To Hide No More:
The bag landed softly on top of Lefty, right in the middle of the saddle. Kai pushed it to the side with the others, pondering about the remaining space.
"Yeah, there's enough room for one more. Send it up," he shouted down. Another bag soared up, hitting Kai square in the chest and knocking him flat in the saddle.
"Ten points!" Meelo cheered below.
"It only counts as five, surely. You get less points the easier it gets," Kai complained, pushing the bag off him. Lefty swished his tail gently, still munching on the bale of hay before him.
"Nuh-uh! Get off your high bison Kai and just admit that I'm winning. Meelo the man just became Meelo the champ!" Jinora's younger brother shouted, flexing his muscles to prove the point.
Kai stuck his head over the edge of the saddle. "Never. You can't be the champ whilst Aana holds the record. Dodging anything she Airbends is impossible."
"Aw, yeah, guess you've got a point…" Meelo said, slightly crestfallen. "Have you seen Jinora? Pepper's over there but I don't see any supplies…"
Kai shook his head. "Last I saw, she was speaking to Bolin and Ikki. I think Opal's back so they've probably gone to welcome her."
"Urgh, girls can never stick to the mission," Meelo complained jokingly. "That everything?"
"Yep, good now. Thanks for the help Meelo! You know, no matter what Jinora says, you've done a lot of growing up in the last few-"
"OkthanksbyeKai!" Meelo shouted, roaring off on his air scooter down a tunnel.
"-years," Kai finished weakly.
The Airbender jumped down from the saddle, landing softly with a gust of air under his feet. He gave Lefty a quick scratch behind an ear, stretching up high to do so, before checking around for any stray luggage. Sure enough, a small package of food lay behind Lefty's leg, so Kai snatched it up and chucked it up to the saddle. They needed enough provisions to last them a few days, as the journey wouldn't be a short one.
While Kai was more than happy for Jinora to help Bolin reunite with Opal, he did agree with Meelo. They had lots of planning to do but he seemed to be the only one actually doing anything about it. Sure, Tenzin was overseeing everything but they generally just meant giving orders and frowning a lot when nothing was done.
"I'll be back in a bit Lefty. Enjoy the hay!" he said to his friend. Lefty rumbled in response, still munching away.
The search for Jinora took him down various tunnels, across the paths of various Air Nation, Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom citizens alike. The thought of leaving the Sanctuary was worrisome; it felt like a twisted knot in his stomach. He knew what the world was like now. It was both the same as ever and yet so different. They'd only scouted within a day's flight from the Sanctuary in order to setup a perimeter around the Eastern Air Temple but the war had reached even this far. Reports stated that the largest cities, such as Ba Sing Se, Republic City and the Northern and Southern Water Tribes had been hit hardest. The malicious spirits were striking quick and retreating just as fast, just like a Firebender might. The defending humans were employing Earthbender techniques, drawing them in with a strong defence and striking the offenders down in one blow. It didn't matter which nation you were from anymore; both humans and spirits had intertwined beyond mere divisions of land by now.
Some days, Kai longed for the days where he was stealing from villagers, on the run but never truly in any danger. Those days had changed soon enough; before long, Harmonic Convergence and his Airbending had changed his life. Shortly after, he met Avatar Korra and Tenzin and through them, he'd met Jinora. That seemed like a lifetime ago now. His family was here now, both immediate and extended, so leaving them behind after over a year of being united wasn't sitting well with him, despite his desire to help end the war.
"Kai?"
The Airbender turned, pleased to see Bolin and Opal walking towards him, hand-in-hand. Opal's hair had grown out down past her shoulders, yet her brilliant green eyes were untouched by the years. She had a wide smile on her face, ruffling his hair by way of greeting.
"Thanks Opal," Kai said sarcastically, shaking his head. He grinned immediately afterwards though, a hint of his old roguish self shining through. "Good to have you back. Intense out there or is it a little clingy in here?" he asked, nodding slightly at their locked hands. Opal frowned quickly, hitting Kai lightly in response.
Bolin, ever the puppy, didn't seem to notice Kai's nod. Instead, he nodded with eyes wide. "Apparently it's crazy out there, spirits blasting out energy everywhere! Tell him about the other night, you know, the story you just told me!" he said excitedly.
