Updated! Avatar doesn't belong to me, I'm only borrowing their names... I swear I am!
Anyway... Guess what! New picture on the profile! ... so yeah, I liked drawing it... I got the figures down pretty well without a model (drawing from my head/memory) Therefore, thou must goeth forth and checketh it outeth! ... Don't mind me, I got stuck in the wrong century. Only nine updates left!
Aang approached the leader, with the strange swords, with an impressed look on his face.
"Nice work!"
"Thanks." The boy stuck a piece of what looked like wheat in his mouth, completing the rustic, tough farm boy look. "Allow me to introduce you to the gang. We are the Freedom Fighters. This is Sneers, Smellerbee, Longshot, the Duke, and Pipsqueak." I smothered a laugh when I heard the huge guy's name. "And I'm Jet."
"Pleased to meet you! I'm Aang, this is Katara and her brother Sokka, and Kristen."
Jet nodded and smirked at us. Smirked… seems like that's as close to a smile as he can get.
Katara approached him. "Thanks for helping us out there."
"Not a problem. We were waiting for the right distraction to attack."
"We were relying on instinct." She glared sideways at Sokka, who looked offended.
"You'll get yourself killed doing that. Come on, you should see our base."
Jet led his group, who was carrying large tubs of some smelly substance, and us through the trees for some distance, then we stopped at the base of an enormous tree.
"Well?" Sokka looked nonplussed. "Where's this base of yours?"
"Here." Jet tossed him a rope. "Grab on."
Sokka grabbed the rope, and was rocketed up into the tree yelling all the way. The rest of us laughed. One of the boys held a rope out for Aang, but he shook his head and used his Airbending to leap from branch to branch. I took the rope offered me and was launched not so roughly into the air. I looked down to see Jet with Katara beside him coming up below me. I grinned.
Katara has a cruuush.
I landed gently on the wooden platform beside a sprawled out Sokka and looked around.
"Wow… talk about Swiss Family Robinson."
"Who?" Sokka looked confused.
"Just a story from my home… this place is awesome!"
There were… I don't know how many houses and walkways of wood suspended between the trees. Not long afterwards, Jet and Katara landed beside me and Jet led the way to an abandoned hut where he told us we could stay the night.
"We will have a gathering feast tonight, so I will leave you to get ready." He nodded to us, winked at me, then left the tent. Katara stood thoughtfully a moment, then followed him. I decided I didn't want to interrupt… especially if Jet was messing with me too. What a strange, but cute, guy.
I forced the guys out of the room momentarily while I quickly changed into some clean clothes, then allowed them back in while I did my makeup and hair. The makeup thing really confused but impressed them. As did my curl spray. Finally Katara came back and we set off to the Freedom Fighter's meal after dark.
After we were seated, Jet made an impressive and motivational speech to his gang, then we all set to work eating. It was pretty good considering they were all just a bunch of teenagers. Jet turned to Aang, Katara and me.
"You three did an impressive job with your Waterbending today."
Katara blushed, modestly. And she had a crush.
"Well, Aang's really good but I could do with a little more practice." She paused, then her eyes widened. "You can waterbend Kristen? I didn't know!"
I looked slightly embarrassed. "Well… I'm not very good. I haven't had anyone to teach me the form for it."
"You did well enough earlier. Besides, you make up for it with all your other fine qualities." He gave me a wink, which Katara didn't catch.
Ok, really confused now. Is he hitting on me? Or Katara!
"I know!" Katara looked pleased. "You can practice with Aang and I. we're learning too, and we got a Waterbending technique scroll."
"There is something you could do to help us with our mission, actually." Jet threw in before Katara could go off on a ramble. Sokka rolled his eyes, frustrated to his limit and stood up abruptly to leave.
"We wouldn't have time to help. We're leaving in the morning."
"Oh, but I had an important mission for you." I almost missed the cunning gleam in Jet's eyes.
What is he planning? Does he just want Katara to stick around longer?
However confusing Jet was, what he said piqued Sokka's interest and he turned.
