[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/pe4cHk0.png[/img][/center] -[b][u][color=ed1c24]The Fire Nation Order Embassy[/color][/u][/b]- "How did you let him get away!?" A man exclaimed violently and loudly, his booming voice echoing throughout the large corridor, startling the timid soldiers that abruptly interrupted on the meeting. An unexpected slam of his hand against the long table followed -- a long table that hosted the Councilmen of The Order as well as a few officers and captains. They all sat in shock, not from the familiar outburst of anger from Grand Master Jiao, but from the unforeseen intrusion of the Avatar. "He, uh, he," one of the soldiers that stood before the meeting spoke embarrassingly,"he entered the Avatar state and we couldn't stop him, then he managed to get away somehow. It was a huge blur for us all, nobody knows how he escaped, we're assuming he left through airbending. We can --". "Stop," Grand Master Jiao commanded,"Leave us." "Some have spotted him heading towards the earth kingdom," a soldier quickly replied in response, hoping the information would ease the Grand Master. "Leave us!" Grand Master Jiao repeated himself in a loud, annoyed tone. With that, the soldiers bowed as they exited, the huge doors closing behind them. The large room of the fire nation embassy was silent for quite some time as the councilmen waited for Grand Master Jiao to express any suppressed frustration or confusion. All that could be heard was the crackling of the fire at the hearth echoing against the decorated walls and cathedral ceilings of the room, but also the vigorous fanning coming from Councilwoman Valera's expensive folding fan. Maya sat comfortably and silently in one of the several, charming, well-crafted chairs that surrounded the table full of papers and maps of strategies. Her long, brown hair laid over her shoulder as she observed the councilmen concentrate on the situation. Maya was half as concentrated as the councilmen, being that she has little to no influence on the decisions of The Order, she sat calmly and hoped for a just plan to present itself. Before any councilman could speak up, Grand Master Jiao finally expressed in a more calm, yet stern, manner,"I need ideas. I need new plans. Strategies." Councilwoman Valera didn't hesitate to speak up, folding her fan back in and setting it down, her voice being serious, womanly, and alluring,"We need to be more harsh on our soldiers. We need to get them to understand the seriousness of all of this. We [i]must[/i] have our strongest efforts now rather than later, while the Avatar is still naive and reckless." "We will track him down, follow his every move, find out where he's going," A brassy, deep voice coming from Councilman Bao was heard from another end of the table. Councilwoman Valera shook her head,"It's not that easy, we need to find a secure way of extracting information from him on his whereabouts and his intentions." There was another moment of the apparent fire-crackling before Councilwoman Valera spoke again,"It's only a matter of time before the Avatar gets stronger and gets a following of his own." "Why do you think he decided to come all this way today," Grand Master Jiao questioned, turning his back to the table to stare into the flames of the fireplace that created an eery lighting for the meeting room. "We held a meeting about the water tribe prisoners, in which was made known by the people, perhaps he has relations to some of them," Councilman Nero suggested. Grand Master Jiao began to rub the temples of his head in disappointment before he let out a grunt of irritation, the flames before him bursting taller and creating a very lit room as he spoke,"We need to think of something now! While we sit here and dilly dally, he's getting away." The flames began to die down as he sighed, apologizing under his breath, but not loud enough for anybody to really hear it. "I have a proposition," Councilwoman Valera explained. Grand Master Jiao turned to look at Councilwoman Valera, giving her his undivided attention. She continued,"We need to get to him in a way that he will not recognize us. We need a spy. We are all too recognizable to make any appearances, and a single one of the Order's soldiers won't have what it takes." "So we will train them harder and get a spy to befriend him," Grand Master Jiao declared in an attempt to predict the strategy Councilwoman Valera was proposing. She shook her head,"No." Councilwoman Valera turned to Councilman Nero,"We will use Nora. I've seen her fight, I've seen her practice. She's not only strong and determined, but she's beautiful and will have a chance at possibly attracting the Avatar to make him more inclined to befriend her and trust her." Grand Master Jiao smirked at the idea, believing that Valera had a very successful plan that will rule out well. Councilman Nero seemed to be happy with the proposition, believing that his daughter will prove to the Order that his bloodline is capable of greatness and performing such requests. They all talked more, strategizing a plan for Nora to get to Ba Sing Se and began to try to predict the Avatar's reaction to her based on the little information they were given about him. Councilman Nero was soon dismissed by Grand Master Jiao to quickly inform Nora about her new journey that she will embark on. Amidst all this Maya sat still, listening carefully to the plans and ideas, but not giving any opinion or input during the conversation. It wasn't long before Grand Master Jiao added to the list of strategies, turning to Maya as everyone began to gather their things and return to their respective rooms. "Maya," Grand Master Jiao looked to her with a soft smile. [color=7ea7d8]"Yes,"[/color] Maya replied, returning the smile, seeming to have a heart-warming effect on Grand Master Jiao from her tranquil presence. "I want you to do something for me," he paused,"I want you to speak to the prisoners. Each and everyone of them. Get to know them, where they came from, and what their intentions were when we arrested them. I don't want torture to be my first approach on a situation like this." He ended with a sigh. [color=7ea7d8]"Alright, I will,"[/color] Maya said in response, only agreeing because she knew it would please Grand Master Jiao and save him from excess frustration,[color=7ea7d8]"When shall I go?"