Thanks to wilderness-writer, Zukofan5, effie's head, Siamese Surfer, and Firebender-Keiko for reviewing! And tornesun from DH!

Slightly longer chapter, took a while to actually get it down.

Disclaimer: I own Lian…maybe the dogs? Bah.


Chapter 5 – Never Bite the Hand that Feeds You

There were two ways to solve this problem, she mused. One, tell him to come back later when the Komodo Rhino was actually trained. Or two, grovel and plead.

She decided to go with one at the moment.

"He's not ready. I need two years once they hit the ground to train them," Lian said somewhat calmly, wishing she hadn't squeaked.

"Not ready?" Zhao asked, an eyebrow arching. He frowned and glared down at her. "I gave you a year and seven months."

Lian swallowed, forcing herself to not back down. "I need two years. If you take him into battle now, he won't obey a word you say." The woman held back a wince when his hand came down hard on her shoulder and squeezed. "It can't be helped," she managed to mumble.

"Explain to me why my rhino isn't trained," he said softly, barely more than a hiss.

"They usually don't leave the mother until two years of age. They are still adolescents in their mindset. He'll be ready in another five months," Lian stated. She tried to maneuver away from him but his grip tightened, intentionally touching a nerve spot. Hissing, she fought to break his grip and shut the door on him.

Zhao snarled and yanked her forward, keeping a vice-like grip on her shoulder. He shoved her into the small clearing, letting her get a good look of all of the soldiers he had brought with him. Her eyes darted around, measuring the twenty men slowly as Zhao stepped up behind her.

"She says my rhino is not ready," he stated, loud enough for the men to hear him clearly.

Standing up slowly, she made a small hand motion, ordering her dogs back. They stayed silent, circling around slowly and keeping to the shadows. Lian bit her lower lip again and kept herself from looking at the barn. Breathing deeply, she tried to stay calm as the soldiers drew near.

"I guess I'll have to take him back," he said lightly, his hand immediately grabbing her wrist. She grunted, tearing herself free while he looked on, amused. Instincts clouded her judgment, snorting and trying to look threatening in some way or fashion.

Unfortunately, she kept her attention too much on Zhao.

"Admiral!" a soldier called out, standing near the barn door.

She snarled, lunging and nearly stepped into the admiral's fist. Her body turned at the last minute, stumbling slightly as she fought to regain her balance.

"Restrain her," Zhao ordered, striding over to the barn door.

Two soldiers grabbed her arms, twisting them back to hold her still. She fought, nearly donkey kicking one in the shin. They merely laughed and one kicked her legs out from under her.

The nameless soldier opened the doors to the barn at the man's silent gesture. He stepped through, eyebrows lifting at the sight before him. Zhao smiled widely, eyeing the rhinos that were curled up in the straw. The mother stood, snorting and shaking her head.

"I might just let you keep that rhino for these. How old are they?" Zhao asked, turning to gaze at her.

Lian spat at him for her answer.

"Pity," he growled, looking back at the rhinos. "They'd make a fine repayment for your screw up with mine."

"They belong to a client," she hissed, testing the men holding her arms. It was going to be a while before they let go.

He ignored her, turning to several of his men. "Take them back to the ship. We'll find us another trainer who can do the job."

Struggling, she snarled loudly. "They don't belong to me! They belong to Prince Zuko!" Lian nearly yelled.

Zhao didn't pause though. "An even better reason to take them," he laughed.

Li grunted, tail thumping the ground in warning. She rushed at one soldier, nearly sending a horn through his stomach. Her tail swung, knocking another one away as she protected her offspring. Roaring, the rhino swung her head and forced the soldiers back.

She smirked then, watching the rhino defend herself. They couldn't get near enough to do anything. Her smirk disappeared as Zhao moved closer to the rhinos, frowning.

"Stand back," he ordered, fire licking at his fingers.

"Don't you dare hurt her!" she screamed, arms jerking against her restraints.

His hands lit with flames, crackling softly as the rhino turned to face him. She roared, covering her children with her large bulk. The two creatures lowed loudly and then screamed in surprise.

