Father's eyes darted back and forth between Daeshim and his two sisters, Cimba and Zonpa. Soft badly tuned murmurs came from Father's mouth. He always hummed when he got nervous. Why had he called them all into the living room? To have one of his patented family talks? Had the Fire Nation finally come? Was Gaipan going to fall? Or was it something else...a family matter perhaps? Mother laid an arm on Father's shoulder.
"We're moving," said Mother.
Ahh. Of course. The Fire Nation was here. Or perhaps not here, but worryingly close. They'd taken Makapu last year, so they'd probably conquered Taku. That was close. Really close. Only a week's walk.
"What?" Cinba asked. "No! We can't move."
"I'm sorry," said Mother.
"But what about all my friends?" Cinba asked, stomping her foot on the stone ground. "I'll never… I don't want to leave it's not fair!"
Zonpa's little eyes started to well up with tears, her lips quivered, and she started to cry-to wail. It was horrible.
"It's okay," Daeshim wrapped his baby sisters in a hug. "Everything is gonna be okay. We're Air Nomads Cinba. Moving is in our blood."
"No!" Cinba screamed, punching Daeshim's shoulder. "I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I DON"T WANNA!"
Daeshim pulled away. "Where do we live Cinba?" He held his sister's gaze, until her red face calmed.
"Gaipan."
"And you know Taku? The place Grandfather sometimes visits? How long does it take him to get there and back again?"
"Three weeks."
"The Fire Nation has taken Taku. How long do you think it will take them to get here?"
Cinba paled. She ran to her room, and started to pack. Daeshim's lips pulled upwards. That was a more appropriate response.
No. He must've missed something. Mother frowned and Father refused to look at him. He'd done something very wrong. He'd lied to his sister. Taku hadn't fallen.
"Father," Daeshim dipped his head respectfully. "Will you tell me why we're moving?"
Father mumbled something under his breath.
"The world can be a complicated place," said Mother. "And sometimes people just need a fresh start."
Daeshim frowned. Father ran the most successful dye shop in all of Gaipan. It was quite a feat for an Air Nomad to own his own business, some would say it was ostentatious. The other Air Nomads in the city hated Father's success. They gave him funny looks, and whispered cruel words behind his back. Well screw them. Daeshim was proud of his father. If he wanted to move to a larger city to expand his business he had Daeshim's full support.
"So where are we going? Gaoling? They're rich there. We'll do well."
"No," Father murmured, eyes still downcast.
"Omashu? I suppose it is closer."
"No," Father whispered. "Capital City."
"We're moving to Ba Sing Se?" Daeshim asked, failing to hide his smile. "I'll help with the shop all I can Father! I've seen all the travelers and nobody dies a more vibrant blue than you! We can do this!"
Father shook his head. "We're moving to the Fire Nation son."
Ah of course… Wait what? But the Fire Nation had killed their people! They'd slaughtered the Avatar when he was a child! The Fire Nation was evil! The second they walked on their soil they'd be burned alive. Everyone knew that. No… Daeshim understood. Yes, that must be it.
"We're to be spies," Daeshim said. "We'll avenge our ancestors!"
Father said nothing.
Mother sighed. "No. We'll be dying clothes there. Just like here."
Yes. That's what they'd say if they were spies. Daeshim understood. It was the only explanation. Father was a good man, he wouldn't risk the lives of his family for some silly reason.
"Someday," Father said. "When you're older than nine, I'll tell you the truth. Perhaps you'll understand then, although I doubt it. For now, you'll just have to trust me. We have to move son, if we want our family to stay together. That's the only thing that matters."
No. The truth was the only thing that mattered.
"How long until we move?" Daeshim asked.
"An hour," Father said.
Daeshim ran into the streets of Gaipan. He heard his parents shouting after him. They need not worry. He was a good son. He'd be back in time. But in that last hour he'd find the truth, because suddenly he was uncertain. He'd always assumed that the other Air Nomads hated Father for his success, but what if it were for some other reason? What was Father's secret?
Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Please like, follow, or review if you enjoyed the chapter. This story will be updated every Thursday night or Friday morning.