Fight13: Misleading leaders

A bright autumn day, and under the pale blue sky, the trees were clothed in their warm, vivid colors of fiery red and oranges and dark greens. A little green beetle was peacefully scuttling on a branch, when suddenly a large animal swooped from above. It was Momo, who, upon discovering that the insect was not in his paws, leapt after it. The beetle flew up and down the tree with the brave and persistant and gluttonous lemur right behind it. It landed on the dirt ground at the base of the tree. Momo pounced but failed again as the beetle flew off before he could catch it. He watched it before his attention was diverted by a pile of lumpy red nuts sitting just there on a pile of red leaves at his left, just waiting to be eaten, and his ears perked right up. He pounced on it when suddenly copper-colored slats snapped up from the leaves and surrounded him in a globe and sprang into the air where it remained hanging. Near him were two other similar snares occupied by one large and noisy brown baboon-like animal.

While somewhere in the forest, Aang, Katara, Sokka, Chenlian and Appa were taking a rest from their travel. The Avatar asked where Momo was, and as if on cue, the lemur's yeowl echoed through the forest. They soon found the missing pet. Aang airbended himself to the branch above the snares and released the latch on the small winch attached to the trunk, grabbed the rope, and dangling like an acrobat on a trapeze, slowly lowered the trap to the ground. The Water Tribe siblings pulled the squeaky slats apart freeing Momo who immediately hopped out and ran to finish his hard-earned nuts at a safer distance. Sokka groaned and slapped his forehead at the lack of gratitude. Aang jumped down from above and looked up at the other two snares. The Hog Monkeys in them moaned pleadingly. The Avatar airbended himself to their branch to free them too but before he got to the rope, Sokka threw his boomerang, which cut the ropes before whizzing back to its master. The siblings caught the traps. Aang was still hanging below the branch and did not seem upset at all to have gone up there for nothing. On the ground, the hog monkeys now free again, disappeared in the forest. Sokka examined a trap as Aang skidded down the trunk and root of a tree. He could tell those were Fire Nation traps from the metalwork. They had better pack up camp, and get moving. The four went back and rolled up their gear but when Katara handed her luggage to Aang, who was sitting on Appa's head, she was stopped by her brother. There would be no flying this time.

"Why wouldn't we fly?" The airbender asked, voicing everyone's thoughts.

"Think about it." The Water Tribe warrior replied, trying to convince them. "Somehow Prince Zuko and the Fire Nation keep finding us. It's because they spot Appa. He's just too noticeable."

"What! Appa's not too noticeable!" The waterbender girl retorted.

"He's a gigantic fluffy monster with an arrow on his head. It's kinda hard to miss him!" Sokka crudely – but objectively – made his point. Appa turned his head and grunted at him in response.

"Sokka's just jealous 'cause he doesn't have an arrow." Aang gently reassured his gigantic fluffy friend while holding the reins.

"I know you all want to fly, but my instincts tell me we should play it safe this time and walk. And I'm sure Chenlian agrees with me." The instinctive warrior looked at her for support as she was usually known as the voice of reason and arbiter of conflicts (when Aang took a side). They all turned to the mahogany-haired girl.

"It is true that Appa's too noticeable and that is certainly why Zuko keeps finding us. Nonetheless, I would still choose to fly because that's the fastest way and we can see any enemy attack from afar too. We're the only ones who can fly. If we walk there's a huge risk we'll run into a Fire Nation patrol unless a scout is sent ahead. And as it is safer to watch from high up in the trees, the only ones who can pull it off are Aang and myself. Well, it all depends on whether you trust Aang not to make any slip up and whether you trust me not to reveal your location and try to get back on the Fire Lord's good side while waiting for a chance to end him..." Chenlian exposed the facts, the risks, and the advantages and conducted a hard and logical reasoning as was her wont in most situations but she had also tested them.

"... We're all sticking together. And if we meet a Fire Nation patrol we all fight and escape together."

So they don't trust me... huh?

