Into the Fire and the Flame<Lun Yang, Fire Nation>

[pamuy]

While she was grateful she helped, Pamuy felt increasingly aware of the potential danger they could be in at the moment. Both she and Hilang could be cross-examined for carrying these swords into the country, considering how it was somewhat suspicious she found the crate and swords within so soon after their owner sought out to find them. It was probably nothing, but the very hint of an uneasy nature made Pamuy know she had to keep up a strong front.

One overtly shifty move and the Fire Nation domestic forces like these folks wouldn't react too well. Eyes gazing over the shiny metal implements, Pamuy then looked over to Hilang. In all honesty, she was more worried about him than she was herself - surprisingly. He was just as much at risk as she was. After this was all over, she knew there was much more chance to relax. No matter where they were staying for their visit, it would no doubt be good and accomodating. She just hoped there was no bias in favor of the Wu family, Hilang, and other Fire Nation folk within the caravan. It was all too likely in her mind that she, Nim, Shang, and the others would have to stay in some broken-down hovel while the rest got to sleep in comfort. Again, she knew it was probably just a fluke in her mind. Simply a needless worry. She hoped.

Raising her finger as if to butt in, Pamuy stifled herself as she was about to reveal an important fact about Hilang's sword. How they were sharp at the tip, but dull at the edges, allowing him to swallow them without a terrible lot of damage to his throat. It would take away from the wonderment of the act, so she convinced herself to keep quiet. Still, that wasn't before a small peep escaped her mouth, after which she shook her head and looked away promptly. She anticipated a question or two to arise. No big problem; this guard probably wouldn't be too wowed by Hilang's act - and that was assuming she or the other men and women even saw it. She would still keep her thoughts to herself this time around.

[yinhe]

Strolling along at an even pace, Yin followed the Wu fellow, Private Li only a few steps behind the Corporal on her right flank, silent as usual. Bored brown eyes peering with her typical half-lidded gaze lit upon her two squad mates for a moment. Yin was pleased to see Xiu and Shing working beside the gypsies and sailors, hopefully the two were staying out of trouble. The pressure would truly be on, Yin knew, when they were before the Yubi family. Slipups and shenanigans around the nobility could prove detrimental to one’s career and reputation.

Yin had never been one to look up to the nobility; she felt the majority of such folks were arrogant, greedy and entirely self-centered. Having grown up in a small, tight knit farm town that was primarily known for its sugar cane, the Corporal had not know the luxurious lifestyles of the nobility and upper classes and it had come as somewhat of a shock to her, to encounter such self-righteous people who looked down upon her for her rural upbringing. The less Yin had to deal with the rich and high class, the better.

"Ah.. you must be our escort," a voice called out to the group. The Corporal turned her head slowly, locating the individual who had spoken. As Yin spotted the stocky woman, only a short distance away, the small group seemed to slow and pause before her. The woman introduced herself and then, gesturing over, introduced her husband as well. Yin had been briefed on the family to an extent, but the report hadn’t really given first names, just very general information on the whole.

Stopping for a moment, Yin repeated her traditional bow, Private Li following suit, matching her movements exactly, “Yes,” Yin began with a nod, having risen from the bow, “we are. I’m Corporal Yin He Zhong and this is Private Li,” she said, holding out her hand in the direction of her towering comrade, “My other Squad mates are around, hopefully helping with the loading of your wagons here,” Yin added, giving the couple a friendly smile.

They seemed like reasonable folks, both clearly Fire Nation, which only helped to further reassure the soldier woman that there would likely be no trouble from the group. Whether or not she should allow herself to feel such a way, Yin was beginning to become comfortable around the group of traveling performers. The lot seemed level-headed, no trace of an unstable wild card who might challenge one of her own less-than-stable comrades or the like amongst this group.

The Corporal watched, somewhat amused, as Mrs. Wu urged her still-damp son to go help with the loading of the wagons. “Um.. Corporal Yin He here.. wants to check Hilang's swords.. I'll go help Hilang find them," the Li brother said, speaking to his mother. Yin did not hesitate to follow along once they had set off again, there would be time to meet with the Wu couple later on. Moving over toward the Hilang fellow, the Corporal had noticed he’d seemed to be somewhat puzzled in his search, before, that is; the Water Tribe woman had intervened and located the swords for him.

