The Real Painted Lady Ch 2
By: BloodyHoney
* Chapter Two
The next morning, Haikko awoke to the sound of children talking to each other. She rubbed her eyes and gazed at the kids watching her sleep. "Who are you? What do you want?"
"We're the ones who live here." Spouted back one of the children.
"This is my boat! You don't live here!" recanted Haikko.
"Your ship just wrecked into our village!" Shouted the little boy to her left.
"Were are you from?" asked a strange voice from behind her.
"It doesn't matter because I'm not going back." Haikko turned to answer and found herself face to face with a young man named Toz.
"Ah, a run-away. Do me a favor. The next time you decide to run away, use a canoe." He walked towards the door. "We are going to need help repairing the damage your ship caused. In case you were wondering."
The girl was ashamed that she had done so much damage. Not only to her people, now she was adding chaos to lives of strangers. Haikko agreed to stayed for a few days and helped repair the broken docks. She learned about the village and their fishing culture. And to her delight, she made a great new friend. He welcomed her into his world of the floating village.
One day Toz approach the young woman with a large hat. With one swift movement he placed it on her head. "How do you like your new fishing hat?" He slapped his hand on the rim of it. "I think it suits you."
Haikko peered over the edge at her reflection in the river. The hat was enormous. It made her head feel small by comparison. "No one has ever given me a fishing hat before." Her words were grateful. "I'll wear it everyday!"
He took her out on fishing trip and they talked for hours, despite scaring away the fish. Even though she was in the Fire nation, she felt at home. They all lived on the river and relied on each other. Her love of their simple lifestyle grew. As did her unspoken affection for her new friend.
Days passed into months and life was good. Until there was shocking news. Avatar Yangchen, the Airbender had died. The entire village went into mourning. Though she had never visited the village on the river, Yangchen was loved by all. Haikko's thoughts were of the next avatar in the cycle. It would be a waterbender. "Don't be sad, Yangchen will be back, Her life will continue in the next Avatar."
"Yeah, a watertbender." Toz replied snidely "Lets just hope the new avatar is better at keeping peace than the rest of the Watertribe"
Haikko couldn't believe her ears."What do you mean? The Watertribe are very peaceful."
"Now they are. But they were at war with each other for more than 200 years."
"We were never at war with each other!" the young woman snapped, suddenly realizing that she finally told Toz where she was from.
"We?" Toz asked. "You're from the Watertribe, Why didn't you tell me?"
"Are you upset that I'm Watertribe?" She asked abruptly.
A look of shocked covered his face. "Of course not! I'm a fisherman. I know it would be good to have you here with us. Waterspirits will protect our waters if you stay."
"Is that why I should stay?" Haikko leaned towards him. "for the fish.."
Toz's alabaster cheeks turned red. "Even though you're a big pain. I do like having you around.."
Haikko smiled at Toz and their lips met for the first time. She fell into his warm embrace. That moment was on her mind long before it had ever happened. They spent the next two years happy in each others company.
Toz would light fireworks on the nights that Haikko couldn't join him on the fishing trips. It was his way of saying they would be together again soon.