"But don't get me wrong, it's because you're a friend we trust that I won't let you go on your own. You're also being targeted, right? This way, we can better protect each other's back – and don't give me your usual highhanded nonsense because we DID beat you!" Sokka finished before a single sound could leave the girl's parted lips. She could not win. She could easily beat them flat in 'real' fights, but they possessed a type of strength she had lost, if she had ever had it to begin with. 'Together', ' a friend we trust', 'protect each other's back', for someone like her who had been alone for so long, such words were like the key to her locked heart, and she was weak to them. She who had won most of her verbal and physical fights, she who hated losing for some reason wanted to smile despite having lost an argument. Maybe because their smiles were so warm and sincere. They really had her heart and soul in the palm of their hands. She had lost all will to fight. Well, she WOULD protect them one way or another... "See? But don't worry, you'd make a really good aide." Sokka patted her head like a master his disciple, his smile smug and yet awkward, just like his pose that perspired a suddenly inflated sense of self-importance. "Now that it's settled, let's go!"

"Hey, hey, who made you the boss? Just because Chenlian agreed..." Katara had not given up yet.

"Hey, I might have agreed about staying together but that didn't mean I agreed about walking!" The fire user countered.

"I'm not the boss I'm the leader." Her brother replied, his voice high pitched, as if fearing how truly terrible his baby sis could be.

"You're the leader? But your voice still cracks!" The waterbender laughed, incredulous.

"I'm the oldest and I'm a warrior. So I'm the leader!" The older boy tried to deepen his voice to make himself seem more adult and important.

"If anyone's the leader, it's Aang. I mean, he is the Avatar." Katara argued like she was stating the obvious.

"Are you kidding? He's just a goofy kid!" He showed Aang who was dangling from Appa's horn, upside-down by his hands with his legs sticking out into space.

"He's right." The Avatar agreed with a goofy smile from his goofy position. And Chenlian also agreed with that.

"Why do boys always think someone has to be the leader? I bet you wouldn't be so bossy if you kissed a girl." Katara added, her arms crossed.

"I-I've kissed a girl, you just haven't met her." Sokka lied (evidently).

"Who? Gran-gran? I've met Gran-gran." The sister shot with a smug and sarcastic smile.

"No, besides Gran-gran. Look, my instincts tell me we have a better chance of slipping through on foot and a leader has to trust his instincts."

"Okay, we'll try it your way Oh Wise Leader." Katara finally gave in. Aang stepped over, now wearing a backpack. Momo was sitting on the top. Chenlian was at their side too. She had been watching the exchange with a smile. She had always been an only child. But she had never been spoilt. Quite the contrary in fact. Because she was the only one who was to inherit their wills and position. She had seen many blood related siblings but these were something else. Watching them she'd sometimes catch herself wishing the relationship between two others she knew was different, more like Sokka and Katara... even though it was certainly impossible...

"Who knows walking might be fun." Aang went with the flow.

"Walking stinks! How do people go anywhere without a flying bison?" Aang complained after a time as the group was trudging along between the giant trees.

"I don't know Aang. Why don't you ask Sokka's instinct?" Katara suggested. "They seem to know everything."

"Ha ha. Very funny." Sokka's instinct commented dryly.

"I'm tired of carrying this pack." The Avatar whined again.

"Now, now, that is also a way to train stamina and patience." Chenlian chided, but her amused smile robbed her statement of all convincing power.

"You know who you should ask to carry it for a while? Sokka's instinct!" The waterbender added.

"That's a great idea!" The airbender agreed, ecstatic. "Hey, Sokka's instinct, would you mind-"

"Okay, okay I get it. Look guys, I'm tired too. But the important thing is that—" He pushed the branches from two rust red-leafed bushes and held them, focusing his attention on his comrades "-we're safe from the-" He finally turned around to see what was beyond the bushes. "-Fire...Nation." The group had walked right into a Fire Nation camp installed in a clearing. On the opposite end were three pavilion tents, and an active fire pit with logs as benches on two sides. The soldiers - most of them seated or crouching near the fire – still had their bowls in hand. Everyone stared, surprised, until Sokka yelled to run. As the teens dropped their packs, the soldiers leapt up from the logs, swords out. One cut their retreat by setting the bushes ablaze with a jet of fire, but also Sokka's left sleeve. When Aang made him notice, he screamed in panic, and Katara bended a ribbon of water to put it out before redirecting it back into her waterskin. The foursome was surrounded: the burning bushes behind them, the soldiers all around. They quickly and instinctively stood back to back, except Chenlian who had quickly stepped to the front of the group. Frowning, she was in a firebending stance. And together, they faced the Fire Nation warriors, ready to fight.

