Yay second chapter! Same as before some cursing or violence may occur throughout the course of the story. Pretty pretty pretty please review! they make me feel fuzzy. Tips and ideas are also more than welcome :D
Chapter 2 - The Monsters
"Quite impressive," the man said in that awful nasal tone, stepping out of the doorway he walked in slow deliberate circles around her, picking disdainfully over the furs that carpeted their home. He ignored Anai's glares, eyeing her like a piece of livestock, an animal to be bought and sold. Though she doubted he had any intention to pay for her if, no when, he took her away. "Especially for a half breed." he said as he stopped in front of her making sure to catch her eye. There was no compliment intended in that remark. "You have talent Anai, you could be great. If you'll agree to come with me that is." His eyes narrowed, his thin mustache twitching along with his upper lip.
There was no question of if, Anai knew she had no power in this. Were she to refuse, the best case scenario would be her imprisonment, the worst the destruction of the Southern Tribe. The Phoenix King, and those who served him got what they wanted, without exception. She pressed her lips together draining out their color. There was no turning back, this was her mistake, and she had to deal with the consequences. She glanced at her hand working itself through the thick polar bear dog fur, she remember when her father had brought it home from hunting with the rest of the men. She had run up to her father, the other children her age doing the same, she couldn't remember her smile being any wider than when they came home. The promise of meat, and occasionally something pretty they found. She knew couldn't risk hurting the rest of the tribe for her loss of control.
"What do you say Anai?" the Phoenix soldier stepped forward placing one gloved hand on her shoulder. Her gaze flickered from the man, to her mother. Every line on the woman's face seemed more prominent, her soft blue eyes more haunted, she had lost everything save her daughter to the fire nation, to the Phoenix King, and now she could loose her too. Anai's mother shook her head slowly as she tried to blink back tears. Anai's face contorted with emotion, temporarily forcing her into a grimace. I'm sorry mom,she thought as she regained control of her expression.
"Yes." she shot her mother a sharp look as she opened her mouth to protest. She didn't know if the soldier would ignore her, or hurt her; it depended on his temper, but she didn't want to take the chance.
"Welcome to the 51st regiment, Anai. I'm Commander Dian Rui..."his tone suddenly darkened, "we expect nothing, but the best from you." He had this look in his eye, that she could not explain, but it wasn't something she found comforting. The Commander turned on his heel pushing opening the skins and stepping into the storm. She knew she was expected to follow that she had only seconds left in the warmth of her home. She leapt forward throwing her arms around her mother.
"Good bye. I love you." she choked out, burying her face in her mother's shoulder. Her mother responded with several strangled syllables that sounded vaguely like 'I love you too'. "I'm sorry mom." she whispered before releasing the embrace and lifting the tiger seal skins in the door way. The warm fire light that had betrayed her spilled out onto the snow, and disappeared. She didn't look back at the dark form of her hut, or the faint ghost of smoke rising from its chimney, a reminder of her mistake. She was afraid she wouldn't be able to leave. Instead she trudged forward following the lanky black form of Commander Dian Rui.
The hull of the ship slammed shut behind her with a loud metallic clang, the loading dock was nothing to be marveled at. It was cold gray steel vaguely illuminated by flickering torches, and covered in soot and grease from various weaponry that had been shipped across the vast empire. The only adornment was a banner hanging across the back wall, the symbol of Ozai, the golden phoenix on a black field. She was just barely able to make out the shimmer of the bird's feathers in the dim lighting. The wind howled against the sides of the ship, she wished she could scream with them, fall to her knees and cry the same long mournful wails. Or to pound her fists to the floor and throw fire into the air. One was an act of weakness, the other defiance; neither would be taken lightly.
She stood in tense silence, arms folded behind her ram rod straight back. The Commander faced away from her standing in a similar position, though his far more relaxed, his head slightly cocked back staring at the many pipes of the ceiling, as if deep in thought. Whatever he was contemplating, he didn't care to share, he just spun to face her. In the low lighting his eyes were nothing more than gleams of gold in deeply shadowed pits, giving him an even more menacing air than before.
"Straight through the door on the left, you will find a place to wash and put on your uniform. Someone will come to show you to your barrack." Anai nodded quickly with a quiet but audible "yes sir." and turned walking towards the door in the direction Dian Rui had indicated.
"And Anai." his voice droned behind her, echoing off the metal walls. She stopped, a sick feeling starting in her stomach and spreading up through her chest and throat. She turned stiffly, keeping her arms folded though a loose strand of her black hair had found its way to her eye, making her blink profusely while tearing up. "Just because you're father was fire nation, don't expect to be trusted like you're from the home land, you were raised in the tribes, you're going to have to work to gain respect." She nodded stiffly and turned opening the door and closing it as calmly as possible before rubbing furiously at her eye. Who says I wanted your respect anyway. she grumbled to her self.
She was in another dull metal room, though this one smaller so the torches lit it better. It had a slightly cozy feeling despite the barren metal and sparse beaten down furniture. In one corner was a wax paper dressing screen with what looked to be a wash basin behind it. By the wall was a vanity with a comb and mirror. Sighing she trudged to the tub, stripping her clothes she tested the water with a finger. One of the few perks of this place, she could heat her bath water without looking over her shoulder. Letting her hand sink a little deeper she felt the energy flow, channeling down her arm until the water began to steam. With a satisfied smile she sunk into the hot bath letting her hair down she started scrubbing it, and her whole body that had been covered in dirt and grime during the day. After a while she just soaked trying not to think about the bits of dirt and the moon spirit knew what else that floated in the tub with her.
Anai sat in the water until perspiration began to gather on her face and shoulder, she hated the sticky nasty feeling it gave her. She quickly got out toweling dry and putting on her new uniform. A dull red tunic with black shoulder arm and shin guards as well as a belt and ankle high leather boots. She knew the uniform well, a standard fire nation soldier, you didn't get to wear the colors of The Phoenix King for nothing. Walking to the mirror she finally saw just how much she looked like a fire nation girl. The raven hair, the high refined cheek bones, the pale skin, though hers was a bit darker due to her water tribe ancestry. She looked like everything she had ever hated, ever despised, she looked like her father, she looked like herself, a fire bender. The enemy.
That is what I am now isn't it? she thought bitterly, as she eyed the comb. It had broken and cracked teeth and a mixture of knotted and torn strands of black and brown hairs woven in between as frizzing out along the handle. She prayed the rest of their supplies wouldn't be like this, and settled down to finger combing instead getting out the large tangles before throwing it into its regular high ponytail. She frowned twirling her finger in the still scraggly hair. She could still hear the wind, she was still home, but she knew there was no going back, there was no getting off this ship.
The door creaked open slowly, and she straighten turning slowly to see who was coming through. Anai's lips parted slightly, her brows knitting together. She hadn't expected what she saw peeking nervously around the door. A little girl, with matted black hair that fell over her face. She looked frail even through her ill fitting clothing and her hunched posture. One foot was still behind the threshold ready to dart back if needed.
"I-I'm here to t-take you to y-your rooms miss." she said quietly, she seemed so scared. Anai's eyes rested on the girl's hand which was tightly clenched around the edge of the door, burns red angry scars that snaked their way up her hands and wrists. Fire benders have a temper. The longer it took for her to respond the more nervous the girl seemed to get, her hands clenching the door a little tighter her knuckles turning white. She had shifted her weight even further back, as if terrified she would get burned again. Anai swallowed hard, she had always wanted to travel to get away from home, she had never wanted to be a monster.