Zhou and the two other Green Ribbon guerrilla fighters stepped inside the abandoned armored car of Choman's security guards. They loaded up many bags of rice in the back, ready to bring the food to whatever people left in their organization.
"I guess this is where we part our ways," Lei said to everyone present. "I hope there is another opportunity for me to see you all again."
"Where are you going?" Satchiko asked him.
Lei is silent. It's obvious he can't reveal where the exact location of the Green Ribbon Army, even though the main group has been encircled by multiple armies of various warlords.
"I am not going to somewhere, just going to someone." Lei said, not specifying anything. "I want to thank you all for defending this town, even if..."
He couldn't finish that sentence, he knew what happened. Right now, the remaining survivors are still trying to bury the bodies, mourning for the losses. Family are still shedding tears for their loved ones, it's as though all those people were just hiding from last night's festive mood.
"Lei," Satchiko stepped forward. Her face didn't display the same confidence she had when she first conversed with the Earth bender. "I have a question, an important one."
Lei's face is expressionless as he waited for the girl to ask.
"Remember those fire bending bandits who attacked us? Why did you wanted them spared?"
The guerrilla thought hard. Even if the Kyoshi warrior couldn't tell by his stone like face.
"Bandits, daofei, criminals, thieves and murders, they have all committed great sins against people who have done nothing except for existing. Many commoners were killed by them, which is why there are plenty of people in this world who couldn't wait to see wrongdoing people be sent to their deaths." Lei looked at his dadao's reflection. "I am not an air-acolyte from the temples, but I know that even the worst of humans should be allowed second chances."
Lei received demeaning glares from the Kheshigs, especially Batu, who turned his back against him.
"It's easy to just kill a sinner, but sometimes, wouldn't it be better to not send that murder to the chopping board and let them change themselves?" Lei asked Satchiko. "Isn't it better to just let that evil person surrender himself to the good side? I believe people can change."
"Change..." Satchiko's thought lingered on that word. She then became persistent, because part of her refused to acknowledge Lei's over optimistic belief. "Why do you believe bad people can change? Yesterday I saw first hand what they are capable of, why shouldn't they get what they deserve?!"
Let opened the door of the armored vehicle, and sit on the front passenger seat. "Am I a good person?"
"Of course you are, you and Zhou tried to defend the people. You are not like those bandits, you are the righteous ones."
Lei breathed out, she can hear his mentally fatigued voice. "You think I am always good?
Satchiko is surprised by this statement, she assumed that Lei's record is clear. Just a simple peasant that got fed up with inefficient governments that doesn't attend to the people's needs.
"It all starts with an empty stomach, this urge to eat something. But when you see the crops you have grown for an entire year being taken by landlords, weird ideas enter your mind when that is left are scraps. Hunger is all the it takes to cause a peasant to do desperate things. Unfortunately for many, it's a life of crime. When the rulers cannot provide what the subjects wanted, the people revolt and demand better changes. But for me, I didn't think that way at first, I only thought about myself. And I and not afraid to admit, I too have done things unforgivable, irredeemable in the eyes of many."
"Then...when did that change?" Satchiko asked, uncomfortable with the revelation.
"After the executioner gave me a second chance, when I deserve to be killed for what I have done to others."
Zhou started the engine of the armored vehicle, and slowly the wheels begin to turn. For these four men, this is a rare chance to access such convenient transport.
"I hope you become a great Earth bender Satchiko, and live a peaceful life. Remember, always search for the light in the hearts of evil. Because no matter how much darkness tries to overcome the light, it can never succeed. The best way to defeat an enemy is not to kill them, but to make them your friends."
The car departed, driving towards the direction of the dawning sun. Everyone stood outside the outer wall, watching the vehicle slowly disappear across the barren land until it is nothing more but a small black dot.
"You heard what he said?" Mayumi said to Suo, who is also present. "I hope the likes of you can also improve on certain qualities."
