SO I'M GONNA TAKE A BREAK FROM RYAN'S JOURNEY AND SEE WHAT HIS TRIBAL FRIEND IS UP TO. NEXT FEW CHAPTER'S ARE WHAT EAST IS UP TO. PLUS THEY'LL BE IN 1ST PERSON SINCE IT'LL BE EASIER, IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT TELL ME.

I WAS FORCED TO REWRITE THIS SO MANY TIMES SO IT'S PROBABLY TERRIBLE, THE STORYTELLING IS MOST LIKELY WEAK FOR THIS BUT IT'S THE BEST I COULD DO FOR A CHAPTER LIKE THIS.

PLUS I'M WORKING ON A PREQUEL TO THIS STORY CALLED 'GOOD MORNING CALIFORNIA' SO GO CHECK THAT OUT

RATED T FOR VIOLENCE, THREAT, SEX REFERENCES AND (CENSORED) SWEARING

DISCLAIMER: YOU KNOW THE DRILL.

I slowly opened my eyes, my vision was a total blur. All I could make out was the bright, dull sun above me and the clear sky it shines upon. I had a total headache, it felt as if I was shot in the head. I could hardly move my body, too tired.

I breathed in the unusual air, didn't know what it was but it felt nice. What happened? How did I get here?

There was a rapid sound of footsteps coming towards me. It was all muffled, guess my hearing was affected too. The rapid footsteps sounded closer, there was a voice too but couldn't make out what they were saying. From my experience I had no clue what was gonna happen to me, I could be captured and sold as a slave, captured and then raped, captured and raped and then killed for some reason, I always assume the worst.

Whomever they were arrived at my almost paralysed body. I managed to get a closer look at them. One of them was a boy, looking to be 10, had green oval eyes and slightly long brown hair. He was wearing an olive sleeveless tunic and black trousers. He was almost straight up in... well more like down in my face. He spoke but as I said before I couldn't make it out, I assumed he was asking if I was alright.

I responded in painful groaning.

There was another guy standing right next to him. He seemed a couple years older, wearing similar clothing besides his hair reached the bottom of his neck and was wearing a lime bandana. The person nearest to me trying getting him to help.

I couldn't continue staying conscious any longer. Felt as if I was dying, just didn't have the will to live. Blacked out after a couple more seconds. Is this how I die?

Once again my eyes steadily opened. My vision was fortunately clearer but by head hurt like hell. I think there was a bandage wrapped around it too, guess the people who found me actually want to help, don't get that much in the wasteland, but still I should be cautious. Felt like I was lying on a hard bed, but it wasn't uncomfortable.

The air was still unusually fresh, not a smell of radiation anywhere. Where the hell was I?

I looked at my surroundings, the walls and floor were structured with a wood of sorts. Two windows on separate walls too. There were a couple things in the room, a table with a potted plant on it, another bed at the far side of the room, so there were two people sleeping in this room. It was probably those boys earlier. Couple boxes and stuff were stashed in the corner too. Probably some junk inside them, it's all that people store in boxes.

My rifle was placed on the table along with my knife and ammo. Above the table was a picture/drawing of a man. His hair was long and a long pointy beard coming down his chin, plus had a signature face of superiority.

I got out of the bed, put my sandals on, walked across the rough wooden floor to the window grabbing my things along the way. It was a forest, one that wasn't dead either, there were many shades of green and little animals living their short, peaceful lives. Haven't seen that much green in a peaceful area before, well there's the mountains north east of Vegas but they didn't really count. The second window had a similar view.

Left the window and took a closer look at the picture above the desk, had no clue who it was and I didn't care. This room was fully surveyed, nothing left to examine in here. Before I exited the room, I slowly opened the door, heard a conversation. Sounded like a woman and two boys.

"Bye mom," a boy said, he sounded sad almost like his Mom was gonna die.

"Goodbye boys, I love you both," said the woman, she sounded depressed. At first I believed she was gonna die, but I know the sound of unhappiness, these guys must be living terribly. Must've been a single caring mother and her two kids. Don't know what it was but her voice just reminded me of my mom. I repressed those harsh memories.

