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Post by hotaru on Sept 23, 2007 15:29:26 GMT -5
Mica was shivering like a rabbit in the arms of her husband, Hotaru did little but stare on, she was still in shock from being woken up and whisked away to the cave they called a shelter. Her eyes brimmed with tears, this was scary, not even story telling could cheer her up. In the back of her head she could hear the familiar drone of Ebile weaving one of her tails, the hum of couples families and loved ones reassuring one another, it only made her feel numb. Still she had to be grateful, both her parents were in the earth kingdom at the moment, they wouldn’t be hurt of scared in the fighting. Her uncle and aunt were save in the cave with the rest of them, even Mica’s unborn baby was safe here, it wouldn’t be long before the child was born, her nephew.
Hotaru’s Uncle Kaiden motioned for her to come over but the curly haired girl shook her head fervently. With a hurt look in his eyes Kaiden wrapped his arms around his earthen wife. His face nestled into her hair lovingly trying to keep her warm, she always seemed cold here. She wasn’t from the northern water tribe, that scandal had only just subsided. In such a close knit community news like that never falls on deaf ears. Some laughed and joked that the water tribes women weren’t good enough for him. Still she didn’t seem as beautiful cuddling up to her husband desperately out of fear and cold.
Hotaru on the other hand was warm, she watched the people bustle about, she was calm, detached from the moment. Her arms looped around her legs pulling them tightly to her chest. Being able to do nothing was painful. How many people would get hurt today? She wasn’t a naive little girl any more, remnants of that still remained but not enough to keep her ignorant of the danger. It wasn’t until then that the tears fell from their place rolling warmly down her pale cheeks. Maybe she wasn’t an adult yet, an empty pit in her stomach reminded her that she wasn’t grateful for her parents being away, she was heart broken because they weren’t here at this pivotal moment.
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Post by amitolo on Sept 23, 2007 16:19:20 GMT -5
Giving a smirk, Amitolo released his hands from Taartoqs, shoulder, and listened to the Archivist’s reasoning. Still he didn’t like it. Maybe the sculptor was just looking for some action, it was so boring inside here, not to mention the lingering fact that because he was in here, he couldn’t have made the slightest impact back on the front lines. It was dishonorable, that’s what it was. Grumbling to himself, Amitolo left the archivist to his own sarcastic life and sat down next to some of the citizens. Near him, a group f children sat in a circle, listening to stories, some, like Naira, were clinging to members of their own family, and feeling comfort that way.
Reaching to the ground, and picking up a large chunk of Ice, Amitolo reached back into his parka and pulled out the chisel he was so familiar with. Hurriedly, he began taking out bits and pieces of the ice, until; finally, it had become a small ship, similar to the ones that the Water Tribe was using to retaliate against the Fire Nation. Setting it to the ground, Amitolo tried to relax himself, and buried his face in his hands.
In a few minutes, he felt a light tugging on his parka, growing stronger and stronger. Opening his eyes, he saw a small girl, tugging at him. “Yes?” he said, softly, and gently. Amitolo had seen the small girl on occasion, just passing by his studio. He had never bothered to ask for a name, nor talked to her, but merely regarded her as a plain citizen.
“That’s a pretty boat, mister.” She said nervously, obviously afraid of talking to Amitolo.
Smiling, Amitolo nodded. “Do you want it?” The girl quickly nodded, and Amitolo handed her the boat. Instantly, she took off to her own little group of friends and they all began playing with it. How innocent little children could be, it never ceased to amuse him.
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Post by gandalan on Sept 23, 2007 21:47:54 GMT -5
Nakamura looked in surprise at the little girl, who had asked him a strange question. Perhaps to the girl it didn't sound so silly. But to him? It was rather obvious that he wasn't very happy. He was stuck down here with the rest of them, but he was also a prisoner for disobeying the rules of his forefathers... so there wasn't all that much to be happy about. He looked over at the girl in absolute astonishment, his face turning red at being addressed in this way. It was almost embarrassing, but to the girl, it was probably a normal question to ask. He felt mirth begin to build up inside him. It just tickled him so much! He started laughing. He couldn't stop himself, it was just so funny! And yet, it wasn't a mocking laugh, it was just a happy laugh. He laughed for a few moments, that were the happiest he'd had since coming back to the North Pole. "Yes, little one, I'm 'happy as a fish' now, thanks to you." He smiled over at the older sister, Ukaleq, hoping he hadn't disrespected her in any way. "Your sister reminds me of my own, Miss Ukaleq." He chuckled a moment, remembering his own sister, forgetting that he was speaking to a high ranking noble.
