Setting Foot Into the Unknown <Earth Kingdom>

[Teiú]

(Teiú is coming from: Fire on the Water)

The words of the captain were still laying on Teiú's head:

“Sure I'm not going to take you all the way Tachi Dai's port mate, hahahahaha, are you insane? You think the Fire Nation don't try to maintain control over the merchandise arriving the big towns here in Rock World? By the way, I don't think you are planning to enter a big city of Earth Kingdom wearing the armor of the Fire Nation Army right? Nor that red cloak, I guess. And what I say to you can be applied to your friends there, in the crimson clothes, hahahahaha. Well, you told me you still have some coins on your pocket, there is a small village some miles away from this beach were you can buy yourself and your gang some clothes... Don't worry sissy, I know you have legs to walk till Tachi Daí. And if anything goes wrong you can carry your friends on your back. Well, I must say, the tiny must have no weight at all but I must admit that the noble nose is quite big for a noble girl so you will have a bit of a problem to carry her, hahahahahaha...”

It was a part of Fargus talk to Teiú before leaving the firebender, Xin and Setsuko by a deserted beach on the coast of the Earth Kingdom. Though lost in a continent Teiú never had any knowledge about it the young rebel was pretty happy that the captain had gone away. Otherwise, Teiú would not manage to endure the chat with Fargus much more.

It was a very tiring boat trip and now there he was, in a beautiful and empty beach in the Earth Kingdom, Xin and Setsuko by his side. It was hard for Teiú to think that now he was the leader of the expedition. “Well... I guess it is our time to leave, girls. The captain told me that, to the north, a few miles away, we can find a village were we can stop by to rest and have some food.” Teiú looked at the two girls, searching on them any signs of disposition. He knew Setsuko would probably follow him around without questioning at all but having Xin on the group would be a bit complicated. She probably was not in the mood yet to be gentle with him. He sighed.

“Eh, and... guess we are in need of buying new clothes right? Remember that now we are in Earth Kingdom, that is in a war with our country. We must disguise as normal Earth Kingdom citizens.”.

Teiú looked at his backpack and to the baggage of Xin. Luckily, Setsuko had no baggage of her own. Teiú left his most ragged clothes together with his chest-plate all wrapped up inside his red cloak, which was in need to be left aside. He just hoped he could find a green cape or robe by the village, as he felt like naked without his hooded cloak.

“Now I will tell you girls about some rules you will have to follow to assure our travel will be as free of dangers as possible. Xin, first off, before setting foot on the road, we must take a look at our belongings and discard what is unimportant. I need to go to a city named Tachi daí to deliver something and it will be a long road ahead so we need to dispose of the useless for our trip... Do you understand?” The firebender said afraid of a bad reaction from the noble girl.

[xin]

Xin would be lying if she didn't admit she wasn't a little cross at him, the trip had been rough on her, she'd eaten little and had been made fun of enough by the crew. Their words about her height stung, it hurt even more to be called a noble nose. Whenever she saw a mirror on the ship she got down to tearing her appearance apart mentally, fretting that her nose was too large for her face or that it was upturned in a way that made her the but of everyones jokes.

Despite their jabs at her weight she must have lost a good deal of it over the trip. Bags were starting to form under her eyes, tireless nights were running her ragged, more often then not she woke up screaming or shaking in a terrible state. It wasn't like she had the opportunity to bath or care for herself properly, her nails were becoming chipped and tarnished. She was often sea sick and she missed her home, the only comfort was Xue, he was so sweet, he always was. Now he was burrowed into the front pocket of her bag no doubt napping.

Though she refused to give Teiu or the saliors the time of day she attempted to be civil and motherly to poor Setsuko, after all the poor girl commited no crime against her, she was nearly worse off then Xin, at least her energy kept her from the same dull drums Xin herself suffered.

Shrugging her bag protectively over her shoulder Xin looked at Teiu, weary, a mix between annoyance and sorrow playing over her face. At the very least she was on dry land now, but if Tieu thought she was leaving any of her things he would be sorely mistaken. Her clothes and her things were important to her, having a couple moments to look through her bag she had taken inventory of it's contents, some simple clothes, not her elegant kimonos, some cash, enough to last a while if she spent it properly, a brush, which was the only thing to keep her hair somewhat neat, among other things.

