Chapter 6: The Southern Water Tribe
With their boat securely docked at one of the now many ports, Kiaree rushes down the boardwalk and into the ankle deep snow of the Southern Water Tribe. She gasps, feeling the cold fluff grip her ankles and, shivers.
"Oh my Spirits," Meg breaths, walking next to her.
"It's beautiful," Kiaree agrees, taking in the lights shinning from in between the almost ever-present snow clouds. The Southern Water Tribe has grown a lot from the pictures Kiaree had seen in her school textbooks. The once small, snow-fort-encased village is now teeming with life. It's almost as if the small village multiplied, then grew to have small villages blooming around it, each protected by it's own snow/ice wall. Each small village has a large igloo in the center, the biggest being in the main village. Altogether, there are around five villages making up the Southern Water Tribe. Approaching one of the snow walls, Kiaree notices the intricate design of the gates blocking out unwelcomed creatures of the arctic.
"Right this way avatar," Nile says, with Oma, Shang, Ming, Jeong, and Kisu following him into the main gate of the center village. Kiaree and Meg follow the group through the wall and face the bustling Southern Water Tribe. Before either girl has a chance to breathe, they are whisked away to their own, shared hut and asked not to leave by Jeong.
"This is totally boring," Meg mumbles from her traditional water tribe cot. "We're in the southern water tribe! We should be out exploring, or at least getting some warmer clothes."
"I think the Order has that taken care of," Kiaree answers, opening a wooden chest to find it filled with blue kimonos and water tribe coats.
Meg joins her and picks up a hooded coat. "We could always sneak out," Meg says with a grin on her face. "It's not like they will recognize us with one of these things on."
"But what about Kisu?" Kiaree asks, motioning to her dragon that lay miserably on a rug covering the hardened snow floor. "Poor thing, he hates this cold weather. And I'm worried he's going to melt the igloo."
"Gosh we just cause trouble everywhere we go, don't we?" Meg laughs.
"Guess we're stuck here." Kiaree begins to, once again, unpack her few belongings that the Order of the White Lotus had brought to her hut. Their hut was considerably small, compared to their last home in Ba Sing Se. It had traditional Water Tribe interior, with fur hanging from the walls and various patterned blankets covering most of the snow. The only furniture are two cots, a wooden chest, a small table, a blue changing screen, and three floor chairs surrounding the table. Kiaree places Kisu's metal food bowl near the entrance, which is covered by a long fur pelt that brushes against the snow floor.
Surprisingly, Oma walks into the hut, causing Meg to ump off of her cot.
"I thought you ladies might want to see the Southern Water Tribe, instead of stay in a hut. You don't learn much that way, do you?" Oma asks, smiling and motioning the girls to follow her.
"Actually, I'm kind of hungry," Meg yawns. "And tired. Traveling wears me out. You go ahead, Kiaree. I'll stay with Kisu."
"You sure?" Kiaree asks, petting Kisu goodbye. Meg nods. Kiaree grabs a blue, hooded coat and heads out after Oma. Once again Kiaree faces the largest village in the Southern Water Tribe, though not nearly the size of the Northern. Huts similar to hers surround the perimeter of the village, pressing up against the wall. Towards the back are two watchtowers facing into the uncharted arctic. Near the towers, a large building sits towards the edge of the village, away from most of the shops and homes. Oma leads her past the markets and shops, back toward those towers. The familiar sounds of a bustling market fade as guard water bends the ice door aside for Oma and Kiaree to enter.
"This is one of the two watch towers Water Tribe Warriors like Nile use to see past the villages and out to the ocean. From here we can also see the compound," Oma tells Kiaree as they start up a spiraling staircase to the top.
"The compound?"
Ome nods. "It's where boys are sent to 'become men.' They train at the compound to become either warriors, water bending masters, or both."
"Do all boys go to the compound?" Kiaree asks, nearing the top of the long staircase.
"Not all," Oma replies. "You saw those men in the market. I doubt they went." Kiaree laughs and studies Oma. She has silver hair cut into a short bob that points near her chin, but she doesn't look old. More like her hair is its natural color. She had faint wrinkles on her forehead and smile lines. Oma pushes aside a blue cloth blocking the platform from the stairs and Kiaree follows her inside.
"This is the Southern Water Tribe," Oma says, spreading her arm across the villages jutting out in front of her.
