Leaving Town;A Guide to the Country<Wilderness,EK>

[xuan]

Xuan sat at a small wooden desk, a silent stream of tears running down her cheeks and dripping from her chin to the parchement below. Her fine brush with dark ink drenching the tip delicately moved across the page:
Darling,
I have tried dearly to bring up our children in the city, dispite my feelings. I simply can't do it anymore, the city is to dangerous for the children and it's no place for me. I love you dearly and I hope you will follow us. I hate to leave you, but I feel I have no choice.
The children and I will be going to Tachi Dai, we'll stay at the Golden Moon Inn for as long as we can.
I hope I will see you there.

With more love than you can imagine,
Xuan Yen
As she neared the end of the letter she began to sob a bit and it was harder for her to control her tears. She thought back to that morning when her husband had left. Then she had already known she was leaving and she hugged him tightly, reluctant to let him go and she kissed him deeply, but he didn't see her plans and he pulled himself away with a smile saying he'd see her late that night, if only he knew.
She was already dressed in her traveling clothes, a very simple green tunic that hemmed just below her knees and belted around her waist. Dark leggings disappeared under her tunic and tucked into a hardly worn pair of brown leather boots.
She had ordered her children into similar wear for the road, but she had yet to leave the room since then. opened a small drawer in the desk that was full of blank parchment and a few old, opened letters and tucked in the back was her gift. A small silver blade sheathed in siver, decorated with copper and gold flowers. She looked at it while wipping tears from her eyes and cheeks with the long sleeves of her tunic; she lifted it carefully from the drawer and unsheathed it. The blade was sharp, unused, and beautiful; she smiled down at it think of the day it was offered to her when she accepted the wedding invitation from her now husband. She shoke her head and tucked the dagger into her bel then procedded to through a dark green cloak over her shoulders. With one last look at her bedroom and the letter she left, closing the door behind her.

Bo and Jiang were dressed and ready in the hall with on of the nannies.
"Where are we going, mommy?" Bo asked looking up at his mother as she entered the room.
"Oh, just some old friends of mommy's," she said with a sad smile, then turned to the nanny with a more serious face, "are you packed and ready?"
"Yes, ma'am, all the childrens thing are read, will we be taking the couch?" the woman had a thick county accent, much like the one Xuan once had.
"No, I'll be hiring one, as well as a guide when we get to the wall, Kinwa is getting a bit old for such long travels," she picked up one of the small packs that held the childrens things along with her slightly larger pack. Ti, the nanny, picked up the second small pack with her own and the four left the house. Xuan looked back once more at the sunlight hall before she closed the door and locked it behind herself.

The children were rather mellow, the seemed to sense that something large was changing and though Xuan tried not to cry but a small tear trickled out as they sat on the monorail heading to the wall and though Jiang was fast asleep Bo wipped it away with his small and and that only made Xuan wanted to cry more.
When they reached the wall it was a little past mid-day and Ti was holding a sleeping Jiang and Bo's hand while Xuan walked by closely looking for someone who would guide them to Tachi Dai, but so far she had no luck.

[kinue]

Kinue laughed of relief as she got off of duty at the Gates of Ba Sing Sei. " FINALLY!" She exclaimed, “No more work for three whole WEEKS! YES!" She threw her hands up in the air as she laughed. Kin had told her grandmother that she was leaving on a surprise visit to her parents and her brother for her vacation time and her Gran approved.

Kin grabbed her knapsack that was filled with her necessities; extra clothes, soap, food, money, maps, a water skin, and other items – and walked out to the wall. She had Dashi on her shoulder and her staff with her as well, as she walked to the Midway gate. Kin looked to her left: a few yards over were a woman and two children. She could tell by the expression of discontent on her face she needed help. ” Kin, what are you thinking?? You’re finally off duty, just get on your way!” She shook her head.

After a few minutes Kin looked back and caught the eye of one of the kids. She sighed as she walked over.

“Umm, excuse me, Ma’am? Is there something I could help you with?”

[xuan]

Xuan looked up at the young woman and a faint smiled appeared on her face, she was starting to think no one would help.
"Yes, prehaps you can tell me where I could find a guide," She looked over her shoulder at her children and the nanny than back to the woman, "my children and I are trying to make our way to Tachi Dai, but I must say I'm not formiliar with the route, nor am I by any means a fighter," Though it was clear Xuan was several years this womans elder Xuan still had to look up a bit. She held the womans eye, her motherly smile ever noticable at the corners of her mouth, waiting patiently for directions of some kind hoping this girl would have some answers.

