XXXVIII/ Free hideout
As they walked through the dense forest to join Jet's hideout, Elsa remained vigilant, her ice-blue eyes scanning their surroundings. The young Freedom Fighters moved with practiced ease through the underbrush, while Appa lumbered behind them, Momo perched atop his head. Elsa couldn't help but feel sympathy for these children, forced to grow up too quickly in a world ravaged by war. It was a bit similar for Sokka and Katara, except that at least her friends could have still relied on their tribe while it was obvious those children were to rely on each other and Jet.
Her gaze lingered on the latter, who led the group with confident strides. There was something about his demeanor that unsettled her, though she wasn't sure why outside of the Hans vibes the young man had. She didn't want to make quick conclusions, but she knew she had to be careful. She made a mental note to speak at one point with Katara and Aang about the importance of caution around new acquaintances, no matter how friendly they might seem. It was one thing to be wary of those in power, but the same caution applied to everyone, a lesson she and Anna had learned during the Great Thaw.
Glancing at Sokka, Elsa noticed his furrowed brow and tense shoulders. She leaned closer to him, speaking softly, "Are you alright, Sokka?"
Sokka shrugged, his voice low, "I don't know. Something about this doesn't feel right."
Elsa nodded, appreciating his intuition. "I understand. We'll talk more when we have a moment alone."
Her attention was drawn to Pipsqueak and The Duke, who were carefully maneuvering the barrels of blasting jelly. Elsa felt a twinge of unease, recalling Sokka's description of its explosive nature. She wondered what use a group of children could have for such a dangerous substance.
Suddenly, Jet and Katara came to a halt on the forest floor. Jet announced with a hint of pride, "We're here."
Sokka looked around, puzzled. "Where? There's nothing here."
Elsa's eyes narrowed slightly, her mind working quickly. If there was nothing visible, the hideout must be either hidden, below or above them.
Jet smirked, holding out a rope to Sokka. "Hold this."
Sokka took it skeptically. "Why? What's this do?" His question was answered as he was suddenly yanked upwards, disappearing into the canopy with a startled yell.
Elsa's eyes widened in surprise, but she maintained her composure. Jet turned to Aang next, offering another rope. "Aang?"
"I'll get up on my own," the young airbender replied, leaping up into the trees with airbending.
Jet then presented a rope to the young queen with a charming smile. "Your turn, Elsa."
She accepted it gracefully, wrapping it securely around her hand. "Thank you," she said politely, bracing herself as she was lifted swiftly into the treetops.
As she ascended, the hideout revealed itself - an intricate network of wooden platforms and bridges nestled high in the branches. Elsa landed on a sturdy platform, taking in the impressive construction with a mix of admiration and caution. The hideout was a complex network of treehouses and platforms, cleverly hidden from the ground below. Aang was already zipping through the trees with Momo.
Elsa's attention was drawn to Sokka, who was struggling to untangle himself from his rope. She moved to help him, gently freeing him from the twisted cord. "There you go," she said softly.
"Thanks," Sokka muttered, his face flushed with embarrassment. His eyes suddenly narrowed, looking past Elsa.
The young queen turned around, noticing Jet and Katara landing gracefully on the platform. The waterbender's expression reminded Elsa again of Anna's excitement when she came to her for asking her blessing for the marriage with from Hans. It made her uneasy, but she pushed the feeling aside to stay focused. Jet hadn't acted in a manner that raised alarm and while there was something that unsettled her, she didn't want to jump on conclusions about their host and their ally.
Aang, still zipping through the trees, called out, "Nice place you got!"
"It's beautiful up here!" Katara exclaimed, her voice filled with wonder.
Jet's chest puffed with pride. "It's beautiful, and more importantly, the Fire Nation can't find us." As if on cue, Smellerbee landed nearby.
"They would love to find you. Wouldn't they, Jet?" she remarked with a smirk.
Jet's smirk deepened. "It's not gonna happen, Smellerbee."
