The Gypsy Caravan <Wilderness, Earth Kingdom>

[whitecrow]

Even under the cloud foreboding smoke that choked the blue sky, a band of merry travelers found means to celebrate. Brightly colored banners flew in the sky, red, gold, green, blue, white, orange, purple.. the entire spectrum of color from posts that had been hastily erected into the soft dirt or from the backs of wooden wagons. Laughter and song rose up from the half circle of wagons that had gathered at the edge of a river.

In a huge pit, fire danced as a huge hog was slowly roasted over it. Around the meat stood any number of people, some with dark hair, some with graying hair. Others stood in clothing reminiscent of the Fire Nation, others wore an odd ball mixture of Fire, Earth and Water. Some sang, others played instruments and there was at least one good Sungi Horn player in the crowd. A wagon's feeble door, whose sides hung with tapestries depicting dancers, magicians, and even a sword swallower, was throw open so that it slammed into the trunk of tree.

Down the three steps and onto the sand swagger two young men, whose stance and stride strongly hinted at the alcohol that drifted about the camp. They were a set of twins, both tall and lanky with shimmering black hair that fell to their elbows, and dressed identically. Both wore silk and velvet tunics of dark wine red, embroidered with golden thread. There dark brown pants flared around their legs, hiding what surely might have been lovely muscular calves if one could trust how strong their arms looked.

One twin, just a inch taller and who wore his braids and belt to the right, lifted a clear bottle filled with light brown beer with a grin. Then, as if on command, Both twins would shout in their playful voices, "Hellooooooooooooooo Ladies!"

[The Lion Turtle]

Half-blinded and in sever pain, Xia stumbled into the encampment, not even knowing she did. Tarak still wailed, but she could do nothing to comfort her son except murmur to him. Her voice was sqeaky and strained due to the heavy smoke, and she coughed and sputtered, her thoat searing. Her head throbbed as did her burns on her arms, ankles and belly, where part of the fabric had burned away, revealing streach marks.

She fell flat on her face upon entering. Tarak screeched, but he wasn't hurt -- just very frightened and confused. Xia had no strength to comfor her baby, but she did try to sit up. And that's when she noticed she landed right into the lap of a group of unruly looking people. Of course, she must have been as unruly looking to them as well. She roughly and absently pushed her borwn hair out of her face -- of course, she couldn'r see much due to the smoke's effect on her eyes, but she could tell that there where a great deal of them.

"Hello," she greeted weakly. What had she gotten into now?

[blackcrow]

For a moment, there was silence in the camp of assored people, many of who bore such a strong resemblance to eachother that they must have been family. Only the dying sound of a Sungi horn was heard above the crackling of the fire, the hog's fat dripping with a sizzle into the fire.

From behind a pair of middle-aged men, one who was bald and round and the other who was still lean and strong, came a tall woman, whose skin was a dusty copper from the sun, her hair as black as coal and her eyes... Golden eyes. She wore a dress of bright scarlet, a bodice of dark leather giving her what little figure she could have possibly had. Golden hoops dangled from her ears, and coins were woven through out her hair.
She stopped for a moment, hands on her wide hips as she looked around and then focused on the dusty, dirt covered and obviously frightened woman who had reached the edge of their camp. "...I hear a babe crying.."
The woman approach her, her face looking rather stern. While walking, the woman shouted over her shoulder "Huang, Get some hot food ready!" Her face, rounded with bright cheeks and an extra chin, turned back to Xia. "You poor thing...Welcome to the Flame Dancers, my dear!"

[The Lion Turtle]

Xia's smudged face drained of what little color it had. Flame Dancers... They were Firebenders! What were they doing in the Earth Kingdom. Xia didn't say anything except a quick "Thank you." She looked down and Tarak, who had stopped crying, was staring at the new woman with bright blue eyes. He gurgled some at her, and streached out his tiny hands to her. Xia was surprised at their hospitality despite her looks and dress. She was still in a considerable amount of pain from the burns.

"My... My name is Xia Feng," she squeaked, her voice hurting her. She would have dearly liked some tea just then. Her green eyes looked up into golden ones, afraid yet comforted. This woman was very different from the other women she had known; she looked cheerful and kind. She was evem different from the Firebenders she hadd seen.