There was a sound of someone closing a door.

"I'm gonna check on the girl," said one of the boys, there was a sound of footsteps getting closer to the room.

"Shetze," I silently cursed.

I looked around me, trying to find a place to hide. Swiftly proned under one of the beds. My knife was ready if all went to hell which is usually does, like I said I always assumed the worst.

The younger boy I saw earlier entered. Felt kinda relieved that it wasn't some pervert or murderer who wanted to harvest my organs.

What? It happens!

Still didn't trust him, the wasteland is an unforgiving place, that's if I'm still in the wasteland.

"Umm, where's the girl?" He questioned worriedly, "Akira! She's gone!"

"What?" A boy with a slightly deeper voice spoke. The bandana kid I saw earlier entered the bedroom. "Where did she go?!"

"Look, the stuff on the table is gone."

Gee no shetze Sherlock.

"Well there's no signs of exit, you think she... like snuck out when we opened the door?"

"Don't be ridiculous! Wait could she?"

Laughed on the inside, can't even sneak past a pack of geckos whilst their sleeping in the middle of the night. Almost got ripped apart that time.

Listened to them bicker on what they were going to do for a good minute. Kind of entertaining.

Until I sneezed.

The two boys were alerted of my position. I cursed again silently in my tribal tongue.

Both of them looked under the bed.

I instantly aimed the rifle at the both of them. Always had trust issues with people no matter who they were, not even children.

"Who are you and where am I?" I questioned.

"Whoa, easy. We're not going to hurt you," said the bandana kid, "I'm Akira and this is my brother, Banko. You're in Boshali. We found you in the forest and you were out for a couple hours."

"Where the hell's that?!"

"Well you're in the Fire Nation colonies, used to be Earth Kingdom. Do you remember what they are?" said Akira.

"Course not. Haven't even heard of... who named those nations?"

"Alright, I believe you have amnesia," Akira stated.

"The hell's Amnesia?" Never had a mind for basic medication knowledge unless it came to stimpaks.

"When you lose your memory, you do remember what the word means right?" Banko asked.

"I don't have 'amnesia'. Just tell me how to get to Vegas and I'll be on my way."

"Where's Vegas?"

"It's like on the East of Nevada, near the Colorado and Hoover Dam. I can't be any more specific than that."

The brothers had a puzzled look. Instantly gave up on asking them, it was hopeless. I lowered my rifle, my instincts told me no but my mind said they were ok.

"Oh fik (f*ck) this," I walked out of the room, entered a slightly emptier one, there was a double bed to the side and a dining table with chairs around it on the left. Strolled to the exit before the two brothers halted me.

"You cannot go outside," said Banko.

"Let me guess, it's dangerous?" I assumed. There was probably deathclaws or giant mantises outside, probably raiders who oppress this town.

"We're not allowed out at this time," Akira replied.

"Yeah, you're not allowed to go outside. I can handle myself," shoved them off of me and went outside. The sky was still blue, the clouds were thicker. Never seen anything like it, kinda like what Ryan tells me when he lived in New California.

Kept careful where I stepped, once again always assumed the worst. Turns out I was in a village, there was a small row of markets and some houses with other utilities. The only thing, it was all as empty as the canyons back in Nevada. But there were a couple people wearing black armour and red clothing underneath. Some of them wore white masks too. No doubt they were soldiers. Among the few people were other people wearing green clothing, probably the citizens the soldiers protect, or perhaps oppress.

"What the hell are you doing out here, girl?" A man asked, I turned around to find one of those soldiers, wasn't wearing a mask. He had a quite bushy black beard and bright golden eyes that just screamed authority. "What's up with your hair and why do you have gunk on your face?"

"What the fik did you just say about my face?!" I was immediately pissed at this guy.

Felt someone grab my arm, looked around again to find it was Akira trying to pull me back. "Sorry about this sir," he said, "He's just our cousin visiting from a few towns over."

"She doesn't look like your cousin, even if she was why wasn't I notified?"

I could tell Akira didn't know what to say, "Uhhh... I'm guessing you were... not notified about it?"

