Chapter 10: Memories
Quynan sat on the coast that opened into her cove. The wind whistled in her ears, that were up. She watched the horizon as if she were waiting for some long-lost friend that was meant to be here ages ago, that never came home. It has been two weeks since she had been in undercover as a Fire Nation soldier. Zuko had decided to leave them be, though he was still furious with her. She wondered, even if she was a different wolf when he said those words, did he really mean them? She shook the words from her mind, then a sharp image of the past burned into her mind.
A white, female pup pulled on a brown, male's ear. He yipped and swiped at her cheek. The female smiled and took the male's paw in her mouth. The male's ember eyes burned happily as he watched this female above him. The female's grey shimmered and the two pups rolled with eachother. The two pups were being carefully watched by two wolves. A dark brown wolf with ember eyes and a slimer light, brown female wolf with the same eyes...
The image disappeared in a burst of pain that felt like fire. She closed her eyes, trying to call that image back up again, but pain, saddness and flames only entered her mind. She sighed and hung her head. She looked up intot he sky that was getting grey with a coming storm. She sighed and headed back to the cave, where Apri, her mate Isis, Toph and Iroh, lay watching the flames of the fire.
Quynan walked in and shook her fur dry. Apri looked away as half of her pelt was showered in water drops. "Hey!" she exclaimed with laughter. She water bended the water form her pelt and flung it outside. Quynan grinned, she wondered why she hadn't done that in the first place. She smiled and sat by her friends. She layed down and watched the flames lick the sides of the stone fire place. Apri shoved Isis playfully when he whispered in her ear. He wagged his tail and he layed by her paws. Quynan's ear twitsed to where her friends smiled and giggled with eachother. Toph sat by Quynan and patted her back as if she had seen her ear twist to the sounds, "It'll be alright." she whispered, but Quynan pretended she knew not of what she meant.
Now the rain was pouring down, lightening streaked the sky, thunder ripped open the heavens. Quynan walked over to the entrance and earth bended the entrance shut. She sighed and sat in front of the fire again. "I think I'm going to bed." declared Apri who yawned loudly. Isis nuzzled her nose and she did back. Though Isis went to his own room, straight after. Toph stood up a few minutes after Iroh went to sleep around eleven. Toph touched her nose to Quynan's warm pelt. "Don't stay up too late." she said as if she were a caring mother. Quynan smiled and nodded. Toph yawned and looked to the shut entrance and walked to her room. After she was alone she watched the flame flick up. She blinked, trying to keep her eyes open. The flames clicking and flickering and the quiet silence, seemed so soothing and it seemed to pull at her. "Go to sleep. Sleep. Sleep, like your brother.." it seemed to whisper. "In peac-c-ce-e-e." it hissed the last words. Quynan rubbed her head.
Hours later, Quynan was asleep on her side. Her claws dug into the furs below her. Her eyes, tail and paws twitched in..memories...
A male swam to the bottom of a cove. He saw a figure laying limp at the bottom. He looked confused and swam nearer.
Above a female paced around, awaiting the surface for her friend that went swimming. He told her, he had seen something glowing at the bottom of the cove, she didn't believe him, so he went to bring it to the surface and prove his friend wrong. She sat down on the beach and watched her friend swim nearer to the surface, with something in his mouth. She hung her head over the water. The male walked out of the water with a white female wolf. The apricot color wolf backed away, her ears a bit back.
"What you got there, Isis?" the female said sniffing the limp form of the wolf that the male named Isis dropped on the sandy beach. "It looks like a wolf, Apricot." he said to her stupidly. Apricot smirked and nudged the female with her paw.
"I wonder, why the wolf was at the bottom of the cove?" she wondered and sat there, looking at the white female.
"Maybe, it's a Fire Nation soldier that disobeyed it's general!" howled Isis and whimpered when Apricot punched him.
"The fur would be brown you, dimwit!" she barked at him and poked the body again. She backed away with a start when the body moved.
"It's alive!" Isis howled, then backed away beside Apricot, when the wolf struggled to it's feet. The wolf moaned and looked around, it seemed confused of it's surroundings, then turned and looked at the two wolves, Apricot and Isis, who stood there blinking.
