Blood Boils Without Fire

A Very Special Day

CHAPTER 1- A Very Special Day.

Author's Note: I originally began publishing this on Fanfiction, I will continue to post on both sites as long as I remember. For the purposes of storytelling all characters are three years older. EX. Sokka is 18 and Katara is 17. Also, I feel like this is unnecessary, but I don't own AtLA.

The Middle of the Ocean

A figure heavily laden in furs boarded the boat he had pulled alongside. Followed by a detail of 5 similarly adorned men, Amaruq, Chieftain of the Southern Water Tribe, moved to meet the figure waiting for him at the bow of the ship.

Tulok, Chief of the Northern Tribe, stood solemnly waiting for him.

Amaruq spoke in a gravely tone, "The time has come. May the spirits smile upon us this night."

Tulok responded in kind, "May the Ocean and Moon bless us so that we may bring them glory."

As the supermoon rose, hundreds of ships poured from what seemed to be the edges of the world. It seemed that if one would only listen they could hear the innumerable echoes of a uniform war-cry repeated by thousands of men "We are the storm, inevitable, unyielding." In that one moment the world would never be the same.

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The Fire Nation - 93 years later

Zuko rose quickly and dressed for the day. It was finally time. His father had promised to take him on a hunting trip. Hurrying to get ready he gathered his bow, snares, and quiver before meeting his father outside the hut.

Zuko found Ozai waiting for him with two ostrich horses saddled. Ready to travel, the duo mounted the steeds. The pair rode towards the nearby forest where the larger game was most abundant.

After several hours of riding, both dismounted and looked around the clearing they had entered. Realizing the brush would be too dense to continue on their mounts, they hobbled them and continued inward on foot. As the brush became denser Zuko began laying his snares in hopes to catch some small game.

Eventually, Ozai signalled for Zuko to stop. Just ahead of them Zuko could see a komodo rhino. The large creature would provide food for the next fortnight if they could bring it down. HIs father began to edge around the circle in an attempt to flank the beast.

As Ozai reached the other side of the circle he signaled for Zuko to begin to creep towards the beast. Zuko and Ozai slowly moved in on the creature from either side. Just as they were about to strike a crack resounded in the clearing as Zuko broke a stick. The creature's head perked up as it became aware of the pair's presence. Realizing the window of opportunity was escaping, Ozai sent a vortex of flame toward the creature as Zuko loosed his arrow aiming for the beast's eye.Both attacks found their mark and soon the creature lay prone as the more experienced of the two slit its throat, allowing the blood to drain.

After gathering as much meat as they could and checking the snares, Zuko and Ozai began to return to their village, but upon their return saw no one there to greet them. As the two began to walk toward their home it seemed strangely quiet. On entering the main square Zuko noticed the fountain was not flowing, but was instead covered in a layer of ice. He began to have a sinking feeling in his gut. Quickly he ran to the nearby cove where his suspicions were confirmed. Zuko noticed a fleet of blue sails on the horizon heading away from them.

Ozai, on the other hand, had run directly to their house. Entering quickly, he saw Azula lying unconscious next to the body of his wife. It seemed there had been a struggle, and in the fighting Ursa had died. Falling to the ground, Ozai let out a guttural yell that resounded throughout the surrounding land.