Ignition

Chapter 15: Ashes

Katara followed Jeb across the clearing at a quick trot. As they approached the group of their agemates, they slowed their pace. The waterbender noticed as the firebender adopted what she had come to recognize as his signature swagger and barely suppressed a laugh. Several of the older boys turned to wave and called out to greet Jeb. When they stood among them, she jabbed his shoulder and tipped her jaw upwards slightly before slipping away from them to find Rhyu. Nodding in acknowledgement, Jeb returned his attention to his group of friends. Men can be so strange.

As she wound her way through the bustling crowd, she found herself unable to locate her younger friend. Her brow furrowed as she continued to press through the massive group of young men. Tui bless, this would be a lot easier if they were not all dressed exactly the same.

Finally her gaze strayed across a familiar frame dwarfed by the cart mounded with supplies. The small boy was struggling to unearth his rucksack which had been buried beneath the others as the goods shifted during travel. Rhyu grasped the thick leather strap in both hands and heaved repeatedly to no avail. Glaring at the pack, he paused for a moment before bracing first one foot and then the other firmly against the sides of the cart. Leaning backwards, he strained with all his might. Suddenly the heavy packs and crates beneath which his bag was buried shifted, causing him to fall backwards and strike the ground with a sharp cry. Many of the boys and several of the men burst into laughter at her poor friend's expense. The laughter doubled when the face of an older boy peered over the wreckage from where he stood on the other side of the cart.

"You really ought to be more careful, firemouse. If you get squished, what will the rest of us use for target practice?" he quipped derisively as he leaned against a stack of crates.

Katara scowled as she watched the older boy eagerly enjoying the attention. He was obviously older than Rhyu and possibly even Katara, judging by his brawny physique and what appeared to be an attempt to cultivate a beard. Barely repressing a disdainful snort, she stepped forward. She intended to help Rhyu to his feet and to help collect his gear, but stopped short as the stack of crates upon which the older boy balanced burst into flames. In an instant, the searing heat of a small explosion forced Katara and the others to the ground.

Uncovering her head, she lifted her gaze ever so slightly to survey the damage in front of her. Her eyes widened when she identified Rhyu standing over the older boy, his fists held tightly in the combat stance she recognized from their training session. The force of the explosion had loosened his top knot. His shoulder-length shaggy brown hair partially covered his soot-stained face. Given the circumstances, he appeared incredibly calm.

"Shutup Tinzo." Rhyu spat before stepping over the quivering young man beneath him. He scooped up his pack and slung it over his shoulder, eyeing the other boys. They regarded him for a moment in silence. Katara watched as Rhyu's resolve seemed to melt before the gaze of his peers. He took the slightest step backwards, glancing from face to face in the crowd as if he expected retaliation.

The silence was broken by the rapidly approaching footsteps of the foot soldiers. "What in Roku's name is going on here?" Zahn demanded as he and several others came skidding to a halt. Scanning the crowd of young boys, he was unable to find one who would meet his gaze. Rhyu shifted uncomfortably. It was just enough to attract Zahn's attention. He advanced on the young boy with a snarl.

"You. Firemouse!" He growled, using the favorite epithet ascribed to Rhyu by the boys. Rhyu quailed, his wide brown eyes darting frantically from the tremendous man before him to the smoldering crates to the boys and back again.

Rhyu opened and closed his mouth repeatedly as he struggled to explain himself. Jeb stepped forward confidently. "Tinzo was being careless and mistook the crates of explosives for less dangerous supplies. He treated them a little roughly, didn't you brother?" asked, glancing at the ashen face of the young man who had leapt to his feet upon the arrival of the adults. Tinzo hesitated before nodding slightly, averting his eyes.

Another man surveyed the damage to the goods in the cart. "Seems to be isolated Zahn. None of the other stores sustained any damage," he called as he quickly poked and rummaged through the other containers. "If I recall correctly, those had been with us since Ba Sing Sei. They were bound to be getting unstable. Matter of time really," he finished as he leapt down from the cart.

"Very well," snarled Zahn. "But let me say this. I better not catch wind of any more funny business or it will be a flogging for the lot of you. Get this mess sorted and start setting camp. You'll be finishing it in the dark as it is. And you," he added as he faced Tinzo, "I expect better out of someone your age. Petulant schoolboys have no place here." He turned on his heel and strode towards the front of the caravan. The other men followed, leaving the boys to return their attention to Rhyu and Tinzo.

