First off, thank you very much to those who left such kind reviews on the first chapter! I really, truly appreciate them. I also appreciate every single reader, whether you review or not.

I wanted to go ahead and give you all the next chapter, though the following chapters may not come quite so quickly. I am writing a few ahead to stay on top of my plot, and I don't want to get too far with posting and miss something important. This one, though, is ready to be enjoyed.

I hope everyone has a marvelous week!

Silence of the Sound

Chapter 2

"I still think this is a very bad idea," Lin muttered, handing her rucksack up to Tenzin so he could secure it to Oogi's saddle. She squinted against the late morning sun.

Tenzin just sighed, far too used to her ribbing over the last four days to pay it any more mind now. They had received a response to his letter the previous day urging them to come as soon as they could. Though Lin had not rescinded her agreement to join him, she had nevertheless tried to talk him out of going at all at every turn. It was getting aggravating.

"I know you do," he said to show her he was listening, however divided the attention may be.

She put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes, staring up at him on his bison's back. "And I'm still not clear on why you're refusing to send one of your precious new Airbenders in your place. They'd be able to handle this just fine."

"Yes, I know." He didn't look at her, sure if he did he would only see disappointment written on her face. To expound on the one point he could, though, he continued evenly with, "I'm not sending anyone else in the rare event this turns dangerous. I don't think they've gained enough experience yet."

"But you're fine sending the two of us into nameless peril. Right, I see." She scoffed, turning away from him.

"Lin, that is not -"

"Here you go!" Pema came striding out into the courtyard, two large baskets tucked under her arms. She grinned at them both, fully aware she was interrupting a tiff and pleased to be doing so. "I've packed enough food to last you a few days, if needed. And if eaten sparingly, though since Meelo is not going with you that should not be an issue."

Lin reached out to take one of the proffered baskets, returning the younger woman's kind smile. "Thank you, Pema. Hopefully the place we're going is civilized enough to feed and water us, but -"

"Lin!" Tenzin scolded sourly, even knowing the remark was aimed at Rala rather than his wife.

"- we appreciate it regardless," she finished without giving her friend any notice.

Pema glanced between them as Lin hefted one basket, then the other up into the saddle before climbing up herself. "Be careful," she entreated. She and Tenzin had said their goodbyes earlier that morning, and she raised her hand in a final farewell. She resisted the sudden urge to tell them not to fight like she did so many times in a day with the children, but she held it back and said instead, "I'll see you two soon!"

Lin gave her a small salute, sprawling backward when Tenzin gave Oogi the command to take off without checking to see if she was settled. "I can see this is going to be a fun trip…"

xXx

They had been traveling for two hours in silence when Tenzin released Oogi's reins, confident the sky bison was comfortable enough to continue without guidance on their northeast trek, and climbed back into the saddle with Lin. She had found a spot against the side, leaning there to gaze down at the land passing quickly beneath them. Tenzin sat beside her and cleared his throat, unsure of how to start.

"So," he began. She glanced at him, her face closed off as her hair whipped around it with the wind. "Did you get everything settled at work, then?"

Lin looked away in annoyance. "Yes."

"Good, I'm glad."

"Look," she said, her voice showing how badly she hurt even if her expression hadn't changed. "I still do not agree that this is the best plan. Not because people do not need help – it is true, they do. But because I do not trust Rala at all."

She turned her gaze up to meet his, and she could see the anxiety under his cool exterior without having to search for it. "We knew a handful of bullies in school. All of them grew out of it by the time we were through our teens. All, except him. There is something not right about Rala, we both know it. He's cruel. For what information we have so far about this, he could be the one killing these people, Tenzin, and using it as a reason to lure you out there. That man has always wanted to harm you, either emotionally or physically. The last few decades won't have changed anything."

Tenzin reached out and took her hand from here it was resting in her lap, bringing it to his chest to hold there. "And that, Lin," he said as quietly as he could over the wind, "is why I am so glad you are coming with me."

