Chapter Text
It’s been more than two weeks, yet whenever Sokka and Katara asked about visiting their friends, their parents would dance around the subject. Katara’s had enough. Just as the family settled down for breakfast, Katara slammed her hands on the table and stood.
“Why won’t you let us go see Zuko and Azula?! Grounding is over!”
“Katara!” Kya chided.
“She’s right!” Sokka spoke up. “We’re really sorry about sneaking behind you but we really want to see them again!”
“We know kids, it’s just…” Hakoda paused.
He glanced at Kya who shared a nervous expression. They’ve read in detail about the missing people reports and were not comfortable with their young children running around up there.
“How about Zuko and Azula visit us in the valley?” Hakoda suggested.
“Yes, you can show them around town and get them ice cream.” Kya added.
Katara flailed her arms. “We can’t! They can’t come here ever!!!”
The parents blinked. “Why not?”
“Oh uh…” She fidgeted with her braids.
“B-Because they’re shy!” Sokka said quickly. “They have a weird skin condition and people are really mean about it.”
“Yeah so they can’t come!”
“What type of skin condition?” Kya asked.
The siblings looked at each other. “Uh… red. And blue. Patches.”
“Like a lizard.”
“But in a totally human non weird but weird enough to stay in the mountains way.”
“Red and blue lizard patches.” Hakoda said skeptically, causing the siblings to cringe.
“Why won’t you let us see them?!” Katara demanded.
Kya sighed. “Look seal pup. It’s not you or the Hong family we don’t trust. We looked into those missing people cases and well…”
“We don’t feel comfortable with you two up there just yet.” Hakoda finished.
“We’ll be fine.” Sokka insisted.
They still kind of smelled like the bath Mama Dragon gave them. Sokka was adamant nothing deterred predators like dragon spit. But how to explain that to Dad and Mom? An idea struck him.
“Actually while we were up there, Mrs. Hong sprayed us with her homemade blend to ward off bugs and wild animals.”
“It’s true! She sprayed us all over and it kind of tickled." Katara insisted.
Hakoda hummed. “They do still kind of stink from last time they were up there.”
“Hakoda!”
“What?”
Kya sighed. “We’ll think about it. Now sit down and finish your breakfast.”
Katara sighed and returned to her seat. The first month of summer was already almost over. If they don’t do something soon, the whole season would pass before they saw their friends again.
~*~
Iroh snorted to himself as he read Ozai’s old notes. Protectors of humankind indeed. The dragon clearly pulled that out of thin air just to save her own hide.
It more than worked, though.
Iroh shut the book shut and hissed. He thought combing through his brother’s things would give them a lead, but it will fill with to the brim with spirit tales and nonsense. How his little brother fell for this, Iroh would never know.
“Get your jacket. We’re heading out.” Azulon ordered.
Iroh put away the book and obeyed. They took a short walk to a rundown ramen shop.
“Since when do you eat ramen?” Iroh asked while taking their seats.
“We’re not here for food.” Azulon took up a menu.
Iroh hummed and did the same. A stakeout maybe? Moments later, an energetic handless waiter greeted them.
“Mr. Zi Rui! You’re back! And you brought a friend!”
“Ringo this is my son, Mushi. Mushi, Ringo.”
Iroh dipped his head politely. “Pleasure to meet you.”
“Wow you’re out here with your dad! I wish my dad would eat with me but he hates me and my granddad’s really really busy because it’s fishing season. Do you like fish Mr. Mushi? It goes great with ramen but not if you salt it too much. Then it tastes like salt rocks which is not good!”
“Ringo.” Azulon interrupted. “What’s new with Arrowwood?”
“Oh! It’s salmon season which is good because my granddad loves salmon! And the Spotted Dove birds have returned from their winter homes. Mrs. Lihua is really really excited because she’s been trying to spot this super rare bird and-“
Iroh glanced at Azulon slightly alarmed and amused. Azulon merely rolled his eyes.