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Post by taartoq on Sept 24, 2007 0:20:22 GMT -5
Taartoq looked at his wife as Amitolo walked off, still concerned that he may have upset her with the thought of most of her brothers being on the front lines. The look on her face was one of distraction. That is, until the nearby Nakamura started laughing. Taartoq jolted his head directly at the teenager and furrowed his brow. His mouth fell open slightly at the boy's strange yet harmless outburst. Taartoq looked back at Padma, who was had her hand positioned over her mouth in an attempt to veil a smile.
He found it quite strange how the moods drastically varied between people in the bunker, from sadness to fear, from boredom to glee. It confused him, but all he could do was shake his head. Padma let out an audible laugh at that, but few were apt to notice her more than Nakamura. The entire bunker would probably not burst into a laughing revolution, but perhaps spirits would be raised, morale be lifted by the sudden change in one person's mood. Who really knew...?
Taartoq kept glancing at his wife and, while brushing back the bangs that framed his face, spoke out flatly. "Spirits, help us...we've all gone batty!"
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Post by kaiapo on Sept 24, 2007 12:50:50 GMT -5
Kaiapo looked about with a sigh. He was beginning to get stir crazy...and he was getting really worried about his father. If he had been caught out on the water when all of this was happening...
The boy shook his head, dismissing that train of that, ruffling up his otherwise messy hair with the motion. His deep cobalt eyes glanced about. Everybody's facial expressions seemed to carry the same thing: apprehension. While Kaiapo was indeed worried about his father's wellfare, the boy had a great amount of faith in the waterbenders and warriors of the Northern Water Tribe. They were the greatest in the world! They wouldn't let the Fire Nation win! They would win this! Though the avatar was not with them during this second seige upon their people, 'Po was still sure that in the end, the water tribe would survive...
As he looked about the room, his eyes settled on a young girl not more than a couple feet away from him. He'd seen her about, but as most of his time spent with kids his age was spent in the company of boys, he couldn't really recall her name. She looked upset though...as tears streamed down her face. He frowned a bit...and under normal circumstances, probably would've called her a baby for crying like that. But this, by no means, was a normal circumstance. He didn't want her to keep crying though.
With a low mutter, probably barely loud enough to be heard by the girl (Hotaru), he said, "It'll be okay..."
'Po didn't say anything more than that though. For some reason, whenever he was around girls his age, his mind tended to reduce to nothing, causing him to fluster and stutter. He was surprised he even managed to say what he had without a stutter.
Pounding resounded once again on the ice surrounding the shelter, before a hoarse sounding male voice could be heard.
"We've got an injured man out here!"
Kaiapo's head turned sharply as he recognized the voice. Aila knew it to, as she rose.
"Kumar?"
The woman turned her head to Taartoq, pleading to him. "Please, that's my husband..."
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Post by hotaru on Sept 24, 2007 14:09:24 GMT -5
She didn’t quite know why but she found herself amazed that someone aside from her immediate family pair her any mind. Usually unless the parents were around children were left to their own devices. Girls clumped together in social gatherings prattling on about this and that, new dolls and hair styles mostly. Meanwhile the boys arranged themselves close enough together to hear the warriors tales of the hunt or a fishing trip. She’d seen it enough to know that was just how things went, so having a boy speak to her was a little embaressing. Still she became oddly curious, like getting a peek into another world that she was forbidden from entering.
Her blue eyes watched the boy who’d spoke to her with innocent intent. He was her age, she’d seen him around enough but never truly spoke to him, one of the boys who avoided the groups of girls for fear of being called feminine or childish. Maybe he was just trying to act brave? She could do that too. Her gloved hand rubbed the tears from her eyes acting surprised that they were there at all, she blushed a bit and looked down from him for a few seconds. “ I-I know... I just got something in my eye…” In this cave is wouldn’t be very far from truth, with ice and water falling from the walls it would be easy to get a small piece of something in ones eye. The loud crashes tore her attention from the boy to the walls which seemed to shake with each blow. How much longer would this continue?
Hotaru’s eyes darted to Taartoq, he was a bender but she didn’t know if a man could do any healing. Everyone seemed worried, another man had been hurt. How many more would fall before the night was over. She hugged her legs tighter to her chest hunkering down for the long haul in the stupid cave with all the other women children and sparse men who for one reason or another couldn’t fight. A wave of pity washed through her for not only the hurt man but also the boy who’d tried to be nice to her and the woman who’ husband now sought shelter with them for his fallen comrade. Her attention followed their actions curious if they’d be okay.
