Setting Foot Into the Unknown <Earth Kingdom>

[xin]

" You were a soldier, why would you burn people? It's a waste of time and inefficient. You've never been to the earth kingdom before, you never even saw the war." She didn't want to talk anymore, she didn't want to hear another word from him, there was so much going wrong with what he was saying. People could get an education if they pursued it hard enough, people could become rich, there was that chance and most people gave up before they started.

She may have lived in lesser nobility but life wasn't that great, she wasn't her parents daughter, she was their bargaining chip. They didn't care how she felt or care what she wanted out of life as long as she sat and looked pretty, something she couldn't even do to well anymore. Being a gem in a would be crown was all they wanted from her. Honestly sometimes when she was little she had to be reminded that her parents weren't her nannies and even now they cared for her more than they did.

Her brothers were wild, no one cared for them. Lang went about scaring the earth kingdom folk who he thought were inferior and Tain Shi spirits bless him was frightened of everything She was a big sister and couldn't even protect her brothers, how could she protect Setsuko if it came down to it.

The man said many hurtful things to her and to her mentality, she felt that she could cry, she felt a gnawing hunger in her side and cast it aside. Well she knew parts of what he was talking about now, no reason to shove that in her face.

Communities of the lower classes seemed to band together in times of crisis, the opposite could be said for high class living. They were always ready to stab one another in the back in order to make way for their own devices. It was horrible, perhaps if she'd lived her life as a farm hand she wouldn't be dolled up and paraded about like a show moose dragon, she could be happy and hard work would have cleaned Lang up Tian Shi would have friends to play with and would warm up to people. It didn't sound so bad, she could get used to the hunger and the rough clothes.

As much as she tried she couldn't sleep, something was bothering her. She meekly looked over at Teiu, he seemed confused but not violent, it was a good thing. " You know offensive firebending don't you?" She sat up and sat keeled on her makeshift bed roll looking down at her pale hands. " I'd like to be taught... my parents wouldn't allow it...."

[Teiú]

Xin yet answered him before getting back to her shell, from where no Teiú could reach her. Normally, with that kind of statement, Teiú would feel extremely bothered. But he had grown a lot since he fled from his village. And seeing Xin, weak and harmless, Teiú felt sorry for having that discussion with her. Feeling that more could only bring pain to both Teiú sat down, again, in his rock, got a grass leaf from the ground, put it on his mouth, crossed his arm below his head and came back to peering at the stars.

He revised arguments both Xin and him used in their conversation. And what he said was, truly, what he believed in. A smile crossed his face... one of the unavoidable ones. Teiú was happy that he could reaffirm, to himself, the ideals Kangiro taught him since his childhood. That clarified things for him. And now he was thinking in his family. He was thinking of how they were happy, even living in the situation they did. His parents always had a smile to give him when he needed, a hug, a word, an ear to listen. They were always there to reprehend him for doing something wrong and they were there to teach him what was right. There, where the word of Ozai was not enough to blind the people from their bad social conditions, Teiú grew to love people more than his country. And his people was the country. And for that country, his country, fighting was worth.

His big friend Kai reappeared in his mind, along his father Kangiro, their master. It was impossible to not think about them at that time. And, as much as it was painful, Teiú let his mind go for Seung-Ha, his lost love. However, refraining from thinking that she was dead, Teiú tried to remember of her sweet voice whispering in his ear... of the soft touch of her skin. The rebel had his thoughts on the cliff they used to meet, at the sunset, abnormally red and orange, as sunsets were in the Fire Nation. There, more than anywhere else, Ozai was not present. And just of thinking about her, his body was being filled by such a so good sensation that, at that very time, desperation got his soul, upon bearing the fact that he would have her company no more. His eyes tried to let tears go down, but the firebender hadn't allowed them to do so when, forcibly, he tried to get his thoughts on the good moments with her again.

“... don't you?”

Was what Teiú heard, coming from Xin's mouth.

"I'd like to be taught... my parents wouldn't allow it...."

Teiú turned his head to hear, surprised. She was asking him something? Teiú tried to go deeper on his mind to see if his brain caught Xin's first words... something about knowing something? Something about Fire Nation... no, something fire... something about... offensive firebending.

