Ch.6 Turbulence

Song

I wake early feeling fresh and ready to travel. My circadian clock is still set to my nursing schedule. A wave of exhilaration breaks over me before I can contain it. I have never felt this jovial before. I should not be dwelling on such things. Nevertheless, yesterday gave the necessary incentive to undergo a risk. I resolve to come up with a medium to my conflicting thoughts, but not now. I intend to enjoy merely the pleasant scenery and the placid lake until we need to clamber on our ostrich-horses again. I relieve myself in the forest, then wash my hair in the lake, and lastly, start breakfast humming.

Though I'm not outdoorsy, I'm content for the moment. I determine if the food I pack is worth eating. The can says it is supposed to be sausage, but I'm not sure if I want to risk food poisoning. I reason that I have enough time to think on it because I have never ignited a fire before. Thank goodness for Zuko's fire bending. I remember my reaction yesterday. I hang my head and feel childish.

I close my eyes and remember that fateful day my life changed. My phobia began nearly 10 years ago.

---

A man with reddish brown hair and olive eyes led away by fire nation soldiers looked back at me. Unable to contain myself, I ran forward crying, "Papa!" My mother called me back to the house, but I didn't listen. I attached myself to my father's leg and wept.

"Song, I'll be okay. Go to your mama."

One of the soldiers tore me away from my father.

"Papa!" I cry. "Don't go!" My father looked resigned and wouldn't look at me.

The soldier set me down and told me to go home. I ignored him. I tried to go back to my father. A soldier grabbed me again and picked me up by my arms so my legs could no longer touch the ground.

"For your insolence," he spat in my face. "Your house will be burned." I tried to wiggle my hands free because he was hurting me. "And you will remember the fire nation's superiority." Two men throw flames at my house. I watch them in awe and fear.

I see my mother running to me, but it's too late. The man flung me to the ground, and I automatically headed for my papa again.

"Don't hurt her!" My father cried as he is shoved in the back of metal machine. It was the last time I see him. I want to bang on the back of the machine, but I turned around to see why he would yell that. The man had an evil grin on his face, he smiled manically at me, and flames shot out at me. I was paralyzed with fear. I just stared at the flames reaching me.

"Song move!" My mother screamed from nearby.

I obey her, but fireball hit me on the leg. My clothes were on fire. I forgot what I'm supposed to do, I scream at the top of my lungs. My leg hurt so badly! I just stand there, but my mother grabs me. She put out the fire while I stand as stiff as a pole.

I acquired second-degree burns on my leg that day, I cried myself sick, and most importantly, I lost all my childhood memories that day as our house burned to the ground. My mother and I became refugees because of me.

--

I open my eyes. The sun soon appears and I hear movement in Zuko's tent. I shake my head. So predictable. I thought he would be an early riser.

I look up and see movement in the forest. I quickly get to my feet. A little cat-dog jumps out of the bushes, hisses/barks at the sausage, and runs off in the opposite direction. I shrug and begin to lower myself to the ground. Someone grabs me from behind and covers my mouth. I bite his hand and manage to fling my 'can' at the huge figure behind me. What ever is behind me moans and lessons his hold on me. "Damn chic."

I scamper away and look over my shoulder to see who assailed me. There are three men wearing fire nation uniforms. The man I bit and flung my food at is cradling his hand. . He has almond eyes, black hair with a reddish tint, and a peculiar red mark on his cheek. His eyes narrow, and his face contains a rage that makes me run faster.

However, the men behind him aren't laughing, but they aren't pursuing me. That's strange. "Ooof!" I just ran collide with Zuko who was probably coming out of his tent to see what the noise was. He staggers backwards back in the tent, and I hold out my arms to gain some balance. His cane clatters to the floor, but his hands grasp my arms, steadying me as well as to keep himself from falling backwards.

"Sorry" I say, mortified as we regain our balance. Zuko's eyes narrow. He's looking over my shoulders at the men by my supplies. He scowls, releases my arms, and seizes two swords by his sleeping bag.

"Stay inside the tent."

I willingly oblige. I move to the side to let him pass and he exits his tent. I see a dagger on the floor and I swiftly pick it up.

I peak out of the tent unable to hear any noise.

Zuko is visibly infuriated. I bet he's grinding his teeth.

The shortest with catlike orange eyes and jet-black hair cordially asks, "Zuko I presume? Your scar is uncanny." I wince expecting Zuko to become incensed.

"What do you three want?" Zuko says getting to the point. I am impressed that he's containing his irritation.

"We are here to capture you." Answers the man I hit earlier.

"I know that." Zuko says impatiently.

The last with calculating yellow eyes and a deep bass voice says, "To please our lady." Because Zuko's shoulders tense at his words, I think he must know this 'lady'. A thought occurs to me. Could they be possibly speaking of Zuko's sister? "However we may take the girl as well." His yellow eyes meet mine and I shift away from the door. "She'll make a fine prisoner of war."

