Lantern Festival and Beyond<Kei Lan,Earth Kingdom>

[boragan]

Bora gave out a small cough as he was slowly recovering from his wounds. He waved over at one of the guards. The guard quickly followed suit and came over to the wounded Major.

"I have a mission for you," Bora said to the guard.
"Anything sir," the guard replied.
"You saw the people that helped me to the barracks with Batu? I want you to go fetch them for me and bring them here for a briefing."
"Sir, in your condition? We can't have you exert yourself in your condition," the guard explained, "We need you to rest."

"Son, that is an order!" Bora forcefully objected to the guards remark. The guard looked a little hesitant to follow the order, but saluted and went on his way to carry it out.

After a few minutes of searching for the kids, the guard finally found a few of them united happily with their families. The guard went up to them and saluted them.
"My commanding officer wishes to see all of you," the guard debriefed, "Please meet him at the medical tent once you are done with what you are doing."

He saluted once again and went on to guard his post.

[nattoku]

Nattoku was sitting on the ground listening to Kyo as he told his story of what he had been doing when the Fire Nation had come. The eldest brother was standing and waving his arms about a little as he told his so-called "amazing" tale. The middle child couldn't help but laugh on the inside as Kyo told his tale.

"So there I was! I was talking to this beautiful girl and suddenly, the Rough Rhinos came in and started to burn stuff and just cause trouble!"Kyo pumped his fist into the air for effect and then continued. "So I take charge right away and lead her to safety. Then I must face the Rough Rhinos all by my lonesome self. So I get ready! But, then I remembered I had to find Ma, Tian Tian, and you. So I must do that first. Well, I find these two, but no you. We go to safety and I rest for a moment, and as I'm about to go kick some Fire Nation butt, I find out it's all over and then you show up!" The oldest brother took a breath from telling his story.

Tian Tian then added his input. "But Kyo, you were with me and Ma when the Fire Nation came, and you wasn't fighting at all. In fact, you was pretty scared!" Nattoku began to laugh as Kyo's face fell and he glowered a bit at the youngest child. Lei Ming chuckled a bit too.

As they laughed, a soldier came over and told Nattoku and mentioned to the others nearby that they had to see his commanding officer for something. The teenager didn't know what, but he decided that he better get it over with. "Mama, I'll be back in a few minutes,"he said, getting up and dusting himself off. Lei Ming nodded. "Hurry back and don't get into trouble,"she said.

The boy headed briskly over to the medic tent, not really thinking to wait for the other two. When he entered, he just kind of stood in the entrance, not knowing what really to do. "Um, I think someone wanted to see me,"he said, trying to say it loud enough for them to hear, but not so much that he disturbed people who needed their rest.

[boragan]

The two guards standing at the entrance of the tent looked at each other decreetly, then cleared the path to the entrance.

"Our leader is expecting you," one guard said.

The labored breathing of the wounded Major could be heard from anyone inside. Bora looked at the kabuto that he cherished so much. He gave a slight smile as he looked at it.

"I've done my job again," Bora whispered, "Once again, the Fire Nation has failed."

As he was thinking, he sawe one of the boys come in from outside. He turned his head slightly to see him.

"I thought the others would show as well," Bora said, "Oh well. I would like to thank you for your help earlier at the festival. Your bravery to help a wounded soldier as well as your friends is commendable. I would thank you personally, but in my state, I try not to strain myself."

His tone became a little more serious for what he said next.
"Now, a matter of dire circumstances had come to our attention. I found a map of the Earth Kingdom earlier on one of the riders. It turns out that it is a map of positions of units of the enemy. It turns out, the Fire Nation is setting up a siege at Bai Seng Sei. If this attack goes through, Bai Seng Sei will be finished, and the Earth Kingdom will fall."

