Book 4 - Air
Episode 9 "The cliff herder"
Part 2
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Hello all ,thanks for the many replies to the last post, its great to see so many people have enjoyed my work so far. I'll admit the response to this story has been ok, but it's also far from fantastic (when compared to the number of reviews on other Avatar stories) and after 100,000 words... I'm out of 'puff'. The pace of work is just too high to maintain and I need a break to refresh my creative batteries. (I'm starting to worry that my creative writing quality is slipping!) I'll see how it all develops and keep you up to date…
And here we are in part two… the story seems to be getting a little too serious for my taste, but I think that's just a side effect of being close to the mid book climax. I've tried to infuse a bit of humour for you, but it's more about plot resolution from here on in. But don't worry, episode 12 will be there for a fun cool down after the heavy story… hope you enjoy. ^^
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- Sokka and Suki were walking along a section of beach with Firelady Ursa. It was morning and they were alone on a picturesque stretch of white sandy beach. Ahead was a rocky outcrop of black volcanic stone, which made up one end of the large central island. It wasn't very high, but extended out into the ocean were it disappeared into massive, belching steam and vapour clouds, caused by an underwater active vent of the lava flow.
Sokka had managed to retrieve a straw hat from somewhere and was already the picture of a castaway.
"And he just jumped off this… 'airship'… to attack Azula, just like that" Ursa asked good naturedly.
"Yep, the two blew each other right off the sides. If it wasn't of us, Zuko would have just fallen to the bottom… and it was a looong way down" explained Sokka with exaggerated arm movements to illustrate the point.
"Sure sounds like Zuko, always rushing in" said Ursa happily, "and he's the Firelord now…" she said proudly.
"I'm sure his on his way here right now" said Suki encouragingly.
"I hope so…" said Ursa snapping back into the present, "but until he is here we are all still in a lot of danger. The army of Black Fire were created in Firelord Sozon's time. They have a long tradition of being ruthless and arrogant, Zuko would not scare them, they only respect fear and aggression."
Sokka nodded before speaking.
"That's why we need to find out as much as we can about this island. We need to know what we are up against and what we can do to defend ourselves. Captain Jee and his men are checking what weapons we can fight with if it comes to that."
Ursa nodded.
The group arrived at a part of the beach that had a good view of the steaming sea and the rocky outcrop nearby.
"Beyond those jagged rocks is the only guard post on the main Island, we are not allowed near the rocks. A few people who went too close… were taken away." Ursa said, a hint of sadness in her voice.
"But before they were taken, one of the earth benders said that there is a small dock on the other side, and he believed that there were tunnels."
"Tunnels?" asked Suki.
"Vents… old lava channels" said Sokka suddenly, "there were a tone of them around the Firenation capitol, lava flows leave lots of tunnels"
Sokka scratched his chin as he contemplated the rocks.
"Have you seen any of these tunnels?" he asked.
"No, but we have seen Firenation guards occasionally, on the small islands close to the steam and vapour clouds. There was a lot of activity coming from behind the rocks for a long time… and we felt some tremors."
"Earth tremors?" asked Suki.
"Slight… but noticeable" said Ursa.
"Hmmmm" said Sokka.
"When they come to take people… I mean when they attack, do they come from the docks?" asked Suki
"No, they come from over the rocks from time to time to round people up or to scare us… they only use the pier for official visits."
"Sounds like this little base on the rocks is the key" said Sokka seriously, "We'll need to get a closer look at it"
"It's too dangerous" warned Ursa, "there is no way to cross the rocks without being seen."
"Then we'll just have to find another way" said Sokka shrewdly, a plan already forming.
- Toph sat cross legged on the back of an ice sheet as it slid its way up a narrow mountain path on the side of a cliff. In front of her were Katara and Aang smoothly water bending their transport onwards on the snow-covered track.
"I would be getting us there quicker" the earth bender grumbled.
"I prefer to get there a little later, and alive" said Katara snidely.
"Sorry Toph, but earth bending started a rockslide right at the start, we were lucky to get through unharmed…"
Aang looked up apprehensively at the cliff which seemed to travel never-ending above them, disappearing into the thick clouds which were sending snow down onto them.
