Book 1: AIR

CHAPTER 19:

AUTUMN TWILIGHT, PART 1

It was a long time before Zhong exited Tirji's cell. He was slipping the gloves onto his hands as he whistled a chilling tune to himself. His attendants followed him, not daring to say a word to Zhong. "Tirji was very cooperative." Zhong said as they exited the prison. "He told me a lot actually."

"Like what, general?" one of the soldiers asked carefully.

"He told me where Kizu went after he fled. He was indeed in Gang Hi. According to our little assassins, Kizu has taken flight again but, alas, Tirji know no one beyond Gang Hi. But we don't need to know that. All I needed to know was Kzu's weakness. His flaw."

"And what is that, sir?" the soldier asked again.

"You'll find out soon enough." Zhong hissed over his shoulder.

Alpha rolled over on his back with pleasure as they landed on the mountain. Aer patted his belly as Alpha's tongue slipped out of his wet mouth.

"That's okay. You can rest." Aer said as she heaved the food sack off to the side of their small campsite. Kan was forming some tents of earth for them as Long-hin set about collecting rocks to put around the fire.

"Feels just like old times." Bakiko said as he and Ran-Fo were employed by Jip to help her build a new garden for them.

"Yep, it sure does." Jip said happily as she began to realize it was true. It was a different mountain but it still had the feeling of home to her. They hopped down some rocks and began to tear at the hard earth for some fertile soil somewhere.

Aer slowly crept up to Long-hin. "You're doing a good job." Aer said as she noted how he had placed two rows of rocks in a circle around here the fire would be.

"Yeah, I try." He responded.

"Long-hin, listen. I…"

"Don't talk." Long-hin cut her off. "I know you like Kan more than me now. Just let me be." He finished his rock pit and turned to retreat into his tent. Kan walked over to Aer's side.

"Just give him some time to let it really set in." Kan said as he attempted to put his arm around her. She brushed it off and walked away. "Oh please. He's had three years to know you were mine."

"But he was only there for me." Aer remarked as she walked into her tent and threw the blanket closed behind her.

Mizu fell onto the hard earth as her swift flight came to an end. She made sure her pack was still secured to her back before she looked at her new, misty surroundings. "Where am I?" Mizu asked as she began to have flashbacks to the weird creature that had attacked her on the shipwreck. She proceeded cautiously into the fog, large shapes rising high into the sky.

She found the incline becoming steeper as she saw small trees begin to curve towards the sky. She used them as a sort of ladder up. She heaved herself onto a ledge and stopped to take some well deserved breaths. "How much higher does this thing go?" Mizu asked as she stared up the rock wall that seemed to continue forever. "I think I'll stay here for the night. I don't think anything can get me from up here." Mizu laid out her mat and opened up the last food ration she had. She conjured a fire and placed her small pot she had also taken from the ship over it.

She wrapped her parka around her, thought the night was not as cold as it had been. She must be close to the equator. She sat back and waited for the food to be ready. The stars looked much larger tonight for some reason. As the smoke from her fire rose higher into the air, Mizu's thoughts began to roam on what had happened to her parents. There one day and gone another. What had happened to her parents and why did she end up at the North Pole, drifting in on an iceberg?

Kizu's raft knocked into the shore, jostling him awake. Kizu sat up and looked around. It was extremely misty and rocky. Kizu got off and slipped, causing the raft to be jostled back into the ocean. "There goes the ride home." Kizu sighed to himself. He turned back to the misty island and began to walk forward. It was too steep for hi to climb. He tried once and fell flat on his back. He then bent energy behind him to propel himself skyward. He landed near a small group of trees and decided to make camp.

"It's better then nothing." Kizu said to himself as he began to set his things down. It was then that a dark figure launched itself down upon him. "What? Not you again!" Kizu shouted as he tried to back up. He threw a few fire balls at the things and then bent the trees into a small barricade. The figure put out the fires and then lifted a hand. It made a motion to crush the trees, but a large column of water sprouted up.

