Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar, The Last Airbender
Jealousy
Katara looked this girl up and down, a frown on her face. The pretty girl, Katara had to admit, was about her height, long brown hair in two pony tails trailing a little past her slender shoulders. Her plain face was simple but attractive, and her dirty clothing made it apparent she was not the wealthiest.
"Lee! How are you?" She ran to Zuko and gave him a hug, making the prince extremely uncomfortable. Katara gave her dirty looks, her hands on her hips. Zuko noticed and pushed the girl away from him.
"I'm fine, how have you been?" Zuko asked, his face covered with nervousness.
"I'm great now that I found you! My mom and I have been traveling for some time to the coast hoping to find my father. The Earth King is calling all of the armies back to Ba Sing Se to attack the Fire Nation, and we were hoping to find him and get as far away as possible."
"Is your father an Earth Kingdom soldier?" asked an eavesdropping Iroh.
"Yes, he is currently patrolling the southern edge of the Kingdom." Jin suddenly noticed Katara giving her disapproving looks. "Hello, who are you."
"My name is Katara, and you are?"
"Jin, I'm a friend of Lee's from Ba Sing Se, you still never explained why you ran away from me that night Lee." Jin turned back to Zuko.
"Uh, well maybe we can talk about it later, I'm sure you're tired from your trip," Zuko gestured towards the huts behind them. "The locals let us stay here for a while, I'm traveling with the Avatar."
"Really? That's amazing, you'll have to tell me more about it later." With that Jin walked inside one of the huts, her mother following silently.
"So, 'Lee', who's that little peasant?"
"Now Miss Katara, no need to be jealous of Prince Zuko's friend." Iroh glanced towards her, smiling.
"I'm not jealous, if anything I'm angry that he will be ignoring Bradel to hang out with his girlfriend." Katara gave Zuko a nasty look and put her hands on her hips, waiting for what he had to say.
"Don't be ridiculous. I won't ditch you to take care of him, besides you can have some of the young women help you."
"You know Bradel doesn't let anyone tend to him unless its me or you," said Katara, angrily crossing her arms over her chest.
"I don't even want to spend time with her," Zuko said, stepping closer to Katara.
"Doesn't seem like it, I think you like her!"
"I do not, now if you know what's good for you you'll shut your mouth!"
"Zuko, do not speak to her that way," Iroh scolded stepping in between them. "Show your respect to Miss Katara."
Zuko mumbled something and growled, "I apologize for my behavior."
"Is she a bender?"
Both Zuko and Iroh looked to Katara confused. "What?"
"I said, is she a bender?"
"Well, no, I don't think so-"
"She can't fight?"
"Well, no-"
"What can she do?"
Zuko sat silent for a moment, staring Katara straight in the eye. "She can kiss..."
Katara slammed the door behind her angrily. Who did this Jin girl think she was? Just barging in and...doing stuff. What was Katara thinking? She wasn't doing anything wrong, just trying to find her dad. It was her who was being the rude one, and she had no idea why.
Maybe it's because you like him...
"That's completely ridiculous." Katara said to herself out loud. She glanced around the room to see her cot and Zuko's, Bradel's crib sitting in the middle of the two. If Zuko or Katara were not around the child screamed bloody murder. After they left the cave all Bradel did was cry, unless Zuko was there, or Katara.
A knock on the door startled her, but she regained her composure. "Who is it?"
"Zuko, can I come in?"
"It's your room too you know, of course you can come in."
Silently he stepped inside, closing the door behind him. Without a word he sat on his cot next to Katara. The pair sat in awkward silence for a few minutes until Zuko spoke up. "Listen, I want to apologize about earlier."
"No, I should apologize, I'm just tired from taking care of Bradel and I took it out on you and a girl I don't even know."
Zuko gave her a sympathetic, but then grinned. "So, do you really hate Jin?"
"I don't even know her..."
"You were pretty angry with her, and maybe a little jealous?"