"If you let us pass, we promise not to hurt you." Sokka declared, though not quite as confident as he meant to appear.

"What are you doing?" His sister whispered in in quiet contained voice.

"Bluffing?" Her older sibling suggested.

"YOU promise not to hurt US?" The one-eyed Captain smiled. Those kids had to be joking. There was a muted 'zip' sound and suddenly the captain collapsed in a thud. His men lowered their weapons a little, surprised.

"Nice work, Sokka! How'd ya do that?" Aang complimented his friend.

"Uh... instinct?" The Water Tribe warrior suggested.

"Look!" Katara exclaimed, pointing at the lowest – and still quite high – branches of the giant trees. A figure was standing there on the massive branch of a nearby tree. The person drew two blades from the middle of his back, jumped back behind the branch, and using the hook of his weapons to catch the branch, slung himself in the direction of the camp. The stranger kicked over two of the soldiers farthest from the Avatar and his friends and landed on them, a foot on each of their backs. He rushed forward, his twin tiger hook sword in each hand. He hooked a leg each on another pair of soldiers and sent them head over heels and with a polished body flip, launched them through the air. They ended up in a heap on top of their prone captain. The skilled and unknown swordsman landed on his feet, smirking and ready for more.

"Down you go." The young man said with confidence and arrogance. He seemed to be about Sokka's age. Except for a burnt sienna vest with dark red trimming, he was dressed from neck to toe in dark blue, almost black clothing. What little armor he had – shoulder caps, forearm protectors and hip and upper thigh covers – were mismatched. His hair was a shaggy brown mane, his eyes of the same brown as his hair and he had a blade of wheat grass in his teeth. Despite a certain conceit and vanity screamed by his whole body language, he exuded a sort of roguish charm, a magnetic aura which made it difficult for people to genuinely dislike him, especially when you've just been saved by him. The four looked up from the little pile-up at him, showing surprise coupled with varying degrees of pleasure (Katara) awe (Aang) incredulity (Sokka) and excitation (Chenlian). He was obviously a swordsman of rare skill and such a display had set the female firebender's soul and blood as a fellow swordsmaster ablaze. Matters of personalities aside, she did not want to lose to him!

A soldier rushed up from behind their savior, sword raised. But just before the renegade could hook his opponent's sword hand, the soldier's weapon was knocked over by a dragon straight sword before a roundhouse kick sent the enemy flying. Chenlian and the young man smirked at each other.

"They're in the trees!" A soldier cried out, noticing at last. A small boy dropped from above on another soldier's shoulders, and spun his helmet around, blinding him. He staggered off, his little attacker laughing all the while. Arrows quickly disarmed a few other enemies without hurting them. The archer sitting on a branch reached for his quiver on his back and fit two arrows to the string of his bow. He swung backward until hanging beneath the branch by his knees and let his arrows fly, disarming other enemies who ran off. An individual leapt from a low branch to the ground and is immediately charged at. The fighter ducked and tossed his opponent up onto the branch with a shrug before grabbing another more cautious one, spinning him around and throwing him too. A new youth with a knife and red facepaint also joined the fight. Their leader was watching over his shoulder as Katara and Aang took their foes down with their bending while all he could see of the other girl was her red hair and red tassels and golden blade flowing and flashing. Untouchable, invulnerable, using her weapon like an extension of her own body and her own body like a deadly weapon itself, she nonetheless moved with grace and fierceness like a hypnotically dancing flame. And all her blows were for disarming or impairing, and even then, not permanently so. It was obvious she was holding back. And yet the most striking thing about her was her smile and her eyes, unbelievably clear, strong, confident, indomitable... they made the weakest cower and the strongest waver... the firebenders were shrinking before the fire of her scorching eyes... and yet, when she'd look back at him, they'd be challenging, but again in a pleasantly piquant sort of way, adding to her already piquant face.

