On Flames and Rivers (Malin and Luana_Blodwyn)

[malin]

"I hate ice."

It was stupid to say, he was covered in it. Ice and snow was about all he could see. Tseng Li was a low ranking member of the southern raiders. An elite group of Sailors who for the past twenty years of Sozin's great war had been charged with removing the water benders from the south. It had been a job full of long trips away from the home land up in to this frozen wasteland of a hole that southern water tribe had crawled out of.

At least that had been his job, currently his job was to bleed out in the ice and snow. Hence his hatred of it. In the last raid their had been complications, and one of the water bending scum managed to puncture strait through his armor with an ice strike. His brothers had their orders, strike quick and disappear leave the wounded... He coughed tasting the strong flavor of his blood. Yep he was bound to die out in the cold for this one.

He didn't blame his people, He was proud to serve the fire nation, Sozin had been correct to spread his will to the other nations, and Azulon was doing the nation's leadership proud by establishing the harsh rules of war. For the several years The fire nation has gone up against the might of the earth kingdom, and the water tribes, and whats more they have been winning.

How could they be wrong when they had all the strength? Letting out a cold breath Tseng was ready to accept death. He had done his best on the battle field and could die with his honor intact. Even though it was a rather painful, and slow way to die, the ice lodged in his wound was damn cold, and the snow was now red with blood, he couldn't stop the bleeding though he had foolishly tried, and nearly ended up setting himself on fire when he tried to cauterize the wound. Fire had very few healing properties after all. His head felt light and his green eyes looked up to the sky.

Like most members of the fire nation, he was about 5'6" and his hair was cut. He was a sailor, and right now wore the black and red of the southern raiders, though he had lost his helmet showing his short brown hair as he was sprawled out in the snow. His breath let out small puffs of warm air against the cold of the Southern winds. The sky was blue, and clear. If it wasn't for the fact that he was pretty sure he was dying in a field of ice it would have been a beautiful day.

 

[Luana_Blodwyn]

"Nuknuk...what is it girl?" The young water tribe girl asked. Her hood was up hiding her dark brown hair and her round brown eyes glistened wetly. She couldn't seem to cry and couldn't seem to not cry. The tears just lingered on her lower eye lids...probably frozen there. Her cheek were pink from the gusting arctic winds. She should not be out here. Lynka should have been home with her family, cooking a meal or training her water bending. But no, that morning they had come. The black snow did not fall, it was only a couple of ships. The attack was a surprise to all in their small village. He sister, Hama, had been taken. Lynka managed to escape but just barely. A friend of her and her sister, Kanna, had managed to warn her in time so she took flight. She had seen a couple others manage to run into the tundra as well. It was lucky she had been on the outskirts of the village, furthest away from the water, tending to some skinning and butchering of seal meat and skin. With her had been her polar dog, Nuknuk. The dog was large, even comparable to other polar dogs. All white but for a black stripe down her back she stood as high as Lynka's waist.

Nuknuk had smelled something in the air. With the wind whipping and howling it was hard to keep eyes open to the horizon. By now the raiders must be gone, she should return to the village. But how long before they returned? Perhaps they were still there, searching for those who managed to flee. No, it was best to try and find shelter for a couple of nights. However she followed Nuknuk who scented something on the wind. As they climbed over a crest of snow she saw a blotch on the white landscape. Her gloved hand raised up to shield the wind and glaring sun. The shape was dark and seemed to be surrounded by red. Her eyes narrowed and her hand went to the skinning knife she had fled with. She and Nuknuk walked cautiously down the snow crest towards the shape.

As they neared Lynka knew just who and what this man was. All southern raiders were men. He was wounded but still alive. As she neared it became more apparent, but he was dying. Good. The only good fire bender was a dead one. She approached at his feet, the knife held in her hand. Nuknuk growled low in her throat and her mistress did the same.

"Give me one good reason I shouldn't kill you, monster," Lynka said lowly. She reached down and forcefully wrenched out the shard of ice. If it was painful good, now he would start to bleed out faster. Judging by the amount of blood on the snow she knew it would be a matter of maybe an hour before he fully bled out, perhaps as little as 15 for him to get to the point of no return. If one lost too much blood then even closing the wound wouldn't save them. For the likes of him a quick death would be far too merciful.

 

[malin]

Tseng caughed loudly and violently when she pulled out the ice. He didn't feel the pain so much thanks to the cold and the fact that part of his body had gone numb thanks to the cold, and blood loss. His body however still reacted violently to the sudden trauma as his green eyes lingured on the water tribe girl. He frowned for a moment. He had one chance to save his life? why should he. Today was a good day to die, then again... It had been a good day to die back when he didn't have an option to try and survive. He bit his lip looking up at her. He didn't smile rather he just returned her glare silently waiting for her to say something, and when she called him a monster he laughed, as painful as it was for him to laugh he still managed it. After all she was the monster, and he had the bleeding out wound to prove it.

"What says you even can? Water tribe scum even if you can save my life you would probably just torture me in some mud hole hut till the next raid." His voice was harsh and dry thanks to the fact that he didn't really have many fluids in his body anymore. Dehidration was starting to settle, and the air was dry. Even the snow and ice was too cold and hard to actually drink, and he was too weak to heat up to the point where he could get water. He looked up at the woman, who pretty much was his last chance to survive this ordeal. She looked at him like he was a monster, she wasn't the one who was bleeding out and being confronted with the possibility of torture.