[/color] "Now," Grand Master Jiao replied quickly and sternly before resting a gentle hand on Maya's shoulder," -- please go now." He turned and exited the room with the rest of the councilman, his flowing cape adding to his masculinity. Maya sighed, her bright blue eyes gleaming as she stared at the dimming fire. Maya raised a hand and gathered the water from the cups that were left on the table and used it to extinguish the fire before leaving the room and proceeding to the prison. [hr] Maya took a deep breath, combing her hair with her fingers to let it fall more attractively, adjusting the beautiful hair clip decorated with pearls, diamonds, flowers, and blue accents that pulled back the top half of her hair, leaving a small portion of hair to fall and frame her face. She adjusted her [url=https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/90/de/b9/90deb9f9422db0b8b8453ba6fe64ea9d--dark-blue-dresses-yellow-dress.jpg]dress[/url] to let it fall neatly and proceeded down the steps to the prison as two soldiers followed. It was the first time that Maya ever stepped into a prison, and didn't know what to expect. The moonlight was the only thing that shined within the prison, her silhouette being seen by the prisoners as they all made begging groans for freedom. Maya couldn't see much before being offered a torch from one of the soldiers that accompanied heard, only to be appalled by how many prisoners the fire nation and the Order kept. The prisoners rushed to the bars, extending their arms out as they pleaded for freedom, but Maya continued down the hallway as the soldiers assumed a slightly more defensive pose. Maya couldn't help but maintain a pitiful expression from the many prisoners that teared up from the sight of her. She couldn't find any words to tell them nor did she wish to engage in any conversations with them, but she definitely felt an undesirable need to apologize -- instead she ignored the pleading and focused on what she came down here to do. It wasn't long before she turned a corner and saw a long line of empty cells and heard the groaning of the prisoners become more hushed before being welcomed to silent prisoners that were obviously from the water tribe. Maya hesitated before speaking up,[color=7ea7d8]"Hello?"[/color] There was no response, not even a glance from any of the individuals. She repeated herself, more assertively,[color=7ea7d8]"Hello? My name is Maya --."[/color] One prisoner looked up and interrupted as soon as he recognized her appearance,"I know who you are." Maya paused unsure of how to begin this sort of interrogation that Grand Master Jiao requested of her,[color=7ea7d8]"Well if you know me, it would only be proper for me to know your name."[/color] She ended with a smile. There was no response again and, instead, a short moment of silence before Maya commanded the two soldiers that followed her inside to leave them. Maya looked at all of the prisoners in hopes to recognize a face, but none were familiar nor were any of them interested in her presence,[color=7ea7d8]"Are any of you wounded?"[/color] "Even if we were, why would you heal your enemies," a man questioned from another direction, catching her off guard. [color=7ea7d8]"I heal all those who are injured or ill, enemy or not,"[/color] Maya answered confidently,[color=7ea7d8]"Given the circumstances."[/color] "I'd rather bleed out than accept the pity from my enemy," the man expressed as a few of the others chuckled. Maya turned the torch to shine the light on him to get a better look at his appearance and condition, seeing him clench some sort of wound on his side that created a small puddle of blood on the ground beneath him. Maya sighed, looking into his eyes as she formed a gentle smile, opening the pouch on her hip,[color=7ea7d8]"If you will not accept the healing from me, then at least do it yourself." [/color]She lifted her hand and flowed the water from her hip and placed it loosely on the ground in front of him,[color=7ea7d8]"I hate to see people suffer."[/color] The man hesitated before bending the water up to his wound, a white light forming from the water as the wound slowly began to mend. The man seemed to be more expressive of his thoughts after her act of generosity,"We know who you are. We all know who you are -- you're the 'Healing Maiden'." The name was very familiar to Maya, though she never really called herself that or introduced herself as such. The man continued,"Some believe that the purity in your heart will end the suffering that The Order is causing, but me," he laughs to himself,"I believe you're too weak-willed for that. It's been so long and you know what we go through, yet you do nothing." Maya then felt her strong feeling of reoccurring guilt from not properly influencing The Order to her liking for the sake of potentially adding more fire to the flame. She knew where the man was coming from, and she knew she couldn't deny his accusation and assumption of her being. Maya felt insecure of her lack of bravery and courage to stand up to Jiao in situations that she didn't feel right. Instead of justifying herself, she simply apologized,[color=7ea7d8]"I'm sorry."[/color] The man gave a short cackle,"Don't bother apologizing, it means nothing. Now, if you did something, then maybe that would mean something." The man finished healing his wound, splashing the water back at Maya's feet,"There you go. I'm done." Maya lifted her hand and returned the water to her hip pouch,[color=7ea7d8]"I'm surprised you didn't attempt to use it to get yourself out or attack me. I heard you're a pretty strong bender."[/color] "Oh, so you've heard about me? It seems as though we both [i]do[/i] know an equal amount of information about each other," the man sighs,"Despite all I've said about you, I believe there's still something in ya that'll turn and help you see what is right." Relieved by the man's added thoughts of her, she chuckles and smiles at him, closing her hip pouch,[color=7ea7d8]"Well, the only difference now is that you know my name, but I do not know yours."[/color] The man smirked, replying snappily,"The name's Lao."