99 reviews! Awesome:-D
Anyway, who wants to be number 100! ... I thought I was putting that subject behind me.
Violence! Bwahaha... I'm evil. Well, here's Sunday's update. By the time i post it, it will no longer be 11.59 PM... what the heck and I doing up so late! I have church tomorrow! Agh! Read, Review, and enjoy! AvatarNot Mine.
I was jolted awake when Zuko lurched suddenly and cried out. Something knocked him back against me and I grabbed onto his waist to keep him from falling out of the saddle, when I noticed the arrow protruding from his left shoulder. All of a sudden I looked around, and noticed the others in Zuko's caravan taking cover or already injured… some maybe dead, slain by the arrows that appeared from the trees a short distance away. The sun was setting now, and the entire landscape was tinged red and gold.
Moving swiftly, but carefully, I slid down the opposite side of the Komodo away from the arrows while trying to keep Zuko from any discomfort. I knew what arrows in the shoulder felt like… not very pleasant.
I peered warily around the shoulder of the animal only to duck back when an arrow whizzed past.
"Zuko, you ok?"
He gasped in pain, clenching his hands.
"I'm… fine."
"Tch, no you're not! You've got an arrow sticking out of you. You know you've got to admit weakness sometime."
"She's right you know."
Zuko's eyes narrowed as he glared at someone over my shoulder. When I heard the voice my eyes widened in shock and I looked back quickly.
"Jet!"
"You know him?"
"Know him? He's psychotic!"
"Nice to see you too, Kristen. Didn't know you traveled with Firebenders now."
"Oh please, just go away."
I started to turn back to Zuko when I saw a look of alarm pass over his face and I glanced toward Jet to see him swinging his swords at my unprotected back. Instinctively, I moved my arm in a motion to block, and Jet's sword was deflected off my near invisible barrier.
Jet stared at me in surprise, shocked and confused.
"What…?"
Without giving him any time to talk, I drew my sword and swung toward him, catching him off guard and slicing his arm. He stumbled back quickly, still surprised.
"My boys said you had done some pretty impossible stuff, for a Waterbender… guess they were right." He smirked and glared simultaneously at me.
"Yeah well, I didn't trust you, to be honest."
Jet feigned a look of hurt. "Oh come now! How can you forget those moments we shared together?" Zuko looked really confuse now.
"Just shut up! You forced yourself on me. You were playing with me, with everyone!"
I brought my hand up and threw a bunch of rocks at Jet. He moved quickly and jumped out of the way, but wasn't fast enough to avoid the vines I pulled up from the ground to wrap around his legs. He stumbled, regained his balance, then cut through the green plants.
"Is that all you have? Tricks? Let's have a real fight."
"As if!" I scoffed. "You're full of tricks yourself."
"Here's a deal for you, you beat me, and we pick up and go. I beat you, and we stay to defeat you all."
I stared at him, unsure of whether to take matters into my hands or not.
"I…"
I looked around for Iroh, but he was at the end of the caravan defending himself and other soldiers. Then I glanced at Zuko.
"Go ahead. You can do it."
I could immediately feel the butterflies in my stomach, this time much worse than sparring with Zuko or a Tae Kwon Do testing. I turned back to Jet, slowly stepping into a ready stance. He grinned at me, then lunged quickly.
Moving my sword in front of me I parried his attack and countered with a roundhouse kick, knocking him hard on the shoulder. He steadied himself in time to block a slash from my katana.
"Come on, this isn't as fun as last time!"
I attacked again, but my sword was blocked.
"What, you were enjoying our last fight? I thought you were stressed out over your stupid plans!"
Jet hooked his swords on my Katana and wrist, pulling hard. I cried out and attempted to keep a hold on my weapon but it was flung from my grasp and far out of reach. I clutched my bleeding wrist and warily watched Jet.
"Let's change things up a bit, what do you say?"
I grinned. "Let's." I extended my hand out toward my sword and it flew into my outstretched palm. Jet's eyes widened and he stared, shocked. Before he could recover I leapt into the air, kicking his shoulder again and slashing downward at the same time. My kick threw him off balance and my sword cut through his armor and into his skin.
Jet cried out and fell to his knees, clutching his wound. He turned around to glare at me just in time to connect with my foot as I kicked back at him. The last attack sent him sprawling into the dust where he lay still a moment before groaning and rolling onto his back. He looked up at the point of my Katana directed at his chest.
"Give up. I've beat you… so you better stick to your deal."
A nasty smirk formed on Jet's face. "Alright, I'll keep my deal. But I can't say much for the others."
I looked surprised. "What?"
Faintly, I heard the hiss of an arrow and turned quickly, knowing I wouldn't be able to stop it in time. Suddenly fire shot from Zuko's outstretched fist and engulfed the arrow speeding toward me, the force of the blast knocking it off target and catching the wooden shaft aflame. The projectile shot past harmlessly.
I faced Jet, glaring. He looked around, trying to find some avenue of escape.
"Dirty thief." I spat at him. "Take your 'Freedom Fighters' and leave."
I backed away and made my way to Zuko, watching Jet get to his feet and limp into the woods from a safe distance. When he was gone, I let out a huge sigh of relief and slumped against the Komodo's side.
"I take it you met him while you were captured?" Zuko shifted uneasily, grimacing in pain from the arrow wound.
