Ignition
Chapter 11: Firebreak
Katara moved slowly through the unfamiliar territory, using the position of the sun to guide her. She stumbled now and again over the loose rocks and underbrush that seemed unending. Gradually, the unyielding terrain began to slope upwards into what Katara recognized as cliffs. She sat down on a large, flat rock, placing her pack at her side. After rummaging through it momentarily, she pulled out one of the maps Iroh had given her before she had departed. A slight smile graced her face as she remembered the old man's kindness while unfolding the map across her legs. Pity his nephew didn't learn something…
The young Waterbender traced her finger idly across the map of the Fire Nation until she located the capital city where Zuko had fought his sister several days ago. She estimated about how far they had wandered, using the river as a landmark. She had finally located her approximate location when a pungent, acrid odor caused her to cough and sputter. Replacing the map in her pack, she stood. Quickly she identified the smell- smoke. "Damn Firebenders," she murmured, her eyes narrowing as she swung herself up into a nearby tree.
Katara climbed quickly until she punched through the canopy. Her blue eyes traced a thick line of smoke that hovered over the forest, carried by the wind from the direction in which she had come. She frowned, scanning the terrain as the pungent wind blew her brown hair into disarray. The river caught her eye in the distance, a thin blue snake winding its way through the trees. Katara recognized a point at which it formed a wider pool before continuing on its twisting journey through the Fire Nation as the place where she and Zuko had camped. Her eyes widened in shock as she identified it as the source of the smoldering fire. "Zuko…"
In an instant, Katara was scrambling back towards the distant ground, a thousand different scenarios running through her head and competing for her attention. Had Zuko been attacked? Perhaps a group similar to the Rough Rhinos had caught up to him. Maybe some locals loyal to Ozai and Azula had captured him. What if someone was after the crown? There was probably still a price on his head, news spread so slowly through the distant villages. Katara shook her head, attempting to clear it of the many complicated possibilities; she needed to focus. The moment her feet touched the ground, she broke into a run. Her pack was slung haphazardly over her shoulder, but she barely noticed. All of her focus was on finding Zuko. I never should have left…
Miles away, Zuko glared as he was loaded none-too-gently into the back of a metal cart. Jin grasped his wrists as Noro struggled to wrap his hands around Zuko's, the young man desperately attempting to kick off his captors. They tossed him into the cart with a crash, the former Fire Prince landing painfully on his side, unable to stop his fall. A slight groan of pain and frustration escaped him, the metallic chain links clinking against each other discordantly as he thrashed. "This…can't…be…happening!" he murmured furiously between gritted teeth, his voice lost to those around him as they made haste to break their encampment. He watched through angrily narrowed eyes as men loaded other carts and pack animals with folded tents, bags of supplies, and weapons while Bujing sat on a pile of red and gilt pillows beneath a tent bearing the Fire Nation emblem. The bustling activity reminded him of a beehive he had once seen, the worker bees tirelessly serving their lazy queen.
At Bujing's command, all flammable items were kept in carts separate from the one carrying Zuko. "Just in case." Bujing called from his comfortable seat, smirking scathingly at the chained young man. "We wouldn't want our journey's entertainment to be ruined, now would we?" The general chuckled to himself, stroking his long, thin beard idly as he imagined carrying out the revenge he had awaited since Zuko had spoken out against him in Ozai's war chambers several years ago. No, the Fire Lord's punishment had not been nearly severe enough. Bujing had been denied the opportunity to properly punish the boy. "But Fate works in her own mysterious ways…" Bujing whispered to himself, his fingers tented before him, barely concealing his sinister smile.
A young man stood before Bujing. He clicked his heels and straightened to attention before bowing low to his general who eyed the boy silently. He could practically lick the dirt from my boots…perhaps I should order it… Bujing thought with a smirk. Shoulder-length dark hair, simple black tunic, no rank, yes this was the young boy entrusted to his care by his pathetic father, the man who had begged Bujing to allow his son to bring honor to his family. The general could not remember the young man's name nor the name of his wretched family, not that it truly mattered; he was of no consequence, a mere errand boy and aide de camp, more of a burden than anything else. Unworthy of even the dirt of my boots, in retrospect…
"Speak." Bujing commanded, his tone cold, biting, and impatient as he stared the boy down through narrow hazel eyes. Rhyu forced himself not to quail before the general, attempting to avoid the appearance of weakness; however, he could only force himself to meet the general's eyes for an instant before they immediately found the ground once more. "W-we are ready to uh…well to depart G-general. We need to er…load your p-personal effects."