"I promise I won't argue about this again. Or at least, I promise to try." She let out a long breath, not pulling her hand away until he released it. "I'm just worried about you, that's why I was trying to convince you not to go. It's too late now, anyway. When will we be arriving, do you think?" she asked, putting a solid end to the conversation.

He paused for a moment, mulling over her words and briefly considering saying something else on the topic before wisely deciding not to. "Probably another hour or so. I have a map in my bag if you'd like to take a look."

"No, it's all right. I just don't like these long flights, my legs start to get tense." She gave him a lopsided grin and stretched her legs out in front of her, hooking one ankle over the other. "My body doesn't appreciate being stuck immobile for so long, especially so high up. Us Earthbenders, right? My mother hated flying, too, so at least I know it's not just me."

Tenzin chuckled, leaning back against the rigid railing of the saddle and finally starting to relax a bit. "You've always hated flying, as far as I can tell. You were remarkably difficult when my father wanted to take us all on vacations. Between you and Aunt Toph you made him absolutely miserable the entire time."

"Oh, please! He was not miserable, you were!" Lin started to laugh. She shook her head and looked back over her shoulder, down toward the earth far below. "Remember that one trip to Ember Island to meet Zuko, when we were five or six? On our way there Bumi got so mad at me, he almost pushed me right off Aapa's back out of the sky. I grabbed you when I tripped so we both went tumbling. The only reason we didn't fall was because your mother grabbed me by the britches."

"That was terrifying," he agreed with a smile at the memory.

"I'm pretty sure you threw up on me during that same flight. We still couldn't stay apart, though," Lin mused. "Connected at the hip since birth, until –" She cut herself off quickly and turned to keep her gaze away from his. "Well, it doesn't matter now, does it?"

"You were still my best friend. From that very first day."

She rolled her eyes, trying very hard not to hear the sincerity in what he had said. "I highly doubt you remember the first day you met me, Tenzin. You were one."

"Perhaps not," he conceded, "but I still understood how important you were from a very young age. You can't argue with that, because you felt it for me, too. Otherwise we wouldn't have been as close as we were. Still are, hopefully."

"Yes, well."

That was all she said on the matter, feeling an ache growing around her heart. She pulled her legs back up toward her chest, but changed her mind and lowered one back down. If they kept talking about this, she was worried she would go down the path of opening herself to him again, the way she had when they had a true relationship, and that was not something she was willing to risk.

The ten years they had been apart were long and painful for her without her closest friend – and for him, she had come to realize over the last three they had started talking again, even if he didn't discuss it often. Having him back in her life had taken a bit of getting used to, like going back to how it had been between them before any romantic feelings had evolved. Only this time…it felt like something was missing, and she was afraid of finding that piece. Perhaps because they both knew what it was like to truly let their souls be together, and not allowing that to occur felt like holding back each and every time they were around one another. No, they didn't have to be romantically involved for that to happen, but she was still wary regardless.

"Lin, are you okay?"

She looked over at him, realizing her quick silence had given exactly the message she was trying to avoid. "Oh, yes. Just uncomfortable. My legs, I mean," she added, stretching the other down once more for emphasis.

"You can close your eyes for a while, if you want," Tenzin suggested when he realized she was done talking to him about anything vaguely personal. The thought made him sad and, rather than push her when they had finally reached a truce about this dubious adventure they were undertaking – not to mention the way she had spoken to him like her friend instead of an acquaintance, which he had missed something terrible – he carefully scooted toward the front of the saddle. "I can wake you when we're nearly there."

"It's fine, I enjoy watching the sights even if I don't enjoy flying." She gave him a small smile when he hesitated. "Go back to guiding Oogi, I'm all right here alone."

He nodded once before leaving her to her thoughts.

xXx

Two more hours passed, the silence broken here and there by small bits of conversation as time wore on. Not long after they stopped for a quick break and late lunch, Tenzin turned his bison downward.

"There it is," he called back to Lin, who leaned forward a bit to peer down at the small town they were approaching.

