Flaming Shadow

"Hello everyone."

Tuyen felt the gaze of all the airbenders as they turned to face him. The sea of orange and yellow garb had him choking on his breath momentarily, it was the first time he had seen this many airbenders in one place in what felt like ages. He blew out one last nervous breath before continuing.

"Seeing everyone here together has brought such hope back into my life. I know over the past weeks we have all faced such incredible hardship. We have lost, we have suffered, and we have mourned. Although we will never fully move past these losses, seeing you all here today tells me that…" The wind swallowed his next words as an unmistakable shadow caught his attention.

It isn't real, focus on them. He pinched the bridge of his nose as he clamped his eyes shut for a moment.

"My apologies. As I was saying, the Air Nation will persevere, we will continue on, we will…"

"Will you fail them too?" The voice rang painfully in his head.

"Be quiet." He seethed out through gritted teeth. Tuyen stared up as murmurs were beginning to spread through the crowd. "I… I'm sorry."

He wasted no time before he shot out towards the forest, following the now fleeing shadow. Although he didn't fully process what he was saying, Kiron could be heard behind him apologizing to the rest of their people.

The shadow stopped once at a clearing before turning around, showing him Kona's smiling visage.

"What do you want?" Tuyen made no attempt this time to keep his voice low.

"Do you think they would still want you to lead them after they learn you let me die?"

Tuyen clenched his fists together, his nails digging into his palms. "I tried to save you."

"Like you tried to help Owyn?"

"He learned to harness his power on his own."

"So you admit he was better off without you?"

His vision began to blur as his breath hitched in his throat. "No, I…just didn't know how to help."

"How about helping poor Malu? You left the poor girl so confused that she is willing to forsake one of our most sacred principles."

"She will find her way."

"Of course she will now that she is away from you. You don't even know where she is, do you?"

Tuyen had fallen to his knees and refused to meet the shadow's eyes any longer. "Just go away…please."

"It wouldn't be the first time you lost an airbender who was counting on you. Tell me, did you see those two boys you abandoned at the air temple in the crowd?"

His chest constricted painfully as he thought back to the terrified look on their faces. He had been so hopeful that perhaps they had made it here.

"I didn't see them either."

"Please…just go away." He whimpered out to the ground.

"You know how to make this all go away, Master. Just admit it."

"Go away."

"Master."

"Go away!"

"Master!"

Tuyen was brought back to reality as his body was being shaken roughly. He lifted his eyes from the dirt to see Owyn standing over him, concern written across his body.

"Master, what happened?"

"Owyn…I…I am fine." He answered simply before rising to his full stature and brushing the dirt from his robes.

"Why did you leave everyone?"

Tuyen wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead before forcing a smile and looking at the young boy calmly. "I'm sorry. I'm afraid that journey took more out of me than I thought."

Owyn regarded him curiously, but knew better than to question a master. "Alright, Kiron just sent me to fetch you is all."

"Thank you. Run along, I'll return shortly."

Owyn cast him one last disbelieving look before turning on his heels and walking back towards their ever-growing settlement.

Tuyen gave another long look to the far tree line, only to see the shadow grinning back at him before disappearing into the forest.

Nara blinked to clear her eyes as once more the mist from the sea air stung at them. Although the water was not particularly rough, it was clear that the ship was not meant for the open sea. She had thought about voicing these concerns to Captain Gold Pants, but thought better as he nearly yelled fighting with the ships main line.

"SAILS!" Gold Pants frantic call brought her attention to the bow of the ship.

After staring at the horizon for a good minute she could finally just make out the white sails of three approaching ships.

"You!" He jabbed a finger towards her. "Grab me the spyglass below deck."

Not wanting to face his ire, Nara immediately complied and went straight to the captain's quarters. She came back above deck shortly after with the spyglass in hand.

Gold Pants peered through it and immediately grimaced. "Spirits above! They're flyin' red!"

Nara cocked her head. "What does 'flying red' mean?"

He lowered the spyglass and have her a fierce stare. She could only shrink in response. "You ain't got any sense? It means we got some bleedin' fire t'rowers barin' down on us."

Gold Pants strange dialect aside, it didn't take any time for Nara to understand him now. "Are you sure they are coming for us?"

"Does a platypus bear lay an egg in the woods?" His expression was still lost on the dumbfounded Nara which prompted another groan from him. "They are a comin' for us. The wind is with 'em too, won't be too long til they board us."