“Also a new family moved in all the way from the South Pole!”
This peaked the men’s interest.
“A Southern Water Tribe family moved to Arrowwood?” Azulon asked slowly.
“Yes sir! Granddad said they’re really really friendly. They even let that loner mountain guy help set up the clinic.”
Azulon and Iroh tensed.
“I couldn’t live in the South Pole. Way too cold! My nose would drip and drip and I’ll be too busy wiping it to eat ramen!”
“Ringo!” A voice called from the kitchen. “What did I tell you about bothering the guests?! Take their order then leave!”
“Sorry! Would it be the usual Mr. Zi Rui?”
Azulon nodded.
“And you Mr. Mushi?”
“I’ll take the salmon ramen.”
“Excellent choice! It’s salmon season you know. I’ll be back in a few!”
After finishing their meal and enduring more small talk with Ringo, Iroh engaging and enjoying it more than Azulon, the two returned to the motel.
“Southern Pole Tribals in the Earth Kingdom.” Iroh mused. “That is news.”
“And they made contact with that traitor.”
“Do you think they know?”
“No doubt.” Azulon scoffed. “Those Water Savages are so backwards and primitive, they actually worshiped the demons as protectors.”
“Really?” Iroh raised his brow. Just as Ozai wrote in his notes. How did he know about the Water Tribes' relations to dragons?
“Trust me son. The Southern Raiders was the first sector I joined in my youth. I saw it with my own eyes. They defended the remaining foul beasts and wept bitterly when we finally liberated their pitiful icesheets from the demons. So much for gratitude. The South is rich with oil thanks to us clearing out the lands.”
Azulon scribbled the water tribe symbol on a sticky note then pinned it to a board filled with other notes and connecting red string.
“We have a new lead. Find those water savages. They’ll lead us to the traitor and demons’ nest.”
~*~
Ozai trekked through forest to the river that emptied in the valley below. Several rabbits hung from his belt from a successful day’s hunt. With Ursa pregnant and the pups growing bigger by the day, they were going to need more food, meat in particular.
A shadow passed overhead. Ozai shaded his eyes as he glanced up with a smile on his face. An untrained eye would assume it was just cloud coverage, but he knew. Flying lessons.
Agni, they really were growing up.
After securing the rabbits where a scavenger couldn’t steal them, Ozai removed his shoes, waded into the water, and readied his spear. It was salmon season, Ursa’s favorite.
Ozai’s mind wondered to his childhood days of combing the forest for dragons. He was determined to prove his father and brother wrong; that he was better than hunting dainty forest creatures. How things have changed. Now he couldn’t be more content.
After a moment or so, Ozai noticed something was wrong. The salmon would practically leap onto his spear during this time of the year but the river was strangely empty. Come to think of it, the whole forest had been eerily quiet lately. No bird songs or animal calls. Not even insect buzzing. His heart began to pound as cold sweat moistened his brow. The leaves rustled causing to Ozai readied his spear.
“Who’s there?!”
Something rushed behind him. Ozai turned, ready to defend himself, but nothing was there. Ozai waded out of the river to investigate. The rabbits were still where he left them and there were no tracks.
Ozai tsked. Clearly he was still jittery from yesterday’s first flying lesson, but that didn’t explain why the animals all suddenly disappeared. Even with Ursa and the pups flying overhead, they’ve never all went silent like this before. Think. Obviously it was a prey response, but if not from dragons and wolves, then what?
Ozai’s hair on the back of his neck suddenly stood. He barely had time to turn when something large rammed into him. The wind was knocked out of his lungs as he hit the ground hard. Before Ozai could get his bearings, searing pain shot through him as oversized fangs sank into his leg. His vison blurred from tears as he stabbed the creature with his spear. A hiss, eerily similar to a chuckle, sounded seconds before a sickening crack. Ozai let out a blood-curling scream.
”That’s it, human. Cry for your protectors.”
