Mercy (Zuko)

Chapter Seven: The Unlikely Encounter

We land after flying a safe distance away from the town and make camp in the shadow of a cliff. The man who helped us escape is named Chey, and he informs us that he's a deserter of the Fire Nation army. Chey lights a small fire in the pit that Sokka made, and we all try to ignore our growling stomachs.

"I serve a man," Chey speaks up. "More than a man really, he's a myth, but he's real — a living legend, Jeong Jeong the Deserter. He was a Fire Nation general — or wait... was he an admiral?"

"He was very highly ranked, we get it," Sokka cuts in dryly.

"Yeah, way up there!" Chey agrees enthusiastically. "But he couldn't take the madness anymore. He's the first person ever to leave the army and live."

A chill rushes through me. I didn't realize how seriously the Fire Nation takes matters of that sort. It's almost unheard of for a Water Tribe warrior to desert the military, but at the same time they have something so much more valuable to fight for; their home.

"I'm the second, but you don't get to be a legend for that," Chey finishes. "It's okay though. Jeong Jeong's a firebending genius! Some say he's mad, but he's not — he's enlightened."

Aang immediately perks up at this news. "You mean there's a firebender out here who's not with the Fire Lord?" He jumps to his feet. "He can train me!"

"We're not gonna go find some crazy firebender!" Sokka quickly discourages, and I agree with him.

From what I pick up on, Aang hasn't even learned waterbending yet, and that's why they're heading to the North Pole. I don't know a lot about the Avatar, but I do know that the elements should be learned in a specific order — and for Aang, the first one after his own is water.

Chey stands up, angry at Sokka's rude comment.

"He's not crazy!" he yells defensively. "He's a genius! And he's the perfect person to train the Avatar, that's why I followed you into the festival."

Now Sokka stands up, arms crossed and frowning. "Look, thanks for the help, but we're leaving for the North Pole in the morning."

"Sokka," Aang says softly, "this could be my only chance to meet a firebending master who would actually be willing to train me."

Now Katara stands up and I'm the only one left sitting. I have my own opinions about this, but I'm not a part of their group — my voice won't hold any weight.

"It can't hurt just to talk to him," Katara joins in.

"That's what you said about going to the festival!" Sokka cries in exasperation. "Why doesn't anyone ever listen to me?!"

Just as Sokka turns away, a sharp spear is thrust in his direction and he jerks back with a yelp. Several strangers wearing makeshift clothing and large straw hats drop onto the ground from out of the trees, and I finally scramble up in a panic.

They close in on us and we're surrounded completely. Chey immediately has his hands up to show he means no harm.

"Don't move," one of them warns.

Seeing as we're outnumbered and that Aang is separated, he probably doesn't feel confident in getting us out of that situation without one of the men hurting us. So we let ourselves get huddled up and ushered further into the forest. They lead us on no clear path, weaving between trees and shuffling through brush.

The waning moon hovers high above the treetops and I stare up at it. It's shining brightly and it's like I can almost feel some power just barely surge through me. It hums softly beneath my skin, and I feel it in my breath. Waterbenders are most powerful at night, especially during the times around and during a full moon. That was one way I was able to tell the time in my darkened cell. I could feel the moon's pull on me, as if I was another one of the ocean's waves; and I can feel it right now. It's a feeling that makes me yearn for the strength and power I know I don't have, and it makes me wish I was back on Zuko's ship as we cut through the water. I miss the rocking of the hull and the smell of salt. Being ripped away from that for the second time in my life hurts.