Chapter 1 - The Drifter

Sweat glistened on her brow as she continued to bend the sand that propelled her through the desert.

'Almost there' she whispered. On the horizon a small town was visible, an oasis in this wasteland. Bending sand was more difficult than bending solid earth, it was loose and shifty, not at all what she was used to.

As the small houses crept closer, memories of her past came to mind. Not much has changed since then, she was still lonely, and she was constantly searching for something more…a sense of accomplishment.

'But I'm happy now…' The question barely escaped her lips. 'Aren't I?' She found her mind wandering back to her former life in Ba Sing Se.

*

Who she was and who she wanted to be were so different that she had given up hope for any change. She dressed for her day in her usual fashion. She slipped into a silk robe and braided her long brown hair. She then stood in front of her mirror.

She saw the face of a girl whose life was spent being watched over, taken care of, the face of a prisoner in her Father's estate. She looked into the blue eyes of a girl who resembled her mother so much that her father couldn't bear to look upon her, for the pain was too much to bear.

Will this torture ever end? How much longer will she have to put up with this? 'Not much longer.' She answered. She tried to muster a smile, but she could do naught but frown.

'Su-Mei!' a distant voice rang out from another room.

'In here!' she called back, there were footsteps in the hallway, than an older woman appeared in her doorway.

'Come along, we've got many applicants to review today.'

'But why Ju-Li, Why do I have to do this? It seems so degrading. Can't i just meet my future husband the normal way? Get to know someone, then slowly fall deeply in love and live happily ever after' Su-Mei gave a weak smile.

'That never happens.' Ju-Li said.

Yeah, I didn't think so, Su-Mei thought. Ju-Li walked across the room and stood behind Su-Mei. 'This is what your father wants Su-Mei. He's only interested in what's best for you.' She laid her hand on Su-Mei's shoulder, but Su-Mei pulled away.

' My father doesn't care about me, if he did, he'd let me be free, to live my own life, he'd let me marry whoever I wanted.' She closed her eyes and fought the tears, 'I'll be out in a minute.'

'Yes you will.' She crossed to the door and left.

As Su-Mei stood staring at her mirror she let out a long sigh and quietly a single tear escaped her eye.

*

'Finally,' breathed Su-Mei as she hopped down from her sand scooter, 'Never thought I'd make it.' She started to unload her belongings, just a rucksack filled with some various items and an empty flask. 'Keto, I'm back!'

A man poked his head out of a nearby window. 'Well don't just stand there! Come in!' Su-Mei carried her rucksack into a small shop; a couple of travellers were sitting down at the tables enjoying cool refreshing drinks. 'What'd you find?'

The man at the counter wiped his hands in his apron tied around his waist. His face and head looked to be completely shaven, but if he turned around you'd see the braid that extended two feet down his back. Keto always reminded Su-Mei of a pirate.

She walked up to the counter and opened her rucksack. And pulled out what looked like a scroll. As soon as Keto saw her take it out his eyes lit up.

'This is an old Waterbending scroll, just look at the illustrations, aren't they beautiful?'

'Yeah they're great…should be worth a lot. Keto took the scroll and gently put it down behind the counter.

Su-Mei was about to show him more, but a group of people from the Watertribe came into the shop, ordered drinks and sat at a nearby table.

'Well don't just stand there,' Keto said, 'Bring them their drinks.' Su-Mei grabbed an apron and wrapped it around her waist; she grabbed the tray of drinks and walked over to the table.

'Ok, I've got two litchi; two mango; and an orange banana.' She passed them their drinks, 'Is there anything else I can get you?'

'Have you got anything to sell?' one of them asked.

'Yeah, we've got some stuff, anything in particular you're interested in?'

'Do you have anything from the Watertribe?'

'Actually, we just got a Waterbending scroll, a couple hundred years old, rather expensive.'

'Oh, well we can't really afford something too expensive. You know if you really wanted to sell that scroll, you'd be better off going to the Northern Water Tribe. They've got an archive; they could be interested in something like that.'

'Yeah that would be a good idea.' Su-Mei responded, 'I'll tell my boss, he's the one who sells merchandise.'