"I'll look into that, if I find out she isn't authorised..."

"Yes, I know. We'll be sent to the coal mines."

Coal mines? Seriously? For a crime this small?

"Pray to the spirits you won't," the guard walked off.

Akira turned to me with a worried look.

"What was all of that about the coal mines?!" I questioned. He dragged me back into the house, guessing so he and his brother don't get sent to the coal mines. We met with Banko who stood right by the door.

"Damn it!" He shouted.

"What happened?" Banko asked his brother.

"We're screwed! When the guard find out that she wasn't permitted we're off to the coal mines! Won't be long before he asks!"

"You mind explaining what all of this is about?" I asked.

"A few years ago, the fire nation occupied this village. They took away all Earthbenders and enacted strict laws on the rest of us. They didn't even care for us, only cared for what they got out of us. They took away our Father and forced our mother on the plantation with little pay all day." Seems this 'Fire Nation' sounds an awful lot like Kaesar's legion, hell they're almost a complete knock-off, only good thing is that they pay their citizens and don't train children as soldiers.

"Was that picture in the room your dad?" I asked.

"No, that's Fire Lord Ozai, leader of the Fire Nation. We have to recite the pledge of allegiance to him every morning." This is probably one of those 'Fascist' factions Ryan tells me about.

"Have you ever thought about escaping?" I asked.

"You think no one's ever done that?" said Banko, "Last person who tried to escape was caught and killed! There are guards always patrolling the forest day and night. Even if we could we'd need to get our Mom off the plantation."

"If we leave right now they'd question her, painfully. Same with if you leave us behind," said Akira. As much as my instincts have trust issues, I didn't want anything like that happen to these kids. I didn't want to be responsible for something like that, not again.

I sighed, suggested probably the most insane thing, "How about we start an uprising?"

"An uprising?! Are you crazy?!" Akira questioned.

"Yeah!" Banko followed on.

"It's not. Don't ask again." Never liked talking about why I chose this name, it was just too painful to explain. Didn't need those emotions right now. "So what should we do to help start it?"

"We can't do anything once that guard finds out I was lying." Akira was right. We just didn't have the time to do it, now that I think about it there's more risks in starting an uprising and I am just not as charismatic as Ryan. Escape was the only option.

"Fik it, let's escape. They might've gotten that last guy but not us. We're armed and that last guy probably wasn't."

"You're crazy!" Said Akira.

"So what? Would you rather live most of your life under this 'Fire Nation''s boot? I can get you out of here, you need to trust me. Or I can just leave you here and let your whole family rot in the mines, neither of us want that do we? I've killed many soldiers before and have never failed, okay maybe a couple times but you can trust me to protect you."

"But we don't even know your name!" Akira mentioned.

"It's East. Don't ask why it's my name."

Akira sighed, "Fine. But we can't leave without our mom."

"Let me guess, she's working on the... was it plantation?" Wow, I really needed to hit the dictionary more.

"Yep. Just started working. Won't be back all day."

There was a sound of a bell being banged on.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"There's an announcement, didn't think they'd do one this early," said Banko, "Everybody stops working and have to go see what's going on."

"That means your Mom should be there! We'll grab her and get the hell out of the village." I suggested. That may have been riskier than the uprising idea but it was hell of a lot easier.

"You sure about this?"

"Of course I'm sure. I've escaped things worse than this."

"Alright, can't believe we might actually run free from the Fire Nation."

I put my hood up. We all went outside, some people gave weird looks at me. It was either my clothing, my... probably my hair, or my tribal mark. Some of the guards gave me a suspicious look, I was surpirsed none of them had guns. Guessed they didn't even know what a gun was since I was holding one in my hands. This should be easy.

The three of us arrived at the centre of the city, there was a stone platform with a wealthy man wearing purple and red robes. The banner of the so called Fire Nation flew harsh over the village. There were many people, at least 30 or 40 of them all crowded together with guards standing on all sides. They would've been easy shots, just as long as the armour doesn't repel my bullets.

"You see your mom anywhere?" I asked.