"And what would that be?"
"Follow me." Jet stood up and motioned for a few of his closer Freedom Fighters to follow, as well as Sokka. I looked back at Aang and Katara as we were left to finish our meal.
"Well…" I tried to break the silence, but Katara had a dreamy, distracted look on her face.
Probably thinking about Jet… I smirked.
Aang continued eating down his food as quickly as he could. I sighed.
"I think I'm going to head off to sleep now. See y'all later." Aang said goodnight with a mouth full of food, and Katara only slightly acknowledged me.
When I got back to our designated room, I found I was too awake to sleep. I looked out a small window at the stars and moon peering through the tree branches high above. Glancing around the room for something to occupy myself with, my eye lighted on my sword.
Well, I suppose I could go down and practice with it. Maybe get in some stretching and martial arts too. Don't want to grow rusty.
Only a few minutes later I was down on the earth, far below the rebel's hideout above. I stood, feet together and pulled my arms down in front in the ready position, breathing out slowly. I closed my eyes and felt like I had been transported back to my Tae Kwon Do classroom. Moving slowly, I made my way through a series of strenuous poses and movements designed to loosen as well as strengthen my muscles, and loosely based on the sword fighting style Zuko had taught me involving low, wide stances.
Throwing in some acrobatics, I decided to switch to my sword. I took the stance I had learned from Zuko and began the familiar movements with my eyes closed. The forest was so silent, and my feet didn't make a sound as I flowed through the movements, thrusting and slashing with the Katana. I listened to the wind rushing over and around the edges of the blade, to the faint whistle left in its wake.
I was startled out of my concentration when my sword connected with another and stopped in mid swing. My eyes shot open and I found myself looking into Jet's face. He was really close. And he was smirking at me.
Someone thinks he's sexy.
"Jet!"
"Kristen. I'm impressed, you really know how to use that sword."
"Well… thanks. I only just started learning."
"Then you must have a great teacher."
You have no idea. I watched him, trying to figure out what he was up to.
"You finish your plans with Sokka?"
"Oh yes. He's going to help us out on a little scouting mission tomorrow morning."
"Well, that's good."
More silence as Jet just stood there watching me.
"So what brings you down here?"
He grinned. "Oh, I like to get in a bit of practicing down here myself."
"Really."
Jet gave me another of his sexy grins again. Man is he full of himself or what.
"Care to join me? I haven't had a partner in a long time." I shot him a sidelong glance.
"Sure, I wouldn't mind a quick sparring match. It's been a while since I've had one too."
I'd barely finished speaking when I heard the whistling of wind over blade and leaned back just in time to avoid Jet's sword.
"Tricky." I smirked at him.
He lunged again, and I leapt into the air to avoid one of his swords while I slashed down at his head. My Katana connected with his other sword, brought up in protection. I landed behind him and turned to face him again.
"Did I forget to mention I had two swords?" He grinned at me.
"Not at all. You forget I've already seen you in action." I saw a gleam of amusement in his eyes.
Did he think I was flirting with him? ... Am I?
I turned back to the situation at hand and took the ready stance Zuko had taught me, lifting my sword in the air. Jet continued grinning and twirled his swords expertly, then leapt at me again, slashing. I quickly sidestepped his first strike and moved his other sword aside, slicing toward his side. He caught me just in time to avoid a wound but not before I made a quite noticeable gash in his shirt. Jet gave me a glare and our contest began in earnest.
Moving quickly, I had a hard time avoiding his swings and slashes. But I held my own for a while, giving him quite a bit of grief. After a while, however, I began to tire. I was breathing in short breaths, and sweating. Even though Jet was worn out too, he had greater stamina than I and wasn't near as tired.
Jet had hooked his swords together and was swinging them around, wearing me out even more. I could barely dodge anymore. Finally the handle caught the back of my legs, pulling them from beneath me so I fell backwards hard. My sword flew out of my grip and skittered along the ground out of reach.