'Well,' said a man, 'There's a rumour of an old treasure hidden in the old catacombs, perhaps you could venture out to find it?'

'Me?'

'Yeah, aren't you the one who does all the dirty work? You deserve to go to the Water Tribe too.'

'Uh...I'll talk to Keto about it...' Su-Mei quickly left their table. When she got back to the counter, Keto asked.

'What did they want? Are they going to buy anything?'

'No...but they said it'd probably be better if you went to the Northern Water Tribe to sell that.' Then she added, 'They also mentioned a treasure, but i don't think it's worth it...'

'A treasure? Sounds good, maybe you should come along too.' Keto had his back turned to Su-Mei.

Go to the Northern Water Tribe? Su-Mei thought I don't know...that's pretty far...

*

'Thank you for coming, but you're not what we're looking for.' Ju-Li's cold voice rang through the stone silence of the room. Another richly dressed man left looking sullen.

'Can I leave?' Su-Mei sat slouched in her chair, looking up at Ju-Li, 'We've been doing this all day, and I'm bored.'

'I know, this will be the last one.' She looked up and called, 'Come in!' to Su-Mei she said, 'Posture Su-Mei posture!'

Begrudgingly she sat up in her chair. From the doorway came a handsome man, except he didn't look like the others, he wore old clothes, and his hair was tangled and tied into a topknot. For the most part he looked clean, but Su-Mei couldn't help but wonder why he had even bothered to come. Ju-Li would send him on his way in a second.

'Hello' said Ju-Li, a slight annoyance in her voice.

'Good afternoon ma'am, miss.' He gave a slight bow to them both. There was silence, Su-Mei had her head bent down, staring at the floor.

'Su-Mei…' Ju-Li bumped her shoulder and Su-Mei jumped suddenly, as if she just realised there was someone in the room.

'Oh, sorry, didn't see you there.' She gave a fake apologetic smile, he returned it. 'So, who are you?'

'Kyo' he replied.

'Uh huh, Kyo, interesting name…' Su-Mei stood from her chair, and walked gently towards him, lulling him into a false sense of security. I'm going to mess with this guy she thought. Slowly she started to circle him like a hungry vulture hawk. 'So you're interested in marrying me?'

'Sure' he replied. Su-Mei raised her eyebrow.

'So if I was taken capture by a hundred men and they ransomed me off for a million gold pieces, what would you do?'

'Oh, well a good husband would do all in his power to…'

'I don't think I asked you what a good husband would do,' she interrupted, 'I asked what you would do…'

'Well, I wouldn't care about the money; I'd fight through every one of those men till I got you back I suppose.'

'Hmm,' that didn't work…I'll try something else… 'If I grow old and develop a wart on my nose and get an embarrassing rash, would you stay with me?

'Of course, would you stay with me?' his mouth curled into a cunning smile.

'I…I'm asking the questions!'

'Fair enough, so what your next riveting question?'

Su-Mei smirked, 'Ok' she said, 'what's brown in the winter green in the summer and smells like cheese?'

'Um…uh…' Kyo hesitated.

'EHHHH! Times up!'

'What? You didn't say I had a time limit!'

'It was implied!'

'Su-Mei, what do these questions have to do with anything?' Ju-Li cut in.

'Loads!' Su-Mei gave her a sarcastic smile.

'Ok I think we're done here…'

'No wait, one more question…' she turned to Kyo, 'Why did you bother coming here? I mean, no offense, but you don't look the part of a suitor, you didn't even comb your hair…'

'My parents made me come. They think I should settle down, since I'm 20 now. They said I should hurry up before all the good ones are gone.' He paused, 'I did this so I could tell them I at least tried. Then I can go back to living my life, and waiting to for the right person to come along. None of this arranged marriage thing.' He looked at Su-Mei who was giving him a very confused expression. 'I'll let myself out.' He turned towards the door.

'OH NO YOU DON'T!' Su-Mei yelled at him, 'You're staying here!' Kyo wheeled around. 'Ju-Li, I want Kyo to be my suitor.'

'WHAT?' exclaimed Kyo, 'but i don't want to be!' Su-Mei turned towards Kyo and glared at him.

