ZUTARA WEEK 2015, Day 7: MAELSTROM

Raging Waters

DISCLAIMER: Avatar: the Last Airbender belong to Bryke, but Zutara Week belongs to all Zutarians.

NOTE: Just a short entry for today since I have very limited Internet access and I am just posting this from my phone because I didn't want to miss a day. I've posted something for six days and I'm not about to stop now. I'm quite committed to this.

Anyway, as I have no time to properly develop this story and it would be a shame to waste such a good prompt, this is only the first chapter or even a prologue of sorts. Though like my entry for Integrity, this will not be a very long story, just a few chapters to make the most of a fun idea. Sorry if it is a bit cheesy.

Enjoy!

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The Ocean Spirit was angry.

Anyone who had the misfortune of travelling on the water understood this. The waves crashed mercilessly against each other, the wind blew cold and strong while rain pelted the sides of every vessel. There was such a storm as had not been seen for generations and even those on land cowered in fear within the safety of their homes, praying fervently for the tempest to pass. When the spirits manifested such fury, there was not much that could be done to appease them. And more often than not, a sacrifice was necessary.

But who would be chosen to satiate the Ocean's hunger for justice on this terrible night?

Two pairs of unlucky travelers were caught up in the tempest, two small vessels carrying frightened but determined souls. None of them were strangers to adversity and though they understood that they risked being swallowed by the raging waters, they would fight courageously for their lives. Difficult as their current circumstances were, this was still just another hurdle to overcome.

On a lone, ancient Fire Nation vessel a banished prince and his uncle were fleeing to safety from the country that had rejected them. They had burdens enough to bear and suffered through many trials on this journey. The prince was still full of grief and anger at the path his life had taken and he felt that he could defy even the spirits and match their rage and sorrow with his. He had suffered injustice too and he refused to be a victim forever.

Another vessel bore two siblings from the Southern Water Tribe, seeking refuge in the North Pole after their village had been viciously attacked by enemies. Brother and sister held on to each other, determined to stay together through the tempest. The young woman was also a waterbender who sought to master her ability by finding a good teacher. Her skills were limited but she managed to control enough of the water around them to keep their small vessel afloat. But there was little she could do to assuage the pain the Ocean was expressing though she too had known great loss.

This is how their journey begins, amidst the merciless waters of a grieving, ancient soul. But mortal though they were, the travelers set out to prove the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit.