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Post by pamuy on Apr 15, 2008 1:05:35 GMT -5
Since waving goodbye to Shang, Pamuy virtually drifted into the background. The sun had shifted a bit, leaving some of her potted plants in broad daylight. Aware that moonflowers, among other plants, were sensitive to the sun's rays, Pamuy moved the heavy urns filled with soil into the shade. It was thirsy work moving even three of them, considering her small frame and lack of muscle mass, but it was necessary. Not like she had much else to do. Caring for these plants had been a hobby of hers for years, and she usually found a good deal of success in raising them. It was a reward to see her efforts manifest in cheerful blooms sprouting from the earth-filled pots.
When that task had ended, Pamuy dusted off her clothing and headed around the wagons. There had to be some chore, something to occupy her time so as not to allow the curse of idleness to plague her mind. With her hands behind her back, she eyed an odd stranger near Zahira, but soon overheard a familiar voice around the end of a wagon. Compared to Zahira's latest flame, what Pamuy heard from Auina was much more interesting.
It seemed the Fire Nation would be their next stop, and the waterbender was thoroughly interested. Being the meddlesome sort she was, Pamuy seemed to suddenly appear behind Li and Auina. "Did I hear right? The Fire Nation?" Raising her hand to her chest delicately, she smiled. "Oh, what fun!" Despite her upbeat facade, she was aware of dangers that may arise. However, she was certain the Flame Dancers were a hardy crew who could handle whatever flew their way.
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Post by blackcrow on Apr 16, 2008 0:11:48 GMT -5
"Yeah.. the... " Li hardly had time to address Auina's question when the voice of the particular Water Bender popped up behind them. He turned his head from Auina's face to look over his shoulder at her, his torso turning more parallel to the Earth Kingdom girl. Ah.. Pamuy.. the one girl neither twin had been able to even get so much as a hug out of. She made an interesting and fun test when they were younger, but now the Twins had given up and admitted defeat. Pamuy was someone they'd never get their hands on and now, both of them thought of her more as a sister than the other girls of the Caravan. He smiled at her, a kind one and not one of the more.. sassy smiles the twins were apt to throw about. Unconsciously, he still held Auina's hand and he gently squeezed it as he spoke. "Yup. Mother and Father haven't announced it yet.. but some of us are going to preform for a noble... a special request." He had hardly finished when a horn sounded, signaling a meeting for the Flame Dancers.. at the fire pit of all places. Ironically, that's where most people spent the day, chatting it up, eating or napping. It was the center hub of the Caravan and where Juning and Huang made all the announcements.. on a rare occasion, a birth or wedding announcement was to be had (and boy are Flame Dancer Weddings something to behold) but usually it was announcing the next move to a city or a fort. Sometimes.. the horn was blown for giant community meals that the women slaved over for days.
The twin turned his head quickly, his hair flying up like a wave in the movement at the familiar horn, a childlike glow coming to his golden eyes and a smile on his lips. "Ah.. That would be it! Ladies?" He released Auina's hand, and puffed up his chest all comedic like as he offered the Earth Bender and the Water Bender each an arm. A wink was given to Pamuy in good humor. He would not try anything.
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Post by gijoespouse on Apr 16, 2008 15:46:14 GMT -5
Auina was happy to see that her friend was enthusiastic about going to the Fire Nation. The acrobat was already considering how the 'bender fight' would need to be adjusted. A bit grimly, she recognized that on Fire Nation soil, it was a given that Li would be the 'victor' in the choreographed conflict. Maybe they could change things up? Provide more of a thrill, more bang for the buck so to speak? The horn sounding out broke through Auina's thoughts. As Li's playful side come to the forefront, the earthbender couldn't help but shake her head...and take the arm offered.
As she was escorted to the fire pit, she said, "You know, the bender battles are going to have to go in your favor now. We should look at spicing things up maybe. Add a little more flare to excite the crowds..."
Akai Kym and some of the other men had just got back from hunting, settling down to eat something themselves when the signal sounded out. The older man rose to his feet, bowl of oatmeal in hand. Haloa, his wife, came to his side, having just been with Juning and the other women cooing over little Tarak. She leaned up to plant a soft kiss on her husband's cheek, and then waited with the others that had begun to gather as well.
