CHAPTER 6- New Arrivals
Now the story will be moving towards the original storyline, and our favorite gaang is showing up soon! 100 ASC- Almost a year after leaving the South, (3 months after arriving in the NWT)
It had been a month since that day exploring the city with Palartok. I'd been back to the blacksmith's shop multiple times, and when I wasn't in classes, Anuun would drag Pala to Iluak's inn and drop him off on me. Iluak and Anuun would smile knowingly and shoo us out the door, much to our chagrin.
Some days we'd just walk the streets, hands stuffed in pockets, hoods up against the cold winter air. Other days, we searched for the bookstores in the upper city and spent most of the day rifling through scrolls and old texts, reading ridiculous stories to each other.
Palartok became my best friend as time went on, and sometimes I'd catch him staring at me with this soft smile and when I'd stick my tongue out at him, breaking his stare and causing him to go all red-faced. He was generally quiet around me, but Anuun said that he was already amazed at how much Pala jabbered on endlessly about me when he worked in the forge while I was in class. It was like a hermit crab coming out of its shell, the blacksmith told me one day out of earshot of Palartok, who was chopping firewood in the back.
I tried to focus on my healing studies and ignore the fluttering in my stomach when I was with the blacksmith's apprentice. Iluak had given me a new parka to give to Palartok when the winter festival came, but that was still a few days off. I had always been bad at keeping secrets, so I hid it in the back of my closet for safekeeping.
Today I was on my way to the blacksmith's shop to pick Palartok up so we both could run errands for Anuun and Iluak. The innkeeper had handed me the list, gold, and sac as soon as I was dressed, pushing some bread into my hand as she hustled me out the door.
I walked up to the blacksmith's leather doorflap but stopped, noticing the distinct lack of clanging that usually emanated from within. Curious, I opened the flap and stepped inside, only to be greeted with a new sight.
There by the forge stood a very large, intimidating woman, dressed in a purple-hued parka. Her hair was tied back into a bun, with very little decorative beads in it. Her face was round but a permanent scowl was plastered on it. She had apparently just stepped in before me, as she was pestering Anuun, muttering obscenities to herself.
I caught a glimpse of a bottle of alcohol in her right hand as she gestured wildly.
I deduced what this strange woman was here in my friend's shop for when she caught Palartok walking out of the back room.
"There he is, my good-for-nothing son! Anuun here didn't want me to see you while you're working!" Her voice was a grating sound, filled with anger and disappointment. I stood in the doorway shocked that this woman was the Arnaaluk I'd heard so much about.
Pala blanched instantly, frozen in the doorway that led to the back supply room; he was carrying a pile of leather for the armor and shields he'd been working on.
No one had caught that I was in the shop at this point, all of the focus was on Arnaaluk as she swayed intoxicated in the middle of the room. Anuun stood, arms crossed, between her and the forge, so this big woman wouldn't fall flat into the fire as she gestured wildly at her son.
"A letter came today, Pala, can you guess who it's from?" She took another swig of what I assumed was rice wine, considering the sharp smell of alcohol that radiated from her.
Palartok placed the leather on the counter and his shoulder drooped noticeably as he turned to face his drunken mother, he didn't meet her eyes, instead staring at the floor when he turned back towards her. This was a side of him I'd never seen before, he'd been instantly cowed by this hulk of a woman who stood there teetering in the middle of the shop. I wanted to speak out, to tell this woman to leave us alone and go sulk in peace, Pala didn't need to hear whatever it was she had to say. The more she spoke, the more I regretted my inaction.
"It was some water tribe captain, telling us your father is dead, killed by some Firebenders in a battle!"
She threw the bottle she'd been drinking from at Palartok's head, who dodged it, familiar with this behavior. The sharp, pungent smell of wine filled the shop as it dripped from where it had splashed on the wall behind Pala.
He looked at the glass bottle and bent to pick up the shards, tossing them into a nearby bucket, the news of his father's death not visibly affecting him. This was too much for his inebriated mother, you stumbled across the room and grabbed him by his collar, heaving him to his feet and slamming him against the wall.
Anuun stood and did nothing; he was a big man but he was just as afraid of this woman as Palartok was.
"Didn't you hear me, boy? I said your father is dead!" She reached back to strike him and I'd had enough.
"Stop!" I yelled, before I even knew what I was doing, I had uncorked my water skin and moved to attack her if she so much as touched my friend.
Palartok looked up at the sound of my voice and I could see tears in his eyes and shame at me seeing him in this situation. Anuun looked at me, surprised I'd been there. He'd been caught up in the commotion and hadn't noticed me standing there the entire time. Palartok looked away in humiliation, before his mother followed through and struck him across the face. She was so intoxicated she hadn't really caught on that there was another person in the room.