Still Tseng was slowly coming around to the idea of not dying out in the god forsaken cold. He didn't have money, and by the looks of her she didn't want any. Maybe it was just the fact that his head was dizzy, and he was partly delusional from the pain of nearly freezing and then bleeding to death, but if he had fifteen minutes, he would rather save his life. However groveling was not part of his plan. Pride was something Tseng had far too much of to let go of that simply.

"I know where they take the water benders." He said lastly, it was really the only thing he could offer to the woman. "I've been to the prisons... Save me, and you might be able to get some of your people back." It was the only card Tseng had that he could play. He didn't know if the girl would trust him enough to take it up, but something about her frozen tears, told him that she had just lost someone important to her. The only thought he had was a very bitter 'good maybe she can spare me in hopes of getting who ever it was back'. This way at least he didn't have to grovel, it was just a simple exchange a life for a life or something like that. Besides it wasn't like they could get anywhere near the fire nation prisons. So the information did nothing for them except save his life.

 

[Luana_Blodwyn]

When he spoke she thought about driving the bone knife into his throat and simply being done with it. Why waste the energy bending for a creature like him? She stepped forward, the thick, bloody snow crunching under her fur lined boots. Slowly she knelt down. If he wished to die then she would grant him his death. The only good fire bender was a dead one. Her hand clenched the knife tightly. She had never killed anyone before. Despite the hatred, despite the way her blood raced in her veins wanting her to kill him, she found she was lacking the strength. Water benders were not known to be peaceful, but they were mindless killers like fire benders. She gripped the knife so hard her hand was shaking. Before she could raise the blade to strike he spoke again. This and this alone stayed her hand.

She could save them, perhaps all of them. Who was taken she did not know. At that time she didn't even know her very own sister was in the holding cells of the ship on her way to that prison. Was it worth it? Saving the life of a single fire bender meant the lives of many of her people. Her dry lips pursed together in her indecision. She raised the knife up before sliding it into the sheath on her belt.

Lynka rose to her feet. Spreading her feet apart she raised up her hands. In a slow fluid motion the snow around them began to churn and whip. Then with a quick snap upright, hands over her head the snow rose and formed a domed sort of makeshift building. Turning she flung her hands towards a wall. It elongated and opened at the end. A door way that still shielded them from the icy winds. She stopped the ground and it packed low into solid ice. Nuknuk gave a whine before settling down.

Then Lynka sat beside the fire bender. Wordless she began to remove his armor to leave him in the clothing he wore beneath it. A fist suddenly clenched and ice sprung up around his ankles and wrists, securing him to the ice floor. Tied down as such he would not be able to bend. Then a small swirling motion with her hand and water gathered around. She held it to his wound and let out a long breath. The water began to glow a soft but bright blue. She laid it on the wound. It would feel cold, but not frigid. Water was soothing and his flesh knitted back together. It took only a couple minutes and she let the water recede. When it was done she did not remove his bonds.

"Do not think of betraying me, fire bender. I will kill you next time," she said to him with an icy stare. "Nuknuk," she looked to her polar dog and jerked her head towards the fire bender. The dog grumbled but rose. She moved over and settled near Tseng to help keep him warm. Then Lynka stepped out of the hut. Touching the side she turned the snow to solid ice and sealed the door. There would be enough air for a couple hours even with her large companion. For now they would need food.

She returned roughly an hour later. Unsealing the doorway she stepped in with a small grouping of fish, all speared onto a strange rack of ice. She looked down to the fire bender and wave her hand. The bonds melted from him and she held up the fish. "Might as well make use of you, here, cook this," she said as she tossed him the eight fish on their spike.

 

[malin]

Tseng's laughter died in his throat as she seemed to contemplate killing him with her knife. He watched as the water bending girl's hands shook. He was an enemy of her people, and for a moment he thought for sure that she was going to do it, but the shaking was something he didn't understand. He had been taught since he was a kid that in a fight any enemy that challenged the fire nation deserved death, they were holding back progress, and yet it seemed like things changed, because in a moment of contemplation she shifted and put away her weapon. He let out a small hidden sigh of relief. He was trying to save his life after all, and having his neck stabbed by water tribe primitive was not exactly something he wanted right now.

Moments later he was restrained, and a temporary home was built around him, and then it happened. Everyone had heard the rumors, healing through the water element. It was supposed to be just a rumor of some sort the northern men never showed this talent, and if the southern tribe had this power it was one he had never actually seen used before. It felt remarkable it wasn't just knitting together his skin, he could feel it restoring his energy, right down to his spirit. It was refreshing invigorating, but the feeling only lasted for as long as she remained healing him. Once it was over, and the water had turned back into the ice around them he felt some amount of his weakness return to him. Not nearly as much as he had been, but enough that he didn't complain when he didn't unbind him.

When the polar bear dog walked up to him and sat next to him to help keep him warm he was grateful, but didn't say it. His life was no longer in danger, and that was more then enough. For now focused on getting warmth from the dogs fur, and his own breath. When she left the tent he guessed that she was going to get the people of her tribe. When she said not to think of betraying her he gave no answer. However the moment she was gone, he looked at the dog, who for a moment he thought was glaring at him. "Great no ventilation and the air already smells like wet dog fur."

Closing his eyes he decided that while she was gone, prepping for some kind of torture, probably going back to her tribe to go and bring some of her people to help torture him for additional information. His life may have been saved, but so far she acted just like a primitive water scum girl would act. Shaking his head he had to get away from her, but his brothers wouldn't be back till they had delivered the last group to the prison, and then some. They relied on fear tactic's to make their raids work, they needed the water tribe to think that they had forgotten them before they showed up again otherwise the defenses would be too strong and there would be many more captured or dead.

