Caress of Fire

Chapter 10

Author Note:So many times have I found myself dropping this project. Yet once in awhile, I would look back on the reviews people have left behind. To this day, it still shocks me how I still have readers that want to find this completed. My story outline went missing, so you will have to bear with me for this chapter as I try to remember exactly where I was heading. Because I am just as confused as Alex, with why Calcipher decided to take her to the slummy drunk tavern. So I apologize that this chapter will be short, but I'll make up for it next chapter at a sooner date.

As always reviews are much appreciated and its the reviews that keep this story alive.

. . . .

If she didn't stop shaking him, someone would assume Alex was abusing a poor defenseless pet.

The damn dragon wouldn't give her answers. He had become awfully quiet after changing back into his cat form when they slipped behind some bushes. She fought the urge of giving another go with the little beast as more drunks passed by leaning against one another for support while mumbling nonsense.

"Crap..." She slid to the floor and sent Calcipher another glare. "Now what."

Calcipher took one long blink then started to climb up a tree leaving her behind.

"Cal!" She hissed as he disappeared from view. "Get back here!"

Suddenly a pair of rough hands dropped down on her shoulders and pulled her out of the bushes. Pushing them off her with a start, she held her hands up instinctively on guard. She was met with a big burly man in a greasy apron. A serpent tattoo wrapped around his neck and disappearing under the collar of his shirt.

"What are you doing hiding little man?" He grumbled raising a brow at her, "You run away from home?" He squeezed her shoulder slightly. "You need a job?"

Alex felt her cheeks grow warm. "N-no. Just looking for a friend."

The burly man huffed slightly, "Why you hiding kid?"

"My...cat got stuck in a tree." Alex pointed over her shoulder and he looked up. " I was going to get him down."

"Well yer cat's gone then." he pulled out a long wooden pipe and suddenly firebend into the end of it, his face glowing ever so slightly by the heat of it. "The name's Lee, I own this shitty place. So whoever it is you're looking for. I might be able to help."

"He..has a large scar on his face and he's with a old man." She watched as Lee's face darken for a moment.

"That little shit." He took a slow draw from his pipe, "Yeah I've seen him, about a couple hours ago. Joined up with miss Jun and the three of them left on her Giant Shirsu."

'I'm going to cut his ponytail off next time I see him.' Alex thought darkly to herself as Lee continued. Beginning to chew at the bit of his pipe. "Seemed to be in a hurry."

Well no chance in finding him now.

"Thanks." Now she just needed to figure out how to get back on foot.

"Well. Best of luck to you, why don't you head in and have a drink. Its on me." He turned his pipe over and shook out the bits of tobacco before slipping it back into his back pocket.

. . . .

Calcipher kept himself hidden within the branches, high up on the tree.

Waiting.

Alex looked almost forlornly back over the tree before following in with the owner, not realizing that the dragon had other plans. A figure in a dark hooded cloak stepped into view a few minutes later and began to look around. The dragon held back a growl as he scented the man. His tiny claws began to claw into the branch beneath him.

Another man stepped out from the shadows, looking to appear like a regular patron of the tavern and passed what looked like a folded piece of paper to the hooded man. But it didn't stop from there, which confirmed the dragon's suspicions. These humans were all the same..treacherous and dangerous. The sooner he removed her from the ship, the better. Calcipher needed to return to the islands. Before any more humans learn of his kinds existence.

"Does he suspect anything..?" He asked the man in black.

"Nothing yet...tell Lord Zhao that Zuko was missing the night the avatar escaped." The cloaked man took the folded paper and slipped it within the folds of his cloak. "He also has a prisoner...but I think I can use her to kill the traitor."

"Don't. Lord Zhao may have other plans with him."

A frown began to form on the cloaked figure, it seemed like this wasn't what he wanted to hear at all. Calcipher could just taste in the air the impatience this man had in waiting. He wanted to kill the prince sooner.

This wasn't good.

Calcipher needed to get the human girl and head back to the ship, he should have done this alone. He wanted her to see this, but the interference ruined it. Her safety was in jeopardy.

. . . .

Riding on the Shirsu nonstop was beginning to make him lost his patience. No matter where they stopped, no matter who they ran into. They still couldn't find the avatar. Everytime he tried to say so, his Uncle would interrupt him while sharing another poem about the beauty of the barbaric woman leading this brigade. He'd rather ride on the back of his Lizard-Rhino then this fur bag.

Kept finding old women.

Even one decided to get flirty with his Uncle by asking for his fortune. While he, the fire prince—had to dodge the attempts of the Shirsu from paralyzing him. Only to be mocked by that disgusting woman and no help from his uncle either.

He was ready to set fire to everyone, starting with the Shirsu if it decided to try and eat him again.

. . . .

Gambling these drunks was probably the best idea she had. Who knew that a couple of dark cups a small rock and these easy idiots drunk on whatever it was they were drinking. Just taking a sip of that alcohol already made her chest warm up by the content of it. But she didn't drain her cup, she focused her attention on the three cups. Her bare hands pressed against the stone floor that they were using during this match. The table would have happened, if not for one of the men busting it in half during a fight from a arm wrestling match.

Alex had a small nice stack of coins, some coppers..some silver. The gamble was figuring out which cup had the stone and she was building up her winnings little by little.

Earthbending was helping her cheat a little bit. The slight tremor the stone made felt like a magnet to her senses. She'll have to thank Iroh for convincing her to practice all those times on the ship. Who knew this was going to help her make some money.

She felt something soft brush against her leg and she looked to her right just as the man began to switch the cups around incredibly fast. He was a firebender, she found out when he lit a friend's pipe while she was pocketing some of her winnings. Calcipher looked up at her innocently.

Okay, game forgotten. Time to head back.

He must have noticed cause the somewhat drunk fire bender looked a little annoyed. "You leaving kid?"

"Yeah, sorry. This guy seems like he'll have a go though." She quickly grabbed the first man and shoved him forward. "I think he said something about having a lot of gold."

Case closed, she was already forgotten and the men quickly surrounded the poor victim and started to push him to gamble. It didn't take long to get back outside while carrying Calcipher under her arm. Looking around to make sure the close was clear she stormed further into the forest and dropped the cat not too gently.

"Why'd you leave me behind like that? He wasn't here so you just bailed on me?" She hissed, pointing her finger down at the cat who started to clean his left paw. Appearing like he didn't really care about her complaint.

Maybe it was the few sips she had of the drink that made her forget, or perhaps she just chose not to care. She was going to quickly learn the hard way. That you should never shake a creature that could easily drop you with no problem while flying, and be caught again like a rag doll before hitting the ground.

Which she did while holding onto the dragon's mane as tightly as possibly while they began to fly up above the clouds almost at a leisure pace. Calcipher certainly reminded her the difference.

"Sorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorry!' She chanted into his mane quickly while waiting for her heart to drop since it was still taking a vacation up in her throat.

Calcipher growled slightly as they flew through a cloud as the forest parted ways and the sea came into view, including the familiar ship they were making their way down to.

. . . .

Author Note:

Sorry again for the shortness of this chapter

Also if you add this story or favorite it, give me a review. Let me know what you like about it or what you didn't like. I would love to hear some constructive feedback on this story.