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Post by chamir on Nov 10, 2006 20:49:13 GMT -5
“Indeed,” the young man simply replied. Though there was a slight smile on his face, which was good enough for Chamir. A start at least in possibly alleviating the youth in at least some of his grim resolve demeanor. Aden continued, crossing his arms over his chest, “But we may have to don something a little less flattering before the battle,” jerking a thumb over his shoulder.
Chamir directed his attention to the pair of warriors unloading stacks of indigo and forest green blankets brought and accumulated from their journey. His gaze further followed the blankets’ deployment as some warriors were climbing trees with them. Carried under arm, over shoulders or tied to them.
“These blues are kind of noticeable in the woods,” Aden began explaining, tugging his own shirt for added emphasis. “So we might need the cover if we’re staging an ambush.”
Chamir return to watching one of the warriors who had made it far into a tree and was now affixing his blanket to hide himself. Such an excellent idea, Chamir thought, then nodding an affirmation to Aden.
“Well then,” gesturing for Aden to lead the way, “let us begin!” And began walking following the young man to the cart.
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Post by yasu on Nov 10, 2006 23:32:25 GMT -5
Her eyes scanned the trees. By now she was hardly paying attention to what was going around her, her bow was strung across her shoulder, arrow placed back in her quiver. She wanted to climb a tree to the highest point and look out, and as she began to wrap her hands around a tree with one foot propped up, a voice stopped her. "You shouldn't do that." Yasu glanced behind her, her eyes meeting those of blue. A Water Tribesman was watching her, rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet as he crouched to the ground. He looked...almost...nervous. Yasu stepped back from the tree and look at him in curiosity.
"Thanks for the warning," she said, sarcasm unapparent in her voice. She looked at him a moment, curious. And then she looked around at the other soldiers. They were all getting ready for battle. Hissun and some other high-ranking soldiers were circling around, and some of them were changing wear, or some were putting on war paint. She began to open her mouth once more but the Tribesman was pulled away to speak with a few other soldiers. Yasu began to walk back into the clearing, paused, and then circled the area. The place was a trap waiting to happen, its spring being taught back. Tension was almost running so high, so stiff, that a knife could hardly cut through it.
She spotted someone she recognized; the younger waterbender. The one who she had spotted when first being captured. Not knowing what else to do, she hesitantly made her way over. Casually, at first, her hands playing with her hair, which by now was loose. She combed the hair back before casually pulling it into a low ponytail, the black locks streaming down her back. When she got close enough to hear a few words they were speaking of....something about blending in, and getting started. She looked down at stopped a few feet short of them. She didnt want to go to Hissun, to ask him what she should do. She had a distaste for that man, and she felt completely out of place here. So shyly and quietly, as her personality commanded her to be, she waited to be noticed by the two watertribesman, clearing her throat just slightly.
"Excuse me..." the fight was gone from her voice slightly, and for a moment she looked at the ground before looking back up at them.
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Post by aden on Nov 13, 2006 0:37:10 GMT -5
The barely audible sound of some one clearing their throat caught Aden's attention as he was conversing with Chamir. The soft sound seemed distinctly female, and the young waterbender could guess who it was even before he heard Yasu Al's voice saying, "Excuse me..." Aden turned slowly, his left hand uncosciously coming to rest on the cap of his waterskin.
"Yes?" he replied evenly, looking over the self-proclaimed rebel. Aden was far from trusting the girl, even if Hissun had believed her. Even if she was female, and even younger than Aden was by the looks of it, every time he glanced at her face he was filled with a strong surge of emotions. Those golden eyes represented everything that he hated, and it would take more than the innocent features surrounding them to overcome the prejudice that was ingrained into his very being. The scar on his chest simply wouldn't allow it....
However, to his credit, Aden kept his face devoid of any noticeable sign of the thoughts running through his head. Only cold look in his eyes would betray the feelings under his calm facade.
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Post by chamir on Nov 14, 2006 18:56:41 GMT -5
There was no mistaking who the distinctly young female voice came from that interrupted him and Aden. And despite her ethnicity he felt a tad relieved knowing that she was okay… after all the ranting, raving and yelling she did concerning where her loyalties lay.
Though Aden replied before him—with an evenly, even cold hearted “Yes?” Chamir still managed a friendly enough grin for her. Considering her situation and circumstance of now being surrounded by people who more than likely have come to outright despise her kind whether or not they were soldier, civilian or in this case, rebel.
Such a shame as to what the world had done unto them all. Especially these two before him: Aden and Yasu, no longer children but not quite adults yet either. Under normal, more peaceful circumstances these two when be like any other youths their age. Trying to enjoy one another’s company, even exhibit deeper emotions towards one another. But instead they were given this—
Aden!!