[lyra]

Lyra nodded to Jin and made her way to a small river on the outskirts of the forest. She stripped off her robe and entered the water in her undergarments. She lay down, letting the water brush up against her body. Her hair moved briskly in the shallow waters. The coolness of the water soothed her racing mind. All of the images of the previous events swam through her thoughts like she was swimming in this water. Taking a deep breath she tried to calm herself, but was rudely startled when a man approached the water and requested her presence.

Lyra quickly wrapped the robe around her damp body and ran to the tent, watching Nattoku enter. She wondered where Jin was, but let the thought slip from her mind as she pulled open the flap of the tent to reveal the general they had rescued. "You've asked to see me?" Lyra asked, a bit embarrassed that she was soaking wet, but at least she was clean.

[laughingjin]

Jin waited patiently watching Lyra walk out of sight, they were at a shelter but that was no cause to let down your guard, especially after what had just happened. Jin didn't quite trust this place completely, not as of yet. The young man ran a long tanned hand through his ash ridden hair as the last glimpse of Lyra vanished. The ash sprinkled down and fell about as shoulders, he turned using his height to his advantage. His bright green eyes shifted to a scene of intensity as he searched the crowd for any sight of the frail figure that was his mother, or the broad shoulder giant of his father

It wasn't until Jin stopped looking with his eyes and begin to attune his thin ears for the sound of Ayumi's giggle that he found a sound of them. He tuned heel and began cutting through the crowd to the source of the sound, determined to find his younger sister.

"Jin!" The young girl's voice hit his ears and his heart welled in happiness. Her freckled face appeared through the scattering of people and the rest of her green robbed form followed. The machete butterfly had fallen off her face and her brightly tanned skin was dulled with ash, but her voice was shining as bright as a sun that wasn't out. Ayumi tossed her arms around her older brother a grin that matched her voice spread across Jin's lips.

Jin's mother followed, running as fast as her robe would allow her. She threw her arms around her son's neck, sharing a intimate family moment. They all soon collected themselves and pulled apart, each grin rivaling the next.

Jin was the first to speak, "Where's dad?"
His mother spoke calmly. "Speaking with one of the guards, he's trying to figure out what happened." She paused, bit her lip as her eyes took a solemn tone. "Jin, there's something I have to tell you."
No one spoke, Jin looked down to Ayumi but she was looking at the ground sadly, kicking up ash and dust from the ground. The young man's bright green eyes were not only alarmed, but confused, his whole family was okay, so what could possibly be wrong?

Jin's mother nudged Ayumi and she ran back from whence they came only to return a few moments later with a mangle of strings and wood. Jin's face paled instantly and his lips parted in sheer surprised. His younger sister handed him the mangled instrument limply in his arms and he did nothing more but look down at it in shock. The only possession he had a care for was crippled beyond repair.

"I had tried to take care of it," explained Chiaki, his mother, "but when a Fire Nation Solider came toward us I panicked and clubbed him with it..." She trailed off, her eyes falling to the floor.

A small satisfied smile began to twitch on Jin's lips. "Well, at least it went out with a bang... I'm glad you two are safe."

[nattoku]

For a few moments Nattoku did not know what to do with himself. He just kind of stood like a statue in the doorway, not really knowing if he wanted to come in or not. When the Major spoke directly to him, he stood for another moment, and then fearing he would come off as rude, came closer so he could understand the man better.

The Major started off by thanking him and the others for helping him when the Rough Rhinos were attacking the village. The boy rubbed the back of his neck in nervousness and then spoke.

"Sir, I feel kind of wimpy by saying this, but I really didn't do anything,"he said. "I just stood there and was going to take my friend's place so she could rest, but then your soldiers came. It was really my friend's who did all the work." Nattoku again quickly rubbed the back of his neck, but quickly put it back down.

Next, the Major mentioned that there was trouble in store for the Earth Kingdom capital of Ba Sing Se. That the Fire Nation was planning a seige on the city. Nattoku may have been what some called a backwards hick, but even he knew that this meant that the Earth Kingdom was doomed. Of course the Major knew this because he mentioned it.

