I told everyone about the dreams I was having. I told them about how I saw the Eastern Air Temple. Jet was the only one with doubts. He tried to tell me that it must've been some kind of trap by the Fire Nation.
"They're just baiting you."
"Unless the Fire Nation has mastered Telepathy, I think I'm fine."
Boss had the final word and said I could go.
Tom volunteered to drive me and Zare and Yin said they'd go. Amek tried to argue against her going, but she went anyway. Maybe she and Yin felt guilty about leaving me behind, but I'd appreciate the company of people more my age. It took a good 17 days for us to get to the Island of the temple. The entire Northern face was mountainous so we dry-docked at the Western face of the island that had the temple. In that time, I had become adept at only using my left hand. I could properly use eating utensils, operate weapons, but still could hardly write.
We left around the first day of September. I had to get help entering the tank. I felt helpless and embarrassed, but this was why I came this far. Jet still seemed annoyed that we had come this far for such a "ridiculous endeavor"
Jet spent most of his time with longshot. They still had their own small inner circle that wouldn't break. Jet had gained some influence with Boss early on, but that soon seemed to deteriorate. They now always seemed at odd's ends.
We brought along tents and food for a few days and nights of travel. No more than a week's worth.
On the 4th day of driving, we saw the temple in the horizon. We reached it later that day around midafternoon.
At the base of the mountain, we made camp. We planned to sleep there and hike in the morning, but either my impatience or gut told me that I had to go up then and there.
We ate lunch around 8:00.
"It'll probably be a 5-hour hike to get to the structure at the top" said Tom.
"From there, we'll meet whoever's waiting for us." He continued.
"If it's Fire Nation, we'll deal with it." He finished.
"Let's hope not." Said Yin.
I kept looking straight above me at the temple thousands of feet above me.
"So Luke." Said Zare. "You have any idea what's up there?"
She had become more talkative since we first met and it was nicer having a girl to talk to rather than just a bunch of other boys. Variety was good.
I heard what she said, but couldn't take my eyes off the temple.
"No." I said plainly. I mentally punished myself for making such a dry response, but did nothing to change it.
"You alright?"
"Yeah."
Asshole
I decided to just say what was on my mind. "I think I should go up now."
"Now?" said Yin.
"Yeah. Now."
"That's a bad idea." Said Tom. "We have no idea what's up there. It could be a tr- "
"It's not a trap."
"How do you know?"
I took my eyes off the temple and looked Tom in the eyes "I just know."
"No."
This took me by surprise. "What?"
"No."
I already knew that I would just sneak off when they were asleep so I visibly gave up. I couldn't believe how easily they bought it, but for future reference, I noted that I should put up more of a fight to defend myself in order to be more convincing.
At around 10:27, I snuck off.
Bringing only my brown jacket, I didn't have much in the way of supplies and got tired midway up after the second hour of hiking.
Giving that the hike was on a trail carved into the mountain that circled around it all the way up, I wasn't a hard journey, but was still tiring after large doses of it, but I kept moving. I got to the top at 2 in the morning and was exhausted. I had gotten no sleep at camp, waiting for the rest to drift off. From the top of the path, I could see the entire Temple in front of me. The entire place looked as abandoned as the Southern Air Temple when I returned and buried the bodies.
However, in the distance above the center wing of the temple, was a trail of smoke that led upwards.
I made my way to the source.
The temple was in complete disrepair. Greenery was growing all over the place rubble and scorch marks were visible reminders of the Fire Nation's purge. I saw what they did, and for that there was no coming back. No redemption. I passed hallways with broken columns, buildings with furniture in ashes, but no skeletons. It's occupant or occupants must have cleared them out.
I knew that no Air Nomads had escaped. He Fire Nation attacked spontaneously and without mercy. Even if one temple was attacked prior to the others, there would be no way to communicate between the temples and send a warning. That was the futility of the Air Nomad's existence. They were too separated. I was passing a hallway and to the left, sitting cross-legged in front of a Fire was a man with dark skin, meditating.
"I have been waiting for you." He said.