Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The night breeze was damp as it whipped against Zuko’s face as he ran between the old huts lining the harbor, gripping his hurt arm to his chest as his shirt became impossibly more stained. He tried making his footfalls as quiet as possible, trying to throw off his pursuers, but he felt like, no matter what he did, his footfalls echoed off the rock walls. He could hear them shouting orders and stomping around somewhere further away, but still too close for comfort. His heartbeat felt like it was thumping in his ears and his feet felt light. 

When he reached the end of the alley, the piers and open sea greeted him. Small fishing ships bobbed up and down in the dark water where they appeared through the mist—nowhere to hide or stow away in except for one boat. A larger wooden boat bobbed among the few small ones. That one. Zuko could definitely hide in that one’s storage room or such.

He hurriedly made his way down the pier and tired his best not to stumble over his own feet. By the spirits he was prince Zuko of the Fire nation! He could take a little blood loss! He prayed to Agni that no one was on the ship, but, of course, when he haphazardly scaled the ship’s railing with one fully functional arm and the other compromised, there was a night watch. Damn it, he should have been more careful was the main thought running through his mind, but as he watched the man for a moment he noticed something weird. The man wasn’t… moving. He was just sitting there. 

Zuko heaved himself over the railing, onto the deck with a gasp, thumping with his side on the hard wood before getting upright. A smudge of blood was left on the clean deck but Zuko didn’t notice as he stared at the watchmen. He crept up to the man. He was wearing a sky-blue sleeveless vest… thing? His dark hair was braided and beaded into a thick ponytail-like hairstyle—and he was fast asleep. Good for Zuko.

Zuko scanned the deck, it wasn’t that large of a boat compared to your average fire nation vessel and it looked way more flammable then he would have liked. The carved wood railing curved around the boat till the stern where it merged into a large raised area, possibly where they steered the vessel- OBVIOUSLY where they steered the vessel and OBVIOUSLY a way to get below deck. A door with blue accents and pretty carvings sat between the steps leading up the platform on either side of the deck. 

Zuko took one last look at the man sleeping with his back against the railing before wiping his bloodied good hand off on his pants and opening the door, sneaking through the crack. He carefully closed the wooden door with a quiet click and stepped lightly over the wooden floorboards. He hoped he could find a place in this flammable piece of driftwood to hide long enough for the people hunting him to give up. He hoped he wouldn’t bleed out before he made it back off this boat. His head felt foggy as he made his way below deck.

Chapter Text

Hakoda stirred awake, the musky smell of alcohol and sweat greeted his senses first. He rubbed a hand over his face and beard with a sigh before sitting up, blinking. He was sitting on a bench, the dim morning light illuminating the scene around him as he took it in. His men where scattered around the tavern among the other customers and most where still deep in sleep. They had celebrated hard yesterday as, not only did they lead another successful raid against the Fire nation, but Hakoda’s second in command finally arrived back from his time healing. 

A smile tugged sleepily at Hakoda’s face as he thought about Bato. The man had been gone for around three months and by Tui and La had he missed him. He was glad to have help with his men, with leadership but he also just cared about Bato as… as a good friend. Hakoda’s eyes roamed the room in search for his friend when the man himself groggily stretched beside him with a Yawned “Good Morin” for greeting. 

“Good morning to you too,” Hakoda answered with a grin, “slept well? Got all your beauty sleep in?” 

“Mhm” Bato hummed as he sat up, “I’ll have the Fire nation at my feet by noon because they’ll mistake me for the spirit of Agni incarnated because of my shining beauty.” 

Hakoda chuckled to himself and shook his head, “Well, can’t have the Fire nation at our feet by getting drunk in a bar now can we? We should wake the others and get moving. I doubt Tavijak will be awake much longer if we keep him waiting much more.”

“Honestly I’d be surprised if he made it through the night at all.” Bato said as he got up along with Hakoda, “But you are correct, let’s wake the others and get a move on.” 

When Bato and Hakoda got all their men together they set out, back to the harbor. The walk was calm. Tokllo and Aput where stopping from time to time to look through a few shops that were opening up along the streets while Aguta watched for any herbal stores. Siluk stayed back with Tuka and Pana, making sure Tokllo didn’t completely stay behind as they had forgotten the young man in a store before, almost sailing off without him. Tokllo still used that against others in arguments even tho it had happened almost more then a year ago. As Hakoda was deep in thought Bato elbowed his side.

