Chapter Text
Iroh drummed his fingers as he mulled over Kya’s words. Opening up a tea shop in the valley town did sound tempting. Iroh grunted, snapping himself out of the daydream.
What was he thinking entertaining such an idea?
Kya may be one of the good water savages, but she was still under the dragons’ influence like the rest of her kind. Besides, even if Iroh did manage to get his father to settle down, he certainly wouldn’t set up shop here. Not in the very town his former brother used to provide for those unnatural bastards.
Out of the corner of his eye, Iroh saw the truck pull up. Deep in his gut, he knew something was wrong. He closed the laptop and rushed out in time to see his father staggered out of the driver’s door. He was sickly pale and eyes glazed over.
“Father!” Iroh caught him before he collapsed. “What happened?! Were you attacked?”
“Take me inside, son…”
Iroh carefully helped him to the bed then checked him over.
“Must be a fever. I’ll fetch you the healer.”
“Don’t you dare… drag a water savage here…” Azulon rasped.
“Father-“
“I’m not sick, boy! It’ll pass shortly.”
Iroh sighed. “At least allow me to prep you some tea then.”
Azulon grunted. “Fine.”
Iroh crossed the small room to the even smaller kitchen tucked in the back. As he prepped the tea, he couldn’t shake the dread welling up inside. Iroh shoved it aside. Right now, he needed to focus on keeping his father alive. He refused to lose the last of his family.
~*~
No sooner did the words leave Hakoda’s mouth, Ursa grabbed his shoulders and stared so intensely Hakoda could see her burning eyes through the black out veils.
“Tell. Me.” She growled.
“Uh…”
“Ursa-“ Ozai warned.
“That monster nearly killed you!” She snapped. “It needs to die!”
Hakoda winced as her grip tighten and hands heated up. Ursa quickly let go.
“Oh Agni! I-I’m so sorry…”
“It’s okay.” Hakoda reassured her. “Trust me, I understand.”
He guided her to the side of the bed then began explaining his discoveries.
“At the Tribe before hunts, we would perform protection rituals to keep safe from wandering evil spirits. Today, I neglected to paint on the wolf spirit symbol and the forest shifted.”
“Shifted how?” Ursa asked carefully.
“The birds stopped singing; air tensed… it just felt wrong.”
Ozai and Ursa exchanged concerned looks as they both thought about that horrible day.
“Once I painted on the wolf spirit symbols, I heard something leave. Something large.” Hakoda continued. “I think whatever it was, it’s the creature that attacked you.”
“It does sound familiar.” Ozai mused.
“How do we kill it?” Ursa asked.
“You can’t kill a spirit. Only wound or put to sleep.”
“Okay, how do we do that?”
Hakoda scratched his chin. “Kya knows more about spirits than I do. I only know how to keep it at bay while hunting. It’ll may stalk you, but it won’t attack.”
Ursa hissed. “That’s not good enough.”
Ozai held her hand. “It is for now. We need access to the forest to get more meat for the pups. We can worry about killing it later.”
Ursa rubbed her aching head then nodded.
“How do we perform the protection rites?” Ozai asked.
“It’s quite simple actually. But first,” Hakoda grabbed a notebook and pen, “how are your art skills?”
~*~
Zuko purred happily as he licked another spoonful of ice cream, savoring the sweet berry flavor and candy sprinkles. The scary memory of dragon hunters and cramped boxes retreated back to the dark corners of his mind with each bite.
“So?” Katara asked expectingly.
“S’Delicious!” Zuko beamed.
Azula jerked her head back and roared. Katara and Zuko ducked to avoid the blue flames. She then pawed at her head and whined.
“Ohh brain freeze!” Sokka laughed through a mouthful.
“What’s a brain- ACK!“ Zuko winced as his head suddenly started to ache.
“That, my friend, a brain freeze.” Sokka pointed with his spoon. “Bet I can get an even bigger one!”
“No me!” Katara seconded.
The siblings shoveled down the rest of their ice cream. Soon enough, their heads started to hurt from all the cold.
“I SCREAM! YOU SCREAM! WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM!!!” they chanted in unison.
Azula and Zuko roared along until Ursa marched in with her hands on her hips and an even worse headache.
“Outside. Now.” She pointed towards the door.
The children ran to the yard and continued their screaming match which soon turned into a dance contest until their sugar rush wore off. They collapsed in a pile with sore throats and tired bodies.