Ti, the nanny sat on a low bench with Jiang sitting on the edge of her bent knee and Bo next to her. Bo turned his head as, over the sound of the crowds he heard the small, pathetic mewing of kitten. Finally, a few feet away a small fuzzball of a kitten he spotted in a corner, he stood and Ti looked at him, but she didn't try to stop him. The animal fit easily in the palm of his cupped hands, it's fluffy tail two times it's size and it's ears the prominant feature of it's small body. I was orange with white paws and tipped tail and it was shivering.
Bo sat back next to Ti and Jiang queitly watched as her brother rummage through his pack for a spair shirt.
"No, Bo, I don't think your mother will be up for an extra baby to look after," Ti finally said as Bo wrapped the kitten in the cloth carefully.
"Don't worry, Ti, I'll take care of her," he said, his face was very serious like it often was, but there was a strange softness to the little boys eyes that Ti had never seen and that kept her silent.
"Name her Moi," Jiang said looking at the cat and clapping her hands in delight. Moi was Jiangs favorite character from her grandfathers stories, but Bo shook his head.
"No I think I'll name her Tson," Bo said holding the kitten carefully, but snuggly in his small arms and to his surprise Jiang didn't argue, but nodded her head and sat silently watching her brother.

[kinue]

Kinue listened as the older woman explained her situation. Tachi Dai too, huh? She crinkled her noes, a bad habit of hers and smiled, " Well, I'm actually on my way there.. Heh, well, I mean I'm leaving for there right now." Kin decided to leave out the other details of her getting an ostrich-horse and little stuff like that. She peered over to the nanny and the little kids. They were so CUTE! "Aww, are those your children over there?" She inquired poking at them with her index finger. The little boy and girl were both huddled around something she couldn't easily make out. All she knew was, that it small and fuzzy.

Dashi crawled behind Kin's neck and slithered down her arm and pant leg and scampered off to search for crumbs of food or something to entertain himself. Kin shifted her weight uneasily and looked again to the woman. "Well...If you need someone to help you get there, i can help..Umm, I can also fight somewhat decently.." Manners Kinue! "Oh, and I'm Kin," She said outstretching her hand.

[xuan]

"Aww, are those your children over there?" the woman said and Xuan nodded, pleased that prehaps this woman would agree to guide them. "Well...If you need someone to help you get there, I can help..Umm, I can also fight somewhat decently..Oh, and I'm Kin," and Xuan smiled.
"Xuan Y-" she stopped suddenly, wondering if she should say exactly who she was, if she wanted to get on her way before her husband was after her she figured it would be wise to keep to herself, "Yung" she finished with a tender smile, and half turning back to her children she pointed them out, "The boy is Bo and my littlest, Jiang, that's there nanny, Ti," she would have given false names for her children, but she knew they were to young to keep up. "I hope it is okay, I would like to stop to purchas and ostrich-horse and a cart before we leave, my children simply wont be able to make it on foot," She waited eagerly hoping the small delay wouldn't put off the woman.

"Here Bo, give her this," Ti had filled one of Jaings bottles with a little milk and some water and handed it to the boy, "the poor thing looks half starved,"
"Thanks," he took the bottle and tipped it like he had seen his mother do for jiang, he put the rubber nipple against the kittens mouth, but it wouldn't open for the bottle, "Ti, he wont take it," he looked up at the nanny a little desperatly. TI set Jiang on the ground and took that cat from Bo.
"Oh the poor thing, he just doesn't know what you're trying to do," Ti pressed her finger against the kittens mouth, pushing up only slightly and when it opened its small mouth she stuck the nipple in, "theres a good kitty," the kitten closed his mouth on the bottle and fuaght it at first, but when milky water slowly trickled down its throught he squirmed less and simply moved his mouth to get the food that was coming out, "there, he just needed a little help," Ti said handing kitten and bottle back to Bo who held Tson gently and the bottle upside down as he ate, a faint smile on the little boys face.

[kinue]

Kin smiled sincerely, "It's nice to meet you, Ma'am." Just then Dashi launched back up Kin's body, " Oh! And this is Dashi; my mongoose. He's harmless though, so he won't be a threat to your little ones."

Kin picked up her stuff and beckoned to the new family she was to lead. Xuan had told her they needed a cart and Kinue knew exactly where to go. " Yes, Ma'am. I was actually on my way to go get myself an ostrich horse. If you come with me I'll lead you the way." Wow. yeah, Kin had just said that, and she had just become a guide.

She lead the small family to a large open ranch-type area where they could get what they needed. It wasn't so crowded as it should be which was refreshing. Kin walked to the owner of the animals. "Excuse me, Tochi?" A large potbellied man with a brown beard down to his ankles turned raising his eye brow. "Yeee'?" Kin chuckled , " I was wondering if I could purchase two ostrich-horses and a cart." "You've come ta' da' righ' place, Kin...Again!" Kinue had always come here to pick out her ostrich-horse whenever she left town. "Well, go on now! Take your pick!"

