Many, many, many, many, many, many, many thanks to my wonderful beta : Arekisu! 'specially for fixing up the dialogue at the end. Hehehe… You guys finally get your update! -jumps in hole- … -climbs back out- Oh yes, a disclaimer… -twitches-
I do not own Avatar : TLA… or anything really. o0;
"I think Appa's hurt," Aang said, leaping from his spot on the bison's head. He inspected Appa's tail and sighed. "We won't be able to fly until he's healed. And, flying bison usually take longer to heal than most other creatures."
"What? We just barely escaped from Prince hot-head, again, and you're saying that if he catches up to us here we won't be able to get away?"
"Sokka, calm down!" Katara was naturally worried as well. She didn't like this particular predicament at all. "Aang had no way to prevent Appa's injury. We'll just have to make the most of it. And, pray to the gods that watch over us that we won't get found."
Sokka shot a glare at his sister, but understood. "How can we make the most out of this, then?"
Aang brightened up and jumped over to be near the siblings. "We all need the rest, anyways. Zuko's been keeping us on our... well, you get my point! Everyone needs a break every once in awhile. Hopefully, so does Zuko."
Snorting, Sokka redirected his attention to unloading the hurt bison and setting up camp. He quickly became immersed in it, and his anger-level dropped back down to its usual.
Trying to busy herself as well, Katara turned to the young monk. "Is there anything I could do to help Appa? Find some herbs?"
A flash of immense gratitude crossed his features, but was erased by one of thought. "Well, I don't know the herbs around here. We could easily poison Appa. But, maybe you could try your Waterbending?"
"I could try," she said, unsure. "Burns are one thing, but I can't even see Appa's injury."
Aang smiled sadly. "It's okay Katara. If you feel you... well, it's okay."
"No, no! I'll try! It's just..."
"Maybe I could help too," Aang said. "I think he's strained a muscle in his tail. He might've fractured the bone, or worse. Could you just help him feel better? He can heal on his own time, unless you feel you can heal him as well."
"Uhh... like I said, I can try."
"Thanks, Katara," the young Avatar said, smiling. Appa groaned from behind him, causing Aang to laugh.
"Appa says thanks too."
A little of the pressure lifted off her shoulders as she walked to inspect the bison's tail for herself. Regular Waterbending wouldn't work here. She'd have to bend the water that was already inside Appa. She sat cross-legged and closed her eyes, concentrating. Not wanting to injure him anymore, she only tried to massage the hurt area.
However, finding the hurt area proved to be a task in itself...
Father,
I write to inform you of the progress in the search for the Avatar. Regretfully, the boy always seems to slip through our fingertips. He has already mastered the art of Waterbending, and is beginning to learn Earthbending maybe even as we speak. But I assure you, however, our luck seems to be turning for the better.
Reports of the Avatar's bison have been coming in from one area particularly. They appear to have landed on the island of Jyingse, and don't seem to be in a great hurry to leave. I'm planning on attacking them there but, there are... difficulties.
They seem to be watching the shores. Their pet... 'bat-thing' has been patrolling the coastline every other day. One of the Water Tribe children have also been sighted. The Avatar, however, has not been. But, he is there.
There has also been... more interesting, although certainly not more important, news. The Blue Spirit, who helped the Avatar escape from our grasp yet again, seems to have revealed himself. Or, someone has revealed him. However, I wish to bring him in as well as the Avatar. To do so, I need more than what I have in my command.
Fire Lord Ozai, I request Dragon Riders. I have been informed that they have not been sent on any mission, of any sort, for twenty some-odd years. I would not request their service, if I believed they were not needed.
I hope to hear word soon.
The Princess signed her letter to the Fire Lord and rolled it up. She stamped the royal seal on the parchment, and whistled for the soldier who had been told to stand outside the tent-flap.
As she stuck it in a metal container, the soldier nearly ran in not wanting to be criticized for wasting any time. "Send this off to Fire Lord Ozai on the fastest hawk we have. It must get to him by the time the sun sets tomorrow."
"Yes ma'am." He took the container and hurried to get it sent.
Everything was going quite well for the Princess. She would have the Avatar soon... but, not before breaking her brother. How she would enjoy that!
And as soon as he (and the Avatar, of course) was out of the way, nothing could stop her from ascending the throne.
Iroh smiled, drinking deeply from his cup until there were only a few drops left. "Now Prince Zuko, the Avatar has been spotted on the island of Jyingse. He seems to be taking great strides to avoid being caught off-gaurd. I assume his animal guide is hurt."
The Prince nearly choked on his tea. 'Now is the perfect chance! Nothing can stop me this time... not when he can't get away..."
His uncle laughed. "Don't get carried away my nephew, there is more. It appears your sister has taken over Zhao's--" (Zuko visibly shivered, remembering his last encounter with the Admiral... and, as we all know, Zuko is not the shivering type) "--task of capturing the Avatar."
"What?" Zuko's cup of tea boiled and nearly burned.
"Careful now," Iroh said, concerned. "There is still more."
"What more could there possibly be, Uncle?" His previous thoughts whisked from his mind with this news.
"She also has been assigned the task of looking, and executing, the Blue Spirit."
All emotion drained from the Prince's face, which was also now much paler. "Wh... why?" he managed to stutter, trying not to seem too affected. He didn't take his Uncle for an idiot, but if he didn't know... then Zuko wasn't going to be the one to tell him. At least, not yet.
"I do not know," he said calmly, either not noticing or ignoring his nephew's reaction."My brother is as much of a mystery to me as he is to the next person. However, if he feels the Blue Spirit is enough of a threat to him to have him killed, then I do pray to Agni for him. There are only a few things in this world worse than being hunted down by Ozai."
DAMN! Zuko thought, fist clenching his cup of tea as a wave of self-loathing overtook him. Why did I even bother saving him, anyway? ...Why?
"That is not our concern at the moment anyway. I don't even know why I brought it up. It must be the old man within me, eh?"
"Why... her?" he said with disgust, not even bothering to hide his hatred towards his sister.
"You know what your father thinks of her. It's one of the few things he doesn't bother to bottle up inside. That, and his temper. She is very skilled with Firebending also. Maybe Ozai thinks she can overpower the young Avatar... truthfully, I have no idea. But, she obviously does not want to disappoint him."
Zuko snarled, "I want to be left alone. I'll be in my room... only disturb me when we are withing two miles of Jyingse."
"Of course, my nephew," he said, perfectly understanding the boy. "I'll tell the Helmsman to change course immediately."
Meanwhile...
"Sokka!"
"What?"
"You ate all the food! Again!"
"It's not my fault! Warriors need to eat, ya know!"
"Ughhh! I'm going for a walk!"
"Okay, Katara... just don't get lost. Sokka can't cook, ya know?"
"HEY!"
She smiled softly and nodded, heading off.