“Chief,” he hissed and Hakoda looked over to to where his second in command was gesturing. A few men in Firenation uniform were lounging at the mouth of an alleyway seemingly deep in discussion. Hakoda kept his face blank as he subtlety gestured to Bato to keep walking. It wasn’t necessarily odd to see fire nation soldiers at a free port like this one but they didn’t tend to strut around in towns in full armor if they weren’t on some mission or assignment. 

Hakoda walked up to a stall full of scrolls close to were the soldiers were standing. He pretended to look thought the titles marked on the side of the scrolls as he listened in on their conversation.

One of the soldiers groned, “He wants us to sweep the area again? What does he think we are, Shirshus?! We’ve been chasing this kid for the whole night now!” 

Another shrugged, “Better to just do what he asks, or well all be in deep trouble. You know how the Commander can get if you don’t follow orders.”

The third soldier of the group scowled under his Helmet, “I couldn’t care less about what that man wants, he’s despicable! His record file is probably filled with hundreds of ‘unfortunate incidents’ which he used to climb the ranks. I don’t want to assist him with another cr-.” 

The first soldier hit the third on the arm, interrupting him, “Shut this treasonous babble! You’ll get us all hanged by the end of the week if you keep talking, let’s just find this kid the guy is so obsessed with and call it a day.”

Their conversation went down different unimportant paths before the three men wandered off into the market. Hakoda went to catch up with his crew. Something weird was going on, but, he guessed, if it inconveniences the Fire nation, he shouldn’t mind to much.  

“Sooo, what was up?” Bato asked when Hakoda was back by his side. 

“Honestly, not completely sure.” Hakoda started, “It seems someone-some kid- has been messing with the firenavy and they are trying to catch said kid.” 

Bato frowned, looking forward at the slowly appearing Harbor street and boats beyond. After a moment of thinking he answered, “I hope this kid they want knows how to run. On my travel back here i heard some whispers of some ruthless Fire nation Commander who has been attacking different coastal towns and, if its him and those rumors hold some truth, this kids in some big trouble and so are we. We might wanna head out early today. Just to be safe.”

Hakoda nodded. Yes maybe it would be best to do so. But that would mean he had to send out his crew to gather supplies now while Bato, Hakoda and Pana went back to the ship to get it ready for setting off. “Lets tell the others we are setting out at midday today and they can gather supplies now.”

Bato agreed and turned to wave over their men. Aguta, Pana and Tuka came over while Siluk went to get Aput and Tokllo, dragging them away from a stall to stand with the chief and his second in command. 

“So,” Hakoda started when everyone was gathered, “there’s a change in plan. we will be setting at midday today so i need you to gather any supplies we need now and bring it back to the ship. Aguta, you know what is needed for the infirmary, gather that. Tuka, go gather some rations and new blankets and clothing, we are running out of ones that don’t look like rags by now. Aput and Tokllo, i need you to find soaps and a wash bin.”“Why do we need a new wash bin?” Tokllo asked crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow. 

“Because ours got thrown overboard during a storm remember? You forgot to bring it inside after doing the laundry and now we need an entire new one.” Aput answered him. his facial expression and tone of voice seemed explanatory, like he believed Tokllo really had no idea about what had happened but there was a hint of accusing to it that made everything he said seem more sarcastic then probably intended. 

Tokllo’s frown deepened and he glared at his friend. Ohh boy, Hakoda thought. “Yeah, yeah.. it was alllll my fault again. At least it was a wash bin this time and not an ENTIRE PERSON! You know, like that one time where we forgot one of our crew in a store. Who was that again? OH, it was ME.” 

Aput sighed but lightly shoved the other man in direction stores. “Chief well take care of the soap and wash bin. We’ll meet you back at the harbor at midday.”

Bato shook his head. Aput, Tokllo and Tavijak were the youngest among the crew. Aput being 23, Tavijak 22 and Tollklo 20, they each stood almost a decade apart from the rest of the crew so they tended to stick to each other. 

The rest of the men split up into groups and left Hakoda, Bato and Pana to return to the ship.

When they arrived back to their boat Tavijak was… asleep. Hakoda ran a hand over his face and sighed, he knew he probably should have left Pana or Tuka here to guard at night but Tavijak had insisted he could manage. Pana made a disgruntled face and kicked Tavijak’s leg with his boot. “Get up lazy bones, you slept through your watch.”

