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Post by dian on Sept 4, 2007 13:48:00 GMT -5
Despite the faces of the Fire Nation's war balloon crews at the sight below, they remained undetered from their task. Just as soon as the first bombing ceased, the Northern Water Tribes' waterbenders had immediately went to work. Clearing rubble aside, repairing canals, icing over pools of water and even restoring most buildings to an icy husk of their original form. Yet there were still a few empty spaces and piles of rubble that dotted the middle portion of the city nonetheless.
Unlike the near constant bombardment of the last siege, the waterbenders of Shai City were given ample time to staunch their city's wounds before the second wave came over the walls. It would likely happen again after this and then the third wave finishes their bombardment.
And yet the crews of the four war balloons went about their work still. Breaking off into teams of two as they along the eastern and western side of Shai City. Picking choice, and structure clustered areas if not the canals themselves to drop payloads of blasting jelly upon.
Whilst the latest wave of war balloons serenly floated and terrorized Shai City, a safe distance outside of the city's walls loomed their launchpad and fleet. The twelve ships of Commodore Dian's fleet were illuminated by numerous laterns, willfully outlining their presence before the Northern Water Tribesmen atop the walls.
Below decks and unconcerned about what mockery he cast upon the arctic dwellers, Dian ginerly sat in the mess area with his company from the war balloon he sailed in. With hot tea and a few heated cuts of salted pork, the senior officer attempted to warm his bones from the chill. Pondering if firebenders had a better life in adapting or defeating such temperatures. For decades he had experienced winters in his home, a settled colony in the Earth Kingdom, but they were never this extreme. Thankfully, and despite the iron body of his nation's ships, he could warm himself down here. Maybe curl himself into a hot blanket to rest before the coming morning where these barbarians would have to decide their fate. Whether to endure a siege that would not only reduce their city to piles of snow but reduce themselves to outright starvation.
He would find out come morning. Surely they would be wise enough to make the proper choice.
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Post by nati on Sept 11, 2007 15:26:16 GMT -5
Nati raised her head to stare at the light source flooding the hut, squinting before her eyes readjusted to the brightness.
“Even heroes need their rest” A pleasant voice oozed at Nati’s tired senses. She stared at Chamir a little dumbfounded, before catching his meaning. Her eyes looked tired, smudged with weariness that only over work could do. She did her best to hold back a yawn, before putting out her hand so Chamir could help her up. Nati weakly pulled herself up, her eyes not quite focused, swaying a little on the spot –perhaps looking as if she’d been drinking!- Nati put a hand to brush some of her loose hair away from her face, and then shifted her weight.
“Thank-you” Nati managed a slightly clumsy bow of her head to Chamir and the other, “Maybe I’ve over done it a bit…but there are lots more who need tending to” She offered as a weak excuse, she felt guilty she’d been asleep when the first bombs fell, and hadn’t been in better command of herself. A slight stab in the stomach…how many had been lost cause of her?
A mental shaking of the head and some simple logic cleared any unfounded guilt, but her heart still ached for those lost under the sheet of think ice. She could imagine bodies, picture their cold, pallid faces. Nati suddenly put a hand to her forehead, letting out a stressful laugh.
“Maybe I should get some rest!” The laugh made her feel a little better; it was hard working under such a stressful atmosphere which seemed to bear down heavier than any bomb.
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Post by chamir on Sept 11, 2007 16:23:29 GMT -5
"That you should," Chamir agreed. Gently nestling one of Nati's hands under the crook of his bent elbow. Akiak trailing just behind and on the other side should the healer began to topple over.
"Surely, you're working in shifts so some of you can rest. Last thing we need is for all of our healers to laspe into a state of fatigue," he said. Trying, but failing, not to flinch as he heard a thunderous boom outside. Muffled from both the structure erected around the healing complex and its distance away from them.
Just my luck, Chamir considered. Sighing at his predicament. Yet again he was stuffed into an enclosed environment with no chance of sighting or observing whatever went on outside and around him.
"Let's find you a nice comfortable spot," trying not to sound dejected at his own situation. "Akiak and I will help keep pace around here while you and your sisters rest." As he led and was led by Nati. Observing the surroundings in illuminated by the oil lanterns. Picking out what task could be done by a non-bender such as himself.
Keeping patients calm, checking on paitents, caring for patients, washing blood and sweat stained sheets and furs while benders drained water from the wash furs and linens.
