Chapter 9
Baiting the trap.
Tikaani had never been in such a huge city before. His belled collar jingled in the night air as he rocked back and forth and flapped his hands. He saw many wares and things to buy, but he didn't approach them. He had mission.
I need to find everyone. I can't sit idly by, I need to do something. I hate being bored and unused, I want to have purpose. Toph can help me, she is always helpful.
Tikaani turned another corner and headed up the narrow limestone steps. He passed by some university students who watched him as he talked to himself and wiggled his hands as he looked at pet shop with a panda-dog pup. Tikaani got on his knees and patted the dog, smiling as the pup rolled over for belly rubs, which Tikaani had no problem giving, as he babbled and affectionately rubbed the puppy's fuzzy white tummy. The students watched him and tilted their heads.
"Hey Sang Ki, you're a psychology major right? Aren't you into different brain disorders?" asked one kid with narrow eyes and messy black hair. Sang Ki had glasses and pointed face. He looked at his friend and nodded.
"Well, I do specialize in mental disorders; they are fascinating .Why do you ask, Samnang?"
Samnang pointed at Tikaani who was flapping his hands and rocking on his heels.
"What about that kid? Can you diagnose him?" Samnang asked with a foxy grin. The girl that was with him was talking to the shop keeper about getting a pet mini-rabroo when she heard their conversation.
"Sammy, do you always have to start problems?" She said, with her hands on her hips and her small face shining with annoyance. Sang Ki was watching Tikaani and observing his behavior.
"He isn't starting a problem Bian, he's just testing me." Sang Ki got closer and watched Tikaani hum as he played with the birds.
"Interesting… He seems closed off from the people around him and more hyper-focused on the birds and animals. He doesn't appear to talk to anyone but himself. He also has habit of flapping his hands and rocking back and forth." observed Sang Ki.
Bian crossed her arms and looked at Tikaani.
"So, he's weird. So what?" she asked, getting her satchel. Samnang had a serious expression on his face.
"Do you know what he has?"
Sang Ki shrugged,
"Cloistered Disorder, most likely. I am not an expert, but he does exhibit classic symptoms. I really want to follow him and watch how he interacts with everything. He's caught my interest." Bian let out a frustrated sigh and grabbed Samnang's hand.
"Fine, you go and geek out, we're going back to the dorms." She dragged a very unhappy Samnang with her as Sang Ki started to follow Tikaani.
Tikaani passed by another shop he chewed on his hand and looked at all the ceramic ornaments. Sang Ki rubbed his chin as Tikaani walked on his toes, lost in his own world before noticing that there was a little cluster of glazed ceramic birds. Sang Ki watched with fascination as Tikaani lined them up into neat little rows. He did the same with set of pots before leaving the store. Sang continued his little study as Tikaani found a toy shop and made gleeful noise at the tops and whirligigs in a corner.
Interesting. He seems to be fixated on spinning and moving things. I wonder what else he is fixated on... Sang followed Tikaani out of the store but blinked as Tikaani started to run fast down the streets and began turning corners. Did he realize I was following him?
Tikaani turned down into an alley and caught his breath. He didn't know who that man was, but the game was over. He needed to find Aang. He turned around to go down another street and head back to the tea house when a voice spoke to him. That gritty voice.
"Well, look what the gods have given me, the little brat that keeps making my plans so hard. You'll be a wonderful sacrifice to the wolf god tonight, my little friend." Tikaani didn't have second to scream as a hand clamped over his nose and mouth with a soaked cloth of some sort of chemical. Tikaani felt everything go fuzzy he struggled just a little bit before he went limp. Aningan threw the boy over his shoulders and turned into another alley, disappearing into the shadows.
Sang Ki was following the sounds of the bells around Tikaani's neck when he realized that everything had gone silent.
"It's okay; I just want to see…um...where did you go?" Sang said, realizing his apology was rather useless now. The nerdy-looking student walked down the alley and nearly stepped on something: an ivory choker with silver bells. He picked it up and studied the ivory plates and threads that made up the collar and bells. He frowned as he realized that his subject was missing, and something bad had almost certainly happened to him.
"Well, great. This "Aningan" guy could be anywhere. We've talked to a few people around the wharfs and some in pubs, but we've gotten no leads." Sokka said, sounding frustrated. Katara looked discouraged, but continued,
"They didn't seemed to helpful. Only one knew of the Bo Fengs, but they said that Half-moon bay belongs to a rival group and the Bo Fengs don't come up here. We're running out of leads."