Opal smiled, her eyes closing as she chuckled. "There's enough time for that some other time. Bolin told me about the mission. How many of you are going?" she asked curiously.
Kai shrugged. "I've no idea. Mako spoke to Tenzin and Jinora over the radio and they've kept a few details quiet. All I know is that we're splitting into groups to find Jahn and then meeting up again once we've got him. They haven't really said anything else but I guess it's time to show our faces to the world again," he said glumly.
"Hey, don't feel down about it. At least you're going out there! I've been told the rest of us are locking down the fort, so to speak," Opal said kindly. "So you're trying to find the Avatar huh? Is he really capable of stopping all of this madness?"
"Yeah, that's a good question actually. What's this Jahn like?" Bolin asked.
Kai considered their questions for a second. "You know, when I met him, he was quite unsure of himself. A little too hesitant to act, in case he did something wrong. Stubborn, like most Earthbenders," Kai said, nodding at Bolin, who's expression showed he clearly did get this particular jab, "and often impatient like Korra used to be. Whether he's capable of stopping this…I don't know if any one person can stop an entire war, but if there is, I'd be willing to put my money on Jahn, just like I used to with Korra," he finished honestly.
Opal sighed. "It's been, what, twenty years now since Korra passed. What do you think she'd do if she was in this situation?" she asked them both, clearly feeling somewhat nostalgic.
"Oh, that's easy, she'd be out there kicking spirit butt or turning into a giant blue spirit monster. You know, because that was just her style," Bolin said seriously before smiling.
Kai chuckled. "She'd be at the front lines, for sure. If it wasn't for Korra, none of us would have met. Even now, twenty years later, we're all together," he said with a sad smile.
"Just wait another twenty years," Opal replied softly, "and I bet Bolin will be a grumpy old man by then," she said with a laugh at her boyfriend's expression.
"I don't think Bolin will ever be grumpy," Kai said honestly.
"Aw, thanks little bro," Bolin responded, looping his arm round Kai and rubbing his hair with a closed fist.
"Yeah, little bro, you have a point," Opal said, rolling her eyes but smiling affectionately at them both nonetheless.
"Over that ridge," Kolu pointed out, squinting in the dark.
The moon was bright, giving them some relief from the night's embrace. Jahn was alert, ready for any possible attack. His time in the spirit world had left him somewhat jumpy. Eyuta was by his side, however, seemingly relaxed. That alone made Jahn breathe a little deeper.
"So the bandits are camped inside? Must feel a little enclosed down there…" Jahn said as they reached the ridge. Peering over, they just spotted a huge gash in the rocks: the opening to the Cooling Caves.
Kolu sighed. "I can't believe we're actually doing this. There's bound to be a small army of them and I'm not even that good a bender…"
Jahn frowned. "Hey, you can't be too bad. I was told that you've been defending the village essentially on your own. That's impressive work," he complimented.
Kolu shrugged, his clothes rustling against the strap of his bag. "I used to have help. There were other Earthbenders here, quite a few of us. Spirit and bandit attacks slowly whittled our numbers away," Kolu said sadly. "They knew just where to strike, where we were weak. It was like they knew exactly what to do just to capture or kill the Earthbenders here. After a while, it was just me."
Jahn clasped a hand on Kolu's shoulder reassuringly. "Well you're not alone this time. These bandits are just people; they might be good at being bandits but they always lack discipline. If we take enough of them down, the rest should scatter."
"When did you get so good at bandit-hunting?"
Jahn sniffed. "Around the same time I learnt Waterbending. If I hadn-sh, get down," he said suddenly, pulling Kolu to the floor. They crouched there, listening for something apparently only Jahn could hear. Kolu looked at him curiously, but his eyes were locked on Eyuta. The strange animal was flicking its ears around, pinpointing a sound. Within seconds, the Luxiyi snarled and vanished into thin air.
Jahn immediately span round, pushing up with his legs into a jump. He seemed to tackle something invisible out of the air, landing heavily on the ground. Igniting a fiery dagger in one hand, he held it down to something, snarling, "Show yourself!"
