Truce
Ch10
Cho had finished explaining to Aang, Katara and Sokka each with an even no surprised and shocked look on their faces. The room fell silent for a minute, thoughts raced through the trio's heads, each wishing they hadn't come to this island. "So their really are demons out there and we can't get off this island?" Sokka asked, knowing the answer to the question hoping she might have missed something. "Yes that's correct, I'm sorry." Cho said, "um are you sure those are demons and ghouls out there? Maybe they're people pretending to be so they can get away with anything?" Katara asked, "They're real, those were not humans pretending to be monsters. I saw what those…. those ghouls look like and trust me their real. They even smelled like death and they were missing parts of their faces and eyes." Aang said before Cho could answer, As Aang was talking his voice kept breaking, he kept thinking back to when those ghouls attacked him and seeing their faces never had he seen such a horrible sight. Katara wanted to say something to comfort him but couldn't think of nothing that would be helpful. She placed her hand on his shoulder; Aang looked at her then turned back to the floor.
Sokka began to ask something else when a loud pounding came at the door. Everyone in the room froze and prayed that it wasn't ghouls coming for them. "Cho please open the door. It's me Iroh your best customer of the month and my nephew. We need shelter and hope your offer is still good." yelled Iroh, he then looked at Zuko and didn't like what he saw. Zuko was shacking, not due to fear but mostly from his injuries. ("I hope broses and maybe a cracked rib or two are the worst of his injuries. God it's a miracle he hasn't collapse yet.") Iroh thought grimly, Cho recognized to voice and walked to the door to let them in. "Wait just how you can be sure who ever that is ok?" Sokka asked, "Because ghouls don't talk and I know the voice its ok." Answered Cho, with that said Cho walked to the door and began to unlock it hoping they were ok. (I think I know that voice it sounds familiar but who is it? It sounds like someone old who could it be… oh no!") Katara thought, at the last second she remembered who the voice belonged and before she could warn Aang and Sokka both Iroh and Zuko walked in. "Thank you for letting us in, we had some trouble after we left here earlier." Iroh said, "So I see what happened you two are a mess and your nephews armor is about to break apart?" Cho said, Before Iroh could answer he saw Zuko looking at something and turned to see what and didn't like what he saw, the Avatar.
"Avatar, well I see something good comes out of my being stuck here." Zuko said, he then readied himself for combat again when both Katara and Sokka stood between them. "Back off Zuko this isn't the time." Katara threatened, "Maybe, maybe not all I know is the avatar is right here and you two can't stop me." Zuko answered his fists now balls of fire preparing to blast them. "Just try it scar face. You don't look so tough what happen your crew finally get tired of you?" Sokka said mockingly, Sokka now readied his boomerang and Zuko raised his fists to melt his skin when a hand grabbed his arm. "Now children remember where we are and what's been happening. Judging how the Avatar is acting he has to has had an encounter with ether a demon or a ghoul right?" Iroh pointed out, "yes, a ghoul." Aang answered, "Plus this is my store and if you start fighting I'll throw you out and see how you last out side under stand?" Cho threatened, with all that said everyone sat down Zuko wincing in pain as he sat down. "Ok now I'll go get some bandages for you two." Cho said, she then walked into the next room leaving Zuko, Katara and Sokka glaring at each other.
("They're lucky that demon got to me first. Other wise I take the Avatar and leave, pathetic fools.") Zuko thought, "So what brings you three here?" Iroh asked, "Supplies and Appa needed a rest." Aang said, "Bad place to come then." Zuko answered rudely, after sawing that he received a light smack on the back of his head. Zuko turned expecting his uncle to have smacked him to see Cho giving disapproving look. "I hope you don't mean my store right?" Cho asked sarcastically, "Maybe." Zuko answered, before Cho could respond Iroh spoke hoping to avoid a fight. "So we all seem to have the same problem. We are all strong and skilled in different ways perhaps we should team up or call a truce if you prefer." Iroh subjected, everyone looked at him like he was making a joke, then at each other. "You want us to trust him. He's been giving us trouble since the day we met not to mention your fire nation!" Sokka said, pointing at Zuko the entire time. "Yeah you can't expect me to work with that poor excuse of a warrior, do you?" Zuko yelled, "I know none of you like each other but there are things here worse than us or the fire nation, you must relies this?" Working together is our best chance of survival." Iroh pointed out, "How do we know you two won't try anything when our backs are turned or while we sleep?" Sokka asked, "I give you my word nether of us will do anything, right Zuko?" Iroh said, Zuko said nothing at first but then staring at the floor he looked at the Avatar and his friends. "Yes I give you my word I won't attack any of you, while were all stuck here." Zuko said, Saying those words seemed to sting him worse than his injuries from Zinan.
(I can't believe what I heard. I thought I have to convince Zuko more before he agreed. He must actually understand just what were up against.") Iroh thought, after that was said the trio looked at each other trying to decide. "Yes we agree." Aang said, Katara and Sokka looked at him each with a shocked look on their faces. "Aang maybe we should talk about this." Katara asked, Aang only shook his head. "This is the best way, I dough that they were hurt by ghouls right? Witch means there's something worse than ghouls… demons." Aang explained, after eyeing both Zuko and Iroh Katara and Sokka shook their heads in agreement. "So what did this to you guys? Aang asked, Iroh explained what happened from the ship up to their arrival to Cho's store all the while Cho attended to Zukos injuries. Zuko didn't approve but didn't feel like fighting her so said nothing. "Wow that sounds like a nasty demon." Katara pointed out, "Yes I wish we knew more about this island and why their here." Iroh asked, as he said this he looked over at Cho. Sorry I don't know anything else but you could go see Leiko. She lives about 7 miles from here and knows about this stuff. She part of a priestess and historians that keep track of history that happens on the island. She's the one who warned us about this and put the seals on the doors." Cho explained. Everyone then started to form a plan starting with how exactly they were going to see Leiko and what demons they would be facing.