Author's Note: Ahh God - this chapter is making me cry and I haven't even started writing yet! TTTT
When Iroh met the Rough Rhinos I thought they were funny. But the way Jet sees them (and Trombe writes them) scares me! (I'm easily intimidated!)
ps - finally a long chapter! hurray! (to end on a happier-ish note) - artsyelric
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Freedom's Prodigal Son
Fire
"The Rough Rhinos?" The Duke asked. "Who are they?"
"...The worse kind of soldiers you'll ever meet... Believe me... I know..." The silent archer left it at that.
Night peacefully crept onto the shaken village of Grasshaven, the midnight sky covering the land like a cool dark blanket. Yet the stars did not come out to play. Not this night. Only the moon's glow and the lanterns around the village's apothecary remained against darkness' embrace.
Tenyu found no difficulty in getting some much needed rest, his old body tired from the day's latest excursion. He moved slightly to the left side of the bed, feeling the warm hands of his beloved wrapped around his waist. He blinked his right eye open, daring to take a peek at Chisui's peaceful face. She's so beautiful... he thought. He gently brushed off her soft brown locks from her face and tucked them behind her petite ear.
How he remembered that day he first met her. He was so young then, barely a day over his eighteenth name day. He was brimming with confidence, so full of himself. He remembered their rocky courtship. Their first date. Their first kiss. Their first born... who was now sleeping soundly in his room. He smiled.
They were his world. His wife and his sons.
And he would die before he would allow anything to happen to any of them.
The hours went by without a sound. Perhaps he had been wrong and they weren't a raiding party. Perhaps they were just a detached unit sent only to raze the countryside and collect some food.
He hoped and prayed that it was just that, his last conscious thought before slumber took him.
"Dawn..." Colonel Mongke sniffed at the crisp air, reveling in the sun, which rose with a warm burning glow, her light rays covering the green land under her powerful gaze.
It was the perfect day to avenge their losses.
Captain Zhen had embarrassed himself and his platoon yesterday by being shown up by these rebel peasants. He made the right choice in calling for Mongke and his Rough Rhinos. Although Colonel Mongke was irritated at the fact that he was cleaning up someone else's mess, he was always up for a battle. The Colonel hadn't found one he didn't like.
But in the back of his mind he knew this would be no battle. They were going up against farmers and pitchforks. A badly equipped, poorly disciplined, militia. No. This was no battle. This was going to be a slaughter. Where was the honor in that?
Still orders were orders.
And who was the Colonel to challenge his superiors?
"Rough Rhinos! Fall in and move out!" he barked out his loud orders, and the fierce komodo rhinos they rode trampled the green grass in their wake as they began their descent into the village.
"Alarm! Alarm! Fire Nation soldiers are here! To arms! To arms!!"
Tenyu woke abruptly at the sound of constant yelling. The gongs and bells wildly ringing, as the village began to stir.
"Oh no..." he whispered hoarsely before jumping out of his bed and quickly strapping on his boots.
"W... what's going on?" Chisui asked, barely awake, her hands rubbing the morning crust from her eyes.
"Trouble," he hastily said, crouching down and gripping his wife's shoulder's tight.
"Remember what we talked about last night. Don't come out until I come back." He kissed her forehead gently.
"W-what..." Chisui was still a bit groggy.
Suddenly a high pitched scream woke her from her drugged like state. Tenyu quickly looked in the direction where the scream originated. It wasn't far. This was turning out for the worse.
"Take care of yourself love... and watch out for the boys." He bid her a quick farewell as he once again wielded his spear and quickly jumped out the window to confront the danger.
What he saw could not have been more disheartening.
Red clad soldiers riding vicious dragon-like beasts, with eyes that glowed an ominous red. These men were not just soldiers. He had heard tales but never in his entire life would he have seen himself fighting against the legendary cavalry corps known as the Rough Rhinos.
And a surprise attack to boot. He looked around and saw many of his men, individual friends he had once known, cut down mercilessly, surprised and out matched by their new found opponents. He saw trails of blood everywhere, merchant huts charred as they burned. The fire looked like it had a life of its own, quickly consuming the wooden and straw parts of huts and houses, and scorching their stone foundations.
A stray arrow flew his way, catching his attention as he spun around.
A man with his face painted like a demon, notched an arrow and pulled back on his string. Tenyu knew the archer was aiming for his heart.
Quick as a flash he dashed towards his assailant, whose arrow flew from the bow with godlike speed and precision.
