Blood Boils Without Fire

Imprisoned

CHAPTER 7- Imprisoned

Author's Note: Thank you for continuing to read and support this story. I am happy with this installment and can't wait for everything to culminate in the next. As a quick reminder, all characters have been aged up by three years. For example, Aang is 115 (physically 15) and Zuko is 19. Also, I don't own AtLA.

The Ocean

Aang sat silently in the hold straining to hear the noises as they drifted from above deck, barely reaching his ears. He could hear the sounds of a skirmish and smiled as he realised that Zuko and Azula must have come to rescue him. His hyper tuned senses felt the disturbances in the air as the guards assigned to monitor him shifted about becoming more attentive. To his left, one leveled their spear at the entrance, while the others inched closer to his chair attempting to keep him secure. Though Aang could not see them, the tension charging the air was palpable at that moment.

Silently, he waited to hear the conflict cease and the door to the hold be thrown open. The noises stopped and Aang heard a faint sound of talking consistent with the tone of the Water Tribe Prince with whom he had recently become acquainted.

Again, Aang waited as seconds slipped into minutes. A scream cut through his listening. He instantly recognized it as Azula's, and fear began to take hold of his mind began to play through hundreds of potential scenarios, each one more morbid than the last. He realized that his rescue attempt had failed. As he felt the guards near him begin to relax, he knew it was over. No one was coming to rescue him.

As his head hung low, Aang heard the hatch swing open. Glancing up, he heard the sound of footsteps descending the short stairway leading below decks. A man arrayed as all the others stood before him and gestured towards the guard positioned to Aang's right. A coarse voice came from below the wolf visage that obscured the man's face. "The Prince needs another set of hands above deck."

The man to Aang's right nodded and followed his comrade as they went above deck.

Eight Hours Later

Aang felt the ship begin to slow and once again readied himself for whatever he would face next.

The full moon hung above them illuminating the coast line and casting long shadows from the structures built upon it.

Above deck, men quickly moved to secure lines as the ship approached Fort Arnook Naval Yard where they would soon rendezvous with General Bato's Armada and turn over the prisoner they currently had detained below decks. After the 4 week journey from the Northern Water Tribe, the sailors were ready to have time to rest on shore before returning back to the homeland.

Soon, the silhouette of a watchtower appeared on the horizon. As they neared it, the darkness surrounding it transformed into the shapes of a port with several ships and small buildings. As the ship continued further, undeviating from its course, faint noises could be heard as men loaded and unloaded ships. The clatter of armor and weapons slowly replaced the otherwise monotonous sounds of waves slapping against the hull .

Within fifteen minutes the ship was safely docked and Sokka once more signaled for his men to bring the prisoner above deck. Sokka descended the gangplank with a small entourage in tow. He was quickly stopped by a customs officer. "Excuse me," the demure man enquired, "but if you could please explain your reason for docking here?"

Sokka sighed and simply said, "I require an audience with General Bato."

The officer responded, "I'm afraid he will not be available unless you already have scheduled an appointment with him."