*Warning: Tearjerker (May also be mildly graphic)
Music Playing: Atonement Soundtrack - Elegy for Dunkirk
Book 5 Water
Chapter 20 Out From Under
A sudden silence filled air as the scene came in view of the holy grounds of the Southern Air Temple. Toph held her breathe as a strange sensation tugged at her heart when she looked over at the backside of the Avatar. A bead of sweat dripped down the side of her cheek as she remembered to exhale before sucking air back into her aching lungs. "A-Aang…" Toph said in a low voice filled apprehension.
Just then a quick force bursted pass the airbender and through the young woman and the guru.
Toph reacted by shut her eyes and then gasping out. "W-what happened?!" the earthbender asked as Pathik inhaled deeply.
"He has come to face the evil spirit. He must now defeat him." The guru said calmly as he could feel the powerful spiritual force pushing down around the area.
Toph's eyes narrowed with concern as she gripped the fold of her robes. There was nothing she could do to help. He had to face this on his own and that terrified the earthbender.
Biting her lower lip, Toph closed her jade eyes and prayed silently.
'Aang…Please be alright. You can do this. Fight…Don't give up.'
"Any word on the fleet?" a stern voice asked as the scene of a red office came into to view.
"Not yet, Imperial Ryuan." A servant said as he bowed deeply.
"Keep the postal services updated for any information and report to me directly, is that understood?" Ryuan said as the servant nodded his head.
"Yes, sir. Will that be all, Imperial?" the man asked as Ryuan curtly nod.
"Yes, you are dismissed." The tall man said as he continued to stare out of his office window as the snow was seen falling and the ground unrelenting build up higher and higher of ice across the courtyard.
Ryuan narrowed his eyes. A report was supposed to be sent of the Eastern Fleet departing to the Southern Territories less than two days ago. We're they delayed of supplies? Or did something more serious happen?
Ryuan had to find out before his majesty did. Such news would only grave his lord and he knew it was unnecessary.
Turning to his files of paperwork on his desk, the Imperial thought for a moment, should he dispatch his own team out to sea to ensure his Lady's safe arrival? Such a task would be costly and perhaps preventable if a message was sent before hand. Ryuan ran his fingers through his top knot and sighed.
What measures could be acceptable and reasonable to take to ensure both the safely and benefit for his Lady and royal members?
Conflicted, Imperial Ryuan decided he should discuss it further with General Jee.
Closing his eyes, Ryuan exhaled as the scene zoomed out passed the desk and onward to the falling snow outside.
"Aang…" a voice whisper out as the sight of a young man dressed in orange robes was seen.
The airbender moaned out softly as he opened his eyes and tried to remember the soft voice calling to him.
"Aang…Please be alright."
Aang lifted his head as his vision blurred seeing a large form flying over head.
"You can do this."
Aang groaned out, "Who…?"
"Fight…"
The voice said as Aang opened his eyes completely, to then hear a loud roar blaring above his head.
"Ah! The Golden Dragon!" Aang called out as he remembered where he was as he then heard the tender words ring in his ears.
"Don't give up."
The young man's eyes widen slightly as they glistened. 'Toph…?'
Another loud roar escaped the creature's mouth as the possessed woman then swooped down towards the Avatar baring large razor claws, preparing to attack.
Aang noticed at the last second and tumbled out of the way as the creature landed onto the ground crawling into the unfelt soil.
Aang quickly stood up and formed into a defensive stance.
The woman stood up. Her features were a horrid complexion of a demon…A dragon as she screamed out at him.
Aang narrowed his eyes and held his ground.
The possessed woman then gave a wicked smile as her wings fanned out.
"Prepare to die." The woman said with a voice with a deep beastly tone.
Aang thinned his lips as his body struck a fierce pose, "I'm ready to fight you." Aang said as the woman chuckled darkly.
Roaring an earsplitting scream out again, the woman took fight and charged at the airbender.
Play Music: Atonement Soundtrack - Elegy for Dunkirk
The sight of an island was seen with the scene closing in on the once unpretentious village of Hing Wa, now burned to the ground in ash and soot. Sightings of burning debris and red sand surrounded the area.
Among the wreckage, a form twitched under the piles of rubble and pushed away from the charred timber. The man groaned out as he grasped on his right shoulder while his features expressed great pain. Bracing himself for a moment, the tall man then called out.
"Katara?! Commander Wei? Anyone!?" the man shouted with a pause. "Is anyone here? Can anyone hear me?!" the man called out in a rugged voice as he took a few steps across the village.
