𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐎 𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐍 ꩜ prince zuko

¹⁴

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

        AFTER DAYS OF TRAVELING in a hot air balloon belonging to the Fire Nation, Iroh and Yan finally touched down in the dense woods of the Earth Kingdom. The moment their feet hit the ground, Yan practically stumbled out of the basket, her stomach unsettled from the long journey. The dizzying altitude and the sway of the balloon had left her queasy and she eagerly welcomed solid ground beneath her. The pair continued on foot toward Ba Sing Se, moving through the rugged terrain until they arrived at a secluded camp nestled within a natural ring of towering rock formations in the Agrarian Zone. As they entered the camp, Yan spotted a vase filled with water and rushed over to it without a second thought; thirsty and desperate for relief, she drank deeply, her senses momentarily consumed by the cool liquid. It wasn't until she felt the pressure of a blade against the small of her back that she froze.

        "Turn around... slowly," a deep, authoritative voice commanded. Yan froze mid-drink, her throat tightening as she swallowed the last of the water; her arms instinctively rose in a gesture of surrender as she did as told. Standing behind her was an older man, his face weathered with age and strands of graying hair framing eyes that glimmered with the sharpness of experience. In his hand, a sword gleamed, its blade steady and poised with a lethal elegance that sent a shiver down her spine. "Who are you and how did you find this place?"

        Before she could answer, Iroh stepped to her side, raising his hand. "Who knocks at the garden gate?" he directed the question at the man with the sword. The swordsman's gaze flicked between Yan and Iroh as if carved from stone.

        "One who has eaten the fruit and tasted its mysteries." the swordsman responded. He took a slow step back, lowering his blade before slipping it back into its sheath. "We heard you were imprisoned months ago; we feared the worst, Iroh. It's a relief to see you've escaped."

        Iroh smiled warmly, placing a reassuring hand on Yan's shoulder as she stood there looking bewildered. "I couldn't have done it without this young woman's help. I'm sure she must be hungry; let's get her something to eat and a change of clothes before we make any formal introductions," he suggested. The swordsman gave a silent nod and turned to lead them deeper into the camp with Iroh and Yan following close behind.

        After satisfying her growling stomach with a generous helping of stew and hot tea, Yan was finally able to shed the threadbare prison rags she'd worn for months. In their place, she received a fresh set of clothes: a sleeveless green tunic cropped at the midsection, dark green trousers, and a beige sash that she tied snugly around her hips. Black shoes completed the basics but she added a few touches of her own, wrapping white cloth around her hands and forearms for protection as well as sliding a black cuff up her left bicep. With little hair to style, she settled on a simple braid and called it good enough.

        Grateful beyond words, she bowed deeply to Iroh and the unnamed swordsman. "Thank you, truly; for everything you've done for me." she thanked them, her hands folded respectfully in front of her.

        Iroh smiled gently, resting a reassuring hand on Yan's head. "There's no need to thank us. Come, there are others I'd like you to meet." he smiled as he led her toward the center of the camp where three elderly men stood waiting. "Allow me to introduce Master Pakku of the Northern Water Tribe, Master Jeong Jeong, King Bumi of Omashu, and Master Piandao. Including myself, we form the Order of the White Lotus, an ancient and secret society made up of some of the most skilled benders and non-benders across the Four Nations."

        Yan's eyes widened in recognition, a spark of memory lighting up her face. "Yes, that's right! That was what the white lotus Pai Sho tile you showed me at the Jasmine Dragon meant!" she smiled brightly as she glanced between the elder masters standing before her, awe and excitement written plainly across her face.