AVATAR: EMPIRE OF ICE
BOOK 3: JUSTICE
CHAPTER 1: FREEZE TAG - PART 1
We slowly fade in on a pillar of ice. Sitting atop the pillar is a smirking gargoyle, made of bright blue, carved glacier.
The camera slowly pans down to an 8 year old Ta hiding behind the pillar. She sticks her head out to spy on her friends, who are running down the street searching for her.
Ta giggles and remains hidden. Until…
Friend
Found her!
The camera rotates around to reveal Ta's friend appearing from behind the fountain.
She gasps and takes off, but her friend isn't far behind. The jaunty music picks up.
Ta runs through the narrow, twisty streets as the camera follows her, evading her friend for a while, before another friend cuts her off at a corner. Ta bobs and weaves, avoiding her, then she raises an ice wall and knocks it into her friend, making a quick escape.
She continues running down an alleyway. As she turns a corner, Ta bumps into a woman hanging laundry, who goes from angry to confused.
Woman
Princess Ta?
Ta
Sorry!
She watches as Ta rounds another corner, then she sighs, shaking her head, before reaching for another item of laundry. Then Ta's friend whizzes past, knocking her over.
Ta uses an ice platform assist to jump over a fence, before landing in the main plaza of Aikira. In the center, there is a seal-lion skin rug with a sign on it.
HOME BASE
Ta runs with determination towards the sign.
Ta
Almost there…
She gets closer and closer. Moments away from reaching it, her friend comes out of nowhere and touches her on the arm.
Friend
Tag! You're it!
Suddenly, present day Ta opens her eyes, lurching forward. She breathes heavily and looks around. Lao is right next to her, wide awake. The two are lying down inside a tent.
Ta
Hey…
Lao
Good morning. You okay?
Ta yawns, before nodding.
Ta
Yeah. It was just a dream.
Lao nods in response.
Cut to 2 chopsticks, playing with and stabbing at a chunk of fish.
Oni and Ayana are giggling as they play keep-away with the fish, until eventually Oni gets the upper hand and stuffs it in his mouth. Ayana narrows her eyes.
Ayana
Hey! That was mine!
Oni shrugs.
Oni
I thought you were ready for anything?
She grins and grabs him by the face,
Ayana
I am.
Before kissing him. Teepo is watching them, then he turns his attention to Ta, who is silently chewing.
The morning sun rises over the remains of Aikira.
Teepo
You know they used to play couples all the time. In The Red Princess, and The War of Tai Bo… Also, I think they were married in The Seven Turtle-ducks. (Takes a bite of food) But she said she would never date him in real life.
Ta
(Raising her eyebrow) She told you that?
Teepo
Well, she told Tenpo. She said it was important not to mix real life with theater.
Ta shrugs, nodding in agreement. Tenpo looks back at Oni and Ayana, who are in couple-mode.
Ta
I guess the theater part is over with.
Ta's attention shifts to Lao and Su walking over, carrying large wooden buckets. They set them down and make their way to the group.
Su and Lao exchange some hostile looks before they sit down. Then Lao sets a light underneath a pot of water while Su looks over at Ta.
Su
So… (Twiddling her fingers) Remember the Alkua Basin?
Ta
Yeah. By the shore.
Su
I think I can get it running again, but It's a real job. You want to take a look at it?
Ta nods her head and stands up.
Ta
On it.
Then she swiftly turns and walks away. Lao jumps up to follow her.
Lao
I'll join you.
Teepo has a sparkle in his eye.
Teepo
Can I come too?
Ta shakes her head and they disappear. Teepo sighs and then looks back at Oni and Ayana.
Lao's fingers are twitching and rolling over each other as Ta leads her down the basin.
The cold wind passes by and rattles an old flap of canvas hanging from a windowsill. Lao turns to examine it, then she turns back and catches up with Ta.
Lao
So… You're going to repair this spring?
