Moving on, Next stop the Earth Kingdom <Open Sea>

[namha]

Nmaha sat at a wooden table in the Inn. He had stayed the night and already set up the boat, now all there was to do was wait for Ayame. He trusted her to come back, but worry still lingered in the back of his mind. He pushed a small breakfast of eggs and cooked carrots around on his plate not able to acctually eat. Normally such a small meal would be gone in seconds, but he was sailing today, leaving his home and family possibly forever.
"Can I get you anything else?" The sweet voice of his waitress shattered his thoughts. He looked up at the girl, she was deffinatly young then he and she seemed so peaceful. ignorence is blis, he thought, thinking of how she would react if she only knew who he was. There was no doubt that the news of his brothers death had reached the port, but not many people knew Nam so it was no surprise she didn't recognize him.
"No, I think that his all," Nam stood and after giving a slight bow to the girl he proceeded to leave the Inn for good.

Outside the sun began to rise in the horizon casting its glowing arms across the oceans frigid water. He looked around, only a few people lingered outside, moving boxes and loading and unloading ships, but he saw no sign of Ayame. Briefly the thought that she had gone back to Shai and left him with a false promise entered his thoughts, but he quickly pushed it away.
After buying food supplies and hualing it onto the ship with the help of a nice stranger he sat on a crate. The oceans wind blew the fur on his now clean parka every which way and it brushed against the exposed skin of his face making him smile. The soft touch of the fur reminded him of his mother, she would always let him play with the fur for her clothing and he would always fall asleep on the floor wraped in its warmth.
"Sir will there be anyone else boarding with you?" The Capatin asked. Nam stood and looked over the mainland. At first he didn't see anything but snow and the near by stores of the port and his heart sak. But there, in the distance, he made out a small dark shape and he was positive it was Ayame.
"Yes, yes we do." Nam said happily, all former worry slipping away completely, he jumped the edge of the small ship and landed steadily on the dock. He ran to the edge and waited, a large smile replacing the grim expression that had settled in his mind the night before.

[ayame]

Ayame ran to the docks, tripping over her feet a few times. She was already clumsy by nature, but her bag wasn't exactly helping her balance either. Maybe I shouldn't have taken so much stuff with me, she thought, once again tripping over a mound of snow.

She then went over the things she had. Food? Check. Water? Check. Some clothes? Check. A blanket? Check. Some of the jewelry she made? Check. Her letters from her brother....

Check. She gave a sign of relief. For once, she hadn't been scatter-brained. Maybe it was the adrenaline rush she was on.

She saw Namha in the distanced, and grinned. She was going on an adventure, this was awesome.

She waved over at Namha, to get his attention. "Hey Namha!" she yelled, "Told you I'd be back!"

[namha]

"I hoped as much," Nam smiled like a little kid as he ran the final distance to Ayame, taking some of the heavy bags from her. "You had me worried for a second, I'm glad you made it." He turned his attention to the boat up ahead. He was going to ask her if she had had any troubles at home, but remained silent when he say several armed soldiers talking to the captain of their ship. "oh no," He could only imagine what it was about.

"Can we help you?" Namha said turning to the officer of the small group once they reached the ship. He handed the bags back to Ayame and nodded his head, motioning for her to board the ship.
"These ice mutts say I have a murderer in my company, I says I have nothing but honorable persons in my ship." The old sailor spit on the frozen ground at the officers feet, the soldiers face cringing in disgust.
"It's okay, please board the ship, Arazu," Nam said to the Captain trying to keep everything peaceful.
"Are you Nam Ha Lien?" The officer asked in a very upstanding voice.
"I am, but what need to you have for my name?"
"You are ordered to return to Shai city and await judgment for the crime of murdering Thinh Lien."
"Sorry sir," Nam paused looking up at Ayame and smiling, a smile that said 'I know what Ifm doing'. He turned to Arazu, the captain and a long time family friend, and gave him a two fingered salute that to anyone looked like a normal good bye wave, but to them was a signal to prepare for a quick exit. "I can not comply with these orders."
"It is a none debatable subject, sir," The officer reached to grab Namfs arm, but in the blink of an eye Nam landed a hard kick to the officers chest and sent him flying.
"I said I can not comply," Nam repeated boarding the ship with ease as the other men went to see to their captain. Arazu had already begun pulling out of the docks when the officer sat up screaming at them. Nam thought he heard something like 'stop them' but it was hopeless even if they wanted to stop them they would have a lot of trouble.