"Yeah, you could say that. Tricked me into helping him with some crazy scheme. And… thanks for that earlier. The arrow… I wouldn't have stopped it in time."
Zuko looked kindly at me. "It was nothing."
I smiled.
"So… think we should get that arrow out of your shoulder yet? I'm starting to like the look. Gives off a whole 'Boromir' feel to it." I smirked.
"What's Boromir?"
"Ah. Only a character in one of the greatest book and movie series ever!" I got that 'obsessed, lost in my own world' look and I knew Zuko could see it. He looked at me weirdly. "Yeah if you ever come visit my world you'll have to watch the movie."
"What's a movie?"
I snickered. "Um, kind of like a play… but it's pre-recorded, just like the music we were listening to. Say… quit changing the subject: do you want that arrow out or not?"
"Fine."
"Let's go find the Doctor and Iroh. I hope they're ok…" I helped Zuko to his feet and we made our way down the caravan, looking for the Doctor or Iroh.
"Ah, Prince Zuko! I see you are not without your share of injury."
Iroh stepped toward us from the outside of the barricade of Komodos. His clothes were a little torn in some places, and he smelled like smoke, but otherwise was none the worse for wear. Not long after, we spotted the Doctor making rounds among the wounded or dead soldiers.
None of the injuries were serious, but there were a few dead soldiers who had been caught in the first volley like Zuko. I suddenly realized how close he could have come to dying.
While the three of us waited for the Doctor to get to Zuko, I took matters into my own hands to make things easier on Zuko. I took out my Katana, seeing how it was the sharpest thing around, and cut a majority of the arrow shaft off. I wanted to give the Doctor enough left to work with, but also make it easier to maneuver around. Plus the fact that my dad taught me some valuable stuff. Finally it was time to remove the arrow.
"Kristen, in my bag there are salves and herbs I will need. Bring it here." The Doctor laid Zuko on his back and examined the wound.
I left quickly, running a short distance away and grabbing a hold of the Doctor's bag. Just then I heard Zuko cry out in agony.
What! Did… they pulled the arrow out! And they didn't wait for me. Unless this was to get me away…
I ran back in time to see Zuko breathing heavily and drenched in sweat, his forehead creased in pain. The Doctor handed the remaining arrow shaft to Iroh to throw away, and poured water into the bleeding wound. I handed him the bag.
"Ah thank you."
I knelt on the ground beside Zuko, and gently took his clenched fist. He gave me a grateful look through the hurt in his face. It didn't take long for the Doctor to apply a salve and bind the shoulder in a clean white cloth.
"So I suppose we'll be setting up camp here then, huh?"
"Sounds like a good plan to me!" Iroh leaned back and tucked his hands into his wide sleeves. "I will tell the cook to make a nice, warm meal. Perhaps I should make Zuko a cup of calming Jasmine tea?"
I laughed. "Actually… if you guys have chamomile it might be better for Zuko."
"Chamomile?" The Doctor and Iroh looked at me.
"Ah… I guess you don't have it? It lowers fevers and helps you go to sleep easier."
"No, we have it. I just didn't know it did that."
"Oh well now you do!" I felt pretty pleased with myself, knowing something helpful the others didn't.
"Well, I have more patients to attend to. If you would remove Prince Zuko's armor and help him get comfortable for the night, I would appreciate it."
I nodded. "Sure thing. Is there any medicine or stuff he needs?"
"Not for the time being. Thank you for your help."
Iroh left to get a meal and some tea started, as the Doctor left to treat more injuries.
"Think you could sit up?"
"I think so." Zuko grimaced, and I helped him into a sitting position.
The Doctor had already removed his breastplate and shoulder pads. The arrow had gone right between a gap in his armor, a near impossible shot.
"I'll bet Longshot sent the arrow at you. He's an incredibly good shot." I unfastened Zuko's greaves, and chest plates, then helped him take off his ruined tunic.
"What was that boy, Jet, talking about earlier?"
I grimaced. "He first saw me 'Waterbending' so he asked me to help defend his forest against Fire Nation attack. He had me fill a dam with water, but it turns out he planned on blowing the dam and flooding an Earth Kingdom village with some soldiers in it; sacrificing the innocent people. I… managed to warn them in time for them to leave, and tried to stop Jet from blowing the dam but didn't get there in time. Though, the people were safe. I had a pretty nasty fight with him and left him frozen to a tree."
Zuko looked pretty amused and smirked.
"That was fairly cold of you."
I gave him a weird look. "What's this? Jokes from Prince Zuko?" I winked teasingly, and motioned to a mat I had laid out.
"Here's your bed… I guess Iroh'll be over with your tea in a bit." Zuko stiffly lay back with some help, groaning. I eyed the few faint scars that were scattered over his body. "So how did those happen? Any good stories?"
"Not really. I was too slow, or too hasty and got myself injured."
"Hey, anything involving a fight sounds cool to me!" I sat back, hinting I was ready for a story.
"Well if there's nothing else you'd rather be doing…"
I snickered. "Not really. Other than maybe drinking tea… which I'll be doing shortly and so will you." I gave him a stern look. "You're not getting out of it. Now, story."
Zuko faintly smiled, and relaxed against his temporary bed as he began his stories that lasted well into the night.
