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Post by ryota on Mar 18, 2007 13:28:40 GMT -5
Ryota chuckled at Aden expressing his disbelief. However, as he was about to reply, answering Aden that there were, in fact, no waterbenders in this band of Southern Water Tribe warriors, Ryota heard Chamir chime in to point out that very fact. The only known waterbender born in the Southern Water Tribe in a generation was none other than Katara, who now traveled with the Avatar. Chamir's question further delayed Ryota's answer to Aden, but Ryota graciously went out of his way to reply, "You're right, Chamir. All the children of age aren't benders, and with the youngest ones, they don't even know yet. But since I left two years ago, that might have changed."
Ryota then turned to Aden and replied, "The only way we could have defeated those Fire Navy ships was through the tactical genius of our leader Hakoda." Ryota paused, chuckling smugly for a moment while shifting his gaze between Chamir and Aden, then continued, "He invented what we calls "tangle mines", which are filled with stinkfish and seaweed. When they're hit by the ships and explode, the seaweed tangles up the ships' propellers and the awful smell of the fish forces the men to jump overboard." Ryota shifted his cerulean eyes between Aden and Chamir again and smiled, continuing, "The only bad part is Hakoda tells you to fill them".
"Maybe you'll get to see them in action soon enough..."
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Post by kavik on Mar 18, 2007 17:34:00 GMT -5
"Ugh, it's making me want to jump overboard." Mumbled Kavik and he took wiff of the mines. The Water bender was praticing near the shore making water loop around him Kavik looked around and did a few flips with water spiraling with him. Denali groaned looking at his master with annoyance as if saying Don't be such a show off
Kavik began rumaging through his bags. He looked in his favorite satchel and then in his well...purse. "Damnit, I can't find my medicine bag...Shoot! I left it at that lsland three days ago. Damnit!!" Kavik pouted and leaned on the tree near Denali. "Hey Ryota, can you help me with something if your not busy? I need to make new medicine bag, ya know like first aid kit? But I need fresh herbs for it like chamomile, feverfew, white willow and aloe, mine helping me? I'm sorry for asking if you are too busy, but I really need help looking." Kavik asked scratching his head and finding empty leather pouch.
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Post by aden on Mar 20, 2007 11:13:50 GMT -5
Aden watched Kaviks seemingly random display of waterbending with the same sort of look as Denali. Indeed, his memory had not betrayed him when he had thought of the other Northern boy as being a strange one. He kept his attention elsewhere for the most part, though, and contented himself with taking interest in the rest of the camp's on-goings.
An extension to the Southerners' original camp was being made by the newly arrived war party. They more or less mirrored the layout of the existing tents, making an alley bordered by a row of tents facing inward on either side and with a larger command tent at the far end. The beach area was just long enough to accomodate such an arrangement without putting the tents dangerously close to the rockface where lose stones might present a hazard. It was nearly high tide, so the proximity to the water was safe, and all that was left was to finish erecting the tents and unloading their supplies.
He glanced back toward Kavik, though, when he heard the other bender call out and ask Ryota for some help in foraging for some plants. Aden was really quite confused how Kavik even knew the names of so many plants that were not native to the North. The strangeness of that boy never ceased to surprise him. Aden tossed a slight shrug at Ryota before standing up and stretching his legs. "I'm going to go help set up camp," he announced after a slight grunt from his stretching. In truth, he just really wanted to be out of earshot before Kavik decided to ask him to help too, though with a surreptitious look aimed at Chamir and Ryota he tried to convey that it could also be their excuse too...
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Post by chamir on Mar 20, 2007 14:41:22 GMT -5
Chamir raised an eyebrow at Aden's furtive look after the waterbender announced his intention of helping to set up camp within the Southern Water Tribe's encampment. Chamir quickly surmised that Aden merely wanted to be away, as much as he could get in the camp, or busy with other matters to keep away from Kavik.
Chamir conjectured that Kavik could have believed as much and thus asked Ryota for aid instead of Aden beforehand. The matter still left questions as to precisely why Aden found Kavik so weird or queer.
Standing up, Chamir began to wipe the sand off his rear, eventually wiping his hands together to remove the sand from them as well. Looking momentarily to his kin, Ryota then shrugging as to whether or not Ryota would like to help him and Aden or aid Kavik.