When the rebel realized what she said his face denoted the most surprised features. “What is that?” he said, his voice bearing the feeling inside of him. But, upon laying eyes on Xin, it seemed like she meant that. And her eyes were looking directly at him... at his eyes. Once more Teiú rose from his position and remained sitted. His face now, however, was serious.

“Why should I do that?”.

[xin]

Xin looked away from him, her head tilted downward slightly, she didn't really want to draw too much attention to herself, after all, what she was asking of him was foolish in so many ways. It would be wrong of her to go against her parents wishes but it would also be stupid to start to trust the rebel, after all. He turned his back on his nation why wouldn't he turn his back on her. In all honesty it was something she'd thought about trying since she'd gotten here, being in such an unknown situation made her realize just how weak and helpless she was.

What could she do? The fire that she made wasn't very hot, it most certainly wouldn't be good enough to protect herself or anyone else. The only reason she was taught firebending was so that she could control herself and not burn the house down. There was nothing she could do with it aside light her way in the darkness, it wasn't enough. She wanted to protect people and be stronger than she was. There would be no help in crying, it seemed all she could do recently. Thinking back to the days when she was learning all she remembered was her teachers shaking her head at her energy for it, they told her to cool down, she didn't need to know more than the basics but now when she may need it there wasn't much to draw from. A couple offensive or defensive moves would make a big difference if earth kingdom soldiers attacked her.

As much as she didn't want to think about it that was a reality in this country. The earth kings men were everywhere, the rebels were around somewhere if Teiu was any proof of that. She was reliant on him, something she disliked. It didn't seem like there was ever a time before where she had needed to be reliant on her self, now would be a good time to try it. What could it hurt.

Still the little problem of dealing with the rebel unnerved her. She hugged her knees to her chest, they wouldn't press all the way against her ribs, her clothes and body were in the way of that. Her eyes pricked with tears and she tried to make them go away, with the sleeve of her robe she rubbed her eyes no doubt making her usually pale skin sore and unsightly, no amount of makeup could fix crying eyes, even though she didn't look any worse off she felt like she was ugly and it could be true, not having seen a mirror since the morning when they began walking.

Her gentle curls hung over her shoulders and around her breast, the pouty pale lips and porcelain skin in the fire make her look like every mans ideal doll of a girl but she felt like crawling into herself and dying so that she wouldn't have to deal with herself anymore. " Sorry...." She murmured deciding to no longer be so forward and just continue on in silence for the rest of the night." forget I asked....." Her gaze dropped to her knees feeling foolish for having said a word. It was so unlike her to speak up like that. It should have been obvious he'd refuse.

[Teiú]

"Sorry... forget I asked....."

Teiú sighed. It was just an instant. As strange as Xin's question was, there, at that moment, she acted truly toward Teiú. When she asked him to teach her firebending, that small phrase, it wasn't mattering if she was a noble and he a peasant. She asked something to him from deep inside her heart, and that was the first time Teiú witnessed that. However, his hopes were down again.

This frustrated him that much, Teiú decided to take a walk. He got his backpack and, from inside, took the sealed wooden tube, which he now would take with him as he placed it inside his cloak, the backpack, he left there again. Teiú got one of the canteens of water and got up, his shadow dancing on the rock as the flames kept on with their sinister moving. Xin was there, looking at somewhere else again, inside her “anti-Teiú” shell... perhaps, “anti-world shell”... fact was, she was not being herself, as she acted the whole trip. She was tall, almost as tall as Teiú, and yet, she seemed weak and frail.

“You know Xin? Now I just had the impression you was something else. Your question was strange, but I saw you meant that, and it was the first time I saw you as you are. I don't know if that is a reflection of your social class, but you are just acting like a fake... you are not living for yourself, you are living for another one. You may think I'm bad because I'm a turncoat of my country. That is not true, but I'm, indeed, a turncoat of my country's government, and I'm so because I believe the Fire Nation can do better. I don't know if you are getting me but... point is: Life is yours, you decide what to do with that... but you only get one like that and, as it goes, don't you think it is better to do what you deem right instead of what someone else does?” And Teiú was just sad for Xin, when he said that.

