-1Leiko

Ch16

Aang ,Katara and Sokka walked down stairs at first light, each groggy and sleepy. Iroh had woken everyone one up early to get a head start and gather necessary supplies. Iroh and Zuko were dressed and ready to go (Zuko with out armor) each holding a weapon. Zuko with two broad swords, and Iroh with one Katana. Aang and his friends stared at them now beginning to sweat nervously at the sight of fire nation soldiers with weapons. "Umm…. What's with the weapons and where you get them?" Sokka meekly asked, Zuko grinned at the sight and pointed his swords at his throat. Sokka froze nearly falling backwards after tripping over a stool. Zuko laughed while Iroh smiled but shaking his head at the sight. " Zuko not fair scaring the poor boy since he's unarmed." Iroh said, Zuko gave one last snicker and walked over to lean on the couner. Iroh helped Sokka up and handed him a double edge ax. Sokka stared at the weapon never holding one like it before but liked how it felt. " The weapons are to fight ghouls, remember they won't stop attacking until they kill you or cut their heads off. As for where we got them Cho went to the black smith this Jiro this morning and bought them. Jiro had quite a collection and I hope the weapons suit you." Iroh explained, Cho walked to Aang and handed him a Bo staff with a blade at the top, Katara received a butterfly sword. " Umm, thanks but I think I'll stick to air bending." Aang said trying to return the staff, Katara tried to do the same. Iroh shook his head and refused to take them back. " Can you be sure there will be water around to bend or able to cut a head off? Or Able to take off a head with wind, keep the weapons you'll need them. Ok shell we head out?" Iroh encouraged, "Can't we eat first?" Sokka wined, "No you can eat on the way." Zuko said throwing a small bag of food to him. Sokka started to eat while everyone stared part to embarrassment or shock. "Ok lets go…. We do know where were going right?" Aang asked, "Yes Cho wrote down directions on a map she drew." Iroh answered, Everyone walked out the door feeling weird holding a weapon, Cho wished them luck and safe returns. As they left Cho waved good bye to Zuko who returned the wave when he thought no one was looking. Iroh saw and grinned. ( Yes! They're talking and on good term seven friends! I'm so happy Zuko can talk to girls again!) Iroh thought as they left the village heading north.

"Wait!" A voice yelled out behind them, everyone turned and half way drew their weapons thinking they were under attack.. A Fire nation soldier was running after them calling them trying to get their attention. He arrived at the group giving short gaps for air and holding in each hand claws that attached to a glove that he wore on each hand. "Wait I want to come with you I can help." the soldier said, "You two know this guy? Katara asked, Looking at Zuko and Iroh. "Yes this it Kin one of our fire benders and a skilled warrior." Iroh introduced him, Zuko only looked at him and glared, "Go back to the safe house with the others. You don't know what were up against, you'll only get killed." Zuko ordered, Kin shook his head standing his ground never losing eye contact knowing he have to show he was serious. "But I do know, I heard about the ghouls and demons and I want to help you sir. The others wanted to come but we agreed it might be better to keep the group small and they can guard the village." Kin explained, Zuko looked a little frustrated and didn't feel like wasting time. "You know you'll probably die and I warned you?" Zuko asked, "Yes but I don't intend on dieing. Besides I want to avenge Takus death. Please let me come sir, I can be of great help." Kin said, Zuko thought about it but seeing the looks everyone was giving him he made up his mind quickly. "Fine." Zuko said, "Thank you sir I won't let you down." Kin said and bowed. With the new addition the group again set out.

