[color=bfbfbf][sub][table= //////= POST DESIGN v1=\\\\\\][row][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][img]https://i.imgur.com/k10aZUf.png[/img][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/row][row][cell][sup][img]https://i.imgur.com/f6m0pDj.png[/img][/sup]

[color=2e2c2c]_______________________________[sub]........[/sub][/color]
[/cell][cell][color=white][center][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][img]https://i.imgur.com/DHKvx27.png[/img][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][center][color=2e2c2c]Si Wong Desert   ·   Night   ·   A TLA Collab[/color]Si Wong Desert   ·   Night   ·   A TLA Collab[/center][/sub][/center][/color][quote][color=2e2c2c]____________________________________________________________________________.[/color]
[color=9f9f9f][sub][sub][u][b][color=d5a6bd]canaryrose   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub]
Chu stretched out in the sand against her duffel bag, a few yards from Sumire. She yawned. She had spent the better part of the last few hours napping in the truck, finally letting exhaustion take a hold of her, but she was still [i]so tired[/i]. At this point, she didn’t know if it was emotional or physical exhaustion plaguing her. After she had buried Kanna with Vasra’s help, she had crawled in the back seat of the truck and fell into a fitful sleep. If she slept any deeper, she feared she’d have nightmares. But her eyes were heavy, and she couldn’t keep them open for long.

The cold had never bothered Chu. Whether she liked it or not, her latent abilities made it so that she’d always had warmth to spare. Even during the dead of winter, she had often eschewed puffy coats for light jackets. So the desert cold wasn’t too much of a burden. She found that, now, she could bend a bit more consciously. A satisfying heat spread from her core throughout her body, making it so she had little need for additional warmth. Seemingly in opposition to the cold, she shrugged off her jacket, once again revealing the dirty tank top underneath.

[color=firebrick]“Shouldn’t you know that, passenger princess?”[/color] Chu Hua joked, keeping her voice as light as she could muster. She had already started off on a bad foot with these people- better to be nice now. [color=firebrick]“I thought [i]you[/i] were the navigator. ”[/color]

[color=firebrick]“My… friend said there was a settlement out here. Where benders could be safe. I don’t know its name or where it is, but I assumed that was where we were going, unless I’m wrong?”[/color]
[sub][sub][u][b][color=c9daf8]vietmyke   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub]
There was a small snort as Jin Wei plopped himself against the rock next to Sumire, leaning more against her than the rock itself- much to the small woman’s chagrin. His hair was matted down with sweat, and cradled in the nook of his arm was his helmet- set with a bullet impact and cracks across its face plate. Joints popped and cracked as Jin stretched himself out in the desert sand. Sure, he was used to driving for hours a day, but a bit of a breather was always needed.

[color=steelblue]”Funny. Sure doesn’t [i]act[/i] like a princess.”[/color] Jin quipped as he pulled a canteen from his belt. He only afforded himself a small sip of water- enough to keep himself going. They weren’t exactly short on supplies at the moment, but Jin definitely didn’t pack enough for a whole car full, and several of the people with them looked like they had barely brought anything along with them. More than likely, they’d have to share. Sumire scoffed as she elbowed him off of her. Jin rolled his eyes as he gestured towards Chu and tossed her the canteen. [color=steelblue]”Drink.”[/color]  

Jin looked up at the clear skies and stars above them. Admittedly a regular sight for him, but tonight their view felt more… earned. For the first time in what felt like days Jin had the luxury to calm down and think about what they were doing, and not run on nothing but adrenaline and instinct.

[color=steelblue]”Well, we can’t use the GPS,”[/color] Jin interjected, [color=steelblue]”They’ll know where we are in no time if we do, so we’re sorta just driving blind right now. I think we’re heading to where you think we’re heading- I think.”[/color]
[sub][sub][u][b][color=d5a6bd]canaryrose   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub]
Chu caught the canteen in one hand deftly, barely having to look at it. She raised it to her mouth and took a small sip, just to wet her lips, and capped it and tossed it back to Jin. [color=firebrick]“Thanks, man.”[/color] She was slightly surprised he was being so kind now- he had threatened to leave her behind earlier, and that had left her with a bad impression of the man before her. Out of everyone here besides Reman, he was the one she knew least about.