Katara gave him a dirty look. "Why would I be jealous of that filth?!"
"Filth, I thought you just said-"
"Forget what I just said, she's rotten platypus bear crap and I don't like her!" With that the enraged water bender stood and stormed out the door. Zuko winced as she slammed the door behind her. Maybe uncle was right, she was jealous.
Sokka put the sharpening stone to his boomerang again. The grinding of steel against stone always made him feel a little better. Right now, a lot of things were on his mind. All day he got strange urges and one quite frightening one when he looked at Bradel. For reasons that scared and disturbed Sokka, he thought the infant looked quite...delicious.
He shook the thought from his head. He was even more starving than usual, and every time he reached for an apple or banana, he threw it away in disgust. The craving for meat was unbearable, and every time he actually got his hands on some he tore through it like a savage. Ty Lee watched him with fear and worry, and recently kept her distance from him.
He just wished every thing would go back to normal.
Sokka...
Sokka stopped his sharpening and glanced around for a moment. The trees rattled lightly with the wind, and the full moon and fire offered the only light outside the town. He was alone, something he grew quite accustomed to. When nothing moved or made a sound among the trees or sky, the Water Tribe warrior went back to sharpening his weapon.
Sokka...
Sokka stood with lightning quick reflexes, bringing his boomerang up at ther eady. "Alright who's there?"
Nothing answered his question.
Uneasy, Sokka sat back down and went back to his work, but he kept his eyes scanning the area for any uninvited guests. His strong hand moved the stone slowly over the blade.
Sokka, come to me...
This time he was positive he heard the words, and again stood. "Okay, come out you coward and face me!"
That's no way to speak to your teacher...
"Who are you?" Sokka went around in circles eyeing the forrest uneasily. He couldn't help but realize the voice was like a whisper, and seemed to echo in his mind.
Sokka of the Water Tribe, how are you this evening?
"Show yourself!"
No need to shout, but are you sure you want to see me?
"Come out now!"
Very well, but understand that I speak with my mind to my kin, and not my mouth.
"Kin?"
The voice did not answer. Instead a rustling came from a nearby bush, and Sokka brought up his boomerang. The bush continued to rattle, and Sokka did not move. He kept his eyes on the plant, continuing to rattle. And then, a hand emerged from the leaves.
The hand was about the size of his head, long deadly nails extending from its slender but strong fingers. Fur covered the human like hand, a dark blood red in color. The claws dug smoothly into the ground, taking hold of the earth. Another hand just as slowly moved out as well, the same as the last. It too grabbed hold of the ground. Together they pulled forth the most frightening thing Sokka had every seen.
A long snout made its way out of the leaves, flashing its while teeth. It resembled that of a dog or wolf, but much bigger. Glowing red eyes glared wickedly at the dumbfounded warrior, and flattened ears marked the end of its head, which all together was about the size of Sokka's arm. A strong dog like body was behind it, followed by strong legs that resembled those of a wolf. A tail twirled wickedly behind it. Among the many sets of teeth in its mouth, blood dripped like drool. The creature circled Sokka, ready to pounce.
Finally we meet Sokka. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ronin, and I am your new master.
Ronin?
Yes, Ronin.
Sokka's eyes widened. "Did-did you just read my thoughts?"
Why of course, we are now brothers, and I can understand your ever thought, and you can understand mine.
"But ho-" Sokka stopped. But how? Are you saying I'm the same as you?
I am, and now you have been granted a blessing.
Seems more like a curse.
Never say that you fool! The monster named Ronin growled. This is a great power. Have you ever felt a little, useless next to your powerful bending friends?
Sokka didn't answer, just frowned. What are you saying? That I am going to turn into that?
You already have once. This is not permanent Sokka, you can change at will. I myself have a human side, but prefer my Rokuro side.
Wait wait wait, you're saying I can change into what you are?
