Chapter 10- Allegiance

Bolin helped Eska walk into the Kitchen where Team Avatar was gathered (whilst also managing to hold onto the all-important vase), alongside of course the rest of their strange group (this included Eesta *shudder*). The young woman's expression remained blank, though a glance was shared with her twin brother. Bolin wondered idly if Desna and Eska had some sort of psychic link with each other-it would explain quite a few things.
"Are we all here?" Korra asked, slumped unceremoniously on a wooden chair, one muscular arm dangling off the back. Mako nodded, "I think so," he said in reply.
"Good," Korra said, stiffening her posture she addressed the group, "we need to talk about the Spirit Omeghi, he has been terrorizing this town and has slowly been taking all of their land. We tried to stop him, but due to unforeseen circumstances-" she shared a look with Mako, "-we had to retreat. Now that I'm better we have a chance to hit Omeghi where it hurts, but apparently some of us are against it."
Bolin noted the sourness in her words when she said that last bit, she wanted to fight. He helped Eska sit down before he spoke up, "I think we should fight him! Eska and Korra can stay behind," he said sensibly.

"Is that my vase under your arm?" Talia asked, a frown playing at her mouth. "Oh! Yeah, it is. Check this out," Bolin raised it with one hand and focused energy onto the clay pot. It levitated above his outreached palm. He felt the urge to do more to it, maybe change its shape, but thought better of it incase Talia became upset. He'd had enough of irate Waterbenders for the century.
"I thought I-you know-might be able to use this as a weapon against Omeghi," he shrugged, lowering the pot back into his hand. Talia crossed her arms, "Of course you may use it if you feel you must," she conceded, "if it saves us."
Bolin nodded his thanks, hugging the vase to his chest. Asami raised her hand to gain attention, "Do we have a plan of attack against this guy?"
Korra agitatedly tapped her thin fingers against her chair, "If I were to guess, I would say his tongue is his greatest weakness-"
"But also his greatest strength," Mako cut her off, "he has really good control of it."

"Can Spirits be killed?"

All eyes turned to Anana who was leaning against the door, lipstick coated mouth formed into a soft frown. Bolin felt cold run down his spine, "We never said we were going to kill it," he objected halfheartedly.
Anana laughed coldly, "How else do you expect to get rid of it? You think if you attack it enough he'll run away and stay away forever? No!" she shot an icy stare at Bolin before she walked further into the room, "If you want to get rid of Omeghi, you have to kill him. It's the only way!"
Mako turned to Korra, "…Can Spirits be killed?" he asked.
Korra's brow furrowed, "I…I guess they can, but it's hard. Really hard…But you can't-you shouldn't. Ok? Maybe it was ok to do that to someone like Unalaq, but Omeghi is just territorial!"

Anana scoffed, "Right, so when he tried to kill you that made him just territorial," she said almost mockingly, it seemed as though Anana was sweet and caring when everyone agreed with her. Someone went the other way, she turned on you. Korra looked up at the young healer and scowled, "Yes." She said firmly, "Look, I say we take him down, then I can use the powers Unalaq taught me and maybe…" she trailed off, trying to put things together with an aching brain.
"Sounds like a plan!" Bolin cut in suddenly and perhaps a little too loudly. But at it had the desired effect. The argument had ended.
He couldn't shake off the way Eesta was now looking at him, as though she had some outrageously evil plan she was going to execute against him. He swallowed, "So, I say we strike tomorrow, who is coming?"
"I am," Asami and Mako said immediately, determined looks on their faces. "I suppose I will come if I must," Desna said. But Eesta shook her head, "No, after what happened to my daughter- I will not allow my son to suffer the same fate!"
Desna looked as though he wanted to argue, but one look from his mother and he was staring at the ground.
Bolin felt sorry for him.

"Alright then," Mako said with a nervous clearing of his throat, "Let's get some rest."

