Demon

CH 9

Zuko and Iroh had been running for an hour, their heavy breathing could be seen in the cool air, and sweat dripped from their foreheads. After slowing their pace it was decided to walk for the rest of the way, the village was about 20 minutes away. Thoughts kept running through each of their heads, trying desperately to make since of things. Zuko refused to believe that some sort of monster killed one of his crew; it just didn't seem practical for him to believe. Iroh looked over to see the confused look on Zukos face and finally broke the silence in an attempt to get his nephews and his own thoughts in order. "Zuko, do you believe what the crew said about some sort of creature attacking Ji?" Iroh ask, but he already knew what the answer would be, knowing Zuko. "Of course not uncle, I don't know what the crew did before going out side but I can tell you a monster didn't attack them. The crew probably had too much to drink went out side and Ji was attacked by a wild animal. It was dark so the crew didn't get a good look at it." Zuko answered, "But the creature had the body of a man and the bite marks looked that of a human mouth, no other wounds were there. Besides every member of the crew couldn't be drunk, they were all sober" Iroh pointed out, Zuko went silent not being able to think of any thing to comment of prove his uncle wrong, Zuko was actually starting to feel a little fear, he didn't like it.

As they walked a faint sound of a third pair of foot steps could be heard in the distance. This brought both Zuko and Iroh to a halt; they looked around trying to locate the sound. As the foot steps got closer the steps began to sound like stomping sounds of something large. At this realization Both Zuko and Iroh began to sweat nervously, now turning around behind them to see who or what was following them. As the stomping sounds got closer a figure could be seem in the shadows of the night and what they saw now terrified them and Zuko was now left with no more doubts about the stories he has heard. A large creature now stood before them, Nether could at first make out what the demon looked like because its skin seemed to blend in with the night, the only thing that gave its location away was its yellow eyes that seem to glisten in the moon light. The clouds now finally finish parting and the moon now shown, the light spread down on the forest revealing the demon and the sight of it made Iroh want to piss him self. It stood at least 6'5 ft, its skin was looked to be paced together with a bunch of large peaces of stone put together and colored black and gray. It had a small spike sticking out at each nee cap and elbows. A small stump was on each side of the demons bald head where its ears should be. Its feet seemed to be goofed but were shaped to where its heel was high off the ground.

The demon grinned at them as if it could feel their fear that filled both Zuko and Iroh. ("What the hell is that thing, is it made of rock? I don't believe that this is happening; no must be my imagination! But if it is then why can uncle see it?") Zuko thought, Iroh stood now remembering every story he ever heard that dealt with demons, never had he heard of one described like this one.(A demon, I can't believe I'm looking straight at a demon! I expected one that looked like an animal or like some sort of little creature with horns. What kind is it, what does it want with us?) Iroh thought, their thoughts were interrupted at the demons laughter that would have given an old man a heart attack if its appearance hadn't already. "Humans, pathetic creatures, you are all cowards does the mere sight of me make you freeze. how have you manage to have such a grip on life and lived this long?" The demon said, its voice boomed like thundered making both humans hearts skip a beat or two. The demon began to walk over to them slowly, making stomping sounds as he took a step.

(I can't move, why can't I move? I want to run but my legs won't move!") Zuko thought panicky, the demon now stood but 3 feet from them, it seemed to be examining them both making light humming sounds as if he didn't know they were humans. "So you're both of the fire nation interesting, why come here?" the demon asked, "We needed supplies." Iroh answered, "To bad you chose this island to come to, now you won't be leaving. Pity you could have enjoyed your feeble lives a little longer, I hope you have no regrets." the demon said, "W-who are you what do you want with us?" Iroh asked nervously, "Will it comfort you to know my name before you die? Very well, I' am Zinan and I' am here kill you both and make you in to ghouls." Zinan said, grinning in delight at the thought on breaking each like a twig.