Kolu recoiled as a spirit became visible, its form slowly creeping into the real world bit by bit. Jahn had the flame up close to its throat, which moved nervously. Five sets of gills opened and closed rapidly, clearly showing distress. The spirit was a strange combination of a fish, with wide unblinking eyes and scaled skin, and a messenger hawk. Its bill was hooked, but the feathered head looked less intimidating due to the small fins on the side and the rather confused-looking eyes. It had no arms, yet boasted two long legs with webbed talons at the end.
"Why are you following us?" Jahn growled ominously.
The spirit wriggled and hissed through the beak. "You should beware, Firebender, for I am not alone," it warned.
"Yes you are. I sensed your presence and I can only sense you. Now answer my question," Jahn demanded.
The spirit tried to look smug but failed; the fish-eyes were just too stupid. "You're not worthy to speak to me," it hissed once more.
Kolu watched in amazement as Jahn's eyes flashed brightly once. As soon as the glow appeared, it vanished, but the spirit immediately looked terrified. To make matter worse for it, behind Jahn appeared the Luxiyi creature, uncloaking and stepping forward. The spirit actively tried to pull itself away in fear now, yet Jahn kept a vice-like grip on its neck.
"Avatar! A Luxiyi! Please, let me go! I don't want to be eaten!" it begged, close to tears.
"Then answer me. We're busy here, so if you're planning an attack, you best beat it," Jahn told the spirit.
"I wasn't, Avatar, I swear! I've been keeping watch on the human criminals here, in case they decided to leave!" the spirit said, still wriggling.
Jahn frowned. "Why? What do the spirits want from the caves?"
"The crystals! They're spiritual in nature; we need them to save some of our own injured by the criminals!"
"You mean spirits fighting in the war?"
"No, Avatar, no! Spirits who live here, who just came across some bad humans and were hurt simply for being spirits!" the fish-bird hybrid said quickly.
Jahn was still for a moment before releasing the spirit and held an arm out to prevent Eyuta from darting forward. Kolu immediately stood up, wincing at the ache in his legs. "You're letting it go!?"
"Yeah. It's telling the truth. Looks like we're not the only ones here for those crystals," Jahn said confidently.
"But…but they've been attacking the village…." Kolu whispered.
The spirit stood quickly, shaking its head. "We were told by an insider that you humans were hoarding crystals. We need just a few but the human criminals are too strong. Raiding your settlement was the easiest choice but we found nothing."
"An insider? Someone in the village told you this?" Jahn asked.
The spirit nodded. "They did. If you help remove these criminals from the caves, Avatar, I shall tell you who this human is."
"Two birds, one stone? Deal," Jahn agreed. "Oh, no offence…" he finished awkwardly.
The spirit looked perplexed, the beak open slightly in confusion. "What stones?"
"It's just a saying," Jahn said, waving the spirit away and turning towards the cave.
"One more thing, Avatar. There is a human criminal in those caves, a human capable of stealing our energies. If you can stop this human, we shall be very grateful," the spirit said in a hushed tone.
Jahn's fists tightened. Kolu noticed, clearly asking a question with his expression.
"Spirit Eater."
President Asami Sato frowned as she looked over the latest report. It was mixed news; sightings of the Avatar had helped create an aura of hope throughout the United Republic and the Earth Kingdom, yet her latest supply caravan had been totally annihilated by bandits. The town of Taku was helping keep their front lines afloat, yet they were running out of supplies. Keeping a strong perimeter around most of Republic City was difficult in more ways than one.
She sighed and rubbed her forehead, feeling a migraine coming on. She knew the job would be stressful but had never considered it to be this crazy. Everyone would either know her as the President who lost the United Republic or the President that defended the freedom of everyone in the entire nation. That being said, her duties were primarily less focused on the action and more devoted to keeping everything running smoothly. Asami bit her lip, considering her best course of action to deal with the food shortage.
Someone brushed her tent canopy aside and entered, ducking under the fabric and straightening up quickly. Asami kept her eyes on her report, yet her peripheral vision knew it was Mako. The Chief of Police was proving invaluable in keeping order, as she knew he would. In truth, Asami was more than pleased he was around; it was her job to keep everyone motivated but Mako was the one who kept her spirits high.
"Asami? Can I have a moment?"