Elsa observed this exchange carefully, noting the dynamics at play. The devotion these children showed to Jet was clear, but there was an undercurrent of something else - a hardness that spoke of the harsh realities they'd faced. And while she agreed with Aang and Katara about how remarkable the place was, the way Jet spoke of it made her uneasy. Either he was overconfident or thought himself more important than he was. In both cases, not a good feature as it could blind anyone.
Jet moved forward, gesturing for everyone to follow. "Come on, I'll show you around." He led the group across a wooden bridge, the structure swaying slightly beneath their feet.
Elsa walked carefully, her eyes taking in the intricate network of platforms and rope bridges. The hideout was truly impressive, a testament to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of these young rebels. As they moved, she noticed how the Freedom Fighters navigated the treetops with practiced ease, their movements fluid and confident.
As Aang zipped by again, Katara, walking beside Jet, looked around in wonder. "Why does the Fire Nation want to find you?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity.
Jet's expression hardened slightly. "I guess you could say I've been causing them a little trouble. See, they took over a nearby Earth Kingdom town a few years back."
Pipsqueak, the largest of the Freedom Fighters, chimed in from behind them. "We've been ambushin' their troops, cutting off their supply lines, and doing anything we can to mess with 'em."
Elsa listened intently, her mind racing. The way Jet described their actions sounded noble, but she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story. Meanwhile, Sokka comically hopped around, trying to get past Pipsqueak. She stifled a smile, as the situation was a bit amusing, even though she sensed he also wanted to keep an eye on his sister and Jet. She could understand his protectiveness, even if she sensed there was perhaps some jealousy.
Jet continued, his voice filled with determination, "One day, we'll drive the Fire Nation out of here for good and free that town."
"That's so brave," Katara said, admiration clear in her voice.
Sokka, having finally managed to get by Pipsqueak, rolled his eyes. "Yeah, nothing's braver than a guy in a tree house," he said sarcastically. "I mean, Elsa manages to help Earthbenders liberate their village on the same day they were freed."
Elsa shot Sokka a look, a mix of amusement and warning. She could sense his insecurity and jealousy, but there was something else that was behind her friend's behaviour. And while she didn't mind he mentioned her role in helping Haru's people, the way he did it made her uneasy because it was to provoke Jet and to take a peg down from him.
Jet's eyes flicked to her, his smirk fading slightly. Elsa met his look evenly, her face composed.
"That's impressive," he said, though his tone carried a hint of challenge.
Katara, oblivious to the tension, quickly interjected, "Don't pay any attention to my brother."
Jet shrugged, his easy smile returning. "No problem. He probably had a rough day."
As they continued walking, Katara asked, "So, you all live here?"
Elsa noticed Sokka being ignored and sinking back behind the group. She moved to his side, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Sokka looked up at her, a mix of frustration and gratitude in his eyes.
Jet answered Katara as he gestured around them. "That's right. Longshot over there?" He pointed to the silent boy walking ahead of them. "His town got burned down by the Fire Nation. And we found The Duke trying to steal our food. I don't think he ever really had a home."
Elsa's heart ached at the thought of these children, forced to fend for themselves in such a brutal world. She understood all too well the pain of isolation and loss. She couldn't help but admire their resilience, though the methods Jet employed made her wary.
Katara, her voice softening, asked, "What about you?"
Jet paused, his expression hardening. "The Fire Nation killed my parents. I was only eight years old. That day changed me forever."
Elsa noticed the shift in Jet's demeanor, a glimpse of vulnerability beneath his confident exterior. She could relate to the pain of loss, though the path Jet chose to deal with it was vastly different from her own. She recognized the sincerity in his voice, understanding how such trauma could shape a person. She couldn't imagine how hard it must have been for him. She thought about how the accident with Anna shaped her for years and while it wasn't the same, she could understand the toll the event must have taken on the young man before her.
Katara clutched her mother's necklace, her voice thick with emotion. "Sokka and I lost our mother to the Fire Nation."
"I'm so sorry, Katara," Jet said, his tone genuinely sympathetic.