“I will patrol the area to see if there is anything we need to worry about. I will be back soon.”

And saying so Teiú walked to the path leading downhill. He was not sure what to think or feel about Xin now. He just realized that she was bearing a bigger sorrow than him, and he felt bad about it. However, there was nothing he could do... or there was? And just before leaving, he turned his head to her.

“Oh, Xin... I... I'm sorry for saying what I said to you today, by the beach... believe me, I will not leave you... I will protect you till I see you with your parents again, my word.”

And Teiú headed to his patrolling.

[xin]

Teiu walked around her and spoke to her, a lot of his words fell like harmless raindrops onto her mind, they petered off and slipped away, honestly her family though noble hadn't been doing so well recently. Why else would he father volunteer to head to the earthkingdom of all places. It was frightening, the people either hated you or were afraid of you with unjust cause. She'd convinced herself because it was just because they weren't used to the freedom the firenation was affording them.

She didn't know what to think anymore. So many people she knew back home, who among them would willingly kill a human being, it seemed barbaric, the opposite of what the fire nation was trying to accomplish. She was no fighter but she couldn't even protect her own ideals, how could she defend herself. For now it seemed that Teiu would care for both her and Setsuko but it seemed unlikely he would go to as great lengths as he described. Often times when her mother dressed her up and paraded her around she felt like a little china doll, it was something she'd gotten used to. Now she felt the same, the only difference being that the porcelain was stained, the hair unwashed, and the delicately painted features were fading with age. Perhaps she was nothing better than a little doll, put on the shelf and left to wait for someone else to take care of her. In this new context she didn't much like it.

When she got too old she would no longer have the option to be married for love, a match maker would choose someone for her. That was a frightening thought. She didn't even want to consider it... Her eyes closed and she laid back down trying to think of better things but little would come. She saw her brother twist and contort with his hatred as he aged, becoming a demon like she often saw the earthkingdom soldiers as. She was seated next to an old man wrinkled with age, the fire sage whispering, " You may now take the bride." Her eyes snapped open, grateful to see the dark campsite She collected Xue into her arms and tucked him against her protectively.

Her eyes brimmed with tears and she tucked herself up into the fetal position rested on her side. For a while she cried, nothing but small sniffled and whimpers coming from her, she didn't want to disturb anyone, she wanted to go home, at least there she was in familiar surroundings. She wasn't hungry or cold.

Finally after what seemed like eternity she had drifted back into sleep though she twitched now and then, nightmares clouding her mind. Unlike the ones on the ship, there were more vivid, the old man wasn't with her now. It was the earthking and the things his shadowy figure did were unspeakable.

[Teiú]

Teiú came here and there, circling the area near the hill. He walked to the river and refilled his canteen, coming back to the camp about two hours after his leave. Nothing to be seen or heard. Normal, Teiú thought, in the middle of a war patrolling all the roads in the continent was not an easy task. Yet, no bandits or Fire Nation troops, as well, just a quiet night. When the rebel came back the three small creatures were sleeping. Xin, Xue and Setsuko.

The fire was weakened and Teiú quickly worked on it, feeding it with the wood he had brought form his walk. Teiú came back to his place and laid down. As so, the rebel started playing with a small fireball, rotating it with his hands in the air in front of him. Something changed that night but, for sure, it wouldn't help Teiú in his relationship with his companion... Things were just getting more and more messy. 2 pm... 3 pm? Teiú fell to a deep sleep, among strange dreams... nightmares? Not so much, but yet, his was not going to be a very good night's sleep.

Dawn had passed and it seemed like more four hours for noon. Teiú was now opening his eyes, his dry mouth made his brain command his hands to get water. Still fighting to get his eyes completely open under day's clarity. The water going down his throat was like a bath to his soul and Teiú finally got aware of the surroundings. Breakfast and then planning next course in action. Teiú moved his head around, making his eyes search for Xin and Setsuko... would they be awake already?