At that response Zuko and Iroh turned and started running hoping to out run this creature. "I love this part." Zinan said laughing; he started to run after them, after picking up enough speed he then lept in the air over their heads and landing in front of them barley missing them. Zuko and Iroh bumped in to Zinan and fell to the ground. Zinan flung his rock like fist straight down at them missing as both rolled to the side now standing on opposite sides of Zinan. As the dust cleared Iroh looked down to see a small hole in the ground. (If he had hit ether of us, our skulls would have been shattered.") Iroh thought, Zuko was at an awed after see this demons power. "Why bother running your only making this harder for both of you why not except your fates?" Zinan asked, chuckling at the fear in each of their eyes after witnessing his strength. Zuko snapped to his since and got in a battle stance, his hands starting to smoke. Iroh was impressed to see his nephew willing to fight even though they had almost no chance of living. Iroh then did the same and began to move slowly towards Zinan. "You both are actually going to fight me? You actually think you can't hurt me with your weak flames?" Zinan asked chuckling to himself, "A true warrior never gives up and fights no matter his chances and who he's facing." Iroh stated,

With that said Zuko made the first attack, hands now balls of flames. Zuko lept in the air shooting blasts of fire at the demon. Iroh circled around to Zinan creating a ring of fire around him and stop when he stood in front of the demon. Zinan was in gulped in flames after being hit by Zukos attacks and contained by Iroh's ring of fire that surrounded him. Iroh then raised his hands and using his bending skills raised the flames. Iroh then took a deep breath and gave one last blast of fire that burned everything within 10 feet any closer then the woods would have caught fire. Iroh and Zuko stood staring at the huge ball of fire that burned where their enemy once stood and could not see his body. "Was that it that was the most pathetic excuse of a battle I've ever been in?" Zuko said mockingly, "Don't drop your guard yet nephew I dough it will be that easy." Iroh yelled, just as he said a dark figure walked out of the flames, and appeared unharmed. Both Zuko and his uncle couldn't believe what they were witnessing; the demon didn't seem to have been affected in the least. The heat didn't even seem to bother him; Zinan looked at both laughing like someone made a joke. "Was that your best you're pathetic. But you are after all human so I guess I shouldn't expect anything from ether of you." Zinan mockingly said,

Zuko now charged and lept again only this time grabbing the demons head and setting it a blaze. Iroh ran to the demon placing his hand on its chest, closing his eyes and a sudden blast of heat shot threw the demons body. Such an attack from ether of them normally would have killed a human but to as the smoke cleared was shocking sight was revealed. Zinan stood with an unharmed head and a little shaky after Iroh's attack, Zinan then grabbed Zukos hand and slammed him into the ground then stomping on him; a loud gasp and gagging was heard as the wind was knocked out of Zuko and his armor now cracked. Zuko then spat out blood after the demons foot stomped down on his back. With his other hand he grabbed Iroh and lifted him off the ground till his eyes met with the retired general. "Impressive attack old man, that stings a little bit, barley though." Zinan said before punching Iroh in the gut. Iroh flew into a near by tree and was paralyzed after feeling the force of the punch. Zinan turned to see Zuko stood shaking after the force of his stomp and ready to fight, slowly gasping for air. Blood ran down his chin, his armor cracked and ready to break after another attack but his hands still steamed ready to give another blast. "Do you really want to try again it wont work my body is rock hard, it will resist your petty flames, in my world there is plenty of flame, so I'm used to it." Zinan mocked Zuko, "Then I'll send you back to hell!" Zuko shouted, he then staggered at the beats savagely beating Zinan flames blasting with every attack. Before Zuko could deliver his strongest attack Zinan grabbed Zuko by his throat squeezing until Zuko dangled like a rag doll.

(It can't end like this. Not before I capture the Avatar, not before I regain my honor. It just can't end like this.") Zuko thought to himself, Just before Zinan could crush Zukos neck a voice was speaking to him in his mind (Stop, The boy must live!) Hollered the voice, (But why this boy and the old man are nothing, they be more useful as ghouls?") Asked Zinan, ("Maybe not, one of them could be useful alive, release them and return now!") said the voice; Zinan did as he was told and dropped Zuko and walked away. Iroh ran to his nephew and prayed he was still alive. Zuko coughed and began to rise to his feet. "What happened? Where he go?" Zuko asked, "I don't know he just stopped, dropped you and left." Iroh answered, after checking to see if the demon was gone. Iroh put Zukos arm around him and they both then walked to the village hoping Cho's offer for shelter still stood.