nightelf37: Remember, only the plot, the Shisnos, and a few other characters belong to me.
Chapter 11: The Great Divide
Sunset behind some tall rock outcroppings…
The sky was mostly cloudy and the clouds reflected the light of the setting sun. Somewhere in a barren clearing below, there were 2 camp tents. One was done, and the other was being set up. Finally, the second tent was done, and Sokka emerged from it. Aang and Sneers (1) were out gathering food, Shyu and the girls were looking for wood, and Idano was leaning on a resting Appa, reading and writing down on his diary.
"How are things in the Seeker, Moritz?", he wrote as Sokka slept off.
"Just fine.", Moritz's words appeared in reply as he wrote on his copy. "I have been secretly training on how to use my new Soundbending."
"Any good uses?"
"Yup. One time, I called Iroh in the bridge…while I was in the latrine…which was on the other side of the ship. I knew the ways around the Seeker so I was able to relay my message."
"What is it you told him to do?"
"Nothing. Just a greeting."
"Did you also harass Zuko?"
"Nah. He's in a bad mood today. After all, he missed the chance to capture Aang."
"I see."
"Well, I better get back to work. See you later."
"Okay."
And with that, everything written earlier was 'magically' erased. As Idano closed the diary, Katara (alone) returned to the camp, carrying an armload of wood.
"Um…aren't you forgetting the tarp?", she asked her brother, waking him up.
"Right…got it."
Sokka picked up the rolled-up tarp and threw it through the open flap and into the tent.
"Sokka, you're supposed to put the tarp on top of the tent.", Katara said crossly. "You know, so we don't get rained on."
"Ordinarily you'd be right, but seeing how it's the dry season, you're not. And according to Idano's 'weather forecast', there won't be any rain today.", her brother answered. "Besides, that tarp makes a pretty warm blanket."
"But what if it does rain? Even if Idano isn't lying, he can still be wrong."
"But what if it doesn't rain? Then I would have put the tarp up for nothing."
Katara stomped the ground and gritted her teeth. "Ur…arg! You're infuriating!"
"Katara, why don't you worry about gathering the firewood because that kindling's looking pretty sorry."
Indeed, the wood she collected was quite measly. She then had a sullen face, which shifted to one of anger. "Well if you don't like my firewood…have it!"
Katara threw her wood at Sokka, who shielded himself from the 'hail' of sticks.
"You need not have said that, Sokka.", Idano said as he got up and checked the water bottle. (2) "Shyu could light up a quick flame."
"Fine by me!", Sokka replied to his sister, ignoring Idano. "If you're not going to do your job…urg!"
He pulled down his tent in disgust. Just then, Aang and the others arrived.
"Okay, we got the grub if you guys got the…", Sneers called, then stopped to see Katara and Sokka turning away from each other instantly, their arms across their chests, expressions of sullen anger on their faces.
"Hey, where's the campfire?", Aixata asked. "And what happened to the tent?",
"Don't look at me.", Idano muttered. "I'm just updating my diary."
"Why don't you ask Miss Know It All? Queen of the Twigs!", Sokka told Aixata.
Katara whipped around to yell at her brother's back. "Oh yeah?" She then pointed an accusatory finger. "Well you're Mister Lazy Bum, King of the…Tents!"
She threw a twig at Sokka's head, who whipped around to face her.
Aang just laughed and spread his arms wide in a gesture of conciliation.
"Okay, listen guys.", he explained. "Harsh words won't solve problems, action will. Why don't you just switch jobs?"
"Sounds good.", grunted Katara.
"Whatever.", grunted Sokka concurrently.
Both began their new tasks, but each were still fuming at the other.
Aang smiled in a self satisfied manner and said, "You see that? Settling feuds and making peace. All in a day's work for the Avatar."
"Oh no!", Sneers gasped in fake distress. "Someone else needs your help, Aang!"
"Who?", gasped the airbender, his staff ready.
"Over there.", Shyu said, thumbing at Momo, who was desperately trying remove a melon that Appa was holding upright with one of the digits of his left forepaw. Momo struggled and even tried to fly away from it, but couldn't move the melon.
"Gotcha!", Sneers blurted, then fell to the floor laughing.
Finally, Momo gave up and began to walk away, depressed. Appa groaned, opened his mouth, and his tongue scooped up the melon. Seconds before it could be digested, Momo returned, grabbed the melon and ran away. He ran into Aang who took the melon, threw it into the air and sliced a small piece of it off with a jet of air. The large piece landed in front of Appa who ate it, and the small piece landed in front of Momo, who turned to Aang and chirped in protest.
"Come on Momo, that's fair.", Aang told him. "Appa's got five stomachs."
S—K—I—A—A—S—S
The next day, the Gaang were standing at the rim of a grand canyon.
"Here it is, guys, the Great Divide.", Aang proclaimed, showing the breathtaking expanse.
"Wow! I could just stare at it forever.", Katara awed with astonishment.
"I agree with you, Katara.", said Shyu.
"Okay. I've seen enough.", Sokka said with boredom. Behind them, Sneers got into a fit of laughter again, having a hard time standing up and slapping his thigh.
"Aha-ha-ha. Good one, Sokka!", he guffawed.