Right now there was no escape, and when the snow door fell apart Tseng craned his neck to see how many people the girl had gone to grab, and to his shock she had brought food instead of people, and what was more she freed him from his bonds. There was a long moment of silence after she had thrown the food at him. He looked her up and down trying to figgure out what kind of trap this was, and stayed silent all the while. His arms tensed, his body readied, and after a long pause He struck out with his arm.

"Hya!" Tseng had intended to create a wave of fire that would have simply punched through the water bender, and instead what he got was the tiniest puff of smoke. Letting out a long sigh should have figured. He had been bleeding out for so long that even now his muscles felt weak after the hour nap, and healing he wasn't strong enough to conjure the simplest of sparks. His chi was depleted, and his strength gone from his body thanks in part to the rough treatment of his host. "Can't no fire." He said with a shrug trying to play off his instinctive attack as a demonstration of some sort, one he was sure she hadn't appreciated.

He had meant to come off menacing, and powerful, instead he had only succeeded in showing that for the moment he wasn't. He was as weak as they came without his bending. A fire bender without his bending he was as good as dead, and miserable for that fact.

 

[Luana_Blodwyn]

Lynka watched the fire bender carefully. He was holding suspiciously still. Then his arm struck out. The girl gave a short yell and flung up her arms to shield the blast. But there was nothing, no heat or burning. Slowly she lowered her arms and instead there was smoke curling in the hut she had made. Her lips pursed together in annoyance. He tried to play it off, as if trying to show her. She didn't trust him, but at least he was weak. For now he couldn't do any harm. Perhaps it had just been a demonstration after all. How could anyone not know they couldn't bend? Stupid fire bender.

The water tribe girl sat down on the ice floor and snatch up the spike with the fish. First she removed three and tossed them to her large dog. Nuknuk gave a grateful bark and began chomping on the fish, bones and all. She removed the other five and began cutting the fillets out. Still she didn't bother talking to the fire bender. Idiot barbarians, probably couldn't carry on a conversation even if their lives depended on it, and several depended on this one. Not just the lives of her tribesmen but his own, not that she cared about his life, but for now she needed him.

Once the fish were cut up she handed him a filet. "Eat," she said simply as she picked up one herself and bit into it. The flesh was cold and salty. Raw fish wasn't the best, especially when one wanted something nice and warm to eat, but at least it was food.

 

[malin]

Tseng sat in silence away from Nuknuk and the girl, he was alone and stuck in this frozen circle of hell. No bending with enemies probably all around him. He was as good as dead, and it seemed rather clear that this situation was only going to get worse before it got better. The more his captor refused to speak the more paranoid he became of her. What was she planning? Why was she taking so much time and effort into patching him up and making him strong again when it probably would have meant her own destruction. Though he did get some minor satisfaction out of her scream for at least a few seconds before she realized how weak he was.

"Tseng Li." He said finally, " that's mine so do you have a name?" He asked after he had taken several bites of the fish she had cut up for him. Sure it didn't taste great, but then he lived off of military food stored so it could be eaten on a ship. At this rate he was used to salty food, and at least he could keep it down. Fish was a lighter meat, and even weakened he could eat it and keep it down easy enough. Cook it and add some rice and he would have felt right at home. "Or am I just supposed to call you water tribe scum from now until I leave?"

~Leave, yeah that's a joke, ten minutes in that water and your dead.~ He thought bitterly he couldn't exactly swim to freedom, he needed a boat if he wanted to get anywhere let alone the fire nation, and without a fire nation ship, they would have to go the long way around since the blockades would never let them near the fire nation without the proper ship, flag, and codes. Yeah for the moment he wasn't going anywhere without the water tribe girl. So it wouldn't hurt to at least learn a name he could call her. She didn't after all seem to be trying to kill him, even after he had just tried to harm her. He finished the food and let out a long breath, some steam leaving his mouth as he felt a little more of his energy return to him.

 

[Luana_Blodwyn]

The water tribe girl looked to the fire bender as he ate the fish. Well he didn't seem disgusted by it, probably used to finer fare. Still he ate what was given which was good. Even if he was better off dead she still needed him, if what he said was true. She picked up her cutlet and continued to eat. As he ate he turned to her and spoke. Her eyebrows quirked at him when he introduced himself. Well that was a surprise. So killing machines had names. For a moment she stared at him as if she didn't trust this offering of a name. What did he expect to gain out of this? Certainly he didn't really care what her name was. Though when he said he could just call her water tribe scum she narrowed her eyes. "Have you looked in a mirror lately? It is your kind who are scum. We live in peace and you destroy that." She paused for a second. "Lynka...and this is Nuknuk." The polar dog gave a bark before going back to her final fish.

Once the fish was finished a heavy silent settle on the small, strange group. Nuknuk laid her large head on her paws and looked between the two human with big, doggy eyes. Finally Lynka took a small breath. "How do we get to these prisons? Where are they exactly? Then how do we get them out?" If nothing else she was direct, more than ready to free her friends. Then her eyes narrowed again. "And if you try to fire bend at me again I will bind you for the entirety of this journey. Or perhaps just kill you, got that, Tseng?"

 

[malin]

"I've heard those protests before, but it's fact that before the war, the other three nations were plotting against us. We just struck first, and struck harder, and so you label us the monsters." It was a fact Tseng had been taught in school since he could remember. The other nations had wanted to disturb the peace. Avatar Roku had played the part of an antagonist and a traitor, and even gone as far as to attack fire lord Sozin, and over what? a few new homes where the people of the fire nation could have expanded and lived in peace? The land hadn't even been used prior to the colonies. "As long as the other nations plot against our home, and you primitive benders continue to stand in our way there is no peace it's that simple."

