Mercy (Zuko)

Chapter Five: The Bounty Hunter

"Wow, they're incredible..."

"Aren't they? And very versatile despite its size!"

"How useful."

The komodo rhino snorts, making my hair fly away from my face. They really are incredible creatures; tough hide able to withstand freezing temperatures and extreme heat; strong legs that can climb up mountains and run long distances; three long horns perfect for charging barricades. I can see why the Fire Nation uses them so often.

"Perhaps the next time we go on a land excursion, you can ride one," Iroh suggests.

I smile. "That would be fun, I think. Thank you."

"This one here is a sweetheart," Iroh coos, moving down to a smaller komodo rhino and giving its head a rub. "She's my favorite — very easygoing and just wants to please. I call her Hoyung, after a beloved pet I had as a boy."

"How sweet," I murmur softly, standing next to the general and giving the beast a gentle pat. "I can see you really care for them."

"Of course," Iroh exclaims. "You need to treat your creatures with respect, otherwise they won't respect you — pet or otherwise." Iroh grins. "And besides, how could you not love this sweet face?"

The komodo rhino grunts and presses her cheek against Iroh's, who laughs heartily.

"Uncle?" Zuko's voice comes from up the stairs to the deck.

"Yes, nephew?" Iroh calls, leaving Hoyung and starting up the stairs.

I follow after him and close the hatch once we make it to the main deck.

"There you are," Zuko huffs, approaching us. "We're beginning preparations to leave. This is your last chance to go to shore."

"Thank you, Prince Zuko, but I think I'm all set," Iroh says. "How about some tea? I think we could all do with some quiet relaxation."

"Uncle—" Zuko begins hotly, but Iroh interrupts him.

"Come along, you two," he insists, walking into the main tower.

I promptly follow behind and I hear Zuko huff once again before coming after us.

Iroh has a low table set with cups and a teapot in the room we often ate meals in. Iroh and Zuko sit across from each other while I take the end between them. Iroh pours us each a cup.

"See Prince Zuko, a moment of quiet is good for your mental well-being," he advises wisely.

Zuko raises the cup to his mouth, but the ship suddenly jerks and Zuko's tea goes all over his head. He growls in anger and flies out of the room.

Iroh and I look at each other before hurrying after him.

When we make it back to the deck, we're greeted with the impressive sight of a giant beast and its rider.

"Get back!" the woman atop it commands. "We're after a stowaway!"

Zuko approaches her fiercely, Iroh behind him while I hover in the back with the other crewmen.

"There are no stowaways on my ship," Zuko argues firmly.

The beast suddenly growls and rips a chunk of the deck right off the ship and flings it in our direction. Zuko and Iroh quickly duck while the rest of us scramble out of the way. The komodo rhinos squeal and grunt underneath the deck, but the beast ignores them and sticks its head in the hole it made in the storage area.

A strange man suddenly scrambles up from the hole and starts running towards us, but the beast lashes out at him with its tongue and the man collapses to the floor, completely frozen.