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Post by taartoq on Jun 22, 2007 23:08:11 GMT -5
The couple swiftly walked down the street in an orderly and calm manner, their arms intertwined as Taartoq used his mitten-clad hand to caress his dear Padma's shoulder as she shuddered in fear. Tears streamed down her dark skin as she clung closer to her husband. A few minutes earlier, they had heard the call sounded, one to evacuate their homes and head for one of the shelters within the city. Before leaving, however, a messenger stopped by their door to deliver a note signed by Chieftain Attu. Due to his being a waterbender with a large amount of knowledge and reasonable level of skill in waterbending, he was drafted to protect the very shelter to which he was leading Padma. He knew she truly feared for his life as much as she did her own, but his constant reassurance was in vain, and it did nothing to change her thoughts on the matter. Throngs of people were leaving their home for a safe place, but the husband and wife stayed as close to each other as possible.
Taartoq was wearing a perpetual expression of concern and anxiety, and the patting of his wife's arm was intended to calm her down as much as it was to soothe his nerves. As his lips moved subtly in silent prayer to the moon and ocean spirits, he twitched his turquoise orbs around the rapidly-moving crowds, seeing the elderly and children move toward sanctuary alongside women of all ages. The throngs were relatively quiet as a few warriors directed them to safety, only a few cries of infants, or soft sobbing of other older ones in the crowd.
There was an amount of confusion present on most everyone's minds in that moment. Nobody knew quite what to expect. It was similar to the last attack from the Fire Nation, but sure to be different by far. They wouldn't try the same tactics as they did before. They may be cruel and sadistic, but they weren't lacking in intelliect one bit. Those who dwelt in the Northern Water Tribe only knew by prior examples that the Fire Nation troops were cold and ruthless, yet efficient killers.
Finally they got to the shelter. Taartoq lead his wife inside, down the steps into the large structure of a rectangular shape, where roughly thirty people were already seated on furs laid on the floor. More people were pouring into this shelter, so he quickly found a spot for Padma to seat herself. The lady's hand was gripped tightly around her husband's upper arm, and though she was silent, it was all to clear that she didn't want Taartoq to leave her all alone. He looked her in the eyes, and with a slightly forced smile told her he would be all right. With a soft peck on her pink-glazed lips, he set out of the structure and stood amongst the other benders and warriors who were to guard the place during the battle. He would be sure to lead people to this sanctuary and protect them all if need be. But the actual thought of another armed conflict within the city was what sent a chill up Taartoq's spine.
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Post by gandalan on Jun 22, 2007 23:19:33 GMT -5
Still in the jail, Nakamura had been wondering if they'd forgotten about him, or if this was part of his punishment.
He could have easily bent the icy bars to water, stepped outside, and probably escaped by now, if he'd really wanted to. But he didn't, not really. The prison, completely abandoned, was probably the safest place right now. The shelters, centers where people were, would probably be attacked if the Fire Nation got into the city. He remembered last time... it hadn't been pleasant. He'd been part of the last ditch defense, in case everything else failed. He'd have been the last thing between the true civilians and the Fire Nation.
And this time, the Avatar wouldn't step in to save them, either. The possibility loomed in the back of his head that they might lose, and that would mean that they all died. Every last one.
A nervous look was on his face, as he sat against the wall, his legs crossed in front of him. This wasn't exactly where he wanted to be right now, but with the trouble he was in already, he wasn't going to disobey any other orders. So he stayed where he was. Sighing, he gulped, and hoped that the defenders of the city fared better than last time.
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Post by ebele on Jun 24, 2007 18:54:29 GMT -5
Steel-blue eyes stared out at the throng of civilians, just arrived...answering to the sounds of gongs and drums, signals that the attack had finally arrived. The young woman, at age twenty-six, never believed that she would have to go through another attack. Not another one. Thousands had died last time. And that had been with the help of the Avatar! What would happen now? With the Avatar gone?
Ebele sat against a flat, icy wall, her father and her ill mother near-by. Her father was trying to get her mother to calm down, but she had entered hysterics hours before. Her father, from what Ebele could decipher, was rather calm. His voice did not seem to reach her mother, but rather, the tone seemed as if to sooth her frets. Ebele glanced over at the couple momentarily, before her eyes were peeled away by the crying of an infant near-by.