"This old rock just isn't used to being disturbed, not even you can take on a mountain."
"At least it would finally be a challenge worthy of me" retorted Toph.
Katara huffed, but kept on hard at work. They came around a corner where the slope went from shear cliff to about eighty degrees, and thick with heavy snow.
"We should walk through that" said Katara, slowing the ice slide to a stop, "we'll reinforce as we walk, but with care"
"You're such a worry wart, let me take care of it" said Toph, cracking her knuckles…
"Toph?" said Aang in a conciliatory but stern voice.
Toph looked stubborn for a second but then exhaled in defeat.
"Damn it twinkle-toes, since when do I listen to you?!" she asked herself.
Aang smiled.
"Can I at least keep my earth-boots?" she asked in defeated half annoyance.
Lifting her feet, she revealed that they were covered in a boots made of earth.
"It's damn cold up here."
Katara smiled.
- The three were trudging through waist deep snow when Toph suddenly stopped.
"The mountain just moved" she said, concern in her voice.
"What?" asked Aang.
He and Katara looked around.
"I don't see anything" said Katara.
"It's not here yet" said Toph, "It started further away on another peak, but it's a chain reaction… and heading this way.
"I feel it too" said Aang in concern.
"Toph" said Aang suddenly with conviction, "do your thing."
"With pleasure" said Toph with an evil grin. She squatted into an earth bending form, raising a large earth platform below them. Immediately everything started to rumble.
Katara and Aang liquefied a large amount of nearby snow, having it circle around them.
"Let's go" said Katara, her expression focused.
Toph thrust her palms out and the three accelerated forward rashly. Katara and Aang water bended the snow out of the way, using their circulating water to help dislodge stubborn obstacles that appeared in front of them.
The three sped across the face of the steep slopes as all hell broke loose around them. Toph accelerated to make sure that the turbulence stayed in their wake.
"You're going to have to keep things clear!" shouted Toph over the defining rumble, "I have to keep the speed up!"
Katara and Aang grimaced, speeding up their actions to smooth the path for Toph's speeding earth plate and remove the snow in front of them.
Soon the side of the mountain seemed to liquefy, the small group appeared to be surfing on a massive snow wave on a stone board for three. To seemingly confirm this, the earth plate broke free momentarily at times, appearing to skim across half snow and flattened earth.
The old path was long forgotten, as they weaved up and down the face of the mountain.
Katara and Toph had seemingly combined their bending actions to keep the earth/ice slab zooming forward on a clearing path.
"Head uphill!" commanded Aang, seeing a deep cut in the side of the mountain.
The skimmer headed uphill, banking hard on the crest of the sidewise-spreading avalanche like a surfer.
Skimming back down the hillside, Aang could see that a thin section of snowy mountainside ahead of them had mobilised, luckily it was only a thin strip.
Travelling near a massive long boulder, Aang's tattoo flashed white and he earth bent the large smooth rock on the way past. The stone flew past the speeding three and slamming into another jutting bolder to create a ramp.
"Way ahead of you!" called Katara and Toph in unison. Surprised at the combined comment they smirked devilishly before accelerating.
The skimming slab flew through the air and cleared the separate smaller avalanche. Aang bent the still stable snow underneath them into an ice slide so that they landed on an ice ramp. Again this caused more snow to mobilize and seemingly chase after them.
Aang spotted the path re-emerging onto another shear cliff side ahead of them. They were too low to make it up to the path as it appeared from snow on the less steep slope.
"We won't be able to get back up high enough!" warned Katara, seeing the moving snow front reach all the way up to the side of the jutting cliff.
"We'll have to cross!" called Aang, indicating to the steep opposite cliff, which was not that far away, as the valley they were in suddenly narrowed considerably.
"Toph!" called Aang, "you'll have to launch us over and then hang on to me!"
Toph nodded as Aang and Katara moved back towards her, bending as they did so to maintain the surrounding levitating water stream. Aang retrieved his staff which he had stored near Toph.
Close together now, Katara and Aang suddenly called "Now!"