The guard captain and a few other militia nodded, they knew their reputation have took an irrecoverable plummet.
Suo then turned to Temujin, heads lowered. "I promise I will take better care of this place! Next time you return, business will be operating as usual."
"That depends if that wool merchant is ever going to return here!" Temujin huffed. Unfortunately, that petty wool merchant the Kheshig have been so dependent on have lost all his fortune. Now, it is paramount that the whole tribe find a new buyer.
The Khan walked next to Satchiko, from here, they can still barely see the armored vehicle carrying the four Earth bending guerrillas.
"Earth Benders, they are stubborn creatures aren't they? When my hometown was invaded, it was the Earth Benders and their headstrong mindset that perished first. No matter how much I told to stay back, they all threw themselves at the Acolytes."'He commented. "Like the element they bend, those fools are the most dense people you will ever meet."
"Maybe that's true, maybe we Earth Benders are born stubborn." Satchiko's gloomy reply drew the immediate attention of the Khan, who look at her in a surprised look.
But instead of questioning her immediately, the Khan simply turned around and commanded all the Kheshig to get up the bison. As the airbenders propelled their bodies onto the saddles, Amgalan struggled, his leg wound hindered the process.
"Hey, get up!" Ganbaatar reached out his hand. He pulled the injured man up. After that, everyone is on the four sky bisons.
Meng decided to send them off with a wave. "You two, stay safe!"
"We will Aunt Meng!" Mayumi said. The bisons ascended. "If I ever get a husband, I will surely write to you and confirm if your prediction of the purple flower is true!"
As they took off, Satchiko looked at the town's destruction. The mayor and the wealthy has abandoned the town, indifferent to his action. How could the mayor be allowed to do something like this? Aren't armies supposed to be used to defend people? Where are they? Even from up here, she can hear the plight of the people. Yet, there is nothing she could do. No power bestowed on her weak body can stop a deadly massacre and the demise of that nameless orphan girl.
She squeezed her hands on the Prince Wu doll tightly. It felt like the Avatar Kyoshi doll made by Akahana, but the doll only reminded her of sadness.
...
A small group of yurt tents were hastily set up. The herdsmen and women only built a small number of accommodation just in case they have to pack everything up again.
Among the grazing bisons, Sarangerel paced around. A baby bison followed her in circles as the woman is drenched in guilt and anxiety.
"Why didn't I follow after them!" She said to the baby bison, which has a curly hair after the Kheshig lady combed it to fight her inner turmoil. "I thought going to the other direction would confuse the guards, what a fool I am!"
The bison calf responded by only sticking its tongue out.
"You are absolutely right, I am sure father would bring brother back!"
The nearby bisons lift their heads up, and so did Sarangerel. They all saw the returning sky bisons to the camp.
"Mother!" Sarangerel used air-bending jump to the small collection of tents. "They are back!"
As the returning Kheshigs landed on the grass, many people rush forward to welcome them. Priority was given to the men who have accumulated injury. Amgalan, who is the most injured, was carried off the bison by multiple herdsmen.
"I am fine all of you!" He complained with a frustrated face. "Let me walk myself for goodness sake!"
Most ignored him and simply carried him to which ever tent the sick have been allocated to. Who knows, may Amgalan might even see Khiimori, the air-bender who have been viciously impelled by Shui's icy shards.
"Khenbish, son, you are back, what happened?" Saran quickly closed in an gave the two a VERY tight bear hug.
"Mum, my back!" Batu pleaded. "It's cracking!"
Saran immediately let go, checking both their clothes to make sure there are no injury.
"Mum, I am fine!" Batu's assurance didn't calm the maternal instinct. Saran checked everywhere, making sure there are no tears or slashes on the deel.
As Temujin stood on top of his own bison, he patiently waited until everyone is settled down. "Today, our people narrowly avoided destructive." He proclaimed in a loud voice. "The town of Shang is attacked, by those bloodthirsty cultist, our greatest enemy! And because of that, we would no longer be able to sell wool in that place!"