And then, she blurted out without thinking. "You're Firebenders."

[blackcrow]

"Sure are, my dear! The Flame Dancers are a traveling troupe commissioned by the Fire Lord himself to entertain the masses!" The Woman, who seemed to be a leader of some sort, put a hand on Xia's back, between her shoulder blades and began to lead her into the camp. She spoke proudly of the group, "We sing, dance, give puppet shows to little ones, and fire bend. The Flame Dancers have existed for centuries!" A rousing cheer went up from the nearest gypsies, an assortment of women who sat under the shade of a wagon sewing and a group of men who stood by their weapons drinking.

"Bai! Li!" The woman hollared, stopping suddenly, and glaring about. Her hands returned once more to her hips. "Blast those boys! Ah! Huang!" She lifted a hand and beckoned a man who seemed older than her, but fitter than she was. He was dressed in the remnants of a fabulous Fire Nation robe, but it was dirty and tattered and obvious had been repaired and patched. He bound his greying hair with a golden bandana. He had brought a tray of quickly whipped up stew and some tea that smelled strongly of herbs.

"Haung, This is our Guest, Xia Feng. And Xia, I am Juning. Haung and I are the 'King' and 'Queen' of the Flame Dancers". Juning spoke, indicating with pride to her husband. Her pride melted quickly as her sharp eyes caught site of two young men crowding a young girl who was carrying rolls of material to the sewers."Li-Wu! Bai-Wu! Get your sorry carcasses over here before I tan your hides!"

Quickly, the two young men lept to attention, allowing their prey to escape. Like shamed dogs, they came trotting over to Juning with their tails between their legs. The two were twins, and mirror twins at that. Everything from the moles under their narrow eyes to their braids, to the belts around their waist was mirrored. Indentically dressed in scarlet and brown with accents of gold.. it was hard to tell who was who.

"..And these.. are my no-good-for-nothing sons, Li-Wu and Bai-Wu."

[The Lion Turtle]

Xia had to rub her eyes a moment to properly see the twins. They were nothing Xia Feng had even seen before -- exactly alike, but flipped. And they were very, very handsome, not like the boys in the Earth Kingdom at all. They seemed wild and exotic, like a flame itself. Xia Feng was wary of them, but Tarak squealed with delight. It brought her back to reality. The boys had certainly had her enamoured.

She looked down at little Tarak, and he was smiling. He looked very much like his father, and a pang hit Xia Feng's heart. "This is my own son, Tarak. He was born just a day ago," Xia said meekly. She still had not gathered her strength from her birthing, and the fire had taken alot out of her. She felt like she was really dying, and the burns hurt the worst. She wobbled and fell again, causing Tarak to howl with fright. Xia Feng just did not have the strength to stand anymore. Well, she did feel that Tarak would be well taken care of, whatever happened to her.

[blackcrow]

"And you're already walking?!" Juning would exclaim, a look of surprise crossing the woman's face as she looked at the tiny bundle in Xia's arms. She bent down and peered at the child with the bright blue eyes. A smile crossed her harsh and worn face. "I was bed ridden for three days after giving birth to these two!"

Juning stood, and grabbed both of the men by their shoulders. She pulled them over to Xia and Tarak with a 'humph'. She glared at each other. "Entertain our guest while your father and I see about getting that roast finished any quicker. Poor girl looks thinner than your grandfather's hair. Boys... Behave." With that, Huang would leave the tray of stew and tea on a folding table that he had brought and set up near a log for sitting. Juning and the king would then leave, off to go shout at the cooks.

Li-Wu and Bai-Wu would look at each other for a moment, their facial expressions the same before looking back at Xia with impish grins. One of them, whose gold embroidery crossed the right side of his chest stepped forward. "I'm Bai-wu. Right Twin."
Li-Wu merely lifted a hand in acknowledgement "Li-Wu, the Left Twin."
It could then be obvious that they were right and left. Each had a single mole on their face, under either the right or left eye. The two braids that each wore in their long hair was either on the right or left side and the tassels of fabric and coins on their belts hung also on the right or left side. Other than those little differences, and the fact that Li-wu was slightly taller, and Bai-wu slightly darker, it was near impossible to distinguish the twins.