Tenyu was even quicker, knocking the arrow out of the air with a single swipe from his spear, the feathers that adorned the tip ruffled with the wind. That must have surprised the archer as he blinked in surprise, and Tenyu used his shock to close in. The man didn't even have time to pull another arrow from his quiver before Tenyu sent him flying off his mount with a well placed kick to the head.
Two more soldiers came from around him. Their mounts looking angry and ferocious as they snorted and charged towards him. The aging warrior had enough time to jump up high in the air, with a graceful split, causing the two komodo rhinos to collide with one another.
The two riders jumped off clumsily. Giving out a typical cry, the two brandished their dao swords and ran towards Tenyu.
Eagerly anticipating the two, it was quite easy for Tenyu to avoid their slow swings. He answered back with a wide arc of his spear, knocking the two riders flat on the ground.
"And here I thought this village only had smelly old farmers and traders..." A gruff voice caught Tenyu's attention, his long hair held back in a tie, its tail flowing freely down his shoulders, bound with white wraps along its length. "...Now I see it hides a scorpion-tiger as well."
Colonel Mongke eyed the man. The colonel prided himself in his martial prowess. He took it upon himself to learn as much as he could of the martial arts, the best the world had to offer. Knowledge of the arts did pay off, as he was about to prove again this very moment.
There was no mistaking it. That stance. That style.
"I'm surprise to find the great Tenyu of the Six Striking Spears to be here among such filth."
Tenyu looked long and hard at the man who had called him by such a long forgotten name. The image that title conjured up was of a young man, fierce, proud, boastful and arrogant. It was an identity he had thought to leave behind years ago.
"I have not gone by that name in ages. And I'd take care before insulting my village soldier." He spun his spear once over head, just to get the feel for it.
"...Then you shouldn't have tangled with our campaign, warrior." Colonel Mongke's eyes narrowed as he opened his palm to reveal an intense ball of flame.
"This... will be your grave..." And with that threat, the two two began their dance of death.
Tenyu's speed wasn't what it was used to be, but it was sufficient. His quick thrusts made the Colonel and his komodo rhino warily switch from side to side, narrowly avoiding the sharp spear tip, the steel ringing with clarity with each passing thrust. A spear user such as Tenyu had the advantage against a mounted opponent.
But the Colonel was no mere soldier. As veteran of war, he had a few tricks up his sleeve for such measures. If reach was Tenyu's strength, then he would counter it with his own. In a flash he blazed a whip made of solid fire into his hands as he began to lash out to counter the warrior's spear movements.
Again and again they clashed, and the duel went on. Fire and steel in an eternal dead lock. It would have been an even match, but the Colonel had possessed an advantage since the very beginning.
It's a wonder what the body goes through as it ages. The muscles deteriorate, the mind slows down, and the reflexes are hindered. Tenyu breathed hard as he tried to capture some air in his lungs. He realized what the Colonel must have known from the start. He was not going to last much longer. Already Tenyu felt the grip of his spear becoming heavier and heavier.
If he was to win this he had to end this now.
Giving out a powerful cry, Tenyu leaped into the air, spinning the spear overhead one last time before launching out one final piercing blow.
The Colonel's eyes opened wide as time seemed to stand still, and he watched the desperate warrior hovering above the air, with spear in hand, its tip pointing directly at him. There was no time to dodge it. He braced himself, readying for the sharp tip to pierce through his light leather armor.
There was no impact.
To both warriors' surprise, the spearman was flying backwards. Three arrows with black feathers were protruding from his chest.
Tenyu fell hard into the ground; dust flew where he landed. His head impacted on a rock. He couldn't see straight. He couldn't tell if the pain was coming from his head or his chest.
His vision was blurred. His heart beat was erratic and fast. He heard nothing except two small voices.
"You idiot! That was between me and him!"
"Sorry sir... but he would have had you if-"
"If nothing... this was my fight and no one interfers in my fight, got it?!"
"Sorry sir, I-"
"Get out of my sight before I decide to feed you to my rhino!"
"Ha, sir!"
"...this isn't how a warrior should go... the poor bastard... He's still breathing..."
Tenyu couldn't make out the shape, it felt like only shadows existed around him. A dark veil seemed to covered his eyes.
"...I admired your spirit, Tenyu of the Six Striking Spears... really I do... but orders are orders... the very least I could do is release you from your pain..."
Tenyu could barely make out what the shadow was saying. Nevertheless aside from his pain he found the strength to pray one last time.
Please be safe Chisui, Liu... Jet.
"What's going on now, Mother?" Jet called. "The bell stopped."
"Jet," she hissed, "get your brother, and grab all the blankets from your room." Her green eyes were intense, and Jet was afraid.
