"I am not sitting behind you on the rhino! I am better at riding them and you know it." Enyo crossed her arms, glaring at Zuko. "Not to mention, Shang trusts me more!"
Zuko dragged a hand down her face, and Enyo narrowed her eyes at him. "The rhino's name is Shang?"
"Yes," Enyo snapped. "His name is Shang, and if we are taking him-- which by the way, you are running low on komodo rhinos-- I am leading. I'm better at riding, Shang trusts me more, and I am a better navigator."
Zuko huffed, and Enyo clenched her fists, ready for an actual fight, when he sighed.
"Fine, you can be in the front of the rhino. We don't have time for this."
Enyo gave him a tiny smile of self-satisfaction, and clutched Shang's harness, sliding into the saddle. "Good, let's go."
There was more grumbling as he settled behind her. His chest brushed against her back and she stiffened. Even through the layers of fabric that separated them, she could feel the warmth radiating off his body. Were all firebenders this warm?
Zuko swallowed pointedly and Enyo dug her heels into Shang's side, urging him forward. The rhino charged out of the ship and onto the ground of the Earth Kingdom. It was snowing and a thick blanket of white kept their surroundings quiet as they charged away from the beach.
They arrived at the hot springs a moment later, and Enyo scanned the surroundings. "He's not here."
Zuko huffed, climbing off of Shang behind her. "I can see that."
Enyo rolled her eyes. He was going to be cranky about the rhino riding all day. She jumped off of Shang as well, her shoes crunching in the snow. Little flakes fell from the sky, and she narrowed her eyes to keep them from momentarily blinding her. Holding Shang's harness tightly, she scanned the area. The hot springs were still bubbling away, the scent of sulphur and minerals filling the air. There were, however, two rocky projections in the centre of the pool, as if to hold a person down. She could just make out faint outlines of both human and animal footprints on the other side of the pool, leading up the hill.
She looked back at Zuko in time to see his nose wrinkle and watch him pick up a sandal. He shook it enough to get rid of the snow and held it up.
"I think he's been kidnapped," Zuko spoke. "This is definitely my Uncle's."
Enyo nodded. "Yeah, look at the rocks in the pool. It was probably earthbenders. If we don't find them soon, the path will be erased by the snow."
Zuko's jaw clenched, and Enyo watched his eyes narrow. The thought hadn't occurred to him. "Then let's get moving."
Enyo climbed back onto Shang and waited for Zuko to climb on as well before taking off in the direction of the footprints.
They sped through the rapidly dimming forest. The winter solstice was any day now, and with it came a familiar darkness. Together, they travelled through the forest at a breakneck pace, the only noise being Shang's panting beneath them.
Enyo narrowed her eyes and pulled on Shang's harness, causing him to stop.
"What?" Zuko asked. "Why are we stopping?"
Enyo gestured forward with her head. "There, through the trees. Do you see the fire? I would bet they have Iroh."
Zuko nodded and moved off of Shang, Enyo following. She strapped Shang to a tree and patted his snout. "We will be right back,"
Enyo pulled her spear off her back and gripped it loosely in her right hand. In her other, she grabbed a knife.
Zuko held his hands out-- no doubt ready to bend at a moment's notice-- and gestured for her to get behind him.
YOU ARE READING
The Water Bender and the Fire Prince//Zuko Fanfiction
Fanfiction"I will follow you to the ends of the earth if it means I get just one more minute with you," Enyo is an amnesiac who has spent two years with Zuko on his hunt for the Avatar. She remembers nothing of her past, and has nothing to remind her of it- e...
