Nico and Tris heard the visitors as they walked back to their rooms, sounding in high spirits. Tris didn't need to send any of her breezes out, the visitors were loud enough to hear their laughter as they walked by.

Tris and Niko were taking breakfast together before returning to Winding Circle. They expected that Sandry would join them soon. Sandry had told Tris through their magic that she wanted to talk to Niko and her privately.

"Did Sandry sound worried?" asked Niko.

Tris nodded, pursing her lips, "A little. She said that Vedris wants to make sure these people leave as allies. They were just now in the courtyard practicing war magics, I guess." She stirred her tea, looking at her cup. She hadn't yet brought up the subject of last night's vision, although after all this time, it had become their custom to meet to discuss them every morning.

Niko shook his head, "They keep talking about a Hundred Year War. People can get very good at war after a hundred years." He looked significantly at Tris, "I'm not sure I understand why you're so reluctant to talk with them."

Tris looked back up and returned his gaze steadily, "I've been dreaming about Aang almost every night for four years. Most of those dreams have been about war—either making war or running from it. I don't want to get dragged into being a weapon." Tris only told Niko the most definable of her fears—there were other fears she didn't want to discuss, more visceral and less articulated.

"I think they're being honest when they say the war is over." replied Niko.

Tris stirred her spoon around in her tea, some more, "Until the next one." she sighed, dropping her eyes. She looked at the door, "Sandry's coming,"

Sandry sailed in, looking unusually discomfited, "They were out there, working major magics as if they were playing party games!" she gestured vaguely toward the courtyard, "And they weren't even breathing hard!"

Tris and Niko stared at Sandry as she started pacing back and forth, "I thought they'd be tired at least! And then Katara heals herself. As if it took no energy at all!" As Sandry said this she was feeding the images of what she had just witnessed to Tris, it took her longer to explain it all to Niko.

After she was finished, Niko was silent for a long moment, "They are all so powerful?" he asked, faintly.

Sandry finally sat in a chair, nodded. She poured herself tea, more for something to do than anything else.

"Did it seem as though they were putting on this display in a calculated manner? As though they were trying to impress?" asked Niko, sounding deep in thought.

Sandry shook her head, "No, not at all. It really seemed as though they were just practicing. The combat at the end was just a game."

"Well, you did say that after a hundred years, people get awfully good at war." Tris said drily, to hide her own trepidation. Her stomach was clenched.

"As much as I have spoken with Aang," said Niko, "I would have staked my life that he was a dedicate who had taken pacifist vows. His wife strikes me the same way. Yet they were both ready to consider torturing a prisoner. And now, you tell me this." Niko gestured with his teaspoon, "Meanwhile, I'm still dreaming of the white haired woman and spirits in the form of owls have been added to the menagerie"

"I dreamt of them too." Tris said, very quietly.

"What did they say to you?" asked Niko. Tris thought he sounded strained, but he'd been sounding that way for a long time now.

Tris related her dream as exactly as she remembered it. She'd written it down as soon as she'd woken so as not to lose the vision. Niko and Sandry listened intently while she told them about it.

"You didn't see any of the others in this one?" asked Niko.

Tris shook her head, "Just Sokka. And you. What did she tell you?"

Niko snorted softly, "More of the same. Nothing useful, yet. She did say that Seers were under her jurisdiction, and she was doing her best for us."

"Why can't spirits ever be clear?" asked Tris irritably, "It's as though they try to be obtuse."

Sandry shrugged philosophically, "I suppose there are rules about what they can tell us."

**

It was much later that morning when Aang and the rest of their visitors packed up their great beast to fly to Winding Circle. Tris watched as Aang petted and spoke to Appa reminding her sharply of Little Bear, their old dog. Her heart twisted a little in her chest, she'd been closer to that animal than she was to most people. She mourned him still.

She intended to ride back to Winding Circle with Niko, but Niko had insisted on speaking to Aang before they left and now Duke Vedris. No telling when they'd get back tonight, at this rate. She was considering riding back by herself, but truth be told, she hated being alone these days. Briar had gone home with Daja last night, and Sandry had other things to do. Trish hated to be a bother—a holdover from her childhood she supposed.

