The sun was bright that morning, with the birds chirping and the wind gently rustling the trees. The forest they had traveled through the day had been quaint, and comfortable, to say the least. A small stream ran behind the camp, calmly providing a sereness to the dusk the four teenagers found themselves in.
Valrik hated it.
It wasn't because of the setting, on the contrary. He loved the forest, the woods he had spent his childhood running amok in with his siblings were fond memories. On an autumn day, the leaves would crunch and crackle like fire, a soothing noise for him as he breathed the cool air, pure and radiant. Nothing like the smogginess and smoke of home. Nothing like the bustle and the loudness of the castle.
No, he loved the woods back home, the mystery in the murky groves and depths. But he hated this forest, bright and red-leafed, as he sat upon the dirt and read the book his Grandfather had given him for the journey. It was a dictionary of some sort, a translation guide for the local language. He hated it. Long and complicated, their writings were symbols rather than words. He hated this foreign food, with long ropes of a strange pasta they called "New-dulls." He hated these people, these…idiots he was stuck with! They kept on talking about what to eat between a rock and some acorns. Maybe they were nuts? Did they even have nuts in this backwater continent? Was this even a continent? Grandfather made mention of four, Four Nations. Were they all landmasses? And the less said about the Malt Incident, the better.
No, he was not bitter that the liquor he was able to stash away was unjustly and unknowingly taken from him. To imply otherwise was an attack on his standing.
This was why Valrik hated his situation. The lack of clarity, knowledge, the fullness of the unknown. Mysteries were fun when you could be a participant in how they were solved. Valrik felt like a stranger in his skin right now, stuck here without any foothold in the door.
The company he found himself entangled with did no better to calm his grumblings. The one called Sokka was defending his choice of meal gathering, trying to gnaw at the rock…unsuccessfully. Valrik scoffed. How in Solon's name had he managed to be indebted to this buffoon?
Sokka noticed his displeasure and glared at the Saoghalian. "What? You think you can do better?"
Valrik scoffed. "I can better do than you." Sokka snorted at his response, causing the boy to glare. "What?"
"It's 'do better', not 'better do.'"
Valrik felt his face flush, and his forehead grew hot with embarrassment. "Your language…hard. Too many things say."
"Right, sure." Sokka cheekily grinned to match Valriks's scowl. It was a challenge, one that the Saoghalian wanted to accept badly. He felt his fist tighten.
"Stop being mean Sokka." Katara smacked her brother's shoulder lightly. "He's learning a whole new language, it's not fair." She would have continued, but the sudden thudding in the distance interrupted her.
THUDD
The ground shook.
"What was that?" Sokka asked the group. The small "Lee-mur" they named Momo was hitting a rock…with another rock. Did it think it caused the earthquake?
THUDD
"It's coming from over there!" Aang pointed to the west. He grabbed his staff from off the ground and bolted towards the disturbance, Katara right behind him along with the lemur.
"Shouldn't we run away from huge booms? Not toward them?" Sokka threw up his hands in exasperation, before sharing a glance with Valrik, who only raised an eyebrow. "Ok, I'm not eating them too, alright? Shut up."
Valrik chuckled to himself as he followed Sokka in pursuing the other two.
It wasn't a long run, but it gave Valrik enough time to think. What could be the source of these disturbances? Was it a Fae? Did they even have the Fae over here on the other side of the world? He didn't remember any of the stories mentioning earthquakes, especially nothing the Magisters taught him when he was younger.
His answer came when he joined the other two peering behind a tree root. It was…a boy, around their age, lifting the rocks into the air as if by a thought!
"Draíocht!" Valrik whispered to himself. If the others heard what he said, they didn't show it.
"An Earthbender!" Katara observed as the boy smashed a boulder into the dirt crevasse he stood in.
"Let's go meet him!" Aang exclaimed but was stopped by Sokka.
"He looks dangerous, so we better approach cautiously." The teenager spoke, but before he could continue…
"HELLO THERE! I'M KATARA! WHAT'S YOUR NAME?" When did she get over there? Valrik hadn't noticed her move at all! The boy gasped in surprise at the unannounced guests and began to run. He bent an avalanche of rocks behind him, blocking the path forward for the four of them.
"Nice to meet you!" Aang called out.
"I just wanted to say hi." Katara mumbled to herself.
Valrik stayed silent, observing the rocks that he had just seen were flying. They were just normal rocks. No tricks, no anything to mark them as fake or false. These lands were full of this… not-magic.
What had these people done to be so blessed by the gods, that his own homeland was passed over for?
"Hey! That guy's gotta be running somewhere. Maybe we're near a village? And I bet that village has a market!" He heard Aang bring up. Valrik turned to look at the other three agreeing with that idea. Something about "not having nuts for dinner." It was a tempting idea.
"Wait wait wait, we can't just go to a village! Y'know, the Camelephant in the room." Sokka hissed out, pointing to Valriks direction. The Saoghalian crossed his arms. "Look at him, he can barely speak our language!"
"I hear you."
"Shhh, no you don't," Sokka whispered back. "We can't just bring him into town!"
"Why not? We bring Aang into towns all the time and we're fine."
"Cause people are stupid! But they ain't stupid enough to see someone who can't talk to them!"