[set]

It seemed like a dream. It seemed like she was gently floating. But she could still hear voices, murmured and drowned out for her to distinguish any words. It was an odd feeling for her; at the same time she heard them, familiar and unfamiliar as they seemed, the rest of her body was not aware and was undisturbed. In fact, she was almost entirely numb, except for the sense of her hearing picking up the ring of her companions' voices echoing nearby, yet sounding so far away.

But she didn't know that it was Teiú's and Xin's voices. She just heard... sounds as she slept peacefully. However, as soon as they were completely drowned out, she fell into deep slumber.

Setsuko's small fingers twitched at her physical body's instinct urge to move from being at a still state for so long. The child's eyes opened to the sound of faint chirping and to the bright sunlight appearing red through her eyelids. Her dull-golden irises illuminated from the rays, giving them a slightly brighter color. She rolled onto her back from laying on her stomach, and sat up stretching her short, thin arms upward and letting out a yawning sigh.

She sat up and glanced around, immediately catching sight of a meadow vole nearby before spotting either of her older companions. She made a sudden move toward it and at the same time making herself dizzy, scaring the little creature under the huge, tightly tangled roots of a tree. After letting her dizzyness fade, Setsuko followed the vole and crouched beside the tree, peeking through the roots. Although her eyes repeatedly adjusted against the shade, she couln't see the tiny mouse-like animal.

A sound of stirring movement was behind her. She quickly turned to see that Teiú had awakened, and at that gave a bright smile. "Slept well?" she asked cheerfully.

[xin]

After an emotionally traumatic night Xin was hidden safely in the realm of her dreams. It would be easy for her to sleep the day away if her mind wasn't so ill at ease that she got night terrors and dark dreams of home. It was stressful and she just wanted it all to vanish, she didn't know what to do, how could she defend herself out here in the wild. It wasn't like she was a warrior, she wasn't even well trained in firebending. Just enough so that she wouldn't burn herself then nothing, now it seemed foolish that she didn't learn more of the art.

She had no skills in weapons, she didn't even have any weapons. It wasn't even like she had anything to eat to calm her consorting empty stomach. In a haze Xin sat up blinking herself awake. Her hair was in tangled curls around her shoulders and back, she felt like a slob for wearing the same clothing she'd worn the night before but it would have to do for now. It wasn't like she could change back into anything red. The green didn't bore well with her though. Carefully Xin rubbed her eyes and looked around the area, Teiu was there, as was Setsuko, at least they were captured by earth benders in the night.

The young lady stifled a yawn and blearily looked at her companions, she'd return to being silent, she didn't want to upset anyone or argue with a mad man who could only see the worst in his country like she did last night. With a small whimper Xin arched her back and stretched feeling all the stiffness and soreness course through her spine, as of yet she wasn't used to sleeping on the ground, she feared that in time she would get used to it. Her hands raked themselves through her hair trying to tame it and little Xue clamored into her lap deciding to curl up and stay there.

[Teiú]

“Slept well?” Setsuko, giving Teiú a free smile.

Teiú stood there, watching at Setsuko, while in that state we are right after waking up, when we don't know where we are, who we are, or what are we doing there. When he realized she was speaking with him he, slightly, shook his head and repaid the smile.

“Know what? I already had better nights.” He, with his sweetest voice. And his eyes now were aware that his companions were awake. Xin was looking like a zombie. Not because of her physical appearance, she was a pretty pretty girl in Teiú's concept. However, the sorrowfulness always present on her face made her looking like ill, sick... Perhaps, Teiú thought, it was exactly how she was feeling. Teiú was not going to bother himself trying to speak with her, though. Last night's effort was everything Teiú was willing to share in that intent. Setsuko was she like she usually was, happy. It was funny as how it seemed like the sunlight was always bathing her young face. The very presence of her was soothing for Teiú's soul.

Soon the fire was warming chunks of bread and jerked meat, that was going to be breakfast. Right after Teiú was already examining the old map Fargus gave him. No far from there there was a village where they could get some rest. Teiú had enough coins for some comfort yet. Luckily, Fargus exchanged all Fire Nation money Teiú had for Earth Kingdom coins. If they mantained a steady pace they could reach the town before noon, what would be perfect since walking under noon's sun was a horrible choice.