[color=firebrick]“You don’t know where we’re going?”[/color] A minute bit of panic entered Chu’s voice, but then she laughed abruptly. Were they really just driving around the desert blind? It was just her luck. [color=firebrick]“Guess if I had to die anywhere, I’d pick the desert over whatever the Republic had in store for us. And if we get there… well. We’ll see, right?”[/color]
[sub][sub][u][b][color=c9daf8]vietmyke   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub]
[color=steelblue]”Sure I do,”[/color] Jin quipped as he caught the canteen. [color=steelblue]”We're going through the desert.”[/color] He took another sip before passing it to Sumire- who very quickly took several large gulps, leaning her back against Jin- much to [i]his[/i] chagrin. The white haired girl held the canteen above her head for the next person to grab.

Jin glanced over at the Kyoshi, a slight haze steamed from the hood of his car. The engine wasn't shot- yet, but it definitely wasn't designed for the punishment it just went through. Or well, it [I]was[/i], at least until Sumire set off the street booster she had apparently installed in his car. They still needed to talk about that. He hoped they wouldn't have to push the Kyoshi like that again, or they might have bigger problems. 

[color=steelblue]”Reman knows where we're going.”[/color] Jin clarified. [color=steelblue]”Said he knew of a settlement or something of the sort in this direction, Tu Shin or something like that.”[/color]
[sub][sub][u][b][color=f5cbcc]Theyra   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub]
[color=yellow] “Tu Zin,”[/color] Reman’s voice spoke up. He was leaning against the Kyoshi with his arms crossed and his steelcase was on the ground next to him. The two bullet holes in it was on display and the first time in hours he was not holding the thing. [color=yellow] “Tu Zin is where we are heading and I have a general idea of where it is.”[/color] Reman made a small smile, [color=yellow] “I know where we are going so do not worry about that.”[/color]

Reman though was hiding the fact that he was still a bit jumpy from the what has happened. He has calmed down but only mostly. Looking down at his steel case and if it were not for the fact that it caught the bullets meant for him. Or if they were not able to escape. Reman is trying to not think about that and focus on the now. 

Then he looked up at the night sky and was amazed at the sight. It was so clear compared to back at the city. All of that light pollution and what not. So looking back at Chu after calming down a bit. [color=yellow] “We will get there so how about we just relax a bit?”[/color] 
[sub][sub][u][b][color=02ffff]Abstract Proxy   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub]
Turning her attention from the quiet stars to her companions, Vasra felt oddly at ease. They were being chased. They were being hunted. They were enemies of the state, and yet, with the cold desert wind gently sifting sand against her, she felt content. She had loved the people of Ba Sing Se, she  had loved the city, but the wrongness was inescapable. The inequality and suffering was unavoidable. And to  Vasra, it had been unbearable. 

The choice had been made for her, by who or what, she didn’t know, but was it really so different from what she would have chosen? Nelu would have understood, she thought. He would understand when she told him. Doing the right was never easy. It promised no rewards and no kindness. But it didn’t matter. It never did. Maybe it had been a mistake all along? To think that Ba Sing Se could be saved. To think that the system could be changed, could be guided to be better…kinder. She’d rather be a cast out in the desert, hunted by villains, than be complicit to the crimes of twisted minds, intent only on preserving their own rule.

Offering a smile, Vasra nodded at Reman, [color=aqua]”It is hard not to enjoy a view like this. The desert is a beautiful place, for all the perils it contains. Wherever this Tu Zin is, I am sure we will find it.”[/color]
[sub][sub][u][b][color=d5a6bd]canaryrose   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub]
Chu laid onto her back, taking a moment to stare at the starry sky above. She had never seen it like this before- all the lights in Ba Sing Se had washed out all but the brightest stars, and she had never dared to leave the bounds of the city. It was beautiful. She wished An could’ve been here to see it. Or even Kanna. She thought it with a kind of numb distance, but still felt the noose of her sorrow tighten around her heart. She spoke to escape it. 