Tinzo rounded on Rhyu and stormed towards him, rapidly closing the distance. Katara and Jeb reached him at the same time, inserting themselves between the advancing older boy and their friend. "Not recommended," Katara muttered as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"And what's a scrawny quim like you going to do about it?" Tinzo retorted, his face inches from Katara's.

"That's an awful lot of talk for someone who just picked his ass off the ground. Tell me, did you forget who put you there?" she replied casually, indicating Rhyu with the slightest inclination of her head.

Several of the boys chuckled. Jeb merely smiled. "Father would be so proud."

"Can it Jeb. You heard Eras, the dynamite was unstable," his brother grumbled.

"Whatever you say brother," Jeb replied with a chuckle as he rolled his eyes. "Alright gents, let's get to setting camp. You heard Zahn."

By this time the other boys had regained their composure and with it, humor. Rhyu smiled after several of the older boys patted him on the back on their way to the carts. As a group they began to sift through the disorganized supplies.

After lugging what seemed like an inordinate number of crates, barrels, sacks, and packs from the carts to the flat area where tents had begun to spring up, Katara and Rhyu finally set down the last of their gear. Katara perched none too gently atop the crate she had tossed in the dust while Rhyu flopped comically and unceremoniously onto the ground beside her. She laughed to herself as he pretended to pant, reminding her of a polar dog that had been her companion as a child. She ruffled the hair on top of his head as she had once done with her pet. With a chuckle her young friend sat up and dusted himself off with his hands.

"I think that's pretty much a lost cause," Katara murmured as she examined her own dingy clothing. Untying the leather thong holding her hair knotted on the crown of her head, she allowed her hacked brown hair to hang down over her neck. After running her long fingers through it a few times, she was surprised by the amount of grit that was dislodged. She longed for a nice hot bath. Briefly she allowed her mind to wander back to the secluded springs on the outskirts of the Fire Nation where she and her friends had been able to rest ever so briefly.

"It's all the dust from the road. The wheels and the animals kick it up something fierce here." Rhyu explained. "You get used to it after a while."

Katara nodded as she continued finger brushing her hair in silence. After securing her hair once more, she paused and considered Rhyu for a moment. She noticed how relaxed he had become around her. He rarely stuttered in her presence. Seeing the increase in his confidence was heartening. "You lied to me you know," she stated, crossing her arms over her chest.

Rhyu sat bolt upright, indignant. "I did not!" he retorted without hesitation.

"You told me you couldn't firebend, and now I've seen you do it. Twice," she replied with a smirk. "See? Liar."

Rhyu merely rolled his eyes. "That doesn't count."

"Rhyu what are you talking about? You convinced a master – a MASTER of all people – that I could bend fire at a level appropriate for someone five years your senior and blasted that bully Tinzo."

"I thought you were younger," Rhyu muttered, attempting to dodge the question.

"You also thought I was a boy!" Katara replied, giving him a playful shove.

"Fair enough," Rhyu chuckled briefly before his face grew serious once again. The boy traced figures in the dust at his feet with a stick. "I can only do it when I need to - when something bad will happen if I don't," he murmured, plainly embarrassed and frustrated by his lack of control. "That's why my father sent me here, you know. He hoped the masters could teach me. Nothing else worked. I brought shame to my family."

"You think what you can do doesn't count? Rhyu, that's when your bending counts the most. So you can't impress your friends in training or shoot lightning from your fingertips to intimidate other people. So what? You are more than capable of accomplishing what you need to do. Control will come with time, you'll see." She leaned towards him and grasped his chin in the palm of her hand, forcing him to look into her clear blue eyes. "And don't you ever let me hear you talk of being ashamed of your skills again. If your family truly values firebending prowess over intelligence, kindness, and loyalty, then they are the ones who bring dishonor upon their name."

Rhyu managed a weak smile. After glancing around quickly to make sure what he was about to do would go unnoticed, he threw his arms around her waist. Katara was caught off guard for a moment, but rapidly regained her composure. She gave him a quick squeeze in return before they separated and exchanged brief smiles. Her breath hitched the slightest bit as she realized he reminded her in some ways of Aang.