She nodded, still not looking up. Asami knew she was being rude but she really needed to finish this first. She held up a hand, slowly raising it to show she was almost finished reading…almost….almost…done. Finally raising her head, she was pleased to see Mako holding his small radio earpiece in one palm. She'd allowed him to keep it; Mako was patrolling the encampment constantly so constant communication allowed for a stronger defence.
"Ah, thank you Mako. I'll adjust the settings in a second," she said, pointing at her desk. Her friend placed the earpiece down reluctantly, clearly attached to the device. Noticing, Asami smiled. "I'm glad you like it. We've made plenty of advancements in certain fields. In fact, I had Tilia's help with this little beauty."
"Jahn's girlfriend?"
Asami's eyes widened. "They're an item? That's surprising, Tilia always told me she never needed anyone other than her family…and me," she said with a slightly flattered smile. "Yes, it was her doing. Having a Metalbender certainly helps with the prototypes. Have you heard from her too?"
Mako shook his head. "I'm afraid not, although I'm aware she's safe. I spoke with Anik and told him to rendezvous, just like the others. What do you think Jahn is planning?"
Asami shook her head, her hair swishing back and forth. "I honestly don't know. He's a capable young man, however, so I believe he'll pull through. Who knows, he might even end this war."
"That's the idea," the Firebender replied. "He seems a little too focused on other things at the moment though. Chasing shadows and sending cryptic messages," Mako said with a disapproving look.
Asami smiled again. "Is it our place to judge him? Let Jahn do what he must; we need to focus on what we're doing, here and now. Is our Commander-in-Chief back yet?"
Mako nodded. "He is, although you know he hates that title. I think it makes him sound too much like his dad."
The President rolled her eyes. "His father is a great leader and a good man. He's helping spearhead the offensive in the west. I don't like attacking spirits but our people come first."
"Who even knows who are people are anymore," Mako said, gesturing with one hand. "All nations have taken part in this war; it's even worse than the Hundred Years War."
"That it is. Hopefully it won't go on for the same length of time," Asami said with a wry look. "I'll fix your earpiece but in the meantime, please can you send him in?" she asked, referring to the earlier mentioned individual.
"Of course. If you need me, I'll be checking on my officers," Mako said, bowing slightly and leaving the tent. He continued to be respectful, yet Asami found it irritating. They were incredibly close friends, yet he still put her position ahead of it. That was just Mako, after all.
The President stood up and stretched, twisting herself around to try and make her back click. When it did, she rolled her neck and massaged the back of it. Sitting down for three hours straight made her feel a little stiff.
"President Sato, you sent for me?"
She turned quickly, spinning on her heels as she observed the man entering the tent. When he bowed, Asami closed her eyes in exasperation. "Zukoh, I think we're a little past bowing," she said in a slightly scolding tone.
Zukoh grinned. "What can I say, all the most beautiful Presidents deserve a bow," he said cheekily, making Asami smile. The man could verge on extremely serious and instantly flip to charmingly distracting. His Fire Nation royal heritage was clear; Zukoh was a curious mix of his ancestors. Since the incident two years ago with the Red Lotus, Zukoh had taken some time to re-evaluate his position. The White Lotus had still been reforming, still gathering support when the war started. Understanding his position was well earned through strong leadership and fantastic battle prowess, Asami had requested his assistance when they had fled the inner city.
"I'm sure they do. The fact Raiko never received a bow says a lot about his moustache, if I'm honest," she replied dryly, making Zukoh chuckle. "I asked Mako to send you in as I need to discuss the matter of security in relation to our caravans. It's not acceptable that we send for—"
Zukoh was simply looking at her with a patient expression, making Asami trail off. "Unless there was something you wanted to raise first?" she asked him.
"Actually, there is. We have a guest," he said, raising one arm. Through the gap in the tent fabric, Zukoh's brother entered the tent and gave Asami a wide smile. "President Sato," Prince Kazon said, bowing.
"What did I just say about bowing?" Asami asked incredulously.
"Ah well, I'm a firm believer that all the most beau-"
"I've already used that one," Zukoh said quickly, a sly smile on his face.
Kazon looked crestfallen. "Oh, come on," he complained. "Stop taking all the best lines," he said informally, making Zukoh laugh softly.