Zuko and Aang also seemed frustrated, but then, suddenly, Aang had big grin on his face.
"Hey! I just remembered. We should find Tulok, Iroh mentioned him. If we find Tulok, we can find Aningan and Itigiaq." Aang said, his voice hopeful and optimistic. Toph thought it was a brilliant idea and so did Katara. Zuko and Sokka looked impassive, but agreed.
"Well at least it's better than – Uncle?" Zuko started, turning to the right.
"Better than Uncle? Who is better than Iroh?" asked Toph, not following him.
"No, he's heading our direction."
Zuko ran towards a very upset-looking Iroh.
"Uncle? What's wrong did something happen?"
Aang joined him, his face set in a serious expression
"Tikaani ran away and I've been looking for him, but it's been a good hour and half and Tikaani has not returned to the house nor have I got any word or sight of him. I am actually quite scared now." Aang looked consoling, but Zuko looked angry.
"You lost him?! Great, that little retard could be anywhere!" Aang gave a scowl at Zuko's language choice and sighed.
"I'll ask Toph to find him, he can't be far. He's probably near a music shop. He loves drums." Aang said, his voice still optimistic. Toph stepped forward with a half grin.
"I can hear his bells from here. He's in the crowd." Toph ran forward ,smiling. "Hey Spunky! You looking for us?" She began, but then her face turned disappointed when she saw that the person with the bells wasn't Tikaani.
"Hey, you ain't Spunky!"
Sang Ki was still looking for the water tribe boy he was studying when he was approached by a blind girl with a scowl on her face.
"S-Spunky? Oh you mean the boy with the collar. I was observing him and he ran off so I followed him, but then he disappeared. I think something bad has happened. I've been looking for him too." He handed the collar to Toph. "He was fascinating subject, it was my first actual encounter with someone of his disorder."
Toph took the collar as Sang Ki left, and she returned to the rest of the group, holding up the collar.
"Guys, we have a major problem. I think Tikaaniis in serious danger."
Tikaani woke up in pain. His head hurt, his legs hurt, and even his eyes hurt. He scanned what looked like an abandoned old temple. He was tied in a shoddy, gagged and naked. Aningan walked up to the cage and opened it to step inside. Tikaani got a good look at his face, bright blue eyes with a birthmark on his face that made it look that someone splattered dark brown paint on him. He smile was feral as he brought the lamp to examine Tikaani.
"You don't look half bad. Not really my type, but not bad. You'll grow up pretty damn handsome. It's too bad you're not worthy of breeding." Aningan said, appraising him.
He set down the lamp, lifted Tikaani's head, and took out the gag.
"You poor, beautiful bastard. I wonder what unfortunate karma you must have gotten in your past life to get you stuck with such a weak mind. Nevertheless, you will serve a grander purpose tonight as my sacrifice to the Father Wolf, you're named after him of course. Well one of his names at least. You'll be a wonderful gift him to ensure my place as chief."
Tikaani glowered at him and had strong frown on his face.
"Don't you look defiant? Such a proud soul, you really are the son of ol' Tig. You have his eyes, such wild and lost eyes. Tigtuk felt sorry for you, he wanted you to be healthy, but he got such damaged goods. It's no wonder he wanted to drown you. But if only he saw such a beautiful creature like yourself. Maybe I'll just keep you as my little pet. Make you wear nice new belled collar with a little matching leash and let all the pirates have their fun with you. They need some new meat to play with. Would you like that? Since my sister back north broke your aunt's legs and now she's abandoned you."
Tikaani felt a surge of hate and loathing wash through him. He....he hurt Auntie. He is going to rape and torture me. He's an evil man. I hate him, I hate this man.
Tikaani just glared but then a smile inched on his lips. He gave his answer to Aningan by lifting his leg a bit and pissing on the man's leg.
Aningan jumped back with a yelp and then back handed Tikaani to the other end of the cage.
"You vile little shit. How dare you!?" He grabbed Tikaani's throat and threw him into the ground and stamped on his chest.
"I swear to Tui and Amaguq, I am going to rape your ass, cut you up and feed you to the iguana-coyotes, and then use your skull as a sake cup. You pathetic little retard. I should castrate you first and make you eat your testicles!"
Tikaani made a wheezing noise and whimpered as Aningan left the cage and locked it. Tikaani rolled over and laid in silence, his hate washed away by sorrow. Tikaani's eyes filled with tears as he let out a hopeless and pained cry. Curling up, Tikaani wept.