Kin laughed, " Okay, i have some friends too. Could you get them a cart as we get the animals?" "Yeah, yeah, of course, yur' wastin' sunlight!" Tochi said walking around to the back room. Kin nervously chuckled and turn to Xuan, " Don't mind him. He's lost a couple of his bolts and screws in his time if you know what i mean," She explained, " But never mind that! Come' on. Pick out an ostrich' ." She said opening the gate for both of them, " Oh, but the kiddies might want to stay outside the pen, some of the ostrich' are... Hasty..."

[xuan]

Xuan followed closely with the woman after waving Ti to follow as well. It was a rather short walk to the small ranch and Xuan was glad to see it mostly empty, after the other day she was very nervous about the children and crowds.
"Oh, but the kiddies might want to stay outside the pen, some of the ostrich' are... Hasty..." Kin said and Xuan nodded before turning to Ti.
"Would you mind waiting out here for the cart?" she asked and Ti nodded happily and held Jiangs hand, Bo was still far to preoccupied with the kitten to care much what was going on around him.
Xuan followed Kin into the stables and looked around for a good riding Ostrich.
"I don't mind paying for your horse too, as part of a payment for being our guide," Xuan said a little absentmindedly as she study a particulaly beautiful mare.

[kinue]

Kin's eyes widened. "I'm getting..... paid..?" She said bewildered. "You really don't need to pay me anything!" She quickly responded, “If you were to help buy supplies then there would be no need." She explained smiling. Kin walked over to Xian. “You’ve got great taste, He’s a good one!” She said patting the ostrich-horse on the beak. “He’s really strong so he could pull a cart easily…” Kin explained. Kin walked over to the corner of the pen. There was a large, oddly colored, ostrich-horse sitting down eating hay. He was all black with different shades of brown and gray speckled feathers here and there. “Hey, big guy,” Kin said petting his beak. He was large enough to be at eye level with her when he was sitting down. The large creature shuffled around and got up. This guy was HUGE. Kin walked him over to Xian. “This,” She said pointing the enormous creature, “..Is Kon.” She said scratching him under his feathers by his chin, “He’s only a few years old but he’s the fastest Ostrich-horse you’ll ever see. I helped break him so he and I get along real well.” Kon nudged Kin’s shoulder when she stopped. “I usually take him when I need to get somewhere in good time.” Kin looked up to Xian. “Have you decided on one yet?” She wondered glancing at the one she was looking at.

[xuan]

"Oh really, it's no-" Xuan started to explain that is was no problem to pay here, but she went off in search of her own ostrich-horse. Xuan sighed an turned back to her horse deciding she would pay for whatever the girl would let her.
"Oh, he is lovely," Xuan said turning to see Kin and Kon, he was far larger than many of the others and Xuan was honestly a little intimidated. She refrained from petting him, his beak just a little too duanting.
"I think I've just about finished up," She said looking over her shoulder at golden feathered one she had first laid eyes on, a slight smile touching her lips, "if you would ever so kindly take that one out to the man I'll lead out mine and the nanny's ostrich-horses in a moment, than I can pay for them all.
She looked around her at some of the closer animals while she waited for confimation.

[kinue]

Kin grinned, "Yeah, of course," She said walking Kon over to Tochi. Surely they weren't that expensive. Especially since Kin got free feed since she sometimes volunteered there on her free hours or basically whenever she was bored. Dashi tickled her chin with his tail. She giggled at him rubbed her cheek against his fur. Tochi was putting a saddle on Kon and added up all the sales of three ostrich-horse, a cart, and saddles. Tochi snorted and ran his hand through his beard, “It’ll be- uh… Five golds and two coppers.” He told Xuan.

Kin started loading the feed into the back of the cart as well as her luggage. She walked to Xuan, “Umm, did we need to stop by anywhere and get your things or ….?” Kin wasn’t sure if that was all they needed and she wasn’t to make sure they had enough. She took it upon herself to make a perfect, or at least reasonable, guide.

[xuan]

Xuan easily picked another horse, its feathers a brilliant rusty red, and exited the barn with the two animals. Five gold and two copper, that wasn't to bad, Xuan thought as she handed over the coins then replacing a small purse up her sleeve. She had made a point to keep her purse out of sight so it couldn't be as easily stolen on the road.
"No, no other stops," actually Xuan had been a bit sad that she had forgotten her hair piece, a painted metal comb that tucked into the back of her hair, her husband had given it to her, but it would be too much trouble to go back and get it, "we can head out whenever your ready,"

Bo and Jiang had already been placed in the cart, the two children unusually quiet as they huddled around the kitten which was now sleeping in Bo's lap. Ti was standing by, watching them while listening to Xuan and Kin, deciding to stand until it was time to leave since she would be sitting in the cart with the kids for a while.