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Post by nati on Sept 16, 2007 16:24:14 GMT -5
“We’ve not yet had a moment to organize ourselves…at least our warriors must be fairing better than us…” Nati then cringed, stopping momentarily in her tracks as a loud boom was emitted from outside the complex, then continued walking with Chamir, leading to the cleared corner, where a couple other healers were taking a quick break.
“I’m glad they’ve sent you and others along, we’ll soon be needing every hand we can get.” She said gratefully, though her voice dropped a little with tiredness, and she yawned deeply, putting her free hand to cover her mouth. They found a unoccupied spot in one the corners, darkened by shadow where the light could not reach from the flickering oil lamps. It was soothing. “It is probably best we take half day shifts… there is plenty to be done, so many to look after….”
The building shook again from a loud ‘pop’, and then a clattering like sound as the roof absorbed most of the impact, the air seemed to be still as everyone held their breaths in unison. Quickly as it was over, the healer huts were busy as a hive. Nati took comfort in the fact her own trade of healing was doing its bit in turning the tide of the war. The presence of warriors like Chamir and Akiak helped soothe the high-strung environment, at least it something disastrous went wrong, the men would be there to guide the women.
Nati let her arm slide out of Chamir’s, before she turned and bowed to him, grateful for his kind intervention.
“One of the Master Healers will be able to give you each duties, and hopefully make some amend to this chaos.”
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Post by chamir on Sept 17, 2007 18:10:45 GMT -5
“I’m glad they’ve sent you and others along,“ Nati told Chamir, causing the Southern Water Tribesman to inwardly cringe. Furrowing his brow as he turned towards Akiak with his wheezing snicker.
”We’ll soon be needing every hand we can get,” gratefully sounding, through the tiredness in her voice that brought forth a deep yawn. By Nati, Chamir and Akiak were led over to a cleared corner of the healing hut. Sprawled on heavy fur mats were a few of the hut's healers. Resting and sleeping, if they could, despite the random sound of explosions heard outside.
Eventually an unoccupied spot for Nati was found in the darkened corners. Protected from most of the oil lamps' light, no one could see Chamir jumped as a loud "pop" smacked the newly constructed roof atop and around the healing complex. In unison with everyone in the healing hut, and likely in the other huts, Chamir held his breath as the structure above the complex held. And the moment everything seemed well, actively immediately began faster than an eye's blink.
“One of the Master Healers will be able to give you each duties," Nati stated after she how bowed to the two. " And hopefully make some amend to this chaos.”
Damn you Saghani, the words spat in level harshness inside Chamir's mind as he swallowed hard at Nati's words. May a turtle-seal bite off your chances for children.
Drooping his head to hide a side, Chamir bowed deeply in resignation and respect. A clenched right fist pressing into his open left palm. "Akiak and I shall do our upmost madame. Merely rest yourself for now. You can continue your duties with us afterwards." Lifting his head up to flash the woman a brief, and hopefully comforting, smile.
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Post by nati on Sept 19, 2007 15:43:30 GMT -5
She bowed back to Chamir, comforted by his kind smile.
Nati thought the tiredness of her body would make her sleep, but her mind raced with thoughts, mostly thoughts of her family. She felt helpless in with so little knowledge. The sleeping furs were warm and not too stuffy, yet she couldn’t get comfortable, turning this was and that to try and find a decent spot, until finally with her eyes facing the ceiling. Nati lay awake a while longer, wondering about her element, the entire identity of her Tribe, one she had been happy in, yet events as late had changed a lot. She was water, supposed to adapt to anything, move easily in any direction, but water would also pool in small spots, and never move. This was what she was like as a woman. Nati would only marry, have some children, carry on working as a healer, and then finally die an old unfilled woman. Not much of a prospect she thought, as sleep finally took her.
She stumbled through her dreams as any mortal did. Events of no logic or sense occurred, only to drift away into her unconscious to be forgotten, until the dreams started to take a more vivid form. Nati felt something warm on her cheek, an intensity of sun she’d never felt before. The light was almost blinding, and only then did she realised she was lying on grass, something she had only felt at the Spirit Oasis, but there was miles and miles of grass and warm sun. Suddenly Nati felt herself sitting in a house, kneeling whilst serving tea to someone she barely knew. The images were blurred, having little form other than bodies and heads. There was a faint sound of bare feet on mats –though she was unsure how she knew this sound- and a small child hurried towards Nati, to which she opened her arms and embraced.
Nati looked into the child’s face, knowing this was her’s, but the most startling thing was that the child had bright green eyes. The image soon faded, replaced by more nonsensical dreams and people. Then Nati was swimming through deep water, but that where the dream ended. It was the quaking of a bomb with shook her from her sleep. Another healer reached out to put a hand on her shoulder.