"What do I owe the honour, Kazon?" Asami asked politely, holding her hands behind her back.
"I received Mako's radio call and came straight here. Is it true? Jahn's back?" Kazon asked.
When Asami nodded, Kazon smiled again. "About time. It'll be good to see the stubborn kid," he said.
"Did Mako elaborate on why you needed to come here?" Asami asked, curious.
Kazon shook his head. "I'm afraid not. He informed me that Jahn had given him a task. I assumed radioing me was part of that so I wasted no time. The Fire Nation is secure, so my presence won't be missed."
Zukoh looked sideways at his brother. "I assume father's been quite effective at all of that?"
His brother nodded. "Would you expect any less from the great General Iroh?" he said in a tone which was half-sarcastic and half-proud.
"So here we are, a President and two Fire Nation royals, one of whom is a friend to the Avatar and one of whom is a Grand Lotus. How often does this happen?" Zukoh asked.
Asami raised an eyebrow in response. "I can't say I'm aware of any precedent. It's a pleasure to welcome you to the United Republic Freedom Encampment. I'm sure we can find use for you whilst we wait word from the Avatar," she said with a quick smile.
"The URFE? Catchy," Kazon said. Zukoh shrugged in answer, seemingly on the fence about the matter.
"I can't believe you're listening to that spirit. It's probably a trap," Kolu whispered. Jahn hissed at him over his shoulder, determined to keep him quiet. The Earthbender was clearly prejudiced because of the attacks on his village, yet Jahn was under the impression that the bandits were probably the most threatening force here. People were always scared of the unknown; spirits had been around for some time now, yet their ferocity in defending their lives and when attacking the offenders had scared people beyond belief.
"Seriously, Jahn, maybe we should reconsider. Even the man who told me about this said I'd need help to fight a Spirit Eater; I'm starting to think he was right…" Kolu continued. Jahn whirled round and clamped a hand across Kolu's mouth, startling him. The Avatar raised a finger to his lips and pointed down the tunnel. A light was flickering somewhere at the end, indicating human activity.
As he turned away, a thought ran through Jahn's mind. He twirled round to face Kolu once more, a perplexed expression on his face. Keeping his voice as quiet as possible, he looked the Earthbender in the eyes. "Someone told you to come here? They knew about the Spirit Eater? How the hell would he know that?"
Kolu shrugged, clearly now appreciating Jahn's need for silence. Jahn frowned but didn't ask anymore. That was a matter for after. That thought continued to wriggle in the back of his mind, however, so he tried to focus on the mission at hand. The light was from a small lantern atop a barrel, seemingly alone.
"We're good. Come on," Jahn whispered, beckoning Kolu along. "Listen, Eyuta's on guard so no spirits will interfere. We go in there, negotiate for the crystals, kick their butts when they decline and we leave with the crystals. Got it?"
Kolu nodded. He seemed nervous, which Jahn found amusing. He remembered before the war, he too would have felt trepidation about fighting a whole group of bandits. After his experiences in the last two years, however, he felt more than ready.
The tunnel branched off into three paths before them. Jahn closed his eyes, feeling the tremors in the floor as people walked around, creating tiny little shockwaves of sensation. The majority were coming from the left tunnel, so Jahn aimed for that one. He kept low to the floor as he hurried along, Kolu following suit.
Eventually, their patience was rewarded. It wasn't long before they emerged in a gigantic underground cavern, filled with a deep blue lake. All along the walls and under the water, bright blue crystals shone brilliantly, creating a beautiful display of light shimmering constantly in the glow of many lanterns.
"The Cooling Crystals…" Kolu whispered.
"You really need a better name for those…" Jahn whispered back. They were at the top of a long, winding rocky path that led down to the lake edge. Below them, at the very bottom, a number of tents and stone huts were arranged in a disorderly fashion on the stony beach. The bandit camp.
"Our ancestors named them, not us. We can't just call them something better like…the Shards of Serenity," Kolu whispered, scanning the camp with keen eyes.
Jahn looked sideways, impressed. "You should stick with that," he said, clearly more captivated by the more original name. Turning his head back to the camp, he pointed out the rocky ceiling above. "I'll give them a chance to leave peacefully and then the rocks start dropping. Grab whatever crystals you can as they fall; you can always come back later for more," Jahn said quietly.
