Avatar: The Last Viking

Ch.2: Berk

Sheng followed the burly boy over to a large wooden building. It was well decorated but it didn't make Sheng any less antsy. Rai was still perched on her shoulder, hunching up in fright.

"Don't worry, Rai. I'm sure we'll find Hahn." Sheng said, scratching her lemur's head.

She entered the building. The door slammed shut behind her. She cringed but continued to follow the boy.

She found a bunch of burly men, surrounding a table.

"We saw 'em 'ere sir." She overheard one Viking said, pointing to the map. "About two or three."

"And yer sure these were iron?" asked a man, who wore a fine fur cape and towered above all of them.

"Yes sir, must be from some weird country-"

"It's the Fire Nation." Sheng immediately spoke. All Vikings looked up.

"Snotlout, who is yer friend?"

"I found her in the forest, sir." Snotlout reported. "I dunno who she is."

"Young lady, can you explain 'ow ye know this?"

"I will, but in return to know where I am." Sheng replied.

"Lost are ye?" Stoick the Vast asked. Sheng nodded. "Why, yer in Berk!"

"Berk?" Sheng asked, raising a brow. "Is the Western Air Temple nearby?"

"Western Air-What is tha'?"

Sheng shook her head.

"Never mind," she said, telling herself she'd figure it out later. She came over to the map. "Now about these ships, they are made by the Fire Nation. They are industrial and have more modern technology than the other three nations."

"What are ye blabberin' 'bout?" Stoick asked.

"You don't know the four nations?" Sheng asked. Stoick shook his head.

"'Fraid not lass." Stoick answered.

Sheng sighed. She'll never get home.

"There's four nations." Sheng explained. "The Air Nomads, where I hail from, The Water Tribe, the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation. From each nation, there are a sum of selected people who could bend, or control, their native element. Air Nomads control the air current around them, making them airbenders. The Water Tribe has waterbenders who could control the water around them, the Earth Kingdom has earthbenders who can control the earth and the Fire Nation has firebenders who could manipulate and control fire. So far, they are the most dangerous."

Stoick raised a brow.

"Lass, ye have quite an imagination."

"Imagination? I'm not making this up!" Sheng heaved. "The Fire Nation has regained control of the Earth Kingdom and is oppressing again."

"Look, clearly ye bumped yer head on somethin', I'll have Gobber show you a place to stay."

"Monkeyfeathers." Sheng grumbled.

Gobber, the man who had a hammer for an arm as well as a nice peg for a foot, showed her out of the Great Hall.

"I'm not making this up." Sheng said, looking at Rai.

"Listen, Stoick is not the greatest listener in tha' world." Gobber explained. Sheng looked at him, she was hoping he'd believe her. "I believe ye, I've actually seen…whatever power you possess."

"Bending." Sheng answered.

"Ya, I've seen tha'." Gobber said. "Understand we live in a isolated area, no one likes it here 'cept fer us Vikings, we learn to live like this. No one visits us, we get the 'arshest win'ers, worse snowfalls, worse storms that can rock a whole island."

"So you, Vikings, aren't aware of the world around you?" Sheng asked.

"'Fraid not, only so few of us dared to leave Berk."

"Why so?" Sheng asked.

"We were worried about dragon raids."

"Dragon raids?" Sheng asked in disbelief, completely at a halt. That could only mean. "You have dragons?"

Gobber laughed at the shocked face of the girl.

"Yeah, 'hey're our friends." Gobber said. "Why so shocked?"

"Because, outside of here, it's believed that they are all extinct!" Sheng cried. "Save for two, Rahn and Shaw."

"I don't know what yer talkin' 'bout but it seems like quite a tale to tell." Gobber said.

They finally arrived at a small house.

"This is fer anybody who actually comes here." Gobber said. "Yer welcome to it for your stay."

Sheng looked at the house before facing Gobber.

"I need to get back as soon as possible." Sheng mentioned. "The world needs me."

"Ah, I'm sure a few days rest won't hurt ye. Besides, Stoick might want ye 'round since ye know the iron sea monsters."

"He said he didn't believe me." Sheng said, a bit confused. "Why would he-"

"I'll talk to Stoick. For now, ye get some rest. Dinner is in two hours." Gobber said. He gestured to the large wooden building not far from them. "Out in the Great Hall."

Sheng nodded her thanks and she disappeared into the house. She shut the door carefully behind her and tossed her staff unto the found bed. Rai chattered endlessly as he hopped off her shoulder and began surveying the house.

"Dragons, Rai." Sheng said. "They have dragons and all along, we believe them to be extinct! Can you believe it?"

Rai chattered at her.

"I know, I know, I promise I'll find something for you to eat." Sheng said, sitting down on the bed. With distant eyes, she stared out the window of her new hut. "I wonder where Hahn is."

To be continued.