Chapter 2
The Signs of Love and Strength
Calder made the boat go around the mountains on the outside and was now making his way closer to the beach, they weren't even near land when Mirielle could see an older woman clad in armor standing at the beach edge. "I knew she would have the troops out" Gaius said "Who goes there?" The woman asked raising her hand to her forehead to look out. Mirielle stood up and look over at the woman as she said, "We're from the southern water tribe and we mean no harm." Her voice was soft and gentle. "What are you doing here on the Kyoshi Islands?" Then she saw Gaius. "Gaius is that you?" "Yes" Gaius said softly but still loud enough for her to hear as they made it onshore. "Pierina has been worried sick about you what happened?" The woman asked coming closer to them. Gaius explained what had happened with his boat and how he came across the water tribe. "I knew you shouldn't have went out there like that" The woman said "Let's go talk to your sister" Mirielle helped her brother paddle the boat to shore. She wasn't sure she could trust these people here other then Gaius so she made sure that she didn't use her waterbending. The warrior helped them get to shore and soon enough everyone was on dry land again. "Now come on let's get you to your sister" The woman said, as she grabbed Gaius to pull him along. "Your friends are welcome to come as well" She said over her shoulder, "At least for now." Mirielle looked at the warrior and gave her a warning look that said they better not try anything. She then followed behind Gaius to Pierina. The warrior almost seemed impressed to see such a warning look from a non-earthbender. They soon made it to what Mirielle guessed was Gaius home and saw another warrior girl, probably about 28, waiting for them. "I am so glad to know you are alright Gaius" She said hugging him.
Mirielle smiled and was glad that they got Gaius home though she wasn't sure on what else they could do now. Gaius hugged his sister back, even picking her up a little in a playful gesture. Once he had her sat back down again he told her about what happened. "Lucky you guys came across him" She said "Gaius can't swim that well. I hate to think of what happened if he was there alone any longer." Mirielle smiled softly and nodded at Gaius' sister before she looked back over to where they came from to look at the water smiling. "Did anything happen while I was gone?" Gaius asked "Other then hearing about the fire nation attacking Full Moon Bay nothing" Pierina said. "So the Fire Nation is still at it huh," Mirielle said looking at Pierina. "I don't think they will ever stop but at least they don't have too much of the earth kingdom just yet." She said. "That is good to know," Mirielle said softly. "The only thing is we of the Kyoshi warriors are part of the security up there" Pierina said "I just hope none of our girls were harmed" "If they are I can help heal them if you would like my help," Mirielle said looking at Pierina. "That's right" Pierina said "I had forgotten that waterbenders can heal. We would be glad to have your help but it will be a dangerous trip up there." Mirielle smiled at Pierina and nodded at her. "If you do go up there your not going alone" Calder said "I will go with you" "Don't you think your a bit young there boy?" One of the warriors said "Boy?" Calder said "I am a man of my tribe" She raised an eyebrow "Really now?" Mirielle smiled and said, "He is considered a man of the tribe really." She then looked at her brother and smiled at him. "Can you fight?" The woman asked "Of course I can fight" Calder said "You seem pretty confident there" "I am" Calder said "If I have to spar with you to prove I should go with my sister I'll do it" The female warrior smiled at his bravery and looked to Mirielle to see what she thought of that. Mirielle smiled proud of her brother showing his bravery.
"You think he can do it?" The warrior woman asked her. "I know he can. He may not look it right away but he is strong and brave," Mirielle said smiling. Her brother smiled proudly at her. "Let's test that then" The warrior woman said walking away from the house now "You will spar against me alright bo- rather young man" "I have a name" Calder said "It's Calder" "Calder it is then" The woman said "Are you ready?" Calder nodded holding his spear tight. Mirielle watched her brother knowing that this is his battle she wasn't going to jump in. As Mirielle watched she saw the warrior woman charge at Calder full speed, Calder bounded out of the way the woman stopped and stomped her foot hard and brought up a boulder behind her then turned around in a kick and sent it flying towards Calder. Being as small as he was Calder was able to duck underneath it and make a charge of his own the woman blocked the spear with her hands. "Not bad" She said. Mirielle smiled at her brother's own speed and waited to see what will happen next. She would be careful about watching the earthbender though. "Your pretty quick" The woman said "Thanks" Calder said jumping away as he noticed that the spear charge would accomplish nothing, she would block it. "See if you can dodge this..." The woman said as she stamped both feet producing smaller rocks that landed in her hands she then threw them both at once towards Calder. Calder jumped and spun dodging them both as they went passed either side of him. He had to figure out a way to strike her himself, that's when he thought of it from watching his sister. Use her own momentum against her. The woman launched another small rock but instead of dodging it he struck it with his spear like you swing a bat sending it flying back towards the warrior at twice the speed.
