Silence | Zuko

3. The Western Air Temple

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1 day ago

Zuko ran quickly through the fire nation, bolting to the prison to rescue his Uncle and beg for forgiveness. After standing up to his father he was on a high. He felt like he could do anything but all he wanted was Iroh.

He rushed through the once-pristine prison, making guards shudder every time he passed, but it didn't matter. He was nearly there.

"Uncle?!" Zuko yelled.

No one answered.

The bars on Irohs cage were ripped and discarded; leaving it empty. A shivering guard laid next to it, drool pooling on his chin.

"Where is my uncle?" Zuko asked the guard roughly, grabbing his collar.

"He's gone, he busted him self out. I've never seen anything like it. He was like a one man army!" The guard shuddered.

Hope fell from Zuko like rain, pouring out of him. His uncle made it out but he made it out thinking Zuko wasn't sorry. He let go of the guard, allowing him to go limp against the wall.

Remembrance struck Zuko when he realised he needed to go now and join the Avatar. He'd have to find his Uncle another time. He ran through the prison again, bracing the heavy halls he'd been down so often.

A faint scream sounded throughout the walls, bouncing off them till it reached him. He stopped, following the noise slowly. Turning down a new, dark corner led him to a metal door.

When his hand met with the large lock, shivers ran up his spine from the cold. He dropped to his knees, feeing the faint draft under the door. It was freezing inside.

Zuko stood up, dictating whether or not he should open the cell. Someone or something incredibly powerful would have to be held inside, he was curious.

His father told him about every prisoner and he'd searched the blueprints but nothing of this cell was mentioned. It was as if it had been kept from him on purpose.

With brute force he was able to unlock the first part, it took him 5 minutes to break through each one. When it was finally done, he opened the door; covering his face when the freezing air wafted towards him desperately.

The entire inside was made of ice and outside of metal, suffocating whoever walked in. 4 chains hung from the roof and floor, attached to someone's ankles and hands, stopping them from escaping. Monstrous weapons were placed to the side, lining up the tall walls of the large cell. They reeked of pain.

When his eyes adjusted to the lighting they landed on the prisoner.

The breath caught in his throat immediately, tears welling in his eyes and a sob clawing at his throat.

Her head faced the ground, too heavy to keep upright. Ankles and wrists were bounded to the chains; leaving her absolutely no room to bend or move.

Ice creeped up her skin, frostbite threatening to invade her body if she didn't prevent it with her inner heat for even a second.

Scars and scorch marks littered her body, easily seen around her thin, white tank and baggy pants. Not even dressed for the freezing climate.

Zuko had seen things in his life, horrible things. But this tormented him most. Seeing Iskra chained and unable to move, seeing her so weak.

He wanted to run to her, hold her in his arms but he didn't want to scare her. Slowly, he approached, careful with his noise level.

"Iskra?" Zuko whispered when he was close enough.