human
Water. Earth. Fire. Air.
Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, could stop them. But when the world needed him mosthe vanished. A hundred years have passed and the Fire Nation is nearing victory in the War.
In the Southern Water Tribe, the men of one tribe journey to join their brethren in battle at the North Pole. Hope for total victory is forlorn, though the warriors are adamant in their resolve, for none wish to live upon their knees when they can die a warriors death upon their feet.
It is still believed that the Avatar will return to save the world. But until then, the fate rests in the hands of ordinary men and women, benders and warriors alike.
The trio of ships, blue sails and wooden hulls, cruised swiftly through the clear waters. Each carried a complement of some thirty to forty warriors, armed with spear, club, and arrow, though there were two or three per ship who knew the art of Water Bending. They wore heavy furs of black or dyed blue, showcasing their allegiances proudly, and many had caps and helms in the shape of sea-beasts, their husks and teeth forming cheek-guards. Each warrior burned with the urge for battle, their lands and tribe having suffered at the hands of the Fire Nation from their relentless raids. By conjoining with their kin at the North Pole, perhaps they would have a chance to return such fury to their foes.
That is, if the enemy had not found them first. A clear sky it was, as blue as the deep waters around, and that should have been enough to conceal the small fleet as it crossed the world to reach their allies. But not all ports were safe in the Earth Kingdom, where they stopped for supply and rest at times. Though their allies still seemed to hold sway over some regions, opposing the armies of the Fire Nation as best they can, spies and informants still got through. Cruelly, it was often those forced to do so who should have been their allies, having some relative or friend in a Fire Nation prison camp. Falsely promised their freedom, or for the mere greed of coin, many served their oppressive tyrants. The reinforcing fleet was marked and was soon swallowed into a trap.
It was made evident to the warriors on the ship when blackened soot began to fall. They all knew it well. Laughter ceased. Music stopped. Men dropped oars and grabbed their weapons. Soot always fell before the Fire Nation, in their metal ships spewing ash into the air, would attack. They had tried to take the war to their enemies. Now that war had come to them again. And they were far from their element.
The sun was sinking and there would be no Moon that night, the source of all water-benders powers. But all were resolved to fight. Despite the sea being their element, they were clearly outmatched, for soon many vessels were spotted off their stern and bow, on a fast course to intercept. The only choice was to dip towards the land and perhaps find a suitable location to defend and repel the attackers, perhaps some high ground, for there were great cliffs that lined the shore to their right. So the Water Tribe ships dipped towards it, presenting their flanks to the advancing ships. They had no idea what was in store for them when they would land. If they had to abandon the ships, that was fine. It was decided they could seek to redress their wrongs by joining the Earth Kingdom instead.
Rikkar rubbed his hands together and brought them before his mouth, huffing slightly. Despite it being a warm day, even in late evening, his breath came out like a puff of fog, as it might during winter, perpetually so in his home. His mind he focused with incantations, fluidly and flowing like passing water back and forth with one of the elders who had taught him and the others. He was one of the few Water Benders in the fleet, practiced and quite sharp, though not as battle-tried as he ought to be. He was still young, nineteen years, and had participated in a few defenses of his home. But that was only against raiders and cheap banditry level troops on part of the Fire Nation. But each boosted his courage and confidence for battle and he was indeed good, fighting off one or two Fire Benders in his lifetime.
His parents did not like it though. Displays of water-bending, even to repel Fire Nation warriors, only seemed to draw them back. It was not known to the Southern Water Tribe that the eradication of the art of water-bending was their goal. Rikkar had a large target on his back, whether he knew it or not. Their tribe was a small one. Most water-benders had gone to the main settlement and thus with the convoys of warriors sent in earlier times, leaving few to teach the art. His training had not been completed and he was still rough around the edges. Now all the men of his tribe were here, while those who could not fight were sent to join the main village at the South Pole. If they did not return
No, they had to return, otherwise they would die out.Just like the Air Nomads.
Move it! Take cover behind those rocks! Chieftain Hiddock shouted, using his club to point and gesture. The rest of you, set up a camp there. Well use it to draw them in and hit them on three sides. He said and the men hurried began to unpack and move about. Rikkar moved up with a dozen others armed with spear and boomerang, taking cover behind some large boulders out of sight of the sea. The Fire Nation ships would be upon them soon. Hopefully they took the bait.Or perhaps they were entrapped themselves.
Water benders had one disadvantage though. Next to the water, they had unlimited access to their bending. Without water, they were useless. And there was much land and solid stone where there wasnt water, whereas the Fire Benders could produce it from their very bodies. Thankfully, Rikkar carried a flask at his side, filled to the brim with water, which provided on-the-go means to bend if he had to. But would it be enough? Steam he could recover into liquid form and into ice or from ice he could manipulate. He waited as the Fire Nation ships approached, already seeing the fires being ignited behind their artillery bastions. Those on the shore would be under severe bombardment very soon.
Spirits guide us. Rikkar murmured and prepared to give battle.
gpt
The ships cut through the water with a sharpened point at the front designed for cutting through ice and rough waters; however, for most that saw the fire nation approaching it also seemed to cut away the freedoms of man. The fire nation was brutal and left no stone unturned. This war between the nations was far older than any of the warriors in the fleet of twelve ships. Each ship held 50 warriors for a grand total of six hundred, and, unlike many of the other nations, they had plenty of benders to work with. Each ship housed ten firebenders, and all ten were all highly skilled in their art. The fire nation didnt send out their benders until they were moulded into lethal warriors who would not be easy to take down. At the head of these fifty men and women who made art out of flames? A woman.
This woman had been at the top of her class. She was a skilled combatant and leader with a set of skills that made her a force to be reckoned with. Daughter of a commander and betrothed to a man with a powerful name, she had influence in the fire nation, but more important she had influence over this fleet. In fact, she lead it. It wasZinnithat called the shots with these men and women, and they were going after those ships. At first she had planned to intercept them in the water even if that was where they would be most powerful: after all, they were outnumbered and undoubtedly outskilled as compared to Zinni and her troops. But when the fleet turned tail and ran like a group of damn cowards.
After them. She called, standing at the bow of the lead ship. Her voice was cool and collected even as she planned to go into battle. Zinni could see no reason to be worried. He fire nation might lose a handful of foot soldiers, but the loss was outweighed by the gain. These ships were on their way north, no doubt toward the northern water tribe. There would be benders on these boats. Well throw anchor a mile north of them and loop around on the rhinos, attacking them on all sides. She nodded and started her trek from the bow down into the belly of the ship were she alerted the soldiers in charge of the care of the animals to hurry up and get the beasts ready. They were taking this battle to land.
The womans pale hands cupped he nose of one of the beasts gently, rubbing her thumbs softly over his rough, thick, tough skin and took a deep breath. There were few joys in life for Zinni. Unexpected, yes, that such an esteemed firebender would be unhappy, but it was true. Thisbeast, affectionately named Ze, was Zinnis war mount, and he was quite possibly her only true friend in the world. He had seen countless battles beneath the woman and had served her faithfully in each one of them. The beast had been a gift to Zinni upon her completion of training at age eighteen and also an offering in exchange for her hand. Now, four years later at the age of twenty two, Zinni liked the rhino better than she liked her fiance, but tradition was tradition.
Within the hour the ships were anchored and the hundreds of rhinos and men were unloaded and armed for battle. Everyone, save for the few leaders, were dressed in traditional fire nation armor, but Zinni had a little more flare in herbattle attire. She hopped onto the back of her armored rhino and fastened her sword to her side before moving the beast forward to speak in front of her soldiers.
Attention gentlemen. She began. Her voice was loud and authoritative. You are all to circle around back silently at just enough distance to go undetected and begin to subdue the natives. We are not here for a genocide although some casualties are to be expected. Do you best to keep at least the benders alive. They are of value to me. She nodded. Tightening her grip on the reins. Non benders, you go first. The firebenders will make up the second wave. As soon as the battle is won head back to the ships and lock all prisoners in the cells. Anyone still on land when the lock up is complete will be left behind. Do I make myself clear?
Yes captain! The men cried.
Onward! She shouted, and without hesitation everyone began to move.
They made their way through the woods quietly and efficiently. Those mounted and those on foot each kept their mouths shut and their helmets on as they moved, saying silent prayers in their minds that things would go smoothly with this capture. The last thing that Zinni needed was to have to explain significant casualties to her father and the rest of the council. She needed to do this swiftly and easily without getting her own or even the enemies killed. They were destined for prison camps, not for unmarked graves. While she was happy to hurt anyone who crossed her she always attempted not to walk too close to the edge of death. Thus far? Her murdering had been minimal and most of her captives now made themselves useful working in coal mines or doing some other useful trade while still keeping them away from their elements. However, in her experience, waterbenders were tricky.
Their element had to be provided on a silver platter to them otherwise they would die of dehydration: increasing the death toll. Unlike with the air nomads, the fire nation had decided not to wipe out the water benders for one reason or another, but they were the main targets for leaders like Zinni. Any intel that could be gained on camps, ships, and strategies were highly valuable and would be extracted from victims at great cost to their own personal health. While Zinni didnt like to murder age was more than happy to torture. The beauty of it with water benders was that she could torture them within an inch of their lives and by the next day, if provided a cup of water, they would be as good as new again and she could start all over on them again: feeding on their screams until they have her what she wanted.
Once they had the pathetic little camp of the water tribe surrounded, still hidden within within the shrubbery. The foot soldiers lined up in front of the mounted and all waited for the word from Zinni. As soon as their leading lady gave a nod of her pretty little head they charged: hundreds of armed soldiers moving in on probably less than a hundred strong water nomades. This fight was won before it had even started. The soldiers got to work restraining who they could or murdering if they must, but most of the nomads were no match for the fire nation warriors. Within minutes everyone in that quaint little camp was either subdued or dead except for a few more talented benders were were putting a bit of a dent in Zinnis army.
Firebenders its our turn. She nodded and her men went forward ahead of her while she held back. With this method she would easily be able to pick out the most dangerous water bender and take he or she one herself. All of her soldiers were highly skilled, but not even they could take on the young and beautiful Zinni. She counted 30 beats in her head before running the rhinos neck and asking him to charge full speed ahead. The thundering of his monstrous feet, nearly twice the size of all the other rhinos, rang through the tree line as she let out a battle cry of her own. As soon as she broke the tree line she let out a puff of air that quickly formed into a wall of flame flying outward and singing all the nomades not wearing proper protective gear. At that moment all eyes were on her save for her warriors who were working their own magic on the water benders.
Zinnis eyes fell on a young, handsome man with long, dark hair who was causing obvious trouble with some of her warriors, and she urged Ze forward into another charge directly at the man who, despite being younger than even Zinni herself, seemed to have the most spunk out of his group. A trouble maker no doubt. The rhino hit him: catching the fabric of his pathetic clothing of his forward most horn and carrying the man back into the tree line away from his people without any trouble whatsoever. Zinni spurred on the beast until the rest of the battle was well out of sight then she yelled Drop him, Ze! This is far enough! And, like a well trained beast, the rhino lowered his head just enough that the boy dropped to the dirt with a loud thud forced to roll to a stop just inches from being crushed under the rhinos trampling feet.
The animal wheeled around to face the fallen waterbender with a silent command from his rider and slid to a stop facing him. Zinni gave him a quick back and jumped off of his back in a graceful maneuver: landing on her feet. Without hesitation Zinni walked forward, her hands twisting and turning in front of her until they formed a fireball engulfed in blue flames. In an instant she planted her feet, hurling the skin melting ball of flame at the man without an ounce of regret on her face. It probably wouldnt kill him. Right?
human
It took the greatest amount of willpower to stay put and hidden as the Fire Nation ships hit the shore and began to unload men and material. Dozens of foot soldiers and rhinos but were they fighters? Conscripted peasants or bullies and thugs looking to oppress others, they had nothing on true freedom fighters and those who fought with the heart. Rikkar and his people were fighting for their very lives, while the Fire Nation were only looking for conquests and riches. They could do this. All they had to do was stand their ground and the foe would break themselves like water on a rock.
The main body of the Water Tribe, the bait, would take the blunt of the Fire Nation landing force. Rikkar and his group, along with another on the far edge, would shadow and flank the Fire Nation group as they landed and tried to make headway, drawn into a trap. They wouldnt have the conviction to match their icy demeanor in battle. It seemed so easy, the Fire Nation force so headstrong and arrogant. And so, without a doubt as to their own danger, when the Fire Nation ships and fighters pursued them up the beach, they got ready to spring their trap. They wouldnt expect the surprise attack.
Just as they, the Water Tribe warriors and benders, didnt expect the Fire Nation to ambush the ambushers.
The Water Tribesmen fell upon the Fire Nation landing party and tore them to pieces, half not even aware that Fire Nation soldiers appeared all around from the trees and mountains. Rikkar by some fortune spotted them a moment early, even as Chieftain Hiddock took three spears to his body and was slaughtered, along with many others who found themselves surrounded. Quickly, the three groups of Water Tribesmen were cut off from each other and each outnumbered by two or threefold their numbers. What was supposed to be a glorious ambush turned into a desperate struggle. But as he thought before, they had conviction and each fighter of his kin took one or more down with them. They would die here today but the Fire Nation would think twice about it.
Rikkar definitely put in his own dent in the memory of his foes. Forming two whips of water extending from his arm, he managed to keep a considerable space of safety about him as he whipped, lacerated, or outright grabbed Fire Nation warriors and flung them aside. He didnt think at first of fleeing. His comrades, his kin, his people, they were all dying or captured here. He would not think of abandoning them even to save his own life. His teeth gritted and sweat tickled his forehead. He was already panting hard when a large beast began to rumble towards him. His water lashes barely affected it, splashing off its hideous hide as it bore into him. He reached out in some subconscious gesture, not really knowing what he was doing, as the creature struck him.
The horn tore through the fabric on his shoulder and hefted him right up, jerking his body roughly. He clenched his teeth and grabbed the horn to try and balance himself, struggling to hold on and not be trampled as he was carried far from the fight. The screams of his dying comrades was replaced with whipping branches and fluttering leaves but the solace of it didnt distract him. The beast came to a halt and he struck the ground, heaving for breath, his arms feeling like deadweight. It took a moment to struggle to his feet, Rikkar expecting the cold brush of steel into his flesh at any moment. Instead he felt sudden heat and looked up to see a female fire bender preparing to attack him.
With a sudden leap, he threw himself aside and was only singed by the launched fireball. The cork of his water flagon flew off and a jet of water came out, clear and crystalline, swirling about him in a protective net. He kept his distance, his arms moving slightly in an elegant dance, matching the water flowed fluidly with his motions around him. His brow furrowed but he still panted, wounded from the carry and already exhausted from the previous combats. But he was not about to give up.I am ready to die for my people and land.
Arent you the honourable one. He mocked, trying to goad his opponent into making the first move. Picking a fight with someone whos back is turned, already preoccupied. Is this how you win all your fights? You must be so proud. Well come on then, I never had any issue teaching little girls how to dance. Rikkar said with a forced grin, white teeth visible in neat rows, as bright as the ivory tusks of a walrus. He needed to preserve his water though. He had a limited supply. And he could not stoop to such a base level as taking water from vegetation, leaving it dead. There was water all about, but it would kill the grass and leaf if he did.This war is about protecting life, not destroying your enemy.
He waited for the Fire Benders assault. Fireballs he simply lashed aside with the water, producing puffs of steam which he promptly reabsorbed back into his swirling tendril of protection. As long as she didnt output enough fire to completely reduce his water supply to steam, he could prevail in this. He just needed to wait for her to expend herself before he even dared to attempt an attack. But he was tiring. His bare shoulders, rounded like balls of iron and looking as hard, heaved up and down with his breathing. He had a cut on his forehead which began to bleed onto his eye, distracting him. His clothing was tattered. He was a desperate animal, cornered and wounded, but capable of biting deep. And Rikkar waited for it, ready to spring on any mistake his foe might make.
If she tried to come near, the water tendril would form into a lance of solid ice on his right arm, with a very sharp point, ready to jab and hack at her. But if she got close enough, within range, there was nothing he could do to stop her.
gpt
Zinni cocked a braw as he talked to her, hiding like a coward behind a wall of water.There was no honor in hiding.It made her hate him rather than the neutrality that she usually felt towards her captives. Spirits. It was so tempting to just kill him and report back that he gave her no other choice. A dishonorable man so happy to drop her soldiers deserved to die while engulfed in her flame. Yet, killing him would do more harm than good. It would be a bad mark on her stellar reputation to have the maan she singled out be one of the waterbenders who was killed during today's battle which, by all reason, should have been an easy one. These little drowned rats were putting up a fight.
I have more honor than anyone from a tiny tribe could ever understand. She spoke, using her own hands to create a small ball of flame between her palms. It was all for show. She wouldn't throw this one at him as it would be too small to do anything but sizzle in his pathetic little shield. You just know little of good war strategy. Always hit when its least expected,little boy. You wont be able to ever learn that though. This is the last battle you will see. Either I will kill you or I will put you in a camp until you grow old and die. However, at least in a camp youll still be breathing. She reasoned with the man, but she knew that convincing him wouldnt be nearly that easy. He would need much more convincing, but luckily for him Zinni was very good at persuasion via unconventional means.
Give up now, you soggy boy, or this will be much harder for the both of us and Ill end up winning in the long run anyway. She spoke, beginning to walk in a slow circle around him as Ze watched closely, standing close by. The looked he man over from head to toe as she walked: keeping her distance. She was too far away for him to make too rash of a move with his pathetic supply of water. He could whip her, maybe, but she was skilled enough to evaporate his water before it even came into contact with her flesh. His disadvantage was that he only had a canister of water. Zinni could conjure up flames to her hearts content as quickly as she was able to move her hands to do so. Not to mentioned she was more seasoned in battle.
In her walk, so observed that he was a handsome and well built soldier from such a punny army. It was truly a waste that he was born a waterbender rather than a fire bender. Those types of genetics and that drive would have been very useful in her army. It was a shame he was destined to be a prisoner insead. Hell. He was better equip for battle han half of her soldiers out there securing his comrades in chaos just through those trees. Such. A. Shame. He probably even would have made cute babies. Listen, Dont make me have to kill you. Get on your knees, drop the water, and Ill retrain you and you can rejoin your friends. They wont even know you surrendered which, if I do say so myself, is the best move for you to make, water boy.
She got around him just enough that she could see a gap in his shield of water: a straight shot to his ankles. A hit to the achilles tendon would make it very difficult for him to keep up with the tall, slender, and delicious firebender woman. A firebender woman who had no intentions of being impaled on this little boys icy prick today. Or any prick for that matter, much to the complaint of some of her soldiers. Zinni was off limits and she was more than cold enough to enforce that even as she breathed hells fire. So she threw that tiny, pathetic fireball and hit her mark: the tapered part of the waterbenders ankle and melting his flesh to the fabric as it seemingly instantly seared his flesh worse than a cut of meat left in the oven overnight.
Then she let out the most malicious chuckle this world had ever heard. Zinni loved causing men pain.
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Little boy, huh? Guess itll be more all that more embarrassing for you when I give you a dirt-nap here in a fewThe threats were what he expected.Imprisonment. Hard Labour. Death.At least Rikkar would still have himself. He could die just once, not a thousand times over if she chose to bow down and live his life as a slave to the Fire Nation empire. He had no doubt this woman knew her business well. An officer of some kind. Rikkar's tribe was simple. No nobles, no rulers, no superiors, nothing. One persisted on their own merit and virtue. Would his be enough?
He didnt respond to the taunting. He knew it was meant to distract him. He kept his guard firm and never let his enemy out of his sight. The only problem was there was more than one of them and for a time, he kept woman and beast (the distinction was hair thin in his mind) in his sight, until she paced around, causing him to keep his focus between her and the creature. It clearly was comfortable in combat and not spooked easily. Rikakr didnt doubt a simple whistle from her would send it charging at him again. He still had the bruises.
On my knees? Sounds like something youre used to. If you really knew honour, you wouldnt even waste your breath with these words. So what are you really scared of, little girl? That you cant take me in a fair fight? Rikkar finally mocked in return, goaded by her offer to shamefully surrender. That was what this entire expedition of his people was about. They would never surrender. They were here to fight to the bitter end. The Fire Nation could be as arrogant as they wished. He had his convictions to power him.
Her assault came suddenly and Rikkar shifted a second too late. Her fire ball launched rapidly and his water flowed to parry it, reaching a little too late. The flame zipped past his ankle with a burning kiss, melting flesh and causing the tissue beneath to blister and ooze through the damaged skin. Rikkar hissed and lifted his foot protectively, though he maintained his balance perfectly. He lived on ice. Standing like a statue on solid ground was childs play. He kept his guard up, expecting a second strike to follow. Instead he heard her laugh at his misfortune. She was taunting him and doing pretty good at it.
Rikkar was a tribesman, from the southern edge of the world. Maybe he was nave, easily goaded and incapable of greater malice, never having witnessed it before. With clenched teeth, he dead gave it away he intended to attack and attack he did. But as the water swirled about him, his bending could take many forms and from the water came swirling stars of jagged ice, spinning rapidly and with deadly intent. Two flew straight for her chest. To return the favor, he launched his own at her feet.
He followed up quickly himself, ignoring the throbbing ache in his ankle. Oh he would definitely feel that after the battle. Maybe even be incapable of walking, as if he had a terribly sprained limb. But his back was to the wall now and it was do-or-die. Extinguished water, as long as he had his focus, was reclaimed at once into the principal swirl of water he kept around his torso, his arms moving it in an elegant dance. With a heave, he brought the entire globe of liquid about, intending to slam across a wide surface into the side of the Fire Bender and sending her reeling as if struck by a club.
gpt
It was foolish of the youngster to make it so obvious he was going to attack. Zinni knew it was coming just from the expression on the young lads face. It gave her just enough time to prepare before he flung the ice shards towards her with impressive speed and accuracy. But it wouldn't be enough to hurt her as much as she had already hurt him. In a quick movement Zinni flung her arm upward from thigh to the apex of her reach: a wall of hot flame following it and illuminating as blue as the ocean's water. The intense heat was enough to melt the icicles just enough to eliminate the sharp edges that threatened to impale her flesh and punish her for burning his. They instead hit with blunt force, causing bruises at the most.
It made Zinni angry as the blunt ends smacked into her sharp, chiseled collar bones, and she growled as she looked up, watching as he formed a large globe with intent to beat her with it. She planted her feet firmly into the soil beneath her and she formed her own globe in the form of a raging inferno. It surrounded her as she pushed forward. He could extinguish the flames with his wave, yes, but in the time it would take him to condense the vapor and attack again he would already be burned. This allowed her to get close enough to begin heating up the water he was bending.
"You're a fool for picking this fight. My goal is not to kill you or any of your little playmates. That blood is on your people's hands. You have given my men no choice but to murder some in order to capture the rest. I will not fail with you. You are mine, waterboy." She hissed the words as though she were some sort of fire nation born dragon and she continued to press forward with flames ablaze. She had already burnt him badly. How was he still standing? It didnt make any sense. In a way, Zinni admired the lads willingness to push himself beyond reasonable limits. She was finding that she admired his spirit far more than any of her opponents before him.
She stopped her push as her ears caught something in the distance. She could hear the thunderous sound of the rhinos traveling as a herd once more: back to the ships no doubt. Zinnis men had finished their work and they were headed home. Zinni, on the other hand, had her hands tied here with this spunky little waterbender. She could kill him, yes, but there was no merit in having a rhino trample your opponent to death. Sge wouldnt go back empty handed, but the clock was ticking. She needed to fish things up here or shed be stranded with this blasted boy. Were running out of time. Dont make me lame you, boy. She hissed, glaring at him with eyes ablaze. It was no wonder why the spirits had combined this woman and placed her directly in the steel grip of the fire nation.
In rapid succession, Zinni formed balls of fire out of her shield and launched them at her opponent. This time, however, they had to travel through his shield of water before they could kiss his flesh only stinging like a hot cool before pittering out and extinguishing. The heat wasnt enough to burn flesh to fabric like the shot to his ankle had been. Instead they only slightly singed his clothing leaving welts from first degree burns at the worst. It wasnt going to be enough to take him down, she knew, but she just needed to distract him enough to trick him into messing up: revealing something vulnerable for her to severely burn and take him down. In good time he would slip up. With bated teeth she kept throwing those balls of flame at the lad until he was peppered in singes.
human
With a heave, Rikkar slammed his controlled water into the firebenders side, matched in intensity and strength by her own fiery defense. He gritted his teeth and his booted feet dragged skids through the dirt as he put pressure on her. He knew he ought to withdrew, her defenses far more formidable than he had ever imagined. His water sizzled and already the heat of his own liquid was beginning to boil and sear him. She taunted him over the fight but wasnt it her people trying to massacre the rest of the world? She began to put her own pressure on and with his injured ankle, he found his leverage a lot weaker.
