Shipwreck

[Danno]

The still waters reflected the distant skyline of Republic City. Avatar Aang’s imposing figure cast a deep shadow along the small boardwalk. Danno was grateful for the reprieve from the intense sun. A decommissioned Southern Water Tribe cutter sailing ship bobbed gently at the nearby docks. He had spent the last few weeks leading a team of anthropologists and divers from Ba Sing Se University in exploring a shipwreck in Yue Bay. The day had been long but Danno was full of energy. He had made a remarkable find that left him baffled. He held up the mysterious item in his hand. It was coin, he assumed from the it’s dimensions and weight, but it was unlike any he had seen before. It didn’t resemble any fire, water, or earth currency he was familiar with. The dark metal piece was solid gold, muddied and dull. On one side with a serpent wrapped around a bear, the other had the imprint of a faded profile of a man. Any writing or numbers had been worn off long ago. None of the professors or workmen were able to identify it and there were no more coins found near the site. It had become the talk of the camp. A shrill voice called out his name. Danno closed his fist around the coin and turned towards the museum. A small balding man, in his mid 40s, beckoned to Danno. Professor Xia, assistant supervisor of the Aquatic Historical Society at Ba Sing Se University, spoke in hushed tones.
“I feel the item,” with this he glanced around nervously, “would be safer back at the university.”
“I agree Xia,” Danno began before being loudly shushed by the agitated professor. Danno continued in a quieter voice, “that we should keep it safe.”
“Very well, then give it to me.”
“However, I still have not exhausted all my resources. I may still be able to find some answers.”
Professor Xia’s eyes narrowed, a dark look passed his face briefly before returning to it’s natural tense look. “Make it fast.” With that, he scurried off.

[Rei Misora]

Rei Misora was training in the bay, standing up in her canoe and doing firebending forms while trying her best not to tip the boat. Nearby, were a couple more members of the white lotus, waterbenders, who were trying to make Rei's life miserable. The rule was, they weren't allowed to use their bending on the boat, only to try to knock Rei into the water. They worked at it in a similar style to pro bending, firing small concentrated blasts of water her way, which she would have to dodge or counter if she wanted to stay dry.

This of course was Rei's specialty, evade and counter, and she was going to show these two clowns that it was they who needed the training. As a blast approached her mid section she side stepped it, kissing the lip of the stern with her left foot before sending a heat wave at the other two. It was just a mild fire, and by the time it got to them, it was just really hot air, but the pressure and blinding heat sent them turning away from her for a second. When they looked back at her boat, she wasn't there. She was on a fire jet, coming straight for them! Landing in their canoe, she used her surprise attack and temporary distraction as a quick means to jab one of them with both hands right over the side with a quick double blast to his armored chest. The water bender growled, using his bending to propel himself into Rei's boat. But he was out. He wasn't allowed to keep attacking her.

Rei was going to blast the other one off as well, but he put his hands over his face and told her he surrendered. Grumbling, Rei took off her helmet, holding it on one hip, and the other hand on her other.

"Why even come out here if you're not gonna try... you two aren't very good..."

"Yeah, well not everyone gets to go to university..."

"Hey...I didn't learn any firebending there...you have no excuse..." She told him. As their boat drifted, she noticed something in the corner of her eye. some kind of old, ruined ship.

"Hey guys...do you know about that?" She asked them.

"What? The ship wreck? Yeah... my mother told me it was haunted when I was a kid. Silly woman..."

[Danno]

Danno watched as Xia retreated to the ferry. The bell rang out as the large barge slipped from it's moor and departed toward the bustling city. He returned the strange coin to his right pocket, tightening his sash around his waist. He would catch the next ferry, in the meantime he could explore the museum.

As he walked through the broad doors, he grabbed a small pamphlet detailing the different artifacts from the previous avatars. Danno was so absorbed in the details of history that he did not notice the young woman quickly walking in his direction. The two collided, the young woman sent sprawling on the stone floor. Danno reached down apologetically to help her to her feet.

"So sorry, my fault entirely. Are you all right?"

