Book 3: STONE

CHAPTER 2:

THE BADGERMOLE

Shu was forced to the army barracks, a large guard surrounding him. His hands were tied in front of him as he was pushed along. His father watched from the tall tower as his son was sentenced to war. He turned his head and buried it in his long cloak and continued on with his routine.

The army barracks was large. It had tall walls with wooden spokes at the top to keep anyone from launching an air assault. There were three large buildings with slits in the windows for the archers. Shu was forced into the large tent near the back corner. Inside was a large desk with a neat lamp upon it and tons of scrolls and a world map behind the stool.

"Well, if it isn't the traitorous prince." The commander said as he stood up. He was bulky and bald. He had large side burns that ended in sharp points. His hair was grey and his eyes looked weary. He gave a laugh and spit into a pot situated by his desk. "Come as an act of good will?"

"I think you already know the answer." Shu said as his head hung lower and his hands made a feeble gesture.

"I just wanted to hear it from you." The commander said as he got to his feet. "I am commander Moudeddo." He gave a snarl and held a hand out. Shu moved to take it but Moudeddo slapped it away.

"I don't do handshakes." He snarled and grabbed the scroll that one of the guards had been handing over. He took it and opened it with a flourish and leaned in close. "Ah, so you're at the front lines!" Moudeddo looked pleased as he turned to Shu and laughed.

"Well, I guess that's it." Shu groaned as he gave a look out the tent flap to the cherry blossom trees that could be made out on top of the mountain.

"You bet it is." Moudeddo said as he slapped Shu on the back and leaned in close to his ear. "That means that you get to be part of the first strike."

"What?!" Shu asked as he spun around and almost knocked the commander over.

"Well, war is war and the armies are all fired up for it, see.' The commander said as he spit into a bowl in the corner of the room. "And you my little prince are on the front lines. I hope the spirits are with you."

Oma sat in the window of her bedroom, the cherry blossom that Shu had given her lay in her delicate hands. She could just make out the mountain between the small cracks in the bars. She could also see the wall and shops that lined the bottom of the slope, fighting to stay level at most. The shouts of men as they trained drifted through the air as merchants crammed the streets with their unwanted wares.

Oma turned and fell back upon her bed, she didn't have much to do either way. Shishou was off with his thugs in some tavern in town, stirring up trouble no doubt. She got up and moved to a small shrine in her room and knelt before it. "Spirits, please watch over Shu. Make sure that he survives this war and that I may e with hi again soon." She bowed her head and a single tear slipped from her grieving eye.

The troops of Kilmojo bean their morning run strong. Shu was in the back of the pack, barely able to keep pace with them. A nother guard was set up behind him, Moudeddo himself making sure Shu did not waver from the path. They ran into town and followed the side roads to the west before taking the path out towards the hills.

"Pick up the pace boys. Won't be going this slow when there's a spear to your back." The drill instructor shouted as the group seemed to pick up the pace. Shu pulled over to the side and sat on a rock to catch his breath, sweat pouring down his face. Moudeddo moved to the side and stood beside him.

"You just keep moving." Moudeddo shouted to the recruits behind him. They gave a sharp nod and continued to jog, picking up pace to fall in with the other group. Moudeddo spit into the bushes and looked down upon Shu. "Everything you dreamed it would be?"

"And then some." Shu responded as he removed his shirt and used it to wipe the sweat off. "I never wanted a war. I wanted love and peace and happiness. Hasn't this whole bender business done enough to this world?"

"Not enough if I say so." Moudeddo replied. Shu looked up to him.

"And why do you think that?" Shu asked.

"Well, much like your father, I assume that this was meant to be. Like the spirits wanted it to happen." Moudeddo took a seat next to Shu and wiped his face. "What I don't get is why it has been so small. Yeah sure the world we know has been turned upside down but you have to wonder, is that it? Is there just a large army with no coordination going around after this group of people that we will eventually have to live with or is this just the prelude to something even bigger?"

"I still don't get what you mean." Shu stammered.

"You sure are thick headed." Moudeddo said as he got up and took a few steps. "That kind of thinking isn't needed in any army. A soldier needs to be intelligent. He needs to understand why he's fighting, and the way I see it, we are just setting up for the world shattering event to come from these benders. Maybe it's time you became part of bender history as well." Moudeddo took off running, leaving Shu to think over these things.

"And what part could I have in this big war?" Shu asked himself as he looked to the ground, running a hand along the back of his neck. He looked skyward, towards the mountain with the two cherry trees on top, both intertwined. He felt the earth shake and he turned around to see a hole appear in the ground. A long nose poked out, sniffing the air before turning around and disappearing beneath the earth.

Shu sat up and looked around. Moudeddo was far enough away that it would be hard for him to hear. Shu walked over to the hole in the ground and climb down it. The tunnel opened up the farther he went down and he found it surprisingly easy to maneuver without light. He could feel the earth around him and beneath him. Shu linked, hoping to see if his eyes were really open. They were.

He ducked as a tail almost collided with his head. He heard a sort or growl mixed with a purr. He dodged to the side as a claw seemed to slash at him. He realized that there was a giant beast in front of him and he had walked right into its den.

Shu stood still, waiting to see what the next move would be, trying to feel it from the earth. Yet it remained still, as if it too was waiting for the next move. Shu took a step forward and he felt the earth slip from beneath him. He twisted around and he turned quickly. He made a jab at the creature but he felt a heavy rock fall from above. Shu dove out of the way as the rock hit the ground. The rock then lifted into the air and propelled itself at him. Shu put out a hand and diverted it, feeling the energy of the rock in the palm of his hand.

It was a badgermole. Shu gazed upon the creature as some light began to fill the den. The badgermole was moving the earth, waiting and listening to see what his opponent would do. "You can bend the earth." Shu said as he moved forward slowly. The badgermole lowered its head and moved forward, its legs moving in a small sweeping manner.

Earthbending was how I interacted with its world. Shu bowed low to the creature. The badgermole sniffed him over and then licked his head, ruffling the hair there. Shu laughed and patted it down. The creature then turned and began to bend the earth away, making a new tunnel for himself. Shu watched as the badgermole moved its limbs in ways that seemed to make a connection to the earth. Shu stopped and practiced this, making an indent in the wall of the tunnel. He then focused upon the ground and made a rock float into the air and shoot into the wall.

"I'm a bender!" Shu exclaimed as he realized this. He practiced some more, the badgermole watching him though it was blind. It would move its foot in a certain way at times to show him how to do a technique. Shu focused at a wall and pushed outwards. The badgermole quickly set up a shield around them as the hill collapsed, rocks shooting out.

"I think I may have over did it a little." Shu said as the badgermole grunted. "I got a little carried away." Shu lowered the shield himself and looked out through the dust at the destruction he had done. It was just a hill that had collapsed but it seemed that it was much harsher. Shu stepped out of the rubble, turning to see the badgermole disappear back into one of his many tunnels. Shu slipped his shirt back on and walked back to the path.

He heard some shouts as soldiers were running around frantically. "What's going on?" Shu asked at the commotion.

"We think Pathigo made an attack." A man said as he slipped the armor on and raced to join his comrades that were assembling at the barracks.

"They made the first strike already?" Shu asked as he too ran to reach the barracks.

"Yeah, didn't you see the landslide?" another soldier asked as he raced past.

"Landslide?" Shu asked as he realized what they were saying. His practice had been interpreted as an attack. "I think it was just a landslide." Shu said, trying to keep himself from battle.

"Not possible."

"And why not?" Shu asked.

"Because, Moudeddo was trapped beneath the rocks. He is dead."