A. N. : Well, this is one chapter I've been waiting to reach for a while now ! Welcome once more to the Big Bad Arc, this time formally ! Or welcome to hell, you can call it that too. The title for this chapter comes from the practice of auspice, that is, the prediction of the future through the observation of bird flight. In (later) Roman times, the left was a typically unlucky direction when it came to this practice. May or may not also be a pun on the left hook this chapter is throwing at us all.

Something is wrong.

The part of Jet's brain that just won't shut up no matter how much he wants it to reminds him that everything is wrong, and has been for a while now, that he is in the Fire Nation and hasn't made anyone get some well-deserved, burning justice – revenge, he corrects himself, not that it makes a difference, before shoving these thoughts back where they belong, next to his dead kids and the screams of his parents and all the things he simply doesn't have the time to deal with.

Breathe in – and out –

The city feels different from yesterday. There's something in the air, an anxiety that isn't just Sokka's fussing about Jet not being allowed to leave his side under any condition or Katara will kill them both and Sokka really doesn't want to die because of Jet of all people – that level of worry alone wouldn't be enough to make Jet's skin feel like it's been doused in cold water. Like needles are prickling him all over. Like being iced to a tree and only being able to watch as everything he owns burns to ashes.

He thinks Sokka noticed it too, actually, from how much he's been talking non-stop and saying nothing at the same time, the way Sneers did when he was nervous.

People are talking. Whispering to each other. There's a crowd near the post office, where posters are hung.

Sokka hurries inside to buy his hawk – Jet still thinks it's a stupid idea, but any complaint he could make would probably just fuel Sokka's need to contradict him, so he just rolls his eyes and follows, no matter how much he wants to stay outside and listen to the gossip and figure out what the hell is going on exactly.

He can do that once Sokka is done. No need to get Katara angrier than she already is by giving the slip to his babysitter. He wonders where Toph disappeared to – she left on her own before any of them had the time to even just mention being a little more careful.

Look, even Jet is willing to admit they all maybe went a little too far with the thieving, especially since they're going to stay two more days in this area. There is no disappearing in the forest here. They need to stay on the down low.

That noble guy's face when he came back to his carriage after paying Sokka and found all the money he had left gone was pretty hilarious though. That one was totally worth it. Dude didn't deserve that money anyway, better put it in the hands of people who can handle it well.

Not counting Sokka. Seriously, that bird – Hawky, really now, how is Sokka even allowed to name things ? – is probably the worst possible purchase in their situation. Who are they going to send messages to ? The fucking Fire Lord ?

Does he even know how to make that dumb bird find the hypothetical people it's supposed to reach ? Oh, the person who sold him the hawk says there are classes for that, details on the announcement board, if they can even reach it what with the news – Jet glares at Sokka, raises an eyebrow. They are absolutely checking that board. For one, Jet refuses to accept the bare idea that this stupid bird could be even more useless than it's supposed to be.

For two, news important enough to cause that kind of chaos and worry can not be ignored, whatever it turns out to be. Sokka can use his eyes while Jet strains his ears – ear, singular, mostly, though that's slowly getting better. Or Jet just got used to it. At least the ringing is gone.

In any case, Jet walks into the crowd the same way he used to walk back in the forest, with assurance and the knowledge no one will get in his way. Of course, people don't part for him here, so he just shoves them until he reaches the board.

Among the various complaints and shouts of pain – they deserved this, if they already know what this is all about, they should make space for the people who don't, how fucking rude can you be ? – he grasps a few threads of conversation – how could this happen – know what he did but still – it's for the better don't question it – should've been done a while ago if you ask me – the end of an era –

It's not just anxiety or chaos, Jet realizes. There's – a certain desperation in some of these voices. At least one person is crying, not openly, but rather trying to be as quiet as possible and failing. There's dissent, too, whatever this is about is controversial enough that people aren't being careful, to quote that old man Shi.

Jet stares at the posters, like the characters will somehow make sense to him if he glares hard enough, wondering which one is responsible for the crowd. Probably the large one with a big stylized flame at the top, now that he thinks about it. It looks important for sure.

Oh fuck, that smaller one next to Zuko's face, is that supposed to be Toph ? Well, no one is looking at it right now, so Jet will just – there, vanished.

Where the hell is Sokka. Why is he taking so long – oh come on, just push your way through the crowd you idiot, there are things more important than being polite ! And he apologizes to every person he shoves even just a little. Really ?

Finally – finally – Sokka arrives with his eyes and his brain and that stupid bird. Got some ruffled feathers here and there, hah !

So, oh great master of the written word, what does this all say ?

Sokka ?

Sokka, your serious face is very impressive and definitely makes Jet uneasy, but aside from making it clear that whatever the news is will, in fact, affect the group, it's not very helpful.

Jet has to kick Sokka in the shin for him to unfreeze and open his mouth, and after a what the fuck Jet, followed by wait, you can't read ? – what he says is –

They're going to execute the Dragon of the West.