Toph forced down her hands, sending out a large column of earth, catapulting them across the small steep valley. Her column was immediately ripped away by the ending avalanche a moment later.
The three flew through the air, Toph effectively climbed onto Aang's back, wrapping her legs around his torso.
Katara and Aang held hands as the opposite cliff face approached them rapidly. Katara and Aang used their considerable sideways-momentum to the cliff's surface to their advantage, and created another ice slide from their circulating water into a large U on the opposite cliff, allowing them to swing around and aim back towards their original cliff with the path. As they launched themselves again, Aang could see a cave in the original cliff face, as well as new snow falling from above, covering the cave's mouth like a white waterfall.
Katara instinctively wrapped herself around the flying Aang and Toph from the front. Though Aang was sandwiched between the two girls he still had his limbs free. Deploying his glider, he shot forward with air bending.
Katara and Toph clenched their eyes shut and cringed.
Aang held on with one had as he rapidly approached the white falling curtain. A large fireball flew out in front of him and punching a hole into the falling snow with an explosion.
- From inside the long, thin cave there was an explosion of light, then of snow which entered the long passage.
A very young sky-bison rose from its slumber near a small fire to let out a warning roar.
The old Master blinked away the sleep that clouded his mind. After regaining his orientation, he could see a lot of snow drifting into the cave and heard the roar of the falling snow finally subside. Raised onto his elbows, he looked apprehensively at the entrance. Silence returned as the young sky-bison took a defensive stance in front of the master.
Movement and moaning could be herd coming from the entrance.
"Who is there?" asked the master carefully.
Three figures came lumbering slowly around the cover, all covered from head to tow in white snow and moaning like the living dead.
"Well I never" said the master in a croaky voice, "and I thought they were only a myth."
The sky-bison whined apprehensively and backed away to the side of the master, who laid a reassuring hand on it.
The three figures seemed to regain their orientation, shaking themselves free of the snow, revealing Aang, Toph and Katara, still a little dazed.
"Oh my!" said the master in even more shock then before.
"I must be dead?" he said in wonder, seeing Aang's tattoo.
"You might be" said Toph, holding her head apprehensively, "because after that little trip, we shore deserve to be."
Katara moaned, placing her hand on the wall for support.
"I don't think death hurts this much" she said, almost in disappointment.
"No more snowy mountains" replied Toph, "from now on I'm happy to fly on Appa."
Aang's eyes focused on the old master, realising for the first time they were not alone.
"Master" he said happily, "we found you."
Aang immediately bowed in Airnomad fashion.
"An Airnomad" said the master, his eyes filling with tears, "can it be true?"
Aang smiled as a recovered Toph and Katara came to his side,
"I sure am, and soon there will be many more, and with ski-bison's as our companion, thanks to your life's work."
Tears of joy began to fall down the master's face, the young sky-bison nuzzling him in compassion.
Katara moved over to the old man.
"Lie back" she said kindly. The small sky-bison moved to the masters other side, sniffing at Katara apprehensively.
"What, what are you doing?" asked the old man kindly, not quite up to speed.
Katara retrieved some water from her satchel and started to heal him, the old masters eyes becoming wider.
"A water bender, well this is just keeps getting stranger" he said with a good natured smile, obviously overcome by the situation.
"We're here to take you back down to the herd, your apprentice sent us with medicine" said Aang.
The master appeared to be fully aware now.
"He made it down" he stated, obviously relived "well that's good…"
Aang moved over to the small fire, using water bending to fill a small pot, and then fire bending to increase the heat. Toph earth bended herself a seat near the fire, sitting down.
The master watched in awe.
"The Avatar" he said in wonder.
Katara, who was working away, started to frown more and more.
Both the master and Aang noticed this, the master, however, smiled.
"I wouldn't worry too much about that to my dear" he said good naturedly to Katara while patting her hand tenderly, "I think my old body has defied the laws of nature for so long that healing is a waste of time, but I will take some of that tea."
All of the youngsters looked a little distressed.
"You can't just give up" said Toph, confused.
"I don't know the meaning of the word young lady" said the master in good humour.