The next morning Bolin woke to the sound of Mako pulling on his thick fur lined coat. He could feel Pabu curled up against his neck and he smiled, reaching up with one pale hand and scratching behind the small creature's ears with one finger. "Ah good, you're awake," Mako said, sitting upon the bottom bunk and shoving his feet into heavy duty boots.
"Yep, up and ready to fight Omeghi the Omega," he said, attempting to blink the sleep from his eyes. His voice sounded perhaps a bit too heavy to be convincing. His brother stood up and smirked crookedly, "I'll be in the kitchen, whenever you're ready bro," he said, and left the room.

Bolin forced himself to get up, shoving Pabu gently aside. The air was chilly around him as he stuck his head into his green shirt. Once all his layers were on, he walked from the room.
He thought about visiting Eska, but ultimately decided against in case she was still sleeping. So instead he made his way to the kitchen where the rest of Team Avatar was grouped. "Morning," Bolin greeted kindly, accepting a mug of tea from Asami.
Korra shrugged carelessly, whilst the other two muttered their good mornings. Bolin frowned, but didn't question the dark mood. Instead he pulled back a rickety chair and sat on it, sipping at the foul tasting liquid.
"We should head out soon," Mako said, shoving his mug onto the table. "I don't suppose we have a plan yet?" Bolin asked. Asami gave a wry sort of grin, "Not exactly," she said.
"You're plan had better include me."
All eyes turned to the doorway where Anana was standing in all her glory. She was wearing a dark blue slightly more heavy duty fur lined coat, yet it still displayed her curvy frame perfectly. How she managed that Bolin would never know.
He shook away those thoughts and focused on the problem at hand, "You're coming?" he yelped. Mako frowned, "What he said," he said unhelpfully.
Anana chuckled, "Of course I am. I may be a healer, but I'm also a great fighter," she had a superior smile, "You need another Waterbender on your team with the Avatar out of commission," she added helpfully.

No one seemed happy about this, least of all Korra, but there was no way they could keep her from going…unless they fought her, but that didn't sound fun or ethical.
"Ok fine," Mako said stiffly, "But you had better listen if someone tells you to retreat!"

The group set off for the Northern part of town. Bolin already felt like his feet were going to freeze off, but didn't voice his discomfort. His gloved hands gripped the vase tightly, anxiously awaiting the moment to use his Earthbending abilities. It felt like something was missing from day to day life, something big and important. Now he was itching for a chance to get it back!
Asami was pulling the glove onto her right hand, flexing her fingers, electricity raced across her palm. Bolin swallowed, steeling himself for the fight to come.

The familiar sight of the fountain alerted Bolin to their location. The ice had begun to stretch into an ornate pattern along the snow, and the group had to step over them to move forwards.
Bolin ran a gloved hand over his hair, searching the buildings for any sight of Omeghi. "Keep an eye out, last time he caught us by surprise," Mako mumbled unhelpfully.
Anana had a blank expression on her face, but Bolin could almost see a predatory gleam in her eye, which didn't sit well with him.

Without warning, a pink rope of flesh shot out from the roof of one of the houses. Asami jumped deftly to the side narrowly avoiding the tongue of the great spirit. "I found him!" she exclaimed. A smile tugged at the corner of the Earthbender's mouth before he focused his attention on the creature before them.
Omeghi the Omega looked down with catlike eyes, his mouth formed into sneer-proudly displaying rows of uneven (and very sharp) teeth. His frog like back legs were held tight beneath his body, claws digging into the roof to keep him steady.
"So you've returned," he commented, tongue lolling around in his mouth uselessly. Bolin could see a purple bruise from where Asami had touched it with her Peacekeeper glove.
Bolin's strong hands twitched against the vase, his feet spreading out in a more grounded stance. He was quick if he needed to be, but still poised for attack.
"Yes, we did," Asami said in return, "Only this time, things are going to end a bit differently," she added for effect.
The wolfen beast snarled, red markings moving with fur and skin as the muscles in his neck tightened, "Yes, this time you will die! Run while you still can, for this is the territory of OMEGHI THE OMEGA!" he screeched.