"It's not much, is it?" she observed, moving to the front of the saddle so she and Tenzin wouldn't have to yell at one another. The buildings were short and packed together. The town's square became an obvious fixture as they got closer, and what appeared to be a minute city hall – at least, in comparison to the one in Republic City – was surrounded by tiny stores, which gave way to an inn and homes. Further up the north-heading streets, they could see were the avalanche had destroyed a fair number of houses. With it all brought to scale, it was actually a wonder no more than two people had died in the disaster.

A few villagers came out into the roads to watch as Oogi found a safe place to land, though most held back quite a bit. Lin regarded them as guardedly as they did her when she slid down off the bison's back beside Tenzin, their belongings still in the saddle until they knew where to unpack.

"Councilman!"

They turned, not surprised to see Rala, older than they had last seen him even if his features were much the same. His once brown hair had grayed and was cut short, but his blue eyes were just as sharp as they had been in his youth. The townsfolk parted as he walked through them, a wide smile plastered on his face to show his white teeth. People watched as he came forward and held out a hand.

"I am so pleased you were able to come to our aid," he said, taking Tenzin's hand in his and not sparing a glance for Lin. "Please, come right over here. We have a room all prepared with our innkeeper. You are welcome to get settled before you meet with the healer. Would you like anything to eat?"

"No, thank you," Lin cut in, shouldering her way between the two men to break the vice-like handshake as she stalked toward the inn. "Just show us these rooms so we can get this thing moving."

An older man came rushing over to usher them in, opening the large wooden door. Rala inclined his head and stood back. "As you wish. I will be available to you when you're ready."

"This isn't too bad so far," Tenzin leaned down to whisper in Lin's ear once Rala had disappeared into the crowd of people again.

She just scoffed and curled her lip. "He's a spider wasp, you know it as well as I do."

The old man, who turned out to be the innkeeper, gestured for them to follow him to the desk near the far wall. The main floor of the inn was small and dimly lit, with few windows to let in natural light, but it was cozy in a nice sort of way. Even though this place surely didn't get many visitors, it wasn't a bad town to stop by for a night. At least, the inn didn't appear to be.

"My name is Chel," the man said, giving them a smile as he dug around behind the desk for something. "My wife, Kaalya, helps me run the place, but I'll be damned if I ever remember where she puts our log book – oh, here it is!" He pulled a hefty book up out of a drawer and flipped it open. "So, Rala put your name down just the other day. Right, here we are. Masters Tenzin and Beifong, your room is all prepared!"

Lin blinked at the single key he held out to them, pausing for a moment before slowly pushing it back into his hand. "Only one room?"

"Well, yes. Is that not correct?" Chel ran his finger down the log again, finding their entry and reading over it. "Rala said you two were married and only needed a single room, so I gave the second one away." His eyes were wide when he looked between them both with slight panic. "We only have the one room left, many of the people whose homes were destroyed are staying here with us."

Lin opened her mouth to respond, but Tenzin touched her shoulder to stall her response and spoke instead. "Is there perhaps a cot we could borrow for the room you've found for us?" he asked far more calmly than she would have. He heard her take a deep breath beside him, keeping her temper in check.

Chel nodded quickly and handed him the key. A number three was engraved on the head. "Yes, of course. I'll ask someone to retrieve it for you right now. I apologize for the misunderstanding!"

"Misunderstanding my ass," Lin growled as soon as he ran off toward a back hallway. "Everyone in the world knows you married Pema, it was a global affair involving all four nations. Rala probably set this up as soon as you told him I was coming with you."

"Or," Tenzin said softly, "it really was a misunderstanding."

"Bison shit. You don't really believe that, do you?"

"Let's just bring our things inside," he muttered. His evasion was all the answer she needed, and she scowled angrily as she followed him back outside into the chilly air to help gather their bags.

"Can we just go find the healer so I can look at the bodies?" She slung her bag and Tenzin's over her shoulder while he retrieved the baskets of food to bring inside. "I'd rather keep all interactions with our old friend to a minimum and get this over with as soon as possible."

"Yes, I certainly agree with that."