Sorry this chapter went up late without warning. My excuse is I fell asleep early yesterday on accident and I did not wake up until 2 a.m. ha ha. Anyway, this chapter has a lot going on in it even if it is relatively calm for most of it. We get new characters and back-story as well as character development but why I am I telling you this, find out for yourself. Enjoy.

Chapter 21

Refugees to Ba Sing Se

Along with Exo, there was a little girl, a teenage girl, two men, one looked to be in his twenties, the other in his forties, and an old couple. I looked at all of them; they seemed to be related to one another. I looked down at the ropes Hyriu had cut with his sword and the word he said. I remembered the events but I was not able to process them.

"What happened?" I asked. "How did you get free?"

"They helped us," Hyriu answered.

The old of the two men stepped forward, "We were passing though when we saw the fire, then we heard the fight and so we came to help. My name is Nanmin, this is my family, my son Erzi," the younger man, "my daughter, Nuhai," the teenage girl, "and my parents, Nainai and Ojichan. I also have my late brother's children, Exo, and his sister, Taria. Our home was destroyed by the Fire Nation. We are refugees on our way to Ba Sing Se, the only safe place in the Earth Kingdom now. Who are you, my fellow strangers?"

"My name is-" Hyriu began.

"Wait!" Exo exclaimed. "You're Nakkali, the rebel water bender. I recognize you from the wanted posters."

We all looked around in panic.

"Don't worry," Nanmin said, "we are friends to you, and enemies of the Fire Nation. We support your rebellion."

"Oh, uh okay," Hyriu said shocked but happy. "Thanks for your help."

"Do you mind if we camp with you tonight?" he asked.

"Not at all," Hyriu said happily.

We searched for an ideal spot to set up camp. Once we did, L. E. began to set up enchantments but in a discrete way so our new friends wouldn't notice. Though she was looked weak and was not able to finish the protective wards. We talked with them as we ate.

"So, may I ask what happened to your home exactly?" Hyriu asked carefully.

"Well, our village was in a natural clearing, on the north were cliffs, to the south were rolling hills blanketed in a thick forest. A dam was built in the cliffs to create a lake and to divert the river around the village. Soon, the Fire Nation made there way into our wilderness. They asked us, or told us, that they were going to use our dam to create a power source for the first war machine factory in the Earth Kingdom. Apparently, they have never been successful to raise a factory on Earth Kingdom soil, even with their countless attempts. Well they brought their machines and their soldiers and took control of the village. They were harsh and charged a high tax that was favored by no one. We kindly asked them to lower it and they spit in our faces. Their soldiers beat our children and pillaged our crops. We had had enough. We were no longer going to sit by and let them walk over us. Many families tried to leave," Nanmin said.

"Tried?" Moji questioned.

"Yes, tired. The Fire Nation slaughtered any that tried to escape. My sister took her family and decided to leave in the dead of night under the cover of darkness. Only she and her daughter, Jin, made it out of the village alive. They left word in the next village that they had made it to Ba Sing Se alive, should we decide to come. After that, people realized we couldn't just leave and let the Fire Nation desecrate our homes. We heard the stories of the Avatar's return and how he defeated the Fire Nation in the Northern Water Tribe and the rebellions starting up in the Earth Kingdom. We had hope again. We could see the tide turning in the war. We knew though, if the Fire Nation succeeded in their factory being built, they would have a new advantage. So we came up with a plan. We provoked a few soldiers into a fight in some dry brush in the forest. They fire bended at us and set the brush aflame. Soon a large part of the forest was engulfed in flames. Everyone in the village new about it so when they saw the smoke, they fled. The soldiers tried to stop us, but they had a wild fire to deal with, and it was burning all their resources. The fire soon reached the wooden dam. It began to burn and weaken it. We got everyone out just as the dam burst and flooded the land. Everything was destroyed in the flood, just as we hoped. We left the area with the Fire Nation soldiers injured and their factory destroyed. Exo's father died in the escape. He gave his life, so his children would live. I promised to take care of them. I decided to join my sister in Ba Sing Se," Nanmin finished.

We were all silent. The only thing that I could think about though, was about those that died and the fact that these people had their homes destroyed. I couldn't imagine seeing Heiwa Valley in ruins.

"I can't believe it," Hyriu said aloud.

"What can't you believe?" Erzi, Nanmin's son asked.

"That our actions inspired others to take action," Hyriu said. "It's incredible. I wasn't sure before, but now I think we are turning the tide in the war. People are standing up to the Fire Nation. This is our chance. This is the world's chance to become balanced again. This is our chance for victory."

"Yes, perhaps I will finally see the day that the Fire Nation is defeated," Ojichan, Nanmin's father, said.

"Well, we have done our part, I just want to get to Ba Sing Se as fast as possible," Nanmin said.

Hyriu looked up, "Well, I advise caution when you near - near Gulanoth." It looked like Hyriu was just barely keeping his emotions under control.

"Why? What has happened at Gulanoth?" Nanmin asked us.

No one was able to respond. Finally, Moji spoke up, "Just steer clear of it."

"Uh, alright," Nanmin said.

"So, you've heard the stories about us then?" Hyriu said to change the subject.

"Yes, the stories of Nakkali and his rebels ring throughout the countryside. People all over the Earth Kingdom rally behind your name. Rebellions have sparked up everywhere. Fire Nation caravans are raided, their camps are attacked and people are ready to fight," Exo said.

"Speaking of caravans," Nuhai, Nanmin's daughter, sat up, "We saw one yesterday. I remember them being a bit harsh toward us. Would you have any interest in raiding it? If so, I would like to help."

"So would I?" Exo said sternly. "My father gave his life for me and my sister. I will not let his sacrifice go to waste. I want to make a difference."

"We all do," Erzi said.

