A plot bridge chapter, hopefully I can get these done quick
Zuko finally approached the opposite side of the city from the port. It was open land, nearly bear of large foliage; there were no trees but bushes and shrubs, making the horizon clear over the rolling hills. A plain dirt trail started from the city, stretching and squeezing between hills before disappearing from view. To his right Zuko spotted where a few stables and some carts were in a shed. In the stables were the horse-ox; huge horse like beasts with horns, the thick sturdy frame of an ox and a horse tail, strong, fast, steady; perfect for pulling carts and riding, though they could be spooked with anything they don't understand. No wonder the shipments got attacked to easily if they were using those animals.
Zuko looked from the stables to a large barn, where a few strong men were moving crates onto one of the large carts and one shorter man was directing them. Zuko walked over to the shorter man who was shouting insults and orders to the men, who endured his rambling.
"Excuse me," Zuko said, getting the man's attention, "I heard they were looking for fighters to guard the shipment to Haruka. Who is in charge of the operation?" The man turned fully to Zuko, and while the man was short and middle aged, he looked tough and strong.
"I am," The man said loudly, clearly, "You any good of a fighter?"
"Yes," Zuko replied, "How much does the job pay?"
"Whoa, whoa," The man said, waving his hand to stop Zuko's questioning, "I ain't payin' for young amateurs to go with the shipment. How good a fighter are you?" Zuko withheld an annoyed sigh, and held out his hand, a small fire sputtering to life, startling the man.
"I'm a fire bender, and I'll fight who ever you want me to, with or without my skills." Zuko said. He'd had to do this many times while finding work. He also had to abandon his title of Prince so he could get money. Personally he found the whole situation degrading, but he couldn't put pride in front of his and his crew's survival. The flickering flame burnt out and the man thought about it, looking, looking Zuko over. After a couple moments he spoke.
"You realize this'll be life threatening trail and that you may not come back, right?"
"I'm prepared to accept that as long as the pay is good." Zuko said
"Alright," The man agreed, "How much you askin?"
"There's a ship in the harbor," Zuko said, "The captain is Iroh, his hull has taken on water and needs to be repaired. He needs the money to help to finish it." The man blinked
"That all?" The man asked, "I could find a crew of trusty ship builders cheaply…"
"That's all," Zuko interrupted; so far he and his uncle couldn't find any one cheap enough to fix it, but if this man could, so be it. After a minute the man laughed in good spirits.
"You got yourself a deal, bender!" The man said loudly. "This shipment is going out this afternoon, you can go then."
"Good." Zuko said, hen added, "But I want only business, I don't want anyone trying to make small talk or anything." He knew people liked to talk, and he just wanted to get the job over with and get back to finding the Avatar.
"Shouldn't be a problem," The man said with a shrug, "Quiet for the guard… Say, what's your name?" Zuko paused a minute.
"'Guard', will be just fine," Then he turned to head back to the docks, plenty of time before noon to tell Iroh that he found a way to repair the ship.
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Sokka walked through the small village of Haruka, observing the quiet villagers. He, Aang, and Katara had eaten and the theater director woman had shooed Aang and Katara into rehearsal. Sokka left, not too interested in the play, mostly because he found it to be a waste of time; but it got them food and shelter so he kept his big mouth shut on this one. He also had left to try to find another job; it just didn't feel right to just sitting there while Aang and Katara were working off all of their stay. He passed the rancher with the horse-oxen and paused, seeing a few of the beasts were getting hooked securely to a cart of crates, which were getting loaded by a bunch of men. Curiosity got the better of him and he walked over to the rancher.
"What's going on?" he asked and the rancher, an older man, who was tightening a strap on the snorting horse-ox's harness. The man glanced at him, seeming cautious.
"It is the weekly shipment across Cargo road," the man replied a little stiffly, not really wanting to answer a stranger's questions. "We sent a cart of grain and corn for animal feed and food to the nearest port town." Sokka was slightly put off by the cold tone, but curiosity made him ask more.
"Cargo Road?" he said, and just as the rancher looked about to snap something, one of the men who had been loading crates onto the cart, spoke up, breaking into the conversation.
"Lighten up, chief, He's just curious" the man said to the rancher, and then looked at Sokka, "You see we trade with the nearest town for other supplies besides food. Everything was running smooth until the bandits started attacking and taking all the cargo. Everyone is uptight now because supplies is scarce," then the man grinned "But the Boss pays well for people to help out, because no one wants the job."
"You don't need to be telling travelers that!" the rancher snapped, but Sokka brightened, they were still desperate on money.
"I'll take the job." He said and the rancher glared at him, very clear that he was against it. The man by the cart just laughed.
"He's a pair of hands, boss." He said and the rancher sighed, defeated
"Fine, but you'd better pull your own weight." The rancher said and Sokka was tossed a bag of corn, which he caught, but the force made him stumble back and he plopped on his butt with a startled sound. The man laughed but the rancher just rolled his eyes.
Some of next chapter is done, wish me speedy typing please
