A/N: Sorry for the long delay, though I promised a quick update…. I guess school really has an impact on my writing, sorry.
Anyways, I have 25 reviews now for this story! I don't really know if that's good or not, since my chapters are really short….OTL . Anyways, please give more reviews! The 50th reviewer (if I get there) will get a picture of a scene of their choice from any story (mine or someone else's, your choice). My DA is Chioriki by the way (I just made it, so I only have one deviation OTL).
On to the 7th chapter!
Captured Trust Chapter 7: The Firebending Masters Part 2
The three benders rode on Appa in silence, hours passing by quickly as they stared different directions, engrossed in their own thoughts.
"Do you know when we'll get there?" Aang sat back on the massive head of his air bison, the soft fur caressing his small body.
Zuko raised his head at the question, his shaggy black hair flowing in his face as the wind blew past. "It's only about fifty miles away from the Eastern Air Temple, but we've already rode for a few hours, so I guess we'll be there soon. I thought this thing was faster…." Appa groaned, its giant head lifting in response.
"Appa's right. We usually start our missions with a more upbeat attitude, right?" the monk said, looking to Katara, who sat in the back of the saddle lazily.
"That's right, so you better get used to it," the waterbender answered, straightening her back.
"I can't believe this," Zuko muttered, lying back down on the saddle.
It was another hour before Aang spotted a brown blur among the whites of the clouds. He grabbed the firebender's arm and pointed to the blur. "Zuko! Zuko! Is that it?"
The prince looked out into the clouds and focused on the point where the Avatar pointed at. Sure enough, a small island could be seen in the middle of the ocean. "Yes," he said slowly as Appa flew downwards.
After the bison had lowered, the island could be seen more clearly. Lush green forests bordered perimeter of the island. In the middle of the island a large civilization emerged, the vast structures and buildings dotting the area. Aang and Katara gasped as they saw the ancient city, mouths agape as they absorbed the sight. A large sun could be seen painted on one of the larger buildings, the paint shining in the bright sun.
"The Sun Ruins." Zuko uttered.
Appa finally landed and the three riders stumbled out. Katara moaned as she noticed how stiff her legs were. Hours of riding had made her legs feel like needles and pins. The waterbender bent down to stretch, only to find that the boys were doing the same.
"I never knew that I would be so sore after riding Appa! I mean, we always do this!" Aang said while bending to touch his toes. After a few moments of stillness, the airbender yelled to Zuko and Katara, "Should we get going now?"
The fire prince looked up into the dark sky, the starless night looking back at him. "I think we should camp for the night, it's getting dark," he said after a few moments.
"Sure….I guess," Aang said, clearly disappointed.
Who made him boss? Katara thought. We can't even trust him!
After a while, she walked over to the airbender to help him with the camp setup. The young monk smiled at her presence. His small hands dug through their supplies as he looked for their sleeping bags. Katara watched as he held up two bundles before saying, "Guys, we have a problem."
Zuko strode up to Aang, a worried look in his fiery eyes. "What is it?"
"Uh…we only have two sleeping bags in Appa's saddle," the boy said, fumbling with the sleeping bags, "I forgot that Katara was coming, so I only took enough for me and Zuko!"
"Aang, it's alright, you can sleep in one," Katara said. Zuko nodded in agreement, his golden gaze lingering on the watebender.
"Thanks guys!" the monk cried happily. Suddenly, a frown washed over his smiling face. "Then that means that you and Zuko have to share a sleeping bag or something…!" Katara immediately looked over to the firebender, both their faces coloring at the thought.
"No wa-" the flushed waterbender cried.
"It's okay, Katara can have the sleeping bag, I'll sleep on the floor," Zuko said, cutting off Katara's comment as he walked over to a clean patch on the floor next to Appa.
"Thanks," Katara muttered as she slid into the bag. Zuko managed a small smirk as he laid his head on Appa's soft fur, using it as a pillow. In moments, a soft snore could be heard from the young prince. Katara rolled around in her soft sleeping bag. She couldn't sleep once again. Lying on her side, the waterbender couldn't help but look over to the sleeping firebender.
He looks so cold. He gave up that sleeping bag for me, she thought. As quietly as she could, Katara tiptoed her way to the prince. She lightly put her small hand on the firebender's skin. The waterbender's eyes widened as she found that the scarred teen's skin was not cold, but warm.
Abruptly, a cold wind swept through the small "camp", and Katara instinctively reached toward the warmest thing she could find, in this case, Zuko's arm. She held onto the firebender's arm even as the wind died, delighting in his warmth. A quiet grunt came from the prince. Katara flinched at the sound. Did he just wake up? Argh, I hope not. How will I explain this? Why did I hold onto his arm in the first place? The explosion of thoughts filled her head.
A matter of seconds passed before the waterbender realized the prince was still asleep. Breathing a quick sigh of relief, she made it back to her sleeping bag, where she fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning, Katara woke up to find that Zuko and Aang had both already got up before her. The young Avatar watched as she rolled up her sleeping bag before adding, "We're about to go explore the ruins!"
"What, already?" Katara asked drowsily, yawning. "It's barely sunrise."
"Zuko said it was best if we left before anyone finds us here…" Aang said.
"Whatever. Where's breakfast?" she muttered, throwing the last bag into Appa's saddle.
At the mention of breakfast, the airbender rubbed his head and looked over to Zuko. "Well, we ate before you woke up…"
"Then why didn't you wake me up?" Katara yelled furiously, her arms waving in the air.
"I liked it better when she was asleep," Zuko uttered. Aang laughed at the comment.
"What did you say?" the waterbender cried.
"Nothing," Zuko said quickly while rubbing his neck.
"Good. Now hand me that bag," Katara said, pointing to a small leather sack on Appa's saddle.
"What's it for?" Aang asked while airbending a small tornado to lift him to the saddle.
"You'll find out once you give it to me," she said, extending her arm. The airbender threw the small pouch into the waterbender's outstretched arm, a small air ball landing it in the girl's hands. Katara smiled as she undid the drawstrings and brought out a brownish black chunk. Aang gasped as he recognized the food.
"You got seal jerky!" he gasped.
"What?" Zuko asked, unsure what 'seal jerky' was.
"It's Sokka's favorite food," Aang explained to the firebender, "and it's Watertribe." The prince's face distorted at the thought of eating dried seal meat. The monk turned back to the watertribe girl after answering the firebender's question.
"That means that the seal jerky was Sokka's!"
"Duh," Katara replied wearily, popping another piece of the Watertribe delicacy into her open mouth.
"How'd you get it-?"
"I'm his sister; of course I know these things."
"Oh."
Katara walked ahead of the boys, who had stopped after she had brought out the seal jerky. She impatiently tapped her food and said, "So, are we going to meet these Sun Warriors or not?"
Both benders looked at each other for a split second.
"Yeah, we're coming," Aang replied a second later. He walked over to Katara's side and the fire prince followed. As the trio started to walk, the airbender turned his head.
"Appa, buddy, remember to stay here, 'kay?" Aang cried. The air bison opened its giant mouth and roared in response.
With that, the three benders descended into the depths of the Sun Ruins.
Unknown to them, a group of people watched there every movement. One of the figures turned to one of the larger forms.
"They have finally arrived."
A/N: Who are these mysterious people? (You probably can guess already) Anyways, next part is gonna be longer and will be up next week!
I'm aiming for 30 or more reviews this chapter! :D Please make this happen!
R & R!