Time passes strangely on our planet. For some, it passes cruelly by and they die young, unable to grasp the wonders that life held. Then there are others that struggle through every obstacle in life, endure and die unhappy, wishing death had struck them down early. There are a few however, those blessed few that everyone respects, who have triumphed over all hardships; who have lived life to its fullest and enjoyed it all the way; who are able to sit back and die, in complete peace. Looking up at the night sky, I decided I was not one of those few. Turning back to my attacker, I swept my leg downwards and ignited his lower body, then punching forward, burned his face to ashes. Death was nearly instant. I knew he would have experienced that single moment of insurmountable pain and I wanted him to. To know for an instant the pain I had felt on that day too few years ago. I walked away into the moonlight, leaving my assailant's body to burn and rot.
The next day found me in a library quietly reading, a person going completely unnoticed in a room full of enemies. For an enemy they would consider me if they found out I was fire-nation. I had noticed over the last two and a half years that Earth Kingdom inhabitants were very laid back but serious type of people and would not back down from a fight. The war had escalated in recent weeks as Ba-Sing-Se had fallen, but portions of the kingdom refused to crumple. Currently I was nestled into a small rebel town in the southeast portion of the continent, a location which would probably go undiscovered for at least another three years. Refugees were everywhere and it had been simple to blend in. I got up and walked over to the bookshelf, replacing the volume I had been skimming through: Earth and Fire. What an interesting title, I sarcastically thought. The author definitely needed to separate fact from fiction and not accuse the entire fire nation of being blood-sucking demons from the lowest pit of hell. Too much opinion and not enough facts, I comtemplated. Walking back towards the door I passed a tall mirror and I paused, glancing myself over for the shortest moment. The image was unremarkable and not worth much to look at: a face that was narrow, but not boney, a slim, tall body with slightly muscular arms, though not extensive, and clothes that seemed too worn for anyone, but were quite comfortable. I walked towards the door, exiting the building into a bright sun, the same I had seen many years ago.
After the destruction of my home, I had wandered for days trying to find another habitable place to live. My efforts were in vain though and after almost two weeks, I collapsed beside a small pool of water miles from my former life, drank and decided to die. Sleep though would not take me and my spirit would not give itself to what my brain believed was the inevitable. Filling my watersack, I began walking, knowing that when I stopped, I would not be able to go on. I remembered one thing from that time; my will, spirit, whatever you wished to call it kept muttering in the back of my head, "Who are you to give up? You are weak now...what of it?! Keep moving or you will truely be a lost cause." Delirious as I was, I kept walking and walking, finally ascending the last crest of a hill as night fell. I drank the last few drops of my water, tossed it aside and turned over to look one last time at the night sky. Stars winked down on my frail form, the moon though seemed to mock me with its harsh unnatural light from behind me. Frowning, I glanced towards my feet and saw a waxing moon rising between them. Twisting to look past my head, the lights of a small mining town twinkled near the base of the hill. I stared dumbstruck and fainted.
Tumbling...pain...blood...nothing else could I remember when I awoke in a small room some days later to a harsh sun. After a few moments, I checked the room around me, trying to find out how I had come to be in this place. My pack was situated on the table next to the bed and with the exception of a chair on the opposite side of the room, which couldn't be more than three feet away, the room was bare. Inspecting myself, I saw a long gash on my side, though it was not deep and had been bandaged by my nameless rescuers. Movement out in the corridor. A woman walked into the room, and after glancing at my wound, re-dressed it, and calling a man into the room, took the chair and said simply: "Explain yourself". Starring her in the eye, I began my narrative, purposely leaving out everything about my heritage and inventing when I could not remember. It took little over an hour to tell my entire life story, a pitiful period to be sure, but at its conclusion both looked at one another and then the woman asked: "How can we help? Newcomers aren't welcome in this town and we would appreciate it if you just left." The man came forward and starring down at me said: "I guess we can let you stay here for a day or two, but after that you must take whatever provisions you need and get the hell out of here. There's no money or jobs for thieves judging by the contents of your pack there..." He and the woman left me to figure out my own plan, giving me a jug of water before departing. I lay back and the only thought that echoed inside my head was, Thief...theif...theif...theif...
The rest had been easier after that. I took leave of the two after two days and gathering what provisions they had given me along with a map, I began to gather "necessary" supplies. Coins, clothes and other essentials disappeared from homes as I exited town, though I did do one honorable thing and leave the poorest to wallow, taking only from the richer inhabitants. I chuckled when I realized what I done, wondering when in history had there ever been an honorable thief. The rest of my life up to the present had been like that day. I traveled everywhere until I collected a substancial living then settled down for a few months before departing once again. The life I chose had its difficulties I had come to realize, including attacks from fellow thieves, including the one that had ambushed me last night on the way back to my hotel. Coming out of my thoughts, I turned right down a street leading to the library and walked back towards my room.