The group soon reached Hilang and his helpful lady friend and the sword swallower knelt before a crate containing six Jians. Yin watched him carefully as he retrieved one of the weapons, she did not truly expect him to attack out of the blue or something, her wary stance was simply habit and instinct and she knew Private Li was watching the man just as closely. Holding the weapon out to her, the man spoke, "This is an example of one of my swords. As you can see, there are five more, but they are all identical. Merely extras in case there is a problem with one, or I feel the need to use two in a particular performance."

Taking the sword carefully in her hands, Yin nodded slowly, “Private,” she said calmly, beginning her inspection of the blade, “Check the other five.” The statue-like Firebender quickly knelt without a word, and began examining the five swords still in the case, carefully lifting each one and inspecting the blades, handles and even the case itself, before returning the weapons to their places in a meticulous manner.

The Corporal ran her finger along the cutting edges of the Jian, dull, she thought. Carefully, she ran her right thumb up to the tip, touching the point gingerly, noting its sharpness. A peculiar peep caught Yin’s attention, however, and she froze, her eyes snapping up to look upon the one who had produced it. Eyeing the Water Tribe woman for a moment, she grinned. Her gaze fell back up the blade and she took the handle in her left hand, holding the sword out for a moment, feeling its weight and balance.

Satisfied that the gypsies were not some sort of arms smuggling cartel, as if they would have been, thought Yin, she gave a quick look around to those assembled, nodded to the lot of them and returned the sword to its owner, gently placing in back into his hands. With a silent nod from Private Li, she bowed quickly before Hilang, “Customs regulations and the like, you know?” she began, looking from each Flame Dancer to the next before turning back to the sword swallower, “Thank you for your cooperation in this matter, everything seems to be in order.”

Taking a few steps over, Yin came to stand beside Li-Wu, “If these were the only weapons you brought along, then we don’t need to do anymore of these searches, everything’s clear enough for me. Perhaps a quick look around the wagons and I feel we’ll be ready to get moving,” she said, clasping her left hand to her right wrist, behind her back and bobbing forward on the tips of her toes out of nervous habit, “Once everything is properly loaded, of course,” Yin finished, with a nod.

[nim]

"It's Shang" At the sound of his name a wide smile spread across her face, but she couldn't completely erase the crease on her brow. She felt like such a burden she didn't want to be even more, which she was without her walking stick, "just needed to take a break for a little."

"I heard you ended up with a lot of work, don't feel bad about taking a break. I wish I could do more to help, but I guess I'm never much help am I?" Nim was really starting to hate Fire Nation, for some reason she felt more useless here than she ever had in the Earth Kingdom, though when she thought about it she wasn't very much help back home either.

She rubbed her wrist nervously, bitting her bottom lip without even thinking about it, though she still tried to keep her smile. "You haven't seen my walking staff have you?" It was worth a shot, though she was sure he hadn't exactly been keeping an eye out for it. She had an awefully thought that maybe it had been forgotten on board and it was scraped as junk.

[ekramkiros]

The Ambassador sat inside his cart with a clearly annoyed look to his face. Two wrinkles had set in around his young eyes from the various stress of his position. This was something that could not be allowed. His brimming black eyes turned tot he young woman in the cart with him who was attempting to reapply his make-up without messing up despite the cobbled drive the car was making it's way up. Dressed in flowing golden robes with black and red flames accenting it up and down his thin torso, the ambassador was of course sheathed in the finest silk. An unexpected bump heard the young maid gasp, only to let out a pained shriek as a hand rose up to paint her cheek crimson.

"What did I tell you?"
"Yes, yes, I'm very very sorry, sir. The bump it just..."
"Fix it and you may just find yourself keeping your fingers."

She nervously nodded and continued to do her work accenting his eyes with a line of black, and doing the same for the eyelashes, placing a bit of powder to hide those two very troublesome wrinkles. After quite some time traveling up the road, the woman now down with her work, the cart came to a halt. Mere seconds afterwards, the door to the chariot was opened and from it's finely furnished interior stepped the Ambassador, looking up at the Mingzhu family. Floating steps toook him towards them before he bowed and offered a royal smile. "Good afternoon, you'll have to excuse my tardiness, but we just had a terrible accident along the way. Care to discuss it over some tea before the dancers arrive?"