Her eyes turned coldly on Fargus, the man who'd knocked her out with spirits knows what and began the crews pestering of her. While she wasn't a spiteful girl the man asked for it. Her head turned to examine the beach while the men talked, she only listened to snippits of it, honestly not caring what they had to say. She was in the earth kingdom, that was the underlying truth she needed to cling to. Somewhere there was the town of New Ozai, and surely there would be other occupied towns near by that would help her get there, back to her family. She was curious to know if she was missed yet. Of course she'd have to take Setsuko with her, it would be a simple matter to have her escorted back to the firenation and back to her family.

It struck her hollowly to think of how she would react to one of her brothers going missing. Finally it seemed Fargus left leaving Teiu to address the girls. Xin's hands reflexively tightened on her bag, she shook her head and pursed her lips, deciding if this would be worth breaking the silent treatment she'd been giving him. Tenitively she cleared her throat adverting her gaze from the man. She might forgive him marooning them, she might forgive him roping her into trouble but he was up to something, she wasn't stupid, the word rebellion came up sparsely with the sailors.

That meant that Teiu as he had come to be known as was working against the fire nation. Against his home nation... it was sickening. No one liked the war, but no one should, it was for the benefit of all the nations that they were trying to overthrow the earth king. Why would anyone but a convict defect from the military.

" I don't have anything useless, I can carry my things perfectly well thank you..." Her words were quiet and hesitant, she had something that wasn't red she could change into, not that it would help much, a band of three black haired slender faced firenation citizens would stick out in a crowd, she'd been to the earth kingdom before, she knew that much.

[set]

It had never occured to Setsuko that she would ever set foot in the Earth Kingdom, let alone be so far away from home.

However, despite her harmless grudge against the sea, the only problem she actually had was maintaining her balance, repeatedly falling due to her tiny weight being tossed this way and that by sudden large waves crashing against the boat. True, her size was made fun of especially by the captain, but she didn't take it too personally.

Her wide and ever curious eyes scanned their surroundings. The beach was prettier than what she's seen before back home, but then against she was only familiar with the surroundings of the market and the harbor. She's seen how large the Earth Kingdom was on the map compared to the Fire Nation. The little girl hoped she wouldn't get lost.

Her delicate short fingers wrapped around her brass key in a fist in replacement to the comfort of holding someone's hand. It acted like any child's comforting stuffed animal, or even her father's strong hand whenever he wasn't around.

She watched the boat drift away until she became bored of it, then exchanged to lay her stare on Teiu. She was completely naive to the fact that he was with a rebellion, and therefore treated him like she would any other stranger. In fact, her innocence was nearly untouched by the war for all of her life. She knew it was there, but it seemed as though Setsuko didn't exist in the war, although she did in the world itself. She understood that there were two sides against each other, and that people died. This she learned from a word or two by her mother.

"Earth Kingdom people dress up in green, right?" she asked. "Would they figure out where we're really from?"

[Teiú]

“I don't have anything useless, I can carry my things perfectly well thank you...”

Though it was the reaction Teiú expected of Xin he could not refrain getting upset with it. His face turned red and his respiration strong. It was a few seconds after Xin's commentary that Teiú recovered his senses. With the most cold of the voices, the one that was perfectly reflecting his feeling towards Xin, Teiú said: “Alright then Xin. If everything you own inside this bag is indispensable to you, I'll respect it. However, I'm still unaware of your objectives, since you have not spoken to me after we left the Fire Nation. I want to help you, but for that, you need to tell me what you want.”

Teiú took his backpack before keeping on, his eyes away from Xin. “Just have it for you: Setsuko is traveling with me now and I'm responsible for her. If you wish to follow us that is ok and I will care about you too but, if by any chance, I find any signs that you may be delaying our trip due futile affairs...” Teiú peered deeply into Xin's eyes “... I will leave you right then and there. I'm tired of your childish behavior.”. His heart was pumping fast. He couldn't remember the last time he acted as mean as he deemed he did there.

