|
|
Post by katuko on Jan 3, 2006 23:40:36 GMT -5
Enitsua glanced at the broom against the cupboards and back at the 'thing' again. Whatever it was...it didn't appear to be harmful. Not removing her gaze from the shadow, she snatched the broom from it's position and began whacking blindly in that corner. "I GOT YOU NOW YOU CRAZY OLD RAT!" she shouted triumphantly, certain that cook would be pleased by her.
"Ow, ow! Quit it girl!" a voice pleaded, shrinking from the broom. Enitsua wrinkled her nose suspiciously, "W-who are you?" she asked. A man emerged from the counter, stony faced and disgruntled. "I'm a stowaway, a runaway, and don't you dare tell anyone you've seen me, understand?" Her eyes darted around the room, at the shattered plates, the dusty counters, and the snapped broom. "No...because everyone's gonna say it's my fault...and they're gonna blame me because you snucked onto this ship."
|
|
|
|
Post by sho on Jan 7, 2006 19:49:40 GMT -5
Sho was shaken awake by the engineer before the sun had begun to peek over the horizon. The engineer was already dressed and ready to go, so he walked out of the room and left Sho to his privacy.
Sho groaned and mumbled about getting up so early and he was barely awake as he stumbled out of bed. Staying up for music night was the world's stupidest idea. Now he wouldn't be awake for work and that was sure to make it harder. Sho tripped as the boat swayed back and forth. His legs were so tired and weak that he couldn't keep his balance and the result was a head first dive onto the floor. Sho then cursed quite audibly. Sho winced at his own words, for he hated when he was grumpy like this.
After much struggling and mumbling, Sho managed to trudge out of his bedroom.
|
|
|
|
Post by zuko on Jan 7, 2006 20:36:27 GMT -5
The Prince was still asleep, lying on his stomach with one arm hanging over the side of the bed. He couldn't bring himself to open his eyes. Staying up late last night from the unfortunate event had cause him to sleep with heavy eyes. He knew he had to get up, but his body refused to move.
Feeling his danging arm sway to the left, he knew his ship had started up again. Zuko gave a slight moan and opened his tired eyes. It felt like the night went by so fast. There was then a sudden knock on his door and he sat up and asked grumpily: "Who is it?"
|
|
|
|
Post by katuko on Jan 8, 2006 17:28:09 GMT -5
The man lunged forward and slapped his palm over her mouth. "Now listen here. I didn't come all the way for nothing. I'm going to the Fire Nation and if you tell a single soul that I've been here, I'm going to come back and get you in your sleep." he threatened venomously. Enitsua blanched, crying silently - "Mrow!" she cried. The stowaway loosened his hold and spun her around to face him. "What is it?" he sneered.
"This ship's not going to the Fire Nation." she retaliated, surprised by the valor she was demonstrating. The man seemed struck by her outburst. "LIER!" he hissed, raising his fist. Enitsua squealed and ducked from his blow, blindly tossing firey orbs in what she assumed was his hideout.
For a few moments there was silence as the fire began working its way across the room. "FIREEEE! STOWAWAY! STRANGE MAN, HELLLP!" she shrieked, dashing from the smoke contaminated room.
|
|
|
|
Post by sho on Jan 8, 2006 19:34:44 GMT -5
Sho rubbed his head moodily as he heard Enitsua's shouts down the hall. He really wasn't in the mood for her chaos today; there had been enough yesterday. Teeth gritted in annoyance, he rubbed his head, for the shouts were giving him a migrane. Sho stopped for a moment to listen however, and that's when he heard the specifics of the cry. Fire. Stowaway.
He cursed.
Quickly Sho began beating on every door, ignoring the headache the rumbling sound was giving him and waking anyone who was still in their rooms. He stopped at one door and got a mumbled reply. Sho bit his tounge, really unsure of what to say or how to say it. He wasn't even sure what was going on.
"Sir! Er.. there's a fire on the ship. And I stowaway I believe! Hurry!"
Sho waited restlessly at the door, one part of him telling him to run, the other part telling him to wait.
|
|
|
|
Post by katuko on Jan 13, 2006 16:57:00 GMT -5
Enitsua ran faster, turning back every now and then to be sure the man wasn't tailing her. Through the dense smoke that was snaking it's way around the ship, it was a bit hard to be sure of anything. The most she had to her advantage was evasive maneuvery - a war tactic she'd overheard many times before. Instinctively, she swiveled to the left and slammed into a disgruntled-looking Sho.
