wrong with you?" Soraya asked, irritation rising in her voice. "The only reason you should be behaving so strangely is if there are—" She was interrupted by a few rustles from the bushes. Suddenly two pairs of beady jade eyes appeared accompanied by harsh snarls.
"Firebenders" Soraya finished with dread. She nervously flinched on her saddle.
So that's what the ship was….
Soraya reared her frightened steed up at the approaching red wolves. With a sudden upward jerk on the reins he had jumped high and brought his heels down with such tremendous impact it sent two tremors for each of the wolves. Flying backwards they crashed into stray boulders, dropping to the ground.
Alerted by the howls and barks of their hunting dogs, they're going to come any minute! I gotta get-
With loud yells, four firebenders sprang out from the thick foliage, two landing in front of her and one from either side. The firebenders to her sides were coming with flying kicks, flame exploding at the soles of their boots as well as a distinct hissing sound. Tilting her head down to fell more connected with the substance she was bending, she raised her hands and two boulders roughly emerged from the ground. Throwing her fists forward, she propelled them at the soldiers, rendering them unconscious.
Now the front attacked. They back flipped with their arms out creating flaming arcs sent at her. Soraya yelped and nudged her emu to the side, jumping and avoiding the fatal shot.
Furious, they quickly began twirling their hands sending a series of fireballs, missiles, or arcs. They overwhelmed her. As soon as she nimbly dodged an attack, she would have two more coming at her within less than a second. Bombarded with fire, Soraya was knocked off her emu-like creature and to the grounds a few yards away. Terribly frightened, the emu dove into bushes, galloping away. With whistles and hand signals, growling hunting dogs chasing it. It continued running, the fangs of Red wolves lapping its heels. Soraya groaned. Rubbing her forehead, she struggled to stand up. Just as she was almost there, she was blindfolded and her hands were roped. Someone lifted her and put her on a Komodo Rhino, all while hearing a ostensibly familiar voice...
Aang stood up from the table and looked around the dining hall, everything seemed to be in order, so why wasn't she here?
Sokka looked up from his already massively filled plate and through a mouthful of food happily suggested, "Im thure thell b her ny minut"
The young princess began to fret, microscopic droplets of sweat crawling down the length of her elegant neck. As if to answer her, she heard a sword being pulled out from its case and shivered at its metallic sound. Her bonds were quickly and smoothly sliced, revealing her captor was an excellent swordsman. She turned and quietly peered over her shoulder to reveal the identity of her captor. In all her astonishment, she nearly doubled over and fell off the rhino. He still wielded the sword and the strength to use it on her yet he seemed to lighten his grasp on the hilt. Using the sudden pause to her advantage Soraya began to whistle until a recognizable loud trot emerged. Jumping off the rhino, flipped onto her emu, and rode off.
"GET HER!" Prince Zuko bellowed. "SHE"S THE BAIT!"
She galloped through a labyrinth of trees and woods, and heard the pounding claws of Komodo Rhinos and the howls of red wolves slowly fade away.
Soraya emerged panting from the woods onto the beach, just as the final rays of the sun disappeared beyond the islands across the sea. Her fatigued emu heaved out choked, raspy breaths as it shakily plodded along.
No match for the Earth Princess!
Why had that been Prince Zuko there? was it any of his business to fiddle around these grounds? And how had he found the island anyways? Wasn't it supposedly hidden?
Soraya gasped. Reality had slammed right to where she could see it.
This little boy I found today? He is the Avatar that disappeared for a century?
She turned her head to the side desperately searching for answers.
Wouldn't they send a more qualified commanding officer to retrieve the Avatar? The Fire Lord didn't play favorites! It didn't matter if Zuko was his son or not! If he wanted to capture the Avatar he'd send his most skilled and knowledgeable men there. And she was bait? Bait for what? Were they going to take her hostage so her Father would surrender? No Zuko was engrossed in the Avatar's incarceration, apparently. She was being imprisoned so the Avatar would rescue her? Heck, he barely even knew her! And by the suspecting ways he scrutinized everyone at the palace, he probably wasn't too happy about being there either.
"Looks like I underestimated you" Zuko growled tilting his head down and narrowing his eyes. Soraya turned around and whimpered.
Sokka muttered. He glared at the sentinels. This was so… unnatural! He slowly saw what this was. Not a feast in there honor. Just something to detain them here, but why?
"UGH!" Soraya was pushed into a medium quarter with a few candles. Snarling, she flopped on the bed and waited for her chi to return.
Prince Zuko strode back to his dining quarters; triumphant.
All that's left is waiting... And with his injured bison, they won't be able to get too far.
Zuko snorted, something suddenly coming to place.
If they've found an Earth Palace, they could have reinforcements though...
He had to admit though; finding such an associate residing here was a surprise.
"Sokka, stop eating like a swine! It's rude!" Katara yelled, tugging at the hood of Sokka's parka.
"MFFWERF!" Sokka spluttered through a mouthful of food.
Using the commotion stirred from their bickering as a distraction, Aang crept out of the dining hall without being seen. Working his way through the maze of stairs and hallways, he snuck by the guards and ran outside and through his glider up in the air; as high as it could go.