"Your..Your an air bender.." Apricot stammered. Isis looked at her confused.
"How can you tell?" he whispered to her.
She whispered back, "by the white fur and grey eyes."
The wolf looked at them, "who are you? Where am I?" she asked and looked down at her paws.
"Um, I-I'm Apricot and this is Isis." Apricot said and pointed to Isis, who waved his tail at her.
"And, by your where-a-bouts. You are near the earth kingdom. A cove called, Bender Cove." she explained. "May we ask, who you are?" she asked, studying the female.
"Oh, sorry. My name is Quynan. I come from the Southern Air Temple." she explained.
"Did you say, Southern Air Temple. That would mean, you would know The Avatar!" She exclaimed and came, nose to nose with Quynan. "Where is The Avatar?!" she said to her.
That word "Avatar" it had seemed to follow her everywhere. She didn't want to lie about it. Even though she did not want to become it; it was her duty.
"Your looking at her." she whispered.
"What?!" Isis exclaimed. "That can't be! Your just a young wolf. The avatar is like, 98, 99, 100, 110 years old. They said the avatar disappeared from the world." Isis said and narrowed his eyes at her.
"But I am. I ran away because I never wanted to be the avatar, I ended here..because I froze myself by accident." she declared.
"Accident?" Apricot echoed.
"It doesn't matter. I am here and ready to fight the Fire Nation!" she barked. But deep inside she wasn't ready.
"Can we be friends?" Quynan asked.
Isis and Apricot looked at eachother and Quynan didn't know if she could trust them.
They turned to her with a smile. "FOREVER!" Isis and Apricot howled in unison.
Quynan smiled. She echoed. "Forever."
"forever..forever...forever.."
The words echoed in her head as she opened her eyes slightly to silence. She smiled warmly and closed her eyes again with a smile.
"Forever." she whispered as she went back to sleep.
Quynan woke the scent of cooking deer meat. She yawned and looked around. Toph, Isis, Apricot and Iroh were making breakfast. She smiled and shrugged herself up. She yawned widely.
"I could of helped." Quynan said walking up to them. Apri looked up. "You sounded like you were having a good dream, so I said "let her sleep", besides we got it." Apri said with a smile. Quynan grinned back and looked outside. It was bright and cool. She smiled as a cool wind whisked her fur around.
The "family" ate silently together.
"Very good." Quynan stated and stood up. Isis and Apri nodded to Iroh. Toph ate silently and nodded with them. "Me and Isis are going to go take a walk." Apri said and they walked out of the cave. Toph howled to them. "Go spend time with eachother, love birds!" Isis and Apri chuckled as they walked into the forest.
"I think I'll go relax outside, while it's nice." Quynan said and walked off.
She walked back to the cliff where, the cove opened into the ocean. She sighed and layed down, tucking her paws into her chest. She hung her head and yawned widely.
"Maybe..I'll take another nap." she whispered to herself and closed her eyes.
A few brown wolves/anthros struggled with a female that walked in between them. Her paws were tied behind her back, her hind feet shackled. She snarled, but every time she stopped she hit in the back and shoved forward. The males pushed her into a steel room. They walked her over to two posts and chained her arms and shackled her feet to the metal plate below her feet. They walked off chuckling. She snarled.
She looked up with the sound a door opening. A tall, thick coated male anthro walked toward. He wore an Admiral's uniform. He had a thick mane and glaring, firey, ember eyes. They seemed they'd burn holes right through you, if you looked at them too long.
"So, this is the great, Avatar? Master of all the Elements? I don't know how you managed how to elude the Fire Nation for so many years, but now we have you. And there is no more hiding." Said the male, called Zhao.
"I've never hidden you! Release me now, and I'll fight you, here and now!" she howled.
"Do you miss your people? How does it feel to be the last air bender in the world."
Zhao said evilly. Quynan lowered her head saddly.
"Oh, don't worry you won't killed like they were. I'll leave you alive, but just barely." Zhao said wickedly.
