Written for Day 1 of @zkmythicalcreaturesweek for the prompt Dragons.
Summary: When Katara hears of a dragon terrorizing the locals, she jumps at the opportunity to earn the reward if the beast is slayed. But when she reaches the dragon's lair, she's surprised to find a man there instead. Undeterred, she continues her hunt for the dragon, but her search brings her back to Zuko again. Before long, she begins to piece things together, but nothing can prepare her for the full truth.
“…guards have posted a reward if someone slays the beast,” one of them was saying. “It’s been menacing the farms, slayin’ the livestock and such. Won’t be long until it kills a person.”
“What’s the reward?” the second patron inquired.
“¥1000 yuan and a commemoration from the Fire Lord himself,” the first one said. “If it expands its territory it’ll hit the Caldera. He wants the dragon slain.”
“Agni forbid the blasted thing damages any of the farms that feeds the nobles,” the second snorted derisively.
Katara had heard enough. She turned towards them and asked, “Where’s this beast at?”
They looked up at her, clearly unimpressed by her appearance. “What, you think you’re gonna slay the dragon?” the second one snorted.
“I might,” Katara said defensively. She was used to ridicule—she knew she didn't like the average dragon slayer. But she was a blade for hire, and there was very little that she would back down from.
“Highkeep Peak,” the second man said. “Up in the Calderan Mountains, couple days north of here. I wouldn’t bother, little lady. That beast’ll gobble you up and be hungry for seconds.”
Katara took a swig off of her drink. “We’ll see about that.”