Fire flew from the punch he let loose, slamming hard into the thick armor-like skin. Li yelled in pain, feet trembling underneath her. The flames licked at her skin, turning it black and burning the tissue underneath. She screamed, head flinging from side to side, trying to be careful with her stumbles. Roaring in pain, her tail swung around, cracking the wooden panels and sending splinters everywhere. An awful smell rose into the air, sinking into the senses and burning them.

The rhino finally stopped, body trembling as her pupils shrunk. The calves groaned loudly and nuzzled her, immediately being restrained with lead ropes around their new halters.

Lian screamed loudly, fire eating at her captor's hands. They yelled in surprise, letting her go as they clutched their hands. She scrambled on the ground, flames surrounding her arms up to her elbows. Her target just watched in amusement as she charged at him, so low to the ground she looked like an animal charging. He smirked widely as she tried to send a blast of fire at him, her amateur Firebending skills showing. His leg swung around, his foot catching her in the face. The woman spun in the air, the force of his blow flinging her to the side. Both of their momentum had sent her a good five feet from her original position.

"Take the rhinos to the ship," he ordered the few officers. The mother was reacting now, he saw with a smirk. She walked slowly, legs trembling underneath her large body. "Close the barn doors."

She tried to get up, the pain in her face intensified when she moved her jaw. There was going to be a bruise there, she was damn sure of it. Hissing in pain, Lian managed to get her arms underneath her, only to feel two soldiers grab them, holding them out at the sides.

"Make sure she stays still," Zhao said, moving to the wall where the whip and riding crop were.

An arm slipped around her neck, jerking her head up. She couldn't even breathe burning air on him from this position. The soldiers were sure to keep her arms away and to watch them for signs of flames.

"Tell me, wench," he said, walking in front of her. The long whip she had touched once dangled from his hands. "Have you ever used this? Or have you ever felt this crack against your skin?" Zhao grinned devilishly, watching her face as she paled visibly. "Assaulting an officer and disobeying an admiral's orders. There's quite a punishment for that." He tsked, walking back around her. A nod from his head had one of his remaining soldiers stepping forward, a knife glinting in his hand. It would be much more effective if she felt the whip crack on her bare skin.

Panicking slightly, she jerked when the cold blade touched her skin, cutting through both shirts she had on. Ripping sounded as the shirts fell to the ground, useless now. The bindings she wore around her chest were left on thankfully. Growling, she struggled to break the grips on her and run off.

Zhao was mildly surprised at the small scars on her back that looked like they had come from a whip. Most likely from the one in his hand. "Now, don't worry," he said with a grim smile, "this won't take long."

A crack shot through the air, the woman twitching almost as the whip cut through her skin. Hissing, she bit her lip and held in the yell that threatened to spill forth. It snapped again, hitting the rip in her skin again. Shivering from the cold that seemed to seep in, she withheld her screams as Zhao continued relentlessly. He made sure to continuously hit the same spot until blood poured freely out of the wound. Pain was spreading everywhere as a few missed her exposed back and cracked against her legs. Lian jerked harder, feet trying to push away from the whip.

Blood oozed and dripped on the ground, creating a small puddle around her. She whimpered softly, trying to hold in the pained yells. Blackness was starting to fade around her vision, forcing her to shut her eyes and practice her breathing.

The cracking stopped, the barn going silent except for her heavy breathing. Lian was trembling, her breathing rushing out of her in shaky exhales. The three soldiers released her, letting her lie on the ground as she tried to catch her breath.

Smirking, Zhao approached her, tossing the whip into some remote corner. She barely acknowledged his presence, choosing to stay still as she looked up at him. He grabbed her shoulders, flames dancing on his hands. The scream he had been waiting for tore from her, the pale skin turning black almost instantly. Her eyes rolled back as he threw her to the floor, smiling at his handiwork.

"I think we've spent enough time here," he said, turning on his heel.

"Bastard."

He heard it; it was barely louder than a breeze. Fuming, the man turned, glaring down at the glassy eyed wench. The doors behind him opened, the startled yells of his soldiers echoing in the barn. Snarls rumbled and he turned, eyes landing on the small sheepdog. He growled loudly and lunged at the admiral, his back leg freezing somewhat.

Zhao let the creature sink his teeth into his armored forearm, grabbing the mutt by the scruff of his neck. He shook him, earning a yelp from both dog and master.

