I never thought I'd get out of that place, Sapphire thought, I'm almost grateful the fire navy attacked when they did.
"Ruby?"
She leaned up from looking at the water, "Yes, princess- I mean, Sapphire?"
She chuckled, "It's alright, and I'm no princess. I'm an oracle, just so you know."
"Oh, I've heard of those, but never met one. I kinda thought they were myths or con artists."
"Most are, but I'm the real deal," she lifted the hair that was covering her right eye revealing it to be completely white, ghostly. It started Ruby, but that soon past and changed to curiosity.
"My lord! How did that happen?"
"I was born like this, and they knew the moment I opened my eyes I would be the next Oracle of the northern water tribe. You see, it runs in my family and it tends to skip a generation or two."
Ruby furrowed her brow, "But, why did you leave then? You're destined for a great life."
"Not exactly, I saw how the royal family treated my grandmother. She was taken away from her family the moment my mother could survive without her nourishment. And like her I was taken away when I became a women, and my visions became clearer. I saw what they would do to me. My grandmother helped me, she gave me this boat. So before they could lock me up for good I knew I had to get out.
"When I saw the fire nation was going to invade I was relieved. My chance had come. But I didn't see you."
"What?"
"I didn't predict a fire navy soldier would help me, let alone come with me. You baffle me Ruby."
She blushed, "Oh, well, I'm no more special than any other soldier. I'm just a pawn, one of hundreds. Now you, you're one of a kind."
"But Ruby," Sapphire kneeled down to meet her at eye level, "You are a warrior. Not everyone has the bravery to fight for their nation, even if they don't believe everything their nation stands for. But you are special, because you didn't conform either."
She was speechless, all her life Ruby was told she had to conform, never break from the pack.
"I can see you are destined for so much greatness, but not with my sight," she took her hand and put it to her chest, "But with my heart."
The sun had finally gone down by the time we passed all of the icebergs. The temperature was increasing, but not by much. I breathed into my hands to warm them, the flames created a little beacon in the middle of the darkness as the clouds covered the moon.
"How much longer do you think it'll take us to find land?" I asked Sapphire, shivering.
"Well, thankfully, it's a full moon tonight, so it shouldn't be too long," she answered.
The boat had been moving at a steady pace, it wasn't until the waves kicked in that I realized how fast we were going. The boat jump up in the air every few jerks, Sapphire was so focused on her bending that it didn't seem to bother her how frantic we were moving.
I tried to hold on for dear life, "Maybe you should hold back just a little bit!" I yelled over the rushing winds and crashing tides.
This brought her out of her "zone" and back into the material world. She blushed and began to bend softer.
"Sorry, I haven't figured out my own strength yet, this is still kinda new to me."
"It's all right. And I don't know much about waterbending, but you're pretty good," I leaned back in my seat and blushed.
"Thanks, I usually watch the bending classes from high up, so they don't see me. Then I practice when night falls."
"Why is it that women can't bend in your tribe?"
"No, actually."
"What?! That's ridiculous!" a flame raised from my hand.
She looked ahead, "I know, but it's always been this way. The men are the hunters and warriors, and the women are the caregivers and gatherers. We are more valuable, because we create the next generations of warriors, we must be protected," she gazed into the deep sea, "At least that's what they told us."
"So? Women can be just as strong as men, and I'm kind of an example of that."
She giggled, "You're not wrong there."
"In the Fire Nation we were always taught as equals, no matter your gender."
"I hate to say this, but that is one principle the Fire Nation got right."
"Yeah, -" I gasped, I stood up to try and get a better view.
"What's wrong Ruby?" Sapphire asked cautiously.
"I can see land! We're almost there!"
Sapphire looked further out and could see the shore too, so she quickened her bending.
We were there in no time and found a spot to park the boat. I extended my arm so Sapphire could get down after I got out.
"That's very kind of you Ruby, but you won't have to treat me like this anymore. Now that we are fugitives we are equals."
"Sorry, I guess old habits die hard," I said as I scratched my head bashfully.
"Alright, first things first," she took out a map from her skirt and spread it on the ground. "We're surrounded by a lot of mountains, so we shouldn't be too far from the northern Air Temple. Once we find that it shouldn't be too hard to navigate the rest of the way."
"Wait, what're those red dots all around the map?" I asked.
"Those are the different camps for the Rebellion, and one isn't too far from the Air Temple," she smiled, "The leader, Rose Quartz, should be in that one," she pointed to a spot not too far from the mountain range.
"How are you so sure, what if she's not there? What if the camp has already been invaded by the Fire Nation?!"
"Don't worry Ruby, I am certain that they're still there. And if they move, I'll know and redirect us."
We walked for a good part of the day, passing through the mountains ultimately coming across a cliff.
Sapphire sighed with relief, "We're finally here, thank goodness."
"But this is just a big cavern. Where's the temple?"