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Post by iikagen on Apr 16, 2008 16:42:54 GMT -5
Iikagen stabbed his spear into the ground, letting it stick upright for a moment as he withdrew the second spear and then jabbed it beside the first. The last item he pulled out of the pack was his little woodshop project from a few days ago. It was a simple stick about 7 inches long that had ben whittled smooth and to sharp points on either end. A small loop of durable string had been threaded through its middle and allowed a space large enough for him to comfortably slip his middle finger into it. The Palm Stick, as they were called back on the Ignis, was a handy improvised weapon and easy to conceal. Though Iikagen didn't really think he'd need it, he deposited the weapon into his left pocket anyway.
His attractive new friend returned once more from her wagon and handed him his requested clothesline, to which Iikagen merely grinned all the wider and said, "A t'ousand t'anks." He let his accent show without bothering to cover it up, taking a stab at the chance Zahira was the type of woman who would think him exotic.
Iikagen stood up and swept his eyes around, looking for some place to set up the line. Other people around the camp just seem to string them between the wagons and tentposts, so he figured he'd do the same. Zahira had gone off to prepare some oatmeal, and in the meantime he tied one end of the clothesline to the side-supports of her wagon and fixed the other to the ground a short way off by pinning it with his spears. There was just enough room to hang his clothes without touching the ground, and he also left his mask and pack there to dry out. He did, however, keep the tiny pouch that contained his money. There were enough children running around that he wouldn't be surprised if they stole any unattended coin.
The Igni stood up after squaring away the last of his things and stretched slightly, taking a moment to poke at the stitches on his chest. The wound was nearly closed enough to remove them, but he still had another day or two before it would be safe to take them out. Iikagen scratched at his nose for a moment, and as he did so he heard the sound of whispered chattering at his back. Without the slightest warning, he turned around sharply, dropped his stance and threw out his arms while making a frightening growl.
The trio of children standing a few yards away screamed in surprise and immediately bolted to get away from the stranger. Iikagen straightened up quickly, smirking at the sight and decided to quickly relocate Zahira before the little brats could point him out to their parents or guardians.
Zahira wasn't far and as he arrived she fixed him a bowl of hot oatmeal complete with utensils. The Igni raised an eyebrow slightly at the meal, which seemed quite... bland. He sniffed it slightly, discerning no particular scent to the food. He wandered slightly closer to his hostess and scooped up a spoonful. Without bothering to blow off some of the steam, he shoved the oatmeal into his mouth and swallowed it quick, searing his throat all the way down. However, he did well to hold back some of the involuntary tearing in his eye as he sucked in a deep, cooling breath and asked, "Joo got any ash-bananas to go wit' dis?" He eventually regulated his breathing and added, "Hard to find dem in the Eart' Kingdom."
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Post by shanghuang on Apr 18, 2008 16:58:28 GMT -5
Since Shang had sat down to eat with his family, he’d been peppered with questions. Most came from his mother and concerned not what he’d actually been doing, but how he’d been eating, whether he’d been sleeping enough and all the usual things that mothers tended to worry about. Occasionally, his sister had chimed in with a question relating to his soldiering, and he’d give a vague answer before his mother steered the conversation back to more important matters like bathing. He was glad, for it pained him to answer his sisters questions, even the ones where the answer shouldn’t shame him. He knew she’d always looked up to him, and the thought of her learning about his failures in the army was not pleasant.
Eventually, others started to gather around the area. Some he couldn’t quite remember, but one he did recognize as one of the Wu twins. He couldn’t tell which one, but he knew it was them. Not even from the appearance, but simply the way in which the young man carried himself, with a young woman on his arm – who he recognized as Auina, another girl he had grown up with. Something akin to dread began well up inside of him. He had never liked the so called “princes” of the caravan, and in all honesty he’d been hoping to avoid them for a while. He turned away to avoid thinking about it, and noticed a strange tattooed man not too far away, chatting with someone who’s face was obscured. He looked at the man for a few moments, the tattoos…they seemed familiar. They were a recent memory, too. Where had he seen them?
“Father,” he asked, receiving a grunt in response. “Who is that man over there? The bald one?”
His father followed his gaze and raised an eyebrow, “I’m not sure. Definitely not from the caravan, and I’d have remembered those tattoos. Maybe Zahira’s had a relapse…”
His father received an icy look from his mother and then turned back to his meal, though he occasionally glanced in the man’s direction. Shang did the same. He’d seen those tattoos before, he knew he had. Still, he decided not to stare, and nodded to politely to others who sat down to eat nearby, exchanging a few greetings, though he avoided looking towards the Wu twin.
