Debris
Title: Debris
Rating: G
Characters: Sokka
Word Count: 498, complete
Summary: Sokka finds a mysterious Fire Nation box.
Note: Written for story_lottery, prompt 'bay' (bonus prompt). I gave myself a 500 word limit for this one, for variety.
Debris
According to Fire Nation atlases, the country proper consisted of almost two hundred islands. Sokka believed it, having seen much of the nation by air while traveling to the invasion rendezvous point. Only one-quarter of the islands were populated, most of the rest too small to support lasting settlements. These tiny specks of land provided safe places where Appa could rest.
This was the most barren island they'd yet visited, all stone and rough scrub, no trees or animals. While the others pitched camp, Sokka went to the beach to fish. If fish weren't biting, he could collect mollusks. They were already out of the meat from the last market trip. He was happy to have Toph with them, but they went through meat much faster now.
It was a short walk to the other side of the island. He peered over the high cliff edge, wishing there were sealguanas below. Carefully, he climbed down the cliff face. A strange gleam in the sand caught his eye--it looked like metal in the fading sunlight. He scanned sea and shore, but saw no signs of human activity. He was curious. It was probably debris from a passing ship, but it could be something useful.
He found a wide gray box entangled in a canvas tarp and seaweed, partially buried in sand. Excavation revealed the Fire Nation insignia on the lid and a seal bearing the characters ORIGIN: MANUFACTURING BAY 9 NAVY DEPOT 3, the rest illegible. If he found this box at home, he would think it was booby-trapped, but he was in the Fire Nation, on an uninhabited island. This must be an accident.
The box was scratched and dented, but structurally intact, the metal lightweight yet strong. Quality material, he had to admit. The contents might be salvageable, especially with water bending. The tarp must have been buoyant enough to keep the box afloat.
Sokka needed to know what was inside. He thought of weapons (they could use weapons), or clothes (they could use extra Fire Nation clothes), or scrolls containing military information (they could certainly use information). He sniffed it, listened to it, ran his hands over it, and tapped it with his boomerang. He found no indication the contents would kill him, so he pried it open.
Inside were long rectangles of unfamiliar fabric, like silk, but heavier and grainier. He ripped one open, and realized he'd found treasure.
The box was full of jerky.
Military rations, he guessed. The fabric must be watertight, because the jerky was dry. He examined the jerky's color, smell and texture. It seemed edible. He wondered whether the box or the jerky was made in a "manufacturing bay." Knowing the Fire Nation, probably both. Making food the same way as a tank was just wrong. He nibbled a corner.
He ate six strips, stuffing ten more into his pockets, before returning to camp. He would ask Toph to help get the box up the cliffside. She would appreciate jerky.
--end
Rating: G
Characters: Sokka
Word Count: 498, complete
Summary: Sokka finds a mysterious Fire Nation box.
Note: Written for story_lottery, prompt 'bay' (bonus prompt). I gave myself a 500 word limit for this one, for variety.
Debris
According to Fire Nation atlases, the country proper consisted of almost two hundred islands. Sokka believed it, having seen much of the nation by air while traveling to the invasion rendezvous point. Only one-quarter of the islands were populated, most of the rest too small to support lasting settlements. These tiny specks of land provided safe places where Appa could rest.
This was the most barren island they'd yet visited, all stone and rough scrub, no trees or animals. While the others pitched camp, Sokka went to the beach to fish. If fish weren't biting, he could collect mollusks. They were already out of the meat from the last market trip. He was happy to have Toph with them, but they went through meat much faster now.
It was a short walk to the other side of the island. He peered over the high cliff edge, wishing there were sealguanas below. Carefully, he climbed down the cliff face. A strange gleam in the sand caught his eye--it looked like metal in the fading sunlight. He scanned sea and shore, but saw no signs of human activity. He was curious. It was probably debris from a passing ship, but it could be something useful.
He found a wide gray box entangled in a canvas tarp and seaweed, partially buried in sand. Excavation revealed the Fire Nation insignia on the lid and a seal bearing the characters ORIGIN: MANUFACTURING BAY 9 NAVY DEPOT 3, the rest illegible. If he found this box at home, he would think it was booby-trapped, but he was in the Fire Nation, on an uninhabited island. This must be an accident.
The box was scratched and dented, but structurally intact, the metal lightweight yet strong. Quality material, he had to admit. The contents might be salvageable, especially with water bending. The tarp must have been buoyant enough to keep the box afloat.
Sokka needed to know what was inside. He thought of weapons (they could use weapons), or clothes (they could use extra Fire Nation clothes), or scrolls containing military information (they could certainly use information). He sniffed it, listened to it, ran his hands over it, and tapped it with his boomerang. He found no indication the contents would kill him, so he pried it open.
Inside were long rectangles of unfamiliar fabric, like silk, but heavier and grainier. He ripped one open, and realized he'd found treasure.
The box was full of jerky.
Military rations, he guessed. The fabric must be watertight, because the jerky was dry. He examined the jerky's color, smell and texture. It seemed edible. He wondered whether the box or the jerky was made in a "manufacturing bay." Knowing the Fire Nation, probably both. Making food the same way as a tank was just wrong. He nibbled a corner.
He ate six strips, stuffing ten more into his pockets, before returning to camp. He would ask Toph to help get the box up the cliffside. She would appreciate jerky.
--end