"Then…how about we just ask him to talk as little as possible?" Aang suggested, before facing Valrik. "Hey Val, can you not talk to people for a bit?"
"Do not treat a child me," Valrik responded, before realizing his grammatical error. "...yes."
"Problem solved!" Aang said, before running past the siblings and following the path set by the Earthbender. He easily leaped over the rocks, before continuing down the path. Katara ran after him, climbing over the rocks instead.
"Am I the only smart person here?" Sokka bemoaned to himself.
Valrik brushed past him, giving him a shoulder check along the way. "Bog leat leathcheann."
"I don't know what that means, but I know it's an insult!"
"Good, learn you." Valrik smirked, before realizing his mistake. "Cacamas."
XXX
The town was…quaint. That was the best way Valrik could describe it; quaint. Small houses, and small roads, all lined up along one road. It reminded him of a village back in Caebrasil, simple. Valrik walked behind Katara and Sokka, keeping to himself as he watched Aang trade the nuts in exchange for a hat. He thought he heard Aang say "Nice hat."
It was a nice hat, he couldn't deny it.
Katara followed the boy from earlier into a small shop, where the boy was arguing with an older woman. His mother, more likely than not.
"Hey. You're that kid. Why did you run away before?" She asked him. The boy gasped as he turned to face her.
"Uh, you must have me confused with some other kid." He stammered out, before Aang, Sokka, and Valrik entered.
"No, she doesn't. We saw you earthbending." Aang commented. He didn't expect the two of them to gasp and for the mother to bolt past him, slamming closed all the doors and windows.
"They saw you doing what Haru?" She hissed, fear riding on top of the venom in her voice.
"Th-they're crazy, Mom! I mean, look at how they're dressed." The boy cried out, pointing to the four of them. Aang looked at his hat, shifting it about. Katara awkwardly picked at her dress and looked at herself with some astonishment. Sokka for his part raised an eyebrow and smoothed out his sleeve. Valrik instead looked at his tunic and vest. It was rather conspicuous compared to the others.
"You know how dangerous that is! You know what would happen iftheycaught you earthbending!" She shot out at her son, grasping him by the side of his shoulders
Valrik was tempted to ask who, but held his tongue for two reasons. No matter how much he loathed admitting it, Sokka was correct in his assessment of his skills with the local language. If he couldn't put him in his place with proper grammar, what use would he have to talk to other people?
The second reason was because of the knocking on the door.
PANK
PANK
PANK
"Open up!" The voice was loud, demanding, and authoritarian. Sokka crept towards the blinds, peering through a small crack.
"Fire Nation! Act natural!" He whispered to everyone else. Valrik's eyes shot wide as he scrambled to find cover, find someplace to hide himself! He ducked behind the counter, lying prone to minimize his height, as what training had dictated. He heard the door open, and a set of footsteps.
THUNK
THUNK
THUNK
A beat. Silence. Valrik stayed still, incredibly still, for what seemed like an hour, before some crashing noise echoed through the small room, and a small "Ah!" came out. The Saoghalian peered out from behind the counter and saw them…posing. What? Why were they posing? Why did they think to do that? Was he in a party of fools?
Why was Aang half submerged in a barrel of water?
"What do you want? I've already paid you this week!" Haru's mother snarled at the Tax Collector.
"The tax just doubled." He snorted in response. " And we wouldn't want an accident, would we?" His voice was smug, and his movements were smooth, full of arrogance as he conjured a ball of flame between his hands. " Fire…is sometimes so hard to control. Wouldn't you say?"
Haru's mother sighed, before walking behind the counter. She glanced down at Valrik, lying down, and raised an eyebrow at it.
Valrik raised a finger to his mouth, hoping that the sign for "shhh" was universal rather than constrained at home. It seemed like it was.
She grabbed a small box from a cubby, wooden with a dull metal lock. Placing it on the counter, she opened it. Valrik couldn't see it, on account of being on the floor, but it didn't take a genius to guess what was inside.
"You can keep the copper ones." The Tax collector said as he took his take, dropping several coins to the ground. His footsteps soon parted, out of the store as the door slammed shut behind him as Haru's mother scrambled to collect.
"Nice guy," Sokka commented. "How long has the Fire Nation been here?"
"Five years. Fire Lord Ozai uses our town's coal mines to fuel his ships."
"They're thugs. They steal from us. And everyone here's too much of a coward to do anything about it." Haru spat out bitterly, much to the chagrin of his mother.
"Quiet, Haru! Don't talk like that." She gave him a light smack to his shoulder. Valrik stood up when he was sure that no other Fire Nation soldiers would barge into the building.
"But, Haru's an earthbender? He can help!" Katara interjected, her curiosity rising, as well as her concern. "My father always told me of how powerful Earthebenders were, how can you not let him fight?"
"You don't understand-"
"I understand that Haru can help you fight back. What can the Fire Nation do to you that they haven't done already?"
"Because they could take Haru away! Like they took his father! And his Aunt! His uncle, his cousin, everyone!" Haru's mother shouted back, much to the horror of Katara, Sokka, and Aang. Valrik stood there, unsure of himself.
The older woman sighed, before leaning against the counter. "Haru, can you show them outside? We need to talk."