Rikkar didnt answer her. It would only be a waste of breath to talk to a demoness. But still, strength of conviction and his back to the wall made him fierce. He growled back at her and obstructively gave way, his mind only working up a new strategy. Something seemed to catch her attention a moment but he was focused too much on keeping his water in match with her endless flames to pay it much heed. If she tried to distract him in advance of her new assault, it failed, though it didnt make his defense of it any much better. The rapid succession of spewing orbs of fire punched through his shield, striking him like hard gusts of current to his abdomen and limbs. He hissed and was driven back from her, putting more and more room between them. He had to do something!
Smoke rose in tendrils from several places on his body, searing his bronze skin to brighter hue of red. His clothes spluttered and burst apart. His water, flushed into steam, before regathered, remained mostly intact, though there was little opportunity to switch from the defense to the offense. He had to do something and fast, otherwise he may never gain the initiative. He glared at her abruptly and the air around him crackled as the temperature dropped. His body was going to feel it regardless if he won or not.
The water split into two, forming jagged lances of ice around his forearms. No longer heeding the damage, he put pressure on his burned ankle, willing it for one last drive. He dodged her next fireball, hacked apart the second, and was suddenly upon her. But he feinted, not using his arms but delivering a hard kick to her midsection to whack her back to a tree. His arms flushed quickly after that, launching one of the icicle lances on his arm towards her, where it switched rapidly back to liquid, slapping her arm to the tree. Then it frozen again, pinning her there.
With his remaining water, formed into a lance, Rikkar lined it up with her heart and then gave a shout, charging forward with an intent to run her through and outright killing her. It was for his peoples survival after all. And what she promised him so far was only misery and pain. Not even a warriors death. But he would do better and gave her a clean, honourable finish, even if she did not deserve it. His ice sharpened tip was aimed straight for her chest and he could endure a blast or two while still inflicting great harm to her.
He wouldnt get to.
The rumbling in the distance disguised the rumbling at hand. Before Rikkar could close, a grey shape swooped in and hammered right into his side. Ze roared in defiance as it leapt to his mistresss defense, sending Rikkar flying a dozen or more feet where his torso struck a tree, diverting his spiralling crash to the ground.
For him, it was a whirlwind of sensation that he barely kept track of. One moment he was on the verge of stabbing the firebender. The next, his vision blackened and he could not breathe, his mind flipped on itself over and over again with such force he lost consciousness. Then when his body hit the ground after the tree and skidded to a halt, the blissful ignorance of unconsciousness left him. First the darkness shrouded everything, coupled with a throbbing, pounding sensation of pain throughout his entire body. He could only groan, unable to even open his eyes or wiggle his limbs, completely in shock from the blunt force trauma of the hit.
All water he had been controlling simply collapsed. From the firebenders arm, his icicle lock would simply disintegrate and splash to the ground, soaked up quickly. And Rikkar was in no state to call it back. It all slipped away from him, leaving him defenseless and out of his misery.
Well, almost. But the waterbender was down for the count.
gpt
Zinni's brow furrowed as she heard the crackling in the air around her.What was that sound?It made her hesitate just enough for his blades of ice to form around his muscular forearms and her flame to weaken just enough to not melt it fast enough. He dodged her next throw, and he was coming at her fast. Zinni thought about running, yes, but she had to admit even to herself that he was faster than her: even though they were quite similar in height. His sure-footedness and muscular legs gave him that advantage over her leaving her with only one choice: stand your ground.
She grunted as he planted his foot into her toned abdomen and jolted her backward, slamming her back to a tree. By some miracle she prevented herself from hitting her head hard on the tree trunk to avoid losing focus, but it made no difference. Before she could make another move she felt the hard impact of the ice pinning her hand and forearm to the trunk of the tree, and he charged her yet again: this time with the intent to kill. She pulled hard at the ice, hoping she could dislodge herself and use both of her hands for bending, but it was no use. Amber eyes traveled upward to meet his own: making eye contact with the man who would likely kill her now before she allowed her lids to fall. She would die with some peace. Her ancestors would be proud of her.
The thunderous sound of Ze's charge went almost unnoticed as Zinni took a deep breath, preparing for it to be her last, but she furrowed her brow as the breath went rancid in her lung from being held too long. It shouldnt have taken more than a split second for him to end her and for her to feel the shattering of her own existence, but she continued to live. Finally she opened one eye. Then the other. Her visage revealing to her just what had happened. Ze had just saved her life.
Thats my boy. She doted on the animal just as the ice became liquid water once more and fell to the dirt below, freeing the Fire Nation commander.
She stepped around the wet patch on the ground and moved toward her loyal companion and the unconscious man, rubbing the beasts brow affectionately in reward for a job well done.Spirits, she loved that animal.
Luckily, the saddle bags of the beasts of burden were always fully stocked with everything one could possibly need when out in the wilderness finishing up a job, and proper shackles for unarming benders was among those supplies. It was easily to chain up the waterbender with shackles that completely encapsulated his hand in cold, sooty iron that would prevent any further shenanigans on his part and cuffs that would keep his ankles close enough together he could barely walk with the minimal stride, let alone run. The harder part for the tall and slender firebender was getting the hunk of dead weight up onto the back of the rhino for transport.
After enough heaving, pulling, and help from Ze, Zinni crawled into the addle of the beast and headed back toward the ships. Now all she had to do was load him up in a cell with one of his comrades and take him to their destination. It would be easy enough. What concerned Zinni, however, was the lack of noise she was hearing in the distance. This certainly didnt seem right for the aftermath of such a battle. And she was right. Things certainly weren't right.
Zinni had galloped the lumbering beast all the way to the battlefield where corpses: both in blue and black, littered the clearing, but there was not a live man or woman in sight. Her eyes traveled from the bodies to the skyline where she was quickly met with the image of ship silhouettes sailing off into the distance.
Zinni had been left behind.
***
It took hours to set up camp. She looted what would be useful off the bodies then traveled away from all the carnage, finally settling down at the bow of one of the abandoned water nation ships. In her mind, Zinni hoped that a different fleet from the fire nation would see those ships and rush in to take her and her prisoner back home where she could get back to work, but she also knew that no other fleets were supposed to be headed this way. Zinni was most likely out of luck, and she would have to come up with a plan B. She would have to travel by land to meet up with another camp, and it wouldnt be a short journey either.
With ropes found on the water nation ships, Zinni tightly secured hershackledman to the trunk of a sturdy nearby tree: propping his back up against it such that his head dangled in his unconsciousness. She removed Zes battlegear and released him to graze peacefully nearby and rest as he saw fit while Zinni busied herself with digging through any bags she had found on the water nation ships alongside the firelight as the night grew from indigo to pitch black. It was dark, and she was alone with this sack of scum. At last she had thought she was alone.
While scrounging through a leather backpack a wild beast can flying out at Zinni in a fit of wings and beak, and it made her scream and move aside to avoid have her nose taken off by the rabid creature. Whatever it was smacked the woman in the face with a feathered appendage before waddling away from her completely. Ow She muttered, rubbing her rose as her eyes searched the fireglow for what it was that had attacked her. Her pride sunk down into a deep, dark hole when she found it.
A turtle duck. Zinni had been out matched by a turtle duck.
human
Rikkar dreamt that he was drowning. It was a struggle to fight to stay above water. All his powers seemed useless. In fact he had none. It was darkness, darkness all around on the horizon and sky and darkness below, in the depths of the infinite water he squirmed in. There was no escape and he could only resist for so long, each moment feeling like his last, in some never-ending struggle. But his limbs grew heavy, his head began to pound, and he found it hard to breathe. He sank, submerged into the darkness, silently screaming as he plunged to the depths
of consciousness. Very painful and agonizing consciousness. As his best buddy defended his honour Rikkar jerked awake with a kick and a gasp, squirming against his restraints. Whatthefuckugh He groaned, feeling tremendous ache through his entire body. He barely remembered being struck though it felt as if an entire iceberg had been dropped on him, beaten and molded like cured meat. Spots flashed in his vision and the throbbing was ceaseless.
Milo the Turtle-Duck, who had sat in secret beneath his hard exterior shell, squawked in greeting to Rikkars grunting, glaring at Zinni. His beak was ready to clamp on any invasive fingers that wasnt offering him food, for he was starving. He had no grudge with her personally. Had it been Rikkar, he would have done the same to him, biting his fingers. It was how they communicated such things.
Milo immediately pounced to nip at Zinnis heel next.
Rikkar was still composing himself. He had been in a fightand he was winningand now he was here, tied up andobviously beaten. His eyes rose, his vision still dazzled, as he finally heard the ruckus and saw the firebender in question. He tried to focus on his, his vision blackening and resuming with alarming vividness. Was it night already? Where was everyone else? He saw bodies and gulped hard as he saw the blue of his tribesmen scattered about. The bodies of the fire nation warriors had been removed by their comrades, the enemy dead left to rot. It made the battle look very one-sided and thus hopelessness to Rikkar. He groaned and strained his head back into the trunk of the tree.
Why was he still alive then?
He immediately began to struggle against his ropes. Milo. He stammered. Milo, comebite these damn ropes off. He said, though he managed to see Milo leap, and miss, at Zinnis ankle. He let out a chuckle that immediately devolved into painful gasping. Any type of shuddering causing his aching ribs and body to light up with pain. Hes trying to tell you to put him in the water, so he could fish. Rikkar gasped, though he doubted the heartless bitch would care.
So they left you behind to do the robbing and stealing? How dignified. Seems fitting for a death hound like you. Rikkar sneered, turning his head left to right and back again, taking in his surroundings. It was justdark. And hard to see. Breathing hurt. What the hell had hit him? Why arent I dead like the others? Feeling lonely? Rikkar noted, hanging his head and simply shutting his eyes, vision flooded with spots in the darkness, trying to control the aching pain that throbbed mercilessly in his body. He could barely move his arms to struggle against his bindings.
gpt
"Jerk!" Zinni squaked at the turtleduck, lifting her ankle protectively much like how Rikkar had done when she burnt his to a crisp. She then looked up to her captive, almost a little relieved to see him awake rather than dead from the injuries Ze had inflicted along side all of his fallen men. Zinni was angry that this many lives had been taken by her soldiers. They werent in the business of killing. They were in the business of containment and nothing more. This? This was sloppy work, and she could have done better. They could have done better. Her men needed more training. She noted that.
Water? I can do that she muttered and she gingerly picked up the angry little monster and carried him over to the bay where she set him in the water between the beached water nation boats. She then returned to be met with more insults. She shook her head, ignoring most of it as she approached the bound man and knelt down close enough to examine him but far enough to keep him from spitting on her or some other childish act of rebellion. I did take things from your boats, yes, but its all in an attempt to keep us alive until we can reconnect with my fleet.
She sighed, reaching out and patting him on the cheek when his eyes closed again. Things werent looking good for this guy. Spirits, Ze. You hit him too hard. She muttered to he beast who was munching away nearby, but mostly to herself as she examined him. This man was at risk of dying or going into shock. Being called a murderer, even by uncultured swine like the tribesman. It cut deeper than she could ever allow anyone to know. There were casualties in war and Zinni had caused a fair share of them, but she never wanted to kill. If people would cooperate they would never have to die. Not like this. Hurt? Yes. She could support hurt, but not kill.
You look bad. She muttered before standing up and pacing a bit in between the man and the fire. Her feminine figure silhouetted and the gold accents in her hair and on her uniform sparkles in the firelight: glowing like flames attached to her body. Exactly where flames belonged when a firebender was involved. She rubbed her chin, carefully contemplating her options. She needed him alive for so many reasons. If he died, she had failed and the blood was on her hands. Not only that, but she wouldnt be able to interrogate a dead man. She needed answers from him so she could get more waterbenders into camps where they wouldn't agitate this war any further.
Waterbenders are healers she muttered, looking down at him and sighing. But you cant be trusted. How do I know that giving you water to bend wouldnt just end with you punching a hole through me with an icicle? She snapped at him, anger painted all over her face as she glared. Oh how shed love to melt that look off of his face, but that would surely kill him. She sighed and flopped up against the side of Ze, burying her face in his thick, rough skin and sighing. She had never dealt with a waterbender who wasnt caged and without backup standing behind her. She didnt know how to do this alone.
human
Rikkar eyed the other woman, his captor, fiercely and without pity. He was motionless as she neared, all his senses geared to pounce despite being tied to the tree. He figured she would take a few cheap shots out of him for his words and his hands balled into fists at his own helplessness. Not even capable of defending himself, is that how lowly these firebenders were? But she didnt, merely trying to explain why she robbed his peoples ship. The thief says the same about stealing bread because hes hungry. Doesnt make it right to take what isnt yours. He growled back, turning his cheek and gritting his teeth when she reached out. He figured she would burn him. Except she only patted his cheek, leaving a tingle of senses there.
Yeah, get your war beast to do all your fights for you, little lady. Rikkar muttered back when she noted how beat up he was. He was aching bad. It hurt to breathe even and every moment was stretched to infinity because of the throbbing hurt. He mentally rolled his eyes at her remark on his appearance. She still didnt answer why he was still alive, watching her as she paced. She glowed like a firefly and he might have called it pretty if she wasnt who she was. It was all hopeless anyway. His kin and tribe were dead. He was alone, cut off, separated, and captured. His friends seemed to have gotten the better of it. They went down fighting like true warriors and he got outsmarted by a beast.If he wanted to survive this, he needed to do some similar outsmarting himself.
She saw him in pain. Water would definitely help. He could mold it to his side like a skin made of ice and help alleviate the pain in his sides where Ze had struck him. Just thinking of it, coupled with the unrelenting pain all over, it seemed the best and most desirous thing to have at the moment. Water. To drink, to heal, to distract his mind. The sea was right there too, within sight, but too far away for him to control. He looked back to the firebender who trudged over to her mount and fell against it like some helpless child. That wasweird to witness. He thought her some brutal and cold fighter who had no emotions, yet there she was drooping like a hurt child. It looked rather adorable for someone as fierce as her.
Rikkar could help but let out another laugh, which quickly dissolved into groans as shaking his sides flared up all his bruises. You cant trust me, no. Rikkar told her softly, looking over to her. But if you dont get me any water to heal myself, youre going to get a whole lot lonelier very soon. Not that I give a shit. He snorted, before pulling himself back and reevaluating. He wanted the water to help soothe himself. He wouldnt die of course but it was going to be severely painful. He couldnt antagonize this woman if he wanted that peace of mind and body tonight.
Look, do I look like Im in any condition to fight? Im beaten up and even talking is painful, let alone dancing with you. I know youre flattered at the opportunity but Ill pass. Rikkar said with a smirk. Do this then, keep one of my arms tied above me and let me use one hand to heal myself. You arent scared that a one handed waterbender might kick your butt are you? A second time? He said suggestively, unable to throw out that snide. He was going to win, if it hadnt been for her beast.
gpt
Zinni groaned up against the rough skin of her rhino as the captive started talking again. She sighed, rolling her eyes and reverting back to his previous questions before she addressed everything that was new as he muttered, probably trying to trick her so he could get another stab at her. She was disgusted by how bloodthirsty he was. Youre alive because I never wanted to kill you. You were supposed to be in a cell on my ship next to all of your surviving friends and we were supposed to just take you back to the fire nation where you would be contained until you saw the error of your ways. I deliver live men and women to my boss for conversion. Im not an executioner. Thats why youre alive.
Pushing away from the rhino she stood tall, folding her hands together behind her back and looking down on him from her position in authority. Youre a stupid man. She confronted him. You wish for death even as I offer you life and that is foolish. Youre no good for anything if youre dead. You cannot help your own people nor mine if your heart no longer beats. You cannot win nor lose. Why would you chose death over a chance to do something big? Your fallen comrades out there? Fools. Just like you. We wouldnt have killed a single one of them if they would have cooperated. And now their cause is lost. If you truly cared for anything, sir, whether it be saving your people or murdering me in cold blood for revenge, you would not sit there and treat death as a viable option. Its very sad that your men had to die, and its more sad that youd rather join them than be alive in the arms of a human with a different viewpoint than your own.
She sighed. Zinni herself tried not to pay any mind to the death that surrounded them. Death was a part of her job, but it never got any easier for her to witness it. She didnt want to kill or be killed, but she had killed and would kill again if she wasnt killed first. Everything came full circle here. No. Youre not in any condition to fight, but that wont stop you from taking cheap shots if youre a typical water nation boy. She rolled her eyes at the dancing comment.Cute.Flirting with the enemy to lower their self esteem was below her. Sge may not have been as pretty as he was, but she was still sought after Im the fire nation and betrothed. His disrespect was uncalled for even if he did find her ugly.
Against her better judgement Zinni exited the conversation to fetch water instead. Using a bucket found in the water nation camp she scooped up a sizable amount of the wet stuff and went to turn back only to be surprised by that damned duck again. It popped out of the water and splashed into the bucket: coating Zinni in water and making her clothing stick to her chiseled abdomen. She grunted at first in frustration, but soon after she found herself laughing it all. The turtle duck was the definition of a child: grumpy, innocent, and helpless. She couldnt help but like that about him. Carrying the bucket with duck within she side. Please dont make me regret this, Soldier. She sighed before approaching him.
One would think a firebenders hands would be rough and calloused over from the scorching heat they were constantly exposed to and the rough work they did with their hands. Thats why it would likely come as a surprise just how soft Zinnis skin was and how light her touch. With an arm under each of the mans shoulders she heaved his battered body to his feet, rigging the rope over a tall branch and securing it through a loop in the chains that restrained his hands in order to hoist them both, temporarily, high above his hand. She then left him once more, reaching into her bag and retrieving a metal cup that she filled with water. She downed the first glass herself then dipped in again for the waterbender. She approached and drew her dagger, pressing the blade to his throat and the cup to his lips.
Drink. She instructed. And if you pull any funny business I promise I can reach as fast as you act: dropping us both dead on the spot. Even if you do somehow manage to outpace and kill me, just know youll be chained here until you die of exposure and rot away. She tipped the glass, sending water rushing down his gullet. If he behaved himself now she would allow him access to water that could be used for healing. Her blade pressed close, daring to slice him open like a slaughtered beast to bleed out on the shore, but she did not hurt him and she did not trick him. Her words would hold true. No blood was drawn.
The close proximity between Zinni and the man chained at wrist and ankle would have been almost romantic in any other scenario. She stood so close that her unusually warm body heat radiated and struck him with the closeness. It wasnt warm out, but it was warmer than it would have been in the water nation. There was no ice only a chilling breeze in the night sky. A breeze that Zinnis body blocked from the water bender as she stood upon him while she allowed him to slowly drink the beverage. Hydration was painful in his state, no doubt. He was bruised everywhere and she could see how bad he aches just from observing even his small movements.
Zinni herself was not unscathed, but to far less extent. She had an observable deep tissue bruise on her collarbone where he had struck her with the blunt icicle, and similar bruises could be found elsewhere too if she were less dressed. Her arm, which he had pinned, showed bruising as well from where he had slammed it into the tree trunk with the force of his icicle. Her bruising, however, was nothing compared to what Ze had gifted the waterbender with.
Whats your name, Soldier? It looks like well be together for awhile. I might as well have something to call you besides boy.
human
The error of his waysRikkar could have laughed loudly if it didnt already hurt to do so. His people were wrong? For wanting to live free and by their own laws and customs without enforced demands from an outsider people? This girl was really deluded if she thought that sort of freedom and liberty was erroneous and hed happily die to defend such freedom against those who wanted to take it away. If he was stupid for it, so be it. But he would be more stupid to obey a foreign power, to have his life in the south pole dictated by people who never been there or did not care for it.
I live for my people and I die for my people. The difference is trivial to me. As long as we fight against your enslaving and oppressive ways, we will never lose to you or your pitiful kind. Rikkar simply sneered, ignoring the girls rant about how it could have been better. Maybe she ought to follow her own advice and try to see it from his own viewpoint. Better to die on ones feet then live on their knees for all eternity, not to mention the shame and humiliation of surrendering and seeing ones life and culture torn down around them, simply because others thought their own was superior and greater. He wasnt going to debate it with her though.
He only gave a suggestive half-smirk as to what he could do as a typical water tribe boy.
But the firebender seemed to trust him and went to fetch the bucket of water for him to drink and heal. Milo seemed to trust her as well, hopping casually into the bucket and enjoying the ride. He squawked at Rikkar and he only managed a grunt before the firebender lurched him to his feet, the ropes dragging up along with him to keep him locked to the tree trunk. He didnt care how her touch felt. All he remembered of it was the scorching heat she inflicted to his flesh. And if she thought she was doing him a favour by making him stand, she was wrong. Pressure on his ankle welled up tremendous pain, not to mention stretching his bruising out all over his side, awakening tremendous throbbing all over. He could only drink in small sips, as the need to breathe off the pain was more profound in him. The way he breathed, his own throat seemed willing to cut itself against the knife.
With the water done, Rikkar took a moment to just pant and feel the refreshing liquid pool in his gut. His throat wasnt as dry either. But the firebender remained close, leaning into him with her knife to his throat and her face glaring into his. He barely paid it any mind, as best as he could manage. He looked to the side where she wasnt standing, for she did have pretty eyes and it felt shameful to even think so about her.A typical water tribe boy would have appreciated the closeness to a nubile female body.
She asked his name and he almost snorted in laughter. Oh, just because she wasnt killing him that somehow made them friends? At least he managed to retain his laughter and not throw his body into an agonizing groan. Maybe I preferboy. He mused with a grin. And Im not a soldier. I do not fight for a living.I fish and collect bone and antler for the village craftsman to forge into tools.I am trained as a warrior but its not what I intended to do with my life. Besides, whatever you might think or feel about it, I doubt your superiors will let me live so why ask a dead man his name anyways? He said, looking at her and feeling bemused by rejecting her inquiry. His name was his own, his one link to the tribe. After having everything else taken from him, he was going to guard it and other facts about himself quite jealously.
Milo hopped out of the bucket and squawked around Rikkars feet. When this woman went to sleep, for surely she had to given the exhaustion he seen in her earlier, he would try to convince his turtle-duck to bite through these ropes. But if you care so much about me living, then you have to do me another favour. And try not to get excited about it. RIkkar said. You have to roll my tunic up on my left side, where youre standing. Roll it up to under my arm. He said to her. Oh relax, why expose myself if I plan to hit you? Splash water on my side then if you feel so afraid to untie one of my hands. But unless you want to carry me from place to place, you have to let me put some ice to my injuries and help them heal and be cleaned.
He decided to play a practical joke on her when she did move to splash the water. With his mind and squirming fingers, he froze the very surface of the water in the bucket so that when she tried to splash it, nothing came out as the ice blocked the liquid beneath. He chuckled to himself, which immediately flared up his injuries and caused him to groan in agony soon after. He tried to slide back down to a sitting position. I hope you can find some new way to tie me because I would like to sleep laying down. He added, further bemused by making the demands despite being the captive.
gpt
Zinni rolled her eye and pushed a palm into the tree this separating her from the literal child she found herself stuck with. Fine. No name and no title. She shrugged. Its not like it really affected her anyway. He would scream just as any other man would when put over a flame and eventually he would speak. She had given him an ounce of respect in asking for his name and he threw it back at her. So be it. She would retain any respect from then on seeing as he was obviously unworthy of it. Being a soldier who could almost take down a captain of her rank was admirable, but being a punk who went out of his way to inconvenience the hand that fed him was far from. Ill just call you an idiot or a fool since that is what you so clearly are.
She crossed her arms over her breasts, watching him bemusedly as he dared to ask favors of her after doing nothing more than disobeying and being a general thorn in her side. You do not deserve comfort. Zinni retorted, rolling her eyes at the man. The only reason I will offer you any pain relief is for my own convenience. All the better for torturing you tomorrow, you fool. You have far from escaped my flame, so I hope you dont mind being a little over cooked. She smirked cruelly at the man. He would learn.
She reapproached and hooked her hands into his tunic. There were several instances of flesh on flesh contact as her hands carefully rolled it up before tying it out of the way with a strip of cloth. This left the garment bunched up around his chest and his lower abdomen completely exposed. Zinni had to fight not to show her intrigue regarding the appearance of the young waterbenders body. Zinni had seen men exposed in this way before, but the way the firelight danced off of his caramel colored skin was beautiful in its own way. Not to mention the man had recognizable fitness that a lesser woman would have found undeniably tempting. Zinni was not a lesser woman. She would not be tempted so easily.
She stooped down to the bucket and her eyes went ablaze in frustration when she hit ice. He thought he was so funny. She wanted so badly to look away from him so as to not think so unclearly as she did when she saw him exposed like that. He was a distraction. Perhaps he would be less so when she gave him some scars to stay on that belly until his dying breath. She growled a bit before placing both palms on the surface of the ice and melting it almost instantly with a focused blast leaving the whole bucket of water as warm as a hot bath rather than the usual cold of water exposed to night air.