"What's wrong?"
"Do it now, Jet!"
Jet ran back to his room and grabbed the two blankets off his and Liu's bed. "Come on, Liu! Mom wants us to go. Get your shoes!" he added, pulling his on.
"I don't wanna go," Liu whined.
"What!" Jet demanded. "You were just saying you wanted to go somewhere yesterday! You said everyone else was packing and you wanted to go!"
"No!" the boy shouted. "No! I want Daddy!"
"Well, Daddy's not here!" Jet bellowed at him. He stopped and took a deep breath. "Listen, Father told you to do what I said, right?"
Liu nodded shyly. "I get rock candy!"
"Yeah, sure, Liu. So listen to me now, and get your shoes, okay? Quickly!"
"Can I bring my toy soldier?" he asked.
"Fine," Jet snapped, watching his brother pull his shoes on and grab a hold of his little stone soldier.
Suddenly the room shook like an earthquake, and Liu was thrown off his feet to bounce off his baby behind with a squeal. Jet grabbed onto the edge of the bed to keep upright. "What was that?" he asked, his eyes flying to the window. Fire burned outside, red, and crackling. Jet grabbed blindly at Liu. "Come on, let's go."
Jet ran out into the big room with Liu in tow. His mother was grabbing a few food supplies. "Mom, the window-"
"I know, Jet!" she said. "The fire nation is inside the walls."
"What? Mom, I don't understand!"
"Listen, Jet," she said, kneeling down and grabbing his arms. "We lost. Your father lost."
"No!"
"The fire nation is inside the walls. Your father would die before they set foot in here." Jet saw her choke back tears. "This town is lost. We have to get out of here alive. Do you understand me, baby? They want to kill us - we have to live."
"Why do they want to kill us?" Jet whispered.
"They've raided towns before. They'll take most of the women, and they'll kill..." her eyes darted to Liu, "...all the earthbenders."
Jet felt his hand tighten on Liu's. "He's a baby!"
"He's an earthbender. I know, this is hard to handle. I know. But please, Jet, we have to keep Liu safe. Do what I say. If I say run, run. Right away, no questions. Hide when I say hide. And keep Liu safe."
Jet nodded.
His mother wiped a tear out of her eye before standing. "Let's go."
Jet wanted to cry like Liu as his mother rushed through the streets, but he couldn't. Flames were all around them. In the distance he could hear women screaming. He saw Chizun's toy sword laying in the street. The boy's house was up in flames, and inside it someone was crying loudly.
Liu tripped, getting dirt on his clothes, and Jet pulled him to his feet. "Dirty," the boy said, and shook the dirt of his shirt in a big cloud of bending.
"Liu, no!" Jet scolded. "No earthbending!"
Liu's face scrunched angrily, but before he could protest, Jet dragged him on, down an alley between two houses.
They turned a corner towards the street, but their mother's arm extended suddenly, holding them back. "What have we here?" a deep voice barked. "I though all the young women were being taken to the center of the town. You seem to be heading the wrong way..."
"Hide, and don't move," Chisui whispered, pushing her boys back into the alley behind her and stepping into the open street. "I'm looking for my husband, Tenyu," she declared, lifting her chin bravely.
Jet peeked around the corner to see the man's eyes narrow. "That bastard's dead," he growled, grabbing her arm. "You're coming with me."
Chisui screamed as he grabbed her wrist, and Liu started crying. Jet covered his brother's mouth as he watched his mother, feeling tears on his own cheeks. Father's dead...
As the man pulled Chisui towards him, she lashed out with her fingernails, scratching his face. He cried out as a bloody scratch rose on his cheek, but caught her wrist again before she could run away. "Let go of me!" she shouted, to no avail.
"Mother-"
Jet's cry was strangled in his throat before it fully left his lips when her eyes met his. "Hide," she mouthed.
The man twisted her arm and began pulling her away. Jet's mind spun. "No," he whispered.
"Mommy!" Liu cried as Jet's hand left his mouth.
Jet pushed his brother backwards, and the six-year-old sat down hard in the alley. Jet snatched up a burning stick and let out an angry cry as he ran at the soldier, swinging his makeshift weapon. The soldier's eyes widened as Jet swung the stick, but it bounced harmlessly off his blood red armor, and he caught the second swing with his hand, snapping Jet's stick. "Look at this," he sneered. "Brats."
