Chapter 1: Silent Snow

Jun always loved the snow, and seeing it falling on his birthday filled him with joy. Quickly getting up, Jun slipped on his boots and walked out into the gently falling snow. For a minute he just stood there, savoring the feel of the soft flakes upon his skin. Then, he began to move his arms, slowly rotating a small area of flakes.

"Distribute your weight…concentrate on chi…breathe deep…" Jun chanted to himself as he subtly moved an increasing amount of flakes. Once he had enough flakes within his small void, Jun closed his eyes in concentration and compacted the flakes into a small sphere.

"Yes! A perfect snowball!" Jun cheered, but his celebration was cut short as another snowball smacked him in the back of the head. Jun suddenly heard the distinctive laughter of his sister, Rinash.

"Morning my lil' birthday bender", Rinash chuckled again as she slowly walked towards Jun, her signature crazy afro of hair shook as she laughed.

Rinash was fourteen, a full two years ahead of Jun that she was careful not to let him forget. She was tall for her age and had piercing blue eyes, but her dominant trait was her large unruly afro that many people associated with her. Though most girls her age were into sewing and hairstyles, Rinash was still quite the tomboy. She was a very talented marksman, and had a great degree of skill with a bow and arrow. To her mother's dismay, she had also begun to learn spear fighting from her father, Rin.

"Nice one sis'", Jun said as he stooped down to pick up his creation, "My turn!"

Jun chucked the snowball at Rinash, but she easily dodged it, "You may be a bender but you're still a poor marksman Junie."

Jun quickly focused and moved his arms, "With my bending, I don't have to be!"

The snowball curved around and headed back towards Rinash at a noticeably slower pace. Rinash reached out and grabbed the projectile with the confidence of one who knows her opponent too well. She shot it back and struck Jun in the chest before he could regain his focus.

Rinash gave another one of her infectious laughs; Jun dusted himself off and couldn't help but smile.

"Ok Rinny you beat me, but just you wait! Elder Chang says now that I'm twelve he can teach me real water bending, then you'll get what's coming to you! Besides, aren't you supposed to be making me my cake? It must take a long time to get it to burn as much as you do…" Jun smirked, Rinash's bad cooking was well known throughout the tribe. Most had learned through experience and some mothers had even begun to use it as a threat on unruly children.

Rinash was long passed being embarrassed for her culinary incompetence, "You'll get your cake, trust me" She said with a smirk. Rinash would never admit it, but it meant a lot to her that her brother would actually eat the cake. He was the only person to ever eat her cooking without moving in the opposite direction, usually at a quick pace.

The sibling moment was ended by the sudden appearance of Jun's and Rinash's mother. She strode in between them like a storm cloud.

"Enough playing around you two" she shouted with authority, "There is work to be done. Rinash, is today the day you will finally fix your hair?"

"Why fix what ain't broken mother?" Rinash said as she shook her afro with pride.

Her mother sighed, "Well then go along and help your father out"

Rinash nodded and ran off. Jing, the mother, turned her gaze to Jun and gave one of her rare smiles, "Happy birthday Jun."

Jun smiled and looked at his mother a moment. She was a tall imposing lady, and also a very stern and solemn one. She was a bit of an anomaly among Water Tribe folk, often known for their warm, affectionate ways. Jing wore her hair long and very intricate; in addition to the standard loops she had a series of complex braids around her scalp. Young girls often tried to emulate her style, though few could achieve its total balance and grace. The lone and notable exception was Rinash, who seemed to not care about her hair. Jun knew his mother struggled with the warm caring ways of the Water Tribe, but he loved her and knew nothing could change that.

Jun nodded at his mother, "Thanks, I suppose I should get going on my chores?"

Jing reverted to her usual expression, a neutral commanding one, "Yes, just because it is your birthday does not mean there is not work to be done."

Jun knew from years of experience that his mother was an all business lady. Distraught by Rinash's athletic tendencies, she was very adamant about wanting Jun to be more scholarly. Jun had no intention of forsaking water bending for the acquisition of knowledge, but he knew it made his mother happy to see him be diligent and ambitious, so he always tried his best.

Dashing around the large igloo that was home for Jun, he bumped into his father. Rin's greeting was much warmer than that of Jun's mother.

"There's my birthday boy!" his father exclaimed as he grabbed Jun and lifted him up in a bear hug, "Today's a big day for you isn't it?"

