AVATAR: THE LOST CHAPTERS

Chapter Four

The Messenger's Message.

All was quiet in the Pale Lotus Village, the sun still brightly shining in the afternoon skies. But little did anyone know that danger was emenant for all of them. The man was running still breathless but running. His lungs burned, and sweat trickled down his face, staining his clothes.

His breathing seemed to grow louder and louder as he reached one of the houses in the village. He was pretty sure that this was the right place. He moved the cloth from the entrance and stepped inside. The smell of ginger and onion filled the air, and a woman peaked her head from a corner, with a half expectant look in her eyes, she saw him and stopped cooking. She approached him slowly with a bowl filled with some of the soup that she'd made.

"What are you doing here?" she said softly, handing him a small cloth to wipe his face on. He did so and took one sip of soup, letting out a small breathing gasp of air as he looked at the woman, still with fear in his eyes.

"I have a messege for Jiao," he said in a low voice, he took the cloth and wiped his face. And then he looked at the woman again, now with a worried look in her eyes.

"Sakuya, they're coming. And they want the Lotus," the woman's eyes widened as she looked away taking in a deep breath, and then looking back at the man.

o0ATLC0o

As the kids walked along the path towards their houses, they all noticed how quiet everyone they past had been. Lien rode on Gou shoulders, looking around at everyone. She sensed that they all had the same worried face that the man had had when he gave them the warning. They all knew now that something was wrong.

Leon looked around and noticed that people were lunging bulks of bags and loading up their ostrich horses, like they were going away. They all still had their worried looks on their faces, Some houses looked empty, as if there was never anyone there.

"Bong!" Keung ran towards his shack, as he saw that he was packing up everything, all the fish was gone, and the shading cover was put up. Bo was curled around his shoulders sound asleep.

"Bong...what's wrong with everyone? A man came to us today and, Lien..." he seemed so confused with everything. Lien jumped off from Gou's shoulders and walked up to Bong, not in her usual happy mood. She was somewhat uneasy.

"Uncle Bong...what's happening? Why is everyone going away?" Bong stopped putting away his things and bend down to Lien.

"There's just a little trip everyone's taking. And it will take some time before we come back," he looked at her softly, with his old wrinkly eyes. Lien sniffled a little and then looked at Bo.

"Are you leaving to Uncle Bong...?" she asked sadly, she knew there would soon be tears forming in her eyes. Bong looked at Keung for a moment and then to the rest of the boys. He took in a breath and looked at Lien again.

"Its just going to be a little trip Lien. Don't worry, our paths will cross again," he said softly. Bo leaned in slowly rubbing his furry small face against Lien's. She closed her eyes and sniffled again, the tears ran down her face.

"Wh-when will you be back, Uncle Bong?" she said still with her eyes closed, there was a huge clump in her throat. as more tears spilled down her face. Bong looked at the sky and sighed softly.

"Only time will tell, young Lien," she ran into him and gave him a strong embrace and tears still ran down her face, like a whole river flow of tears.

"See you soon, Uncle Bong," she said through her tears. He hugged her back and laughed a little, she felt some water falling onto her head, she thought it was raining.

"Hahaha..I'm not your Uncle," he said softly, still hugging her. She closed her eyes tightly and pulled away from him.

"I know, but in my heart you are. We're family, no matter what," she pulled in for one last hug and then let go, Bong continued packing. As she pulled away, Keung took in a sigh and then went in for a hug from Bong, and suddenly, he was surrounded by the arms of all of his friends including Lien.

"Awwh oh! I can't hold it in anymore!" Gou cried loudly,"Here come the waterworks! I'm gonna miss you guys!" he cried loudly again. Lien wiped her face with her hands and then laughed lightly, still hugging the group.

Then, she saw the man that had been running from before, coming out of their house. She looked at him and he looked at her again. He blinked and then nodded at her, walking his way back to the archway to the bridge. She pulled out of the group hug and then walked into their home.

Keung noticed and let go, nodding at everyone and bowing at Bong, who nodded back. He walked into the house following Lien, who he saw looking at her mother. She was sitting on Keung's bed, looking like she'd been waitng for them. Their dad was there as well, standing aside from their doorway fixing his fighting gloves, the ones he'd only worn in the serious training sessions.

