Water Lily in a Sea of Fire

Chapter 2: A New Family

Chiara stood before the door of a strange house while Iroh quietly walked down the path leaving her to her new future. He had not been far away when he made the mistake of turning back and glancing at her. Guilt swept over him as he took in her solemn demeanor standing alone in the unfamiliar surroundings, and he came to a halt. Turning back, he walked up to her and took her hand leading her back into the forest. Chiara's big green eyes were glued to him as he led her along to where his komodo rhino was waiting. Gently picking her up, he placed her in the saddle. After taking the note from her, he held it in his hand until it turned to ash gently floating to the ground.

"Remain in the saddle," he said before disappearing through the trees.

He had not been gone long when he returned with clean garments in his hands. He climbed on his rhino and began traveling northwest.

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Iroh headed back towards the main Fire Nation camp where the ship with his men would be waiting for him. Just as before, he stopped and made camp by a river each evening. The first night, he gave her the garment he had taken, and she changed out of her blackened and scorched Water Tribe clothing. A couple days later, as they were nearing the camp he stopped for a short time to take a break.

"Chiara, I must ask you to do something for me," he said. Her green eyes were focused intently on him. "You cannot show anyone your gift. Do you know what gift I'm talking about?" He poured some water into his cupped hand. "You have a special gift with water, and where we are going, you can never show anyone. Do you understand?"

She nodded.

"If anyone sees what you can do, they will not see it as a gift, but they will hurt you. So you will do as I ask?"

"Yes," she said softly as she nodded.

"And you can't ever tell anyone where you come from."

She nodded again though she was not even sure where she came from. Iroh went through his rations while Chiara strolled around in the sunlight carefully looking at the various plant life.

"Chiara, are you hungry?" he called to her.

She walked over to him and shook her head but held out the plants in her hand. "Mint," she said, her voice soft and delicate.

Iroh's eyes widened and brightened as he took them from her hand and smelled them. "It is." He looked at her. "You are a treasure," he said. "How would you like mint tea?"

She nodded. Iroh prepared the tea and added a little of the honey that he carried with him. He allowed hers to cool a bit before giving it to her.

"Be careful. It's still hot."

After resting and drinking their tea, they continued traveling until they arrived at the camp where his soldiers were relieved to see the Crown Prince who had just disappeared for nearly a week.

"General Iroh," his servant Ezih greeted him. "Everyone's been so worried."

"There's no need for that," he said. "I took a much needed break."

"But without your Imperial Fire..."

Iroh raised his hand to silence him. "It's not the first excursion I've taken on my own, Ezih. Besides, I wasn't alone this time," he added looking down at Chiara. "I found someone to keep me company."

"And who's this?" asked Ezih.

"This is Chiara," he said. "Chiara, this is Ezih. He'll take care of you here."

He looked at Ezih who nodded in understanding.

"Are you hungry, Lady Chiara?" asked Ezih.

She gently shook her head.