Kiaree gasps. There are smaller villages behind the biggest one that don't have a wall surrounding them, but are still protected by the two looming watchtowers. The arctic is beautiful, with its rolling snow covered hills. Over one hill, Kiaree can make out the top of the compound, with a long, stretched wall surrounding it. If she squinted, Kiaree could just make out what looks like blocks of ice and columns in the distance.
"What's that out there?" she asks, pointing to the shapes over a few hills.
"Construction. The council decided that we needed another watchtower to warn if anything was coming our way. They are concerned because of the recent attacks.
"Attacks?" Kiaree asks.
"The kidnapping," Oma answers solemnly. Kiaree nods and the two walk back down the snow tower.
After making their way back through the Southern Water Tribe, Oma leads Kiaree out of the main village and near one of the smaller ones. She hesitates at the gate, turning back to look at the avatar.
"I don't know if you want to see this village. Maybe we should just head to the next one…"
"What's wrong with this one?" Kiaree asks. Noticing the gate, she sees that it isn't as elaborate as the other. Actually, the tall gate barely has any design on it at all, where as the main village had gold frozen into its base.
"This is one of the more… poor villages in the South Pole."
"Then why doesn't the main village give them money?"
"It doesn't work that way. The people here have to make their own money, or it could start something between the villages. We try to keep a balance of power in how we run the 'government' here. If we give money to this village, then the other two will want money and the gold value drops. This town would just end up being poor again and everything would be more expensive," Oma explains, allowing Kiaree to enter the smaller village. Kiaree ponders this as she walks into the city, then stops short in her tracks.
This is what the southern water tribe looked like back in Avatar Aang's time. How did this village end up like this? Kiaree thinks, taking in the broken village. The huts aren't even huts, just tents with a brown material protecting the citizens from the snow. There is a good sized fire pit in the center of the tent's, and people were surrounding it.
"Is that their only fire pit?" Kiaree whispers to Oma, walking further into the village. She looks up to see royal water tribe guards manning the gate, and take in how far people try to stay from them.
"If they wanted to, I guess they could make their own fire pit," Oma answers.
"From what wood?"
Oma looks at Kiaree. "They aren't trapped in here. They are allowed to go out hunting and collecting." Kiaree looks at the ground, embarrassed for assuming. The two reach the single fire pit and out of pity for the poor citizens, Kiaree shoots flames into the dwindling fire. The bystanders near the fire cover their faces in fear, but most look at the growing fire in awe. A few smile their thanks to the avatar.
"I think it's best we leave now," Oma suggests, looking at a group of "thugs" gathered towards the back of the tiny village. The men are staring at the Avatar and her White Lotus guide. Kiaree sighs and follows the water bender out of the village. Oma explains that the other two villages are what you could call middle class and the main one is richest, somewhat royalty.
"It's where the Chief and his family live," Oma explains, then stops herself. "Or, lived."
She takes Kiaree back through the bustling village in the center of the Southern Water Tribe and up to a large igloo with towers on its rear. An ice gate surrounds the entrance and Kiaree and Oma pass two guards when entering. Each block on the igloo had a design on it. Some, the symbol for the water tribes, and others had snowflakes and snow-topped trees carved into the sides. When entering, Kiaree is in a small room with three hallways facing out in different directions. Oma leads her down the farthest on their left and the two enter what looks like a war meeting area.
Like most other water tribe rooms, there is a large fur pelt laid in the center of the dome shaped room. There are three intricately designed chairs placed in the back of the room, and a large table in the center. A group of people surrounds this table, studying whatever had been placed on top. Kiaree recognizes Jeong, Nile, Ming, and Shang among them, along with two men she has not met.
"Chief Beau," Oma says, striding forward with Kiaree trailing behind her.
"Please," the man says, holding up his hand. "My father is chief, and remains so."
"But while Chief Aaron is… gone, you are in line for chief," Oma answers, giving a slight bow to the new chief.
Beau bows back, then turns to Kiaree as Oma joins the people around the table.
"I'm Avatar Kiaree," she says, approaching the chief with an outstretched hand.
"I'm Beau," he says, taking her hand and shaking it. A woman walks into the meeting room from an unseen door with two kids trailing around her feet. "This is my wife, Princess Nari." Beau reaches out and guides Nari over to him. The children follow and the mother keeps a constant hand on a small girl.
