Curse'n fate <Foggy Swamp, Earth Kingdom>

[yun]

It was getting to be late and she'd already hid from her brothers twice, life was just going down the drain. Up in the banyan tree she hid in the swamp teen let her leg lazily hang over the side of the branch. Her hand rested on her stomach which was growling with the lack of dinner. Having avoided going home she missed out on the swamp stew she knew would have been waiting for her. The beating she knew she'd get was enough to keep her away but it didn't mean she wasn't wallowing in her own self misery because of it.

Her eyes closed and she let out another sigh wincing as her stomach growled but she ignored that glaring at a screaming bird on the branch just above her. It tilted it's head to the side starring at her but she sneered at it and then it shrieked forcing Yun to cover her ears in pain." UGH!" She groaned and slipped off the branch accidentally Luckily enough to her she snagged a vine and dangled a couple feet up from the ground. Her little heart raced in a panic and her eyes were wide, obviously startled by the partial fall and the force of the vine catching her weight. She cursed her dumb luck attempting to swing to the nearest branch where she could have a starting point to move back up into the tree.

As if to taunt her the screaming bird took off from the tree shrieking again. She flinched and groaned, the damn bird was out to get her like the rest of the world. At least there was no one around to see her making a fool of herself.

[hok]

Hok, in all his teenage wisdom and understanding, was worried. Yun had gotten such an unfair tongue-lashing from Kulap that Hok's mind was abuzz with grim thoughts of the girl's current circumstances. He knew she wouldn't be received kindly even in her own home, as gossip established one's reputation so often, so where else did she have to run? Nowhere but the jungle, the wilderness without end. Well, Hok had heard there was an end to the place, though he'd never seen it. Reports, tales by and of people who dare venture beyond the safety of Mother Swamp for trade and such, sometimes without return. It was frightening to think of a world beyond this sanctuary.

Footsteps splattered in each puddle, oftentimes sending muddy water flying in every direction, on his skin and loincloth. He didn't care how muddy he would get at this point. He would find Yun, at least spy her out, and make sure she was safe before he went home. If anyone asked, he would be as evasive as possible lest she land in a heap of trouble. Chances were, she wanted to be alone. He'd respect that.

It was getting dark. His path was disappearing before his eyes. Hok skipped out on supper at the moment, no doubt concerning his mother and father without warning at all. Maybe soon they too would look for him, but for now he couldn't turn back. Hearing someone scream not once, but twice, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up stiff, eyes widening like the sun, feet stopping in their tracks if even for a second. Just what was going on?

That was when, through the darkening canopy pricked with tiny rays of glimmering sunshine, he saw a familiar silhouette dangling from a vine. Thanks to the conflicting light and dark of the backdrop, he couldn't make out the most essential of details...unfortunately. If possible, he felt like his eyes grew wider than ever before. Yun hadn't hanged herself, had she? A chill ran up his spine, feet carrying him swiftly toward the tree and the girl. "Yun! Yun! Wut's goin' on?!"

[yun]

Her hand reached out toward the branch but she fell short and nearly slipped from her hold on the vine. Her legs wrapped around the girth of it as she attempted to climb up. The vine was attached to the tree somewhere after all. She struggled with it. and only managed to get up a couple of feet before she slipped down further screaming as she did it. Light a frightened cat she clung to the plant mater her eyes wide, she was surprised her hair wasn't standing on end. If it was possible her life flashed before her eyes but she wasn't dead yet, just nineish feet in the air. She looked down her vision spinning, or maybe it was just the plant swaying, either way she wanted down now, waterbenders weren't meant to be up in trees.

Yun's back was to Hok, she didn't see him come up or know where he came from but his voice sounded like he thought someone was dying, she might if she didn't get down soon, there wasn't deep water to soften her blow. Carefully she turned around to look at Hok, she was scared and as much as she tried to bite it down she found herself unable to. " The bird spook'd me...." She tried to be louder but her voice was jammed in her throat. As if on cue the bird, nestled in another tree shrieked, almost to further mock her. She was too shaken up by falling twice to curse it and she closed her eyes tightly.

Her hands impulsively clung to the vine, scared to climb up, afraid to slip down. While she was frightened she wasn't to the point where she'd ask for help though. It should have crossed her mind to ask him WHY he was out in the middle of the swamp but she was too embarrassed to think that he'd have gone out of his way, she didn't like looking weak.

Then her breath hitched, was it just her or did it feel like the vine was about to give way... " HOK!"