A thought came to Nattoku's head. If there was going to be a seige on Ba Sing Se, then that meant that there would have to be soldiers probably going there. What if Dad has to fight in the seige. Or what if they need more soldiers and Kyo has to go to war. I mean, he turns sixteen very soon.

After the man had finished talking, Nattoku again took time to speak. "Um sir, with all respect, why are you telling me all this?"he asked, noticing again the Southern drawl in his voice, and knowing he must sound odd to this man.

[boragan]

"I'm tell you this out of concern," Bora said, "I know that there is a lot of people that have friends or family that live in Bai Seng Sei."

He coughed in pain for a little bit as he continued, "Even if you weren't really involved in the fight earlier, you were still there, in case they needed help. All good plans still need a back-up."

Just then, the girl called Lyra came in from outside.

"Glad you could make it," Bora said smiling, "I'll try to keep this short for all of our sakes. I got plans from one of the riders. Turns out, it is a plan for an attack on Bai Seng Sei. I tell you this in case you have friends or family in the capital. I suggest communicating with yourt peers and tell them to leave the city before the attack happens."

Bora slowly stood to his feet and looked at the two young adults.

"We at the Thunderfist Batallion would like to thank you for your help back there. In return, I would like to reward you all," Bora said. He slowly limped to a small table with a small pouch on it. He reached inside and pulled out sixty gold coins from the bag. He hands twenty to Lyra and forty to Nattoku.

"Twenty of those belong to that musician that was with you with the painted face," Bora said to the both of them, "We once again thank you for your help."

[lyra]

Lyra looked down at the coins placed in her hand, but something didn't feel right. She was only helping them to protect her friends, why did she need a reward for that? Nonetheless she smiled gratefully and turned to leave, making a mental note to split the reward so half went to Nat and the other half to Jin and Ayumi. Their families needed it more than she did.

As she made her way toward the entrance of the tent she stopped, turning on her heel, and faced the general once more. "Sir." She began, "What exactly do you plan on doing with hundreds of Earth Kingdom citizens once they, well, if they leave Bai Send Sei?" Where would the families go if their homes were destroyed? Just thinking about this made Lyra want to scream. She looked over at Nattoku and pictured his family wandering around the outskirts of the Earth Kingdom, not knowing what to do or where to go. Then her mind wandered to Jin, Ayumi, and their mother. What would happen to them? Last but not least the image of her own parents floated into her head but were quickly replaced with the image of her fellow Abatu Bai women. They would never dance in Bai Seng Sei again.

[nattoku]

Nattoku nodded as he understood what the Major was saying to him. That is was just a precaution, that if he had family in the great capital city of Ba Sing Se, that he could know this and send a forewarning to them. The teenaged boy couldn't remember whether he had any close family members living in Ba Sing Se at the moment.

Maybe Mom and Dad have cousins or aunts and uncles there. Or maybe even some close friends. I'll have to ask Ma if she knows.Nattoku made this a mental note to ask his mother about as soon as possible, so that if there were family or friends in the city, they could be warned. He also had to be sure to ask that if there was going to be an attack on the capital city, if his mother thought that his dad was going to have to fight. Or if they might draft young men from all over the Earth Kingdom to fight for the city, to keep it safe from the Fire Nation attack that was coming. If this was so, that would mean Kyo would have to go off to war. Where would that leave him and his mother and younger brother?

Before the boy could hardly comprehend, the Major had switched from telling them about the impending attack on the capital city, to thanking them for their help. He took what looked like gold coins out of his bag. As Nattoku's eyes widened, he saw that it was gold coins. The Major gave a bunch to Lyra and then a bunch to him, also saying that about twenty of those went to Jin. The boy's eyes were wide, never having seen that many gold coins at once in his life.

The teenager clutched onto the coins and gave a deep bow. "Thank you so much sir,"he said. He made a note to give Jin his share when he saw him next. And he made a note to make sure he kept his own share safe and got it back to his mother and brothers. He would let Kyo and Tian Tian look at it, but he wouldn't let them touch it.