The small crowd murmured endlessly. The lost of income brings great worries of every family here.
Temujin held up his hand, and they all became quiet.
"We have other issues to attend to, all the adults with me, we are holding a meeting!" He hoped down from the bison, and lead everyone to the tent. There just happens to be a yurt big enough to fit a good portion of the tribe. The rest is content with just listening outside.
There are no chairs this time, only mattresses. Temujin took a seat directly on the other side of the entrance, Subutai on his left, and Ganbaatar on the right. The rest became audiences as they all sat around the tent's circular walls.
"Send them in," Temujin commanded. He pulled out two pieces of paper out of his deel.
Two guards with spears accompanied Satchiko and Mayumi as they entered the tent. The Kyoshi warriors, especially Mayumi, is more nervous about this than her sister.
Khenbish and Saran gave them surprised looks.
"Wait, what are you two doing here?" Khenbish asked. Although the reason might not be so surprising at all.
Temujin slurped a bowl of fermented milk loudly. Despite his position as a sovereign leader, he does not care about table manners like those walled up sedentary people.
"They are here to explain a few things," Temujin lift up the two pieces of paper so that all can see it. "Care to explain? It seems there is a very high price of your heads, must have been some heinous deeds."
The crowd reaction to the two papers were mixed. What the Khan is holding are wanted posters depicting Satchiko and Mayumi.
"They are criminals!" Some people yelled across the room. "We need to get rid of them now!" It was met with multiple voices of approval. But not everyone had the same opinion.
"What!" Khenbish exclaimed, actually vexed by the sudden demand. He immediately stood up from the ground and defended the two in question. "Those two helped us! They helped my son! We can't just point our blades at people who have fought against the Acolytes of Vaatu!"
"I will punch any of you who disagree!" Saran yelled with ferocity, all to support her husband. Usually this woman wouldn't be so vocal during a boring meeting. But since it involves the people who have saved their son, she cannot help but assist the Kyoshi warriors.
That statement was also met with support from the audience. Most would certainly agree with Sarah's ideals.
"Silence Khenbish, you we can't trust outsiders!" Another nomad shouted. "I say, we should boil those two in cauldron!"
A few armed warriors in the room gave the accusers cold looks. Obviously, those who got saved by the Kyoshi warriors from Shui's blood-bending can never justify betraying them. They all stood up, Batzorig and a few others pulled out their weapons.
A loud bang was heard. Temujin slammed his fist on the table in front of him to assert his will on the debaters. Everyone silenced their lips and regained their composure, knowing they have angered the Khan.
"I will tolerate no pointless division in my tribe!" He snarled. "Fracturing our community into half over some trivial matter makes us no different from those sedentary folks! What are we, those quarreling nitwits in the town of Gaoling? Two sides doing everything to tear each other apart is not something I will allow in our people!"
After berating the trouble makers, Temujin tuned his attention to Mayumi. "You. Explain yourselves, why are you two wanted by the State of Yi?"
Mayumi was the first one to speak. With full confidence, she spoke honestly. "My Khan," she respectfully used the title. "I can assure you, that the circumstances of which why we have been targeted is not because we have committed a crime."
"Elaborate," Temujin said.
"It was a long story, we arrived in a seaside town in the state of Yi, in which we encountered a governor who have mistreated some beggars on the streets."
Temujin's eyebrows reacted, showing curiosity. The Khan probably expected some sort of petty thievery was committed by the two girls, but he was wrong.
"Well that governor is a jerk!" Satchiko quickly bloated without consideration. The audience are taken back by the unladylike behavior, and Mayumi was dumbstruck at the sudden interruption. "He always brag about how good he is and how much improvement he made even though he treated people so badly. I called him out and he got mad. If I ever meet him again, I will make him regret about making wanted posters of us two sisters!"