"You're just going to drop the ceiling on them!?" Kolu whispered, horrified.
"What? Oh, they'll have Earthbenders down there. It's safer for us than wading in and fighting everyone personally," Jahn replied nonchalantly.
The Earth Kingdom villager frowned but nodded. "Ok. I just thought you wanted to find out who that Spirit Eater was…"
Jahn clenched his fist tightly. He'd forgotten that particular point. "You're right. Leave it to me. You're here for the crystals so make sure you get some. Now get back and stay down. This is going to get loud," he warned.
Standing, he stood on the edge of the pathway, clearly visible from down below. As a few figures noticed him, grabbing various weapons, Jahn raised a hand. "People of the Earth Kingdom! You have been misusing the power of these crystals and causing much suffering on the villagers around. As the Avatar, I ask that you please leave this place and take up honest work elsewhere. I-" he shouted loudly and formally before he was interrupted. One of the figures below threw his arms over his head, launching a huge boulder at Jahn. It flew through the air, incredibly high, striking the edge of the pathway where Jahn had been stood. The Avatar simply stepped back, bending it down into the floor, sending shards of stone and dust billowing out. Moving back to the edge, he pointed down at the camp. "I know you're there, Spirit Eater, and I'm coming for you!" he shouted.
Kolu gasped as he watched Jahn point his arms at the cave ceiling and wrench his hands apart. His eyes glowed quickly as he did so, unleashing the Avatar State within a split second. An incredible crack appeared in the cave ceiling, booming loudly as the rocks above began to crumble and fall under the immense pressure building above. Chunk by chunk, giant boulders fell past them, landing in the lake to create a gigantic deluge of earth and water. Crystals began to rain down with them, shattering upon the stone pathway and sinking down into the depths of the lake. Kolu made a grab for a few and only just noticed as Jahn threw himself off the pathway, plunging down towards the lake.
The air rushed past him, though he barely had time to notice as the water raced up to meet him. He pulled his arms close to his body, bending the water upwards to help soften the landing. Jahn could feel the water rush up his nose as he submerged deep into the lake, yet he'd already filled his lungs with air. Twisting, the water bent around his legs and he emerged on a whirling twister of raging water among the falling debris.
The bandit camp was in chaos. Tents had been flattened and the Earthbenders among them were trying their best to deflect most of the projectiles and get the others to safety. Jahn looked down on them with searching eyes. Not even he could tell the Spirit Eater's identity from looks alone but if they could absorb spirit power, they were likely to be a Waterbender. Any out of place bending would give them away.
He watched a woman trip and fall as a rock collided with her shoulder. She snarled angrily, holding it immediately with her free arm. Her face went white with the pain, yet she took a knee and eventually stood. Jahn watched as a huge portion of the ceiling caved in above her, preparing himself to push her out of the way. Before he could act, however, the woman looked up and spotted the danger. Still clutching her shoulder, she leapt high into the air with a burst of Airbending, jumping up the rocks as they fell. The sheer nimbleness required for such a feat, especially with an injured shoulder, amazed Jahn beyond words. Eventually, the woman pushed off one falling rock, landing her backflip neatly with a soft landing.
"You," Jahn growled. The Airbender was the only one out of place in this entire mess. He charged forwards, the cyclone of water carrying him through the air until he reached the lake edge. The water below his feet span into nothingness, allowing Jahn to soar through the air and land in front of the woman as she tried to make up the pathway. The few bandits behind her all gasped, clearly now panicked at the Avatar's power.
"Avatar Jahn," the woman acknowledged. "I knew you'd find me eventually," she said through gritted teeth. She jumped and twisted in the air, kicking a gust of wind at Jahn. The Avatar placed both hands together and sliced through it with his body, pushing the air aside. He lifted one arm up quickly, bending the earth up below the two bandits behind. They flew through the air, up the pathway and they didn't bother heading back down to keep fighting.