[boragan]

"Do not worry about that," Bora told Lyra, "We will have an escort of soldiers taking them to safety. It is better that they move to a different city than to be stuck in Bai Seng Sei during the battle."

He picked up his helmet and wore it around his head.
"I will not let them take Ba Seng Sei without a fight. If Ashuku wants it, he will have to go through me and the rest of the Thunderfist Battalion."

He bowed slightly to Lyra and Nattoku and limped out of the tent. He saw all of his warriors hard at work with their training drills while others watched over the area. A few were moving over to Kei Lan to make sure that the city was clear from any danger. A smile ran across his face, but the kabuto covered it from sight. He limped over to one of the lieutenants from across the mess hall. They both saluted to each other.

"Sir, we are given the all clear from Kei Lan," the lieutenant briefed.
"Good work," Bora praised, "We have new orders. I want half of our troops stationed in Ba Seng Sei."
"Sir, if I may speak freely, how come so many?" the lieutenant questioned.
"The Fire Nation are invading. We are going to prevent it. Those are your orders. We leave first thing tomorrow. Until then, prepare everyone and brief them in."

They both saluted once again as they separated to carry out orders.

"If they want a war, they can have it," Bora Gan whispered.


((Bora Gan has left the trend))

[lyra]

Still with doubts in her mind, Lyra watched as the general left the tent before turning her attention to Nattoku. This was quite an adventure, but she was ready to go home. With a quick smile to her new friend, she followed the general out of the tent and began walking toward Bai Seng Sei. She had to warn her family some way. As she made her way through the camp, she looked around for any sign of Jin, but she didn't see him much to her displeasure. However, there was no doubt in her mind that she wouldn't see him or Nat again.

[Lyra has departed.]

[laughingjin]

The gangly young man was pulled away from his family once more, but there was no mind for it this time. They were safe, and withing a few steps away. A few official looking guards had lead him over to a tent where they said his friends had been moments before. Jin was still filthy, tired, and over all exhausted, but he knew the ordeal would be over soon. He stepped into the tent, only spotting the Nat's familiar figure and face. Taking two long strides he stepped besides Nattakou, looking down at his young friend. His long, now darkened, green slacks brushed against eachother, creating a slight wooshing sound. Ash fell to the ground in his wake, his clothes still covered in the dark soot.

"Hey." His voice was riddled with exhaustion even though a small smile played on his lips. "Where's Lyra? What's going on?" There was a sense of urgency in his voice, the night has proved perilous before and he was worried about his new friend. He didn't need another adventure. Not for a long time.

[nattoku]

Nattoku's green eyes were still focused in on the gold coins in his hands. He still couldn't believe how much it was. He couldn't wait to show his mother and to shove it in his brother's faces. For a while, he would have amounted to something. He wouldn't be just the "middle child". It would be totally cool when his mom showed his share of the gold to his uncle. And maybe they could somehow get word to Dad about it! Nattoku smiled at this thought.

Nattoku was pulled from his thoughts when he heard Jin's voice. The older boy had asked what was going on, and he had asked the whereabouts of Lyra. Since it appeared the Major had left, as he and his soldiers had a lot of preparing to do, the teen decided he would have to explain what was going on.

"Well first off, this belongs to you,"Nattoku started off saying. The thirteen year old crouched down onto the ground and carefully put all the coins onto the ground so he could count them out and make sure each of them got their fair share. Once the boy had separated one group of twenty coins, he picked up one group and put it in Jin's hands. He then bent back down and picked up his own twenty coins.

"Okay, this is the story. It has good and bad news,"Nattoku began. "You remember the soldier we saved? Well, turns out he was a Major and was mighty glad that we had saved him. This is our reward. I got twenty coins, you got twenty coins, and so did Miz Lyra. That's the good news."

