Haunting
The drinking game was going to be a really good idea. The past week had flown by as the three managed to make great time getting to the peninsula on Eastern Twin Island. Noa had insisted on picking up their pace, saying that the snow came incredibly early in the year on the Three Brothers Island chain. Their hastened pace kept socializing to a minimum, which may have upset Etain, but was perfect for Mina. Not only did it keep her from embarrassing herself or further revealing who they really were, it also gave her time to concoct the perfect plan to find out more about Noa.
Tonight was the night that her plan would finally go into action. They had arrived at the location of the ferry that would be taking them towards Gaoling at midday. The ferry only ran once per day in the morning so the other passengers and them all got to wait around in town all day.
The town was more so a collection of tents than an actual town. The only wooden building in the whole thing was the ferry owner's shop and was ancient enough that the wood looked like it couldn't take a small breeze without falling over. At first glance Mina thought this town that wasn't really a town would delay her plan even further, but after helping set up camp she was able to wander through the sparse marketplace and find what she needed. She gladly handed the merchant his pay as she took the six jugs awkwardly in her arms, not even bothering to ask what kind of drinks they were. The payment had come in the form of one of the golden pieces that Noa, of course, had insisted upon her keeping despite them now travelling together.
As Mina struggled to walk back to their campsite on the edge of the forest, Noa insisted upon not sleeping so close to strangers, she could not help but smile at her own genius. Noa could not help but to frown as he gazed upon what she had gone shopping for.
Dinner was eaten with anxious thoughts on all three of their minds. Etain, absolutely thrilled with the prospect of going on a boat the next day, had eaten her meal rapidly before promptly going to sleep nuzzled into Noa's arm. Noa had convinced the young child that time moved faster when you slept as means of helping her get enough sleep. Mina and Noa were of course anxious about the game they both knew she was about to drag them into.
The drinks were handed out before Noa could raise a voice in protest and the game begun swiftly.
This first question has to count. Make it worth it. Mina finally settled on one after thirty seconds of deliberation. "Remember, all questions are fair game, even the ones we didn't answer last time. Maybe this time one of us will feel like opening up more." She gave him a playful wink before asking "What is your job?" This was the one that hopefully answer a lot of unanswered mysteries.
Noa shook his head before raising the drink up.
"Wait." Mina had already anticipated this. It was time for her plan. "Two truths rule."
Noa raised his eyebrows. "What exactly does that mean?"
"It means that you have to answer the question, but then you get to ask me two question that I have to answer as well."
Noa stared at her intently. This new rule may have been invented in the past week by her, but it was no less valid in her mind. Mina bit down on her lip, curious to see if Noa would play along. After all, he could always refuse and back out of the game. It wasn't like she could force him to play.
"My answer first then?" Her face lit up as she nodded in confirmation before he continued. "I'm a bounty hunter."
Only Noa's answers could create even more questions. Although she had literally zero interaction with bounty hunters up to this point in her life, Noa did not fit how she expected one to look at all. Her mind conjured up images of shady looking men covered from head to toe in an assortment of weapons, scars, and tattoos. And not the good airbender kind of tattoos. Noa was clean and nice, and was covered in generosity from head to toe. The only bad thing about him was how mysterious he was, which, given her position, Mina was in no position to be upset by.
"How long have you two been on your own?" Mina's mental images left her mind as she raised her drink. "Nope. Two truths rule remember?"
Mina groaned loudly. I really should have thought of a better question. This one wouldn't be too bad to answer though, it would just confirm what he already knew, that being that Mina didn't have the first clue how to survive on her own. "When you found us, it had been one week."
Noa just nodded his head slowly before asking his second question. "Who is Etain's father?"
That's a bit trickier. She began to do mental gymnastics, thinking of the best way to answer this without giving away too much. Suddenly his previous answer gave her inspiration. "I don't know his name." He should have asked who her mother was. She smirked at him as he frowned, having just realized he had been beat at his own game. "My turn. Why were you banished?"
His drink was raised to his lips and Mina let it go, knowing this was not the time to strike again.
The game continued for another hour with neither party answering much or enacting the "two truths rule". Once more, Mina's head was swimming and her bladder was failing her. After her latest bathroom trip, she knew she had to do something to get the game back in her favor.
Noa hadn't taunted her tonight about her frequent bathroom trips, despite needing more than last time. At least not yet he hadn't. "My turn." He began as she sat back down across the fire. "Where are you two from?" Mina instantly raised the drink to her mouth before the dreaded words left his mouth. "Two truths rule."
She lowered her glass slowly in defeat. The images of her childhood home that she had been fighting for so long came rushing back to her. However, the accompanying heart ache never came. For the first time since she was forced to flee, she suddenly felt alright with telling someone who she was. Mina was sure this was the alcohol taking over her mind.
"We are both from the Eastern Air Temple." Her words left her mouth surprisingly easily.
The cracking of the fire was the only thing heard for the next few minutes before Noa looked up at her, seemingly on the verge of tears himself. "I know." His whisper only confirmed what she had known. Noa was no idiot, he could see through her slip ups easily.
