Ch 12 the painted lady
Olivier looked in disgust as the bison trudged thru the filth infested water. No one else seemed to mind. And Aang was swimming in the damn pollution. Who knew what kind of bacteria or poisons were in there?
Sokka pulled his fishing net out with no catch.
"Your stupidity never ceases to amaze me." Olivier said to Sokka.
"We might find some food in a nearby town." Katara said.
"I doubt it. As polluted as this river is, you're gonna find nothing in a town, if it exists. And if it does exist, expect two things." Olivier said.
"What things?" Aang asked.
"Sickness and death." Olivier said.
Olivier's predictions were true, as they approached a fishing town in the middle of the ocean. Olivier scanned the ocean for any threats. She half expected to see a mutated fish appear, thanks to the pollution.
"Because we're a fishing town. At least that's how it was before the factory moved in. The army makes their metal over there. Moved in a few years ago and started gunking up our river. Now our town is struggling to survive." Dock said, as he gave team Avatar a ride to the village.
The conditions were pitiful. They saw that all the kids and several adults were badly sick and on the verge of death. Olivier guess that it wouldn't be long before a plague appeared and killed everyone.
"We have to do something to help." Katara said, moved by the people's plight.
"We can't waste our time here. We have a bigger mission that we need to stay focused on. These people are on their own." Sokka said.
Who knew Sokka could be so cold and heartless? Even that took Olivier by surprise.
"These people are starving and on the verge of death. But you'd abandon them. How can you be so cold and heartless?" Katara asked.
"I'm being realistic. We'll do much more help when we take out the fire lord." Sokka said.
Olivier grabbed Sokka's mouth and covered it.
"Shut it about taking out the fire lord. Unless you want fire nation troops all over us." Olivier said.
That night, Olivier saw Katara wake up and put some clothing on. She then headed towards the town. Olivier went back to sleep, knowing that Katara would be alright.
Next morning proved to be more than Olivier could handle, as Sokka snapped.
"Appa's sick, that's terrible!" he shouted.
That struck Olivier odd. She didn't expect him to be the caring type.
"Wow, Sokka. Didn't know you cared." Toph said.
"Of course I care. I should just throw away my schedule away right now." Sokka said, looking at his schedule.
Then again, maybe not.
"And I'm concerned that my big furry friend isn't doing so well." Sokka quickly added, nuzzling Appa.
Aang pulled out Appa's tongue and found it was purple.
"How did that happen?" Olivier asked. Animal as big as a bison must have a strong immune system. That normally wouldn't occur.
"He needs medicine. Maybe we can find the right herbs in town." Katara suggested. Olivier doubted it.
"If they can't keep their own people healthy, than they don't have medicine for Appa." Olivier said.
"It's worth a shot." Aang said.
Olivier rolled her eyes.
Upon entering the village, they noticed that the mood was very different. A boy ran by laughing. Olivier was puzzled. She saw that same boy yesterday, and he was sick to the bone.
"Hey, Xu? What's going on? Why is everyone so happy all of a sudden?" Sokka asked.
Xu finished his bowl of some strange substance, and turned to them.
"Something amazing happened last night. Food was delivered to our town by a mysterious and wonderful person. The painted lady." Xu said.
"The painted lady?" Katara asked.
"The painted lady. They say she's a river spirit, who watches over our town in need. Always thought it was a myth. Until now." Xu said.
"What bullshit." Olivier said.
She didn't believe in any of that spiritual crap. People used it as an excuse to do whatever they wanted, whether it be war, or using the lie of a spirit helping them, so to remain lazy and indulgent. Problem with many religions was that they claimed that some higher power would help them. Olivier in her life never saw such help come until it was almost too late, sometimes never. As a result, she believed in survival of the fittest. If you want a solution you make it.
Next morning she woke up to the sweet sound of yelling.
"I know you've been sneaking out at night. I know you've been lying about Appa, and I know you've been feeding him purple berries. Katara, you put our entire mission in jeopardy. We're leaving." Sokka said.
The sound of motor engines was heard in the distance. Olivier went to the edge and saw jet skis heading towards the village.
"What did you do?" Sokka asked.
"I destroyed their factory." Katara said.
"You what?" Sokka asked.
"It was your idea!" Katara defended.
"Did you even think this through? The army is going to blame the villagers and massacre them." Sokka pointed out.
"What was I supposed to do?" Katara asked.
"Leave. Leave and do nothing!" Sokka said.
"Wow. You are cold and heartless. You want to win this war, win the hearts and minds of the people first. And that includes saving those who are in trouble, even if they are in the enemy country." Olivier said.
"Olivier's right. I'm going to help the village any way I can." Katara said walking towards the water.
"Wait." Sokka said, grabbing Katara. "I'm coming to."
"I thought you didn't care." Katara said.
"You need me, and I will never turn my back on you." Sokka said.
Maybe the two are alike. Olivier thought.
Aang and Katara had it covered, and Sokka played the flute. Olivier watched as Katara posed as the painted lady, and frightened the enemy soldiers enough to force them into a retreat. She had to give Katara credit. She was a damn good bender.
Olivier and Sokka rowed Toph to town to meet with Aang and Katara, where the villagers were on the verge of a riot.
"How dare you act like our painted lady."
"You're a water bender!"
Sokka quickly intervened, preventing an all-out riot.
"She is a water bender but she was trying to help you! Because of her, that factory won't be polluting your river again, and the army is gone. You should be on your knees worshiping her!"
"Ya'll are pieces of shit, you know that?" Olivier added.
"Olivier!"
"What? You save their lives and this is what they do to you. Maybe you should have the soldiers massacre them." Olivier said.
Luckily Katara took over before things got out of hand.
"Doesn't matter if the painted lady is real or not. Your problems are real and this river is real. You can't wait around for someone to help you, you have to help yourself."
"You're right. But what can we do?" someone asked.
Jesus Christ! Katara pointed it out to you. The river is polluted like hell itself! Fix that first.
Olivier would always be amazed at how stupidity seemed to plague the human race, no matter where she went. No wonder she was the ice queen. She didn't believe in humanity at all.