This is the first chapter so don't expect a lot of stuff to happen. This is mostly to introduce the 2 main characters as well as to show the setting. If you want to review, go ahead but it's not essential.
The sun was high in the noon sky, drying the puddles left behind by the rain of the previous night. Even though it rained frequently in the area, the land was yellow and dry; the trees had long lost their leaves to the unnatural drought. Nothing had grown in the area for a long time. In the middle of the rocks, lay a path which was barely visible on the dead soil. This ancient path led to a huge city called Omashu, which already existed during the era of the benders, but this the people had forgotten. Strangely enough, it was one of the only places in the world that spirits seemed unable to attack and destroy.
Locations like this were rare but not unheard of, the people living in these cities wondered why they were protected but they would never be able to break this mystery. The reason is obvious for those of us that are aware of the world's history. These cities had existed for a long time; so long in fact that some of the most powerful figures had died in these great cities. The spirit of the deceased had merged with the infrastructure, protecting it from magical harm.
Omashu was currently ten times the size it had been during Avatar Aangs time, this is true even though half of the world's population had been eradicated. Although the surface area and size of the population had vastly increased, the level of life had deteriorated. Crime was common and poverty was ripe. It was already a terrible place to live in even before thousands of refugees started to make their lives there. Nowadays, epidemics were a constant presence, hundreds died because they were not able to fight against the diseases. Hunger was in everybody's stomach and murder was common. Yet people never left the city, anywhere else and they would be attacked by the spirits. It was better to risk death than face certain death on the outside world.
On the path leading to the rotten city was a slow moving figure. From a distance it appeared to be a very large horse, but closer up it was more similar to a bird. It was in fact both. They were a species that most people thought extinct; it was called an Eagle Horse (known to us as a hippogriff). The front half of its body, (where the head, torso and the front paws are) was the body of an eagle. The plumage was a dark, almost crimson red with flashes of gold, and the eyes were a deep brown that showed intelligence and bravery. The beak was sharp and curved like that of an eagle; it was a powerful weapon that was capable of dissecting meat more efficiently than teeth. It also had huge wings, capable of holding its weight as well as that of 3 adult riders. The wings were also crimson red, but underneath they were a lighter shade, going on to almost orange. The white claws found at the front were as sharp and as long as daggers, if anything, sharper. The back of the creature's body was that of a horse, the fur was venetian red and the tail the same brown as its eyes. The hoofs found on the back legs were powerful, and if they did not kill somebody that they hit, it would take a long time for someone to recover from the hit. At a certain angle, the beast would sometimes seem as though it was on fire. The muscles of the beast were powerful, when the creature was on a rampage it was a force to reckon with. In fact, it was nearly impossible to domesticate the species since they thought themselves superior to humans. An Eagle Horse did not belong to a human; the human belonged to the eagle horse. During the age of the benders, it would have been considered an amazing feet to survive a meeting with one of the Eagle Horses. The only reason they were so rare these days was that many of the choals (chick foal) had been killed by people terrified of the creatures. In the old days it had been considered a sport.
On the back of the Eagle Horse (who was named Tarak) was a saddle; on the saddle were two people. On the front there was a young boy, who was around ten years old. He had dark brown hair, almost black, a pale skin colour and golden brown eyes that seemed to transmit fear, tiredness and desperation. He was wearing clothes that were too big for him, the orange t-shirt's sleeves went below his elbow, and the bottom of the t-shirt went up to his knees. The trousers he had were black and the bottom was rolled at least five times to reach the top of his foot. Both the clothes were filthy and were ripped in various places.
The person behind the boy was obviously his older sister. They were almost identical, with the same hair and eye colour. The shape of their faces were similar and their noses were both straight. The only difference was that the girl had lost all her baby fat and she was taller. Her figure was more feminine and she was obviously older. She must have been around sixteen years of age. She wore a white t-shirt that was slightly loose, brown trousers that flapped around; she also had a green-brown sleeveless vest. These as well looked as though they had been worn for days, they were better than rags, but not by much. On her head she wore a red bandanna, and her eyes showed the same emotion as that of her brother's but they also held a strength and maturity that he lacked.