“How long have I been asleep?” Asked Nati, propping herself up on one arm, rubbing her eyes.
“Not very long, get some more rest.” The older healer replied. “Everything is calming down now, we can spare you a while longer.”
Nati was comforted by this a little, and settled back down on the furs, drawing one over her shoulders, gazing down the stretch of the hut, watching Chamir and Akiak try to busy themselves with woman’s work. The thought brought a brief smile to her lips.
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Post by saghani on Sept 23, 2007 18:19:30 GMT -5
After hours of work, it seemed at last the task of Saghani and the Southerners was complete. They had worked efficiently, and stopped for a lack of materials rather than from exhaustion. Hundreds of the new devices lay in carts throughout the warehouse, ready for transport. That was to be completed by a group of utility benders, however. There would be no point in dragging them around themselves when benders could do so with so much more efficiency. As the Southerners moved to clean up their work area, and to an extent themselves, Saghani rose and addressed them.
“Well done,” he said, though his tone was still unemotional. “A group of utility benders will be here shortly to transport these weapons to a new storage location to be used at the battle’s critical point. This means that for now, our duties are complete. We will now head to our barracks to recover and prepare for our next task.”
With that, he signaled for the Southerners to form up and follow him. The benders opened the “door” to the warehouse, and Saghani stepped through. As he did so, however, he was met by his superior, Injuquaq.
“Good to see you’re finished. We have a change in plans,” he said before Saghani could speak. “Our unit will be taking the seventh eastern barracks tonight. We’ve managed to convince command to let us use the cliffs, and I volunteered our unit to take the east cliff tomorrow.”
Saghani’s brow furrowed and he paused for a moment before speaking, “I expected you to recognize the correct strategy, but how did you know to choose the east cliff and that barracks?”
The commander smiled triumphantly at his subordinate, “You’re not the only one with connections, my arrogant little lieutenant.”
Saghani let a small grimace slip onto his face. He disliked being shown up. Unable to think of a proper retort, he motioned for the Southerners to follow, and marched alongside Injuquaq as they headed for their new destination.
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Post by ryota on Sept 26, 2007 13:39:22 GMT -5
Ryota sat and looked at his sore fingertips after the lengthy period of mine-constructing ended. As the carts of tangle mines were to be carried away, he realized just how many they had made. He'd never made as many as he did that evening, at least at once. The southerner felt a certain sense of accomplishment as he glanced at what he had helped to do. As he stood, he outstretched his arms, then quickly brushed his fingers up and down his chest a few times to stimulate blood flow and hopefully alleviate the aching. Seeing the northerner, Saghani, motion for all the southerners to leave, Ryota followed and soon forgot about the pain in his fingertips.
The air was noticeably colder as he stepped out the door, more so than when he had arrived since the sun had long since lowered itself beyond the horizon. He burrowed his scruff-colored chin in the fur collar of his parka to keep warm. It had been a while since air this cold had pierced his caramel-colored skin, and it was certainly a reminder of his equally cold home in the South Pole. He raised the hood of his parka as he obediently walked in line, and the whole group soon arrived at the seventh eastern barracks.
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Post by aden on Sept 27, 2007 22:04:39 GMT -5
Aden swung his foot absently over the edge of the catamaran, timing its sways like a pendulum as a crude method of keeping track of the passing time. However, as the men onboard the ship next to his set about crafting a makeshift gaming board out of ice, his attention was drawn toward them. From the look of it, they were getting ready to play chess or some other checkerboard game. He watched silently from his seat while a few other men who weren't powering his ship had stopped to watch as well.
"Are you taking bets?" the man beside Aden called over to the men in the other boat. The younger waterbender glanced up at him for a moment before shifting slightly away from him in order to allow him a better view.. Aden watched the game makers for a moment longer before turning his own attention back to the water below the ship. It was nearly black and opaque in the night sky and it almost seemed as though you could simply hop off and fall forever through the void.
Aden raised and hand slowly out in front of him and summoned a small stream of water out of the ocean. The clear liquid collected in a sphere below his palm, and he marvelled slightly at how something so transparent could appear so dark when it was as deep as the waters they sailed. Aden brought his other hand forward and allowed the water he'd collected to hover between them. With a few minute adjustments of his fingers beneath his thick gloves, Aden then slowly pressed his hands in toward the water until it coalesced into a nearly perfect circle and began to grow from the inside out into a densely-packed ice crystal. Eventually it froze over completely and Aden grasped the orb with his hand, looking over the smooth, clear surface with the trained eye of one who knew exactly what imperfections to look for.