Jet suddenly tasted blood in his mouth as the man's foot slammed into his stomach. He realized he was laying on the ground at the base of the nearest building, and struggled to rise. His mother's shout was cut short as the soldier slapped her. "We don't kill brats," he grinned. "Someone has to be alive to tell the tale. Only earthbenders, and men. You're neither," he spat at Jet. "Come on," he added, starting to drag Chisui away.
"Mom!" Jet shouted, crawling towards her, his limbs sluggish, and blood in his mouth.
But he realized his cry was being echoed. "Mommy!"
"Liu, no!" Chisui shouted, and Jet turned his aching head to see his brother storm out of the alley on teetering legs.
"Mommy!" he cried again, and suddenly a huge rock detached itself from the crumbling building to fly at the fire nation soldier.
"Whoa!" the soldier cried as the rock shot towards him - and for a moment, Jet thought Liu had done it.
But half way to its target, the rock exploded in flames. Jet covered his face as burning shards hit the ground all around him. When he looked up, he saw a huge man in red armor atop a giant, horned beast. The mount huffed at the flames, and smoke danced around him. The man was even more terrifying. His golden eyes seemed to pierce whatever he looked at, and his black ponytail waved in the wind from the explosion. He grinned malevolently. "Watch yourself, soldier," he spoke, his voice a deep bass rumble. "They breed earthbenders young here."
"My Lord," the man said, pressing a fist to his open palm and bowing low.
"Nice woman. Give her to me." Chisui cried out as the man grabbed her arm and tugged her over his giant komodo rhino. He glanced at the boys. "You know what to do with earthbenders."
The soldier glanced at Liu. "He's a boy, my Lord," he replied weakly, in something too subservient to be a protest.
"Captian Zhen's orders are absolute,'" the Rough Rhino replied.
"Yes sir!" the soldier snapped, clicking his heals together and saluting.
The Rhino took off with Chisui. Jet felt tears in his eyes. "Mom!" he shouted.
The soldier glanced at him, and Jet felt hatred building inside him as the man's face seemed to burn itself in his memory. "Sorry kid," the soldier shrugged as he passed him. "That's war for you though."
He caught Liu and drew his sword. Suddenly the smoldering hatred Jet was feeling changed to desperation and fear. "What are you doing?" he demanded, trying to drag himself to his feet. "Stop it!" he yelled as his head spun and he ate a face full of dirt.
"Jet!" Liu cried as the soldier threw him to the ground and stepped on his shoulders. "No! Jet! Mommy!"
"You two should have stayed hidden," the man whispered as his sword dropped.
Jet cried out uselessly as the blood splattered across the ground and Liu's cry was cut short. Jet was wailing as he struggled to make his body respond. The man picked up the boy's body, dripping blood all across the earth as he hefted Liu's limp form onto a burning wagon. The beloved toy soldier fell from the child's lifeless grasp. "Liu!" Jet shouted as his brother's tiny, battered frame began to burn. "Don't put him in there!" He finally found his feet and charged at the soldier.
The man's armored fist met Jet's soft stomach. "Stay down kid," he whispered as blackness washed over Jet. "For your own good."
Jet awoke with a start, the smell of smoke and burning flesh thick in his nose, his head throbbing painfully, and a dull ache in his stomach. He rolled to his side and threw up, tears all over his face. He realized it was night, but there was so much heat and light from the fires all around him, it may as well have been day. What happened?
Suddenly the memories came rushing back to him. His mother's screams, Liu crying, the soldier's face as he ran the child through.
The blood.
Jet would have been sick again if he had anything on his stomach. Instead, his whole body trembled. He sat, reliving the terror in his own mind, a lost child with no one to turn to.
A group of fire nation soldiers ran past him, and he could see face of the man who killed Liu on all of them. His face twisted in rage as they past him without a second glance.
He pushed himself to his feet and ran on wobbly legs towards the edge of the village. When he finally reached the end of the buildings, his eyes widened in shock.
As far as he could see, fire swept the land. The grasses, golden and fresh just yesterday, were now burnt to the grown, a see of golden flames dancing in their place. Death and destruction was everywhere. People screamed, and soldiers poured into the village, red and gold armor wherever he looked. In the distance, he saw a huge pile of smoke. A funeral pire, he realized. They're burning everyone, like they burned Liu. He had no doubt now that his father was dead.
Suddenly a guard came into sight, patrolling the outskirts of the village. The man lowered his spear. "Who goes there?" he demanded in a rough voice.
"I'm looking for my mother!" Jet begged. "Please, have you seen her? Her name is Chisui, and the big, bald man with a long ponytail took her away on his rhino!"
The man's expression hardened. "Did he? Sorry to hear that. Your mom's dead, kid."