"Ok, Mom." He sullenly said, before taking them out through the back door. The yard was small, and enclosed. Enough privacy for the four of them. "I'll be right back, I guess," Haru said, before closing the door.
"I…I can't believe it." Katara muttered to herself. "This is horrible."
"All those people…" Aang echoed. "Why would anyone do that?" He asked but was only met with a grunt from Valrik.
"War. All for war." The Saoghalian said. "Makes sense. Take warrior away, can't fight back. Smart."
"How can you say something like that?" Katara hissed at him, getting right into his face. Valrik, a bit wary, leaned back.
"Earth…Gluaisreoir Domhanda are strong, contúirteach. Take away, no one to fight you. What anyone smart do."
Katara gasped at his words, giving Valrik a mighty glare of disgust. "What is wrong with you?!"
"Me? I say just the truth! It's smart of Fire people!" He nearly shouted back, wary of peering eyes and curious ears. They didn't need the trouble.
"How heartless can you be?" She shouted, but before she could continue…
"Uhm…my mom said you can stay the night at the barn…is this the wrong time?" Haru had returned, holding several blankets, a few pillows threatening to spill out from his hands. Katara glared at Valrik, who returned it in kind before she scoffed and shoulder-checked past him to speak with Haru. The boy watched her walk, before muttering to himself "Cad leathcheann."
"What was that?!" Sokka hissed at Valrik, getting right up in his face. Blue eyes met Grey, a standoff. Valrik felt his hand curl up, forming a fist. Sokka did as well.
"Hey, it's been a long day you two, how about we get some sleep for the night? Maybe we'll all feel better after some rest?" Aang popped in between the two, his bald head separating the stare-down between the two teenagers, a nervous smile creaking upwards.
"...pé rud." Valrik spat, before shoulder checking the older of the two boys aside to follow after Haru and Katara. Sokka scowled at him, his eyes following his every step.
"What a jerk. Can't believe he came with us." He mumbled, before walking away himself. Aang stood there, alone. Momo, flying back from his forage, scrambled up his leg and onto his shoulder, chirping at the Avatar.
"I'm ok Momo, just…anxious I guess." Aang responded, giving his pet lemur a scratch on the chin. "He's been like this ever since Dorji had him tag along. And the less said about the Malt incident, the better."
Momo squeaked in response, perking his head to the side.
"Yeah, I know, right? Not my fault we didn't know that those were meant for drinking! It looked like oil, and he did say that we could use some of his stuff for setting up camp, so really it's his fault for not telling us!"
The lemur chirped again.
"Ok, fair…we should have asked first. Thanks, Momo, I can always count on your advice!" Aang replied merrily, and with a skip in his step went after his companions. Next door, a neighbor watched in a mixture of aghast horror and bewilderment at the weird boy talking to the lemur-like it was a person. They then resolved to stop drinking before the evening hours, as it was making him see things. Maybe he'd take up that Cabbage merchants offer the other day when he rolled into town, and drink some Cabbage juice instead.
XXX
The farmhouse they were brought to was large enough to fit Appa in, who had immediately rushed to the piles of hay to gorge himself upon. The behemoth was the only "companion" of his that Valrik tolerated. The beast of burden has a soulful look in his eyes, even if they seem to hold a grudge from their first encounter.
As Katara and Haru left the building, the waterbender shot a glare at the Saoghalian, one that he returned in kind. The two had no love lost between them.
"We shouldn't get so comfortable tonight, I'd like to leave as soon as we can," Sokka stated as he unrolled his blanket. "We got a lot of ground to cover."
"You sure Sokka? This place seems nice, and Haru and his Mom are letting us stay here." Aang commented, feeding Momo some berries he collected from a bush outside.
"Completely. We have a tight schedule to keep, and I'd rather avoid another blowout between Katara and Crabby-Pants-Sir-ee here." He gestured towards Valrik, who was busy…scribbling something in a small notebook. Or was he writing? Sokka couldn't tell, he didn't care either.
"Yeah…that wasn't fun." Aang grimaced, rubbing the back of his head. He glanced at the Saoghalian, who noticed his discomfort, shooting the Avatar a glare. Aang turned away, embarrassed at his staring. "Anything I can do to help unpack?"
"Nah, we ain't staying for long, so no need to. Just sleeping stuff." Sokka said as he placed his blanket on a hay pile in the corner. Aang nodded as he leaped up on top of Appa's saddle to grab his toothbrush. He passed over a pile of assorted supplies, and memory told him that it was Valriks.
It was a medley of various objects and bags. A bottle or two, a knife, parchments with his language scrawled on them, and several changes of clothing as well. What stuck out to Aang was the Flintlock. He had learned what those…things were called, those sticks that had cracked like thunder and…killed those Fire Nation Soldiers. He could still remember it, the noises. The thuds of the bodies. It kept him up at night.
Aang heard movement from behind him and turned to see Valrik down below. "Need anything Valrik?" Aang asked, hoping that he couldn't hear the twinge of fear in his voice.
Valrik nodded. "Need bag please, have…tooth clean." The teenager grimaced at his broken language. "Aislingí, is fuath liom an teanga seo."
"I'm…sorry?"