"How can you not be fascinated?", Katara asked her brother. "This is the largest canyon in the entire world."
Sokka was standing next to Appa and holding his reins, obviously ready to leave.
"Then I'm sure we'll be able to see it very clearly from the air while we fly away.", Sokka replied. Just then, a man in an ornate white-and-chiffon-yellow robe rushed past Sokka and rudely pushed him out of the way.
"Hey! If you're looking for the Canyon Guide, I was here first!", he said.
Aixata clasped her hands in front of her in a gesture of hope as her brother came over. "Ooohh…a canyon guide. Sounds informative."
"Believe me, he's more than a tour guide, he's an earthbender."
While he yammered, Sokka emerged from behind him and silently started to mock the man by opening and closing his hand in the "this guy talks too much" gesture.
"And the only way in and out of the canyon is with his help. And he's takin' my tribe across next!", the "scout" said.
At the conclusion of the his talk, he looked at Sokka, who feigned innocence and walked off, saying calmly, "Calm down, we know you're next."
"You wouldn't be calm if the Fire Nation destroyed your home and forced you to flee. My whole tribe has to walk thousands of miles to the capital city of Ba Sing Se!"
"You're a refugee.", Sneers concluded, having recovered from his laughter.
"Humph. Tell me somethin' I don't know."
"Hey!", Shyu called, pointing to a mass of people emerging from the forest behind and approaching. "There are some people coming this way."
"Is that your tribe?", Katara asked.
"It most certainly is not.", the scout retorted as they all saw that the 'tribe' were dressed in rude animal skins and looked generally unkempt. "That's the Zhang tribe. A bunch of low-life thieves. They've been the enemies of my tribe for 100 years." The scout called to the Zhangs, "Hey Zhangs! I'm savin' a spot for my tribe so don't even think of stealing it!"
A huge Zhang woman, presumably the leader, whose hair was tied up in two buns, side-to-side, walked up to the scout menacingly, who leaned back, somewhat intimidated.
"Where are the rest of the Gan Jin? Still tidying up their campsite?", she asked.
The scout leaned forward to push the Zhang Leader back. "Yes! But they sent me ahead of them to hold a spot."
"I didn't know the canyon Guide took reservations."
"Heh! Of course you didn't. That's the ignorance I'd expect from a messy Zhang! So unorganized and ill prepared for a journey."
The entire Zhang tribe began to grumble loudly at this.
"From what I see, they seem to be prepared enough.", Idano remarked.
"Are you taking their side?", the scout demanded.
"No. Just being logical."
Just then, some rocks blocking the way into the canyon were being lifted up. They were then moved off to reveal an old man in a straw hat and green clothing. His body seemed to be a bit round, but he still looked like he had a couple more decades in him.
"Sorry about the wait, youngsters.", he said. "I'm Aarde Firma, the Canyon Guide. Who's ready to cross the canyon?""
"They are.", Idano answered, thumbing to the Gan Jin scout and the Zhangs. "We're just sightseeing."
"I was here first! My party's on their way!", the scout said first.
"I can't guide people who aren't here.", the guide replied.
"Guess you guys'll have to make the trip tomorrow.", taunted the Zhang leader with mock sadness.
"Hey! I see some more people arriving.", Sokka called, thumbing to some people wearing garments similar to the scout.
"Here they come!", the scout shouted in triumph.
As the (presumably) Gan Jins came over to the Gaang, Aarde, and the Zhangs, Idano muttered, "Slobs versus snobs. Classic."
The Zhang leader pointed a finger at the Canyon Guide's chest and said, "You're not seriously going to cave into these spoiled Gan Jins! I mean, we're refugees too! And we've got sick people that need shelter."
"I…uh…well…"
A white haired, dark-skinned man, the Gan Jin Leader, stood next to the Scout, who said, "We've got old people who are weary from traveling."
"Sick people get priority over old people.", the Zhang Leader retorted.
"Maybe you Zhang's wouldn't have so many sick people if you weren't such slobs.", scoffed the Gan Jin Leader.
"If you Gan Jins weren't so clean, maybe you wouldn't live to be so old."
"I could smell your stink a mile away."
As they continued arguing, Katara turned to Aang and asked, "Are you ready to put your peace-making skills to the test?"
Aang looked to the ground in doubt. "I don't know. A fight over chores is one thing. These people have been feuding for 100 years."
But Idano already decided for Aang, and shouted through his 'megaphone'. (3)
"Everyone, listen up!", he called as he indicated Aang. "This is the Avatar! And if you give him a chance, I'm certain he'll come up with a compromise that will make everybody happy."
The two tribes looked to Aang for a moment in silence. Seeing he had to answer, the Avatar offered an obvious solution.
"Uh…you could share the earthbender and travel together?"
"Absolutely not!", the Gan Jin Leader scoffed. "We'd rather be taken by the Fire Nation than travel with those stinking thieves.
"We wouldn't travel with you pompous fools anyway!", replied the Zhang Leader.
"I am not pompous!", said the Gan Jin, in a rather pompous manner.
General pandemonium broke out as the tribes began to yell at each other. This continued for a moment or two before Aang intervened.
"Alright! Here's the deal!", Aang called, breaking up the fight. "We're all going down together and Appa here will fly your sick and elderly across. Does that seem fair?"
