Music Playing: wolf's rain sleeping wolves
Book 5 Water
Chapter 24 Undisclosed
The scene of a red room was seen as it zoomed in on a girl resting in a large bed. The girl then thrashed about in the covers as she panted as sweat beaded her forehead.
Dim spots flickered behind her closed lids as Azula struggled to make out where she was. Opening her eyes slowly, visions of red and gold came into view as it blurred together into unfamiliar shapes and shades. The colors were both unforgettable yet so distant in her memory. The thought of trying to remember caused the princess to shut her eyes closed blocking out the confusing scene as an ache formed against her head.
Taking a couple of deep breathes, Azula started to forget why she even bothered to get so distressed as the comfort of the bed beneath her felt more relaxing.
Just then a sound disturbed her descending slumber as she forced her eyes back open to see a figure by her bedside.
The first thing she saw were two slanted eyes staring down at her. Azula blinked a couple of times before she then took in more of the person in front of her. This person had heavy bangs over her eyes, covering her lashes. Her face was thin and pointed. Her clothing was also dark and layered.
Azula gave a faint smile.
There was only one person who could look like that.
"Mai." Azula said weakly as the noblewoman made a soft hush sound.
"Shhh. You need your rest."
With a light moan, Azula spoke out, "Where am I? What happened?"
"You're in my home. I'll be taking care of you for a while. No need to worry." Mai said as she slightly reached out and touched Azula's head.
'She's still burning up. It will take a whole another day before the doctor arrives. I guess I will have to tend to her the best I can.' Mai thought to herself as she turned from the bedside.
Azula feebly turned her head to the side as she noticed Mai leaving.
"Please…Don't…Go." Azula managed to say as Mai turned back to the woman.
Her lips curved a small smile as the noblewoman gazed down at the princess.
"I won't leave. Just sleep for now." Mai said in an unusually soft tone as Azula's eyes glistened a glossy glint before closing slowly and sleep claiming her.
Mai turned back as she stared out at the window panel and sighed gently.
It was odd tending to Azula once again. The princess was in the same vulnerable state which brought back undesired memories for Mai.
Her title was corrupted and reputation as a skilled fighter looked down upon. All she had left was her overly pretentious parents and kind little brother.
Even to that seemed somewhat more unfavorable to Mai than anything else previous to her current circumstances.
Still, Mai never allowed the unrelenting threads of fate control her judgments. There was no question that some unknown source out did exist. It still didn't mean she had to bow to that will.
Yet after everything that has happened to her, Mai always seemed to put into a situation she never did favor in the least.
Retribution for her sins perhaps? The noblewoman thought to herself as she gazed openly at the falling snow outside.
Whatever it was, Mai had no choice now as she turned back to the sleeping girl behind her.
Narrowing her eyes, the woman pulled out a chair and sat by the bedside while thinking to herself silently.
The winds shifted as the cloudy sky was seen above with patches of sunlight shining through. The streams of light beamed down on the island below along the shoreline as a group of people were seen gathered. The scenery of a bamboo background surrounded the area as Kyoshian flags flapped swiftly in the breeze.
A tall warrior stood by the crashing waves as he waved farewell to the villagers before signaling the docking ship close by. A woman then broke away from the crowd running up to the man.
Tears flowed down Suki's face as she embraced the water tribesman tenderly.
"Don't worry, I'll return soon." Sokka said as he hugged his wife.
"Yes." Suki replied as she sniffed away a sob before pulling away smiling.
A crafted boat aboard shore as two men hopped off quickly escorting their leader.
"Hurry Sir the tides will wade out soon." One man said as grabbed the oars ready.
Sokka nodded his head as he then turned to his wife and villagers giving a final parting before heading out to the boat.
The choppy waves dipped the boat in and out over the shaky surface as the winds picked up more velocity.
As the boat paddled closer to the water tribe craft, Sokka couldn't help but look back at the island behind him.
He could see the villagers at the far distance still waving emotional yet hopeful goodbyes.
Smiling faintly, Sokka then turned back to the men beside him. Both men were members of the Northern Water Tribe. They traveled with Sokka during their mission to the earthen boarders near Taku to export supplies and then welcome more members to the clan.
They were worthy warriors and skilled in the arts of weaponry. However they both lacked the affable and sarcastic sense of humor Sokka often expressed.
This sometimes made the long trips across the ocean somewhat boring and uneventful for the Southern water tribesman.
Still, he was grateful of their loyalty and respect towards him.
As the boat glide next to the watercraft; a ladder was dropped down pooling by the men's feet.
Once aboard, a buff young man greeted Sokka with a firm handshake.
"Ah, good to have you back Sokka. Enjoyed your stay with your lovely wife?" the man said as he hinted a subjective motive as he nudged the young man's shoulder.
Sokka chuckled as he rubbed his shoulder while smirking, "Indeed I have. Men, I have an announcement…." Sokka said with a long pause as the men collected around him.
A big smile curved along the Southern tribesman's face as he shouted happily, "I'm going to be a dad!" Sokka said as the men called out with cheers and hurrahs while patting the new father-to-be on the back and giving him a noogie.
The scene pulled away as it focused along the waves with darker clouds forming overhead.
After their warms congrats died down the men then returned to their stations as Sokka looked out over the rail of the small wooden vessel.
The weather was picking up, which wasn't fairing well for the journey further on.
Behind Sokka, one of the younger men aboard walked up to him. "I pray Sedna will calm Aipalovik's spirit." The boy said in a worried tone as Sokka merely nodded his head slightly.