"Might as well give you hand then Aden," grabbing his own belongings recently rescued from Kavik's buffalo-deer Denali.
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Post by ryota on Mar 20, 2007 15:15:54 GMT -5
Ryota continued sitting as Aden and Chamir rose from their respective sitting places, looking at the ground before him while stroking his stubble-covered round chin in though, trying to decide with whom he wanted to go. Chamir and Aden are sort of like my friends already..., he thought, But I should go with Kavik...I should get to know him better, anyway...
He looked back up at Kavik and smiled, replying to the young man, "Of course I'll go with you. I'm not busy at all." Though he couldn't help but notice the fellow's strangeness, Ryota didn't much care that the shaggy-haired waterbender in his proximity was an odd one, since Ryota was not one to judge by first impressions alone. Still, he couldn't help but wonder if Aden wasn't terribly fond of his peer, Kavik.
"I'll catch up with you two later!", he said to Aden and Chamir as they were about to go off to set up camp, waving to his new friends as he sat beside his tent. Ryota slowly rose from his place, in the meantime dusting off any sand that clung to the skirt of his hanfu or the underside of his pant legs, then lumbered over to Kavik, who was more or less the same height as the pudgy warrior. He ran his fingers over his hair as he stood, slicking back the frizzy strands of his hair that fell over his face as he stood. "All right, lead the way, Kavik..."
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Post by kavik on Mar 20, 2007 15:35:31 GMT -5
Kavik smiled when Ryota stood up to join him. "Excellent!" He didn't understand the other's join him. Kavik shook his head at Aden and Chamir and when to Denali, the buffalo-deer knew that finally he was going to graze and ruminate.
"Thanks Ryota for your help," Kavik took Denali up the bluff and on a grass field, he let Denali go allowing his mount to graze. Kavik smiled, "He has waiting for grass for a long time. It's good that he can eat now. I hope he doesn't binge." Kavik began looking for the feverfew and chamoamile. Both looking simular he knew subtle differances from his sister's teaching.
"My twin taught me that a good waterbender keeps a medicine bag just incase. So took her advice and started to gather herbs, it may seem....girly. But trust me. When I got a nasty burn, a year ago from cooking I was glad my sister grew aloe. It's desert plant so it needs constant heat. Yet it's hardy so it could be an indoor plant." Kavik collected the heads of chamiomile and feverfew and went to look for a willow.
"I also keep thread, Ryota you should take up sewing. I few sturdy stitches could be useful when you have a nasty gash. Though you need to know a good painkiller too. Poppy is good at that. But I have some dried poppy in another bag." Kavik found a spiky aloe and began cutting it. "Do you think I should offer some to Aden, as token a of friendship? I don;t think he likes me very well." Kavik turned to find the willow and watched Denali lay down ruminating. "I want to prove to people here I could be useful."
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Post by aden on Mar 20, 2007 16:24:34 GMT -5
Aden had found a packed tent laying on the ground in line with the rest of the structures. Whoever had been assigned the task of setting up the tents had apparently lined them up but hadn't gotten to this one yet. With Chamir close behind him he untied the end of the bag that held all of the tent's components together and began extracting a few tentposts along with a rolled up tarp.
"Here," Aden said to Chamir as he approached. He tossed one of the tent poles to him and took another in both hands. "Set that up about 5 paces away from this one," he instructed as he drove his own wooden stake into the ground at his feet. The post was about 5 feet long and he drove it about a foot into the sandy ground. There were two more posts like that to set up to form the corners of the tents and then a longer central post to put between them.
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Post by chamir on Mar 20, 2007 17:06:45 GMT -5
He could not remember how long ago it had been since he slept in a tent. The last one in his possession was lost during his latest excursion into the Earth Kingdom around four years ago. Since then he slept within his artic wear: heavy trousers and parka and under the raincloth during percipitation, when finding himself camping in the outdoors.
It was rather nice to be under a tent again, though was nothing compared to a roof, warm bed and someone besides you. Sighing, such a thing would have to wait, especially now that he was a full-fledged warrior. At least the rank would earn him some favorable status once opportunity does arrive.