After a second of thinking, the two leaders nodded their grudging approval.
S—K—I—A—A—S—S—Z—A—G (Sokka, Katara, Idano, Aang, Aixata, Shyu, Sneers, Zhangs, Aarde, Gan Jins)
Later…
Gan Jin seniors and sick Zhangs have boarded the saddle. As expected, the two eyed each other suspiciously in the saddle, sitting as far away as possible from each other. Shyu was holding the reins, ready to take off.
"Are you certain I can do this?", the former Sage asked Aang. "You know how they think of—"
"I'm certain.", Aang answered. "Besides, I wouldn't want you crossing the canyon on foot."
"You're right. I would get weary faster than you guys. After all, I am already 60 years old. Even thought you're actually 112, you have a body of a twelve-year-old."
"This feuding tribe stuff is serious business.", Sneers cut in. "Are you sure it's a good idea getting involved in this?"
"To tell the truth, I'm not sure.", Aang answered him, and then smiled widely. "But when have I ever been?"
Katara put a hand on Aang's shoulder and said, "He's the Avatar, Sneers. Making peace between people is his job."
Sokka slumped in despair, sighing, "His job's gonna make us cross this whole thing on foot, isn't it?"
As the Gaang discussed, Aarde borrowed Idano's 'megaphone' and announced, "Okay, now comes the bad news: No food allowed in the canyon. It attracts dangerous predators."
The tribes' dissatisfied cacophony rose again at the interdiction against food, but the guide's word was final.
"You babies can go a day without food.", he continued. "Would you rather be hungry…or dead? Now, we're headin' down in 10 minutes. All food better be in your gut, or in the garbage!"
Seeing he's not gonna change his mind, the two tribes took out their food and started eating. Of course, the Zhangs were sloppy while the Gan Jins were formal.
"Shyu and Appa are gonna take good care of you until we get there.", Aang said to the people on the bison.
"See you guys on the other side.", Shyu called in return, then commanded. "Yip, yip!"
Appa grunted and flew off without a moment's hesitation.
S—K—I—A—A—S—S—Z—A—G
10 minutes later…
The party was now assembled and they descended a switchback trail down the canyon wall in the following order: Aarde, Aang, the Inuitikuts, Sneers, Gan Jins, Zhangs, and Shisnos. When the group reached a break in the path, Aarde earthbended to bridge the gap.
"Nice bending!", Sneers remarked as they all began to move forward again.
"The job's much more than bending, kid. Folks want information.", replied Aarde. As they walked, the guide continued, "Many of you are probably wondering how canyons are formed. Experts tell us this canyon was most likely carved into the ground by Earth Spirits who were angry at local farmers for not offering them a proper sacrifice."
The Shisnos just rolled their eyes, knowing they were all superstition. Then again, spirits exist in this world, so the Guide may be true in some aspects. Just then, a rockslide began above them. As the rocks came down, Aarde earthbent them out of the away. (4)
"Ahaha.", Aarde laughed. "Guess the spirits are still angry! Hope you all brought sacrifices."
Sneers snickered from this joke. Everybody else rolled their eyes.
S—K—I—A—A—S—Z—A—G
5 minutes later…
The party finally made it to the canyon floor, with canyon wall behind them.
"Okay, everyone!", Aarde called. "Stand clear of the wall."
He then earthbended a nearby rock outcropping and threw it at the bridge he created earlier, destroying it.
"Why'd you do that?" Aixata asked as debris from the bridge landed behind them, raising a cloud of dust that obscures everything behind.
"These people are fleeing the Fire Nation, aren't they? I gotta make sure we can't be followed. We'll be safe now."
"Why didn't you just destroy the bridge once my brother and I passed it?"
"Now that you mentioned it, perhaps I should have."
Just then, a massive, insect shaped silhouette appeared in the dust behind the Guide. A pincer emerged from the dust and picked up Aarde, who yelped in surprise. Aang airbent the dust away to reveal a huge, black insect-like creature with four legs, red eyes, and a long thin mouth with teeth. The Canyon Guide was in the creature's mouth, screaming. The first to act was Sokka.
"We gotta help him!", he said as he threw his boomerang, striking the beast on the head. It dropped Aarde, who landed on the ground, and rushed Sokka, slavering with its tongue hanging out. Sokka now ran for his life, the creature close behind.
"Okay…now you gotta help me!", he yelled as he ran over a rock outcropping. The creature followed over it as Sokka doubled back. Aixata arrived, sending a beam of light from her hands to smack the beast's head. It had little effect, however, as it then tried to bite her. Aixata lunged out of the way, and Sneers bravely punched the beast in the face. He was supported a second later by Aang, who dropped in and shot a blast of wind at the monster. It got blown backward, but charged again. With enough lead time before the creature reaches him, Aang was able to create a tornado with his staff. He caught the creature in the tornado and threw far up the cliff. Able to walk on the walls, the creature quickly hid in one of the canyon wall's many crevices.
"What was that?" Aang asked as the creature disappeared.
"Canyon Crawler.", Aarde said, wincing in pain. "Oh, ugh! And there's sure to be more."
"Your arms…they're broken.", Katara gasped as she started to wrap some bandages on Aarde's arms.
