"Will that be everything, Fire Lord Zuko?" Oyaji asks, as they finish helping to load his supplies.
"Yes, thank you. And I wish to apologize again for what happened last year." He bows from the waist.
"Let's not speak of it again. You are forgiven, and you have atoned for it. Let it trouble your mind no more. To us, it is now as though it's never happened." Oyaji places a hand on his shoulder. Zuko straightens and nods.
"Can't you stay?" One the kids asks. The children had continually displayed a interest in Zuko that never really seemed to fade. He didn't understand it, neither did the adults.
"No, I can't. I have someone important that I have to find." He reaches down and ruffles the little girl's hair.
He turns and mounts the rhino standing beside him. The girl runs back to her mother.
The small group that accompanied him to the mainland begins trudging back to the ferryboat as he rides off.
Alone with his thoughts and the burning sun, Zuko vividly remembers the last time that he'd found himself in this position.
The places that he passes are war weary, some villages are burned to the ground. He passes their charred remnants, wondering what had happened to their survivors, if there had been any.
One tiny village that he passes through is still smoldering. He looks around for Fire Nation soldiers. He isn't sure what his plan should be if he finds them.
I can't attack them. That would look bad. But they have to know by now that war's over and that they've been ordered home. Should I keep my cover, keep the locals' trust, or do I tell them who I am and what will happen if they don't obey? What could I even do to them anyway? Throw them all in jail? That would only work until their sentences were up. Speaking of cover... Zuko facepalms. He still doesn't have one. Uncle Iroh would be rolling his eyes right about now.
Lee probably won't work again. Not without Mushi. And what business would he have in Ba Sing Se now that the war's over and his Uncle is visiting friends while a "distant relative" runs his shop? I could maybe use Lee in the smaller towns though, especially the ones that I've been through before.
He winces a little as he remembers that there is one little village on his path to Ba Sing Se that he must go through that he doesn't really want to. The little boy's angry face is still clearer than glass in his memory.
What will they even think of me now? They might not know the war's over! That road isn't used much, and it's so small that any remaining Fire soldiers probably don't even realize that it's there. They won't think to go tell these people!
The merciless sun beats down from above. Zuko takes a sip of warm water from his waterskin. It could be worse. He could be going through the desert.
His rhino makes an odd growling, groaning sort of sound.
"Yeah, we have been out here for quite a while, haven't we?" He reaches forward and pats her shoulder kindly. "Let's see if we can't find a river for you to swim in. I could use a swim myself."
They continue on. After another hour or so, Zuko's had enough of his thoughts on what his cover should be. He decides that his mind will be clearer when things cool down. So, to distract himself, he starts talking to the rhino again.
"I wonder if that merchant had a name for you. I should have asked him." He remarks. A crow squawks somewhere in a passing cornfield. The rhino grunts and keeps walking.
"How about...Jidana?" He asks. He gets another unenthusiastic grunt from the rhino.
"Okay...Huoshan?" No response for a rhino.
"Yeah, that's more of a guy rhino's name anyway. And the merchant said you were a girl rhino." The rhino continues walking, seeming to disregard the fact that he's talking at all.
This is what happens on long journeys with nobody to talk to. Zuko muses. You start talking to whatever living thing is the nearest to you. Even if it's some rhino.
"I know! How about 'Rina'? Whoa!" The rhino suddenly lunges forward, despite Zuko's attempts to slow her down. The wind steals his breath away. Was it even possible for rhinos to move this fast?!
A big splash! sound followed by a shock of cold water on his legs and spray on his back as the running rhino stops so suddenly that he's almost thrown off. He takes a moment to relish the feeling of the water around his legs, taking away the strain and heat of the day. Then, he looks at his soaking wet supplies lashes to the saddle.
"Rina," He sighs, "Couldn't you have waited until I stowed the gear on dry land?"
Rina lets out a jubiliant roar and splashes around some more, then takes a long drink of water.
Zuko tries so hard to be angry. He really does. If looks could kill, well...
But he just can't keep it up. He lets out a loud laugh, knowing that nobody could hear. He's grateful for the water too.
"I guess this is where we'll be staying for the night." He slips off of Rina's back, deeper into the water. The chill soaks through his clothes and reaches halfway up his stomach. The shock of it makes him gasp a little, but it feels nice after a moment.
"Just don't roll until I've got the gear off, okay?"
A/N Hey all! I am back at work full time now! And I have a ton going on for the next few weeks at least. I do plan on still updating semi regularly, but it's not going to be as much as before until things quiet down a bit. lol! I may post once a week, or once every two weeks, or somewhere in between for a while, but I do have notes on where this is going to (hopefully!) prevent Writer's Block. Always accepting suggestions and constructive criticism. Thank you so much to all of my readers. A special thanks to my followers and favoriters. And thank you again to ashbanhani for your review. :) Hope everyone is doing well in these crazy times.