Teiú was packing his things on his rucksack, without missing anything. When he got ready he said to his companions: “Well, if we walk northeast for a couple or so hours we will reach a town were we can get good food and a bath perhaps. For that, we should leave now.”. Teiú knew he was rushing things but shouldn't be that way he was never going to reach the Rebellion's headquarters in time. And curiosity was already starting to get him... what could be written in that message? He sure would like to open and know... unfortunately, the seal was the proof that he was, indeed, a trustworthy rebel.

The path ahead was clear and seemed like an encounter in the middle of the walk would be hard to happen. At those first steps, Teiú was thinking about something to say, to break the bad mood. Teiú couldn't come with a worse subject...

“Eh, b-beautiful day, don't you think, girls?”

[set]

The energetic child was already up and trotting along the path, her gaze wandering about to take in her surroundings. Maybe being in the Earth Kingdom wasn't going to be so bad. There was just that sense of adventure that came with being in a strange place.

Then again, she still missed home. She missed her family, and they were probably worried about her too. Once again her mind endulged itself in the thoughts of what her family did while she was gone. Shichiro would have to do the chores himself; although he did deserve it for always leaving Setsuko do to most of them, she thought it would be too much of a burden for him. Her mother always taught her to still love him because he's her brother.

Her negative thoughts caused herself to kinda slow down her lively prance. Realizing this, she tried to shake off such ideas for now and think about getting home in the first place. Her failing attempt to focus didn't distract her as much, though.

Her eyes glanced at the strange man. She began to think about when Xin invaded his belongings, coming across some sort of seal, and looking at a map, getting away with it all at once. With this thought, she glanced at Xin, immediately recognizing her misery through the noble's sickly appearance. The child wished she could help her at least fix her hair, but alas she had nothing to fix it with but her tiny, nimble fingers as a brush. Her thought immediately wandered to what it would be like to have such hair that became uncontrollable, and was glad that her mother taught her to be able to control her own.

Setsuko once again looked up at Teiú. "Very!" she responded in a bright tone.

[xin]

Xin ate quietly and sparingly, she didn't want to deteriorate their rations but more than that she wanted Setsuko to have her fill. Growing children were more important that she was, that sort of feeling just reminded her of her brothers though. Xue munched on a small hunk of bread then she settled him in the pocket of her bag so he could sleep it off then she attempted to search for her comb.

With it on the bottom of the bag she eventually gave up looking and just ran her fingers through it, the curled tresses falling about her shoulders carelessly instead of the tamed locks she usually had, as long as she didn't look like Medusa it would have to do. When they got moving Xin fell to the back of the group walking quietly and looking at every tree and hill as if it were going to hide a surprise attack from the earth kingdoms forces. When she was in the Earth kingdom before it was just New Ozai, it was much better than this. The open bothered her.

Would they pass as Earth kingdom citizens or would they be found out instantly. Once she'd read a scroll where a young woman was captured by the earth kingdom soldiers and was tortured by them, unspeakable things were done to the poor girl and she was left to the vicious horned creatures, the badger moles who dragged her deep into the dirt cities of Ba Sing Se. That was until a brave fire nation soldier slayed the creatures and rescued the girl. At the very least it had a happy ending.

Her brown eyes looked up at Teiú and Setsuko, the girl was a fountain of energy, where did she get it from? Perhaps it was just because she didn't know the dangers of the earth kingdom, she wouldn't be the one to tell her about them, let her keep her innocence as long as she can.

Teiú on the other hand, what was wrong with him that he couldn't see what he was doing to his nation. The subject made her so upset she felt physically ill so she let it go for now. No sense in slowing everyone down.

[Teiú]

All of a sudden, the rebel started growing tired. Not particularly tired about taking Xin and Setsuko along... just tired that things were as they were between the nations. School talking about Earth Kingdom's abominations, his rebel comrade and master talking about Ozai's lies. “What is it with all this people?” Teiú thought. Nation's leaders seemed so childish at that point, for him. “Why do I have to get myself killed for these guys, eh? I feel like a pawn of them... worst of all, a pawn out of the game” Talking to himself in his mind, while sighing deeply. “Know what, I'm better this... yes, I know why I'm doing what I'm doing... or... or at least I hope so...”.