The figure threw it aside and jumped at the barricade. He did a spinning kick, causing the trees to bend into a small knot as a large whip of fire cut through them. Kizu had ducked aside and was now watching the figure carefully. It was wearing large swatches of fabric over its lanky body and had a small tuft of dark hair on his head. He turned around and scanned the area. The man quickly turned to where Kizu hid and made a pulling motion. The earth beneath Kizu's feet gave and Kizu was pulled towards the tall figure.

Kizu gave a lurch and threw a punch. The figure ducked as a large fire ball whizzed at his head. "Who are you?" Kizu asked as he backed up, summoning some of the burning branches to form solid gloves on his hands. The flames were quickly extinguished.

Long-hin spun on his heel and slammed the ground, causing a large outcrop of rock to surround Kizu, preventing him from leaving. Kizu smashed through them with his tree gloves and bent a wave of water from the air to smash into Long-hin. Long-hin made a ball of air under him and took into the air to avoid the wet barrage. He did a motion and Kizu was also lifted into the air. Long-hin then sped in the air and caught Kizu in the chest with a tornado punch. Kizu slammed into the side of the cliff and slid to the ground. He lay unconscious as Long-hin flew to his side and grabbed him.

It was morning when Kan noticed a large plume of smoke rising into the sky. "Did we start another fire?" Kan asked.

"I don't think we did." Jip said as she walked over to the edge. She could see a small light far beneath them. "Who camped down there?"

"No one from our gang." Kan said as he leapt down the rock ledges to where Mizu was waking up. She had a pot over the fire with her food in it for breakfast. A couple of screeching birds were sitting around the lip of the pot. Kan made a large gust of wind to blow them over. They screeched, of course, and took flight. Mizu woke up faster and saw Kan perched on a pointed rock some feet from the base of her camp.

"Who are you?" Mizu asked, not quite used to seeing other people this high in the mountains.

"I should be asking you that question." Kan said as he glanced the sixteen year old girl over. "We don't allow people to trespass in our homeland."

"You live here?" Mizu asked as she looked up to the top of the mountain, which could be made out now that the mist had subsided. "I did not know. I don't know any where except of r the North Pole."

"And why would you be so far down, I ask." Kan said as he jumped onto her pot, causing it to spill off of the fire.

"I was trying to run away. I'm sorry, I'll leave." Mizu grabbed her mat and tried to walk to the edge of the space but a wall of earth rose up to cut her off.

"You're not leaving now that you know we're here."

"Let me go. I will tell no one." Mizu pleaded.

"No." Kan made to grab her but Mizu conjured a wall of air between them. Kan fell backwards from the force and looked up. Mizu used the fire to make a ring around herself, forming a kind of protection.

"You're a bender?" Kan said amazed.

"I suggest you leave." Mizu spat. "I've already fought that general and I can fight you too."

"The general? He's after you too?" Kan got up ad pulled away her ring of fire. "He has been after us too."

"I wondered where he went." Mizu said as she bent down slowly to retrieve her pack. "He stopped following me about three weeks ago."

"You haven't even seen his navy?"

"Well…I did see a ship of his. But it was wrecked and no one on board survived the crash." Mizu said quickly. She did not want the memories of what happened on the wreck to haunt her. "Where have you seen him?"

"Well, he attacked us at our other mountain home and forced us to flee."

"Us?" Mizu asked as she took a step forward. "You are not alone?"

"No. There are six of us at the top of the mountain." Kan said casually.

"There are!" Mizu was delighted by the mere fact that there were other kids that she could talk to at last. "Will you take me to them?"

"I…guess." Kan said slowly. He grabbed Mizu around the middle and thrust them up on a plume of fire. Jip moved back as Kan returned to their mountain top home with another member to add.

"Who is she?" Jip asked as she stared at Mizu, who was elated to see another girl.

"I am Mizu. And who are you?" Mizu said as she bent down to Jip's level, which was only slightly shorter than hers.

"I'm Jip." Jip said as she stuck out a hand to shake Mizu's.

"That's nice." Mizu said as she gave a smile and shook her hand back. Aer was stunned to see Kan's arm around the new girl's hips.

