Under the Cherry Blossom ↠ Zuko x OC ✔️

04 | The Adventures of Peanut

Dawn is approaching the Northern Air Temple. Rays of sunlight shine down on Team Avatar. A beam of light lands right on Peanut's face, causing him to stir.

The little dog opens his chocolate brown eyes to a new day. He gets up from his sleeping position with Arlington and does some early morning yoga. Peanut performs upward-facing dog and downward-facing dog to stretch his tired limbs.

After stretching, Peanut looks around the campsite. He sees Arlington and Zuko sleeping together. Zuko holds Arlington close with both his arms wrapped around her and Arlington rests her head on his chest. The duo's legs are intertwined.

Peanut quickly gives a little sniff to both Arlington and Zuko. He softly messes around with their hair, creating knots of hair for them to detangle later.

The little dog searches for his breakfast in one of Sokka's bags. He knows that the Water Tribe boy almost always has meat on him. Peanut sticks his nose in the largest of Sokka's bags to smell out any meat. He finds a small sack with blubbered seal-jerky and quickly tears into it. In a matter of a few minutes, Peanut has eaten Sokka's entire bag of jerky.

Peanut leaves the campsite to find a place to mark his territory. He finds a nice pile of melting snow to urinate in. He lifts his leg, pees, then begins to patrol the Northern Air Temple.

He starts walking down the main hall of the temple. He looks at the yin-yang symbols engraved on the ground. Peanut first smells the circles multiple times before scratching at them. He deems them safe and continues down the hall.

The little dog reaches the end of the corridor. The doors that only an airbender can open are opened. He briefly smells the entrence before entering.

There are multiple contraptions and machines scatter throughout the room along with miscellaneous tools.

He begins walking around the perimeter; his nose never leaves the ground. On the back left corner, Peanut runs into a family of hermit crabs.

The largest crustacean, probably the parent, leaves the family huddle and approaches Peanut. It quickly pinches the dog's nose. Peanut yelps in pain and shakes his head to free himself from the crab's grip. He quickly scurries out of the room.

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By the time Peanut finishes patrolling the Northern Air Temple, Team Avatar as woken up for the day.

"Peanut!" Arlington calls Peanut for breakfast.
Peanut runs across the courtyard to the plate with rice Arlington has set out for him.

"Hey! Where's my blubbered seal-jerky?" Sokka searches his bag for the missing food.
"Did you use it to lite the campfire again, Aang?" Sokka asks.
"No, but this must be a sign for you to become a vegetarian." Aang smiles.
"I bet it was Peanut!" Sokka accuses the little dog.

When hearing his name, Peanut looks up from his plate of food. He licks his lips.

"Don't accuse him." Arlington playfully slaps Sokka's arm.
"I'm gonna find proof that he did it! Just you watch." Sokka stomps off, grumbling to himself.

"I know it was you, bud. Next time, just eat a little bit of Sokka's food, not all of it." Arlington pets Peanut. He nuzzles his head into her hand.

"You want to work with me today?" She asks.
Peanut wags his tail.
"Alright, let's go."

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