Ta
It's a basin. But yeah. We can get it flowing.
Lao nods and looks down, narrowing her eyes, before looking back.
Lao
That's great, Ta… It's a great idea… And I understand completely.
Ta
Hmm?
Lao
This place is important to you. I get that, and I respect it.
They pass by a large wall with graffiti on it and Ta furrows her brow.
Ta
Why are you being weird?
Lao looks down and collects her thoughts. Ta eyes her warily before laying an ice bridge down across a crumbling staircase. They continue onwards.
Ta
We should be there soon…
They make it to the basin, which is collecting warm spring water from underneath the sea shelf. The two of them peer down into it.
Lao
Ta…
Ta stops. She sighs.
Ta
I know that tone.
Then she swivels around with a grimace.
Ta
What is it, Lao?
Lao
I know you want to fix this place up, and I support you in theory… But how long can we really stay here? I mean, aren't you worried?
Ta
I've already explained this to you. Remember?
Lao
They could be back at any moment. I really think we need to-
Ta
LAO!
Lao is surprised at her volume. Then Ta slowly walks towards her, finger pointing.
Ta
You want to leave so bad? Fine! But don't expect me to follow you like a helpless child.
Lao
You are not thinking about the big picture.
Ta
No! I'm done talking about this! Done! Aikira. Is. My. Home.
Ta walks past Lao towards the ladder.
Ta
(Muttering) And frankly, you wouldn't understand…
Lao blinks.
Lao
I wouldn't understand? (Eyes narrow) Do you know where I'm from, Ta?
Ta stops in her tracks.
Lao
No, you don't. You never even asked.
Ta hangs her head low.
Ta
I thought you were born in the Capitol…
Lao
(Rolls her eyes) Who knows… Maybe I was…
Ta snickers and shakes her head.
Ta
So you should be rooting for them to show up. They can take you back to your lover.
Lao
What?!
Ta
Whatever! Let's just go back!
Ta grabs the ladder and climbs back up to street level.
Cut to the group in silhouette. Their shadows are projected on the wall of a large tent, lit by a crackling fire.
We see Oni's shadow lean forward and spoon some soup into a bowl. He hands the bowl off to Teepo's shadow, then grabs another bowl for himself.
Crackle
Lao's foot is tapping, tapping, tapping. The camera pans up to her nervous face, which Ta glances at before grabbing a bowl. She fills it up, pauses, then hands it to Lao.
Lao looks at the bowl.
Ta
Hey, Oni.
Oni breaks away from Ayana to answer.
Oni
Yeah?
Ta
Where are you from?
Oni raises his eyebrow, then he sinks.
Oni
Um…
Ayana
(Leaning in) He's been dreading that question since the day you two met.
Ta
Huh?
Aya grabs a bowl for herself and fills it up, looking at Oni.
Ayana
Well? You gonna tell her or should I?
Oni scratches his face, stalling.
Ta
It's not a big deal.
Oni
Yeah… My dad was a captain… In the Imperial Army…
Ta
Oh. I see.
Ta looks away, taking a spoonful of soup.
Oni
But he pretty much disowned me as soon as he found out what I wanted to do with my life.
Ta
Theater.
Oni nods, sipping soup out of the bowl.
Ta
He wanted you to join him?
Oni
(Shrugs) Who knows what that guy wanted. He talked in code.
Ayana
He didn't even remember your mom's name.
Oni
Yep! So… Make of that what you will.
Oni rolls his eyes and sips more soup out of the bowl. Ta glances at Lao again, before standing up.
Ta
I'm gonna get some fresh air.
Lao watches Ta disappear behind the flap of the tent, then she looks back at the fire. Ten pillars of shadow curl and uncurl. Lao is warming her fingers.
Oni stares at the flap.
Oni
I wonder what her folks were like.
Ayana
(Nods) King and Queen.
Cut to Ta, in a long shot, walking through the campsite behind the ruins of the old tavern. She finds Su rifling through a chest full of tools. Then she finds one and throws it to the side.