[hok]

So she was alive...now was that a good thing or not? He could really stop worrying and leave without saying anything at all now, but was that the right thing to do? Hok didn't think so. He should at least stay until she was maybe safe on the ground, or until she told him to 'bug off' like she did so often. Ever the forgiver, he was...

It seemed a bird high in the branches...well, somewhere out of his line of sight was causing something of a ruckus up in those tree branches. The fluttering of feathers stopping abruptly preceded that hideous screech it made, which honestly gave Hok goosebumps out of sheer terror. It was frightening and annoying at the same time, no matter how bizarre that concept seemed. The wilderness of the swamp always turned up suchlike weird things, even if he'd encountered that type of creature before.

But, pointless musings aside, he heard a tree limb crack so majestically, surely to leave Yun in a freefall all the way to the ground - and from the look of things, a few tree roots that would make for an uncomfortable, possibly injuring collision with the ground. He had to think quick!

Darting his eyes around, Hok decided to forego his brief perusing of the area to simply feel out what he must (namely, the water he already knew was by his side), and attempt to sweep her out of harm's way. Running ahead with a fair-sized ball of water tucked between his arm and chest, as though he were carrying a badger-frog, possum-chicken, small child, or other small-to-medium sized creature, he lunged his hand ahead just as she started to fall. He hoped the force from his watery projectile headed straight for her body would whisk her away from the falling branch and sharp-looking banyan roots and onto softer ground in short order. Yet, he also felt the need to warn the girl bound for the earth.

"Think fast! Try tuh break yer fall!" Judging by the quickness of his call, it sounded like a single, almost incoherent word. If she knew what he was saying, she'd surely think to soften her descent using the water Hok just bended her way.

[yun]

It was panic time now. Stupid vines! Stupid witches! She probably hexed her so that she would have bad luck and die. What sort of shamen couldn't control her temper enough to deal with a teenager?! Was she dense or just hormonal. For someone who was supposed to help people she did the complete opposite almost consistently.

Her head spun around trying to look for a way off of the vine before it snapped, she'd have to save herself. The vine gave some more and then she was hanging buy a string like a baby spider. She'd fallen before, broken some bones, but she honestly didn't want it to happen again. The experiences were nothing she wanted to remember or repeat. Hok seemed frozen in place, that swamp slug was gonna watch as she shattered her arm or leg or maybe even died, it was so like him. That inconsiderate, oafish monster!

Her mental berating of the boy was abolished when she started to fall, her arms grabbed at the vines that wasn't there and Hok finally sprang into action. He bent water over to her and she almost missed it. What was she supposed to do with this?! She'd have to move quickly or face the ground. Her eyes settled onto a low branch she just fell past. Up to her forearm she had her the water in a gell like form over it, the water extended like a whip while the water turned to ice around her arm. The water roped around the branch and froze in place jerking her to a stop two feet from the ground. She let out a sigh and allowed the ice to melt dropping safely the last couple feet to the ground. She no sooner has her feet on the ground when she fell onto her knees in exhaustion.

Holding onto a vine took a lot more strength than she thought it would, after all, she was running on empty. Up in the trees the screaming bird let off one last screech before flying off into the distance.

[hok]

"Stewpid thang," Hok exclaimed when that annoying bird sounded one (presumeably) final shrill cry and fluttered out of sight. Again it made his muscles tense to hear such things, and by now he just wanted it to go away. The feathery creature seemed to oblige without him uttering a single sound, though.

But at least Yun now was safe, apparently having heeded Hok's slurred and rushed advice before she shattered into a million pieces on the ground, or fell on him and shattered him into a million pieces on the ground. Well, she wasn't that heavy at all, but it never felt good to be struck by a falling body - or so he assumed; that had never happened to him before, but it wasn't an impossible concept.

"So," Hok stepped forward a bit toward the girl, who seemed so weak and vulnerable at the moment. Unlike her, indeed! He was still cautious with each step, though. If Yun had missed supper, no doubt she'd be quite cranky. Even Hok succumbed to such things on occasion. Hunger was just a pain to endure, pun intended. Curiously, he gazed over at her. "Yer...alright?"

[yun]

The girl was catching her breath, her hands were dead weights in front of her as she hunched over panting from the exertion. Part of the water she'd frozen was just above her head, most of it was on the ground around her marked by wet patched of dirt and earth. The ice still on the branch was melting at an even pace even though the sun was getting lower in the sky. The humidity in the swamp was something most of it's residents were used to.

With her breathing panning out she felt she was in good enough condition to sit up some. She looked slightly ragged, a touch more on the disheveled side. with a combing and some smoothing down she'd be back to her usual cranky state but with hunger knawing at her and her nerves still on edge she felt more sullen than aggressive.