The child, in his mother's arms, was wailing terribly, and catching attention of a few annoyed, older couples. Ebele began to stand, when her father looked at her rather harshly. "Where are you goin', Ebele?"
Ebele looked at her father as she rose to her full height of 5 foot 4 inches, and said in her heavy accent, "I want tah help."
"Help your muh'der, while I try to go see what's goin' on." Ebele sighed, but obliged to her father's will, she sat next to her mother, who quickly grasped hold of her hand, digging her sharp nails into her skin.
"Ma, where's yer gloves?" Ebele asked, her voice soft and soothing to any ears but her mother's.
"Gloves. Gloves? Gloves!" Her mother's shrill voice echoed in the room, and Ebele covered her mother's mouth quickly with one hand, terror rippling through her body. A mix of fever and distress had turned her mother into something worse than what she normally was, and Ebele worried for her.
"Ma, calm down. Shh, yer gonna cause a ruckus. Ma!" But her mother kept screaming into Ebele's hand, and Ebele began to feel her own sanity dwindle. How much longer must they sit here in the dark, while their men was out fighting? When will they hear the chimes for peace? When, indeed.
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Post by taartoq on Jun 25, 2007 23:59:50 GMT -5
Taartoq merely stood by the doorway as the crowds shuffled toward the bunker, propping himself against the wall as a few other guards of the place escorted or directed people to safety. The member of the tribe's upper crust was surprised at all whom he recognized walking through the threshold to descend the icy stairs leading to the underground shelter. He even saw that white-clad storyteller entering, the one whom he had seen a few times around the city. Taartoq had a knack for remembering things with strange accuracy. His mother had entered a few seconds beforehand, and he could see his very own older sister with her young sons amidst the approaching crowd.
Hopefully his mother and sister would see Padma in the relatively dark bunker lit only by oil lamps and sit by her side. It was surely terrifying for all three women, as their husbands would not be at their side as they sat and waited for the battle to cease. Taartoq caught his sister's attention, and the woman pulled out of the crowd to walk over to him. Her low voice piped up, worry gracing her expression "Taartoq...your nephews are terrified. Please assure them that we'll be all right." Taartoq sighed, not in frustration, but with a slight tremble suggesting a lack of certainty.
He kneeled down to meet face-to-face with his older nephew, six-year-old Kang, meeting the boy's cloudy sky-blue eyes that mirrored those of his maternal grandfather. "You will be fine. No one will hurt you as long as you, your mom, and your little brother stay close by Grandmother and Aunt Padma in the bunker." He then shifted at Mituk, the younger of the two at only three years of age. The boy's lightly tanned face was flushed with red as he sobbed. "Your father will be safe, and so will Grandfather and I." Extended his hand, he patted both of the boys. "You'll see."
Mituk lightened up in his once heavy bawling, reducing it to a few sniffles, and Kang's expression seemed a little more optimistic somehow. Nisha looked up at her brother and smiled, mouthing a "Thank you." before joining in the crowd once again. The boys truly looked up to their uncle, but now Taartoq felt a burden on his shoulders. He may as well have told them a total and complete lie. He had no way of assuring them they would all be safe. But the least he could do was try. Walking out toward the crowds, drums sounding in the distance to sound the call of evacuation, Taartoq joined the other guards in ushering people to the sanctuary.
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Post by ukaleq on Jun 27, 2007 23:58:17 GMT -5
Her dark eyes were wide, ajusting to the light that streamed into the underground caverns of ice. In great times of need, even the nobles were rendered civilians. The young woman stepped slowly into the expanded chamber, pillars of ice dotting the room every few feet, families huddled inbetween them. She drew in her breath, and lifted her chin. Her skin, usually as dark as an almond's skin was pale and awashed with fright. Yet, her dark sapphire eyes, framed by ebony lashes shimmered in the flickering light. Aurburn hair, a variety of shades was worn in it's usual style, but in the rush to get to the shelters, many of her braids had loosen, and more strands hung around her face. The interwoven ribbons streamed loose around her shoulders.
At her side, her younger sister walked, clinging tightly to her hand. Naira's hair was also braided, though in one loop behind her back, and she bore no cute ribbons in her hair today. She clutched to her chest a stuffed toy seal, made of white fur which she burried her nose in. The little girl was shaking, this was the second attack in only a few months. Her big sister was being so brave.. yet in truth, Ukaleq was pretified.