Rin, like his wife and his daughter, was a very tall individual. At slightly over six and a half feet, he dwarfed the slight figure of Jun, who had yet to reach five feet. Unlike his wife who exuded icy terror among many, Rin was a fountain of sunny energy. At his wife's insistence, he kept his beard neatly trimmed, but his hair still had a tendency to become unruly. Many saw Rinash as the picture of her father, and few would call them wrong.

Rin put Jun down and he leapt a few times with excitement, "Today is the day I can finally learn water bending! I can hardly wait!"

Rin smiled, "I bet your mother sent you off to do some work?"

Jun looked down, "Yeah, I guess had better help Rinash with the fishing lines…"

"Well let's just say you're lucky that your father considers snowball fights to be 'work'"

Jun gave a broad grin, "Then don't worry dad! I'm gonna work really hard!"

Rin watched his son for a while as he dashed off. He was filled with pride that his son was born a water bender. Elder Chang was nearing a hundred, and was the only water bender that Rin knew of in the entire South Pole. Their tribe was small, only around thirty people, but Rin looked forward to the day when his son would lead the tribe in the ongoing battle against the Fire Nation.

The morning flew by for Jun. He and his other chore-dodging friends quickly started a snowball fight. Things were great when the fight was a free for all, but as kids began to form teams, a problem began over Jun.

"Sorry Jun but its just not fair", said a short cubby kid.

"Yeah, you can just bend any fort down", said another young boy, "It would be too unbalanced for the other team…"

"Its alright", said Jun as he trudged back to the huts, "My sister is probably done with my cake by now…"

"Oh…in that case we're really sorry Jun…"

"Not as sorry as I am", said Jun with a grin as the whole group erupted into a brief laughter.

Jun returned to see his sister setting out the finished cake. Her back turned to Jun, she bit her lip as she examined the rather sorry looking pastry. To be fair, creating a cake was not an easy process for a member of the Water Tribe. There was only one stove in the entire community, an ancient clay one, and usage was on a first come first serve basis. Rinash had gotten up very early to secure space for her cake making, and acquiring the materials was no easy matter either. Sugar and flour could only be obtained by the rare Earth Kingdom merchant vessels that came through, yet every year Rinash was very careful to get enough materials for her sibling's cake. Each time she bought them she had to deal with the subtle remarks of the other Water Tribe females saying, "what a waste", the ingredients were on her pathetic cooking skill. As she looked over the final product, Rinash felt they were right. The cake was charred thoroughly, and more than a bit lopsided, but it was her cake and she had made it.

"Save some cake for me sis'!" shouted Jun as he marched over.

"Oh trust me Junie, there is more than enough to go around", said Rinash as she chuckled more nervously than usual.

Jun never betrayed an ungrateful thought, "Looks great! I'm ready to dig in!'

Jun and Rinash looked up as their parents walked over. It was nearing midday and later on the whole tribe would celebrate Jun's birthday, as they would for every tribe member's special day.

"Well, well" said Rin as he and his wife reached the kids, "Is it already cake time?"

"I guess so" said Jun as he grabbed a piece and eagerly, to the shock of his sister, stuffed it in his mouth.

Secretly, Rinash prayed he wouldn't spit it out.

Jun chewed thoughtfully, "Hmm I think you are improving…though I still hold to my belief that you could drive away an army with your cooking Rinny" then with a big smile Jun said, "Thanks, it means a lot to me that you go to all this trouble."

Rinash put her arms around the whole group, "Hey, anything for the family."

Jun looked back down at the cake, "Wow Rinash…you burnt it so bad it's turning the snow flakes around it black!"

Rin saw it too, "That's not snow Jun, that's soot…the Fire Nation Navy is here…"

The village prepared for battle at an alarming pace. The men readied themselves for fighting as the women and children prepared to evacuate to the underground safe house. Elder Chang had saw to its creation many years ago, and had bored it so deep into the ice that no Fire Navy ship could reach it.

Jun was strapping a club to his back and Rinash was filling a quiver when their father walked in.

"Hurry up, you need to head with your mother to the safety bunker" Rin said, well aware of the intentions of his two children.

"But dad I can fight!" both kids said in unison. They quickly gave each other a surprised glance.

Their dad chuckled a bit, "I know you two can, but your mother needs you."

Jun stood up, "Dad I'm one of the only water benders this tribe has. The Fire Nation will have plenty of fire benders. You need me!"

Rin put his hand on his young child's shoulder, "Listen my son, the tribe needs you to stay alive, if anything happens to Elder Chang everyone is counting on you to be our bender. We can't risk you getting hurt."

Jun lowered his gaze from his father's calm blue eyes and nodded.

Rinash spoke next, "Well what about me? I can use my bow and arrow just as well as anyone!"

