The Blind Waterbender

Friend or Foe? How Should I Know?

The Unlikely Candidates- Novacaine, just another song I was listening to while writing this chapter. I hope you guys enjoy!
-Rose

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Lyra's POV

After we landed, we subtly agreed to set up camp. Appa, and Asura slept soundly while Momo chased a few fireflies in the background.

Katara collected firewood, and I was somewhat startled when a small puff of fire hit the dry wood. The wood went alight and I pulled my hand away from the branch I had just placed down.

The wood cracked as I realized there was probably some water in it.

Sokka and Aang had gathered some food, and I cooked up some wild veggies with some rock salt, and some mild peppers. I served the food in a few large kale leaves. After passing the food to everyone, we all dug in. It was comfortably quiet as we ate. After eating I motioned for Chey to continue, and he did so without hesitation,

"Okay then" Chey nodded, he cleared his hy b throat as words exited his mouth,

"My name's Chey, I left the fire nation military a bit ago, but I wasn't the first. I serve a man-" he paused to correct himself,

"More than a man, really, he's a myth- but he's real, a living legend."

"Who is he?" Aang asked eagerly,

"Jeong Jeong The Deserter" Chey stated, only to continue further,

"He was a fire nation general" Chey continued, making my head snap up from my hands,

"Or wait was he an admiral?" Chey second guessed himself.

"He was very highly ranked" Sokka stated annoyingly, "we get it."

"Yeah, way up there!" Chey agreed, "but he couldn't take the madness anymore. He's the first person to leave the fire nation army and live, I'm the second" Chey followed proudly.

He deflated slight,

"But, you don't get to be a legend for that. It's okay though. Jeong Jeong's a fire bending genius."

"Some say he's mad" Chey stated eeriely, "But he"s not. He's enlightened" Chey broke the eerieness with a smile.

"You mean there's a fire bender out here, who's not with the Firelord?" Aang asked, leaning forward in anticipation.

"we've got to go see him! He can train me!" Aang declared, standing to his feet.

"No-" I butted in, "we've already taken enough detours, and the fire navy doesn't just let it's soldiers go so easily" I argued.

"Yeah" Sokka agreed as Chey's smile dropped slowly, "besides we're not gonna find some crazy fire bender" Sokka nodded.

"He's not crazy" Chey disagreed, "he's a genius, and he's the perfect person to train the Avatar, that's why I followed you into the festival!" Chey argued.

I stood to my feet, and stepped around the fire. I crossed my arms, and went chest to chest with Chey. I could see his muscles in his face fall in fear,

"And how can you be so sure you're not being tricked?" I asked Chey with my tone threatening.

"I-I" Chey stuttered.

"Lyra's right" Sokka agreed, "we can't be sure. Thanks for the help but we're leaving for the north pole in the morning" Sokka stated, I nodded in agreement.

"Guys, this could be my only chance to meet a fire bending master, who would actually be willing to teach me" Aang begged.

I shook my head, this wasn't something we could debate, if this was a trap the risks were very high.

"It can't hurt just to talk to him" Katara agreed with Aang.

"That's what you said about the festival! And look what's happened!" Sokka countered.

"Why doesn't anyone ever listen to me?!" Sokka yelled.

Figures appeared in my vision, and I tugged Sokka back.

A spear was at my neck and I gulped. Asura was frozen as she noticed the armed men.

"What'd I tell you!" I groaned in frustration.

I backed up from the spear when one jabbed my shoulder making me hiss.

"Don't move" ordered the leader.

I put my hands up, trying to process an escape plan.

"Did you know about this?" I questioned towards Chey.

"No!" Chey immediately denied at least he wasn't lying, "I'd never put the Avatar or his friends in danger!"

Sokka looked at me in question, and I nodded, Chey was telling the truth..

"Walk the this way" commanded the leader, pointing with his spear.

I nodded, gulping nervously.

Chey was in front as we walked. The leader kept the spear to his chest while his warriors kept theirs to their chest.

"Jeong told you not to look for Avatar" the leader scolded primally.

"Wait, you know these guys?" Sokka questioned in surprise.

I turned my head to him with a look that asked if he was serious,

"No, Chey doesn't know these random guys that he seems familiar with, I know I ain't ever seen them in my life" I snorted humoursly,  I love blind jokes.

"Did she seriously make a blind joke?" The leader groaned, facepalming.

"Yes I did" I stated proudly, "where are we going anyways?" I asked the leader in front of us.

"But do you actually know these guys?" Interrupted Sokka.

Chey seemed to perk up, and I forgot my question,

"Oh, yeah! Lin Ye's an old buddy. Right Lin Ye?" Chey asked enthusiastically seemingly unbothered by Lin Ye's dislike.

"Shut up. Keep moving" Lin Ye ordered coldly.

My eyebrows raised,

"I pretty sure Chey's blinder than me" I stated in a whisper at Sokka.

Sokka nodded,

"That's some friend" he agreed.

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It didn't take long for us to arrive at our destination, and I was greatly amused by Asura who continued to play with the butt of the spear of one guy behind us. He would occasionally tug it away, as the wood splintered from her sharp beak. He would growl and mutter bleatly, and huff in annoyance as the movement made the feather situated on the spearhead move, only causing Asura to grow more interested. He shook his head with curses flowing from his mouth.

Asura had eventually succeeded in her goal, and pranced in front of the group with the spear in her beak and her head high. The soldier behind wore an annoyed scowl and Lin Ye slumped in relief to no longer hear the sound of Asura hooting, and yowling as it repeatedly got pulled away. Momo sat perched on Asura's head until I found a long creek in our radius.

I finally relaxed, hearing the water in the distance. If this was a trap, these guys had made a pretty big mistake.

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Sooo I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. It took quite awhile, much longer than I would've liked but I hope you guys have a wonderful day and stay safe and healthy my Bookworms! I'll see y'all in the next one!
-Rose