Their mother had left them at the entrance, as she had been called to aid the healers in the event of the attack, the two girls were alone, as their father Cheiftain Qillaq and brother Quanah were on the front lines reading. The Ulloriaqs had a proud history of serving as Warriors and Healers. Ukaleq swallowed hard as she remebered this, and even lifted her chin a bit higher.
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Post by taartoq on Jul 2, 2007 20:03:08 GMT -5
He blankly stared as matters dragged on. Taartoq saw nothing major about to happen as the eerily quiet crowds continued to pour into the shelters. But he couldn't be too safe, and he had to remain vigilant much like the other fighting tribesmen. He cast his gaze across the crowd entering this particular sanctuary, seeing the faces of people he recognized. That noble girl, the one with braids and fake flowers in her hair had recently entered, her face looking pale and aghast. The one whom he encountered in the Archives days earlier, and who dropped a mass of books onto herself. It was all too understandable why she was afraid. It was all too understandable as to why anyone was afraid...
As he stood directing the crowds in the right direction, an official-looking man approached him from the side. Impersonally, Taartoq kept his face forward while the man spoke up. Recognizing Taartoq as the one whom he was instructed by one in higher position to approach, the official said, "Taartoq, son of Chieftain Attu?". Taartoq turned his head only slightly, nodding while the corner of his eye twisted toward the man like a crooked pin. "You have been ordered to escort a convict to this shelter and keep watch over him. You will be partnered with another warrior, assisting you to do such." Taartoq turned more toward the man, sighing to let his breath escape through his nose like smoke.
Dryly, he replied, "Thank you." He walked away from the crowd, following the official who instructed him, and being trailed by the other warrior as the three walked to the prison. He wasn't aware that a "dangerous criminal" was present in the Northern Water Tribe, but the man surely wasn't that bad. Surely, he couldn't have been deadly...
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Post by ebele on Jul 2, 2007 23:14:11 GMT -5
The cries of children, mixed in with the cries of adults around her, made Ebele want to scream. She was tempted to press her hands to her ears, pull her knees up to her chest, and just forget...everything. But she knew she couldn't. MOst of these children were peasants, and knew her by her stories in the market. They might be looking up to her. And she knew that some of her stories could take their minds off the attack, off of everything, into another world.
As her grandmother's tales had often done for her as a child.
So Ebele slowly stood from her seat. Her father had returned a short time ago, with fresh gossip that nobles had arrived in the shelter and so on and so forth. Her father looked at her kindly, slightly a little bit more relaxed. "Where are you going?" he asked her softly, for her mother had fallen into a light sleep a few minutes ago, and he did not want to wake her.
"I'm goin' tah help." And with that said, she made her way toward a small group of children huddled around a poor woman, who was trying, in vain, to calm all of them down. When one of the children turned to look at her, recognition filled her eyes and she jumped up.
"Story-teller!" Other children turned to look at her, and the woman looked in relief to Ebele.
"Thank goodness," the woman breathed, falling backward into a mound of snow and waving a fan in the air to cool herself off.
Ebele smiled warmly at the children as she seated herself on the ground. The children formed a small circle around her, already expecting her to tell some sort of story. Ebele smiled again at the children, trying to mask her own fears as she cleared her throat. A small boy, perhaps only four or five, climbed into her lap as she began the story.
"Once 'pon a time, d'ere lived an ice-cu'der," she began, "who went every day to a great ice cropping in d'ah middle of d'ah ocean and cut out slabs for homes. He understood very well the kinds of ice wanted for the different purposes, and as he was a careful workman he had plenty of customers. For a long time he was quite happy and contented, and asked for nothing better than what he had.
Now, in d'ah large iceburg dwelt a spirit which now and d'en appeared t'ah men, and helped d'em in many ways t'ah become rich and prosperous. The ice-cu'der, however, had never seen d'is spirit, and only shook his head, with an unbelieving air, when anyone spoke of it. But a time was coming when he learned t'ah change his opinion."
At this, Ebele got more comfortable, for this story was long and would take time, and would allow the children's mind to fall away from the present.
"One day the ice-cudder carried a ice slab t'ah d'ah house of a rich man, and saw d'ere all sorts of beautiful d'ings, of which he had never even dreamed. Suddenly his daily work seemed t'ah grow harder and heavier, and he said t'ah himself: 'Oh, if only I were a rich man, and could sleep in a bed wi'd silken curtains and golden tassels, how happy I should be!'"
