Daughter of the Moon - Book Two: Earth

Chapter 4: Separation

- Elara -

We found ourselves perched in the thick foliage of the forest trees once again, waiting for our next victim to emerge from the shadows. It had only taken a few days for Zuko and I to completely abandoned our beggar lifestyle in exchange for the thrill of thievery, and I had to admit it was quite exciting. Sure, I wasn't too big fan of stealing, but it was definitely less humiliating than whatever Iroh had signed us up for, not to mention that it was more in my skill set. Besides, someone had to keep Prince Hothead in check in the heat of the moment (which was his constant state of being), and it didn't seem like there was going to be anyone else up for the task.

I watched as a couple unknowingly walked in our line of sight, the both of them carrying large baskets of what appeared to be bread and other baked goods on their shoulders. While the prince calculated the best way to relieve them of their burden, I studied their worn and ragged clothes and the weary way in which they walked. I could tell that they were not in a great situation themselves, and I wouldn't have been surprised if they were in a similar place as Zuko, Iroh, and I. They were poor, and there was no way I was going to let Zuko steal what little they had from them.

As Zuko shimmied over to the edge of the branch to leap down, I grabbed his arm, shaking my head when he looked up at me angrily (at least, I could only assume he was angry. I couldn't see much through the mask). He then gestured at them, sending me a but they're right there kind of a look, but I didn't budge. There was no way we were going to steal from these people.

Once the couple had passed, Zuko slumped back into the tree, sulking in silence so that he didn't blow our cover. I knew he hated when I took control of his heist (given that he argued with me every time I did), but I figured that he would thank me later for my considerate contribution to the business he had here. Besides, what would we gain from robbing the poor?

Eventually, I spotted our next target, and this one looked promising. I watched as a ostrich-horse pulled along an elegant, green carriage encrusted with gold. This was, without a doubt, a wealthy little Earth Kingdom merchant of some kind, and I had little-to-no qualms with stealing from him. I nudged Zuko and pointed at the carriage as it approached our hideaway, and the boy quickly nodded in agreement. Mission attack-the-filthy-rich-guy was a go.

When the cart positioned itself right below us, we dropped from the trees and landed gracefully on the roof. As the coachman spun around to defend himself and his master, I quickly used the butt of my blade to knock him out cold. Not a difficult move, if I was going to be honest, but quite effective (apparently). I then cut the reins to release the beast pulling the carriage while Zuko used his swords to slice open the roof (yes, he literally cut open the roof with his swords, that little show-off). As he peered into the hole he just made, I climbed back up to where he was standing only to immediately drop into the compartment, finding myself face to face with a terrified fat man (as usual, my predictions were correct). I looked down at the money box clutched in the man's clammy fingers, and I didn't even need to say anything before he threw it into my arms. I scoffed as I threw to box up to Zuko, laughing silently to myself as the prince pulled me back onto the roof with seemingly no effort.

I internally thanked the spirits that I was wearing a mask as Zuko's hand subconsciously landed on my waist as he helped me regain my balance on the top of the carriage, the immediate heat that seemed to flush my face indicative of a bashful blush of some kind. I still didn't understand what was happening between Zuko and I and why I was feeling the things I was feeling, but I refused to look further into it lest I found something disturbing. We had a good system going here, and I wasn't about to mess it up with some silly emotions.