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The Lion Turtle
Ishvara Spirits
"Your own spirit must be unbendable."
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Post by The Lion Turtle on Apr 18, 2008 22:29:54 GMT -5
Bai spoke up after some silence between them.
"..Xia?" Her heart fluttered a little and she turned her head to him. He had glanced up at her, and she bit her lip at the sight of those old gold-colored eyes. There was something always in them, even if valed, and Xia certainly couldn't figure it out. It made him that much more alluring than he and his brother already was, and Xia knew she blushed so much around them.
Bai continued. "..Don't worry about Tarak growing up without a father.. We'll all take care of him. Teach him the things he needs to know."
For a moment, Xia's breath caught in her lungs. She hung her head, bit her lip once more, and for the second time that morning, hot tears clouded her vision. Xia's worst fear, to be sure, was Tarak growing up without a father. Jing would have been a good father, too, she just knew it. The caravan had ample amounts of men to teach Tarak what he needed to know, but... that wasn't so much the point. Someone central for Tarak, to grow up in the arms of, to lean on and to know a man like Xia knew her mother... and, well, someone for Xia to be in the arms of, too.
"I... I'm sure that's true, Bai. I have no doubt about it." She hesitated. "But he... he needs a man to be his father, like you have yours. To love him, to raise him with me. To be a central figure and role-model for him." She wiped her eyes with her sleeves, and looked up at the man. "I... I guess I shouldn't have told you that. Perhaps, one day, someone will be that man, husband of mine, or no husband of mine..."
She gave a lonely sigh, not wanting to think of the possibility of her never again having a significant other. It made her want to cry all over again, but her mother told her that men did not like overly-weepy women. And she certainly wanted to make a good impression on Bai.
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Post by pamuy on Apr 19, 2008 14:01:28 GMT -5
Pamuy reluctantly grabbed ahold of Li's arm and allowed the man to lead her along with Auina, but found a measure of relief knowing that he didn't make a single perverted advance. She mainly kept a contented smile as the firebender led the two women to the fire pit.
When the members of three different nations arrived, Pamuy loosed her grip from Li's upper arm and sidestepped a bit. The trip to the Fire Nation weight heavily on her mind, though one detail stood out in her mind. As far as she knew, Fire Nation natives looked nothing like her. She would stick out like a sore thumb, perhaps more so than Auina considering her earthbender friend at least had brown eyes and lighter skin than Pamuy herself. All in all, she figured if she stuck with the other caravaners, that she would be safe.
As they reached the area where most folks were settling down to eat, the waterbender stood off to the side and watched. A gentle smile touching her features, she would stay out of everyone's way while they enjoyed their meal.
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Post by blackcrow on Apr 22, 2008 12:34:38 GMT -5
As the ladies and Li-Wu approached the communal firepit, the flames kept low during the day when their heat and light were not needed so badly, they seperated. He felt Pamuy loosen her grip and sidestep away, and so allowed her, dropping his arm from hers. Ah.. the greatest allure was something you could never have and the Twins knew that well after years of chasing after the Water Tribe girl. Sometimes they wondered just what had been slipped in her milk as a child for such a prudish woman to have grown up like that in the Flame Dancers. It always amazed them. The young man watched her step away, letting his eyes linger on her for a moment before looking back to Auina. They had to track down her missing clothes later.. the boys would pay. A swift beating to the rump never did anyone any harm and certainly not in the Flame Dancers.
Their mother would climb onto an overturned stump, her plump form covered in a festival Sari-like wrap of bright crimson. In her plump hand she carried the cast iron skillet and a wooden spoon, her usual weapons for beating her boys with. But there would be no beatings this time as instead, Juning rapped the back of the frying pan with the wooden spoon, much like the bells many women had on their persons for calling their children back. Of the roughly 50 members of the flame dancers, most of them were here.. the crowds seemed relatively sparse of elderly, most of them having chosen to settle into an easier life than continue wandering around. There was a small handful of children that were mulling about and little BabyTarak, the youngest of them all, was snuggly in the arms of one of Juning's Gossip friends.
