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Sorry for the wait. I am not going to bore you with excuses. Now on to the story. Enjoy :)
Restoration
Chapter 7
Finally, Lee and Hana caught sight of some sort of life other than grass or a stray bird in the sky. Evergreen trees peaked out of the horizon, slowly growing in the distance.
"We're close now." Lee said. Hana didn't have the strength to reply. She just waited eagerly for them to reach the shade of the trees.
Soon enough, they arrived at the forest's edge. Hana immediately slid off the ostrich-horse and wearily strode towards the trees, plopping down in a sitting position as soon as she was in the shade. Lee hopped off the animal's back and led it underneath the shade sitting down a ways away from Hana leaning his back against a trunk of a tree. Hana pulled the leather cord over her head and placed the heavy sack on the ground next to her.
Turning to Lee, Hana asked, "You said we were close. So where exactly is this river?"
Keeping his eyes closed, Lee replied in a barely audible voice, "You just keep going into the woods. You'll run right into it."
Hana was too tired to reply let alone get up so she flopped back on the cool grass shutting her eyes. She was relieved that they made it to the shade before either of them passed out from the heat and the sun. It was around noon or so. Hana realized that they hadn't eaten anything since their meal from yesterday. If they wanted to keep their strength up and be ready for any unexpected "guests", then they were going to have to find something to eat. She could only hope that there was fish in that river Lee spoke of.
After a few minutes, Hana got up, grabbed the sack, and headed into the forest saying, "I'm going to the river. Don't disturb me." The only answer she heard was a tired "hn" from Lee.
Just as Lee said, Hana came abruptly upon the river. First order of business, Hana eagerly drank the water. It felt so good how the cool water soothed her parched mouth and throat. Looking up and down the river bank, Hana searched for a secluded spot where which she could bathe. She spotted one not far from where she stood. It was perfect. The spot was "u" shaped, and the embankment, which was about three feet above the water's surface, forming a protective wall while the trees' branches hung low enough to form a canopy. Hana quickly took her robe off and her pants, which she laid neatly folded on the embankment in arms reach. This left her wearing her undergarments and the clothe wrappings about her chest. She stepped into the water sighing happily at the cool relief. Even though the water was nice and cool to drink, it was fairly cold when she fully got into the water. In the shallow part, which was only three feet deep, Hana lowered herself down into the water until the water came to her shoulders. Hana looked about making sure that Lee had not followed her or that anyone else was around. Seeing none, she removed the cloth wrapped about her chest exposing the rest of her wounds on her back. Closing her eyes, Hana breathed deeply and concentrated on focusing her chi to her upper-mid back. She felt the same soothing feeling as she sensed her skin and muscles beginning to mend. After a few moments, Hana opened her eyes trying to feel with her hands if her back had healed. To Hana's relief, she did not feel any scabs, scars or sore muscles. After healing her back, Hana wrapped her chest back up and lay back against a rock enjoying the coolness of the water for a little longer. Suddenly, a small bird flew onto the overhanging branch. The bird seemed to be studying Hana, and Hana was doing the same.
"You're wondering what I am. Quite a curious bird, you are. You're not afraid of me, are you little fella'?" Hana said kindly offering her left hand for the bird to land on. The bird chirped confidently in reply and gingerly flew down to Hana's outstretched hand. Hana brought the bird closer to her so that the bird was standing a foot and a half away from her face. "We're friends, aren't we?" The bird chirped happily in response and hoped about on Hana's hand.