"Scuab fiacla. A...tooth…clean…thing."
"You mean…toothbrush?" Aang held out his own, and Valrik visibly brightened at it.
"Sea, tá! Go raibh maith agat leis an Aisling tá a fhios agat cad is scuab fiacla ann." His elation was rather loud, loud enough for him to start blushing. Clearing his throat, Valrik spoke again. "Yes, that. In my bag, please?"
"Yeah, sure." Aang smiled, before throwing Valrik his bag. It was made of leather, and had several pockets and straps. Valrik nodded at Aang, before walking to his corner. Aang watched him the entire time, staring at his retreating form.
"Y'know, it's really creepy when people stare." Sokka said, piping up out of nowhere. Aang jumped a little when he heard him. Though of course, his jumping meant he hit the roof of the barn with his head. Landing softly on Appa, he rubbed his head where it impacted.
"I didn't mean to stare at him, really."
"It's not like I don't believe you, it's just…" Sokka hesitated, before sighing. "Guy's a huge jerk, we can agree on that right?"
"He's not a jerk…all of the time." Aang meekly rebutted. He couldn't keep it up, Valrik had been getting on everyone's nerves ever since they had met him. His constant aggravation, his refusal to help them with anything besides the basic necessities. He had complained constantly, and would argue with anyone at any time! Had he just been a little nicer, then everyone would be getting along! Why was he such a jerk all the time?
The Barn door opened as Aang was stuck in his thoughts, and Katara had entered the barn. "You won't believe what just happened!" She said, excited. She then regaled them of what had transpired, of how they rescued an old man stuck underneath a collapsing mine. How Haru had earthbended an entire collapsing mine open long enough to save his fellow villager.
"It was so brave of Haru to use his earthbending to help that old man." Katara said as she rolled out her blanket.
"You must have really inspired him." Aang said as he lay on top of Appa's head.
"I mean…I guess so." Katara blushed, her cheeks going rosy red. Valrik scoffed, which caused her to return one in kind. Aang grimaced at it, the two of them still were going at it, hours separated from the argument.
"Everyone should get some sleep, we're leaving at dawn." Sokka interrupted, dragging his sleeping bag across the floor, close to the door.
"Dawn?! Can't we sleep in for once?" Katara moaned as she flopped onto her own. "I'm sure we can get breakfast in the morning that isn't rocks."
"Absolutely not! This village is crawling with Fire Nation troops. If they discover you're here, Aang, we'll be eating fireballs for breakfast." Sokka growled as he shifted around in his bag. "And for your information, those were nuts!"
"Sure, just nuts."
"I hear that smirk and I do not care for it!" He hissed at his sister, causing her and Aang to giggle in response. "Goodnight."
"Rather eat fireballs that rocks." Katara giggled, which made Aang explode in laughter.
"Goodnight!"
XXX
When morning hit the next day, Valrik decided that he would be more lenient with his new compatriots. After all, if he was stuck with them and them with him, what else was there to do but try and cooperate? Perhaps they would not be friends, despite Grandfather's wishes, but maybe they could achieve a sort of peace.
That resolve had gone out a metaphorical embrasure when Katara announced her plan after that morning's revelation. Haru had been betrayed, taken by the Fire Nation in the dead of night, and Katara wanted to rescue him.
"You insane! Mad!" Valrik shouted at the Waterbender's idea. "You die!"
"Well, someone has to stand up and fight for others!" Katara screamed at him, raising her arms in agonized frustration as she stomped closer to him. "Haru doesn't deserve this, no one does!"
"Mission is more important! Can't save everyone!"
"Oh, like you care at all about other people!" Katara hissed, practically butting heads with Valrik as they stared each other down. It was a duel of wills, stubbornness clashing against each other in a battle of dominance. Sokka and Aang stood off to the side, nervously anticipating when they had to make a move.
"We have to keep moving." A growl.
"We can't." A snarl. "You just don't think people matter, you have no heart!" At her words, Valriks eyes narrowed, and his hand slowly reached to his side.
"You don't know me." He spat, venom in the words. Katara balled her fist. The air stood still as if time itself was about to stop. But before anything could happen, Valrik heard the wind as he was sent stumbling back!
"Enough!" Aang shouted, his staff having slammed into the ground to conjure a gust of air to split them apart. "We won't be able to do anything if we keep fighting like this!"
"You agree her?"
"You're agreeing with him?"
Both of their shouts were too loud, causing Aang to cover his ears. "No! That's not what I'm saying at all!"
"Then what are you saying Aang, tell me!"
"Yes, tell now." Valrik agreed with Katara, the two of them looking expectantly at Aang, who began to shrink under their gazes.
"Ok…I think…uh…well…"He stuttered, barely able to get a single word out before tripping on his own voice. It took the exasperated looks of both Valrik and Katara to get him to say a full sentence. "We could try…staging a breakout?"
"Really? Really?" Valrik squalled, "That it?" He began to pace, hissing various things as he struggled to even comprehend what was happening right now. "Is amadáin thú! Ó, déanaimis briseadh príosúin, beidh sé ar fheabhas! Fadhb ar bith, is cinnte nach maróidh na draoi dóiteáin sinn!"