"Without my arms, I got no bending."
"I thought Earthbenders relied on their lower body.", Aixata asked as she came over to help Katara. "That should mean the only time Earthbenders are helpless are when their legs are broken."
"I use a style that depends on the arms.", replied Aarde. "I'm afraid we're trapped in this canyon and the one to blame is the ones who have brought food."
Sneers gulped from this recent revelation, and then complained, "I thought the whole point of ditching our food was so we wouldn't have to deal with things like…canyon crawlers! Who could have brought food here?"
"It's the Zhangs!", the Gan Jin Leader accused. "They took food down here, even after the guide told them not to!"
"What?", thee Zhang Leader countermanded. "If there's anyone who can't go without food for a day, it's you pampered Gan Jins!"
"I hope you're happy. We're stuck in the canyon with no way out."
"Why don't you thank yourself, food hider!"
"Look. Sticking together is the only way to—", Aang tried to cut in.
"I'm not walkin' another step with the likes of them.", the Zhang Leader continued.
The Gan Jin Leader folded his arms across his chest, and replied, "Now, there's something we can agree on."
"Any ideas?", Aang asked his friends, who quickly got to thinking. Aarde however, was becoming hysterical.
"No bending. We need to get out of this canyon.", he ranted. "I won't die down here! I won't become part of the food chain!"
"See? We're going to become part of the food chain because of you!", the Gan Jin Leader accused.
"Sure. Unjustly blame the Zhangs like you always do!", answered, the Zhang Leader.
"Gladly!"
Just then, Aang broke up the fight with a blast of wind.
"Enough!", he shouted, clearly angry. "I thought I could help you guys get along, but I guess that's not going to happen.
Aang then airbended himself to the top of a small bluff. The bluff was the beginning of what amounts to a stone baulk between two canyons on either side.
"We should split up.", he declared. "Gan Jins on this side…and Zhangs on that side. We'll travel in two separate lines."
The two tribe leaders looked up at Aang, then at each other, and then nodded. They and their following tribes began to take their separate paths, Zhang on Aang's right, Gan Jin on his left. Aang hopped down as his friends approached him.
"Sokka, Sneers, Idano, you go with the Zhangs. And Katara and Aixata, you go with the Gan Jins. See if you can figure out why they hate each other so much."
The five except Idano began to split up to follow their assigned tribes.
"I'm staying with you, Aang. You're gonna need me as you travel between the tribes. I'm sending two of my bugs to follow them."
Idano pulled out Aranea and a 'beetle' plated with the same material as the former.
"Kochu, scout the Gan Jins.", he commanded the beetle, which then flew off to do as commanded. Idano turned to Aranea and said, "Aranea, scout the Zhangs."
As Aranea opened its mini-jets and took off with the girls, Idano turned to Aang and said, "Shall we?"
S—K—I—A—A—S—Z—A—G
Dusk…
Aang and Idano stood atop another bluff, surveying the two groups setting up their camps below.
"I'm bored.", Aang sighed.
"Wanna play rock-paper-scissors?", Idano offered.
"What's that?"
"A little game I play back in my world to pass the time or determine who does something."
"Oh, I get it. We also have a game like that here. It uses four gestures representing the four elements."
"That's not exactly balanced. Let's make one with seven gestures so as to lessen the chances of a tie.", Idano proposed. "First of all, tell me what can soak water and has holes in this world."
"Why?"
"Because I don't think sponges exist here. Nor scissors or paper. I'll need to know their 'equivalents' in this world."
"Okay."
I—A—I—A—I—A—I—A—I—A (Idano, Aang)
At the Zhang camp…
Sokka, Sneers, and Aranea observed the ruffians. They saw that the tents were brown and scattered about. What's more, they had no tarps.
"So, you guys aren't going to put up your tarps?", Sokka asked the Zhang leader.
"What for? It's the dry season."
"Exactly!", Sokka sighed with exasperation.
"Besides, we like to use the tarp as a blanket."
"Finally, someone gets it."
"Gets what?", Sneers asked Sokka.
"Never mind."
S—S—Z—S—S—Z—S—S—Z (Sokka, Sneers, Zhangs)
At the Gan Jin camp…
Katara, Aixata, and Kochu observed the regal people. They saw that the tents were pristine white and erected perfectly, arranged in perfect order with proper spacing. What's more, they had tarps set up.
"You really think it'll rain?", Aixata asked.
"No.", answered the Gan Jin Leader. "But you can never be too careful, right?"
Katara smiled at the Gan Jin Leader, pleased at his response.
K—A—G—K—A—G—K—A—G (Katara, Aixata, Gan Jins)
Later that night…
As crickets chirped in the distance, the Gan Jin and the girls sat in a circle around a campfire. Suddenly, after the Gan Jin leader looked around, he then produced some bread from underneath his robe. Kochu reacted and relayed everything to Idano as the rest of the Gan Jin were eating food with their chopsticks. It is clear they all violated the ban.
When the Gan Jin Leader offered some bread to the girls, Aixata gasped, "So it was you guys who had food!"
"Oh come now.", the Gan Jin Leader scoffed. "You really think that tribe of thieves isn't smuggling food? Why should my people go hungry when the sneaky Zhangs are stuffing their faces?