'Su-Mei…this boy's not a good suitor for you; you need someone who'll be able to provide for you.'

'Hey!' said Kyo, 'I may not be rich, but I could still provide for her!'

'Yeah' agreed Su-Mei. 'The one guy who's not completely stuck up and you shove him out the door?'

'Fine, it's not my choice anyway, if you wish to settle for some bottom feeder, then be my guest.' Ju-Li stood abruptly from her chair and left the room.

'Bottom feeder, honestly…' Kyo muttered, 'look Su-Mei, I'm flattered that you picked me but i really don't want to…'

'Yeah I know' she interrupted, 'that's why i picked you., you don't want me and i don't want to you…could you just pretend to court me for a couple of weeks?'

'Why would I do that?'

'Because I'm planning to get out of here, but I can't leave this place without an escort.'

'What's in it for me?'

'Gold, a lot of it, only when I'm free though.'

'I suppose that'll do…'

'Thanks Kyo.' She held out her hand to him, he shook it.

*

A cart pulled by a single ostrich horse rolled over the hillside. The two travellers bounced and rocked, one of them spoke up. 'I don't know why you insisted that I come to the Northern Water Tribe too…'

'Well you said there was some kind of treasure right…could be worth looking into…' Keto said, 'you could go looking for it when I try to sell that scroll.'

'I can't believe I'm actually going to the Water Tribe…its cold there right? How are we going to stay warm?'

'We'll buy some coats at the boat dock, and maybe some longer pants…and shoes for you.'

'Shoes? Do i have to wear shoes? My feet will feel all constricted…'

'Unless you want feet - sickles, you'll wear shoes.' Keto checked his map, 'The dock should be just around this corner.'

They turned and Su-Mei saw the biggest body of water she'd ever laid her eyes on. Floating by the dock were a couple of trader boats, ready to set sail.

'Which boat are we on?' Su-Mei asked.

'The boat on the far right'

Su-Mei looked past all of the big trading vessels and her eyes met the smallest boat there. Fit for only a handful of people and some cargo, good old, cheap, Keto Su-Mei thought.

The cart stopped, they both got out. They went into a small shop and bought two grren coats with koala sheep fur for trim, gloves, pants, and boots. Su-Mei picked out a hat that she fell in love with, Keto payed.

'Oh, Keto it's so beautiful, thanks.'

'Don't thank me; it's coming out of your pay.'

They went down to board the boat. All the people were Earth kingdom, traders Su-Mei expected, going to the Water Tribe to sell their goods.

At this point Su-Mei began to hesitate, she'd never been outside the Earth Kingdom before. She stopped halfway up the plank.

'Keto, I don't think I can do this…'

'I know you're scared, but come on, we have to go.' He took her by the arm and pulled her onto the boat. They pulled off. Su-Mei felt sick already, but it wasn't the rocking of the boat that was upsetting her stomach, it was homesickness. Not for Be Sing Se, but for the boy that she left behind…

*

'Su-Mei! Kyo's here!' Ju-Li called from another room.

'I'll be out in a minute.' She quickly grabbed the pants from her Earthbending uniform and stuffed it inside her bag along with a sack of gold pieces. She hurried out into the hall.

'You look so beautiful.' Kyo said as soon as he saw her. He stared at her, his eyes sparkled. 'Shall we be off?'

'Yes' she responded, trying to keep calm. She walked to him and linked arms with him.

'We won't be out late' Kyo assured Ju-Li

'See you later' Su-Mei waved, and before she left, she thought she saw Ju-Li smile.

Finally after courting Kyo for a couple of weeks she's allowed to go outside the house with him. They walked out of the gate and stepped into the world. Su-Mei had never once been outside the walls of her Father's estate. Ba Sing Se looked so magnificent; the perfectly chiselled houses each with a bright green roof. Each person she saw smiled at her, how lucky they are, she thought, to see this every day.

She was brought back to earth by the sound of Kyo's voice.

'Where would you like to go?'

'Oh…' she paused, 'how about the zoo? I've heard it's lovely.'

He nodded and they turned toward the outer city.