Else where 5 miles away, in a clearing in the middle of another forest a small old women had named Leiko had just walked out of her small hut. She stood about 4'8 with short gray hair, her body was small and appeared fragile. She had rankles that outlined her face with a small scar that went across her cheek. She wore a green long sleeve shirt with a orange vest on top of it along with gray baggy pants. She sniffed the air giving a disused face relishing the stench of a corpse still lingered in the air. After picking some mushrooms and getting meat from one of her traps she started to walk back to her hut. But she the then noticed the forest suddenly gotten silent, then heard a faint thundering sound coming from behind her hut. She stared at the background looking for the cause of the noise only to see black.. (Dame, why in the morning? I wanted to relax now. I got something to deal with.") Leiko thought, As soon as she finished her thought Leiko began to see a figure in the distance, something big. ( "Clearly not a ghoul, wish he hurry up.") Leiko thought, The figure now stood ten feet from her starring her down, it was Zinan. She was a little intimidated, never had she seen a beast like this. "Who are you and what do you want? Make it quick I'm about to eat my breakfast rock head." Leiko demanded, Zinan chuckled at the old women and continued to stair at her. "You are Leiko correct?" Zinan asked, She nodded her head in response. "Good… you need not know my name because I'm here to crush your skull." Zinan stated, Leiko didn't look surprised, nor did she move, only wondering if this thing could do as he clamed. "Any particular reason or just saw me and figured hey looks like a weak old women I think I'll kill her." Leiko sarcastically said, "No there is a reason. You made those seals for the houses on the island. You must know how annoying they are to us, and better to kill you now before you do something else." Zinan said, Leiko grinned and laughed, "You think it's that simple come here, grab me and snap my neck? If so then your stupider than you look." Leiko taunted, Zinan frowned and began to slowly walk towards her. "I know about the seals around your house, same deal but you not at your house or around it. Your right here and moments from death. But enough of this lets get down to business." Zinan said, after saying that he charged bring his right fist back sending it straight for Leiko's head. She dodged to the right dropping her food and staggering backwards. Zinan then turned stretching his left arm out in a attempt to back hand her. Leiko ducked, ran straight at him and jumped off his knee doing a back flip. Zinan was shocked at the women's agility but ran at her bring down punch after punch slamming his fist in the ground missing each time. Leiko stepped backwards four times then ran on his left arm and jumping on his back. Zinan started clawing his back and twisting from side to side trying to throw her off. Leiko finally fell off but left a sutra on his back.

Zinan relished she fell off seconds later and charged again only to stop at the feeling of something burning his back. The sutra burned his rock like skill causing a great deal of pain. "AAAAA!" Zinan cried in pain, before finally pulling the sutra off. When he turned to face the old women she was gone. " Hey rock head over here!" Leiko hollered, Zinan turned to see Leiko near her hut waving for him to come to her and fight. Zinan accepted the challenge and leapt at her only to stopped in mid air not but five feet from her and land one the ground with a loud thud. "What happened?" Zinan demanded, only to see sutras set around the house. Leiko laughed at him and began to walk in the house. "You think this is over! No, you will die you hear me?" Zinan threatened, and as he finished saying this he walked away Leiko ignored him and walked inside and sat down and began to eat left overs.

Aang and the group had been making good time. Walking quickly all morning and they were a little over half way there. The forest was silent and seemed to get thicker and thicker and everyone was on edged. No one spoke and no one walked no more than a foot away from the one ahead of them. "AAAA!" Katara screamed, everyone turned to see what was wrong and saw her pointing at the trees. "I saw something!" Katara whispered, Kin and Sokka walked over each raising their weapons ready to attack. Each hid behind a tree and turned around the other side of the tree to be facing each other. With that done Katara gave a sigh of relief along with everyone else. "Don't scream unless there's something there. You might as well yell were right here!" Zuko barked, "Well I thought I saw something, I know I heard something move so calm down boy! Katara hollered, "What!" Zuko demanded, as they argued Aang looked around checking the area not wanting to be jumped again. As he looked Aang saw a figure running towards them followed by another. "Guys! Over there!" Aang yelled franticly, They were ghouls each carrying a sword and looking hungry eyeing the group as they ran towards them. "Attack!" Iroh yelled, Iroh swung at the ghoul in front of him, but only to have the ghoul block it with his sword and lunged at him trying to bite him. Iroh threw it off him and backed up. Aang and Katara fought off the other ghoul. Aang forced the ghouls sword to the ground as Katara swung at it's head. The ghoul ducked and tackled Katara, with only a inch away form her neck.. Aang took a deep breath and blew it off her. Aang ran to her, relived to see she was alright. Three other ghouls came from behind Zuko, Kin and Sokka. Two ghouls armed with swords and one bare handed, Zuko swung both swords at a ghoul only to have one blocked and the other grabbed by the ghouls other hand. Zuko pulled it forward and flipped him over sending it into a tree. Sokka was pinned to a tree for the ghoul had grabbed his ax with both hands and holding him still. Kin kicked air sending a flame flying and hitting his attacker. The flames didn't bother it as he charged swing it's sword. Kin blocked the sword and brought his other hand stabbing the ghoul in the neck. Twisting his blade Kin managed to pop the head off. The body twitched and fell. Kin jumped in the air kicking the ghoul off Sokka and slamming it into a tree. Kin stabbed both shoulders, pinning it down while Sokka ran up and chopped it's head off. Zuko had managed to cut the ghoul he was fight badly, he stabbed it in the wrist pinning it to a tree and brought the other blade to the other arm and cutting it off. The ghoul tried to bite him but Zuko dodged to the right, letting go of his sword twisting around bring his sword to the back of the ghouls head and chopping the head off from the jaw up. Iroh had managed to take both legs off his attacker, the ghoul tried to crawl and bite him but Iroh brought his sword down stabbing it straight threw the skull.