Whether unconscious or intentional, the boy’s left hand had rested on the cap of his water skin.
Chamir took a step forward in front of Aden’s left side. Bowing slightly towards Yasu while reaching, or pointing, a hand towards Aden’s left hand.
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Post by yasu on Nov 14, 2006 19:16:07 GMT -5
The boy turned slowly toward her, and it did not leave her line of sight that his hand went unconsciously toward his water-skin. She felt her anger grow, like flames being fed kindle in a fireplace. She was no fire-bender, but she had an anger to match. She begged her expression not to change to those of her emotions, but she felt that it was not working as well as the boy's was. She could tell, despite the mask on his face, that he did not trust her. Good, she thought bitterly, he shouldn't. It's better that way. But what had happened to him, despite this war, that caused him so much hatred? Surely something deeper, that a mere Fire Nation girl could ruffle up his feathers? It was clear in his eyes what he felt, and Yasu put her hands on her hips stubbornly. She was about to loose her cool once more, to begin snapping up a storm. If she was not a normal person, but a bender, things would be harder for her, she knew. She would have to watch herself. But she wasn't a bender. And the only life she would place in harms way was herself. She opened her mouth to speak once more, this time a glint of anger in her golden eyes, when someone stood.
The other man. Yes. He was older than the Aden and she. She looked at him quite oddly, the fire gone from her eyes as she watched as a happy smile grew on his lips. Well, at least he's friendly, she thought bitterly. If this had been at any other time and she wasn't about to chew off the head of the water-bender in front of her, she would have fallen on her side out of surprise. She would have expected any other reaction from the older man in front of her, but not this. The smile almost made her want to smile back. He had taken a step toward the other man's side, blocking the sight of his hand on the water-skin.
It was then that Yasu remembered her place and instead of leaning over with her hands on her hips with her mouth open angrily, she shut it and straightened up. Her hands still on her hips, she began to speak. "I'm really sorry to...interrupt your little chat...but I..." But she what? She didn't even know. How was she going to explain this one? She sighed, rubbing one pale hand against her forehead as she looked down at the ground in thought. She looked back to the older one and said, "I was going to ask originally what I should be doing, considering I'm in no part of this army. I was going to ask your leader--" here her eyes glanced back to Hissun in slight distrust before flicking back to Chamir and Aden "--but I felt, for some odd reason, that I should come over here and ask instead. Seeing as this guy right here seems to hold some sort of respect among the others." She flashed Aden a cold look, a studying look, a measuring look. She sighed. She sounded like an out-right idiot. Maybe she was. She rubbed the back of her head and looked back up at the older one, feeling that she felt more relaxed around him than the water-bender. At least the older one offered a smile.
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Post by aden on Nov 14, 2006 20:48:15 GMT -5
If nothing else, it was the girl's sheer uneasiness in starting a conversation that seemed to take the icy glare out of Aden's eye. By no means did he suddenly change his opinion about the girl's character, but at the very least she presented herself as less of a threat. The young waterbender's hand dropped from the cap of his waterskin and instead hooked a thumb in the pocket of his pants.
"We're still awaiting orders ourselves," Aden replied to Yasu Al. She was still standing with her hands on her hips, and Aden assumed she hadn't missed the subtle hints of his hatred toward her people. She had professed a dislike for her own nation earlier, but given the tantrum she was throwing when she said it the young waterbender could only speculate how much of her words were just theatrics. Aden put that from his mind, however, and attempted to focus on the matter at hand. "There are scouts keeping a look-out, but until the officers decide on a battle plan everyone is left to prepare for battle as they see fit..."
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Post by yasu on Nov 14, 2006 22:54:19 GMT -5
Yasu glanced over to the water-bender as her eyes slowly looked him head to toe and then to the ground, her feet scuffing the ground beneath her. He hated her. He had good reason to. They all did. Every one of them. She sighed inwardly.
When he spoke she nearly jumped out of her skin, surprised that he even answered her. She looked back up at him, golden eyes meeting with clear blue ones. She was slightly caught off guard by the color of his eyes; they were a little intimidating. She looked back down as he continued to speak. "There are scouts keeping a look-out, but until the officers decide on a battle plan everyone is left to prepare for battle as they see fit..." That didn't seem like much of a good start-off to Yasu Al, but she let it slip. She sighed once more and looked back up at him. She looked him in the eye, this time unwavering, daring him to say something that could be taken too rashly. She was almost expecting him to comment on her ethniticity.