"Yeah." She stated evenly attempting to test her legs to see if they would allow her to get up. Finding a bit of weakness in them she chose to chance it anyway. Like a wobble fawncub she stood up trying to brush down her skirt. Coyly looking up at Hok she began to become a little suspicious of her, thoughts she should have jumped to early only now rising to the surface." Why're yew out here?"

[hok]

Looking over every detail as best he could, Hok could conclude Yun was in a reasonably sound state. Not broken (physically, anyway), she could no doubt return home without problem. Even that bird had gone away. Things may possibly have been looking up, shining brighter from there onward. But just why was Yun here anyway? Unfortunately, she asked first and Hok felt compelled to answer. He couldn't simply ignore her with a clear conscience. "Uh, well..."

Time was key, but it was running out. Could he answer before she got impatient or suspicious? Probably not, but he'd at least try. "Um...thought ah herd yew scream?" A logical answer, he supposed. Not like he was actually looking out for her and trying to find her, right...? Okay, maybe he was. It was his only reason that he was standing right before her, slightly unnerved at the sight of her ragged and unkept appearance that suggested more than mere lack of care for her physical appearance. There was something deeper than that, if earlier events foretold anything.

Life wasn't going so well for her, he perceived. Concern reflected in his eyes. "There's sumthin' wrong...ain't there?"

[yun]

She glared at him somewhat scrutinizing the truth in his excuse, it was too far into the swamp for him to have heard her scream, she knew those damn birds flew around, he would be able to tell the difference from a distance, if he was closer by though... It didn't seem likely that he was worried about her after this morning, now after almost breaking her spine it seemed more likely but she defensively bristled, she was a big girl, big girls can take care of themselves.

Her arms crossed and she pouted, her stomach hurt and she had a lot on her plate right now. That stupid swamp woman was the cause of it, it was all her fault. Yun knew it wasn't entirely but her sense of self preservation argued against any blame she may have brought on herself. Too tired to argue she adverted her eyes her shoulders slumping subconsciously shrinking into her self physically to protect her mentally. It was no rumor that her family was full of pretty aggressive people, her brothers rumbled with almost everyone int he swamp around their ages and usually won. Everyone expected the same from Yun and she didn't do much to discredit this.

"Mah maws gonna give me a beat'n when I git home..." She may be a tom boy but getting slapped across the face or getting the wrong end of the fishing spear on the back or rump hurt.

[hok]

Hok couldn't believe his ears, but expected as much whenever he heard a single thing said about Yun's family. To spawn a child like that simply wouldn't make sense if the family was calm, reasonable, and so quaint as Hok so often considered his own family. He also figured her brother beat her up one too many times, but her mother? Frightening indeed. It wasn't his first inclination to think the woman was capable of such, but now...? His perception of things within this small, idyllic swamp village was changing too quickly for comfort. Yun was a cruel person, but now that he knew there was ample reason, it almost blew his mind.

His feet pressed slightly into the wet earth as he approached her closer. Yun may have been rearing to attack the whole time, after all, yet he still felt the need to show a viable concern. He did deem himself somewhat of a friend to the girl (gods forbid), and knew it was what friends should do. Hok still left it up to Yun to decide how to treat him, though, which gave leeway for plenty of double-standards. It still didn't bother Hok that much to think of it that way. It was simply freedom to do what they wanted. No one dare squash their spirit.

Still, he didn't want to think Yun was entirely serious, lest the image of their peaceful little town come crashing down around him. Sharply sighing, he tilted his head to the side. "...And yer serious?"

[yun]

Yun looked at the boy glaring lightly and feeling stupid for even thinking of bearing her soul to him. What was with everyone? They were all stupid and cruel, why shouldn't she push their faces in the mud before they did it to her. No one was nice to her ever, why should she return the kindness she was neglected, it was like giggling and asking for more when someone punched you. You just didn't do it. Her stomach was assaulted by a wave of pain and an audible groan, she heard it and for some reason she expected Hok to but she knew that ones body wasn't always as loud as you thought simply because it was yours.

Spinning on her feet away from him she clenched her arms in place crossed about her body. Her back was a little straighter, she wanted to save face. Did he think she was the joker type? Did she look like some jester here to amuse him? Did teenagers just run away into the swamp because they were bored? " Whay would ah joke 'bout sumthin' like that!?" Her eyes welled up with tears, the only indication Hok got was a small crack in her voice as she hollered at him. The world was out to get her and she didn't know why.