"Alright, that's it!" Anana shouted. Bolin's green eyes darted to the Waterbender and he watched as her slim hands danced around her, turning snow into water and shooting it up at Omeghi. The Spirit let out a surprised cry before he launched himself from his perch and onto another. He steadied himself then shot out his tongue at Anana, slamming the tip hard into her stomach before she could react. Bolin broke the vase apart without thinking, swirling the shards around him he sent one towards the tongue before it could retract, slicing it half open. Purple blood spilled onto the snow and Omeghi let out a pained cry. Anana was on the ground, desperately fighting to get her breath back but otherwise no worse for wear.

Mako launched himself into the air with the use of his flames, able to grab hold of a ledge and climb onto it. He shot fire directly at Omeghi who was busily scraping his paws against his maw, blood was slipping from his mouth and down his jaw. The beast moved aside, poised for jumping-he suddenly shot himself directly at Mako! The Firebender was suddenly face to face with the beast, Omeghi's paws pinning him against the building. Gnashing teeth and purple blood was likely all his brother could see.
"Mako!" Bolin cried, redirecting the earth and slashing at Omeghi's surprisingly thick hide. It successfully redirected Omeghi's attention though, and he launched himself down to the ground, spreading snow and ice in every direction. Mako fell to the ground with a sickening thump, but Bolin was unable to go see if he was ok as Omeghi's attention was focused upon him.
Asami ran to the Spirits side and shoved her glove hard against his rump, forcing him to turn and swing his paw at her. It was a hit, and Bolin watched as Asami was sent flying.
"STUPID HUMANS!" the Spirited roared, his words slurred due to incision across his tongue. Bolin swung his muscular arms around and brought the vase towards him, forming it into one thick slab of hardened clay.

"You think you can take my land from me?" Omeghi snarled, "You are mistaken."
"I'm not taking your land," Bolin objected, noting the tense muscles in the Spirit's legs-he was ready to pounce. "I'm taking the land back for those people back there," he jabbed a thumb towards the south part of the town. The beast's mouth curled into a smile, "I was here long before they were, though they may not know that," a gooey drip of blood and saliva fell from his open maw, making something in Bolin's stomach curdle with disgust, "This is my land, my territory, and you WILL NOT take it from me!"
Omeghi pounced, claws outstretched, mouth open ready to consume Bolin whole! When, without warning, water encircled his head.
Omeghi the Omega fell to the side, eyes wide with surprise and fear he desperately shook his head to free it from the ball of liquid surrounding him. He couldn't breathe!
Bolin turned to see Anana controlling it, a malicious smile on her face, "Gotcha!" she declared, arms moving delicately around her to keep it around Omeghi's head.
The Earthbender watched as Omeghi flailed, shaking his head and rubbing at his ears in hopes of shoving the water off him, but to no avail.
"Anana!" Bolin shouted, his throat closing as the Spirit before him choked and coughed bubbles of the only air he had.

"I'm ending his miserable life sweetheart, it's what he deserves!" Anana snarled, forcing Omeghi to the ground. The creature's ribs could be seen now, painfully fighting against skin in hopes of expansion. "Anana please, let him go!" Bolin cried, searching for Asami or Mako, but neither were exactly in fighting form. The cold had clearly gotten to Asami as she struggled to stand, her green eyes focusing on the young Waterbender.
"He deserves to die, all Spirits do is take and kill, take and kill!" the muscles in her hand stood out as she forced the water down Omeghi's throat.
For all Bolin knew, he could be dead. But… would it be that bad? With Omeghi dead, the people would be able to return to their homes without trouble!
His throat went dry as Omeghi's gaze turned heavenward, the only movement beyond that was the outstretch of his long back legs.
No… no he couldn't let it happen. No matter how cruel Omeghi may have been, he was only defending what he believed to be his home. It was an animal instinct, and he didn't deserve to die because of it!

Without thinking, Bolin turned to clay into a more uniform ball and shot it straight at Anana. The earth slamming much too hard into her side, a sickening crunch of some unknown bone in her arm made Bolin realize that he must have broken it. The water fell around Omeghi, and Bolin found himself running to the wolf (cat, frog)'s aid rather than that of the person he'd hurt.
He fell to his knees and pulled its head towards him, listening for breath. In his peripheral he could see Mako and Asami running to Anana's side, thankfully-though guilt riddled inside the young Earthbender.
"Omeghi," he whispered, trying to ignore the blood still coming from the creature's tongue.
The Spirit omitted a strangled cough and purplish water shot from his mouth, spraying just beyond his savior. Long front legs reached out against nothing, toes flexing as his now bloodshot eyes struggled to focus on something.
"The world is dark," he slurred, "yet I am alive…"
Bolin found that surprisingly poetic as he released his hold on Omeghi's head, "You're alive," he breathed to the Spirit, dearly hoping it would not take this moment to attack him.