[shanghuang]

Shang raised a puzzled eyebrow as Nim spoke. What was she talking about? She was a performer for the caravan. She pulled enough weight just by dancing and pleasing the crowd. It was the people like Shang who needed to do most of the work. If they’d had all their caravan here, most of the performers would probably leave the heavy lifting entirely to people like him.

Instead of saying something reassuring, though, all Shang could manage was a rather stunted sounding, “Huh?” before Nim continued speaking.

"You haven't seen my walking staff have you?"

“Uh, no…” Shang answered, looking around as though he might just spot it for her. “I could check the wagons for you, though…”

Upon offering, Shang immediately regretted saying such a thing. That would mean contact with those Fire Nation soldiers again. Great. Just what he needed.

“Have you tried asking Juning?” he suggested, hoping not to sound to eager in the alternative to his offer for help.

[blackcrow]

Juning nodded, closing her eyes as she mused quietly. "Yes, Yes.. those are the only weapons" ..Of dangerous nature when used irresponsibly. Period. Honestly, after centuries of loyal service to the Fire Lord as Chartered to have their motives questioned was an insult. Yet, the woman let it roll off her shoulders though she was certain her husband's blood was boiling. The fact that the Proud and Mighty Fire Nation had to inspect their own citizens.. it was a sad state of affair.
She turned her head, spying Nimuta rummaging around the cart ahead of theirs, Shang standing beside her. She stuck out an arm, the bangles jangling on her wrist.
"Oy! Nimuta. Your staff is up front with the driver." She directed the girl. "..Excuse me." Juning offered the Corporal, leaving the woman still with Hilang's swords and with Li-Wu and Hilang to watch. Still quick on her feet after 25 years of chasing her two sons, Juning jogged towards the front of the semi-circle of wagons, where one of the wagon drivers was standing, checking the harness of the dragon moose team in order to natch Nimuta's walking stick and return it to her.

Meanwhile, Li-Wu crossed his arms across his chest, grasping at his elbows as he watched his Mother flounce away, before glancing back at the Corporal. "Is there anything else? We look about ready to go." Commenting, he glanced towards the wagons. He had to chuckle at his twin who was bouncing up and down the line, drumming on the crates and trunks with his palms. His hair kicking up behind him in a wave as he skipped. Li might have joined in.. if he wasn't still feeling a bit ill.

[mingzhu]

The Ambassador stood up well to the descriptions from various sources of the court, he was indeed a fine figure of a man, imposing yet poised and graceful. His dress suited his station, fine silk and floating robes. The only matter that irritated Mingzhu and her father was that he was late. They had been standing outside the front door for nearly five minutes now, adorned in clothes finer than their everyday attire. Mingzhu stood with her hair in it’s normal topknot, but the rest of her dark hair was left flowing down her back. She slipped the fan back into the sash of her obi, raising her head slightly to look at him more clearly.

Her father bowed formally to the Ambassador, the pair were not very formally acquainted, and Mingzhu knew very well he would be using this opportunity to gain another alley so close to the Fire Lord. Mingzhu stepped forward, the elegant lines of her figure enhanced by the cut of her robe, her beauty glowing, with only a faint touch of make up.

“Greetings Ambassador, the Shihong Yubi Family extends its warmest of welcomes to you.” Her father spoke formally, and raised his hands in a welcoming gesture. “We are pleased to see that you were not harmed in the accident, a little time is nothing, if it assures your personal safety.”

Mingzhu watched her father haughtily, and then flicked her eyes back to the Ambassador, finding his face rather pleasing to her eyes. Much carnal desire in her was suppressed and held down tightly, she couldn’t allow another such instance to happen. Her son was now about seven summers or so. Her heart clenched in her chest, and then Mingzhu tucked away those feelings. As handsome as he was, Mingzhu would not allude a single feeling towards him.

“We have refreshments ready.” Mingzhu stated, dipping her head, lips forming into empty smile, and then she turned gracefully on the stop to step into the welcome shade of her home. Servants stood in the hallway, hands clasped and eyes towards the floor as Mingzhu and her father lead the way to the open Pavilion for their drinks. They stepped out into a wonderful garden, neatly kept with small running rivers into ponds, miniature water falls and a few birds lounging artfully in the cool water. Scents of fresh flowers wafted across Mingzhu’s nose, her eyes flickered closed for a brief moment, reminded of her childhood summers with her mother.