Upon hearing Setsuko's question, though, Teiú tried his best to change his line. To her, he showed a gentle and calm facial expression “Yah, that is right Setsuko... we should try to blend with these people if we are here right? The captain told me that in a village not very far from here we can buy some green colored clothes and food, would you mind walking a bit?”

Teiú advanced through the trail pointed by Fargus, the one leading to the village he aimed to. He stopped a bit, waiting for the girls to follow him for, as soon as they started to move, he would lead them ahead.

“So Setsuko... about what I just said, we don't belong here, you know? Seeing that we must disguise our identity comes the second rule I need you girls to follow. I will not have that problem but you girls will. See that beautiful ember eyes you both own? They are not very common around here, I heard. So I need you girls to try your best to avoid looking at other people directly in the eyes... Think you can do that Setsuko?”

[xin]

Her eyes widened lightly and her face flushed with embarrassment and annoyance, he was acting like she was going to blow his cover. And she might for all he'd done to her, but never, never would she harm a single hair on Setsuko's head, for him to think so little of her he must have been dreaming when she allowed him into her home, offered him any luxery he may desire and then was tossed from the same home because of him. It didn't take long for her eyes to prick with tears but she fought them back only muttering softly to herself before once again lapsing into silence."My brown eyes are perfectly common.."

Honestly it annoyed her that she hadn't had a good nights sleep in so long, it annoyed her than the cumbersome brown pants felt so rough against her skin and that the purple yutaka wasn't something made of silk like she was accustomed to. But she wasn't stupid, before leaving the boat she'd eliminated all traces of red, packed them in her bag knowing she may need them later, Her tired brown eyes looked away as Teiu attempted to intimidate her, it was fairly obvious that it was working seeing as she continued to tear up, not yet over flowing and streaming down her cheeks.

This wasn't her first time in the earth kingdom yet this was a far cry from the city of New Ozai, it was a lot less civilized but she wouldn't be able to do much until they came to an occupied town. Her eyes grazed over Setsuko sadly, the poor girl was being warped by the rebel. She carefully moved herself between then taking Setsuko's hand gently, she wiped tears from her eyes with the back of her hair as if it were only dust. Xin smiled down at Setsuko warmly not wanting to girl to feel frightened or scared by the new nation. So much she reminded Xin of the younger siblings she missed so much.

The scum would be damned if he thought he was responsible for the girl, he'd raise her to hate the country that she was born into, the life style she'd enjoyed with her family, forsaking the nation that gave her a roof over her head and food on the table. She didn't know what Teiu was up to but for now she was dependent on him, after all, she was only sixteen years old, a far cry from an adult though of marrying age. She had a bit of money stashed in her bag, when she found someone she could trust it would be easy enough to pay her way to new Ozai.

[set]

The girl glanced up at the noble as she took her tiny hand, exchanging her smile with a wide grin, her cheeks rounding at both sides from her baby fat. Her hand firmly gripped around Xin's. Her eyes somewhat squinted at the rays of the sun when she looked up, which make her dull-colored eyes somewhat illuminate. "Setsuko is traveling with me now and I'm responsible for her."

Setsuko didn't mind who was responsible for her, as long as she wasn't left alone. Both Teiu and Xin were very kind to her, but she still didn't fully comprehend the conflict between them. Just seeing them act so coldly to each other made her wonder what happened between them. Maybe she could catch them separately and ask, since she was afraid that by asking them while they were both present, an argument would break out.

Her head tilted to peer around Xin, looking directly at Teiu. "Sure I can!" she said confidently. "I don't mind walking. I walked all the time back home."
Alright. So they were in the Earth Kingdom. Setsuko reviewed a few thoughts in her head, such as reminding herself that they're in a place where they don't really like Fire Nation people because of the war. She reminded herself that this was a different place from home. It kinda got her excited to be in a new place, although it was a place where she wasn't supposed to be. To her it was exploring a place she's never been before, and meeting people from a strange land, like some sort of adventure. She showed a bright attitude, although she didn't know what may lie ahead for her.

