Avatar Dakota

Chapter 4

The sun began to rise by the time Dakota made it to the northern colony. This one seemed to have a more Fire Nation theme to it. The same smells, architecture, even the fashion. Dakota almost felt at home here. She wandered deeper into the colony and came across a farmer's market.

"Huh...I bet I could ask around for Blaze here." She said to herself. She walked up to a stand that had several stoves going at once. The food smelled amazing, but she wasn't really hungry.

"Excuse me sir, but do you know where I could find someone named Blaze?" She asked the opossum behind the counter. He turned to her, showing a deep cut scar on his face.

"Who wants to know?" He questioned back in a rugged voice. Dakota put her finger to her chin.

"Well, um...the Avatar."

The opossum thought for a second then turned away from her, pointing a finger to the right.

"He's over there. He won't help you, but good luck."

"Thanks mister!" Dakota hopped off of Chichou and led him through the street. There weren't too many people out this morning, but enough were there to make it hard to find someone.

"Hyena with goat horns...hmm...Aha! There he is!"

Blaze was standing at a fresh produce stand, waiting on the vendor to bag his vegetables. Dakota ran up to him, realizing he was rather tall. Either that, or she was really short. She just barely came up to his shoulders.

"Blaze! Boy, am I glad to see you! I've been looking everywhere for you! Hey, I've got a question to ask you-" Dakota spoke quickly and excitedly.

"I'm not the person you're looking for." Blaze cut her off.

"Eh? But you're a hyena with goat horns, you have to be Blaze. That isn't exactly something everyone has."

"I don't have to be anyone. Please be on your way and leave me alone."
He picked up his bag after he paid the clerk and walked off. Dakota pulled Chichou along and followed him.

"B-But, at least hear me out!"

Blaze quickly whipped around. His hardened green eyes, one of which had a scar, held an annoyed look. He put his fists on his hips and bent down slightly as to get to Dakota's height level. For a moment, he almost seemed surprised to see her.

"Listen, I don't know who you think you are, but I'm not going to ask you again to leave me the hell alone. I don't trust people who have been "looking for me." You shouldn't be talking to strangers anyways, you're just a child. Now run on back to daddy and leave me alone."

Dakota reeled back with slight disgust.

"Child? Who do you think you're talking to? I am hardly a child!"

"You certainly act like a brat, so you might as well be." He turned back around and continued walking. Dakota continued to follow him, keeping a bit of distance between them.

"C'mon, you're the only person around here who's not afraid to Earthbend!"

Blaze gave no response to any of her questions. The two ended up at a beachfront. Dakota looked on in awe at the pale white sand and the clear blue sea. She had never seen the ocean in real life before. By the time she looked back, Blaze somehow ended up halfway down the beach. He entered a luxurious house, bigger than any colony house she had seen. Dakota hopped on Chichou and ran him down to the house. Dakota walked up on to the porch and knocked on the door. She heard Blaze inside call out to her.

"I said get out of here! I didn't order any royal servants!" He growled. Dakota furrowed her brow.

"I just want to talk!" Dakota replied to him. Blaze threw the door open, startling Dakota. He had changed into more casual clothes. Just sweatpants and a tattered, red bandana around his right arm.