Book 1: Water

Sorry about the wait guys, life got super busy unexpectedly. And it'll probably be a few days until the next chapter too. Sorry. :(

I don't know how I feel about this chapter either, but I hope you guys like it.

Enjoy.

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Book 1: Chapter 6

The Avatar was on Kyoshi Island. Or so they'd been told at dinner. By the cook, who'd heard it from the fish merchant, who'd heard it from a fishermen, who'd heard it from a little girl. Always the most accurate way to get news, apparently.
But Zuko believed it, and they'd had so little luck in predicting his whereabouts lately, it was worth a shot to check it out. Rhian wasn't really worried anymore. The way she saw it, she and Iroh were along for the ride on Zuko's quest. The more she studied the map of Avatar sightings, though, the more she was reminded that Aang was just a little kid. But she wasn't about to point this out to Zuko. He wanted to believe that Aang was putting all his energy into running and hiding and strategy, who was she to suggest that maybe he didn't have a plan and was just travelling around for fun. He'd been out of the game for a hundred years. It was natural he'd want to see how things had changed.

But whatever the reason, they were still riding komodo rhinos into Kyoshi Village. And she was still wearing the hated helmet. At least Zuko had specified he wanted Aang alive. That was something at least.

The village was small and quaint. Rhian thought it was probably a nice place when the people weren't hiding behind doorways and terrified to make eye-contact with you because you're part of an invading force.

"Come out, Avatar! You can't hide from me forever!"

And, they were back to intimidation and threats. She sighed, propping her elbow on her rhino's back and resting her head on her hand. No one came forward of course.

"Find him." Zuko ordered.

Rolling her eyes, Rhian nudged her rhino forward with the other soldiers.

Something moved out of the corner of her eye. Suddenly on high alert, Rhian focused her senses. A soft pattering of feet on a snow covered roof. A slide of sharp metal on metal. Something flashed to her left, and she back-flipped off her rhino just in time to dodge the attack.
She flipped from the ground, dodging swiftly moving blades again and again until she managed to get enough distance to rip her helmet from her head, so she could finally get a good look at her assailants. Two girls in green armour dresses, their faces painted like warrior dolls, wielding razor sharp metal fans. They twisted and moved like lightning. Rhian was only slightly faster. Fast enough to flip over the head of one and kick her in the back of the head, knocking her out cold. Rhian winced in sympathy. Turning quickly, she jumped and caught the edge of a nearby roof, flipping herself up and running, light-footed across the top, prancing from roof to roof. The other green warrior was only seconds behind. A flash of metal only inches from her ear had Rhian spinning and dropping to her knees. She reversed her momentum and bent herself backward, sliding mere millimetres under the blade of the fan. She reached up and caught the girl's arm, twisting it behind her back. Rhian held the girl there for a moment, then snatched the fan from her hand and kicked her off the roof.

Once she was satisfied the girl wasn't climbing the roof after her again, Rhian examined the weapon. It was beautifully crafted, thin and sharp, but strong and durable. It was truly a piece of art. Rhian applauded their craftsmanship and would have loved to talk to them about the use of it. But, somehow, she didn't think they'd be to open to talking to her about it. Right now, however, she had other problems.

"Nice try Avatar, but these little girls can't save you." Zuko's voice drifted through the village. Sounded like he'd defeated his green warriors too.

"Hey! Over here!" That was Aang's voice! Leaping from roof top to roof top, Rhian made her way back to the main street in time to see Aang take up two fans and knock Zuko through the front wall of a building. The airbender then retrieved his staff/glider and took to the sky. She kept her eyes on his face as he stared sadly down at the village.

It was only then Rhian let herself look around again.

Gone was the sweet little village scene. Fires burned on most buildings, other's roofs had already caved in, or been damaged in the battle. She stared in horror at the destruction they'd brought here. Blinking back tears, she jumped down from the roof and went to help Zuko out of the rubble. Around her, their firebenders still fought against girls in dress armour, and were losing. She rolled her eyes, but concentrated on digging Zuko out from under the wood.

Grabbing his hand, when she found it, she pulled sharply, dragging him back into the sunlight. He stumbled slightly and glared at her when he regained his balance.

"Where's the Avatar?" He demanded.

"We need to leave, Zuko. Now." He ignored her, stalking away.

"Avatar! Come out!"

"Zuko!" She yelled. These people were suffering because of them! Couldn't he see that?

Apparently not, as his eyes trained on the Avatar's bison as it flew away.

"Back to the ship! Don't lose sight of them!" He called to the men as he hurried back to his rhino. With a groan of frustration, Rhian ran back to her rhino, snatching her discarded helmet from the ground on the way. He was so single minded! And hard-headed! She didn't know why he even bothered with a helmet! Surely, anything that hit his head would just bounce off, just like everything else they tried to pound into it. The stupid, selfish–

She kept mentally insulting Zuko right up until she saw the enormous sea serpent rising out of the water! With a small, human shaped speck on its head!

As she watched in shock and awe, its mouth opened and sprayed the entire village with a heavy torrent of water, putting out all the fires, and soaking them on their rhinos.

Rhian couldn't even be mad. She grinned the entire way back to the ship. The more she saw of this Avatar, the more she respected him.

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"Stay on his tail!" Zuko barked, storming onto the bridge.

"Zuko, I think he's gone." Rhian said, calmly, putting a hand on his shoulder. He grabbed her hand and threw it off of him, shocking her.

"I'm not going to lose him!" he roared.

Furious, she stalked in front of him and snarled in his face. "Yes, you are. He's gone. We've lost him. But we will find him again. There will be other opportunities. You've found him twice already, which is twice more then Zhao or anyone else can claim! I think it's safe to say you're a little ahead of the game. Now calm down and stop acting like a jerk!"

He ground his teeth and growled at her. "Get out of my face."

"And what the hell was that, back there, Zuko?! Those people where innocent!"

"They were harbouring the Avatar!"

"You burned their village! It'll take them months, to rebuild! It wasn't necessary! It was wrong!"

"All I wanted was the Avatar! If they'd given him up, or he'd come out without a fight, there wouldn't have been any collateral damage!"

"You burned their village! Do not try to justify your actions to me!"

His eyes narrowed and he threw his head back to shoot fire through his teeth at the ceiling. Rhian didn't flinch.

"Get out of my control room."

"Gladly." She sneered, storming out the door.

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