Quynan growled at him. And as if one que, four wolves walked through the door and surrounded her. Two held her arms tightly, the other two reinforced the two holding Quynan. She was confused.
"Say 'hi' to the mark of the Fire Nation" at the same time he blasted a shot of fire at Quynan's face. Quynan howled loudly, it was more of a scream of pain then a howl.
Her body dropped limp in the chains...
The dream faded and Quynan looked up, her face and body covered in sweat. She panted heavilly and touched the side of her face. She cringed in pain. She hung her head. She headed back to the cave, it was almost sun down.
She layed on the pelts and fell asleep.
"Memories.." she whispered as she fell into a deep sleep...
Chapter 11: He's Back
Quynan drank slowly from the water of her river. The air was hot, so the cold water felt good on her dry throat. Her tail twitched as her ear twisted to the side, hearing paw steps in the distance. She pinned both her ears and raised her head, water dripping and clung to her whiskers and chin. She let it drip and narrowed her eyes on the ember eyes, which were staring back at her.
"Come out!" she growled. Her hackles were raised high as her eyes turned a bright blue. A familar scarred face appeared from the shadows and she went to a crouch ready to pounce.
"No!" Zuko screamed and covered his face defensivly. "I've come to talk." he pleaded.
Quynan narrowed her eyes and stood up and watched Zuko closely. "Speak." she said with a slight growl.
"I want to-to ask you..if I could..." he stopped, he was obviously nervous. He cleared his throat and tried to continue. "I wanted to know if I could join your-your team." he said and covered his face as if she was going to strike him down.
Quynan blinked. She was a bit surprised about his offer. She wondered if this was a trick or if he was for real. As if he read her mind he looked at her with eyes, that she'd thought he didn't have. They were filled with saddness. "Please, no one knows of me leaving. Please, Quynan, have a heart." he pleaded and crawled to her paws and looked up at him as if he were a starving puppy.
"Okay, but if you mess up in a weeks time. You'll be punished." she warned him and looked at him sternly.
"I agree to your terms." he said and grinned a bit.
Quynan smiled and lead him to the cove. Seader leaped in front of Zuko and bared his fangs, pinning him down. He was about to bite into Zuko's throat, but Quynan pulled him off by his tail. "Seader it's okay. He's joined the team. I have given him a week to behave, if he doesn't, I'll let you strip his flesh from his bones." she said to Seader and winked teasingly at Zuko. Zuko smiled when Seader looked away. Seader snickered, his thought aboutt hat happening and wagged his tail. He then pointed to Zuko and growled.
"I'm watching you, mutt!" he snarled and turned to follow Quynan.
Zuko got up and trotted far behind them.
They reached the cave and almost at once, a grey figure leaped from the shadows and pinned Zuko. Zuko was soon covered in loving licks. Quynan stood beside them as Iroh licked Zuko fatherly. Zuko, laughed for once and nipped at his uncle's nose playfully. "Nice to see you too, Uncle Iroh." he said with a smile so bright that his eyes dimmed from it. "Zuko!" Iroh cried and hugged Zuko tightly. Zuko patted his uncle and sat up. Quynan smiled and walked in.
She had no doubt. Zuko had changed, though every time she did think about it, the day of when he betrayed her and Iroh always came to mind. She shook the memory from her mind and layed by the fire, watching the flames. She yawned and closed her eyes. She could feel fur run against her side as Apri layed by her, laying her head on Quynan's neck. Quynan smiled as she slept.
Chapter 12: Sent Away
It has been at least four days since Zuko had joined the team. He has kept a clean slate, even after Azula ahd attacked and everyone went after him, until Quynan told them it was Azula. After another attack by the fire nation, Quynan had made a descision; she was going to send the gang to her old territory so they'd be safe. She'd announce it today, though she feared what their opinions may be.
Quynan called the group out of the cave. Toph walked wearily out, it was still early and she yawned loudly, her mane in a mess. Iroh and Zuko walked out next, followed by Isis and Apri. They sat in a semicircle around Quynan. Mara was standing behind Quynan, fluffing up her feathers. The group was perplexed of why Quynan had asked them to come out so early in the morning. Seader was also there, because it involved him as well.