"So tell me, if you plan to punish that governor for his behavior, what would you do?" Temujin asked Satchiko, even more f he is going a bit off topic.
"Well, I would make him live on the streets, he will be just like the beggars, and have to beg for food! That way he would be more sympathetic to those more unfortunate people!"
"Hahahahahaha!"
Ganbaatar and Subutai both stared at the Khan, who is exhilarated by Satchiko's suggestion.
"Not bad, not bad at all!" Temujin complimented the eagerness of the youth. "While I would have him boiled in cauldron, I wouldn't mind seeing Liu Zhang crawling in dirt while wearing his fancy clothes. Good thinking!"
"Wait, you know him?" Satchiko inquired.
Temujin leaned back, satisfied at the amusement he had been put through. "Oh yes, too well unfortunately. He inherited the whole state of Yi. There are a million people with the name Liu just as a million people with the name Lee. Liu Zhang is quite infamous in his own right. I even know of his own grand father, who was governor when the Earth Empire was still around. That old fool always brag about how great his pathetic state is when the daofei can literally roam the streets in broad daylight and no one can stop them. His people couldn't even prosper, despite the rich amount of minerals the land has." Temujin mused on that thought. Clearly the Khan is grateful that his own people have a higher living standard than most Earth Kingdom peasants. "Looks like the ineptness flows in their blood."
"I know, even my dad would have done a better job, and he is just a school teacher! Who is also a chief for our little village!" Satchiko continued to badmouth Liu Zhang, hoping that Yi governor would get a cold. "If we very are your enemies, then we wouldn't have stand with you only multiple occasions would we?"
Temujin chuckled. "A good point."
Capitalizing on this opportunity, Mayumi wanted to express a few words of compliments to the Kheshig leader. "Compare to you my Khan, Liu Zhang can never measure up to your sovereignty. He can only dream to able to mimic even half of your prestige."
Temujin is no longer smiling, his face grimaced to a more judgmental one. "Do you sedentary people all love to use flattery? I dislike courtiers who only fed nice words to their superiors." The mood is soured, all because Mayumi overstepped certain boundaries.
"Ahem, apologies, I didn't mean to-" Mayumi's words are halted by Temujin.
"Enough, you two." Temujin demanded, now becoming more serious. "Let me ask you this question, why are you going to Ba Sing Se?"
The Kyoshi warriors looked at one another, both agreeing that Mayumi should be the one doing the talking.
"We are going to the city so my sister can learn Earth Bending. She is an Earth bender, but back in the island, we have no instructors. She has been invited by Master Lee, an air-bender at Ba Sing Se university. Originally, we were supposed to be on a Fire Nation steam boat and arrive at Ba Sing Se directly. But since the ship suffered from a malfunction, we decided to walk to Ba Sing Se. It is only by coincidence my sister and I met Batu in the wilds. You know the rest."
"Lee," The name seemed to have reminded Temujin of someone, even though Lee is a very common name across the world. It's perhaps that Mayumi said they are going to the university that allowed the Khan to form a connection. "So Satchiko is an Earth bender, interesting. Funny I am knowing this now. Too bad you couldn't air bend, otherwise I would have trained you into a deadly air-bender. But that is not the main issue here. Why should I trust you? Yes you have helped my people, but there is still no way for us to know for sure if you are real Kyoshi warriors, and not someone who have stolen their disguises."
The Khan's suspicion can be stemmed from a documented incident during the Hundred Years War. Before the fall of Ba Sing Se, a person named Princess Azula and two others infiltrated the city wearing Kyoshi warrior uniforms. She even wore Suki's own outfit to fool Earth King Kuei, and brought the city under Fire Nation control from the inside.
Mayumi heard the story before, she heard it directly from the very Kyoshi warrior who have been defeated by Azula.
"Perhaps you do not believe our words, but maybe what we are carrying will suffice." Mayumi shuffled the contents inside her backpack. After finally finding what she wanted, she gave it to the Khan.