Yes, and using this gift properly can result in power beyond that of any bending master.
Wait, start over. When did this happen?
Why, when you were attacked of course.
That's when this all started?
Yes, and now you are one of us, a Rokuro. You see Sokka, many years ago, before the war started. there was a man, born a Fire Nation noble. He was the sixth son of the family, and there for the most hated. His sibling tormented him, his parents shunned him, for it was considered a curse to be born sixth. In his rage and shame the man ran way, and eventually found refuge in the mountains along with others of his kind. They grew tiresome of being disrespected, and decided it was time to punish those who had caused them pain. Late at night they returned to the Fire Nation towns and kidnapped infants to protest their rage. The people of the towns angrily called upon the great fire spirit Agni for help. The spirit cursed all of the sixth born sons in a family, and shunned them from the Fire Nation capitol. Now, still cursed the sons roam the planet as monsters, and through spiritual magic may never enter the Fire Nation capitol. When a Rokuro bites a human, and the human lives, then that human is filled with the curse of the Rokuro, and become one themselves.
So I'm now a Rokuro?
Yes Sokka, and Iroh has asked me a favor.
What's that?
That I train you to become a great Rokuro, to control your new abilities and help the Avatar defeat the Fore Lord. Normally I would disagree but I see two good outcomes to this deal. One, you are a great warrior and can find it in you to be one of the most powerful Rokuro alive. And second, the spirit Agni will be very displeased with the downfall of his nation, and that is something every Rokuro wants.
So, you want to train me?
Yes Sokka, and now you and I will become very good friends, and you will become a great Rokuro.
Sokka had stopped following Ronin's circling movements long ago, and now just kept his eyes to the ground. So he was now some monster, and this guy expected him to just go along with this? As powerful as any bender huh? This could seriously help them in their battles. He looked up from his wonderment to see the monster gone, and instead a Fire Nation soldier standing before him, his face covered in a wicked grin.
The new man before him had the uniform that Zuko used to wear, although his hair was spiked upward. His face was narrow and clean, reminding Sokka of Jet. His hands were behind his back and he stood with militant discipline. "So, what do you say Sokka?"
Sokka gave the man a hard look. This was obviously his human form. Maybe he really could use this for good. "Okay, I'm in."
Ronin grinned. "Excellent..."
"Shhhhh, its okay, its okay." Katara sighed as Bradel continued to cry. She swung the baby back in forth in her arms softly while Toph watched from across the room.
"That thing is driving me crazy, can't you shut it off?" Toph threw a dirty look her way.
"Yeah, I'll just shut it off, what's the matter with you?"
"It's so annoying..."
Just then Bradel stopped, and looked over to Toph. The infant sucked on its thumb a few times before giving a little cough and falling asleep. Katara smiled. "Look at my little Bradel, he's so cute!"
"So, I've been meaning to ask you if you plan to keep that baby," Toph said. Katara was caught off guard obviously.
"Well, obviously I can't. We're in a war and I need to help, I can't watch him all the time, neither can Zuko."
"You two love birds are the only ones who can shut it up; you're going to have to keep it."
"That's ridiculous, I'm only fifteen, I can't have a baby. In our tribe the women have to work until they're seventeen, and then find a husband."
"You already got one," said Toph, fingering a piece of grass. "Scar face and you are perfect for each other."
Katara blushed as she watched Bradel sleeping. "Shut up, Zuko is no more than Aang's helper to me."
"Oh yeah, that's why you're jealous of his old girlfriend?"
"For the last time I am not jealous of that slime!"
"Okay Katara, you get back to me on that." With that the young earth bender stood and began to walk away.
"What about you and Aang?" Katara asked after her.
Wow, a whole month. Well I hope the long chapter make up for the delay. I got my wisdom teeth out and I haven't had much time for writing. I decided to delete the last chapter because I didn't like it. My apologies for any confusion or anything else I did. Next chapter will have tons of action as well.