Chapter 2: The Hunt
The game of owl-cat and rabbit-mouse had officially begun. With suspicion guiding his every step, he stalked his prey, naturally blending into the throng of Water Tribe citizens.
He watched her run a few errands. Nothing unusual, or so it seemed. There just had to be a specific purpose behind her seemingly benign purchases. That girl was always up to something.
Just as the sun started to set, she disappeared into a random shop. Although the exterior was just as polished as its neighbors, there was something a little too pristine about this building. Its old-fashioned design indicated that it had not undergone renovations in several years. Still, he had watched her run in and out of stores all afternoon. Surely she'd be leaving this one soon and dart off to her next destination. Yes… any moment now… any moment…
Okay. She's been in there a while now. Maybe it was time to investigate. He walked up to the entrance and took a deep breath. Game over, Azula. He abruptly pushed the curtains aside and jumped in, immediately crouching into a fighting stance, only to be greeted with… nothing. The large cavernous room was completely empty.
Impossible! A quick glance around the perimeter assured him that there was only one entrance and exit, and yet, there had to be another way out. He carefully surveyed the room, running his hand along the wall to check for trap doors. But no, there was nothing. Positively nothing. He was alone in the room with only the rhythmic tapping of his footsteps on the wooden floor. Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-ERRRRRK.
Wait, what was this? A squeak? A loose floorboard?! Sure enough, he was easily able to lift the wooden panel on which he had just stepped, discovering that it was hinged. And right before his eyes, a hidden staircase came into view. Aha!
Cautiously, he tiptoed down the stairs, listening vigilantly for any signs of the princess. At the bottom, a narrow hallway opened up into a decent-sized room, which was aligned with wooden cubbies filled with seemingly sundry items and clothing. Was this some sort of locker room?
It took him a while to recognize Azula's belongings, but he did eventually stumble upon her possessions. She absolutely was here. And she was close. In fact, he could hear her speaking. It was hard to make out her words, but it sounded as if she was… preaching? Spirits, what was he getting himself into?
His heart thudded against his ribcage with anticipation as he crossed the room into another narrow passageway. Her voice became clearer and clearer. He reached another wooden door and inhaled deeply. Well, here goes nothing. He swung open the door.