Katara hesitated, then took the bread, "Well, I guess it's okay if everyone's doing it." As she took a few bites, Aixata then asked the Gan Jin Leader "So, why does your tribe hate the Zhang so much?"
"You seem like a smart girl, Aixata. I bet you would enjoy hearing some history."
"Are you kidding me? History is my favorite subject at school!"
The Gan Jin leader cleared his throat, and then started to narrate. "The patriarch of our tribe, Jin Wei, was an earthbender warrior who was assigned an important duty; transporting our sacred orb from the Great Eastern Gate to the Great Western Gate. Taking the orb from the east to the west represents the sun s rising and setting. It was our tribe's ancient redemption ritual, but as he approached the gate, Jin Wei was attacked by one of the Zhang. A vermin, named Wei Jin, who looked at the orb with envy. That coward, Wei Jin, knocked Jin Wei to the ground and stole our sacred orb. Our people have never forgotten. You can never trust a Zhang."
After talking in all of this, Katara, looked towards the Zhang camp, which was a few yards away, an expression of hardness and suspicion spreading over her face.
K—A—G—K—A—G—K—A—G
Meanwhile at the Zhang camp…
The Zhangs, Sneers, and Sokka were eating legs of meat around the campfire. Apparently, they have violated the ban as well.
"Care for some more meat, Sokka?", the Zhang Leader offered.
"Would I!", he gasped as he finished his current leg of meat and grabbed the offered one and began to eat hungrily.
"I know what you must be thinking. We're horrible for endangering everybody by bringing food down here."
"Yeah, you pretty much are.", Sneers answered for Sokka, who was too busy eating.
"The Gan Jin think so badly of us they probably assumed we brought food in and decided to bring food in themselves. That's why we brought food in."
"That's…justifiable."
"Our conflict with the Gan Jin goes back over a hundred years. Our forefather, Wei Jin, was leaving the western gate of our village, when he saw a figure in the distance. It was a man of the Gan Jin tribe, Jin Wei, collapsed on the ground. Noble Wei Jin stopped to help him. Jin Wei was transporting a sacred orb, a very powerful relic used in his tribe's redemption ritual. Wei Jin tried to tend to the man's wounds, but Jin Wei insisted the orb was more important, and asked him to take it back to his tribe. Kind Wei Jin promised to send help for the man as soon as he could, but as Wei Jin crossed the border to return the orb into Gan Jin territory he was arrested! Instead of thanking him for his kind and selfless deed, they sentenced him to twenty long years in prison. We Zhangs will never forget that injustice."
"That's just terrible.", Sokka said, done with his leg of meat.
Sneers asked the Zhang Leader, pointing to her leg of meat. "You gonna finish that?"
She just took a bite in response. Sneers looked depressed and slumped a bit. All the while, Aranea took this all in and relayed the information to Idano.
S—S—Z—S—S—Z—S—S—Z
Back at the bluff overlooking the two tribes…
Aang and Momo looked down at the camps below with longing, backs to Idano, who was reading on a 'tablet', which was filled with the information his two bugs relayed. He leaned back at his tent, eating a 'bar'.
"Sure would be nice to be around one of those campfires, telling stories and laughing.", Aang sighed. Momo chittered. "It's okay, Momo, we'll be out of here soon enough and then we can eat our weight in leechy nuts!"
Just then, Momo heard a flying bug, caught it and offered it to Aang.
"Nah, I'll wait for the leechy nuts.", Aang refused.
As Momo began chomping, Idano called to Aang.
"I got the data from my bugs and here it is."
Idano gave Aang his tablet, which it text changed into characters Aang could understand. (5)
"Hmm…Hey, Idano! What's that you have?"
Idano turned to the bar in his pocket. "Don't worry. I sealed my food, so it couldn't be smelled by those canyon crawlers."
"Okay. I hope you're right."
"You know I don't ever lie. And the moments I do is when I was wrongly informed."
"It's lonely being impartial, isn't it?", said Aarde as he came over, still unable to earthbend.
"I wish I could help these people get along, but it just seems impossible.", Aang sighed. "Anyhow, I guess our biggest problem is getting out of here."
Aarde lay down next to Aang. "I'm not so sure the two problems are unrelated."
Aarde then entered Idano's tent and nodded off to sleep, and eventually Idano, Aang, and Momo finally went in, too and slept.
I—A—A—I—A—A—I—A—A (Idano, Aang, Aarde)
The next day…
The party then traveled on. Just then, the baulk separating the two tribes ended as they continued their trek on either side, with Aang, Idano, and Aarde atop it.
"All clear!", Aarde called. "We're almost to the other side."
As the tribes walked on, Katara, Sokka, Sneers, and Aixata brought up the rear. The four stopped upon Idano's command. He then asked, "Guys, will these people cooperate long enough to get out of the canyon?"
"I don't think so, Idano.", his sister replied. "the Zhang's really wronged the Gan Jins. They ambushed Jin Wei and stole the sacred orb."
"What are you talking about?", Aang asked. Idano slapped his mask, sighing that Aang forgot what he read the previous night.
"Yeah, Aixata, what are you talking about?", Sokka agreed. "Wei Jin didn't steal the orb; he was returning it to their village gate and was wrongfully punished by the Gan Jin."
