Again, I do not own Avatar.
I wish I could.
Please check out my new website which is in the process of getting all the information you will possibly want to know about this story.
Again, thanks for the reviews.
Caer Sidd
(Land of the Dead)
Chapter 3
The gasps continued before the High Priestess of the Puca stepped forward, knife drawn. With flaming hair and eyes of amber, the once protector of the Fire Nation Queen stepped forward toward the frightened animal.
'It must be slaughtered. It is dangerous now that it has seen its enemies.'
The people nodded their heads and with the respect of entire nation of people the knife went to the cow neck and a community sigh escaped the hundred+ people as the silver blade pierced the throat and the last sound of the cattle was silenced by the calming words of the priestess.
Slowly the ruling family stepped forward, Katara following the elderly grandmother and watched as her father, with careful precision, offered the killing stroke to the heart.
It was the chef's beast now and he quickly began to prepare the slain animal for supper.
It was not long before the smell of cooking meat filled the small city.
While the scent moved like a pleasant wave through the crowd the time came for greetings, for bonding and for dance.
As the fire in the center of the group grew with the addition of offers to the gods; mainly fruit; the energy rose.
Every night, since the beginning of their race they had held a social time, the children would dance and the men would meet with the 'King' asking for a woman's hand in marriage.
It was time to spend in a diverse culture.
Granted, many times people stuck to their own groups of people, much like a school dance where the girls are on one side, and boys on the other.
This was broken when innocent children ran screaming into the center of the circle, hugging friends that had been pulled back to home for chores after the long school day.
It was this action that soon had the laughing, joke-telling, and even feuds to fill through the woods.
The gathering would continue until the Royal Chef would claim that dinner was ready and with order of a sixth grade class, they lined up with plates stolen from the nearby nations.
Well, not stolen but picked up from abandoned campsites or purchased in the marketplace of the Fire nation.
As customary, the leading family eating first.
Soon the plates of the people were filled and children dug into their plates, careful not to be caught by a parent.
Katara saw this.
She could remember the days when she would sneak food during prayers and how gran-gran always scolded her after.
Never during.
As her eyes closed she felt the elbow of her dinner guest and she peaked down the line.
Two of the three suitors had there hands folded in their lap, watching Katara intently.
It was like she was a piece of art ready of fall from its lighted self.
She hated every moment of it.
The prayers continued and finished. And as the first bite was taken by her father she watched as silver flatware was brought to the mouths of her people.
And then…
The piercing sound of a warning call.
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They had wanted to search the woods right away, even preparing their Ostridge-Horses for the small trek.
But Uncle had stopped them, muttering something along the lines of not going into the woods on an empty stomach.
And so, the two Fire nation men were dragged to an informal dinner in order to please the old man.
…
Sunset had come and gone and the forest was dark as the two rode in; the only light from the small flame that was produced from the palms of determined hunters.
As beasts brought them closer and closer to the heart of the forest, the woods began to come to life.
And with the shriek of a crow…
All went silent again.
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They had dispatched a group of guards the moment the sound rang through the pleasant meal.
Toph, leader of the Royal Guard had alerted the people and the small army of wolves and foxes disappeared into the woods, hoping to scare off the intruders.
And now, it was the job of the women and children to clear the table.
To make sure no sign of civilization could be detected.
Just in case.
They worked fast, children running with plates of food into houses, people quickly taking down tables, destroying them with paws, and teeth, and hands.
Older couples disappearing into houses covered in vines.
And then suddenly, there was silence.
Where once a bustling city there was nothing.
Houses were camouflaged by the vines which overtook them. Tables were crushed; as they were built to do; and with the help of many it became a ghost town.
A village once destroyed by floods and lava that flowed down these mountains.
If one was to push open the doors to the homes they would find nothing. For the people of Miao Shan were smart beyond their years.
Underneath the abandoned city was another one.
Hidden from view.
It was there were family, lost in the chaos was embraced by others, and where wives and mothers of soldiers prayed for a safe return.
Children would hide and the arms of their Princess were always opened as she sung to fatherless, scared, kids.
'The moon reflects the waters edge,
separating the earth and sky.
And how I long for the deep, black waters
And how he for the earth and the sky.
And we can combine.
And we can combine.
And we can combine,
By and by.'
And in the silence of the night, in the arms of love, the Puca would wait till the danger had passed.
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Authors Note:
Thank you all for the reviews, again. Even with my chapters being short.
Sadly, the chapters will not come has fast since I have to deal with my Senior finals and stuff like that. BUT, during the summer I will be devoting at least an hour a day to this story.
I'm glad so many people like it.
Also, any one seen MirrorMask? AMAZING!
And I do not own all of the above lyrics. Some can be found in "Frightful Fairytales" I just put it to a tune.