To Save a Warrior | A:TLA

❀ four ❀

CHAPTER FOUR:
AN EASY CHOICE

"Katara, I understand you're upset about this, but you can't be serious!" Nami cried out, pulling at her hair as the younger girl explained her plan to find Haru. Katara just shook her head,

"This is the only way we can find him. This is all my fault, I can't just sit around and do nothing!" Nami almost charged at Katara, not out of anger but because she wanted to knock some sense into her. Sokka's hand on her shoulder from behind held her back.

"It sounds crazy, but it might work," Sokka relented, placing both hands now on her shoulders as she fought back against his harsh grip. "Listen! There are ventilation shafts throughout these mines. All Aang has to do is send an air current from that vent to this one. The boulder levitates and ta-da—earthbending!"

Nami calmed slightly at his explanation, leaning back slightly into Sokka's chest as she finally nodded. "Fine." Katara breathed a sigh of relief, knowing very well the older girl could put a stop to just about anything she didn't like, if she put her mind to it. Nami broke from Sokka's grasp, moving closer to Katara. "But just be careful, alright? The Fire Nation is ruthless, we all know from experience."

Katara smiled at her friend, hugging her tightly. "Of course, Nami," she smiled into the older girl's shoulder before releasing her.

"I'm gonna check on Osha, make sure she's alright."

"We'll find you," Sokka added with a small smile. Nami hummed before heading down the hill, hands fumbling with each other at her front. The journey to the shop was slightly longer than usual, Nami's pace slow and slightly distracted.

She knew exactly how Osha felt right now; she'd watched the villagers she'd fought alongside be taken away by Fire Nation soldiers, and at one point she was almost arrested herself. Only in the face of danger does one not only understand the weight of freedom, but the amount of power awarded to those who take it from others.

Fuck this war, and fuck the people that justify it, Nami thought, a familiar anger rising in her as she carried on down the footpath to the village. The village itself was relatively small in size and basic in architecture, situated in a valley surrounded by mountains and man-made walls. There were maybe twelve individual buildings of the same size and style: one-story tan stone huts with few windows and singular wooden doors. The roads were simply compacted dirt.

Nami entered the shop from the open door, wiping the slight sheen of sweat from her forehead as her eyes adjusted to the lowlight inside. Osha was cleaning the counter with a piece of cloth, finding Nami's eyes but quickly reverting them back to her task.

Nami sighed, moving towards the counter and placing a silver piece in Osha's eye line. She looked at the young woman with shock, "What's this for?"

"For my dinner, last night. And perhaps breakfast as well," Nami answered softly. After a tense moment, Osha smiled slightly,

"That is too much, especially for what your friends are trying to do." Nami placed her hand on Osha's, squeezing lightly.

"I insist." She reluctantly nodded after staring into Nami's unrelenting gaze. She gratefully accepted the piece and placed it in her apron pocket. She then grabbed a tin from beneath the counter, followed by a jar from a shelf behind her. Nami bit her lip as Osha slid a plate in front of her as well as a clean set of chopsticks, immediately biting back a delighted groan at the sight of dried cuts of red meat and pickled cabbage.

"It's not much, but it should hold you over. They're some of Haru's favorites." Nami smiled at the wistful look on Osha's face, using the chopsticks to grab portions of each, enough to fill her plate.