"Board us? Why would they do that?" Nara wiped at the sweat that was trickling down her brow.

"Why do fire t'rowers do anythin'? They gon' make to scare us, make sure we on their side. Don' worry though, jus' let ol' Cap'n Gold Pants do the talkin' and we'll come out of this right."

He seemed remarkably calm given the situation to Nara. Does he not know that there is war going on! He is going to get me killed.

"Are you fixin' to empty your lunch?" Her face had grown quite pale and he had noticed. "Stop standin' there like a twig and go secure all the lines."

He left her with the simple instructions before beginning to climb up the mast, a folded piece of cloth being held by his teeth. Nara blew out a long breath, forced her legs to stop shaking, and immediately got to work on the ropes.

Admittedly, she didn't really know how to check if a rope was tight enough, but she did her best and it was a good distraction from the ever-looming threat. She had just finished checking the last of the lines when Gold Pants landed with a small thud back on deck. Nara looked up the mast to see he had hung a tattered green flag decorated with a golden boat.

Before she could question what the flag meant, the sound of metal clanging against the deck rang through her ears. The ships had closed in on their port side and had thrown across at least a dozen grappling hooks. The hooks were then pulled taut and their own ship creaked sideways, the sudden motion throwing Nara to the ground.

A plank was put between the two ships once they were close enough and a man dressed in ornate red and black armor came across, flanked by two more men in much duller armor.

"What is the purpose of this voyage Captain?" He spoke to Gold Pants, but was actually staring just above his head, as if meeting his gaze would somehow lower his social standing.

"Jus' sailin' for the colonies to sell off my supply 'fore winter sets in." Gold Pants certainly didn't seem to mind the slight as he scratched at the scruff on his chin.

"And what might those supplies be?" The Fire Nation man began walking across the deck, taking in the state of their ship.

"Timber mostly. Some clay too."

"Do you mind if we take a look?" He gestured to the hatch leading below deck.

"Help yourself." Gold Pants clearly knew this was coming.

The man signaled for the other two to go below deck and they followed the order swiftly. "Just one more question. Who is she?" He pointed to Nara, who had done her best to make it look like she wasn't cowering towards the bow of the ship.

"Sister's daughter. Dumb as rocks so my sis sent her with me hopin' to find work for her in the colonies. Truth be told she ain't a bad rigging lemur, might keep her 'round."

The Fire Nation officer ran one last appraising eye over Nara before accepting the answer and turning back to Gold Pants just as his two underlings came back from below deck nodding their heads. "Very well, everything seems to be in order. However, I cannot in good conscience allow a vessel in this condition attempt a voyage to the colonies. Secure your sail and we will tow you to your destination."

"Hardly necessary, I just tarred the ship myself 'fore we set off. She'll hold together just fine."

The officer ran a hand over the rotting rails of the ship before speaking again. "I see. Even still, you are carrying supplies that may prove valuable to the Fire Nation. I could not forgive myself if I allowed you to continue onwards without my protection. We would not want the supplies to fall into the wrong hands after all."

Gold Pants scrunched his nose for a split second before breaking out a small grin. "Course Cap'n. Can't refuse an offer like that."

The Fire Nation man was satisfied with his answer and the three of them took their leave of the ship across the plank. Nara walked next to Gold Pants and lowered her voice to just above a whisper. "What are we going to do?"

"Whaddya think? We follow 'em of course. They ain't given us much choice in this matter."

Nara froze in place as he left her to prepare for sailing once more. She stared blankly as all three Fire Nation crews began to prepare their own ships as well. At least I'll be getting back to the colonies faster.

AN: I can finally say that this story has been completely written out. I decided to take some time and just finish the rest in my free time so I can get back to consistent updates.

Not much else to say except for maybe clearing up some nautical terms I use during Nara's section.

1) When Gold Pants calls out "sails" he is signifying there is a ship on the horizon.

2) When he says they are "flying red" it means they have a Fire Nation flagged raised at their mast.

3) When he calls Nara a good "rigging lemur" this is a play on the real world equivalent "rigging monkey" who is a member of the crew whose job it is to climb the rigging and the masts of a ship. Rather fitting for her since she is an airbender after all.

Other than that, I think it is pretty clear. I tried to make that section decently authentic while also easy to understand, but if there is anything confusing about it just let me know and I'd be happy to clarify. Thanks for reading.