"What is this?" Temujin watched as Mayumi placed a piece of folded letter and a golden coin on the table. He opened the parchment, and read its contents.
"So, it appears that it's from Xuanzang himself!" Temujin closed the letter. He then examined the gold coin.
Mayumi focused on what the Khan is doing. The coin has been fiddled around multiple time as the Kheshig examined both sides.
Click!
She noticed that Ganbaatar and Subutai both have surprised faces, only Temujin remained unfazed.
"What is that sound?" Satchiko asked. The coin has been tampered.
Temujin looked at Subutai and Ganbaatar, after that he finally addressed. He threw the coin at Mayumi.
After examining the other side, she is even more surprised. "This coin, the side now has a symbol on it, how did you-"
The White Lotus symbol is now completely visible. It's like a magic trick. Mayumi could not explain what contraction was used to turn one side of the coin into a white lotus.
"As a former dog of theirs, I can tell that the coin isn't a message for you two." Temujin finished his drink.
"Wait, what do you mean? What is this white flower and why is it so important?" Satchiko is still clueless about this.
Mayumi hastily reminded her sister about the Order of the White Lotus which Temujin was once part of, the same order tasked with finding and guarding the Avatar.
"Hold on, if we are not the ones summoned to find the next Avatar, who is?" Satchiko then flinched her head to face Mayumi. "Did mum and dad know about this?"
For once Mayumi felt she doesn't have the answers to satisfy her sister. She herself doesn't know this either.
Mayumi then noticed that Temujin is grinning. It is a dead giveaway, and she will not let this slide. "You! You know who it is don't you? Someone on our island is part of the White Lotus. Who is it?"
Temujin made a shrugging motion, he appears to be having fun with the Kyoshi warriors' processing this new information. "Must be very difficult for you kids, knowing someone on your island isn't being completely honest. Personally, I see no problem with telling everyone close to you about an obsolete order that is only a shadow of its former self. However, since that person have already chosen to withheld such knowledge, I will respect their decision."
Ganbaatar and Subutai nodded their heads simultaneously, supporting the Khan.
"Can you at least tell us if they related to us?" Satchiko can notice Mayumi's sudden obsession with the subject. The older sister seemed to be too occupied with knowing who the secret White Lotus member is.
Temujin didn't spoke a single word. A servant came over and supplied him with another bowl of fermented milk, which the Khan devoted his attention more.
"Just take a seat." He said. "I can tell you that I believe you are definitely from Kyoshi island."
"Wait-but," Mayumi wanted to persist. But Satchiko guided the older sister away from the conversation.
"We will ask mum and dad when we get back, they will never hide anything from us!" Satchiko whispered in Mayumi's ear. Even though Satchiko convinced Mayumi, she still unwilling sat down.
The Kyoshi warriors took their place next to Khenbish and Saran. They still don't know what is going to happen next, but at least they cleared off any misunderstanding they have with the Kheshig.
A lone figure walked through the tent, this time, it's Batu.
Khenbish and Saran widened their eyes in dismay.
"Wait, there must be a mistake!" Khenbish said. "What did my son did?"
"Calm down, it's not what you think." Temujin reassured Batu's parents. He then faced Batu, who stood there unsure what is happening.
"This young man may not be someone related to us by blood, but he has proven himself today in battle!" Temujin proclaimed. "Despite not having his own grey arrow, he has shown potential as a great warrior!"
Subutai then handed Temujin a wooden case, which the Khan opened the container with a loud click. Temujin pulled out a composite bow, and walked to Batu. "Today, this belongs to you."
Batu kneeled down to receive the gift. The bow looked very well made. It is a not sky bison bow, but it is one of fine quality. Certainly superior to one he had now.
"Thank you!" Batu said simply. Everyone initiated clapping, cheering for the kid.
Khenbish and Saran have content smiles on their faces. Clearly they are proud that their son have been personally awarded by Temujin.
