Hey guys!

So here's the next installment. Please don't kill me for the lateness, I'm trying between mild writer's block and coursework. I'm still trying to work out the kinks of this story. I'm trying to work out Amon's character as well. From my standpoint he's still in shock from everything. I mean the poor guy was in an explosion, has suffered pretty bad injuries, and was stuck who knows where in the spirit-limbo realm. He's still our favorite calculating orator of masked-equallity though, but he needs time. AND he doesn't know about his brother yet...

Anyway, here it is. Be sure to Read and Review! Every little bit of feedback keeps me motivated :)

Chapter 7

He was finally awake.

He was up and awake, but he still wasn't with her.

Kanna scrutinized the blank stare the man was giving to the opened door. She lay crouching by her twin brothers. She could see through each spark of illumination the gentle rise and falling of their stomachs. She could also tell that the blood on Emsta was her own from the upturned metal bowl.

This was an absolute disaster.

Reaching over Kanna grabbed Emsta's shoulder and shook it. She had never been very apt at waterbendering, but she was even worse when it came to healing. After a few second with no response Kanna began to shake a little harder in panic. She was met with a soft moan of pain. Taking that as a very good sign Kanna rose from her position and began to walk slowly to the man on the cot. His gaze hadn't faltered, Kanna wasn't even sure if he had blinked since she came in.

She made sure her steps were light. The crazed look in his eyes was visible with each flash.

When she reached the nightstand Kanna reached for the overturned lamp. The minute it made contact with her hand the lighting stabilized in the room. Upon further investigation Kanna saw that the light bulb was intact.

A shuffling noise drew Kanna's attention away from the lamp. Emsta was beginning to stir.

The contact of a firm warm pressure on her hand caused Kanna to jump in shock. Snapping her head to the stranger Kanna saw that his ocean blue eyes were now focused on her. Kanna felt the heat rise to her cheeks and she opened and closed her mouth several times.

Over the past few weeks that she took care of this man she had rehearsed what she was going to tell him when he woke up. She had thought of telling him that on the next ship stop he was on his own, broken leg or not. She had also thought of telling him just what kind of operation Corville was running. He seemed to be dressed in some sort of uniform. Though from what Kanna learned over the years, a uniform didn't always mean that someone was good. In the end Kanna didn't really figure out what to say, so she said the only thing she could say to someone she knew for two weeks but had never met before.

"He-Hello, it's nice to meet you."

The man stared at Kanna, as if he had to digest her awkward greeting. Kanna couldn't blame him. She noticed that his fingers were now gripping her wrist.

After a few moments, he released her and began to scan the small room around him. Kanna felt embarrassed slightly for a moment for her shabby and tiny home. She stared at the man's face gaging his reaction. He seemed to take in each bare wall and the overall lack of furniture with cold indifference. His gaze stopped for a moment on the forms of the sleeping twins and Emsta's body.

He finally turned back to Kanna. She found herself gripping the lamp harder unconsciously. She set it down. Some of the man's hair fell into his face and he lifted his hand to brush it out of the way, and then froze. A queer expression came over him as he lowered his empty palm to his bandaged leg.

In a firm tone he said in a deep voice, "Tell me what has happened, where am I, and who are you?"

Kanna shifted slightly under his sharp gaze. What was with this guy? Kanna didn't expect to find herself being worshipped for saving his skin, but the least he could do was not act so condescending, and that voice of his...

Deciding to ignore the man's treatment Kanna turned and walked over to help the now-conscious Emsta lean upright against the wall. Shifting the brunette's blood drenched hair from her face Kanna asked, "Emsta, what happened to you?"

The healer blinked a few times groggily, "Oh my I must have been knocked over dear. Your brothers had fallen asleep, you see, and I was attempting to perform my ritual when…"

"The sea serpent knocked the ship" Kanna finished for her. Turning her head from Emsta's shocked expression Kanna found her gaze meet the strangers. He seemed quite livid that Kanna had ignored him. Good she thought.

Turning back, Kanna thought for a moment then asked, "But Emsta, if you didn't get a chance to perform the ritual how is he awake?"

"He's awake?" Emsta hissed, her blue eyes narrowing.

Kanna shifted and motioned for the woman to see for herself.

"Oh my," Emsta said to no one is particular. He expression remained strained. Suddenly, she pulled herself up using the bare wall as leverage. "I must go."

Shocked Kanna remained kneeling and looked up at the bender, "Leave? What do you mean leave? I need your help, isn't there an examine or something you have to do?"

Looking down at her Emsta replied coolly, "I'm sorry Kanna but if what you say is correct, and we had a sea serpent attack the ship, I'm sure to be needed else where. Corville has probably sent for me anyway."

Kanna nodded slowly and pushed herself up.

"Alright, but Emsta?"

The woman turned from attempting to bend the blood out of her hair, "What?"

"You can't mention he's awake to Corville, not yet anyway."

Emsta stopped her unsuccessful bending and sighed dramatically. "You know he'll find out soon anyway. The sooner the better I'm afraid. He can spot a liar a mile away."

"I know Emsta."

The woman shrugged, "Fine."

Kanna sighed in momentary relief and leaned against the metal wall. She watched Emsta hurriedly pack her belongings. What was she going to tell Corville? And just when would he find out? Kanna knew that she had bought a few hours from Emsta's momentary silence, but that was it. And another factor she hadn't bet on was the seemingly inflexible nature of the man. Hopefully if she explained his situation once Emsta left…

Turning her eyes back on the stranger Kanna noticed that he now had his gaze following the hurried healer. He was fists were clenched and his brow was furrowed, as if he was deep in thought.

"OH this stuff will not come out!"

Kanna turned her gaze from the dark stranger to Emsta, "What? The blood?"

"Yes the blood! I cannot be seen with this all over my face!" The woman then tried again to bend the sticky fluid from her hair. Nothing happened.

Kanna kicked herself off the wall and walked over, "Here let me try, I think I'm getting better at it anyway."

Finding her center, and the overturned bowl, Kanna raised her right hand up parallel to Emsta's head. She then pushed her palm forward, and then back rhythmically. Small red streams, mixed with ruby pearls, of blood slowly detached from the woman and shakily fell into the metal bowl. After a moment all of it was gone.

"There you go, finished."

Emsta stared at the bowl, "That was odd."

"Odd?"

Emsta waved her hand dismissively and reached for her bag and the bowl, "I must be going dearie, I'll be back soon enough." With one last withering glance at the stranger, Emsta departed.

Kanna glanced at the man again. She was surprised to see he was looking at her with a seemingly perturbed look on his face. Kanna patted her hair to make sure it wasn't sticking out or something. It wasn't.

Getting annoyed out of the whole situation Kanna walked over to Nakoda and shook him awake gently.

"Nakoda, can you wake up?"

Groggily her brother opened his eyes, "Kanna? You're back? Is everything okay?"

Kanna sighed. Was everything okay? The serpent was gone and the stranger was awake. That was two good things. Unfortunately, neither seemed to make her current situation "okay."

"Um, yeah. It was just a small storm up above." Kanna glanced for what seemed like the hundredth time at the man. His gaze was still glued on her. Kanna shifted uncomfortably. "Nakoda, he's awake."

"WHAT? It actually worked?" the boy exclaimed excitedly.

Kanna nodded dumbly. Suddenly a loud bang echoed throughout the room and the metal door swung open. Kanna felt her mouth fall open in shock. Ettorre was standing at the foot of their door staring right at the stranger with surprise and more then a glint of malice in his eyes.

Things were definitely not okay.