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Post by taartoq on Sept 24, 2007 15:08:04 GMT -5
"Please, that's my husband..."
She may have appealed to Taartoq's humanity, but he couldn't understand why he had to go help simply because he sat nearest the woman. Nonetheless, out of a sense of duty, he stood.
"Of course, ma'am...", he said with a nod of his head. He slid on his parka and pulled up its hood, then, quickly and bit grudgingly, walked to the stairway that led to the surface. With steady strides, he soon arrived at the sealed doorway, and motioned his hands to melt the wall as soon as he ascended the last step. There, he saw a wounded man clutching a bleeding wound. "Quickly!", Taartoq said, helping the man into the shelter while another guard from within the shelter hurried up the stairs.
While kneeling, Taartoq's gaze flickered between the other guard and the man, and the archivist inquired. "Can you heal...?"
The guard shook his head, and Taartoq let out a deep breath. The man was bleeding badly, and Taartoq grew nervous at the sight. Taartoq had limited knowledge of healing, mostly what he learned from his mother and sister as a youth, and what he picked up from reading scrolls on the subject. Before the two were to rush him down the stairs, Taartoq packed his loose hair back into his hood and looked back up at the soldier. "I can try..."
With his water skin laying beside his wife Padma in the room below, Taartoq was forced to use his bending to pull some of the ice off the wall and convert it to a liquid state. As he suspended the water above his hand, he looked over the large burn wound on the man's chest and torso, while a small crowd of people gathered at the foot of the stairway to watch.
Taartoq sighed and looked down at them. "Can any of you help me heal this man?", he queried. The wound was too serious for him to manage. He had virtually no training as a healer, and the most he could manage was a small surface wound or a tiny gash.
A few seconds later, after hearing her son's voice, a small-framed woman hurried through the crowd and up the the stairs. "Taartoq?", said Healer Mansi, whose slit-like cyan eyes gazed at the waterbender as she ascended. Taartoq bit his lower lip. It had to be my mother...
Healer Mansi knelt over the man and looked over his wound. Taking a moment to interrupt herself, the lithe eldery woman said, "I brought this...", and held up Taartoq's indigo water skin before putting it on the floor beside her.
She pulled the water out of the skin and caused it to be aglow with healing energy as it washed over the man's front for a minute or so. Breaking a stoic facial expression, Mansi smiled and turned to the small crowd. "I believe the man will be all right!"
She turned back to her son and the soldier and, after a few more minutes of healing, clapped her hands twice and said, "Now let's get this man back to his family."
Taartoq, heart still pulsing from the sight of the injury, softly said, "Thank you, mother."
As Mansi hurried down the stairs, the other guard followed while Taartoq used his bending to seal off the entrance yet again. Being ushered by Aila to do so, the soldier lay the healed man by his wife and son while Mansi ambled back to her purse, which was with her daughter and grandsons. She came back with cloth bandages and began to wrap up the man's wounds. Taartoq knelt near his mother a few seconds later and watched her tend to the man. Not knowing if the woman and Kaiapo had heard Mansi, he echoed his mother's words while he looked at the man's wife and the boy. "He'll be all right."
At that, the weakened man coughed and smiled at his wife.
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Post by kaiapo on Sept 24, 2007 15:34:06 GMT -5
Kaiapo watched his mother and the noble she'd spoken to intently. He was tense all over...his father had said something about being wounded. How badly though? The boy and his mother watched the crowd gathering around the entrance. Bits of what was going on reached their ears, but not enough to really hear of Kumar's condition. When the guards approached, Aila rose to her feet to help assist making her husband comfortable. As Mansi came to tend the wounds, Kaiapo's mother bowed her head low.
"Thank you so much," the woman said softly.
Kaiapo turned away while his mother did what she could to help the elder woman with her husbands injuries. He didn't want his dad to see that there were a couple of stubborn tears sliding down his cheek. Brave boys didn't cry. Period. Even if it was because they were happy to see their dad.
Unfortunately, he'd turned his head in the direction Hotaru was sitting in. The minute he noticed this, he swiped the back of his hand to wipe them away.
"Must be something in the shelter...got something in my eye too..." he muttered back at Hotaru.
He sure wasn't gonna let some stupid girl see him crying like a baby. No way.