"He has grown so much!" Khenbish said.
Satchiko didn't share their sentiment. "Yeah, he did." She tried not to show her critical side, knowing it would only ruin this moment. She was the only other people besides Temujin who have saw what happened in brutal detail.
...
Multiple kids climbed onto a sky bison's back and used the massive tail as a slide.
"Weeeeeee!" A kid laughing rushed down the 'slide', even the sky bison is having fun.
"Batu, why aren't you playing?" A random boy came up and asked him. "You should be happy, what wrong?"
Batu is resting underneath a small tree, and his new bow just sleeping on the grass nearby. Despite just receiving so much, something inside him doesn't feel complete.
"Nothing, I will play later..." He sulked. "I asked my sister to train with me on air-bending." His low mood stood in contrast with the cheerful faces of the kids playing with the sky bisons. But he doesn't care about that.
"Hey," Sarangerel arrived. "Come with me."
Batu followed the woman, leaving the carefree children away.
"So brother, why did want me to teach you air bend? All air-Benders within our tribe begin their combat training at the age of fifteen, after they mastered the bow and the glider. Why the sudden rush?"
Batu took a while to respond. He is glad that after all these years, Sarangerel treated him as though they are related by blood. Therefore, there shouldn't be any hesitation in telling her anything.
"I want to be strong that's all. When we were escaping yesterday, I couldn't get on top of a building! I want to learn air-bending so that I can kill anyone who would harm my friends and family." Batu used the word kill. Sarangerel reacted by showing an uneasy look. "Can you start teaching me? I want to learn how to jump to high places without my glider!"
"Sure," Sarangerel said, swallowing her throat.
They arrived at an area where a group of teenage air-benders are training. Batu watched closely as they all bent with fierce ferocity, speed and unpredictability. Some are training with their bow and arrows, trying to perfect a technique of guiding a projectile to the target. Even though it is said that there is a strong link between air-bending and spirituality, the Kheshig are far from spiritual. Unlike the kind and compassionate air temple monks, the steppe nomads here will not treat spirits in a welcoming manner. Yet, unlike Jesa, the renegade nun who have surrendered herself to a life of violence and greed, somehow the Kheshig's air-bending was not weakened. Air-Benders among them are strong, and will do everything to protect their families.
"We Kheshig differ from traditional air-nomads in many things. While they spare, we kill, but that does not mean either side is morally incorrect. We are both simply different because of circumstances, and differences separate us, just like how our father puts it."
A single steep hill came into their proximity. Usually, air-Benders trained their reflexes by 'jumping' to higher ground with only their physical capability.
"Using your air-bending to jump to higher places can be difficult, so make sure you wear lightly." Sarangerel continued the lesson. "That means unlike our non-bending brethren, we cannot wear things like lamellar that will weight us down."
"Wait, but the Khan wear so much armor on him, how is he doing all those awesome and manly stuff?" Batu asked, scratching his black and stubby hair.
"Well...it's not exactly clear. But I think the reason why the Khan is able to do all those things has something to do with his left hand" Sarangerel said cautiously. Batu knew what it is, that strange feature their leader have after his encounter with a spirit. Which is why Temujin always wore a glove to hide his left hand.
"It's those spirit things, those stupid nasty creatures that have made him like this." Batu said indignantly. "The last Avatar made a mistake for opening a portal, now there are many of them! The dangerous ones can just come to our world and attack us!"
"Yes, some of them can just pass through our bodies and make us look just like them." Sarangerel signed at this unfortunate reality. "But we are not here to discuss Korra's shortsightedness, as we have much better things to do. Now observe closely as Jargal embarrasses himself."
Batu widened his eyes. The Kheshig hunter flew himself from below and smashed into the earth. That man couldn't make it to the top because he is wearing a full set of lamellar used by their non-bending warriors.
"Still couldn't do it?" Sarangerel pitied the hunter.