Chamir turned towards Kavik and Ryota receding in the distance as they set up the last of the tents.
Good luck, remembering Aden's admonishment to him and Ryota. I guess.
"If Kavik is as bad as nuisance as you imply," making small talk, "hopefully Ryota can endure." Chuckling. "Surely Kavik will contain himself."
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Post by ryota on Mar 20, 2007 21:10:36 GMT -5
Ryota followed Kavik, trailing a few steps behind the northerner and his steed as they ascended the nearby trail leading to the plains sitting atop the cliffs that lined the beach. As Ryota walked around in the grass for a bit while Kavik let his mount off to graze, the warrior thought to himself, Now why have I not come here more often...? This area is actually pretty nice...peaceful... Ryota considered coming to this place more often in the future, for whatever reason he saw fit.
The plains were covered with plants galore, and, even though Ryota had no clue what they were, he still thought they looked nice. Kavik, however, seemed to have much knowledge about these plants, including them amongst the various subjects of which he was speaking. Ryota was drifting in and out of conversation with the nearby waterbender, simply replying by nodding, smiling, and the occasional "Mmhmm..." as he walked around, admiring the sights.
He picked up a few things from Kavik's words, though, finding it interesting that he knew so much about plants even though Ryota assumed the North Pole was just as barren as the block of ice where he grew up. He also thought it was interesting how Kavik has a twin. Ryota was about to ask whether it was his a boy or girl, his brother or sister, when Kavik continued talking, now referring to Aden, then how he wished he himself could be more useful around the camp.
Ryota backtracked a bit, answering the only question Kavik asked, by responding, "Well...maybe. You probably should do it just to make peace with him." Ryota then turned to Kavik and tilted his head slightly in confusion, "Why would he not like you?"
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Post by kavik on Mar 21, 2007 8:57:40 GMT -5
"Well I'm a bit of an odd bird. He didn't like me in Master Pakku's class and I still don't think he doesn't like me now." Kavik cut the aloe and put it the sack. He walked to the edge of the field to find an elder and few willows.
"Ah pefect. Kokomi is my twin sister, Ryota, she the one that taught me this stuff. Pretty useful really." Kavik had slight pain when he thought about her. Was she looking for him? Was she missing him?
"It feels weird. I never been this far away from her. It' like...I'm missing a limb. I feel like I'm missing something. Eh well...Anyway. Ryota do you have a wife or a sibiling back home?" Kavik asked idly as he finally had all his herbs. He sat down next to Denali and scratched his back. Kavik looked to the west to set the sun starting to dip bit. A breeze pass through, playing with Kavik's long youth braid and hair.
Then Kavik started to snicker... "Hee hee.." He covered his mouth and held back his laughter. "Sorry...I was thinking. My dad always told me...that I was an added bonus. Dad was expecting Kokomi, he wasn't expecting me. Imagine the look on his face when the midwife told him that he had 'nother." Kavik smiled and laughed, "Dunno were that came from, probably because I have been thinking about home. Sorry Ryota...if I'm getting too weird." Kavik sighed and leane back. He was getting homesick, and that wasn't a good thing.
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Post by aden on Mar 21, 2007 22:37:10 GMT -5
Several hours later...
The sun had set though a faint hint of aquamarine still lingered over the western sky, outlining the great wall of Ba Sing Sei that was just visible in the distance. The Water Tribe camps, both Northern and Southern, were lit by a few bonfires and the warriors were enjoying a dinner of fish and bread rations. The tents were all erected and the longboats and dhows were dragged ashore or anchored in the shallows.
Aden was returning from the cook's table that was set up beside one of the campfires with a wooden plate laden with his meal for the night. The food was being prepared near the center of the camp and there were both Northern and Southern warriors milling about. The groups had largely seperated into their respective factions after their initial greetings, though there were a few handfuls of commingled warriors enjoying their dinner. Aden had paused on his way back to his tent, taking a quick glance around him.
He'd lost track of Chamir after setting up the tent and he hadn't seen Ryota or Kavik since they went off to gather herbs. The two Southerners were good enough company, he decided, and he began picking through the crowd with his eyes to try and locate Chamir or Ryota.