I return to the door to see how Zuko reacts. Too bad, I cannot see his face.

Zuko positions his hands in front of him.

"Enough talking," He says irately, "I'll fight you."

The manI hit earliersteps forward first. His hands ignite, and a dagger like flame appears in Zuko's hands. My heart begins to race. I need to calm down. I take a few breaths and see Zuko use his bending to light up the ground below the man.

The man jumps to avoid potentially scalding himself, but Zuko knocks him to the side. The man falls behind a bush. He doesn't come back. Why aren't the soldiers fighting together?

The cat-like man rushes forward. He pulls out a sword. Oh good he can't fire bend. Zuko unsheathes his two swords. They cross blades. Zuko is still fire bending. He trips suddenly, but as the man comes to strike, Zuko gets up and manages to hit the man in the back of the head. The man falls to the floor unconscious. Zuko moves his hands up and down. "What a hard head" he mutters.

The last man with the deep voice comes forward. "He serves a purpose."

"They weakened you. Your sister was right. You are a push over."

Zuko lunges at him. Zuko punches him in the face and receives a kick in the stomach.

Suddenly, I hear a ripping noise. I turn, and notice a huge hole in the tent. Before I know it, the cat-like man grabs me and begins to carry me out. I take another calming breath, close my eyes and I shove my weapon into him. He lets out a perplexing noise and he falls forward, pinning me to the floor. I pull myself from under him shaking. I check for a pulse. Nothing. I killed him. I look at my hands and a few tears cascade down my cheeks. It was in self-defense. I pull the dagger out of him and wipe the blood on his clothes. I put the dagger back into its cover in my belt. I had not meant to kill him. I wipe my tears away.

"Who are you?" Zuko asks the strange man who is easily overpowering him in his weakened condition.

"I'm General Shang. My father was the late General Zhou, but your sister overlooked this blemish. I'm your sister's most trusted advisor as well as her betrothed." He's certainly proud of himself.

"Azula may marry who ever she chooses. Why would she want to share her power with you?" Zuko counters.

"Enough of this nonsense." Shang says looking a little disgruntled. I want to laugh, but I'm still shocked that I actually killed someone.

"She says she will, and besides not many fire benders can do this!" He shoots lightening at Zuko. My eyes widen. Zuko manages to redirect the lightening to hit a bush. It bursts into flames.

"I thought you couldn't…Azula said…" The almond eyed man in the bushes reappears and joins Shang.

"My sister doesn't know everything." Zuko says spitefully. He moves back into his fighting stance. Shang shoots another bolt at Zuko, but this time Zuko manages to shoot it towards the man with almond eyes. He falls down. Probably dead. I shudder. Shang is angry and looks over at me.

"I'm sure your girlfriend can't do that." He immediately points a finger at me. I back up and head for the hole in the tent. He shoots energy at his target, but I reposition just in time. The tent hastily catches on fire. I jump out. Zuko throws fire at Shang who turns his attention back at him. They exchange flames, but Zuko manages to trip Shang. I hide behind a different tree.

Shang bangs his head on the ground and blanks out. Zuko puts his hands on his knees and respires heavily. Without hesitation, I run to the ostrich-horses and bring them over to Zuko. He mounts one ignoring the fact that we won't have tents and the forest may burn. We can't take the chance. I attach my supplies and scale my animal. This all seems surreal. We kick our animals and ride near the lake.

We ride and ride even with the sun beating down on us.

My legs begin to cramp, but I don't want to be a nuisance. My hair whips uncontrollably behind me as I ride, but I can't do anything about it. My stomach rumbles and my mouth is parched. I'm so spoiled. Zuko never complains, and he grew up with affluence.

I wonder how he managed to fight like that with his leg. Does that mean he won't need me anymore?

He notices my quizzical gaze, and he says,

"We'll be there soon."

--

Author's Note

That was much better. I'm definitely satisfied with this chapter.

However, this may be my last post for a few days because I'm going to Governor School for a while. I will take the English courses. (surprise surprise) At least I know they have computers there, so I'll be able to write the six weeks that I'm gone.

Also thanks to storm-of-insanity and sugarland31, I now have nine reviews! I now know that I'm "50 of the Zung/Soko population" and "zung is seriously lacking in this shipping" thanks to them. laughs This chapter was dedicated to you both for your mad review skills.

The next chapter is coming along with a bit difficulty as usual (I cannot help it if I'm partially a perfectionist), but I plan to introduce more of the real characters from the show.

Now try not to hate my new character. Shang'll serve a "purpose". Poor Song and Zuko, I keep making their lives harder and harder ;)

Finally,thanks againstorm-of-insanity for your tip that this chapteris a little hard to follow.