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Post by nokose on Sept 28, 2007 16:48:25 GMT -5
"Are you taking bets?" One of the warriors from the other ships proffered.
"Mmm," Nokoseuhbholke uncreased the furrows of his brow. Looking up from the ice crafted gameboard and the opponent sitting across from him.
"That will all depend," Making a no look play as he answered. Speaking across to the other ship the question came from. "How much are you willing to pay me by losing? I have a niece that needs a new dress for festival" His tone partially dulling the jest's intended impact. "Or," Nokose held out an open palm while pointing into it with the other. "Save us both the trouble by Just paying me what I need."
"I have a better idea," the man sitting across from Nokose chimed in. "Let's cut out the middleman!" twirling his grey 'n black beard that reached down to his collar. "Pay me what Nokose is gonna owe me instead. That will make everyyybody but you happy. Kaha!" Laughing airlessly.
"What if I teamed up with the kid here?" The first man bantered with Nokose and his opponent, Chin pointing to Aden who sat besides him. "He can help pay whatever I owe."
"Just so long as he will not be paying in pretty ice sculptures."
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Post by aden on Sept 30, 2007 0:00:13 GMT -5
"What if I teamed up with the kid here? He can help pay whatever I owe."
"Hmm?" Aden was caught off-guard by the sudden inclusion of himself into the dealings of the older warriors. He removed his gaze from the orb of ice in his hands and looked quickly at the men around him while his mind worked to rewind the conversation he hadn't been paying attention to.
"I don't have any money," Aden said, rather plainly. He found himself unable to conjure up a better reply at the moment. Perhaps his mind was a little too preoccupied for witty banter. "And I'd rather just watch..."
The young benders fingers drummed subconsciously on the ice orb as he shifted his gaze between the other warriors and the surface of the water.
"We can make this a teams battle," one of the contestants on the other ship offered, apparently intrigued by the idea. "Let's see if a tour of the Earth Kingdom as done anything to improve your gaming skills."
"I'd really rather-" Aden started to say.
"We accept!" the other warrior stated, turning a grin toward Aden. The younger waterbender looked at him squarely, though he did well to mask his annoyance. He really didn't want to partake in the games. They seemed like a mockery of the importance of the mission they were on. Now was the time for meditation and focus, not distractions. And yet, it seemed like the obvious will of his comrades that he take part.
Grudgingly, Aden stood, and a few encouraging remarks were uttered from Hissun's group of warriors. Aden glanced once more that the sphere in his hands, recalling how his father had taught him that training technique years ago for a few moments before tossing it into the ocean.
"Bring the boats closer," the other warrior told the benders guiding the catamarans. Those steering brought the two boats side-by-side and Aden and the other warrior were able to hop over.
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Post by saghani on Sept 30, 2007 21:51:45 GMT -5
The southerners were probably expecting to walk right into the barracks, so it must have come as quite a surprise when Saghani and Injuquaq walked right past it. Instead, they lead the group of soldiers straight towards yet another warehouse. A few groans and mumblings could be heard from the Southerners, but neither officer paid them much mind. This warehouse was somewhat different from the previous one, however. For one, it was much larger, and when the group entered, it was clear why. Inside were three large objects covered in leather tarp, along with a dozen men standing nearby them.
“Take it away, lieutenant,” Injuquaq said with a nod, and Saghani stepped forward.
“These will be the weapons you will be using come tomorrow,” announced Saghani to the Southerners. “A little something the Fire Nation left on their last visit.”
At this point, Saghani motioned to the men in the warehouse, and they pulled the tarp off of one of the objects. What was revealed was none other than a Fire Nation war crawler, complete with grappling canon.
“Benders will get them in position later tonight,” continued the lieutenant. “But for now, I suggest you become familiar with these machines before you head to the barracks. These men will answer your questions as best they can. We do not want any miscues tomorrow.”
Nodding to the Southerners to show that he was finished, Saghani headed for the exit of the warehouse. Injuquaq could manage the Southerners in there without him. However, there was another Southerner that still needed to be attended to. Surely, Saghani thought as he walked rigidly towards the healing huts, his time with the wounded would have given the mouthy Southerner a harsh reality check. If he hadn’t yet, well…it would still take an amount of time for Saghani to reach the huts.
