A/N: For the music I wish to put for this chapter was difficult to find. I wanted a traditional Inuit song for this one scene for Katara and/or her village. Of course with limited resources the best I could find were two different songs, none of which could go well with the theme I want to capture for the next scenes.
So as my story continues on, I will keep up the search for a good song to play. I want use the best kind of music possible to create a calming spiritual quality for these upcoming chapters.
If any of you have any great suggestions, I will truly appreciate it.
Please be sure to listen to the songs as you read this chapter.
I will signal when you are to play each song. Please enjoy and don't forget to review and comment!
As an added note, I do not own any of the songs used in this chapter. I humbly am grateful to use these sacred pieces of music for both mine and my reader's entertainment.
Remember, the best place to find these songs is on YouTube. Again, thank you all for reading and reviewing!
Music Playing: Asoka Theme Song / Dela Dela - Sacred Spirit - Native American Chant
Book 5 Water
Chapter 15 Summoned
The crashing sound of foaming waves was heard pounding against the ship's metal portside as the scene closed in through a window. The sight of a flickering candle came into view as its orange light radiated over a woman's figure.
Two hands were seen as the healer carefully dabbed a damp cloth over the blacken wounds of the injured man's face. The man moaned in pain as Katara continued to clean his wounds. Removing the soot and peeling away the dead flesh, the woman then bandaged the most damaged area of his face and neck, before pulling back lightly. Katara inhaled deeply as she then called forth the water from a nearby porcelain basin.
The swooshing sound of the flying liquid then landed inches underneath her palms. Katara then leaned in as her hands were positioned over the man's face. Exhaling lightly, the woman then released her positive energy to the edge of her fingertips while her pure aura mixed with the water.
The floating liquid then glowed into a mystifying blue light as the man cried out with fear. Katara then spoke in a calming tone, "Shhh…It is alright. I am here to help you." Katara said to the man, as he slowly closed his eyes.
Just then a guard stepped in just after the healing water's light dimmed. Aware of the man's presence, Katara spoke in a soft voice, "How long will it be before we reach the island?" the woman asked as the man stood still. "There is a chance a storm might hit, Lady Katara. We have to delay our trip for one day." The man said as Katara lowered her head. "I see…Then I will work on this man until we arrive." Katara said in a devoted tone while the guard simply bowed.
"Of course, my Lady, please if there is anything you need. Let me know." The man said as he straightens his pose and left the room.
Katara closed her eyes as she let out an exhausted sigh. Concentrating all of her energy on one place of the man's body was arduous work. Especially since it has been a long time when Katara used her waterbending abilities such as healing to such extend.
Looking down at the man, Katara lightly placed her hand on his chest before leaning over and covering him with a warm wool blanket. Standing up, Katara used the last of her strength to walk out the room as the scene drifted outward to the empty iron hallways.
Play: (Asoka Theme Song)
The scene of the temple came to view as Toph was seen combing her lock black hair when she suddenly heard a musical instrument start to play. Its lovely tune echoed from the vast stone hallways and into her room. Turning back, the young woman then placed the wooden comb down on the small table next to her before leaning over and grabbing a silk fabric that had a notable pigment of ginger.
The bold color displayed an almost translucent over the golden robes on Toph's body it veiled ever so lightly over her form. Once Toph wrapped the fine cloth on her shoulders, the woman then stepped towards the doorway. As she ventured out of the room, and into the hallway, the tune still called to Toph as she slowly paced down the hall.
Following the enchanting sound that rang in her ears, the sight of the robe trailed behind her as she ran. The scene then drifted down to her bare feet as they came into view. Covered with a thin lining of dirt underneath her heels, the sound of the girl was heard as she panted.
A different scene came into focus as a young monk was seen walking up the stone path to the temple. Aang then came across the sound of a flute, intrigued, the young man decided to find the musician. The view zoomed in to the sight of an old man with a long white curled beard and tanned skin. The scene then moved a few inches down with his hands as they were seen holding a bamboo flute to his lips as he blew into the wind instrument, playing the light tune.
A breeze then flowed by causing dried leaves to scatter around him as the scene back away revealing two people meeting in the center. Toph looked at the young man before her as Aang looked back. Glancing for a moment, Toph then turned her head away while slightly lifting her chin up in a snobbish fashion. Aang's head then lowered down with shame, apparently Toph wa still mad…
The airbender thought to himself before he then heard the song end in front of him. The two teens turned their heads towards the old man as they watched him place the flute down and looked at them with a warm gaze. He was aware of the awkward tension between them, so he brought them here.