Tavijak grunted and woke up with a start, blinking up at the rising sun. “Oh no…” he groaned as he turned to face his chief,his second in command and crew member. 

“Good morning.” Hakoda said. “Hope you managed to keep all the thieves and such away in your sleep.”

Tavijak winced, “I’m really sorry chief,” he scratched at his dark brown hair that was a little tangled from sleep, “I really thought i could stay awake, and i did! for most of the night…” 

Hakoda was about to answer in a stern voice to say ‘next time don’t make promises you cant keep’ or something and Pana looked as angry as ever, when Bato got his attention. “Um, Hakoda,” He started, “this blood, do you remember it coming from any of our men?”

Hakoda snapped around, “What blood?” He asked, walking over to were Bato was sitting. Bato pointed at a dark brownish, rust red smudge on the deck, it was no doubt blood. Hakoda thought back. last evening they had finished deep cleaning the ship so it should have been spotless and he didn’t remember any injury’s that could have lead to such a lard smear. “No, this couldn’t have come from any of our men.”

Hakoda inspected the railing for blood and there were a few dark smears along the smears hull of the ship as well. The blood on deck was dry so who ever was here boarded hours ago. 

“Tavijak, Pana,” Hakoda started, “I want you to search every nook and cranny of this ship for a stow away, someone injured has boarded this ship and hasten seemed to have left it.”The men followed the order and Pana muttered angry things at Tavijak all the way below deck while the younger man defended himself fruitlessly. Bato walked up to Hakoda who had turned to inspect the harbor from the railing. “You think this has any connection to the thing with the fire nation soldiers?” Bato asked.

Hakoda sighed, he really hoped not. He didn’t wanna get dragged into any messes at the moment. “If it does have something to do with that, i hope we find a way to deal with the kid they are looking for without just herding em over to Ashmakers hands.”

Bato nodded. Hakoda could hear Pana’s footsteps thumping on the wood as the man returned. “Nothing.” He answered to Hakoda’s unasked question, “Either some animal bled all over our ship or whoever did moved on without touching anything below deck.”“No stains? Nothing missing or moved?” Hakoda asked. 

“As i said, nothing, no traces.” Pana said with a shrug of his hulking solders.

Tavijak returned as well moments later, also not having found anything. Pana frowned. “We should start readying the boat if we wanna leave by mid day.”Hakoda nodded. “Lets get to work then”

As they worked on tying ropes and and checking the rudder and such Hakoda couldn’t help the nagging feeling that something was off. But he couldn’t quite place it.

A few hours later the rest of the crew arrived with the needed supplies. They started loading everything into the storage room when Tokllo came up to Hakoda. 

“Chief, is everything ok? I know about Tavijak falling asleep on watch but I feel like, even with that, everyone seems a little tense.” Tokllo flexed his hand, “And i saw it, on deck, the blood. Did something happen last night?” 

Hakoda looked at the younger man, “No. Well, we don’t know. We searched the ship so whoever left the blood isn’t here or we haven’t found them. We need to leave now tho because if whoever was here is who the firenation is looking for, then we don’t want em tracking the kid back to our fleet.”

Tokllo nodded, his brow furrowed. “I’ll tell you if I see anything strange.”

“Thank you.” Hakoda said Earnestly. Then they all got back to work. Setting sail with the sun high in the sky, it’s light shimmering across the calm waves as the boats cut through them.

Zuko sat Curled up in in his hiding spot, hearing the people stomp about exactly above him, moving around heavy crates and barrels or opening some up to add to them. Zuko was glad he hadn’t hidden there now but that didn’t make him any happier about the situation. The previous night he had made his way through the ship and made it to the cargo hold, or storage room, where he had contemplated hiding in one of the crates, but decide against it. 

That’s where people would look first and if not, someone would need something and find him there. So, in the haze that his mind had been at the time, he wanted to make his way back to try hiding in the captains quarters but he stumbled on something on his way back. A loose floorboard. Zuko doubled back and inspected the plank. When he tried lifting it it came up easily enough and underneath was a small crawlspace. It was just big enough to fit him inside. 

So here he was. Curled up against hard wood in the cold. The boats swaying had changed some time ago so he guessed they had set out. He hoped this was a short fishing trip, he didn’t know how long he could survive down here. 

