Mercy (Zuko)

Chapter Nine: The Survivor

Maybe a day has gone by since the night Zhao took Zuko's crew and destroyed his ship. I don't really care that much anyway; my mind has been swirling constantly since the explosion, and it feels like nothing else matters so much.

I know Zuko wasn't a very likable person to most, but what I didn't understand was why would Zhao get rid of General Iroh as well? — he was respected, clearly, and a valuable asset, if not just a decent person. There's no way he would've been able to avoid the blast unless he was conveniently off the ship; he must've gotten caught up in it too.

But what does it matter now? I'm stuck on this ship and no one else knows about it — I'm completely on my own. Zhao won't be patient with me for much longer, so I have to make up my mind. Submit or die.

I take a deep breath and close my eyes.

Submit... or escape.

A few hours later, the hatch to the brig creaks open, followed by the heavy footsteps of an armored man. Light flickers closer until it stops just outside of my cell, and I look up to see a Fire Nation soldier with a small flame dancing in the palm of his hand. He sets something down between the bars; a tin cup. He does nothing else and just walks back the way he came, the light of his fire slowly fading until I'm left in the dark again. I can only make out outlines of things because someone lit one of the sconces by the stairs.

I get up onto my knees and crawl to the cup. I pick it up carefully, scared to spill any of the water, and bring it to my lips greedily. I haven't had anything to drink since having tea with Zhao and I could feel it. My lips are cracked and my head aches. My throat welcomes the cool water graciously, and it hits my empty stomach almost painfully.

I grip the cup between my hands when I finish, and I feel like I could think clearly now. There's no way I'd work for Zhao — whether it be for my life or otherwise. But I also don't want to die. Everything I've been through, everything I've had to do, would all be for nothing if I let Zhao kill me. So my only option is to break out, but how do you do that on a warship full of Fire Nation soldiers in the middle of the ocean?

I can tell we're still docked at the Fire Navy base, but I think that would make it even harder for me if I try to run now. The soldiers and crewmen who normally are busy running the ship will now be free to roam where they please, and the navy base is too close for comfort. I won't make it far into the woods in my current state. I think my only choice is to jump ship once we've already set out.

I remember the way my tribe would move around the waters of the North Pole when stealth was essential. They would cover themselves in the hides of polar bear dogs and maneuver through the frigid ocean on large chunks of ice. Sometimes they would find the ice, but most of the time they would make it themselves. That's my way out.

The only problem...

I look down at the tin cup. Droplets of water cling to the inside. I stare at it harder; grip it tighter. I let out a frustrated breath and fling the cup behind me. It clangs against the stone, which irritates me further and I spin around and glare at it — then I stop.

Tiny crystals wink at me from the inside.

"How did I...?" I breathe, eagerly picking it up again and examining it.

What little water that was left inside has frozen, but I have no idea what I did to make it happen. Was it my anger? Was it the way I threw it? Some kind of combination? I'm not sure, but it's a start.

The ship groans loudly, and the pipes above me hiss. It jolts before evening out at a steady pace — we're leaving. I have to learn fast.