Something from afar, then, called up his attention. Ahead of him, just going down the road, there was the city Fargus spoke about about. Instantly Teiú rose his hand to the girls while telling them to stop and being quiet. Teiú walked a few meters forward to stop behind a tree, at the margin of the rocky road. Nothing wrong, it was what said his fast exam of the situation, a small village seeming occupied by Earth Kingdom folks. Perfect place to get rest, a bath and food. He turned his face to his companions and let a go a friendly “Come”. While heading to the town.

Teiú crossed the streets of the area, only to see common people on the streets. Kids playing in front of their houses, women speaking with each other from the windows of the shacks. No place of big political importance at first glance. Teiú walked till he saw a woman sitted in the stairs leading to her home. She had a bucket on her lap filled with various fruits of unknown origin for the rebel. She had a knife in her hands to peel the fruits. Teiú approached her and asked, in a friendly tune, about where he could get food and supplies for a trip. The woman answered with a kind voice, while pointing to end of village's main street. However, though her voice was warm, she looked at the young man with suspicion. Teiú thanked, shaken by the woman's eerie glance, and then took his way towards the storehouse.

[xin]

She was perfectly content to walk along the road, her usually warm expressive honey brown eyes were tired and worn set to the stones in the road. Over her body she could see her feet, one then the other moving along dirt clodden roads. She could say for sure that in the fire nation at the very least they had the where with all to cobble the roads, in the richer districts they'd be intricate mosaics lined with the most gorgeous stones they could find. The earth kingdom seemed to be dirt, dirt and more dirt. She often tried not to sound like a spoiled noble but she could feel her feet tire from the walking they seemed to do oh so often.

Finally Teiu stopped them, of course she came to a quick hault her eyes slowly turning upward to see the reason for the sudden pause in their journey. It seemed like they hadn't been traveling enough to be at the final destination so this had to be part way. Perhaps a single town on the way, refering back to her mental image of the map she could only think of a couple towns close enough that they could have arrived in such a short amount of time. They were only a fraction of the way there.

The town seemed innocent enough, they were wearing green so it meant that it was still occupied by the earth kingdom, she could tell that much. Like a nervous cabbot her eyes darted from one person to the next half expecting earth soldiers to swarm them at any momment. If for that reason alone she kept herself close to Setsuko, she wasn't the best firebender ever but at the very least she could form some kind of distraction should it come down to needing to run away she facilitate that much. They walked up to a woman and asked about a store house, he looked at Teiu but she didn't even motion towards the girls, it might have helped that her eyes weren't exactly the trademark gold of the firenation, something she'd always scorned now seemed to come in handy. It made no differance to her either way, she walked close to Teiu's heels once again having to use him as his own manner of support. It was sad she was forced to rely on someone she distrusted.

[Teiú]

Biggest house in the town and Teiú could badly tell the difference of it than other shacks he glanced at in his way to the market, if it so could be called. On the shelves, bad aligned merchandise, when not an empty shelf. An old man appeared from the back door and came directly to Teiú, after examining the three suspicious figures.

"New faces around, eh? Hope ya' don't bring us more trouble than we're already havin'..." The old man "What would ye' be wanting?"

Teiú handed him a list, made before that last day, with what he was wanting for keeping in his trip. The man, bowed by the weight of time, took it from the young man's hands like a snake predating on rabbit.

"Mmm, eh boy, I can get you half o' things listed here... The rest of 'em... you would need to get to Tachi Dai for."

"Oh, would..." the rebel started, but stopped right after taking the first breath. He remembered the accent of most of Fargus' sailors and tried to go for an accent alike those of them. "I mean... would Tachi Dai be too far away?"

The man looked at the rebel for a few seconds and then shot his answer: "It is noon, eh? Make it a good pace withou' long stops and you could be reachin' it by the sunset."

"Oh right, thanks... and by the way... mind if I ask you what kind of trouble are you coming through?" Teiú in a tone of uncertainty.