“Best. Summer. Ever.” Sokka sighed.
Katara glanced at him. “You said it was the worst.”
“Yeah. Before we had an ice cream dance party with dragons!”
“Who won anyway?” Zuko asked.
“Me.” Azula said matter-of-factly.
“Nuh-huh!”
“Sorry Zuko but she nailed the worm perfectly.” Katara said.
Azula stuck her tongue out at him.
Sokka punched Zuko’s arm. “Hey your worm was still very wormy.”
“Thanks!”
The girls burst out into giggles.
“What? It was! Wasn’t that the whole point!” Sokka asked defensively.
Katara sighed. “I’m gonna miss you guys when we go back to school.”
“Ugh don’t remind me.” Sokka rolled his eyes.
“You’ll still come play with us right?” Zuko asked worriedly.
“Of course!” Katara reassured them. “Just not as often though cause of homework and stuff.”
Azula flicked her tail as she thought. “What if… we… came too?”
Katara gasped. “Can you?”
“No.” Zuko sat up and glared at his sister. “We don’t go to human school.”
“Why not?”
“Because the dragon hunters-“
“No hunters… at s-school…”
“You don’t know that!”
“I mean, someone could still find out.” Sokka spoke up.
“Not if we helped them!” Katara countered.
“Yes… I… blend.” Azula shook her face, causing the blue scales to disappear.
“See! Now she just needs a hat. Or move her hair this way.” Katara brushed over Azula’s hair to cover her horns. “Ta-da!”
Zuko and Sokka side-eyed each other.
“It’s gonna take more than a new hairstyle, Katara.” Sokka pointed out.
“Yeah but-“
“Remember what Mr. Ozai said would happen if people found out.”
“ If. They won’t if we help!”
“Yes. I work… on my… humon… speech. Daddy said… I learn... fast…”
‘Lala you hate being human. We made a promise about not being around other humans, remember?’ Zuko said in dragon speech so he didn’t insult Sokka and Katara.
‘I want to hang out with my friends more. Plus I don’t want to be around here with that stupid baby.’
‘Lala-‘
“When school?” Azula asked Katara.
“Next month. We still have like two weeks left.”
Azula nodded. If she worked really hard, she’ll master human speech by then.
“Mama and Daddy won’t agree.” Zuko said firmly.
‘You don’t know that dum-dum!’ Azula growled.
‘Oh yeah?’ Zuko growled back. ‘Why don’t we go ask them then?!’
‘Fine!’
‘FINE!’
The dragon pups transformed and stomped back to the cabin, shoving each other along the way and leaving the confused Imiq siblings behind. Sokka pointed an accusing finger at Katara.
“This is all your fault for bring up school on a perfectly good summer day! What were you thinking?!”
“Well sorry for wanting to spend more time with our friends!”
“You should be when your idea might get them killed!”
Angry tears burned Katara’s eyes. “Take that back!”
“No. I’m telling Dad. Maybe he’ll talk some sense into you.”
“Not if I tell him first!” Katara shot past him.
“T-That doesn’t even make sense!!!” Sokka stammered. He groaned then ran to the cabin in hopes to beat his sister there. Good thing he was faster. Azula and Zuko’s lives depended on it!
~*~
The wolf spirit symbols were easy enough to remember. The wolf character on the forehead and markings under the eyes and on the chin. The prayer was simple enough to remember as well, even though Water Tounge was foreign to Ozai. Regardless, the information was a huge help. Ozai could tell Ursa was still annoyed and tired though. The pups and children’s sudden screaming contest a few minutes ago certainly didn’t help.
“You’re certain this will work?” Ozai asked.
Hakoda nodded. “Absolutely.”
“Then I say a test run is in order.” Ozai tried to get out of bed again.
Ursa threw him a dirty glare. “Don’t even think about it.”
Ozai sighed then flopped back onto the bed.
Hakoda chuckled. “Nice try buddy.”
Barking and scabbling sounded seconds before the door swung open and two dragon pups ran in bickering over each other. Ozai whistled sharply, causing Zuko and Azula to quiet down.
“Behave yourselves. We have guests.” He scolded.
‘Lala wants to go to human school with Katara and Sokka!’
‘Absolutely not!’ Ursa hissed.
‘But-‘ Azula started.