[Teiú]

When Teiú, Xin and Setsuko started walking the path leading out the beach and inside the country brought the strange trio to an open field. First thing that occurred to Teiú is how the earth there was different from his country. There, a red colored ground, hard as the very rock was replaced here by a dusty brown earth. The grass was not tall and, Teiú was not aware of the reason, in that particular field it was not green. Of a palid golden color and above the clear light of the morning the field seemed like a giant white carpet, cut in its middle by the road that, being in among such whiteness, seemed to be a black line drawn in an empty paper sheet.

The morning air filled Teiú's lungs. That scenario put Teiú on a good mood and his hopes to reach Tachi Dai soon and accomplish his mission were reassured by that good sensation. Making sure none of the girls realized so he brought both hands near his mouth. He then blew a small and weak beam of flames, only noticeable by himself. Behind him, Xin and Setsuko. The rebel tried to figure their thoughts on his mind.

“Hehehe, what Setsuko must be thinking... food? Nahh... perhaps, she may be scared? Nahh. Well she is the kind of girl that let things go by her... It is like a curious puppy minding about something and forgetting about it in the next instant. In fact... I guess it is pretty much what she is now. I wonder if she already figured out that me and Xin are not going along well... Well... seems kind of evident...”

Still walking Teiú tilted his head enough to look at Xin. “And Xin... what is she thinking? She is so strange to me. After all these days she still holds her pride high, like if this is what makes her what she is. Well, perhaps that is it... However, what a sad life to live. Eh, 'till now, I only know about her bad traits. She had not showed much of her good side yet. If it is to think, when she allowed me to stay by her house, she acted politely but it was so superficial most of the time that I couldn't even have a glimpse of her true personality... Pfff, what am I thinking? She is a noble after all and they all behave like that... Eh, these guys are all creepy.”

Judging that facing Xin for too long could prove to be dangerous, as they could start arguing at anytime then, Teiú moved his head back to the road.

By far the village spoken by Fargus could be noticeable already. It seemed to be as Fargus told him: a small village with not much importance at all. However, good merchandise could be found there. Near the coast, the town is the first to receive the products coming from the Fire Nation, Northern Water Tribe and other places of the Earth Kingdom when these are heading to Tachi Dai. However, something was not right. From the position Teiú and the girls were standing the whole village could be seen. The town, built as a circle with its biggest building in the middle grew with the habitations circling it. By the northeast of the town a grey colored spot, about 1/3 of city, made it a not pleasant view. It seemed to be something out of its place.

As Teiú came nearer he realized. The houses itself were burnt and what was left of the walls was destroyed or beyond repair. The ground itself was covered with a thick layer of ashes and the very earth was blackened in a few parts due heat exposure. Befor keeping on Teiú looked at Xin and Setsuko. “You two, stay near me alright?” he said, with a serious voice, before heading to the town.

[xin]

Xin smiled at Setsuko, she was such a good child, she hoped that any children she had one day would be half as well mannered and energetic as this girl. When they moved along the path Xin hummed a song from home lightly on the wind. Attempting to lift her own spirits she kept the melody cheery and bright, something which the words were forgotten, at some point in the past perhaps she'd learned to play it on her erhu, one of the songs that teachers drilled into her mind for the recitals her parents had her preform for company. Without a doubt in her mind she imagined her instruments were at home collecting dust right where she left them. Hopefully they would still be there should she ever get back, the soft purple crocus painted on the side of the side of the rich auburn wood.

The noble woman sighed lightly breaking her melody for a moment before she tried to settle her weary heart and continue the tune. It would help to focus on the higher points of the journey. She enjoyed the sea breeze when she was on the land, the crisp salty feel on her tounge and skin but the condition it would give her hair was less than enjoyable, putting that out of mind she could enjoy the scenery of the earth kingdom. On the boat the scent sickened her and the sights made her feel faint, the rocking motion sent her stomach reeling, the majority of the silence was due to her ill health. Without a doubt she'd lost a good deal of weight over the trip. She wasn't able to keep much food down, she wasn't able to get much sleep. Most of her time was spent in the room, thus her pale skin was more pale then before. Without a doubt her skin would darken with travel, she hoped sincerly that she wouldn't burn.

