For the Want of the Sun • Zuko

chapter 8: Zuko Does Not Have It Handled

The days following our escape from Zhao's fortress were calm and uneventful. Any other time I might've thought they were boring, but a break from the constant chaos was much appreciated. With no new sighting of the Avatar, we'd been sailing for a few days, thankfully back in Earth Kingdom territory. My skin was mostly healed from where I'd been stuck, and I spent my first day back eating as much food as I could get my hands on. Iroh had happily obliged me, making me tea and asking the cook to make my favorite: roast chicken.

I sit now with Iroh and Zuko, eating lunch. The ocean rolls by the windows, dancing with waves and sparkling with sunlight. Iroh pours us tea - jasmine - and sits down beside me. He raises his glass to his lips, drinking and sighing contentedly.

"See, Prince Zuko, a moment of quiet is good for your well being." He nods at the cup in front of him.

Zuko looks down and reaches for the cup, going to take a sip. Just as it reaches his mouth the ship jerks, and it spills all over his uniform. I stifle a laugh.

"Argh!" He yells, droplets falling from his hands. His ponytail is wet, and it sticks to his forehead. He stands up, walking out of the room to investigate the commotion. Iroh and I follow him when there is a shout from above.

"Ah! Look out!"

We run onto the deck, where a giant rat-looking thing is sniffing around.

"Woah!" I exclaim, backing away.

Then, from atop the animal a woman speaks, holding a whip. "Get back!" She yells. "We're after a stowaway." I stare at her. Woah.

Zuko steps closer to her. "There are no stowaways on my ship."

The woman ignores him, steering her animal to the corner of the ship. It sniffs wildly and sticks its nose into a hole and steps inside. Then, a man emerges from below it, and runs onto the deck. The animal is quick, though, and lashes its tongue out towards him. He falls to the ground, still.

"Woah," I whisper.

Zuko stares, wide-eyed. "He's paralyzed."

The woman hops down from the animal, walking over to the man. "Only temporarily," she says, and she picks him up and slings him over her shoulder. "The toxins will wear off in about an hour. By then, he'll be in jail and I'll have my money."

"But how did you find him on my ship?" Zuko asks. I am still staring.

"My shirshu can smell a rat a continent away."

Iroh strokes his beard. "Well, I'm impressed,'' he says.

The lady cracks her whip before bolting off atop the shirshu. She runs off along the trail.

"She is so cool," I whisper. Zuko sends me a look.

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Later that night, Zuko approaches me and Iroh, who are locked in an intense game of Pai Sho. My brows are pulled together and my hand is shaking as I inspect the pattern he's made on the board. He grins at me from across the table.

"Uncle! We need to go into town."

Iroh glances over his shoulder lazily. "Why is that, nephew?"

"I need to find the bounty hunter."
I perk up. "Ooh! The lady with the shirshu? Can I come?"

Zuko looks at me, confused. "Uh, yeah, sure. But we need to leave now."

I stand up quickly. "You win, Iroh, good game."

He smiles. "Ah. Thank you. Maybe next time, dear."

Zuko turns for the door. "Let's go."

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