Chapter 15: The Bounty Hunter - 96 AG

[A few months later]

Several months had elapsed, and the onset of Spring was evident in the air. In a swampy biome, three mongoose lizards navigated the mucky path, leading to a small taiga lake nestled in the distant horizon. Astride these lizards were three distinct women: two elders and a young one. Azula, accompanied by her mentors and advisors for this expedition, Lo and Li, embarked on her journey. Azula's lizard exuded a sense of readiness for battle, whereas the twins' lizards appeared overburdened, weighed down by sacks and pouches containing a myriad of supplies, ranging from provisions and camping gear to currency, weaponry, and scrolls brimming with knowledge meant to train the young princess.

Upon reaching the fringes of the taiga lake, the trio's attention turned to a dilapidated structure nearby. Despite its appearance of near-collapse, the sounds of raucous merriment emanated from within, the voices of men and women shouting in delight. Adjacent to the building stood a couple of beasts, primarily mounts, but one creature stood out among them: a Shirshu, a creature known for its remarkable sense of smell that could detect scents across vast distances. This Shirshu and its owner were precisely the targets of the group, enlisted for a specific purpose—tracking.

Azula dismounted her lizard and turned to the twins. "Stay here; I'll find her myself."

"Princess, please exercise caution," Lo cautioned.

"These criminals won't acknowledge your royal status," Li added. "In fact, they may challenge it."

Azula simply scoffed. "Let them try."

Azula approached the building, her demeanor composed, and her gaze sharp. Ascending the rickety stairs, she pushed open the creaking door and entered the establishment.

Inside, she stood just inside the entrance, taking in the scene. The room was filled with rough-looking individuals engaged in various activities—drinking, counting coins, engaging in jovial banter, while a minority remained seated, lost in thought.

Azula's entrance went unnoticed initially, despite her distinct attire. Lacking the patience for individual inquiries about the Shirshu's owner, she cleared her throat and declared her purpose on the spot.

"Hello, everyone," she smirked, prompting the room to fall silent, all eyes turning toward her. "Does anyone know who owns the Shirshu outside?"

A man, muscular and wielding a mace, stood up. He frowned at Azula's stature and clothing, scoffing upon realizing she was merely a young girl. "And who might you be?" he grunted.

"Me?" Azula tilted her head. "I am Princess Azula of the Fire Nation."

The entire room erupted in laughter at her proclamation, with many simultaneously rising from their seats, weapons at the ready.

"What? I thought you all were bounty hunters? Are you offended by my status as a princess?" Azula smirked again. "Dogs with no loyalty, answering only to a pouch of coins waved in your faces."

The room's laughter grew louder. "That's true!" one of them shouted.

"See? And now I'm waving a pouch of coins to you," Azula continued, producing a pouch and shaking it before them. "Now, who will tell me who owns the Shirshu outside? Isn't that an easy task?"

"What does the Fire Nation princess want with her?" another man asked, amusement in his tone.

"That's none of your concern," Azula shrugged. "Now, who will inform me?"

"I can," a woman in the corner of the room stood up. She had long hair and snake-like eyes, a whip coiled at her waist, ready for use. "Me."

"Well, it seems you all have lost an opportunity for easy money," Azula smiled, tossing the pouch toward the woman. The room fell silent again, and this time, some approached Azula, weapons held firmly. "Can you extract more from the 'princess'?" one of them asked, his blade pointed at Azula.

Azula's smile widened, as if anticipating what was to come. "Oh? Can you? Please, do try. I'm eager to see what you'll do."

Some men blocked the room's exit, clenching their fists as they did.

"Behave, boys," the woman who received the pouch slurred. She then raised the pouch and shouted, "Tonight, drinks are on me!"

Hearing this, the men cheered and flocked to the bar, ready to drain the barrels dry.

Meanwhile, Azula clicked her tongue and approached the woman, her gaze fixed on her from head to toe.

"So, what do you want me to do?" The woman chuckled. "If revealing myself earned me a pouch of gold, I wonder how much you're willing to pay for a full-blown job."

Azula crossed her arms. "Your Shirshu can track, correct?"

The woman scoffed. "Are you kidding? Of course she can."

"Then your task is simple," Azula continued. "Track someone for me."