His arm throbbed and the various bruises and cuts protested strongly on how he was positioned. He had felt along the deep gash on his arm, even if it hurt like hell, and decided he really needed to stop the bleeding. So now his shirt was wrapped around his arm tightly. At least the bleeding stopped but it didn’t keep him safe from infection. He knew well enough how a infected wound smelt, felt and acted, he didn’t need to know what it looked like. But he guessed he would find out soon enough. 

Zuko felt exhausted but he couldn’t let his eyes fall closed so he listened in on the men above him. There were three voices, two seemed younger while the third sounded more aged. At least what Zuko could tell through the floor. They were talking about something, some supplies? 

“I’m telling you,” the first voice said, a younger man with a slight nasal tone, “when i packed the extra soaps i left them with the blankets.”

“Are you sure? Maybe its in a different crate?” Another guys voice said. His voice was a similar to the first but it seemed more energetic. 

“I’m a hundred percent sure.” 

“Just like you were a hundred percent sure you wouldn’t fall asleep during the night watch?” A third voice grouched, his voice deeper and rougher then the other two. Ah, so the first guy was the watchmen from earlier. Zuko tried his best to stay quiet as dust sprinkled down on his head while the men above bowed around crates. What fishermen had a night watch? Were they maybe oversee traveling merchant’s? That would mean this trip could be longer than he thought. That would be an issue, he would need food and water soon. He didn’t even wanna think about what he’d do if he needed to use the bathroom.

“I already apologized for that!” the nasaly voice complained, “And either way, that has nothing to do with the soap Pana.”

“Let’s hope that’s our gravest concern.” The voice of the man that Zuko guessed was named ‘Pana’ (which was a strange name for an Earth kingdom fisherman/merchant) muttered. 

“Are you talking about the blood we found on deck this morning?” The energetic voice asked. Zuko furrowed his brow, dang it, some of his blood must have dripped or smudged onto the wood during his climb or something. By the spirits, he felt like a fool. He should have been more alert. He had done so well sneaking of the Fire nation vessel with an injured arm, why couldn’t he have done the same when sneaking on a ship? And a way smaller one at that?

Zuko clenched his hands in his pants and pressed his forehead against his knees. That was about all the moving room he had. He felt like an idiot. A half dead, bleeding, hungry stupid idiot. The people on this ship, the crew, they knew that he had been here. Well, not him, the banished fire nation prince, directly, but they knew Someone was here. They seemed to have talked about it at least if not searched the ship.

“Yeah,” the man presumably named Pana said, “We searched the ship but haven’t found anything. But I have a weird feeling about it, like something on this ship has changed but I can’t pinpoint what.”

Ah, so they had searched for him, Zuko thought. The man grunted as a heavy scaa heavy scraping sound came from somewhere above Zuko. The nasaly voice piped up again, “I get what you mean… something feels off.” 

There was a sigh but before ‘Pana’ could say anything the energetic voice called out, “There! The soap!” 

There was shuffling about for a while and some quieter muttering between the men that Zuko couldn’t make out between the rest of the noise. After a while the men started arguing about who would clean the crews clothing as their footsteps headed right over Zuko towards the door. Right before the energetic guy would have stepped over the floorboard under which Zuko hid there was a short yell before something hard fell with an uff on the ground above Zuko. Dust rained onto Zuko, his heart hammering against his ribs as if it was a bird in a cage, tryingying to escape.

“Oww,” said the man above him.

“Tokllo?” The nasaly voice called from the hall. “Are you ok?”

“Yeah,” sighed ‘Tokllo’ “Just a loose floorboard, well have to report that to the chief and fix it.”

“Ha, as long as we don’t forget to right?” the nasaly voice joked. Tokllo only answered in a “Yeah, Yeah, whatever. Thats my thing to say…” before Zuko heard the two start walking back into the hall and out of hearing distance.

Zuko felt like he couldn’t breathe. If that Tokllo guy had walked just a little faster, if his boot had been angled just a little differently, the floorboard would have lifted completely and Zuko would have been found. The Dust clung to his sweat soaked skin and his limbs aced from his position. He felt hot and as he blinked he didn’t know if the fuzzy darkness came from the literal lac of light of from his growing exhaustion. He hoped he wasn’t sick, he couldn’t afford it now, but the longer he sat there, the more he thought it was inevitable. He slowly blinked again before letting his eyes rest.

