The Dragon Princess and the Wolf Warrior

Chapter 97 [~|~] Come Back, I Love You

A dark figure stared down at the hidden air temple, only bright gold eyes peeking out from the otherwise completely black silhouette. The sun had set, but the group was still settled around the fire, chatting about something the figure didn't care about. Eventually, one by one the group split off and walked into the temple to go to bed.

The figure waited another hour before descending towards the temple. Leaping off the side of the cliff, the figure propelled themselves towards the temple with firebending. Landing silently in the courtyard, the figure paused with bated breath. When a rockalanche did not jump out at them, the figure continued silently into the temple.

Staying on their toes, the figure slid through doorways, looking for one person in particular. Finally spotting the Avatar, the figure dug into their pocket and pulled out a cloth. After pouring an unknown substance onto the cloth, the figure walked towards Aang's bed. The slight shuffle caused Aang to crack his eyes open, but before he could do anything, the cloth was pressed to his mouth.

He struggled momentarily, before falling limp back down onto his bed. The figure tucked the cloth back into their pocket and pulled out some metal cuffs. Picking up Aang and slinging him over their shoulder, the figure hurried out of the temple. However, as they ran along, they failed to notice Zuko, who had always been a light sleeper, stirring from his bed.

Cracking his eyes open, Zuko groaned, before sitting up and walking towards the door to investigate the noise. Opening the door, Zuko's eyes widened as he spotted a black-clad figure disappear around the corner with Aang held over their shoulder. He immediately jumped into action.

"Hey, stop!" he yelled, before chasing after the figure, who quickened their pace. Reaching the courtyard, the figure ran towards the edge when they were cut off by a fire blast. Cursing, the figure turned around to face a half-dressed Team Avatar.

"Put him down!" Katara demanded, hands reaching out to control the water from the fountain.

"Who is that?" Sokka asked, glancing over at Zuko. "Someone you know?" he accused with his boomerang held tightly in his hand.

"Why do you just assume that I know every assassin we run into?" Zuko snapped before lowering into a stance, eyes narrowing on the figure.

"If you don't give him back in the next five seconds—" Katara warned angrily before Toph interrupted her, shock clear on her face as she felt the ground with her unburned hand.

"—Wait! Don't hurt her!" Toph yelled out, standing up as everyone stared at her in confusion.

"What are you talking about?"

"You're not going to believe me," Toph spoke, standing up straighter as the figure tossed Aang to the side and prepared to fight, lowering into a stance.

"Try us," Sokka insisted as Toph grew more nervous.

"It's Azara."

The group let out a collective gasp as the figure jumped forwards, throwing a ball of flames at them. Katara repelled the attack with a band of water before sending a water whip towards the figure. Zuko jumped forwards as well, sending a fire blast at the attacker, who dodged and sent a powerful fire slice back.

"That's impossible! Azara would never—" Sokka argued before having to duck to avoid an incoming fire blast.

"Why don't you tell her that!?" Toph yelled back as she relied on The Duke to keep her out of harm's way, her feet still too burned to 'see' properly.

Spinning around, the figure released a powerful fire comet at the group. Katara and Kesuk used water from the fountain to block the attack before sending a wave back at them. Using rocket propulsion, the figure jumped over the wave, and did a front flip, before firing a fire slice at the group again. Haru raised a rock wall to block the attack.