Still as they came near the village her eyes widened slightly, the homes were burned, a small part of her was thrilled at this. The homes were most likely owned by rebels who were fighting the march of the firenation soldiers. Though with the homes being in the state they were in she couldn't help but to think that there were families here at one point. Mothers and fathers with children who lived their lives in harmony until something happened. Perhaps a fire had started. Either way her breath caught in her throat and she pulled Setsuko closer to herself in her protective grasp. She simply nodded to Teiu sending him a rather worried, and scared glance. Whatever this was, she didn't like it.

[set]

Setsuko let her eyes wander, opening the rest of her senses to her surroundings. She took in the soft breeze that brushed small hair strands away from her small face, and smelled the fresh air that filled her lungs. It was much unlike the harbor or the market, let alone that small wild space nearby that she and her brother oftenly visit. Somehow this place seemed cleaner. This place brought a sense of happiness to Setsuko, no matter how strange of a land it was to her.

She saw that the village was coming into sight, and quickly she skimmed the area with her eyes. A rush of excitment came to her, as she knew they were going to meet new people next. But by the time her squinted eyes ran across the northeast portion, her pupils shrank and the energy that illuminated her eyes, captured in her irises, was suddenly released. From the shock they widened, somewhat losing their color and returning to the dull golden color they were. A soft smile that remained on her face since they set off the boat sank down into a small, blank frown. The grip around Xin's hand somewhat tightened, and the other hand wrapped around the neck of her key.

Her response to Teiú was delayed, as after his question was asked it was a minute or two before she nodded her head to acknowledge his command. Her eyes stayed glued to the burned portion of the village as they moved along, and when necessary she even began to turn her head. "What..." she muttered softly before hesitating. "How were those houses burned...?" she asked, leaving it in the air for either of the older people to respond to.
She imagined the fire that torched the houses, possibly burning the people alive within that didn't have the chance to escape.

Fire...

The thought came to her mind that the Fire Nation was in war with the world. Her home country, her nation of birth and the land she grew up in. This also included the Earth Kingdom, she reminded herself. The Fire Nation was in war with the Earth Kingdom, the very territory they stood in.
Her eyes took themselves away from the horrible scene, glancing up at the noble woman with repeated blinks of disbelief. "Did we... do that?" Her innocent stare became saddened, her eyebrows curving in that matter. By "we," she meant the firebending soldiers.

[Teiú]

Almost half of the city was burned to the ground. The not burnt one, however, seemed to be as empty as the ruins of the destroyed houses. A strong smell of smoke was in the air and dark ashes were covering the ground. The vile ashes raised at every step Teiú gave towards the narrow streets of the village.

Teiú stopped by. To his left, a gray skeleton of what was once a house, to his left a house, not much more than a shack, with planks nailed to the door and windows. Teiú came near this one. He came near the door and knocked the door twice. No response at all. The rebel moved away from the door a few steps and looked around. The other houses seemed to be not different than this one. No sound but the respiration of him and his companions.

“No one around, eh?” he thought. Turning his head to the girls: “Girls, would you please, get back?”

After saying so Teiú stood in the front of the house. Putting his hands near his mouth Teiú blew a small stream of flames, as he did earlier, in the field, but now in front of the girls. The rebel stood in attack position, his knees far from each other and his arms in an forming an open wide position. His respiration became stronger and he started exhaling the air by his mouth.

“One... two... three...go!”

When his brain counted to go Teiú moved forward and threw a fast punch, his hand covered in flames, towards the door. The door slit by the point the attack connected but it still remained as one piece. On the same movement Teiú took two steps back and charged again, now fire-kicking his target. The door fell to the ground in form of scraps. For a soldier, it was not a hard task to take wooden doors down. The firebender, then, entered the house in search of anything of value to him, this named clothes and food.

[xin]

She stepped along behind Teiu, like him or not he was her means of survival for a time. It wasn't as if she was stupid, there was no way she could get along on her own so grudgingly she moved through the broken town careful to steer Setsuko from the debris or anything harmful to herself. The poor girl looked up at her and Xin had to pull herself together, she wiped the new forming tears from her eyes and attempted to give the girl a warm comforting smile.