Su
Stupid wrench… (She looks up) Ta.
Ta nods
Su
Now the backdoor is loose on its hinges and I'm just… (Frustrated sigh) How are you?
Cut to Ta and Su strolling down the main street.
Ta
I don't know. It's an enormous job. Not sure if there's enough of us.
Su
So you don't think we should bother?
Ta
Well…
Su
(Covetously wiggling her fingers) Think of all the warm water…
Ta
Yeah, we could stop using Teepo every time we want to take a bath.
Su
(Raises her eyebrow) Using? That kid loves to help. (Grins) You especially.
Ta shrugs.
They continue their stroll, passing by a chipped monument covered with words. At the bottom, two names with a crown above them.
Tara and Kobo.
Ta glances at the monument, then back at Su, who looks away, crestfallen. Ta continues to stare at Su unblinkingly, until she finally looks Ta in the face.
Su
I'm sorry.
Ta shakes her head.
Ta
I know you know. And you're gonna tell me right now.
Su blinks in surprise.
Ta
Are they dead?
Su looks away, wincing.
Su
Would you like it if I told you they were dead?
Ta
(Confused, narrowing her eyes) If it was the truth...
Su
Well, they're not dead, as far as I know. But… They probably wish they were.
Ta blinks, she takes a deep breath.
Ta
You mean…?
Su
They were shipped to a silver mine.
Ta
Okay… Well.. That's not the worst thing… Some are better than others… Less security…
Su
Yeah…
Su is nervously straightening out the fur lining of her coat.
Ta
So…
Su turns back to Ta.
Ta
Which mine?
And then Su looks down.
Su
Dont…
Ta
What company took them?
Su
Ta… You don't think you're going to-
Ta
Yes. I'm going to find them and I'm going to bring them back here so they can rule again. That's the plan.
Su's brow furrows with worry and pity.
Ta
Don't look at me like that. What company?
Su still doesn't look at Ta.
Ta
(Slowly) Tell me.
Su
(Sighs) The Zofo Mining Company.
Ta runs her hands down her face and closes her eyes.
Ta
Zofo. (Shakes her head) Of course.
Su
You know their reputation. You can't go there.
Ta is already narrowing her eyes, her head buzzing with plans. Su watches warily, before looking up and going wide-eyed.
Su
Look.
Ta looks up to see an aurora lighting the night sky.
Through a small hole in her tent, Lao stares up at the aurora. Then she closes her eyes to meditate. A moment later, the flap opens and Ta makes her way inside, sitting on the bed behind Lao.
Beat. Lao hums quietly. Along with that, we hear the wind rustle the polar bison fur lining the tent.
Then Ta looks over Lao's shoulder. She puts her hands on Lao's shoulders, giving her a massage. Lao smiles, leaning her head back. Ta works her way up Lao's neck until her fingers are on Lao's temples, massaging them.
Ta
Hey.
Lao
Hey.
Ta
Look at me.
Lao turns around to face Ta. They stare at each other in an uneasy calm.
Ta
I think you're right. About leaving.
Lao looks relieved yet sad as she nods. She grabs Ta's hand.
Lao
I'm sorry… You know-
Ta
(Devious grin) I'm gonna infiltrate the Zofo Mining Company.
Lao
Wait, what?
Ta
They have my parents.
Lao doesn't respond for a while, then she squeezes Ta's hand.
Lao
Okay…
Ta
Okay?
Lao
Let's talk about this tomorrow.
Ta nods and turns back to the sky.
Soon, the two of them lie down, wearing vastly different expressions. But time goes on. The camera slowly zooms in on them and their expressions seem to converge. One startling emotion shared between the two of them. And then a slow fade to black.
Little princess-shoes are running down the street. 8 year old Ta is dashing through the twisty streets of Aikira. A wealthy neighborhood, dotted with large halls and manors. Ta leaps past a backyard koi pond and over the fence.
