It had been months, if not years, since she last saw civilization, and it wasn't what she had expected. Waiting for a ferry to Ba-Sing-Sei in a cave, sat a young girl, with her friend and motherly figure. There were hundreds of people waiting for the next ferry, and they still had to get their passports. The youngest girl stood up and went to the high counter where the ferry official sat. She waited for the next person to be called when the official screeched at her, waking her from her daydreams of a new life.
"Next!" The haggard old lady shouted. The girl stepped up to the counter, and asked for three passports, but the old lady would not budge.
"Identification?"
"I have none Madame." The young girl said, looking down at her feet. The old lady didn't hesitate with her next words.
"Next!"
The young girl's friend came to her rescue, swiftly holding her wrists together with her pulse points facing the official. The two dark markings next to each other made one symbol, and the transport official's eyes shot open.
"I am so sorry miss, I did not realize…"
"May we have our three passports? Or must I have someone replace your post?" The dark haired girl asked politely, and threateningly.
"Of course, Miss Souretsu."
The official pulled out the passports, signed and stamped them within seconds.
"Enjoy your stay in our city." The old lady smiled and waved them on their way. She shouted for the next customer to step up as they were twenty feet away.
"I mean really, do I have to save you every time Amai?" The dark haired girl said.
"I'm not going back, my father has people everywhere. If I had shown my marks, I would've been dragged back kicking and screaming, Karei."
They looked at each other and laughed. They had no idea how long it was since Amai had left the Northern Water Tribe, but they were soon to find out.
"Chijin! We have our passports!" Karei shouted as they were nearing their guardian and minder.
"Good. Now we wait for the ferry."
Chijin smiled, and placed a mat of hers on the floor to sit on. If they had not all been from different nations, they would've been easily passed as family, or at least Chijin and Karei. Chijin was from the Fire Nation, but had left her nation so many years ago that she had forgotten about it. Karei was an earth bender; her family was one of the richest in the Earth Kingdom. And Amai was a water bender, born to the general of the Northern Water Tribe army. Karei and Chijin looked so much alike; long, straight dark hair and pale skin, except their eyes were green and amber respectively. Only Amai was different. Her hair was dark ashy blonde, which could pass for brown in the cave they were in, and the dirt that had embedded itself there. Her eyes were a soft aqua color, very close to grey and her skin was pale like Chijin's, so different from the rest of her Water Tribe. But they had been together so long, and grown so close, that even their differences paled to the family-like bond they had.
"Two years now, that you have joined us Amai." Chijin said, patting to two open places next to her for the girls to sit down.
"Two years? Have you seen a calendar?" Amai asked. Chijin pointed towards the opposite wall, where a large canvas hung with the yearly calendar.
"And so close to six years since I found you, Karei."
Chijin wrapped her arm around Karei for a half armed hug, and then did the same with Amai.
"I'm so proud of you both. We will do well in this new city; I can feel it in my heart. We will not have to run anymore." Chijin smiled again, and dug in her sack for some food. Amai took some bread from Chijin, and thought of all the things that had brought her this far.