Sandry and the Duke were going to come and see the visitors off in a moment and hopefully Niko wouldn't find someone else that he "really must speak to." So Tris stood idly on the steps to the palace gate watching the visitors get ready to go. None of the servants were there to help because none could be convinced that Appa was herbivorous and no more likely to bite than the average horse. It didn't seem to bother the visitors at all.

Sokka sat a little way away from Appa, on his pack with a lap desk. Like in her dream, he was drawing, or writing something. Curiousity drew her to stand near him. She didn't walk to look over his shoulder, because she hated when people did that to her. Instead she walked around so she stood in front of him.

Rather than a pen, he held a small paint brush. The lap desk had a cup that held a pot of black ink. His face was a picture of concentration—Tris wasn't sure he had heard her walk up and therefore waited until his brush was in the air to clear her throat.

He looked up and smiled, hugely, "Hello, Trisana." he said. He'd seen her out of the corner of his eye, but he was gratified that she had the consideration to know that one didn't just sneak up on someone while they were writing. His sister hadn't figured that out yet.

Tris blushed, "You've got to stop calling me that." She said a little more sharply than she meant to, "My friends call me Tris."

Sokka took that in, "Does that make me friend?" he replied, a little shyly.

Her mouth quirked up at the corner, "Enough to call me Tris." she said, "I was wondering what you were doing?"

"I was scribing a poem. In calligraphy." he blew on the paper to dry the ink and turned it so she could see. He hadn't been intending to show it to her until it was done, but since the opportunity presented itself, he'd make the most of it.

"This is beautiful!" she exclaimed, "This is your writing?" Tris asked, "How many characters are in your alphabet?" the graceful letters were exciting to look at. She read several languages, but none looked like this.

Sokka was a little taken aback, he'd assumed that she'd be able to read it. Now that he thought about it, that translation thing the Niklaren had done must only extend to the spoken word, "Uhh, I never thought about it before," Sokka said, carefully. He thought he understood what she was asking. "Maybe a thousand?" He was quite proud of his literacy actually, "But there's always more to learn."

"A thousand?" Tris said blankly, "But-how can there be that many letters?"

"Sorry?" Sokka looked blank now. There was no limit on the number of characters because there were always new words.

"What does this say?" asked Tris, she pointed to one of the characters.

"Moon." replied Sokka

"What about just this one letter?" she pointed to the character again

Sokka nodded, "That's the character for Moon." he said again, patiently.

Tris looked at him in sudden comprehension, "So each character is a word?"

"Well, yeah." Sokka said, as if it was self evident.

"That-that's amazing." Tris wondered how long it would take for someone to become even semi literate in their language, "So what does the whole thing say?"

Sokka cleared his throat, "It says:

The one I longed for
Has come;

With her now,
I have all that I need.

The thief has left

The only thing of value--the Moon"

Sokka blushed to hear himself say it out loud. It was an old poem and relatively traditional, but this was an older rendition than was usually written. Some interpretations held that the speaker spoke of a spirit, others that it was a friend or sister. Today, it was obvious that the speaker was thinking of his lover.

Tris must have thought so too, because she blushed deep pink. She looked down, then back up. "You wrote that?"

"Oh no, no. No." Sokka hastened to tell her, "It's traditional. It comes out of one of the books at Zuko's palace. My swordsmaster said that calligraphy is important for a swordsman to practice. He said I should practice as much as I practice my sword. And he said that I should improve my brain as much as my sword arm or I was good for nothing but cannon fodder." Sokka wasn't sure, but he thought that Tris looked impressed.

Katara was came over, "Trisana?" she asked politely, "I understand that you're going back to Winding Circle too. Would you like to come on Appa, with us?"

"You mean…fly?" Tris breathed. Tris could get the air to hold her up and she could send her spirit out on the wind, but she had never really flown before, although she dreamed of it often. "Oh," she said, longingly, "Are you sure?"

Sokka looked over at Aang who was smiling. Catching Sokka's eye, he winked. Sokka felt his cheeks turn a little red, and Aang just smiled more broadly.