Chapter 2

Thank you Eli, for reviewing...sorry this chapter is so short I'm busy with reports and drawing Ray. Yes I draw my characters and soon i hope i will be able to put links on my profile but that will be a while. Yes already i have had somebody ask me if Ray and Tim could be in their story and i gladly excepted. I love what you are doing and thanks for the questions and previews of them. You are great with keeping them in character and made me fall to the floor laughing (literally) I do not own avatar the last Airbender.

Ray laid by Kiro in the meadow by the lake, dozing off in the sun. Tim laid in a tree near the lakes edge above Ray.

"Girls, their grace, beauty," Tim smiled.

"Their strength that gave you that black eye?" laughed Ray.

"Hey! You have to be cautious of the thorns of a beautiful Rose," Tim stammered.

"Keyword cautious, girls just bring trouble," sighed Ray. "They nag; complain, they are just plain annoying,"

"Yeah and you won't think that when you fall in love," sneered Tim being over to see Ray, but Ray was upright and Kiro was snarling. Tim looked up to see a black cloud of smoke rising in the air coming from their village.

Without saying a word Ray dashed towards their village with Kiro by his side. Tears burning and his heart racing as he saw the fire on top of the buildings. Tim on the other hand was having difficulty getting down from the branch.

Ray ran past the burning houses racing to his. As he approached he saw fire nation troops surrounding his home. He ran up to one and beat on their back.

"Go away! Leave!" Ray cried, "How could you? Why?"

The man grabbed Ray's wrist and twisted it causing Ray to fall to his knees cringing in the short sharp pain. Kiro growled and attempted to attack the man but was stopped as ropes lassoed the wolf cub and soldiers restrained Kiro and proceeded to take him away.

"Kiro!" Ray screamed but yelped as th4e man twisted harder.

"You are of a young age, but not too young," the man examined Ray. "These eyes of yours….they must hate me right now,"

"I wonder why?" Ray growled and bit into the man's flesh.

"You little," the man kicked Ray's ribs making Ray loose his breath. "How dare you bite me, Zhao, a captain?"

Ray laying on his side trying to recover air became wide eyed to see his mother come into view horrified at what was happening. A tear streamed down his face as he tried to call to her but was too out of breath from Zhao's kick. He smiled he knew if Zhao saw his mother he would stop, and his mother would help him, protect him and get Kiro back.

His hope soon was shattered. His loving mother did not say a word and backed away slowly horrified. He reached for her with his left arm as he saw her run away. But as she ran an archer ended her life before his eyes. Zhao smiled and grabbed Ray by the neck.

"Your own mother left you to die, boy," he said. "I did you a favor, and if I am not mistaken your General Firion's son." Zhao tossed Ray aside. Ray didn't move nor speak.

"Men, today a victory for the Fire Nation," Zhao declared. "Traitors took this village as a refuge and with this destruction I am sure we eradicated those conniving rats," That is all Ray heard before everything grew dark.

Ray awoke in a tent. He looked around to see a young adult. "Ava?"

Ava looked at him and smiled. "Hey sleepy head, you finally awake. Enya is resting, has a scar on her left eye, I fear she might never see again,"

"She is alive?" Ray got up rubbing his forehead.

"Yeah, sorry Ray but Diana and Patsu well..." She grew silent. "Well Tim is alive and well…eyeing all the girls in town,"

"Town?" Where are we?" Ray asked.

"We are outside the Fire Nation Capital at a Fire Nation Recruit Camp, you have lessons..."

"For what?"

"Ray, they only reason why you are alive, you and both Tim is well, Zhao recruited you both to become a soldier," Ava sat by him. "I'm in the army as well…I'll train you and Tim, but remember I'm not a soft, little girl like I once was,"

"Kiro! Where's Kiro!" Ray sprung up.

"Settle down, He's in the corral," Ava reassured him. She handed him a loaf of bread. "You've been out for two days, thought you were hungry,"

Ray grabbed the loaf and began eating it slowly.

"The brat lives, "Zhao entered the tent. Ava saluted and bowed. "I am honored for you to be here,"

Ray wide eyed looked at Zhao. Zhao sneered in response, "Boy, are you afraid? Your eyes show me your fear, your body becomes immobilized by it. This emotion just like the others will be the result of your death. Only anger will make you stronger," Zhao laughed and exited the tent.

With these words Ray was determined to protect others from the fate his family had. He wanted to serve the Fire Nation his people to protect them from harm, most of all the resistance, deserters, and traitors to the Fire Nation.

Over the next three years Ray studied and trained to fight under Ava's shadow with Tim. She had strange methods of training the two boys teaching them the skills and pressure under battle as well, even if it might have cost them their lives. She trained them hard improving their fire bending. She would threaten them with her whip if they hesitated. Ray didn't advance in fire bending but soldier training and battle combat.

Ray and Tim soon were put into a combat unit that hunted down deserters of the Fire Nation. Ray did not feel sorrow when he took a life. No sadness, pain, or guilt. He was becoming a killer under Zhao's influence.

And it scared me…..

Please Review...(sniff) i'm begging you,...and..there is a mystery at the ending..somebody is writing this...is it a character you've already met? Or...somebody that will appear in the future?