𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙴𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝

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As Iroh was unable to ride his ostrich horse due to his injured shoulder, he rode on the back of Zuko's mount, with La'kea trailing behind them on Iroh's ostrich. Although she had managed to follow the prince on the ostrich horse, she still wasn't one-hundred percent confident, so they tied her horse to Zukos.

Iroh grunted in pain suddenly, clutching his shoulder, his nephew tugged on the reins. "Maybe we should make camp."

"No please," The old man moaned, "Don't stop just for me." They only rode a little further before he gave another over-exaggerated groan.

La'kea chuckled as Zuko yanked on the reins sharply, stopping the mounts as they dismounted. She swung her legs over the side of the mount, preparing to jump off just as the prince appeared in front of her, holding his arms out. 

Accepting the help, he set her down to her feet gently by grabbing her waist. Although they didn't discuss the incident at the top of the mountain for the sake of his pride, it still lingered in the back of their minds. La'kea couldn't ignore how much she liked feeling his solid hands around her.

Luckily, she didn't have to deal with how flushed her face was as the horses suddenly trilled in alarm, heads tossing from side to side. They shifted into their respective bending stances immediately as Iroh grunted, "What now?"

The rustling of the brush was the only warning they got before five men mounted on komodo rhinos erupted from all sides of their road, surrounding the group. Zuko turned towards the leader as he backed up against La'kea, who faced the other side with her hands also extended.

"Colonel Mongke," Iroh exclaimed happily from beside his nephew. "What a pleasant surprise."

The colonels eyes were steely and cold, even from several feet away, "If you're surprised we're here, then the Dragon of the West has lost a few steps."

"You know these guys?" Zuko questioned surprised as he looked between all the men. She narrowed her eyes at one rider hidden behind a full helmet, she didn't trust anybody who kept his face hidden.

"Sure, Colonel Mongke and the Rough Riders are legendary," The retired general rubbed his shoulder with an easy smile. "Each one is a different weapon specialist, they're also a very capable singing group."

She snickered, eyes narrowing, "That doesn't really help their intimidating image."

"We're not here to give a concert," Mongke snapped. "We're here to apprehend fugitives."

She wondered what Iroh had up his sleeve as he looked slyly at the men surrounding them. "Would you like some tea first? I'd love some. How about you, Kachi? I make you as a jasmine man. Am I right?"

"Enough stalling," The colonel demanded, "Round them up!"

Just as the archer fired two flaming arrows towards Zuko and La'kea, the prince spun around to snap it in half midair as she slammed her water whip into the archer, sending him flying off the rhino. Iroh deflected the fireballs the colonel sent towards them as she ran towards the panicking ostrich-horses. Zuko deftly jumped to the top of the rhino and swung his leg around to kick Mongke off.

Iroh appeared, and helped her untie the horses to allow them to run faster. Together they mounted the ostriches and ran by the prince who still stood atop the riderless rhino. As they quickly galloped away, she realized they were being pursued by one more rhino.

"Zuko," She called out, and when he turned in his seat she tossed in the rope tied to her horse. Now that she didn't have to steer her horse, the waterbender turned to face the masked rider chasing them. Just as the rough rhino lifted his arm, holding a bomb, she narrowed her eyes and threw her hands in the arm. The masked man dropped his bomb as his arms twisted behind him, she wasn't satisfied until they heard the audible snap. Now she was sure he wouldn't keep chasing them.

Turning back around, she was met with the appalled stare of Iroh and an appreciative smile from the prince. The retired general shook himself, "It was nice to see old friends."

His nephew frowned, "Too bad you don't have any old friends that don't want to attack you."

"Hmm," Iroh pondered it as he grabbed his shoulder, "Old friends that don't want to attack me."

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La'kea looked around the small tavern they were currently visiting in the oasis town. "No one here is going to help us," Zuko decided, annoyed by it's patrons. "These people just look like filthy wanderers."

"We're filthy wanderers," She corrected dryly, causing the prince to roll his eyes.

Iroh grinned, pointing over their shoulders, "Ah, I think I found our friend." They both swiveled in their seats to see who the old man was referring to eagerly. Only to deflate when they realized it was just another old man sitting at a pai sho table.

"You brought us here to gamble on pai sho," The prince demanded in angry disbelief, rising to his feet to follow after his uncle.

"I don't think this is a gamble," Iroh replied smoothly, walking over.

La'kea just patted Zuko's arm as she followed beside him, "Let's just hear him out. I'm sure he has a good reason-." The back of her neck itched, and she looked around the tavern warily, rubbing her neck.

He eyed her worriedly, "What is it?"

"We're being watched," She murmured, turning back towards the pai sho table. Zuko just narrowed his eyes, glaring at the taverns patrons as he placed a hand on her back, guiding her away from them.

Iroh approached the older man, "May I have this game?"

"The guest has the first move," He replied, gesturing towards the seats.

The retired general sat down and immediately placed the white lotus tile in the center of the board. The other man kept his face neutral, "I see you favor the white lotus gambit. Not many still cling to the ancient ways."

