Ro stretched as the morning sun warned his sore body. He was still feeling the affects of his duel with Mai/Azula, but thanks to Takedo, it wasn't as bad as it could have been.

Sitting up slowly, Ro took in his surroundings. In the daylight, he could see the burned out husks of old houses long abandoned. This small village was one of many scars left by the fire nation.

Ro took a shakey breath and closed his eyes. Even after all this time he still struggled to comprehend how someone could do this, soldiers or not. He couldn't imagine entering a place like this when it was full of life then burning it to the ground. The people who called this place home had to be terrified.

Clearing the thoughts from his head, Ro stood up in search of some water. His mouth was dry and his stomach rumbled. As if hearing his thoughts, Hira approached him, nuzzling his hair.

Ro smiled, stroking the side of her neck. "Good morning, girl. I'm glad to see you're okay. Thanks for the help last night."

Hira gave a content grumble, licking his face. Ro chuckled, wiping away the saliva before digging through the bag strapped to her side. He pulled out a canteen of water and a bag of jerky Chong and Taya had given him. He sighed softly before taking a small nibble. The elderly couple had practically taken him in when he arrived at the village. He owed them so much. Now, an aching feeling pulled at his heart as he thought of Taya setting up the stand and Chong checking the traps alone. One day he'd go back, even if he had to sneak in.

A flash of blue caught Ro's eye and he turned to see Takedo stretching with a yawn. Behind him, the earthen tent rumbled but stayed sealed.

"You have to come out eventually." Takedo sighed. "I promise he's friendly."

Ro glanced at the tent then at Takedo. "Mila doesn't want to meet me I take it?"

Takedo started picking up twigs, tossing them into the fire pit. "Mila is a sweet girl, but she's had really bad experiences with fire benders. She's scared, and I can't blame her."

Ro nodded, creating a small flame to light the fire. "I understand. If its easier, I can get on Hira and leave. I don't want to cause trouble."

"No." Takedo shook his head. "Please stay. I want to keep an eye on those burns for at least another day. I wouldn't feel right sending you off not completely healed."

Ro glanced at the earth tent uncertainly. "You're really sure?"

"I'm sure." Takedo nodded as he started preparing breakfast.

Hira stretched out, relaxing as Ro put his canteen and jerky away. He glanced at the earth tent again then approached it slowly. He sat by the closed door, then knocked on the rocky surface.

"Mila? My name is Ro. Takedo said you don't want to meet me." Ro explained. "I want you to know that's okay. I understand. My parents were fire nation soldiers. They did things I now know we're terrible and unfair. But I want you to know that's not the person I want to be. Fire can be beautiful and lively. It can be more than destruction. If you want, I won't firebend. I know how to control my flame. Besides, right now I just want to make you feel safe. I don't want you to lock yourself away, neither does Takedo."

Ro's words were met with silence. He sighed, placing his hands on the ground to push himself up. He turned just a rumble came from the tent. Ro turned to see it was now open, with a pair of green eyes watching him warily.

"Hey there." Ro smiled. "Whatever Takedo is cooking smells good right? Let's go eat."

Ro stepped forward to offer a hand, only for the earth to shift and his foot to slide out from under him. He hit the ground with a thud as a small figure darted out of the tent.

"Got it, no helping." Ro groaned, picking himself up.

Takedo shook his head, peering over his shoulder. "That wasn't nice Mila, he's still injured."

Mila clung tightly to Takedo's tunic, peering over his shoulder warily as she hid behind him. She said nothing, but Takedo understood.

"I know he's a stranger." Takedo told her. "But he's given us no reason not to trust him."

Ro crossed his legs, sitting where Mila had so quickly sent him to the ground. He didn't want to startle her further, so he studied the girl from afar.

The first thing Ro noticed was her age. She was much younger than he anticipated. Mila couldn't be more than 8, which was much younger than what he expected from the earthbending he'd seen. She was strong, and skilled. He'd give her that.

Mila's long, dark hair was pulled back in a braid, leaving small strands that framed her face. She wore a simple green Earth Kingdom style dress and brown sandles. But what caught Ro's attention was the blue scarf wrapped around her neck. It was obviously watertribe, a gift from Takedo perhaps?

Hira walked over and laid down, placing her head in Ro's lap. He smiled, petting her affectionately. "You were really worried about me, weren't you?"

Hira stretched, huffing in reply as she relaxed. Mila watched the interaction curiously. She tilted her head then tugged on Takedo's sleeve, pointing at the strange creature. He sighed, placing his hand on the ground.

"You could just ask him yourself." Takedo told her. Mila glared in response and he quickly snatched his hand away with a jolt. "Hey, take it easy. You know I can't understand when you talk like that. Not to mention it hurts my one good hand."

Ro looked between the two in confusion. "I have no idea what's going on."

Takedo looked at Mila, replacing his hand on the ground. "Do you want to explain or should I?"