"It's a coincidence that we met under this tree. Are you trying to keep cool, same as me?" Hana asked and the bird chirped in response. "Ya? I thought so. Hehe. I really wonder if you can understand me." The bird stayed silent cocking its head from side to side as if studying Hana or thinking that she was just plain nuts. "Well, I guess your wondering why I am talking to you. Simply put, I have been stuck on the back of an oversized bird for hours with a person, who you would probably think was a mute. He is an unusual person. I haven't quite figured him out yet. I have a feeling that it will take awhile, and I don't know if I will get the chance to know him better. I do know that he does not like to talk unless it achieves a useful purpose. You see. I am only traveling with him because I don't know my way around this country very well, and I need to find my friend. This is going to become a long story. Do you mind if I unload on you?" The bird gave her a soft chirp and made itself comfortable, resting on the palm of her hand by folding its tiny legs beneath its small body. Hana continued, and the bird looked intently at her. "You seem to be the listening type. I haven't had someone, who is particularly responsive, to talk to for awhile, but beggars can't be choosers, huh? My time here has not been that pleasant. Well, it did start out pleasant. I used to live with a healer in a small Earth Kingdom village, which had not yet been occupied by the Fire Nation. I learned many useful things from her. Telsa is her name, and she is very nice and possesses much knowledge about herbs. I hope that she is doing ok. Well, anyway, after I recovered from my injuries, I stayed for while helping her treat the sick, injured, and elderly in the village. It was great living in that village. People were so kind to me even though I was a stranger to them. I loved taking care of the young children who came in. Not much time past until an unusual amount of refugees started to arrive in the village. Telsa became worried because the last time that refugees arrived, it heralded the another invasion by the Fire Nation. I tried to keep my bending abilities a secret as Telsa warned me to, but someone must have spotted me practicing my bending when I went alone to the stream to gather water. Well, to make a long story short, the Fire Nation attacked the village and demanded that I be handed over or the people would pay dearly for their insubordination. I willingly handed myself over because I knew if I put up a fight then the villagers would be in danger." Hana paused looking troubled. The bird cocked its head at her and chirped several times seeming to urge her to continue. "Sorry, I got lost in thought. I was just wondering about what the young captain told me when I asked why the Fire Nation would be concerned over a small insignificant village after being in the area for years. He told me that they were patrolling this area because they saw a bright light shoot across the night sky like a comet a few weeks prior. Since the avatar had been seen to have returned to the Earth Kingdom, they were ordered by princess Azula to search the whole area where the comet could have possibly landed. And that's when they heard rumors about a strong bender being in that area. They found me because of that bright light. When the Fire Nation took me to their fortress, that's when things started to get worse. They only knew that I could waterbend. I wanted to use airbending as a last resort, because the only other person known to be able to airbend is the avatar, as Telsa explained to me." Hana proceeded to narrate for the bird what occurred during her imprisonment and after her escape as if it could understand what she was saying.
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Lee was exhausted from being out on the plains for so long in the unrelenting sunshine especially with that girl. He wasn't a talkative person. Lee didn't consider himself a social person. He spoke when it was necessary, but he preferred not to waste words. He was never good at conversation skills; however, conversations with his mother were an exception. Lee thought to himself, 'Geez, it just had to be my luck to be stuck with a girl, who wants to talk even if it's a waste of time and energy.' Even though he felt irritated and annoyed by her, he couldn't leave her behind. She knew something useful about the avatar, which could possibly lead him to the avatar before his power-hungry sister found him. Even if it was a possibility, he would still try. What did he have to loose? That's just the way he is, a fighter. He is someone who doesn't give up, just as the inscription on the dagger, which his uncle gave years ago, says "never give up without a fight." He wouldn't give up, ever. He has spent over three years looking for the avatar, and he wasn't going to let a chatty, moody girl get in his way.
After Hana left for the river, Lee stayed and slept against the tree. Once his head began to clear from the dizziness he felt earlier, Lee got up and decided to take the ostrich-horse down to the river. He took a quick look about to make sure they were the only ones around. He didn't care if Hana did not want to be disturbed. It was too dangerous for them to be separated because there was a possibility that the Fire Nation soldiers could catch up to them. Before Lee turned to lead the ostrich-horse into the woods, he caught sight of a hawk. It was not unusual to see a hawk flying high above the plains. However, Lee knew that this hawk was of a species native to the Fire Nation, and it was carrying something on its back. Now, he definitely knew that it was time to keep moving on since the Fire Nation must be sending out wanted posters to neighboring towns occupied by the Fire Nation. They were going to have to be very careful when venturing into any towns they came across.
On his way to the river, Lee came across a blueberry bush. Stopping, he helped himself to some berries and fed some to the ostrich-horse, as well. After Lee had gotten to the river and let the ostrich-horse drink, he looked about to see where Hana had gone to. He couldn't see her from where he was. Suddenly, Lee felt a presence. This was bad. He didn't know where Hana was, and they had company whether hostile or friendly. He couldn't determine if it was either one or the other. He was hoping it was the later for both their sakes. As quietly as he could, Lee hid the ostrich-horse as best he could behind some tall bushes. He unsheathed his sword and began to search the river bank for Hana.
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