Chapter Text

Tokllo huffed as he heaved the new wash bin up the last flight of stairs. His knee was aching from the earlier fall but he ignored it the best he could.

“Thanks for the help man, I owe you,” said Tavijak from somewhere behind Tokllo and the mountain of dirty furs, parkas, tunics, pants and socks he was carrying. “It would have taken me all day AND night to finish cleaning all this…”

“I’m pretty sure that was the point of your punishment,” Tokllo replied with a grin on his face, “Buuuuttt Aput and I still wanted to play that made-up card game with you to see if its rules work and such, so I gotta help you out.”

Tokllo had no idea what Tavijak said after that but he could imagine his friend shaking his head with a disbelieving scoff. Tokllo knew his friend was aware that he would have helped him with his chores anyway, or at least he hoped Tavijak knew that. 

When they made it up the steps Tokllo pushed open the door with his shoulder and dragged the washbin outside. He started filling it up with water from the rain bin, watching the cool liquid swirl around and foam. Tavijak dumped the big pile of laundry on the deck and plopped down next to it. 

“Whoever didn’t wash their socks for a week and hid them under a sleeping mat can choke on them.” Tavijak grumbled, tossing said socks into the wash bin with a look of disgust.

“I’m betting it was Tuka,” Tokllo said and cut off some of the bar of soap, tossing it into the bin aswell, “at the end of the week he always smells a little rich.” 

Tavijak nodded somenly as he tossed more clothing into the wash bin. When they filled half the clothing in the bin, the cool water almost lapped over the brim.

“Looks like we might be stuck here till dinner.” Tokllo stated.

“Wellp, let’s get to work then.” Tavijak said and stuck his hands into the wash bin, starting to scrub at a stained parka with the soap. Tokllo followed his lead. 

After a good 4 hours they had worked through the pile of laundry and were laying it out to dry. Tavijak stretched and dramatically flopped onto the deck. 

“I feel like I’ve aged 30 years.” He sighed.

“Mhm.” Tokllo mumbled and got to his feet with a sigh. “Its about dinner prep time so we should probably head to the common room.”

Tavijak nodded and begrudgingly got to his feet. The common room was just the cafeteria but everyone hung out there since it was also the only place where everyone could sit with a roof over their head. 

Most of the crew was already preparing for dinner, wiping off surfaces and setting silverware and plates on the table. Tavijak was holding his back like an old man as he b lined to their usual sitting spot at the end of the table and plopped down on a chair with a groan. 

“Tuka,” he muttered, trowing his arm over his eyes and leaning into the chair like a fainting maiden, “if you EVER decided to ferment your socks again, your washing them!”

Tokllo heard Tuka bark a laugh from the kitchen before he came to the table with a plate of dried fish. “Faund my missing pair did ya now?” He asked with a grin.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if it evolved legs and crawled to us so we would end its miserable stinky life.” Tavijak said and reached for the dried fish but Tuka slapped his hand away. 

“Nope, you gotta wait till the chief sits and gives his little event speech,” The older man said, “and anyways, we dinner wont be ready for a while, its just the kitchen doesn’t have enough space for all the dishes so we’re bringing em out.” He set the plate down, out of reach of Tavijak’s grabby hands.

Tokllo was about to sit down when his knee complained again. Man, sitting down and putting pressure on his knee had been bugging him ever since he landed on it from his trip over the floorboard. Oh yeah.

“Oh,” Tokllo said, “Tuka have you seen Hakoda or Bato? We found a old gross floorboard earlier and I almost broke my leg tripping over it so i thought it best to report it before someone trips and snaps their neck.”

Tuka rubbed his neck, “I think Bato went up to the captains room to discuss something with him or um something, its best you knock before walking in.”

Tavijak cackled, “Last time that happened the ship was so awkward for at least a week before that died down.” 

“I will never forget when Aguta gave us all ‘the talk’.” Tokllo sighed, “A horrible day that was.”

“Indeed.” Tavijak said solemnly, getting to his feet. “Wellp, no time to waist, let’s go talk to our s4hip father’s.”

Tuka shook his head as Tokllo and Tavijak made their way out of the room. But not without Tavijak trying - and failing - to grab a piece of dried fish that was being nobly defended by Tuka. 

A few minutes later they arrived at the nice wooden door that lead to the captains quarters. Tokllo knocked and after a small pause they heard a “Come in.” From Hakoda. 