Your jokes are childish. Zinni muttered before reapproaching and using her palms to press the water into his waist where he could freeze it into place. Im doing so she could also feel the sculpt of his musculature. That was quite a treat. Are you always this infuriating? It might get you killed if you continue. The threat was muttered, but there was little merit behind it. Zinni would do most things short of giving up her own life to keep this prisoner alive and deliver him as was her job. He would have to royally screw up if he wanted her to kill him. In the glow of the fire Zinni treated ever bump, bruise, or scorch sge could see on the man including his ankle which likely brought on a slew of relief.
Zinni sighed as she stood back and looked into his face for a moment having already untied his tunic and allowed it to fall back down to eliminate the exposure of his masculine form. He was less distracting that way when he looked shapeless in his layers designed to keep him warm in Icy climates. She knew she owed him no comforts, but she also knew sleep would be nearly impossible for a man strung up like that. If he couldnt sleep surely he wouldnt stay quiet long enough for her to sleep either. She couldnt have that. Even now exhaustion was creeping over her.
Then she got an idea.
Zinni smirked. Brilliant. Fine. Ill make sure you can lay down. She muttered before completely untying him from the tree and manhandling his sore body until they go to where Ze was laying down and half asleep. This is Ze. You two have already met. Hell be taking care of you this evening. She smirked, tying a rope loosely around the animals neck and then tying the other end to the chain shackles around the fools wrists. Weighing several thousand pounds, Ze was no different than the tree in that there was no way the man could move him by force. Not only that, but Ze could pummel him if he tried anything. So Zinni allowed enough slack in the rope so that her prisoner could move about a bit, but most importantly he could lay down and rest near the rhino.
With that, Zinni dumped any water that he could attempt the bend and laid out the sleeping bag that had been tucked away in Zes saddle bags to sleep. She leashed the turtle duck, taking several bites from milo in the process, and tied him over near the water where he could attempt a bit of fishing. Leashing the animal would prevent any shenanigans the waterbender might try and also kept the cute little thing from running off to be eaten by something in the woods. Win win. With that, Zinni was able to style in and get some rest with the fire still burning near by.
human
Rikkar only grinned childishly and shrugged his shoulders as best he could.Idiot or a fool?Ive heard it said to me more often than you think, lass. He chuckled, which of course was short as it quickly brought him to wincing groans of pain. He was always doing foolery when he was younger. Pulling the tails of polar-dogs or trying to race the otter penguins and losing. Well it was worth a try. He simply relented when denied comfort. But his bemusement and humour dropped when she mentioned torturing him on the morrow. Now his expression was grim and dark, remembering this was an enemy combatant and not the older brother of some girl he was flirting with who would give him a beat down and let him walk. She meant business. He had to mean business as well.
He said nothing to her threat. She rolled up his tunic but ran smack into his prank, much to his laughter again. They are. He agreed eagerly to his jokes being childish. His expression was suggestive at the thought of being killed. As far as he was concerned, he was a dead man already. And maybe provoking the firebending bitch to outright kill him might be mercy compared to being tortured as she threatened. She tried to treat his wounds and bruises, which confused him. All he wanted was the water slapped on him and he did his best to freeze whatever little got put to him, mingling a cooling sensation to the burning pain in his side. It offered some relief, allowing him to think clearer and plot an escape.
It was a quiet and yet awkward time between them as she looked to his wounds and burning. Why patch him up if she was only going to take him apart? He watched her as she focused and for a moment he might have regarded her as beautiful, with her dark hair and pale features. She had a very rigid and strong body, but her feminine curves were quite profound as well. He kept his quiet as she tended him and despite it, it seemed to grow a bit more comfortable that way. She wasnt like the other firebenders he heard and knew of, strangely. Was this some deluded sense of compassion in her perhaps? Unlikely, he figured. She intended to make him hurt.
But she had other plans for now, untying him from the tree. That should have been his chance, had he been more recovered and healed. But every step awoke every burning pain in his side and he was already panting with exhaustion by the time they got to Ze, the giant rhino who put him in this misery. Finally, some decent company! He exclaimed sarcastically, grinning at Ze. He didnt blame the beast for being loyal, though he lamented who he was loyal to. What had she done to be so deserving, this sadistic firebending bitch? He was roped to the creature and then left alone, peering down at his chained wrists, following its length to the beasts neck.
What ifwhat if he jumped on its back and rode away with it?But would Ze listen to him? Maybe hell try it. First, he needed the woman to pass fall into a deep slumber.No you idiot, first you need to be one hundred percent healed before you can do anything like that. And she intends to keep you next to deaths door.So without a word, he sat down and lay on his good, unbattered side next to the beast. It stank but he had smelled worse. He listened with amusement as Zinni tried to deal with Milo but he offered no encouragement now. She was his enemy, not his friend. The mention of torture remained on his mind. Well, two could play at that game.
Barely a quarter hour would pass before Rikkar mimicked the sound of a duck gurgling in the distance. It was brief but it sent Milo off on a tidal wave of quacking, which in the middle of night was very loud and disturbing to hear. He chuckled to himself, hoping it would annoy the firebender and interrupt her precious slumber. He acted like he didnt know anything, eyes closed and resting peacefully. He waited again for some time, for sleep was hard to get when half your body was on fire. He made the noise again and once more, Milo went off on a tirade, quacking very loudly in the night and awakening everything for a whole mile around. If he kept this up, the firebender might be too exhausted to do anything brutal.
But what about him? He had been up for an entire day and more. He was in pain. He was exhausted and beaten. He kept trying to keep awake for this childish yet worthwhile plan, before sleep eventually took him too. And it would be a deep and restful sleep, from which it would be difficult to awake him from.
gpt
Zinnis sleep was definitely interrupted by the child and his pet duck. At a few different occasions she contemplated just slaughtering the beast to eat later, but she just couldnt bring herself to injure the cute little thing let alone kill it. It wasnt the turtleducks fault that it had such an unfortunate caretaker. Even Ze seemed to glare at the waterbender in the night as his sleep too was disrupted. Animals in the fire nation were trained to behave in a much more regal manner, and if they didnt make the cut they became food for citizens or prisoners. There was very little slack in the rope concerning that manner. Luckily for the turtleduck, Zinnis heart was a bit more fond of critters than the average firebender who likely would have just roasted the thing and made a nice soup out of him.
Even against the boys wishes, sleep eventually came for the both of them, and as soon as the sun started to peek over the horizon Zinni was awake. Being an early riser was in her nature, and even after an exhausting day and night prior the sunrise brought on a new list of things to do. They would begin their journey across earth nation today, but Zinni had to be sure she was completely prepared to do so before they headed out. At least with the waterbender asleep she would have some peace and quiet to work on her strategy.
The earth nation was split, and there were still plenty of them who hated the fire nation and had not yet been pressured into submission. If they ran into a troop of hostile earthbenders unprepared they would be dead. Surly the waterbender wouldnt help her in combat, so she would be alone, and even if she killed them she would be outnumbered and overpowered before her and Ze would be able to fight their way through. The best bet was to avoid civilization and tribes all together. It wouldnt be the most direct route, but safety had to be a priority over swiftness. The ships they were meeting with would be there regularly until the war was won, and Zinni suspected that was still a long ways off. People were not converting easily.
She laid out the map on the sandy shore and began to trace her route with her fingertip. If she traced it a few times she would easily remember it. Part of the appeal of Zinni as a ship captain was that age memorized routes and landmarks much quicker and easier than most of her cohorts. She was also pretty to look at, so that helped bring up some of the morale on the boats. Zinni was a full package, and thats why it was so embarrassing that her men had left her behind. When they reached their destination in a few weeks, she was certain that her betrothed would humiliate her for it and never let her live it down. She didnt look forward to that, but she needed to get back to work. The war had to go on and her people needed her.
After a few hours of plotting on the map the sun was high in the sky and Zinni could feel a grumble growing in her tummy. It was time to eat, but it was better not to dip into her rations when they were so close to resources. Zinni would fish and feed herself and her captive well this morning before they began their long and enduring day. They would travel most of the day, and when night fell they would set up camp and the interrogations would begin. The man would be useful to war strategy because he would be with Zinni long enough for her to get answers out of him. The water nation were strong willed, and usually didnt respond to torture initially, but Zinni would have enough time with him to kill his morale.
Zinni began the process of removing her war clothes. There were lots of ties and clasps in the intricate design, but soon the majority of her clothing was hung over a tree branch nearby and she entered the water in her red undergarments that sported gold accents themselves. The lingerie was simple: a strapless bra that resembled a wrap to hold the firebenders breasts in place and compressed to her rib cage and a pair of simple, red boyshort underwear with gold details over each of her hips and just enough exposure in the back to allow an onlooker a view of the bottom quarter of her rump. Standard underwear for the firenation, but likely more sexy than would be seen in some other nations.
She strode into the water in her partial nudity, a borrowed water nation war spear in hand as she waded waste deep between the boats and waited for a kill. Zinni was rather unversed in the art of fishing, but she was a good aim and well determined. She missed a dozen times at first before spearing three fish consecutively with the spear: killing them instantly. Zinni grinned, laughing a bit in pride before heading back to the shore. The water made her lower body glisten in the dazzling daylight and accented her curverature. The water made the panties cling to her body boldly as she reapproached camp. She knew in her mind that this was a sight her pig fianc would have drooled over, but he was far away.
She propped the speared fish against a tree and grabbed one of her blankets to began wiping herself of the water. As she dried off her eyes moved to Ze and her captive to see if either of them were awake. She couldnt tell. Rise and shine she finally called out, wrapping the blanket around her shoulders and shot a ball of flame at the burnt out fire pit to reignite it. It was time to start the day.
human
The sound of splashing water was what drew Rikkar from his deep slumber. The moment his consciousness became alert, it was impossible then to return to sleep as pain renewed its memory in his body. He awoke feeling tremendous ache on his battered side and a fierce numbness on the other. He didnt open his eyes yet, letting the pain wash over him and hoping it would dissipate. It did not. Without sight, he let his other senses become keener. He could hear the splashing, yes but he could also feel the heat radiating off of the rhino and the sounds of woodland creatures in the forest about. It seemed tranquil still, as if forgetting there was a war going on. And that he was a captive.
Finally he opened his eyes, vision shrouded by his long, silky hair. Blue orbs regarded the jaded sight before him, seeing the vast horizon of water. But what was doing the splashing? From the waters a pale figure arose, nubile and beautiful, almost like a mermaid. With grace and skill, he watched as this strange woman speared and sought out fish almost in the style as if she was a member of the Water Tribe. Perhaps he had been rescued by this beautiful woman in the night, with the news to be given alongside a delicious meal. But as he grew more alert, he saw it wasnt so.
No, it wasnt no mermaid of legend or some Water Tribe heroine to his rescue. It was just the Firebender who captured him, stripped to her undergarments. And by the Moon, was she gorgeous and striking. Even with her tightly strapped bra, Rikkar could still make out the lavish mounds of her chest. And when she would bend to seek fish in the water, the roundness of her rear became oh so profound, causing Rikkar to lick his lips. Beautiful and deadly, something about it was carnally thrilling to the young waterbender, used to seeing women in thick robes, figures hidden. Never like this. Something began to tingle in his groin and he shamelessly drank in the sight for as much as he could.
But after successfully spearing three fish (it took her long enough), she began to return to the beach and Rikkar quickly shut his eyes again, as if to act as if he hadnt seen any of it. But the memory would be imprinted in his mind, of those exquisite breasts and that well toned tush of hers. Maybe it was some sort of fate that kept him from killing such a beautiful woman. The world would have certainly felt that loss, let alone the Fire Nation. But what was he thinking? She was the enemy and no doubt had killed dozens of people, innocent or not. He could not, in any circumstances, allow himself to be seduced by her curves, wonderful though they may be. Perhaps he couldnt kill her but escape was still his foremost priority. After all, this so called beautiful woman wanted to torture him. With fire.
When she called out to him, he dropped the illusion of sleep and let out a groan at the aching pain in his side. He realized something very profound was bulging at the front of his breeches and he rolled onto his back to try and conceal it. He found himself face to face with Ze next, who grumbled at him and Rikkar immediately sat up into a sitting position, terrified at the rhinos attention on him. After all, it had been the one who knocked him aside like a doll.
Fire crackled. Its warmth was not comforting for him. I was having a nice dream. He simply remarked in greeting, turning to face her as he sat, arms tied together and leashed to Zes neck. In fact, he scooted back and even dared to rest his back against the rhinos back. It accepted him with another low grumble, as Ze wanted to keep on sleeping. So you went fishing huh? Do you even know how to cook those? Eating them raw is bad for your teeth, you know. But crooked fangs might suit you, lass. He chuckled at her, his voice a little raspy but deep and strong. He felt a bit stronger. Maybe if he got near to some water, he might be able to do some action.
Youre cooking them all wrong you know. I swear I saw some wild berries back in the woods. And with some root and leaf, you can make a decent meal even. Why dont you untie me and let me go find some. He said with a wide grin, knowing that would be unlikely and next to impossible. But who knew, stranger things had happened. Or why dont you go look and Ill watch the fire. Youre going to burn the fish at this rate. He added further in teasing. And only three? Milos going to be cranky you left him out. Catch another or do you treat animals in the Fire Nation worse than slaves? Give him mine. He said, speaking truthfully and indeed willing to give up his meal so that his pet could eat. He assumed Ze would be eating as well, for who could be so cruel as to eat in front of their animal companions and not give them any?
gpt
Zinni let out a small chuckle at the sight of the waterbender spooked by Ze. Tearing him down the day prior had certainly left an impression. If only the boy were as easily cared by her. Maybe then he would be more useful. "He's not going to go after you unless it's warranted. You have my word. Although I can't promise he won't go out of his way to irritate you. Right now you're just feeding my war mount's ego by acting so jumpy. He's not a killer." She assured him. She would be spending a lot of time with this captive boy. He might as well be a little more comfortable. "I'm more of a threat to you than he is, and right now I come bearing fish not flames. Relax."
"I can see you were having a very nice dream." She muttered, laying the fish over flame before exiting to redress herself behind nearby shrubbery. Her body heat and a bit of flame allowed the undergarments to dry remarkable quickly, leaving no wet smudges on her war uniform as she returned, sitting by the fire and watching the meat as it cooked on her flame. She listened to his remarks and made her face into a half-hearted snarl before muttering "Grr." Then she promptly drew her eyes away from the man and back to the flame. She was much less angry with the light of a new day than she had been last night, but she still could hardly be considered friendly towards her captive.
She rolled her eyes at him. "We can eat more on the journey. For now, you're getting a fish, so stop squawking at me. Don't push your luck, fool. I wouldn't untie you for anything. You'd just try to spear me through the heart again." She sighed. "War captives aren't to be trusted, so I wont be trusting you. First chance you get you'll trynd take my life again.. I don't have time for dying. There's too much to do." She said, half jokingly. She then looked up at the man and cocked an eyebrow. "Komodo rhino's are vegetarians, and Ze has had plenty of greenery to eat. He can hold off on fish for now nor do I think he's particularly hungry. He seems more keen on sleeping if you ask me. The third fish is for the turtleduck even though I was half tempted to cookhimup for dinner after the stunt the two of you pulled last night. Although... I'm not sure why I'm even bothering to cook his fish." She rambled, talking more to herself by the last phrase.
She ignored the boy for awhile then, listening only to the crackling of wood as the fish cooked. When they were prepared she threw one into the dirt near where she had tethered the duck, and the quirky little thing scarfed it down right away before yelling out his desire to have another. I made her scoff. "Greedy little thing." She muttered, smiling a bit over her shoulder at the small beast before walking to her captive where he sat. "Your wounds haven't healed as much as I had hoped. You still look quite sore." She noted, hiking up his tunic to take a peek at his bruising. It had improved, but still needed more time. "This bruising is going to make the ride miserable for you."She admitted, pursing her lips.
She then took to feeding the man his breakfast. She tore flesh from bone time and time again and fed it to him by hand. She was gentle with the act, but a bit hurried. They were on a timeline today, and they needed to get moving as soon as possible. Once his fish was finished she threwthe reminants to the turtleduck and ate her own, repeating the process. It was then she grabbed another bucket of water and treated the waterbender's wounds a second time: carefully pressing the water into his flesh over each injury so he could freeze it there for his own benefit. "If you see any medicinal herbs along the way... Let me know and we'll gather some for you. I know verylittle about those types of things. It was not part of my training. I've just learned bits and pieces in my travels. "
Zinni then busied herself with packing everything up in Ze's saddlebags and preparing for the trek. She even fashioned a bed of sorts in one of the saddlebags using her blankets and stuck Milo within so that he could ride in comfort unlike his papa. Zinni then hopped in the saddle and grabbed onto the chains retraining her prisoner. "Up. You'll ride behind me." Before dragging him upward onto the beast with as much force as needed. She had left the rope tied between Ze's neck and the boy's restraints. That way he couldn't jump off and try to run. Once on, the boy sat close behind Zinni. Close enough that if she leaned back only slightly she would press into his chest, but even apart he could feel the heat radiating off of her.
human
The promise of a firebender meant nothing to Rikkar. She had promised to torture him too eventually, how could he trust her word? His expression was purely skeptical and he was not apologetic for his remarks at all. Feeding him was just a ploy to keep him alive for other uses, he deigned. Just like healing him. Perhaps he ought to starve instead and a soft smirk came over his lips as he decided on the idea. Let go through all that work just to tell her he wasnt hungry anymore? Hed rather eat dirt than accepting the offerings of a genocidal maniac. It didnt matter if she was beautiful either. She was his enemy and he had to fight her at every step.
She at least wasnt dumb enough to set him free for anything. I dont know what youre talking about. He simply declared when she accused him and Milo of being up to some conspiracy.If you hurt Milo, I wont hesitate to stab you through the hand you use to hurt him with. And then elsewhere to. And all over.Still, she gave Milo a fish and he was grateful for it and the fish began to smell heavenly, which had him doubting his earlier initiative to go on a hunger strike. If he ate, he would heal faster and maybe garner some strength to fight. But it also had the inverse effect of healing him as well, making him susceptible to torture. The trade off was a tough one to make but dying slowly seemed his fate in either case.
He stayed absolutely still when she checked his wounds again, rolling up his tunic. Just fluttering his clothes against the bruised areas was enough to cause the pain to awaken tenfold, making him hiss through his teeth and shut his eyes. Your grasp of common sense is astonishing. He remarked to her drily. Of course riding was going to hurt. Anything he did was going to hurt. He needed bed rest for days to fully heal and forcing him to do anything would only slow the healing process.
And then she tried to hand feed him the fish. He looked at her, then at the morsel. He decided death by hunger would be an easier way to die slowly. Im not hungry. Give it all to Milo. Hell eat himself to slumber. He simply said and turned to look away. How badly would he come to regret this choice, he wondered? But the harder he made it on her, the better. He could go to his grave with a grin of bemusement at least. He did his part in the war, however small it might be, frustrating this one firebender of her plans.
He scoffed at her request to point out medical herbs as well, as she began to pack up her rhino for transport. Does it look like plants and trees grow in abundance where Im from? Water, you idiot. Thats all I need to heal myself. But you wont give me that so were at an impasse. He simply said. He knew her training only had to do with death and he wouldnt trust healing to someone whos job was anathema to it. He rose staggeringly to his feet as she yanked his bonds. Maybe his sudden resistance to her offering of aid was borne from a crankiness, coming from a broken nights sleep. He was in pain. Now he would be hungry. He didnt plan on being a novel prisoner. She hefted him up onto the back of the rhino and he allowed that, though he didnt make any attempt to hold on. Better to fall off and be trampled to death. Better yet, hell hit his head on a rock.
And if it wasnt hot enough this day, much further north then he had ever travelled or been, the firebender made her own heat. He wanted to be cold, to gather water around his body and freeze it to his wounded side. That was the only way he would feel relief. With relief, he might act more rationally. He hissed as they started to move and Rikkar glanced over his shoulder, a look of regret as he left behind his fallen comrades in arms. Goodbye, friends. Im sorry. He murmured to them, feeling guilty for having survived when they had all died or perished nobly in battle. His end would not be so glorious, he deemed.
Youre not going to the shore? He asked openly. What happened to your friends? Left without you? There are the ships of my people, though I doubt you know how to handle them. Wouldnt want you to break one of your precious nails huh? He taunted her, feeling bored within the first few moments of their travel. Ever been to the Earth Kingdom, besides raiding and burning their towns? I hear their bandits and thugs are a vicious lot, even against their own people. Even you alone cant fight off a half-dozen attackers. He said, trying to get the notion into her head, to distract her from whatever she was planning. It seemed doomed anyways.
If they catch you, you know what they do with female prisoners right? Me, Ill be lucky. Theyll probably just lop my head off. But you, yeah they will have fun with you. An invader, a pretty girl, theyll relish the day. You know this journey is doomed right? Might as well put up your armor and live like a hermit. Rikkar sneered behind her. "We'll never make it across this landscape in one piece. Tell you what, take me to my ship and I'll sail you somewhere near to your people and leave you there. A fair deal." He said with a casual grin, knowing she'd never accept it. But later on if and when they did run into trouble, he could always laugh and say he told her so.
Look. I think those are some medicinal roots at the base of that tree. He then pointed out. No they werent, but he was hoping to waste her time and patience with the useless task.
gpt
Zinni knew well before it happened that it was going to be a long ride. This prisoner had proven not to know how to keep quiet more than a few minutes at a time, and that was thoroughly exhausting for the firebender. She had more than enough to think about without him rambling on about this or that. IT made her all the more eager to get rid of him. Or perhaps a few burns would teach him how to hold his tongue. It was a tempting idea, but she knew she couldnt. The time would come when she got to burn him, but now, on the back of Ze, was not the time.
No. Were not going to shore. Yes. We were left behind. Under my order they packed up and left as soon as the battle was won. I wasnt back in time thanks to your antics, so now we have to ride until we reach a fire nation settlement on the far shore. There we will meet up with my betrothed and things will be taken care of. If you could manage to keep your mouth shut until we arrive there it would most certainly me a miracle. However, I dont think that will be happening. Im stuck with you, your duck, and the loud mouths that reside on both of you. Lucky me. She huffed.
If they catch me and manage to take me down, I deserve whatever happens to me. Im classically trained in combat and I should be able to handle a few thugs with no bending abilities. Ze will also happily help out with that even with you as dead weight to the both of us. I know you wish for death and to make things difficult for me, but its not going to be as easy as you think, boy. Plus bandits I dont mind killing. You were a target I wanted to minimally harm which proved difficult considering you packed a shit ton of water with you. Wasnt that heavy? She teased him, scoffing. Probably not, I imagine, when you compare it to the weight of your thick skull. Youre foolish for refusing my meal. It will hinder your healing and next time Ill just force you to eat through pain. Ask yourself if its worth it, boy.
She ignored his comments about going back to a waterbending ship and those about medicinal roots. Even she knew better than to believe him so easily. He was on a path to self destruction and she knew he wouldnt point her towards medicine no matter how much he hurt. His stubbornness was almost admirable in a way, but it was also a massive inconvenience. She just rode in silence for the coming ours, ignoring anything he or milo had to say. Though, she did intermittently reach into the saddlebag to stroke the turtleduck in reassurance. Most of the time her kindness was met with bites from the ducks causing her to curse to the spirits before she went back to riding Ze quietly, her hand resting on his wither soothingly. She loved that damn rhino.
The hours passed by slowly in the silence between the unhappy pair. Morning turned to afternoon and soon after that morning turned evening as they wove through the trees like a couple of nomads. he day had been rather uneventful: they saw no bandits of towns. The most dangerous things they saw other than each other were the natural fauna: all of which ran at the sight of massive, Lumbering Ze. When Zinni found a quiet clearing she hopped off of the rhino and rubbed her lower back which was sore from so many hours in the saddle. She didnt even wat to imagine how the boy hurt. He was not only injured, but he also had no saddle or padding between his bum and the bony, rough flesh of the komodo rhino.
Thats it for today. She gruffed to the boy quietly before she dragged him off of Ze where he hit the dirt with a loud thud. If he wasnt going to cooperate she wasnt going to bother being gentle on his wounds. He was going to be a pain in her ass, so she was going to inflict pain on him. Simple as that.
There was no time for torture, however, until after camp was set up. She set about collecting firewood and starting a fire before setting up her bedding and other supplies: unpacking Ze as he babysat her captive. He would be released soon to graze and rest, and she would babysit the boy instead. More than that, she would start searching for answers. He would survive he torture even if he wasnt as well as she had hoped he would be. She would just have to go easy on him for now. It have been quite some time since Zinni had gotten her hands dirty in an interrogation. Months. She was looking forward to it. Getting answers was the best part of the job.
Without hesitation she untied the man from Ze and quickly tied him to the trunk of a tree instead. His arms were stretched all the way up and secured to a branch and his ankles and waist were wrapped in ropes and pressed securely into the rough bark. He was getting nowhere. She didnt speak during any of the process, even as the boy babbled and mocked her. It was easier to get into the right frame of mind if she half way pretended that her captive was not human, and for now that meant not talking to him. Not until she started to ask questions.
