A/N:Translations are in italics. Also there is action in this chapter, to those who got a bit bored.
Chapter 9
Conflict
In a Village...
"Well, we only have one copper piece left, sould we save it or spend it?" Katara inquires.
"I think-" Nate is interupted by a roar, followed by several frantic screams.
"That roar, Sokka, mutate and follow me." Nate mutates and runs off towards the screams.
At the center of the village...
Several mutants running around, killing random people, consuming their flesh...
"JAFFAR"
"STOP!"
All the mutants stop and stare at him.
"Stec hez!" Nate barks. "Step forward!"
"Wes dar uset floshe"
"Who do you follow?"
"Odio." one of the mutants replies.
"Brin osh tash hinish!" Sokka demands.
"Take us to him!"
"Nosh nors." "No need"
A dark voice comes from a nearby shadow. Out of the shadow steps a large mutant. Instead of two green eyes on each side of his head, there are three purple eyes.
"Clearly evolved." Nate mumbles.
"I am Odio, pathetic lightling."
"Hmph, I am only to be known as Hunter. Heretic darkling." Nate replies.
"Well, Hunter, why do you invade upon my land lightling?" Odio asks with an obvious annoyance in his voice.
"This is not you and heretic. This is the village's land. Go find a spot in the forest and claim uninhabited land, fool."
"You cannot order me lightling!"
"Do you have an issue with my suggestion darkling?"
"Yes I do lightling!" Odio charges forward and tries to strike Nate.
Nate ducks and swipes at his feet, while Sokka leaps on Odio, ripping at his flesh.
The other mutants start growling intimidatingly.
"Jaffar! Ma winesh tash farget aloshe"
"Stop! I wish to fight alone."
The mutants and Sokka backup slowly.
"Show no fear Hunter!" Sokka yells.
Odio charges at Nate, Nate then jumps. He lands on Odio's back and starts ripping at the flesh, and he lands a painful bite on his shoulder.
Odio yells in pain and throws Nate off. He pins Nate to the ground and he starts slashing at his body. He grabs his neck in a firm, powerful grip.
Nate digs his claws into Odio's chest and plls downward swiftly.
Odio releases his grip an staggers backward, bleeding profusley, he collapses. Nate walks up to the bloodstained body.
"You have failed, darkling. Gesh oso ef hershes"
"Get out of here."
"Sokka, let's get back to Aang and Katara." Nate says.
"Fine by me..."
Back with Appa...
"Nathan! What happened to you!" Katara shrieks.
"I'm alright, just a bit scratched, that's all."
"My god, you guys should've seen that fight! Nate was amazing! He ripped apart this mutant guy! And I thought the battle with those soldier guys was cool!" Sokka yells with excitment.
It was true. The red stains on his body and clothes are the result of the conflict he recieved several injuries himself. His wounds bled mostly orange due to the virus. Several scratches and bruises cover his arms and legs, and a ring of bruises surround his neck. A product of the near-strangling.
"Come on Nate, we need to get those wounds clean." Katara leads Nate to the stream nearby.
She took a rag and wetted it. she started to scrub all the blood on his arms, legs, and face. Next, she moved to the wounds. She took a bar of soap she bought at the village, which the conflict originated, and started to wash the lrgest of scratches on his arms.
"You know, I can clean myself." Nate mentions.
"I know." She continues to scrub out all the blood and dirt from his wounds. When she finishes with the cleaning, she starts the monotinous task of bandaging up the injuries. In the middle of the bandaging, a deep grunt is heard from the forest. Many mutants step out from the forest. A lust for blood in their eyes. Nate, out of 'instinct' if you will, mutates and gives a deep growl to warn the other beasts.
"'Tis the lightling that killed Odio!" A farely small mutant cries.
"Yes, that is me." Nate mutates back to human. "What do you want darklings? Do you seek your death?"
"No, we are scavaging, after you drove us out." Another mutant replies.
"Very well, do not feed on any of the water tribe in this area. To do so would be suicidal. Now, be on your way."
"Yes, Hunter." A large Mutant says.
"Hunter?" Katara inquires.
"Yes. I am now to be known as Hunter amongst the infected."
"Wow, you really have a reputation."
"I guess I do. Soon, the prince will know. And I will be feared and respected on a global scale. I now have a purpose."
"Don't let this new-found 'purpose' go to your head. We don't need another evil overlord." Katara warns.
"Don't worry, I won't..."
Back at camp...
"So, Nate, what exactly are darklings and lightlings?" Sokka asks.
"Well, they are like good and evil. A good or heroic mutant is a lightling. An evil or criminal mutant is called a darkling. We are lightlings." Nate explains.
"Oh."
In the nearby woods...
A pair of dark eyes stare at the group through some bushes. The eyes are inquisitive and full of pride and dignity as it has just found its prey.
"Capture them." Was all it said.
At that, several darkling mutants step out from the bushs and surround the group.
"You are surrounded. Give up Hunter or lose your life lightling." The being steps out and turns out to be a large, purple eyed mutant with a chunk of his shoulder missing.
"Who are you darkling?"
"I am known as Nightmare. I am a bounty hunter and my task is to kill you and the avatar."
"your mission is suicidal darkling. You are clearly unaware of danger you have just put yourself in. Reveal your self my demons!" Several lightlings leap from the trees and surround the group.
Cliff hanger! r&r!