The United Nation of Elements

Chapter Four

Petra, Kasai and Jarn-Shyr set up camp a few miles from the harbor town. Jarn-Shyr's skirt had dried as they walked, but Petra and Kasai's shoes were still soggy. They set them around the campfire to help the process along.

Kasai had bounced back from his near-death experience quickly, as if it had never happened. As soon as the river was out of sight he was cracking more lame jokes about trees. Petra wasn't sure if she would ever recover from the string of horrible puns about tree bark and leaves. Jarn-Shyr had made sure to smack him upside the head for her.

It was dark outside, but the fire lit up the area around them so Petra could see the faces of her friends. Kasai was humming softly to himself, leaning back on his sleeping mat and kicking his feet lazily near the fire with a pleasant smile on his face. Jarn-Shyr was reading something in her lap that Petra couldn't see from where she sat.

Petra lay down on her own mat, studying the stars above her. It was the same sky she had seen every day since she had left her home, and for a minute she wondered how her mother was doing. She had pushed Petra out in a hurry as UNE soldiers came in from the east, telling her everything would be alright as long as she made it to the Western Archipelago.

They were a day's walk and a boat ride away from that destination now. Petra was so close. She wondered what Bender's Isle would look like: probably benders from all over the world in a city hidden somewhere underground or in the trees. The thought of meeting more people like her excited Petra. Bender's Isle was supposed to be a sanctuary for all benders, which meant there might be someone there who could help her really hone her skills (because, if she was being honest, surviving on Jarn-Shyr's basic knowledge wasn't really getting her anywhere). She could find someone who understood the earth, who understood the connection one had to establish. She wasn't excited about the physical exertion part, but that could be easily overlooked if it meant she could become strong enough to one day find her mother again.

She turned on her side and tucked her arm under her head. Jarn-Shyr had put her reading material away and was stretching, preparing for the first watch. Kasai was still humming, but his eyelids were drooping and the notes slurred together as they decreased in volume. These were the kinds of people Petra was going to spend the next months (maybe years, even) with: people who she could relax around, people who accepted her bending and didn't look at her like something to destroy.

It was with these pleasant thoughts in mind and memories of home that she drifted slowly into sleep.

—

"This is a problem I had not anticipated," Kasai admitted, shaking his head solemnly at the line ahead of them. It wasn't nearly as large as the ferry station at Fully Moon Bay, thank the Spirits, but there was still a line leading to the ticket booth and a bitter woman turning away anyone without a passport. Kasai wasn't sure if he liked the way her beady eyes scrutinized every traveler. Apparently, customer satisfaction wasn't part of the deal around here.

"What do we do?" Petra groaned as they drew closer. Kasai hadn't suspected that Petra would come without a passport of any kind. She had argued that she had never needed one before and hadn't had time to get one. They were running out of time to come up with a solution.

Jarn-Shyr tugged on his sleeve and he turned, shocked at what she suggested.

"Jarn-Shyr! We are not stealing anyone's passport!" he hissed, glaring around to make sure no one had heard her, forgetting that she hadn't voiced her thoughts aloud.

What else are we supposed to do? She retorted. He scowled at the sass in her tone.

"I don't know, but not that!"

The next person was called. They were losing time.

They all took a minute to think. Panic was rising in Kasai's throat and he felt numb, like he wasn't in control of his own body. He shouldn't be this worried over something so minimal—they could easily step out of line, but that might look strange, right? He didn't want the people behind them looking at them funny—backtracking in public was social suicide. Besides, they didn't have time to go all the way through the line again.

He cursed himself internally. He wasn't supposed to be so heavily influenced by what others thought of him. He was always told that other people would judge him no matter what he did, so taking a step out of line should take priority over not looking like a total idiot. Who would care, anyway? No one. They might even appreciate the time cut from their waiting, but Kasai couldn't overlook his own anxiety. It rattled him internally until his fingertips shook, but he disguised it by nervously fidgeting with the hem of his tunic. No one would care if he stepped out of line. No one would think he was stupid. No one would mock him for being indecisive. So why did he think they would?

Jarn-Shyr broke through his thoughts by tapping him on the arm. He met her eyes again and was disturbed by the grim light they took on. I can use my passport, she suggested.

Kasai's panic melted away and a new, cautious feeling took over. They had agreed not to use it before. Jarn-Shyr's passport used characters he wasn't familiar with. It was a language he couldn't read, she had explained before. He didn't understand; there was only one universal language and it had been that way for a long time. Her passport must have been ancient, if what she said was true. That or she was a time traveler. She had slapped him for being stupid when he'd suggested that, but refused to tell him the real reason. He still thought it would be cool if she was actually an alien or something (she'd slapped him for that too).

"I don't know if that's a good idea, Jarn-Shyr." Kasai cautioned. "They won't be able to read it."

"What's not a good idea?" Petra asked, feeling out of the loop. She had been standing by for some time now, unable to think of a solution herself. They ignored her.

It's still labeled as an official document. Besides, I don't need to get there as much as you do. If they don't take it, I'll survive.