With careful hands, Zinni reached down to the hem of the mans tunic and pulled it upward until she wrapped it around his head: refusing him the ability to see anything that was about to happen to him before she started to sharpen her blade against a stone near enough by that she was confident he would be able to hear the most likely familiar and obvious sound. Zinni was well known for her ability with a blade. Carving a ham like him would be easy.
Im going to start easy on you, boy. She spoke solemnly. And if you answer my questions you wont get hurt. This game is simple. Understood? She asked, eyeballing his masculine form as it was displayed in front of her ready to bleed. She licked her lips at the thought of getting her revenge.
Now. What is your name, waterbender? Dont make me have to ask again.
human
Despite the strangeness of their encounter, the firebender seemed more than willing to open up about her motives and plans. Rikkar didnt believe her for a second that she ordered her comrades to leave her behind. He knew very little of the world outside the South Pole so he didnt know if this journey to this settlement would take a few days or weeks for that matter. He knew his people had tried to reach the North Pole by sailing by areas not touched by the Fire Nation so these raiders certainly came far from their homeland. Still, what did all this information do for him, besides help him waste the dull hours away riding like a rolled up rug on the back of this rhino?
My thick, heavy skull is whats responsible for all my muscles, carrying it around all day. Pays off in a way. He simply replied casually. Perhaps he was stubborn and stupid but he could also be patient and observant. Let her think him an imbecile for now. Itll help with the element of surprise when he finally did make his move. I so do miss being fed like a baby though. Times were easy back then. Totally going to be worth it. He responded with a grin but any further attempts to goad the firebender fell to naught. So Rikkar sat and enjoyed the ride, letting the smells and sights wash over him. This truly was a beautiful land. And to think these firebenders would wash it all over with fire and death. Despicable.
He also thought of this betrothed that this girl had. Probably another idiot and cocky firebender like her, though they all couldnt be oppressive and rude. Someone had to be the lesser in their relationships. He wondered if this girl in front of him wore the pants in their relationship.Nonsense. Everyone wears pants. Otherwise frostbite will eat your legs off.The journey soon left him rough and sore, between his firm thighs as well as his battered side. The pain washed over him constantly in a throbbing sensation, not really allowing his mind to wander. He was forced to endure every minute of every hour extremely because of his ache.
Milo bit him as much as anyone else too. He was hungry. He wanted to be near water. Rikkar could only mutter apologies and promises he probably could not keep. It was the only time any sort of regret would come into his voice.
Finally they stopped and Rikkar cast a glance to the sky to gauge the time of day by the positioning of the sun. He sighed when she pulled him off and fell to the ground with a thud and a groan, simply laying there as he tried to recover from that lance of pain now. How many more hours and days of this could he endure before he cracked and broke?I have to do it for them, my dead friends, and my people still out there, counting on me. I have to fight.Eventually, as the girl went to setting up her camp, he sat up by the rhino and sighed, resting his head to Zes bulk. They seemed on good terms. Milo was still a general terror to everyone. But now he guessed there was going to be torture. Run along now, Milo. Find some leaves to eat. You dont need to see this. He beckoned to the turtle-duck in that regretful tone. Milo did scurry away, disappearing into the woods.
The girl returned to him and untied him from the beast, only to drag him to another tree instead. Oh, this again. She pulled his arms up but he didnt resist, still to much in ache from the battering. Trying to waterbend with the hand motions and gestures would be too painful. He needed to wait. But Rikkar knew now, with an increasingly fast heartbeat, that the torture would begin. He didnt say a word to her, watching her silently as she did her work and then yanked his tunic up and over his head, exposing his strong chest and lean, narrow yet defined abdomen. His skin was like polished bronze, flexing and constraining with each laboured breath. His side was bruised purple and black in an ugly stretch from his hip up to under his shoulder where Ze had charged him. Beneath the shirt, his breath washed over his own face, muffling him and all his senses.
Except his ears. He heard the firebenders warning as well as the knife sharpening. Each one sent an icy tingle throughout his chest. The torture was coming and he tried to steel for it mentally, for he had no chance of resistance physically. He didnt believe her for a second about going easy or that he wont get hurt. What did she even need to know? What did she think he knew? This was a trap, pure and simple. He had no knowledge of greater troop movements or defences of strongholds, in the Earth Kingdom or the North Pole. This was going to be a cruel game, nothing more. Its what he expected of any Fire Nation scum.
She only asked his name though. That was innocent. It meant nothing to a man who might be dead in a short while so he gave it to her. Rikkar. He answered, voice muffled by his tunic. And yours? Only polite that I ask back. He snickered, more for himself than to mock her. It still felt he had some control, of his mind at least if not his body. He shifted his feet around, expecting to be cut anyways.
gpt
Rikkar.
The name resonated in the air around the both of them as they stood close to one another. It was certainly a surprise to Zinni that he had answered considering he had denied her that pleasure earlier. It would be easier to scold him knowing his name. At the same time, it was a disappointment. Zinni was so hoping she could show the manchild she meant business early on in this game. Alas, she would not break her promise. No harm would come to the pigheaded waterbender is he cooperated, but that didnt mean she couldnt scare him a little.
Zinni heated the blade with her own bending skill only to the temperature of a nice heating pad, then pressed the blunt side into the flesh of the waterbender. Seeing how he fidgeted and took labored breaths she knew he was afraid, even if he denied it. Being touched at all would be enough to make him jump even if she didnt hurt him. She was counting on that even though, in reality, the temperature of the blade might even feel soothing in different circumstances. She grandly trailed the warmed blade downward over the captives washboard and her eyes followed suit: admiring his body as she remained careful not to even come close to cutting him. This body, when healed up, must be a marvel to see. They bred them well in the water nation.
Good. Zinni said simply, removing the blade entirely and replacing it with the palm of her free hand: cupping the mans waist where it appeared the most painfully bruised. Again she heated up her hand while cradling his wound to the temperature of a soothing heat pack one might use to soothe aches, and she held it there: offering him relief rather than pain. Was it kindness she was showing him? Or was she giving him false hope? Only time would tell. If you cooperate with me then this session might actually be pleasant for you. At least as pleasant as it can be. She assured him as she tucked the blade away into its scabbard on her hip.
With one hand still cupping his waist and providing it with a comforting warmth she reached up with the other to pull his tunic off of his head and away from his face: gifting him sight and fresh air. She looked up at him from her position: standing maybe a foot away from him with her hand comfortably planted on his flesh. Zinnis amber eyes stared into those of the tribal man as she watched him catch his breath. He had nothing to fear in that moment even if he didnt believe it. It meant Zinnis honor to keep her promises.
My name is Zinni. She offered, voice fairly soft as they stood in the firelight. Both Ze and Milo had wandered off to find better grazing leaving the two people alone in each others company. And I dont have to be the girl that hurts you. I could just be the one who transports you. She offered.
The tricky bit of this interrogation was that she had no way of knowing what this man knew. She knew not his rank or abilities. He could be the lowest ranking of the group they took down and she could be wasting her time. Or he could be captain like her and know everything. She was going to have to catch on to whether he was lying or not and quickly. Seeing his face would be her best indication. Withdrawing her hand from his body, Zinni stepped back: increasing the distance between them. From there she just looked at him. The fury in her eyes had dissipated and her pinched expression relaxed as she just eyeballed the waterbender wordlessly.What do you know?She wondered. Well. He at least knew his own history.
Your boat came from the southern Water Tribe, correct? She stated, already knowing the answer. How long have you been studying bending with your people? Weeks? Months? Years? When did you learn bending combat skills? Her voice was soft as her eyes traveled to the fire and she turned her back on her captive. She did want to hurt him right? So why was she hoping he wouldnt make her have to? Were you classically trained as a soldier for your nation, or were you simply drafted for this war because you could bend?
human
He could feel heat beginning to gather in front of his naked abdomen. Bereft of his eyesight, his other senses grew more sensitive.Oh great, I told her my name and she still plans to torture me. Well, here we go.He felt the flat of the blade pressed to his body and he hissed, fearing the worst, legs jerking to find some purchase in the ground to help alleviate the pain. But it was barely hot at all, nor did she cut into his flesh. He was still panting hard, truly terrified and shocked for that moment. Was she messing with him? It was certainly unkind to do. The blade was soon removed and instead her hand was placed upon his strong, taut abdomen instead.
Rikkar had never been touched by a woman before. It did something to him. Tingles and goosebumps diluted outwards in his body, within and without. He shuddered and was thankful his face was covered.But wait, shes my captor and enemy!Warmth spread over his body, like being draped in a heavy blanket on a cold day. It might have made him sleepy had he not been in the circumstances he was now. But still, what was this and what was she doing? Toying with him no doubt. The real punishment and hurt would come. Her words seemed only to have false promises and false assurances to him. She had gone through all the trouble of setting him up like this. She intended to torture and it seemed to him it would happen regardless if he cooperated or not.
Well, let her try her worst then! He was already a dead man in his own mind.
Surprisingly, the tunic over his head was removed, leaving him naked above the waist. His strong arms were flexed as they were tied above, his abdomen taut and constricting with each breath.As pleasant as it can be.Says you. I wonder if a wolf says the same to the rabbit.Dont fight and Ill swallow you whole instead of chewing you into little bits first. He snorted with disbelief. He looked up at her, his face one of incredulity at her words. Zinnidoes your mother know you stole her kitchen knife? He couldnt help but say with a smirk as he looked up at her. But he lost it at her next offer. Just be the one who transports meto my imprisonment. Where they will hurt and no doubt kill me. He finished off for her. He knew how this would end. He didnt believe her for a second.
She took her hand off of him and then he feltcold. Not the sort of cold one feels in a place of perpetual winter but an empty sort of cold, like the void of night where there was no stars or anything. His body craved her touch again and he tried his hardest not to seem discomforted by that, or wanting more of it. Who knows, her next touch could be very painful when it happened again. She could sear his flesh off with her fire or cut him more. He stared back at her. He had given his name, what more was there to know? He wasnt going to give up his home or friends, the ones who might still be alive. As she began to voice further questions, he could help but chuckle and drop his gaze to the forest floor.
Could you take my boots off as well? If were going to talk, Id like to be comfortable. He said light heartedly instead when she finished her questions.
He sighed and raised his head back to the bark of the tree behind him, pretending to rest, eyes closed. Lets seemy boat? Well technically the shipwright who made it came from the North Pole, so in a sense its from the northern water tribe. Of course, since the material is imported from the Earth Kingdom, its actually their boat. But the labourers who made it are from the South Pole. So you can technically say its from everywhere. Except of course the Fire Nation. They make terrible boats, all that smoke and ash. It probably stinks on there. I dont know how you do it. He said at first, saying a bunch of useless information. None of it was true. Yes, the boat was from the Southern Water Tribe, solely and singularly.
Now the questions were about him. I live in a place forever frozen and cold. You have to fight everyday to survive. Does that count asclassically trained? What does it mean to be classically trained anyways? I dont know if you have ever hunted but nothing likes to be. Its a terrible feeling when someone tries to hunt you down. I never do it for sport, like some people. He said, shooting his eyes open and glaring at Zinni.Like you. Like your people.Drafted for war? You mean you actually up and steal people away from their homes to go invade another peoples home? You Fire Nation lot are truly crazy in the head. He added as well, which should answer her last question. He volunteered, because it seemed the right thing to do.Who does such a thing, to their own people too?
Is that all? No, right. My bending. Lets seeI was a toddler when I firsthmm He said vaguely, pretending to be unaware. The answer was all his life, really. First for healing and simple tasks and chores. Daming rivers, building bridges of ice, or just outright foolery like ice slides down a steep hill or pranking his sisters by forming ice on the ground in front of them unexpectedly. As for my bendingwell I was kicking your ass so clearly more than youve been studying. Take a guess. He said haughtily.
gpt
Zinni rubbed her temples and planted her ass on a nearby log as the boy rambled on about the ships and his past. He wasnt going to give her anything she could use and on top of that he was going to irritate her anyway. No straight answers and no cooperation was enough to drive a hardwired woman like Zinni crazy, and Rikkar was well on his way to stepping on each and every one of the young firebenders nerves. How could any one person learn to be quite as annoying as he is? It had to take some kind of talent that Zinni and no one else in the firenation had. What an infuriating existence. And yet... she didn't want to punish him. Not if it meant truly hurting him again. Mild discomforts? Sure. Torture? It was sounding less and less appealing as time went by.
What is wrong with you, Zinni?She asked herself, still massaging his temples. Maybe it was because he was handsome and it should be a crime to defile a body like his. Maybe it was because she knew, deep down, that he was acting out because of fear. He had been instilled with a fear of the fire nation probably from a young age and made to believe that they were a horrible, power thirsty people. It was untrue. They were strict and skilled in combat, yes, but most of them were kind enough and would like the war to end as much as anyone else. Casualties were upsetting, and she wanted to preserve the sanctity of life. That's why she helped round up benders like Rikkar. To bring them to a place where they would be safe and secure: no longer a danger to themselves or anyone else.... at least at that was what Zinni had been told. She had no idea just how wrong she was. Maybe, just maybe, the fear of this man getting hurt by her people was why she didn't want to beat him to a pulp now. He was far from malicious or cruel... just annoying. You didn't deserve to be tortured for being annoying.
"Please!" She finally pleaded. "Just. Shut. Up." With a dainty hand she reached down and picked up a small pinecone before lobbing it behind her so that it would hit him in the gut. It was too small to really hurt, but it certainly got the point across: Zinni was annoyed. That was enough babble. She groaned before standing up and walking back to him and letting her eyes scan up and down "Fine. You want your shoes off? Done." She knelt down and pulled each of his shoes off of his feet and setting them out of reach and leaving him barefoot Now he had nothing covering his body but his trousers as the night air began to nip at them with an edge of chilliness. "I hope youre comfortable." She grumbled, walking towards her saddlebags.
Zinni reached into the bag and rummaged around a bit until she pulled out a sizeable stick of rhino jerky. A little protein before bed would do them both good, especially after a long day of riding. She slipped it into her mouth and bit off a small bit with her teeth, spitting it into the trees where she had last seen the turtleduck. As expected, the mean animal came waddling out with aloud squak and gobbled down the bit of meat she had given him. "You better be thankful for that." She muttered grumpily, biting the jerky again and this time ripping the remaining piece in half using her teeth. The pieces were small enough to fit in her mouth whole, so she chewed the half she had already soiled with her saliva and walked back to Rikkar. Without a word she squeezed his jaw such that his mouth opened and she stuffed the jerky inside. "Eat it or don't and spit it out for your duck. But. I suggest you eat. I'm sure you're getting hungry by now, Rikkar."
That was the last thing Zinni said to the miserable prisoner. She left him tied, half naked, to that tree as she got herself ready for bed and eventually crawled into her sleeping bag for her own slumber. He could scream and whine about her unfair treatment of him, but leaving him cold and tied to a tree was the kindest form of torture she had ever offered to anyone. He was lucky and she was too tired to be kept awake by any noise he could possibly make plus she was confident that the young man wasn't going anywhere.
Zinni slept soundly... until she heard an unfamiliar rustling in the bushes at daybreak.
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Rikkar burst out with laughter when the Firebender couldnt take it no more. It was a musical laugh, as mirthful as one could be when tied to a tree and threatened with torture and death to come. Getting on her nerves, this Zinni, was still a victory to him. He paused a moment in his laughter when the acorn struck his abdomen, pricking him no more than a fly might, but it didnt stop him from feeling bemused. He was still grinning ear to ear when she got up and walked over. Perhaps to threaten him with the knife or fire again? Instead she did him a service, which only increased his amusement further. He even lifted his strong legs up so that she didnt have to bend down so far. Very comfortable. Thank you. He said, wiggling his toes and stretching out.
Of course now there was little to do as she walked off to eat. And with nothing to do but watch, he began to realize just how hungry he was at the sight of food. His stomach rumbled like some angry beast in a den but Rikkar refused to beg or ask for it. Better to starve quicker than to die a slow death in a Fire Nation prison somewhere. Everyone seemed to be getting fed except him though and it was hard to stay disciplined with that assignation of his. Ze grazed the fresh forest grass. Zinni enjoyed her meat strips. Even Milo came rippling out to gobble up a morsel. Still he refused to ask, even when Zinni came over and stood in front of him. Such manners though! She grabbed his jaw and practically force fed him the morsel, which he didnt deny.
Shame and failure. He ate it, because his whole body ached for it. Spirits, was this what they were going to do to him in prison? It was too late to spit it out. Thanks. He mumbled again. It did not satisfy him much. She strode off and settled for slumber as night fell. The sun sank and coolness swept over the forest, prickling his half-naked body. Well, he was used to that, living in a place of perpetual ice and snow. Yet he was still discomforted. He was tied awkwardly. His limbs fell numb and the tree pricked his back. Often he thought he felt insects crawling over him, causing him to jerk about. But he didnt ask for a reprieve or any sort of service. Not from her. Not from the bitch who killed his friends and comrades.
Well, not her exactly. Not directly. But she belonged to the people who did. And she intended to do the same to him.
Trapped with a whirlwind of thoughts, of boredom, fear, desperation, and anger, Rikkar didnt know when he slept. Vivid, phantom sensations of Zinnis hand on his body would twitch him awake, only to realize it was memories deep in his subconscious and not the coming of dawn when she came to wake him. It happened often and he did not know why. Did he crave it? It disgusted him frankly to even consider that. She was his enemy, not his friend.Not ever to be his lover.The same whirlwind would pick up again, ignited by consciousness, and then he would fall back into a restless sleep. Morning came but he was too exhausted to greet the rising of the sun. He slept, chin tucked to his chest, arms above, legs stretched, breathing contently and without bother.
Not even when five pairs of feet approached.
Smoke from Zinnis campfire the previous day had given them away. They had seen it. Desperate vagabonds, half of them soldiers who deserted the Earth Kingdom, or outright bandits, or those who had lost everything and had nothing else to lose. A motley collection of men and women, made cruel by their circumstances. They saw the beast. They knew there was a Fire Nationer around. And all alone. Crooked tooth grins where shared. Long moustaches were stroked eagerly. They would take this miserable bitch and make a sport out of her, as her people had done to theirs. They moved to surround. Only two of them were Earth-Benders. The rest were armed with spears and clubs.
Unfortunately, none suspected Milo to be lurking in the bushes either. One stepped on his tail. He squawked loudly enough to wake every living thing in a mile radius and promptly bit the foot. He cried out in shock.
Everything unfolded so fast. Rikkar groaned awake, fluttering his eyes, wondering what the ordeal was this time with his pet. He looked in the direction of the noise, seeing shapes, and no doubt Zinni would as well. But who would see the spearman break from the bushes behind her and rush at her silently and quickly, intent on whacking her behind her head with the base of his spear shaft.
Rikkar could tell they were no friends to any of them. Behind you! He shouted to Zinni, before trying to get to his feet as well. He didnt get far, suddenly aware he was bonded and tied up. He growled and tried to wiggle, even as the fighting began.
Two spearmen leapt at Zinni, while one of the Earth-Benders, a middle aged woman, stomped her foot into the ground and caused a large boulder to rise. She spun and kicked it, sending it whirling at Zinni. There were just too many.
gpt
Shit. Shit. Shit.
She knew there was danger, but it was already too late once it had gotten this close. The thugs were upon her and she was still tangled in her damned bedsheets. It wasnt the most ideal of circumstances for combat, let alone combat where Zinni was outmanned. It was one against five? Maybe there were more hiding in the bushes, but she couldnt imagine she would get any kind of help from the waterbender and Ze was nowhere to be seen. She could call him and he would come, but she might be dead before he got there. Either way her best bet was to try. Ze! Come, boy! She called out just a split second before the man screamed at her about a threat coming from behind.
Zinni took a sharp breath and glanced over her shoulder just in time to see the weapon coming at her head much quicker than she would like. She threw herself forward, somersaulting out of the blanket and missing the blue by a hair before she threw herself to her feet. A warrior did their best fighting while standing. However, unfortunately for Zinni, she stood up just in time to see a boulder weighing ten times what she did being hurled at her. Son of a- she muttered before quickly blasting a large ball of flame at the rock and leaping to the side just to avoid being pummeled. The fireball shattered the boulder, but many fragments were still bigger than her head and could easily do her a world of hurt. Luckily they all tumbled to the earth rather than crushing the firebenders bones.
Spirits help me. She whispered as she widened her stance, looking around her to see just what she was up against. A few men and a few women. Each uglier than the last, but they all intended on butchering her. They would probably steal her supplies, kill the waterbender, and eat the animals. These types of people were ruthless like that. However, they werent going to get away with it without a fight first. With Zinnis experience she would at least hurt them before they took her down and the waterbender with her. He was defenseless: tied to a tree as though he were bait. A nomadic warrior who would be killed without even being allowed a chance. It wasnt right. She felt sorry for him.
Im going to regret this.. Zinni sighed the words to herself before looking over her shoulder to Rikkar where he was bound in woven rope to the tree. Luckily for the waterbender such rope would burn and melt. Zinni pivoted, thrusting her feminine form in the direction of her captive, and chucking fireballs at him. Probably much to the dismay of the waterbender, not a single one of them hit his flesh nor caused any harm. Instead they all strategically hit the ropes with enough heat to melt right through and causing the bonds to fall loose around him. He need only shed them and he was a free man. Free to run. Free to fight. The choice was his.
Zinnis attention didnt stay on Rikkar long after his release. She needed to focus on the fight before they slaughtered her like a farmer pig. She didnt want to go out like that. She wanted to go out fighting like hell and showing the world what a warrior she was. With a war cry, Zinni charged at the man who had swung a spear at her dome. With a quick movement of her hand, Zinni sent a blade of flame at the man the heat of which searing his spear and melting his clothes to his flesh. As he cried out in pain, Zinni jumped him. She hit him hard in the jaw with her elbow before landing a blow to his nose making it bleed as he slipped into unconsciousness. It wasnt a lethal injury, but it was enough to take him out of the fight long enough for Zinni to focus on a smaller group while the bandit slept off her blows.
However the attack on one man had rendered Zinni exposed on her flank and distracted enough not to notice the incoming attack before it was too later. One of them, spirits knew which one, had sent sharp shards of stone flying at her using their earthbending. Most of the fragments missed by some miracle, but two of them, one larger and one smaller, hit her flesh and tore threw on her waist, just above her hip. They stabbed like dull daggers and went in deep spilling Zinnis blood onto the soil in large droplets. She let out a blood curdling cry of agony, throwing her head back with her eyes shut tightly. However, even through the pain, the adrenaline allowed her to send a massive fire wall in the direction the attack had come from, searing everything in its path.
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There was a thrill of elation when Zinni dodged the blow at her back, forewarned by Rikkar. Yet he didnt have time to ponderwhyhe felt boosted by his captor escaping the strike.He needed to get out of here.He, already captive, was simply another mule and prisoner to be garnered by these bandits and they looked a lot less friendly than Zinni. And certainly less attractive. But he was strung up tightly, unable to budge the roping on him though he seared his flesh trying. A burst of warmth and the shattering of rock showed combat was already in full motion. He didnt like the mental picture of seeing Zinnis head bashed in with a rock. She was too pretty to lose to such a fate.
Or the bandits burned to the bone from the intense heat she could generate.
Whatever her intentions were though, Rikkar knew he was better off with her than the bandits, unless he could get out of here. He thought about whistling for Milo but the turtle-duck had no doubt dived for cover. He didnt even think of his own danger, that a bandit could just walk up and stab him through the heart with a quick lance of their spear. Nothing irritated him more than being left out of a fight, especially one that concerned his own future. No one seemed to care in the slightest. Not even the Firebender, who turned towards him. His eyes met her, almost about to implore her to free him so he could at least defend himself, when she began to hurl fire towards him,at him!
Apparently he must have been a distraction to her, a liability. Or maybe she refused to let him, an enemy combatant, have the chance at rescue. In either case it looked like death was coming to him. Oh, shit. He gasped, full of fear. To be butchered like cattle, this was no fitting way to die! He shut his eyes and waited for the hot scorch of pain that would follow. He felt the heat approaching like the light of dawn creeping across the land, sweeping away the darkness.Here it comes, here it comes
It felt his bonds suddenly loosen. Heat washed over him but not life endingly or even painfully. His arms tore forward from the tree and he was able to lurch, free of his bonds and everything. He could only shoot his eyes open with puzzlement to ponder why but Zinni was full caught up in the fight. For a moment he just watched her, trying to figure out why, why let him free? Wouldnt he help his would-be rescuers? Shouldnt he run? Shouldnt he leave her here to die just as she intended to dump him in a prison somewhere to die? Prettiness aside, as noble as she appeared, she was not his friend. He seemed to forget that point often, for how could someone so beautiful be a part of an entity so cruel and mercilessly?
Then he realized, in his hesitation, that one of the bandit spearmen was upon him. The sharp pointy end was thrust to his face. Dont move, tyke.
