Rhea stepped off the ship.

"When can we expect you back?" The captain stood at the top of the gangway.

Rhea faced him and grinned. "Don't wait up."

He looked at her confused.

She chuckled. "Just get more supplies. I'll be here when you get back."

"Are you sure?" He had to shout now to cover the distance.

Rhea turned and walked backwards. "You'll be fine, go."

The captain sighed. "Just don't get yourself killed!"

Rhea raised her hand in acknowledgment as she walked into the woods.
————
Rhea took a deep breath, inhaling the smell of perfume. It was a weird place to rest, but the women here who made the perfume had been kind enough to let her stay with them. They didn't seem to care that she was from the Fire Nation.

It was nice not to be wearing her armor. The loose robes she had on were much more comfortable.

The cold hard wall pressed against her back and the soft, prickly grass cushioned her as she sat on the ground.

She took a deep breath and stood. The past two days had been incredible and... normal. She'd never thought she'd ever have that.

Walking out of the gate, she made off into the woods.

The cool crisp air refreshed her lungs and the soft breeze tossed her thick brown hair.

She reached the beach. Slipping off the simple comfortable shoes that she'd traded in for her boots, she walked on the edge of the water. Her feet sank into the soft wet sand, leaving footprints along the water.

The cold waves crashed against the shore, washing the sand smooth and rushing up around her feet.

Out in the water, a brigade of ships appeared, half of them displaying the blue sails of the Water Tribe and the other half the all-too-familiar Fire Nation navy.

Rhea watched helplessly as the Fire Nation armada flung fire balls at the significantly smaller Water Tribe ships.

An explosion blasted across one of the small blue-sailed ships. The Water Tribe boats were trying to reach the shore, but the Fire navy was relentless.

Halfway to the shore, a fire ball soared off of one ship and hurtled towards the farthest ship. The flaming projectile collided violently with the deck of the ship, splintering the vessel in half.

The ship started to sink.

Rhea noticed several men in the water. Most of them quickly swam to another ship, but there was one man who was having trouble even staying afloat.

Jumping into action, Rhea dove into the water and kicked her way over to the floundering warrior. She wrapped an arm around his chest from behind and started for shore.

The man was easily twice her weight and hauling him through the water quickly tired her muscles.

One of the boats drifted up beside them and a rope trailed down from the deck.

Rhea clutched the rope tightly. Spluttering, she clenched her fist tighter around the rope as someone hauled her up out of the water.

Someone grabbed her under the arms and helped her climb over the edge and onto the deck. She coughed and panted as she stood on her hands and knees on the deck of the small ship.

The man she had rescued lay beside her, breathing hard. He had long dark hair and his arm was burned and bloody.

Eventually, they both sat up.

A man with hair down to his chin, a short ponytail and two braids hanging over his right temple offered Rhea a hand.

She hesitated then took it and let the man pull her to her feet.

"That was brave." He placed a hand on her wet shoulder.

"Thanks." Rhea rung out her ponytail, feeling the man's grip through her soaked clothes.

He looked her over. "Why would you help a stranger?"

She looked down at the man she had saved. "It was the right thing to do."

He nodded. "I'm Hakoda, chief of the Southern Water Tribe." He offered her a hand.

Rhea cautiously took it. "Rhea, of... nowhere."

"Nowhere?" Hakoda asked.

She nodded. "I don't really belong anywhere."

"I doubt that." Hakoda replied.

One of his men called him over and he went to help them land the boats.

Rhea turned back to the man she had helped. He was still sitting.

She offered him a hand. "Are you alright?"

He clasped her wrist and hoisted himself up. "I've been better."

Rhea examined his arm. "I can imagine. What happened to your arm?"

He looked down at the injured limb. "It got caught in the blast from one of those fire balls."

"They're brutal." Rhea said subconsciously.

"You've seen them up close then." He observed.

She looked away. "Too close."

"Same." The man chuckled. "I'm Bato."

The two clasped hands.

"Rhea, pleasure to meet you." She squeezed his hand firmly.

Bato released. "You've got a warrior's grip."

Rhea looked away.

"It's okay." Bato gripped her shoulder gently. "We've all been forced to do things we don't like in order to survive this war."

"Thanks." Rhea met his gaze.

They both jostled, dropping to the deck as the boats ran aground. The pair burst out laughing.
————
"Are you sure? I don't want to impose." Bato spoke with one of the women from the place Rhea was staying.

"It's no trouble at all." The woman assured.
"We already have a guest." She gestured to Rhea. "What's one more."

Hakoda gave a small bow. "Thank you." He handed Bato a roll of paper. "So you can find us when you've healed."

Bato and Hakoda hugged.

"Good luck, my friend." Bato pulled back, gripping his friend's shoulders.

"Recover quickly." Hakoda replied before saying one last goodbye and departing for the beach.

Bato watched until his friend disappeared among the trees.

Rhea helped the injured man carry his things into one of the guest rooms, aiding him as he set up his Water Tribe possessions.

He straightened a spear hanging on the wall and met Rhea's gaze. "Thank you."

"No problem." Rhea set a rolled fur on the floor.

He put his hand on his back and stretched. "Now, how would you like to show me around?"

She grinned. "Of course."

A/N
Hi!!! Sorry this one took a while to get done. I had to figure out what all I wanted to do with this story.
I'll try to be consistent with my updating, but please hang with me. I made the mistake of starting 4 stories at once and now I'm paying the price.
-Cheshire