The White Assassin

Ch. 16 - Advancement

Aang and Katara were sitting in the living room of Muriel's home drinking tea. They both had looks full of worry stuck on their faces, the first thing that came to my mind was that Toph and Sokka were taken since they were not with Aang and Katara. I may be wrong but it was my assumption, I decided to stay hidden since they hadn't noticed my presence yet. "Calm down young ones, please speak slower. I cannot understand anything you say if you talk at the speed of a fox." Muriel said to them. They both nodded and took deep breaths. Aang looked to Katara and she looked at Muriel.

"Well, Hale was taken by the fire nation!" Katara exclaimed. I raised my eyebrows, that's why they're worried? Did I really cause such a worry? I've got to apologize when I make my entrance. I looked to Muriel who had a shocked expression. She looked to Cole and he looked down to the ground. Muriel grew angry, her hands clenched into tight fists and her knuckles turned white. She knew I had brought her husband home, perhaps she didn't know that I was captured by the fire nation beforehand?

"What do you plan on doing?" Muriel asked. Both Aang and Katara had expressions of shock and bewilderment planted on their faces. "What do you think an old lady like me can do? I'm not young anymore, I'm almost sixty. An old woman like me needs rest and relaxation." Muriel was right. She couldn't and wouldn't be able to do anything if I was captured by the fire nation. They are too powerful and not only that, Muriel is a non bender. She wouldn't be able to hold off soldiers, there's just no way.

"My wife is right, kids." Cole spoke up. "I'm a soldier of the fire nation and I've seen things that I certainly do not want my wife to encounter. Even if she were strong enough and young I wouldn't send her out there." Cole wrapped his arm around Muriel's shoulders and you could tell that he loved his wife and wished to protect her from everything.

"You've just got to help us!" Aang shouted. I widened my eyes at his sudden outburst. He never yells, especially to people he respects and he considers his elders. I wasn't the only one to feel this way. Muriel and Katara both had the same expression I did but Cole's face remained still. He must be used to being yelled at our of no where from being a soldier.

"Why is that?" Cole asked. His face grew more stern and he gave a soft glare towards Aang.

"I care a lot about Hale!" Aang blurted out. I felt my face redden at his proclamation. "I don't know what I would do if I lost her. Especially to Zuko. He doesn't deserve her! Neither do I, but I want to make her happy and I promised myself that!" Time stopped. I stood still and I felt my heart stop beating. It was if the gods had stopped what was going around me so I could figure out what I just heard. I looked to Muriel and she had a small smile on her face, while Katara had a look of determination.

"We're getting our friend back!" She exclaimed. I smiled at their bravery and charisma. They really cared for me, and without realizing it myself I started caring for them back.

"You don't need to." I said. Finally deciding to come out of the shadows. I held onto my burned side which was still healing. My bandaged side was shown from my torn shirt. Katara, Aang, Muriel and Cole looked at me when I spoke up.

"I was wondering when you were going to come out." Muriel said. I chuckled at her response and she gave a sweet smile.

"You're okay?" Aang asked. I nodded and he ran towards me. He enveloped me in one of the warmest hugs that I had ever had. I hugged him right back but not without wincing from my burn. Luckily, Aang didn't notice. Katara however, did. She pulled Aang away from me and once again I felt cold. No warmth to keep me at the right temperature and my surroundings felt like ice. She looked at me with concern and I gave her a shrug.

"What did they do to you?" Katara asked.

"Nothing major, just a 2nd degree burn. I'll get over it." I told her. She nodded and Aang looked confused, then he spotted my bandages. His face sank in sadness and I felt bad for worrying them. "Sorry for worrying you two."

"All is forgiven. Just, don't do it again." Katara said. I nodded to her and we all sat down at the couches. We drank some tea and conversed about our lives. Muriel introduced Cole to Katara and Aang but when I looked at Cole, it looked like he had something on his mind.

"Cole? Everything alright?" I asked him.

"Not really." He responded. Muriel gave him a worried look and I leaned forward to show that I wanted him to continue. "You see, I bet you that they are doing attendance of all the soldiers right now." I nodded my head in understanding and immediately felt my stomach drop. "Once they find out that the prisoner, or Hale, has escaped and notice that I'm missing as well. They'll assume I bailed her out, which I did, and ran with her. Which means that they will probably come here to try and find me and Hale."

"Which means.." Aang started.

"We have to move." Katara finished. Cole nodded and I felt sad. I didn't want to leave and I felt really bad that I had brought Cole into all of this. I stood up along with Katara and Aang and got ready to depart.

It was a couple hours when we heard a knock on the door. "That must be the fire nation and that means, we have to go now!" I whispered. Everyone nodded and Muriel led us to a crawl space in a nearby closet. It was under the floor boards and it was pretty room for a crawl space. We awaited for the door to open and it did. I could see through a hole in the floor boards and see that a fire nation soldier did indeed knock on the door.

"Soldier, we are in need of your assistance." The soldier said to Cole.

"What would you need, commander?" Cole asked.

"We have made plans to advance into enemy lines and over throw the earth kingdom. We ask for your help with this plan, since we will need all the soldiers we can get." The soldier responded. I widened my eyes at the commander's words. They were going to try and take over the earth kingdom. My home, where my parent are, where Pete and Haron are. That will not happen.

"I'm sorry to say that I will not be able to attend and help in such an event. I would assume the commanders and corporals would want their strongest bending soldiers, not a non bending soldier. Please consider someone else for the position." Cole responded. He didn't sound like he did when he spoke to me. His voice became emotionless and deep. The commander nodded and saluted Cole which he returned. The commander left and closed the door. I got out of the crawl space and went into the kitchen looking through drawers.

"Hale, what're you doing?" Aang asked.

"I'm trying to find a map with the fastest way back home. There is no way that I am letting some hot heads take over my kingdom. I am the princess of the earth kingdom and I will stand with my country when it needs it." I said back to Aang. I found a map and scaled a route back home that would take a couple of hours. I grabbed my bag and a cloak hanging up. I placed the map and walked towards the door but I was stopped by a voice.

"Wait." Muriel said. I turned to see her holding some food and water. "You may need these." I nodded to her and took her offerings. Aang, Katara and I headed out and stayed out of sight of the on coming fire soldiers looking for recruits. Hopefully, we weren't too late.