"Oh, it is?" Aer snapped. She shot a look at Kan and motioned to his hand. Kan looked down but did not race to remove his hand from Mizu's hips.

"And who are you?" Mizu said as she ran over to someone her own height this time.

"Aer. I'm his…never mind." Aer shook Mizu's hand and retreated back to the camp. There was a lour rustling sound to the east and Long-hin appeared, dragging something behind him.

"I found a little sneak last night." Long-hin said as he proudly placed a foot over the blinded and gagged person. "Don't worry. He didn't put up too much of a fight."

"Long-hin, let the poor kid up." Aer said as she bent down and pushed his foot off Kizu's body. She sat him up and blew a gust of wind to wipe off some of the dirt and pebbles on his clothes. She undid the gag and took off the blindfold.

Kizu gave a small cough as he regained the ability to breathe properly. "Where am I?" Kizu asked as he stared wildly around himself.

"You're home." Long-hin joked as he bent down over Kizu's shoulder.

"Oh, is he new?" Mizu asked Kan, clearly new to the prospect of prisoners.

"Well, we don't know him so that means yes." Long-hin said as he stood up. "And who is this beauty?"

"Excuse me?" Mizu ands Aer said simultaneously. Long-hin gave a sly look to Aer.

"I asked, who is this delightful young lady?" Long-hin rolled over on a small patch of earth and began to kiss Mizu's hand. She quickly withdrew and slapped him across the face.

"I know I'm new, but I'm not going to be taken advantage of." Mizu exerted herself. " I would like it very much if you gave me some space and grabby here would please remove his hands." Long-hin backed up and Kan removed his hands and walked away.

"Finally. A girl who isn't desperate." Aer said to herself as she helped Kizu to his feet.

"What does desperate mean?" Jip asked.

"Nothing."

"Who are you people anyway? Mountain men?" Kizu asked as he rubbed his eyes.

"Clearly we are not mountain men. There are women here." Long-hin joked. "No, we are…nomads so to speak. We just go from place to place."

"We started off on another mountain someway south of here." Aer told Kizu. "Who are you?"

"I'm Kizu. I'm friends with the governor's daughter Oma." He said the last part with the utmost faith it would carry some significant weight.

No one even blinked when he said it. "Who?" Bakiko asked.

"Never mind." Kizu said as he failed to find common ground with them. "I'm just a farm boy. Some assassins pushed me away from home and I've not even hear a word from home in about two months."

"I don't think any of us have heard from home in, what, three years." Aer said as she handed Kizu a blanket.

"Three years!" Mizu exclaimed. "My, what have you been doing for three years?"

"Living in mountains." Kan finished as he walked away from the small meet and greet to be alone.

Zhong's ships were fast approaching the island. They would be there before the day was out. Zhong stood at the bow with his telescope out, scanning the mountains ahead for any activity. The Captain approached him, almost confidently. "Sir, I don't mean to be intrusive, but what are you…"

Zhong turned to him and made a motion to attack the man. It was awkward in that he instead of raising his arm had instead did a weird sort of thrust. The man back up as Zhong clenched it into a shaking fist and let it fall to his side.

"Are our special guests comfortable?" Zhong asked as he turned back around.

"Um…I don't know." The Captain gave a shuddering look at the cargo doors and gulped. "I'll go double check on them. But how do you plan to…trap them?"

"Who said we would trap them?" Zhong closed his telescope with a clank and gave a loud laugh to the sky. He tightened his gloves and gave a whistle. "We attack at twilight!"

There was a roar of approval and the men began to ready bridles and whips around the cargo hold as men approached tentatively with large hooks to undo the latches. A horrible screeching was heard as Zhong stared off at the mountains, the sun already making its final autumn sunset.

"So, what do you do up here?" Mizu asked as they sat around the fire in the early sunset. Aer handed her a bowl of vegetable mush. Kizu made a small gagging sound as he looked down at the weird goop.

"What? No meat?" Kizu asked.

"No. I'm a vegetarian." Aer stated with a small hint of disdain. "It's part of being an Airbender."

"What's that?" Kizu asked.

"A special form of bending." Jip said as she came to Aer's defense.