The captain’s room wasn’t much, a desk facing the door with 3 chairs at it, a unmarried bed in the far back corner under a pothole and lastly a chest at the foot of the bed. There were some papers and notes scattered around but otherwise it wasn’t to messy. Hakoda was sitting at the desk with Bato leaning over him from behind. They seemed to have been inspecting different letters and news articles or other such papers. Not that Tokllo cared to much. 

He wasn’t curious at all. Mhm.

Back to the point tho. 

“Chief sir, earlier today when we were getting the soap for laundry from the storage room we noticed a loose or rotting plank.” Tokllo started

“Tokllo tripped over it.” Tavijak added and Tokllo crossed his arms, shifting around on his aching leg.

“Yeah and I almost busted my knee, we should get it fixed before someone heavier steps on it and breaks a leg.” Tokllo said with a determined nod.

“Lets grab Pana and take a look at it then.” Hakoda said, then turned to Bato, “Bato would you accompany them?”

Bato nodded. Tokllo guessed they’d need him to convince Pana they weren’t just trying to cause trouble again. Tavijak had reported broken ship pieces on multiple occasions to Pana to bother the man so now they have to go to the Chief first. Even Tavijak, who lived for shock and chaos, didn’t try fooling their sharp witted captain. Getting Pana was also a smart choice since he was the one to build most of the fleets ships to begin with.

“What did you break now?” Pana asked with a ‘im-so-done-with-this’ face when the trio was standing infront of him.

“The boys found a hazardous plank in the storage room.” Bato answered “we need you to fix it.” 

Pana grunted but got up, grabbing his tools from the deck. He had been checking the railing for any damage since the last night but it seemed there was just the blood stain he had to worry about. 

Tavijak shot Tokllo a exedurated suprised and shocked look as they followed Bato to the storage room. Tavijak was probably reacting to the fact that Pana agreed so easily but, Tokllo guessed, Tavijak was probably used to Pana fighting any requests from him. It was just kinda their relationship. Tavijak would prank or bother Pana in some way and Pana would be pissy, but when it counted they functioned well together. 

As they decended down into the belly of the ship the air grew cooler. It was a nice feeling after sitting around in the sun all day washing someones dirty underwear.

He wondered if the floorboard had anything else interested about it. Maybe it was sabotage from that person last night. Or the ship was becoming haunted.

 Tokllo sighed. His mind was wandering again into unlikely scenarios.

After walking down a narrow flight of stairs and through a hallway they got to the door of the storage room.

The room was cool. The wood creeked with the sea all around them as they walked in. It was always pretty cool down here since it was at the very bottom of the ship, the ocean worked like a cooling system. 

“So which plank is the allegedly broken one?” Pana gruffed, looking over the floor.

Tokllo pointed at one that was just a few steps away from the pile of boxes, “That one there, on the right.”

Pana walked over to the offending piece of wood and crouched next to it. “It does look a little worse for wear.” He muttered. 

He placed his palm on the wood to push on it but as soon as his skin made contact he frowned. 

“Hey Bato,” he called the other man over, “feel this.”

Bato also crouched down and placed his hand on the wood. “Strange…” he also frowned, “its warm.”

“As if it was left out in the sun, yeah.” Pana said. Tokllo and Tavijak looked at eachother. A warm storage room wasn’t just wierd, it was bad. They always kept some food and such here because the cool temperature wouldn’t make ut rot so fast. If it was warm the whole system would go down. 

“It feels like the warmth is coming from beneath it,” Bato said, pulling away his hand. “We should still replace the plank and see what’s wrong here.” 

Pana nodded and pulled out a tool that looked like a small version of a crowbar. Or maybe it just looked small in his hands. Pana waged one end of it under the plank and with some minimal creeking and wood snapping sounds the floorboard popped free. 

Then it hit them. The smell. Like dirt, blood, rot and infection. Tokllo recoiled and Tavijak held his hand to his face. Bato looked queezy for a moment before pulling himself together.

“Pana, hold the lantern.” He ordered and then, when the lanterns flicker illuminated the small crawlspace hidden under the plank he peered down. Tokllo took a few steps forward with a twisted up expression. 

From what he could see, the crawlspace was bearly big enough for a small person to fit and in the crawlspace there was a boy. He was shirtless and you could see the outline of his ribs. He was covered in grime, sweat and blood. A bloody drenched piece of cloth - that may have once been a shirt - was tightly wrapped around his left forearm. Was this the person who had snuck on board last night? He smelled of death.