"Oh boy..." said the old man with his back turned to Teiú "This damned Fire Nation is actin' near, just a few hills afar from here. We have our army comin'n'goin' like... well... like... well, what matter is, there have been fights very near the village and this stopped merchandise to come south to north yo' know? That is why we be so short in food here at the market."

"... Oh, I-I see. But, being that the case, wouldn't Tachi Dai be as debilitated as here?"

When Teiú replied, his Fire National accent became more evident and the old man looked directly at the rebel's eyes. "Nnnooo.... Tachi Dai receives supplies from the east, as well." The man now was speaking slowly and was not taking his eyes out of Teiú. "Where d' you said you came from, boy?"

"Well, I..." and Teiú froze.

"I see, I see... don' rush yourself, eh? I'll be right back with what you need... oh, I'll be sure to bring what you need." And after saying that the old man left, going through the same door he came from, in some kind of a hurry.

This is not good, is what came through the firebender's mind. "We can reach Tachi Dai by the sunset, right? Ok, we're going for it then." Teiú said in his mind. "This is not right girls... I don't see this place as a safe one. We should leave at once and try to reach our destination soon." And after saying it Teiú started trying to rush the girls out of the store. The young man just hoped that no soldier, be it Fire Nation or Earth Kingdom, or the attendant of the market, would come to foil his trip by making the unwanted to happen.

[xin]

Xin didn't like this, it wasn't the sort of situation she'd put herself in if she'd had the mind to voice her opinions but as it stood, she didn't. As they moved through the streets Xin kept her eyes trained forward trying to block out all the images around her, she didn't want to see people in poor conditions, she didn't want to think ill of her own people like Teiu was trying to have her do, the firenation was looking out for the world, the airnomads were going to attack the firenation so they were cut off, the water tribes were backwards people who the firenation went to assist but instead they were attacked, there was no harm in defending ones self. They were doing the spirits work but she still wished the war would be over. She didn't want to hear anymore.

Regardless of her desires to be back home in the firenation or even be in New Ozai they reached a larger shop that Xin examined with mild interest finding it more interesting than the suffering of the people in this town. This was why the Firenation needed to conqueror the earth king and bring stability to the broken people. From what she heard even the King of New Ozai surrendered leaving his people in the more than capable hands of the firenation colonists. Why was it that the topic had become so heated then. The exchange between Teiu and the shop keep went over Xin's head since she was lost in her own train of thought. Snapping back to Xin's golden brown eyes opened slightly to see a obsidian lock of hair in her face which with a stroke of her pale hands moved back alongside her cheek.

They were close to Tachi Dai, almost a days journey, at least that was what the man said, again their destination was Tachi Dai, it must have been important, the rebels were meeting up there. How many deserters to the fire nation would be collected there? Who would guess what those rouges were planning. If lesser nobility was willing to sell out the earth king then why did people still support him. Perhaps all of them were mentaly unstable like Teiu or perhaps they were depraved convicts. She couldn't be sure but she would have to tell someone, put the Firenation back on even footing, it was her duty.

Yet as Teiu pushed her out of the door, Setsuko along with them, she couldn't fathom a way to safely inform the soldiers of such a thing when she hadn't seen any since she was in the firenation. Bitterly she kept her mouth shut, what place would possibly be safe when rebels were running around, she felt horrid that poor Setsuko had to be wrapped up in this, she was just a girl, no doubt her family was missing her, she needed to be returned home before something happened. Her feet slowly took up the pace Teiu was forcing upon them but before they got out of the towns limits a band of green clad soldiers moved into veiw taking stances that to Xin looked awkward and heavy. Subconsciously she stepped in front of Setsuko trying to protect her from what she could only imagine were earth benders.

This was what she's feared wasn't it? Though she felt it was cruel she found herself blaming Teiu, her eyes shifted between him and the soldiers, there was no clear cut answer for her. She wouldn't fight to defend him, not that she truly could, the best option seemed to be running, so as soon as the earth benders started forward she took off awkwardly down a side street, her hand was holding Setsuko's tightly as she moved. Her mind was racing and she was praying to all the spirits she knew for a flash of red armor, something she could trust and beleive in