Zuko ain't so bad [zukaang]

The Strangers

Zuko's POV 

One day after helping Kwasi's father on his farm, I was walking back to my house. The house had been abandoned for years, but was always taken care of by the town's folk. The swamp tree canopy blocked most of the sky from view, but every once and awhile you can see the clear blue of the sky. You'd think that the trees would be a problem, but you'd be wrong. The trees cast well needed shade over the town, plus they bear all kinds of fruit. So that not everyone has to work as a farmer. It's also not very humid which is odd in itself.

As I walk through the well beaten trail to the heart of the town. Murmurs of voices start becoming clearer, until I'm at main street. The only place in town where you can fully see the sky. The wood shacks are kind of like boxes. Old women and children sit outside. The women tell stories, and teach the children how to read. I smile faintly. This town is always alive with happiness and children. Well, it has been since the guards left.

I lean against one of the store's walls. Listening to one of the stories an old woman was telling. I grimaced when I recognized it, the story of the Avatar. My hunt of the arrow headed monk, had been a way for me to regain my honor. Honor, that's a stupid concept. My dad will never give it to me. I learned that the hard way. I'd even left Uncle Iroh, the only person who'd accepted me, to search for it. Here I found a different type of honor. The type where people look up to you. The type where people like you not because of fear, but because you helped them. It was hard at first to accept that I'd never get my father's approval. I don't know what I would do if they ever found out about my past.

As the story began to finish up, I heard the young voice of an eight year old calling to me. "Chet! Chet, you won't believe what's happening!" I looked over to find Kwasi running over to me, waving his hand frantically. He stopped in front of me, bent over, panting. "Strangers *pant* here *pant* might be *pant* dangerous." he finished. I instantly stood up more alert. I scanned main street for anyone who didn't belong. When I saw no one unusual. I looked back to Kwasi.

"Are you sure Kwasi? No one's here that's different. If you're joking this isn't funny."

"No they're not here because they were stopped at the gates. The gate keeper said to me 'Kwasi go find that brother of yours, Chet, he'll tell us to let them in or not.'" Kwasi intimidated the gatekeeper, using his finger as a pretend mustache. In a different situation, I would've probably smiled. Now though, there are strangers that need to be taken care of.

"Kwasi, bring me to them." he nodded and led me to the gate. There were four strangers. I recognized three of them instantly. No... I left them behind in my old life. I couldn't let my face show if I knew them though. That would raise too many questions. "What are your names and businesses here?" I asked them. The tallest one, the water tribe boy stepped forward. He wore earth nation clothing, and a black cloak with the hood off. To my surprise he let his hair out of his ponytail, leaving it to fall freely. Without the ponytail he looked like a different person.

"My name is Kalhan, and the people with me are my friends and family." he spoke in a slightly deeper voice than normal. He pointed to the water bender, who was currently glaring at me with unprofound hatred. "This is my sister Jamie." she had her hair done in intricate braids. All her clothes were pale brown.

He pointed to a girl, who appeared to be blind. She was wearing all pale blue clothing, and was standing sideways. Staring at nothing in particular. "This is Takisha, but we call her Shay."

And finally he pointed to the man I hunted for three years. "And last but not least is Dakota, but we call him Daka." he was wearing a high necked vest over a plain white shirt, a hat that completely covered his tattoos, his hands were stuffed into the pockets of his vest. He looked extremely uncomfortable.