So…it's already Chapter Two. I really should work on Prima Materia more, but it was getting kinda boring in my opinion. I'll probably write a new chapter of that in a few weeks or so.

Anyway, I'm thinking of changing my username. Any suggestions? (Wow, it's like I actually expect some one to read my author's notes)

PLAGUE OF FIRE

CHAPTER 2

I do not own Avatar. I do, however, own a half-eaten graham cracker and a stale cookie.

oOoOoOo(divider)

'Rest eternally.'

That was what Rai's gravesite read. Satchi had just written it in tiny white blossoms above where she expected Rai's charred heart to be. The remains had been placed in a wooden coffin and buried about a week ago. Every day Satchi would come to the grave and write something on it with the delicate flowers Rai loved so much.

Yesterday it had read 'Souls are untouched by time.' Another day, pink blossoms spelled out 'Friendship is immortal.' Tomorrow Satchi planned to write 'Flames can't harm spirit.'

She looked up into the sky. Today was a gloomy day. The weather seemed saddened by the one week anniversary of Rai's death. It wasn't warm. It wasn't cold. It wasn't windy. It wasn't humid. It wasn't cloudy either, yet the sun was hiding behind the tallest houses in the village, casting the graveyard into shadows.

Satchi felt her eyes grow damp, but threw back her head and let the tears sink back in her eyes. Rai never cried. Now that she was gone, Satchi felt she had to live up to her friend's strength, for both her and Uo.

After Rai's remains had stopped flaming on that fateful day, Uo had broken into a hysterical fit. She giggled as she cried. Seeing her best friend burn to death had made something in her brain snap. She didn't even seem to recognize Satchi anymore. Right now, Uo was in her grandmother's house, resting. She still wasn't doing well. She ate little and would often try to walk out of the house alone while laughing to herself. Her family made sure she never made it far.

The tears were gone now. Satchi turned her attention back to the grave and gave a weak smile.

"Someone you know?"

Satchi's head whirled around as she heard a new voice. A friendly-looking bald man was behind her. He was too old to be considered young, but to young to be considered old. His eyes were squinty and he looked at Rai's gravesite calmly.

"Are you going to answer me?" he asked. His voice reminded Satchi of the sound a scroll makes while opening.

"Y-Yes. She was my friend," was her reply.

"There are rumors going around about her death, you know. Some say it was suicide. Others, homicide. The most recent rumor is that she ate poisoned fruit a flying lemur gave her. Foolish, I know," he smiled. It seemed like the only thing he could do. Smile. "Still others, though, say it was something more sinister. They say her body turned to was burned to a crisp as her bones burst into flame."

Satchi was on her feet instantly. "Where did you hear that!" she hissed. She hadn't spoken a word about how Rai died, and their families had made sure the remains were buried in secret. No one else had been around at the time. Uo hadn't even been able to speak in full sentences after her first hysterical fit.

The man seemed to have forgoten Satchi was even there. He kept muttering to himself. "So, it really was the Plague. This is the first time I've heard of it happening outside of the Mountain Village. I wonder how the girl caught it…" His smiling face was now serious and was wrinkling in deep thought.

"What Plague? Tell me! Tell me everything you know about this!" Satchi demanded. Her face was turning red with impatience.

"Oh! Youre still here, aren't you?" The man's smile was back now. It seemed he really had forgotten Satchi was there. "You want me to tell you what I know about your friend's death?"

"YES!" Satchi was practically screaming now.

"Very well. No one else seems to be around. It is a graveyard, after all." The man chuckled to himself. "I have not always lived in this village, girl. I once lived on a place we called the Mountain Village," He paused. "Now, listen. I'm only telling you this because you have a right to know what happened. I'd tell that other girl you were with, but she seems likely to drown herself in a rain puddle right about now."

Satchi looked down at the ground. As much as she hated to admit it, Uo's condition was just like the man had said.

"Anyway, the Mountain Village was located on Saeri Isle--"

"Saeri Isle! That's not too far from here! Only a day's journey!" Satchi interrupted.

"Quiet! Do you wish to hear my story or not? Now where was I? Oh yes! On Saeri Isle, terrible things went on. It used to be a place for refugees during the War. After the Great Avatar Aang ended the war with the Fire Lord's assassination, some refugees still lived there which made it a village with both Firebenders and Earthbenders. Soon Waterbenders and a few members of the new generation of Airbenders lived there as well."

"The War? That was ages ago! There have been a dozen avatars after the Great Avatar's reign. Why are we going so far back into the past?" Satchi questioned. She was losing her patience with this man.

"Oh, so you really do not wish to hear my story? I guess I should be going then." The man started to turn away.

"Wait! I'm sorry! Please continue!" Satchi bowed apologetically.

"Fine. Horrible things happened at the Mountain Village. I left my home and came to this village after the first incident occurred. It was simply ghastly. A native Firebender on the Mountain became very ill. She had a very high fever, but one day she disappeared. All that was left in her room was a pile of ashes and bones." The man coughed once, then returned to his story.

"The only witness was the girl's mother. She claimed her daughter had burst into flames before her very eyes. Panic rose among the villagers. Wishing for the quiet, peaceful atmosphere the mountain could no longer provide me with, I fled here. I thought that I would never hear about the Fire Plague, as we called it, again. However, a few days ago I was walking past a particular house when I heard cries of inhuman anguish, like the ones I heard the night the woman in my old village died. I was filled with fright and dashed home. Today, I decided to see if anyone in the village had perished recently, so I came to this gravesite, and it seems I have found my answer."

"So, this happened before…on Saeri Isle?" Satchi stuttered.

"Yes."

Satchi started to walk off towards her home.

"Wait! Where are you going?" The man asked her.

"To prepare."

The man was clearly confused.

"I'm going to Saeri Isle. I need to know how Rai really died, and why." Satchi briefly explained.

The man recognized the determination in her voice. His smile grew broader.

"One last thing, girl."

"What's that?" Satchi called back over her shoulder.

"When you get there, if you see anyone, tell them it was Miko that told you about the Mountain Village," The man said.

"Miko? Who's Miko?" asked Satchi.

"Why, me of course," the man replied.

"Miko? That's your name?" Satchi tried not to crack up. "It sounds like a girl's name!"

Miko pretended to be hurt. "Now, now, you should be nice to strangers who tell you secret tales of hidden villages."

"Sorry, Miko." Satchi did her best not to burst out laughing again. Her best seemed to be good enough.

"You're welcome Satchi!" she heard him call after her. She walked off to her house and told her parents she was going to Saeri Isle. Being the irresponsible parents they were, they just told her to have a good time. Satchi went to her room to pack a few things.

It was only later she realized, when did she tell Miko her name?

oOoOoOo(another divider)

I still have no idea where I'm going with this. It's just fun to write. :)