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Post by hotaru on Sept 25, 2007 20:30:43 GMT -5
It seemed like everyone would be okay, things were calming down somewhat. It seemed like the entire mood of the hideout shifted to one of hope, at least there were people capable of healing amoung them. She sighed happily actually turning a little cheerful. Maybe they were all happy as fish, not that it made much sence to think about. Fish were food so they’re happy to be eaten, happy as a salmon clam more likely. Once she saw some on the cove and they seemed rather happy, with those mouths pulled into a definite u. Shaking her head her blue eyes focused on the boy who seemed to be talking to her.
A smile graced her lips as she tilted her head to the side a little more pep in her speech, hope had come back to her heart. “Yeah, seems like there’s a lot of dust down here”
Her arms still looped about her legs keeping them close to her body, it was warmer that way, not that it seemed to important to her at all. She was always warm, in a comfortable sort of way. A thought struck her as she suspiciously eyed his face, amused none the less accusing of his tears. Who was she to judge though, a few seconds ago she was crying. They didn’t know one another’s name, he didn’t seem forthcoming so she’d make the first move “ My name is Hotaru by the way.”
“My aunt Mica and Uncle Kaden are over there”
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Post by kaiapo on Sept 26, 2007 5:59:43 GMT -5
“Yeah, seems like there’s a lot of dust down here”
Good , Kaiapo thought to himself. Seemed the girl bought his excuse. The girl's smile was a bit infectious...and soon, he was granting just a bare hint of a smile back.
"My name is Hotaru by the way. My aunt Mica and Uncle Kaden are over there.”
The boy tried to respond...but suddenly felt tongue tied. Why oh why did this happen around girl's his age? They're just girls...stupid girls...not like they were anything special. A moment or two passed, before he finally spoke, again in that low, barely audible mutter.
"I'm Kaiapo. My mom's Aila and my dad's Kumar."
It wasn't exactly...well, an overly friendly response...but it was about the best he could manage at this point. His cobalt eyes cut a side glance at the girl.
"Where's your mom and dad?"
The thought never occurred to him that he was probably asking a very impertinent question. The boy simply found it odd the girl was here with her aunt and uncle, but had mentioned nothing about her parents.
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Post by sokka on Sept 30, 2007 17:04:00 GMT -5
Mouring was something that clan all did in their own ways. Halona was crying on Nezumi, Dyani was in her husband's arms thanking the spirits he didn't join his brothers. Manja held his head as Qilaq comforted him.
Shona was shocked, he lost Kesuk, the brother that was always at his side, in and out of trouble. Worse of all, Kesuk wasn't a fighter, yes he knew how hold his own, but he was just fisherman. Just a normal man. But...in grandness of it all. All the men here, are just normal men. Shona looked at Jaalu and Kokomi who looked just as helpless. He got up and walked around a bit, until he noticed Kaiapo and another girl.
"Oh hey the cubs, I see your dad finally came back thats good news. But sorry for interupting Kaiapo? Is it?" Shona waved and walked to the otherside and crotched down, looking very forlorn and stricken
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Post by kaiapo on Oct 1, 2007 11:24:03 GMT -5
"Oh hey the cubs, I see your dad finally came back thats good news. But sorry for interupting Kaiapo? Is it?"
The boy looked up, his cobalt blue eyes looking to the older man's. All in the small shelter had heard about the Manja family's loss...and even though 'Po was just a kid, he could see the sadness on Shona's face. Normally the boy could be quite talkative, firing off questions as they came to mind. In light of the man's loss, he was simply unsure of what to say. Finally though, he found words.
"Yes, Mr. Shona," he replied. After a few moments, he added, "I'm sorry about Mr. Kesuk..."
Kaiapo had come across most of the fisherman in his days spent out on the boats with his father. Though he didn't know any of the older men on a personal level, he could remember most of their names and faces. Shona's and Kesuk's were among the faces he could remember.
Aila looked up from her husband, casting an apologetic glance to Shona, fearing that her son's words would simply be like salt in an open wound. She remained silent though...with Kumar injured, she simply had too much on her mind.
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Post by hotaru on Oct 1, 2007 12:16:44 GMT -5
Hotaru silently was grateful the reprise in the conversation, it let Kaiapo’s question go unanswered. Telling the truth would have been easier but she didn’t feel like explaining it today. Aside from that she had an intense feeling the question would come up again.
Shyly she looked up at the man who had joined their small conversation with large blue doe eyes that little girls never truly lose. Her pale skin flushed a bit with embarrassment as if someone seeing her talk to a boy was a big secret. Something that no one else should know about. Kaiapo expressed his condolences for the man’s loss and Hotaru simply nodded in agreement.