"My children," their mother said in a sad voice. She looked up from her hands and then motioned for them to come in. "We need to talk to you." Lien and Keung slowly walked into their room, and sat onto Lien's bed, looking with nervous eyes towards their parents.

"Your father and I are going somewhere, on a little trip," Lien remembered Bong say that he was going on a trip as well. "And no matter what happens, don't go outside."

At that point Keung's face had a very rare expression of fear. He looked down, and felt his mouth trembling slightly, and then he sensed his father's presence before him, and his head shot back up. His father's hand was on his shoulder now. And his eyes met his.

"Listen, there is danger coming into the walls of the Pale Lotus. And it is our responsibility to make sure that our village stays safe. I can't promise that bad things won't happen. But whatever you do, protect your sister," and their father's eyes fell on Lien.

She looked up from her hands and then looked at her father. There was always a sense of protection coming from him, probably where Keung had gotten it from. Her father always gave her brother the responsibily of strength and power, like she couldn't fight for herself. But deep down, Jiao knew that his daughter was a fighter, it was in her blood.

"You need to make sure nothing happens to you're sister. Protect her, and don't let anyone hurt her," Keung nodded obediently. Her father turned to Lien and then began speaking to her.

"You need to be safe, let your brother protect you. Run, and hide if you must. Don't do anything dangerous," Lien just looked at him, as if she couldn't understand what he was saying,"Don't try to be the hero, Lien. You won't know what you're doing. Its your brother's job to protect you. he has the strength and will to do it. So let him."

He looked at the both of them, and let out one last smiled and kissed them both on their foreheads. Lien took in a big breath. Her father always that she wouldn't be able to fight for herself. He'd known about the Mari incident, and some other events that they weren't so proud of. But in the end, it was Keung who would be the saviour for her, always. She thought that all her father thought of her was that she was just a cry for help waiting to be called.

She felt her nose start to flinch a little, like it always did before you cried. But she didn't bother to shed some tears, it was another sign of another cry for help, help she didn't want. So, she sucked it in and then let it out as one breath. Their father stepped softly behind and walked to the entrance, waiting for Sakuya.

"You know how much I love you," she bent down, stroking their necks softly,"Both of you," she eyed both of them with her sad eyes, but she'd managed to try and sneek a small smile onto her face.

"Thats why you have to stay together, and don't leave each other's side," she looked at Lien and wiped some of the hair out of her eyes, and then she took Keung's hand softly, looking at both of them again. Suddenly, a noise came from outside, some men's voices shouting loudly.

"Sakuya! We need to hurry, their breaking through the barrier," and their mother began to breathe louder as though she was losing air. She pulled them both into a powerful embrace and kissed them, and looked at them one last time before saying to them,

"Protect each other," she said to them. Lien's head looked up and then to her dad who looked at their mom again, and the two left the house without turning back. And once the cloth had closed behind them, they both felt a part of them leaving without a trace, like a part of their identity was now lost, and all they had now was each other.

Protect each other, protect each other... Lien remembered her mom's last words. She knew that she needed to protect her brother, as well as he needed to protect her. He was the oldest, the smart one out of the two, and the son of the family... she thought to herself. Deep inside her mind, she figured it was because Keung was the only son that their father was so distinctive and dependent on him. But she couldn't argue, he was the best brother she could ever ask for.

"Lien..." he held her hand. And then she realized that she was looking at him with teary eyes, while trying to put on a smile. There was nothing that was holding that now, she knew that he could see right through her, even when she was faking a smile. He laughed at her attempt, as she wiped her tears with her hand.

"Good," he said, and let go of her hand and looked through their skylight,"You shouldn't cry a lot, or your face will look like a dying baboon lemur for the rest of your life," he said. Her eyes widened, as she quickly tried drying her eyes, which were now puffy red, as she looked at him again. He looked back at her, and she saw the surprised looked on her face, and she could see her reflection in his eyes.

"I am turning into a dying baboon lemur! Oh no!" she ran to wash her face off and then stopped. She could he a laugh coming from Keung, and when she turned around, he instantly stopped. She blinked once and then marched back to the bed.