The woman hummed, heading toward the exit. "You'll need an item so that Nyla can pick up the scent of your target. Something that belongs to them."

"I know how a Shirshu operates," Azula stated, exiting the building, where Lo and Li were watching them. "Just do your job."

"A no-nonsense client, I like it," the woman smirked. "My name's June, by the way, 'princess'."

"I don't care," Azula replied, now standing before the twins. "Lo, Li, provide her with something to help us track him quickly."

Lo and Li nodded, and one of them tossed an item to June: a piece of Water Tribe clothing that Sozim had once worn, the very attire he had been wearing when rescued by the twins.

"An old robe? It will suffice," June hummed. She whistled, and the Shirshu that had been resting nearby approached her. "Hey, girl, can you track the owner of this clothing?"

The beast sniffed the clothing deeply, grunting and snorting wildly before growling in response, indicating a positive sign. "She's got it," said June, climbing onto the beast's back. "Let's go. He appears to be quite far away, and I expect a substantial sum when this is over."

Azula quickly mounted her lizard, and with determined strides, the group set off, following the Shirshu as it guided them toward their quarry.

—

Meanwhile, a few days prior to Azula's departure, Sozim found himself atop a serene rock situated in the middle of calm waters. He stood with closed eyes, adopting a martial arts stance, though his movements were more fluid than forceful. While the form of firebending was on his mind, his primary focus lay on his breathing. Simultaneously, a current of animal blood encircled him, akin to a moon orbiting a planet. Sozim skillfully multitasked, maintaining control over the blood's ebb and flow, taming the encroaching madness within, attending to his breath, and perfecting his firebending technique.

Jeong Jeong observed from the water's edge, his arms resting at his back. "Breathe," he murmured. "Release... Breathe... Release..."

Sozim obediently followed Jeong Jeong's guidance, continuing his martial arts routine while keeping his breath in check.

"Feel the warmth of your breath, tingling against your skin," Jeong Jeong continued. "Sense the gentle flow of air as it escapes your nose and mouth."

Sozim exhaled deeply, the warmth of his breath tickling his lips, and the subtle current of air exiting his mouth.

"Use that sensation to calm your mind," Jeong Jeong instructed. "Exhale the negative energy from your thoughts with your breath. Inhale positive energy, balance your inner self, dispel the madness and bloodlust, and focus on happier thoughts: your dreams, your past, your aspirations—contemplate them all."

As the blood continued its graceful orbit around Sozim while he maintained his firebending form, the rhythm of his breathing ushered him into a tranquil state. He performed these tasks as naturally as drawing breath. Finally, he stood upright, hands resting on his belly, and exhaled deeply. The encircling blood descended into the water, now gently floating on the calm surface. Sozim opened his eyes, fixing his gaze upon Jeong Jeong.

"Excellent," Jeong Jeong nodded approvingly. "You're a quick learner, and there's nothing more I can teach you."

Sozim bowed respectfully toward Jeong Jeong. "Thank you for everything."

"Don't thank me, young man," Jeong Jeong replied, turning away. "Thank yourself. Iroh is in his room; he has prepared what you both need for your onward journey."

Sozim nodded in acknowledgment and gracefully leaped from his rocky perch, making his way toward Iroh. Inside the hut, he found the elderly man already packed, save for his tea set, from which he was currently brewing some tea.

"Young Sozim, congratulations on your progress with your breathing training," Iroh said with a warm chuckle, sipping his tea. "If you are a firebender, you are well on your way to becoming a capable one."

Sozim wasn't entirely convinced. "I'm not entirely sure about that," he murmured, taking a seat across from Iroh. "So, where are we headed next? I recall you mentioning a peak."

"Yes, we're heading to the mountains in the north," Iroh confirmed with a nod. "It's a spiritual place conducive to meditation—perfect for your training and meditation in general."

"And is this place meant to help me access the spirit world?" Sozim inquired further.

"In a sense," Iroh mused. "You will be the one guiding yourself into the spirit world; the place merely serves as a facilitator."

"I see. Will you teach me how to meditate, then?"

"I will, but that will come once we arrive," Iroh replied. "For now, let's savor this tea. We have quite a bit of climbing ahead of us."