Day 7 Silence

It was said there was an unnatural quiet before battle that was eerie. The quiet before the storm. But as she lay there on her sleeping roll, she knew no silence, nor had she ever known complete silence. Her ears picked up every movement of the men around her, every rustle of the leaves, the wind playing with the trees and grass and even some of the birds and insects around them. Yes, it was more quiet than usual, but not silence. She heard and felt at the same time her companion get up and creep away from his men and guards and she got up and followed him even more quietly. Still, she heard every step he took, every rustle of leaves as they walked away from the camp. She stayed behind him and was sure he turned back a few times to make sure he wasn't followed and may have even spotted her once, but he should have known better than to know he couldn't sneak away from her. She felt him stop on a ridge and heard him settle down.

"I know you're there," he whispered and she just smiled softly and joined him, staring out into nothing, but knew he was looking at the enemy camp on the ridge across the valley. The fires that she felt there and the men just as anxious for the coming day as the men she had at her back. The renegades had massed and they had ridden out to meet them. A young lord of just twenty-one trying to stop a civil war with his men and closest friend and guardian against the men that had ruled the nation with fear and military strength under his father's reign. There had been skirmishes in the past, and it had all led to this one moment, but the firebenders would wait for dawn, when all were at full strength. She would have liked to go that night, but he refused, saying he needed her at his side, no matter what and she had stayed, but protested often.

"I don't like this," she muttered not for the first time and he nodded silently, knowing she could feel the vibrations of his movements. She was anxious to fight, as the men were, but not in the same way. She loved battle and pushing herself. The men, both behind her and before her were afraid of what would come. Brother would be fighting brother, father fighting son, and none were looking forward to it. The only steady heartbeat she could feel in the entire region was the man sitting beside her and that was one of the things she admired about him.

"It's quiet," he said, but she shook her head and felt him turn to her, hearing his hair and clothing move, probably questioning her. She smiled her wry smile at him, knowing that she could read him without reading his expression.

"No, you just don't hear well," she replied. "The day birds still nestle into their nests, warming their young. The cat-owl looks for food and has spotted some mice, plucking them before they know what's after them and taking them to their young. Some wolf badgers are stalking a deer-mule to the north, and should feast well tonight. The wind blows from the other side of the ridge, rustling the fallen leaves ever so slightly and taking a few more from the trees. And the men snore, from both our camp and theirs."

He chuckled lightly at that and then, unexpectantly, his arm was around her shoulder, drawing her in for a hug. She leaned into him, surprised, but enjoying it. Few were the times he showed affection, and even rarer now because of all the men he was leading. Only Aang knew that they were together, and the Avatar had promised to keep his mouth shut, mostly due to threats by both of them. And, though he had offered, Aang was staying out of this conflict. Zuko wanted to deal with his own people without the Avatar's help. Having Toph as his personal guard had been enough of a blow to his people's honor. Having the Avatar settle an uprising would have cost Zuko all credibility. Toph knew he could do it, though, and without bloodshed.

"You're having trouble sleeping," he said and Toph just sighed.

"All the noise," she replied, waving her hand to gesture behind them.

"It was the silence for me," he replied seriously.

Toph just smiled and then he was lying down, looking out towards the valley and pulled her with him so that he had an arm around her and her head was on his chest. She could hear his heart beat and his breathing and everything else started fading out. The birds and insects, the anxious movements of frightened men and snores of fitful sleep. Then the wind started fading out too as his breathing evened out, but his heartbeat remained as steady as ever. She sighed a content sigh and snuggled further into the warmth he gave off as she started drifting off.

"Thank you," he whispered sleepily. "You make the silence bearable."

"And you make it silent," she replied after a yawn as even his heartbeat faded as sleep took over.