Her friend's giggle and grunt in the background, chasing her unseen, but their voices fade into the distance. Then it's just the sound of Ta's shoes hitting the ice.
Click-Clack Click-Clack
She runs and runs, passing under a gate which leads to a long, straight road. On either side, pillars with blue glacier gargoyles on top.
The road leads to an opening. She charges through, greeted by a platoon of hissing, barking eel-hounds. Their riders are Kamakoi soldiers, here for the fun.
Then a familiar voice.
Oni
Ta! Help me!
Ta wakes up, jolting out of bed. Lao is already running past the flap of the tent. Ta follows.
On the other side of a tavern, we watch Oni and Ayana get dragged out of their tent. A pair of Kamakoi soldiers have them in their clutches.
Oni
(Squirming) Let me go!
Ayana takes a bite out of S2's arm. He yells in pain, before punching her in the head.
S2
She's feral!
Ayana winces in pain, then she meets eyes with Oni. Fear and love. Regret. They silently communicate.
Finally arriving, Ta and Lao stop in her tracks.
Heartbeat
The camera slowly pans over the details and insignias of the Kamakoi uniform, worn by S1. Then, a close up of Ta, her gaze following. Eventually, she makes eye contact with Soldier 1. He practically jumps.
S1
(Gasp) Aha! There you are, you little brat!
S2 looks over and grins.
S2
See? I told you! I told you she would be here!
S1
Your little theory was right. Everyone just wants to go home. (Oni wriggles from his grasp. He tightens it) Hey! Don't do anything stupid!
S1 forms an ice dagger and holds it to Oni's throat. S2 does the same with Ayana.
Lao
What do you want?!
Lao is ready to fight, but Ta is frozen.
S2
Little miss moon princess over here ran away from her husband.
S1
Yeah. (To Ta) How long did you think you were gonna be able to hide from him? He's the Emperor!
Ta suddenly narrows her eyes.
S2
Anyway, I'm sick of getting bossed around by a bunch of senile chumps in an endless war. Instead, I'm gonna bring you back to the Emperor, he's gonna shower me with gold, and I'm gonna move to a tropical island somewhere.
S1
Me too. (Glances suspiciously at S2)
S2
So come on, missy. Your little rebellion is over. Let's go.
Ta boils up with defiant rage.
Ta
No!
Then she raises a stream of water and gets into position. The soldiers jump in surprise, holding Oni and Ayana even tighter.
S2
We read a report about you. What you did to junior private Amatsu… (Shaking his head) We won't underestimate you like he did.
Ta glances at Lao. Then back at them.
S1
But listen! Listen! You don't want to be responsible for your friend's demise! Right?
S2
No, no, no.
S1
This doesn't have to be a big to-do. If you just come with us, we promise we'll let them go! No funny business.
S2 and S1 glance at each other.
S2
Yeah. We promise.
Cut to a close up of Ta. She blinks.
Then we flash back to when Ta was first captured, many months ago. Admiral Tarakano is looming over her in the burning moonlight. Eelhounds snarling all around them.
Tarakano
Listen to me, Ta. I will make one solemn promise. As long as you come with us, no further harm will fall upon your beloved city.
Behind him are the mighty snow spires of Aikira.
Rising strings
We cut back to the present, in the very same spot. In slow motion, Ta's eyes slowly turn to the side. Then to the other side. Behind the soldiers, Aikira lies in ruin. The spires are gone. She fixes her bitter gaze back on them.
Ta
You promise?
And she stands her ground.
Again, the soldiers glance at each other. Oni and Ayana glance at each other. Ta winds back, and suddenly everything is in motion.
Almost as instinct, S2 plunges the ice dagger into Ayana's neck.
Ta gasps, her stream just misses S2, blood spurting through the arc. Oni's eyes widen and he screams.
Oni
NO!
