Caged

written for the prompt 'light'

The underground prison was dank and dim. Water dripped from the ceiling and coated the stone floor with a film of moisture, cold and uncomfortable. No mattress was provided, no seat, just a bucket to do her business in. Smellerbee wished that she could sleep standing up instead of down on the cracked stones. At least she would be drier. No such luck. Every night, and it was almost impossible to tell when night was, she curled in on herself, making a tight little ball, trying to keep as much of her body off the floor as she could, and slept fitfully. Dreams of Jet and a desperate desire to see Longshot invaded her sleep, making her twitch and jerk, sigh and reach out.

Every morning, when she woke up to the derisive shouts of the guard, she hoped that something might be different. Every morning when she woke up, things were exactly the same. She rubbed her tired, bloodshot eyes, stretched her sore and cramped, far too thin body and ate the mess that passed for breakfast.

When the light came, beautiful turquoise crystal set inside a simple lamp, held up high by the man in a green so dark it may as well have been black, she felt almost hopeful for a moment. But when she looked into the Dai Li agent's eyes, so much like the stone he could manipulate, hope vanished.


A/N: I might use this drabble as a launching point for some further exploration of Ursa and Oza and their mysterious relationship.

Inexplicable Desire

written for the prompt 'spontaneous'

Ursa stood in the line of noblemen's daughters, back straight, hands folded neatly in front, and waited for the prince to enter the large and intimidating palace banquet hall. She was somewhere in the middle of the lineup, about eight young women on either side of her, and was growing impatient. The arrogance of the royal family irked her. It was perfectly acceptable to keep them waiting; they were just girls after all, vying for a chance to catch the younger prince's eye.

She ventured a glance at the one on her left side. The girl was pretty all right. Her face, like all their faces, was made up perfectly and her hair, like everyone's, was perfectly styled, part pulled up into a topknot and the rest hanging in thick black waves down her back. She wore a simpering smile that seemed a permanent part of her features.

When the prince finally arrived, a stir moved through the lineup, like a soft breeze moving through a stand of trees. Ursa could feel everyone stiffen; backs got even straighter and heads were held high. All the descriptions that she'd heard of Ozai did not do the reality justice. Agni, he was handsome, stunning even. His features were even and perfect and piercing gold eyes scanned each young woman cursorily, as if they weren't worth his time. Strength and power rolled off him, and the scent of it was intoxicating. Ursa felt a tingle of excitement surge through her. She felt a dampness begin between her legs. Ozai stopped in front of her. He looked Ursa up and down and sniffed the air. Perhaps he could smell her desire. The thought both horrified and thrilled the young woman.

For a prince, a man who had everything he could possibly want at his fingertips, Ozai did not look happy. Ursa found herself wanting to make him smile. She met his eyes then, her own gold ones full of mischief, and winked.