He took another bite of the food he was given and nearly choked on it. What was this about a we? That had not been what he had signed up for, and simply could not happen. He would rather die then fully betray his people, as it was talking to Lynka was already putting his life in a bigger jeopardy then he could account for. "No I told I would tell you where the prisons are, I'd draw you a map, and give you names and locations. Then you and your little tribe can ride off in what ever logs you call a boat, and I will wash my hands of you people, and find a way back to my home."

There was no journey for them, she could go on this little suicide mission herself, and be caught. He just needed transport back to the earth kingdoms, and then he could get to the colonies and barter for transport back to his home. Nothing else really mattered, her little vendetta certainly didn't. When she said that she would bind him for the remainder of the trip, and or kill him if he tried to fire bend at her he snorted.

"I saw your hands, You hesitated to kill me then, and you will hesitate again Lynka. If not against me, then the next fire bender who comes to raid this poodle-horse of a town. Hesitation gets you killed in the battle field. I've seen it, and felt it." He made a gesture to his side. He wasn't about to tell her what had happened, but he did admit it was his fault that he had been bleeding out in the snow, and not on his ship right now celebrating another successful raid with his brethren.

 

[Luana_Blodwyn]

Lynka's eyebrows quirked up at what he said. What sort of insane brain washing did these people go through? She might not know all of the details but she was certain no other nation was plotting to attack the fire nation. When he called her a primitive bender her jaw ticked as she clenched it. He didn't stop talking then, even if she wanted to light into him about calling her form of bending primitive. She had to stay calm. Without his help she had no hope of tracking down her people and freeing them. He went on to say that he would not be guiding her there. Well little did he know that, yes, in fact he would. She kept her breathing slow, trying to keep as calm as possible as he mocked her for hesitation. When he was finished she took a long and slow breath, releasing it just as slowly. Calm like still waters.

"I hesitate because I am not a killer, not like you. We kill for food and protection. It is you who attacked us." She pulled her knees up to her chest. Even blocking the wind the little hut was fairly cold. He must be freezing...good. "I don't know where you get off calling us primitive. At least water can heal and earth can build. Fire is destruction incarnate, you and your kind have prove that. Fire is also life...but you seem to have forgotten that and see only the destruction it can bring." She leaned back against Nuknuk and sighed.

"And you will be taking me there yourself. I saved your life when I should have taken it or left you to die. If you have a shred of honor you will do this. You only need to take me to the prison. From there I can figure out what to do, even if it's on my own. Unlike you I have honor and would not ask you to openly betray your people." Her brow furrowed a little. "Or if you like I can get what information I need from and then leave you to die in the tundra. I mean if you really don't want to travel with me fine, but good luck surviving out here. No shelter, no bending...gonna be pretty hard I would think."

 

[malin]

Tseng let out a snort when she lectured him on the value of fire. He knew full well the value of fire, every child that could bend had to learn. Else they might end up burning down the entirety of the fire nation. Still his eye's twitched she had a point. He had to travel with her. Seeing her shiver however he blinked for a moment. She was cold? wasn't this her homeland. He shook his head she had to use that word. The word that could bend mountains in the fire nation, and question the pride of the fire lord himself. Honor, god he hated hearing that phrase come from a primitive like this. "Fine, I'll go with you, but I will not assist you in fighting any Fire Benders, and I will need new clothing, if you haven't noticed mine was kind of destroyed."

He said pulling at the hole in his shirt. If they were going for the long journey to the fire nation he couldn't walk around in tatters, and he couldn't walk around looking like a sailor of the fire navy it would put his life at risk to many times. Rule of one of being behind enemy lines hide your bending, disguise your heritage. Looking at how well she handled the cold it was a bit of a shock, after all it was warmer in the shelter then it had been outside of it, and he was still sitting in a puddle of red snow. "I will take you as far as inside the fire nation, and that's it. We part ways once your past the boarder guards and blockades." It was still traitorous, but it did make them even for her saving his life, and the moment they were within the fire nation all he had to do was force her to bend and she would be off to the prison, and he would be a hero again. Easily done.

"Give me your hands." He said holding out his own. Ready to take hers, when she offered them. He couldn't bend not fully any way, but there were techniques that required less energy to use then a fire fist. The very basics of all fire bending came from the breath, and once he had her hands, He focused and channeled that breath. Like hot summer air it left his lips, and vented over the cold of her hands, helping to warm them almost instantly. Now at least she would know the reason he wasn't shivering, heck if it wasn't for the fact that he couldn't do anything more then that right now, he would be better fit to survive in these tempuratures then she was. However the breath came at a price, as the moment it was over he erupted into heavy a coughing fit. ~Damn am I really that broken?~ He thought lightly, a few days bed rest and he would feel better.

"So, what's your plan for getting out of the south pole? I didn't see a harbor when we came in."

 

[Luana_Blodwyn]

She nodded when he gave his terms. Of course she had enough honor as well to not expect him to fight his own people. It was traitorous enough helping her into the fire nation. Still she would need the assistance if she expected to free her people. New clothing was a certainty, they could need it. They could go back to her village to acquire clothing but there incurred a great deal of risk. They would try and stop her and they would probably kill Tseng. Not that she entirely cared about his life but she needed him. She was puzzling just how she could get them out of a heavily guarded prison. They would not permit them water, just enough to survive. Probably chain their arms and let them drink from ladles the guards held.