"Jarn-Shyr," his tone held a warning. "You know I'm not leaving you. Don't be stupid, let's think of something else." They were three people away, now.

Jarn-Shyr was becoming irritated. She was signing less and less, but Kasai could still read her. You've seen it, Kasai. There's a translation on the back, they'll take it.

"But still," Kasai stressed the second word, searching for another response. As much as he hated to admit it, Jarn-Shyr made a convincing argument. She wasn't a bender, so surviving on her own might even be safer than tagging along with him and Petra. They didn't have another passport, and they weren't stealing one. Jarn-Shyr implored him silently. They were two people away now.

"Alright," he consented begrudgingly, the urgent expression on her face and the ever shortening line finally swaying him. He folded his arms nervously and tried to quell the nauseous feeling rising in his throat. The people in front of them finished faster than he would have liked, and soon they were handing in their passports.

The woman paused at Jarn-Shyr's, glaring at them over the parchment. "What's the meaning of this?" She grumbled, unamused.

"Th-there's a translation on the back," Kasai stuttered. "It's from way up north. . .or east. . ." His voice trailed off to an uncomfortable murmur. The woman rolled her eyes and flipped the parchment over, reading the translation.

"Carry on, then," she droned, stamping the passport and handing them all tickets. They shuffled away, relief making Kasai weak in the knees.

I told you it would work, Jarn-Shyr signed.

"What the heck was that?" Petra nearly shouted. "What's wrong with her passport?"

"It's written in some really awful handwriting." Kasai joked, then shook his head. "It isn't written in any language I know. It's probably just really old or something. I've had my suspicions that Jarn-Shyr is actually just a really old woman who retains her youth by sucking it out of other unsuspecting young beauties. Better watch out, Petra. You might be next—Ow!" He rubbed his arm, pouting. "Aw, come on Jess! The way you dress I think it's a simple assumption—!" He cried out again as Petra and Jarn-Shyr punched and slapped him respectively.

"My name came from an old language too." Petra commented as Kasai recovered from the ladies' vengeance. "Maybe they're the same?" Jarn-Shyr shook her head. Petra shrugged. "Okay then."

Jarn-Shyr scoffed at Kasai quietly. You got so worked up over it. I told you it would work.

"I had every right to be concerned," Kasai argued. "All your talk about being alright even if you couldn't pass through got me thinking about all the other things that could go wrong."

Well, it's true. I don't need to go into hiding like you two, and I can take care of myself. You're priority anyway—

Her signing was cut off as Kasai turned abruptly and crushed her in a tight hug, catching her off-guard. "Don't even think like that," Kasai muttered, voice tinged with bitterness.

Jarn-Shyr looked at him in surprise, then hesitantly rested her hands on his back. That's not what I meant—

"But you were thinking it. I could see it on your face."

She didn't argue.

"Just. . . don't do anything like that again, okay?"

Jarn-Shyr hesitated. He noticed. No promises. Alright.

He inhaled sharply and broke the embrace, clasping his hands on her shoulders and smiling down at her. "Good to hear! I'm glad that's out of the way. Now come on, guys! Let's get on that boat!" He marched ahead, laughing like whatever had just happened hadn't actually just happened.

"What was all that about?" Petra whispered to Jarn-Shyr as they followed along, letting Kasai's terrible jokes melt into white noise.

Jarn-Shyr just shrugged in reply, but Petra didn't miss the small smile on the younger girl's lips.

—

Inside the cargo compartment of the ship, Harumi was dealing with some serious neck cramps. Cramming herself and a small rodent in a box might not have been her best idea, but it was the only thing she could think of that would get her on the ship unnoticed. Now, it was coming back to bite her. Or maybe that was just Chee after she crushed his tail for the thousandth time.

"Sorry," she whispered as he chittered angrily, looking for a loose nail or board. The box itself was roomy, but the cargo inside was taking up a lot of room. Some pieces to some dumb UNE contraption, probably, judging by the crest sloppily painted over the material. Harumi kicked at the side of the box while trying to avoid getting stabbed by the cargo.

"Stupid—government—always—ruining—everything—ah!" The side of the box gave way and she fell back on the parts. "Ow," she muttered, following Chee out of the box.

The room she found herself in was almost completely dark and packed to the ceiling with boxes. She found herself climbing over cargo just to find a real wall. It smelled like damp wood and the warm atmosphere warned of future mildew. She tried to keep her cloak from picking up splinters.

"How are we supposed to get out of here?" Harumi asked Chee exasperatedly. "Would the loading bay even have an entrance to the rest of the boat? Why am I asking these questions now?" She groaned and ran a hand over her face, rubbing at her tired eyes and then moving to massage her neck. Okay, let's think for a minute.

Reasonably speaking, there should be an exit that doesn't involve falling into the ocean. The UNE probably have people to check on the cargo throughout the trip, to make sure fragile boxes haven't spilled on their side or anything. All she had to do was find the door.

Harumi followed the walls, searching for irregularities or any indication of an exit. "It really is dark in here, huh Chee?" Harumi called, discomfort building in her nasal as the darkness pressed around her. "Spirits, I need to learn to think things through."