Grunting again, the man forced himself to keep walking as he then inhaled deeply before shouting out with all of his might.
"Is anyone alive out there?! Can anyone hear me?!" the man said with a hint of dread in his voice as he bent down on one knee, catching his breathe from the agonizing pain in his shoulder and ribs.
Just then a voice called out, hoarse and low upon the still crackling flames around the wreckage.
The man then stood up and paced over to the sound as he came across one of the guardsmen from the ship. The young solider appeared to be caught in between a beam from a hut that once stood behind him.
"Chief Hakoda…" the man said filled with relief as the leader bent down. "Don't worry, solider I'll get you out." The tall man said as he examined the large beam. It appeared to be clamping down on the guard's left leg and torso.
Surely his limb was broken, but that didn't matter right now. Hakoda had to somehow lift the beam up without causing more pressure or damage to the boy's already injured body.
Steadily placing his fingers under the lumber covered with chipped sprinters that slowly dug into his skin. Hakoda clenched his teeth as the dull stinging consumed onto his callus hands, molded from years at battle and life as a Water Tribesman.
The man put all of weight into lifting the nine hundred wooden beam off the injured man. But no prevail, it was useless. Not even a budge. Hakoda's eyes dimmed with frustration as he then stood up and looked around him.
The soldier's frightened expression continued to show through his eyes as he cried out croakily, "Don't leave me, please…please." The young man begged as Hakoda looked down at him with a hard expression.
"I'll be right back, son. I promise. I'm going to go find help." The leader said as the young man shook his head while the rest of his body jerked stiffly from fear and shock.
Hakoda narrowed his eyes, "I promise…" the man said as he then turned and left while the young man cried out again as tears fell down his soot covered face.
Stepping into the blood soaked sand, Hakoda grimed as he struggled to find any other remaining survivors.
Sights of burned corpses of women and children surrounded him as he clenched his fists. Panting heavily, the leader shouted out as his eyes glistened with tears.
"Is anyone alive out there?!"
No one respond, only the snapping, dimming flames and howling winds were heard.
Wiping his forehead, Hakoda felt a dried wetness over his head. Looking down it was caked blood and dirt. The leader then lowered his head as he choked up with despair.
A voice was then heard through the jungle ahead as Hakoda jolted his head and ran to the sound.
"Help!" the tall man cried out as he entered into a clearing where the forest ground was encircled with stone gravel and wood chips. At first glimpse he saw a group of men. The bright sun shined in Hakoda's eyes as the figures of men stepped back.
Slowing down his pace, an expression of relief crossed Hakoda's features. They were saved.
As he stepped closer to the group of men, Hakoda then realized something. These men weren't ordinary men.
Just as it dawn on the Water Tribesman leader, he was struck on the hit. Falling down hard, he groaned out.
"N-no…Please. Help." Hakoda begged as his head was pounding and bleeding.
"He appears to be from the Water Tribe." One of the men said as he glared down at the leader.
"Go into to the village and gather what you can. Kill anyone left." The man then ordered as Hakoda groaned out.
"No…N-
Hakoda tried to say before coughing out violently as he felt his lung swell against his broken ribs. The tribesman then saw two of the men walk passed him. Instead of swords by their sides, they carried with them, strange weapons; long metal hollow tubes with a handle on the end. Hakoda couldn't recall them as his mind started to go blank as he struggled to see straight.
Rolling on his back, Hakoda continued to plea in a low mumble as he then heard the young solider crying out in the distance, shouting frantically.
Hakoda shut his eyes as he could hear the young man beg for his life.
"D-Don't kill him!" Hakoda shouted as he forced himself up on his knees before two men held him down, holding his arms back adding more pressure and pain to his dislocated shoulder. As the men seized Hakoda down and his cheek pressed hard against the gravel grounds, the man heard a blood-grueling cry.
A piercing scream of fear shouted out before a sudden loud boom blasted all through the atmosphere.
Hakoda's eyes shot open and gasped from the unfamiliar bang. The sharp sound briefly echoed across the area until it faded away. The crying screams of the young solider were no longer heard as Hakoda then shut his eyes tightly as tears and blood flowed down his face.
'No...' the man thought as the scene slowly backed away drifting over the jungle canopy of ash banana trees.
I know it's sort of short. I'll update soon. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I also hope I didn't make anybody tear-bend…
Please review and comment!