Oni raises a stream of water, pummels S1's face with it, but soon Oni has a dagger in his neck too.
Ayani and Oni fall to the ground. The soldiers step into the pool of blood as they walk past them.
Ta is once again frozen, only moving when Lao yanks her out of frame.
On the other side of the tavern, Teepo steps out of his tent, yawning in confusion.
Teepo
Where is everyone?
Suddenly, Ta and Lao come racing around the corner, speeding towards him.
Lao
COME ON!
Teepo
Wait, what's happening?
Ta
We have to go.
S2
(In the distance) Come on, little miss moonlight! Where you gonna go?
Teepo's eyes widen, then he snarls angrily.
Teepo
How dare they?! I'm gonna-
Ta
(Hand over his mouth) No. Run.
Teepo looks at her with sudden fear, then he nods his head. The 3 of them bolt out of there towards a tunnel.
Ta
Come on! Inside.
They run inside the tunnel, before Ta bends a small avalanche of snow over the entrance.
TENSE CHASE MUSIC
Three pairs of shoes tear down the street, through the twisty skeleton of Aikira. The three run for a while, hearing distant voices all around them, until they stop behind an archway to catch their breath. Then a horn bellows in the distance.
Brrrmmmmmm…
Lao's eyes widen.
Lao
Why would they…?
A distinct voice is heard, not too far away.
Soldier 3
Did you hear that?
Soldier 4
Shh! I know! That explains the footsteps.
Ta, Lao and Teepo look at each other in panic. Then Ta motions for them to follow her. They climb over a fence into a jumble of apartments. Ta forms a block of ice, slams it through a glass window and the three of them duck inside.
For a while, they sit on the floor of the small apartment, listening for sounds outside. Then Teepo narrows his eyes.
Teepo
Wait a second… (Worried) Where's Oni and Ayana?
Ta and Lao glaze over with grief. They don't even need to answer. Teepo looks down, his eyes welling up with tears.
Lao
I'm sorry.
Teepo shakes his head. Ta looks down with immense guilt.
Teepo
(Snarling) They are gonna pay for this… I swear…
Ta
(Shaking her head) Why did you come here? Why did you follow me? Why are you so stupid?
Lao
Ta!
Ta
I'm a failure! Don't you understand?! I'll never achieve anything in my stupid little life, and you all should have known that! You should have known!
Lao turns away, but Teepo looks straight into Ta's eyes. He grabs her hand.
Teepo
Hey… It was an honor fighting with you, Princess Ta.
Ta looks up with a wobbly smile.
Teepo
And it's not over yet.
Ta wipes her tears and nods.
Ta
If we can get back to the ship, we might have a chance. But who knows how many of those soldiers are out there?
Teepo stands up.
Teepo
I saw a staircase to the top floor outside. Maybe I can get a lay of the land.
Ta
Okay. But be careful.
Teepo
(Nods, smirking) When am I anything else?
Lao
Knock three times, like this: (Knock-knock… Knock) So we know it's you at the door.
Teepo nods, saluting to them both.
Then he opens the door a crack, peering out before he exits, closing the door behind him.
Ta and Lao gaze at each other wearing complicated expressions. Then Lao reaches and runs her hand through Ta's hair.
Lao
I miss your long hair.
Ta looks down and chuckles.
Ta
Me too. (Sigh) You were right, like always. I never should have… Cut it.
Lao
(Shrug) But if you didn't cut it, you never would have known you prefer it long.
Ta
I don't think it was worth it to know…
Lao nods her head. The two stare at each other for a while more.
Lao
You proved something, Ta-
Knock-knock… Knock
They look at each other. Lao stands up, goes to open the door,
Thunk!
-Revealing Teepo, who is wobbling back and forth.
Teepo
(Pained) I'm sorry…
Then Teepo tips over and drops to the floor, an ice dagger sticking out of his back. The camera pans up to see Soldier's 3 and 4 stepping through the doorway.