She said the ice-cutter's voice in a deep voice, as deep as she could muster, and this made the children wipe their tears and giggle slightly.
"And a voice answered him," she continued, "'Your wish is heard; a rich man you shall be!'
At the sound of the voice the ice-cudder looked around, but could see nobody. He thought it was all his fancy, and picked up his tools and went home, for he did not feel inclined t'ah do any more work that day. But when he reached d'ah little house where he lived, he stood still with amazement, for instead of his small, run-down hut was a stately palace filled with splendid furs, and most splendid of all was d'ah bed, in every respect like the one he had envied. He was nearly beside himself wi'd joy, and in his new life d'ah old one was soon forgo'den.
It was now the beginning of summer, and each day d'ah sun blazed more fiercely. One morning the heat was so great d'at the icecutter could scarcely breathe, and he determined he would stop at home till the evening. He was rather dull, for he had never learned how t'ah amuse himself, and was peeping through the closed blinds t'ah see what was going on in d'ah street, when a little boat passed by in d'ah water, drawn by servants dressed in blue and silver. In the canoe sat a prince, and over his head a golden umbrella was held, t'ah protect him from the sun's rays.
'Oh, if I were only a prince' said the ice-cudder t'ah himself, as d'ah boat vanished around d'ah corner. 'Oh, if I were only a prince, and could go in such a canoe and have a golden umbrella held over me, how happy I should be!'"
The children looked on at her in awe, as she continued, "And a prince he was. Before his boat rode one company of men and another behind it; servants dressed in blue and silver bore him along, the coveted umbrella was held over his head, everything his heart could desire was his. But yet it was not enough..."
And so the tale continued, slowly, surely. The ice-cutter became many different things other than a prince, granted by the mighty spirit. The sun, and then a cloud, and then ice, before finally finding happiness as a man again.
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Post by gandalan on Jul 3, 2007 8:55:14 GMT -5
He continued to tick off the minutes in the jail. It was becoming harder now. There just wasn't anything to do. He had exhausted all the thinking he could reasonably do, and so there wasn't anything he could really do. He was thinking about taking a nap, but decided not to, in case he needed to be awake for something. He listened to the panic outside, as people rushed to get into the shelters. A lot of good that would do them, if the Fire Nation got there. He had no idea what they'd do to the people, but it wouldn't be good.
In any case, the panic receded as people made their way to the shelters. And then new sounds replaced them. The soldiers were back in the city, he thought. Which ones, he didn't know, but he could hear them shouting. So. in any case, the Tribe men had been pushed back. Which wasn't good.
And then there was a third sound, as of people walking towards the front door. Well, now, people coming to get him? What did they want with him? He sighed. This night was beginning to get annoying. First, they left him here, now they were coming to get him. Why couldn't they make up their minds?!
He rolled his eyes at nothing, and waited for the people to come in.
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Post by taartoq on Jul 3, 2007 12:53:33 GMT -5
It was but a short walk to the city's prison, and Taartoq's squinted eyes swept the area to note how quiet and desolate that district of the city had become. The three Northern Water Tribe men walked into the jail structure, rows of small rooms with icy bars lining each side. Each prison cell was empty except for one, where a young man with a mop of messy pale brown hair and equally fair skin sat all by his lonesome in the shadows.
The calm and authoritative voice from the official raised, "Come with us." Taartoq was given the signal in the form of a nod, having been told earlier that he was to bend the bars since neither of the other two were waterbenders. Positioning himself in front of the cell, the two nonbending warriors to his side, he motioned his hands and turned the frozen bars to water. Taartoq took a few steps forward while the nonbender went right ahead and stood beside the pale-haired lad.
Taartoq sighed and walked over the the young man while the officer stood at the mouth of the cell, grasping a spear and making sure the prisoner knew that he couldn't simply run off. The nonbending warrior slapped the convict on the back, saying, "Let's go, sonny...", while Taartoq stood off to the side. The treatment of the prisoner was somewhat harsh, but Taartoq assumed that he probably deserved it. After all, why else would he be in prison?