Tavijak, who had suddenly appeared besides Tokllo sucked in a sharp breath. “Thats… like, a guy. Is he alive?” 

Bato nodded, his face stern and calm but Tokllo could tell something was clicking together in the mans brain and he didnt like it. “Yes, but not for long if we don’t do anything. Come, Tokllo help me lift him, Gently.”

Tokllo nodded numbly and moved to one end of the crawlspace’s edge where the boys legs where curled up and pressed against his chest. Bato grabbed the boy under his arms and Tokllo hooked his hands under his knees. The boy was supriseingly warm Tokllo guessed that was probably a fever. They heaved him up and onto the floor beside the hole. 

He was light, Tokllo couldn't belive anyone in his condition could have scaled the ships and then walk around through an entire ship to find a hiding place. If Tokllo hadn't had tripped over that plank they might have never found him. At least not alive.

The boys head lulled to the side and he made a unhappy and in pain sound but didn’t wake up. With his face now fully in the light they could see the big gnarly red burn scar that stretched all around the tip left side of his face. Tokllo couldn't believe he could grimace any harder but he did. 

"By the spirits..." Pana gasped.

"Tavijak," Bato orderd, "Get Hakoda and Aguta."

"Yes sir'." Tavijak said with a deep breath and ran off. He had looked minutes away from a full blown panic attack. Tokllo couldn't judge him as he looked at the boy before him. It was a horrible sight.

"Why don't we just bring him directly to the infirmary?" Tollklo asked. He felt like his voice was far away. The smell of rotting wounds tore him back to the memories of his first few battles. The yelling, the fire, the smell of burning.

"Because I don't know if its safe to move himself without causing more damag." Bato frowned down at the boy, "and I belive this is the person who snuck onto our boat last night." 

Tokllo theorized as much. They watched the boy breathing - Raspy in and out, It almost looked painful - when Hakoda and Tavijak burst through the door, followed by Aguta with his tools.

"Is that-" the Chief started.

"Yes," Bato said, "Aguta, take a look at the stowaway." 

The medic didnt waste a moment, crouching down by the boys side and unwrapping his arm. The smell only got worse and Tokllo had to stand by the door with Tavijak.  

"The stowaway?" Tavijak wisperd to Tokllo as they watched Aguta methodically work.

"Yeah." Tokllo answered. Usually he would quip something back but he suddenly felt drained. Tavijak did him the favor of staying quiet. 

After around 10 agonizingly long minutes Aguta stopped his work. The boy didn't look that much better then before but he had new and clean bindings and cleaned wounds.

“Pana, could you carry the boy up to the infirmary? He’s stable for now, but it looks like he’s been in captivity for quite some time - maybe a few months,” Aguta said, lifting one of the boy’s hands. The fingernails were chipped and discolored. “He’s probably showing early signs of scurvy, and it seems like he’s been kept out of the sun most of that time.”

"Allright." Pana said. His gruff tone was damperd by the shock probably. He crouched down and picked up the boy with surprising gentleness and grimaced as he tucked him securely to his chest. 

"Is it really just the fever that makes him this warm?" Pana asked as he adjusted his grip on the boys arm.

Aguta frowned. "It is unusually high but till hes healthy I can't be for sure. I do not know how fevers affect firebenders." 

Tokllos and Tavijak’s eyes went wide. A firebender? Yeah the boy could be a firenationer, Tokllo guessed, but there was no guarantee. With the firenation colonies and war children firenation trates weren't exclusively there now. From what Tokllo saw when visiting towns and fighting a lot of earth and firenation people shared trates.

And a kid with such a large burn scar? It was most likely that he got it during a rade or such. Maybe he had lived with the firenation side of his family in the colonies or something and got the burn from a disgruntled parent. But no, Tokllo shook that thought from his head, that would be stupid. Those self loving and Honor obsessed fire people would probably be to prideful to permanently damage their child's skin. 

He stared at the boys face as Pana walked past him to the hallway. He was so young looking. To young to have endured whatever had happened to him, his face to thin as that scar to deep. To painful. As if someone had grabbed his face with a burning hand. 

And then the boy, Pana and Aguta were gon. Tokllo breathed in deep, the smell of infection was still there. A sick and sweet smell that made his lunch want to come back up. 