"Then what are you waiting for? Load them." Bujing spat as he stood, towering over a head taller than Rhyu. "And learn to report without that irritating stutter, you useless whelp." He added, kicking swiftly and knocking the boy's legs out from under him. Bujing grunted in disgust before stepping over the dust-covered boy. He approached and mounted his eel hound, watching as his items were stowed away by his men. "Hurry up you lazy curs!" he snarled. "I'd like to be under way sometime in the next era!" His men scrambled to move faster as he watched with a satisfied smile.
Zuko watched Bujing interact with his men, his golden eyes narrowed with disdain. His treatment of the young man who had shown him sympathy irritated him the most, not only because of the boy's kindness but also because somehow he reminded Zuko of himself at that age. His eyes never left the young man as he regained his footing, brushing the dust from his tunic as he stood. His humiliation was clear on his face as he fell into what Zuko assumed was his place in the caravan. Most of the other men mounted komodo rhinos and took their places at the front or rear of the caravan, depending on their rank. Luckily, Zuko's cart was placed in the middle of the caravan. "Thank Agni for small miracles…" he murmured to himself. If by some wonder he managed to shed his bonds, he would have a decent chance at making his escape. Zuko was jostled as the dragon moose pulling his cart was urged forward by its attendant, who proceeded to wander off, confident that the docile quadruped would follow the rest of the caravan without the need to be led.
Zuko watched as clouds and trees passed slowly overhead as the caravan meandered its way through the forest. Minutes stretched to hours as the sun began to sink lower and lower in the sky. As twilight set in, Zuko began to lose faith. By nightfall, he had thoroughly convinced himself that Katara had either missed his attempt to signal her or perhaps ignored it altogether. "I suppose it would serve me right…" he mumbled to himself sullenly. He examined his chafed wrists in the rapidly dimming light, before striking the cart beneath him with both fists. If I hadn't opened my mouth, none of this would have happened…
A thought came to Zuko suddenly and he tried to shift his weight, moving in a manner similar to that of a worm until he had turned himself completely around, his head towards the open back of the cart. "Hey!" he whispered to the young boy walking beside the cart wriggling forward once again to get closer. "Your name is Rhyu, is it not? I believe you spoke in my defense earlier." he muttered as calmly as possible given the circumstances.
Rhyu quickly glanced around at the weary group of travelers, ensuring that no one was watching before stepping closer to the captive and nodding. "And you are P-prince Zuko." Rhyu replied with the slightest of smiles. "O-or perhaps I should c-call you Fire Lord." the boy added hastily, hoping he had not offended the powerful firebender. Great job Rhyu, open mouth insert foot…
Zuko managed a small smile. "Zuko works just fine." he replied quietly. Both fell silent as Jin rode by on his komodo dragon, glaring at those who he passed. Zuko noticed as Rhyu averted his eyes, more out of fear than respect. Finally, Jin passed on and Rhyu released a breath he didn't know he had been holding. "Tell me, how did one such as yourself end up in a place like this with someone like Bujing?" Zuko asked, trying to appear kind and friendly. Admittedly, it was a new skill for him.
"My father b-begged the general to take me with him so that I m-might help my family to regain its h-honor." Rhyu explained haltingly after taking a deep breath. "He h-hoped that I might l-learn to b-bend. A s-sage once said that I h-had the Fire, but all I c-can produce is s-sparks, My Lord." he finished dismally, hanging his head.
"Zuko." the firebender corrected gently. "Believe me, a family's honor is not all it's cracked up to be." He muttered, a bitterly sarcastic grin crossing his face briefly. "Your Bending will come in time. Practice is what helped me." Zuko explained. "And a little confidence never killed anyone either." At that, Rhyu chanced a brief smile before once more lowering his gaze as Jin returned to the head of the caravan, presumably carrying some message between the higher ranking members. Ahead a shrill whistle sounded. The men's spirits seemed to lift and their pace quickened.
"What's happening?" Zuko asked Rhyu in a barely audible whisper, narrow golden eyes darting around. Perhaps an ambush? Someone lying in wait to sabotage the caravan and take their supplies? What if a scout had noticed someone ahead? What if it was Katara? That would mean once again he had led her into trouble…
"Rhyu!" Zuko hissed, trying to get the boy's attention, his expression clearly worried. Rhyu stifled a chuckle behind one hand. "We are approaching the area in which the general plans to set camp. Or, rather, the place where Bujing plans for us to set camp." Rhyu muttered. "While he sits on his paltry ass no doubt…" muttered Zuko as the caravan drew to a halt. Rhyu chuckled quietly once more before turning to walk towards the carts men had already begun unloading. After a quick glance around the clearing, he gave the quickest of bows to Zuko before scampering off to be of assistance. Zuko fought to suppress a smile before the gravity of his situation once again clouded his mood.