"Not punished enough if you ask me!", Katara retorted.
Sneers made angry, frustrated noises and Idano shouted, "Dammit, you guys! You were sent there so we could find a way to break up their feud, not join their sides!"
Aang added, "I agree. Now I need your help. Let's get everyone together at the base of the canyon wall." He then opened his glider and flew off. Idano dashed off after him.
S—K—I—A—A—S—Z—A—G
Later, the party made it to the base of the other canyon wall. As usual, the two tribes are once again facing each other. Aang landed between them as they argued once again. Idano joined Aang, who folded his glider up and addressed the crowd.
"Please, everyone!", he said "As soon as we get out of here we can eat, and then go our separate ways. But I need you all to put your heads together and figure out a way up this cliff."
The Gan Jin Leader insultingly suggested, "Maybe the Zhang can climb the walls with their long, disgusting fingernails."
The Zhang Leader mockingly apologized, "Oh, sorry! I forgot that to the Gan Jin, unclipped fingernails is a crime punishable by twenty years in jail!"
"Why you dirty thief!"
"You pompous fool!"
The tribes began taunting and arguing with each other again, this time joined by 'members' of the Gaang (save for Aang himself and Idano), who have become partisans of their respective tribes.
"Guys!", Idano called. "Focus!"
"How many times do I have to say it?", Aang cried out. "Harsh words won't solve problems, action will!
"Perhaps the Avatar is right.", the Zhang Leader said.
"Yes, perhaps he is.", agreed the Gan Jin Leader.
Aang sighed in relief, but Idano muttered, "I have a bad feeling about this."
"Harsh words will never solve our problems…", continued the Zhang Leader.
"…Action will!", Gan Jin Leader finished as the two brandished their swords and begn to clash blades.
Aang drew back with a cry of surprise and fear.
"You just had to say it, didn't you?", Idano scolded to Aang. "You weren't expecting this, huh?"
"To the death! And let this be the end of this rivalry!", the Gan Jin Leader declared.
The Zhang Leader spun her sword and struck at the Gan Jin Leader, who blocked it, then spun for another blow, which his opponent evaded as she spun to do likewise. After several feints and thrusts, they pushed each other apart. As they regained their footing, the Gan Jin Leader's lower beard fell off, as did one of the Zhang Leader's buns. They rushed at each other again, but as they met Aang brought his staff down and blew the two sides backwards.
As they were blown back, Idano saw slabs of meat and all sorts of edible items. in other words—
"Is that… food?", Aang gasped as he saw the grub, and then exclaimed, "Everyone smuggled food down here! Unbelievable!"
"Yeah!", Idano joined in. "You guys put our lives in danger either because you just couldn't go without a snack for a day, or you couldn't trust the other tribe to not bring food! Either case, you…are all…************' ***** *** *******!"
Everybody gasped from Idano's dirty language, everybody except for Aang, who was focused on an egg custard tart the Zhangs had.
"So hungry…", he drooled. "Is that…egg custard in that tart?
Idano sighed as he took out his bugs and ordered them to acquire the tart and nobody intervened. Just after Idano got the tart and safely stowed it away in his bag, plenty of Canyon Crawlers emerged from the cliff walls simultaneously, attracted by the scent of food. The monsters were soon upon everybody as they fled in horror flee. Katara, Sneers, and Sokka got behind the nearest rock.
"Oh no!", Katara gasped. "That's a lot of canyon crawlers!"
Sokka drew out his boomerang and Sneers complained, "We barely survived one!"
Meanwhile, Aarde was walking backwards in terror.
"They're coming back for me!", he ranted. "They've had a taste, and they're coming back for me!"
Sokka moved to leave the shelter of the rock and attack, an expression of determination on his face, but he was grabbed by his sister.
"Sokka, wait!", Katara called. "I don't care about this stupid feud! I just want us to get out of here alive."
"Me too.", Sokka replied, with chagrin in his face. "I only took their side because they fed me."
The three of them then ran from behind the rock, ready to fight. Amidst the mayhem, Idano readied two long rectangular mini-cannons from his bag, which fired bursts of air. He attacked the insects, which kept coming. As they got closer around him, the butted heads as he leaped into the air. Aang joined him and blasted the crawlers with a blast of wind. This didn't dissuade them, however as they then proceeded to attack the two tribes.
One of the crawlers scared off thee Gan Jins, tearing off a piece of cloth in the process. Another was being forced back by the Zhang Leader's curved sword. Two more were threatening two Gan Jins when Katara did the water whip on them. She was about to do it again when another of those monsters broke her water and was about to attack when Sneers came to the rescue and pummeled the Crawler in the face. Once Katara retrieved her water, they both ran.
Meanwhile, Sokka was chased by a crawler. as he jumped down a short cliff, he hit the following crawler with his boomerang. Just as he was confronted by another crawler, Idano blasted it away with his "Wind Blasters".
Even as Aang airbent more crawlers out of his way, he saw that it was no good. Canyon Crawlers were everywhere, terrorizing both tribes. Just then, Aang got an idea as he saw the crawlers chewing food, their heads inside the food bags.
