The city always seemed a little creepy at night to me, especially when I had to walk alone. Which is why I tried to always be somewhere or with someone before the sun vanished from horizon. The street lights always seemed too dim for my liking and the dark alleys of the city would send a chill up my spine and leave an uneasy feeling in my stomach when I walked past them. I pet Pabu's head a little nervously as I briskly walked down the sidewalks trying to get to the arena as quickly as possible.
"I should've asked Uncle Toza to come walk with me." I murmured under my breath. Suddenly a man pushed past me and knocked Pabu from my shoulder.
"Hey!" I called out angrily as I bent down to pick Pabu up from where he was now hiding between my legs. However, by the time I had stood up and looked around the man was gone. I made sure Pabu was alright and checked that everything in my purse was still there before I quickened my pace further to the arena.
"He sure was a jerk wasn't he Pabu?" I mumbled to the ferret. Looking up I saw the bright glow of the arena in the distance. I smiled and slowed my walk slightly, feeling more at ease now that I was near my destination
"Pabu?" I heard the voice from last night call from behind me. I turned questioningly before hearing it again but this time farther down the street. I looked for the source of the voice but couldn't find it, only knowing it was coming from the opposite side of the road and fading fast. I turned to cross the road, triple checking that it was safe to cross before quickly jogging across the road. Once on the other side I again looked for source of the voice but didn't see anyone yelling nor did I hear the voice again. I began walking quickly in the opposite direction of the arena, feeling the uneasy feeling return as I got farther away, hoping to find Pabu's owner before he got too far.
Eventually I heard the voice call out again after reaching the park near the center of the city. I turned around in a complete circle to try and find the source before Pabu quickly hopped off my shoulder and ran off. I called after him trying to pick him up before he disappeared. Looking desperately around on the ground for Pabu I began jogging in the direction of which he had run off.
"Oomph!" Was all I could muster after running into a decidedly solid person, as I began to fall I felt that person grab my hand and pull me forward before I hit the ground. Perhaps with a little too much force because instead of impacting with the ground I found myself nose to nose with a stranger who had very familiar eyes. My face lit up as he let go of my hand and I had a little satisfaction of seeing his cheeks go pink as well. I stepped back awkwardly and brushed my hands on my dress, hoping my face wasn't as red as it felt.
"You wouldn't have happened to have seen a fire ferret around have you?" He burst out after a moment of us staring at each other.
"I have actually, is his name Pabu?" I replied trying to make the fire in my cheeks go down. His face brightened and he smiled widely at me before grabbing me into a hug and lifting me from my feet. The flames in my cheek only seemed to burn brighter as I awkwardly patted his back to signal it was time to put me down. As he set me gently back down onto my feet I tried my best to soothe the flames in my cheeks.
"So I take it you're Pabu's owner?" I joked while taking in his face. He had a squareish jaw, an adorable button nose, a small curly cue of hair running down his forehead, and those strikingly green eyes. I couldn't quite put my finger on where I'd seen them before. All in all he was strikingly handsome, that revelation making me all of a sudden very shy.
"Yeah I'm Bolin. So where is Pabu?" He asked noticing I actually didn't have Pabu with me.
"Funny story, we were on our way to the arena to find you before I heard your voice calling out for Pabu and followed it here. Then once we got here he jumped off my shoulder and ran off and I chased after him. Which led to my running into you, I thought he was running to you." I scratched the back of my neck a little awkwardly as I saw Bolin's face fall as I told him the story.
"We could both look for him around here. I'm sure he couldn't have gotten far." I suggested, looking around for the now familiar creature.
"Sounds good, give me a shout if you find him." Bolin nodded before he turned around and began calling out for Pabu.
I looked around the trees and by the stream before finding Pabu eating some berries off a bush. Laughing a bit I bent down to pick up Pabu before I heard something rustle behind me. I began to call out before a dirty hand covered my mouth. I tried to scream but the attacker's hand muffled my attempts. Beginning to panic I saw Pabu flit away. All the possible scenarios played out in my mind as I felt a grimy hand on my ribs, just below my breast. I felt a chill run up my spine as he reached the hem of my dress. I tried to scream once more as I felt his hand beginning to roam further. I swung my arm back and struck him in the groin as hard as I could with my forearm. As he recoiled from the blow I broke free, screamed loudly, and began to take a ready stance. When he recovered I saw the glint of a knife in his hand. Preparing for a fight I sank into my ready stance when suddenly a rock hit him in the ribs and the ground beneath him violently shifted and launched him into the stream some distance away. I turned expecting yet another attacker, only to find Bolin rising from an Earth-bending stance and Pabu perched on his shoulder. Knowing the fight was over I sank down to my knees and felt tears prick my eyes.
I heard Bolin approach me as I hyperventilated and tried desperately to rid myself of the fears of what if. I flinched as I felt a hand rest on my shoulder. I looked up and saw Bolin offering me his hand.
"Everything is gonna be ok, you're ok." He assured me and helped me to my feet. I stood up and nodded dumbly. I felt Bolin's arm go around my shoulder and I felt a slightly safer.
"Will you please walk me home?" I asked quietly, still not feeling safe enough to walk alone. Bolin nodded and we began the long walk back to my apartment. I felt Pabu nuzzle my face as I let a few stray tears fall down my cheeks.