Chapter One
A sliver of cresant moon hung in a cloudless night sky. The velvety darkness was dotted with twinkling stars. Beneeth the serene night sky there spread a forest with a wide, rushing river winding like a great silvery-blue snake splitting it down the middle. The moon shed barely enough light to reflect the glint of blazing green eyes in the darkness. A crisp breeze sprang up and ruffled the sleek black hair of a young woman running as fast as her feet would carry her down a dusty woodland path. Her bare feet thudded against the ground, breaking the scilence of the night. A harsh cry rang out behind her, slicing the air like a blade.
Emerald eyes constantly darting about searching for a refuge, the girl ran onwards, a leather pouch clutched tightly in one hand as she raced like a hunted animal down the path. A burst of flame grazed by her head, missing her cheek by a hairs width. She ducked as another burst shot at her, then jumped to the side as a third brushed by her arm. She quickly turned and shot a firey blast of her own, hitting one of her persuers square in the chest. He grunted in surprise and fell backwards. His companions never stopped to help him, just lept over or ran around his fallen body in persuit of their quarry. The girl's pace was slowing as she gasped to suck air into her lungs. She heard the thundering of a rino's pawsteps. She could never outrun a soldier on a rino. She skidded to a halt and leapt behind a wide oak tree like a nimble deer, panting for breath as her persuers raced by her. It wasn't long however before they stopped and started searching the trees.
"The little theif coulnd't have gone far. Search the forest. Take her dead or alive." Came a gruff voice from the path. The girl could hear the shuffling footsteps of the Firenation soldiers searching through the trees, and the grunt of a komodo rino as it pawed the ground impatiently. Hiding the leather sack in a knothole in the tree, she stepped out, quiet as a drifting breeze on the summer air. She weaved through the trees like a shadow until she came across two soldiers, noisily stomping around, looking behind bushes and trees.
The girl thought quickly, trying desperatly to devise a plan. She waited behind a tree until the soldiers passed her, then came up behind them, silent as ever, and bashed their helmeted heads together. With a metalic thud, the two men dropped to the ground. "This way!" shouted the others, and they all ran to the place where the sound came from. She swore silently to herself and ran back to the tree, snatching the leather bag and tying it around her waist. She shot out of the trees and onto the path, ready to make a stand.
There were six of them, not including the one on the rino. A ball of fire ignited in her hands and she lashed out at the nearest two soldiers, knocking them on their feet. The remaining four all started firing at her, closing in as she struggled to stay on her feet. Her eyes blazed with a natural fighting spirit, and a snarl rose from her chest. Within seconds, all four of the firebenders were either lying on the ground or running off into the trees, the scent of scorched flesh lingering on the air. The man on the rino, who's face was not covered by a helmet, looked on in shocked surprise. With a swoosh of flame, he to was lying on the ground, groaning and struggling to stand. The girl leapt on the rino.
"Thanks for the ride. Send my regards to the Fire Lord." She said in a sweet voice. She spurred the great beast and it turned around, lumbering off down the path.
"Sarafina, the Firenation will capture you yet! You will suffer for your actions!" the wounded man shouted, clutching a hand now rendered useless by the flames from Sarafina's hand. She rolled her eyes as she continued on.
"That's the problem with firebenders these days, always so sure of themselves. They'll never take me, at least not alive anyway." She said to herself, riding off into the night.