Destined Girl
Ch.8: First Fight
After a few days, I had a good eye set on the road. I was on Alainn's back as Alainn trotted against the ground. She seemed to be happy after getting off the ship, she loves to have me ride on her every day. I wouldn't blame he, being stuck on that stuffy old boat made me even cramped up.
I allowed Alainn showing her pride as a horse as I kept beginning to break into train of thought about my next move. I saw the night cast over day as I finally decided to find a quittin' space for the night. I set up camp in matter of minutes as I unraveled my bed roll and fell asleep, with the warmth of a fire and Alainn.
I woke up to Alainn neighing. I slowly opened my eyes.
"What is Alainn?" I asked. Alainn seemed to be going crazy as she got on her legs, leaving me confused. I saw a blast of what seemed to be fire hurl at me. I rolled onto my side, dodging the blow.
"Jesus" I said as I saw the fire burn endlessly on the grass. I saw my bed roll in the fire. I got myself to my feet as I saw six or seven men pop out from the trees. "Uh, hello"
The men trapped me and Alainn. I backed up and landed against Alainn.
"Alright," I said as I swallowed heavy, fearing the worse. "I know one of these men are firebenders"
"Attack!" came a roar. Three men punched air as I widened my eyes. I withdrew my blade and swung it around me as a gust of air formed around the fire, blowing it out. I punched air sending another gust of air at the men, they flew back and I looked at the others.
"The avatar!"
I brought my hand closer.
"Probably shouldn't have done that" I said to Alainn. I dodged another attack of fire. "Alainn get out of here!"
I smacked her behind and she galloped away into the forest. I concentrated on the men who began to surround me. I began to swing my sword again more rapidly, sending air at them. A man sent fire at me as I tried to block it, the force of the fire was too strong and it sent me flying backwards into a tree after using airbending to defend myself. I fell to the ground and clutched my shoulder. I saw my clothing was sheered and a large burn on my shoulder blade. I howled in pain as I saw the men gang up on me.
I swung my unharmed arm around me and sent another powerful blast of air. I quickly thought of a way to get a hold of my sword which was feet away from me. I dodged another attack of fire and rolled over to my sword. I picked it up as I got on my feet, my arm still clutching my wound. I finally formed an idea, I made sure I had my bag on my back and soon stabbed my sword into the ground and thrusted it out with airbending, sending dirt to fly in the air. I quickly made a run for it.
"Don't let her get away!"
I could feel the hot air coming at me as I dodged it when I made my run. I felt my sheath clanking against my thigh as I kept running. I bolted out of the forest and into a open plain.
"Not a good idea" I said. I turned back ready for another attack, but it seemed though as if I lost them.
"Over there!"
Their feet stomping the ground seemed to faint in the distance as I saw a woman make her way towards me.
"Hurry young one" she said. "They will be back"
I looked at her confused.
"Follow me" she said. "I know where you can be safe"
She turned and walked away, I followed her as I slid my blade back into my sheath. I was still a bit lost and confused. I followed all the way to her home.
"This is where I live" she said.
A small cottage stood there, it had smoke coming out of the chimney stack and I noticed an outside well standing about 10 yards from the house. I felt my burn give off pain as I clutched it once more. I walked down the hill that overlooked her area and she brought me into her house. She motioned me to sit down in a chair. She disappeared and came back with a bucket of water and a towel. She pulled up and chair and began to tend my burning flesh.
"Those Fire Nation soldiers know better than just to attack a poor, innocent young girl like you" she told me, she seemed to be a bit angry with them.
"Why are they here?" I asked, she dabbed my wound and I winced in pain.
"There is a town that the Fire Nation captured not long ago," she said. "I used to side there until they raided our village. I found this place several weeks after the raid and lived here."
"It is just you?" I asked.
"My husband is off fighting the war" she said in a serious note as she continued to tend to my wound.
"Oh," I said with a bit of shame.
"I saw you get attack and I saw you fight" she told me. "I was out picking some herbs for tea"
I nodded.
"You are an airbender" she told me. I nodded.
"I'm the avatar" I said. "Well one of two"
"Oh yes," she said, containing her content. "I heard of you"
I nodded again. She got up and disappeared again, I looked around the cottage. It was built out of logs, like a log cabin. She had a small kitchen and a small room where she stated she slept. She had a fire place and a rocking chair beside it, the fire burned as I noticed a pot hanging above the flames. She came back in again. She began to wrap my shoulder with strips of gauze.
"This wound isn't very major," she stated to my relief. "Just a few days in this wrapping and you should be fine"
I nodded my thanks.
"Why don't you stay?" she asked. "You can get a nice meal and a warm bed"
I looked at the door then back at her.
"Yes please" I said. She nodded.
"Why don't you go out to the well and wash up," she said. "Your face is rather dirty. Take the back door"
I walked out of the backdoor and over to the well. I came up to the well and stared at the water. I saw my reflection, she was right, I was dirty. I had soot and dirt covering my face. I had a large splotch of soot on my cheek and another on my jaw. My hair was messed up and a bit longer and little strikes of dirt covered my face. I cupped my hands together and filled it up with water, I splashed it unto my face as I rubbed the water on my face, clearing it free of dirt and soot. I looked back down as I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. My face suddenly changed and I blinked in surprise, I took a step back as an impulse.
To be continued.