Behind These Painted Masks
Chapter 2:
The Blue Spirit
"Sokka look at that smoke." A grey substance was rising from the land below, Appa still traveled with Katara, Sokka and Toph he didn't really trust anyone else so they were the best caretakers. They were making their way to Omashu, a certain King had requested a feast and maybe a few 'mail deliveries'.
"Ya...looking likes Gaoling..." Sokka looked over the side, trying to steer and look.
Toph immediately stood up, "WHAT?"
"Gaoling..." Katara said, not noticing the surprise of her friend.
"Go down." Her voice was urgent and deadly, Toph was looking over the sides, her pale eyes straining to see what was going on.
"Why?" Sokka demanded, "We have to et to Omashu by tonight.'
She turned to face the Water Tribe siblings, arms crossed and a face that said, 'Do you want your ass to get kicked?'
There was no arguing with that face, Appa landed on a path, the Beifong mansion only a few yards away, Toph hopped off immediately and made her way to her old home.
The mansion seemed fine but the smoke was not far, "I'm going to go check it out. Sokka go with Toph."
Before Sokka could object Katara ran off down the path, he say the water snake out of her pouch in a controlled whip.
"Let's go." Toph yelled over her shoulder Sokka gave his sister's back on last look and ran down the ornate garden.
Katara arrived in the village, the smoke was caused by the buildings burning, she ran through town, avoid the panicky people and found the well, after only a few minutes she had extinguished all the flames. She looked around for any people that might be trapped or hurt but a telling 'snort' came from behind her and as she turned and was faced with the Leader of the Rough Rhinos, looking angry as ever.
"Ah it seems the little Water Tribe wench has grown up." he reached down to grab her but before he could reach a blade sliced between them, and a man dressed completely in black followed, holding the dual broadswords ready.
Katara jumped back and the Leader gripped his hand the pinky missing, and blood splattering the ground, his mount reared slightly but he controlled the beast before it bean a rampage.
"You'll pay for that." he growled and threw his un-maimed fist forwards creating a fireball, the man wielding the blades swept his sword upwards splitting the fire in half, and spun the blades around creating a shield of fire, protecting himself and Katara. She regained her footing and brought a whip on the mount's backside causing it to rear and stamped away his rider swearing profusely on the back.
The man turned to her and she encountered a blue mask with a smiling face and black soulless eyes, there was no emotion, only a grinning devil, fangs painted while and mouth gaping wide.
Before she could stammer out a 'thank you' he jumped onto the roofs and ran away, Katara gazed at the roof, unable to understand what had just gone on.
"You are lucky the Blue Spirit was there young lady, if not you might not have that pretty face." an old woman spoke from the shadows of the buildings, Katara blinked and looked at the woman, she was wearing shall and was bent in half giving her a slightly mad appearance.
"The Blue Spirit?"
She nodded, "A kind Spirit much like the Painted Lady. Now run along." the old lady said, wiggling her walking cane at Katara.
Katara bowed to the lady and walked back along the path, her mind running over the events that had just passed. The Rough Rhinos were back and there was a new Spirit...
The Blue Spirit...she would not forget that mask easily.
"Prince Zuko! Where have you been?" Iroh came running once he found his nephew sitting in a tree. They had been staying at an inn and Zuko refused to be inside except for sleep.
"Out." He jumped down from the tree, and thrust his hands into his pockets, his hair was down covering his eyes and most of his face.
"You should be more honorable, the Beifong's have invited you for dinner, you should be getting ready." Uncle counseled, folding his hands inside his red robes.
"You don't need to baby me Uncle, I will be there." Zuko walked off leaving Iroh more suspicious than before.