I thought Jet would consider the match over, seeing how I didn't get up right away but I was surprised when he came at me again. He raised his unhooked swords above his head and leapt at me, but I kicked his legs from underneath him and he lost momentum. His swords were imbedded in the earth a few feet above my head and Jet crash landed on top of me, still holding his weapons.
The sudden absence of action left me slightly dizzy as my adrenaline was still pumping, and I was breathing heavily. It took a moment for me to be able to open my eyes too, and Jet lying on top of me wasn't helpful with my breathing either. But when I did look, Jet was looking at me in a … not very nice way. I suddenly realized this was probably not the best situation to be in, and my fear from my last encounter with a guy kicked in. Unfortunately, I couldn't move away.
I was correct in my judgment when Jet leaned forward quickly to kiss me. I jerked my head sideways quickly, but instead of landing on my lips he kissed my neck. My stomach knotted tighter in fear and I unconsciously pushed the earth on either side of me up, lifting him into the air away from me as I shot out from beneath him and grabbed my sword. He landed hard on the earth, stunned, and shook his head. I didn't want to stick around to explain if he thought I was only a Waterbender.
"Thanks for the match. Night."
I walked quickly away, grabbed a nearby rope and shot up into the treetops before he could say anything.
A few minutes later I was back in the room with Aang, Katara and Sokka, who were already sleeping. I set my sword down and removed my dirty boots and tunic, leaving on the pants and camisole. It was too late to clean up now.
I lay on the cot silently staring at the ceiling, trying to force myself to sleep. Something about Jet really creeped me out. But at the same time, I was kind of attracted to him even though he flirted with Katara too. I just couldn't figure him out. Eventually, I drifted off to sleep.
When I woke the next morning, Sokka had already left for his mission and Aang wasn't in the room. Katara was making something in a corner of the room.
"Morning… how late is it?" I yawned.
"Oh, not too late. But you did sleep in. Sokka already left on Jet's mission. Aang's outside… found some firecrackers I believe."
I winced, and grinned. "That's dangerous." Katara laughed.
"What's that?" I sat up, groaning suddenly at the soreness of my muscles. I'd forgotten about my fight the night before.
"It's a hat, for Jet!" She held it up proudly.
"Um… wow, that's really good." I tried to keep the annoyance out of my face and voice at the mention of Jet.
"You sure were out late last night. Where'd you go off to?"
"Oh. I decided to get in some fighting practice. I guess I got too caught up in it… say is there somewhere I could clean up? I'm … kind of dirty again."
Katara laughed, and pointed out the door. "There's a washroom of sorts out the door and across the bridge to the left. Don't worry, it's the only building there and it has a lock."
"Thanks." I smiled at her, then gathered my personal stuff to go take a bath. I never realized how much I really enjoyed showers until it wasn't every day I could take one. And when I could, it wasn't always in a warm tub.
On my way back to our room after my shower, I spotted Sokka storming out of Jet's room a platform over. I made my way over, passing the muttering and furious Sokka, and entered the small hut. Jet was explaining something to Aang and Katara, who both looked a little flustered and upset about something.
"Ah Kristen." He didn't look like he remembered our incident last night at all. "We could use your help. I was just explaining to Aang and Katara how their Waterbending could save the forest. You see, the Fire Nation soldiers in the nearby village are planning to burn down this forest. I'll show you where we need you three tomorrow morning, so be ready."
I followed Aang and Katara out of the room, glancing back to see Jet smirking a bit at me. I blushed and quickly left, catching up to Aang and Katara as they entered our room. Almost immediately, Katara began talking about the Fire Nation's plan to attack the forest. Sokka looked away sulkily.
"Jet is very smooth, but he can't be trusted."
"You're just jealous of him because he's a better warrior and leader!" Katara argued.
I glanced awkwardly at Aang. We felt out of place in this little sibling argument.
"I'm not jealous! My instincts-"
"Well my instincts say we should stay a little longer and help Jet fight off the Fire Nation." Katara turned and stormed out of the room in a huff. Aang followed after a moment, leaving Sokka and I alone.