"I'm send you guys out to my old territory. I'm doing this for your safety and for your own good." she said simply. Apri stood up, even though Isis had his paw on her back. "Are, you coming?" she asked and looked at her. Quynan shook her head. "I am staying to protect the cove." she explained.
"But you'll be valunerable and.." she was interuptted by Seader, who stood rapidly. "I am not leaving you here alone!" He growled, his eyes blazing with determination.
"No. You have no say in this. This is my choice and I'm doing it to protect you." she said and looked at him.
"No!! I do have a choice. Youa re my friend and I won't leave you alone!" he yelled. Isis walked up beside Seader. "This is her choice, just do as she says." he said and put a paw on Seader's shoulder. Seader growled and shoved Isis's paw off his shoulder. "I'm staying and there is nothing you can do to make me leave!" he snarled and walked to the cave, which was suddenly blocked by a large boulder.
"I am sorry, Seader, but I can't let you." she said saddly. Seader turned to her and walked into the forest. "I'm not leaving." he growled and disappeared. Quynan rolled her eyes and looked at Isis, Apri; who was crying because she didn't want to leave Quynan, Iroh and Zuko. Zuko sighed and looked at Quynan. Quynan tried to smile, but it never came.
"Well, you better get going. I'll send for you every other week." she said and hugged Apri and the others in a group hug. They walked onto Mara's back. She lifted into the sky and flew off to the distance.
She sighed and walked into her cave, which was now empty, but still filled with the scents of her friends. She closed her eyes and fell asleep by the fire.
Chapter 13: Fire Rages
Quynan layed alone in her cave. It was eerie quiet. The only sound was her faint breathing. She opened her grey eyes and looked around the empty cave. She sighed and sat up. She shook her pelt and heade dout of the cave. She was about to howl out to her friends, but she forgot she sent them away. She sighed and lowered her ears. "It was for thier own good." she said to herself, reassuring it was the right thing to do. She sighed and walked off into the forest. She didn't go too far though. She layed by her a nearby creek and drank from it. She garbbed a lost fish and ate it slowly.
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About a dozen fire navy ships were headed to Quynan's cove.
"Time to show the avatar, how valunerable she really is." Azula said with a smirk and looked at the opening of the cove only about a few 500 yards away. She grinned watching. She was in her anthro form, with her Fire Nation suit on. She had her hands behind her back as lead an assult on the cove. The ships seemed to get faster and faster as they got closer and closer.
The ships soon hit shallow waters and hit the beach with a jolt. Azula walked in and out of the ship as the hatch in front of ship, let out a hiss of steam and fell on the sand with thunderous thud.
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Quynan looked up thinking she heard something. she shurgged and rested her head on her paws. She couldn't get her friends out of her mind. She covered her muzzle and sighed again.
"The avatar is not to be harmed. We only hear to show how valunerable she really is." Azula said to the waiting fire benders. All the fire benders nodded and in unison they all fell into their wolf forms, even Azula. It was like a wave, it started at oen end and ended on the other, one by one. The thousands of fire benders went into their wolf forms and waited for Azula to give the signle.
As if on que, she shot a fire ball into the air, like a flare and all thousands of fire soldiers bolted out into different parts and sections of Quynan's territory. With every step, the forest was lit on fire.
The forest sent up in smoke. The smoke could be seen for mile and miles on end.
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Wyvern looked up from a kill. He was near Quynan's old territory. He felt and smelt the smoke. The air was thick with smoke. He widen his eyes in fear for his friend. He raced off to fetch Apri, Isis, Iroh, Toph and Zuko. They didn't need to be told. They had already saw the smoke high in the air as if it were only a few feet away.
"We have to get back to Quynan!" Apri said and looked at each of the wolves.
"Well, we better get going!" barked Zuko and Iroh. The group nodded and ran out toward the territory. They raced to get there, hoping they were too late.