"Nope, me and Batzorig have been testing for hours. We just couldn't replicate what the Khan is doing when he wears heavy armor."
Batzorig is jumping up and down. He couldn't even fly, for he is simply too heavy, and the additional armor only limited his agility further.
"I'm not fat, I swear!" Batzorig complained. It's uncomfortable for Batu to look at the man tightening himself. His deel is almost bulging through the gaps of armor.
Sarangerel turned to Batu. "You see, no armor allowed."
Batu doesn't look too pleased with this. To him, being able to wear a full set of Kheshig armor like his father is what he wanted. Yes he desire to master air-bending, but he also have a penchant for armor.
"Armor looks good on me, I am a man aren't I? I need to look strong and imposing! And wearing only my deel makes me look weak."
Sarangerel gave him an understanding look. "You sure?"
Batu didn't answer. In his mindset, a strong man must never display any hint of weakness. Any tears he had, must be contained. Yet, another part of him still felt...wrong. Yesterday, he just killed his first Acolytes of Vaatu.
"Well then brother, ready to begin? Try to jump to that hill. And ask yourselves, what exactly motivates to you learn air-bending."
Batu looked at where his sister pointed. He temporarily laid down his knife and bow. His training begins.
...
The full moon is high up, and the whole tribe of Kheshig slumbered in deep sleep.
Temujin and Ganbaatar walked out alone in the middle of the night.
Resting on Temujin's falconry glove, is a brown feathered gold eagle. Temujin tied a parchment to the legs.
"Are you certain those two Kyoshi warriors are asleep?" Temujin asked his right hand man.
"Certainly, if they are awake, I would surely know."
"Very well, then in that case, I can safety send this letter." Temujin released the bird. It flew high up into the night. Under the cover of darkness, it would be near impossible for a human to intercept the message.
A lone shuriken pelted the wings of the eagle. The assailant used the moon as the background, she decisively captured the messenger bird.
Mayumi walked in the dark and examined the messenger bird. She retrieved the letter to Kyoshi island, despite the eagle's best attempt to bite her fingers. Mayumi however, is pleased with herself, her shuriken skills have advanced.
She forcefully opened its contents, reaping the reward.
Dear people of Kyoshi island, I am Temujin, Khan of the Kheshig Khanate, leader of the horde. The men of your island are all pathetic weaklings who can only fight fish from the ocean, so you allowed your wives and daughters to do your fighting. Ha! You should be ashamed of yourselves, for you are a disgrace! You should also be punished for allowing your two Kyoshi warriors travel all the way to Ba Sing Se without a sky bison. If you had simply contacted me, it would never come to this point. The older sister wouldn't stay up so late in the night just to intercept this decoy letter.
Temujin
Mayumi's ears can heard another object flapping through the sky, another eagle! She desperately threw out a few more shurikens, attempting to retrieve the real letter to Kyoshi island. But all have missed.
She cursed to herself for failing for this trick. It appears that Temujin have anticipated this.
"Let's get back to sleep, it would be a long day tomorrow." Temujin said to Ganbaatar.
"Yes my Khan!" The captain said, it's like following a military order.
Since Mayumi is hiding amongst the bushes, her training in the arts of stealth allowed her to remain undetected. While she highly doubt Temujin is aware of her presence, part of her truly felt the stark difference in their level of experience. He knew almost everything despite his rather brutish nature. His philosophy of killing a life to save one still entangled itself in her mind.
With a disappointment mood, she made herself back to Khenbish's tent. Since the weather is a bit colder tonight, they rest inside the tent. And with that, she sneaked back in, and rested.
...
Tenzin exited the courthouse. After the lawyer gave the judge a convincing speech, Huo was found not guilty by the jury. And without much evidence against her, the warden escorted her out of the courtroom and was handed over to an Acolyte of Vaatu community representative wearing suit and ties. Looks like Huo has avoided the executioner.
