Book Four: Air

IC: Samanya

He glanced around the ship casually, deciding it better to stick with this strange creature than to go wandering about the ship with Sokka. Rubbing Appa's furry chin, the warrior smiled. "Feels good, yes?"

Appa groaned loudly, licking Samanya along the length of his body. Laughing, he continued to scratch Appa, while still keeping an ear open for trouble.

Katara

Katara got off and followed Sokka. She wasn't sure if she believed this Azon guy, she didn't know anything about him or how he could know Toph was here. Still, she had to be on guard, just because she didn't know how he could tell didn't mean he wasn't right, and she had seen strange things with Aang before, so these people could be the enemy and try to attack them.

IC: Azon

"You are a fool, Sokka," said Azon.

The Sage vanished in a single blink; not even his footsteps could be heard. It was as if he had dissapeared from existence. The next moment he was standing behind Maku. He wrapped his arm around the man and brought a knife up to his neck.

"You will order them to bring us Toph Bei Fong," Azon calmly said, "and then I will slit your throat."

The calmness upon Azon's face was unnerving, even the blindfold over his eyes gave off and eery sensation.

IC: Chan

The former soldier approached the large man. He took in Samanya, and frowned.

"Magnificent beast," he said, all at once. "Is it yours?"

***

IC: Maku

He laughed. "You aren't giving me much of a reason to do as you say, stranger," said Maku. He did not even flinch, despite the danger. "Do you not know how to make a deal?"

IC: Azon

"There is no reason to make a deal," replied Azon.

"We know where she is; I also know you will not kill her. You have nothing to make a deal with. I should just kill you now and be done with it."

He brought the blade closer to his neck.

"In fact, it makes much more sense to do so."

IC: Maku

"You so sure about that, stranger?" Maku still did not back down. He had been in too many dangerous situations, and it was difficult to intimidate him. "Earthbenders are a cooper-piece a dozen. Your girl can be easily replaced. Hurt me, kill me, and well..."

He flashed a nasty smile.

"Use your imagination."

Finally, Sokka reached the last room in the hull of the ship. His eyes widened when he saw a woman holding onto an unconscious Toph. He held out his sword and said, "If you hurt her, I'll kill you."

IC: Kara

She smiled at Sokka. It was filled with false sweetness.

"Now is that any way to talk to a lady of your own tribe?" she asked. "You are a rude little boy. So I'll tell you what. I won't hurt her, but only if you stand down and give yourself up. That's fair, don't you think?"

Kara pinched two of her fingers closer together. A noticeable vein throbbed around Toph's temple.

"Isn't she worth it?" asked the waterbender.

Sokka's heart clenched as he saw the throbbing vein on Toph's forehead. This had happened to him before. With Yue. His insides churned as he remembered watching her die. He tossed his sword to the side and murmured, "Just let her go."

IC: Azon

"No, I do not think so," said Azon.

"You sought to capture Toph specifically. There are plenty of well known Earthbenders that would attract the same price but with less hastle. You require her for something specific."

Azon released Maku and was suddenly standing in front of him. He thrust out a hand and grabbed tightly upon his skull. Azon's hand began to glow a bright green, and the sensation of everything closing around them overtook Maku, blinding his senses and penetrating his very being; as if something were drilling into his spirit.

"And I shall see what that is."

IC: Maku

The mercenary felt his limbs seize up. No matter what he tried, he found he could not move. Something cold worked its way through his body and throbbed in his head. Maku groaned and went somewhat limp in the stranger's grip.

***

IC: Kara

"That's better," said the waterbender. She still kept a firm grip on the girl's vein. "You can be smart after all, can't you?"

Kara stood, and shoved Toph back into the hidden compartment.

"And I'm afraid that I can't let her go. You, however, can stay. We could use you, boy."

She held out her hand and clenched her fist...

...and captured the blood in Sokka's heart.

"You do know, don't you, that the full moon will soon come?" she said, with a sick smile.

Sokka surprise, his hands instinctively covering his heart. He could feel it beating desperately to circulate the blood in hos body. His eyes widened when he heard her comment. He groaned, "You're a bloodbender!"
He glared over at her as his insides began to hurt, "Why Toph?"