"I know you can", Rin replied, "But the tribe needs you to be safe for now."

"But…" both kids began in unison again.

"No buts, now hurry, remember bring only the necessities."

Soon the women and children of the tribe were heading off, and Rin, as second in command of the tribe, went to speak with Elder Chang.

"Its Commander Zhi isn't it?"

"I believe so" replied the Elder, "he has brought a very large fleet…we can tell by the amount of soot falling."

"Then we will meet his force and fight with all our strength!" replied Rin

The Elder nodded, but frowned a bit.

"He is still after the globe?" Rin said

The globe was a very important artifact to the people of the Southern Water Tribe. It had been forged by Avatar Kuruk long ago and was given as a gift to the people as they left the North Pole for the South long ago. The globe contained water from the Spirit Oasis that was blessed by the Ocean Spirit, Tui. In the hands of a water bender, it gave unprecedented control of the sea, greatly enhancing one's natural abilities. In the hands of a fire bender, it would mean the total conquest of the Southern Water Tribe.

Elder Chang nodded again, "Long ago we thought that dispersing our people across the South Pole would make us a difficult target for a large Fire Navy flee…but it appears we were wrong."

Rin spoke next, "I'll gather all the men. We will meet this fleet and slow them down."

As the group of refugees evacuated the village, Jun looked for his opening. He knew his father was right, that he must live for the sake of the tribe, but he couldn't abandon his duty. A bender must never be afraid.

His mother kept a close eye on Jun and Rinash early on, but as the snow picked up, that became impossible. As the snowstorm turned into a powerful blizzard, Jun slipped out from his mother's gaze and ran towards the ships.

He thought no one had seen him, but before he had gone far, his sister was already in hot pursuit.

"That idiot…" Rinash said as she ran, "He's about to taste a wrath far worse than my cooking…"

Rin stood in the front of the group as the first of the Fire Navy vessels approached the ice that held their village. In truth, his men were not even a regiment. There were scarcely fourteen of them present, and many had neglected their training in recent years.

Rin knew their only hope lay in surprise. He had to present the face of confidence to the general. He had to be strong for his people.

The first ship lowered its loading ramp a few feet from Rin, and Commander Zhi with two masked guards walked forward.

Rin spoke first, "Commander Zhi", he began, "Its been awhile."

Commander Zhi walked forward at an unconcerned pace. The years had not been kind to him. He was a very old man now; some said over a hundred years old. Like many fire benders, life took a severe toll on him, and his long life was extremely uncommon. Yet it had not stolen his calm confidence that struck fear in the hearts of many a Water Tribe member.

"Actually its Admiral Zhi now" he began, "You must be Rin. Last time, fifteen years ago I believe, it was your father standing here. I still have his club adorning my wall."

Rin removed his own club from its strap and worked hard to suppress his rage, "This time you've gone too far Zhi. I will not let you harm my family again."

"Your family? Are they in that silly bunker you think is safe? Let's see now…I brought ten ships; five for the front, and five to block off your escape. Ten ships means one hundred warriors. You do the math."

Rin played his last card, "You'll never make it in this blizzard Zhi. I'm going to finish this now!"

Zhi's two guards moved forward. Rin ran at the first one and ducked as he shot a fire blast over his head. He swung his club and locked his foe's leg in the indent near the top, allowing him to pull up and trip his opponent. The second guard was struck in the back of the helmet by an arrow, and fell flat on his face unconscious.

"Need to use stealth", thought Rin, "Make them think we have more warriors than we do…"

"Come now Rin", said Zhi, anticipating the man's thoughts, "How many soldiers do you have" Twenty? Forty? How many will die before you relinquish that silly globe?"

"This is more than the globe Zhi, this is about my people."

Rinash caught Jun midway to the battlefield. She grabbed him by the hood of his thick jacket.

"What do you think you're doing?" Rinash spoke, her face a mask of rage.

"I can bend Rinash! I have to help!"

"I mean leaving without me Junie"

"Oh…"

"I need to head back to the village, you can move closer to the ships, but don't fight until I get there!"

"Uh Rinash, I was just kidding when I said your cooking…"

"I AM NOT GOING TO COOK THE FIRE NATION A MEAL"

Jun hoped she didn't hear him breathe a sigh of relief.

"I need my weapons. Don't do anything stupid."

Jun tried to wait, but when he heard the sounds of battle not far off, his fear got the better of him.

"Dad…" Jun said softly, he knew his father would be leading the small group of men.