Elsa, sensing the sincerity in Jet's voice, watched Katara and him closely. She knew how deeply the loss of their mother affected the two Water tribe siblings, and seeing her friend open up to someone new was both comforting and concerning. Sure, she knew Katara did the same with Haru but the context and situation were different with the young earthbender trying to keep practicing earthbending in secret when it was obvious to her that Jet spent a long time, likely years fighting the Fire Nation. She couldn't fathom how much it had shaped the young man. She couldn't deny the shared pain that connected these young people. It was a stark reminder of the far-reaching consequences of the war, and the responsibility she felt to protect and guide her young companions weighed heavily on her heart.
Chasing away those thoughts, Elsa turned to Jet, her voice calm and measured. "If I may ask, how long have you been fighting the Fire Nation?"
Jet's eyes flicked to her, a mixture of pride and wariness in his gaze. "Since the day my parents died."
Elsa acquiesced, her expression thoughtful. "That's quite a long time. I'm sorry for your loss."
Jet nodded in appreciation to the young woman.
Katara, her eyes filled with sympathy, added, "You've been so brave."
Jet grinned at the young waterbender, his wariness gone as quickly as it had come. "Well, someone has to stand up to them. We can't let the Fire Nation think they can just take whatever they want."
Elsa acquiesced, even though a part of him was heartbroken and uneasy as she couldn't imagine how much that fight might have affected the young man.
"Let me introduce you to the rest of the Freedom Fighters," Jet continued, his voice regaining its confident edge. He resumed walking, leading the group across the bridge.
As they continued moving, Elsa noticed Sokka lagging, his face set in a scowl. She slowed her pace to walk beside him, speaking in a low voice. "You seem troubled, Sokka. What's on your mind?"
The young man glanced at her, his voice tinged with frustration. "I just don't trust him. He seems too... confident. And everyone here treats him like a hero."
Elsa nodded, understanding his concern. "I know what you mean. But remember, Jet has been fighting for years. It's clear he's had to become a leader, and that can make someone seem overconfident, especially if he has known no failure so far. And perhaps that is his way of coping with his pain."
Sokka's expression softened slightly. "I guess. But it's hard not to feel like I'm in his shadow."
"You don't need to feel insecure," Elsa said gently. "Remember, your skills are valuable. You've proven yourself time and time again."
Sokka gave her a small smile. "Thanks, Elsa. I guess I needed to hear that."
She smiled back, but their moment was interrupted by the sound of a bird call signal from Jet. They looked up and noticed they were approaching one of the biggest platforms, resembling a small village. Other children were arriving, their expressions lighting up at the sight of new faces.
"Welcome to our home," Jet announced, greeting the children. "These are our new friends. Tonight, we'll have a feast to celebrate."
The group cheered with excitement at his words. Katara beamed at Jet, clearly impressed by his leadership.
Aang landed on the platform with a soft thud, taking in the sight of the bustling village. "There are so many of you!"
Jet smiled proudly. "Yes, and each one has their own story of survival. And together, we've made a new home, a new family."
He turned to the girl with wild hair and face paint. "Smellerbee, can you organize the feast preparations?"
She nodded, her voice gruff but respectful. "On it, Jet."
As the children dispersed to begin their tasks, Elsa couldn't help but feel a pang of admiration for Jet's leadership and the community he had built. But it also reminded her of how much the war had taken from these children, and how surviving and fighting for their land was all that remained for them. She wondered how Jet's parents' deaths had shaped him into the person he was today.
Her mind drifted to her own past, remembering how the incident with Anna had affected her deeply and influenced the following thirteen years of her life. Even then, she had her parents trying to help her, and Anna persistently attempted to maintain contact despite Elsa's fearful rejections. There had always been something to keep her grounded. Looking at Jet, she pondered how being on his own in such a dire situation had molded him as a person.
A few moments later, the feast was prepared, and Jet gathered everyone. Sentries kept watch on several upper platforms while the group sat at a banquet table. Elsa took her seat to the right of Aang, who looked around with wide-eyed wonder at the spread of food.
"This looks amazing!" Aang exclaimed, his enthusiasm contagious.
Elsa smiled at his excitement and acquiesced in agreement, impressed by how those children managed to survive despite the hardships. As the group began eating, Jet stood on the table, commanding everyone's attention. "Today, we struck another blow against the Fire Nation swine," he announced proudly.
The crowd erupted in cheers. Katara and Aang smiled enthusiastically, while Sokka's face contorted into a scowl. Elsa maintained a neutral expression, listening intently.
Jet continued, a mischievous glint in his eye, "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 Duke, without his helmet, climbed up onto the table. He marched along its length with his arms raised triumphantly in the air, eliciting more cheers from the crowd.
"Now, the Fire Nation thinks they don't have to worry about a couple of kids hiding in the trees," Jet said, preparing to take a drink from his wooden cup. He paused dramatically, "Maybe they're right."
A chorus of boos echoed through the treetops.
Jet's face darkened, his voice dropping to a menacing tone, "Or maybe... they're dead wrong."
The crowd erupted into wild cheers once more.
Elsa's eyes widened slightly at Jet's last words, a chill running down her spine that had nothing to do with her powers. A part of her felt that whatever Jet experienced had affected far more than she could have thought at first. She glanced at Aang and noticed he was enthralled by the speech. That was a bit concerning as it meant that Jet could easily manipulate her young friend if he wanted.
Katara, however, seemed oblivious to the underlying menace in Jet's words. She beamed up at him, "Hey, Jet, nice speech."
Jet sat down next to Katara, his charm back in full force. "Thanks. By the way, I was really impressed with you and Aang. That was some great bending I saw out there today."
Elsa observed the interaction closely, noting how Katara's cheeks flushed at the compliment.
"Well, he's great. He's the Avatar," Katara replied, her voice filled with admiration. She blushed deeper, adding, "And thank you. I still need some training, but Elsa is helping me to improve my bending."
Elsa felt a warmth in her chest at Katara's words, touched by the young waterbender's appreciation.
Jet nodded before his eyes flicked to Aang, his tone flattering, "Avatar, huh? Very nice."
"Thanks, Jet," Aang said with a grin.
Elsa's brows furrowed a bit, sensing that Jet was charming her friends and that could mean trouble if his intentions were unclear. The demeanour of the young man was too reminiscent of how Hans was with Anna or how her grandfather interacted with the leader of the Northuldra in the memory seen at Ahtohallan.
Jet then turned his attention to her, his gaze curious and slightly wary. "And Elsa, I've heard quite a bit about you. Katara and Sokka mentioned some impressive feats. Helping earthbenders free their village, and now you're training Katara? Sounds like you're quite a figure to behold."
Elsa felt all eyes turn to her, acutely aware of Sokka's protective and wary stance beside her. She sensed the flattery behind Jet's words and she wondered whether he was sincere or not. She met his gaze evenly, her voice calm and measured. "Thank you, Jet. Katara is a quick learner, and it's a privilege to help her in any way I can."
As Elsa finished speaking, she noticed Jet's gaze keeping lingering on her. She felt others looking at her with curiosity or admiration.
"Impressive indeed," Jet remarked, a slight smirk playing on his lips, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. "I'm intrigued. What kind of bending do you practice? It must be something special to impress our Katara here."
Before Elsa could respond, Katara jumped in enthusiastically. "Oh, it is. You should have seen her, Jet! When we freed the earthbenders from that prison rig, Elsa was amazing!"
Elsa felt a flutter of unease at Katara's eager revelation. She noticed Jet's eyebrows raise slightly, a flicker of something – surprise? wariness?intrigue?calculation? – passing across his face before his charming smile returned.
Smellerbee, who had been listening intently, leaned in. "Wait, really? We've heard rumours about what the Fire Nation does to those who can bend earth. And we heard about a strange waterbender helping to chase the Fire Nation from some villages. Are you the ones who helped free the Earthbenders and their village?"
Elsa hesitated, not wanting to divulge too much information, even though it was obvious rumour had been spreading since their stop by Haru's village. She sensed Jet's growing interest and felt it prudent to remain cautious. However, Katara, caught up in the excitement of retelling their adventure, didn't notice Elsa's reluctance.