When he demanded her hands she looked up in surprise. Suspicion was clearly written across her face. Slowly she leaned forward and removed her mittens. When he took her hands she was surprised to find they were very warm, compared to her own hands that might as well have been ice. When he breathed across her cold digits she flexed them in the warmth. Though it seemed to strain him as he began to cough violently. She put a hand to his shoulder until it subsided. Then he sat back and asked her just how they planned to sail out.

"We could use an ice flow..." she said with a small shrug.

 

[malin]

"That's a great plan, except for the part where it's not. Your village has to have boats. I may not have seen them in docks, but I have seen them on the ocean, hunting and going through ice drifts, attacking the small ships we use as lures while we hide the other less vulnerable ships." Using an ice flow was not a way to travel, and while her bending could probably stop the ice from melting it limited the supplies they would be able to carry, and would make the entire experience rather cold. They would get to where they wanted too sure, after a month of boiling in the sun, and freezing on the snow.

Then it crossed his mind as to why she wouldn't want to go back to her village. She didn't tell them about him, this was all her plan, and it wasn't even a good one. He almost laughed but he was now more understanding of it then anything else. If they made a move against her village it would be the same as him making a move against her nation. "Okay... Then I will steal the boat." They wouldn't expect a southern raider to try something so daring. Especially if they were hiding their boats somewhere secret and safe. It was like breaking into the fire nation. "All you have to do is show me where they are kept, and then come night time, I'll break in, and take one. Then all you need to do is meet me somewhere safe with the supplies. At worst your people will think that I kidnapped you, or threatened your family or something into helping me get back to my people."

It was a better plan then an ice flow, but in order for it to work he would need some of his bending which meant he would need sleep. Turning over he laid down. putting his head down next to the polar bear dog. The fur helping him stay warm. "We get a way out of the south, I get to live, and you get to be blameless... how does that sound to you?" He asked before he closed his eyes, he was still listening, but he was tired enough that he wanted sleep.

 

[Luana_Blodwyn]

Lynka listened to the plan Tseng laid out. Well at least she wouldn't have to steal from her own people, that was good. She didn't care for the idea of stealing from them, but there were few options. They would not want of food, the ocean was still full of fish. Still it could not hurt to take supplies. She frowned a little in thought then heaved a small sigh. Looking over at the raider she quirked an eyebrow. Nuknuk did not growl as he laid near the polar dog. Infact the dog just gave him a light sniff before settling her head on her paws. The water tribe girl made a little "hm" sound before settling back against her polar dog.

"You are right, it could be a good plan. I do not wish to steal from my own people but...you do not know where everything is kept." She gave a small sigh and looked up at the roof of the makeshift shelter. The warmth from Nuknuk seeped into her, making her a little more comfortable. "I will take what we need. You need clothing, we both need a boat and supplies. If I am seen people will not question my being there. If you are seen they will attack. I will not risk this venture or their lives. The boats are kept a little away from the village in a hidden harbor. From sea it looks like a simple mound of snow. We will go there tonight when it is dark. No one guards the boats."

She pulled up the hood of her parka and folded her arms across her chest. "I will hide you near the boats and when I return we will leave at first light. With some small amount of luck we will find some land before the next nightfall. Sleeping in a canoe is not easy."

 

[malin]

Tseng sighed. She was right about them probably attacking him, and she was right that they would have tried to kill him again, but after his last run in with the southern tribe he wasn't about to underestimate them a second time. He was still curious about this girl who had healed him, that skill alone felt odd to know she had. It was alien to him something he had never seen before, a rumor he had just confirmed as fact. Still the more they agreed on their plan the more it felt a little comforting. "Suite yourself, but get some rest. Night fall will be in a few hours, and we will both need our strength."

Laying down he breathed lightly and slept for the next few hours. When he awoke the light outside was moonlight. He felt stronger physically. Food and rest had helped his strength considerably, and it didn't even hurt to move at this point. His body was still warm, and he got to his feet silently enough. Moving around the shelter he tapped Lynka on the shoulder and slightly more hesitantly patted Nuknuk to wake them. "It's time." He said lightly, Getting ready for Lynka to lead the way. He didn't bother with his armor. It would slow him down, and mark him from a distance. For now he was hoping to just rely on stealth. He had done a few stealth operations with the raiders, but nothing really like this.

Looking outside their shelter he was wary to step outside, but glad too feel the fresh air on his skin. It wasn't as cold as he thought it would have been. He guessed his body naturally insulated him against the cold, but even so he felt a slight shiver trail down his spine. He kept his head low, and rubbed his hands together, Snapping his fingers he made a set of sparks along with a very small flame before immediately putting it out. "Looks like I have some of my bending back." He whispered. "If all hell breaks loose at least I can defend myself... I'll try not to kill anyone if that happens."

His voice was dripping with something akin to sarcastic behavior. He honestly didn't care about these people and their problems. All that mattered was getting back home to the fire nation, and if one or two primitives did die because of that goal he was okay with that. However at the same time he had to act like he wasn't indifferent to the idea just on the sake of Lynka, who he actually needed the help of in order to get home. Once he got there he could betray her all he wanted and leave her to rot in some fire nation prison, after all he was only agreeing to take her to the fire nation and past the boarder guards. "Lead the way." He said with a small bow towards Lynka and her giant polar bear dog.

