Melsa stayed behind with Uktei in the Great Hall after the others had retired for the evening.
"What do you hear Melsa?"
"Nothing but the rain"
Uktei gave a deep chuckle. "You know Melsa, in all the years I've known you, I never did find out how you came to be one of the Cross."
"Huh. I'm surprised any of us know."
"Indeed, Melsa. Come on. I want to hear how the greatest airbender in the world learned how to bend fire."
"Really? I never told you? I went to the Royal Academy of Fire. Of course, I was it's last student... but that's cause I burned the place to the ground. I just couldn't resist," she said smirking.
Uktei's belly laugh echoed through the chamber. "Oh Melsa. I wouldn't expect anything less of you. Remember that time you had those Endeavor soldiers thinking you were a waterbender by moving buckets around with wind? Then out of nowhere you blast em. I swear they ended up in the next town over."
"Oh man, Uktei. D'you remember the looks on their faces? Priceless."
"Speaking of the old days, how is the Mothican family?"
"Not good Uktei." She replied, growing more serious. "Not good at all. My brother Ector's family was taken by the Endeavors last month. My ears on the inside tell me they're alive, but not much more. We need to end this war Uktei. We need to end it now!" She slammed her fist on the stone table.
"I know Melsa." He leaned forward in his seat. "We've all got family either captured or dead by this point. That's why I called this meeting. It's time for it to stop, and surrender is not an option. Those bastards will pay for their crimes, but first we need to dethrone them. Keep your fire Melsa. Bring it to the planning meeting tomorrow. We need an inspired insurrection."
A new voice startled Melsa and Uktei. "But you'll never accomplish what you've set out to do if you continue along this path." A tall, narrow-faced man in a gray hooded robe that draped to his ankles stood at the side entrance to the Great Hall.
"Who the hell are you?" Uktei demanded.
"I go by many names, but you may know me as Knotting Twine." The stranger replied.