That had been enough for Palartok, being struck in front of me, he looked as his mother with fire in his eyes and shoved the woman off of him. She stumbled back and Anuun stepped out of the way as she struggled to keep her balance.
She noticed me then, looking up surprised before Pala reached down and with more strength than I knew he possessed hauled her to her feet and pushed her out the door.
Anuun stepped my way and I moved aside as he followed the drunken woman, finally making a move to deal with her outside.
Pala stood by the doorway, his forehead resting on the wall, his eyes shut tightly as tears trailed down his cheeks. He was trying to hold it together now.
My heart went out to him, if it had been my father, I'd be a sobbing mess right now. I reached out to him and he jumped when I touched his shoulder. He swiped as his eyes, and I pulled him towards me into a hug.
He was taller than me by half a head, but he curled into my shoulder and sobbed his heart out.
I just kind of stood there awkwardly, my arms around his torso. I let him cry into my neck for who knows how long, until Anuun stepped back into the shop and looked at the both of us. His big, bulky arms went around us both as he tried his best to comfort Pala in his time of need.
I don't know how long we stood there, but the blacksmith's apprentice pulled out of the hug and wiped his face off, trying to regain his composure after breaking down.
"I'm sorry you had to see that…" he confessed, not meeting our gaze. Anuun laid his hand on his shoulder, "It's ok, Pala, the guards took your mother to a cell for the night, so she won't be bothering you anymore today."
The young man nodded. I coughed awkwardly.
"Umm, I came by because Iluak wanted me to run errands today, but I think it's best if we just stay here if that's ok," I offered to Anuun, who nodded.
"Pala you don't have to work until you want to, but I suggest you and Kyra go find something to do today to keep your mind off of what happened," the blacksmith supplied.
The young man sighed heavily and nodded in agreement, "Ok."
While he was in the backroom cleaning up, Anuun turned to me, whispering quietly, "I've never seen him act out against his mother like that. She gets into a drunken rage sometimes and Pala usually comes to my shop the next day covered in bruises. Whatever you're doing to him, it's helping."
I just kind of smiled awkwardly, and whispered back, "I'm not really doing anything special."
The blacksmith chuckled, "Being his friend is pretty special."
Palartok stepped out of the back room, dressed in his normal clothes. He looked better, like he'd washed his face and tried to wipe away the sorrow that had laid there.
He looked up at me and smiled halfheartedly, and asked, "So um, where should we go?"
Anuun nudged me towards him, "Just find somewhere to hang out until it gets late, you don't have to go home tonight if you don't want to," the old man winked at me and I shot daggers in his direction.
I wouldn't take advantage of Pala's emotional state like Anuun implied, but he did need someplace to stay until his mother sobered up and cooled down.
"Let's go, we'll figure it out on the way," I answered, stepping out the doorway, and glancing back at the blacksmith who stood smiling softly at the two of us as we left.
We walked in silence until I had figured my way back to Iluak's inn. The sun was setting slowly and I dragged Palartok inside. Iluak had some sort of soup over the fire and her back was turned to us as she chopped vegetables.
I cleared my throat and she turned, setting down her knife on the counter. She looked at us both in surprise.
"Oh, hello Pala, I haven't seen you since you were a bean sprout!" she chirped cheerfully. She wiped her hands on the cloth that hung from her belt. Pala mustered a small smile.
I cleared my throat, "Um, Iluak, is it ok if Palartok stays here for a while? I can pay for his room and board."
"Nonsense, Kyra. Pala is welcome to stay here just as you are- you can have the room across from Kyra's," the innkeeper gestured towards us and I let Palartok walk behind her up the stairs to the second level where my room was down the hall. Iluak opened the door to his new room and gestured for him to go inside. He thanked her quietly and she shut his door, pulling me by the sleeve to the linen closet. She shoved me inside and stepped in herself, shutting the door behind her.
"Kyra would you mind explaining to me why Pala is here, and why he looks like a polarbear puppy someone kicked to the curb?!" she hissed in a whisper, hands on her hips. She always had a way with words.
"Well, ma'am, his mother showed up to Anuun's drunk and told Palartok that his father died in a battle and then she started to abuse him in front of us," I whispered, remembering how Arnaaluk had stood menacingly over Pala before striking him so harshly.
Iluak's face softened, her eyebrows knitted together in sorrow. "That poor boy, no wonder you dragged him here. He needs a place to stay."
I looked at her, raising an eyebrow.
"I better not find you two in the same bed," she hissed taking some warm blankets and a hot-water bottle off the shelf and shoving them into my arms.
"Iluak-" I started, but she pushed me out of the linen closet and towards Pala's room.
"Go talk to him, Kyra, you're his only friend right now," she whispered quietly, before going downstairs to finish dinner.