"There are still people coming, might come soon," Banko replied. The brothers tried to look over people's heads, it was getting so crowded that the chances of the four of us escaping was getting thinner.

There weren't any more people coming to this gathering, neither brother pointed out where their Mom was.

"I think that's everyone, where the hell is your mom?" I whispered.

"I don't know, she has to be here somewhere," Akira replied.

The man on the platform started to speak, "Citizens of Boshali! For 5 years were have peacefully ruled over your village and gave your citizens a purpose!" What a prick. "Yet still you rebel against our authority! Once more we must show you what happens to dissenters!" Must be an execution or something. Whatever it was it wasn't good. "Bring out the degenerates!"

Now where have I heard that from?

At that moment, 7 people in restraints with sacks over their head walked in shame to the platform. A couple guards unarmed attached their restraints to the wood.

"What's gonna happen?" I asked Akira.

"They're gonna be burned alive."

"Christ, that's as bad as being crucified."

"Crucified?"

"Where I'm from there's this faction called Kaesar's Legion, they crucify their enemies and anyone who's against them. Crucifixion is where they nail you to a cross and let you die slowly. I've had... people I know suffer that fate."

"Sounds worse than the Fire Nation."

"Yeah, like a thousand times worse. Wait how will they burn them? I don't see any torches or flamethrowers anywhere."

"The soldiers here are mostly firebenders, you do know what bending is right?"

"No I do not."

"Seriously? Alright, a bender is someone who can control the elements. Like a Firebender can control fire, they can make fire out of thin air too."

I stopped him right there, "Wait, so they are human flamethrowers? Why didn't you tell me?! Now this plan's gonna go to hell!"

"I thought you said you've killed many soldiers and these weren't any different."

"Yeah, ones that didn't have any fikking Disney powers!"

"Mom!" Banko shouted. The two of us looked at the platform, the prisoner's sacks were taken off revealing the beaten faces of the poor souls. I could hear some people shouting out things to them like 'No please don't' or 'Give mercy on them'. Wish I could help these people but I didn't have the resources.

The robed man spoke again, "All of you have been charged with treason, believed to have conjured a strike on the plantation demanding better pay! By order of the great fire nation, this is punishable by imprisonment. But, to properly teach this town a lesson, you shall be executed!"

I readied my rifle, "Which one of them is your mom?"

"The 6th one," said Akira. The soldiers wee heading into a stance probably to do this so called firebending. I looked at their mom, her eyes were pure green and her hair was just a depressing brown. She looked in our direction, staring at her children believing it to be her last time.

I readied my rifle at the 6th soldier.

Then pulled the trigger.

I missed, only grazed the 7th one. Everyone was alerted, some citizens surrounding me most likely had their ears ringing. The others just ran off in fear.

I tried to fire at the soldier again blowing his brains out.

But the bullet hit the mother. I saw her fall over, she was dying. Damn my aim!

"Shetze," I cursed. There was a number of soldiers running to apprehend us, fortunately the majority tried to make sure other civilians didn't escape chasing them into the forrest. "We need to get the hell out of here!" I told the brothers.

"What about our mom?!" Banko questioned worridley.

"We can't do anything now! It's now or never!" I couldn't bare to tell them right now what I had just done.

"I'm not leaving her!"

Fik it, I thought, fired at some of the soldiers killing them off. Most of them didn't dare to attack us but we were able to dodge a couple fireballs. Banko ran after his dying mother.

I stopped him, but I was forced to punch him in the face knocking him out.

"What the hell, East?!" Akira shouted.

I aimed my rifle at him, "I'm so sorry about this. But we're getting out of here whether you like it or not!"

"Why are you doing this?! We need to save our mother!"

"She's dead!" I sighed, "We'll talk about this later, grab your brother and get the hell out of here!"

I was able to threaten Akira to do this, it was for their own good. Didn't care how much this ws gonna burden me like Ryan's dead girlfriend.

Akira grabbed his unconscious brother, he looked at me almost with hatred, then ran off. I ran after him, shooting anybody who dared to come after us.

I didn't want this to be a repeat of my past.