Disclaimer: Yeah, as if I own Avatar. Stop mocking me! Please don't sue!
Author's Note: This will be the most uneventful chapter…just…read through it, however hard it might be.
The Spirit of Air
Chapter Two: On the Horizon
"Firebenders…"
"Ero! Hung-Jin!" Vahagan cried out, but he knew the two other Earthbenders would never hear him. Vahagan wheeled about, not knowing what to do. Firebenders! They hadn't been bothered by Firebenders in fifty years, and now one of their ships is on the horizon!
Vahagan calmed himself and peered out towards the distant ship. It was Fire Navy all right, with its black metal slicing through the water and gigantic red flag with the Fire Insignia flowing in the breeze. But it was just one ship. What damage could it do, even if it was attempting an attack? Vahagan logically deduced that that ship was simply passing by. He would have liked to believe that, but in his heart he knew otherwise; the ship was getting closet, and the Fire Nation is ruthless.
Vahagan stood there on the ancient flood wall, gazing out into the distance. The morning sun was just peeking over the mountains and into the Northern Valley. This had never happened to Vahagan in his fifteen years of life, and he was scared. No one had prepared him for this day despite its eventual arrival.
It was his duty as an Earthbender to protect his homeland, but what would a fifteen-year-old know of duty? He was not old enough to know the true meaning of duty, and yet he and two other Earthbending children were expected to keep a ruthless Fire Navy ship from breaching the wall.
Wow. He was thinking about this all at once and he hadn't even told anyone yet. He needed to alert his village, which stood in the shadow of the flood wall. He needed to get Ero and Hung-Jin up on the battlements; Vahagan was not about to fend of the Fire Nation alone. An idea struck him. He quickly formed a ball of rock in front of him, breathed in, and pushed the earth towards the village as he exhaled. The ball of rock traveled down from the wall and struck the gong in the middle of the village. The sound was deafening, and the entire village awoke with a bang.
Vahagan waved his arms madly and caught everyone's attention. The crowd began to mumble amongst themselves. Fellow Earthbenders Ero and Hung-Jin emerged from the crowd, for they could sense trouble in Vahagan's expressions. Vahagan gestured to them to join him on the battlement. The quickly forced their way out and ran towards the stairs winding up to the top of the wall.
Ero and Hung-Jin were the only two Earthbenders in the entire valley besides Vahagan. For this they were loved and hated. There were those that worshipped them, and believed that it was they would save the world, there were those who envied them, and wished they could bend Earth with a passion, and there were those who hated the three children, who believed it was the fault of benders that had sparked the worldwide suffering.
Ero was the weakest of the three Earthbenders. His connection with Earth was through growing things, for he could use his bending to tend to his gardens, which he sat in every day without fail. He hated Earthbending; he thought it was brutal and hurtful if used improperly, which he thought was often done. Ero had a love for all life, and hated all wars. Ero never enjoyed dueling or hurting people, but could be relied on in a pinch; he hated Firebenders as much as the next guy.
Hung-Jin was one of the rare female Earthbenders. Born into a rich family, she spoke little, was very polite and would never Earthbend in front of people. Despite her dainty appearance, she was a brutal savage in combat and was one of the strongest Earthbenders in the Northern part of the Earth Kingdom. But a lack of master to teach her had kept her potential hidden away.
Enough of descriptions. Now, Hung-Jin and Ero finally made it up the stairs and onto the wall carved of Earth. They saw Vahagan standing and staring out to the horizon. Without looking at Ero or Hung-Jin, Vahagan pointed to the Fire Navy vessel. Ero gasped and clamped his hand firmly on his mouth. Hung-Jin raised her eyebrows, but said nothing.
"The Fire Nation is here." Vahagan said solemnly.
"It's getting too close. It's definitely going to attack." He said after a short silence. Hung-Jin moved about on the ramparts, looking at the ship from a different angle. She bent her knees and squinted her eyes in concentration
"What do we do?" Ero asked nervously. Vahagan closed his eyes.
"What do you think, Ero? Defend ourselves. We are not about to give ourselves up to the Fire Nation," Vahagan said with a vehement expression. Vahagan gazed over at Hung-Jin, as if looking for answers he didn't have.
"It's smaller than you think." Hung-Jin said quietly, returning to a standing position. Vahagan almost gasped. He had hardly ever heard her speak. She continued, "It will only have one catapult, and maybe about four Firebenders. I certainly think we can manage."
Ero shuffled about nervously, his hands shaking. He was frightened beyond belief, and Vahagan noticed.
"Ero, why don't you…er…go tell the villagers to go back to bed, why don't you?" Vahagan had noticed the villagers who had been standing at the base of the wall for ten minutes were becoming a bit restless.
"Okay…" Ero muttered, and he slowly mad his way down the stairs.
"Hmmm…as I said before," Hung-Jin stated, "Vahagan…not counting Ero, I think you and me can manage this…unexpected crisis." She said calmly "Oh and we might need your Waterbending friend."
"I couldn't ask him to fight a battle he didn't have to fight…" Vahagan said quietly.
"Couldn't ask me what?"
Vahagan wheeled around, and saw Kolak coming up the top of the stairs. His blue furs illuminated by the morning sun, Kolak looked at Vahagan and Hung-Jin. "Well, I…" Kolak said, "Most of the villagers have gone back to bed, but your Uncle Gyro told me to ask you what was…oh!" Kolak had spotted the black ship, as it approached slowly.
"It's almost in range." Hung-Jin said with the utmost urgency.
Author's Note: I am so sorry! Don't kill me…I know it was uneventful, but…I…the…the next chapter will be much better. I promise.