Hei-Won watched through the tram's windows as the Outer Wall came ever closer and closer. The knot in her stomach churned, sending a wave of something unpleasant up her chest and through her throat. She couldn't even stretch her feet out because of how little room there was in the packed car, and what little leg room she had was taken up by a too small bag that carried the entirety of her fourteen years of life.

She felt so small and alone even with her parents beside her. Her mother sat to her left, also holding on to a bag as if her life depended on it, while her father stood facing them but with his eyes set to somewhere very far. He was protecting them from the shoving and pushing of everyone else in the tram, fighting for whatever comfort they could still get while they could.

Hei-Won felt the same as the sunken faces around her. She remembered the first time she had to run away in the night, with only the light of the moon to guide them, of not being able to sleep for the next few weeks because the fire benders might be coming again. She sighed. At least now she was going out in style: riding a tram and at least not running away from the fire.

But if the rumors she heard about the outside were true, about the return of the age of the daofei, then she almost missed being relieved that there were still refugees coming in to Ba Sing Se.

And now they were all being thrown out.

She held on tight to her knees, fighting the sick that made its way up her mouth. She swallowed it back. It was only scary the first few days, she reminded herself. She'd done this before and she could do it again. Hei-Won took a deep breath and counted backwards from ten. It was a trick her mother taught her too long ago and helped more times than that.

Someone coughed. A baby cried. Something heavy fell down followed by a panicked grunt. But the whatever disturbances were simply swallowed up by the atmosphere, everything circling back to the silence of the unmarked graves and the sleepless hungry nights. She knew she wasn't the only one wondering where tomorrow would take them, whether they will see the next sunrise or sleep in peace. If ever again.

Father's plan was to slowly make their way to Omashu and decide again from there. It was the second largest city after Ba Sing Se, but second best didn't even come close. Because Omashu didn't have any farms or lakes or rivers within their walls. But she didn't really have a choice in the matter. None of them in this tram had a choice in it either. The Dai Li simply told them all to leave, any refugees who entered within the last year was to leave and the borders would be closed until further notice.

Since the war that never was, was finally over.

The tram entered the final stretch of the journey, passing into the last station through a tunnel and into the dark, a fitting end to their time in the city of the willfully blind. Five years ago the regal halls of the First Station looked like hope, now they were just cold.

She met her parents' eyes. The tram slowed to a halt. Everyone swayed to the stop. People picked up their bags. She did the same, and the doors opened. People started pouring out of the many other cars, spilling out onto the platform. Her parents waited for the rest of the passengers to leave before starting for the queues to get their papers checked one last time.

Hei-Won saw another family with a baby, an old man with nothing but a sack to his name, and a brother and sister who couldn't have been older than her by a few years. She met the girl's eyes, and they both looked away. There was nothing to say. All they could really do was hope for the best for each other and everyone else.

The first step outside of the car made the knot in her stomach grow into a tangle that numbed her fingers and froze her feet. Her mother came back for her and held out her hand. Hei-Won took it and made the rest of the way to the exit gates. Her father called them over to his place in the queue.

Everything after that was a blur and she eventually found herself with both feet outside of the great city after so long. The air was lighter than the Lower Ring, she conceded. But the sun didn't look any better. The same sky wasn't the same outside a city's walls, either. Ever.

She took a deep breath. And accepted that she was afraid. Accepted that maybe she wouldn't live through this day or the next. Accepted that she might be an orphan tomorrow or worse.

But to give up now was not acceptable. Not until she saw to the safety of her own parents and shown them she would be alright. Not until they grew old and grey and saw their grandkids grow up and have lives of their own.

Hei-Won felt the cold tangle in her body leave and a fire grow in its place. Something warm and strong and resolved.

She took her mother's hand in her own and boarded the carriage to the ferry station across Full Moon Bay. And from there it was a straight path to Omashu through a no man's land. There were a few villages here and there but with the recent changes in the Earth Kingdom, most of them might not be there anymore. The map her father had was at least a few years old—and gotten from less than reputable sources.

Since anything about the outside was frowned upon by the Dai Li. Though they did loosen their hold within the year, perhaps in preparation for what they were planning to do. Or maybe they just stopped caring after so long.

The carriage took two days to reach the ferry station, and it was three days from there to cross the bay. Hei-Won helped her mother carry her bags the rest of the way, finding herself full of energy despite the situation at large. She felt stronger, driven and determined, like everything would be fine. She even did the odd job here and there on the boat, helping to move things for a few coins. Anything and everything would help for the long road ahead.

But three days into the journey on foot changed that.

"Hand over all your money," said one of the earth benders that blocked their way.

Her family had joined another group of ten other people all on their way to Omashu. Strength in numbers. But of the thirteen in their group they only had two benders between them.

She only had a tiny knife to defend herself with. Her father used to be part of a militia in one of the villages they lived in and had a spear, but that only mattered when they were defending against other non-benders.

Looks exchanged between her group. Everyone here was carrying everything they had to their names. To lose even whatever loose change they had was a death sentence. What merchants still roamed the lands charged an arm and leg for even the tiniest morsel, and most of the plants had already been foraged and the animals hunted to hiding. Her mother knew how to hunt but she was no miracle worker.

They were on their last legs, but the way to Omashu was still so far away.

"I'm not gonna ask you twice," the earth bender said, raising a rock.

Hei-Won grit her teeth and clutched the knife in her hand. Stab with your arm, never slash, and twist when possible. She took the odd lessons from the sailors to heart. Lessons she knew she'd have to use sooner or later. Hei-Won roused the sudden strength she'd found within her to grant her courage.

Her thundering heart stilled into resolute silence.

Then, Hei-Won moved, swifter than the wind and plunged her blade deep into the bandit's chest as if the heavens themselves guided her hand.

Someone screamed.

Hei-Won retched empty air. A rock smashed against her chest, bringing bright blinding stars in her eyes and throwing her off the still twitching man she'd just stabbed. But she found herself so light on her feet that she almost floated instead of crashed against the ground.

She saw the other earth bender, eyes wide and with another rock. He screamed.

Hei-Won stepped forward with the weight of a storm.