"Yes, and it was incredible!" Katara exclaimed, her eyes shining. "We found out that the Fire Nation was imprisoning earthbenders on that massive metal rig in the middle of the ocean. Elsa used her powers to help the prisoners to win against the Fire Nation soldiers. When we were about to leave, she froze the entire structure to put an end to its use. And then, when we got back to the village, she helped the earthbenders drive out the Fire Nation soldiers!"
As Katara spoke, Elsa observed the reactions of Jet and his Freedom Fighters. Their expressions were full of awe and admiration, but she noticed a calculating look in Jet's eyes that made her uneasy. The other children leaned in, clearly captivated by the tale. A part of her was glad to see her powers weren't seen with wariness or fear, but Jet's reaction was something she was concerned. She noticed Sokka shifting closer to her, his posture protective.
Jet whistled low, his gaze never leaving Elsa. "That's quite a story. Sounds like you're quite the force to be reckoned with."
Elsa smiled politely, trying to downplay the situation. "We all played our parts. It was a team effort."
She heard Sokka hiss to his sister, "Maybe we shouldn't be telling everyone everything about what we can do."
Katara glared at her brother, "Don't tell me what to do or not!"
Sensing the potential for conflict, Elsa put a hand on her friends' arms to calm them down. She looked at Jet, "Sorry, but Sokka is concerned that the Fire Nation made of me a big target because of what I've achieved or how people would consider me."
Jet leaned back, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied Elsa. "No need to apologize. I understand the need for caution." He paused, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
The tension eased, and the group resumed eating. The Freedom Fighters, captivated by the story of Elsa and her companions, whispered among themselves, sharing glances of admiration. Elsa noticed Sokka relaxing slightly beside her, while Katara seemed engrossed in conversation with Smellerbee.
After a few moments of relative quiet, Jet turned his attention back to Elsa. "So, what's next for your group? Any big plans?"
Elsa carefully considered her response. "We'll continue our journey. Our goal is to help Aang fulfill his destiny and bring an end to this war."
Jet leaned forward, his eyes gleaming. "Noble goals. You know, you could stay here for a while. We could use people with your... skills. And I'm sure we could teach you a thing or two about fighting the Fire Nation."
Before Elsa could respond, Sokka interjected, standing up abruptly. "Actually, we should probably get going soon. We've got a lot of ground to cover."
Katara looked up, frowning at her brother. "Sokka, don't be rude. Besides, Elsa's the adult here. She should have the final say."
Aang nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, we trust her judgment. What do you think, Elsa? Could we stay for a few more days?" His gray eyes were wide and pleading. "It would give us a chance to rest, and maybe throw off the Fire Nation's trail for a while."
Katara chimed in, "And we could help out Jet and the Freedom Fighters while we're here. It's a win-win!"
Elsa found herself torn. On one hand, the uneasy feeling she got from Jet made her wary of staying, and she knew they had a deadline with the return of the Comet. On the other, she couldn't deny the logic in Aang's argument about throwing off their pursuers and staying hidden for a short while before resuming their journey. Moreover, these were children who had been dealing with the Fire Nation in this region for some time. Perhaps they could use some assistance.
She looked around at the eager faces of Aang and Katara, the concerned expression of Sokka, and the expectant gaze of Jet. Taking a deep breath, she made her decision.
"Alright," she said finally, her voice gentle but firm. "We can stay for a few days. But," she added, meeting Jet's eyes, "we can't stay too long. We have our own mission to focus on."
Jet's face broke into a wide grin, satisfaction clear in his eyes. "Excellent! We're honored to have you with us."
As cheers erupted around them, Elsa caught Sokka's worried glance. She gave him a reassuring nod, silently promising to remain vigilant. Aang beamed with excitement, and Katara sighed in relief. The group settled back into their meal, the air of tension lifting but Elsa's vigilance remained, noting Jet's every move and word as they continued their conversation. She couldn't shake the feeling that she'd just made a decision that could have far-reaching consequences.