“No buts. Listen to your mother.” Ozai said firmly.
Hakoda watched as Ursa ushered them out the room.
“Amazing that you can understand Dragon.”
“I picked up a phrase here and there, but over all I have no idea what they’re saying.” Ozai admitted. “I tried learning, but I accidently said something offensive and Ursa didn’t speak to me for a week. She still won’t tell me what I said.”
The two laughed.
“Probably for the best.” Hakoda shrugged. “Sometimes I have no idea what my kids are talking about either.”
“DADDD!!!”
“Speaking of which.”
“Dad Katara just-“ A thud came from the bedroom door.
“Pull Sokka.” Hakoda chuckled.
The door flung opened. “Katara just-“
Katara covered his mouth earning a muffled yelp from him.
“Can Zuko and Azula come to school with us?! Please?! We’ll help keep the secret!”
“School?” Ozai frowned. “No, that’s far too dangerous.”
“But-“
“We have to respect Mr. Ozai’s decision. He knows what’s best for them. And let go of your brother.”
Katara sighed defeatedly then released Sokka. He hastily wiped his tongue with his sleeve.
“You got to start washing your hands!”
Hakoda stood. “Alright, it’s time we head back now before it gets late.”
The children pouted.
“You all are welcomed back at any time.” Ozai reassured them.
“Thanks Ozai. We’ll be back soon. That chicken owes me rematch.”
After saying goodbye, Hakoda let his kids run off to say bye to their friends while he collected the containers. The large ice cream tub was completely empty.
“Spirits, Kya’s gonna kill me.” Hakoda muttered.
“Hakoda.” Ursa walked up.
“Hey. We’re about to head out. Also, I’m sorry about the whole school stuff. Apparently, Zuko and Azula got the idea from my kids.”
“Don’t be. I’ll talk to them about it.” Ursa’s shoulders shagged. “I am truly sorry for burning you earlier.”
“Like I said, it’s okay. A little friendly fire never hurts anyone. One time during the Spirit Lights Festival, Kya sew some fire crackers to my parka as a joke then lit them. She didn’t realize they were the Extra Strong Super Glitter Rainbow ones. I swear, she doesn’t even let me near candles now.”
Hakoda and Ursa shared a laugh before the children came moping in not ready to leave yet. After reassuring them another playdate soon and waiting through the rounds of goodbye hugs, Hakoda took his kids back to the truck as Ursa brought hers to the bedroom for a talk. Upon seeing their downcast expressions, Ozai trilled softly and opened his arms. The dragon pups crawled in.
“I know you two want to go to school with your friends.” He started.
“Lala does. I told her you’d say no.”
Azula hissed at her brother.
“Hey, none of that.” Ursa sat down beside them and took off her veil. “Remember why we moved here in the first place? So bad people won’t find us.”
“The risk of someone finding out our dragon secret goes up if we’re around more humans.” Ozai added.
“So we stay forever?!” Azula snapped.
Ursa and Ozai looked at each other alarmed.
“We… we can go back to the forest now. Mr. Hakoda showed us a trick to keep the monster away.” Ursa said.
“I don’t want forest! I want school!!!” Azula leapt off the bed and ran out the room.
“Azula!”
“D-Do we really have to stay here forever?” Zuko asked quietly. “Can Katara and Sokka stay too?”
“They can visit.” Ozai tried to soothe over.
“But they can’t stay. No one can.”
He sadly left when his parents hesitated again. Ursa covered her eyes and cried.
“Firelily, it’s alright.” Ozai pulled her into a hug and caressed her head. “It’s normal for them to want to explore more. Humans are-”
“Social creatures. I know. I just… I don’t want anything bad to happen to them…”
Ozai swallowed as his own tears formed. “Me neither. We’ll be okay.” He rubbed her stomach. “All of us. I promise. Evil spirits and dragon hunters be damned.”
“You and that filthy mouth.”
“I’ve heard far worse from you, love.”
Ursa smiled then shook her head. “I need to check on the pups.”
“They need time alone. Rest here some.”
Ursa hummed. She was too tired to protest from the emotional rollercoaster the day had been. Ursa nuzzled closer to her mate after they laid down.
“Ozai…” Ursa whispered, as sleep pulled her under.
“Yes?”
“You’ll stay here with me, right?”
Ozai kissed her head. “Forever.”