"Oh," Xuan looked at Kin with the wide-eyes of rememberance, "do you have a map?" she asked, she was glade she asked now when they could still get one, it would have been terribly silly of them to leave without one.

[kinue]

Kin laughed, "Well of course!" She said joyfully pulling a map out of the fold of her clothe belt. I've got the route all marker up. It'll take a little longer than taking the main roads but it's much safer." Kin looked up to Kon. "Hey, Buddy, you ready to head out?" Kon's eyes where slanted giving him a serious look. After a sort pause he tapped Kin on the shoulder and started walking towards the other ostrich horse.

After everything was packed and ready Kin dusted off her hand and hoisted herself up onto Kon. She shifted in a comfortable sitting position on him and took the reins. The other ostrich horse were already strapped to the cart and everything was loaded. Kinue smiled and inhales taking in the clean air. Soon she would see her mother! And of course, her father and brother. But she just couldn't hold her excitement in. "Okay Xian, are you ready to move out?" She said joyfully crinkling her nose again.

[xuan]

With a small smile Xuan turned away from the girl, feeling rather silly having asked if she, a traveler, had a map. But she also felt it was a legitmate question to ask before on went wondering into the wild and that eased her mind, it also helped that Kin had already plotted a safer route.
Xuan lifted Jiang into the cart after Ti and Bo got settled against the luggage and handed the little girl over to sit with her nanny.
"Are you sure you don't mind sitting in the back with the kids for the first leg?" she asked Ti, but she barely heard the response of 'it's fine' as a small wave of nuasea settled in. She had been feeling a bit sick lately, but she promptly ignored it, Ti would never let her travel if she knew what Xuan assumed was the reason for her sickness.

After making sure the cart was properly attached to a rather more muscular ostrich horse then the one she was riding she hweaded over to her golden feathered mount. Zizi, the man had said his name was, and she mounted side saddle, but after watching Kin get comfortable in her seat she refigured her strategy. Somehow, in the back of her mind she had known someone couldn't really make this trip side saddle. She dismounted and unhooked a few of the bottom toggles that held her dress closed, the now open slit revealed more of her leg the the public then she would ever have licked to and she was glade now that she had sopme kind of under garment; a clean white strip of cloth bond her leg to just above her knee. The cloth was pretty standard for a married woman, but she had never really liked it until just know.

"Yes, I'm ready," she said and as she mounted the ostrich-horse she felt more like her younger self than she ever had in a long time. She hadn't really been riding since she left Omashu and the thrill it sent through her spread a wide smile on her face. "Please, lead the way," she motioned with her head for Kin to set out first and she looked back as Ti handed Jiang to Bo and took up the reins of the cart.

[kinue]

Kin grinned, "Alright, let's get a move on!" She said tapping the heels of her shoes on Kon's sides. The group soon started through the rings of Ba Sing Sei. There wasn't much farther until the main walls.

Kin reached behind her and pulled her fan out of her fabric belt. If she would have lost it out of Ba Sing Sei there would be BIG problems. "All set, Kinue?" A boy a few years older than her asked as he grabbed the handed fan from her. Kin nodded, "Yep! Part the gates, Hiro!" the young man nodded and waved a different pair of blue fans. The wall rumbled and shook as the started to part. The ostrich-horses were reacting quite well, not as bad as last time. Kin looked back to Xuan and the cart as she started to exit the city. 'Here we go!"

[xuan]

Xuan dug her heels into the ostrich-horses side a little and she started moving forward slowly, following Kin. Behind them Xuan heard Ti click her tongue and the small squeak of the wooden cart began. It was a short ride to the gate and it seemed as though Kinue was expected, a small sense of intrigue entered her mind and Xuan for the first time since their meeting wondered exactly who Kin was. She didn't linger on it to long though, she was sure they would find out plenty or one another as they rode.

"To Tachi Dai," She said and lifted a small fist in eagerness, her old smile spread across her lips.

As they rode and the bump of the ostrich horse as it walked underneath her began to make her nueasua worse than it was when they left and her revived, childish feeling began to ebb away.
"Are you feeling alright, Mam," Ti asked from the cart and Xuan could only manage a nod, fearing that if she opened her mouth the contents of her stomach would decide to not stay where they belonged. Ti made a tsk, tsk sound and addressed Kinue, " Darling, would you mind terribly if we rest just a moment here, Xuan needs to switch places with me,"