"It's not funny!" she said in her intimidating voice, which made Keung laugh even more. She rolled her eyes, and then grabbed her pillow, smashing it in towards his face. Feathers flew everywhere, and she began to laugh at Keung, spitting some feathers out of his mouth, making her laugh even more.

"Oh yea? Hahah, well then how about this!" he laughed as he tickled her on her sides, making her laugh loudly as they both prepared themselves with a tickle fight.

And instantly, it all stopped. A loud boom sound came from outside their home, and Lien jumped off the bed and peeked her head through the cloth. But before she could see anything in particular, Keung pulled her back in tugging her hood.

"Mom and Dad said to stay inside, we have to listen to them," and she stopped struggling to pull herself away from his grasp, and he let go of her hood.

"But there was a sound, I know you heard it too," she looked at him. He looked at her and his mouth opened like he was about to say something, and suddenly, an impact onto the ground hit, making the ground shake suddenly. Lien looked around, and Ryuho jumped into her hood, peeking out a little before ducking in again.

"Lien!" Keung shouted as he ran to her and caught her hand. The sound of rumbling sounds was above them now. Bits of sediment dropped from the roof, and cracks came from every direction. His eyes widened and he pulled Lien close to him as he jumped our through the cloth, watching their house tumble down to to the ground until all that was left, was a pile of rubble, and the after shock of dust. The two looked at each other for a moment and then around them. Lien tugged on her hood, making sure Ryuho was okay, she could feel him shaking endlessly, he too was afraid.

"It's okay, it's okay," she whispered.

The smell of smoke and ash filled the air, the sound of flames crackling and roaring. As the two looked around them, the sight of bright orange and yellow flames filled the air, buildings tumbled down into rubble. Keung looked up as he heard the sounds of distant inferno, blasting through the air. It was coming closer and closer.

"NOO! GET AWAY! PLEASE DON'T!" It was the man from before, and this time he was standing in front of a mother and child. Keung listened as the mother pleaded as the man stood in front of them, his hands and legs spread as if he were blocking them from something. He inched closer to see what he was protecting them from, and there he saw it.

A man in armor and dark masks. It was dark out now, and he couldn't exactly tell what color it was. And then, he watched as the armored man's hand set ablaze, into a bright flaring ball of fire. He twirled it between his fingers as if it were just a toy, And instantly, he knocked the man away from the mother and child with great force, he tumbled towards him and Lien.

Lien looked around her body shaking, and then into the sky. Her dream she had, surrounded by fire, it was like the dream she had earlier that day. Houses burned around her, like the rooms and walls in her dream. She turned to Keung, who looked at the man struggling to get up before him.

It was the same man that had warned them from before. She looked at him, his arms shaking weakly, but the look on his face still filled with determination. Keung got up to help him, but he waved him away, wanting to do it on his own.

"Keung," she said softly still looking at the man. "A dream I had, this was happening in it. Fire everywhere," her voice trailed off,"...but it was only our house, burning. The rest were safe..." she spoke softly now.

The man looke up and her as he staggered up, he looked at her slowly, his eyes now looked in deep surprise as he continued on looking at her. He stepped back slowly, and then opened his mouth, struggling for the words to come out. But the only words that came were,

"You knew," he said in a low voice, still backing away,"You-you knew. All this time, all these years, the Lotus-" and his voice disappeared into the fire. The woman and the child were no longer there, along with the armored firebender.

Lien only stared at where the man had once stood before disappearing into the fire. His face burned on one part, his cheek, where the armor man knocked him out from. She felt Keung touch her shoulder, and she faced him. And before he could say anything about what the man had said, and about her dream, an armored man stepped out from a corner,

Keung remembered the armored man from moments ago, he was skinnier than this one. He was muscular and an even bigger blaze of fire came from his hands. The could both guess that a grin was creeping from behind that mask of his, and as soon as he stepped closer, the blaze brightness of the flames hit him, and they could see it. The symbol of fire marked across his black suit. The dark armor seemed to turn even darker when in the light as he stepped even closer. Keung clenched Liens hand tightly as they tried slowly moving back. Two words escaped Keungs mouth before anything else.

"Fire Nation."