Mila shifted her foot slightly then took a couple steps towards Ro. Takedo smiled proudly behind her as Mila stomped the ground, creating a smooth, raised slab in front of Ro.

"Okay." Ro drawled out, still confused. "I know you're an earth bender. But what does that have to do wi-"

Ro stared in disbelief as Mila shifted her stance and parts of the slab began to raise. When she was done, Ro realized she had used her bending to create words in the stone.

"Takedo can understand me by feeling the characters with his hand as I bend them. But I figured you can't." It read. Mila shifted again and the words changed. "Firebenders burned down my village just like they did this one. They killed everyone. I lost my family. My friends. My home. Takedo saved me. Do not hurt him."

Ro met her gaze, the slab sinking back into the soil. "I have no intention of harming anyone. I'm sorry for what happened to your village. It was wrong. Mila, I'll do whatever it takes to prove I'm not like those soldiers. I want to earn your trust. If you'll let me."

Mila studied him before giving  a quick nod in response. She returned to Takedo's side, taking a bowl of food and beginning to eat. She glanced at Ro then flicked her wrist up then her hand out, pushing a slab with a bowl of food towards Ro.

Ro smiled, taking the food gratefully as Hira sniffed it. "Thank you. This is Hira by the way, she's an Eel hound. One of the fastest creatures in the Earth Kingdom. I raised her from a pup after I found her injured in the woods. She's been a loyal friend ever since. Go say hello, Hira." 

Hira got up and walked over to Mila, sniffing her hair. The young girl stared at the giant creature as a wide smile grew on her face. Hira nuzzled her cheek as Mila gave her a gentle pat.

"Friendly aren't you?" Takedo chuckled, stroking Hira's neck.

Hira huffed in response, blowing Takedo's hair into his face. Mila covered her mouth, stifling a silent laugh as he tucked his hair back into place.

Ro smiled at the two. In a way, they were like him. Displaced from their homes no one to lean on but each other. He thought of Mai, no, Azula. Despite their fight, he found himself worried about her. She was unstable and needed help. But with a big bounty on her head, it was only a matter of time before someone recognized her.

"I won't let you lock me away again. I won't go back to being a prisoner!"

Azula's words echoed in his mind as he finished his breakfast. He had heard Fire Lord Zuko was a much better man than his father. If that was true, then why was Azula so afraid to go home? Ro tried not to dwell on the questions he had no answers to, but he couldn't help but wonder.

Takedo took his bowl and cleaning it out with his bending before packing it away. Mila bent their earth tent back into the ground then started tying up their bedrolls.

"Where are you guys headed?" Ro asked.

Takedo slung his bag on his back. "Senlin Village. We're going to join the Harvest Festival in honor of the spirit, Hei Bai. Since the Avatar visited them and calmed the spirit, their harvests have been bountiful. Plus it's a great way to have fun. You should come with us."

Ro smiled thoughtfully. "It does sound like fun. I'd lo-"

A loud clang echoed through the village. The two of them turned to see Mila had dropped the bucket of water she was carrying. Her eyes were wide and glued to the sky as she pointed upward. They followed her gaze, hardly believing what they were seeing.

"Is that....?" Takedo trailed of and disbelief.

"A dragon." Ro finished. The creature grew rapidly closer, that's when he noticed it's ethereal appearance. "A dragon spirit."

The spirit landed before them, greeting them with a watchful gaze. Takedo dropped to his knees, bowing before the great spirit. Respect for the spiritual world was heavily taught and practiced in the Northern Water Tribe. While this spirit may not be one that is represented in his culture, it still deserved the same courtesy.

Ro placed his fist against his palm, bowing his head to the dragon spirit. "Great dragon spirit, why have you sought us?"

The dragon reached out, touching the tip of its claw to his head. His mind raced with images and memories. At first, it started when he had first met Azula. In each one, it showed the dragon spirit in the background watching them as they went about their days. Then the memories caught up to their fight, the dragon once again watching from afar. Ro flinched as Azula's attack struck him. He watched himself ride away on Hira, but then things changed. The focus stayed on Azula as she stood alone. A man appeared, distracting her as another shot her with a dart from behind.

Ro watched as Azula was chained up and dragged away against her will. His heart sunk as the scene changed to a small camp, Azula lying motionless on the ground as the men ate just a few feet away.

The images faded away as fast as they appeared, leaving Ro eye to eye with the dragon spirit. He could see it's pleading look as he processed what he'd seen.

"Ro, what is it?" Takedo asked. "What did you see?"

"Azula." Ro admitted, his eyes still locked with the dragon spirit. "Take me to her."

Author's Note

Hi! I know, I know. It feels like a hundred years since the last update. I'm doing my best. I'm bouncing from story to story right now so I can't say when the next update will be. Whenever it comes I will be including artwork of Mila as well. Hang in there with me guys.

               -Meloetta246