𝑯𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆

𝑰 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕

                      Chapter one

Eleven months ago

I sensed the unease in the air the moment my mother's hands began to tremble as she hurriedly packed a bag with clothes for me. The sight of her tears, streaming down her face like a torrent, sent a chill down my spine, signaling that something dreadful happened.

Typically, my father's weekly letters served as a reassurance of his safety, even when he was away for work. But this time, the atmosphere was heavy with an unspoken dread, as if something had gone terribly wrong. The sight of my mother in tears was a rarity, a sight I couldn't recall ever witnessing before.

Fear gripped me tightly, its icy tendrils wrapping around my body as I struggled to comprehend the gravity of the situation. Though the details eluded me, the urgency of our departure was unmistakable. Instinctively, I reached for my rope dart, securing it around my waist like a protective talisman.

The abrupt, thunderous knocking at our door startled me to the core, and I could sense my mother's panic mirrored in her sudden movements. With a firm grip on my arm, she whisked me to the window of my room, urgency etched in every line of her face. Opening the window, she pressed a bag into my hands, her touch both aggressive and desperate.

"Inara, we have no time at all, so listen to me closely," she urged, her voice trembling with urgency. "You need to leave, run, and hide until I come for you. Remember your father's training if you get in any trouble. Go!"

Tears threatened to spill from my eyes as fear and confusion swirled within me, but I nodded, absorbing her words like a lifeline. With a final, heartfelt gaze, I leaped out the window and sprinted into the unknown, my heart pounding with every step. I navigated through the maze of streets, twisting and turning, determined to evade whatever threat loomed behind me. All I could do was run, hide, and await the moment when my mother would find me.

The ominous truth loomed over me like a dark cloud: it had to be the Fire Nation. There was no mistaking it. Despite my father's desperate attempt to warn my mother, their reach had extended too far, too fast.

But amidst the chaos of my thoughts, a glimmer of hope emerged as my eyes landed on the zoo. Its gates stood tall and imposing, yet strangely inviting in their solitude. I knew in that moment that it was my best chance at evading capture.

With a sense of urgency coursing through my veins, I quickened my pace toward the zoo, all the while trying to maintain an air of nonchalance. As I approached the entrance, relief flooded over me as I saw that the owner was nowhere in sight, and the gates were securely locked.

With a leap of faith, I scaled the wall and landed on the other side, my heart racing with anticipation. As I made my way through the deserted pathways, my eyes fell upon the bunny cage. It seemed like the perfect hiding spot—safe, secluded, and unlikely to draw attention.

With a mixture of trepidation and determination, I approached the cage, hoping that the furry inhabitants would provide me with the sanctuary I so desperately sought.

As I waited, minutes stretched into agonizing hours, each passing moment filled with silent dread. Nestled behind the bushes within the cage, the hunger gnawing at my stomach gradually transformed into a dull, persistent ache. My limbs protested from being curled up for so long, and the urge to relieve myself grew unbearable.

The zoo was enveloped in darkness, broken only by the faint glow of distant stars. Not a soul stirred, and the absence of the owner provided a fleeting sense of solace. With cautious determination, I reached for the cage door, my heart pounding in my chest. In this moment of solitude, with only the animals as witnesses, I knew I had to move.