Sokka, boomerang raised in both hands, shouted a war cry. A soldier charged him, but before they met, the young rebel leader used his swords to pole vault himself into the chest of the Fire Nation man, who went flying in the opposite direction. Sokka stopped shouting and sagged out of his battle stance.

"Hey, he was mine!"

"Gotta be quicker next time." The tiger hook swords user retorted, still smirking, before rejoining the battle. Katara was left impressed while a grumpy Sokka walked off.

A massive rebel dropped to the ground, cutting off two soldiers' escape. They turned to face him, shocked at just how towering he was. They recovered and prepared to fight. The grinning giant simply reached over his shoulder and pulled out a log thicker than a man's leg he raised two-handedly over his head before striking. They fled a few seconds later, their swords bent beyond use. His leader faced a determined spearman who jabbed for his throat, but he caught the spearshaft with the hooks of his swords. They struggled for a moment, before Chenlian cut the spear and, spinning, wrenched it out of the enemy's grasp and in a flowing motion, the staff was caught by her newly found ally and thrown at the head of a nearby swordsman, knocking him out, while she finished (without killing) the weaponless soldier with a strike at his own throat with the pommel of her sword. The Fire Nation footman who had been hit by the headless spear collapsed, revealing Sokka ready to receive the attack with his war club. He looked at the downed man.

"Man!" He cried out, frustrated.

"You both gotta be quicker next time." Chenlian smirked at Sokka and her fellow swordsmaster who smirked back good-naturedly, conceding the point. Another spearman attempted to strike at the head renegade from behind who caught the spearpoint just in time in the space between the grip and the crescent-shaped guard of his swords and redirected it away from his head. Both recovered with a flourish. The youth caught the speartip with his hooks this time and angled the spear into the ground. He ran up it, leaps, kicked off the back of the soldier's helmet and stumbled a few steps forward before stopping in front of Katara – who had been standing there, gaping at him - as if he had meant to do all of it.

"Hey." He greeted nonchalantly.

"Hi." Katara greeted back, a little flustered at the sudden closeness. Together they turned to take in the camp, now deserted by all but the newcomers.

"You two just took out a whole army almost single-handed! I've never seen such combination play!" Aang voiced his amazement at him and Chenlian.

"Army? Pfft. There were only, like, twenty guys! And Chenlian did all the work!" A certain ponytailed warrior from the Southern Water Tribe vented his frustration at having all his preys stolen by that new guy.

"My name is Jet," The new guy introduced himself. "And these are my Freedom Fighters. Sneers," The weaponless rebel, currently eating from one of the soldier's bowls, "Longshot," The archer, "Smellerbee," The knife user with facepaint, who had a blade in each hand and between the teeth, and another strapped to their back, "-The Duke and Pipsqueak." They were standing next to each other, a tiny guy with a helmet too big for his head, and a large one with a log across his back.

"Pipsqueak... that's a funny name." Aang told the little one, chuckling. The small guy sniffled, his nose runny.

"You think my name is funny?" The real Pipsqueak – who was surprisingly the huge guy – bent down, slightly glowering.

"It's hilarious." The Avatar plastered a smile on his face, a little nervous. Pipsqueak suddenly burst out laughing, soon followed by Aang and the Duke. The bear affectionately slapped Aang on the back, unintentionally knocking him flat. He did not notice and did not stop laughing, unlike the Duke who stopped for a second, worried, but smiled again when Aang looked up and started laughing once more.

In the Fire Nation camp, the central fire had been put out - along with the bushes fire that had cut off the team Avatar's retreat – and now the freedom fighters were busy checking weapons (Longshot) or investigating supply crates (Sneers). Sokka watched, his arms crossed as Smellerbee passed him with an armful of staves. Jet was leaning against the trunk of a tree on the perimeter of the camp when Katara approached him and thanked him for saving them. They were lucky he had been there.

"I should be thanking you. We were waiting to ambush those soldiers all morning we just needed the right distraction. And then you guys stumbled in."

"We were relying on instincts." The waterbender explained, shooting a back (significant) look at her brother.

"You'll get yourself killed doing that." Jet gave his opinion. Sokka, who had heard everything, closed his eyes in frustration and walked away.

