𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐎 𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐍 ꩜ prince zuko

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CHAPTER FIVE

        THE OCEAN WAVES CHURNED violently, spinning everything in the water like a giant whirlpool. The current was relentless, making it nearly impossible for Yan to swim. Each time she broke through the frothing surface, it was as if the sea itself reached up to drag her back down. She gasped for breath the moment her head emerged, only to be struck by another crashing wave and yanked beneath the surface again.

        As she fought to stay afloat, a sudden tug on her arm yanked her in an unexpected direction. Moments later, her fingers brushed against soft sand; she had been pulled to shore. Coughing and spitting out the gritty sand clinging to her face, she let out a shaky breath of relief, grateful to be free of the water's grip. When she sat up, she spotted Zuko a few feet away, hunched over and blowing warm air into his hands.

        "Thank you," she murmured, inching farther from the lapping waves. They sat in a cave with a narrow shoreline, a natural shelter from the sun and the elements. Yan felt a wave of relief knowing the entrance was wide enough for both her and Zuko; though if it hadn't been, she could've easily reshaped it with her bending.

        "We need to find firewood to start a fire," Zuko suggested, already rising to his feet. Yan watched as he stepped out of the cave and remained where she was, her mind struggling to catch up. She had just jumped off a cliff and now she found herself sharing an abandoned cave with the prince of the Fire Nation. What a day it had been.

        She sighed and pushed herself to her feet, following Zuko out of the cave. Her boots squelched with each step as they crossed the wet sand, scanning the beach for any driftwood that could be used. By some twist of luck, they stumbled upon a small pile of dry wood, just enough to start a fire that would keep the cold at bay.

        Yan and Zuko sat across from each other, the small fire crackling between them. She rubbed her hands together and held them to the orange flames, grateful for the heat. Every so often, she'd wring the water from her clothes to try and dry what she could; it would take hours for them to fully dry, but she wasn't complaining. After all, it was far better than being up on the cliff where the Fire Nation soldiers still searched the water for the prince and the soldier.

        Yan rose to her feet and made her way to the mouth of the cave. Without hesitation, she placed her fingers on her lips and let out a sharp whistle. Zuko rushed over, his eyes wide with disbelief as he yanked her arm away from her face. Was she out of her mind? The sound would carry for miles; anyone could hear her and they'd be discovered!

        "What are you doing? Azula's men could still be around here. For being a soldier, you sure don't think clearly." he scolded her. She jerked her arm out of his grip, shaking her head.

        "Would you relax?" she scoffed. "I highly doubt they're going to search down here. They probably think we're dead anyway; did you not notice how strong the ocean was? Trust me, Fire Nation soldiers aren't exactly the brightest flame on the candle." With a dismissive glance toward the beach, she dropped back down beside the fire. Zuko stood there for a moment, huffing in disbelief at her boldness and blatant disrespect.

          The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the beach as the wild day began to draw to a close. Yan sat quietly, her thoughts drifting to the Earth Kingdom army; most likely, they'd been captured, on their way to some Fire Nation prison while she sat here. A faint scratching echoed from the cave wall, snapping her out of her thoughts. She stood just as her shirshu burst into the cave, drawn by her scent; despite the salt and seawater clinging to her, the loyal creature recognized his owner instantly. Relief bloomed across Yan's face as the mole-like beast padded toward her, unharmed.