"I now my time has come, I was only waiting to make sure little Yilla here would make it down safely, the stubborn little thing wouldn't leave with the others."
He said patting the young sky-bison.
"But your apprentice made us promise to bring you back down safely" said Aang, sounding concerned.
"Did he now" said the Master with a smile.
"Well then, let's not disappoint him" he said in good humour, though he sounded very weak, "I'm sure I can convince my body into one last trip… with your assistance young Airbending master."
Aang, Katara and Toph looked obviously relieved.
"Good" said Aang, returning his attention to the fire, "we'll head of in the morning then."
- It was late at night and Sokka and Suki found themselves near Ursa and Captain Jee near a small fire. A Watertribe and Earthkingdome women also sat nearby. Sokka was wearing a strange ice helmed with a large thin cane acting as a snorkel, he also had around his waist various weights strapped to a belt.
"This is going to work?" asked Captain Jee sceptically, "can you even see out of that thing?"
Sokka spoke from inside the helmet, his words muffled. The ice distorted his features and made him look like a work from Picasso.
"Take the helmet off Sokka" said Suki, taping on the side of the ice.
Sokka took off the helmet, giving Suki a momentarily cool side glance before continuing enthusiastically.
"Sure it will work, we tested how long the helmets will last before melting" he said, indicating the water bending woman, who nodded, "and we tested the weights so that we can walk on the ocean floor, or swim buoyancy neutral."
He indicated the earth bending woman, who also nodded.
"And the breathing tubes?" asked Ursa, though her tone was purely interested.
"We place vegetation on the ends so it looks like driftwood. We found a sap that the fire benders caramelised to makes them water tight, and we bend the ends to make sure water doesn't get in" said Sokka proudly.
"And you're going with him?" asked Captain Jee to Suki.
"I must be crazy" admitted Suki with a shrug, "but his plans have a habit of working out."
"Now I see how you and your group could have helped my son to beat the old Firelord" said Ursa with a good natured smile.
"You mean because of our intelligence" said Sokka arrogantly.
"More likely our courage" said Suki sarcastically, crossing her arms.
Ursa smiled.
"I was actually thinking of your endless optimism and hope" she said with a chuckle.
This caused Captain Jee and the others to laugh, only Sokka looked a little confused.
-A little further away on one of the smaller island an eel-hound was waiting impatiently outside of the Black Fire headquarters in the dark.
Major Chinto was reading a dispatch. Lieutenant Linc was nearby and the wet messenger stood in front of them.
"How old is this report?" asked Major Chinto calmly.
"Already a week sir" said the messenger "all messages have been blocked from the capital, we don't know what is going on, and it was decided it was best to inform you."
Major Chinto put his hands in front of his mouth to contemplate.
"Do you think it affects us?" asked Lieutenant Linc.
"Possibly" said Major Chinto, "In any case, we should make preparations just in case we have to… cover our tracks"
The messenger looked a little worried at the insinuation, but Lieutenant Linc seemed to get some sick satisfaction from the idea.
"I will make the preparations" said Lieutenant Linc, over eagerly.
- The thick clouds had mostly parted above the summer feeding grounds that surrounded the three lakes. A late evening orange sun was flooding the valley with a warm glow, the light snow having mostly melted away.
The sky-bison herd was surrounding the small tent of the apprentice, as if knowing that something important was happening.
Toph and Katara sat nearby on a log, both with sad expressions on their faces. The tent flap opened and Perl came outside, tears quietly falling down her rosy cheeks. She walked over to Katara and Toph, sitting down between them. Both girls comforted her silently as she breathed in deeply.
- Inside the tent, Aang and the apprentice were kneeling either side of the master, who was lying on his bedroll.
"Thank you Aang" said the master, his voice obviously weaker, "I never dreamt that I would see my life's work fulfilled, and the promise to my old master kept."
Aang nodded humbly, he was obviously fighting to keep back his emotions.
"And you my apprentice, you have proven yourself a hundred times over."
The apprentice nodded grimly, also suppressing his emotions.