Mirielle smiled glad that her brother remembered that. She knew he learned it by watching her. "Impressive" The woman said "Maybe you will do alright" "Of course I will" Calder said, proud of himself now. "I believe that is enough unless you want to face me," Mirielle said smiling. She knew not to use waterbending unless she had to but she was giving the warriors a fair warning. "That won't be necessary" Pierina said "You will be coming to heal, and we will leave tomorrow morning. That is as long as you think your tribe will be ok about the venture?" "I'm sure it's fine besides we didn't know how long we will be away anyway," Mirielle said. "Alright" Pierina said "But I warn you again, it will be very dangerous" "We are able to protect and look after ourselves really. By the way my name is Mirielle," Mirielle said. She looked at Gaius hoping he won't give anything away like he said he wouldn't. "It's good to meet you Mirielle" Pierina said. Mirielle smiled and nodded at Pierina and once again looked at Gaius once more. Gaius walked over to Pierina and bowed gently "Would it be possible for me to go along as well?" He asked "I could carry the bigger loads as needed" Pierina seemed to think about it a moment. "I could use his help really," Mirielle said to Pierina. "You will just have to be careful" Pierina said "I will thanks sis" Gaius said smiling. "Let us rest up and prepare for the trip then, we leave at dawn" Pierina said making her way away from the house with the troops. Mirielle smiled softly at Gaius before she went to go look at the ocean here. It looked just the same here as it did at home if not brighter because of the stronger sun here. She was alone for a moment, her brother off with the warriors preparing. Gaius had went into his house for a moment and then saw her on the beach alone so he came out to join her. "I understand why you like the ocean" Gaius said "It's beautiful"
"Yeah it's very beautiful. Even more so with the sun on it like this," Mirielle said. Gaius blushed a little bit of the comment he was about to make, "It's not the only beautiful thing out here" He said. Mirielle blushed softly at those words and looked at Gaius softly. "It's true" He said. Mirielle blushed even more and said softly, "Thank you." "Your welcome" Gaius said "Are you prepared for tomorrow's trip?" "Yeah I'm ready," Mirielle said. "Were do you want to sleep tonight?" Gaius asked. "I'm not really all that sure. This is the first time I've been anywhere else," Mirielle answered. "I saw that you did pack camping equipment if you want to do that" Gaius said "But we do have a spare room or two in the house" "Yeah I suppose I can do that and be near the ocean some," Mirielle said smiling softly. "Alright" Gaius said smiling, "I will be getting ready to head in soon so come on and get you some dinner before you and your brother go to sleep out here" "Okay then," Mirielle said smiling softly and moving to get back up. Gaius walked with her back up to the house and showed her the way into the kitchen where his mother was finishing up the food. Mirielle looked at Gaius before she walked into the kitchen to get some food. Gaius mom smiled at Mirielle and gave her the bomburi, The rice dinner she had made. "I hope you enjoy it" She said smiling. "I'm sure I will thank you," Mirielle said as she took the food smiling back at Gaius' mother. Gaius got his own food as well and began to eat it at the table as he watched Mirielle. Mirielle noticed that Gaius was watching her again. She looked at him curiously but she gave him a smile as well.
Gaius smiled back at her but then blushed and quickly looked away as he noticed that she caught that he was staring again. Mirielle smiled and blush before she also looked a way shyly and finished her food. Once she was done Gaius' mother was there to take her own plate and Mirielle's to the kitchen to have them cleaned. "I guess you want to head on out and prepare to lay down so you can get up early right?" Gaius asked softly. "Yeah," Mirielle said softly smiling moving to get up so she could set up camp. Calder was there as well and walking with her down to camp. "What's with you and Gaius?" He asked curious "He looks at you sorta funny" "I'm not all that sure right now Calder," Mirielle answered honestly though she had an idea of what it could be. "Whatever" Calder said shrugging as he climbed into his tent. Mirielle smiled and moved to climb in her own tent though she knew that she should practice her waterbending some more. She noticed that her brother was already asleep in his own tent. Mirielle smiled softly and went to the ocean to practice her waterbending knowing that she should be careful. The water flowed the same way here and Mirielle did the same as she always did. Mirielle smiled and tried to make a whip with the water like she did when she drew water out of clothes. The whip of water flowed perfectly and shined brightly in the moonlight. Mirielle smiled and worked a little more on the water whip but continued to be careful. Everything was flowing perfectly and she didn't have any problems. Mirielle smiled once more and gently put the water back into the ocean knowing that it was enough practice for the night. As she turned back around she saw that the campsite wasn't any different from when she started, she hadn't disturbed anyone. Mirielle smiled and headed back to her tent. Mirielle was ready to lay down now. Mirielle smiled softly and closed her eyes ready to sleep. Her last thought before sleep claimed her was of Gaius.