"Ok, we have to teach him how to talk normally, right? We can't just not know what he's calling us half the time." Sokka whispered to his sister and Aang, to which the two of them nodded in assertion, continuing to watch the Saoghalian rant on and on, seemingly never stopping to catch a single breath.
"...agus is é seo a cheap grandpa a bhí de dhíth orm? Geallaim go dtógfaidh mé mo lann agus greamóidh mé suas gach ceann de do asal é!" With that final scream, Valrik gave a great sigh, having expended all energy into that single breathless rant. His companions stared at him, all eyes widened and with a mixture of expressions; Shock, Confusion, Amusement. "What?" Valrik spat venom in his words as he gave them what he hoped would be called the mother of all glares.
"Dude, you ok? Your entire face is the same color as a Tomato." Sokka smirked. He told the truth, the Saoghalians pale skin had blistered and blushed into a scarlet hue, and his anger had transformed him into a violent red. Valrik held a hand to his cheek, feeling the blood rushing in his veins, and knew that he was blushing from the embarrassment. Did it show? He doubted it did, his face couldn't be anymore flushed. "Ignoring Val turning into a soup-"
"Is fuath liom tú."
"Ignoring Val saying whatever he just said, it's impossible to track down Haru, he's long gone by now." Sokka said, facing his sister. For her part, Katara had a defiant look in her eye.
"We don't need to track him. The Fire Nation is going to take me right to Haru." She clenched her fist as she spoke, determination filling every syllable.
"And…why would they do that?" Aang asked.
"Because they're going to arrest me for earthbending." She responded, to the horror of the three boys she traveled with.
XXX
They had traveled a few yards away from the farm to find their mark, an air vent along the road where the Fire Nation patrolled in the afternoon. Katara's plan was fairly simple in theory: Trick the guards into thinking that she earthbended in front of them, and then she would be taken to Haru, bust him out, and they would be on their merry way.
"I thought you were crazy at first, Katara, but this might work." Sokka commented as he worked with his sister to push a boulder above the tunnel the plan revolved around. "There are ventilation shafts throughout these mines. All Aang has to do is send an air current from that vent to this one right here. The boulder levitates and ta-da! Fake earthbending." He smirked as he finished the recap, the plan was of his sister's design, pride in her ingenuity was bubbling in his chest. His dear sister was coming up with her own plans! It made him so happy as a big brother, and a little fearful that she was going for his position on the team.
Katara smiled in response as the two siblings finished moving the rock, covering the hole with precision. She turned over to where Aang was hiding. "Aang? Did you get all that?"
"Sure, sure. I got it." Aang waved away, distracted by the butterfly he was playing with, bending puffs of air up and down.
"Do you remember your cue?"
"Yeah, yeah. Just relax, Sokka. You're taking all the fun out of this."
"By this, do you mean intentionally being captured by a group of ruthless firebenders?"
"Exactly! Totally fun stuff!"
Sokka groaned at Aang's antics, which was answered by giggling from his sister. Above them, perched on a cliff next to Appa sat Valrik, keeping watch for patrols. He waited for them to arrive, dismissing the antics of his compatriots below him. But it was soon enough that he saw them, a patrol of 3 men.
"Bog! Tá siad ag teacht! Here, now!" Valrik half-whispered half-hissed, crouching below a rock, watching the others get into position. There, he watched as the performance began.
"Get out of my way, pipsqueak!"
"How dare you call me pipsqueak, you giant-eared cretin!"
"What did you call me?"
"A giant-eared cretin! Look at those things! Do herds of animals use them for shade?!"
Was this actually happening? Was this real? Valrik looked at the sword by his side and seriously considered using it on himself, if only to escape what was going on down there. He watched as Katara, after Sokka threw another terrible "insult" at her, made the signal for Aang to play his part and lift the rock with his airbending…but no movement from the rock came.
"I said, Earthbending style!" Katara shouted, and not a second later did the rock finally started rising up into the air. Valrik saw Momo (he thought that was its name?) strike a similar pose, or was it licking itself?
"That lemur…he's earthbending!" One of the guards pointed at Momo, awestruck by the animal's power, it's majesty! Valrik was doubly tempted to pull out the sword and make it stop. "An bhfuil tú ag magadh orm?" He whispered to himself.
Sokka gestured to his sister, clearly feeling the same amount of exasperation that his companion did. "No you idiot, it's the girl!"
"Oh…of course. Right." The lead guard blushed, scratching his head. Valrik watched as Sokka grabbed Katara from behind, restraining her so that she would be arrested. The plan had found purchase. He stayed there, watching as the patrol took Katara with them, gagging her with a rope and binding her wrists together so she could not move them. Valrik observed them take her away, before coming down to join the others when the coast was clear, sliding down the hill and landing with a small stumble.
"Well, I'd call that a successful bamboozle." Sokka congratulated himself, hands on his hips as he gave a proud smile.
"I'm a little worried that this is going to go wrong, one of us should have gone with her." Aang muttered, his voice singing with concern.
"Katara'll be fine, I trust her." Sokka placed a hand on Aang's shoulders and turned to Momo. "Momo,youhave some big ears!"
"How that matter?" Valrik asked before he turned red with embarrassment. "Cacamas."
