Chapter 2: Crimson Moon
Little Falcon: Hooray! I found time to update! I hope you read and review more so that I can find more time to update. I won't keep you waiting, here's the next chappie…
Standard Disclaimer: I only own the idea that's all. If I did own this series I'll be the happiest person on earth!!!
His cloak cut through the incoming wind as he placed it on his broad shoulders. The sun was slowly sinking in the horizon as he made his way towards his destination.
"Wait, Zuko! Where are you going?" the last air bender and also his close friend, Aang, ran up to him followed by the others.
"I'm going back to that village. At least there is a person who was able to react to what we asked…," the fire lord snapped impatiently as his amber eyes burning with irritation at what they had… or rather…did not find.
For the last four weeks, the whole gang… with the avatar and the fire lord searched around the globe for clues about the blood benders who attacked the fire palace but nobody was able to give any clues.
It was no surprise. Blood bending is a forbidden form of bending. Only few people knew of its existence and much less had encountered the real benders. But the news about the attempted assassination of the young fire lord spread like wild fire throughout the map. It didn't take long for people to start whispering things about how incompetent and weak the fire lord is.
Zuko took it all in a stride. It was not new for him to hear underestimations about him… he actually liked it… especially when he proved them wrong. Which is exactly why, he was trying so hard to uncover this case. He wanted those people who said that he was weak and incompetent to shove their words back into their mouth.
"You can't," the blind earth bender stood beside the avatar and looked at him with her cloudy eyes in worry.
"Toph's right, Zuko. Tonight's the full moon. I know it may look pathetic but hiding is the most logical thing to do now. We can go back to that village tomorrow," the thinker in the group, Sokka, explained things crudely.
With a groan of surrender, the fire bender walked back into the cave together with the others. "Don't worry, Zuko. It's not like that village is going to be gone tomorrow," the Kiyoshi warrior reassured him.
"I sure hope you're right, Suki," with a flick of his wrist, he made fire for their camp.
Flashback…
It had been two weeks since they left and so far they had nothing- not even a rumor or legend about blood bending. It was expected of course but somehow you can't help but hope to find something. Their clueless state was driving everyone to the edge. Their redundant empty investigations added fuel to the fire.
The unmistakable flying bison landed on the heart of a small village. Immediately, everyone knew who was in town but no one dared to leave their house. "What's with this village? I can tell even if I can't see that everyone's afraid," Toph although blind, can sense people's emotions through the vibrations sent on her feet.
"Hello? I am the avatar and I'm with my friends. We'd like to ask a few questions if you don't mind," Aang yelled politely, knowing that everyone can hear his voice and hoping to get some sort of response. Silence answered his inquiry.
Not in a mood for a calm chat, the fire lord stepped forward. "I'm sure you've heard about the people who tried to kill me. We're just here to ask if you know something about these people. Because I'm sure I'm not the only one they plan on killing," his voice radiated his foul mood and demand to be answered.
"Not all blood benders are bad people…" a little boy about five stepped out of the gap between two close houses and stood courageously in front of the gang.
"What do you mean, squirt?" Sokka approached the kid.
Out of nowhere, an old man appeared and stood in between them, bowing apologetically. "I'm so sorry for my grandson's rudeness. Please forgive him," the man down on his knees and was kissing the ground even before anyone can speak.
"What are you doing grandfather? I'm just telling them…" his grandfather covered his mouth but his eyes were still lowered in apology.
"Please don't mind his ramblings. Kids have wild imagination these days," more wrinkles appeared on his face as he smiled. The kid also calmed down and apologized. He even took back his words before he ran back to where he came from. "Nobody knows anything about these blood benders… we just know of the Fire lord's failed assassination that's all," the old man lifted his eyes for the first time to look at the gang.
"Toph… are they lying?" Suki whispered as the old man walked away. There was a great pause enough for her to ask "Toph? Are you alright?"
"Y…yeah, they're not lying…" the earth bender replied reluctantly. "At least… I think they're not," something's not right with me… my senses are getting rusty. I wonder if I'm just tired.
His amber eyes reflected the old man's retreating figure. No… he's definitely lying.
End of Flashback…
The full moon seem bigger than before or maybe it was because it was the first time they ever paid attention to it… because of the threat it brings. Everyone was still at ease… they had Toph's senses like an alarm anyway.
It was only when their bodies were moving on their own were they able to realize that that wasn't enough to protect them. "DAMN IT!" the fore lord tried to make his body move according to his will but to no avail.
"This doesn't look good," the air bender was as helpless as everyone was. Even Momo and Appa were unable to move.
Panic flooded their faces as Sokka withdrew his space sword and pointed it towards the avatar. "No!" everyone grew frantic trying to break free of the unseen chains of their blood.
In an instant, Aang's body was flying towards the blade's sharp tip. "Aang!!!"
From the shadows, a cloaked figure jumped out just in time to let Sokka's blade fly even before it penetrated the air bender's body. Everyone was completely taken by shock that they were unable to speak… or even breathe for a few seconds.
What surprised them more was when this person began to perform moves so similar to a certain person's.
That move… its blood bending! His amber eyes inspected every move closely and compared it to the only blood bending he saw when he was with her. In a blink of an eye, their bodies were released from their invisible hold. Automatically, they tried to go after their attackers.
"Don't waste your time. Why chase after an enemy you can't see?" everyone stared at their savior with their eyes wide in surprise.
That voice… it can't be… There was no mistaking it. How can he mistake it for somebody else's? This voice belongs to the only person able to make his name sound like a different more special one. It was a voice that plagued his dreams and even creeps into his consciousness. A voice he knew like his own heartbeat.
"Katara…"
Little Falcon: Don't you just hate cliffies? Read and review please…