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Quynan coughed as she was surrounded in smoke. She already felt the smoke in the air and the heat on her body as as ran toward the river, she hoped the flames hadn't gotton there first. She kept running and skidded to a stop. She turned quickly as flames jumped in front of her. She panted hard, her eyes burned from the fire and smoke. She could feel the flames licking up at her hind legs as she rana dn the fire steamed toward her as if it were a hungry beast.
She could now know that she was near the river, but she skidded to a stop to find that flames baracaded the river. She growled and turned west to try and find the other part of the river, but once more flames jumped front of her, blocking her way. She turned around, but she was surrounded in a wall of flames. She growled and scanned for any openings, but none were found. She could feel the flames on her back. She took a gulp of air in, but only took a gulp of soot and heat. She coughed hard. She thought she'd cough out her lungs.
She backed up into the flames seared her lower body. She took another breath in and raced toward the wall of flames which on the other side lay the river. She ran and once in leaping distance took the leap, she felt flames burn her underbelly and sides. She soared through the air like an eagle. She burst through the wall of flames, the fire closing in on her. Then a thunderous splash was herd as her body slammed into the river below...
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Azula watched the forest burst into flames. She smiled. She stopped the assult and walked back into the ships. The ships abcked away from the shore and headed back to the Fire Nation. Azula watched the whole territory burn brightly. The flames reached into the sky, and as if the flames had burned the sky, the sky was a deep red and orange. The sky was turning dark because of all the smoke that fumed from the flames. Azula turned away and walked into the cabin.
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The whole group; Isis, Apri, Iroh, Zuko, Wyvern and Seader all burst out of the brush. They were only a mile away from the the territory and could already see the flames, still brightly burning.
And as if someone did a "Rain Dance" the smoke seemed to turn to dark clouds and water began to fall from the sky. It didn't even start slow, but poured buckets and buckets. The fires were soon extinguished in a matter of minutes. The group raced to the river, where flames were being put out by the slowing rain. They sniffed around and began to call out for Quynan.
A white paw raeched out of the water from the river. It clutched the bank and another paw came out until Quynan's head was laying on the bank. She groaned and coughed hard. Wyvern saw Quynan, he raeched down and gingerly picke dher up by her scruff and pulled her ashore. She grunted when he let go. Apri rushed over and took out her healing water from the pouch at her waist. She opened Quynan's jaws and slipped the water inside. Quynan swallowed the water and opened her red eyes and gazed at her friends. She smiled weakly.
Apri gave her another stream of healing water as Quynan coughed again. Apri licked her fur even though it tasted like soot.
"You traitor!" sbarled Seader and Wyvern and they both ahd corner Zuko. Zuko backed up against a tree. Iroh leaped in front of his nephew and growled at Seader and Wyvern.
"You set this up, you told Azula that the gang was breaking up!! Now, you shall pay!" howled Wyvern and pushed Iroh out of the way and grabbed Zuko by his neck and turned on his hind legs and tossed him to the ground like a rag doll. Zuko yipped and layed there, his body shook as Wyvern and Seader both walked toward him.
Quynan leaped in front of Zuko and stared sternly at Wyvern and Seader. "He didn't do it. He couldn't have he was there with you guys at the territory and besides, it was Azula who did this." Quynan rasped, her throat sore form the smoke. Wyvern wrinkled his muzzle and bared his fangs. They snorted loudly and walked off, both Wyvern and Seader.
Quynan sighed and layed down. Apri and Isis helped her up, but she refused to be treated like she was weak. She limped back to her cove. Iroh helped Zuko up and walked back also.
They all walked into the untouched cave and fell asleep. Quynan had learned her lesson; "You can't get rid of your friends, unless you get rid of half of yourself as well." She layed in her room and fell alseep.
Outside the rain dwindled and soon green sprouts were forming and reaching up...
To Be Continued.....
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All characters are rightfully to their owners.
Wyvern: Spirit the cat
Seader: ~shadowcraft~
Apri and Isis: Apri~werewolf
Quynan: Selene~werewolf(AL) (Me!)
Azula, Zuko, Iroh and Toph: Avatar the Last Airbender (Nickoldeon) (Wolf creations of Azula, Zuko, Iroh and Toph is Me)