The representative gave Tenzin a hostile look. Stay out of our way. He then hustled Huo into an expensive looking Satomobile, with windows that deny people from looking inside.
Tenzin didn't gave the man the satisfaction of a reaction, he simply went onto to his sky bison, Oogi, and flew away. The city has grown bigger and wealthier, he thought to himself. Each year, forests of grey concrete building were established to encompass the growing population boom and the overburdened job market.
The city just seems to be growing more grey day by day, and less of the Four Nation's culture are being incorporated into the architecture. Cost is a major factor, and space is money. It's more useful for a building to appear less appealing and house more people than it is to have traditional aesthetic. The grey and dull looking skyscrapers, while remained an eyesore, is in fact useful in its intended purpose to accommodate as much people as possible. A sort of generification in its own ways.
As he flew past Aang's statue, he thought about the nostalgic days. It was much brighter, and he was certainly much happier. When people were more united, it almost seems that there is nothing they cannot overcome.
Before he can attend the emergency meeting of all the major monks and nuns, there is another issue he needed to look into, his family tree.
...
Temujin walked through multiple corridors and flimsy doors of the underground base. Passing the sleepy White Lotus sentries, he arrived at the archive section.
The door was pushed open with a controlled eagerness. Tenzin wanted to know the truth as soon as possible, but does he very?
Running through the dusty shelves of the room dimly lit with green glowing crystals, he dug through multiple ruined animal skin pages and records. All for a simple family tree.
"I must know what happened!" He said to himself. He flickered through endless scrolls, books and notes, until finally, a lone folded parchment sat in the corner caught his attention.
He reached out for it, and placed it on a stone table before opening himself to the contents, his own family tree.
From the top, are many people from the water tribe, traceable ancestors of her mother Katara. There was no one above Aang's name, since ancient Air-nomad culture separates the child from their parents. Everything has been documented to the best of the writer's ability, even the names of his own grandchildren.
And then there is Sokka and Suki, their children and grandchildren are...
That part of the page was torn, leaving nothing for Tenzin. The air-bender turned the page to the other side, having a faint hope that the writer have simply ran out of space and drew the other names on the back. There was nothing.
"No!" Tenzin felt despair. Someone has beat him to this information, but by how long? Days? Months? Decades? And what are their intentions? Why would they deny him of such information?
He can't give up now, he had to go to Kyoshi island and find the descendants of Sokka and Suki, his family. He never overcome the feeling of losing someone. Even though the air-nomad culture preached non-attachment as part of their philosophical belief, the pain is still there. The feeling of losing student to that killer never left him.
"I am Tenzin," he started to speak to no one but himself. "A flawed individual, and someone who have failed at many things."
His face suddenly became determined, and body posture regaining confidence.
"Yet, even I know that, the flaws are just illusions I set up for myself, they do not define me!"
He marched out of the room, he can feel energy in him, that same will to right the wrongs. He still have an emergency meeting to attend.
Author's notes:
-Liu Zhang is a historical figure who have ruled the province of Yi during the Three Kingdom Ear of China
-Golden Eagle is a falconry choice for Mongolians. I checked, and the bird is not golden. :(
-Xuan Zang is a monk who have traveled from China to India. He is also depicted in the famous novel Journey to the west, which is on the same level as Romance of the Three Kingdoms in terms of popularity.
-The part where I said Air nomad culture separates child from parent is an ASSUMPTION by me. Obviously Tenzin and his family are still intact because there is so few air-bendets, but I am not sure about the air-acolytes. I am not exactly sure how air benders before the Hundred Year War replenish their numbers, but I assume that there are two biological parent, but the child must be separated to get rid of attachments. Based on my personal understanding, real life monks like the Shaolin practiced celibacy. And they replenish their numbers through those who joined the temple in a variety of means. Judging by this info, we can obviously assume that ancient air-nomads do not follow such practices as they were 100% air-Benders.