XXX
It was twilight when they saw Katara again, having followed her transport by way of Appa, and held back long enough for her to find Haru. It had only been a few days since he had taken his first flight atop the bison, and yet he still found himself wholly unprepared for whenever it took to the air. The first day, he spent an hour screaming in fear. The second day it only was half, by the third he had managed to contain himself enough that he only whimpered when he looked down. It was involuntary perhaps, looking down, but he still did it despite the warnings of his compatriots. To be able to fly was a dream he had for a long time, especially on the back of a dragon or some creature. He remembered the stories that Grandfather would tell him when he was young. Valrik recalled those stories, when he would sit on Dorji's knee and the old man would regale the young boy of his life with the Air Nomads, how they would live in temples and fly the bison throughout the skies.
To actually live out those stories was an experience exhilarating as much as terrifying.
"There you are! Your twelve hours are up; where's Haru? We've gotta get outta here!" Sokka whispered as Aang slipped through the bars. They had situated themselves on the perimeter of the prison, near the main yard where spotlights far above swirled and swiveled, searching the seas for other ships. Katara stood before them, on the other side of the bars, wearing rags over her normal clothes. Why the Fire Nation did that was beyond Valrik. Did they not confiscate property from their prisoners?
"I can't." Katara muttered, to the shock of the others.
"We don't have much time. There are guards everywhere. Get on!" Sokka hurriedly whispered, gesturing for her to come aboard. Aang however, took notice of Katara's face, her emotions.
"Katara, what's wrong?" He asked, tender in tone.
"I'm not leaving." She responded, leading Aang and Sokka to share a questioning look. "'I'm not giving up on these people."
"No other option! We leave now!" Scoffed Valrik, who attempted to grab her by the arm and drag her through the bars. She pulled away, disgust written across her face. "Noble goal have, but you can't save everyone." Valrik reasoned, trying to appeal to some form of logic, presenting a wine of truth.
Katara found the wine stale. "Of course you would say that." Valrik did not respond, but rather glowered at her. A battle of wills would have begun again, if not for the verbal intervention of Sokka.
"What do you mean you're not leaving?"
"We can't abandon these people! There has to be a way to help them." Katara responded, her voice filled with a determination unknown to Valrik beforehand. She slipped through the bars onto the overhang, and sat down, defiant.
Aang and Sokka joined her, the latter of the two with far more frustration in his movements. He more or less kneeled down on the steel. "Maybe she's right. What do you say, Sokka?" Aang remarked.
"I sayI say you're both crazy." He groaned. Valrik at this point had joined them, looming above with his arms crossed as he passively watched. "We do not have the time for this!" Sokka began, but was interrupted by an approaching spotlight. The group ducked, low to the metal floor in a bid to escape the wandering light, which passed over them harmlessly. "Last chance! We need to leave, now!"
"No!" She shot back.
Sokka sighed in exasperation. "I hate it when you're like this, y'know that?" He paused as the spotlight passed over them again, narrowly avoiding detection. "C'mon, we better hide."
The three of them began to scamper through the bars and into the prison yard before Aang doubled back and whispered into Appa's ear. "Go hide." With a small groan, the beast did so. Valrik watched them, unsure and hesitant.
"You coming?" Aang gave a small smile at him, soft and somewhat meek. Inviting.
Valrik sighed in response, relenting. "Diabhal é."
He followed the Avatar who was in pursuit of his friends, as they snuck past some patrolling guards and the wandering spotlight. Soon enough, they had found themselves hiding in a small corner of the yard, protected from prying eyes by several wooden boxes piled upon each other. "We don't have much time. What's the plan here?" Sokka asked the group, expectant.
"I wish I knew how to make a hurricane!" Aang remarked, to be met by un-entertained faces from the others. "The warden would run away and we'd steal his keys!" He excitedly said.
"Wouldn't he just take his keys with him?" Sokka asked.
"I'm just tossing ideas around."
"I tried talking the earthbenders into fighting back but it didn't work!" Katara groaned. "If there was just a way to help them help themselves."
"For that, they would need something that they could bend themselves, something earthy." Her brother brought up. Another spotlight passed over them, narrowly missing the group. "That was too close."
"But this entire place is made of metal!" Katars muttered, feeling the cold surface of the steel they sat on.
"Cad mar gheall ar ghual?" Valrik whispered, to the trio's confusion. "Is fuath liom an teanga dúr seo. Rock there. Smoke-rock." He pointed up to the main tower of the prison, the smokestacks. "Need fuel for prison. Smoke-Rock burned. Rock."
"He's right!" Aang exclaimed. "If we can get the coal to the earthbenders, they can bust themselves out!"
"Then here's my plan," Sokka said. "We're gonna do the same thing we did back in the village, but on a whole bigger scale. I'm betting that there's a huge deposit of coal at the base of the silo and that the whole system will be ventilated. Aang's going to close all the vents except one." He peered up from behind the boxes and pointed to a ventilation shaft nearby, the one in the middle of the yard. "Once you shut them all down, you'll airbend all the coal through the one open vent!"
"That's genius Sokka!" Katara joyfully said, giving her brother a side hug.