The Airbender snarled once more. "Ah, couldn't just leave me well enough alone, could 'ya?" she shouted as she tried to bend the air under Jahn's feet. He felt the pull, so when his legs were pulled out from under him, the air below his back was already rushing upwards to propel him into the air. Jahn twisted once more in the air, descending rapidly as flames ignited below his feet. He span, a fiery corkscrew, perfecting the technique he'd once used on Akirai. The Avatar smashed into the woman, knocking her heavily to the floor and landing on his own feet nimbly.
As the woman looked up, her face screwed up in pain, Jahn reached up and grabbed a falling chunk of stone from the air and held it above his head, standing above the woman. He noticed the large scar on her cheek and something Jinora told him about the attack on Qi-lóng resonated in his memory. This woman had been part of the assault on Air Temple Island. She'd also been with Ornatok at the portal when the war had ignited.
Jahn threw the rock aside, almost hitting another bandit by accident. As the cave shook and the ceiling began to seriously collapse, the Avatar looked down on the Spirit Eater. "You hunted Qi-lóng. Well, now I hunt it. Where is it?" he asked the woman angrily.
She shook her head. "I've no idea, I swear to 'ya Avatar! I hate those damn spirits, I just wanted to help these people stop 'em! I ain't after no dragon anymore, that was just part of the job!" she shouted through her pain.
The Avatar reached forward quickly, grabbing her by the nape of her jacket. He lifted her up with one arm, looking into her face closely. "You lie to me and I'll know it. I've been through too much thanks to you and your goddam group. Tell me, where's Ornatok?"
The Airbender shook her head again. "I seriously dunno! We all broke apart when the war started! I've been using me Airbending to survive, I swear!"
Jahn frowned. "You're done surviving in here. Leave this place and that village alone or I'll come back. You won't have my mercy then," he snarled. The woman nodded frantically, so he pushed her up the pathway and watched her flee. Thoughts raced through his mind as he watched her go.
"JAHN!"
That shout and a massive boulder striking the path by his side brought him back to reality. The cave ceiling was in a state of total collapse; the lake was rising rapidly due to all the debris falling into it. The water rushed up under his legs and chased after the fleeing bandits. They were all running past Kolu, who stood at the very top, bending rocks away from the exit so they could escape.
The Avatar sprinted for their exit, jumping aside as crystals and stone descended upon him. Yet again, maybe he'd been a little ostentatious. Now he was back with humans, that reckless streak seemed to have reared its head again. Jahn gritted his teeth, regretting his actions.
He reached Kolu at the top, grabbing the young man's arm and yanking him towards the tunnel. As they ran, Jahn considered the reason they'd came. "You get the crystals!?" he yelled.
"A few!" Kolu responded, his eyes wide in panic.
The bandits ahead of them had cleared the tunnel, spreading out like a herd of bewildered animals. Jahn and Kolu followed suit, barely entering back out into the fresh air as the tunnel behind them collapsed. As they looked back through the clouds of dust hanging in the air, the entrance to the tunnels was totally blocked by debris.
Kolu stumbled to a halt, falling to his knees as he fought to catch his breath. Jahn looked around, suspicious of the bandits. Now they had no camp, he hoped they'd leave. Within a few minutes, the bandits had grouped together and were starting to move off away from the village. He spotted the Spirit Eater look over her shoulder, so he pointed at his own eyes and then at her. The meaning was clear.
How she was able to absorb spirit energy with Airbending was beyond his knowledge. The only Spirit Eaters he'd come across with that ability had been Waterbenders. Certainly something to look into.
"You didn't have to destroy the place," Kolu said at last, sounding peeved.
Jahn scrunched his nose up in a rueful face. "Yeah, I guess not. Like I said, at least you can come back and clear the way. It might take a while but at least you won't have to keep defending your village now. You'll have some spare time on your hands," he said. Kolu looked thoughtful, finally nodding in agreement.
Behind Jahn, the air flickered as Eyuta appeared. The Avatar patted its snout affectionately, smiling. Behind Kolu, however, the air shimmered as the fish-bird spirit appeared. "Avatar, you kept your word. The bandits are gone, yet we cannot retrieve any of the crystals," it complained.
"Then you'll have to work with Kolu here to get them."
"What?" Kolu asked incredulously.