The boy's name was Yeonso and he had never known what it was like to feel safe without his eldest sister whom was more like a mother to him than a sibling. The girl was walled Jae and she had had the responsibility of her younger sibling since her parents death when she was eight years old. She had long abandoned the idea that someone would take care of her and her brother, she was aware that what people had they would not be willing to share. Although both the siblings would rather not have to live in a city with the bad reputation of Omashu, they were aware that if they wanted to live in a place where they could sleep without the constant threat of being cut in half by the spirits, they would have to take the chance of living in Omashu.
When the small party finally reached the gates of city they were stopped by city guards. They were actually thugs that were only allowing people who would give them something in return for letting them inside the city. Often this was food or maybe even life stock. When they had seen the shadowy figure going towards the gate they had been more easy prey. What they hadn't expected to see was a birdlike creature that was at least twice the height of a human being, carrying two people on its back. They then relaxed when they noticed that they were in fact just children.
"This ought to be easy" One of the three guards had told the others.
"Yeah, they jus' kids" another replied.
"What can we do for you?" The last guard asked. He was obviously the leader of the thugs and the spokesman of the group.
Jae replied impatiently
"We want to live in the city"
"Hey there, no need to get angry law we jus' wan'ed to know. Anyway afraid to tell ya that the city is full at the moment so you migh' want to come back la'er. Unless of course ya got somethin' that'll let us make more space"
With a look of disgust Jae answered "And what would such…fine men want?"
"It depends on what ya got" The leader replied.
"Nothing."
"How 'bout the giant chicken ya on?"
Jae laughed, something that surprised the guards as well as Yeonso. "Sure I'll give Tarak to you if you want to be killed"
"And wha' do ya mean by that I wonder?" the leader tried to ask in a light tone, but suspicion was thick in the voice.
"Nothing really, but Tarak doesn't like strangers and he has a tendency to peck people he doesn't like; usually that group involves people that have a wish to harm him"
"So ya sayin' that the creature here would kill us?" It was the guards turn to laugh, but he stopped suddenly when he noticed the glint of amusement in the girl's eyes.
"Yes, have you seen the claws, the hoofs, the beak and the size? Tarak is at least three times taller than you and has more brain than the three of you put together, so you really think that you could kill him?"
It was then that Tarak, bored of the discussion, decided to rear back on to his back legs. It was an impressive sight. His wings were spread wide and his talons were clawing the wind. His yellow beak was opened releasing a terrifying shriek.
All three guards took a couple of hurried steps back, and the leader shouted
"Keep tha' thingy calm or I ain't lettin' ya through!"
After staying in that position for a couple more seconds, the Eagle Horse finally landed on his four legs and snorted at the cowards.
"How about I give you nine apples and three Rabaroos (Rabbit Kangaroos-actual animal from the world of Avatar)? That's a lot of food."
"Ya expect us to let ya through with that meager bunch of dippings? We got people that give us all they got to go to the great city of Omashu!"
"Ok fine, how about three apples, three Rabaroos and 4 carrots?"
"Ain't tha' much better"
"Three apples, three Rabaroos, four carrots and I owe you a favor!"
"Pshh…hell no, ya ain't ever gonna keep your word'
"Three apples, nine Rabaroo, four carrots, one favor and I don't have Tarak eat you."
The guard hesitated but looked into the creature's eyes and squealed.
"Fine, I'll take it but only if ya also give us two shirts and a pair of pants, extra large if ya please."
"Sure, but they probably won't fit you"
The boy dug in the packs that the pair had and took out the objects needed for the trading.
"Pleasure doin' business with ya missy, please drop by again" The leader said whilst the gates leading to the inside of the city opened. "Oh, and missy, ya might wanna be careful with the birdy, not everyone's as understanding as me as to why the birdy ain't food".
BTW if it wasn't clear, all those mistakes when the guard speaks are done on purpose to make an accent, I know how to spell (most of the time). The avatar only discovers his/her abilities later, by chapter 5 but action will take place before hand. Also, I do know who the avatar is but I'm trying to make you guess (it's pretty obvious though). Thanks for reading.