 

[Luana_Blodwyn]

When her shoulder was tapped Lynka made a little noise which was followed closely by a yawn. Nuknuk lifted her head and gave a short, sleepy growl. Once the polar dog realized it was the human from earlier she gave a small, apologetic whine before yawning. Slowly both females got to their feet and stretched. Funny how the pet and master sometimes possessed similar habits. Already Lynka felt nervous about this task. She would have to steal from her own people, but wasn't it in the effort to rescue others of her kind? With a deep breath to quell the furious flutter bats in her stomach. Her arms raised and dropped, when they dropped the shelter disappeared as if it had never been there. "Alright, let's go."

It was a good mile to the village and she was careful to skirt close to the water. They were lucky, it was a new moon. No extra light would reveal them for now. The village was in almost complete darkness, but a couple of fires could be seen. Lynka was surprised, they had lookouts stationed. Watching for more fire nation or hoping those who had fled would return? They walked to the far side of where they village ended and to a large mound of snow. She waved her hand and a small fleet of canoes was found. "Ok you stay here, I am going to try and get supplies." As she turned to go Nuknuk made to go with her. "No Nuknuk, you stay here." She said as she pat the large polar dog's head. Nuknuk whined but settled in the snow to wait.

Lynka skirted around the back of the village and burrowed herself into the snow, carefully propelling herself forward, keeping the camouflage around her. I was surprisingly easy to sneak in, but with the snowflage she wasn't too surprised. First she crept into her home where her parents lay sleeping. Immediatly she noticed her sister, Hama, was not there. She prayed to the spirits that she was still out in the tundra. If she had been taken...then it just deepened her resolve to get to that prison. So she took two large bags with her, a set of clothing that was her father's and a warm parka. Next she burrowed to where food was stored. There she filled the bags with as much food as she possibly could, not knowing how far it was before they would be able to find food again. With her bags filled she turned to leave when she heard the horn. The horn meant enemies. She quickly turned and didn't even bother with the snowflage, with the hood up in the dark she could be anyone.

As she left the village in the midst of others she saw what they were running towards. Tseng had been seen.

 

[malin]

Tseng had done pretty much exactly what Lynka had asked him to do, stay put. He had tried his best to stay out of sight of anyone. However the prediction that the boats would be unguarded was wrong, as two young tribesmen were watching over the area, and once Lynka left he had been spotted rather quickly. If not by complete accident. The two were quick to raise an alarm via a low whistle, the village responded by sounding a large horn, and suddenly the hills were alive with benders and non benders, the might of the south may have been diminished but there were still many capable warriors in town who wanted a piece of him.

Grabbing the first boys spear as Tseng was charged he let loose wave of flame to knock the boy over. He didn't bother with any killing moves rather he had just wanted the weapon so he could try and defend himself. His fire bending was still rather weak thanks to his injuries, and the last thing he wanted to do was kill several of Lynka's tribesmen before they had to go on some long and dangerous journey together, as that just seemed like it would lower his life expectancy with every primative that he burned to death. As it was however he did not sink from a challenge, and he wasn't afraid of any of these people. Even as the water benders that remained inside the clan attacked throwing whips of water towards him he kicked off from the ground breaking the waves with a display of fire.

Nuknuk wasn't much of a help for this fight, maybe it was out of a knowledge that these were her family of sorts, but she simply stayed where she had been told to sit waiting for Lynka to return. The tribe on the other hand quickly surrounded Tseng. Cries of kill the monster and several more insults were thrown towards him. None of which really affected the Southern Raider. If they wanted him dead they had a pretty good shot at him right now, and even he had to admit that there wasn't much he could do about it. He took a step back only to feel another spear jab him in the back of the leg, not quiet hard enough to break through his thicker pants, but still rather harshly.

Tseng held the frozen spear tightly to him, right now it was the only thing really saving his ass along with his fire bending. Taking a deep breath he turned and unleashed the best roar of fire he could muster his breath burning a circle around him marking a line in the snow. He tried to hide the fact that that move actually rather hurt his throat. "Well?" He said his voice considerably more dry then it had been when he had spoken to Lynka. "What are you water babies waiting for? The monster is here who wants a piece." Really the only option he had right now was to play off their collective fears, otherwise he was gonna end up strung up as some kind of warning to any and all fire benders come the next raid.

 

[Luana_Blodwyn]

Others had gotten there before her. In the darkness she could see vague shapes moving, fighting. On occasion a gout of flame lit up the area. Had her situation been any different she might have paused to admire the spectacle. This time, however, she knew she had to get there and get there quickly. She flung her hands forward creating a sort of ice ramp and slid towards the battle. The ramp elevated and she slid up then leaped off into the fray. "Stop!" She yelled as the water tribe members moved to rush on Tseng. The surprise attack from one of their own caught all of them off guard and they were all pushed back with a burst of snow. "Lynka!" A man shouted and stepped forward. "Out of the way daughter," he said, brandishing a spear. "Father, please, listen," she pleaded, hands still up to defend. "He is one of the ones who took your sister," her father said, tossing back his hood. The man was well into his 40s, grey touching his temples and the edge of his short beard. "I know, I know, but I am..." "Enough!" another man roared, a water bender. He flung his hands, whipping water at Lynka who deflected it and flung down a sheet of ice.

"I'm sorry father..." she said softly. "I will bring Hama back." Her arms raised up and from the water came a great wave that drew the small canoe fleet out of their hiding spot. Slamming her arms down the wave surged forward and crashed onto the shore. The water benders were able to block themselves from the worst of it but the non benders were swept back. In that same time Lynka grabbed Tseng's wrist, creating a protective pocket for the pair of them and Nuknuk to escape through. She hauled him into the frigid water yelling "swim". A current helped to propel them forward to catch up with a canoe. Using a small cyclone of water she lifted them up and into the canoe. Nuknuk shook off the water as Lynka used her bending to propel them quickly. With any luck they would be well enough and quickly enough away so even the benders could not follow.