"I'm sorry!!" she squealed, "There was this man, and he was scary and he said he'll kill me if I don't let him escape but I didn't want to let him escape so I ran and I'm here and I-" she hesitated before continuing, "I think he's after me." Sho didn't answer - yet, perhaps this was taking time to get to his head?
The fire was beginning to spread and the voices of alerted crewmen could be heard. She moaned to herself and slid to the ground, rocking on her heel. "What have I done, no no...it wasn't my fault...what did I do. No! It's not my fault...no no NO!"
|
|
|
|
Post by zuko on Jan 14, 2006 17:15:26 GMT -5
Once Zuko heard those words come from the door, he cursed angrily and jumped out of bed. He didn't understand the full danger of the situation, until he could hear shouts and hollars coming from his crew.
Stumbling a few times, from the shocking awakening and drowsiness, he found his black robe and quickly draped it over him. He knew he didn't have time to put on his armor, even though he would most likely need it.
'Things are already chaotic, and the day hasn't even started yet...' he thought frustratingly as he swung open his bedroom door. He was slightly surprised when he saw Sho standing on the other side restlessly and a little girl curled up on the floor next to him, obviously shaken from the commotion.
"Where's the stowaway?! Show me!" Zuko barked hastingly at Sho. Zuko was responisble for his ship and crew, and he would not tolerate some stowaway getting in his way.
|
|
|
|
Post by sho on Jan 14, 2006 17:38:44 GMT -5
Sho stepped back as Zuko exited his room before glancing back at Enitsua. He honestly had no idea where the stowaway was. Only Enitsua did.
"I ... don't know, sir." He stuttered while taking a longer look at the little girl who was having a fit beside him. "But she does. She was the one who shouted it."
Sho leaned down so he was level height with Enitsua's face and grabbed her small hands with his own. He gripped them tightly, so she couldn't run away, but he tried to be as gentle as to not hurt her. Sho looked into her eyes, trying to maintain a look of seriousness.
"Enitsua. Please calm down and tell us where this stowaway is. We need to find him. If you show us to him, he won't hurt you, okay? You just need to calm down and show us the way."
Sho waited for the reply, slightly wincing as smoke began to creep down the halls. How had a fire started? Was the stowaway a firebender? Did he start the fire in the kitchen? Sho then paled with another thought. Had Enitsua caused it?
He tried to shake the thought off. Details could be discussed later.
|
|
|
|
Post by katuko on Jan 14, 2006 18:49:53 GMT -5
Enitsua cowered under Sho's expression. "He's over in the gal- no." she hesitated...I'm not suppose to tell no one. He's going to kill me. No! You serve Master Zuko before your fears. Coward...no no - he's going to kill you. So? I don't care. Yes you do... She debated fiercely in her head, weighing each of her choices carefully. Both seemed inviting...
"H-he's in the galley. He was in the galley. And then there was fire. And smoke. I ran and he chased me. He tried to get me, but I turned here. I don't know where he is no more." she confessed. Now there was nothing to do but wait for death, no?
Farther down the corridor, the frantic shouts were replaced by triumphant success. Perhaps they captured the stowaway?
|
|
|
|
Post by zuko on Jan 16, 2006 19:14:39 GMT -5
Looking down the hall towards the galley, Zuko could hear shouts of pride coming from his crew members as well. He glanced back at the girl, who was still curled up on the floor. She must know how the fire started, but Zuko wouldn't ask questions now.
"Come on," he said quickly to Sho and ran down the hall toward the galley.
When Zuko had reached his destination, he peered inside the galley. The fire had been put out and all that was left of the galley were burnt walls and ashes. The damage could have been worse, for only one side of the galley had been set on fire. But the rest of the room had been chalked by smoke. Zuko turned angrily to one of his crew members.
"The stowaway; where is he?!" he asked.
The crew member's expression became nervous as Zuko spoke to him. "W-We managed to put the fire out sir...but we didn't see the stowaway..."
