Jakita had that feeling of something bad happening again. She wasn’t worried about all of the animals, but something else. She shook it off, and hurried after Abhay. He had tensed up when she asked about his parents. “Abhay, I doubt anything happened to your parents.” She didn’t know if it was reassuring, but it was the only way she knew how to correct her mistake. She was having doubts about going. Jakita looked up as they passed through the gate out of Makapu, and wished that she wasn’t going. She didn’t feel safe leaving, since this was her only home for a while now. Jakita readjusted the strap on her bag, glancing at Abhay, trying to guess what he was thinking. Why did he want to go with her? When they first met, Jakita had considered stealing from him, for Agni’s sake! What if it was a trap? He knew she was injured, and he also knew that the earth nation’s soldiers in the village were after her. They did have a reward on her head, although it was fake. She glanced behind her, just to make sure it was safe. Jakita saw movement, and stopped to watch it. Looking carefully, she saw it was the same soldiers. They were creeping closer, trying to sneak up on them. She pulled lightly on Abhay’s sleeve, telling him to stop and look. “Isn’t that a pretty bird?” She pointed to a rather ugly bird above them, hoping Abhay would get it. Should they fight or run? A slight twinge of pain reminded her she was in no condition to really do either. She let the hand pointing at the bird drop, it floating casually to where her broad swords were hidden.

Jakita shook her head, afraid he didn’t get it, but walked ahead, slowly. She listened for any noise coming from behind her, and when she heard the soldiers crash out into the open she spun around. Abhay easily knocked out three, but before he could take out the last two they started to strike at him. It hit her then that he really didn’t care about her past or anything, he liked her. Even if she was a thief. And that all that was going to change if she didn’t help him. Taking a deep breath and reacting quickly, Jakita ran back towards them. When she was close enough to them, Jakita skid to a stop, not only sending dust up at them but also fire. The soldiers backed up, frightened, never having fought fire before. Jakita sprang up and kicked at them, sending another flame. One turned to escape but tripped over his own feet and fell, hitting his head on another soldiers amour. The other one got hit directly by the attack, and fell to the ground. Jakita straightened up, breathing hard because she hadn’t bended in a while and her wounds were moved beyond her liking. She turned to Ahbay to see if he was okay, then remembered, he didn’t know she was a Fire Bender. She involuntarily gasped, then walked quickly past him, not looking him in the face. He would have to hate her know. Who wouldn’t? Everybody hated fire nation. ‘I over-reacted. Abhay would have been fine.’ She told herself. ‘Now he doesn’t want to talk to you again.’ Another voice in her head told her that it was better this way. She had only acted out because she cared about Abhay and now that he couldn’t care about her she was free to leave and forget about him. But she didn’t want to. She sped up, not wanting Abhay to catch up.

Jakita ignored Abhay and kept walking. The voices in her head were gone, but she was still confused and disoriented. Why did he follow her instead of reporting her? Again, that feeling of him not caring washed over her, but she ignored it. Jakita stopped suddenly, turning to him. “Your hurt,” was all she said. She went off the road and into the woods for a bit, until running water could be heard. It flowed underground of Makapu, but here it was above ground. She sat down on a nearby rock and pulled out some bandages from her bag, offering them to Abhay when he came. “We can’t see your parents if your hurt.” She explained. Jakita didn’t know how long it was until they got there, but it was a good idea to clean up now. Rolling up her sleeve and starting to unwrap the bandage on her arm, Jakita watched as each layer revealed more crimson red then the one before it. She took the long strip then and put it in the water, some of the blood seeping out and down the stream. Placing it under a rock so it wouldn’t wash away, Jakita reached into her bag and took out another bandage. Once most of the blood was gone from the bandage, she used it to wash some of the blood on her arm away, wincing as it touched the open wound. Then she replaced it under the rock. Once clean, the cut on her arm didn’t look as bad as it did before. She carefully wound the new bandage around the wound and pulled her sleeve back down. She pulled the other bandage and slung it over the top of her small bag to dry. Standing up, Jakita looked at Abhay and asked, “Ready?” She hoped he cleaned it, but hadn’t been paying attention. She had come up with some excuses for any of the questions he might ask, and was ready to go.

Jakita waited while he took care of his leg, bracing her heart and mind again to be unfeeling to get through this journey. It went against everything she had been doing for so long. It still shook her mentally when he spoke so kindly to her. In a way, she was alone, plotting against him in her mind. But why would she? Shaking her head, she said, “My wounds are fine. Just, Fire bending irritates them. As long as I don’t bend I will be fine.” Anxious to get on the road now before the Earth Nation Soldiers came, so led the way back to the path. Part of her was grateful for his acceptance of her…abilities. Another part was wondering what was going to go wrong. It felt too perfect. Trying to get these thoughts out of her head, she asked, “So, what is the first thing you are going to do when you get home?” Jakita crossed her arms, regulated her breathing, and got ready for a long walk. She slowed her pace so Abhay would take the lead. “Is there a certain food your mom makes you are looking forward to eating?” Although she was being careful not to let emotion show, inside she was starting to get excited by the thought of meeting parents, going home after so long, being greeted warmly. ‘But it’s not your family.’ She reminded herself coldly. ‘So stop imagining things and…’ Jakita cut off the train of thought and paid attention to what Abhay was saying.

(Heh. See the 'Galgori want you' thread for an explaination of the post below.)

Kraj led the way back into the village, dark features satisfied if tired, boomerangs freshly cleaned after indulging in a small Hunt, the bodies of five Fire Bender scouts buried on the other side of the volcano. It had been easy. Novice Benders vs two Galgori veterans? Not even a contest... Now they had to return to the Inn and see if Taed had recovered yet, prepare offerings for the Oracle to match the one that they had made in blood earlier.

Nenji halted his friend with a gentle touch on the arm, indicating the innkeeper who waited outside the building for them, reading their worried body languge from across the village square. "Something's wrong," he commented tonelessly.

Kraj nodded understanding and strode over to the man, asking the question with his eyes. The man whispered in reply, "The black hawk flew this day, and the six are now five." The simple words were enough to still both Hunters, a chill sadness seeping into their expressions.