[ayame]

As much as that kick looked like it hurt, Ayame couldn't help but laugh. They couldn't catch Namha now. But then, were they going to come after him? She doubted it; they neede their fighters at home. At least I hope, Ayame thought.

She walked around the deck of the ship, in awe. She'd never been on a ship before, and it was exciting. Ayame walked around, looking up at the masts and around at the sailors. They looked at her strangely, but she paid no attention.

She went over to the edge of the boat, and leaned against it. There was the shore of the North Pole, and it was getting farther away. She sighed, and smiled lightly. She'd miss her home, she'd miss it very much.

She then walked over to Namha with a smirk. "So....looks like your a wanted man." Ayame joked.

[namha]

"Ha, always have been, just not to this extent," Nam laughed. It was kind of true, teachers had always been after him for onething or another, now he was in trouble just on a much bigger scale. He leaned against the boats railing and turned to face the front, the rush of wind blowing away all his cares. He smiled knowing that even if he was wanted he could get away.
"So how do you like sea life so far?" He turned back to Ayame smiling, not that he was one to talk he had never set foot on a boat, then again there was a first time for everything. The sun was bright across the ocean with no trees or icy mountains to stop it's glow, its rayes warming Nam's very soul. "I hear the food is nasty, but hey beggers can't be choosers. Isn't that right, Arazu?" Nam called to the old man standing in the middle of the deck, overseeing various things that Nam would never understand.
"I don't know what y'er talkin' 'bout!" He called back almost completely ignoring him, Nam just laughed.

[ayame]

Ayame laughed as well. Sailors were very interesting to her, even though most people would not think the same. But that was Ayame; she had an interesting look on things.

"I think I'm gonna like it here," she said, "I've heard so many stories from the Earth Kingdom. Legends, battles, even female warriors..." she smiled reminiscently as she remembered a letter from her bewildered brother about the warriors from Kyoshi island.

"I'm actually going to be able to se what my grandfather saw." Ayame blushed a little. She sounded like such a child. But then again, she was 14; no need to be too mature.

Ayame took out a piece of blubbered seal jerky from her bag and took a large bite. She wasn't exactly hungry, but she tended to eat when she was excited. Or when she was nervous. She wasn't sure which once she was right now.

"Seal jerky?" she offered to Namha.

[namha]

"Thanks, but I'm good," Nam smiled big after giving an almost disgusted look at the jerky. Truth be told he had never been a fan of jerky no matter what animal it was from. He laughed as he declined the offer then turned around to look out at the sea, resting his forearms on the railing and resting his head on top of them.
"I've never heard much about the earth Kingdom, my father wasn't much of a story teller. Though I have always wanted to meet other types of benders. Especially an Airbender, but I guess that's never going to happen." He smiled absentmindedly as he looked out over the sea. It was true he was fascinated with all kinds of bending, even Firebending. In truth he really wanted to meet a Firebender, but he didn't tell Ayame that. He stopped talking and looked back at the Glacier. It seemed so far away now, just a speck on the horizon. Wow, they had gone far in such a short time. "Do you think the Avatar is real?" It was a random question, but it was just the kind of thing Nam would ask. "I mean like the new Avatar, this Arty or Ann everyone talks about?"

[ayame]

Ayame laughed after seeing his response to the jerky. It's an acquired taste, I suppose she thought, smiling.

"I've always thought bending was fascinating." she said. Oh boy, she thought, annoyed with herself, here comes the shameless envy.

