Avatar: shackled earth

The world was quiet, save for the soft rustle of leaves and the distant sounds of the river's current, which had begun to settle into a calm flow. Tomo and Ariya huddled together in the underbrush, hidden beneath thick ferns and low branches that barely shielded them from view. The cold water from the river had soaked through their clothes, but the slight warmth of the sun filtering through the trees offered them some comfort.

Tomo's muscles ached, each breath feeling heavier than the last. His body was bruised, scraped, and exhausted, the toll of their harrowing escape weighing on him. He glanced at Ariya, who was sitting with her knees pulled to her chest, her face pale but determined.

They were safe—for now.

Tomo took a deep breath, looking around their makeshift hiding spot. They had no idea where the firebenders had gone, but the fact that they had evaded capture felt like a small victory. He turned his attention back to Ariya, his mind still swirling with thoughts of what had happened.

Jiro… Kael…

He clenched his fists, the memory of Kael's betrayal gnawing at him while wondering what happened to Jiro. He had trusted them, not know Kael was a firebender all along

A sense of anger and betrayal simmered in his chest, but it was tempered with the stark reality of their situation. They had survived because they had each other. They had escaped—together. But there was no time to dwell on their past failures. There were still threats to face, and they had to keep moving forward.

"We're alive," Tomo muttered under his breath, more to himself than to Ariya. "That's all that matters."

Ariya didn't respond immediately. She had been silent for the past few moments, her expression distant as she stared into the forest ahead of them. Finally, after a long pause, she spoke, her voice quieter than usual.

"I don't know if I can trust anyone anymore."

Tomo's heart clenched. He understood that feeling. The betrayal stung—more than he had anticipated. But there was something about Ariya's tone that made his chest tighten. He couldn't let her carry this alone.

"I know," he said softly, reaching over to place a hand on her shoulder. "But we can't let it break us. We're stronger than they think."

Ariya looked up at him, her eyes red and tired but resolute. "I'm not so sure about that anymore," she whispered.

Tomo didn't have an answer for her. He couldn't promise her that everything would be okay. He couldn't even promise that they were safe. The firebenders might still be out there, searching for them. But there was one thing he could offer her, something that could give them both the strength to keep going.

"We'll make it," he said firmly.

Ariya gave him a weak smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. She glanced at him again, her gaze lingering for a moment before she turned away, lost in her thoughts.

Tomo let the silence stretch between them for a while, just resting and recovering. The weight of their escape still hung heavy in the air, and he could feel the exhaustion creeping up on him. It felt like they had narrowly escaped death—but it also felt like they were constantly running, like they were always one step away from disaster.

It was in that quiet moment, when Tomo thought they might have a second to breathe, that Ariya suddenly shifted beside him.

"Hey," she said softly.

Tomo looked up at her, only to find her eyes filled with an emotion he hadn't expected: anger. She was glaring at him, her jaw set in determination. Before he could even process what was happening, Ariya swung her fist through the air, landing a solid punch directly to his face.

The force of it knocked him sideways, his head snapping back from the impact. He blinked, dazed, his mind struggling to catch up with what had just happened. For a moment, everything felt like a blur.

He touched his cheek, the sting of the punch beginning to settle in. "Ow…" he mumbled, more surprised than hurt. "That... that was a bit much, don't you think?"

Ariya's eyes were still blazing, her breath coming out in sharp bursts. "I promised you, didn't I?" she growled, her voice low and tight with emotion. "I said I would punch you in the face if Jiro or Kael betrayed us."

Tomo blinked, a mix of confusion and shock crossing his face. "You… You're serious?"

Ariya nodded, her expression still fierce. "Dead serious."

Tomo, still reeling from the punch, rubbed his jaw, half-grinning despite the pain. "Well, I gotta admit... I didn't see that coming. But hey, if it makes you feel better…"

She glared at him, but the anger in her eyes softened, just a little. Tomo chuckled weakly, the grin still on his face, and added with a wink, "I guess I'm just lucky that's all you promised. Next time, maybe you'll aim for the stomach instead."

Ariya's expression wavered for a moment, then, as if suddenly realizing just how ridiculous the situation was, she snorted. A small, unsteady laugh escaped her, and Tomo couldn't help but smile back.

"Don't push it, Tomo," she muttered, her lips twitching as she looked away, trying to hide the softening of her anger.

But the brief moment of levity didn't last long. As soon as the laughter died down, the weight of their situation pressed back down on them. They were still hiding, still on the run, and the danger was far from over. They couldn't afford to stay here much longer. The firebenders would be looking for them, and sooner or later, someone else would come after them.

"We need to keep moving," Tomo said, his voice growing more serious as the tension returned.

Ariya nodded. "Yeah. We don't have much time."

They both stood, their bodies sore and stiff from the fall and their escape. But as Tomo looked at Ariya, he saw something shift in her. There was a quiet resolve now, something she hadn't had before. It was a fire that matched his own.

They had been betrayed. But they had survived. And that was something no one could take from them.