The group traveled together now, looking for Tulok in hopes of getting more information about Aningan and, hopefully, where to find Tikaani. Fortunately. Their task was easy, as the heir to the tribe was in the upper ring. Aang, Katara and Toph were going to talk to Tulok, as the others were going back to the tea house.
Toph, didn't have her firm, strong willed face on, but instead wore an expression of worry and apprehension. She was scared for Tikaani.
Katara was also frightened for him. She had just started to regard Tikaani as a kid brother and now something horrible had happened.
Aang found the house where Tulok lived, made obvious by the totem pole in front, and knocked on the door.
"Coming" called out a deep male voice, and opening the door was a man who looked like a younger version of Arnook. "Oh… It's the Avatar… Uh, to what do I owe this visit?"
Aang walked in and felt a said, feeling sheepish,
"We've come to ask you about a man named Aningan. Do you know of him? It's a very grave matter, and we need to know." Tulok's eyebrows rose high.
"Ani, I know him, he's my son."
What felt like an age, was actually a minute of silence, and the gang realized that things had just gotten complicated. Tulok sighed loudly and welcomed the group to his house in the upper ring. Aang noticed that its interior was a conglomeration of water tribe and earth kingdom designs.
Tulok made some tea and offered them some sweet bean dumplings. Aang wanted neither, but Sokka couldn't say no. Aang, however, didn't want the formalities so he got straight to business.
"Your son killed the Northern Water Tribe chief and now will probably kill the only witness. You must tell us what you know about Aningan."
Tulok had the look of one that had a pet tigerdillo and found out that it ate another person. He sighed and rubbed his temples.
"Damn. Even after disowning that son of a bitch he still manages to haunt me. What the hell do the gods want of me?" groaned Tulok, getting his tea.
Katara looked plaintively at him, her face fearful.
"Please help us, he is after your life and he probably has Tikaani. You could help us find where he is so we can take him into custody." Katara pleaded. Tulok gave a dead-sounding laugh and spiked his tea with lychee liquor.
"I blame myself mostly, for Ani's misdeeds. Aningan and his twin, Malina were my first children. Then I had my daughter, Shila, and my youngest, Itigiaq. They follow my eldest son, except for Malina who despises her brother.
I disowned him years ago after discovering that he tried to sleep with her. I also found out that he lusted after her and wanted to make her his bride. Malina, who used to look up to Aningan for his infectious personality and amazing charisma, found herself loathing him. Shila was jealous of Malina, who lives in the South Pole now, and Itig is a coward and follows whomever he feels will protect him the most.
I am assuming this all a clever scheme to kill me so he can be chief, and to kill Pakku who knows of his lusting." Tulok took a swig of his tea and put the cup down. Iroh had a grim face and looked at Tulok, a question on his lips.
"What would Aningan do to Tikaani if he finds him?"
Tulok looked ill and downed the rest of the tea.
"Torture him and then kill him. Aningan has no empathy for anything. He doesn't understand hurt. He feels guilt, oddly enough, but it's more vestigial than something real. He thinks he loves someone or understands suffering, but it's well created lie. If he finds this boy, he won't live more than a day."
Aang felt like he was going to throw up. He stood up grabbed his staff,
"We don't have much time then. Do you know where your son might be?"
Tulok looked at Aang with searching eyes and then shrugged.
"I don't know. He does have fixation for holy places." said Tulok, and Aang immediately took off, followed by the rest of the group.
"Zuko, Toph! Come with me, we're gonna check every temple and holy site." Aang and the two ran off in one direction and Katara, Iroh, and Sokka headed back to the tea house.
Please Tikaani. Come home...
Wiggling his ankles, Tikaani focused on one side of the cage and watched the moon flicker through the bars. His mouth was open as he watched moonlight seep through the cracks and illuminate his small cell. Tikaani stood up and started to pace, scared and wanting so much for Aang to come and rescue him. Tikaani's thoughts reverberated in his head.
I hate that man. He is evil and wrong and will kill me. I need to get out of this cage, but how? I still don't know to dismantle the hinges, so maybe I can play with the screws.
Tikaani reached down to tug at the screws to see if he could pull them out, but they were more secure that the ones in the cot. He stopped when he heard footsteps. Still aching and in pain, Tikaani scooted back into the shadows as the meek-sounding man appeared.
"Aningan, the Avatar has found Tulok. They are looking for us…what should we do?"