Omeghi managed to become at least somewhat upright, "Human…" he breathed painfully, "You are the one that saved me from that witch?" he asked, tail swishing around his ankles. Bolin nodded solemnly, "Uh, yeah," he managed, struggling to his feet.
The Spirit looked at him appraisingly, "I… *Cough* am indebted to you!" he bowed his head in respect. Rather surprised by this turn of events, Bolin managed to incline his head in return. He also shot a befuddled expression at his brother before he turned back to Omeghi.
Too weak to move much, Omeghi lowered his head to the snow beneath him and took in a few deep breaths, "I am tired," he said in a low rumble, "but alive… and thus I vow a favor in return… for your deed."
Alright, this was weird. But Bolin knew what he needed to ask, "I… want you to allow everyone to return to their homes, either leave this place, or live side by side with the humans."
It wasn't put as eloquently as he would have liked, but he got the point across. Omeghi snarled, ears lowering, Bolin thought for a brief moment that he would not get what he asked for, and would be paying for his mistake with his life.
But to his surprise, Omeghi the Omega nodded, "As you wish, I will allow those idiotic humans to live within my territory."

Bolin walked back with the rest of Team Avatar, somewhat pleased with himself, and yet riddled with guilt at the same time.
Mako supported Anana (though limping a little himself) with one arm. Asami was better off, but still clearly in some pain.
No one said anything. The only thing Bolin knew, was that Anana was shooting hostile glares in his direction. He wanted to apologize, but couldn't find the voice just yet, so he decided to wait until they got back to Talia's place… he dearly hoped that Omeghi would be true to his word.

After much travel, they finally made it back to the southern part of town, sore, cold, and tired. Korra and Talia were waiting in the kitchen area (per usual) having obviously been anxious for their return.
"You're back!" Korra exclaimed, carefully lifting herself onto her feet. She was obviously much better, only swaying slightly on her feet. Bolin was subject to a bone crushing hug, then Mako and Asami in turn.
"Good to know we're wanted Korra," Asami joked, wrapping one arm around her friend's bare shoulders. The hug lingered for only a moment before Korra pulled back and was forced to take hold of the back of her chair.
"Were you successful?" Talia asked hopefully, dark fingers tapping at her thigh. Mako nodded, "Thank to Bolin."
Anana snorted, pulling away from Mako's support, she cradled her broken arm, "All that idiot did was get me hurt, and save the life of that pathetic monster!" she spat, limping from the room at a fast pace, not lingering to explain.

Which meant that Bolin was forced to. He relayed all information to Talia and Korra, who gave him their rapt attention.
Once the story was finished, Talia ran a hand over her dark hair, "Amazing! Are you sure that the Spirit is true to his word though? I will not return with my people if there is any chance that it is lying!"
Asami shook her head, "I don't think he is. It didn't seem in character for Omeghi to trick us like that."

Silence followed this. Bolin could feel it creeping up behind him. Shaking it off as best he could, the young Earthbender sighed, "I should go apologize to Anana for hurting her… but I should probably check on Eska first."
His heart fluttered at the thought, settling nicely in his stomach. A feeling akin to eating hot soup on a cold day.
Both Talia and Korra blinked at him, "Ah…about that," Korra managed.

"Eesta, Eska, and Desna all left while you were gone."

I'm still alive!

I hope this chapter satisfies you, and I'm seriously sorry for the wait! It's amazing how time flies without you noticing it. O-O
At any rate, I will write the next (and most likely *Final*) chapter as soon as I can! And I mean it this time.

Oh yeah, I hope it doesn't seem out of character for Omeghi to feel indebted to Bolin. Even so, it has a bigger part in the next chapter!

-As always- Please Review!