Moonlit Dawn
I do not own Avatar or the Original character Noir, She is property of Midenigufutsu koyote.
Chapter One: Devils in the mist
Long ago before the war in the Water Tribes a group of benders existed. They were water benders and powerful warriors. They were known as the benders of the mist. In any tribal war they were at the front lines taking with them countless lives. Every bender feared them from the steady balanced earth bender to the fiercest of fire benders. Only their Water Tribe brothers were unafraid of their warrior brothers but that too soon changed.
The Water Tribes began calling them killers monsters without remorse or regret. Monsters that embraced savagery and killed anyone who they deemed unfit. They were prosecuted, hunted down to the brink of extinction. In the blink of an eye the Water Tribes had all but wiped away their mist bending cousins in a bloody civil war.
Any who survived were branded on the forehead. Branded with the crescent moon slashed through the middle. It was the mark of shame. An ancient marking reserved for only the worst of criminals. Those who did not receive the marking were executed publicly as a waring. A warning that any who rebelled would be dealt a similar fate.
However the mist bender's would not break so easily. The benders of the mist were a proud people. They never bowed to anyone. So instead they wore the mark as a badge of honor. None showed an ounce of shame for what they were. The mark inspired them to fight on. Although there were few in number they fought until they could no longer fight. Every man, woman and child waged war until they died or were caught by their Water Tribe cousins.
Eventually the mist benders all but disappeared from the world. They had become ghosts, tales to frighten naughty children. Only the legends remained of the devil warriors of the mist. At least that was what the Northern and Southern tribes believed. In truth many had fled into the frozen tundra, living as nomads and scavengers. It was no life for anyone, the frozen tundra made sure of that.
(Two years prior to Aang's Awakening)
Naric was the chieftain of the village. He was a somber man by any means but he was both wise and kind. No matter the situation he was calm and collected. He was a natural leader to his tribe. What made him a true leader though was that he loved his tribe more than anything. They were more than just his tribe they were his family and that was what made him a true leader.
It was true that Naric loved the people of his tribe. There was one person though that he valued more than anyone in the world, Noir. She was his daughter and the last thing he had of his wife. After he lost her Noir was the only thing that kept Naric going. Although his duty was to his people his heart was to his daughter.
Naric held Noir's hand as they walked through the village. It was their ritual to walk in the early morning. Often times they would go to the nearby ocean and gaze at the sunrise. Today was no exception. The two sat in the snow where the view of the ocean and sunrise was perfect. Noir snuggled into her father's arm a little and smiled.
"I love you Daddy" she whispered. Naric just brushed Noir's snow white hair away to the side and kissed her forehead. Wrapping his arm around her Naric kissed Noir again and looked to the rising sun. In many ways Noir took after her mother. She loved the sun just as she did, Noir had her hair, her sapphire blue eyes and her beauty. She was only eleven but Naric could tell that Noir was going to give the boys a run for their money when she was older.
As the sun finished rising Naric stood. They could not stay for long; Naric was needed back at the village. Walking back Noir nearly talked her mouth off. She told her father of all the things she had done yesterday with her friends. Naric could barely process it all though Noir was talking so fast she almost sounded like a lemur. Still he listened to her ramble on about all of the things she did.
Listening to Noir talk made Naric smile again. That was yet another thing Noir inherited from her mother, the ability to talk without pause. It was amazing how much Noir resembled her mother. There was one way though people could tell she was Naric's daughter, she was a bending prodigy. She was only eleven but Noir could face a master and win.
Reaching the village everyone was already hard at work. Most were getting ready to hunt while the rest prepared to smoke yesterday's meat. Belka, the village's best hunter, was on the far side helping some of the younger hunters. Spotting Naric he instantly ran over to him, leaving the younger hunters to work for themselves.
"Morning you two, how was your walk?" he called out as ran.
"It was good uncle Belka we got to see the sun rise again!" Noir replied as Belka caught up to them.
Belka was a good man with a kind heart. He towered over most people but he was a gentle soul. A gentle soul who loved everyone close to him, including Naric. The two were as close as brother's. They had met when they were only children and grew together, both as friends and as rivals. Both would always try to outdo the other, only for Naric to win. Belka didn't mind he took in stride and would try again.
"Belka shouldn't you be helping the others get ready?" Naric said as he cleared his throat. Belka only laughed and sarcastically replied
"Shouldn't you" Smiling Naric nodded his head and began to walk off with Belka. Turning to Noir he said clearly,
"Noir go help the others prepare the..."
"Yeah Daddy I know don't worry." She called out happily. Running over to where the other girls were Noir pitched in and began to work. Looking again to her Naric made sure she was out of hearing distance. Once he was sure he said lowly
"Has the hunting improved any?" Rubbing the back of his head Belka licked his lips and replied quietly.
"Do you want me to sugar coat it or do you just want the facts?" All Naric had to do was frown to let him know that now was not the time. Licking his lips again Belka stated briskly.
"Bad, very bad Naric what did you expect ever since we left the water tribe we left behind all of the good hunting grounds." Cursing under his breath and looked at the young hunter's preparing their spears. It was true out here in the tundra there was no good hunting. When there was it was a short lived hunt and all of the meat had to be smoked.
Looking at the villagers working Naric had to decide if he was going to have them move again. It didn't seem fair making them move especially since they had finally settled in. Since they were at the ocean maybe they could try their hand at fishing. That would be difficult, they had no resources at least not enough to make canoes. If anything they could manage to make a small rickety one.
Letting the situation sink in Naric made the command decision to stay. It was for the best because here they had the option to try and catch fish. In the heart the tundra all they could rely on was a good hunt. Many people died of starvation while many others died from the relentless cold. Naric never wanted his people to go through that again, he swore on his name not to.
Running his hands through his hair Naric grumbled out of irritation. He looked to his tribe once again hoping to find an answer to their problems. Steeling himself he knew that all he could do was his best and pray to the Water and Moon spirit's for strength.
"Alright one bad hunt is just one bad hunt. We'll get some more meat." Naric said reassuringly. Belka just frowned again and spat.
"And if not?"
"We pray that something good will happen." Naric said grimly as he walked back towards Noir.