A hand gripped his shoulder and he looked up to see his chiefs face looking at him reassuringly. 

"How about you and Tavijak get some air yeah?" Hakoda said and gave his shoulder a light squeeze. "Bato and I will take care of this. You did good, both of you."

Tokllo and Tavijak nodded numbly but it felt like a weight he hadn't noticed he had been carrying fell from his shoulders. Tavijak took Tokllo’s wrist and lead him out of the storage room at last. Leaving Hakoda and Bato in the dimly lit room and finely being able to take a full breath.

Pana could hear Aguta’s steps becoming quieter as the medic hurried ahead to the infirmary. The old medic probably had to prepare some stuff. Honestly, Pana was glad he had a moment to himself. He carried the boy in his arms carefully, as to not jostle him. The boy who was warm. To warm. 

Even for a fever Pana thought he was way to warm. Like holding a waterskin filled with almost boiling water. He knew firebenders had a warmer body temperature and if his suspensions were correct - and this boy was a firebender - he wasn’t sure what he’d do. 

The kid could burn down their entire wooden ship if he wanted to. But then again, this was a kid, a boy, looking bearly over 14 maybe 15, why would he burn down the place? He would probably be intimidated by all the people around and in the state that he’s in, he wouldn’t last long In a battle. Tho who knew what desperation did to a person.

Pana had fought fire nation soldiers who looked bearly 18 - Usually knocking them out instead of killing them when he could - and they often hadn’t mastered the proper forms for in feld fire bending or such yet. He doubted this kid was much different. 

He studied the boys face. The scar looked old, older then Bato’s scar which had been healing for a few months before he could return to the ship. If he had to guess he’d say it was older then a year or so. It was shaped vaguely like a hand print and to Pana, it was not at all understandable how one could let a bender get that close to him and then also burn him so extensively. 

Then again this boy may be fully fire, he might have not expected to be hurt by his own element and people. Pana’ gaze wander along his face and his copped of buzz cut.

It was obvious that he had been hurt, and by his own people - again - most likely. How could he trust them after what happend to his face? Would Pana trust his own tribe if they let one of their own hurt hin so? Would he have ran in the boys place? Or had he never had the chance to run? Had he been trapped all his life and only had escaped now?

Pana shook his head. That was to unlikely. He walked down the hall and knocked on a closed door with his foot. It immediately opend and Aguta was beckoning him inside.

"Come, come," he hasted, "lay the boy down over there, carefully." 

Pana did as he was told and carefully laid the boy down on a cot. He made sure to support his head as to not to have it bonk down on the cot. As Aguta started to work on the boy again, Pana moved back against the wall, watching. 

Aguta was tending to the infected wound and sometimes made small humming or hissing noises. The smell of infection made Pana wonder if he really wanted to stick around but he decided he didn’t wanna leave Aguta alone with the boy just in case he was a threat after all. 

Aguta wiped down the boys chest and sides with a damp towel, cleaning off the grime, sweat and dreid blood, Revealing multiple scrapes, cuts and bruises. Aguta the frowned at the pants before working them off aswell till the boy was just left in his undergarments. His legs where bruised and bloody aswell but most of these injuries were superficial so he finished cleaning him, smeared ointment all over him and put a blanket over his waist.

"He should be stable, mainly smaller injuries that should heal soon," aguta watched as the boys chest rose and fell. "our biggest concern for him now is his fever, the infection in his and vitamin and nutrition deficiency."

"Like scurvy?" Pana asked.

"Most likely." Aguta said. "Look here" he carefully picked up the boys less injured arm to show Pana hid wrist, "this brusing may be caused by his blood vessels breaking down beneth his skin. He loos as if he hasent had a good meal in weeks maybe months and hasent seen the sun for about that long either. There are mors symptoms but it all points to scurvy."

Aguta frowned and so did Pana.

"So, that means if we dont get him to take the proper vitamins soon he may stay sick?" Pana asked. He didn't know much about medicine but just enough to get by.

"His wounds wouldn’t be able to heal and he would die yes." Aguta nodded "so either we wake him or feed him soon."

"We have to wait for the Chief to decide what to do dont we?" Pana Asked.

"Yep." Aguta confirmed. "Tho i will not let this boy die under my watch. Not without me trying to help him at least."

Pana nodded. All they needed to do is wait for hakoda and then exchange information. And keep the boy alive till then.