Soraya darted out of the room. She had to escape! Oh! If anyone found out that she seen such a treacherous hazard coming and not warned anyone she would sureley be thrown out of the royal family. Since she had been blindfolded when they caught her the second time, she ran down the halls according to instinct. Suddenly, she came upon a dead-end corridor. Immediately she brought herself to an abrupt halt. She thought she heard slight breathing…
Was someone following me-
"YAA!"
"OOF!"
Within a second, Zuko had tackled her and was now on top of her." Well isn't this comfy?" he mused sarcastically. At this quiet yet suggesting remark, Soraya immediately stopped struggling to get out of his grip and lay petrified. However, at the command of their prince, Fire soldiers came running from their dormitories and tied her up once again.
Zuko returned to the dining room meant for he and his uncle. Where is he? He swallowed hard and continued forward. Was it possible that he wouldn't show because he didn't know her too well? He angrily cursed at himself for doubting his scheme. That showed weakness. Something degrading that no authorative figure should ever posses.
Noticing a sudden, eerie, silence, Katara stopped hollering at Sokka and scanned the room. "Where's Aang" Katara asked, worried. Struck with concern for her friend, Katara ran out the room and into the hall. Suddenly she stopped and looked at the tiled floor. There was a large, jagged shadow appearing out of now where.
Where is that gargantuan shadow coming from?
She peered out the window, which was partly blocked by a huge boulder. Looking down it she saw a huge rock staircase descending down. She gasped ran back down the stairs (inside the palace, the normal ones) and out to Appa. She dragged Sokka by the collar of his parka, nearly choking him and flew off. Luckily, it had been dusk when Aang had left, so his footprints were fresh in the ground; until he flew that is.
Aang and Soraya flew, no literally, thanks to Aang, up the stairs to the deck. They were almost out of the perplexing maze of walkways when Aang's staff dropped down the steps creating a hollow "CLANG!" that echoed down the hallways. Back in his quarters, Prince Zuko was seething.
How many times is she going to escape? These disturbances are irritating!
He swiftly ran out the door and was on the deck in a matter of seconds. Aang and Soraya, now at the edge of the deck were fretting.
"Now what?" Soraya asked no one in particular.
On a cloudy night without a moon and with few stars in the sky, the deck was almost pitch black. Zuko knew he couldn't blindly blast away at them, because that would give away his position; but he needed to attack quickly or they might escape! This was going to be trickier than he had expected. He had to move quickly and quietly, recapture Soraya, without Aang's knowing, and then go after the avatar while he thought Soraya was still free. That way he could have the Avatar and a second quite valued hostage.
Aang reached to his left to get a hold of Soraya. To his sheer horror, he felt nothing. He moved his staff around to search the floor for her foot.
Aha!
He grabbed a hold of her wrist. Strangely, he realized that her wrists were flaming hot... Prince Zuko ripped his wrist from Aang and fired, snarling. Aang just nearly dodged it but fell from the rough impact. Rolling to the side, he avoided more of Zuko's fiery missiles. As Zuko jumped, kicked, and sliced the air to overwhelm the intruder, Soraya raced to the edge of the deck.
With as much strength as she could, she strained to earthbend a rock the size of a mouse's head from the dark depths of the murky water. All the water pressure made it extremely hard. She leapt closer for a better shot, and with a few agile hand motions hurled the stone at Zuko. She didn't want to hurt him, but she knew that the pebble should leave him unconscious for at least ten minutes. Aang bent down next to Zuko to see if he really was—Zuko lunged at him with a cry and pinned Aang down. With a mighty thrust, Zuko was about to hurl a blazing arc at Aang but was soon drenched in water… Shaking himself, he looked for the source of the soaking before a small pebble knocked him to the cold, hard deck with a groan. Soraya bit her lip. The sound of the pebble colliding with Zuko's head rang in her ears over and over, as well as his groan. Katara slid down Appa's furry coat and rushed to Aang's side.
"Are you ok?" She asked with heartfelt concern. Before Aang could reply she hugged him.
"Whew! Thanks!" Soraya said, walking up to the trio. She managed a sheepish grin.
"It's my job…" Aang said with a sigh.
"What were you doing out there anyways?" Sokka questioned, suspicious.
Exhaling slowly, Soraya glanced at the tips of her boots.
"We're all tired," Katara began. "Let's go back and get some rest, she can tell us the story tomorrow."
Soraya gulped and nodded. She felt so guilty jeopardizing the palace and everyone that lived there! She felt awful. She had just wanted to see if the ship had still been there and find out why it had brought up such a tumult to the boy. As always, whenever she tried to take a risk and save her people; she always ended up imperiling them. The only bit of useful information that she had managed to extract was that the child was undoubtedly the Avatar. She saw him airbend. She might have also ceased their worries by being captured herself by the Fire Nation, assuring them she was not against them. If she kept this up, she definitely would be able to fulfill her inheritance! Being a female, she was already seen as unfit to rule, and her brothers, though they loved her, were definitely jealous over what her father had given her. More strikes and she'd…be….out…