Picking up a food bag, he raised it and showed everyone in the canyon.
"Everybody!", he yelled. "Watch me! Do what I do!"
Aang leapt towards the nearest bunch of crawlers and threw a piece of food at them. One of the crawlers caught the food in its mouth and ate it. The crawler then ran to Aang, who puts the bag over its snout and catapulted himself onto its back, using the bag straps as reins. Seeing this, the two tribes now got to work together.
One of the Zhangs lured a crawler as the Gan Jin Scout hopped on, and then did as Aang did. Katara held out a fish, luring another. Just before it could get her, Sokka ran alongside it and put a food bag over its snout. Sneers and Aixata performed a similar method, and even the tribe leaders started to cooperate. As the Gan Jin Leader lured a crawler, the Zhang Leader leaped from above and strained its head as the former covered the crawler's snout. Idano, however, did his own style. Using his Thoughtbending, he coerced the crawler to freeze as he then swiftly placed a food bag over its snout. He then convinced Aarde to hop on. Soon enough, everybody had a "Canyon crawler" mount.
Atop a pillar, Aang wrapped the rest of the food in a blanket and tied it to his staff in the style of a bindle (6). He then yelled, "Now, follow me! We're riding out of this hole!"
Grinning evilly, Aang swung the 'bindle' in front of his mount, which turned around and started climbing the cliff, promptly followed by the rest. Momo flew up on his own. Soon, Aang and his ride reached the cliff side, where Appa and his occupants were waiting. Shyu gasped at the sight of the Crawlers approaching, but Idano, who was just behind Aang, 'calmed' him down, 'saying' everything was under control.
As Aang dismounted, he yelled to the rest, "Everyone! Get off!"
Everybody did as told. as the Crawlers stopped, their eyes on Aang's pack.
"We made it!", cheered the Zhang Leader.
Aang then threw his pack over the cliff with his staff, which began to drop food as it unraveled and fell. Naturally, the crawlers ran after it. Everyone was safe at last.
"What was that that just happened?", Shyu asked Idano.
"It's a long story.", Idano answered. "We'll tell you after this.
"I never thought a Gan Jin could get his hands dirty like that.", remarked the Zhang Leader as her previously-sick tribesmen rejoined her tribe.
"And I never knew you Zhangs were so reliable in a pinch.", replied the Gan Jin Leader as the old people from his tribe returned to him.
"Perhaps we're not so different after all."
Aang sighed happily, thinking it was finally over. However, he was to be sorely mistaken as the Gan Jin Leader then said, "Too bad we can't rewrite history." He drew his sword and pointed it at the Zhang Leader. "You thieves stole our sacred orb from Jin Wei!"
The Zhang Leader drew her sword and countered, "You tyrants unjustly imprisoned We Jin for twenty long years!"
Aang and Idano palmed their faces, angered that despite what they've been through, they still hated each other. Then again, such cases have happened when two enemies had to gang up on a stronger one, the case the Shisnos called an "Enemy Mine".
Idano turned to Aang and said, "Remember what I told you that night back at the tent."
Aang nodded and said out loud, "Wait a second! Jin Wei? Wei Jin? I know those guys!"
"Yes, yes, we're all aware of the story.", replied the Gan Jin Leader. Just as they pointed their blades at each other's necks, Aang replied, "No! I mean I really knew them." The leaders lowered their weapons and turned to Aang. "I may not look it, but I'm 112 years old. I was there a hundred years ago on the day you're talking about…"
"There seems to be a lot of confusion about what happened.", he narrated. "First of all, Jin Wei and Wei Jin weren't enemies, they were brothers. Twins in fact. And they were eight. And most importantly, they were just playing a game! The sacred orb from the legend…that was the ball. And the eastern and western gates were the goal posts. Jin Wei had the ball and was running toward the goal when he fell and fumbled it. Wei Jin didn't steal the ball, he picked it up and started running it back toward the other goal. But he stepped out of bounds, so the official put him in the penalty box, not for twenty long years, but for two short minutes."
"There was no stealing and no putting anyone in prison. Just a game.", Aang concluded.
"You're saying the sacred orb was actually a sacred ball?", the Zhang leader asked.
"Nope, just a regular ball."
"What about our tribe's Redemption ritual?", the Gan Jin Scout called from behind.
"That's what the game was called; Redemption. As soon as someone got the ball from one goal to the other everyone would yell, 'Redemption!'"
The leaders looked at each other, bewildered that their fight was all because of a stupid game.
"Don't get me wrong, Wei Jin was kind of a slob and Jin Wei was a little stuffy.", Aang continued. "That much is true. But they respected each others differences enough to share the same playing field."
After taking all of this in, the Zhang Leader turned to the Gan Jin Leader and said, "I suppose it's time we forget the past…"
The Gan Jin Leader bowed to the Zhang Leader and added, "…and look to the future."
The Zhang Leader bowed in turn as Aang, smiling, looked on.
S—K—I—A—A—S—S—Z—A—G
Later…
As the Inuitikuts and Shisnos conversed with Aarde, whose arms have healed, Aang was hugging Appa.
"Good to see ya, boy! Did you miss me?", he asked. Appa just licked Aang as the Gan Jin Leader approached.
"I cannot thank you enough, Avatar.", he said.