She never was good with things like that, sorrowful memories and people lost to war. It was so much easier to not think about it at all. That made life livable, at least the explosions had briefly ended, no noise rocked the cave, maybe the battle was over? It would be nice but not realistic, the childish side of her meandered on saying that the explosions were just the ocean and moon spirits wrestling about, shaking the earth and not trying to harm them. The new found adult voice in her head spoke otherwise. Frankly the childish side had a much more appealing argument.
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Post by taartoq on Oct 1, 2007 14:52:46 GMT -5
The shelter-dwellers were slowly quieting, the entire attitude of the collective people within the place becoming more calm, despite the infrequent bomb explosions. Perhaps those who were once scared had grown accustomed to the loud eruptions that shook the place from time to time, or perhaps they were all too tired to care anymore.
Taartoq himself was wide awake, still feeling uncomfortable dwelling in the shelter amidst all the people and unlikely to fall asleep any time soon. His mother, after healing Kumar, had gone to sit with Taartoq's only sister, Nisha, and her boys, while Taartoq had moved back to sit with his wife.
From her buckskin purse, Padma had gotten an ivory comb for her husband, and was now combing his luxuriant dark locks. The braids were loosened from his hair, the ponytail in back let free, causing his slightly wavy hair to fall to his elbows almost in its entirety. It was a way to pass the time and sooth one's nerves, and Taartoq always enjoyed knowing his precious hair was free of tangles. The couple was silent, having little to say while the wife combed her husband's tresses.
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Post by sokka on Oct 1, 2007 14:53:07 GMT -5
Before Shona left to mope he heard Kaiapo's apology
"Yes, Mr. Shona," he replied. After a few moments, he added, "I'm sorry about Mr. Kesuk..."
Shona softy smiled at that nodded to Alia, as he leaned back on the side and looked downcast, he happed to be close to Taartoq for some reason, yet Shona was no mood to converse, he just want some time to think.
Meanwhile the rest of the clan mourned for the lost of Kesuk. Arrluk looked at Dyani who was exausted and Halona who was the same, not mention pregnat, though most of the clan knew by now. She wasn't showing quiet yet. Kokomi was getting restless as was Miki and Niguq. Baby Sedna was asleep, next to her father Atka who had a dower look on his face, being very close to Kesuk he too was taking it hard. Arrluk stood up and took his spear which he left at his side and kissed his wife and his mother.
"I'm sorry that I am leaving now, but Ikaiq needs help." Kokomi stood up as well, "I'll come too, I'm good with leg injuries." Shona saw this at a distance and walked over. "Ko...I think it's best if you stay with Jaalu and Mama. Please." Kokomi put her hands on her hips and looked in her father's cerulean eyes. "Daddy, I know you are scared. I know you think Kavik is dead and you feel more and more torn with the lost of Uncle Kesuk. But Papa, I know you. You're not a coward, I want to help. I am a good healer and I am going with my Uncle." Shona blinked and shook his head. "I am not going to lose my last child, because she wants to pretend she's adult. I want you to stay with your mother and fiancee, When Ikaiq gets to shelter then you can help heal him." Kokomi shook her head and the conflict rose, something inside her made her spill it out her frustration. "Stop trying to hide me here, stop trying to coddle me and protect me. I have husband to do that work, I am adult you know that as well I do. Why do you join me on the surface, you're faster than Kesuk on skates and I'm sure the warriors need extra support. Why are you cowering here? If they needed extra help on a fishing ship, you'll be all over it, but because it's war, you're hiding her." Kokomi shouted, Shona looked around to see a few people looking "I am here protecting your mother and watching over my neices and nephew. You should do the same, I am not fighter, neither was Kesuk, I am not going to go into a battle I don't belong in." Shona voice rose louder to the point he was shouting when started speaking. " I am not warrior, I am a fisherman, you are my daughter before you are healer, and you will stay under my eye until Jaalu weds you. I lost Kavik because had to run off, because assumed everyone knew that he was queer..and uh oh. I ran off tangent didn't I?" Shona stopped himself when he say the wince and look on Kokomi face. "Smooth dad...Real smooth...want to give up the rest of the family secrets?" Shona cheeks flushed and rubbed his forehead. "Oh just sit down before I bend you over my knee and spank you senseless." It was Kokomi's turn to blush and she finally obeyed her father. Both of them glared daggers at eachother.
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