"My little brother's a bender," Ayame said, "Out of the three of us, he's the only one. Pretty smug about it too." she added, and noticed that her tone was not bitter, but somewhat giggly aftre reminding herself of how many tricks she played on him to get back at his smugness.

"My brother gave me this club for that reason." she kept going, "Though I don't think he actually expected me to learn to fight with it. I have.....changing interests."

That was the good way of saying she had a short attention span.

Namha then got on the subject of the Avatar, which made her grin.

"I've heard about him." Ayame said, "I think his name might be Aang. My brother sent me letters about stories he's heard. One of them was that the Avatar settled a 100-year feud between two tribes, and saved a little from a volcano. And all this while someone is pursuing him, I believe. Not sure."

She had great admiration for the Avatar, at least, if the stories were true.

"He must be very strong. And very old, apparently, to be gone so long and be so powerful..."

[namha]

"Really, you think he exists?" Nam looked out over the ocean, he couldn't wait to reach the Earth Kingdom. I like the boat life, but it wasn't really him. yeah sure he was a water bender, but that didn't mean he wanted to be surrounded by it twenty-four/seven. "i can't seem to believe that the Avatar has slept while the rest of the world has suffered. Why didn't he sense the worlds trouble? I don't know maybe he exists, but maybe he's out there." He sighed and hung his head, he didn't want to say he thought the Avatar was just a big phony, if Ayame believed that he existed he couldn't take that hope away from her with his negative thoughts.
"So what do you want to see most in the Earth kingdom?" He asked placing a false smile on his face and turning his head to look up at her while still leaning on the railing. But soon decided that was an uncomfortable position and turned completely around to lean his back against the railing. while he waited for her response he held his hand out and bended a small amount of ocean water onto the boat and began fiddling with it. Nothing to amazing just twisting it and turning it over his hands watching as the little sea urchin he had caught in the water swam in the small bubble as though nothing had changed.

[ayame]

Ayame nodded about his skepticism of the Avatar. She then grinned and said simply "Nobodies perfect."

She did wonder where the Avatar had gone for so many years. Maybe he was hiding so her can train and be at his very best? Maybe he was caught up by....spirit business.....whatever that would be.

"What matters is he's here now," Ayame said softly and thoughtfully, "And now he can stop the war."

She watched Namha stream the water, and smiled. She may not be able to bend water, but she still felt connected to it.

Ayame was then put out of her daze by Namha's question. She grinned some more, "Wow, what do I not want to see?"

She thought some more.

"I'd like to see their temples," she said, "And hear their myths and legends. It'll be fun, seeing how similar they may be to us."

[namha]

"it takes more then one person to stop a war," namha said, the avatar may be strong, but there is no way he could accomplish what the other nations had been trying to do for years by himself. "I'm going to help stop the war. I'll bring down as many Fire nation Soldiers as I can." He smiled while he said this. He would destroy as many of those scum as he could, even if it cost him his life.
"The temples," nam changed the subject, no need to dwell on unpleasent conversation. "I hear there wonderful, full of elaborate carvings. I'm sure any temple we find will be full of stories and history and anything else you could imagine." He thought of it himself. True it would be amazing to hear the legends and such, but he really wanted to meet an Earth Nation general. It would be incredible to see how well he bends, maybe even duel him. Earth against Water, it would be incredible. But his battles could wait, he would take his sweet time showing Ayame, and himself, around the earth Kingdom. Seeing ever part of it that there is to see.

[ayame]

Ayame smiled at Namha's enthusiasm. She felt her own rising.

"I'll help too! Er, somehow." She said, jokingly scratching her head. She suddenly felt the urge to be silly. "I don't have much training, but don't let my appearance fool you. I'm pretty tough."

Ayame swung her club around, as though she were an expert, and nearly clubbed one of the sailors.

"Hey! Watch it!" He said, nearly jumping out of her way.