To one of the most sacred grounds in the whole temple, it was said that the area was blessed by the powerful Avatar Yang Chen. Pathik recalled to himself as the scene then focused on him. The old man then spoke in a calm tone, "Please come join me children." The guru said as he lengthened out his arms in welcome.
Toph and Aang sighed as they both sat at a reasonable distance from one another as they joined the holy man. Pathik turned his gaze at Aang, "I had a vision of you, young Avatar. A great vision of inner strength that will be opened, I believe this will be your greatest test in achieving spiritual enlightenment." Pathik said as he positioned his arms outward into comfortable stance. Aang blinked as his heart raced.
For him to gain the power of spiritual enlightenment. That was something that takes many years of patience and awareness. Was Pathik saying that he was ready? "What do I need to do in order to achieve such greatness?" Aang asked as the guru smiled. "With your friend's positive and negative energy, she can help you call forth the spirits." Pathik said as he glanced over at Toph before turning back to the young man.
"Aang, your task is to journey into the trapped realm and save the spirits. Help them pass through to the Spirit World." The guru said as Aang's eyes widen. "Do you really think I am ready?" Aang said out loud questioning the mission ahead. Toph then gave a light smile, "If Pathik thinks you are able to do it. Then you should go for it." Toph said with a confident tone as Aang blinked and looked at the earthbender.
"Toph…" Aang said softly as the girl then scoffed. "I know what it was like, Aang…" Toph said as she lowered her head, her black bangs covered her eyes. "Not being able to return to where you belong, to miss your loved ones, to be all alone… I know." Toph said as she secured a hard facade over her features before getting too emotional. "So that is why…" Toph said as she paused for a moment. "We have to do this." Toph said again in a confident voice.
The scene then focused on Aang as he gave an uncertain smile to the woman as another breeze flowed through the area.
Lying his chin on the cherry wood table, Kuzon continued to moan out in boredom and annoyance.
Kya looked at her brother with a curious gesture as she put down her studies text book. "Kuzu…You don't look so good. Are you ok?" Kya asked as Kuzon mumbled out a few incomprehensible words before dropping his head flat on the table's surface. Kya giggled as she stood from her pillow chair and crawled over to her brother. Pushing on his back and patting him roughly, Kya called out with a cheer.
"Get up, Kuzu! Get up! No moping or Professor Osamu will be crossed." Kya said as Kuzon then huffed as he stood up quickly causing Kya to fall back and land on a puffed pillow that are scattered in the study room.
"I don't care and besides, how can anyone study in these conditions?" Kuzon called out as he turned to see Kya sunken in the large pillow as she blinked. "Does Kuzu not like the room?" Kya asked naively as Kuzon then sighed. "No, Kya…It's. Well…" Kuzon stammered as he then heard a voice.
"I'm sorry I couldn't come sooner." The warm velvet soothing voice said as Kya beamed a smile. "Daddy!" the girl cried out as she leaped out of the cushion and raced to her father's knees, hugging him.
Kuzon merely turned acknowledging the man's presence before indolently falling back down into his seat. "Why are you here? Don't you have to go to some meeting?" Kuzon said in irritated tone.
Zuko smiled down at his son, he had a feeling the child would act so bothered and perhaps somewhat disrespectful. It must be the unusual weather that is causing Kuzon to act out. At first he was hoping that the rare snowfall would his son show more interest in waterbending and become inspired. Of course, Zuko also can understand how confusing and frustrating it might be as well.
Picking up Kya in his arms, Zuko then asked if Kuzon would like to come for lunch. The boy looked away as he crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm not that hungry." Kuzon said as Zuko smiled and spoke in a warm voice.
"Then stay here and study, whatever makes you happy." Zuko said as he then took Kya with him out of the room.
As the lord stepped out of the room, Kya gripped on her father's robe. "Maybe we can bring Kuzu something to eat." The girl said wanting her brother to feel better. Zuko smiled at his daughter as he nodded his head. "Yes, we'll prepare him a special treat." Zuko said as Kya smiled widely.
The scene then drifted to Kuzon who tossed his paperwork aside and leaned against the large pillow. The boy cringed as he then covered himself with a nearby blanket. The bitter cold seemed to go straight to his bones as Kuzon shivered. The magnetic pull was so strong, it was even felt through the thickest walls of the palace, as Kuzon shut his eyes.
He didn't understand the strange feeling in his body as it reacted to the large amount of frozen water collecting outside. It felt like waves of unseen forces crashing over his head as he cried out in frustration. He didn't want to admit it, but it was a fearful experience. Deep down, Kuzon was afraid of the freezing snow.
