Chang Ai [ENG] [zukaang/ zuko x aang fanfic]

Chapter VII: The Chase

After deciding that he would be better alone and leaving his uncle behind, Zuko traveled through semi-arid land riding his ostrich horse. The sun was warm but strong at the same time and with its rays it burned intensely the sweaty skin of his neck as soon as he crossed a bridge, he almost fell but he put the saddle back in place with a haggard look and an empty stomach, he had been a long time without eating anything, he suddenly stopped when he perceived a pleasant scent, he turned his gaze to find a man cooking a large piece of meat over an open flame. Zuko put a hand on his stomach which was growling begging for some food and brought his free hand towards the hilt of his broadsword; however, he stopped when he saw that the man was traveling with a pregnant woman so he simply continued on his way, struggling to stay conscious. His vision blurred and he closed his eyes, as he did so, the silhouette of a woman walking through a dark corridor with a hood over her head appeared, Zuko opened his eyes again but lowered his head, wanting to somehow forget that strange vision.

Finally, he managed to reach a village. Upon entering, he passed some Earth Kingdom soldiers, who watched Zuko for a moment, dismounted his ostrich horse and headed towards a small shop where he found the owner, a merchant, standing behind the counter.

"Can you give me some water, a bag of feed and a hot meal to eat?" Zuko asked as he extended his hand forward revealing a small amount of coins.

"There's not enough for a hot meal" the man replied "but I can get you two feed bags"

As soon as the merchant went to get the feed bags for Zuko, two children who were hidden on the other side of the counter threw an egg at the soldiers who were right behind Zuko and ran to hide. Believing that Zuko had thrown the egg, the soldiers glared at him and get up from the ground to confront him.

"Hey" the leader of the soldiers, called Gow, exclaimed, the Fire Nation prince did not look at them and just stood in his place "are you the one who has been throwing eggs at us, stranger?"

"No" Zuko replied without looking at him.

"Did you see who threw it?" the soldier asked with an annoyed frown.

"No" Zuko said, turning around in front of them at the same time he sneaked a hand to the hilt of his broadsword.

"Is that your favorite word? no?" another soldier asked in a mocking tone.

"It must come out from somewhere" Gow commented.

"Maybe a chicken flew by" Zuko replied turning his back on them, the second soldier laughed but his leader looked at him angrily making him shut up. As soon as the merchant brought the feed bags for Zuko, Gow pushed him aside and took both bags.

"Thanks for your contribution" Gow said as he took the feed bags "the army appreciates your support" he threw the bag of food to one of the soldiers "it's better that you leave the village as soon as possible, the penalty for staying too long is tigher than you can afford, stranger" he hit his heavy metal hammer with his hand "trust me"

"Sorry about that. Those soldiers are supposed to protect us from the Fire Nation" the merchant told to Zuko, they both saw Gow and his men go away from there "but they are nothing than a bunch of thugs"

Zuko turned and walked back to his ostrich horse, but before he could get up, the boy who previously threw the egg at Gow appeared from the other side.

"Hey! thanks for not giving me away" the boy said smiling, Zuko ignored him, he got on his ostrich horse and started to move away from there, the boy made a slight expression of annoyance but decided to follow him "I am going to take you to my house and feed your ostrich horse" he took the reins of the animal and began to walk "come on, I owe you one"