A small wooden causeway brought them to a lovely pavilion, surrounded by flowers and water running around its base. An elegant roof shielded the heavy sun from their eyes, and upon getting closer, a low table with cushions spread around it had been laid open. Two servants stood waiting with pitchers of iced tea and other such drinks. Dishes of fruit and sweets had been placed on the table. Mingzhu allowed the guest to take the first seat, and then settled into a seat opposite him. Her golden eyes assessed him intelligently from across the table, waiting for the ice tea to be poured into her cup.

“If I may presume to ask, what was this terrible accident which brought about your delay?” Mingzhu asked, gesturing for the servant to pour the drinks for her father and the guest.

[nim]

Nim shrugged her shoulders, she was sure Juning was busy ordering people about and so she stretched out her hands to feel her way to the back of the cart and began carefully rummaging. She had only felt inside a few boxes before she heard the older woman call to her. With a big smile on her lips Nim moved away from the back of the cart and held the side as she moved toward the drivers seat.

"Thank you Mrs. Juning," She held out her hand as the leader of they gypsies handed her the smooth wooden staff. It felt cool and familiar in this strange place and she was all too glad to have it.

"So..." Nim stood near Shang, she wanted to be around someone she knew and she didn't want to bump into one of the Fire Nation guards while lookiing for someone else like one of the Wu twins or Pamuy, "Are you excited to be here? How does it look?" Her smile was big, but tinged with sadness, she wished deeply that she could look upon this foriegn land with her own eyes, to truely know what things looked like and not the crude sketches her mind drew through touch.

[shanghuang]

Shang watched as Nim rummaged around for her walking stick and as Juning came to the rescue. He was glad she’d found it. The last thing she needed was to be bumping into Fire Nation guards. She couldn’t see it herself, but she looked like an Earth Kingdom citizen, and the reactions to minor offenses could be irrationally made greater.

“So…are you excited to be here? How does it look?” she asked once she had found her walking stick.

Shang blinked in surprise, “Well, I wouldn’t say excited…”

He trailed off, stopping himself a moment too late. He didn’t want to bring down Nim’s apparent good mood with such talk, but to be fair it was the honest truth. He was much less than excited to be in the homeland of those who had killed his friends so recently. There was no reason to drag others through that, though, so he quickly changed subjects.

“It looks nice, though, I guess. The buildings are interesting,” he said, looking at some of the towers. “Some almost look like huts stacked on top of each other.”

Ah, what eloquence. He grimaced at his bad analogy. Maybe it was for the best, though, if Nim didn’t know what she was missing. Then again, would that be cheating her of something she wanted and deserved. He glanced at Nim. She had never seemed as concerned with her blindness as she had lately. It was odd. Where had this sudden insecurity come from. Hopefully, it would soon pass. Nim should be enjoying the trip. Not everyone had to just suffer through it like he did.

[nim]

Nim smiled at the thought, from what she had heard huts were crude and ugly so to think of several unsturdy homes stacked one atop the other she imagined the whole city would look as though it were about to fall in on itself.

"Hardly sounds very Fire Nation, from what I hear I would think everyone of them lived in little palaces of their own," She gave a small giggle, but she cut it short realizing that she probably shouldn't be picking on the Fire Nation when one of their soldiers could be standing right next to her.

"So I was thinking I'm going to have to fix up my dance," she figured it couldn't hurt to run her idea by someone since she would need someone to tell her if it would work or not, plus it was a change of subject, "I was thinking I should give it more of a firey twist, you know since we're in the Fire Nation and all. Do you think I could light my whip on fire without hurting myself?" she had aserious face on, it would be dangerous to be holding a flaming whip, but at the same time it would be extremely cool.

[pamuy]

It seemed her peep did little damage, though it did come at the most inopportune time; when the statuesque homeguard woman, apparent leader of them all, touched the very tip of the sword with her fingertip. After that, everything seemed to run smoothly and without a problem. Pamuy had taken to the background right when the domestic guard could very well have skewered her finger, hoping for the best - and yet, to her pleasant surprise, the 'best' came! They were in the clear for now, not to be locked away in some wooden crate just because they took weapons into the country. Now to weather the rest of their stay in the lovely Fire Nation, where all judgmental eyes were on them.

