Ash [Prince Zuko - Book Two]

❃Chapter Ten❃

Asake dreamt of a burning city. Ash and soot rained down from the overcast sky as fire crackled all around her. But she could only stand still, watching as this city – what city? – fell down around her. She turned her head and gasped when she saw the familiar spires of the Fire Nation Capital engulfed in flames.

What did this mean?

Her familiar dream guide, the small phoenix, floated beside her, watching all of the destruction happen. She was frozen to the bucking ground, and an earthbender or earthquake hit the area. Her knees buckled underneath her as a blast of lava spewed out of the ground, the smell of burning flesh and hair permeating through the air.

Her skin melted off of her body, her hair burning to nothingness. A silent scream appeared on her face as the world went dark around her. The last thing she saw was the phoenix growing larger and bigger, becoming solid in reds, oranges, and pinks – almost as if it were the red sky she always sought out during dusk.

Asake gasped as she woke up, sweat dripping down her back. She jerked to the side, her eyes scanning the area she found herself in. She sat in a tree high above the river she had been following for a few days now. A dizzying sensation made her head sway back and forth, and unfortunately for her, she didn't hold on tightly enough to the branch beneath her.

A feeling of weightlessness had taken over her body as she plummeted toward the ground. The feeling was so peaceful, so beautiful, just like the sky waking up above her. But then fear struck her like an elephant leech, and a scream tore out of her throat. She landed hard on the ground, her left shoulder crushed beneath the rest of her body. Something made a cracking noise, but she couldn't focus on it without her breath.

Stars danced across Asake's vision as she struggled to breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out. She slowly sat up, her left hand going numb from the pain. Using her right hand, she gently massaged her left shoulder, gasping when her fingers pressed against her shoulder blade. She cursed under her breath, screwing her eyes shut.

Now that she had her breath back, it was coming quicker and quicker, her heart thudding against her chest. Panic settled in her chest as if it were holding her hostage, holding her down in the muddy ground she landed in. Her head grew fuzzy, and her mouth was so dry. She fell deeper and deeper into distress, wondering how she thought she could survive out here when a wave from the river slammed right into her.

Asake gasped and hopped up, slipping on the fresh mud. She nearly went down, but somehow, she remained standing. She stood there, panting as water and mud dripped off her trembling body. She couldn't believe she had done that, falling out of the tree and nearly having a panic attack. At least she hadn't been impaled by her swords. Speaking of the swords . . . She peered at the branch where she was lying and sighed in relief. They were still hanging by their sheathes, waiting to be taken down.

Asake's shoulder ached as she walked toward the tree, the pain beating in time with her heart. She jumped up and pulled herself up with her right hand only, straddling the branch. Her legs gripped hard so that she wouldn't fall down again. Before she grabbed her swords, Asake slipped her drenched shirt off and created a sling for her arm. Her slip-shirt covered everything she wanted it to so her shirt could act as a sling. She needed to find new clothes and get a bath.

Dropping out of the tree again but with her swords this time, Asake surveyed the land in front of her. Behind her roared the river while a small house stood at a distance away from her, surrounded by rich farmland. She was able to smell the manure and farm creatures this far away. It didn't look like anyone was home, but she wasn't sure yet. She had to watch the house, to know the comings and goings of the people. But most of all, she had to make sure she wouldn't hurt anyone while doing it. She had to stay safe.