The Underground

Chapter 3: Sea Travels

By: Floodedmoon

The sun began to peek above the misty, dawn clouds. Kinkou's head bobbed up and down slightly, like she was drifting in and out of sleep. Truthfully, Kin was trying her best not to fall asleep. She had been pushing the water from behind them all night long, she had refused to let Tsuki or Nairu take over. Maybe it was her stubbornness that wouldn't allow her to let her friends take a turn, or maybe she had too much adrenaline to even sleep anyway. Either way, Kin was getting tired.

Only after the sun rose did Nairu stir. Taking one look at Kin made her worry. "Kin, you really need a break."

At first Kin didn't say anything, a long awkward silence followed, Kin finally answered, "Hmmm, sorry, I'm a bit out of it."

Nairu gave Kin an unsatisfied look, "That's not an answer you know," she said sternly.

"I'm sorry Nairu, I'm just tired," Kin replied weakly.

"Then take a break,"

"I would, but you heard Lao, we have to hurry before the storm gets here, and Tsuki is the only one who can waterbender,"

"But, I can…"

"No, you can heal, but this is different…wake up Tsuki,"

Nairu leaned forward and nudged Tsuki before she rolled over and yawned. "Why'd you get me up so early?" Tsuki asked groggily.

"Kin needs you to take over." Nairu said, pointing to Kin, who leaned forward sleepily.

"It's about time you asked for help Kin," Tsuki said with a sigh.

At that moment Kin fell over, hitting the ground with a hard thunk. Tsuki and Nairu ran over to Kin's side.

"Did she die!?" Nairu asked frantically.

"No, she's just sleeping," Tsuki said, "see she's breathing."

Nairu sighed in relief, "Well, go ahead and take over," Nairu continued, moving Kin into her sleeping bag so she could rest warmly.

Tsuki nodded and walked to the end of the boat, which was no more than a four-foot walk. When she reached the end she began to take up where Kin had stopped. She leaned forward and pulled back in the slightest way, focusing on using her wrists and hands more than anything. Tsuki looked out over the horizon, it was impossible to really tell where they were at this time, the North Pole was far out of distance, and there weren't any icecaps to be seen for miles. A sudden gasp from Nairu broke Tsuki's stance.

"Tsuki! Look!" Nairu said nervously, pointing ahead from the front of the boat. Tsuki looked around almost instantly, and nearly fell over at the sight.

"We're too late!" Tsuki cried in disbelief. Up ahead, huge waves began to crack, and the wind picked up. Rain pelted from the sky like hail, and huge ominous clouds gathered in a large formation. The storm had come.

"Nairu! Wake Kin quick!" Tsuki ordered. Nairu nodded and began to nudge Kin violently.

Instantly Kin rose, a dreary look crossed her face instantly. "I thought you guys wanted me to sleep," she said with a long yawn.

"Well than obviously you can't see what is going on!" Tsuki yelled.

Kin looked up and around, "I wondered why I was so wet, man, I must be really tired!"

"Well get your butt up and help!"

"Fine, I'm getting up." Kin sighed.

The waves crashed in a turbulent rage, churning up seawater, flinging it all around. The sky thickened and turned darker and the clouds became large swells of dangerous black mess. Out of nowhere an enormous wave rocked up at the side of the small Water Tribe boat.

"Kin! Look out!" Nairu called out.

Kin turned, a bit too late. She was able to bend away most of the wave, but a sweep of the remaining water knocked her clean off the boat.

Kin wasn't too sure of what was going on. All she could see was black sea. Occasionally she'd find herself sputtering up at the surface for air, only to be pulled under by the increasing number of waves. Kin drifted down, fighting against the pulling riptide. She tried to take gasps for air, but her mouth met nothing but churned saltwater. Near exhaustion, Kin gave one last attempt to break the surface. She pulled her hands to her side and thrust them at the air, making an air bubble around her that shot her to the surface. Kin gulped down air, using whatever strength she had left to keep herself afloat. She could vaguely hear the voices of her friends calling out to her, "Kin! Kin! Over here! Quickly!"

Unfortunately, 'over here' was not enough for Kin. She thought she could see the blurry outline of her friends yelling to her through the outpour of rain. Struggling to move to the boat, Kin lost energy. She felt herself begin to sink again.

No. I can't go out like this. Kin thought desperately. I've worked so hard to leave, so I cannot lose here! She knew she couldn't allow herself to be beaten this easily.

Before her head sank below the surface, she twisted her wrist, as swirled her hands below the cold sea. She gripped at the ocean, and pulled up a chunk of ice, and then she pushed herself out to the boat, where her friends gripped at her clothes, pulling her aboard.

"KIN! My goodness, are you okay! Just relax, don't move, I'll check for wounds." Nairu said, before she began to look over Kin's arms and legs for injuries.

"Kin, just hold tight, the eye of the storm should be close by, let Nairu heal you, and get some sleep." Tsuki said as she navigated the boat passed wave after wave.

Kin could hardly hear the voices of her friends, her eyes began to droop, and her vision blurred, and she was out like a light, sleeping again.

End Chapter 3

Review from the Author

FM: Well hopefully the story is becoming more interesting, it will defiantly pick up now, and life will be good, and please, PLEASE review!

See ya in Chapter 4