You mean like this? Rikkar said, grasping the spearhead below the head and yanking it forward towards him. The bandit stumbled forward, only to get kicked back by Rikkars bare feet. He soon rolled and leapt to his feet, holding the spearhead still. The other tried to wrestle it from him, yanking it free. Rikkar ingloriously turned on his heel and darted off into the foliage.
Water!Thats what he needed. He could hear the bandit hot on his trail as he leapt through the bushes. He tried to look for it, to listen and see if there was a stream or pool nearby. They had not moved far from the shore. After all, Zinni and her beast Ze both needed water to survive after all and it wasnt long before he saw the gleam of sunlight on water through the trees. As he broke through, he reached out and felt the water tug towards him. As much as he could manipulate steadily, he summoned from the indispensable source that was the ocean. It flew towards him in a tendril, wrapping around his body as he leapt and turned to face his attacker. The spear was thrust out but Rikkar had the water crash into it, freezing immediately. Then with an ice-hatchet forming in his other hand, he decapitated the iced head of the spear to the ground, useless, with the ice melting and leaping to rejoin his swirling tendril around his body.
The bandit only glimpsed in confusion at his broken spear, before a thick ball of water struck him like a club. He flew into a tree head first and knocked himself out.
Rikkar rushed back to the battle site now, where Zinni had been left against three attackers, having taken out one with his own warning. He joined the fight with a battle roar, having been gone for a full minute and seeming as if he had fled. Now he was back. The water formed tentacles from his arms, one catching the remaining non-bender bandit around his neck and thrusting him away from Zinni, while he fought the other Earth-Bender. Surely Zinni could handle one on her own. The Earth-Bender summoned stones and boulders to hurl towards Rikkar, who had his water tendrils knock or burst asunder, dancing his way to his foe. But the stones were getting bigger and tougher and Rikkar was losing water as it was knocked from the larger ball.Deliberately.The water fell onto the ground and Rikkar knew it was there, giving ground as the Earth-Bending bandit advanced on him.
When she stood over one of these puddles, Rikkar summoned it up like ice and froze her to the spot. Shocked by the surprise, she dropped her guard long enough for Rikkar to run and spin, delivering a firm kick to the womans midsection with such force that it broke her free from the ice shackling on her ankle, sending her back into the grass.
The remaining bandit, who had a club, tried to rush up behind Rikkar, who reacted a moment too late but Ze came roaring and tackled the man in his side, doing the same as the beast had done to Rikkar. It didnt look pretty as the man twirled, struck a tree, and landed in a puff of dust and grass beside his earth-bending friend. They both groaned.
He was tired though. And felt very weak. A whole day trussed up, with little food or water, not to mention a rude awakening, it took its toll on him. Adrenaline had pushed him to this endurance but could he keep it up? His toned abdomen was restricting and flexing powerfully with his panting and sweat gleamed on his tight muscles. He shone like polished bronze in the sun. Yet with a sudden gasp of fright, he spun around and now faced offagainst Zinni. Water hugged his strong forearms and his gaze was fierce.
Still, he didnt notice she was injured. But he faced her, assuming she would try to take him captive again. No, he was free now! He was not going back to any sort of captivity. You fought pretty good for someone who was outnumbered. He admitted softly though.But not good enough to take me again. And this time I wont lose.He knew where Ze was.
As he faced off against her, those who could still move tried to make good on their escape, helping each other to crawl and mope away. Leave these two to their own games now, they had enough!
gpt
Zinni was bleeding, and that made it incredibly hard for her to focus. After her cries subsided she dragged her carcass from the forest floor and faced off with the remaining bandits. However, much to her surprise, there wasn't much for her to do. Rikkar was taking them on, and he was doing quite well. Zinni managed to fling a few fireballs at the asalants, but each sharp movement of her body caused a sharp pain to ripple through her stab wounds: the rocks still within her and likely ripping away further at her meat every time she shifted. However, she couldn't pull them out. There was no time and as soon as she did she would likely bleed out. Her last actions would not be those of cowardice.
Zinni's eyes flicked to Ze when he came roaring in, trampling the remaining bandit just as it looked like he might be getting the upper hand over her water bending companion, if you could call Rikkar that. "Good boy, Ze." She whispered under her breath before her eyes fell to where her hand was cupping the wound at her hip. The blood was spilling between her long, narrow fingers now. If it kept gushing like this she would be unconscious soon.
She scoffed a bit at the wound. This wasn't the way she had planned to go. Zinni had had every intention of dying a very old women with her children, grandchildren, and perhaps even great grandchildren sitting at her bedside and helping her to confidently cross the bridge into the spirit world. She dreamed of her name being written into the history books so that she could be remembered for many years to come and new warriors would pray to her for guidance. She wanted to be a legend for helping to end this wretched war. Instead? She was going to die here. Alone in the woods surrounded by a very large group of people, and even a turtleduck, who didn't like her. Pathetic.
Lines were beginning to get blurry now, and the world seemed to rock as though she were back at sea. Even so, she could see it when the waterbender turned on her. She expected it. She wouldn't want to give in to her captor either. She saw in the boy bits a pieces of her own honor and values. It was such a shame he had been born on the wrong end of this war. He would have made quite a cunning firebender.
"Don't waste your strength, boy." She laughed, holding out her bloodied hand in full view. "I'm already done for. The bitch got me. So don't waste your strength. Not unless you plan on putting me out of my misery more swiftly than if nature ust takes it's course." She shrugged before reaching down, pulling the largest and deepest of the stone blades out of her flesh where it had impaled her in the flank: even in height with her belly button though on the side rather than the front of her feminine form. Next was the blade in her hip, and then the one in her upper thigh: each smaller than the last. Even so, they had done the job.
Blood stained the firebenders tunic and military garb. It poured down her side at an alarming rate: staining her boot in streaks before it kissed the soft soil beneath her. She nodded, accepting her death. "Go, waterboy. Just please do me one favor..." She sighed. She didn't like asking favor of the enemy, but this time it was important to her. This wasn't just about her deteriorating life anymore. "Take Ze with you. He's loyal. If you don't take him he'll lay here and guard me even past my death until he reaches his own. Don't let him. He's a good beast. He shouldn't have to starve to death because he's protecting a damned corpse."
Then Zinni collapsed, but was that a tear on her cheek when she hit the ground?
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It finally registered to Rikkar how badly hurt Zinni was. She was in no position to fight him. It would even be dishonourable if he did fight her. He could just turn around and walk away and be free. He ought to.Just turn on your heel and run. Run to the water and then follow it to some friendly port. From there, home.No imprisonment. No slow death. No captor and captive play. Yet his bare feet remained rooted to the ground. He listened to Zinni confess her own end coming soon.Why was he even listening?His eyes looked to the shards in her flesh, sharp stones that cut into her flesh quite messily.
He jerked a step forward when she tore one out. He didnt know why. A water tribe healer would know not to do such a thing. Not so rashly! Again, why did he care?
He looked at Ze when Zinni bid him to look after the beast. Something about her final request moved him, forming a heavy lump in her throat. For all her faults, she was loyal and loving of her beast of burden and war. He was more than that to her and even Rikkar could not blame Ze, even after he had been battered by the rhino. He opened his mouth to say something, say anything, to assure her it might not be this way, that she might recover or be found by her friends. He didnt get to. Without warning, she collapsed to the ground with a soft thud. By the spirits, no one deserved to die like this, especially someone so fair and beautiful
Rikkar did not hesitate. His water splashed to the ground and was lost in his haste and urgency. In a few steps he leapt to her side and fell heavily to his knees, looking her over and then looking into her face. Wake up, wake up! He urged her, putting his hands on her neck, and then trailing them up to her face. He saw the tear but his thumb absentmindedly wiped it away. He shook her face, trying to keep her conscious. Dont go to sleep. Stay here. Look at me. Im not taking Ze with me. Hes not mine to take. Hes a good beast and hes going to grow old with you. Old and fat. The good life, the proper way to go. Not like this. You hear me? Rikkar practically shouted at her, before turning his attention to her lower abdomen and legs where she was cut, hands trailing down her form, over her breasts and all without realizing it.
It was bad. She had lost a lot of blood. It was a miracle she was indeed still consciousness.Water.He needed water. Leaping back to his feet, his hands shot out and danced, drawing as much of the water he had dropped to the ground as he can. But it was tainted with sand and grit now, which caused him to hiss furiously and send that flying off to the side where it struck a tree. No, she had a water flask didnt she? He searched the campsite desperately and found it, the water coming out. Enough, thankfully. The water surrounded one hand like watery orbs and he rushed back to her with his tunic, bunching it up to put under her head. Then he looked to her wounds.
Youre going to be alright. Rikkar told Zinni.Leave her to die! She was certainly taking you to your death.But he couldnt. It wasnt right. The spirits knew it would not be right either. It was against all his teachings and learning, more so than the warrior code he had lived by. One hand on her side, he rolled her over to look at her flank. Water orbs formed in his hand and he put it to the first gash in her body, where she had tore a stone blade from. It cleansed the wound, drawing blood and stone fragments away. With careful diligence, he separated the water then from those aspects, letting them fall harmlessly to the ground over. He would have to patch her up later.
Next was the stone in her thigh. He put his hand over it and the water formed a cylinder between his palm and her flesh, surrounding the rock. With gentle slowness, the water soothing her flesh and making it burn significantly less, he was able to extract the stone fragment cleanly from her without breaking it. That too he tossed aside and moved to her final stone. Feeling better? He asked her, looking up at her face as he formed the cylinder over the final fragment. It was extracted slowly, with minimal pain because of the soothing water, and removed completely. Now there were three open gashes in her body, each beginning to leak blood again.
He got up and found her blanket. Poor thing, he tore it into shreds and took the longest pieces he could find, returning to her body. He knelt by her leg and wrapped them about her injured thigh, patching the first two gashes. His hands flowed about her thighs, touching the most intimate regions on the inside and underside. Temporary measures of course. The final, and largest, on the side of her rear would be tricky to patch. He could not in fact. Not withoutdishonouring her modesty and virtue, which he would not do. All he could do though? He rolled her onto her side gently and sat beside her, one leg bent and foot against his other leg, the lower calf resting against her backside and thigh, with his other leg stretched out between her thighs and in front of her. He put his hand, with the water orb still about it, and pressed his palm to the side of her flank.
It would take hours, even days, to heal the gash. With a sigh, Rikkar closed his eyes and began to mutter, summoning the spirits. The moon would rise high tonight. It would empower him, for it was up to him to save her life. She had lost a lot of blood. The water glowed with a white purity as some spiritual energy was instilled into it. And thus from him into her as he began the long arduous healing process. They would not be able to move. He could not take his hand off herintimate flesh here on her cheek. But he did so, because he could not and would not leave her to die like this.
No one deserved to die like this.
His back rigid, his posture unmoving, his hand on her side and his other resting on her thigh. The water swirled and danced, becoming marred with blood but also helping the flesh to close itself and heal. Zinni, still with me? He asked her softly, the water working its slow magic on her largest cut. After would follow the other two.
gpt
Zinni groaned, her eyes fluttering, but it was too hard to focus. Everything he said or did was muted by her failing senses, and she wouldnt even know the difference between him killing her or helping her. Luckily, against her knowledge, the water tribe boy was doing the later. She did not respond to his yelling, but the shaking of her head caused her eyes to open widely or a split second before they fluttered closed once more. Cant Stay awake She whispered shallowly before her neck practically went limp along with the rest of her ailing body as he trailed his hands over her: In consciousness she might have taken his hand off for touching her like that, but in this state she had no idea what he had even done.
Her eyelashes continued to flutter as she walked the very thin line between awake and asleep: teetering into each side from time to time as the waterbender continued to worry over her. Soon, with his tunic bunched up under her head and his hands touching her oh so gently she realized that one of two things was true. Zinni was either hallucinating or he was trying to help her.But why?She wondered. Zinni knew she meant bad news for the little waterbender. She had hurt him and she was taking him to a holding facility that he, obviously, did not want to go to. Why would he do anything to help her? She had given him an out and even a beast to take him where it was he needed to go. Why would he stay?
She didnt have the energy or mental capacity in her agony to figure it out, but she was beginning to lose numbness just enough to feel the water rushing into her wound and the hand, securely on her flank, that manipulated it. Soon after she noticed the way his legs wrapped around hers and the sensation of cloth wrapped about her muscular thigh. He really was trying. Zinni took a sharp breath, mostly out of pain, and nuzzled her face deeper into the mans article of clothing. Inhaling Zinni realized that the scent of it was almost soothing. It was the scent of another human. A man. A man who wanted to keep her from dying.
The moon was high in the sky before Zinni was truly with it. She lifted her face from the cloth and groaned. Any shifting it seemed sent a shot of lightning through her flank and thigh. Although, perhaps not as badly as before. She laid her head back down like a defeated animal and allowed her mind to focus on the soothing sensation of the water meshing with her skin.
Why are you still here, Rikkar? She finally whispered, but she didnt look at him. Her golden hazel eyes instead focused on a single blade of grass and the way it swayed ever so slightly in the breeze of the night air. I gave you an out. Why stay and help me? I know you dont exactly like me, waterbender. She sighed, wincing slightly from the movement.
Zinnis pain was still sharp, but it was dulling down thanks to the hands of the man sitting so close to her that she could feel the heat radiating off of him. The realization that he was so much warmer than her reminded her that it got damned cold in the earth kingdom after dark and she was covered in goosebumps. Almost on cue her body began to shiver, and she bit down on her lower lip to stop her teeth from chattering. The blood loss was enough to make her freeze and now that was combined with the chilled temperature of the night air. Zinni wasnt from the south pole. She wasnt used to cold temperatures like this without a blanket and a fire. Oh how delightful a fire sounded, but Zinni wasnt even able to manifest a tiny flame in her current state.
human
It was hard to keep track of time. Rikkars mind wandered as the day grew old and weary. It had been morning when the fight happened. Morning passed and the sun grew, bathing his flesh in light and warmth. Sweat even began to trickle on his bronze skin, dripping slowly. His arms began to ache from the soft movements of the water swirling about the gash, cleaning and filtering out smaller stone fragments and blood. The spiritual energies he summoned helped to soothe the pain. They were the ancient practices of his people. No, he should not even be unveiling them for Zinni or anyone else. But here he was, for what good was it as a secret, if not meant to help others?
It took an hour to cite sixteen mantras of healing. Rikkar lost count around one hundred and forty. It was dark and he was feeling the exhaustion creep up. He hadnt moved. His legs felt numb. He was hungry. Ze roamed and sometimes laid down. Milo was out of sight but not out of sound, in the bush somewhere. The moon shone high above and that was the source of all waterbenders powers. He felt invigorated despite it being the hour for slumber but he was drifting nonetheless. His murmuring had frequented falters and pauses. His head drooped and his eyes closed, chin tucked to his chest. But his focus remained strong, the orb of water locked between his palm and her wound.
And when Zinni shifted, he jerked alert suddenly. He fixed his eyes upon her but said nothing. What could he say?Hi, thanks for capturing and torturing me. But your leg should be all good to continue doing just that.Instead he frowned, for she voiced that very same question in his mind and heart. He didnt have an answer for it. Stop moving. Or move. Its your choice if you want to feel the agony but it wont impede my work. Rikkar told her firmly. Warm wasnt exactly something he would consider himself to be when next to a firebender. He could feel her chilling though. Her skin was icy cold and not the cool sensation his sisters or parents might feel like. Hers was like ice. It was like a dead persons. He frowned.
You did give me an out. I took it. He told her, removing his hand from her wound, the ball of water following it. There was a scar now, that perhaps would never go away, but it would stop bleeding at least. Time would repair the rest now. Youroutmeans my freedom. And with that freedom, I chose to do this. I am not a killer, Zinni. I am a warrior, only in defense of my people. But in all other cases, like all the people of my tribe, I am a healer. And it is against my teachings to leave someone to die. Even you. Its justnot right. He explained to her softly. Maybe she wouldnt remember it after.
He put his other fist over his mouth as he suddenly yawned.
With slow focus, he returned the water into the flask. For storage, not for drinking. The worst has passed. Youll live, as long as you dont reopen your wound or get hit again. You are a clumsy one. Rocks are slow and stupid, how could you get hit by that? He taunted her lightly, reaching up to stroke some hair from her face, tucking them behind her ears. His fingernails grazed ever so softly on her skin before he sat back. Tomorrow Ill look at your other two gashes. Youve lost a lot of blood though so we arent going anywhere. You dont have the strength. Even riding on Ze might kill you. You have to stay here. Rikkar said to her. His words would sound slurred. He was tired.
You need to stay on your side too. Keep your leg elevated. Rikkar told her, looking around. There was nothing to help with that. The only way to do so was to keep his leg between hers. And she was freezing too. He reached out and put the back of his hand, warm, to her forehead, cold. Damn it. He muttered under his breath. He knew what he had to do then, like with hypothermia patients. Too much time in icy waters and not even a fire could warm them up. She needed a constant heat source, something kept very near to him.A tingle and a shudder ran down his spine at the prospect.He had to do it. And trying to pretend like he hated it wasnt going to help.
In any case, itll be for naught. Youre freezing. Youve lost too much blood. I cant make a fire, which will certainly draw others to us. Looks like you have to die shivering to death. Must be a cruel fate for a firebender, huh? He mocked her, before sighing and rolling his eyes in a mental defeat of himself. Suddenly he flopped down behind her, on his side, his body behind hers. Her back would feel his strong chest, his groin nudged into her rear softly. His leg intertwined between hers. He put an arm over her waist, lightly, with his hand hanging off and not touching her. Any questions about your treatment? He asked with the grin audible in his voice. His warmth would wash over her. It would be as soothing as the water.
It would only take a moment for his hand to drift to her side, where in thought he would begin to draw patterns on her clothes, on the flap that covered her hip. If the wind blew, his hand would become very close to intimate regions of her thighs.
gpt
Zinni winced as he so obviously insulted her. By stating so strongly that he was no a killer she could only assume that he considered her to be just that. Because she wore red and fought on the opposite side of the battle line, she was a monster in his eyes, even after how kind, relatively, she had been since capturing him. His worse injury was from Zee and even when she had strung him up for torture he had endured no pain. Instead, she treated him fairly: even did her best to offer his bruises some relief after he had cooperated for her. Now she was still a monster. Even as she lay wounded on the forest floor.
I didnt kill you, now did I? She pointed out, keeping her gaze distant even as he shifted and moved about her. Andwearent going anywhere together. If you are free you are no longer my responsibility to feed and care for. Youre on your own as soon as you come to your senses and high tail it out of here. I dont have enough food for you if youre not going to be my captive. We arent exactly friends, Rikkar. Her words were sharp and hurtful, but in its own way it was tough love. He had chosen to save her from bleeding out and she was choosing not to recapture him once she was well enough. She wouldnt even try so long as he got the hell out of dodge.
Im also not as weak as you think. That was a lie. Zinni was weak, and aside from her rhino she was rendered practically defenseless now. She couldnt conjure a flame, let alone manipulate it in her state. But her pride told her to convince him otherwise. If he saw her as weak there would be no going back to the state of being the bad ass chick who beat him in combat. She would only be the weak girl who he had to save after she got shanked by a couple of rocks. But. I wont move either. She sighed, a bit defeated.
She tensed as he shifted to lay behind her, her entire body against the idea of it: chest to shoulders, groin to rump. It was intimate. Far more intimate than Zinni wanted. Even more intimate than she expected she would ever find herself with the firebender.Any questions about your treatment?He dared to say, the breath accompanying his words kissing at her cheek and ear as he cuddled her as though they were some sort of lovers. It made her huff in irritation and frustration. This entire situation was humiliating.
Though, even though she wished she could ignore it, the heat from his body, half naked without his tunic, radiated into her core and allowed her instant comfort. Subconsciously she wished she could curl up even closer to him. So, so closed her eyes to try and sleep without acknowledging him any further. However, the second his hand grazed over her hip her eyes shot wide open once more.
Waterboy, I dont care if youre helping me. If you want to keep that hand you better move it. Keep it family friendly, got it? She huffed in irritation before grabbing his wrist and moving it upward to rest on her waist rather than so close to her intimate regions. She was a betrothed woman. As attractive at the tribesman was, he had no right to touch her body as though it were his, and she wanted to make sure that message was painfully clear early one in whatever kind of a situation this was. There was one thing for sure that Zinni was not, and that was the mans lover.
With his hand securely on her waist, her own hand gripping it to prevent any wandering, Zinni closed her eyes once more and sleep took her before she even had a chance to think a second thought. Her entire body relaxed up against Rikkars, and her grip on his hand loosened as well as she fell into a more serene state. She had been passed out most of the day, but even so she was still exhausted, and her body wanted nothing more than to sleep. But before she knew it, morning came and the sun kissed her ivory skin, causing her eyes to flutter open. It was a new day, but the dull ache in her leg had far from subsided.
human
Youd be lucky to have me as a friend. RIkkar snorted. Ive been hunting and foraging my whole life. You think not being your responsibility worries me? I could thrive here in this green, sunny place. He rolled his eyes. He was well nourished, given how strong and taut his body was. And that was just from living in the tundra. Fish and roots. Here there was so much more. If she thought he needed to rely on her to survive she was gravely mistaken. There might not be many of his people but each were hardy and strong in their own way. He knew she wasn't weak. She was a tough woman and had fought off most of the bandits on her own before he had intervened. But thinking she was indestructible, which no one was, was a foolish error.
But Zinni was smart in realizing that at least.
He snickered as she shoved his hand away. He simply returned it, dragging her hand with him. Physically, he was stronger, given her current status. Tough as you think you are, you certainly sacrifice brains to be that. Rikkar said. Look, you've lost a lot of blood. You're freezing. If you don't get any heat, you'll die. And we can't light a fire, in case our friends decide to come back. Or others. So you're only source of warmth is me. He shifted his arm up around her waist and suddenly tightened. Both to give her more heat and to relish the feel of her slender abdomen. And spirits, it was hard like rocks!
We do this at the South Pole. You spend too much time swimming in icy water and your body can't recover. Even if you lay in thick furs and have a fire. Sometimes someone has to get in the cot with you. Rikkar explained to her in a soft voice, sharing what his culture was like. He stared at the side of her face, his other arm bent at the elbow to prop up his head. Her own would be against his upper chest and neck. But when she didn't reply, he glanced over and saw she was asleep.Huh.No wonder he had gotten his arm back around her. She wasn't even conscious to resist. He quirked his eyebrows and stretched his arm out, letting his head rest behind hers, his nose and lips to the back of her neck.
She smelled good. She tasted good. He couldn't find it in him to resist the charms. A bulge formed in his trousers, nudging to her firm rear. He nuzzled in closer, telling himself it was for her own good. He was helping her because it was the right thing to do. Right? His head shifted closer. His lips planted to the back of her neck. In that posture, he would drift off to sleep soon enough. Night passed and day came again. They were still together, Rikkar embracing Zinni from behind. He slept silently, chest rising and falling like the waves of the sea. He was warm to the touch despite being naked all night above the waist. He was hugging her tightly...but his arm over her, his hand had drifted up subconsciously to cup just under her breast. It fit quite snugly. And his touch was tender.
When she stirred, he would stir. Rikkar yawned loud and powerfully, his breath bathing the sensitive flesh at the back of her neck. Good morning. Still alive to see it, eh? He said a little cheery and haughtily. She had survived because of him but there were still two gashes to work on. Something else was stirring as well, very firmly and pressing to her backside. As Rikkar shifted, it prodded quite significantly against her. He hadn't opened his eyes yet. Couple more minutes he begged of no one in particular. He put his lips and mouth to the side of her neck, half kissing.
And if she gave a positive reaction, he would do it again and again. His arms would flex, squeezing her tenderly and drawing her in. They had no blanket, except his heat. And no pillow, except his broad chest.
gpt
Almost as soon as Zinni stirred in consciousness she could feel Rikkar doing the same, only his shifting was far from innocent. Zinni could feel him, at least partially erect, pressed into her ample rear. At first it was almost enticing. Zinni has grown into a fine woman, yet no man had ever embraced her as if she were important. And this made her feel important and cared for. In the fire nation it was all about tough love, and affection was always frowned upon: especially in public. But it didnt take long before Zinni realized what was happening, and her calm expression was replaced with a furrow brow.
Soon she noticed his crotch was not the only thing getting up close and personal. His breath kissed at the back of her neck and his hand cupped the underside of her breast.By the spirits does he know what hes doing?She wondered, her whole body tense for several moments as she laid there up against him: far closer than she ever expected she would be to the waterbender. He was even warmer now than he had been the night prior, and it resonated through her until she too felt alive all over again. Good morning, Rikkar. She finally said, still tense. Yes. Im, admittedly, happy to be alive. She took a deep breath, looking out into the distance where she hoped she would see Ze, but he had wandered off somewhere.
Do you realize where your hand is, Rikkar? She whispered, taking a deep breath. She was uncomfortable because she was inexperienced more than anything else. Rikkar was a good looking as any man she had seen and he had quite literally saved her life, yet she was still so tense about him touching her. He touched her as though she were a woman, a beautiful, enticing woman even if he didnt realize what he was doing to her. Zinni took a second deep breath and reached her hand up, gently running her fingertips down along his arm until her hand laid over his own, though it wasnt nearly as big.