"You still defy me?" Zhao snarled, glaring at her shocked form. Her eyes were focused on him, face pale from this predicament. "I guess you haven't learned your lesson! I'll make sure you have now," he whispered dangerously.

"Shing," she whispered, trying to think of any kind of command to help him. Fire leapt from her hands, winking out of existence as her strength failed.

Anger flowing through him, Zhao pulled out a knife from his belt, holding it up to the dog's neck. One clean slice released a gush of dark blood, splattering the woman as she stared in shock at the man. He dropped the body, life slipping away in the brown eyes.

A strange whimper came from her as the mutt fell, lying still on the ground.

"Let's go." Admiral Zhao walked out, his soldiers falling into step behind him. None of them looked back.

The barn doors slamming shut sounded like a crack of thunder in her head. She pushed herself to her hands and knees, swaying on the spot. Ignoring the flashes of pain that coursed through her, she tried to crawl to him. Her attempt did manage to bring her close enough to touch him, the fur feeling cold underneath her hand. He didn't stir or budge, the lake of almost black blood surrounding her.

Lian felt numb, the cold vanishing, the pain disappearing.

She fell, clinging to her canine. The blood splattered, smearing over her body.

For the first time in years, she cried. Curling up, she let the blackness have her.


It was strange having to walk back and forth from the small farm to his ship. The change in surroundings seemed to happen quickly nowadays. Zuko listened halfheartedly to his uncle's ramblings, more focused on the goal ahead. He was going to put his rhinos on the ship and leave this forsaken rock.

He should've known something was off by the silence of the area. The goats out to pasture were standing in a tightly bunched group, kids in the middle. Shang was sitting guard over them, the first time any of them had seen a guard dog watching over them. Nothing really seemed to sink into Zuko but his uncle frowned and let his gaze travel over everything he could see.

Then reality came smashing down hard when they reached the gate and Shing wasn't there to greet them.

Zuko frowned as well, checking left and right for the mangy mutt. The Firebender stepped onto the farm, waiting for the dog to appear.

"Maybe she's feeding him?" the soldier piped up from behind.

Iroh pointed to the small pan on the ground by the lean-to, worry evident in his face. "Keep on your toes, Prince Zuko."

The three made their way slowly down the path, gazing at the row of pens. Inside, the creatures stayed huddled near the back, some snorting at them. The rhinos seemed to glare, the two large females shaking their heads at them.

Two dogs sat stiffly in front of the barn, whimpering softly. One was the large mastiff but the other looked like another sheepdog. The two looked up at them, whimpering again and then staring at the barn.

Zuko immediately slid the barn door open, wincing at the smell flowing through the place. His eyes immediately landed on the dog, lying in a lake of blood. He somewhat recognized the person collapsed near the mutt. Iroh was rushing forward, trying not to step in the blood while Zuko's eyes stared at the wooden panels.

Scorch marks ran along the top, mocking him as he stared. One panel was bent outwards; the wood splintered and cracked down the middle. It was empty though, none of his rhinos curled up in the golden straw.

Iroh was trying to rouse the girl, having dragged her with help from the soldier out of the blood. He had sent the soldier to go fetch the medic on the ship after seeing the large gashes and cuts covering her back and the burnt, charcoal black skin across her shoulders. "Miss Lian!" he whispered frantically, shaking her gently.

A small grunt came from her, the eyes fluttering open. She stared blankly around, golden eyes shining with a fever.

The prince stalked up, ignoring his uncle's protests as he grabbed her upper arms, glaring fiercely at her. She barely acknowledged him, eyes unfocused.

"Where are they?" he snarled quietly, feeling his uncle's hands trying to pry them away from her. "Where are my rhinos?"

Finally, some sense of clarity sparked in the lifeless orbs. It was immediately washed away in a sea of confusion as the fever regained control. "Please don't take them," she whimpered softly.

His voice grew in volume as he fought his uncle's pleadings to let her go. "Who has them?" Zuko nearly shook her as Lian seemed to be slipping unconscious again. "Where are they?"

Her head fell forward, nearly resting on his chest. He caught the small words she uttered though, dropping her in surprise.

"Please, don't take them, Zhao."