 

[malin]

Tseng had not expected the battle to end like that. He knew that Lynka had her own ideas about what helping him would do, but at the same time he had never actually expected her to save him. In all honesty he had expected her to join her people in trying to kill him, and for a moment he thought she had. She had all but thrown him into the freezing cold water, and while he knew how to swim, the shock had caused his joints to seize momentarily. Even as they propelled he wasn't so much swimming as he was being dragged towards the boat, and when he was thrown onto the actual ship his body was shivering, and he had swallowed enough sea water that he was feeling sick. Holding his head over the bow he vomited up the collected water first, and then breathed small puffs of smoke and fire. His body was shivering he couldn't get warm. "Y-y-you c-could have j-just l-let me die." In truth he wasn't sure which was the better option. Freezing to death on a boat, or freezing to death by a group of water benders.

They of course had bigger problems however as the water benders broke off parts of the ice flow to use as boats,. Using their bending to create large waves that carried their make shift boats like motors. Tseng breathed more smoke as he pulled off his soaked shirt, it was just going to cause his tempurature to lower faster. He would have stripped all the way, but now wasn't the time as he stood up. "K-keep the b-boat steady." He said getting his body ready, he was still shaking his aim wouldn't be perfect but then it really didn't have to be. Even as they were moving as quickly as they could the water benders were sending violent waves to try and sink the canoe. They knew that Lynka would survive she was a water bender after all, but they really wanted him. They sent out bursts of water and ice like cannon fire. trying to catch up with the two trying to escape.

Breathing heavily trying to gather his strength, Tseng planted his feat on the boat as best he could Letting out a large burst of flames the two focused Jets hit the water as fast and hard as he could, not only propelling them forward slightly faster adding to her own water bending, but also throwing up a thick haze of fog as the hot fire struck the freezing water the temperature change created a quick and harsh release of steam. Tseng lasted for a little while longer before he ran out of juice and fell back inside the boat. His body was cold, and once again he was out of energy to bend with, but hopefully he had done his part in aiding their escape.

 

[Luana_Blodwyn]

Lynka ignored him as he spoke. Her own body was quaking from the cold plunge. They wouldn't last long if they couldn't get away. She had used a great deal of energy to bend and even now she felt herself getting weaker. That was when Tseng stood up, after empty the contents of his stomach. She was working hard as wave and ice tried to sink their canoe. Propelling and defending was proving to be quite a task. She was doing her best to keep the violent rocking down, raising and lowering the water to even out the keel. Then he let out a great gout of flame. Mixed with the freexing waters it sent up a steam of foggy haze and propelled them forward. It was all she could do to keep the canoe steady. Looking around she saw a gathering of ice floes. Steering the canoe she headed for the thick of them and held to the side of one. Using the last bit of strength she had left for bending she sloshed water up and froze it around them. The water below the canoe stilled and they were covered by thick ice.

The water tribe girl let out a great, heaving sigh and settled back into the boat. It was chill but wind was blocked and they were hidden. "They won't search here," she said after another sigh and shivered violently. "We need to dry our clothing," she said after a little bit, feeling her body shaking violently. Reaching into a pack she brought out clothing for him and slowly, as if it were too much effort, she drew out the water from their clothing, hair, Nuknuk's fur and whatever was in the bottom of the canoe. When all was dry she lay against Nuknuk, her head swimming a little.

"There is food in one of the packs too," she said after a little, carefully looking away to give him privacy to change his clothing.

 

[malin]

Tseng stripped down, and changed quickly not really wanting to be seen by anyone. He had burn marks along his back that he wasn't proud of, and he wanted to hide them as quickly as possible. Throwing on the parka and changing into the much warmer water tribe clothing he fell back into his body resting against Nuknuk's warm fur. He sighed looking up at the sheet of ice that camouflaged their boat. They had done it, at least for a little while they had actually managed to get away from the south pole. He made a small grunting noise as he went through the bags, and found some seaweed bread. Spitting it in half he passed one side to her, and hesitantly sniffed the other half not really knowing how it would taste or if it was even edible. Still he was too tired and hungry to not eat it, and so he took a quick bite of it, before sinking in further for the meal. He was famished and tired, something that seemed to happen a lot.

"So... your tribe seemed nice." He said after a while trying to think up a conversation starter. She had just betrayed her family in a pretty big climatic way. He had no idea what she was going through, at this moment after all everything he was doing was so that he could get back to his people. He didn't even realize that the way he had spoken could have been taken as rubbing salt in the girls fresh wounds. The news that her sister was taken wasn't all that shocking either, after all it had been the fire nations goal and right to lock up those that resisted the fire lords will, and what happened to her and her family would simply be the fact of things until all nations submitted to the fire nation. Stretching out on the boat he closed his eyes, but stayed awake for a moment.

For now he was just glad to be warm, and safe. He knew that Lynka had her motives for saving him, but she had still pulled his ass out of a very bad situation. "Thank you... I know that must have been difficult."