Zuko looked around the room at the other crew members. They're faces were blank. "Search the ship! Immediately!" Zuko barked. Instantly, the crew and all soilders spread out among the ship.
|
|
|
|
Post by sho on Jan 16, 2006 19:47:00 GMT -5
Sho nodded hasily and began to make way out of the room. While most of the other crew members had taken the hallway they had come out of (causing a minor case of door jam), Sho began to run out on deck. His eyes eyes wondered frantically, but he didn't spot a single soul.
The sun was begining to peak over the horizon, sending a peaceful, red glow over the sea. Sho stopped his long stride, slightly baffled at the scene of beauty at this chaotic time. Suddenly, Sho's ears detected a slight squeak. Confused by the sudden noise, Sho's eyes swept over the deck once again. All he saw at first were the railings and the sea, but as his eyes drifted to the deck itself, he noiticed the hatch leading downward. Sho ran to it with sudden understanding.
"This way!" Sho shouted to anyone who might care to hear.
|
|
|
|
Post by zuko on Jan 16, 2006 20:17:07 GMT -5
Now would have been a good time for Zuko's armor. He didn't know if this guy could pose as a threat and it was always better being protected, threat or not. Zuko was momentarily frantically searching the halls and rooms, until he could hear a familar shout and a beat of footsteps.
Running in that direction, Zuko came on deck to see nothing until his eyes caught an open hatch leading downward farther into the ship; right into the boiler room. His eyes also caught someone going through the hatch; just for the slightest second. Sprinting to the hatch, Zuko peered down and could feel the heat eminating from the boiler room.
Knowing that the stowaway must have been close, Zuko jumped through the hatch without hesitation. The first thing he saw was steam and the huge boiler engines eating fire to keep the ship going. Then something caught his attention; a dark figure running down the steam filled room. Zuko ran instantly having a hard time breathing in the clouds of steam and concentrating on the running figure ahead of him.
|
|
|
|
Post by katuko on Jan 16, 2006 20:24:41 GMT -5
Through all the confusion and chaos, no one seemed to remember the little one, the servant girl, the one who had caused the fire. Robotically, Enitsua rose and followed Sho through the crowds of sweaty men, up the stairs and onto the deck, just fast enough to see him flash down an open cellar. She paused at the rail and grasped it for support, panting profusely.
From the cellar, she could hear Sho's excited calls of discovery, most likely unaware of the vacant deck. Her effort to compose her breathing in vain, Enitsua continued her way under. There was a low creak as the latch swung shut mysteriously behind her. "W-who's there?" she snapped, trembling despite the heat. "G-go away numbskull!"
|
|
|
|
Post by zuko on Jan 27, 2006 17:31:58 GMT -5
Zuko was closer to the figure ahead of him, his vision becoming blurred from the heat and steam of the boiler room. But he heard a voice he had not expected to hear. It was small childish voice. How could that be possible?
Zuko was confused at first, but then pushed the thought away, thinking that it must have been the sound of the engines. Running up closer, he could see that the shadow's owner was quite small.
'Wait, don't tell me--' But his unfinished thought was correct as he snatched the small figure's shoulders and spun it around revealing the face of the little girl he had seen earlier before; the one that was curled up next to his bedroom door that morning.
The Prince glared at her frustratingly, his grip still on her shoulders. He hoped that she was down here for a reason; more to the point, he hoped that she was down here because she spotted the stowaway.
"What are you doing down here?!" he asked demandingly, trying to speak over the sound of the engines running.
|
|
|
|
Post by katuko on Jan 27, 2006 18:51:16 GMT -5
The girl flinched from his grasp and stood silent, allowing the reprimand to come through. She couldn't find the words, more so, she didn't have a reason to be 'down here'. Enitsua hung her head, her eyes refusing to meet his glare. "I...," she hesitated and exhaled, "I was following Sho. The stowaway was here but I don't see him no where. Then the door slammed shut and I was looking for him and I got scared and I thought he shut it but I can't find him nowhere so now you found me and is trying to kill me...don't kill me."
Something fumbling through the pipes cut her rambling short and she was grateful. The engine groaned and sputtered, finally whirring to a stop engulfing them in surprisingly haunting silence. Steam was issuing from the dis-functional engine, tempting more of the eerie effect.
Enitsua clung to the wall as thundering footsteps approached them. A small glint revealed he was holding...a switch blade? An overpowering urge to run slid through her pulse. She wanted out now..."Please..."
|
|
