Silence | Zuko

.24 The Waterbending Master

Iskra raises her palm, flattening it against his chest and with a small flick of her wrist fire ignited at her hand and caused him to hurry away from her.

Kaito stormed towards her again, bending fire quickly which Iskra deflected into smoke, pushing it away before he knock her to the grown.

She groaned, clutching her cheek after his powerful punch and finding blood on her fingers. Tears prickled at her young eyes.

"Again."

"She's hurt sir, I don't want-."

"Who told you you could want?!" Zhao yelled "She will face far worse than you one day so you must show no mercy for that's what she deserves!"

Kaito nodded, facing Iskra again as she stood up with a wobble. He surrounded her body with flames, drawing them closer to her but she bended them away, huffing as she did so.

Iskra ran towards him, fire climbing up her skin that she launches at him, sending a strong punch to his ribs. With a groan Kaito grips her hair, flinging her to the ground. She coughed, trying to sit up but failing from the pain.

"Again."

At her fathers words she quickly stood up, ignoring the pain and holding her weak hands high in preparation for Kaitos attack.

He came at her with a flaming kick, straight to her bruised face. With a thump her back hit the ground. She gasped, choking on air as she looked to the roof. Her eyes watered in pain and ears rang, voices tuning out as her breath slowed.

She felt people arguing near her, a women and a man. Someone had ran into the large hall and saw what happened.

"Ursa I am under strict orders to prepare the Avatar for war," Zhao tried to speak calmly.

"She is 8 years old and training with 14 year olds, she's bound to lose," Ursa reasoned.

"She has to get better some how," Zhao shrugged.

Ursa sighed, walking to Iskra and helping her stand up. She checked over her, making sure there weren't any major injuries.

"I'm taking her for the rest of the day, she will return when I say so," Ursa spoke firmly in a way that left Zhao with no response.

They walked out of the training hall, through the empty streets and towards a small house with no windows or fence. It could be mistaken for a storage unit if Iskra didn't already know.

Ursa lit a fire as they walked inside. She sat opposite Iskra with a damp cloth in hand, prepared to treat her wounds. Iskra winced when the water touched her wounds, trying to relax for Ursa.

"I haven't seen you at the house in a while," She said suddenly.

"Oh, um, Zuko and I aren't friends anymore," Iskra smiled awkwardly.

"Really?" Ursa asked with genuine surprise. "I wouldn't have guessed considering how much he still talks about you."

"He talks about me?" Iskra's eyes widened.

"Constantly, my son cares about you deeply Iskra," Ursa smiled, finishing cleaning her face and leaving them to just sit across from one another.