Sokka wasn't into the traditions of the spirits and supernatural things. His mind held onto more factual points in the world, something more grounded and real. For the young warrior, seeing was believing. Rather than mere superstitions, of course he did show some respect towards other worldly beings in his own way. On the count of the previous encounter of the dark spirit Koh six years ago and the magical mysteries of his past love turning into the moon.
Furthermore, Sokka knew spirits and perhaps even gods existed with the unknown powers of the universe. Still, the cloudy climate didn't concern the tribesman that much to start praying for good fortune and then probably begin some odd sacrificial offering to the Gods for calmer travels.
Shaking his head at the ridiculous idea of it all, Sokka then turned to the young man and gave a small smile.
"Don't worry about the storm. We have the strongest mast and sail of all my father's fleets. We'll glide through this sea lickety-split." Sokka said as he waved his palm in a fluid motion before snapping his fingers.
The boy then smiled as he nodded his head. Their leader was right. This is the strongest ship of the Water Tribe. Nothing will stop them from completing their journey. The boy thought to himself with confidence as one of the men called out from the outpost.
"An undefined vessel on the star board side!" the man hollered as Sokka ran up to the rail and grabbed hold of a cylinder case made of black fish skin. Reaching inside the container, Sokka pulled out a monocular device.
With one eye closed and the other peeping through the scope, Sokka focused onto the distant ship.
The sight blurred as the young man tried to indentify the main hull of the vessel. Before Sokka could make a confirmed analysis of the possible threat rain began to fall. Distorting the view in front of the monocular making it nearly impossible to see anywhere near the distance needed. Becoming frustrated, Sokka tossed the old scope behind on the deck and gripped on the rails.
Commutation was limited at sea thus not knowing familiar vessels were difficult to handle. The situation could turn to a simple pass by or an unwanted battle. He had to find out soon before the ships encountered one another.
"Hey Sokka!" one of the men called out in an amused tone as the young man turned.
"Look's like we have a stowaway." The man said as he lifted up a creature from its tail.
The creature blinked at the men as it managed to hold onto the half eaten lychee berry.
"Momo!" Sokka cried out half surprised and half upset that the lemur left the island.
The lemur then pulled away from the man's grasp and flew up in the air before landing on Sokka's shoulder. The chatty-monkey then continued to eat his berry, munching away happily.
The men stood in a slight awkward stance while Sokka's eyelid twitched.
"Alright, you annoying little pest, in the cargo hold for you." Sokka said as he grabbed the lemur with his hands.
As he turned, Sokka then noticed something while he held the creature. His eyes squinted as he focused hard while his lips thinned.
Momo blinked as he dangled in Sokka's hold. The men gazed in confusion at the scene as one spoke out.
"Sir, is everything alright?"
"That's it!" Sokka shouted as the men jumped back and Momo squealed out.
Lifting the lemur high over his head, Sokka cheered.
"What's it, Sokka?" the boy asked as the young man turned.
"I've found a way to resolve our problem." Sokka said as he cunningly smiled at the group.
Play Music: wolf's rain sleeping wolves
The scene came into view of a soft red room with a wooden crib. Inside was the small infant Lee lightly whimpering in his sleep. The scene then focused on a nearby window as it started to slightly rattle against the wind outside as the curtains swayed from an unfelt breeze inside the room.
A translucent form was then seen as it stepped through the glass; slowly approaching the baby's bedside.
A hand then reached out to the unease sleeping child.
Lightly patting the infant's patch of black hair on his small head, the hand tenderly caressed the little boy. Lee then bit by bit fell into a peaceful slumber as the hand pulled away.
Just then the door opened as one of the nannies entered the nursery. She then stopped in surprised to find the window completely opened. Rushing to it, she closed it shut and locked the latch. Rubbing her shoulders from the chill, the woman then checked on the baby.
Leaning over the crib rail, the woman then gasped as she found a strange object beside the child's form.
Afraid of it's eccentric appearance and perhaps related to angered spirits, the woman then ran out of the room.
The scene then slowly drifted down by the crib side and right above the infant's form was a circular woven net was seen stringed with beads, draped with feathers and in the center was a single tip of a gray wolf's tail.
An old gentle voice then whispered softly in the room, "Nar-piaraq…My Nar-piarag."
The scene then pulled away and transcended into far corners of the room.
Flying over-head, the large bison drifted downward to the vessel.
Meanwhile beneath the skies and along the ship's top deck, a crewman was on patrol as he noticed an odd flying mass in the clouds.
Upon realizing the unexpected travelers, the crewman immediately alerted the commander. A boisterous stir broke out in the lower decks as armed forces ran to their stations.
In the main quarters, a man dressed in black plated armor marched to his leader's office to report the news.
Upon entering the room, the man bowed deeply to his leader and waited for a response.
"Proceed, Private Sadao." The man said as the private lifted his head and stood in a rigid stance.
"Lord Huo, it seems we have crossed paths with the Avatar. What are your commands?"
Huo leaned back in his chair while folding his hands together.
"Allow the Avatar to land; welcome him as an honored guest. In the meantime, find anything you can about his ties with the Fire Lord's wife." Huo said as he waved his hand out sending the man out of the room.
Huo then returned to his earlier position on the table with his hands folded together, his chin resting sternly on his knuckles.
This was a very dissatisfying yet fragile situation he was put in. One wrong move and his plans could be ruined thanks to that interfering airbender. However, if he played his cards right, Huo could use the Avatar to his advantage.
With this thought in mind, the leader gave a wicked grin while chuckling darkly.
I hope you liked the new chapter! Please review! Also try to guess who the spirit was in little Lee's room!
Definitions below: Aipalovik- Evil god of the sea that would hurt boats by biting them.
Sedna-Goddess of the sea and creatures.
Piaraq-wolf cub
Nar- Little