Gudiance

Chapter 1

     Limply riding along on his ostrich-horse Zuko clung to his stomach as a waft of food hit him. It was coming from a nearby forest, he turned the animal into the trees a bit before demounting and tying the reins to a trunk near some water. Zuko quietly walked, following the smell of food, the closer he got he could tell it was fish.

     A woman came into view, she looked around his age, but was alone, with many basins of salt, which he amused was for curing some type of meat. He kept low and quiet, waiting for the perfect moment to steal some food.

     Watching the girl intently, Zuko gripped the hilts of his double swords when she sat down a couple of leaves on the ground. She took the fish, which she had been roasting and rotating above a flame, gently pushed it off the stick it was cooking onto the leaf. She repeated the movements until 3 fish were on each leaf, she picked up one and sat down.

     After sipping her tea, she sat another cup across from her, with the other pile of cooked fish. This confused Zuko, because she seemed alone, yet was setting a place across from her, repeating with some rice in small bowls.

     "You are very stealthy but I apologize, not good enough to evade me." The lady spoke softly, after a bite of rice. "Please come join me, you're hungry, I could hear your stomach."

     Zuko froze, it seemed like a trick, yet his need for food drove his feet forward slowly.

     "Would you like some water along with your tea and food?" She gave him a gentle smile as he emerged from the forest into her clearing.

     "Why?" Zuko demand.

     "Why not?" She retorted, pouring him a cup of water and setting it near the food.

     Zuko glared at her, he didn't want to just take food given, yet it was technically better than trying to steal it when it was clearly free.

     He gingerly sat down in front of her, eyeing her.

     She chuckled a bit then sighed, "are you going to let that food go to waste?"

     "Answer my question, why?"

     "Technically I did, you didn't answer mine. Why not?" Zuko glanced down at the food before glaring at her again, causing her to sigh again. "Let's just chalk it up to me not wanting to fight today. I've had a very nice day, and I have enough food and supplies to share with someone who does not. Is that a good enough answer for you?"

     "So, you're only giving it to me because you're in a good mood?" He sneered.

    "No," she stated calmly, taking a piece of fish and eating it. "I'm doing it because I know what it's like to travel and have almost nothing. It's not pleasant. It's not something I would even wish upon my enemy; hunger is the cruelest torture of life."

     Zuko looked at the food again, before picking up the fish and starting to eat it.

    Zuko kept eyeing her as they ate in silence, she didn't bother to start conversation nor stared at him, her calm composure was throwing him off, but it also calmed him as it reminded him of Uncle Iroh.

     When Zuko was done eating, she handed him a water bladder, it was bigger than the empty one upon his person.

     "Trade me, I need a smaller one for watering plants." Zuko glanced over at her makeshift home and saw a couple of pots with flowers near her makeshift wall.

     Zuko traded with her, without any words then he stood up to leave, as he turned, he glanced at her over his shoulder, "thank you."

     "You're welcome," she paused as he started to walk away. "Would you like some feed for your ostrich-horse?"