Nattoku paused for a moment to let the information sink in, and then started up talking again, this time with a solemn face. "But, this is the bad news that the Major told us,"Nattoku started off. "He says that the Fire Nation is going to invade the capital city of Ba Sing Se. He told us that if we have any family or friends in the city, that we should give them warning to get out and come back again when it's safe."

The boy took a pause to take a breath and then finished what he was saying. "So, that is most likely where Miz Lyra is heading,"he said. "Back to Ba Sing Se to warn her family and friends. If you or your family knows anyone, it would be a good idea to try and do the same. Or to do what you think is the right thing." Finally, Nattoku was done talking. He didn't know what he and his family would do. Most likely head home and stay there. The boy didn't think they knew anyone in Ba Sing Se. Country folk like him and his family and friends and neighbors didn't usually head for the big cities.

[laughingjin]

Jin's bright eyes glittered reflecting the glint of the gold he tried hard to suppress his smile and pay attention to what Nattoku was saying but he couldn't take his mind off it. He wasn't greedy, no, it wasn't in the young man's nature to be greedy, but twenty gold coins after this mess; well, he could only imagine what that may be able to do for his family. Slowly he brought himself back from his dreams of a new house, replacing the old one that was most likely nothing but ash at the moment, and focused his attention on his younger friend, a slight glimmer of his usually grin in his closed lipped smile.

Jin said nothing, only listened as Nat told on about how the bulking man they had managed to save was a general and how the gold was an award. Jin tore his eyes off Nattoku for a moment and looked down at the gold once more. His tanned skin seemed brighter, despite the remnants of the soot. He couldn't except the award, not after doing something he was going to run away from in the first place, no, that would be wrong. A slight frown creased his lips, but the change in Nat's tone shook him from his inner moral dispute.

The young man didn't wish to interrupt. He nodded when appropriate and listened intently, but he did not speak. Jin's lips pursed to form a thin line, silently ticking off the people close to him. All he had ever known had been Kei Lan, the small town had been his life. Jin thought about the Fire Nation's ravage 'Was my life.'

When Lyra's name hit Jin's ears of those heading for the endangered city he stiffened once more with inner debate. Leave behind the life he knew (which was now little more than dust thanks to the Fire Nation) or go after a friend he just met? He blinked his bright green once before a wide grin spread across his face.

"Thank you, Nat, for the information and gold and all. I hope we see each other again." Jin turned on his heal and left the tent in search of his family.

[Jin has left the building thread]

[nattoku]

Nattoku nodded and bowed as his new friend left. The teen had doubts that he ever might see Jin or Lyra ever again. Lyra lived in the Capital city, far from where he stood now. And Jin lived here in Kei Lan, but Nattoku did not. He lived in a small fishing village in the South. Because they all lived so far away from each other, Nattoku truly did not believe he would ever see them again. But, what did this country boy know about Fate?

He still held onto his own twenty coins that had been given to him. The boy made sure to hold onto them tightly. He did not want to lose even just one. He began to walk back to where his family was, holding his hands behind his back as he walked up. As he came to where his family stood again, Kyo and Tian Tian were talking about something and Lei Ming was shaking her head.

"What do you have there Nattoku?"she asked as her son came up. Nattoku grinned widely and showed her what he held. His mother's eyes widened at the sight of the gold coins. She had never seen so much gold in one place. Heck, she had never seen three fourths that amount in one place before. "My son, where did you get this?"she asked. "That is a long story Mama, so can I tell you as we're going home?"he asked. Lei Ming nodded as she untied her apron.

"Put the coins in here,"she said. "I don't want to have all of it out in the open ready for bandits to steal." The boy did as he was told. Lei Ming tied up her apron and handed the parcel to her middle child. "Okay boys, we're heading home. I have had enough adventure for one lifetime,"Lei Ming said. All three boys nodded and began to follow their mother as she headed off in the direction of home.

[Nattoku has left the thread]