Jahn nodded. "I know this war has impacted a lot of people, but the only way we can stop the fighting is by showing we're still united. If you work together towards this goal of healing the injured, it will surely help heal the bonds between our species as well," he explained.
The two others were silent until the spirit scratched one leg with the other foot. "A fair proposal, Avatar. I accept, so long as the humans do not harm us in any way."
"They won't," Jahn promised. "As long as the same applies to you."
The spirit nodded once. "Agreed. We've had enough of this war, Avatar. Please help end it."
Avatar Jahn smiled. "That's why I'm back. Now, you can help me do that. Tell me who knew about the Spirit Eater. Who's been setting this up?"
The trip back to the village was swift. They hurried back, aware of the sun on the horizon. Kolu clearly wanted to get a crystal back to his mother, although Jahn was after a different target.
The gate was closed when they got back. Jahn didn't bother waiting around for a guard to show; instead, he pulled Kolu up onto Eyuta and whispered in the animal's ear. Eyuta walked slowly backwards, judging the distance, before sprinting forward at incredible speed and he jumped, soaring over the wooden defences and landing gently in the courtyard beyond the gate. Kicking Eyuta's flank softly, Jahn pointed out where they were headed. Eyuta burst forward, clearing the village in a mere minute. Eyuta skidded to a halt outside Kolu's home, allowing him to slide off the animal.
"Thank you, Jahn. Will you come in and see how the crystals work?" the Earthbender asked with a smile.
"I don't have time. That man the spirit mentioned, where does he live?" Jahn asked quickly.
As soon as Kolu told him, Eyuta reared up on his hind legs. "Goodbye Kolu," Jahn said, staring straight ahead. Before the Earthbender could respond, Eyuta sprinted ahead, vanishing from view within seconds. Kolu sighed, turning to enter his home, rummaging in his bag for the Cooling Crystals.
Jahn squinted as the night air rushed past his face. Navigating the village was a little trickier than running in the spirit world; the buildings loomed out of nowhere, making for some sharp turns. It didn't take long to reach the intended house, however. It was small, wooden and resembled Jahn's old home somewhat. Standard Earth Kingdom design.
The Avatar vaulted from Eyuta's back, storming up to the door. When he knocked, he received no response. Leaning back, he kicked the door down with a strong fiery kick. Crossing the threshold, he looked around. The house seemed deserted, so he walked inside and listened for any sounds.
Nothing.
The house itself seemed strangely empty, as though the resident barely lived there. Only the main pieces of furniture, including the bed, a central table and a chair, could be found. Jahn frowned as he exited the bedroom and walked back into the main room.
There was a piece of parchment on the table in the centre of the room. Jahn picked it up, unable to read it in the dark. Holding up a flame in his free hand, he peered closely at the parchment. He was immediately startled as he realised the letter was meant for him.
It read: 'Jahn. Thank you for clearing the cave. I know you will have done so in whatever manner you deemed appropriate. Call it a test, if you will. I shall hear of your success soon, yet I will not be able to witness it first-hand. I'm sure you are now aware that I know of the Spirit Eaters, which is what likely led you here. Sorry to disappoint but I'm no longer here. Good luck in your endeavours to end this war peacefully, but I'm afraid I can't allow that. I have a goal and you're rather good at getting in my way.
You're also probably wondering how I know about you and your recent successes against the Red Lotus and the Spirit Eaters. My sources have been keeping an eye on you for a while now. I hope we shall meet soon, although that will be the day I ensure you cannot ruin my plans.
I always liked the name Jahn. It was my father's birth-name and so it was that I gave it to you as well. I never got the chance to apologise for leaving you or your mother. When we meet, I hope you will accept my apologies for all the years I haven't been there for you, son.
Until that day,
Rizem.
The letter fluttered to the floor, coming to rest on the wooden floorboards. It lay still for a second before a foot stamped on it heavily.
Avatar Jahn marched for the door, stopping in the doorframe for a second. He was absolutely frozen for a second before he punched the nearby wall with such force that his flaming fist left a small hole in the wood. The flames caught immediately, starting to spread out from that hole with startling speed.
Jahn stepped forward as the flames raced across the small house, engulfing it in fiery destruction. The letter shifted with the heat, beginning to crackle round the edges as Jahn slammed the door shut behind him.