After the taller Fire Nation soldier turned aside, walking to one of the Wu twins, Pamuy and Hilang were lefft by themselves. Not exactly Pamuy's favorite place to be, especially when Hilang brought to the fore the unflattering little crush she once had on him in times past (and utterly crashed and burned thanks to Pamuy's quick thinking), but she could learn to make due. Maybe a change of subject, something that interested Hilang, would make him uphold his word and be civil, like he claimed. Thus, she walked over to the crate holding his swords and picked one up. Holding it in her hand, she tried to balance it well between her fingers, hilt grasped firmly upon as it swayed gently and pointed to the sky. Her eyes gazed up and down across the silvery sheen of the blade. "I always wondered how to work one of these things..."

[yinhe]

Standing beside Li-Wu, Yin surveyed the scene; it seemed two of the wagons were near to fully loaded whilst the third seemed roughly three-fourths of the way complete. Peering over, she caught sight of Xiu and Shing dawdling between two of the wagons, Shing seemed to be babbling about something, likely wearing down the female Firebender’s already limited patients. Without Juning keeping an eye on the two, it seemed they were headed back towards the Corporal when the gypsies by the third wagon could still use a hand with the loading.

“Private,” she said, turning toward Li. The towering man seemed to be staring off at the waterfront shops, his face an expressionless mask. With her words, the Firebender turned to his commander, giving her his attention. “Please inform Xiu and Shing that the third wagon isn’t ready to go yet,” Yin said, pointing over toward her Squad mates. Li nodded and silently moved off to intercept his comrades. It seemed Xiu and Shing had noticed when the Corporal had pointed their way and froze in their tracks as the big man approached.

As Private Li herded the other two in the right direction, Yin He turned her attention back to the Wu brother. Is there anything else?” he asked, “We look about ready to go." “Nah, can’t think of anything else. This sort of stuff is usually the Coast Guard’s responsibility, bet some Lieutenant pulled some strings so his buddies could spend the day playing with their jet skis. Anyhoo, seems like we can get this show on the road if you folks are set,” she added idly, looking over toward the edge of the dock. “If you’ll excuse me, I ought to go get our youngest Squad member seated up on one of the wagons, she’s not feeling well.” It seemed like Li-Wu was more interested in watching his brother prance about the unloaded luggage, but Yin still managed a respectful bow before turning off toward Pang, who still sat with her back against one of the dock railing posts.

Covering the distance quickly, she reached the young soldier who peered groggily up at her. “C’mon, Pang, let’s get you a seat on the lead wagon, you can rest up there,” said Yin, offering a hand. Private Pang gave a slow nod and took her hand, the Corporal tugged the girl up onto her feet and led her over to the nearest wagon, she assumed it was the lead at least, as it seemed to be the closest to the main road. Pang trudged along beside the Corporal, her eyes upon the ground. Yin shook her head; she shouldn’t have brought the girl along, Pang wasn’t in any shape to be out and about. The Corporal resolved to send Li along with the young woman on a quick trip back to the base infirmary once the little caravan reached the Yubi place. Her Squad would be two down, but she’d feel better knowing Pang was receiving the proper treatment instead of letting things go.

Once poor fluish Pang was seated up upon the lead wagon’s bench seat, Yin gave her a quick pat on the shoulder, “You hang on, I’ll be back shortly,” she said, receiving a weary nod from her comrade in response. Leaping gracefully down from the wagons opposite side, she found herself standing before the sandy-haired fellow and the blind woman, giving them a quick nod before continuing on her way. How foolish was that? She thought to herself, nodding to a blind person. Nim? Was that her name? Ahh well, Yin thought, moving over toward the other two wagons to give them the once over, the lead seemed prepped, loaded and ready to go.

The last trunk was loaded into the back of the second wagon as she reached it; a quick inspection revealed it to, was set. She made her way around the wagon, making a larger than necessary turn, to put some distance between her and the Dragon Moose that was harnessed to the front. She’d always been a bit unnerved by the things ever since she’d met her family’s own Dragon Moose at a young age; the creature had frightened her quite badly at the time. Safely away from the intimidating beast of burden, Yin circled around the back of the third wagon, pleased to see that Li, Xiu and Shing were helping to load the last of the luggage.