Finally she relaxed enough to change positon. Her hands were on her hips once more, but she was rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet, her eyes up at the sky. A thought was playing in her mind. "And how do you two plan on preparing?" she asked, sincere curiosity in her voice. She looked back at the two. Now that she had gotten a good look at Aden in front of her, she could tell for sure that he was around her age. Maybe sixteen, maybe even a bit older. And the other man seemed to be in his mid twenties, maybe late. Yes, even though the younger one seemed to have partly relaxed, her favor was still in the midst of the older one.
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Post by chamir on Nov 15, 2006 19:48:43 GMT -5
At least Aden's hand dropped. The thumb now hooking onto his pants pocket.
Yet that did nothing to resolve the underlying intimidation Aden and Yasu were imposing on one another. Despite the few moments that Aden's icy glare broke and Yasu turned her attention downward--even though that was done to size the boy up. Afterall her glance did return to looking the boy straight in the eyes.
With no help in sight he mentally sighed and tried to think of at something to get these two to stand down. Maybe a, "so Yasu how long have you been in the Earth Kingdom? Enjoying yourself, eh?"
"...everyone is left to prepare for battle as they see fit..." he caught the tail end of Aden's answer for Yasu. The tone of his statement sounding a tad cold towards the girl.
Yasu hands were upon her hips once more, though she seemed less confrontational as she rocked to and fro on the balls of her feet, looking up in the sky for a moment as she did so.
"And how do you two plan on preparing," she asked but Chamir was uncertain if her voice was coy or sincere as he watched Aden for an answer. Planning on taking the boy's lead if need be.
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Post by aden on Nov 15, 2006 21:02:33 GMT -5
It was strange, almost, how Yasu Al's voice seemed to lose its edge when she asked what Aden did to prepare for battle. The shift in tone almost put him a little off-balance, as her seemingly genuine curiosity made feel a bit more conscious of his own harsh attitude. His furrowed brow eased up slightly, but nearly clear blue eyes still continued to bore holes into the girl.
With a quiet exhale of breath, he took a step back and casually uncorked his waterskin. With his right hand, he guided a bit of water out and then held it between his palms. Within a few seconds, the water condensed into a small sphere and solidified steadily into a ball of ice as clear as crystal. "What I do before a battle," Aden said, his eyes fixed on the distorted reflections in the ice, "Is I remember why I fight..."
His voice seemed distant, as though he was no longer really paying attention to the two around him.
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Post by chamir on Nov 15, 2006 21:58:27 GMT -5
It seemed Aden had relented... a little... somewhat... at Chamir hoped the boy would eventually relax.
The released a quiet exhalation as he stepped back, uncorking his water skin. With far more gentlity than he had yet to show Yasu, Aden skillfully guided a stream of water from. Levitating it between his palms, Chamir watched as the stream condensed into a sphere; watching it condense even more as its surface began to harden. Within moments the sphere of water had become ice, it's surface virtually flawless and uniformly smooth as a mirror's surface.
"What I do before a battle," Aden's voice sounded distant, mesmerized by his own creation. "Is I remember why I fight..."
Chamir, himself, let out a low whistle at the sight. Quite an impressive feat it seemed to him, deciding to reach out and touch it with a finger from his right hand. "Aye," he nodded and smiled at Yasu. Almost forgetting she was there. "As for me... I rather new to this outfit," almost embarassed. "You may call me Chamir or if you perfer: Mr. Fire-n-Arrow Fodder." He held out a hand.
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Post by yasu on Nov 15, 2006 22:10:36 GMT -5
Without a word the young man stepped back from her and Yasu Al looked at him cautiously as his hand uncorked his canteen. Every once of her fiber was screaming at her to get away from the water-bender, but Yasu was only confused at first. But when he began to loop the water around her whole body tensed, as if expecting him to attack. Only moments ago he had been relaxing it seemed...she guessed she was wrong about that. Levitating the stream in his palms, Aden froze the water into a sphere. She looked at it curiously, and then back at him. But then he was speaking. "What I do before a battle," he was beginning to say, "Is I remember why I fight..." Yasu's eyes widened at the words. For some reason, they touched her. She thought for a moment, for a reason why she fought. Her mind flashed to her mother. Then to her father. That's why she fought. Her eyes saddened. And why do you fight? she asked him silently in her mind.