Ozai tried to stop the bleeding but could hardly move. Everything was in slow motion and blurry. Someone far off was screaming. Ozai barely made out a large muted color body slink into the forest before darkness took over.
~*~
Ursa soared through the sky with her tired pups riding on her back. Second day of flying lessons was successful and they all had the sore bodies to prove it. At least, she and Ozai won’t have to worry about Zuko and Azula launching themselves from the roof anymore.
‘How about breakfast for supper tonight?’ Ursa asked to brighten the mood.
‘And honey biscuits?’ Zuko asked.
Ursa chuckled. ‘And honey…’
She heart suddenly twisted painfully as her instincts flared at alarming rates. It was far worse than dread or paranoia. Zuko and Azula’s tensed bodies and low whimpers told Ursa it wasn’t just her. So what-
An agonizing scream cut through the air. Immediately, Ursa knew.
‘OZAI!!!’
Ursa made a sharp turn and dove towards the source down below. The dragon pups held on for dear life as their mother landed hard then raced through the forest, not caring for the damage done. Her worse fear was confirmed when she reached the river and saw her mate laying limp and bloodied.
‘D-Daddy…?’ Azula said in a small voice.
‘No no no!’ Ursa shifted as the dragon pups jumped down then raced to Ozai’s side; ripping off her outer shirt to tie a gauze over his mangled bleeding leg. “Ozai! No please!!! Wake up!!! OZAI!!!”
He groaned lowly.
“U-Ur…sa…”
She gasped. He’s alive!
“Oh Agni!” Ursa wept and cradled his head. “Oh my love…”
Ursa took a deep breath to calm herself then quickly wiped her eyes. Her instincts were still on high alert and with her wounded mate and scared pups close by, she had to pull it together. Fast. Ursa grabbed a close by stick, a bloodied spear missing its tip, and set it against Ozai’s leg. She ripped the bottom of her skirt and used the fabric to tie it in place.
“I-Is Daddy okay…?” Zuko whimpered.
“He will be.” Ursa said firmly.
Once done, Ursa backed up and shifted into dragon form. She scooped Ozai up as gently as she could with her claws; guilt flooding her as pained cries escaped his mouth. Zuko immediately climbed onto her back but Azula remained frozen in place, eyes locked on the trees on the other side of the river. Ursa grunted at her.
‘Azula hurry! We have to get Daddy home!’
The blue dragon didn’t move. Out of options, Ursa used her mouth to pick Azula up by the scruff of her neck then flew off. Ursa knew what ever attacked Ozai and had Azula transfixed was close by, watching. Waiting.
She dare not look behind her.
~*~
Ursa didn’t need to be a professional healer to know how bad the injury was. Ozai’s leg was obviously broken, but that didn’t explain the fever that sprung up mere moments after Ursa got him inside. The dragon pups worriedly watched their mother clean and patch up Ozai’s leg.
They then leapt to action retrieving the herbs from the cabinets Ursa ordered. She mashed them together and spread it over Ozai’s wound, then brought a second bowl with a different mix to his lips. Ozai took a few tentative sips, wincing at the bitter taste.
“I know honey, but it will help with the pain.”
After managing a few more sips, Ozai fell asleep with a pained expression. Ursa caressed his cheek then left the room, softly closing the door behind her. There, Zuko and Azula waited expectedly.
“He just needs rest.”
They nodded, though clearly not convinced. Ursa hated they saw their father in such a state. She squatted in front of Azula.
‘What did you see?’
Maybe if Ursa knew what attacked Ozai, she could treat him better.
Azula suddenly had a faraway expression. She opened her mouth, but immediately broke down crying. Zuko started crying seconds later.
‘Oh my babies.’ Ursa pulled them into a hug while blinking back her own tears. ‘We’re all going to be alright. I promise.’
The next morning took a nosedive. Ursa was awakened from her seat beside the bed by a foul odor. Ozai was covered in sweat and breathing hard. Alarmed, Ursa ripped back the blanket and saw the area around his bandages turned bright red as discharge leaked out.
