An Unlikely Team

Chang jolts awake. He reaches for the dagger kept at his hip, but it's not there. Confusion spreads across his face, and he tries to sit up. Pain forces him to slump back into the white cot.

"He's awake!" Lee shouts from a chair next to him. The pair are sitting in a large room with bare walls, one large window opposite the door, and six cots equally spaced throughout. "Don't try to move, Chang. You are in the Gaoling hospital."

Kodok hurries into the room with a man in a clean, light-green tunic and hat. They rush to Chang's bedside. Chang fidgets with his hands and nods in their direction.

"Unbelievable, I was worried that he wouldn't wake up at all," the doctor mutters. "Those burns were pretty serious."

"I've had worse," Chang croaks.

"Looks like that salve you applied helped after all," Kodok says.

"No, that wouldn't heal him this quickly..." the doctor states, peering at Chang's bandaged torso.

"I heal fast," Chang groans. He grunts and sits up. "Give me a few minutes, and I'll be on my way."

"You should rest for at least one night."

"Unfortunately, that won't be possible. There is somewhere else I need to be."

"Where are you headed that's so important?" Lee asks. Leaning forward, he narrows his eyes.

"Why do you care?"

"Actually..." a smile spreads across Lee's face. "I was thinking that we could travel together! Kodok already said he was in."

"I said that I would think about it," Kodok corrects him.

"That's basically a yes! What do you think, Chang?"

"It's not a good idea," Chang states.

"Why?"

"Trust me, you don't want me around."

"Are you kidding? We just stopped a fire nation attack! Imagine what we could do if we stuck together!"

"We would have lost if those earth benders didn't help," Kodok points out.

"I would have handled it myself," Chang asserts.

Lee sighs and shakes his head side-to-side. Standing up, he stretches both arms upward before scratching his head. Finally, he responds, "Come on, we make a good team!"

"We fought one battle and barely survived, Kodok says. Chang turns away from Lee and stares at the wall. Scowls appear on both of their faces.

"Would we have survived if we fought them separately? Chang, do you really think that fighting alone is a better idea?"

"You don't understand, Lee. I'm better off alone," Chang confirms. There is a silence that follows before Chang continues. "However, we did fight well together."

"Yeah, I don't think that I would have even fought without you two," Kodok admits.

"Great!" Lee shouts, beaming from ear to ear. "Where are we headed next, Chang?"

"I never agreed to travel together," Chang mutters.

"Fine, where are you going?

"Away from here."

"If you want to avoid the fire nation, there is an island off the coast of my home town that is unlikely to be occupied."

"No, I need to head north."

"Perfect, so do I."

"You earth benders are too stubborn..."

Chang climbs out of bed with a grunt. Gritting his teeth, he manages to stand up. However, his clothes are laying on the ground singed and covered in holes.

"Oh yeah, we got you something else to wear," Lee says pointing to another chair that contains Chang's dagger, sword, and a dark brown tunic with matching trousers.

"Thanks," Chang grunts. A pained expression contorts his face as he walks across the room.

"Where are you trying to go in that condition?" Kodok asks.

"North of here."

"You won't even make it over the mountains like that..."

"I've made it through worse with greater injuries."

"Okay," Lee chimes in. "Then it's settled: we will head north to the central earth kingdom, where fire nation activity is the highest."

"We?" Kodok and Lee echo in unison.

"Yeah! Come on, no one is even opposing the fire nation there anymore. Someone has to step in, or they will just spread across the land like a wild fire!"

"Isn't the avatar alive to do that?" Kodok points out.

"Well, he did save my village, but he can't be everywhere at once! I mean, they say he came here too, and he was gone before those soldiers attacked! If we didn't stop them, they could have destroyed the whole town!"

"That's true. The fire nation came here looking for the avatar. Even if they were too late for him, they would have burned this place to the ground," Lee agrees.

"Right, so we should do something about them! We already proved that we can!"

"It was a small battle, Lee. Next time, the fire nation could send ten times the number of benders."

"If they do, wouldn't you need our help?" Kodok reasons. "You barely survived this."

"I'm willing to take that risk. Trading my life to save one innocent life would be enough for me. The two of you have more to live for."

"Staying alive would allow you save more people," Lee argues. "Besides, you don't get to decide what we want. I'd also trade my life to save an innocent village! Right, Kodok?"

"Actually, I'm just trying to survive this war," the water bender sighs. "However, we cant run forever. Banding together might give us better odds of survival if there is no where left to hide."

"Then it's decided: Cheng will rest for the night, and we will head north together tomorrow!"

"No, that's not how this is going to work. I-" Cheng starts to argue.

"Fine, I'm in," Kodok interrupts.

"Why do you two think you can decide that? We aren't a team."

Kodok shrugs. "Majority vote decided it. Two for and one against forming a team. The results also apply to Lee's plan."

"That isn't how groups are formed..."

"Makes sense to me!" Lee shouts while thrusting a fist into the air. "Rest up Cheng. We will be back tomorrow morning."

With that, Lee and Kodok head for the door. Cheng opens his mouth as if you speak, but closes it again and shakes his head from side to side. Suddenly, the window shatters at the end of the room.

The masked figure from the market appears in the frame of the window. Her white and brown tunic are nothing out of the ordinary, but a light brown cloth covers her head completely. Through two slits in the cloth, dark brown eyes glare at Cheng. A dagger trembles in each hand.

"Look out!" Lee yells as the cloaked figure charges forward.

Cheng lowers his head, as if admitting defeat, and stands still. His eyes close as his attacker closes the distance between them. Both daggers gleam in the light of the setting sun as they are brought up to strike.

Water rushes past Cheng at an alarming speed and slams the assassin backwards into a bed. Tumbling to the ground, she springs to her feet and glares at Kodok. Determination and hatred shine in her eyes like the flame of a candle.

Lee steps forward, but Cheng puts a hand out to stop him. "I'll rest here for the night like you wanted me to, Lee," Cheng says while locking eyes with his assailant. "There is no reason to fight now."

The dark eyes narrow. With a sideways glance at Kodok, the masked figure slips back out the window. Before Lee can follow her outside, the crowd swallows her, and she is gone.

"Is that the same girl from the market?" Kodok asks, turning to Chang.

"Yes," Chang replies. He takes a few shaky steps and falls back into his cot. "She shouldn't bother either of you though."

"Do you care to tell us why she is trying to kill you?"

"Let's just say that I owe her more than just cabbages..."

"We can keep watch over you tonight," Lee offers. "You are in no condition to fight and basically invited her back for another attempt."

"There is no need. Get some rest at the Inn. If she comes back, well, you two are better off without me anyway."

"There is no way we-"

"Fine," Kodok agrees. "We will let you handle this affair. Please, don't make us find a corpse in that bed tomorrow morning."

Lee tries to argue with the water bender, but he just walks out of the room. The pair bickers all the way to the inn, while Cheng drifts back into a restless sleep.