INTENSE STRINGS
Soldier 3
Princess. Why do you insist on-
S3 gets blasted into the corner of the room by a gust of air. Lao winds up for another one as Ta breaks off a chunk of the wall. S4 narrowly misses the ice block, making one of his own.
Chaos. Ice blocks and daggers being thrown in every direction. S4 seems poised to hit Ta with a devastating blow, before Lao knocks him off his feet with an air blast. She grabs a cooking pot and goes for his head, but he soon has her arm in his grip, twisting it until she drops the pot. Then Lao punches him in the nose with her other hand.
Ta and S3 are squaring up, keeping their distance as they try to hit each other with parts of the room.
We see the fight through a window from outside the small apartment. The whole structure shakes as S3 hits the wall. Then an ice dagger shatters through the window.
Ta is using an overturned table as cover, shooting pieces of it at S3 until he bends the table forward, pinning Ta to the corner. Ta bends it off of herself, towards him, but he leaps over it. Then Lao gets a gust of wind under his feet and knocks him into the ceiling, before letting him fall back to the floor. But she has her eyes off of S4
And an ice block smacks into the side of Lao's head. She goes down. Ta's eyes go wide.
Ta
(Bloodcurdling) LAO!
Then S4 snatches Ta, carrying her to the door as she kicks and screams.
S4
Ugh! What a pain in the ass you are! They should've just-
He almost has her out of the apartment until he slips on Teepo's blood and falls to the floor.
Then Ta takes a bite out of his arm and he yells in pain. She's slipping out of his grasp. He tries to hold on, but she starts clawing at him like a feral cat.
Ta finally slips out, before screaming and bringing a chunk of the ceiling down on topof him.
Now the whole apartment is wobbling, buckling.
Ta
Come on!
Ta grabs Lao and they run out of the door. As they escape into the distance, the apartment complex comes crashing to the ground.
Ta and Lao make their way south, surrounded by strange shapes large and small, blurring past them. Then Ta glances at Lao.
Ta
You okay?
Lao
(Rubbing her head) Yeah, I think so.
Ta nods and looks forward. Lao retracts her hand and glances at a spot of blood.
Cut to a wide shot of the city. Ta and Lao are as small as dots, running through a sprawling sculpture garden. To the south is the amphitheater and beyond that, the docks.
Ta
(VO) We're so close, Lao. All we have to do is make it past the amphitheater and our ship is waiting for us.
The camera pans down to The Lion-Turtle, which has been punctured. The ship is halfway on its side, filling with water.
Cut back to Ta and Lao as they run down the steps and onto the stage of the amphitheater.
Ta notices Lao slowing down beside her, then coming to a complete stop. Lao grabs onto her head again. As Ta walks closer, she notices a trail of blood trickling between Lao's fingers.
Ta
Lao?
Lao
It's warm.
Then she falls to the ground.
Ta
No, no, no. Don't do this.
Ta sits over Lao and holds her hand to the side of Lao's head. She sees the blood on her fingers.
Lao
I don't feel so good…
Ta
Come on, we're almost there, Lao! Don't do this to me!
Lao moans in pain, then Ta frantically shakes her head.
Ta
It's okay! It's okay! I can heal you.
Ta wipes the blood off on her coat, then she bends a stream of water out from the ground. She suspends the water around Lao's temples, her hands hovering around them. Then the water begins to glow.
Ta
See?
Lao nods her head slowly, then she begins to close her eyes. An anxious bit of music pipes in.
Ta
No, don't close your eyes. Come on, Lao.
Ta's face becomes more desperate at the sight of Lao's worsening state.
Ta
Come on! Please! (Grits her teeth) Please!
Lao
Ta? I don't think I'm gonna make it...
Ta
Yes you are! Yes you are! Don't say that.
Lao moans in pain.
Ta
Say it with me. 'I am going to be fine.' Say it with me, Lao.
Lao stares up at her, expressionless.
