Little Soldier Boy (Iroh II)

Chapter 15

"Everyone below deck! Now!" Commander Bumi ordered as lightning broke across the sky.

Very few could hear him over the pounding rain and the rushing water.

The boat lurched to the side as a wave crashed into the opposing side.

Bumi held the mast for balance, trying to monitor the soldiers that heard him.

Iroh stumbled, slipping on the wet deck as he headed for the door.

He was taken down fully when a wave washed over the deck.

He coughed up sea water and pushed himself to his feet.

"Below deck!" Bumi repeated.

Iroh stumbled for the door but stopped short when he heard a shout across the deck.

Bumi and Iroh snapped their attention to the soldier who was kneeling against the wall, holding on for dear life.

Iroh realized it was Yuku who must've lost his footing the same way Iroh did, but wasn't as lucky to get back up.

"Ro!" Cho shouted from the door.

Iroh glanced at him. He stepped lightly in the opposite direction, heading for Yuku.

Another wave crashed over the deck.

Iroh's eyes widened when the other soldier was swept over the wall.

Bumi cursed.

Iroh ran for the wall.

"Iroh!" Bumi shouted as his son vaulted over and into the sea.

"Iroh!" His friends all yelled.

Iroh splashed head first into the roaring sea, feeling his body whirl in a circle, he had just barely caught his breath in time.

He opened his eyes and immediately regretted it when the salty water stung his eyes. He forced his eyes to stay open, despite not being able to see anything since the water obstructed his vision as well as everything appeared pitch black.

Iroh managed to break the surface of the water and catch a breath, seeing the blurry figure of his ship. He took another breath before a waved crashed over his head.

He forced his eyes to stay open, praying that he'd see the red and white of Yuku's uniform.

He tried swimming but another wave spun him around. He felt his arm hit something, and he could barely make out a faint red color.

He grabbed the object so he wouldn't lose it as the waves threw them around more.

Iroh forced the object to his chest and wrapped his arms around it.

He swam for the surface and gasped when his head broke the water. He looked at the object in his arms, relief flooding him when he saw that it was, in fact, Yuku.

Iroh did everything he could to reach the ship.

He was taken under by another wave but managed to resurface, keeping a firm arm around Yuku.

Iroh paddled harder as the ship came into his reach.

He slapped his hand onto the ladder on the side of the ship and hauled himself up onto the metal bars, holding Yuku against his torso.

The other soldier was unconscious, which made this a lot harder.

Iroh slowly but surely made his way up the ladder.

His whole group stood at the wall, trying to find him.

"There he is!" Chi pointed at the ladder.