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Chapter 3: Questioning

Kalaya woke up with the dawn as was her habit, though she was stiff, sore, and exhausted. She felt a sore spot on her shoulder and reached up, touching the new scar as the memory of the night before rolled in. She thought about the blue spirit, and thanked him for saving her life. He didn't have to, he could have left her, but he hadn't.

She smiled, blushing as she remembered kissing him. She got up as she remembered his warning. She packed as quickly as she could and pushed her canoe out and headed south. She glanced at Kozu's ship as she passed it, thinking about the prince and whether he had been hurt or hurt the water tribe men. She thought she saw his outline looking out to sea from the stern. Kalaya shook her head as if to clear it, and pushed him out of her head and headed south.

She spent the next three and a half days trying to get as far south as possible, stretching her supplies out, and only stopping to sleep. She finally was running low and saw a small port and headed south again to camp. It was noon when she entered the town, and was dismayed to see some fire nation soldiers walking around. She avoided them and quickly got some food and a new shirt, using some of the money Kozu had given her on a pretty red shirt. It was in the earth kingdom style, with a high neck, and a row of knots across the left shoulder in the shape of flowers. She thought of Kozu when she saw it, and then blushed as she thought of the kiss she had given the blue spirit.

Kalaya shook her head to clear it as a group of soldiers passed by in front of the shop she was in. She needed a clear head, and to get away from the fire nation as soon as possible. She walked calmly out of the shop and was about to head inland through the small town to avoid the docks when she saw soldiers heading her way from inland. She walked away from them, trying to move away, but she kept seeing more soldiers. It was as if they were herding her to the docks.

"There she is! That's the water tribe girl, Admiral!" a male voice said off to Kalaya's left when she came within sight of the docks. She glanced and saw the colonel from when she had met Kozu next to a large man, surrounded by five soldiers. Kalaya started running towards the docks as she heard the men chasing her, yelling at her to stop.

She skidded to a stop as four other soldiers came around her, keeping her from running in any other direction and effectively pinning her against the water. She turned as the admiral and his group caught up with her and assessed the situation.

The admiral was large and bulky and nearly towered over her. He had a large sash across his chest, and brown eyes which narrowed as he assessed her. His brown hair was arranged in a traditional topknot, but his beard was wide and bushy and made him look like an ape. The soldiers moved in around her as if she were a wild animal that had escaped.

Kalaya moved her arms in a fluid motion, bending the water to pull the four on her sides into the sea, and then brought up a huge wave to pound on the admiral and his company. The colonel and a few others ran, the water took the rest of the soldiers out, but the admiral stood firm.

"Well, looks like we have a little waterbender," he said, steam rising from him after the wave had crashed over him. His companions stood up and started to move in, but he held out a hand which stopped them. He looked up and down Kalaya's body, making her angry.

"She's mine," he growled.

"I haven't done anything!" she yelled, ready to defend herself.

"But you have, I have eyewitness accounts of you helping a notorious thief called the blue spirit, not only once, but twice. My men found evidence of blood, and my archer says you saved the thief's life before getting shot yourself. You are guilty and I will have great pleasure in your questioning." The admiral walked closer to her as he talked, and almost purred the last.

Kalaya shivered in disgust at his tone. I'd rather die then let him touch me! She brought up a water whip and struck it towards him. He quickly blasted fire, dissipating the end, as she drew up more water to freeze his feet. He kept blasting, sending her further back to the water, and dissipating all her attacks. The admiral was about to grab her, dissipating another water whip when an arm came out of nowhere, grabbing his, and twisting it behind the admirals' back.

Kalaya had gathered water around her arms, and was shocked as Kozu thrust the admiral to the ground. The soldiers who had been watching were held back as Li and Captain Jin stood in fighting stances between their prince and the soldiers.

"Have you no honor, Admiral Zow?" Kozu asked in a low voice, fuming. "Attacking a girl half your size?"

Zow gave Kozu a dirty look as he stood up. He brushed himself off, glancing from Kalaya to his soldiers, then finally landing his gaze on the prince.

"This 'girl' is a dangerous waterbender. She has also aided a thief several times, and I believe she is a spy. She ran from my men. I just wanted to question her." He glanced back at Kalaya with an evil look in his eyes as he said the word, 'question'.

"I have already questioned her and she has been proven innocent."

"I'm well aware of your questioning. I want to question her."

Kozu looked at Kalaya, thinking. He knew he couldn't just let her go; she'd be in danger as long as Zow wanted to question her.

"Very well, but you can only question her on my ship, with my captain and I present, to make sure she is not hurt. If it is proven she is guilty, then she'll be turned over to the port authorities for sentencing."

Kalaya paled at this. "I can take care of myself," she hissed at Kozu's back.

Kozu turned to her and took her arm in a firm grip, leading her to his ship. "I know, but not against this," he whispered as the water she held fell. "Don't throw away help."

She didn't resist him as he took her onto the bow, followed by Li, Captain Jin, and Admiral Zow. The admirals' soldiers were not allowed onto the ship and Zow frowned at this.