"Yeah, I know. It's why I'm here." His voice had a small smugness to it, a sell-aware nature to it. Valrik rolled his eyes in response. "Val, you help us move the grate for Aang. We'll need all the help we can get."
"Brúigh rudaí, seas thart, an é sin go léir a bhfuilim anseo?"
"Why do you keep on talking in your language, you know we can't understand you."
"Why I do it. So you not know."
"Spirits do I hate you."
"I know."
"Can you two stop arguing for five seconds? We don't have a lot of time!" Aang anxiously nudged Sokka and Valriks shoulder's, pointing to the slowly rising dawn."
"Crap! Let's move!" And with that, the team broke, three running to the yard and the Avatar skipping away, speedily making his way across the entire prison quickly.
"Conas is féidir leis bogadh mar sin? Valrik whispered in awe, watching Aang slide underneath a beam with grace, shoot a blast of air underneath him to soar above a guard, and scamper his way into a ventilation shaft on the side of the massive tower. Shaking his astonishment away, he followed the others as they ran across the yard, careful to not alert any of the watch.
"It's almost dawn. We're running out of time! You sure this is gonna work?" Katara asked as the three of them began to push, desperate to push open the grate.
"It should. It will." Sokka responded, his voice dripping with false confidence. He was worried too.
"There's the intruder!" They were caught! In nearly an instant, they were surrounded, spears pointing at them in a ring, the Fire Nation guards slowly advancing upon them.
"Stay back, I'm warning you!" Sokka threatened as he drew his boomerang. Valrik followed too, unsheathing his sword and holding it low, adopting a plow guard as he pointed the tip to the enemy. Oh, how he wished to challenge them, to dare them into striking! Curse his inability to speak their tongue!
"Katara, stop! You can't win this fight!" An old man approached, covered in torn rags. Behind him, a mass of similarly dressed figures followed. It was clear to Valrik who they were, the prisoners. He saw Haru in the back, standing by the old man. Was the elder Haru's father?
"Listen to him well, child. You're one mistake away from dying where you stand." A highly dressed official said as he approached, flanked by two guards. Valrik glanced around, holding his sword tight. The Warden, or at least who he assumed the official was, had a point. They were outnumbered, outgunned, and outmuscled. He highly doubted that none of them weren't "Firebenders" or whatever they were called. The three of them were stuck between a rock and a hard place.
So where in the Dreaming's dark pits was Aang?
The ground began to tremble, the air smelt smokier and smokier. Valrik, Katara, and Sokka turned to the grate, where it felt strongest, and saw small strokes begin to rise up from the hole. Faster and faster they ascended, more and more coming out until eventually a geyser of coal erupted from the shaft, bursting forth in a massive flood of coal. Valrik dived, desperate to avoid being crushed by the earthen flood. He saw Sokka push himself and his sister away, also trying to escape death by stone. Everyone watched as Aang emerged from the shaft, landing on top of the pile of earth covered in soot, which he briskly shook off of himself.
Katara saw her chance, and grabbed a stone from the pile. "Here's your chance, earthbenders! Take it! Your fate is in your own hands!" She cried out, raising the stone high up in the air, an act of defiance, a rallying cry!
The prisoners stood still, watching in shock at the young girl who urged them to rise. Haru tried to step forward, to join the fight! But the strong arm of his father blocked his path.
The Warden began to laugh. "Foolish girl. You thought a few inspirational words and some coal would change these people? Look at these blank, hopeless faces. Their spirits were broken a long time ago." He gestured to the earthbenders, life had long left their eyes and what replaced them was dejected reservation. A submission of fate. Katara dimmed as she stared at the forlorn, the lost. "Oh, but what's that? You still believed in them? How sweet. They're a waste of your energy little girl. You failed, and you will die here with that failure." He laughed once more, flicking his hand forward to order the guards to advance. He then swiveled on his heel and began to walk away, swagger in his footsteps.
Sokka and Valriks backs met, weapons raised as Katara and Aang stood next to each other. The end seemed in sight, the journey was about to meet a grim end! But were it not for a single stone, sent flying towards the back of the Warden's head. The impact made a loud thud, echoing across the yard. In his pain and outraged, the Warden swirled around to see who dared attack him!
Haru stood there, floating three small rocks in his hand with his bending. Daring the Warden to attack. The warden did so, and with a snarl he sent forth a jetstream of flame right at the young boy. It was, however, countered by a massive wall of coal that had risen up from the ground to protect the boy. Haru's father had protected his son, refusing to bow down to the Fire Nation any longer.
"Show no mercy!" The Warden cried as he and the firebenders sent forth a burst of flame all at once. Father and son, along with several others, bent up a shell to defend against the blast, blocking it.
"For the Earth Kingdom, attack!" The battle cry went out, and the masses engaged each other. Chunks of coal soar across the sky, striking the Fire Benders onto the ground. Flames were sent out, intended to burn the prisoners to cinders, only to be met by impenetrable walls of rock. In the middle of the war zone, Valrik stood, swinging his sword. He slashed at a guard wielding a spear, cutting it into two before slamming the pommel onto his head, sending him crashing to the ground unconscious. He heard a shout from behind him and quickly parried a slash from a scimitar. He and the soldier cut at each other for a short while, back and forth, until Valrik's blade slid down the scimitar and connected with the crossguard, wrenching it from his grasp. The man raised his arms in surrender, fearful for his life. Valrik stood there, amidst the chaos, his blade almost tapping the enemy's throat.