"Heheh, sorry!" she said, turning a little red. She then turned to Namha, still blushing, "Just ignore that little incident."

Ayame then started to imagine the temples of the Earth Kingdom, and gave a sigh. This was worth it, she decided.

"My Grandfather used to tell me about some soldiers he became friends with in the Earth Kingdom," Ayame said, "He said that, if anything, they've got a lot of spirit." She smiled, remembering the speeches they'd give for boosting morale. "Spirit's important." Ayame added, quoting her grandfather.

[namha]

"Indeed, what are we with out spirit," Nam smiled standing and stretching his arms. He looked up, eyes partially closed. the sun was already declining in the sky. They had been on board longer then he had thought.
"Hey kid! you gunna come eat or what?!" A man yelled to him his head sticking out of a door that he assumed lead under the ship. Nam looked down at his stomach, it gave a loud growl and only once food was mentioned did he realize he was hungry.
"Come on, Ayame, Time to eat," he smiled remembering his comment about sailor food. he wasn't particularly looking forward to the taste, but hey out at sea food was food.
Assuming Ayame would follow he made his way to the door, the sail had already proceeded inside. Ducking through the low door he nearly fell down the stairs that he hadn't seen because of the vast contrast of light. He propped himself against the wall waiting for his eyes to adjust from the bright outside to the dim cabin. The stairs were short, only maybe five steps, they lead into a large room filled with only about a dozen sailors. On onside of the room sheets with blankets and pillows on them hung from the ceiling by strong looking ropes, on the other there was about four tables mostly empty except for half full bottles and dirty clothes. It was a mess, and it smelled a bit too, but he didn't complain, just sat down on the end of the table in the silent room. He looked at all the men and smiled shyly, but dropped his head when all he got back was glares. He knew he wasn't very popular, but god, would a hello kill them.

[ayame]

Ayame nodded and followed Namha.

The room was dark compared to the deck, but she could see well enough. She looked over at the sailors and smiled.

"Hey everyone! How's it going?"

They didn't reply, or smile. Ayame laughed nervously, and faced Namha. "I don't think we're too popular around here, Namha." she whispered, still smiling at the sailors.

"We're going to have to fix that." Ayame said, still whispering, and sat down at the table.

She then looked back at the sailors. She took a deep breath. "I'm Ayame," she greeted, "I thought I might introduce myself, since we're all going to be on the same boat and all."

All the sailors were digging in their food, not really paying attention to anything she was saying. But at least they weren't glaring.

"Ye-ah..." Ayame said, starting to eat her food. It wasn't very appetizing, but she didn't say anything like she would if she actually knew these people.

[namha]

"Don't let their mood bother you," Namha was sure to keep his voice low, not wanting the sailors to hear him, "The captain made them leave port a month ahead of schedule for us. Their not very happy about it. I can understand why, these men they stay out here at sea for months at a time and they finally make port, have the chance to see their families and now they are back on the sea to early because of a bunch of kids." Yeah that about summed it up. He neglected to tell her that he probably owed a few of them money, lost poker games and unfinished bets, that sort of thing.
He leaned forward, his face only inches away from his plate as he at his slop supper, he didn't want to catch anyones eye, it wouldn't end well.
"Eh, Nam boy, Why ya' all da' way ove' here?" Nam looked up as Arazu sat next to him, plopping his plate on the table and ignoring the food that fell. He sat next to Nam and patted his shoulder before he went to eating.
"Well, you know, I didn't want to intrude,"
"Intrude, don't be silly, boy, you're my honored geust," He spoke loudly and it took all of Nam's strength not to cover his throbing ears, "Ani't that right, men?" He called louder to the other table, the others said nothing only glared back at them then continued eating. "Do't let the ice on their shoulders bother ya', they'll be right as rain in another day or so, the Earth Kingdom always brings a smile to their faces," Nam smiled and went back to eating, really it was only going to take a few days to get to the Earth Kingdom? that was good, he really didn't want to be on this boat longer then he had to.