Both of them closed in on Xia, their hands coming together at her waist to guide her to the sitting log. Once there, they would both plop down on either side of her.

[The Lion Turtle]

Xia glanced at either one of the twins as she sat on the log. Tarak gurgled and yanked at her shirt, wanted to be fed. She sighed exasaperatedly and began to nurse Tarak, feeling self-consious around the boys. At any otehr time, she would have excused herself and fed the baby elsewere, but she wasn't feeling well as it was, so she just went ahead and fed Tarak. He needed to be tended to far more than she needed to be modest right then.

"If I may ask, how old are you?" she said, trying to strike up a conversation. She was tense; she didn't like way they looked at her. It was like preditory cats eyeing their prey. She really didn't like the thought of being looked at the same way. Nevertheless, she pulled her hair over herself. They acted like adolecent boys, just thinking about the physical and not the heart.

[whitecrow]

Bai-Wu would lift a single eyebrow, looking over the top of Xia's head at his brother. Li-Wu made no reaction other than to smile and answer Xia's question. Both young men had long faces with strong jaws and slender eyes of gold.
"Tweny-four years. I am older by thirteen minutes." he boasted. Li-Wu would cross his arms across his chest, looking might pleased with himself. A smirk rested on his face as he attention focused on the pork roast further in camp. It seemed some of the firebenders were trying to get it cook faster.

Bai-Wu on the other hand grinned and kind of watched Xia, but his eyes remained on her face..for the most part. "Yeah, Well I'm taller, Li. And a better firebender."
In a way, it was true. Bai was the best at offensive work while Li focused on defensive. Bai lifted a hand to his forehead, his palm resting on the golden bandana he wore, similiar to his fathers. His fingers than ran through his dark hair, which fell straight until the bottom of his rib cage.

[The Lion Turtle]

"I suppose you both bend marvolously," she said. She was always envious of benders, for she was not one herself. She adjusted Tarak a bit, and smoothed her hair over him. He giggled insanely, round face alit with joy. Xia smiled at him and cooed, kissing his forehead.

"Do you have any children of your own?" she said, still cooing over Tarak. He turned to her and yanked on hair, wanting to play. She adjusted herself and fixed herself back up swiftly. Tarak shrieked with laughted and yanked again on Xia Feng's shirt, ripping it. At first Xia was shocked and embarassed, but she laughed at the babe's strength. Yes, he was his father's son. She quickly tried to cover herself, but her dress was shredded anyways, so she figured it didn't much matter. She was showing off far more skin than she would have liked, but it could not be helped. She just did not like the way the twins were eyeing her.

[blackcrow]

Both young men answered at the same time. There voices, which did not sound the same when they spoke separtly, combinded to form a perfect note. They each had deep voices, but Bai's was slightly higher and more childish than Li's. "Children?" Golden eyes blinked, before the two brothers chuckled, Bai laughing more whole heartilly.
Li-Wu spoke, shaking his head. "No children. We are both single.. very single." Which numerous 'girlfriends' would beg to differ. Li would rise, folding his hands across his broad chest as he looked towards Xia and his brother and then outward again. "Yes, we are both excellent benders. I am the best in the Caravan."

Bai-Wu followed his brother to his feet, swiftly. A full smile crossed his long face, his eyes sparkling. "Shall we give her a demonstration, brother? You and your colored fire!" Bai-wu clasped his hands togethers as he spoke, pulling them apart after a moment. In between his palms, a long ribbon of fire grew, which he watched with glee.

From off in the distance, Juning's voice rang. "You two better be behaving!"

[The Lion Turtle]

Xia Feng had never really seen Firebending before, but she wasn't quiet egar to see any sort of fire for a long time. Fire distroyed. It destoryed her home, it almost killed her and baby Tarak, and it had separated her from Meshieko. Xia Feng's heart felt heavy at the thought of the boy. He was a young boy, much younger than Xia Feng, but it didn't matter to her. She was quiet attached to him, and she hated the fact that she was away from him. Alas, such was fate.