" Am ah a Big joke tah ev'rybody?! Is that it?!" She clenched herhands into firsts, it was getting darker and she was getting angrier, what could get worse? Would it rain? That would be the cherry on top of this horrible day. " Ah guess ah'm jest an idijit...."

[hok]

Hok shrugged at the very first of Yun's questions, but felt as though the rest was simply a jab at herself, rounds of self-effacing claims that only made her feel worse about herself and, at the same time, make everyone feel sympathetic toward her. Hok hated feeling like the center of attention, so the very concept didn't quite click with him. Seeking attention may have seemed like her plan of action, but Hok hoped he could change her mind. Still, he knew she was expecting a reply of any sort, positive or negative. Sadly, the best he could think of was a soft-spoken; "No yer not..."

Flying over his head was the fact that disputing her statement, essentially telling her how wrong she was, may make her angrier, but Hok was all but oblivious to such things. He simply thought it would bring her consolation, since her mood really did need to be lightened at the moment. She looked like she was ready to deck him in the face...

Hok took a step back. "Look...ah don't understand wut yer goin' through, but...ah'm sorry...?" Perhaps making it seem like a question, coupled with his sheepish grin, wasn't the best idea. Too late!

[yun]

Anger flickered in her eyes but she was hungry and tired, the most she could do was pull off a sulky pout. She sniffled and rubbed tears from her eye half heatedly, she could almost taste the salty warm tears running down her cheeks. Why was she so hated, it wasn't like she ran around punching babies or screaming at old ladies, well... most old ladies, she couldn't say all too much about swamp witches with a B instead of the W. Still when he discredited her self loathing she felt a small prick in her chest, she didn't know if it was a good thing of a bad thing but she found herself tense.

Was it comforting to know that someone she constantly picked on didn't think she was stupid? Part of her said to wallop him for it and kick him in the mud but she hugged herself tighter choosing to let it go. Violence wouldn't amuse her right now, there was no point, getting a cheap laugh off of his half muddied face wasn't going to dry her tears. But once she cheered up all bets were off.

" Not yer fault." She murmured softly, there was only one thing she could do, that was head home and face what was coming then go back to Kulap and try to apologize. Looking over her shoulder she saw Hok, smiling like an idiot. He was so stupid sometimes. With a bit of a sigh and a last run with her hands to wipe her tears away she began to walk back towards the village but she stopped, looking at him meekly. "Walk me home?"

[hok]

Whoa. Yun was actually easy to be around at the moment, but perhaps only because of her downtrodden feelings. Still, it was odd for her not to react unkindly for any given reason, and it was just as great a wonder she hadn't already shoved his face into the mud. It was also mind-blowing to hear she didn't blame him this time around, even if there was no need; he still knew Yun's cruelty didn't always need a strong basis. Hok had to face it - Yun was usually more than a handful to deal with. She was a cranky girl!

When she asked him to accompany her home, he was almost floored. His eyes widened and his brow furrowed at the same time, making for a somewhat shocked look, but he altogether agreed to it, and subsequently any torture it may subject him to. Either virtuously tolerant or pitifully stupid, Hok proved himself, as actions spoke for themselves...or maybe, just maybe, he didn't really care. He knew Yun needed a friend just as much as anyone, which was perhaps the easiest thing that guided his bare feet after his fellow waterbender. "Sure," Hok said with a shrug of his shoulders.

[yun]

The walk through the swamp was uneventful, Yun had some time to cool down and her tears had long since dried before they reached the scattered village that the majority of the swamp dwellers in their area resided. Even the red puffy swelling went away so that she looked normal enough. She breathed out a breath of air ignoring the mild cold in the air that gave her skin goose bumps, it was the swamp so it was hardly ever freezing through now and then it did get nippy. She glanced at Hok nervously for a moment, her teenage hormones said he was being sweet but with the gnawing depression waning she tried to ignore it.

Closing her eyes tightly she did something very very stupid. She hugged Hok, her arms easily went over his shoulders and her head settled next to his as their torsos flushed against one another breifly. Yun was always the type of girl who got what she wanted one way or another, when she didn't she would stew over it for hours, without a doubt in her parents mind that attitude would land her in a lot of odd places a bit further down the line when her hormones were more semented in place but for now it was harmless. "Thanks....fer come'n tah look fer me." She let go of the boy adverting eye contact, it was so odd to be sweet, so very odd, just to even the score she punched him in the arm and trotted off towards home and what awaited for her there. She did steal a glance over her shoulder at the boy. For an idiot he was kinda cute.