Spirits help meShe thought to herself before she made quite possibly the dumbest decision of her life. She gripped his hand and guided it upwards at a snails pace until his palm fully encompassed her uppermost breast as she laid on her side pressed up against him. Zinni drooped her hand away from Rikkar then, allowing him freedom. If youre going to touch me, you might as well do it right. She whispered, biting her lip a bit to calm her nerves. Rikkar made her nervous in ways she didnt completely understand. However, the best she could figure in that moment was to go with her best instincts, and those instincts were telling her to push forward.
Just relax Zinni whispered, more so for herself than for Rikkar. He seemed perfectly calm even as she could feel her heart practically beat out of her chest. But even so she shifted her hips backward: pressing her ass even further into the bulge of his crotch. Soon after, she turned her head such that the side of her face was exposed to the man as they lay together with legs intertwined their bodies exchanging heat. Now the only thing Zinni could think about was where things would go from here.
human
Hmm? Rikkar responded sleepily to Zinnis question. He didnt even half hear it and if he did, he would not have really known. The back of her neck was more sensational to him, her skin so soft and tasteful. His eyes remained closed, face to the back of her head. Her hair tickled his face. He seemed to forget there was a firebender beside him, an enemy combatant who had captured him. He knew deep down she hadnt been responsible for the death of his friends and comrades. She hadnt tortured him when she could have. Seeing her fight off those bandits, she seemed very similar to himself.Just someone trying to survive in a bloody and brutal war.
They were young. They should have had different futures than this yet here they were. He was a young man far from home. She was a young woman far from home. They were each alone. And he could have left her alone, to die and suffer. But he didnt. And in healing her body, letting the spirits dance as he held vigil over her, it awoke something in him for her. Perhaps a care or a form of affection. Laying beside her had been meant as a stoic and platonic thing. Now it became something more. He was pressed warmly to her backside. His arm draped over her body. She was a woman, a fine woman, and his urges were piqued at her presence so near and dear.
When she shifted his hand up, offering to correct him, he finally opened his eyes. He felt his palm rest over her breast entirely and without even thinking what he was doinghe squeezed his fingers into the soft flesh. He began to massage it tenderly, loving how it felt. It was the first breast he had ever grasped and it was astonishing to his senses and mind. He couldnt speak on it though, for once at a loss for words. Maybe it was better he didnt speak. She turned more to face him, his lips now against her jaw as he didnt even shift back to accommodate her movement. He remained still, overwhelmed as her nubile body pressed back to his in a feeling that could not be put into words.
His arm under her head moved to caress the far side of her face and turn it more, letting his eyes behold her. Did he remember who she was? No, instead he saw the intricacies of her flesh up close, the pools of depths of her eyes, and the sweetness of her lips instead. He saw a woman, a woman who equally seemed amazed by him. And so Rikkar leaned in to herand kissed her on the lips. Chaste at first, a simple pressing of his lips to hers, lasting but a few heartbeats. But as he drew back, a little breathless despite the brief interlude in breathing, he felt his heart soar with sudden want. So he leaned back in again and kissed her more fiercely, lips consuming and dancing against hers.
And his body began to grind against her, rubbing his now significant bulge against her flank.
The motion and want were clear. Rikkar wanted to do so himself. He knew he had to enter her but he wondered if Zinni was aware of it as well. Did they even see the act over in the Fire Nation as something of passion or just a process to make babies? In any case, as he had been given a touch of her, she might as well take a touch of him. And so his hand left her breast and took the hand that had guided him there, pulling it down between their bodies. He snaked it right under the band of his trousers, bringing her hand right into contact with the hard, steely texture of his own manhood. He broke the kiss and looked at her eyes, saying nothing. His orbs would then shift down her body and then back again to her eyes, seeking a silent ascent of permission to go ahead.
If she could handle his size of course, which filled her hand and throbbed warmly, more so than his own body.But what of her own warmth?Leaving her hand upon his manhood, his own began to trail over her hips and sneaked across the bare flesh of her thighs towards her, never breaking eye contact with her, licking his lips as he began to miss the taste of her own.
gpt
Zinni was good at over analyzing things. She always wanted a step by step plan and she followed it exactly as written. Now there was no plan. This was all impulse that had been instigated by the waterbenders proximity to her. None of this was in the plan. None of this was supposed to happen. She was supposed to take him back to port where he could join his comrades for temporary holding while the war raged on. She wasnt supposed to get hurt and she sure as hell wasn't supposed to have him heal her. Yet he had and now he lay pressed up against her with one hand kneading at her breast. But Zinni was enjoying it no matter how wrong it was.
Zinnis voice caught in her throat as he turned her head more towards him, his rough hands on her flesh was invigorating to say the least. But when he kissed her Zinni was sure she was soaring high above the clouds and she returned every ounce of ferocity he placed upon her lips: hungry to taste him. However, as soon as Rikkar began to roll his hips forward into her rump she found herself distracted from the kiss and instead she focused on what else he might have to offer her. No man had ever touched her like this, not quite. Her betrothed had gotten a bit handsy at times and they had kissed maybe once or twice, but she had never found herself in such a physically frustrating situation before.
She wanted more. He provided.
Her hand moved willingly under his guidance, offering him more trust than he should expect out of the woman who had been his enemy just hours ago. Now they were lost in a moment of passion together. But once her hand reached his desired destination she bit down hard on her lower lip. Was she nervous? Scared? Aroused? In all reality it was some combination thereof, but she would never admit that the waterbender so easily got under her skin. She wanted to touch him but more importantly sheneededhim to touch her or all the Heat building up inside her might make her explode in a fiery inferno. Yet again, just as she thought of it he indulged her, his hand leaving hers in his trouser and traveling instead to mingle with her inner thighs. It made her groan.
With care, Zinni shifted onto her back without ripping back open her wounds that had, for a time, stopped bleeding. Her free hand, the one not hidden in Rikkars trousers grabbed his wrist hard and pulled him over top of her such that she could hide in his shadow as they explored each others bodies. Zinnis golden hazel eyes dragged over Rikkars chiseled body until they found his face. With her lower lip still trapped between her teeth she gave him a sharp nod of approval before she leaned up to kiss him again. It was a quiet encounter for now, but it was certainly a pivoting point in their relationship. Enemies turned lovers.
Zinni continued to kiss the male, her tongue gradually becoming braver and beginning to prod and explore the tribesmans mouth. He tasted sweet and inviting, so she took him up on his silent invitation: kissing him deep and passionately. Her kissing didnt faulted again, but her hand grew restless as it rested on the bare skin of his notable erection. Zinni had never touched one before, but the skin seemed to soft and fragile. It was undeniably sensitive as she began to rub her land along the length of it still buried in his trousers. She touched him as though she wanted to memorize his anatomy, fingers memorizing every vein and shape of the large weaponry.
Suddenly and without warning, Zinni broke the kiss and withdrew her hand simultaneously, looking up at the waterbender with hooded yellow eyes. Oh how she wanted him. Spirits forgive me, but I have never wanted anything so badly from another human being.She thought, gazing up at him. She never uttered a word nor did she stop making eye contact as she pulled the gloves from her hands and forearms. Swiftly there after the began untying the sashes at her waist and unfastening the buttons at the back of her neckline until her blouse hung loosely on her and the carefully pulled it off over her head between their bodies. This left her upper half in nothing more than a sash tied around her breasts for support. Next she reached down and unfastened her thigh high boots and pushed them off of each leg and foot using the opposite.
Before long, Zinni was mostly naked. She wore only the same undergarments he had seen her fishing a few mornings prior, and she arched her back slightly, pressing her bare midriff to his washboard abs. She smirked at him before her thumbs hooked in the waistline of his trousers and she quirked a brow before she slowly started pushing them downward until his erect cock sprang free, resting against her just south of her belly button: bare to behold. Mmm. Zinni whispered before one dairy hand stroked inward along his hip until she found his swollen shaft. She leaned up, kissing him again as her hand wrapped around the thick base loosely. From there she started to stroke him from base to tip, massaging every inch of his length as her lips mingled with his and her own thighs spread apart, granting him access to her center as she bent her knees and let her thighs rest against either side of his waist.
human
It had been a brash move on Rikkars part yet his heart soared with further elation and pleasure when Zinni did not resist. He had no way of knowing what her feelings were and even with her welcoming actions he was still a bit doubtful of the mutual want. Her lips danced with his, her body pressed back into his own, and her hand groped his manhood without disdain or disgust. They touched, dancing a silent dance with scarcely a spoken word. Only soft murmuring of moans and passion escaped their lips, whenever they were not conjoined. Rikkar did not know how it came to this. Perhaps it all really was a dream. He could not feel the sunlight or the heat or the wind. Only Zinni. Only the raw feel of her body and spirit.
A look of fierce and determined concern was written on his face as Zinni began to shift. He might have broken the silence at last with a protest given her condition but she had done it already, not to mention his own growing curiosity at having greater access. Approval and want were in her features, matched by his own. His lip was caught between hers before they kissed deeply again and his own matched the ferocity of her tongue, trading blows as they had once done. He was within her mouth, before chased back into his own. He welcomed her tongue, swirling and dancing. His hands were encompassing, caressing the far side of her face and rubbing over her thighs. She still held him below, beginning to stroke. He shuddered with delight and groaned against her mouth, eyelids heavy with pleasure. It felt good.
But with a suddenness that scared Rikkar a little, Zinni drew apart.Here it is, here is where it all ends and we go back to being enemies. Worse now, given what had just happenedHe feared he might be raping her, which would be a tremendous blow to his own self-esteem and morality given the evilness of the act. They looked at one another, his own features slightly apologetic yet at the same timeunapologetic. For he desired this and had felt that same desire returned in her actions. How could they stop now, having already started on this path? But through the corners of his vision, he was given his answer. Yet by some strange force, Rikkar crawled and hovered atop of her now, shrouding her with his impressive frame.
She began to undress and he stared at her eyes a moment longer before gulping tremendously, his eyes averting to watch the scene.
Rikkar had never beheld a woman undress before. It was certainly nothing like what he expected. She was a firebender and all his imaginings were wrong. Off came her top, breasts still covered but their wonderful and glorious shape more pronounced. He barely had time to acknowledge them as she began to undo her lower body of its coverings. Soon she was naked, less so than Rikkar who had only his trousers and undergarments on. She pressed her naked torso to his and Rikkar happily pressed himself back, feeling the mingling of flesh, muscle, and tendon. It felt astonishing all over, his body pulsing with delight. His hands had withdrawn during her undressing but now they stroked up her slender sides and slide up over her breasts, even as she found his manhood again and began to massage it herself. They kissed and his hands encompassed both her breasts, slipping the sash off and fully feeling them within his hands.
They kissed for what seemed a long time, his tongue and lips attacking hers. He licked her bottom lip and buried it deep in her mouth, twirling with her own. It was an amazing sensation, one he felt he could never get tired off. His hands worked her breasts, feeling their weight in his palms, kneading them with his fingers and fiddling with the stiff buds. Though not for long, as his hands grazed up to hold her face. His hips were grinding hard against her, the underside of his manhood brushing against Zinnis clit with each movement. He looked down at her eyes and smiled, before kissing her gently on the lips. And then again upon her lower lip. And again, upon her jaw, down her neck, and over her collarbone. He moved down, until his face was against her breasts.
He took one within his mouth and moaned in his throat at how wonderful it felt, the texture and taste and everything. His tongue flickered and swarmed around her stiff bud, teasing it relentlessly. His hands kept on moving downwards despite the cessation of his face, until one rested on her good side and another came between her thighs. He felt her womanhood then, his lower body bending at the knees to rise up. And as he suckled her breasts and grazed them with his teeth and tongue, his fingers began to explore her outer folds. They felt like nothing ever before, fingers tracing her unique shape, getting to know it intimately, before caressing down her slit and sometimes prodding in gently. And his lips remained glued to her breast, switching from one to the other, tongue flicking her nubs hard. His eyes locked on hers, strong chin resting on her body and simply watching her.
Then he released her breast, tongue dragging upon the underside as he hovered up. He watched her intently, while his hand lined up and gently inserted a finger into her depths. Deep. He went in to the knuckle and held it there, feeling her insides clutch and contract upon it. Her reaction seemed of pain, yet of pleasure too. Rikkar didnt know what to make of it, tilting his head to the side. Then with a slow rhythm, he began to draw out his finger with the same deliberate slowness and then drive it back in. For a moment, he did so, working her body gently, until he felt himself brimming with a different desire. He knew what he had to put in but if only a finger did such to Zinni, what would his manhood do?
Well, he wanted to try and a playful smirk came over his lips as the desire unveiled itself in his eyes. He gripped himself with one hand and placed another on her shoulder to steady her. With a gentle grunt, he pressed himself to her, encountering a brief resistance, before shattering it and tearing into her depths. He groaned further as he pressed in, not knowing when to stop or if he even should, moving until his own pelvis bumped to hers. Now they were conjoined. Now they were one. Rikkar leaned over her face, panting a little as he was immersed, looking down at her. Zinni. He murmured, whispering the name of an enemy, a combatant, his captor, and a firebender, all in pleasure.
Then he began to rock his hips, as he leaned down to kiss her more.
gpt
Zinni was a virgin. Even in her betrothal she had never let a man touch her the way that Rikkar touched her now. This was wrong, forbidden, worth exile. She should be shunned not only for cheating on the man she was supposed to marry, but for doing so with a water bender.How shameful could one woman be? Yet, with her breasts sat the mercy of the nomadic mans lips and tongue and her labia under exploration by his fingers all she could think of was how she wanted more from him. There was a desire welling deep inside her that groping and grinding couldnt satisfy. She wanted him to make sweet love to her. If not that, he wanted him to fuck her like a wild animal deep in rut. Each option seemed equally likely.
No matter her wants and needs, his sudden penetration of her innocence with his finger brought a squeal from her supple lips. Her back arched instantaneously and she felt a jolt of electricity shoot through her young and naive body. Even her most primitive instincts, those that encouraged her to mate with a strong male, were naive. She had not expected this sensation and it surprised inch by inch of her body. How could something so simple hurt yet excite all at once? He was ripping her innocence away from her with just one finger.
Rikkars looks of curiosity were ignored. Zinni couldnt focus on anything but the way it felt when his slid his rough finger in and out of her dark depths. She squirmed, trying to alleviate the slight discomfort as her head leaned into the soft dirt beneath her and her eyes rolled back behind hooded eyelids. Her moans were quiet, but distinct. She was overtaken by bodily pleasure as he continued to slip his finger in and out. Her walls becoming exceptionally slick as Rikkar continued to stimulate them. Zinni had never even masturbated in her combat-devoted lifetime. The possibility of this much pleasure just from one finger damn near blew her mind. This was a pivotal experience in the firebenders sexuality.
Then he took his hand away. Zinni looked up at him like a betrayed animal as she panted. What? Whats the matter? She muttered. He was smirking at her. Zinnis face contorted in confusion as she looked back up at him, feeling herself shrinking under him. Was this all some kind of game just to mess with her? Whether his actions were genuine or not she wasnt ready for her pleasure to end. What are you doing? Dont stop. She argued, a bit of bossiness in her tone.
Then he pushed something much thicker and longer into her and all the air rushed out of her lungs as she threw her head back heard. Rikkar She moaned in response when he finally spoke to her. Her inner walls clamped down on him as he broke through her virginity and pushed and tugged at her innermost depths with her manhood. It hurt, her entire body warned her of the lingering ache she would experience later on, but she also doused his length is her essence and her moans encouraged him to continue. She didnt care about all the reasons she should not do this, all she cared about was how wonderful it felt to have Rikkar fucking her.
Then she remembered one thing that she absolutely should be concerned about. What the hell would she do if he but a tribal child in her womb? Her moans slowed and to put her hand on his abs firmly as she panted, glazed over golden eyes searching for his gaze. Stop. She whispered sheepishly, not even convincing herself that that was what she wanted. You cant. I cant get pregnant.
human
What compelled him to do such a thing, Rikkar would never know. All he understood was that there had been little doubt or refusal, on any of their part. Both were young and caught up in an ordeal far before their time and much beyond their true understanding. Despite the circumstances of their first meeting, Rikkar felt drawn and attracted to the ivory skinned firebender beneath him, who looked up at him with such a desire smouldering in her eyes, not to mention her own fierce command not to stop what he was doing. It was one rule he could easily obey and he did, though he had turned it up a notch. He was inside the other woman, again compelled by something he did not know. He only knew that it was right.
Shudders of pleasure ran through his body as he entered her, filling her to the brim and stretching her tight virgin hole around his most considerable manhood. He had tried to impale her but who would have known it would have turned out like this? It was certainly much better than fighting. She whispered his name and that was all he needed to continue, drawing his hips back and then rocking them forward into her. She felt warm within and more coddling than a mothers embrace. Rikkar wanted more. He wanted to show this firebender, to show Zinni, that it didnt always have to be war and hatred. This was certainly more enjoyable. And he went on, hips rolling, abdomen constricting and flexing, all his body exerting to please her and take his own reward with it.
That is, until she whispered a most pressing and urgent request of him to stop. He had been peppering her jaw and neck with kisses, before rising up, her hand on his firm torso, looking down at her with concern. Was he hurting her? Her moans certainly felt a mingling of pain and pleasure but just a moment ago, she bid him not to stop. Now she requested it. She could notfall down with child. He too understood the dangers of that. But stillit did not always happen, right? Rikkar did not know, neither the workings of the female body or anything about this act. This was his first, as was hers. He smiled down softly at her. You wont. He declared with some confidence, borne on no foundation. He leaned down to kiss her and began to rock his hips more, driving in and out.
He at least knew what would happen with him. He couldrestrain himself, could he not? Pull out perhaps? He wanted for this and felt the lust returned in Zinni. He wasnt a rapist though. Never. But how did one read these signals he was getting? Going forward was the easiest path so he did. He leaned down to catch her lips in a kiss and placed a hand over her breast, squeezing it and feeling the stiff bud between his fingers as he continued his grind, working his whole body in rhythm with his movement. She wanted him to stop. She couldnt get pregnant.You wont.How did he know that? And if she didwould it be a bad thing? She could be his. He could be hers. They could find a happy life out here, in the wilds, away from war.
II dont want to stop. And you Rikkar murmured after the kiss, still going at a slow, sensual pace. He could stop it, right? He kept on telling himself this as he looked down on Zinni, hoping she might trust in him too. Because he could see, in her eyes and through her body language, that she didnt want him to stop either. And so he didnt. Not unless she asked him again. But on he went, thrusting softly yet firmly, bringing his hard length to the apex of its reach within her and then drawing out to repeat. He leaned down to kiss her again, a dance of tongues, before drawing out. He lay on her, his hot, strong body cradling her and being protective of her wounds. He looked into her eyes.
Are you not okay? He murmured, lips against her skin. Am I hurting you? Should Istop then? Rikkar inquired more pressingly, though his words and actions did not align, as his hips still grinded against her.
gpt
Her brows furrowed, looking up at him. How could he be so confident about this? Zinni herself knew little, though she knew enough to know that when a man laid with a woman... it lead to children. Her reputation, her career, her status.... it could all recover from the events unfolding now. However, none it would ever recover if he put a child in her womb. She was young, fertile. As was he. The risk was incredibly high, yet here he was, whispering about how he could prevent it. As much as she wished that were true, she didn't know if she could possibly believe him. What if he would use this as a way to rip her out of combat against his way of life? He could beat her just by taking her out of the game, couldn't he? Was that the game he was playing?
But the way he touched her, it reassured her again and again that a man this gentle and kind couldn't possibly be in this for some sort of personal gain. She let out a long breath, one that had obviously been pent up in her stress. She let her eyes flutter closed when he kissed her again, reciprocating it calmly as he continued to thrust into her at a gentle and steady rhythm. His hand on her breast screamed of a sexual curiosity. He was learning her body, but nothing was forced. Each time he touched her he seemed so careful not to scare her off as though she were a wounded deer, looking for any excuse to bound away. In reality, however, she was looking for any possible reason to stay.
No. You arent hurting me. She whispered, one hand reaching up to intertwine her fingers in his long, dark hair. It was a lie in its own way. Losing her virginity wasnt painless, but that sidle pain was severely outweighed by the pleasure he was offering to her through his calculated movements. They were learning how to do this together: a water and a fire bender. Two opposites. Sworn enemies. Yet they were tangled up in one anothers embrace as they made love. It was so wrong. Completely against all the rules, but Zinni had never been so intoxicated in her life. What did she care about more.
No. Dont stop. Not yet. She finally whispered. With his hair tangled in her hand. She dragged him downward closer to her, her warm breath dragging across his face as she pressed her forehead to his. Her eyes fluttered closed and she bit down on her lower lip in sheer pleasure. You just have to be careful. Pull out when the time is right. Im trusting you to screw me, but dont screw this up. She said, chuckling a little at her own pun before she tilted her head upward and molded her lips to his in a lustful kiss. Her inner walls trembled around his invading shaft, and she let out a moan against his mouth before she deepened the kiss.
Her heart fluttered as the session continued as time went on the passion building inside of her continued to swell. Her legs tightened around him just as her insides constricted around his shaft. Her breathing was heavy and her arms soon wrapped around his shoulders in an act of affection. She wanted him close. She wanted to kiss him and be able to run her hands over him so that she could be sure that he was real. That this wasnt all some hallucination she had created in her head as s result of all the blood she had lost through her upper thigh. But she knew that couldnt be the case. She never could have thought up something quite this amazing, even after seeing the man half naked in the days prior.
Theres a tribal woman out there somewhere that I am stealing you from. She whispered, knowing this was selfish. But she couldnt help it. Gradually her moans increased in frequency and volume between the sweet kisses she planted on his lips. And before she knew it, she was mid orgasm with her back arched and her mouth wide open, silently begging him to keep fucking her even as she came.
human
There was great relief when Zinni gave her ascent not to stop. Whatever hiccup that had been seemed to have passed. Still, Rikkar did not feel fully on board with continuing either as she would not have voiced such a concern if it was founded on nothing.Was it only pregnancy or something else?There must be something else wrong but he could not place his finger on it. Perhaps like him, she could not believe such pleasures and heights to be true, so easily come and indulged by them. They were conjoined, hip to hip, in the most intimate of acts. It was easy to forget reality about them. She gave her consent and he nodded as she pulled him down, urging him to continuing. He watched her face, contorting in pleasure, and he began again with his thrusting, sensual and slow into her tight depths, building up a pace once more.
She warned him again and his response was stifled in the mouthwatering kiss that followed, which he melted down into, returning the affection with as much vigour and want as Zinni. He could do this, he figured. Pull out when the time is right, yes that should not be difficult. But it was, tremendously so, for what sensation could match the delight of being so deeply embedded inside of her? He never wanted to leave. The experience seemed to renew and invigorate him despite his already impressive youthful vitality. It felt so good! And yet he had to remind himself.Pull out. No baby. Pull outwhen the time is right.And yet it was feeling so right, so good, Rikkar didnt think he could as time went on.
Soft groans and grunts of exertion came from his lips as he flowed into her, fluid like water, a rolling of his hips that pushed to her depths and then withdrew outwards, repeating like waves on the shore in a never ending dance. But it would end, Rikkar knew that much. He could feel it in his lower abdomen, a budding pressure that was mounting very rapidly. When was it right to pull out? He kept his brow to hers, eyes half-closed, his mind focusing upon the labours of his body. If he got caught up in her kiss or her beauty, he would not be able to do what was asked of him. So much seemed to hang in the balance, so much risk, so much reward, which he was receiving now. But there was always a price for such things, no?
It was so much easier to just give in to the pleasure, let his body take control, and indulge himself until they were both spent and exhausted on the warm grass in the warm sunlight.
He didnt know what to say about being stolen from some tribal woman. Rikkar had never really thought about that life ever. He had been so caught up in his training, his bending, he had never really focused much on girls. He had the urges, the desires, but he had been patient enough to know it all came in time. And certainly not during war time either. He had been prepared to sell his life without ever experiencing it. Now after Zinnis remark, it was all he could think of. What a future that might have been like, but not with a tribal woman. His mind conjured images of him and Zinni together, of water and fire, of the passion and fury and the madness. All of it combined. And all of it did combine in Rikkar, as he fell prey to the trap he had been trying to fight. He indulged his body and he began to thrust hard and vigorously into Zinni, driving her over the edge, bringing himself soon after to topple in.
