"What are we going to do with him?"

Chief Hakoda stared silently at the tent where they were holding the Fire Nation prince and sighed. "For now, we're just going to hold him."

Suluk, his second-in-command now that Bato was injured and no longer with them, stared at the tent as well. "For how long?"

"Until I can figure out what to do with him."

"We could just kill him." Suluk's voice was dark, his eyes smoldering. "His people have murdered ours for decades. He's the heir to the throne."

Hakoda shook his head, slowly but firmly. "Fire Nation or not, he's still a child. I'll not have his blood on my hands. Who knows- he may yet come around. He doesn't seem as hardened as the rest of his kind."

Suluk did not look convinced, but he knew better than to argue with his chief. "Very well, sir."

"For now, I'm placing you in full charge of the boy. Keep him fed and comfortable; it gets cold here at night. We will not be monsters. I want him treated with dignity, understood?"

Suluk lowered his head in a respectful bow. "Understood, Chief Hakoda."

"Thank you, Suluk." Casting one more glance at the tent, Hakoda left Suluk standing guard.

Hakoda was chief, supreme commander of his men. It never occurred to him over the next few weeks to be sure his orders were followed.

-xx-

A/N: Sorry, I know it's short. The rest of the story is going to be much longer. Hopefully this AU will carry throughout the show's canon, though with quite a few differences, of course. Next chapter up soon!