Yasu had completely forgotten about the other man until he let out a low whistle, making Yasu jump. She looked at him in bewilderment. And for the first time, he was speaking to her. He smiled at her once more, and now Yasu let a shy smile fall onto her lips, the edges of her mouth pulled up slightly before her head dropped down and she looked at her feet. When he began speaking, however, she looked back up at him expectantly. She looked at him as he told her that he was new there. No wonder he seemed a little confused at first, when she had first spotted him. "You may call me Chamir or if you prefer: Mr. Fire-n-Arrow Fodder." He held out his hand, and for a moment, Yasu Al looked at it in confusion, before her gaze returned to his face. He was being...civiled with her. Why? But then she let out a soft laugh and a smile and grasped his hand in hers. "Yasu Al, or the, uh, Crazy Fire Nation Girl," she shook her head hopelessly, reminding herself never to try and joke again when she was nervous, "Its a pleasure."
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Post by aden on Nov 16, 2006 23:37:12 GMT -5
Aden's ears vaguely registered the exchange between Chamir and Yasu Al, and he made a point to ignore the foolish titles they gave themselves. A slight scowl marred his features, but his eyes remained locked on the ball of ice hovering between his hands. In the swirling depths of that sphere, he saw the reflections of his past. Echoes of painful memories...
The blood started to rush a little faster through Aden's veins and the young waterbender quickly snapped out of the reverie he'd fallen into. A slight twitch shook him back into the present and for a moment he wasn't sure how long he'd been like that. His eyes glanced quickly at Chamir and yasu, but they didn't seem to be staring at him, so he figured it hadn't been long. He breathed out a steadying breath, suddenly aware that his forehead slightly damp with a hint of sweat.
With a swift motion he pulled his hands apart, melting the ice and letting it stretch into a long strand of water before guiding it smoothly back into his waterskin.
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Post by chamir on Nov 17, 2006 0:23:20 GMT -5
He was delighted to at least calm someone. Though it was not Aden but he would help anyone where needed.
The young Yasu gave a soft laugh and smile as she took his hand in her's and shook it.
"Yasu Al," she told him. "the, uh Crazy Fire Nation Girl," shaking her head. "It's a pleasure."
"Charmed, I am," he still grinned after releasing her hand. He then turned his head towards ahead. The man-child was still fixated on the ice sphere he created.
The two watched as Aden spaced his heads further apart from the orb. The ice began to almost instanteously melt, become a floating amorphous sphere of water before squashing into a long stream of water that made its way back into the boy's water skin.
"And this lad," Chamir clasped a head on Aden's shoudler, "attempting to impress us--a succeeding rather well I might add--is Aden. Also known as Sir Cranky Angst." He beamed innocently once Aden looked at him. "Aden this is Yasu Al, our very own resident Crazy Fire Nation Girl! I'm told they're not very easy to get ahold of so we should be lucky, no?"
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Post by yasu on Nov 17, 2006 17:51:40 GMT -5
When their hands disconnected, Yasu's gaze returned to the young man beside Chamir. She frowned, watching him as his gaze seemed to deepen on the ice. He was so fixated. Slowly, his hands started to space out, and Yasu watched in pure interest. The ice melted back into its liquid form and he levitated it back into his canteen. Wow, she thought. And then Chamir clasped Aden on the shoulder and began speaking again, drawing out Yasu's attention to fold onto them. But then Yasu's frown turned into a smirk. "Also known as Sir Cranky Angst." Oh yes, she liked that nickname. It seemed to suit Aden quite nicely. Her smirk dissapeared as he continued on, and, shy as Yasu was, she looked down at her feet, a frown on her face. "I'm told they're not very easy to get ahold of so we should be lucky, no?" Yasu looked back up at the two and let out a nervous laugh. "Like I said, its a pleasure. I'm just sad it couldn't be in a better circumstance," she said. She looked at Aden and hid a smirk. Mr. Cranky Angst. Yes. That nickname amused to her no end.
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Post by aden on Nov 18, 2006 0:33:23 GMT -5
Aden's eyes narrowed dangerously as Chamir gave him the rather unflattering nickname of Sir Cranky Angst. At the moment, he was in no mood fo jokes and battles of wit. The blood of a Fire Nation scout still stained his hands. He held back a verbal retort at first, partly because he didn't want to be drawn into the light-hearted conversation, but also because he was at somewhat of a loss for a decent comeback. Yasu Al, however, chimed in with her comment about it being sad they couldn't have met under better circumstances.
"A better circumstance," the young waterbender remarked, looking each of the others in the eye, "would be having allies who were prepared for battle and not wasting their time with chit-chat..." Aden's voice was even, devoid of anger, but his words still held an edge that made his mood clear enough. He took one step back and turned to look back at the rest of the war party for a few seconds, but he held off from simply walking away just yet.
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