White-death they called me...I snickered at the name, though it did describe me well. Anyone witnessing me kill saw white, brilliant light then a dead body, often dismembered. Most probably believed I was a restless spirit of some kind. It was a good guise when I needed it, considering my fate would surely change if anyone discovered I was a firebender of considerable power. Nodding to Lencho, who responded with his normal greeting of "Ryu-Awai", I proceeded up to my room only pausing for a second when I noticed the door was slightly ajar. Breathing deeply and calmly I pushed the door inward, then jumped forward and glanced around. My room was not extremely lavished, yet it looked shabby and crowded considering the four people clustered inside arguing, their backs to me. Two girls, and two boys, one slightly younger than the other and bald. Possibly a family who had accidentily stumbled into the wrong room, perhaps looking for their parents. Best to handle this courtesily...the shorter girl suddenly planted her feet and launched an earthen vase towards the wall. Earthbender I thought. I glanced at the other three, first seeing the other girl draw water out of a pouch as if considering to attack the shorter girl; waterbender was the only thing to come to mind. I looked at the boys, wondering if this entire troop were benders and was relieved when one drew a weapon of crude design out of his pouch. That just left the last who...I gaped for a moment. Arrows, a bald head and the fact that he was levitating a string of marbles above his palm made my mouth grow dry. Avatar.
A wonder they hadn't noticed me yet...oops, spoke too soon. The taller boy was turning which instictively drew me away from the open door. I head: "Quiet everyone, I think there's someone out in the corridor." Obviously you idiot, I thought. It became deadly quiet in the room, though faint sounds of weapons and feet moving could be picked up. The Avatar! I thought. I didn't know who his companions were but as long as my breath was muffled with my wrap-around cape, I could escape one of the most powerful benders on the planet. Taking cautious steps backwards, I tried to retreat, knowing I was no match for three benders at once when the older boy stuck his stupid head out of the corridor and glance right at me. I froze, bending my legs in a readied stance while we glared at each other. Keeping the calmest tone I could muster, I broke the silence with: "I was wondering why you four are occupying my room." The boy seemed surprised, then embarrased and slipped his head back inside, where faint whisperings could be heard, among them: "We need to leave before he talks", probably the older looking girl..."He's a chump, I can lock him up for a while", sounded like the earthbender..."Maybe we should leave, he might try to get us caught...again", was that really the Avatar's voice, he sounded too young..."I think we should go with Toph's plan and keep him here...all agreed? Good", Pighead.
I stole as fast as I could down the passage, putting on speed with my firebending. I would use the servant's stairs, disrepaired as they were, and sneak back into the room and gather all my things. My escape would be easy through the window and with a light descent to the ground I would be out of the town within five minutes. I could hear cries behind me as the group realized I had left, in response I heated the air under my heat higher to get more acceleration out of gravity's pull coupled with my own power. I landed none too brilliantly and raced down the entrance hall, putting a finger to my lips towards Lencho. He nodded and continued reading his daily news and seemed totally unsurprised when a group of three frantic travelers asked where I went. Smirking, I sprinted up the stairs, conserving my bending energy and walked quickly back to my room. I was just about to walk into it when I comprehended one thing. Three travelers, not four talked to Lencho.
Cursing I resolved to take out the last one and spun into the room. The taller girl, who I assumed was older looked at me coolly, despite the fact that there were ten dangerous icicles poised to attack behind her. I unclasped my face guard and spat: "Why couldn't your group just have picked a different room. You just had to go and choose the most heavily guarded room in the entire inn and decide it was yours. I hate you." She replied: "It was an accident, but I dont think I can stand to have you talk to me like that. I agree with Sokka on this one, we shouldn't have waited to catch you." Noises on the stairs from both sides. I retorted: "So you aren't going to let me go huh?" She nodded briskly and shifter her body back. "So be it" I stated under my breath, the answer coming as a shock to her. I took advantage of her brief pause to fire off three magnificent balls of pure red-blue fire. Her surprise was beautiful, completely leaving her vulernable and unable to counterattack. Racing around the room, I gathered all my belongings in an instant and firing off two more shots towards her and the door, I dived out the window, only to see a fluffy white animal raising up towards me. Nothing's going my way today I thought, then impacted and lost concious.