"Well, I dislike being used as bait but I guess this time was worthwhile." Chenlian voiced her opinion with a smile, looking as sweet as honey. She was also glad to have found a swordsman who could keep up with her. Jet smiled back at her, his smile full of smug roguish charm, yet more tender. He quite shared her sentiment, although in a slightly different way. It had really been worthwhile... Pipsqueak and the Duke reported that they had found barrels of blasting jelly (which Jet called "a great score") and boxes of jelly candy (which were also good, although they better not get those mixed up). The loot was loaded up a four-wheeled wagon that they were going to bring back to the hideout. At this, Aang perked up.

"You guys have a hideout?" He exclaimed, elated. Jet asked if they wanted to see it.
Katara literally slid up to him, her hands clasped together, practically begging.

"Yes we wanna see it!" She answered a little too fast, too firmly, and too excitedly. His brow softened, but his self-assured smile never wavered.

Some time later, everyone was walking along the forest floor. Pipsqueak was pulling the laden wagon next to Appa. The trunks were massive enough to dwarf even the flying bison. In front, Jet stopped. They were here. Sokka asked where; there was nothing here! The head of the Freedom Fighters handed him a rope with a loop on the end and told him to hold it. The other end was somewhere above them, invisible. The ponytailed warrior obeyed and suddenly the loop wraped and tightened around his wrist and without warning, he was pulled up by his arm into a nearby tree canopy where he disappeared too. Jet offered a similar rope to Aang and Momo who refused. Momo launched himself from Aang's shoulder and the boy followed with an airbender leap. The young man put his foot in a loop and offers his free hands to Katara and Chenlian on either side of him, telling them to grab hold of him. The waterbender took his hand without thinking but the firebender turned him down. She had already caught a rope. Jet, however, would not let her and grabbed her free hand. He made both girls twirl and held them fast against him, prisoners of his arms while his hands were holding the rope. Katara blushed noticeably while Chenlian merely looked at him wide eyed and impressed by his nerve and brazenness. She did not remember having allowed such familiarity. The rope slowly pulled them into the air, the embrace the girls' only means of support... Katara smiled nervously then looked around and up at Jet. What was this handsome heroic rogue act?!

"You know I could have gone up by myself, right?"

"Of course you could. But I couldn't let you do that. This is manners." He boldly justified himself before Chenlian's demanding eyes, without a hint of guilt. Quite the contrary in fact.

"Manners... you're really awfully bold and full of yourself, aren't you?" This was more an observation, than a question. There was no accusation or anything. She had merely stated what she had remarked, gazing at him as if trying to pierce any mask he could have put on and see the real him, without any mark of judgement or assumption. She was a person who always went beyond what she would see, hear, or feel, a person who could rationalize and put a distance with practically everything – although it had not been without trouble...-. The total opposite of Katara, who was already completely bewitched by his appearance, and would drink his words and crave his attention like a starving man who had discovered an oasis after journeying for days in the desert without any supplies... not even pausing to wonder if it was really safe... Besides, Chenlian could not be taken by him. She was more down to earth, of course, but also she already had someone there, in the back of her mind, in a corner of her heart, always...

They landed on a plank-covered platform high in the canopy after having risen through a hole in the 'floor' and let go of the still ascending rope. Wooden stairs spiral up the trunk and suspension bridged linked their platform to dozen others above and below. Many had tents stretched out on them. All workmanship was of treehouse' quality. Aang and Momo slid down a rope.

"Nice place you got!" He cried, obviously enjoying himself and having fun. Katara commented about how beautiful it was up there. Chenlian agreed and added that the Fire Nation would certainly have trouble finding them here.

"They would love to find you. Wouldn't they, Jet?" Smellerbee, who had landed behind them, assented.

"It's not gonna happen, Smellerbee." Jet smirked. While Momo and the Avatar were still having fun, the others walked on a suspension bridge. The waterbender asked why the Fire Nation wanted to find him. To what the leader of the resistance fighters replied that he had been causing them a little trouble so they took over a nearby Earth Kingdom town a few years back. Pipsqueak informed them that they have been ambushing their troops, cutting off their supply lines, and doing anything they could to mess with them.

"One day, we'll drive the Fire Nation out of here for good and free that town." The tiger hook swords user declared with conviction.