"You were not only willing to take up my cause, but you provided an old man with something he had gone without for so long, a true friend."
The master smiled weakly.
A tear rolled down the face of the apprentice, he rubbed it away with his arm.
"I will make sure the sky-bison herds return to their former glory, and fulfil their place by the air benders side."
The Master coughed slightly, smiling once again.
"There is one more thing I must tell the both of you" continued the master.
"It is about 'my' own old master, and the last time I saw him."
Both Aang and the apprentice leaned forward, interested.
"I never told you" the master said, looking at his apprentice, "because I swore to only pass it on to my predecessor on my deathbed."
The apprentice nodded.
"My master was one of the last Airbenders, the Firenation having hunted the last remaining Airnomads across the world relentlessly" the old master said, a sad expression on his face, "we hid in the valleys trying to protect the last of the sky-bison, but something forced my Master to travel into the open."
"We were smuggled a letter from the last female air bender we knew of, she was in the northern mountains with the Firenation hunters closing in. She was going to try and come to the southern ranges, which were more isolated, but needed his help, because she had a young daughter."
Aang and the apprentice listened intently.
"He felt compelled to go, you see the woman was his sister, the two having been born from non air bending parents. "
The old master slowed for a second to catch his breath,
"She had survived for so long because… the father of her daughter was a fire bender…"
Aang looked a little shocked.
"I later herd that all three had been killed, apparently the fire bending had died heroically to save his lover, but to no avail… or so the Firenation thought at the time."
Aang and the apprentice looked confused.
"The Firenation hunters never knew about the daughter."
"Did she ever make contact with you?" asked the apprentice.
"No" replied the master, "but I know she survived" he added with a conviction that made the other two instantly believe.
"I tell you this" he said to his apprentice, "because I swore that when the war was over I would find her" he turned to Aang, "And I tell you this, because my masters sister… was one of the Eastern air-temple's keepers of ceremonies."
Aang looked shocked.
"She was a holder of the scriptures and ceremonial texts?" he asked
"What is that?" asked the apprentice.
"The holey text of my people, our history, our teachings…" said Aang, blown away, "do you think she would still have the texts?"
The Master nodded, smiling contentedly.
"My master only ever told me of a town in the northern mountains, Toll-Pi" he said.
Aang nodded, looking suddenly very determined.
The Master let out a long breath, happy to have gotten the information out.
"Master!?" said the apprentice, "is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable?"
The maser opened one of his eyes, the setting sun was causing the tent sides to glow a warm red.
"I would love to feel the sun on my face, one more time."
The apprentice looked around, trying to figure out how to fulfil his wish.
Aang took a deep breath, closing his eyes and standing up, his tattoos flashed his arms, the tent and the ground underneath the walls shot up above their heads, a stone archway extended the doorway which was lifted above the old ground surface.
Aang began a complex air bending form which very quickly caused strong winds to pick up in the room.
The apprentice took a step back, lifting his hand to cover his face.
The Master's bed carefully began to lift off the ground, carried by the powerful currents. Slowly the master glided out of the arched stone doorway, floating peacefully to a flat stone which sprung out of the ground. The Master smiled, his weak body enjoying the sensation of flight. The many waiting bison crowded around as he floated onto the raised rock. Aang came out of his Avatar state as the tent came back down to ground level. The strong winds quickly dissipated.
The old master looked around at the herd, the young sky-bison Yilla coming up to nuzzle his arm which he moved across to pat her weakly.
He looked up at the setting sun, a peaceful expression on his face, blinking slowly with a smile until he closed his eyes one more time.
Aang and the apprentice looked on with a contented smile. Toph, Katara and Pirl also did the same.
From above, the circle of sky-bison all roared in unison in a soft soothing rumble, a salute of respect. The warm peaceful scene got smaller as the view panned out to the mountains, the camera swinging up to look at a few pink and orange soft clouds floating peacefully in a late evening orange sky.
End Episode
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Aaaawwww… well, a strong action scene and an attempt at a very sad scene, both very tough to do, and I hope, effectively executed. So the next chapter is the last… and prepare for action packed tighter then a sardine can!
Biz
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