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Post by gandalan on Jul 3, 2007 16:36:05 GMT -5
Ah, Nakamura thought, so he was being taken to another place. Three men were here to take him somewhere. He was somewhat honored that he was considered dangerous enough to need a three man escort... but in all honestly, one would have done. One of them waved his hands, melting the icy bars that held him imprisoned. The two soldiers (not benders, he guessed) took up positions behind him, while the other man was in front of him. "Let's go, sonny..." said one of the soldiers behind him. He obediently, if grudgingly, began to move as they 'escorted' him from the prison to... wherever they were taking him. He looked down at the ice, a bit fearful of the men behind him, who would be more than happy to thrust a spear into his innards.
However, his attention focused on the man who had melted the bars. He was a bit afraid. He'd done it so quickly... he was easily a head above him in waterbending. And yet... he wasn't at all dressed like a waterbender. Special pendants adorned his clothing, specifically feathers on the front. Richly made clothing, obviously from somebody of a higher class than Nakamura. He didn't look like a soldier at all. He looked like a civilian, even if he was a bit richer than most.
It was noticeable colder out her, Nakamura thought. He could see a few last panicked people making their way to the shelters. THAT was where he was being taken? He was surprised.
However, he was curious about the waterbender. He spoke in a small voice that did little to mask his anxiety about his position... he WAS at spearpoint here.
"You...you don't look like a soldier." His voice was a bit raspy, sounding like somebody who hadn't had a drink in a while.
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Post by taartoq on Jul 3, 2007 18:03:34 GMT -5
Taartoq didn't bother to look over at the relatively fair-skinned prisoner whose arm was grasped firmly by the nonbending warrior. At the point he spoke up, Taartoq was walking beside the convict with his arms behind his back while the officer walked farther in front. The young man didn't seem like a danger, so Taartoq felt no need, or desire for that matter, to place his hand on the fellow's arm. "That would be because I'm not one...", he said with excellent diction and a mellow, dry tone.
"I was merely drafted to serve as a guard for the time being.", in an impersonal and unfriendly way, he kept his face forward as he spoke, walking beside the convict. He continued, "Now behave yourself..."
All three of the guards didn't much care for the prisoner to speak up at this point, so Taartoq's plea was somewhat of a relief. Taartoq wasn't attempting to be antisocial, however, even if it was reflected in his tone. He just didn't much care for small talk with a stranger, especially one of lower class.
Eventually, they reached the bunker, with only a small group of people left making their way into it. Soon each one of the three would be filled to capacity, citizens safe from the attacks and nestled beneath the city. The nonbending warrior sternly echoed Taartoq's words as they went down the ice staircase; "Behave yourself, son." Slightly echoed were his words as they descended into the chamber.
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Post by kaiapo on Jul 7, 2007 17:46:41 GMT -5
Kaiapo and his mother Aila had been starting the boys lesson for the day when the gongs and drums sang out, their song one of warning and alarm: the Fire Nation had come once again to the frozen North. The two threw on their cold weather clothing and rushed outside. Just as it had happened before, the Fire Nation Navy's arrival was announced by black snow, the product of smoke and soot put out by their iron ships. The young boy glanced around, trying to see if Kumar, his father, was anywhere around. His mother grabbed hold of his wrist.
"But mom, what about dad?" the boy asked, concern present in his voice.
"I'm sure your father is fine. We have to get to the shelters, Kaiapo. Come on," Aila urged her son.
Not one to argue, 'Po followed, allowing his mother to pull him along through the snow. In the previous siege against the Northern Water Tribe, the boy and his mother had been intercepted on their way to one of the shelters. Had it not been for a pair of waterbenders who came to their assistance, they would've been killed.
'Po eyed warriors and benders that were stationed in various places on his way to the shelter, letting his eyes take in their garb, their stance, everything about the brave men who were preparing to defend his home. He had always admired these men, but this admiration had grown to full blown hero worship in the months since the previous seige.
Aila and Kaiapo arrived at the shelter shortly. His mother;s grip relaxed as she led him toward the corner of the chamber her family was in, then she finally let go. 'Po stood by her side, but his gaze was taking in everything around him. Somewhere nearby he could hear the story-teller spinning a tale, in an effort to calm the children.
'Po frowned as he saw some of his peers, many of whom delighted in teasing him, were huddled close, listening to Ebele. Bunch of babies!
Not that he wasn't scared...he would've been stupid not to be, considering the very real possibly that the North could be lost this time. After all, the Avatar was the force that had tipped the scales in their favor last time. The Avatar wasn't here now though. Would the men he idolized be able to hold back the Fire Nation? Or would they lose this battle?