"Nice to see all your smiling faces.." The Woman would crow over the crowd as her husband, Huang, stepped up beside her. He was haunched over, a wooden walking cane in one hand. His thin hands, covered with sun spots stroked the thin white beard that hung from his chin in traditional Fire Nation Fashion. "..My dear friends.. I have great news..." He spoke with a smile. His voice was gravely and deep, a hoarseness embracing his lungs from decades of inhaling fire smoke. "We have received a great honor.. the Honorable Shihong Yubi family of the Fire Nation has extended an invitation for a Flame Dancers performance! Now.. I know this is exciting news.. and also troubling news for many of you." He nodded as he spoke, solemnly. "We will split into two groups.. Those of you who wish to travel to the Fire Nation and those who wish to stay here for safety reasons.. We understand the reputation our Home Nation has..."
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Post by gijoespouse on Apr 22, 2008 15:52:29 GMT -5
Auina stood quiet, anticipation building as Juning, the 'queen' of the Flame Dancers climbed onto the stump. The acrobat was excited, to say the least. Given the war and all, Auina had never imagined the opportunity to travel to the Fire Nation would ever arise. A hush fell over the crowd as Juning called the troupe's attention with her infamous spoon and frying pan (two objects feared by most any child in the Caravan). She said nothing, just holding a soft smile on her face as she kept her gaze on Huang.
A din of murmurs followed after the old man spoke. Some were of excitement, especially among the younger members of the Flame Dancers. Mingled in with the excitement were voices who didn't sound thrilled at all...some even sounding a little afraid. Auina's hold on Li's arm tightened a bit as some anxiety crept in her, putting a damper on the excitement she had been feeling. Her warm brown eyes swept over the visages of her extended 'family.' How many of them would stay behind? How many would make the trip? She knew they wouldn't be seperated forever...but she was never one to be comfortable when she felt there was division amongst her friends and family. Even the thought of a temporary parting made her feel ill at ease.
Instinctively, her cappucino shaded eyes sought out her parents. Auina found them eventually...and the pensive look on both of their faces gave her an uneasy feeling.
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Post by whitecrow on Apr 23, 2008 20:48:17 GMT -5
The 'white crow' of the two twins remained silent as Xia spoke about Tarak needing more than just the 'village'. His gaze dropped from the Earth Kingdom woman seated like a Queen on her newly purchased Zebra-cow. Bai-wu turned away, continuing on the walk as he led the cow along the road. What was wrong with just having the Caravan? They had raised him and his brother just fine and all the other children had turned out fine too. Many of them only have one parent... Bai and Li were actually lucky to have both. There was something about the idea of someone else stepping into the little family the Caravan had adopted that bothered him. This was their little family.. and they were the ones who would look out for Miss Feng and Tarak.. not some stranger. Already Tarak was being passed around on a daily basis, fed a variety of caravan specialty babies foods that the women hadn't needed to prepare in a while. Some of the younger children were fascinated by the baby while the older girls were already getting in touch with their mothering instincts.
Bai-Wu wouldn't welcome any stranger into the Caravan..
The continued onward, an awkward, tense silence settling on Bai's shoulders. The forest was thinning to the field-clearing and they could already see the colors of the banners fluttering through the trees. The wind carried the sounds of voices and Juning's frying pan. The announcement must be being made.
"...So I take it you and Tarak will be staying here in the Earth Kingdom while some of us go to the Fire Nation.." He said in an assuming, almost haughty tone. Yeah. He was mad at her.. mad at her for assuming that Tarak needed anyone but her and the caravan..
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Post by zahira on Apr 25, 2008 15:01:19 GMT -5
"'Fraid not, handsome. Last time we had ash bananas was the last time the Flame Dancers went to the Fire Nation -- it was a few years back. I didn't go, but they brought some back. Pretty good, actually." She surveyed him over her bowl. "We do have sugar or cinnamon, if you'd like that." She handed him the bags of the respected flavorings, giving him a smile that she hoped came out a little inticing. Who could blame her for flirting? It was her nature. And his accent was pretty exotic-sounding, very foreign. Zahira was a woman who liked that sort of thing, so she couldn't help but flirt a little.
The summoning horn was blown, and picking up her oatmeal, she motioned to Iikagen. "Looks like our leaders, Huang and Juning, are going to announce our next destination. Would you like to join me at the crowd?" She motioned to the gathering place, where Juning and Huang were already standing on a wide, overturned tree stump. The pair greeted the crowd, and said, "We have received a great honor.. the Honorable Shihong Yubi family of the Fire Nation has extended an invitation for a Flame Dancers performance!"