" No honey, it was probably an accident." She cooed to Setsuko, not wanting to upset the child. The way the town looked, it didn't seem like anything the firenation could have done. How could anyone who'd grown up in the fire nation believe that their fellow citizens would be a part of such a thing. Fire was able to be made without a bender, it was an uncontrollable force that even the most experienced benders had trouble controlling at times. Something as simple as a tipped candle could spark these flames

Honestly her heart was fluttering rapidly, all the whispers of rebels on the ship made her wonder if there were more. She'd heard stories about radical people in the earth kingdom brain washed by the earth king who stole fire nation women into the night to be the kings concubines. The noble womans lips pulled a bit tighter into a line as she looked away for a moment. She worried about loosing hair from stress,her mother would love that.... the sarcasm wasn't spared from her thoughts either.

Loud sounds caused Xin to come back to reality, the heat of Teiu's bending caused her to tug Setsuko up close next to her body sheepishly watching him break in the door. It seemed so... barbaric. Scary.

Her pale hands found The back of Setsuko's head and she began to stroke the younger girls hair sorely wishing she was back home dreaming this mess in her own bed.

[set]

It made the girl flinch and snap out of her trance when she heard Teiú knock down the door, and she fell back into another trance when she was hypnotized by the flames in his hands. They reminded her before of an old woman she met before, but she bended lightning instead of fire. Her eyes stared at the man, watching him enter the house. Her entire expression continued to be blank.

Setsuko's small fingers gently gripped Xin's clothes when she was pulled close. She thought about the essence of fire itself, thinking back to the image of the lightning that was so beautifully bended by the older noble by the harbor. She was reminded of how such a beautiful thing could turn into something so destructive, it took the lives and homes of... people. Innocent people. People who had done nothing wrong. Was this the secret that was hidden from her all her life, isolated in the little town at the harbor? This secret that revealed what such people had done, such people that came from the same country, the same fathers, and possibly the same blood as her?

No. Impossible. It was probably a really bad accident. She knew people in her own family that could firebend, and she knew that their kind hearts wouldn't be cruel enough to burn these houses. Anyone from where she was from couldn't do this by will.

[Teiú]

Teiú broke through more seven houses before finishing his quest. However, his search not only brought him the items he was in need of but it gave him some precious information too. Teiú found food in the most wealthy looking house he bursted, very well hidden, by the way, what took some of his time. On almost all of the houses Teiú found usable clothes for himself and his companions. However, in a city meant to be empty these were strange belongings to be found around. That twisted Teiú's mind. Besides, to put planks over doors and windows the villagers must have used some time before leaving, something that the Fire Nation would not give to the villagers during an attack... and, Teiú was sure of that, the village was destroyed by Fire Nation soldiers. He was one, he knew the methods of the army.

Mid afternoon and Teiú was packing all the food he got on his old backpack. Xin and Setsuko were somewhere else, Teiú left them picking some of the clothes he managed to get. Almost everything were old pieces, as they were what the villagers couldn't carry with them while fleeing of the Fire Nation Army. However, Teiú already had experiences with women and dresses and he knew that it could take hours.

Teiú finished packing the food and getting a new outfit. Green and simple pants and a t-shirt. Plus, old green cloak covering him. “Perfect hehehe. And it is even in better conditions than my old one.” He thought.

“Hey girls, are you done with it? We must leave soon.” He shouted to Xin and Setsuko from afar.

The rebel sitted near the door of a house and took a grass leaf from the ground. He brought it to his mouth and looked at the sky, painted of orange. While waiting for the girls his head revised the informations he had. The village was half burnt. Fire Nation army rarely acted this way. They would either destroy it entirely or claim it for themselves. Teiú concluded that they were attacking the village when something else demanded their attention. Earth Kingdom troops perhaps. That would be reasonable since it would give the villagers the time to get their most important belongings and lock their houses. Then, following that thought, staying around for too long could prove to be dangerous. At anytime a Fire Nation troop or the villagers could come back and any of them would bring troubles to Teiú.

“Well, and Setsuko seemed to be frightened with the scene around here.” Teiú sighed while thinking. “Well, I cannot say Xin is not helping me now, she is, at least, taking care of little Setsuko.” Perhaps I was too rude with her this morning. And, after all, I guess it would be better to avoid mentioning the army near any of them.”