She found the door minutes later, shuffling blind through the unlit room. Chee found his way up to her shoulder as she felt around for a doorknob. She jostled the knob a few times. "Locked," she concluded. "Hm," she tapped at her chin. "I could bust it open, but that might cause a commotion." She reached up to her shoulder to pet Chee. "Look's like we're stuck here until someone comes in—"

As she spoke, the doorknob was turned from the other side. Harumi's breath caught in her throat and adrenaline shot through her chest. "Too soon, too soon," she whispered and dove behind a stack of cargo. The door opened a second after she settled.

". . . Yeah, and I thought we had it bad," a deep, female voice called back through the hall. "Turn's out the Captain's leaving his crew in the hands of a kid. Glad I'm not part of the military division; I'm not listening to some kid boss me around out in the field."

The person she was talking to walked in behind her. "I hear he's pretty smart though, like he knows what he's doing and all that. He's got high praise from a lot of higher officers." His voice was a bit higher pitched than his accomplice. Harumi worked her way around the boxes to keep herself out of sight while simultaneously getting closer to the door.

The woman scoffed. "A kid like that's probably got an ego to match his position. That's a destructive path he's going down. I'd hate to have anything to do with him."

Harumi inched closer to the door as they moved deeper into the room, guided by the light from the hallway.

The man shrugged. "It's none of my business. As long as it doesn't ruin my paycheck, I don't really care." They snickered.

Harumi lost their conversation as she made her way closer to the door. She glanced around the doorframe, careful not to get spotted. There was no one in the hallway. Double checking that the guards wouldn't see her, she tucked Chee down into her robes and took off silently down the hall, her feet landing so lightly the noise was almost nonexistent.

She found her way to the deck without any trouble, bursting out into open air minutes after her escape from the cargo room. Passengers swarmed the boat without giving her a second glance, dressed in colorless clothing identical to hers, making it easy to slip into the crowd. She pulled her hood back up over her head and smiled to herself. Excellently executed, she praised herself and disappeared among the passengers.

—

Lien was up with the sun, preparing for the ship's departure as well as his own personal mission. Finding the Avatar was his top priority, but he needed to be as discreet as possible. Letting the other officers know would stir up conversation and bring him attention he didn't need. Not to mention, other people would interfere, which would just make his job harder. He needed to be subtle, but not suspiciously sneaky.

Currently, he smiled and nodded politely to passengers as they boarded, an action required not by his job but by his own desire to get a jump start on searching for the Avatar. He had the necklace around his neck in plain view, keeping his chin high as he stood straight to help show it off. His uniform helped him stand out enough, and he knew any bender would give him at least a sideways glance filled with caution. He hoped that the necklace would catch her eye, and she would do a double-take as soon as she recognized it. It was a shot in the dark, yes, but Lien was experienced with gambling.

He smiled at another passenger and placed his right hand in the fold of his tunic. He rubbed his thumb over a small, smooth piece of wood and suppressed a concentrated frown. It was time to capture the Jasmine.*

—

Getting on the boat was a struggle for Kasai. He kept tripping over his feet on the gangplank. By the time they made it on the actual vessel he was very flustered and very red. Petra suspected the bridge incident was replaying itself in his mind.

It was a slow process. People in front of them moved slowly and kept stopping. Petra was beginning to lose her patience.

"Can we get moving, please?" She muttered as a woman slowly guided her tottering infant up the plank by its hands. The woman gave her a dirty look, but scooped her child up and carried it the rest of the way despite its protests. Petra rolled her eyes. "Spirits, children are so obnoxious."

Jarn-Shyr laughed quietly and patted Petra's shoulder lightly. It felt unbelievably sarcastic.

"Thank goodness," Kasai groaned as they finally made it onto the boat. "It felt like we would never make it on."

"Enjoy the voyage," a warm voice hummed. Petra looked up to see an officer smiling at them, bowing slightly with his hand resting in the fold of his shirt. Petra blinked twice at his appearance, shocked that someone so young could have such white hair.

"Thank you," Petra replied politely as he stood back up, smiling back in a trained manner. As they moved away from the gangplank, Petra's head snapped back in the officer's direction, her stomach slowly filling with icy dread.

Around his neck, worn proudly for all to see, was a simple leather string strung with clay beads of yellow, blue, green and red coloring.

He noticed her stare and smiled back at her, his eyes meeting hers only for a second before he continued to greet the boarding passengers.

"Something wrong, Petra?" Kasai asked, following her eyes.

Petra watched the officer for another moment, then shook her head slowly. "What a coincidence," she murmured, face stony. "My mother had a necklace just like that."

—

{Alright, another chapter done. Sorry it took so long, I'm doing my best to work around some things but I don't have much free time that I don't spend sleeping. ^-^ I hope you enjoyed it, especially one particular person who was very excited for this to come out. I'm flattered and sorry to keep you waiting.

* "Capture the Jasmine"—a reference to the game of Pai Sho. The Jasmine piece starts on the Home Port and forms harmonies with the Lily and Rhododendron pieces. In context, this is a reference to how Lien is going to capture Petra, appearing to make him the Rose or White Dragon piece. }