"There is just not enough room on our small ship for so many," Li said, noticing the admirals' expression. "Besides, our own men will be able to handle anything the girl could throw at us."

Li ordered some chairs to be brought out, and took a seat in one as he waited. Kalaya glanced at the chair that was brought for her, but opted to stand as the admiral walked up to her. Kozu stayed close by her, for which she was both angry and thankful.

"My men reported that you arrived alone in the port town of Ky Li, and as a dangerous thief known as the blue spirit ran past you, you knocked crates onto them, impeding their pursuit and injuring three of them. When they attempted to question you, you fled. They later caught up with you and the prince took you into questioning."

"I tripped when I saw the thief run past me, he startled me. I ran from the soldiers because I know what they can do to a woman alone." Kalaya was angry, but controlled her temper. She had already been questioned by Kozu on this very subject. It was getting redundant.

"Yes, I read his report, and that you were traveling alone because of being exiled from your own tribe." Zow shot a smirk at Kozu at this, and then turned his gaze back to Kalaya. She noticed the glance, and wondered what history the two had, but remained focused on Zow.

"But a few days later, at another port, my men were struck again by this thief. Two of them chased him to the water and found your camp. You warned him, and my archer said that you even helped the thief, stopping an arrow from hitting him. The thief knocked him out, but not before he had seen his last arrow hit you. When my men recovered, the thief, you and all that you owned were gone. What happened?"

Kalaya's patience was nearing its end. "They snuck up on me. I didn't want anyone to get hurt! I didn't want to get shot. I passed out and when I woke up, I was alone, at a different camp site, only a treated wound and a bloody shirt as evidence!"

"Why did you help the thief? Where is he? Who is he?!" Zow advanced on her, starting to shout, but Kalaya held her ground.

"I don't know!"

"I think that's enough," Kozu said, stepping up to Zow. Zow snarled and reached out, grabbing Kalayas' shirt at her shoulder, and pulled down, ripping it and exposing the cauterized arrow wound.

"And how did that happen?"

Kalaya cried out and tried to pull her shirt back together. Kozu grabbed Zow's arm and used it as leverage to push him back, away from Kalaya.

"Get off my ship! You're questioning is done!" Kozu yelled, advancing on Zow, ready to literally throw him off the ship.

"No, it's not. I'm not done yet, not until I get answers!"

Zow shot his hand out towards Kozu, fire forming around his fingertips. Li was there suddenly, and pushed Zows' hand into the air, a large fire blast shooting fifty feet into the air above the ship. Li quickly turned, ducking behind Zow, pulling his arm along with him, pinning the admiral effectively. He turned Zow to the plank connecting the ship to the docks and pushed him onto it.

"You have dishonored my prince and the lady," Li said in a cold, hard voice. "You are no longer welcome here. Leave now."

Zow glared at the firebending master, then at Kozu and Kalaya before stomping off to the docks, not looking back.

Kozu turned to Kalaya, "Are you all right?"

She glared at him, holding her shirt, tears starting to form in her eyes. "I could have handled it. I can take of myself!"

Kozu stared back at her. He had just saved her from Zow, and she was yelling at him? Li saw the tension building on Kozu's face and quickly stepped in.

"Captain, please escort the lady to her room."

Jin had seen the confrontation coming, and was glad Li had stepped in. He walked up to Kalaya and took her elbow gently. "This way, my lady. I'll escort you to your room so you can change."

Kalaya went willingly, being guided by the captain, tears falling freely from her eyes. Captain Jin glanced at her several times, but made no comment. He took her to the room she had occupied the last time she had been on the ship and sat her down on the bed.

"I'll be right back with some food and a new shirt," he said, turning to go.

"It's all right, I have an extra shirt," she said, still in a state of shock from what had happened.

Jin smiled and nodded, then exited the room. Kalaya was surprised when she didn't hear the door being locked, but knew she had nowhere to go. On the docks, Zow was waiting, and she couldn't face him at the moment. She remembered the way he had looked at her and shivered in disgust again. Kalaya lay down on the bed, her back to the door, and cried into her pillow.

She heard the door open behind her and expected Jin or Li. She hoped they would leave her in peace, now was not the time for conversation. Whoever it was closed the door behind them and placed a tray on the table, but didn't leave.

"Please leave me alone," she said, wanting them to go away.

"No," Kozu said.

She turned and saw him sitting on one of the chairs, watching her. Kozu noticed that she had not changed, and her eyes were red from crying.

"Look, I'm sorry. I know you can handle yourself, but you don't know Zow. He'll keep trying till he gets you. That's why I stepped in."

Kalaya stared at him. Was this an apology? Did he really mean it? She looked down at her hands in her lap, not knowing what to say. Kozu noticed her shyness and got up, ready to leave. He had done what was needed, and the girl had not even said thank you. Irritated, he headed to the door.

"Thank you," she said as he was about to step out. He glanced back and nodded, not knowing what else to do, and left. She heard him enter his own room next door and headed to the tray to eat. She went to her bed, full from the food he had brought and fell asleep.