Zuko sat in the cart, unattended but so well bound he could not take advantage of it in the least. Finally, Jin and Noro returned, dragging him from the cart as unceremoniously as when they had first loaded him. Someone had planted a post deep into the ground with a metal ring embedded into the wood about two feet overhead of the average man. Zuko groaned as he wrenched around to face Jin before being slammed against it, his arms held roughly above his head by Noro who quickly fastened his shackles to the metal loop. Zuko's feet barely rested on the ground as he glared at the men who had once pledged their allegiance to the crown, the crown that was now rightfully his. "Cowards!" Zuko spat.
Jin and Noro chuckled before dispersing the small crowd that had formed. "There's work to be done, you useless rats!" Jin bellowed, wandering towards a slow-moving band of men who quickly scattered to occupy themselves. Noro followed him at a distance, brandishing a rawhide bullwhip at those who did not move fast enough or work hard enough. Bujing's personal tents were the first to be raised, and soon he could be seen sitting once more upon his pillows and even a fine bearskin rug being served dinner by his attendants.
The sight made Zuko's stomach rumble. It had been hours since he had last eaten. The scents wafting towards him from the cooking fires the men began to use did nothing to calm his hunger. He began to breathe deeply, attempting to force himself into a meditative state into which he could hopefully escape. Suddenly, something nudged his foot gently. Opening his eyes, Zuko was surprised to see Rhyu hiding in the shadow of a small tent. "Are you trying to get yourself flogged?" Zuko muttered, though to be honest, he was glad to see the boy. "I get flogged either w-way My Lo-…er, Zuko." Rhyu replied with a shrug. "It seems I am b-best at d-displeasing my superiors." he added with a tiny smile. He set down a bowl before Zuko containing a slice of dry bread and a large hunk of the hard cheese Zuko recognized as basic Fire Nation rations. The boy held up the bread and the cheese alternately, shyly averting his eyes as Zuko ate hungrily. After pouring water from the flask at his hip into Zuko's dry mouth, Rhyu sat down, ensuring he was still hidden by shadow.
"Thank you, Rhyu." Zuko murmured. "I would not have lasted much longer without food, especially not against whatever it is Bujing has planned for me." he added, eyes narrowing as he glanced towards the general's well-lit tent. He shivered slightly as the nighttime chill began to set in, watching the men huddled around the fires with envy. The pair sat in silence for several minutes. Finally, Zuko broke the silence. "By serving a cruel man, a traitor, you will not bring your family honor. You know this." he muttered as Rhyu nodded hesitantly. "There is value in kindness and generosity." he muttered as Rhyu snorted disdainfully. "I would rather be able to d-defend and h-honor my family. I sh-shame them." Rhyu responded, dragging a small stick idly through the dirt. "I can't even speak p-properly." he finished sullenly. "Look at me." Zuko commanded quietly, willing the boy to look into his eyes. Hesitantly, Rhyu met his gaze. "I knew a young man once who was not so different from you. He was desperate to make something of himself, and to please his father. He was sent away from his home with no honor, and no family. No one could see his potential except for one man who believed in him and pushed him. In the end, he was forced to make a decision between following the orders of those who despised and discounted him and doing what he felt was right. You have potential kid, I can see that even if no one else here can. And you know what is right." Zuko finished, staring into Rhyu's eyes without faltering.
Rhyu gulped, nodding his head. "I w-will d-do what I c-can to help you. We are st-still several d-days away from our d-destination." he explained. Before Zuko could do more than open his mouth to question him, Rhyu shook his head. "No, I d-don't know where we are g-going. I am f-far too low-ranking to b-be privy to that information. I m-must go. I have t-training." he finished, his tone regretful. "I'll watch from here. Perhaps I can help you." Zuko murmured with a smile before Rhyu darted off, pulling his shoulder length black hair into a knot at the top of his head as he ran across the large clearing to join a group of boys of which he appeared to be the youngest. With a sigh, Zuko watched him go, leaning his head back against the roughly hewn wooden pole. He rolled his shoulders slightly in an attempt to alleviate some of the dull soreness now radiating from them, but was largely unsuccessful. He reached inward, attempting to feel the familiar flow of his chi. All he managed to discern was a searing emptiness where his power had once been. With a groan, he allowed his head to slump backwards, glancing up at the first few stars of the many that would appear on such a clear night. Katara, where are you?
Author's Note: Okay, NOW it's done. Thanks for waiting patiently. Let me know what you think of my OC, Rhyu. I find I rather like him. Also, what of Zuko's sensitive side? Or is he just playing the young boy to his advantage? –eyebrow waggle- I'd love to hear your opinions on the matter. Let me know what y'all think! Thanks.