'You know the plan right?' Kyo whispered.

'Of course I know that plan, I haven't stopped thinking about the plan, it's my plan…' She whispered back. When they arrived at the zoo, they didn't enter, but they walked past the zoo, to the outskirts of the city, where the great wall used to be. Once they were out of sight Su-Mei made a tent out of the earth. Inside she put on her pants that cut off at her knees, and ripped her dress at her thigh so it looked like a tunic.

'I'm so glad to be out of those clothes.' She said when the rock tent was gone. She stomped her foot on the ground and a hole appeared there. She dropped her clothes in and covered it back up.

'So, what do you plan to do now that you're free?' Kyo asked.

'Probably explore the world; maybe even find buried treasure…'

'You mean like a pirate?' Kyo shifted his eyebrows

'No,' Su-Mei gave a small chuckle, 'like a drifter…going from place to place, no rules, no one telling me what to do…'

'Well, maybe when you're around, you could drift on over my way… I'd love to see you again…' Kyo shuffled his feet and bit his lip.

'I'd love to' Su-Mei smiled, She blushed. What's wrong with you? Why are you blushing you crazy girl!? She shook it off, 'I should go now…' She reached into her bag, 'Here,' she held out the bag of gold pieces, 'For your services.' She held it out to him, but he shook his head.

'I can't take your money, not anymore…'

'Kyo, if you don't take it then it'll stay here for some traveller to find.' She took all but two fingers off the bag.

'Fine, I'll take it…' He held out his hand and the bag fell into it. 'Kohama's my hometown, its north of Ba Sing Se.'

'Ok, well I'm going west, I guess this is where we part…thanks' She held out her hand, he shook it, but before Su-Mei could take her hand away Kyo pulled her into his arms. She felt his arms tighten around her. He held her so gently, so lovingly. Su-Mei's eyes opened wide with surprise, but, then they closed, taking in his scent, trying not to forget it. Her arms closed around him, and they stood there for what felt like an eternity. She didn't want to let go. She buried her face into his chest trying not to cry. She felt his hand caress her hair. She could feel his breath on her neck, so steady, each breath matching his heartbeat perfectly.

He pulled her an arm's length away from and looked into her eyes, his emerald ones meeting her blue. His hand was now resting on her cheek. 'I'm going to miss you Su.' He bent his head down and kissed her cheek, even after he pulled away she could still feel a tingling sensation where his lips had been.

'I'm going to miss you too.' She looked at the ground. 'I should be off…'

'Yeah me too, goodbye.' He gave her a wink and turned towards his city.

'Bye…'

Su-Mei turned her back on him, smiling. She looked at her home one last time…the only one she'd ever known. She then hesitated, would she be able to do this? Live on her own? 'I can do this' She whispered, turned her back on the great impenetrable city, put on foot in front of the other, and began her journey.

*

The rocking of the boat and the constant swirling of the waves made Su-Mei sick. She longed for stable ground, even if it was snow. She's seen nothing but water for 3 whole days. Finally she heard someone cry 'There it is!'

She looked up, before her eyes lay a wall of white. At first she thought that the Northern Water Tribe was nothing but snow. But as they moved closer she noticed that on top of the wall there were people, waterbenders. They were so graceful when they moved. With swift hands they made a hole in the wall, so the boat could go on in. On the other side they found themselves facing walls of snow. Suddenly the water level began to rise and the wall in front of then began to fall. As it opened up they saw the Water tribe. Su-Mei was right, it was only snow...but everything was made of snow: houses, bridges, and stairs. Su-Mei could tell she wasn't going to like this one bit.

The boat came to a stop, Su-Mei got off as soon as the plank was down. 'It's so cold here.' She saw her breath hover in the air for a moment then vanish. They took their bags and headed down a street.

'Let's stop at an inn. Hopefully we won't have to be here longer than a few days. When do you plan on going to find that treasure?'

'Well, as soon as I can, tomorrow maybe…'

'Well if you're planning on leaving tomorrow, you might need to find out more about these catacombs.'

'You're right.' She said, 'But where could I go?'

The End

(Chapter 1)