Katara studied the movement around the camp as Rhyu unrolled his sleeping mat and blanket. If she was going to attempt to rescue Zuko, she would need to familiarize herself with the habits and behavioral patterns of the men around her as well as the layout of the camp itself. After a few minutes, Katara noticed many of the men and boys heading towards the north side of the camp. Most of them had removed their armor and tunics leaving only leggings, boots, and the occasional small knife. Turning to Rhyu, she nudged him with her foot. "And just where might they be going?"

"The river. Once we set camp, there's time to get settled. When we're close to the water like this, everyone swims and has a wash. We take it in shifts. Jeb will come get us all when it is our turn." Rhyu replied.

Katara paused. "And just how unusual would it be for someone to skip that whole adventure?" she asked, unsettled.

"That would attract some attention…" Rhyu replied cautiously.

Katara dropped her forehead into her palm with a sigh, brushing aside several loose strands of uncooperative hair. "More or less attention than discovering a female in their midst?"

Rhyu chewed his bottom lip apprehensively. There was no time to discuss the matter further though, as a cheerful greeting caused Rhyu and Katara to turn and look over their shoulders. Jeb and several of his friends approached. Both Katara and Rhyu appreciated the fact that his brother was nowhere to be seen among the group of older boys. Jeb and his gang dropped down next to Katara and Rhyu.

"I don't think you've all met Koru yet, but you remember him from that bit of fun with Tin earlier. Koru, I'd like you to meet Taiko, Rone, and Maroch." Jeb said, indicating each of the friends to whom Katara had yet to be introduced.

"Nice to meet you," she replied gruffly, nodding to each of them in turn.

Soon the group was caught up in conversation. Katara was pleased to see the older boys including Rhyu. From what she had seen so far, most of them typically chose either indifference or malice when it came to the younger, seemingly unskilled boy. It was just as well that they thought her to be what she would consider the strong, silent type especially considering how new to the group she was. By not expecting her to participate excessively in the conversation, they were allowing her to make observations and gather more information about the camp. I'll put that to good use later.

With distaste, Katara watched as Zuko was half-led, half-dragged to the center of the camp once again. The massive pole she had come to despise had once again been erected. Zahn tossed the heavy iron chain over the hook and cuffed Zuko's wrists together above his head. Katara flinched as the powerful, cruel man wrenched the opposite end of the chain, hoisting Zuko upwards until his feet strained to touch the ground. She was too far away to hear the cry that no doubt escaped his mouth, but his face communicated his agony in its entirety. Katara froze, her entire body tensed as Zahn leaned forward and muttered something to Zuko. Whatever was said, it was not well received. Zuko's face contorted with rage and without a moment's hesitation he kicked upwards, driving his foot into the older man's groin.

Zahn fell to the side with a thud, groaning as he writhed in the dust. Two soldiers rushed forward to restrain Zuko further. One produced additional shackles which were affixed to Zuko's ankles. He attempted to lash out again before the chain was looped around the pole, but it was no use. In fact, all it accomplished was to earn him an additional beating which the two men were glad to deliver.

When they were through Zuko's head hung low, his chin resting on his chest. Katara could see the thin dribble of blood and saliva that hung from his parted, cracked lips. Anger coursed through her as the two soldiers helped Zahn to his feet. He stumbled and shoved them away from him angrily before commanding them to stand guard over the prisoner. He staggered towards the group of young boys whose attention had been captured by the commotion. Muttering angrily to himself and still cradling his soft bits, he continued on his way to his personal tent. "Go to the river, now. Get out of my sight you useless spider rats!" he commanded as he passed. The boys scurried to obey their angry superior lest they attract any of his ire. Katara hesitated for a moment too long. "I SAID GO!" Zahn bellowed as he grasped her roughly by the collar of her tunic and thrust her forward, sending her sprawling. Katara scurried to regain her footing and took off with the boys as they hurried into the trees. The group slowed down once they reached the relative safety of the forest. Unable to turn back without attracting attention, Katara continued onward. Don't panic, for the love of La don't panic…

Author's Note: Camp-related shenanigans and Mama-Bear Katara pep-talks were bound to happen eventually. And Rhyu needed to let off some steam, the poor kid. Let me know what you think please!