Ursa swore as she unraveled the bandages. The smell was even worse, almost making her vomit. She grabbed a rag, sanitized it, then cleaned the wound. Before she could apply another coating of herbs, more discharge quickly covered the wound.
“Oh Agni… What do I do?!” Ursa panicked.
She had never seen an illness like this before and had no idea where to even start.
“Get… Kya…” Ozai rasped.
Ursa leaned in closer. “What?”
“Water… Tribe… healer… in town… Healing… Hands… clinic…”
“Bring a human here?!”
Ursa shook her head. What was she saying? Ozai’s life was on the line!
After getting some directions from the barely conscious Ozai, Ursa retied the bandages then promised to return soon with help.
“Just hold on a bit longer. Okay?” Ursa kissed his forehead.
Ozai let out a pained grunt.
After wiping her tears, Ursa grabbed her veil and long robe then rushed out. She gave a brief summary to her pups. That Daddy was really sick and she’s going to town to get their friends’ mom to help. And to stay in their rooms until she told them it was okay to come out. Zuko and Azula gave each other a worried look but agreed.
Ursa ran outside and transformed. She’ll reach town much faster in dragon form. Ursa circled around the mountain, keeping to the cloud’s shadows, before coming to a deserted part of the road right outside of town. Once low enough, Ursa de-transformed mid-air and grabbed a tree limb to keep from crashing. She climbed down the tree then stumbled out onto the road, brushing away leaves and twigs. Ursa put on her veil then ran to town, not noticing a small blinking camera.
The town was exactly the same as it was when she first came a little over 5 years ago. Ursa looked around frantically for the Healing Hands Clinic. Ozai’s directions wasn’t exactly the best in his feverish state and Ursa’s racing mind certainly wasn’t helping either.
“Spirits, it’s her! The mountain demon!”
“The demoness has returned!!!”
Ursa hunched her shoulders as the townspeople gawked and ridiculed her. It was so much worse than she remembered.
“Be gone evil spirit!”
Water was thrown on her as the people backed away. Ursa growled out of anger and embarrassment, causing the water to evaporate. She had not said a word to anybody and yet they were still threatened by her mere presence.
“You all are foul terrible humans!”
Ursa stormed off to the sound of gasps and more gossiping. Dear Agni, she had to find the Water Tribe family quickly before anything else happened! Soon, her prayers were answered when she saw the wooden sign decorated with blue waves in front of a two-story house. Overwhelmed with relief, Ursa burst in without knocking.
“Water Tribe family!”
She was met with shocked stares from a man and elderly woman at the front desk and two younger kids in the corner reading. The children recognized her voice immediately.
“It’s Mama Dra- uh Hong!” Katara whispered shouted.
“What’s she doing here?” Sokka asked.
Ursa ignored them and ran up to the desk.
“Please, it’s my mate! You must help him!!!”
The woman made a disgusted noise as she backed away. “The nerve.”
The man stood. “Ok, calm down ma’am. We’ll see what we can do.” He turned behind him. “Kya! It’s Mrs. Hong! She says it’s urgent!”
A woman around Ursa’s age came out pulling off gloves.
“Hakoda what’s wro-“
“Are you the healer?!” Ursa interrupted.
“Yes-“
“A creature bit my mate and broke his leg! He’s feverish and there’s foul smelling discharge everywhere and none of my herbs are working! Please you must help him!!!”
Kya gave a curt nod. “I’ll get my kit.”
“Hurry!”
Hakoda got her water and tried to get her to sit down, but Ursa was nervous to accept. Kya returned shortly with her medical bag.
“We’ll take the truck. It’s faster.”
“Oh thank you!”
The siblings followed the women outside, equally worried.
“Mom can we come?”
“No stay with your dad!” Kya called behind her.
“But-“
Hakoda placed his hands on their shoulders. “It’s okay. Mom’s got this handled.”
He swallowed thickly while watching the women pile into the truck and speed off, hoping to Tui and La he was right.