"It's so nice to have you in the Southern Water Tribe," she says with a smile. She has a heavy accent. Almost… fire nation? Kiaree ignores her thought, not wanting to be rude, and smiles back.
"Who are these two?" Kiaree asks, bending down so she is eye level with the children and smiles at them.
"I'm Oko," the small boy says, pointing his thumb to his chest. "And I'm six!" Kiaree laughs and gives his hand a small shake.
"Nice to meet you Oko."
"This is my sister, Launa. She's six too," Oko says, grabbing the small girl's arm and putting her in front of Kiaree.
"Oko," Nari scolds. "Don't be so ruff with her." Princess Nari puts a hand on Launa's shoulder and guides the girl back towards her mother. Kiaree looks closer at the tiny water tribe girl. She has dulled blue eyes that don't seem to focus on anything. Her black hair matches her father's hair, and is in a short braid off to her side. Launa's hand slowly finds her mother's and holds tight. Kiaree stands back up.
"Launa was born blind," Chief Aaron answers Kiaree's unspoken question.
She looks down at the blind girl, a wave of sympathy washing over her. Jeong coughs, interrupting her thoughts. He motions for Kiaree, and she waves a goodbye to the boy and walks to Jeong. He takes her by the shoulder and turns her to face another unfamiliar face.
"This is Warron. He's Chief Aaron's nephew," Jeong introduces the two. Kiaree shakes Warron's outstretched hand, and looks up into his cyan eyes. Kiaree takes in his features. He's handsome, no doubt, but she sees almost a roughness behind it.
Warron releases Kiaree's hand and says, "And Beau's cousin."
"Almost like my little brother," Beau adds, walking over and ruffling Warron's dark brown hair. Oma looks over and Kiaree can see the disapproval in her eyes as she takes in the two "men."
Jeong leads Kiaree to the table everyone was surrounding and shows her what the group is studying, pointing at different papers. Sprawled across the table are police reports and photographs taken from the night Chief Aaron was kidnapped. There are maps of his chamber and notes on all the people he made contact with that day.
"This is mainly investigative work," Jeong says, pulling Kiaree from the crowd. "The avatar isn't needed in any of this. You may head to you're hut if you please."
"Actually," Kiaree starts, "I'd kind of like to meet my water bending teacher. I want to know when I'll start my training."
On hearing this, Shang turns from his conversation with Ming and laughs, "Oh, Kiaree, you haven't mastered earth bending yet! You can't possibly believe you'll start mastering a new element?"
Jeong nods in agreement and continues, "No, Master Haru will finish you're earth bending lesson, next you will learn air bending, and then you may begin water bending."
"If I'm not going to learn, why did I travel with you to the South Pole instead of train for earth bending in Ba Sing Se?" Kiaree protests, maybe a little to loudly.
Jeong notices a few of the members of the White Lotus have started to turn heads at their conversation and Jeong, with a fake smile, answers nicely, "Because, Avatar, we can't let you be off on your own! Our job is to protect you."
Warron suddenly interjects and states, "This is a war meeting room and we have important things to worry about here. So do you think you could take it outside?" Jeong bows to Warron and starts to pull Kiaree towards the hallway. Kiaree shakes off his arm, tired of being pulled around the place. Before exiting the room, she turns around and makes a mocking face to Warron, causing his frown to deepen.
What's up his ass? Kiaree thinks, allowing Jeong to take her into the room she entered from. They stop there and Jeong sighs.
"How old is that guy? He acts like he's in charge."
"Oh, Prince Warron?" Jeong asks. "Well, I suppose he's not much older than you are Avatar Kiaree. Probably 16? 17? And, technically, he is in charge."
My age… figures Kiaree thinks, following Jeong back into the market and toward her and Meg's hut.
Jeong leaves Kiaree at her hut, advising her not to fire bend while inside and to keep control of her dragon while at the South Pole. She watches as Jeong leaves and a cart rumbles past her headed to the market. It's filled with watermelon and pulled by a polar bear dog. Kiaree quickly grabs a melon and strides in the hut to find Meg practicing some of her Kyoshi Warrior skills.
"Hey," Meg says, punching the air then stepping back to dodge an invisible hit.
"I got food," Kiaree holds the melon up. Meg walks to her trunk and pulls out a small pocketknife. Cutting the watermelon in half, Meg hands one half to Kiaree and bites into hers.