The three turned from their tasks and looked toward their leader. “Shing, Li take this wagon, Xiu, the second one, Pang and I’ll ride the lead. Ready to get moving?” she asked, her gaze moving from soldier to soldier. “Righto,” said Shing, carelessly tossing a sack filled with someone’s possessions into the back of the wagon. Li simply nodded and Xiu smirked, “Peace at last, thanks Corp,” she said, giving Shing a look, before strolling off around the wagon.

With that, Yin turned and moved back along behind the wagons toward the lead one, she spotted Juning and made to intercept the woman, “My people are ready to move when you are,” she said gesturing over to the wagons in passing. After receiving some acknowledgement from the woman, she strode quickly back to the lead wagon, boarding it from the driver’s side and taking a seat beside Pang, who now seemed to be curled up on the seat, leaning against the armrest. Yin sat quietly for a time, waiting for others to board. “When we get to the Yubi place, I’m sending you with Li back to the base, alright? You can come along and join us once you’re in better health,” she said, speaking in a softer tone to the girl. “Uh-huh,” muttered the young soldier, seeming to curl into a tighter ball.

Thinking for a moment, Yin turned around to address the two gypsies who’d been beside the wagon when she’d left on her inspection tour. She wasn’t certain if they were still there, the wagons cover obscured her view, but she called out anyway, “Anyone want a seat up here? I’ll ride the running board,” said the Corporal, content with hanging onto the side of the wagon with a foot on the step if someone wished to take her seat.

[shanghuang]

Shang rubbed the back of his head awkwardly and flushed a little as Nim misinterpreted what he’d said. He really didn’t describe that well at all. This was why he could always read well, but never was a very good writer. Since Nim seemed to continue on without minding, he decided not to bother trying again.

"So I was thinking I'm going to have to fix up my dance. I was thinking I should give it more of a firey twist, you know since we're in the Fire Nation and all.”

Shang started to nod. That sounded like a pretty good idea. It was probably best to play to your audience.

“Do you think I could light my whip on fire without hurting myself?"

For a moment, Shang continued to nod before abruptly whirling back to Nim, his mouth agape. What had she just said? Fire? She was going to light her whip on fire?! He had to blink a few times before he finally snapped out of the initial shock. Now that he thought about it, maybe she could handle it…but it was still fire! On a whip! It wasn’t that she was blind. Really, that didn’t matter too much, but there would be no room for error with fire. She couldn’t brush herself or her clothing without risking serious burns. Plus, it was a whip…ON FIRE.

“Well, I think…” Shang started, only to be interrupted as a Fire Nation guard suddenly hopped down before the pair.

Though his head turned sharply in surprise, Shang managed to keep from jumping or looking too ridiculous. Still, the Fire Nation soldiers made him uncomfortable, and so he waited for her to be suitably far away before continuing.

“I think you could do it with practice,” he continued. “But, you’d need to take your time and be careful. Plus, you’d need a whip that you could hold while it’s, uh…y’know…on fire.”

Before Nim could reply, the Fire Nation woman called down to the pair, “Anyone want a seat up here? I’ll ride the running board.”

“I, uh, think we’re fine, thanks,” Shang called back, though he turned to Nim afterwards out of politeness. “Unless you want to sit up there, I mean.”

[whitecrow]

Juning frowned a bit as she watched the home guard corporal essentially take over. They were escorts, not bosses. This was her entourage. The pale guard who seemed tired and somewhat discontent was perfectly fine to ride, of course, but those who could walk.. would walk. In the Caravan, only the elderly, ill and very young rode.. the rest always walked or rode the ostrich horses. She turned to her husband as he rose shakily to his feet, a great effort being placed into the simple movement. Smiling at him, she tilted her head at him when he rebuffed her arm and instead folded her arms across her chest, on her robust stomach. The round, flat glass beads and strings of gold chain that hung around her neck glittered in the sunlight as she mused quietly to him, "Fine you stubborn old fart."