"A specific form of bending." Aer finished.

"Well, why not just use the other forms?" Mizu asked. "It certainly comes in handy, more so than one form of this bending."

"That's what I tried to tell her." Kan said. Aer huffed and rolled her eyes.

"Fine." Aer said she got up and walked away to the garden. She paced back and forth, wearing a rut into the soil.

"I understand." Long-hin said in a whisper. Aer spun around to see him sitting on a small step in the garden.

"Please, Long-hin." Aer said as she threw her hand up and a small whisp of air blocked her from him.

"Why?" Long-hin asked as he stood up. "I have never advanced on you this whole time. I sat there in the silence, hiding behind lame jokes, trying to get you to love me. I thought you would come back to me. But…if you need the constant displays that Kan only displays when he feels like it, I can do it."

"Long-hin…I don't need this right now." Aer pleaded. She turned around, her back turned to him. Long-hin walked over to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. He nuzzled into her sily hair and sighed.

"I love you, Aer." Long-hin said softly. Aer lowered her head.

"Long-hin, I…" A loud screech was heard as rockets whizzed into the air, setting off large displays of color. Alpha gave a loud groan and flew over the edge, over Long-hin and Aer.

"What's going on?" Aer asked as she ripped out of Long-hin's arms and ran back to camp. She saw a horrid head come over the top of the mountain. It had four red eyes and a large ugly snout. It was furry and had four legs.

A canyon crawler.

It screeched and reared up as Kan and Bakiko tried to jump into action. A spear made quick work of them, knocking them down to the ground.

"There's more!" Jip screamed as she looked over the side of the mountain. Indeed, there were. The entire army was scaling the side of the mountain, aiming rockets and arrows at the kids.

Large nets suddenly stretched across the sky and pinned Ran-Fo and Jip to the ground, tangled in the sticky substance laid over them. Mizu knocked the Canyon Crawler and its rider off the mountain peak. It did a flip in the air and caught the mountain with one of its ugly claws. It shook its head and began to scale the mountain yet again.

Another canyon crawler reached the peak, along with four others. Mizu dodged a bomb and retaliated with a quick rock punch. Kan flaming kicked another off his mount and Kizu hid behind a rock shield as arrows pelted him. Aer saw an arrow take aim at Jip, who was squirming in the net.

"Get away from her!" Aer screamed as she launched herself at the assailant. She caught him in the chest and they tumbled off the mountain, into the small basin of trees and rocks between mountains. The sides were jagged and trees curved towards the sky.

Aer shook her head and looked up as the man drew his sword.

"We finally meet, at the end." Zhong said as he straightened up and aimed his blade between Aer's eyes.

Aer blasted him back with airbending and hopped up. She began jumping up the rocky wall with airbending propelling her. An arrow clipped her leg and she tumbled to the ground, creating an air pocket for her to bounce off of. Zhong made a swipe at her, but she dodged it easily. She did a spinning kick on the ground and Zhong was lifted into the air. He dropped a bomb above her and Aer bent it away with a concentrated blast. Zhong reached the ground and threw a dart at her. Aer gave a huge breath and threw her arms out. A large gust of wind swept into the basin and threw the dart back. It shaved off one of Zhong's gloves and cut through Zhong's cape. Zhong braced himself and slid backwards a few feet.

He whipped off his other glove as Kan and Long-hin appeared at the top of the mountain. Canyon crawlers streamed past the sides of the basin, ignoring the fight happening below. Aer gave a gasp as she looked at Zhong's hands.

They were red and puffed at the joints and cut clean to the bone. Zhong gave his scar a long deserved scratch and laughed his same chilling laugh.

Aer prepped for battle. "Don't worry. This won't be much of a fight. The gloves are off now." Zhong laughed and ran at Aer. She stopped half-way and gave a large scream. He thrust his arms out and Aer spiraled back into the mountain wall, falling to the ground unconscious as the fire and water became still once again.

"Aer!" Long-hin shouted. Kan was the first to leap into the basin, but Aer's safety was not the first thing on his mind.

Zhong was a bender.