Aang and Katara were having a hard time neither wanted to cut the head off so basically pushed it away. Aang would shoot blast of wind sending it into trees and Katara fought it off with her sword. After tripping she stabbed it through the chest and pinned it to a tree. Aang stood there trying to bring himself to finishing it off. The ghoul kept biting at air trying to bite them and free it's self. ( I can't do this. I can't disrespect someone's corps. Your suppose to show respect, besides he can't do anything it be ok to leave right?") Aang thought, As Aang thought the ghoul ripped forward leaving the sword in the tree and charging Aang. "Aang look out!" Katara yelled, Zuko leapt in front of Aang bring both swords at a cross chopping the head off. Aang was shocked as the head rolled to his feet, the eyes staring at him. Aang couldn't move that look remained him of what happened last time and what he was taught about not fighting to kill. "What's wrong with you, It was pinned to a tree and you stood there waiting for it to attack you! Don't do that, you get the chance you take the head got it!" Zuko yelled, "Hey let off man Aang's not used to this." Sokka yelled, "Well he better learn fast because next time no one may be able to save him! Zuko barked, With that said they continued Aang not saying a word and thinking about what Zuko had said. ( "He's right that ghoul would have killed me if he didn't save me. It's just I know these things are dead but I was taught never to take life and I see life in there eyes.") Aang thought, Katara walked up to him with a worried look on her face. "You ok?" Katara asked, "yeah I'm fine shocked I guess, don't worry." Aang said, giving her a goofy grin. Katara then smiled and figured it better to leave it at that. After about four more hours They reached a small house.

"This must be the place guys." Sokka stated, "Really you think?" Zuko said sarcastically, "Enough both of you." Iroh called out before a fight broke out. They approached the door and knocked. After a minute a short old women opened the door forcing everyone back. "Who are you?" Leiko asked, "Hi sorry to bother you but were here to find stuff out about what going here and we heard you would have the answers we need right?" Aang asked, Leiko gazed upon each of them checking to see if any are ghouls and making sure their inside the sutras she put up. "Yes that's right hurry come inside. The gang walked in all but Aang and Iroh ducking their heads due to how low the ceiling was. The sack full of books each coving different facts of the world and bending from different nations. Leiko sat in a small but comfortable chair while everyone sat on the floor. "Sorry for the lack of seats but I don't get many visitors." Leiko apologized, " I don't dough that." Zuko commented, Leiko gave him a glare and threw a book at him, Zuko ducked and was restrained by his uncle. " Watch your mouth you brat! Now what do you all want! She yelled, "We need to know about the demons and how this all started. We heard you would know, please anything you can tell us will help." Aang said, "You and your friends going to fight them Avatar?" Leiko asked, "How'd you know he was the Avatar?" Kin and Katara asked, "I've heard all the rumors about the Avatar even here people know of you. You probably didn't come here knowing of the demons right?" Leiko asked, everyone shook their heads and Leiko grinned, "Thought so. I dough you come if you heard. Relax I won't question why you're here or why your with people of the fire nation… probably here same reason but I'll tell you everything." Leiko said, She then walked over to her book shelf and pulled out a old brown hard cover book. Everyone sat ready to listen and kept silent as Leiko began to tell the story..

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Whew, took a lot, glad to see you still reading, old women tells you to come in hope there's milk and cookies lol, review please.