The young woman, dressed in loose clothing, grabbed his hand. Danno noticed her thick scarf, unusual in the warm weather. A pair of tinted racing goggles wrapped around the scarf. She straightened her top, twisted in the collision, and took a step. Her feet slipped from under her and she fell into Danno. She pulled back quickly.

"I am quite fine, thank you. Now if you will excuse me."

Danno froze, her voice drifted past his ears like a soft summer breeze. Before he could blink, she had brushed past him and was walking off in the distance. The sound of the ferry bell woke Danno from his stupor. He picked up the fallen pamphlet and reached to put it in his pocket. His hand froze as he felt the empty space where the coin should have been. He turned quickly, surveying the bare ground. His gaze shot to the figure boarding the ferry.

Danno took off at a sprint, the final bell for the ferry barge lost in the sound of his heartbeat pounding in his ears. Danno ran through the crowds at the dock, pulling up short as the barge shrunk in the distance.

Xia was going to kill him.

[Danno]

Danno struggled to catch his breath, the strong odor of sea water sickened him. Dead fish were being picked apart on the rocks below by gulls. He stepped back from the docks, the barge returning from the mainland. He checked his pockets, pulling out a small card from Ba Sing Se University that allowed him to travel on the local ferries free of charge. At least his money pouch was still intact.

The ferry docked with a dull thump against the wood of the busy pier. Patrons rushed forward off the boat, gaping at the enormous statue before them. Danno pushed his way through the masses, suddenly weary from the he sunk onto a bench against the deck rail. His focus pulled at him as his eyes registered a small group of street urchins, low level gang, not affiliated with the Triad judging by their dirty clothes, squeeze past the overtaxed ferry official. The gangplank raised as the ship set off from the docks.

The group of street urchins, led by a gangly teenager made their way down the deck, pickpocketing several passerby. Danno sighed as he stood up and walked to the leader. Gangly teen eyed Danno warily as his fist tightened around the coins he had grabbed.
What do you want?

Danno didn't reply, instead taking his tonfa from his side and jabbing them into the boys stomach with furious speed.
Oof!

The boy dropped to the ground, the coins rolling to the ground. Danno turned to the rest of the group. Their eyes bugged out at the sight of their fallen leader. Danno arched an eyebrow expectantly. Without hesitation, the rest of the group dropped their stolen belongings to the ground. Danno scooped up the coins and other belongings when a shout rang out.
Thief!

Danno raised his head to see a woman point accusingly at him. Before he could react, a monstrous man grabbed him from behind and dumped him over the edge of the ferry. Danno plunged into the icy depths of the bay.

His head broke the water as he floundered against the rolling waves. He was too far from land to make an attempt at swimming. His eyes flashed as he caught sight of a canoe in the distance. He bellowed
Hellooo-
before his mouth filled with water.

[Danno]

Danno rose to the surface sputtering. His clothes began to weigh him down, the heavy boots becoming waterlogged. He couldn’t give up his boots, having belonged to his grandfather in the war. No sign that the canoe travelers had heard him. Danno noticed a fishing trawler enter the bay. Steeling his resolve, he began to swim toward the approaching vessel. His eyes stun from the salt and his arms tired. Still he moved, the motions mechanical and unfeeling. It felt like hours had passed before a shout rang out and a rope smacked the water in front of him. Danno used the last of his strength to hold onto the rope as he was pulled out of the water and onto the deck of the trawler. His blurry eyes focused on the face of a young man and his wife.

“Are you alright, guy? Do you need anything? A blanket? Some water? Minyu, get the man some water!” the man blurted out.

“Why would he need water, Cho? The poor man just came out of the ocean!” Minyu turned to Danno. “Please forgive my husband, he doesn’t think right in these kinds of the things.”

Danno blinked at the young couple, they couldn’t have been older than 18. The man, Cho, stood just inches taller than Minyu. His clothes simple and plain. A large, floppy hat rested atop his head and his armed were deeply tanned. Minyu dressed in a similar fashion, with a plain cotton shirt and pants. He hair pulled back from her face. They both had the simple look of compassion, an instinctual expression for the kindhearted. Danno laid his head back on the wooden deck and closed his eyes. He drifted off to the slow roll of the deck and the sound of gulls in the air.


End Chapter