Oh, spirits he groaned to himself, feeling the tremendous pressure. The dam was cracking, about to burst forth with mountainous quality. Like a pressurized geyser about to burst forth. He kept going and going, head strained back, his neck stretched, his hips ploughing with ceaseless energy. The smacking of flesh into flesh was loud. He felt her insides squeeze him, as if begging him to stay. And he wanted to. He would. He kept going and going, his mind swirling in a fast descending spiral through his air. And when he hit the ground, he knew he would explode forth with all his glory and essence into her. He had to
With a sudden gasp and eyes bursting open, Rikkar managed to stop. He pushed himself up back onto his knees and drew out of her with a wet sound. He had not. There was a powerful throbbing in his hardened cock as it came into the open, glistening in the sunlight with the juices of her own orgasm. It had been so close and it felt like a thousand flies were gnawing him from the inside, though it steadily decreased. Rikkar fell back on his rear and looked at Zinni, sprawled before him, legs spread and battered. They had done it. They had nearly done it. He ran a hand over his forehead and hair, pulling and straining it to rush blood back to his mind. He hadntyes, he was sure he hadnt. That was what she wanted, right? But it was not what he had wanted.
Andand thats for the traditionalist man Im not stealing you away from. He managed to comment weakly, a small smile on his lips as his chest and body heaved. He came down from the near orgasmic high and it was not a fun experience, teeth gritted and all. Next came the regret. Then the shame. And the realization and implication that he had just lain and bedded a woman of the Fire Nation. He sighed and fell back in the grass himself, away from Zinni, though their legs were still brushing and caressing together. His cock remained erect, occasionally jerking with the need for release. I thinkI think I stopped in time. He commented, not quite sure and honestly not liking it at all. He got up on an elbow to look over to her. It was still morning, perhaps barely two hours after sun rise.
He smirked with a mischievous grin though next. What was thatinsanity that came over you a moment ago. You were like on fire. And insidedeep downyou hugged me so tightly I thought youd rip it clean off. He remarked, unsure of the female orgasm. Since he hadnt had one, he might as well ask about hers. It was all a new experience for him and a sensation he absolutely enjoyed and yet did not taste fully.
gpt
He had done it. Rikkar has succeeded in fulfilling the one request that she had made of him and she was thankful for his willingness to cooperate with a woman who had, not so long ago, threatened to hurt him terribly and had battled with him nearly to the death. Yet, he cooperated, and that was a feat in itself. It made her feel a fondness for the boy. He seemed so careful in everything and receptive to everything her own concerns. If she didnt know better she might even think he was a kind man. It made her smile a bit. Of course he were a kind man. After all he had gone through all of this trouble to keep her from bleeding out.
She noticed quite quickly that he himself had not been pushed over the edge. She knew little, but it still seemed as though she knew more than him as he sat back, completely giving up on his own chance at such bliss, instead lying on his back near her with their legs still tangled together. His silence and stillness concerned her. Had she done something wrong? Hurt or upset him? Her brow furrowed. It was him who had made the first move. It was him that had initiated the mating between fire and water. It was him who had convinced her not to stop. She had been receptive to all of it, but still why would he be so disappointed? He had wanted this.
Then the mood lightened once more and it felt like a ton of bricks lifted off of Zinnis chest. Usually his boyish comments annoyed her, but she was in far too blissful a state to be irritated with him now. Instead she just lifted her recently used body off of the ground and instead crawled atop his with careful slowness. Each movement sent pain through her thigh but it didnt matter. It wouldnt kill her and this was far more important than saving herself a little discomfort. Even now it was far better than it had been before. The warrior had certainly felt worse pains in her lifetime and career. Soon she was atop him, her breasts brushing against his chest and age leaned down for a gentle kiss.
You talk too much, waterboy. She whispered to him, not acknowledging his questions. She wouldnt need to. Soon he would know for himself what had happened to her in that moment of writhing pleasure. Zinni leaned down, kissing him softly. She hoped he could, and would, trust her now. He had given her her greatest pleasure. Now it was his turn to feel what it was like. Her kisses were soft and sweet on his lips and had they trailed down to his chin, along his jaw, up to his ear, then subsequently down the length of his neck until they met his collar bone. Her lips just as soft now as they had been when he was within her.
Her hand trailed downward slowly along his chest and abdomen, giving him every opportunity to tell her know seeing as her target was clear. Soon her pale hand was once again upon his thick, tan manhood and she wrapped her fingers around it confidently.trust me.his cock, still slick with her essence, was much harder now and stroking it was easy now that it was lubed with the proof of their love making. She stroked him slowly at first. Never taking her lips off of him in hopes they would grant him confidence in this act. She wanted this. He wasnt forcing her into anything. He had to believe that or he would never reach his own peak.
Never talking, Zinni kept peppering her counterpart with kisses, sometimes flicking her tongue out to lick his skin or lips as they made out. Her hand kept stroking, but the pace was not uniform. Faster and faster she went, fueled by the ability to jerk him off now without any unnecessary friction between her hand and his erection. No matter how Rikkar flexed, groaned, or wiggled beneath her, she didnt stop or even slow down. And she wouldnt. Not until he release. Rikkar was going to cum. He had lost his innocence as had she. They both deserved that spiritual high of pleasure during the process.
human
Hey, you shouldnt be moving. Rikkar said, suddenly dumbfounded and guilt ridden. After he had just practically ridden her and he was now complaining about her movement? Where was this logical healers concern a moment ago and the moments before that? They stayed even more silent then as she began to crawl over him. What- he began to voice again, this time genuinely curious as to what Zinni was going to do but she silenced him with a whisper.Water-manhe tried to correct but simply smiled and received her eager kisses, hands coming to graze over her sides and hold her body close to his. There was indeed a sensation like no other than brushing up against the female form. And quite a flawless, strong body at that.
He gasped softly as she began to kiss him all over, places he had never been kissed or touched by another ever. They sent tingles down his spines and left him hollow. He could not close his eyes, though he knew the sensation would jump triple fold if he did, for he wanted to see what this fiery beauty had in mind for him. Zinni. He murmured softly, though he got no answer as her hand trailed down his impressive form. His chest was wide and broad, as hard as steel. His abdomen even more so, with barely any fat to grab. The flesh hugged the muscle tightly, exposing the firm tendons beneath in two neat rows that went down to his pelvis. Her hand went there, finding his organ so recently refuted and denied. It had not lost its lustre or shape though, thick and hard, throbbing in her grip. Rikkar had never been touched there either by a girl ever before.
Like water, he seemed to conduct a tremendous amount of electricity when she touched him there.
It shocked and startled him. And even as the seconds passed with her grip remaining, it still seemed to shock and startle him more. His toes curled and clenched and his mouth gasped. His whole body shook and was entirely at her mercy. Just from a mere touch! He was only momentarily distracted from her hand when she kissed him again and that too became a chore, needing to breathe and gasp as she squeezed or clutched him a particular way. Oh, fuck he groaned, unable to restrain it. He threw his head back and lay flat on the grass, his body heaving with breath, raising and lowering Zinnis body as she lay on him. His cock reached high for the heavens in her grip, the towering member hovering from the praise and attentions it was receiving. Something very explosive was building up in him, like a fire. And fires were not his strong suit.
His arms were about her, locking around her back. They squeezed her with growing urgency, indicative of how closer and closer he was getting. Rikkar had never spilled his seed before. There had been dreams when he was younger but this was entirely new to him. Something very big was going to happen. It began to worry him. Zinni, fuckIm he stuttered, eyelids fluttering and growing heavy. It was coming, so near and powerfully. It didnt take long to coax the sensation back, so recently built up to in their recent riding together but he had denied himself. Now he was forbidden, having betrayed his body once before. It was all in Zinnis hands, literally and figuratively. And it kept bubbling, threatening to burst the dam. He justneeded
He couldnt. And then he did. With a great cry, feral and powerful, with a rolling sensation in his hips and body like waves on the beach, he began to cum. His hips rolled his cock in and out of her grip, seed spewing forth high into the air to splatter somewhere on the grass further beyond. Much got on her hands and much trickled down the side of his shaft as well. But Rikkar didnt know or take stock. His eyes finally shut and his vision swarmed with colour as he came, his whole body shaking and shuddering, tingles and electricity all dancing in unison to the music. He groaned and rasped even, as if he was burning within of an uncontrollable fire. What had Zinni ignited in him? It was a fire all people had, sometimes stoked by others or themselves, or never at all, which was sorrowful. But for Rikkar life would never be the same. He came, and then he came down. And he lay upon the grass, plastered as if drunk, breathing hard as his whole body laboured in exertion. The orgasm had passed. It left him with a regretful sensation of not having been able to share it with Zinni, at the same time.
He lay there, with Zinni upon them. What were they now? Not enemies. They couldnt be enemies after that. Friends? They had learned each others names but yesterday. Seen each other but the day before. What were they doing? What madness had infected them? Rikkar was happy then of this quarantine from others, for she was all his. And he would be hers. That wasthat was most extraordinary. I...fuck. Rikkar said, almost never swearing. He brought his hand up to stroke her hair back, his other resting over the small of her back. I dont think any tribal woman would ever have known how to do that. He snickered aloud. Or any traditionalist man. So what must you be then really? He pondered next, a very firm seriousness coming over him.
Youre not a soldier. Youre too capable of caring and consideration to be one, Zinni. He added in a low voice, speaking what he perceived to be true about her now. And it was a good thing to say about a person was it not? That one was kind and caring. She took care of him when she didnt have to, when he had initiated an act that he should not have. YouI should finish patching you up before I make you worse. He ended with a laugh again.
gpt
Zinni laid there for a moment, wiping her hand off in the grass at Rikkars flank and letting her head rest on his shoulder as her own mind reeled. She was betrothed. An esteemed warrior of the fire nation. She had kept her legs closed in the presence of many powerful men who could offer her a life of regality and respect. She had denied each and every one of them and saved herself. But now? It took no more than a tribal boy with nothing more than the clothes on his back to make her throw her greatest gift right in the trash. She had opened up to him like a whore, and he hardly even understood what had just happened. She was flushed with shame.
Im the woman who made you cum. Its not so complicated. Zinni said matter-o-factly with a little shrug. And anyone would have been able to figure it out. I guess we just have better sex ed in the city than the tribes do. Thats all it was, Rikkar. Sex. We had sex and now its over. She placed her hands on either side of his broad shoulders and hoisted herself off of him, peeling her body away from his as she forced herself to her feet in all of her naked glory. The movement, however, was not without consequence. Zinni winced and quickly reached out to steady herself against a nearby tree as pain shot through her injured hip and thigh. The strain also caused a small trickle of blood to emerge from the remaining holes in her flesh. Though she would never admit she was in pain. She had been humbled enough.
Im definitely a soldier, Rikkar. Ive been training for this job my entire life. You got dropped into this fight, but I trained for it for years. This war runs through my veins like a drug, Rikkar, and theres nothing I can do to get away from it. Its the obligation I have to my people just as you have an obligation to your own. Where youre mistaken is that just because Im on the opposite side of the game means Im incapable of basic human emotions. Where of course I am. I can love and care just as you, your mother, and your siblings can. Im not a bad person just because the blood that pumps through my veins makes me your enemy. Of course I care. Of course I can be kind. Im a human being just like you. I just bear fire while you bear water. Zinni spoke clearly though she remained against the tree, te injured leg hanging limply with a cocked knee and her foot hardly brushing the ground just to keep her balance.
Now. Stop overthinking things. Its time to get our heads back on our shoulders. In fact it would be wise for you to leave, Rikkar. Go to the port. Wait for a water nation ship there. They need food as supplies just like everyone else. They must stop for land every once and awhile. Get back to your people and Ill get back to mine. Stay low and hidden until you see familiar sails, then get your ass home. Get yourself a woman whos right for you and never look back on this day. Forget it happened. Forget my name. Zinni instructed him. She had always bossy, and this was no exception. But it was with the best of intention. Nothing good could come of the two of them keeping each others company. It would lead to certain disaster one way or another.
Zinni looked out and chewed on her lip ever so slightly. She could hear water running not far off. A creek, perhaps. Small, but it would lead to something bigger. Zinni knew this land well enough to know there was a lake not far from here. A body of water deep enough to soak her aching bones in. Perhaps in doing so she would find the strength to carry on with Ze. They had a long way to go still if they were to meet up with her betrothed at a far earth nation port. But, at least they could be more discreet without the loud boy and his even louder turtle duck. Zinni stooped down, gathering her clothes and pressing hem to her breasts in a wadded mess in some sort of attempt at modesty, but it meant little. Rikkar had already seen it all. In broad daylight no less. Then she began hobbling in the direction of the lake.
Each step was painful. The fire that ran through her blood seared her every time she tried to move her mangled muscle and joint, but Zinni pushed on. She would no longer pursue Rikkar. He had earned his freedom, and Zinni actually found herself feeling affection towards the man. It scared her. She had never softened up towards a prisoner before. She hadnt even been kind to Rikkar. Not once until that morning. Yet something had driven him to save her life and then even more. He had made love to her out of the blue, and even worse yet was that she reveled in it. Her body screamed for more even now, but she denied her desires. The best move now was to cut him loose. He would be better off on his own.
Zinni kept walking, her clothes in hand, until she stepped on a dew covered root and slipped, crashing down in the undergrowth with a wince. Her back to Rikkar.
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Rikkar was at a loss for words. He did not truly understand what had just happened and he was more confused at how it turned out. Surely such an act was spiritual and august beyond all feelings and rewards yet Zinni brushed off his praises and his loss of composure so easily. Was she not similarly affected? He was unaware of the extent of sexual deviancy, that others indulged such intimate acts for fun and temporal sensations, changing partners like one changed socks or boots. It was indeed not taught in his culture or society. It was a most somber and important coupling, one conducted with ones life companion. He and Zinni were not but did she not at least feel some closeness? Or perhaps she simply refused the analysis of his words of being more than a soldier. They were after all supposed to be at war.
Not over. He simply said as she rose, though it wasnt his intent to challenge or mock or refute her words. It seemed as if another voice spoke for him, coming from within, blessed with perhaps some strange power of foresight. He didnt understand it and lowered his gaze as Zinni rose and turned away. He did not look at her nakedness before, though it was embedded deep within his memory now. It was a flawless, powerful, and most beautiful figure. But he did not look. If the deed was done, it was not his to behold then. She tried to lecture him about her decision but he didnt feel the same way. If she truly believed her own words then they would be contradicting, for no one who was borne of love and care would speak of war and division as she did. Was he overthinking things? Most undoubtedly so, for all this was new and strange to him. But like her he was a warrior and a warrior acted decisively and with great speed.
Her plan seemed a good one. No longer prisoner. They would travel together to port and go their separate ways. But that wouldnt be the end of it. He would return to the fight, for it would never end while his homeland and people were in danger. And she would return to hers, again to threaten the sanctity and peace of others. How could he forget when it was very possible they might face each other again? It amazed and stunned him at how she could simply delegate and devolve the entire affair and dismissive it so easily. Did she not experience the same thrill and rush from the coupling? Love was far more enjoyable and rewarding than war, yet war she chose instead. So be it.
But how could she just forget it and move on? That was simply unimaginable to Rikkar. Impossible even.She must be lying.Not that any good would come if she had spilled truth to him. He was water, she was fire. The two were not compatible, as all else would tell them. He collected his own garments, pulling up his breeches from his ankles and slinging his tunic over a shoulder. He looked up just in time to see Zinni slip and fall right on her bottom, her naked and unblemished pale back visible to his eyes. He frowned and pouted, feeling the urge already swelling in him again at the sight but he pushed it back. He could not pursue that path anymore, no matter how dearly he desired it. He had to respect her wishes and so he would. But some things would never be forgotten. With a sigh, he stood up and on his bare feet pattered over to her.
He reached down to hook his hand under her shoulder on her injured side, with his own weight and strength to support her as he helped her stand. I will never forget. Rikkar told her flatly and with conviction. Yet I will respect your wishes toleave it be, as a memory of impulse.But I dont believe a single word you said about obligations and opposites. And you dont either.But one thing I cant forget, which I have, is your injury. You are wounded and still dreadfully in peril of worse maiming. You need help. But try not to he flashed a humorous smirk, get excited when it happens. He said vaguely, before demonstrating why, as he reached down with his other arm and immediately scooped Zinni up in his arms. He cradled her bridal style, above any objections, and walked her the short distance to the body of water from which he had drawn from to fight the bandits.
Rikkar found a large rock barely jutting above the surface and there he lowered Zinni, tossing his tunic back onto the shore but uncaring as his trousers got soaked up to the knees. Even more so when he knelt down on one knee in front of her and took her injured leg, his eyes and gaze strained in concentration as he stretched out the limb and ran his hand along the remaining two wounds he had yet to patch.Dart your eyes up and youll see her sex and her breasts all visible for youfor the taking.No! He had to focus on this or she would die. Leaving her ankle balanced over his hard shoulder, he used his hand to conjure up a small ball of pristine, clear water, before guiding it slowly to the side of Zinnis hip. It slowly kissed her wound and then engulfed it, beginning to swirl in small circles as he cleaned the wound and helped compel it to heal.
It would take an hour for each.
It was high morning and the sun was strong and bright in the sky. There was not a cloud. The trees stood with infinite patience all around and birds sang from within. Two hours in the water, so near, and yet so silent. His upper body seemed to glow a faint bronze hue in the bright sunlight, while his face and eyes were directed only upon her hip or elsewhere around her. Milo skirted by at one point and even Ze would lumber over to drink and bellow at them a few times. Rikkar commented to both creatures but rarely made eye contact with Zinni. If she wanted to break off the healing process at any time, he would let her. But not without disapproval. Eventually once the gashes resembled pale white scars and nasty bruises, he would leave her alone. He returned to the shore and adorned himself in his tunic, stretching his limbs. He didnt bathe and didnt turn around to look upon her nakedness. All that time, he had respected her dignity. That was what she wanted right? Respect, as a woman and as a person.
There will be a village or hamlet nearby. These bandits are often vagabonds and outlaws driven from home because ofthe war. He said aloud to Zinni without looking at her, while avoiding the fact that it was usually her people who drove them out. From the village, we can get our bearings to the nearest port but that brings another issue. Itll either be your people in controlor mind or the Earth Kingdom. One side wont be friendly to one of us. In any case, we should find disguises, at least to cover up at an outward glance. My blue or your red wont be particularly appreciated by some. And it wont certainly be understood why we are together and not ripping each other apart. Perhaps something more neutral. At least until one of us is safely with their own people and heading back home.Where we both belong and not in this strange country.
"Now, the sooner you are done with your beauty bath, the sooner I can catch some fish! Then we can be off and you can be rid of me as you so desperately want." Rikkar said, though with a cheery tone that contrasted with his remarks. He was only jesting, never serious, back to the way he was. But would he ever truly be the same after this morning? Never. And he knew it. It just gnawed at him in not knowing what Zinni really felt, if she was truly stoic to it all or merely hiding it as his gut seemed to tell him.
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Zinnis breath caught in her gullet when Rikkar scooped her up: exhibiting his strength over her. She felt small. Weak. Like some little housepet that had never seen the horror of war or felt blood running down her fingertips. Zinni was not a house pet, nor would she ever be capable of becoming one. She would grow restless and she would flee at the soonest opportunity if any man or woman tried to tame her in such a manner. Not even a man as steadfast of Rikkar could not extinguish the angsty flame forever burning in Zinnis heart. Her spirit demanded freedom, and perhaps that characteristic alone had been the reason for her rebel to begin with. After all, her betrothed hoped to tame her and just fill her with babies for the remaining duration of her fertile life. Would Rikkar want to do the same with his woman?
Despite her fears of stagnancy, she couldnt deny the comfort she felt when he held her in his arms and to his chest. Her eyelids fluttered closed and she subconsciously leaned deeper into his embrace. The support was comforting, and it felt as though there was someone out there who truly had her back for once despite their social differences. The false sense of protection was dangerous, she knew, Rikkar could turn and run away at any moment and it would be exactly what she had told him to do to begin with. He could bury an icicle in her heart just as he had promised to do during their first battle before his kidnap, and she couldn't blame him. Eliminating her would eradicate an influential and powerful enemy to his people. He could so easily choose his people over her and eliminate not only her threat, but also the guilt he seemed to feel from riding her just minutes before.
She sat on the rock cooperatively in all her nakedness as he continued her healing process. The blood that recently dripped from her wounds after their coupling was washed away as were the gashes in their own time. It was kind of him to heal her despite her coldness and their situation. Despite his constant attempts to keep his eyes off of her she just gazed at him: drinking in the details of his face. He was handsome, caring,, and as far as she was concerned a damn good lay. She was crazy to try and shake him off so coldly. But she knew she had to. It was the only gift of protection she could offer him. If he stayed with her he was doomed. It was only a matter of time before her people came.
Once the process was complete, Zinni dived into the water and let it engulf her. Despite the fire in her blood, the water was soothing to her skin, and it at least partially concealed her nudity as she looked up to Rikkar as he stood on the bank. Fetch the clothes from the dead bandits. If there's anything big enough for you, that is. She mumbled, taking note of how generally broad Rikkar was. That broadness was part of what made it so satisfying to have him atop her. He covered her like a shield when he made love to her. And dont worry about fishing. I have currency in my saddlepack. I can buy us something to eat besides fish. By the end of this journey we are going to be tired of fish to begin with.
Under the surface, Zinni took care to scrub her sex clean of any evidence of their romp in the woods earlier that morning. And once Rikkar departed to fetch the clothes she climbed from the water, slipping back into the undergarments she had brought along with her. As red as they were, they would be covered by the simple earth nation wear hat the bandits had worn. Now if only she could hide her pale skin and yellow eyes they would be alright. Zinni would just have to be sure to keep her head low as they ventured into the unfamiliar village.
She whistled loud for Ze next. They wouldnt be able to ride him into town for the sake of appearances, but they could ride him closer to the perimeter, and he would be close by in case they needed to make a quick getaway or Zini needed him to run someone over again. She lead the beast back toward the camp where the corpses and Rikkar were likely waiting for her and she began packing up the beast. She was dreading hauling her body onto the rhino. Her leg and hip were far better than they had been, but they still ached from the bruising and deeper damage that had yet to repair itself. The ride would be painful, just as it had been for Rikkar the day prior. Karma? Perhaps the spirits were punishing her for trying to extinguish such a light of a man.
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Ive been eating fish for nearly twenty years. Aint tired of it now or ever. Rikkar commented quite cheerfully in response to buying something else to eat. It didnt bother him really. He left Zinni behind to check those few bandits who had the unfortunate outcome of dying in the struggle. Rikkar had taken care not tooverly harm anyone but Zinni had been unrestrained in that fashion. He figured that was how fire was. Play with it and get burned. There were only two though, neither with cloak or garments big enough to fully cover him. But it wasnt himself who needed to hide. He was supposed to be a friend and ally to the Earth Kingdom. It was Zinni who would need the disguise. But as much as she wanted to act so, she wasnt truly alone here either.
He at least washed and cleansed the two cloaks of green and grey before bringing them over. He handed one to Zinni to wrap around herself and the other he threw around his own shoulders, covered and dressed. It wouldnt fit completely around him so he let it dangle off to the side, covering an arm with its muscle and tattoos. He found some berries on the way back to the camp and since he had next to no belongings, he took the time to go fishing while Zinni packed up. It wasnt exactly a fair competition for the fish, given that he was a waterbender who could trap them within their own element. But he took only what he needed, three specimens, to fill his belly and Zinnis, as well as Ze.
All set? Lets cook and eat while we travel. Rikkar said and used the remnants of the fire to cook, before kicking sand over it to try and conceal it as best he could. He glomped his own fish between his teeth, while handing Zinnis to her impaled on a stick. Ze got his fish tossed to him and consumed in a single bite and some chews. Bones were spat out a second later. Good beast. He moved to Zes side too but didnt clamber on right away. Would that be appropriate, sitting groin to flank with Zinni, after what they had done and what she had declared? Better he walk.
But he still helped her onto the beasts back, again seeing past all the emotion and memory to simply help someone in need. He wasnt fooled. Zinni was hit on her leg and it would restrict her mobility. There was no shame in needing help either. He didnt mock or jest.They were still enemies right?Or just two young people stuck in a strange foreign land alone? He didnt clamber on after her. He patted Zes bulk to urge him forward, while Milo streamed about the thick legs, and Rikkar followed on foot. After being roped up and forced to saddle up such a thick set ride, I would rather walk today and stretch my legs. He simply explained, with no intent on trying to flee or run off into the woods suddenly. She could still chase him down. But he was also trying to respect her wishes to stay aloof and not push for anything else.
These Earth Kingdom lot are varied. Not one big society like yours or tribal like mine. Each village or town here can be different from the next. They have more than one King too, lesser ones and the big one in Ba-Sing-Se. Rikkar mused as they walked, often beside Ze or a bit back by Zinni. There was a growing irritation in his foot within the first few hours. Zinni had scorched him pretty bad there in their fight a day or two ago. It was starting to flare up again but he put his own brave face on it. He was the healer. He had to look out for others. He could deal with himself later. Some might not like my sort even but theyll all definitely hate you. So try to keep a low profile, eh? Rikkar said to her as they crossed through the forest.