As he walked forward, the white snow turned completely black, and his vision was nearly entirely obscured. Then he heard voices.

Jun tried to dispel his fear as he saw a few figures approaching. Through the blizzard he could scarcely make out the incoming person, but by its attire he could tell it was Fire Nation.

"Its just a kid" said the soldier as he lowered his sword, "What should we do?"

Another Fire Nation figure emerged from the storm, this one bore the distinctive helm of a fire bender, "Really? Damn, I can't see in this blizzard. Leave him, we need to find that globe."

The soldier with the sword spoke again, "We can hardly find anyone, let's take this kid and make him talk. Perhaps he knows where the globe is."

The soldier raised his sword and approached Jun. Focused by his fear; Jun raised his arms and pushed his right one forward. A small, sloped column of ice rose under the soldier's feet, knocking him back.

"The kid's a bender!" The soldier exclaimed.

"Well then I hope he knows the punishment for water bending…" the other soldier spoke as he readied a fire blast.

Jun was paralyzed with fear. If they caught him now, they would sever both his arms. A water bender was useless without his or her arms.

Jun managed to duck under the first blast. He rolled aside and quickly scooped up a snowball. He threw it, and against all odds, it struck the fire bender in the face. Jun saw his opportunity and ran.

"Gotta…find…Dad…"

He only made it a few feet before the soldier recovered. The second blast didn't miss.

Jun leapt, but it caught him in the lower leg. He screamed in pain as the fire consumed his leggings. Rolling in the thick, black, snow Jun tried to put the fire out, but even as he did, the pain did not end. He soon realized that he could not move.

The soldier with the sword spoke as he got up, "Should I find him and finish the job?"

Observing the heavy black snow falling all around him, the fire bender shook his head. "Waste of time, he'll probably freeze to death anyway. We need to move on."

Rinash was not faring much better. Once she had reached the village, the ice connecting her to the site of the battle cracked. The Fire Navy ships were coming through and she was stranded.

"Jun! Jun!!" she called desperately for her brother from her severed piece of ice. "Jun where are you?"

"Rinash! Run Rinash! There's too many of them, oh god my legs…"

"I won't leave you Jun! Where are you?" Mist enveloped her and obscured her vision. She could see nothing.

"There's no time Rinash! Run to the Earth Kingdom! I'll find Mom and Dad and get out of here, but you have to leave now!"

Tears flowed to her eyes, and then she heard the ship coming towards her. It was going to crash right through her little island. She ran, she did not know for how long, every turn brought another ship's shadow, and all the time she screamed… "Jun! Where are you Jun?"

Rin ran to Elder Chang. He had managed to escape the massacre with only a slightly wounded arm.

"There's…too many…" he panted, "Ten men…already dead…they won't stop till they get the globe…"

Elder Chang took out the globe from the confines of his thick robe and raised it. Even in the thick black mist that surrounded them it shone. The water swirled perpetually in it, an endless dance like that of Tui and La.

"Then I shall give it to them."

Placing both hands on the artifact, the Elder drew all the energy he could. Suddenly, the five Fire Navy ships surrounding their position met a giant wall of ice, over eighty feet high. The Elder stumbled back and Rin caught him.

"It is only…temporary…" the Elder gasped, "Zhi and most of the soldiers are on the other side…we have time…to flee."

Rin nodded and prepared to gather what was left of his men, but the Elder grabbed his arm.

"Wait Rin! When I used the orb…I felt your son…he is in trouble. You must find him."

"No…not Jun"

Jun thought for sure it was over when he passed out. As he awoke and saw the face of his father, he thought they had both died that day. He was without words.

Then his father spoke, "Thank the spirits you are alive Jun…"

Immediately Jun looked at his hands. They were miraculously unharmed. Then he took in his surroundings, they were in a hastily constructed tent. The tribe must have begun fleeing.

"Rinash…?"

Jun's father shook his head, "We do not know. No one has seen her."

With his eye's tearing, Jun began to pull of the blanket covering his lower body. His father placed a hand on his chest and stopped him.

"Wait Jun, listen to me. Regardless of what has happened, you are still my son and I am proud of you. Chang did his best, that is why there is no pain, but you must understand that…"

Confused and troubled, Jun tore off the blanket. He looked down, and saw that his legs past the knee were gone.

"I'm sorry my son…"

Jun could say nothing. He felt his life, his dreams, all shattered in an instant. He looked outside the tent and saw the snow falling evenly, silently. It fell throughout the South Pole, echoing silently the lost dreams, the sorrows felt throughout. So many lives lost and torn, these were the tired legacies of the war.