MAYA [Book 1 - Water]

Chapter 9 - An Ambush?!

-Zuko's Point of View-

It's been two days since we set sail, yet still, we don't even have a single clue where the Avatar might be.

If only Zhao didn't delay everything that time, then we wouldn't have lost the Avatar's trail. I would have captured him already!

Okay, let's just relax Zuko. Don't let your anger get the best of you. I'm sure we'll find the Avatar soon. I just need to be a little more patient.

I'm currently here in my quarters, meditating. This really helps ease my mind and control my temper. The candles in front of me help me control my breathing. Whenever I inhale, the fire becomes smaller but, as I exhale it would be bigger.

This is actually one of the basics my uncle taught me. The power of fire is from the breath. The bigger release of breath, the bigger the fire.

After a few more breaths, I tried concentrating on the places the Avatar might go to. The Air Temples would be a great place to search but I don't have the proper vehicles for that. We would need one of the Fire Nation tanks but I don't have it.

Besides, even if the Avatar did visit the Air Temples, he wouldn't stay there for long. There's no one there to welcome him. I'm sure a quirky 12-year-old would want to go someplace else, but where?

I tried pondering deeper about it but then the door to my room opened.

"The only reason you should be interrupting me is if you have news about the Avatar," I said without looking at who it was that entered.

"Well, there is news Prince Zuko, but you might not like it. Don't get too upset."

"Uncle, you told me that keeping a leveled head is a sign of a great leader. Now, whatever you have to say, I'm sure I can take it," I said calmly, still not looking back at him.

"Okay then... We have no idea where he is," Uncle replied.

"WHAT?!" I shouted as I let out a huge release of breath making the candles' flames burst.

I jolted up and stood in front of my uncle.

"You really should open a window in here," he said as he took out a hand fan and flapped it against his face.

"Ugh! Give me the map!" I took the map from his other hand and looked at it.

"There have been multiple sightings of the Avatar, but he is impossible to track down," Uncle continued saying as he keeps flapping the hand fan on his face.

We've been to seven locations and all of them are empty! None! No Avatar!

"How am I gonna find him, uncle? He is clearly a master of evasive maneuvering," I told him back.

I studied the map and tried to tie the knots and connect the location points hoping that I would have an idea where he could be, but I can't!

Where are you Avatar, and what are you planning to do?

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-Maya's Point of View-

Okay. It's been two whole days since that crazy happening in the Southern Air Temple where we almost got blown off the mountain.

Also, it's been two whole days that our travel was peaceful and quiet. Well, except for Sokka's shouting and snoring, everything seems to be going fine. We haven't encountered a single firebender or any kind of ambush from any kind of people yet.