Despite the disdain he held for the kids that were gathered around Ebele, the boy made his way over there, setting down in the far back of the group. His mind drifted to his father. Where was he? Was he outside the shelter, in the city? Or had he been out on the open water?
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Post by ukaleq on Jul 11, 2007 22:56:08 GMT -5
Ukaleq bit her lip as she walked, staring at all the unfamiliar face she passed. They were all afraid. Children.. young women.. Older Men and Women.. All those who were not warriors.. many of them honored warriors, those who had grown to wise and old to fight anymore. It was all too sad. The woman's midnight blue eyes tried not to stare at the terrified faces of the children, the worried faces of the women and the serious faces of the men.
She drew her arms around herself tigher, burying her hands inside the thick, padded and greyfurred sleeves of her parka. It was chilly in the bunkers, and so, her Mother and Sister had also worn their parkas. Ukaleq's was a shade of cobalt blue, the hood and long, triangle shaped sleeves edged in taupe grey rabbits fur. Wrapped tightly around her waist was a wideband of soft, but dark thistle. Her Parka had no train, but rather four points that hung over the thick dress she wore. The edge was trimmed in fur as well, which faded nicely into the apricot layers of pleated, thick fabrics.
Her cheeks flushed as she walked swiftly through the crowds, leading the way as she hung onto Naira's hand tightly. The little girl's two braided loops were dishelved.. no wear near as a tight and patted as Ukaleq's four loops. The age difference, as well as the mentality difference was apparent. Where as Ukaleq strived for perfection, Naira had not yet grown up enough to understand the pressures placed on her by this society. "Naira.. Right here." Their mother ushured them over to a spot in the icy bunker. There were few luxurious for the Rich when no bundled up in their snow and ice homes. The floor was covered with a tarp like-blanket, and the two girls lowered themselves, Naira sitting cross-legged, Ukaleq siting with her legs out to the side, feet buried under the layers of dress. The young girl quickly snuggled up next to her big sister, holding her hands at her chin so she might bury her nose in the warmth of the furs lining her parka.
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Post by gandalan on Jul 13, 2007 22:39:45 GMT -5
Nakamura sighed, as the two soldiers flanking him forced him into the shelter. As they did so, the people already gathered there looked up in surprise. A young boy being guarded wasn't what they'd expected. The guards took care of the confusion however.
"This boy is a prisoner of the Northern Water Tribe, a convict. We'll deal with him." The people nearest him immediately scrambled backwards, and away from him, like he was some kind of monster. It was demeaning, and it hurt. He didn't even truly understand what he was being accused of... but whatever it was, he'd been convicted. Which meant that his life sucked.
He looked around, and saw all of the people, some looking half crazed, desperate because of the stress, others, grim. It was hard not to be negative at this point.
They made their way back towards the end of the room, and the guards motioned to the ground. "Sit." His cheeks burned at being ordered around. He hated this feeling. He sighed, and sat down. The two guards stood close by, watching his every move. He turned to his left, and saw... a girl? She looked familiar...
Then he remembered. "Hey..." he said, his voice small and, one might say, frightened, "You're that girl from earlier..." He looked at her curiously. He noticed that the soldiers hadn't moved to stop him. Apparently, speaking was allowed. "Wh-...what's your name?" he asked, his voice again small, unconfident.
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Post by taartoq on Jul 13, 2007 23:20:55 GMT -5
Taartoq did little more than present a stern look Nakamura's way, but in reality, he didn't much care if the lad spoke. The other guards didn't interfere, so he refrained from stopping the boy's initiating a conversation with the female. Not initially noticing due to his tuning out those around him, Taartoq had come to acknowledge that the girl was none other than Ukaleq Ulloriaq, whom Taartoq had seen earlier entering the shelter with her mother and sister, and had conversed with while on duty at the Northern Water Tribes Archives days prior.
Now it was to begin. Taartoq and the other guard watched the official walked away instantly after Nakamura spoke, making his way toward the staircase. The nonbending warrior sat beside the boy, the other officer baring his bone axe in plain sight while Taartoq remained standing. People were everywhere, and the waterbender was reluctant to be sealed inside the place with the frightened masses. With his arms behind his back and uncomfortable as ever, he mulled over how it was his assigned duty. Now all they had to do was wait until the battle ended.
These two men were among the number of guards who were intended to stay inside the structure protecting the people in case of a breach, while more guards kept watch outside. Here, they would be safe for the time being.
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