 

[Luana_Blodwyn]

Lynka frowned a little when he spoke. Maybe saving him wouldn't quite be worth it. Still she needed him. There was no way she would be able to find her sister without his help, however much she grudged it. With nothing to say at the moment she nibbled at the seaweed bread, relishing in the crisp saltiness of it. She had betrayed her people, not attack them but still she was aiding a firebender. One of the many who had been apart of the capture of her sister. She leaned against the other side of Nuknuk and frowned at her bread, her guts churning to the point where she felt she couldn't eat. So instead she fed the bread to Nuknuk and curled up a little against the polar dog's large side.

Then he spoke again and she suddenly sat up. "Difficult...just difficult huh? Do you have any idea what it is like? You and your kind parade around like you are somehow superior. As if fire bending is the only real form of bending. Your kind killed off all of the air nomads because of your search for the avatar. Probably the cycle is broken and there is no way to stop this stupid war your kind started. My sister is probably in some hold on your ship, on her way to be imprisoned or maybe even killed." She wouldn't cry, the tears would probably just freeze to her face so she scrubbed at her eyes. "They don't understand, now they think I am a traitor...and the raids will never stop. You and your kind are monsters, all of you."

She laid back against Nuknuk with her arms folded. "Go to sleep before I decided this venture isn't worth it..."

 

[malin]

Tseng scoffed, fire bending was the only real form of bending and that was a simple fact. The other forms of bending were cheep imitations of the art, and had no real elegance too them, even after seeing what was once pure myth to him healing through water bending he was still convinced of that fact. Hearing her digression he shrugged. If her plan succeeded which it wouldn't she would go back to her people a hero, so in the end who cares right? She would settle her own vindetta or and this was far more likely she would rot away in a jail cell with the rest of her kind. He didn't focus to much on her last line calling him a monster. Honestly it was what he was starting to expect from her. She would save his life, and then insult him, yep sounded like the current cycle so far. She was right though the raids would never stop until there was no more water benders in the southern tribe.

Closing his eyes after he finished his bread his mouth was still very dry both from the salt water of the sea, and the seaweed bread. For now he would wait till morning to ask her if she had any fresh water or could make any with her bending. For now he was just a little dehydrated, and he could live with that fact. Sleeping through the night came easy to Tseng, and come morning the sun was visible through the glass like ice wall that she had put up. Tseng stretched, feeling his energy return with the rise of the sun, invigorating him with new found strength.

Waking up he felt thirsty and slowly he got to his feet. He was a little worried about fire bending, the last thing he wanted to do was make it obvious where the two of them were, but he was actually kind of excited. Today was the first day on their trip to the fire nation. Slowly but surely they would make their way back home. "Any chance you can bend the salt out of water?" He asked lightly as he poked the girl. After last night he was hesitant to really wake her, both her and giant beast of a dog had proven to get rather aggressive with their words. Still she wasn't bending water at him, so all was well in the world.

 

[Luana_Blodwyn]

Lynka fell asleep rather quickly, nestled against Nuknuk's side. She was exhausted from bending so much at once, not to mention it was well past dark and the previous day hadn't yielded much sleep. True it was rather cold but the fur from Nuknuk helped insulate some. Soon enough they would start heading north where it would be warmer. Imagine that, air that was warm. Not the blistering, biting cold of the south pole. All he life she had dreamed of traveling far, going places that were warm.

The next morning she was roused by someone poking her. She opened her eyes slowly and gave a soft, annoyed growl. With a yawn she sat up and rubbed the sleep from her brown eyes. "No I can't," she said before another yawn over took her. Rolling a little over she grabbed one of the bags and pulled out two large skins of water. Carefully she melted the ice over their heads and let it stream into the bottle. "When water freezes into ice it is fresh water, the salt is left behind." She explain as she passed him one of the skin. "Drink it sparingly, I don't know how far we are from land where we can get more." With that she melted the rest of her cover and she propelled the canoe gently through the ice floes.

It was a brilliant day out, the sun was shining and there was little wind. The ocean was peaceful as they drifted through. She kept the canoe on a north eastern course, using the sun for guidance. "You've probably seen a lot of maps...do you have any idea where there might be land nearby?"

 

[malin]

Tseng paused slightly as he thought about there location. He had indeed seen a lot of maps thanks in part to his work with the fire navy. He had traveled a lot in these waters, mostly going too and from the fire nation, but he knew the maps and land masses well. Looking at the sun he could see the course they were taking, and Tseng's face paled slightly. There was land, and it wasn't far, even as they drifted he knew that it wouldn't take them more then a day to reach the islands, but they were islands that none of his fleet would dare go near. "Well yes, if you adjust course slightly towards the west, then we should have a clear shot at the air nomads former southern territories, but..."

Tseng cut himself off. She had said last night exactly why he had no interest in going to that island chain. "Those islands are haunted. No ship goes near them, no one wants to be anywhere near those places." There was more then superstition. Many of the traps that the fire nation had set up along those islands had remained in place. Explosives, and other such things dotted the land, and of course there was the fact that all the dead had remained to rot in those peaks. Air tribal, and Fire nations alike Sozin's comet had been too quick, and so powerful. It had been a sneak attack unlike any since or after, and now those islands were bad news. Yet they were steadily becoming his and Lynka's only hope.

However it would also give them an advantage the fire nation steered clear of that place, the water benders would never think of going there either. They could evade two groups while trying to get to the earth kingdom. It seemed like the best of both worlds. He took another small drink of the water before handing it back to Lynka. Laying back in the boat next to Nuknuk he was starting to get used to the polorbear dog, and in fact he was thankful for it. Sighing he was slightly happy that they were going north, the further they got from the ice and cold, the happier he would be. Even if they had to brave the weird and haunted shores of the air nomads territory.