IC: Kara

She shrugged. "Because she's special. She's not like other earthbenders, is she? We'll use use her to find what we're after. After that? Who knows. Maybe we'll ransom her off to her parents. Either way, it means a lot of money."

Laughing, Kara added, "Don't be so surprised, boy. She was a tool for you and your friends too, once. We are only borrowing her for a while."

IC: Azon

"Ahhhh..." came Azon's voice, echoing through Maku's body.

"Your eyes are still closed, but your spirit is open. Do not worry Maku, I have no desire to tell of your secrets...or the secrets of those you serve. I am not your enemy, nor am I your friend. I am simply following one path to the end, just as you are following yours."

Sokka glared at her, "That's not true! She's my best friend! I won't let you hurt her!" He brought his hand towards his sword, his insides still hurting him.

IC: Maku

He jolted. A voice... Inside his head? Well, this was a first.

The mercenary tried to steel himself for whatever was to come. He had been through much. He could outlast this as well.

I have no idea what you are talking about.

***

IC: Kara

The waterbender sighed. "And here we are again." She tightened her fist, and increased the pressure she now held over Sokka's heart. "You are smart, but you don't learn quickly, do you?

"We don't plan on hurting her. As long as she plays nice and does as we ask, she'll be fine."

IC: Samanya

Glancing over at the man, he shook his head. "No. Not Samanya's. Friend's." Straightening to his full height, Samanya looked at him curiously. Something seemed off, but the warrior just couldn't place it.

"Something needed?"

Sokka groaned as he felt as if his heart was being squeezed. He narrowed his eyes at her as his vision began to go, "Then why'd you kidnap her?"

IC: Azon

"No," came Azon's voice, retreating out of Maku.

"I suppose you don't. Your eyes are still not open."

Everything returned to Maku in an instant, Azon removing his now no longer glowing hand from his forehead.

"But in time," he said to the mercenary, "in time they shall."

He turned his head to stare down below the deck.

"It seems Sokka as found your captive; as well as another. A Waterbender, but with a spirit so foul...ah...I see."

IC: Chan

"Only one thing."

The former soldier moved quickly, despite his great size. He slammed a fist into Samanya's chest, just where the diaphram would be.

"Stand down, if you know what's good for you."

***

IC: Kara

She rolled her eyes. "You honestly think she would've come with us, on her own free will?" demanded Kara. "You of all people should know better than that. Taking her by force means we got her all to ourselves. Of course, there was the concern she'd still not help us."

Kara smiled again.

"But that's where you come in."

***

IC: Maku

He groaned and stumbled back. Maku glared at the back of his attacker.

"You talk in riddles," he said. "Now why don't you play it smart, and give yourself up? You don't stand a chance against us, and I'd rather not hurt anyone if I didn't have to."

Katara

"Release your hold on him," Katara said, walking down the hall toward Kara. "I don't know where you learned to blood bend, but you won't use it on my brother." The cap on her pouch flipped open and she brought her bending water out, taking a stance.

IC: Kara

She laughed aloud at Katara. "I am already using it on your brother. And if you're smart," she said, "you won't make any sudden moves, little missy. I have all the control in here. The best you can do is stand down yourself."

IC: Azon

"I rather doubt that fact, Maku," replied Azon.

"Your eyes will open eventually. When that time comes, you will seek me out. Until then however, you are nothing but an annoying mercenary who talks far too much. Be silent, and be still."

IC: Maku

He scowled. "Why should I listen to you? You have some strange talent, sure, but don't think that means I'll cow down to you!" Maku smiled grimly. "You might not fear us, but your friends should. If you want to help them, and that kid, you'll play fair, and do as I say."

IC: Samanya

The fist impacted on Samanya with a resounding thud, but the towering man simply looked down at where he had been struck before his eyes returned to the strange man's face, now narrowed with cold, merciless fury.

His fist slammed againest the man's jaw, before another one crashed into his gut. With might equal to a platypus bear, the warrior lifted chan by his throat, and tossed him across the deck.

Drawing his club and shield, a dark war cry, sounding more like a roar rolled forth from Samanya's throat like thunder as he charged towards the man.