"But those who do can always find a friend," Iroh smiled, clearly speaking a code. La'keas brows lifted as they rapidly placed down tiles in synchronization, the finished product showcasing a large lotus flower.

"Welcome, brother," The old man greeted warmly, "The White Lotus opens wide to those who know her secrets."

"Is that a secret society," She blurted before she could stop herself, curiosity overwhelming her.

Zuko rolled his eyes at the two older men, "What are you old gasbags talking about?" She bumped her knee against his leg, silently berating him on his rudeness.

"I always tried to tell you that pai sho is more than just a game," His uncle said smugly, rolling a tile between his fingers.

"It's over!" Two men suddenly approached their table, one looking like someone you wouldn't want to run into alone at night and the other like a pompous ninny. "You three fugitives are coming with me," The mean looking one snapped.

"I knew it!" Iroh's pai sho opponent ran in front of them, gesturing dramatically and loudly. "You two are wanted criminals with a giant bounty on your head!"

"I thought you said he would help," Zuko hissed, flinging an arm out in front of La'kea as he glared up at the men.

Iroh just patted his nephews shoulder reassuringly, "He is. Just watch."

She watched as the old man faced the two strangers, demanding loudly, "You think you're going to capture them and collect all that gold?"

"Gold?" Someone echoed in the tavern, and within a few seconds the entire crowd's focus was on them. Multiple weapons were drawn.

In the ensuing chaos, she watched with rapt interest as the two men trying to collect their bounty fought off the whole tavern with earth bending. Zuko suddenly grabbed her hand, tugging her towards the taverns entrance where they slipped out unnoticed following Iroh and the old man. In the cool desert night air, his hand was so warm around hers that she shook her head to ignore the heat crawling up her neck.

Either Zuko didn't notice or didn't care that he held her hand all the way to the flower shop the White Lotus member guided them too. "It is an honor to welcome such a high ranking member of the Order of the White Lotus." He bowed briefly, "Being a Grand master, you must know many secrets."

Zuko rolled his eyes, not realizing he was still holding her hand as he trailed after his uncle, "Now that you've played pai sho, are you going to do some flower arranging? Or is someone in this club going to offer some real help?"

"You must forgive my nephew," Iroh apologized as they reached the door to the back of the shop. "He is not an initiate and has little appreciation for the cryptic arts." The other man just nodded, knocking twice at the door, and summoning someone who spoke through a little slot in the door.

"Who knocks at the garden gate?" They demanded mysteriously.

"One who has eaten the fruit and tasted it's mysteries," Iroh replied easily, smiling as the door swung open, allowing him and the other man inside. It slammed shut just as Zuko and La'kea were walking through.

"I'm afraid it's members only, wait out here," His uncle instructed.

The prince grumbled to himself as he leaned against a crate, and suddenly realized he was still holding someone else's hand. She blinked as he slowly let go, muttering, "Sorry."

La'kea gave a small shrug, unable to hide her soft smile as she looked down at her feet, stray curls falling over her face. "I don't mind."

Zuko turned his head away from the islander to hide the blush burning his face, crossing his arms as he flexed his hand subconsciously.

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It was early morning by the time Iroh emerged from the back room to see his nephew and the islander sleeping on their feet while leaning against one another. The side of Zuko's head was bent to rest comfortably on the top of her head while she rested against his shoulder. The old man smiled as the backdoor's squeak startled them awake.

Zuko jumped into a combative stance on instinct while La'kea just rubbed her eyes. "What's going on," He asked, shaking himself as he stood upright. "Is the club meeting over?"

"Everything is taken care of," Iroh assured them as he bowed with his pai sho opponent from last night. "We're heading to Ba Sing Se."

"The Earth Kingdom capital?" La'kea murmured curiously.

"Why would we go there," The prince inquired, thoroughly confused.

"The city is filled with refugees," The other old man explained, "No one will notice three more."

"We can hide in plain sight there," Iroh added, "And it's the safest place in the world from the Fire Nation. Even I couldn't break through to the city."

Her interest spiked, "You'll have to tell me more about that."

Their attention was pulled to the sound of the bell as someone entered the shop. A young man walked in, brandishing papers. "I have the passports for our guests, but there are two men out on the street looking for them." Everyone clambered by the door to peer through the wooden cutout and see the two men from the tavern asking various passerby's about their wanted posters.

"I didn't even know I had a wanted poster," La'kea mused with wide eyes.

"I have a solution," The White Lotus member offered, turning towards three large flower pots. He walked over to them and lifted the false tops, showing the ample space inside. The three looked at each other and shrugged, they didn't seem to have an easier solution nearby.

A few moments later, after bracing herself for being stuck inside a cramped space for who knows how long. La'keas felt the road bump underneath her as she, along with Zuko and Iroh in separate pots, were carted out of the shop and out of the oasis. She peeked out of her flower pot to see Zuko scanning their surroundings, he nodded once at her before disappearing back inside.

It was going to be a long trip.