"What gave me away?" Mina choked out jokingly as the tears finally threatened to spill out.
Noa patted the ground next to him and she was there in a flash, cuddling up to his warmth. Mina was no idiot either, at least when it came to anything non survival related. She knew that Noa did not exactly like to have physical contact with you unless your name was Etain. Mina drunkenly shot a jealous look down at the sleeping toddler. She also knew that her schoolgirl crush on him was written clear across her face just as clearly as the feelings were not reciprocated by Noa. Even still, she could not pass up the open invitation to be near him.
"You still have two free questions." His voice came out after a few minutes of her soaking his shirt with tears.
Mina gazed upon the face of her savior once again. This sentiment confirmed what she had already known, the Spirits had definitely sent him as a gift. His first answer had stuck with her throughout the night, so using his clothing to dry her tears one more time, she looked up at him with determination. "How can you stand to be a bounty hunter?" The crass question left him looking at her strangely. Could have probably worded that better…
"I'm not your typical bounty hunter. I only go after those wanted by the Fire Nation, usually they are only wanted for a crime that goes against their beloved nation and not one that is actually bad. Anyway, I find these people and help them move out of the area and start a new life."
As his explanation came out it all became clear to Mina. That's why he stopped to help us. He knew from the start who we were.
Sensing that he had been figured out by the look on her face, he continued. "I didn't wish to take you with me since normally I just set these people up with a new life and send them on their way, not travel with them."
Panic spread through Mina's body as she shot away from his body. The tears began to fall once more. "Does that mean…you're going to leave us?"
Noa chuckled softly before pulling her back under his arm reassuringly. "Etain would never forgive me."
As her heart ballooned in relief, Mina finally let the feeling of exhaustion overtake her as she began to doze off, nuzzled just as closely to Noa as Etain was opposite her. Only one thought stayed on her mind as she slept. The drinking game was a really, really good idea.
Malu's brow furrowed deeper as she stared forward at the bow of the ship. There the cause of her frustration was standing talking to Dez.
Nara looked and acted so differently than she remembered she wasn't even sure she would have recognized her friend if the two had been separated for more than a few days.
She looked at her friend's new look once again before examining her own new set of clothes. Once the truth was out in the open, she had reluctantly agreed to put on Fire Nation garb as the logical side of her brain won out over the sentimental side. Malu tugged at the constricting material around her legs again before realizing she should have listened to the practical side of her brain above all. How does a nation composed entirely of tropical islands manage to also have the most restricting clothes on the planet?
Nara seemed to have no trouble with her new clothes as she playfully rocked back and forth in tune with the ship bobbing over waves. That's when Malu saw it, the worst sign of all.
Nara took a strand of her hair and tucked it behind her right ear. A seemingly innocent act to anyone watching except for Malu. For she knew that was the sign of her friend liking a boy. It happened with nearly every boy they encountered on their day excursions away from the temple.
The cycle always repeated itself. Nara meets boy. Nara likes boy. Nara is too shy to say anything. Nara and boy spend rest of day together, leaving Malu to twiddle her thumbs by herself. Nara returns to Malu at the end of the day disappointed boy didn't make a move.
This time though the cycle scared Malu to no end. How could she like him? He is the one he didn't tell me about what happened! How is she so ok with what's going on? Why isn't her world crumbling apart like mine is?
Malu watched in horror as Nara tucked another strand behind her ear, something Malu had never seen her do twice that quickly.
Just the sight of Nara's brown hair cut to a shell of its former self had Malu steaming again as she ran her hand through her own black hair. Everyone, including Nara, had pleaded with her to take it out of the traditional Air Nation bun, but she put her foot down. If Nara wasn't going to continue promoting their culture, then the at least she would. To everyone's dismay she even tied the bun up with a golden band, a color that was exclusively seen amongst airbender females.
The sight of Nara giggling loudly over some stupid thing Dez said pushed her over the edge. Malu stomped her feet all the way below deck where she took some much needed meditation time.
"Master Tuyen, please allow me to come with you." Kane pleaded with the airbending master just as he was readying to leave.
Although he was quite surprised to see the Master Airbenderr arrive on his door step, he invited him in instantly, relieved that there were more survivors.
Kane had listened intently as Tuyen described how he had found Malu and now needed to help her, to which Kane gave his side of the story of his son and him rescuing as many girls as they could from the temples.
Tuyen looked at the firebender curiously after his plea. Kane had been a much too generous host to both him and Malu, but to take him on the journey seemed out of the question initially. This is my struggle not his.
Seeing the hesitation in his eyes Kane switched tactics. "Please, after hearing that the Fire Nation is after my son I grew greatly concerned about the well-being of the other airbenders, but my... poor relationship with my son prevented me from leaving with him."
Tuyen smiled sadly, he really had no choice. Kane had done so much for the surviving airbenders that to deny him this simple request would be breaking every Air Nation principle he held dearly. "Alright, but it may be a bumpy first ride for you."
