The Roots That Played With Fire
Chapter 1.5: What the Earth Refused
Zuko stood for a moment longer, chest rising up and down aggressively. Absent-mindedly staring at the spot she once stood. The forest slowly stilled. Acting like nothing ever happened. But something did, and he didn’t understand just how much it would affect him. And that alone bothered him more than he would like to admit.
Toph tilted her head as he approached the group a while later. “You catch her?”
Sokka groaned. “Fantastic. Love that. Mystery plant wizard swoops in and saves the day and then just goes ‘POOF’. Super reassuring."
“I’m just saying! This is new! Like, we had a system. Fire, water, earth, air. That’s it! And now? We got someone that can bend plants? Plants Katara! What’s next? Emotional damage bending?”
Toph snorted. Aang smiled slightly despite the rising tension within the group.
“Hey,” he stepped toward Zuko. “What did you see exactly?”
Zuko glanced up, almost hesitant before:
Katara’s shoulders eased slightly.
“She’s protecting a child.”
That softened the group's expressions completely.
“And?” Sokka pressed further.
“Then we need to find her,” Aang stepped forward. “And not as her enemies.”
Back in the forest, YN didn’t stop running until her legs went numb. The child slipped off her back once she finally stopped.
YN stilled, unsure of how to answer the child's question. “I don't know.”
“Then why did we run?” The child pressed again.
“BECAUSE I DON’T KNOW IF THEY CAN BE TRUSTED!” YN snapped.
“My promise to you was to keep you safe.”
YN took a deep breath and looked down at her hands.
Small traces of green still clung to her skin. Like they always have.
“And sometimes being seen is more dangerous than being alone.”
The forest around them continued to shift.
Somewhere deep within the soil - something stirred.
Not the earth. Never the earth.
And for the first time in years. She wasn’t sure if she was the one controlling it.
Far away, a map laid stretched across a table.
Lines. Circles. Everywhere looked as if to be marked in ink.
A figure leaned over the table. A slow smile curved their lips.
“I found you,” they murmured.
Fingers pressed into the map.
Right where she had been.
“And this time… you won’t run.”
SUPER SHORT AND I AM SO SORRY!!!
I had some family events that happened that took up a LOT of my time and I didn't realize I only posted the first 2/3 of the first chapter so I wanted to provide the rest before hoping into Chapter 2!
