The Gypsy Caravan <Wilderness, Earth Kingdom>

[The Lion Turtle]

"Enough," Xia snapped quietly. She didn't want to hear of the war. So many tragidies.. she just didn't want to think about how much the war claimed of them all, Earth, Fire or Water. It was too much. Still, snapping at them probably wasn't the best thing to do. She turned from her baby to look the boys and Kura in the eyes.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean to snap." She turned away from them again, making sure Tarak was nice and snug. Blue eyes met her own green, and she let out a sigh. How could she raise a baby on her own? Well, she supposed, other mother had to do it. Women who lost their husbands or who had none to begin with. If they could...

There was her uncle... the man who mysertiously came to her doorstep with the news that the Fire Nation was going to attack her village. He gave her a map, which she intended to follow until she had ran into the gypsies... perhaps she would seek him out. She didn't want to be a burden to the gypsies, but she also despirately did not want to return to her parents in a mix of shame and wanting to do things herself. However, maybe it was for the best...

Kissing Tarak's forehead lightly, she lay near him, ready for sleep. It was a long day, and would probably be long tomorrow, too.

[whitecrow]

The Twins looked at eachother, their dark hair swaying over their shoulders gently. Ah.. not a good topic. They would beat a haste retreat. Both men bowed to the ladies, an arm folded across their stomach to keep the rich crimson fabric of their robes from falling to far forward. "Good night, Ladies.. sleep well. If you need anything, just ring the bell outside the door."
Li-Wu Stood, lifting two hands up to brush back his dark hair, the beads on the braids clinking together. His long face was somewhat somber, those golden eyes thin. "Tomorrow, we're moving out. The Caravan'll be all packed up before high noon but please feel free to sleep as long as you want. The wagons are easily hooked up to the ostrich-horses without much work so you needn't worry."
Bai-Wu nodded, rubbing the tip of his long nose before lowering his hand, a grin plastered to his face as he absently gazed in the direction of Miss Feng. Ah the curvature of her bosom.. the swell of her robust buttocks... He suddenly grabbed his side and winced, shooting an accusing glare at his brother who merely coughed. "Anywho.. We'll be off to bed!" Bai would sputter, and the two twins beat a hasty retreat.
The gypsies were beginning to trickle in back to the camp, quiet and respectful in the late night music of crickets. The two Twins passed a young woman walking on her hands, her back curved so that her butt rested on her head and her feet were tucked under her chin. Her eyes were a dark blue, skin dark as tree bark. Ritika was the resident Water Tribe Contorsionist, known for her flexible, bendable body which she always adorned with a slender costume that mimic the waves of her homeland. Li-W chuckled at the sight, and stopped, looking down at her. "Stuck again, Ritika?"
The water tribe woman laughed, her lips painted a soft icy blue, her face splashed with shades of irridescent blue paint. "Yeah.. Li.. Think you and Bai could get my feet out from under my chin?"
The two brothers did so, moving her fleixble legs so that she wasn't bent so much. The young woman flexed her legs, straighten them on and bending them before rolling back up onto her feet, elbows and shoulders cracking. "Thanks boys.. "
"Not a problem." The twins moved on..

"...Can you imagine what she could do in the bedroom?"
"....It's pretty amazing."
"...You lucky devil."

[fukurou]

"Found yourself a new girl, have you Bai?" asked a figure sarcastically. "One would think that you'd grow tired of women after this many." The figure was small, and seemed rather out of shape with the darkness around it. It moved forward into the flickering light of a fire, and sat down a messenger bag.

The figure wore blue and white clothing, a symbol of where he had come from. His piercing blue eyes glared at the two twins. It would have looked strange to an outsider, a young 16 year old staring down a couple of experienced firebenders older and stronger than him.

However, this was pretty normal for the Gypsy Caravan, and so people passed them by without a word. Fukurou, that was his name. It meant owl, because he looked down on everybody, even if he was shorter than they were.

He sneered at Bai. "Got yourself a nice earth Kingdom type this time, eh? Tired of what the Fire Nation has to offer?" He couldn't believe the shallowness of these two. He sat down on his small pallet, beside the fire, and placed his sandals next to him, still glaring up at them. "Why you two get any respect around here is beyond me."

[kura]

Kura strode over to the bed and sat down on the edge; elbows on knees, she cradled her head in her hands. Her brain felt like it was buzzing, making it hard to think or do anything, really, other than sit there.

Why had she snapped like that? Those boys had offered them shelter, given them their beds, and this was how she thanked them? She was acting like a foolish child.

Wanting to rid herself of the buzzing in her head, Kura decided to step outside for a few minutes. She got up slowly, the bed groaning from the release of pressure, and crept quietly to the entrance lest she wake anyone. Just as Kura was about to open the door, a soft voice stopped her.

“Mama? Where are you going?”

Kura turned around to see Amaya lying down on the hammock, yet very much awake. “Nowhere, dear,” Kura reassured her. “I’m just getting some fresh air, alright?” Amaya nodded, then turned over to fall asleep.

It felt colder outside than it did a few minutes ago. Perhaps it had just been stuffy in the wagon; it was pretty small, so it was understandable. Kura took a few deep breaths before she realized something: Amaya was awake. Had she been awake earlier…? There was no real way of knowing, and besides, it was too late to take back what she had said.

Kura crossed her arms and leaned against the wagon. Without even bothering to wipe away the strands of hair that had fallen in her face, she gazed upward at the darkening sky. "I'm trying, Shing," she whispered. "You know I am."

[blackcrow]

The twins stopped dead in their tracks, after Ritikia, the water tribe contorsionist, had left, and turned towards the left, their golden eyes meeting with Fukurou, the water tribe flutist.
Bai-wu sneered, his braids swaying against the right side of his face as his hands clenched. "What the hell is your problem?! Just because we're do what Mother tell us to and escorting these ladies and their children, giving them our wagon and making sure their children are safe makes us some sort of criminals?! " Bai-Wu jerked a thumb at Li, who folded his arms across his chest. "You should pick more of a bone with Li. After all, he's the one who got Ritikia when she couldn't stand the sight of you."
Li-Wu lifted his brows at his brother's comments, before narrowing his golden eyes at the darker skinned man who played the flute in their group. His weight shifted to his rear foot as he scowled. "Just go to bed. It's late and we're all tired after the preformance." The two men turned, in sync, and walked off with their feet in perfect beat. They were sleeping under the stars tonight, near the firepit, having given Miss Feng and Miss Kura their wagon for the night.

As the caravan settled down for sleep, two hours or so after midnight, the moon made her silent trek across the sky till the sun rose.