Before you read on you might want to know that there will be a little flashback in this chapter, so if you don't like them, then you have been warned.

Chapter 3: Farewells

"Well, it's been a week," said Tu-lan, her pale skin shimmering in the sunlight. She and Tye were sitting in a large tree.

"A week since when," asked Tye, confused.

"A week since we freed you from slavery. You seem to be ready to move on by now."

"But I like it here," said Tye. "I don't want to move on."

"But you have to Tye. You see, my father heard word that the Fire Nation is planning to attack this city next. We think that one of the residents nearby tipped them off about you. You have to get out of here soon. They will be here in little more than three days."

Tye sighed and nodded. "I'll miss you," he said, smiling sadly at her. Yutan, noting sadness in the air, dropped down head first from a branch, her tail wrapped around the branch. He blue eyes were looking straight into Tu-lan's.

"I'll miss you too Tye," she said. Yutan let out what sounded like an indignant cough. "You too Yutan," she said.

Soon Tye was ready to go, his backpack slung over his shoulder, Yutan curled around his neck. Tu-lan sighed as she saw him go, remembering when she first laid eyes upon him at the market.

FLASHBACK

Tu-lan never did like the market. She would rather be playing with her friends. But sometimes she had to be dragged along. She was walking around sullenly with her father when she saw the boy, in a large net, but sleeping like a baby. His robes were tattered and scorched, and he seemed to have been through a lot in his short life. The man who was standing next to him was Zhou, a local slave dealer who would sell his own mother for a copper piece. In fact, rumours said that he already had. His dark, long face was average for an Earth Kingdom man, save for a large scar running down his right cheek. He had a cruel smile over his face and was weaving tall tales of how he had bravely rescued the child from the Fire Nation and had only been able to give him up because he would not have been able to raise him by himself. He then made an outrageous starting bid, and then scratched his head when nobody would offer it. Eventually Tu-lan persuaded her father to help the air monk out of slavery by buying him. The bartering took around half an hour before both people could agree on a price for Tye, who did not stir from his slumber at any time. Tu-lan had taken up the task of giving up her room so that Tye could rest easily.

Now that she saw Tye leaving, Tu-lan found that she wanted to go with him. Quickly she dashed back into her house, packed her things, scribbled out a note to her parents and ran after Tye. "Wait for me!" she called to him. Tye turned around slowly, and then saw Tu-lan running towards him. His face lit up. He did not want to travel alone. Tu-lan caught up with him, breathless and smiling. "Where ever you go, I will too," she said. Yutan popped her head out of the backpack, looking curiously at Tu-lan. "You too Yutan. Now, where will we go?"

"I hadn't figured that out yet," said Tye. Yutan and Tu-lan shook their heads in an exasperated way. "Well, this is what you get for travelling with me," he said in a teasing tone.

Well, that chapter went better than I expected it to be. I had a bit of writer's block at the start, but then it was blasted away into the depths of my mind again. Anyway, enough rambling for now. Please comment. I will try and respond to as many comments as I can.

Another Disclaimer: As you already know, I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender. But I do own my OCs; i.e. Zhou, Tye, Tu-lan, Yutan and Tu-lan's dad.