Zuko walked angrily through the forest. Why did the Avatar always have to land somewhere so hard to move through? A movement caught his attention through the trees. He stepped up to a tree and cautiously peered around the corner. There was a young girl practising some sort of martial art. At least, that's what he assumed it was. He briefly wondered if this girl was the water tribe peasant who travelled with the Avatar. He quickly dismissed this thought, as this girl was clearly from the Earth Kingdom. He watched her with interest. What she could possibly be doing? The stances she was gracefully moving through would be of no use in a fight.
Hirona moved smoothly through the Tai Chi stances her old Master had taught her before she had run away. Today had been a particularly stressful day. The Avatar had arrived in her little village. She knew it was dangerous, and that the Fire Nation was after him, but the little boy's puppy dog eyes were impossible to resist. Hirona was the leader of a small village made up mostly of those wanted by the Fire Nation. She had been made the leader two years after she first arrived. The old leader got sick, and called Hirona to his bedside.
"Hirona," The old man whispered hoarsely. "I am leaving you,""Don't say that!" Hirona said fiercely. "We'll get you better yet!" She wiped away her tears with an angry hand. "No, little one," He said kindly. "It is my time to go, and I need to pick a successor. I wish I could stay with you, but it is impossible. I entrust the protection of our village to you, Hirona. I know you won't let me down,"
"But Master, I am a woman! Surely the other villagers won't allow it!"
"They will allow it. Trust me,"
"But don't you want a bender to protect the village?"
"You can defeat any bender, Hirona. Even a fire bender," Hirona opened her mouth to say something, but the old man shushed her. "I know you are afraid of them. I know fire is your biggest fear,"
"Don't you think you should pick someone braver?"
"Hirona, you consider yourself a coward because you fear something. Always remember, courage is not the absence of fear, but having the strength to face your fears," Hirona nodded, unable to speak for the lump in her throat. "Goodbye, little one. Do me proud, Lady Hirona,"
"I'll miss you!" Hirona whispered, as the old man closed his eyes and slipped away into the next life.
Hirona was snapped out of her memories by a rustle in the bushes. She whipped around and saw Aang, the young Avatar. "Oh, it's you Aang. What is it?"
"Fire Nation!" Aang cried urgently. "There's a ship anchored just off the coast of the island!"
"What? How did they find us?"
"This is all my fault," Aang said miserably, looking down. "I should never have come here,"
"Aang, it has been an honour to have you here. We have evaded the Fire Nation before now, and today will be no different," Hirona told him firmly. She grabbed up her staff. "Aang, we can't afford this village being found. Spread out through the forest. If you find any troops, dispose of them, or lead them away or something. We can't let them find us," Aang nodded and ran off to find to tell the others the battle plan.
Zuko couldn't believe it. The Avatar! He watched as the girl and the little boy talked, then the Avatar ran off. He growled to himself. The girl turned. "I know you're there!" She called. "Show yourself!" Damnit! Zuko thought. She was walking over to him. He stepped out between the bushes. She held up her staff in a defensive position. "What do you want with us?"
"Give me the Avatar," He hissed.
"Not a hope in hell," The girl said defiantly, tightening the grip on her staff.
"Move out of my way, or I will make you,"
"Bring it on then," Zuko smirked.
"Earth bending is no match for fire bending," The girl's breath caught in her throat, but she refused to show fear. "Who said I was a bender?"
"You're not a bender? Well, that makes life easier for me," The charged at her, fists aflame. She dodged sideways and whacked him hard with her stick. Zuko picked himself up angrily, and threw fire at her. She blocked most of it with her stick, but was caught by one fireball that collided painfully with her shoulder.
Hirona was terrified. The fire bender in front of her was only about a year older than her, but he was still fierce. She had to lead him away. She ran into the woods, and the young fire bender followed. Hirona wondered if she had a chance to escape. He was the faster runner, and the stronger of the two, but she was more agile, and knew the forest better. She ran through the trees, jumping logs and dodging trees. He wasn't far behind, and throwing fire at her. She sped up as a fireball whizzed past her ear. She ran into a clearing and froze. In front of her were several fire nation soldiers. "Oh damn!" She hissed under her breath, and ran to the side. Unfortunately, in the moment she had taken to realise her surroundings, Zuko had caught up. He grabbed her arm and pulled her into him. "Where is the Avatar?" He snarled. Just then a shadow passed over them. It was Aang's flying bison. Hirona sighed in relief. She saw Katara, Aang's friend, lean over and point down at them. "Hirona!" She called.
"Go!" Hirona yelled. "Now!" Aang looked down at them, a worried expression on his face. Time to prove she was okay. Hirona kicked Zuko in the chest and ran at full pelt back into the forest. Thankfully, this was enough to satisfy Aang that Hirona was safe. The bison sped off, away from the island.
Zuko was furious. He had lost the Avatar, and a peasant girl had just got the better of him. Time to get revenge. "Get her!" He screamed at the guards. "She could have information!" The soldiers nodded and spread out to search the forest. Zuko ran in the direction she had gone.
Hirona was catching her breath as quietly as she could at the top of a tree. She saw the fire bender she had been running from, lean against her tree, panting. "That stupid peasant!" He cursed. Stupid peasant? Hirona thought. I'll have him know I'm Hirona, Lady of the forest, first woman leader of the Natsya! The man threw a fireball at the tree opposite in anger. Hirona felt fear swell up within her as she watched the tree burning. Luckily, it was a solitary tree, so the fire wouldn't spread. Well, Hirona hoped it wouldn't. She moved her hand up to the branch above her, steadying herself, but as she did so, the bangles around her wrist jangled. The man looked up at the tree. "Found you," He grinned menacingly, and set Hirona's tree aflame.