Ta
Say it with me. 'I am going to be just fine.'
Pause, and then Lao slowly responds to her.
Lao
(Monotone) I can't say that.
Ta
(Tears) Why not?!
Lao
…Because I can't lie right now.
Odd beat…
Ta blinks, and then her eyes suddenly go wide.
Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…
The buzzing sound, stable and even. The electric blue light. Everything in its right place.
Ta looks back down at Lao.
Ta
Lao… I'm doing it. Can you believe it?
Lao
I suppose I can.
Ta
(Laughing and crying) I'm sorry… That I'm doing this to you… Especially now…
Lao doesn't respond.
Ta
Am I a terrible person?
Lao
You've done terrible things. But you're like a sister to me. I forgave you for most of them.
Ta
Most of them?
Lao
Yes.
Ta
Okay… Which ones did you not forgive me about?
Lao
The crew of the Lion-turtle.
Ta sighs.
Ta
They were innocent.
Lao
Yes.
Ta
But they were Kamakoi. And you know how they probably got those goods.
Lao doesn't respond. Ta looks up at the steps of the amphitheater.
Ta
It doesn't matter now. I figured it out, Lao. I finally figured it out. (Sigh) Maybe I didn't kill all those people for no reason… (Beat) Right?
She looks back at Lao, whose face has stopped moving.
Ta
…Lao?
Wide shot. Ta looks down at her friend for a long time.
Nothing but the waves crashing and the howl of the cold wind.
Ta stands on the southern edge of the island. She stares down at the sea, contemplating her next decision.
Clink-
She hears armor.
S1
(Distant) She went this way.
Ta shakes her head
Ta
No.
The waves pound ferociously at the icy rocks beneath her feet. She looks down with grim resignation.
Ta
Never again.
S2
(Closer) I see her footprints.
The soldiers are getting closer. Ta steadies herself, planting her feet, getting ready for the plunge…
But then- The whistle of a projectile.
BOOM!
Bits of ice rain down. Two Kamakoi soldiers scramble out of the charred remains of the alleyway.
Then another whistle.
BOOM!
S1
What is that?!
S2
It's the Kyoko Division!
Ta hears this, raising her eyebrow, then she looks over to see a huge ship making its way around the shoreline. A familiar huge ship…
Crewmate
Fire!
The ship's crew ignites a large oily stone and then catapults it at the soldiers.
Whistle… BOOM!
The soldiers just barely avoid the shrapnel and start running the other way.
S2
The stupid princess isn't even worth it! Come on, let's go!
Ta looks back with dizzy confusion. Her foot slips off the cliff and she frantically grabs onto a fencepost, before waterbending a steady platform of ice beneath her.
Whistle… BOOM!
Ta covers her head from the icy projectiles flying over her, then she climbs back onto the cliffside and hides behind a fencepost.
The massive shadow of the ship grinds to a slow halt.
In the distance, a crew member stands on top of the crows nest along with 3 others. She is attempting to feed a rope tether through the slot. Then she looks up at them.
Crewmate 1
Some help here, pretty please!
Another one nods and yanks it through the slot. He attaches a metal claw to the end of the rope, before swinging it over his head. He throws it toward the cliffside.
Ta jumps out of the way as the claw catches on the side of the post.
The four of them grab hold and zipline onto the island, surrounding Ta as she tries to run. She stops and slowly looks around at them with blank, tired eyes. They don't look like Kamakoi soldiers.
Their boots dig into the icy street. Crewmate 1 finally comes into focus as she marches over.
Zota Phong
Princess Ta. Isn't it?
Zota holds up a scrap of paper with an etching of young Ta on it. She glances at the etching, then back at Ta.
Zota
Yeah, that's you. (No response) Hands.
Azuran, (Crewmate 2) Ties up Ta's hands with a rope. Then Ta and Zota find themselves face to face.
Zota
You're coming with us.
TO BE CONTINUED…