It would be easy to end him. It was required. He should do it. After all, this man was his enemy, he just tried to kill Valrik! He would be justified! This would be his first blood split, his first victory in war! He would be honored by the empire and his family for being the first Saoghalian to defeat a foreign warrior. It was what he must do!
…so why did he hesitate?
Valrik couldn't ponder it anymore, as he felt someone tackle into him. As he collapsed on the ground, he felt tight hands wrap themselves around his throat, trying to choke him out. It was only for a second, however, as a rock flew straight onto his attacker's side, tossing them asunder.
"Valrik!" He heard Aang cry, and a hand reached down and raised him up. "You ok?"
"Y-yes." He muttered, before seeing someone charge at them. He grabbed his sword, which had fallen to the ground, and blocked the overhead slash, defending Aang from a strike to the back. He kicked the attacker to the ground and rejoined the fray.
The battle did not take long before the tide was revealed to be in the Earthbender's favor, as the guards began to falter, split apart, and separated from each other. Three earthbenders sent a massive boulder through a steel wall, creating a breach.
"Get to the ships! We'll hold them off!" Cried out Haru's father, who directed more and more prisoners through the wall.
"Do not let them escape!" Screamed the Warden, forcing his warriors to press forward. As they blasted fireballs forward, forcing Haru, his father, and one other to defend, Aang had an idea.
"Guys! Throw me some coal!" He shouted as he began to bend the air around him. Twisting it around, he conjured a funnel of wind, with two ends. Sokka and Katara began to gather rocks, throwing them into the funnel which launched them straight at the firebenders at top speed, sending them flying onto the ground. Even the Warden was hit straight in the gut, forcing him prone and gasping for air. It was only once he took a staggered breath did he noticed the pebbles underneath him coalescing into a solid mass. He tripped over himself, trying to get away, but it was all in vain as he and his fellows were lifted off the ground and hauled over the ocean.
"No, please! I-I can't swim!"
"Don't worry, I hear that Cowards float." Quipped Haru's father, as he and his son let go of the coal, sending it and the Firebenders screaming down into the ocean. With a satisfied smile, the old man turned to his son. "Let us leave this wretched place."
"I'm with you Father." Haru said, before embracing him. As the two hugged, the group watched. Aang, Katara and Sokka all wore a content smile upon their faces, the knowing feeling of a job well done, of the satisfaction of reuniting a family.
All Valrik felt was envy.
XXX
As the boats sailed towards land, and Appa swam alongside the vessels, Valrik watched the prison as it shrunk farther and farther away. He overheard Katara on one of the ships talking to Haru about something, but he didn't care to listen. He had no patience left for her, not right now.
No, he had little patience for many things in general, and he did not want to test it at the current moment. Rather, he wished for the separation, for it suited him well to be alone with his thoughts.
"What's wrong Val?" He heard Aang from behind. Valrik did not bother turning to look, he knew what he would see. A questioning look. A concerned eye. Pity. He did not want it.
"I'm fine. Just watching water." He responded in his broken speech. He did not speak anymore, nor did Aang press the matter further. Sokka for sure was sending him a glare, but it was one Valrik did not acknowledge.
He heard Katara's cry of shock, of some necklace having disappeared. But he did not care for it, as he watched the waves flow.
Translations:
Bog thar leathcheann: Move over idiot
Cacamas: Crap
Earth…Gluaisreoir Domhanda are strong, contúirteach. Take away, no one to fight you. What anyone smart do: Earth…Earth Mover are strong, dangerous. Take away, no one to fight you. What anyone smart do
Cad leathcheann: What an idiot
pé rud: whatever
Aislingí, is fuath liom an teanga seo: Dreams, I hate this language.
Scuab fiacla: Toothbrush.
Sea, tá! Go raibh maith agat leis an Aisling tá a fhios agat cad is scuab fiacla ann: Yes, yes! Thank the Dream you know what a toothbrush is.
Is amadáin thú! Ó, déanaimis briseadh príosúin, beidh sé ar fheabhas! Fadhb ar bith, is cinnte nach maróidh na draoi dóiteáin sinn!: You're idiots! Oh, let's do a prison break, it'll be great! No problem, the fire wizards certainly won't kill us!
...agus is é seo a cheap grandpa a bhí de dhíth orm? Geallaim go dtógfaidh mé mo lann agus greamóidh mé suas gach ceann de do asal é!: ..and this is what grandfather thought I needed? I promise I'll take my blade and stick it up every single one of your asses!
Is fuath liom tú: I hate you
Bog! Tá siad ag teacht!: Move! They're coming!
An bhfuil tú ag magadh orm?: Are you kidding me?
Diabhal é.: Damn it.
Cad mar gheall ar ghual: What about coal?
Is fuath liom an teanga dúr seo.: I hate this stupid language.
Brúigh rudaí, seas thart, an é sin go léir a bhfuilim anseo?: Push things, stand around, is that all I'm here for?
Conas is féidir leis bogadh mar sin?: How can he move like that?