I stood in front of the door to his room for a minute, before knocking softly. I could hear him shuffling inside before the door opened. Pala stood there in his normal clothes, a light blue tunic with dark blue trim. He opened the door more and tried to smile the best that he could.
"Hey, Iluak gave these to me for you. Since its winter and all, you'll need the extra blankets," I explained shoving the things his way. He looked at me before glancing down the hallway towards the stairs that led to the lower level. He quickly pulled me into his room before shutting the door.
"Uh… so, Iluak is making soup for dinner, I figure it won't be long-" he interrupted me by taking the blankets out of my arms and putting himself in them instead. I stood there awkwardly as he hugged me tight.
"Thank you so much, Kyra," he whispered into my hair, squeezing all of the air out of my lungs.
"You're welcome," I squeaked.
He let me go before sitting down on the bed. I took a seat on the chair next to the small table by the bed.
"I can't believe he's gone. I never even knew him," Palartok said quietly. I felt horrible for him, his father was dead and his good-for-nothing mother wasn't even there for him.
"I'm sorry, Pala," I said, using Anuun's nickname for him. He mustered a small smile.
"It'll be ok," he explained, "it always turns out ok."
A week later the winter festival started, and the entire city was bustling. Vendors and merchants sold sweet cakes and all of the nicest things they'd kept back until now. The upper city was decorated with images of the moon and ocean spirits, as well as the animal of the water tribes.
People flew koi-shaped kites and colorful strands of flags hung from shop windows across the streets.
The barges were filled with beautiful flowers and people seemed happy.
When Pala and I weren't working or going to class, we would take walks through the festival, enjoying the atmosphere. There were whispers one day of the Avatar and his friends arriving in the city this morning. Pala and I searched the city, but didn't find them. If such an important guest had truly arrived, Chief Arnook would want to welcome them into the city.
Tonight was the feast honoring Princess Yue's 16 birthday, but only the nobles were invited. It was rumored that Master Pakku would be teaching the Avatar waterbending and I pitied the young boy, remembering how cantankerous and rude Pakku had been to me. At least he was a male, Pakku couldn't refuse to train him based on his gender.
Iluak had stuffed the new parka I was supposed to give Palartok in my personal bag today telling me about the gift-giving tradition. I held on to it until I felt the time was right.
We had been exploring the festival, hoping to get a glimpse of the Avatar and his friends, but they were disappointingly nowhere to be found. Pala dragged me off to the noodle shop, which was bustling with customers this evening.
In the busy shop, he told me stories about the winter festivals he'd been to in the past and all of the crazy things people had done.
There was supposedly a dance where the eligible young ladies of the tribe teased young suitors, and sometimes things got a little…heated for the crowd. He blushed profusely while he told me this, not meeting my eyes. I figured he'd want to take part in this tradition but I was a horrible dancer…and we were only friends.
I nodded quietly, listening to him tell the stories. I glanced down at my bag, still gauging when the right time would be to give him the parka.
We were dragged out of the restaurant suddenly by the crowd, pushing us into the marketplace square, where other people our age were standing, some just as confused as us.
Pala's face went white in realization and he swallowed before catching my ear,
"Uh… so this is that tradition I told you about…sometimes the crowd gets a little too crazy and everyone gets caught up in it." I'm sure I turned white as well.
"I can't dance, Pala!" I yelled over the music. He shrugged, "Me either," but then we were forced apart by people pulling us in different directions, forming a large circle where the young men were huddle on one side and the young women on the other. Some of the more confident girls danced provocatively for the guys and I rolled my eyes- stupid tradition turning women into objects. More of the girls caught on and started dancing different styles, some more reserved than others. A young woman taller than me grabbed me by the wrists and dragged me into the circle, saying something about only living once.
I stood there awkwardly and caught Pala's eye over the top of a shorter girl who spun around in front of me. He shrugged and mouthed 'sorry' my way and I shot daggers in his direction before another girl took my hands and forced me to dance with her. I had to admit it was pretty fun, and no one really cared if you were coordinated or not. Little by little, the young men joined the fray and found their girlfriends in the circle. Some danced just as awkwardly as I did.
I stood there dancing with the same girl for a while before she twirled and pushed me into someone else. I recovered and realized it was Palartok, who had turned completely red in embarrassment, having been shoved my way as well.
He offered me his hand and I rolled my eyes before taking it and showing him some simple waterbending moves that looked like dancing.
We kept this up until the music stopped and I realized Pala was staring down at me with this intense look in his eyes. Around us, young couples were kissing.
And then Palartok was leaning towards me. My mind flashed back to Shei Lin and the look on his face as his fiancé had leaned up to kiss him. I shook the painful image out of my head and turned away from Pala, weaving out of the crowd. I ran past the happy adults and children who clapped and hooted as the younger couples cheered when the dance was over.