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Post by ryota on Oct 1, 2007 14:11:27 GMT -5
Ryota felt a pang of both disappointment and confusion as the group was lead away from the barracks, though he didn't voice his disconcertment quite as loudly at some other warriors. He was looking forward to sleeping in a nice, and hopefully warm bed. But still, wherever the Southerners were being led piqued his curiousity. It had to be something important for them to reveal at this hour of the evening.
They were directed to a large warehouse, and before Ryota knew it, some large object was revealed. A completely intact Fire Nation tank. One of the warriors behind Ryota whistled in amazement, but the rest were relatively quiet as they watched. Ryota himeself found it quite intriguing, though perhaps not as much as some other warriors. And the prospect of fighting the Fire Nation with their own weaponry was interesting, to say the least.
When Injuquaq and Saghani left, the small group of Southerners headed straight for the machine, walking around all sides and looking it up and down. Ryota himself walked around the left side, then, with a fair amount of effort, hoisted himself onto one of the treads. He climbed to look at the coc kpit, all the controls and the like, and couldn't help but wonder if he would have to be the one to drive it. Deciding it was rather...complicated, he would be careful not to ask anyone how to operate this piece of machinery.
His cerulean eyes spotted another Southerner motioning at the tank and talking to one of the guards. It brought somewhat of a grin to his face, since that fellow was probably the one to want to drive the tank, thus letting Ryota off the hook.
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Post by chamir on Oct 3, 2007 17:16:18 GMT -5
"Going back for more bombs? How many do you they even have?" Chamir knelt under the dome's low opening. The third one to take a look out from under the ice dome built around the healing huts complex. Cast against the evening sky, egg-shaped shadows sailed across the city towards the wall.
"I dun want to think about such a thing," Akiak replied. "Makes my life that much easier."
Much of the danger receding for now, Chamir strode further away from the dome. The of his own footsteps seemed to be heightened in the eerie silence as the Fire Nation balloons sailed away. Turning around to see how it fared against the bombing be for the waterbenders that constructed it made what repairs that were needed.
"Come on Southie," Akiak barked before scuttling back under the dome's low opening. Popping his head back out as he called Chamir again.
Following, Chamir stopped just before the entrance. Removing a mitten he stroked the ice dome. Carefully, so as not to get his lips stuck, he deftly kissed the structure then approvingly patted it before slinking back under.
Once underneath the dome again the two men reclaimed their burdens sitting by two lanterns. Wet furs, clothing, bedding and other cloths they were sent to wash in the canal's water near the healing huts. Once back to the healing hut they could employ a waterbender to dry their burdens. Their task barely illuminated by the two small lanterns they carried. The scene as played out in Chamir's mind was that of two lost fireflies in complete darkness. The only lights that existed under the dome besides theirs were the lanterns that glowed from inside the huts.
The way back to the proper healing hut was hampered for a moment. Though able to spot the illuminated huts, they were quite unable to tell any of them apart as any discernable landmarks were engulfed in darkness. Even after tracing their way back to the exact spot of the canal they were washing clothing, the small task of finding their way back still became another task in and of itself until they finally returned to the proper hut.
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Post by nokose on Oct 4, 2007 14:15:26 GMT -5
"Elechuhto. Dice." Nokoseuhbholke held out a hand, palm up.
"Captain," the older man meekly replied.
"Dice. Please," came the repeated command.
"You do understand we are on the same team though, sir," Elechuhto begrudgedly handed over the ivory dice he so conveniently carried on his person.
''On the same team for now," Nokose began inspecting the dice in the dim light. Feeling over every inch of them with his fingers. Bouncing and weighing them in his hands.
Centered before the four men was a iceboard that had been waterbent from the surrouding waters. Shaped like a cross, with each man sitting at the end of one arm to represent a direction, Each arm being divided into columns with numerous squares for the players' pieces to move along with a few of the squares specially marked to serve as safety zones. A larger square at the board's center was used to serve as both starting and ending position for everyone's peices. Pieces of which everyone crafted themselves. From the water Nokose shaped his playing markers into turtles while Elechuhto fashioned his into the paws of a snow predator.
"Once nipped and twice as shy," Elechuhto wheezed a laugh at Nokose's meticiousness. Nudging the elder warrior partnered with Aden who also came aboard from the other ship.
"Mmm," Nokose's maroon lips twisted to one side of his face. With his palm upwards he held out the dice towards Aden. "We'll let the pup go first," he said without even looking at Aden. His eyes still focused on Elechuhto as if to say: "I will get you back for the first time."
But for now, Nokose considered that such retribution on his comrade's head would have to wait. Together they would attempt to win what they could from these two warriors who had just recently returned home from foreign waters.
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