They were maybe halfway towards the nearest village, finding a road suddenly in the woods that they could follow, when the pain really began to show. Rikkar began to lag and even snatched up a long branch to use as a crutch and walking stick, but that didnt even help. I needI need a quick pause. He said with a huff, sweat pricking his forehead as he leaned down against a tree. He immediately pulled up a leg of his breeches and saw a purple bruise swelling and throbbing on his ankle. Ouch. He quickly covered it up.
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Compliant in her own way, Zinni wrapped a sash around her waist to keep the cloak closed around her: covering her panties and the binding around her breasts, holding them in place. It was significantly oversized on her feminine girth, but it was also obviously that she was taller than the stout individual who had worn it before. There was one benefit of this for Rikkar: Zinnis feminine curves were almost completely concealed in the garment. Would it eliminate temptation? Perhaps. For it was that body who had tempted him to begin with. The body of aa young, and fertile firebender, and a body dressed much unlike the bodies of native women who hailed from Rikkars homelands.
She ate the fish on the road, picking out bones as she went along, but not talking much as Ze lumbered along and Rikkar strode along side the woman and her mount. She listened to the words he had to say, but scarcely gave a nod to respond to them. Did he honestly think she knew nothing of this part of the world? She was a soldier. She had been traveling to villages for moons. It was Rikkar who was knew to this war zone that they were in, not Zinni. However, out of the goodness of her own heart, she decided to refrain from embarrassing the boy. There had already been enough shame for one day.
In the hours the hours that came and went, Zinni was mostly silent: Zes grunts of laziness outnumbering her words by far as they rode. However, she stole glances at the man often as she was lost in thought. Thoughts that mostly revolved around the boy to begin with. He was ailing, that much was obvious, but his pride was just as bad as her own. He wasnt about to admit that he needed a helping hand. Even as he fetched himself a crutch or took a peek at his purpled foot. Claiming he needed but a breather. She had seen the purpled flesh.
Zinni rolled her eyes and shook hr head. No, honey. You need far more than a break. Youre done walking. No negotiations or Ill tie you up and haul you into town like a freshly slaughtered pig with an apple in your mouth. She said teasingly, but would he know it was in jest? Did he still feel threatened by her? She couldnt help but wonder. She had, not so long ago, threatened him with a the cruelest form of torture. Now she was his only contact in this unrelenting circumstance. They had the best odds of the stuck together, and they couldnt do that if Rikkar dropped dead from the infected burn.
She pulled Ze around and rode up beside Rikkar. Without hesitation she reached down, grabbing Rikkar by the hand and hoisting him up onto the back of her beast. Ze let out a groan of protest but he was quickly silenced when Zinni gave him a reassuring pat and he lumbered on with Zinni and Rikkar riding tandem upon his back. Pressed close by the movement of the animal. No more walking. You need to heal your wounds just as youve healed mine. Theres a canteen in the saddle bag to the left. Work on your foot. We will get pumice in town. She spoke. She tried to maintain a coldness to break the ties, but there was an undeniable level of care in her words. She wanted him well.
Zinni then made a move that surprised even her. She reached around behind her back and trailed her blind fingers along Rikkars arm until she found his hand. Then she grabbed it and drew it around her waist until they laced fingers against her torso: just above her navel. Her hand was warm. Almost inhumanly warm. Just as it had been the first time she ever touched his flesh when he had been bound to a tree. Zinni was warm. She would always be warm. She was fire and he was ice. Opposites that were joined once more as one. Only this time not through coupling.
Im sorry. She whispered, swallowing her pride. I tried to cut ties because I was trying to save you from pain and regret. I dont hate you, Rikkar. The only thing I hate is that I liked it. She admitted, still gripping his hand.
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Can I still have the apple? Though there isnt much meat on me to eat, I would think. Rikkar said in reply to Zinnis demand, flashing a grim smile, though cold sweat pricked his forehead and glistened a little, revealing more of his own painful straits. He didnt take her threat seriously anymore. No, he believed fully, perhaps naively, that after their impulsive moment of passion they could at least coexist without conflict. She had caught him limping, not much he could do to deny it. And a man who didnt acknowledge a necessity or need in a desperate moment was already lost. He still lingered by the tree, wanting a bit of rest. Clambering onto Zes back seemed a chore all in itself. But she didnt give him the option. The ground rumbled and Rikkar glanced up at the last second with a silent gasp as she grabbed him and helped him up.
He didnt resist. His hand clasped hers tightly, like they had done when they lain together, and he got on behind Zinni. Without pressure put on his ankle, it felt immediately much better, though still throbbing, irking the edges of his thoughts and mind. Rikkar was also very keen of the closeness again with Zinni, seeing around her upper back the strong tendons of muscle. And off her hair came a natural fragrance that was wonderful to behold. Breathing felt hard again, as his heart began to race for means other than his own living. It craved her again. It craved her deeply, a powerful longing trying to pull him deep into a well of clear water.Just drown in it and accept it.
She trusted him with water. He took it silently, his mood for a time tempered by his inner yearning so he didnt answer Zinnis instructions or even joke about it. She cared, which was very different from the sudden distance she put between them by the shore. Perhaps this was all for simple efficiency and haste, as they needed to get away from the battle before certain elements came looking. He hadnt a chance to pop the canteen open when she grabbed his other arm and pulled it around her waist. He looked down but again didnt resist, snaking his arm more closely around her and shifting in. He simply did so, not even pondering the consequence of it. He wanted to be close to her. He got it. Why resist that either?
And then she apologized. Apologized for her words and to Rikkar it seemed a very strange thing. But that same wisdom that had him accepting her help clearly wasnt exclusive to him. She was wise as well, as much as she was a great warrior. It made his heart flutter for her more, for that was what he had been attracted to most. He intertwined his fingers with hers and squeezed reassuringly. He knew it could not have been easy for her though to say what she said.
Youre brave, Zinni. And you have courage. But it was onlynatural what we did. You dont have to hate yourself for being human. Rikkar said softly to her. He leaned forward and gently kissed the back of her neck. Im not afraid of the regret. I will have to accept it but I will be content in knowing that there was a happy time that caused it. But, none of us have to suffer alone, you know. Rikkar said, giving her hand another squeeze. Or needlessly. He added, quite vaguely.It didnt have to be this way if she let go of whatever was tugging her away and accepted what her heart desired.But after a brief moment, for he knew that was what she wanted anyways to keep the distance, he pulled his arm back from her waist. He needed it anyways to heal himself with the water.
Thats what he focused on. Milo quacked from where he had been hiding in a bag when the water began to swirl out of the canteen, dancing in tune to Rikkars fingers. He shifted it to surrounded his ankle, before freezing it. He let out a very enjoyable and pleasurable sigh when it did, the sound of it frosting. Well, he said after a moment, it is your fault for hitting me so rudely. He jested about his foot. So its only fair you give me a ride anyways. His mind immediately leapt to a more imaginative meaning of the wordride. He decided to shut his mouth and stop trying to change Zinnis mind about them. He could not take her away from her people. It might be like taking a flower out of the sun, as if to hide its beauty inside but only to see that caused it to writher away.
By evening, they would catch sight of the town. It was nestled by a river that flowed into the ocean, cramped in the angle between. Smoke rose from fifty or so homesteads, surrounded by a tall wooden wall with watchtowers. The banner of the Earth Kingdom fluttered there but the soldiers didnt look professional. Probably just townguard, as the real fighting men had probably gone abroad. There was a port with ships, though Rikkar couldnt see any of the masts or banners to tell which nation. Smart captains would try to appear as neutral as possible to avoid attack or inspection by warships. Well what, are we going to walk right up? I dont see any other way in. We go in, get supplies or information, come back out and make a decision. Hopefully not draw any attention. Rikkar said, before climbing off Ze.
He walked around a bit, his ankle better after a half-day of rest upon the beast. He could manage a short walk. They could not take Ze inside. That might give Zinni away as Fire Nation. Whats our cover story? Fleeing refugees? Rikkar suggested. I lost my farm when soldiers took all my cattle away. That seems plausible, yes? And youhmm. He mused, a soft smile on his lips. Maybe he had lots of ideas on what her cover could be but decided not to share.
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Zinni leaned into him as her eyes briefly fluttered closed. He held her and, cradled er waist, and pressed his lips into the back of her neck. In that moment, for once in her life, Zinni felt protected rather than feeling the constant nagging feeling that she needed to be on edge and anyone could turn on her in any second. It was foolish, probably, to put trust into the waterbender. After all he had been her prisoner not so very long ago. She had threatened to hurt him, even kill him, but yet she had let him squeeze between her thighs, and perhaps into her good graces as well.Stupid girl.
She listened to the movement of the water, then a smirk crossed her lips as he retorted to her. Se as warming up to these constant jests. "I burned your foot, but I think we're even considering you tried to put an icle through me. If you're going to impale me, Rikkar, I much prefer your method from this morning than trying to shove ice through my heart. Foolish you thought that would work though. You ought to know my heart isn't beating to begin with. Im cold, hard, and heartless. Fear me, waterbender." She jested right back to im. Was this the first time he had convinced her to joke with him? This wasn't a side of Zinni that saw the light very often. Not very often at all. "Ask me about that ride again later, waterboy."
The rest of the ride was spent in comfortable silence. Zinni allowed her mind to focus on the sensation of Rikkar's breah grazing over her shoulders and the back of her neck. It would have been so easy for him to seduce her again right then and there, but he made no attempts. He was incredibly well behaved, actually, especially for him. He kept his hands to himself and his mouth closed. Even his infuriating little pet seemed too spent to gaggle on. It was a quiet peacefulness that rejuvenated the fire bender. Though she wished that Rikkar would show any sign that he was still interested in her. Indifference to one another would be so much easier, but passion would be so much more fun.
The darkening of the sky would actually be better for their entry into the small earth bender town. Under the cover of darkness they might look just a little less.... odd. It would cloak Zinni's golden eyes, sharp features, and black hair: all distinctive of her people. It would also help to mask just how tan Rikkar's flesh was and help to shroud the blue he still wore on account of him being so much bigger than the thieves that had jumped them. Yes. This just might work out for them. Well... without her getting slaughtered for her bloodline and career choice.
"I'm your wife." Zinni said simply, very matter of fact. "We'll leave Ze and Milo here, they can fend for themselves, and we'll get a room in the inn. It will be best for us to get some rest... and it will be easier to end to our wounds." Zinni added, reaching into her saddlebag and grabbing out a leather sack of significant size, filled to the brim with yuan. Something Rikkar may not have known about Zinni was that she, and her entire family, were filthy rich. It paid well to have influence and to be highly esteemed warlords. Zinni popped open the sack and pulled out two much smaller sacks from within before tucking the currency back into Ze's saddlebags. "You trample anyone who bothers you or milo while I'm away, alright big guy?" She said sweetly to the beast giving him a pat on the shoulder before turning back towards the waterbender.
Without hesitation she popped open the cloak that shrouded her, revealing her ample bosom bound in the red silk cloth. She pulled away the binding, revealing ample cleavage, and settled the small sack of coins between her breasts. The perfect hiding place. She then rose her eyes to Rikkar with a quirk of her brow. Would he ogle at her chest? Part of her hoped that he would. "Alright. Your turn, waterboy." She said simply before stepping into him. Her half naked bosom brushed against his defined pectoral muscles. Without hesitation, she reached her hand into his trousers, though she didn't go for the obvious target. Instead she tied the small sack of yuan to his waist band and let the sack of coins nestle at his khip, concealed by his bottoms. Then she removed her ands and stepped away as though nothing out of the ordinary had taken place.
They began walking toward the towns gates, and Zinni spoke softly to her companion. "Your task is securing us a room in the inn. I'll find us food and salve for your foot. There should be more than enough there for a room." The distance between them and the gates began to narrow, and Zinni could feel her heartrate rising. If they were caught it was surely her head that would be on a plate. "Oh. And don't do anything stupid."
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Rikkars eyebrows quirked in amusement at the beginning of Zinnis plan.His wife?!Well he assumed so, by the law of the land, given what they had done and what it meant for one another. I havent slept in a bed since I left the south pole. Definitely going to sleep as long as I can. He remarked with a grin, though he also recalled another remark Zinni made.Ask me about that ride again later, waterboy.Now that just made him aroused and excited, excited to get this over with and get inside the town, though he also forgot Zinnis own wishes in regards to herbody. And status. In any case, she was clearly having some predicament over it all and it would be wise for him not to push her to any outcome, even if it was his greatest delight on one end. That wasnt how lovers worked. They looked out for the best for one another.
Ze and Milo seemed well enough on their own and didnt require their help. The two beasts seemed friendly with one another. Turning back to Zinni, he heard the clink of coin in the large sack but he couldnt really appreciate the significance of it. They didnt have cash or coin among the Southern Water Tribe. They bartered and traded if they needed anything, with few other luxuries existing that could have required coin. Rikkar hadnt planned ahead for coin on this voyage. He was supposed to have been a soldier, provided for, where in return he fought. But he understood how money worked and was surprised that Zinni had so much of it. He watched, with his lips slowly parting in astonishment, as she shoved one smaller bag down her wholesome cleavage, encasing the velvet bag within her creamy mounds. He gulped hard and managed to look up when she looked at him. Yes, he saw. He didnt apologize though.
My turn? He asked coyly as she stepped to him. Very close. Her slender body molded to his and he had to withhold a gasp, though he did stand even taller. He was bigger and bulkier than her yet in that moment entirely at her mercy as she grabbed the hem of his trousers. He quirked an eyebrow and tilted his head in curiosity.Right here?he seemed to say but he was way off on his guess. She only tied the money to his waist band. Oh. He simply said, somewhat disappointed. The weight of coins felt awkward but he pulled his cloak around to cover it. Now we look like a couple of Earth Kingdom hillbillies. He snickered, wondering how a fancy lady like Zinni might take that remark, walking to the gates. Thanks Princess. He simply answered to her instructions. He knew what to do.
It seems everything Ive done since I left home has been stupid.But what about Zinni? He shook the thoughts out of his head, for they came upon the gates quickly. A lazy trio of guards stood there but they scrambled up at their approach and called a halt on them. Rikkar paused, hands spread. Were unharmed. He said but they only laughed at him.
Smart way to travel, eh? One of them mocked. Rikkar didnt answer.
Theres a toll to enter. Nine yuan. Another said.
For what? Rikkar snapped.
Why, for the privilege of entering the town of course. They answered him, snickering behind their smiles.
Thats highway robbery then. The waterbender answered. What sort of hospitality was this? Werent they all supposed to be allies againstthe invaders? Were being chased by bandits and my poor wife is scared. He said, not even glancing at Zinni, He bet she looked anything but scared.
Well turn around and go the fuck somewhere else then. One snapped. And maybe youll see what real highway robbery is. But here, you pay the toll. Or you fuck off. The others laughed again. Rikkar sighed and looked up at the wooden gatehouse. These men were armed with spears. Not benders. The pair of them could probably easily fight them but that wasnt what they were here to do. He looked at Zinni, then took the coin purse she gave him and counted out nine coins. Here. He said, handing it to the lead fellow.
Enjoy your stay. They said, moving aside to let them pass.
What sort of place has gate tolls? Rikkar said, shaking his head. Likely they were scammed but they didnt have a choice in the matter. And Rikkar wasnt going to fight the entire town. And he hoped Zinni wouldnt either. That would be stupid. At least this way, as seeming weaklings, they would not draw attention. Just two more refugees on the road. The town instead was sleepy and quiet as dusk fell. The roads were dusty and narrow, with large homes of wood and stone (obvious where the Earth Benders lived here) cramped up on both sides. What the hell looked like an inn in these places? This town is bigger than my village multiplied by five. Rikkar muttered under his breath, pausing as some oxen trod in front of them.
Ill pay you back for the gate toll. He said after a moment. Look, this place looks suitable. The Thirsty Rock. How nice. Didnt know rocks could drink water. Insides came the sound of music, the laughter of harlots, and the cheering and loud voices of men. Sounded like a great old place to Rikkar! He immediately trudged in and was met with a murky atmosphere. Crowded tables, hackling women, and unfriendly eyes. But no one paid them any mind. Ill get the room, you get the table and food. Rikkar nodded, his hand on the small of Zinnis back. He didnt like how some eyes regarded her. Or him for that matter. Even with their disguises, their faces showed they werent from around here. And they both werent from the same place either. He approached one of the laughing bar wenches, who was missing a tooth. Getting a room was indeed easy, he just hoped it was clean. With that done and the coin purse a bit lighter, he went to find Zinni, key to the room in hand.
Hopefully she wasnt getting in any trouble either.
gpt
Zinni tried not to act like the authoritative firebender that she was. But it was incredibly difficult.I could buy your city and burn it to the ground if I wanted to.She thought to herself. The idea made her lips quirk up into a smile of sorts. Was it sadistic? Yeah. But so was the thrill of knowing just how powerful and deadly she could be if they provoked her while they were none the wiser: assuming she was just a little housewife only kept around to pop out a few babies for her husband. They couldnt be any further from the truth. She was a soldier and a powerful political influence. Yet they had the audacity to stop her at the gate.
She heard what Rikkar said about her being scared and she glanced at him, raising a brow. Her? Scared? Hah.
She remained quiet through the transaction. In most of these cities a woman was expected to be respectful of authority including their husbands. But Zinni was not an obedient woman, contrary to her betrotheds wishes Rikkar would certainly have no luck taming her: even with his good looks and boyish charm.
Zinni scoffed at the mention of the size of the town. It was alright, yes, but hardly impressive. You really must have been sheltered back home, huh waterboy? She whispered softly to him. They would be unwise to catch any attention with their mentions of their origins and past lives. It was not accepted in culture yet for people of different origins and elements to bond and marry. Let alone have children. It would get them shunned, and that was the last thing they needed considering they werent even supposed to be here. Zinni was supposed to be on her boat and Rikkar was supposed to be in a a conversion camp. That was the end of it.
Dont worry about the toll. If I didnt want you to spend any of my money I wouldnt have given it to you. I know your people dont trade coin. Youd have a hard time getting your hands on it. It was simple. Nine yuan was hardly something that so was worried about. She probably had three times that shoved between her tits in that very moment. She gave the inn that Rikkar chose a scowl, but she followed him anyway. It was loud and full of drunken idiots and ladies of the night. Hardly a place that Zinni would usually be seen in. Nor a place that she could usually tolerate, but of course it drew in Rikkar like a moth to a flame.
Zinni merely grumbled in response to Rikkar and she wandered through the crowd of harlots and drunkards until she found an empty two seater next to the firepit. She tapped impatiently on the wooden table and her eyes followed Rikkar. She would shot a fire blast in a slip second if any of these dirty jugheads tried to give him a hard time. He had already been bullied by the guards at the gate. She wasnt going to stand for much bullshit anymore. When the waitress finally walked to her she hardly regarded her, her eyes locked on Rikkar protectively.
Yeah yeah. Two specials please. And two pints of ale. That will do us just fine. She waved off the woman with her bosom practically falling from her top, and kept her eyes on the young and naive waterbender. She had been to plenty of places like this, and she knew they always came with trouble. Rikkar? He was new to this world. He had no idea what kind of trouble they could get into if they werent careful. They needed to eat their meal quietly then head of to their room and lock the door as soon as possible. Somewhere in between Zinni was going to have to barter for some salve, and perhaps another good or two as well depending on what could be found at this late hour.
Soon, however, her sights on Rikkar were interrupted as a man stepped in front of her and promptly took a seat in the chair across from her. He was massively built and covered in soot and dirt. And earthbender, most likely.
Hey there foxy miss. You here alone? I couldnt help but notice you were ridiculously hot, and if youre for hire Id love to fuck you tonight. I dont think Ive ever seen your kind of pretty wander into this bar and Ive always wondered what a pretty girls ass would feel like. Is your hole nice and tight, sweetie? He grinned at her, his teeth stained yellow and a few were even broken. At this point, Zinni could practically feel he steam coming out of her ears.
Back up, fucktard. She warned.
human
Zinni was getting in trouble.
Well at first glance, Rikkar thought she had made a friend. But who was he kidding? This wasnt the communal South Pole where even strangers were greeted with royal hospitality. This was frontier country. Every man and woman for themselves, even if there wasnt a war ongoing. A room secured, a key tucked within the folds of his blue tunic under his cloak, he made his way over to the table just as the fucktard in question was on the verge of making another degrading reply. But Rikkar stepped up first, taking stock of the man, and knew there might be a fight here. And they being outsiders, they could easily find themselves driven out, parted from whatever they had paid already. This had to be handled with tact.
Well, he did have no idea of how to manage such ordeals. But he was a warrior and would not back away.And he wasnt piss drunk like the other man.
Good evening, friend. Care to share a drink with me and my fri- wife? Rikkar greeted, stepping beside Zinni. The man looked at him, looked him over, and snorted.
Fuck off. I shit out turds bigger than you, rodent. He said dismissively. He grinned back at Zinni. Your hole is definitely nice and tight if you married to this prick. You need a real man.
Shes certainly most able to try if she ever does meet one. Rikkar joked, implying none of them in that tavern were.
Their ale arrived and the man immediately grabbed one, though Rikkar did a second later. I dont think that belongs to you. Rikkar said, still trying to be diplomatic. It was quickly failing. A few others around were starting to take notice. He was appearing to be easy meat. Beat him up, take his wife, enjoy her, dump them both out of town by sun rise. Easy. The bigger man glared at him.
Take your hand off my drink before I break it off. And Ill fuck your wife with it after. He sneered.
Rikkar removed his hand, raising them defensively. But as the man smirked and raised the cup up to drink, Rikkar flicked his fingers and the entire contents of the cup lurched up and splashed the man in his face. He shot to his feet, thinking Rikkar had quickly slapped the underside of the pint. Regardless, Rikkar smiled a mischievous smile. The other man roared in fury, silencing half the tavern, and lurched up to punch at Rikkar. But Rikkar was like water, moving to areas of least resistance, flowing around the fist and to the side. The man punched right into the wall and bloodied his knuckles. Rikkar meanwhile came up next to Zinni. He managed to put his hand on her shoulder, stilling her from taking any action. No. He said flatly to her and turned to his attacker.
The attacker turned back with his bloody fist but Rikkar seized the empty pint and slammed it across the others face. Then he delivered a spinning kick to the mans neck and dropped him against the wall, wheezing for breath. Everyone was still and silent, eyeing Rikkar down with renewed looks. He stepped back and again raised his hands defensively. We willuheat in our rooms, I think. I wasnt thirsty anyways. He remarked, grabbing Zinni by her arm and nodding to one of the waitresses to bring their tray. As he pulled Zinni through the gawking crowd, he hoped the man would stay down. Sheltered enough for you? He asked her as they went up the stairs and got out of the common room, the waitress huffing behind with the tray. They got into the room, a modest bedroom with a mattress against one corner, a table in the other, and a small doorway leading to an adjoining bathing chamber.
Will that be all? The waitress huffed. Rikkar looked at Zinni and held out his hand for a coin, which he gave to the waitress.
For theother fellow. Should we tell the guards? Rikkar inquired.
That man is a guard. The waitress responded drily.
Should webe concerned? Rikkar asked, rubbing the back of his neck.
If he remembers tomorrow. The waitress shrugged and went out, acting as if the disturbance was a common event around here.
In any case, Rikkar locked the door behind her and pulled up another chair to wedge under the door handle. If there was trouble coming, they would have some warning. An Earth Bender no doubt could come in through the narrow window if they wanted to. They should have brought Milo then. He was a good scout and watchdog. With the door closed, Rikkar blew out some air and rubbed his face. I think that went pretty well. Well be gone by tomorrow morning so theres no time for it to spread and bite us in the ass. Not unless he comes after us. If that waitress gives out our room number, you can definitely burn her ass for it. Rikkar said, though he meant it jokingly. He hoped she took it as such. She looked ready to blow and kill someone. He smiled at her.
Dont look that way. We got food. We got drinks. Just relax and enjoy yourself. No one got burned. I did as small as bending as I could manage. If we did it your way, wed be running for our lives out of town if they knew where you were from. Keep that fiery temper in check. All of it. Rikkar joked, reaching to dig into the specials, dipping his bread into the stew and munching on it as he paced around the room. He checked the mattress, sturdy enough, and looked out the window, where he got a view of the alleyway. They could break out and escape away from the main streets, if there was trouble.
The waitress was kind enough to bring them a replacement drink, which Rikkar took. I never drank this stuff before. Is it good? He asked, before trying it and nodding appreciatively. Better than the ice wine we got in the south. Its warm. He noted, chugging much of it down on an empty stomach, only lightly picking at the food. "Am I going to have to fight every man you talk to? Or well fortunately enough you can do it all yourself. Saves me that hassle. Makes you almost worth the trouble. Almost..." he repeated with a coy smile, eyes glancing over her own ample chest. She was going to draw attention to herself, that couldn't be helped. And probably did not need help. Perhaps he only really intervened to save the poor idiot from being immolated. But where did it leave them, her and the waterboy, now finally having a quiet moment to themselves?
He was actually quite content as they were now.