They all looked at Hyriu expectantly, gripping their weapons.

"I don't know," Hyriu said and looked at us. I knew what he was thinking. He did not want to get back into a fight any more than I did. "None of us are eager to fight."

"Awe come on," Exo said. "Another story to rally more rebellions."

"After our failure at Gulanoth, I'm not sure if any of us are ready to fight anytime soon. We received some serious wounds, some physical," he looked at me, "some not. Wounds that will never really heal."

"Failure? What exactly happened at Gulanoth?" Nanmin asked.

We were all silent again. Finally Hyriu managed to speak, "Not everyone made it."

They grew quiet.

"I am sorry," Nanmin said. "I know what it is like to lose someone close. I know what you are going through. No loss is the same, but it is still a loss. I wasn't the same after my brother died; I'm still not the same. I don't think I ever will be, but I will not linger on it anymore, I will stop thinking of ways I could have saved him. Well, let speak of more pleasant things."

"I know what we can talk about," Hyriu said. Everyone looked at him. "Since you support me so fully, I think you would want to know exactly who you are supporting. First, my real name is Hyriu, Hyriu Jingshen…"

Hyriu began to tell them of his life and who he was. I sat back and silently watched. I felt no emotion. I could barely think. Fragments of the visions that tore into my head were still there. Replaying over and over again. It steadily grew dark and a fire was lit. Taria, Exo's younger sister, only heard every few words. She looked about six or seven. Once she found out I was an air bender, she squealed with delight and ran around me begging me to play with her. She pulled out a kite shaped like a bird in flight and tugged on my hand.

"Please!" she put on her best pouting face and batted her eye lashes.

Her constant pestering caused the others to laugh. After minutes of her begging, I could feel a smile tugging at my lips. She took notice and increased her efforts. She soon had me giggling with the others. I began to straight out laugh with pure joy. I didn't just laugh because of Taria, I laughed at being happy. I laughed because I hadn't laughed in a long time. I laughed because I needed too. I couldn't remember the last time I had laughed and it felt great. We all rolled around on the ground laughing together. We would begin to stop when someone would burst out laughing and we would start all over again. I laughed until I cried and couldn't breathe. My face and sides hurt from laughing so much, but it was a good pain, one that I had missed.

Finally, we all stopped laughing and Taria held the kite up with a longing expression. I sat down and resumed my blank face stare. She looked hurt and sat down pouting. She still held the kite out. All the others looked at me confused and concerned. I turned my face away from them to hide my smile. I twirled my fingers and the kite lifted up into the air. I turned back toward them again and laughed because they had fallen for my trick. They joined in my laughter. A great smile spread across Taria's face as the kite spun a few inches above her hand. I stood and lifted the kite up higher. Taria jumped up and tried to grab it. I made it fly just out of her reach. She began to chase it around the camp site. She laughed and ran through the trees. I laughed with her as I flew the kite. Hyriu and Exo began to spar. Moji and Nuhai did as well. The four of them seemed to get along really well. I could tell Moji and Exo got along very well.

A gust of wind swept through the forest. The paper bird got caught on it and blew away from the camp. Taria chased after it.

"Taria!" Nanmin called. "Gah, she is a little girl but she isn't afraid of the dark."

I laughed, "Don't worry, I'll get her."

I walked through the dark trees. "Taria!" I called; no answer. I walked further from camp. I became nervous. A fear rose up in me. I looked back at the fire, now just a small glow. "Taria!" I called again. I saw something on the ground; it was the kite. I picked it up slowly. It suddenly burned into ashes. I jumped back in shock. A hand grabbed my throat.

"Hello there, miss," a smooth voice said.

I saw a reflection of the fire in dark eyes and red armor. Fire Nation.

"Let me go!" I tried to yell but his hand had tightened on my throat so I could barely make a sound. I saw Taria held by another man. He had his hand over her mouth. From the blood running down his fingers, I figured she was biting him. I elbowed my attacker in the throat and managed to escape his grip. I then shot a gust of wind at the man holding Taria. I grabbed her and pulled her back. Two men charged forward. I saw a fallen branch on the ground. I lifted it up with air bending and threw it into the men. I turned to run only to be faced with more men. I felt cold steel touch my throat.

"Now missy, we wouldn't want to make a mess of things. Let's go talk to your friends. And if you make a sound, my friend will gut the little girl like a wild boar-Q-pine," the man with the smooth voice said.

I glared in response tying to show strength but I was on the verge of tears.

We slowly walked to the camp, a twig snapped.

"Lamara? Taria?" my friends call out.

We came into the light. Everyone gasped and tensed.

"Not exactly," the smooth voice man said. "Nakkali, I think it's time we had a nice long talk."

He pulled off his helmet and the others did also. They weren't soldiers, just a random group of strange people.

"Bounty hunters," Nanmin said.

"Yes," the smooth man agreed.

"Karis!" Hyriu cried. "What are you doing here?"

I glanced over as I couldn't turn my head; sure enough I saw the cold white hair on pale scarred skin.

"I told you I do what I can to survive, don't take it personal," she said coldly. She acted like our friend in Poto Village, but now I saw her for who she was, nothing more than a common bounty hunter.

"Now then," the smooth voice guy said, "where were we?"

I do love my cliff hangers. How many of you had trouble with all those names? And yes Karis is back, but is she really just a common bounty hunter? The next chapter concludes this bounty hunter/refugee family arc and is the last chapter in the first half of book two. Incase you didn't know, part 1 is call A Shadow on the World. Book 2 Part 2 is called Darkness Falls. There will be a slight break in between parts, but a very short one. And it is only there for my benefit. I admit I am a bit behind on writing and I need to get back on track. I am quite literally laying down the tracks just before the rushing train.

Chapter 22: Friends and Foes will go up Thursday.