"Oh, wow!" Zahira exclaimed. Oh, she'd deffinately be going, although she'd miss a lot of those who wouldn't... a lot of the Earth Kingdom and Water Tribe members would be staying. And her mother, though only fifteen years older than herself, might stay due to her bones... she had trouble moving and bending, and often she woke up in pain. Then again, she had no one but Zahira to take special care of her, and Zahira would hate to burden another family with her mother, though they certainly would not mind it. The Flame Dancers were fully a family that way.
But Zahira didn't have a chance to think much about it, for Kali hobbled over to her. "I assume you are going, Zahira? That's good, you should see your inheritance."
"What about you, Mama?" Zahira asked worriedly.
"Oh, I'd like to go, and I very well might -- if my new student decides to, that is."
She was refering to the little Earth Kingdom woman that had recently joined the troupe -- Xia Feng. Kali had taken the poor woman a bit under her wing, showing her things Zahira grew up knowing, like chores, or skills to contribute to the Flame Dancers. It was obvious that Xia Feng had grown up pampered, something that Zahira found a little annoying. But she was a nice girl, and her baby boy was the talk of the troupe. At least he would grow up with some sense about the world.
"And, my dear daughter, you need to introduce me to your lovely new friend." Kali motioned to Iikagen, and Zahira nodded.
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Post by iikagen on Apr 26, 2008 0:46:19 GMT -5
"Hmmmm," Iikagen hummed, reaching a long arm over to grasp the offered bag of cinnamon. Cinnamon was not a native spice to his home island, though he was vaguely aware of its signature scent. The Igni sniffed the opening of the pouch tentatively, wrinkling his nostrils at the powerful aroma.
Iikagen tilted the pouch onto its side, dumping a little too much of the spice into his bowl while Zahira seemed drawn to the noise of a horn blasting somewhere else among the camp. He took the opportunity to dump an equally excessive amount of sugar into his oatmeal as well, and then shovel a spoonful into his mouth. Immediately he realized that he'd added too much cinnamon, as the spice suddenly dried out his entire mouth and he fought the urge to cough and sputter.
The woman looked back him him, excitement dancing in her eyes with the news of the trip back to the Fire Nation. Honestly, Iikagen was not thrilled at all with the prospect of heading back to the Fire Nation. He was an outcast here simply because of his appearance, but at least they didn't try to kill or deport him on sight (unless they knew he was a Wanted man).
Zahira got up and waved for him to follow her into the crowd, to which he replied with a nod. However, the moment she looked away he turned to his side and hacked up his mouthful of over-powered oatmeal. After a few coughs and healthy expulsions of spit, he managed to remove the excess cinnamon and then used his spoon to flick out the extra powder in his bowl. Iikagen mixed the remainer up well and then got up to follow Zahira. He scooped up another spoonful of oatmeal and managed to keep this one down, enjoying the over-sweetened meal in comparison to his rather bland diet as of late.
Standing at the rear of the crowd, Iikagen stayed largely out of the thick of things. He caught a few strange looks from some, but he smiled like the ignorant foreigner so many people percieved him to be, and their suspicion of his presence was quickly dissuaded. The Igni noticed an older woman approaching his hostess, and by all appearances she seemed to be her mother. He scooped up another mouthful of oatmeal and ruminated on it thoughtfully for a few moments until it seemed he was being called upon for an introduction.
"Where are my manners!" he suddenly explained, swallowing down his latest mouthful of food and lifting up the bowlin his hand. With a deft twist of the wrist and swivel of the arm, he rotated the bowl around and tucked it behind his back while taking a step forward. With his right hand, he reached out and grasped Zahira's mother's hand gently, bowing low to kiss the back of it. He straightened up slightly, still holding her hand while grinning widely.
"I am Iikagen," he said, "And it is my pleasure to meet joo." He hid most of his accent, but allowed just enough to show through to hint at his exotic origins. It was a rather uncalled-for display of chivalry, but Iikagen had been picking up a subtle vibe that his new belly-dancing acquaintence was interested him. Never one to miss an opportunity for company of the opposite sex, he figured the best strategy to woo Zahira would be to get in good with her mother.
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Post by pamuy on Apr 28, 2008 18:04:58 GMT -5
If she hadn't heard it minutes earlier, Juning's announcement would have sent Pamuy's heart fluttering. Thankfully, she had time to deliberate the decision to travel across the seas to that strange new land. She looked every bit the foreigner, with her dark skin, blue eyes, and hairdo rooted in Water Tribe styles. Her clothes could easily be changed, but she reaffirmed to herself the need to be careful.