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Post by chamir on Mar 21, 2007 23:34:58 GMT -5
Though it seemed the two poles have mostly separated themselves for the night it did not stop a few from mingling together while they ate. Most of who, though the majority of them were Southerners, had gathered around Chamir for a dose of entertainment.
“—So her father continues to tell me,” Chamir began standing, comedically pumping out his chest with his arms flexing. He gave the soft ground a stout stamp as he looked down with a harmful glare at his audience. Sand almost flying into his meal dish. “‘You little imp!’” Chamir’s voice was low and gruff. “‘For my daughter’s honor is purer and more protected than a nun’s vow of celibacy!’”
“Thus I asked the father, ‘then can you direct me to the nearest nun, sir? Or at least tell me we she shall join the sisterhood?’”
Chamir grinned wider at the sight of his father, Jamil, looking away while placing a hand over his laughing face at his son’s misadventures. Misadventures to which were eliciting laughter from the others amidst his audience, mostly Southerners curious of his life outside of the South Pole.
“And so?” his father, bearing a hereditary grin as he uncovered his face, asked curiously.
Chamir placed a closed fist into his open palm and bowed, “my dear, beloved father. I did what any intelligent man would do. Especially one who is an only son.” Pausing for dramatic effect. “I asked him what was that behind him—then ran!”
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Post by ryota on Mar 22, 2007 14:50:16 GMT -5
Ryota stepped foot back onto the beach, leaving the path that lead to the bluff where he and Kavik had spent the previous fragment of the day. He recalled the peacefulness he felt an hour earlier, sitting up against a willow tree, fireflies dotting the landscape as his new acquaintance from the north continued gathering herbs. However, he found the serenity had gotten boring after a while, and, even though it was relaxing at first, he was ready to return to camp as the daylight wavered.
He saw the bonfires peppering the beach, encircled each with a number of warriors sitting on pieces of wood that served as makeshift benches. He smelled the wonderful smell of a bonfire, one of his favorite smells, and he could hear sparse laughter or conversation from nearly every one of the circles sitting that distance away. One group caught his interest, however, as he could see his friend Chamir amidst a group of their fellow southerners, including Ryota's father, Delun. He scoffed for a second, since he had wanted to hear Chamir's tales ever since Chamir brought it up earlier that day. Before continuing to trudge forth on the sand, he turned around again to try and see if his newest friend, Kavik, was anywhere in close proximity.
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Post by kavik on Mar 22, 2007 17:32:11 GMT -5
Kavik looked at the setting and watch the moon rise, He felt a stirring deep with in him. He could help but think of family now. Did they hate him? Did they miss him.
"I really miss you dad." Murmured Kavik lowly. He tied up Denali and followed Ryota. "I'm coming!" Kavik hollered as he jump climbed down from the bluff.
Kavik set up his own fire and unrolled out his bag. He began rumaging around his back for something to eat, like nuts or jerky. He found some caibou jerky and leaned back and looked up.
whoa... With a smile Kavik saw the brillance of the night starts. He quirked a grin and chewed on the jerky. "Man if I had some monkfish, bayleaves and couple vegtabled I could make mean monkfish stew.." As if in agreement his stomach growled. "Right..." He got up and walked over to where Chamir was and listen a bit of the story. Kavik shook his head rolled his eyes. As he looked for some driftwood for his fire.
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Post by aden on Mar 23, 2007 13:47:42 GMT -5
As he neared a particularly large ring of warriors that encircled a campfire on the Southern side of the camp, Aden became aware of Chamir's voice speaking over the din of the assembled war parties. The young waterbender started towards the gathering, walking slowly and taking small bites of his food as he made his way over. He reached the fringe of the group in time to catch the last few lines of a recounting by his Southern friend. Apparently the storyteller was living up to his title and had quite a a few experiences to share.
Aden's lips curled into the slightest of amused smiles as he stood in the back row of warriors who had given a round of laughter at the ending to his latest tale. The young waterbender continued to eat his meal while standing on the edge of the gathered warriors. Chamir was apparently in his element and he didn't want to disturb him. However, he decided to stick around for a little longer while he finished his dinner. Perhaps Chamir had another amusing annecdote to share.
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