"That's so brave." Katara praised him like a Lady praising her Knight. Chenlian also agreed to that but silently wondered about the actual scale of their 'messing around'. She was glad something was being done but doubted that the incidence they had on the war was as great as they wished it – or made it out – to be. The Earth Kingdom was really huge.

"Yeah, nothing's braver than a guy in a treehouse." Sokka commented sarcastically and came up from behind after having somehow made it past Pipsqueak. The brown-haired girl told Jet not to pay any attention to her brother, what he did good-naturedly. Actually, they were all living here. Longshot's town got burned down by the fire Nation. And they had found the Duke trying to steal their food. They didn't think he ever really had a home.

"What about you?" The waterbender then asked. Jet stopped. The group, except for Katara moved on.

"Fire Nation killed my parents. I was only eight years old. That day changed me forever." He hung his head.

"Sokka and I lost our mother to the Fire Nation." Katara also looked down sadly.

"I'm so sorry, Katara."

"Chenlian too lost her parents to the Fire Nation."

"She did?" Jet gazed wonderingly at her back, straight, tall, and proud as she marched on with calm grace and confidence, without a back look, only her rich and warm mahogany hair swaying in the autumn wind. For an instant, he thought he saw an invisible scar. They were similar... so similar...

A cloud of cawing birds fled in the darknening skies as Appa raised his head through the dense leafy branches with a grumble. In the hideout below, glowing lanterns hang between branches. Sentries were keeping watch on several upper platforms while the group sat at a banquet table, eating and drinking. Jet stood and climbed onto the table.

"Today, we struck another blow against the Fire Nation swine." His followers cheered. Katara and Aang watched with smiles, Sokka looked grumpy, and Chenlian neutral and impassive. "I got a special joy from the look on one soldier's face, when the Duke dropped down on his helmet and rode him like a wild hog monkey." The helmet-less Duke joined his leader on the table and amid cheers took a victory walk. "Now, the Fire Nation thinks they don't have to worry about a couple of kids hiding in the trees. Maybe they're right." His followers booed at that. "Or maybe they're dead wrong." He spat venomously, his face angry, forbidding, and hard like pretrified wood. His underlings cheered wildly. Jet left the table and sat on the platform between the Water Tribe siblings. Katara complimented him on his speech. He thanked her and returned the favor by praising her and Aang's bending as well as Chenlian's swordsmanship.

"Well, he's great. He's the Avatar. I could use some more training." The waterbender looked down, blushing.

"Avatar huh? Very nice." Jet replied, obviously interested.

"Thanks Jet."

"You also know how to handle your blades..." Chenlian smirked back at him.

"So I might know a way that you and Aang can help in our struggle."

"Unfortunately we have to leave tonight." Sokka stood up and walked away.

"Sokka, you're kidding me! I needed you on an important mission tomorrow." Jet goaded.

"What mission?" The ponytailed warrior stopped and turned. The young leader of the Freedom Fighters seemed to be particularly good at inciting people. He also invited Chenlian but she turned him down, preferring to stay with Aang. Then Katara praised Jet again for his actions against the Fire Nation, but as a model of temperance and good will, and because of her own feelings for him, wanted him to know that there was a cause of hope even for that hated country. There were also good firebenders who were willing to help them at the risk of their lives like that priest in the Fire Temple, and like Chenlian.

"Wait!" He interrupted her. "Chenlian...?! ... A firebender?!" There was so much disgust in his expression, his tone, so much abhorrence emanated from his whole body that Katara recoiled and tried to defend her friend but he wouldn't listen and kept staring, glaring at Chenlian, waiting for her to tell the truth, to speak for herself. And he was waiting and hoping for her to deny that she really was a firebender. Chenlian looked at Katara, at Jet, Aang, Sokka, and all of the Freedom Fighters, closed her eyes and heaved a sigh. When she opened them again, there was a strong and firm resolution.

Author's note: I wanted to give my thanks to Gadget boy for the reviews and also to Arianna Le Fay, Lucky Girl 81, awsmpup, and Aku Tora for putting this fanfiction among their story favorites or alert list. Looks like this story has exceedingly few fans, but I hope I can count on you from now on.