But that wouldn't prevent her from going. Pamuy had no one to answer to now, her father dearly departed and her mother now living in a small Earth Kingdom shire with her new husband, so packing up and heading far away would be no problem at all. She was ready.
Looking around, mostly toward her peers Auina, Ritika, Jaemin, and Zahira, she wondered if most of them would venture the same as she would. Time would answer, but it certainly wouldn't tell Juning she wanted to go. It was her very next task. Sauntering over to the aged woman, Pamuy smiled in respect. Placing a daintly hand to her chest, her other remained behind her back. "Mrs. Wu, I would love to go to the Fire Nation."
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Post by shanghuang on Apr 29, 2008 0:20:06 GMT -5
Shang nearly choked on his food when the announcement was made that they were going to the Fire Nation. Spirits, of all the places! How could he do such a thing? After six years in the Earth Kingdom army, after his friends had been killed by Fire Nation soldiers. He couldn’t do it. There was no way, there was absolutely no…
“We’ll go. Leaving the caravan’s a lot worse than anything that could happen in the Fire Nation with it, I think,” his father suddenly said, raising a hand, and his mother added her own affirmative.
This time, the food nearly fell out of Shang’s gaping mouth. He couldn’t believe what they had just done. They hadn’t even asked him! He swallowed his food hurriedly and then opened his mouth to speak, but caught himself. All thoughts of the strange bald man’s familiarity were gone in favor of complete dread. What was he to do? He couldn’t go to the Fire Nation, but he couldn’t leave the caravan, either. No, that wasn’t right. He didn’t want to go to the Fire Nation, but he could go nowhere else but the caravan. He had nothing else. His mouth finally closed, and he looked down for a moment. He was going, but he wanted to know exactly what he was getting into.
He raised his hand politely, “Uh, excuse me? But, will we have to deal with any, well…military?”
He tried to keep a calm face and steady voice, though he wasn’t sure how well he was succeeding. If anything, though, what emotion was there could be construed as simple awkwardness. Having so recently fought against the Fire Nation, one would assume that it would be very strange to then help put on a performance for them.
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Post by blackcrow on Apr 29, 2008 23:38:50 GMT -5
Juning would smile at the reactions from the gathered. It was just as she expected. Some were excited, while others were more reserved. It was just as they predicted. Of course the group would split temporarily.. there was no boat that could take them all available right now.. they would need a Patron to pay for the trip. The Flame Dancers that remained in the Earth Kingdom would have a mini-vacation of sorts. It would be mostly the oldest members that stayed due to their achy joints and perhaps some of the youngest children.
Juning smiled at Pamuy's quick response, but she did not spare any time as she saw the young man's hand rise up. She squinted her eyes, her lips spreading into a giant smile. "Shang Huang, is that you?! Why bless your heart, Boy come here and give me a hug!" The plumpest matriarch of the Flame Dancers stepped down from the stump she stood on, frying pan and wooden spoon being shifted to one hand as she stepped around the Fire. "My Goodness.. look at how you've grown, Shang!" She was shorter than him, her dark auburn hair streaked with grey and pulled back from her face in a very stiff bun. The extravagant jewelry she wore, large hoop earrings and coin necklaces, jingled and jangled as she pulled him down for a hug with her meaty arms. "Ah.. My, you've become a handsome young man.. and No, son." She closed her eyes for a moment as she released him but kept a hold on his arms as she sighed heavily and opened her eyes. "I know how you must feel.. fighting this bloody war on the Earth Kingdom's Side. Some of the Flame Dancers will be staying here for precisely that reason.. they don't want to go to enemy territory.. and we respect that." The elder woman, her face still youthful despite the laugh lines and crows feet that ate up her skin, spoke softly to him before pulling him into a hug again. "We're happy to have you back, Huang and I. ..Everyone! Shang has returned from the war front! " She stepped away from him, throwing her hands in the air, once more resuming banging on the bottom of her frying pan in celebration of his return.
Li-Wu chuckled in amusement at the whole thing, watching his mother parade around the returned soldier. He recognized him, but barely.. the five years had passed and changed them all. "..Well well well.." He murmured under his breath with a slight smile upturning at his lips. His goldenrod eyes turned towards the arm that Auina was next to, if she was still holding on to him. He glanced downward.. she was being awfully quiet. The twin frowned and lifted his free hand up to her chin, curling his fingers under her chin for a brief moment to get her to glance up. "Something the matter...? Such awesome news.. you shouldn't be sad.. we haven't preformed for a noble in years..!"
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