His eyes crinkled at his wife, his dry lips curling into a smile under his white mustache and thick, pointed beard. With his hand firmly on a carved cane and at his side, his other tucked respectfully behind his back, the old gypsy man approached the last of the wagons, his robes swaying with each cautious, old step. His old, golden eyes rose up as he glanced upward. They would leave the docks and enter the Royal Plaza, where years ago he had witnessed Fire Lord Azulon once as a young man. Perhaps, before he died, he would be so lucky to see his son, Fire Lord Ozai. Through the Royal Plaza, they would enter the lower city, the poorer sections though still filled with well to do merchants and their families, high quality traders, and business owners. The upper city, housed within the caldera of a extinct volcano was home to the nobility.. and that is where they'd be going.

With the help of his wife, they took two seats on the front bench of the last wagon. By now, Juning watched with a bit more respect as she saw the rest of the homeguard staying off the wagons. Miss Feng, even though she had given birth months ago still.. still would get a ride, she and her baby, Tarek. With her husband settled in at her side, his cane between his knees with both hands on it, he smiled out as he watched the rest of the flame dancers scramble. The Yubi compound was located in the upper city.. they would get their own little parade through the city. About time the Flame Dancers got some recognition.. only a shame it wasn't a real parade.

The two twins hung back with their parents, waiting and watching the others as they began to move across the docks, entering the Royal plaza. Grey-stained concrete stretched out before them in a slope, a weather resistant path lined with gold that led from the bay where the Gates of Azulon rested. Through the golden gates was the red roofed city of Lun Yang and hidden within the Volcano.. the Royal Palace. Both of the twins glanced at each other in silence. This.. was their first time in many years being in the Fire Nation. This grand city was suppose to invoke patriotic feelings but for the twins, it put pits in both of their stomachs.

The caravan moved their wagons weighed down, the teams of dragon moose pulling forward steadily. Wheels creaking, they crossed the great Royal Plaza. Large gates ran alongside the stone walls carved into the ground. It was bleak and dull save for the red stone that led to the ocean. Ahead of them a large defensive and impressive wall, with one wooden door. And through it they went, the wagons ascending the slope sides of the rising step, entering into the city and then they'd wind their way through the city along the main street. Spotless.. everything was spotless. Windows shimmered and glittered, gold leaf was bright and shimmering on every roof's edge. White stone homes, multi-storied with small yards.. spacious by the lower-city's standards. Trees were scattered about, flowering and window boxes of flowers decorated the homes.

Well dressed men and women stopped and watched quietly, Home Guard, mostly women, saluted their comrades as they passed. Children looked in awe at the strangers dressed in Fire Nation Colors, but something strange about them. The twins grinned as they walked, feeling somewhat better as they walked along at a brisk pace to keep up with the wagons, their long hair floating out behind them. Already, the fresh air was helping Li-Wu, who still was thinner than his brother due to the two weeks of low food consumption. But, there they were.. on opposite sides of the wagon they were keeping with, eyes bright and pace jaunty.

[nim]

Nim noticed the hesitation and shock not only in Shangs voice when he finally spoke, but it also seemed to hover in the air around them. Though he barely said a word before they were interupted by on of the Fire Nation escorts, she wasn't familiar with the voice, but heard the commanding tone and knew it didn't belong to an avergae stranger.

“I, uh, think we’re fine, thanks,” Shang replied for the both of them which Nim didn't mind, but he directed his voice at her making sure he had given the right answer, “Unless you want to sit up there, I mean.”

For a moment Nim wanted to reply, 'I'd rather be faced by an angry platypus bear than sit next to an Fire Nation military,' but she refrained, she didn't hate the Fire Nation, but she was cautious like anyone would be so after a slightly longer pause than would be expected she gave a slight smile and said, "No, I haven't been on dry land for weeks, I have to get used to walking again," and though that was true it was also a bit of an excuse.

"I know I don't really have time to practice to much, but I was thinking mayby if I cuold light just the tip on fire that would be enough," she couldn't really imagine how she would manage just lighting the tip, she wasn't very inventive so she sadly relied on others creativity a little more than she liked, "Having the whole whip on fire would be a huge challenge, it would take to much time to get the dynamics right, but if just the tip was lit I don't see how it would be different from my normal routine,"

She heard the creaking wheels of the cart begin to move and started walking herself, moving the walking cane in front of her feet every few moments to make sure she wasn't going to run into anything, that would be embarressing.