Travels through the Alphabet with Mai
Part 8: Hunt
She had weapons and she had prey. Mai could call her sortie with Azula and Ty Lee what she wanted, anything to make the whole thing seem somehow better. But it was a hunt. Going after the Avatar didn't bother Mai. She didn't know the boy. She didn't care about him.
Iroh she recalled from her childhood. The memories were vague ones; a fat man, laughing and friendly but with sorrow underneath it all. Zuko loved him. That she remembered vividly, the prince's enthusiasm anytime his uncle spent time with him.
Substitute father.
Mai was astute enough to see that. Ozai was cold and aloof, disapproving. Naturally, Zuko would be drawn to Iroh's warmth. They were a team now, she supposed, running from something, to something; she did not know.
And Zuko, well, he'd occupied a corner of her mind, a special corner, one where she kept the small amount of good things in her life, since the first time she laid her eyes on him. Three years was a long time not to see someone that you cared for. And Mai would admit that she did not think about Zuko constantly, or even every day. But his spectre was there in the background and when upset or stressed or contemplative, she recalled those times spent with the prince and wondered about his life now. More than anything, she yearned for his return.
Part of her was excited to be chasing Zuko. He was somewhere nearby, within a day's travel perhaps. But what would she do if they captured him? What would she say? Would she keep her face impassive, show no interest, harden her heart to reduce the probability of pain? Would she grab hold of him and run?
All these thoughts Mai kept hidden behind her outer face, the face that showed nothing to anyone. Those able to peel that one away, like a bandage off a wound, would see more, so much more. Princess Azula was bright, frighteningly so, and she sensed some of Mai's lingering attachment to Zuko.
"I hope you'll be ready to use those." Azula indicated the blades that Mai was sharpening.
The raven haired girl kept a small whetstone as part of her gear. Dull blades were useless after all and the repetitive motion, back and forth along the steel, drowned out internal chaos.
Mai replied without looking up. "Not a problem." Her heart beat a little faster, though.
"Good; I have a lead. We're leaving now, on the mongoose dragons." The princess tossed her head, "Let's go."
Sighing, Mai wrapped the stone before tucking it into a tiny pouch and slipping that into one of several hidden pockets in her clothing. She headed towards Azula and Ty Lee and the huge animals that they would ride. They were eager, stomping their feet and snorting.
"Come on, Mai. It'll be fun."
"You think everything's fun, Ty Lee."
Once aboard her mount, thundering along between the two other girls, Mai began to enjoy herself. The rush of air through her hair, against her body and the speed of the animals exhilarated her. She crouched down low, becoming one with the creature. Excited to be on the move, the mongoose dragon pushed itself, stretching muscles and sinew almost past the point of endurance.
Mai forgot about Ty Lee and Azula. She forgot about what might be at the end of their little journey. She forgot about any decisions she might have to make. And she just lived in that moment, enjoying the hunt, dismissing any thoughts of their prey.