I could hear the blacksmith's apprentice running after me, calling my name.
"Wait, Kyra-"
I didn't want to face him, to let him see me hurting. All of the raw memories from months ago surfaced and I fought the tears that overtook me.
I don't know why I kept running, but I ended up at the circular pool where I'd met Master Pakku. I stood there out of breath at the edge of the pool, staring out at the little wooden boats with candles inside them that floated lazily on the water.
I could hear as Palartok finally caught up to me.
"Kyra, listen, I'm sor-"
"Stop."
I didn't turn to face him; I just stared at the water and the reflection of the candles on it.
"Ky' there's something you're not telling me…" he started, his voice closer.
There in the evening air, by the pool we'd sometimes come to, I stood like a statue trying to find the words to explain why I'd taken off so suddenly.
"His name was Shei," I started quietly, "He found out I was a woman and we kind of fell in love. Or at least, I fell in love. Shei was engaged and his fiancé found us before I left Chu Han."
I could hear Palartok shuffle behind me, "I'm sorry Kyra, I didn't know."
"I gave him everything and now, I just…" I started, trying not to cry.
I could feel Palartok struggling behind me, figuring out what to do or say.
"Kyra, sometimes people hurt us a lot and there's no amount of revenge that can make it better. There's no way for them to make right what they've done wrong to us."
He sighed heavily and sat on the icy bench near me.
"You can either choose to move on from the anger and hurt, or you can stew in it for the rest of your life," he finished, glancing over at me.
We sat there in silence for a while before I wiped my eyes. Palartok chuckled to himself, reaching into his pocket and pulling something out, hiding it in his clenched fist.
"Kyra, I made you something for the gift-giving ceremony. But we missed it, and I still want you to have it," he opened his gloved fist and in it laid an intricate steel bracelet. A stylized design of waves and the moon and ocean spirits was carved into its surface. He held it out to me and watched shyly as I appraised it.
"It's beautiful Pala, but you didn't have to make me something."
He blushed, "I wanted to. You deserve it after all you've done."
I smiled and took the bracelet, fitting it onto my right wrist. I pulled the parka Iluak had made out of my personal bag, giving it to Palartok.
"Iluak and I wanted you to have this, your old coat was looking kind of dingy and I figured you'd be warmer in a new one," I offered warmly. Pala took it and changed out of his old coat, setting it aside. He shuffled into the new coat and smelled the warm fur.
"This is awesome, Ky'! Thank you," he smiled. We talked and walked around the festival before heading back to Iluak's inn for the night. She smiled when she saw Pala was wearing the new parka. She turned to me and gave me this look she always does when she suspects I've been up to something. I shrugged and went to bed.
The next day Palartok and I were headed to the day's festivities when the crowd around us erupted in excited chatter. Something about the Avatar's companion and Master Pakku fighting near the palace!
Pala and I ran with some of the crowd towards where the fight was supposedly happening. There in the square below the steps to the palace, Master Pakku and a young woman were fighting fiercely. The girl narrowly missed Pakku as she threw razor-sharp disks of ice at the master. Their moves were impressive, some of them I'd never seen before. Waterbenders were great at adapting in a fight.
The two stopped and Pakku exchanged a few words with the young woman before she attacked again, but her own attacks were used against her and the fight ended with her trapped in an icy prison of spikes. She struggled against them, her long brown hair hung loose, looking wild from the fight. She couldn't have been much older than my younger brother Kazu.
Master Pakku stooped to pick something off the ground and the prison around the girl melted suddenly as they spoke.
The girl's voice, clear and strong, could be heard through the crowd, "Gran-Gran wouldn't let your tribe's stupid customs run her life. That's why she left. It must have taken a lot of courage."
On the steps to the palace, a woman with white hair cried out and ran from the scene. I guessed it was the princess due to her attire. A young man ran after her.
The crowd started to disperse now that the fight was over, and I caught a glimpse of a very large, strange beast being led into the stables across the way. I dragged Palartok along with me, wanting to get a closer look.
We snuck into the stables and some men were tending to the creature. It was a shaggy bison-like thing, but it had 6 legs! Strange arrowlike markings went from its head to the end of its tail.
The creature had to be 10 feet tall at the shoulder and it sported impressive horns. It munched hay happily. The men tending to it scratched above its nose and laughed amongst themselves when one was licked from his legs to his head, covered in saliva.
I reached out and petted the beast's foreleg; the fur there was thick and warm, almost like a yak's.
"Appa, where are you buddy?" A young boy's voice echoed through the stables and the beast's ears perked up and he turned slightly towards where the voice was coming from.
There stood a boy who couldn't have been more than 13, wearing red and yellow clothing and carrying a tall wooden staff. On his forehead laid a blue arrow.
This had to be the Avatar we'd heard rumors about.
The last airbender.