Nox glanced up towards the town, soaking in all the sights he could see. The town wasn't really what he was expecting. First, and most importantly, it was ruined. All the buildings that stretched up the mountain were destroyed, as if a fist had come from the sky and hit each one, leaving parts of the homes intact, but the rest demolished. The second things was the townspeople, and how they seemed to be keenly oblivious to the destruction of part of their town. They acted so accustomed to the wreckage that Nox wondered if it had always been that way.
The part of the town that hadn't been reduced to rubble was lively enough, people were out and about, some doing chores, but most were very content just to talk with one another in the street. Merchants were selling wares from storefronts, offering deals to anyone that went by for their wares, many of which Nox severely needed, though he lacked money and refused to steal. As Nox was considering ways for him to make money, a small group of small children ran by, each giggling as they went. Whatever game they were playing, it looked fun, and Nox couldn't resist smiling as they disappeared down a side street, their laughter fading into the noise of the town.
A girl came up from the same way the kids had come from, but stopped next to Nox, smiling while facing the street the children had just run down, not making eye contact with him but it was obvious they both had noticed each other.
"Geez, now I wish I was a kid again." Nox remarked, still smiling.
"Yeah, I'd rather be the one running right now than having to chase these guys." she answered, before finally turning towards Nox and giving him a curious glance.
The girl was a bit older than Nox was, if he had to guess, and she also had a slight height advantage as well. She had long brown hair with matching eyes. Her facial features were very small and closed in, with a short nose and tiny eyes that contrasted her height. She wore a simple dress, mostly light green with the edging lined with yellow.
"You aren't from around here." she said, glancing him over with a straight face, saying it more as a statement than a question.
"Already heard that before today." Nox replied "hopefully you won't try to read my future too."
She gave him a quizzical look, but he brushed it off as nothing, not willing to explain to her about the old man.
"Yes, I am not from around here." Nox said, replying to her after a small pause.
"So if you don't mind me asking then, why are you here? There isn't too much to do here."
"Funny as it sounds, I've been lost for a while, but thankfully happened onto your town."
"Well, then let me welcome you to Taku." She motioned towards the town behind her. He took a second look around, and as he did caught some people glancing at him that quickly averted their glances, probably because he was a newcomer.
Focusing back on the girl, he saw her stick her hand out and introduce herself as Mio. Nox shook her hand lightly, telling her his name in return.
"Well then, Nox" Mio said, trying out his name "do you need a place to stay, since you seem to be hopelessly lost?"
"Yes, I do, actually."
"Well, if you don't mind a cramped room, I think my mother would be more than happy to let you into our house."
"That would be really nice, thanks." Nox said, surprised with her hospitality.
"Once I chase down these kids, I'll come back and show you the way." Mio said, beginning to jog away towards the back road he'd seen the small children go down.
"Those are all your siblings?" Nox asked, the idea of spending a night with a bunch of kids running around souring the deal of a free bed.
"No, I'm an only child. I promised to take care of them for some families that are off chopping down trees for the town, to try and help rebuild."
Nox was reminded of all the destroyed build, and was about to question what happened to this place to cause all this ruin, but Mio was gone before he could ask.
He'd already determined he liked Mio. Call it a snap judgment, but she seemed like a good person, whether it be offering Nox a room, or taking care of children for other families. Maybe it was the fact she also reminded him of Kira, a girl that had meant a lot to him when he had still been on the Shadow Isle. She'd taught him how to shadowbend, given him the best friend he'd ever had, and they'd been almost inseparably, until Nox had been sent off by his dad.
He wasn't sure what his father's motivation was to send him on this mission, but for whatever reason, Nox had been given a task to communicate with the light benders. They wanted to trade with the shadow benders, and someone was supposed to make sure they forged the best deal they could, without causing a fight. Being the king, and thus being too important to get off his throne and do it himself, sent his son to do it for him. And now he was here.
For the second time today, he found himself clutching his hands into fists. Letting go, Nox looked up and saw that the sun was only going to be up for about an hour longer. It was almost like time had sped up. He hurried off to see if he could find Mio, and maybe help her round up the kids if she needed it.