"No, no thank you," she said to the boys, but she was sure it wouldn't stop them. They seemed very headstrong, no at all like Jing. Jing had been quite, soft, and gentle. And, well, not very interesting. He had hardly talked to her, and it all felt very forced, even the little nights they spent together.

But that was all in the past, and Xia Feng was certainly surprised to be sitting in the midst of Firebending Gypsies. In fact, Xia Feng had never dreamed she would get this close to a Firebender and live. Of course, she also had no idea what they were going to do to her.

[kura]

Kura was traveling on a path through the forest, carrying a pack full of supplies. The pace was a bit slower than she would have liked, but her children seemed to be tiring. Akio was dragging his feet a little behind his mother, and Kura could tell that Amaya was breathing heavier than normal, even though the little girl tried to hide it.

“We’ll stop shortly,” said Kura, “just as soon as I find a good place to rest.”

“Alright,” Amaya replied. Akio nodded his head, but his attention seemed to be elsewhere.

“Look Mama!” he exclaimed, pointing somewhere above the trees. Kura looked to where her son was indicating, and gasped at the sight. A pillar of thick, black smoke was rising out of the forest.

“Mama, is it firebenders?” asked Amaya. Her voice was hushed, her eyes wide.

Kura gave no response; she simply grabbed her children’s hands and practically dragged them along the path in an effort to get away. Somewhere down the path, the three ran straight into what appeared to be a gypsy camp. Kura stopped short. Akio, on the other hand, was looking at a pair of twins who appeared to be mirror images of each other.

Before Kura could stop him, Akio had walked up to the young men and, ignoring the woman sitting with them, asked, “Why are there two of you?”

[whitecrow]

Li-Wu waved his hand to dismiss Bai-wu's idea and along with it the fire he had conjured. "You forget, Bai-wu, that Miss Feng will see plently of FireBending tonight when we preform for the troops in the nearby village. You also forget the ceremonial Agni-Kai we'll be putting on." He tilted his head at his brother, lifting an eyebrow with a smirk. Then, Li-wu turned his head to the woman next to him, strands of ebon hair falling off his shoulder along side his square face as he smiled charismatically. "You will like the preformances.. and you're welcome to come. I doubt Mother will let you leave any time soon.. not with a baby."

For a moment, Bai-wu looked at his brother as if he had gone crazy, then he too grinned. "Oh yeah.." He lifted a hand to stroke his strong chin, averting his gaze for a moment as the little voice next to them picked up. ...It wasn't one of the children from the caravan. Appearing startled, Bai-wu threw up his arms and stumbled back. Both twins' golden eyes grew wide and after a moment, they both turned to Xia as if this strange child was hers.

[The Lion Turtle]

Xia Feng felt uncomfortable at the twins' words, but she said nothing. Fire disturbed her, and she saw nothing celebratory in it. Agni Kai... she knew naught of what it was, and she did not care to find out. She also did not like the Twins' ominous words about their mother not letting her leave. True, she needed to heal and recooperate, and she did not have any other place to go, but...

But wait. She felt in he side pocket something crinkely. Looking down, past Tarak's tiny feet, she saw the map her uncle had given her just before the Fire Nation attacked her town, and remembered the warning he had given her. She should have listened to him. Perhaps she would visit him. It seemed that he had a story to tell her, and she would very much like to know what it was.

She looked at baby Tarak. Maybe it would have to wait. If he wanted her that badly, she was sure he could track her down. She had a son to care for as of now, and she would not put him in any danger. And yet here she was sitting and chatting with Firebenders -- her enemy. A regiment of Earth Kingdom soldiers could attack them, and then where would she be?

Something caught her attention. A small boy had stumbled into the encampment. He looked startled, but noticed the twins right away. He approched them and asked why there was two of them. Xia Feng couldn't help but giggle. Leave it to a child to lighten the mood she was in.

"They're twins," she said to him, leaning over slightly to speak to him. "Sometimes that happens when mommies have babies. It means they were born at the same time. Sometimes twins look exactly alike, and sometimes they don't." She smiled at him, hoping the answer would satisfy him.