Aningan was on the altar reading some old scripts when Itigiaq stepped into the moonlight. Frowning deeply, Aningan put down the scrolls and glared at his little brother, but then grinned in that same wild grin as he bounced off the stone altar with a jaunt in his step and grabbed a piece of paper. Scrawling with piece of charcoal, he whistled in the darkness.
"Eko, come here. I have a message for you."
Aningan smiled as a tanuki-cougar walked into the light. She sniffed the air and licked her master's hand. "You know what the Avatar smells like, right? Well, you need to find him."
He grabbed Tikaani's shirt and then a knife. "This will help punctuate the message" Aningan grabbed Tikaani's hand and slashed his palm. Tikaani made a surprised noise as Aningan dribbled his blood on his shirt. He tied the shirt to Eko with a piece of fine rope with the letter and sent her to find the Avatar. Tikaani cowered in the corner, cradling his wounded hand.
"Itigiag, heal his hand. We need to keep him whole for Father Wolf."
Itigiag grunted as he opened the cage, using some water from a puddle nearby.
"Hold still you li-" He shouted as Tikaani ran out of the cage, only to get tackled by Aningan. The elder waterbender dragged Tikaani and shoved him back into the cage. Locking the door, he glowered before shouting,
"Do that again and I'll stab you for sure."
Tikaani watched him with wide eyes and then began to fixate on the screws again.
Iroh, Sokka and Katara all sat in the tea house, quietly waiting for Tikaani to return. Ursa had a lot of questions for the siblings, but she was content being silent. The air around the tea house was thick with worry. Katara frowned as Aang and others returned, but not with Tikaani.
"We're explored some of the prominent temples. No sign of Aningan or Tikaani." said Aang, throwing his staff aside, frustrated with the whole situation. Zuko entered and glanced up at his mother who sat on the cushion looking concerned.
"Mother...It's-" She stood up with her hand up.
"It's not the time for this, Zuko. Right now, we need to find the murderer and your witness."
Toph entered last, looking just as frustrated as Aang.
"We're looking at the obvious places. I know a lot of them are huge and have a lot of areas for hiding, but they are pretty far away. He would be hiding in the open. That's what my gut tells me."
Sokka agreed,
"Yeah, have you checked any shrines in the lower ring?" He asked Aang who grabbed some tea and drank it quickly.
"Yeah, but only a few. I'm gonna go back and ask around to see if there are any more that we missed." Toph growled in irritation and got up.
"C'mon, and bring Sugar Queen, she can come with us."
Katara was about to join them when Iroh's hand lit up and he walked near the door. Toph joined him, body falling into a horse stance.
"It's...it's a tanuki-cougar." She said, confused as it finally came into view. Aang noticed it was carrying something on its back. Sokka had his club out when it sat in front of them, docile and waiting. Its great gold eyes blinked at Aang. The Avatar approached the tanuki-cougar and got the clothes and note off of its back. Eko leapt on to the window and jumped out and scampered out into the streets. Aang frowned and then put the clothes on the table.
Katara examined them, gasping.
"Aang! It's Tikaani's tunic, it has blood all over it!" She exclaimed as Aang unraveled the note and read the scrawled characters.
Avatar, I have the idiot with me, his blood is pure and his heart untainted. He will be a gift to Amaguq to ensure my role as chief of the north. You have until moonrise, Avatar. If you want the fool back, you must have all of your men gone from Ba Sing Se, and you must bring my father with you to the temple of the lion-dog.
Signed: The Man Who Chased the Sun.
Aang read it out loud. His face drained of color as he realized time was running out. He dropped the scroll and grabbed his staff. Katara grabbed his hand.
"Aang, don't go to the temple quite yet. We need a plan."
Sokka realized that was his cue, he tilted his head and had his arms in air.
"Don't look at me! Honestly I just want Aningan dead or in custody, I honestly have no attachment to Tikaani."
Katara was about to rip of her brother's head when Zuko jumped in,
"Yeah, a plan would be nice...I say we head to the temple at dawn and see if we can sneak around the back and get Tikaani. Then, at moonrise, we will have Tulok."
Aang frowned at the plan. It didn't seem too stable, but it was better than nothing.
"Okay, it's almost dawn. Let's get going if we want to save Tikaani."
Iroh and Ursa agreed to wait at the tea shop, but Toph was impatient and wanted to go now and worry about the consequences later.
Hang in there Spunky we're on our way...just...be brave
an: Hold on Tikaani the they're coming! Special thanks to my beta Katieison, and a salute to PeterChameleon. Please read and review.