Teiú rose from his resting place. “It is time to leave girls. Are you ready?” He shouted to them while taking the dust off of his cloak with his hands.

[xin]

She'd followed Teiu dutifully, he seemed to know what he was doing, scrounging through someones things like a thief. Though to her knowledge no one around here would be needing these items anymore, she pitied anyone who would come back here for their belongings only to find them ransacked. She simply went along with it, when Teiu found what he needed he set the girls to change.

Setsuko who was wearing almost all red would need some wardrobe changes. Xin was comfortable in her own clothing but was willing to help Setsuko find suitable attire. She sorted through the clothes in a mostly untouched room. She laid out the clothes on the unmade bed allowing the child to choose her own clothes. It might give her some semblance of control over this situation. If anything Xin needed some of that.

Xin looked at the clothes too big for Setsuko, choosing a white sheath dress to change into. She disliked it but perhaps the rebel was right. She didn't want to be attacked by earth kingdom soldiers because of her firenation made clothing. A full length mirror on the opposite wall was cracked in the lower corner but it still served it's purpose well.

She moved her upper body back and forth with her hands on her hips, the dress was tight around her bust and hips, with a bit to much room about her middle. She frowned, back home all of her clothing was made to fit her shape, but she wasn't home anymore was she? This was the first time in a while she'd seen herself, her hair looked, wild, not soft and silky like it was when she tended to it with oils herbs and such. She would have to deal with it.

People must think her savage with such unruly hair against her face and shoulders, bags under her eyes giving her normally bright face some depth. She was surprised how much weight she'd seemed to have lost from her time on the boat. She seemed frail. Carefully Xin folded her things setting them into her bag.

She then tugged a green yukata over her shoulders cinching it with her own purple sash, a little something from home to keep her from loosing her mind. The gold fringe at the end was beautiful, hopefully it would tie this horrid clothing together and give her some semblance of the elegance she was raised in. Her brown pants stayed as the lowest layer in this mess of an outfit. It would be decent for traveling she admitted, green was good for now, until she found an occupied town and ran with Setsuko as quickly as their legs would allow.

This gave her some closure. It wouldn't be long until they'd find some firenation officers and seek refuge and assistance. There was hope, they weren't alone in this landscape with no way out. Teiu would slip up and make a mistake and they'd run with it, get out of here and return home. The man in question kept calling to them like he was being strained with waiting. She glanced over at Setsuko offering her a smile. " Are you ready yet?"

[set]

Setsuko glanced at her own attire, from her chest to her toes, before examining the clothes laid out before her. She stared for a while, still trying to get herself focused on what she had to do now that she was here with two strangers, who cared for her because she was only a child. And as usual, Setsuko treated every friendly stranger like someone close to her.

There she went with thinking too much again. She mentally caught herself from wandering off. The girl inhaled a mildly deep breath in through her nostrils and quickly released it as she approached the bed.

She delicately picked up each article of clothing one by one and set it down just as lightly, as if not really wanting to disturb the place as though it were a graveyard haunted with ghosts. She stared at them for a few moments, pondering before picking up a pair of brown pants that looked like it could fit around her waist. Noticing that it was a little too long, she laid it back on the bed and folded up the pantlegs a few inches before taking off her own and slipping into the new pair. She slipped on a light green sleeveless shirt after taking off her orange one and red vest, tucking it into her pants since it was a little long for her. The collar came around her neck. Then she threw on something like it were a coat, finding that it cut off at the bottom of her rib cage. Its dark green sleeves came down to her elbows. Not accustomed to having something hanging at her sides, she found a long, thin brown sash to tie down the hanging ends while they overlapped in the middle.

When tying it down at her left side, she discovered that the pants had a small rip on her thigh. Glancing at the clothes laid out for her, she grabbed a dark green skirt that tied around her waist and covered the rip on one leg, while the side with the knot only had the leftover of the sash to cover it. She looked down at her attire and settled with it, since it somewhat resembled what she was used to wearing. To finish, she found two ribbons and fixed her long, now somewhat frizzy hair into a pair of long braids. She kept her key around her neck.

She glanced up at the noble and nodded. "I'm ready," she said, trying not to sound meek and smiled.