Aang turned to him, drenched in Appa's saliva and replied, "Well, you know, I try."
This caused the Gan Jin Leader to shrink in horror from the how gross Aang was from the slime, but he then regained his composure as he rejoined the Zhang Leader, who then declared to their tribes, "Let us travel to the Earth Kingdom capital as one tribe!"
The crowd cheered and followed the leaders down the path.
"Are you sure you're going with them, Aarde?", Aixata asked the Canyon Guide. "I mean, there's always room for one more in our group. We don't really have an earthbender in our team and we could really use one."
"No thanks, young lady.", Aarde said. "I think the lot of you can take care of yourselves. Besides, the tribe may need me for my Earthbending."
"So the tribe will remain your 'customer'?", Idano queried.
"Something like that. Well, best be off. Wish me luck!"
And with that, Aarde Firma, the once-Canyon Guide, left the Great Divide for good and joined the tribe.
"That's some luck you knew Jin Wei and Wei Jin.", Sokka remarked when they were gone.
Aang smiled and said, "You could call it luck." He then grinned evilly and continued, "Or…you could call it lying!"
(Cut to Katara holding Momo in shock and Sokka angry at this pronouncement.)
"What!", Sokka gasped in anger and everyone else followed.
"I made the whole thing up.", Aang apologized sheepishly.
"You did not!", Sneers gasped in disbelief, and then made a face of devilish admiration. "That is so wrong."
"Now where's that custard tart? I'm starving!"
"I got it with me.", Idano said. "Let's get out of here."
S—K—I—A—A—S—S
Later…
The Gaang were upon Appa. As Aixata held the reins, Idano asked Shyu what happened with him and his passengers.
"It was pretty uneventful.", Shyu reported. "And nobody discovered I was a Firebender."
"Good." Idano then turned to Aang and said. "You forgot what I told you, right?"
"Sorry."
"*sigh* Well, this is what he should have told the tribes…", Idano explained to the Gaang. "Sokka, Katara, Sneers, Aixata. What you all heard from each of the tribes was true. However, it all ends at the time Wei Jin enters the scene."
"The Gan Jin's Redemption ritual was real. From the orb to the gates. But as I said, it all ends at the time Wei Jin enters the scene. Wei Jin didn't attack Jin Wei, he tripped up, just like what Aang said. It was then that Wei Jin entered the scene.
"He knew about the Gan Jin's Redemption ritual, but not much. He knew that the orb had to be bought to the gate, but he didn't know it had to be a Gan Jin who had to carry the orb. Wei Jin took the orb, with the intent of completing the ritual. Jin Wei was conscious enough to see Wei Jin do this, and thought he was stealing the orb.
"The Gan Jin guards at the gate, thought so, too. They were posted there to arrest anyone who dared interrupt the ritual. Since Wei Jin didn't know much about the ritual, he was mistaken for stealing the orb and was arrested for that 'crime'."
"Ahh…", Katara awed. "But, you know, I think Aang's improvisation was better."
"Yeah.", Aixata agreed. "I remember two Kings who once waged war on one another simply because they couldn't agree which end of an egg was the right one to crack." (7)
"No way!", Sokka gasped.
"It's true. And without knowing the reason behind the war, their people died just from that."
"Those 'other worlds' sure are crazy, aren't they?"
"Only a few are." Aixata turned to Idano and said, "This whole event isn't worth chronicling, isn't it, Idano?"
"Perhaps so, but it's still something worth mentioning."
"You've been chronicling everything we've been through?", Katara asked.
"Yup. Ever since you and your brother met me. I think we all learned a lesson here."
"When it comes to peacemaking, if all else fails, lie.", Aang answered.
Everyone groaned from this answer. Idano pulled out the tart and gave it to Aang, who started eating it.
"I thought you were a vegetarian.", Idano said.
"I am."
"Then that would mean you should eat only vegetables and fruits."
"That's vegans who eat those only, Idano.", Aixata replied. "Vegetarians only have meat not in the menu."
"Oh. I forgot. Boy, am I glad we're out of the Great Divide!"
"You could say that again!", Sokka agreed.
Everybody laughed from this as they indeed left the Great Divide for good.
(1) Back at "Jet." He joined at the end of the chapter, during the SCS portion of the story.
(2) Mentioned back at "Imprisoned".
(3) Used by Idano back at "The Warriors of Kyoshi".
(4) I guess I'm not consistent on what the past tense for (Element)bend should be, huh?
(5) After all, this world's language isn't the alphabet.
(6) A bindle is a 'bag' tied to the end of a stick.
(7) Referencing Gulliver's Travels.
X Zhangs
A tribe of refugees. They are known for their ruffian and slobby manners. They once hated the Gan Jins to the bone, but Aang resolved this with a lie concerning the injustice done on their forefather, Wei Jin.
X Aarde Firma
Once the Canyon Guide of the Great Divide. But after his arm injuries and attacks from Canyon Crawlers, he decided to leave with the now-united Zhangs and Gan Jins.
X Gan Jins
A tribe of refugees. They are known for their snobbish attitude and cleanliness. They once hated the Zhang to the bone, but Aang resolved this with a lie concerning the crime done on their forefather, Jin Wei.