"So I met the new chief and the high and mighty prince," Kiaree mocks Warron's face and Meg laughs.
"Does he think he's all that or something? Because the prince sure rubbed you the wrong way."
"No, he just kind of seems like a jerk," Kiaree pulls a pink piece of watermelon from its hold on the green skin and plops in into her mouth.
"Where did you get the food?" Meg asks, lying out on her bed.
"I kind of just took it," Kiaree laughs, sitting on a floor chair and eating more melon.
"The avatar stealing? That won't go over well with the rest of the world," Meg smirks and Kiaree laughs. She looks around some, then Kiaree stands up.
"Um, Meg?"
"Yah…"
"Where's Kisu?"
Meg sits up and looks around the small room. She looks to the poorly covered door, then rubs the back of her head. "He was here when I started practicing…"
"Meg!" Kiaree yells, moving a heavy fur pelt covering the only window and peering outside.
"Kiaree, you let Kisu outside all the time in Ba Sing Se, he's fine," Meg says nonchalantly, lying back down.
"He's a fire breathing dragon in a town made completely from snow and ice. This is totally different!" she exclaims, throwing Meg a blue, hooded coat and pulling her out into the snow. Kiaree looks around, seeing no traces of her dragon.
"Over here!" Meg calls and Kiaree runs to her. Meg is standing near a wooden post with two buffalo yaks tied by their harnesses. "Let's borrow one of these to look for him. Who knows how far Kisu could have flown," Meg suggests. Kiaree sighs, not wanting to take the animal without permission, but nods and the girls climb onto the buffalo yak's back. Meg unties it, and the two ride through the busy village of the Southern Water Tribe, still eating her watermelon.
Once reaching more huts instead of shops, Kiaree sees a flash of red and steers the animal behind a few of the huts. Once rounding a corner, the two are behind the big igloo with towers looking over their heads. And there stands Warron and Nile, a dragon curled around both men's feet.
"Kisu!" Kiaree calls, hopping of their borrowed animal and allowing the dragon to lie across her shoulders. The rest of him bundles in her arms, as he is now too big to fit on her shoulder. Meg guides the buffalo yak to where Kiaree is standing, facing the two South Pole men.
"So, so I'm guessing that's, that's you're dragon?" Nile asks, sounding a little petrified.
"Yes, I'm sorry," Kiaree apologizes. "He got out and was probably scared because of all the commotion. Did he frighten you?" Meg snickers beside her.
"No! No," Nile replies, smoothing out his warrior robe. Kiaree turns to Warron and bows as best she can with a dragon on her. She nods for Meg to do the same and Warron motions for them to stop.
"Just keep your dragon under control from now on," he says. "You may go."
Meg gasps a little and remarks, "We may go wherever we please."
"Meg," Kiaree whispers, afraid of what her warrior friend might get herself into.
"Warrior Nile and I were talking. It's kind of private. That's all I meant," Warron answers, trying to sound nicer. Just then, a street merchant marches up to the four, pointing at Meg.
"Robbers! They stole my buffalo yak!" the man yells. Nile sighs and looks questioningly at the girls. A hint of a smile play of Warron's face.
"We didn't steal it, the avatar just needed to borrow your animal for a bit. It's an honor to have her ride it," Meg states proudly, obviously not fooling the merchant. He stares and Meg, then notices the watermelon still in her hand.
"That's my fruit too! I bet she also stole that!" he exclaims. Kiaree sighs.
"Ok, ok, look. We're sorry. You can have you're buffalo yak back, we will pay for the fruit, and take our dragon. Everyone happy?" she asks, setting Kisu down and pulling a copper piece out of her pocket.
"Earth kingdom money?" the merchant scoffs. "You may be the avatar, but I don't except foreign currency from anyone!"
Warron takes a water tribe coin out of his pocket and hands it over to the man. "Here," he says. "Now you got your money and animal. Anything else?" The man shakes his head and takes the reins from Meg. He leaves and Meg and Kiaree start to head out.
"Thanks for finding my dragon!" Kiaree calls over her shoulder as the two scurry away. Warron shakes his head, but Kiaree can almost see him laughing as the two girls chase Kisu home..
THANKS FOR READING! Sorry I'm slow at posting chapters, but it would be helpful if people review and tell me what they think! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW please! haha hopefully I'll have chapter seven up soon. :)