Then Kuzon remembered something that his father once said to him as Zuko's voice rang in his ears. "Never give up without a fight."
That saying was embedded deep into the boy's mind as he remembered how proud his father looked every time he said those words. Kuzon gripped the blanket as he grinded his teeth.
No matter how much he tried to ignore the sickening feeling it caused him or how much he hated the cold.
Kuzon knew it had to face that atrocious snow sooner or later. As the boy came out from the covers, Kuzon whimpered out as he felt the calling of energy continue to pull him forth. It was as though his hands weren't his own as he felt the numbing tinkling sensations prick his fingertips once again.
Brushing the uncomfortable pain aside, Kuzon quickly stood up and ran out of the room. Racing to a doorway, the boy entered into his room. Pacing up to the wardrobe, Kuzon grabbed a thick kimono robe of black silk. After he was dressed in warmer clothing, the boy then placed on his boots and left the room.
Play Music: Dela Dela - Sacred Spirit - Native American Chant (start at 0:50)
Running down the hallway, Kuzon entered into the vestibule. Coming into the courtyard by the royal garden, Kuzon panted. Above him were falling flakes of snow as the cool breeze crossed by his flushed cheeks. Then as Kuzon stepped forward on the crushing ice underneath his feet, the boy saw something by pond.
It was a figure standing near the frozen water's surface. Looking closer, Kuzon realized it was a person.
"Who's there?" Kuzon said as the person then lightly turned facing the prince.
It was a girl no older than six, as Kuzon blinked realizing she was alone as snow continued to drizzle over the garden. Taking a moment in, the boy looked at her form.
She had long black hair that was braided on the side of her head all the way down to her waist. Her unusual clothing appeared to be made out of skin from some animal with white fur around the collar of her thick coat.
Kuzon then called out, "W-Who are you?" the boy asked as the girl simply stared at the boy.
Her eyes appeared almost black as they continued to express a hard exterior. Her skin appeared tanned as the scene moved down her features. Her exotic puffy cheeks and almost puce pink lips stood out against the cold.
Another breeze flowed through as Kuzon then shielded his eyes. Quickly looking back, he noticed the girl was gone from her previous spot by the pond. Kuzon then gasped as he felt a presence behind him.
Turning around, he saw the girl's dark eyes continue to stare at him. It was then he saw a leather necklace with a tribal symbol etched with bone and feathers. Kuzon focused his eyes on the design craved into the bone. An outline of what looked like a tiger. Kuzon then looked up at the girl. Her face appeared to be painted with sharp lines of white along her nose and dots above her forehead as bangs partly covered them.
"Just who are you?" the prince asked as the girl stared at him as if she could see deep into his every soul. As she continued to stare and say nothing, Kuzon then noted to himself another thing odd about her eyes. Her eyes had slit-like pupil which reminded him of a cat's eye.
It was then the last thing Kuzon saw, before another gust of wind flowed passed him blocking his vision. Looking back, Kuzon saw that the girl vanished and the snow stopped falling. Looking below the frosted grounds, Kuzon noticed there were no footprints indicating where the girl stood or was even there are all.
Strangely feeling rather calm, Kuzon closed his eyes and lifted his head up. His eyes then opened as he looked up at the sky with wonder, his golden eyes glistening.
Then the sudden sound of the wind howling deafened the boy's moving lips as he questioned the heavens.
The sight of two hands holding an opened scroll was seen as Imperial Ryuan read the letter, after he finished the last sentence, Ryuan sighed heavily. Placing the scroll down, the tall man took a moment to recollect the information that was sent.
A report of an attack near Taku was mentioned along with many supplies stolen. Such news would cause the cargo estate to shut down its resources. Meaning hundreds of villages will be without medicine and spices to heal their sick and elderly.
Not only that, but the major trade route would be cut off costing millions worth in reconstruction and labor. Ryuan narrowed his eyes as he recalled Huo having many services at his command. Raiding Taku and taking control of the system would be a possible outcome for the man's ruthless greed for power.
Then again, it seemed too easy...Ryuan knew Huo wouldn't do something so conventional without rationalization.
Rolling up the scroll and placing it in a compartment in his desk, Ryuan then stepped forth to the doorway to inform formal General Iroh the alerting information.
Who is the mysterious girl in the snow? How will Aang take on the task in entering into the other realm? So many questions answered and more next chapter! Please review and comment for a faster update! Also feel free to get me any suggestions for a good song. Thank you.