[color=firebrick]“How can you be so calm?”[/color] she asked, speaking to Reman and Vasra. [color=firebrick]“You just lost everything. How are you not angry?”[/color] Her voice simmered. [color=firebrick]“It’s not like we’ll get there when we get there or some shit. We need food. Water. How are we meant to survive?”[/color]
[sub][sub][u][b][color=c9daf8]vietmyke   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub]
[color=steelblue]"She's right,"[/color] Jin chimed in quietly, [color=steelblue]"We're not exactly flush with supplies at the moment."[/color] 

Jin took a mental stock of their current supplies- the Kyoshi had enough supplies for a bit over a week or two for himself, Sumire and Reman. Unfortunately, the others didn't seem to carry as many in as significant quantities- the remaining athlete seemingly the only ones with any amount of food and water, so they'd likely have to share. They'd be fine splitting food, traveling in a car wasn't a process that required large amounts of calories, but water would run short fast between the six of them. 

[color=steelblue]"We'll be fine with fuel for a while, but we'll need to find some way of resupplying eventually. Even if we find the settlement, that doesn't mean we'll be able to sustain ourselves… Unless anyone knows how to farm."[/color]
[sub][sub][u][b][color=02ffff]Abstract Proxy   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub]
[color=aqua]“They didn’t teach us much about farming in medical school,”[/color] Vasra said. [color=aqua]“Still, I suppose there’s always a first time for everything, maybe being a farmer would be nice…”[/color]

[color=aqua]“I’ve been angry for a long time,”[/color] Vasra mused, finding herself drawn back to Chu’s questions.[color=aqua] “How could I not be? Ba Sing Se is dying.People are suffering. Many of them are dying. And no one cares. Oh, some will pretend, they’ll offer kind words, a handful of coins, but they don’t care, not really, not in a way that matters. You know, it’s funny, more than once I thought about burning down the royal palace. That would have shown them! But…I couldn’t, my anger worked differently. My clinic was my rebellion and well..now it’s rubble. And I’m a fugitive…being chased by the Avatar knows what and who…”[/color]

She coughed, rubbing the back of her neck wearily, [color=aqua]“Sorry…We’ll need water first, we can survive for some time without food, but water will be a problem, and soon .”[/color]
[sub][sub][u][b][color=d5a6bd]canaryrose   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub]
Chu made a little snort- almost out of derision. Who didn’t think the city was fucked up? She had known since she was a little girl things were unfair. But things were always unfair. It was the way things were. [color=firebrick]“I’m sure burning down the royal palace would’ve been productive,”[/color] she said, trying not to snap in annoyance. Their supply situation concerned her more than Vasra being a bit of a dreamer. [color=firebrick] “I guess we’ll just have to hope we get there in time, then. That, or find some place in between.”[/color] Her voice was weary. Chu hated leaving things up to hope. 

[color=firebrick]“You’re a pipe runner, right? Is there a map or some shit? You too, briefcase boy. Any maps?”[/color] Chu said to Reman and Jin.
[sub][sub][u][b][color=c9daf8]vietmyke   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub]
[color=steelblue]"A map?"[/color] Jin asked quizzically. [color=steelblue]"Of what? The super secret mystery settlement that will be our supposed salvation?"[/color]

Jin chuckled to himself, [color=steelblue]"I’d hope such a map doesn’t exist- If such a map [i]did[/i] exist, that would just mean there’s another way of finding us."[/color]
[sub][sub][u][b][color=d5a6bd]canaryrose   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub]
[color=firebrick]“Not of the settlement- of some place where we can get water. I’m not stupid.”[/color]
[sub][sub][u][b][color=c9daf8]vietmyke   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub]
[color=steelblue]"I don't expect maps will show us any watering holes. If we're lucky the settlement might have a well."[/color] Jin responded, [color=steelblue]"These parts of the desert aren't very well explored anyhow."[/color]
[sub][sub][u][b][color=f5cbcc]Theyra   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub]
[color=yellow]”I have might have a solution to the water problem,”[/color] Reman chimed in, Kneeling down and he put up his case and placed it in front of him. He was a bit nervous opening it since he has yet to see the damage by those two bullets but, seeing how now Mova can be useful. He opened it and was partly relieved. Mova was intact but it looked like a bullet has clipped the control tablet. Reman sighed it needed to be repaired but, it was barely a setback, he can still use command Mova without it. 

So, Reman spoke,[color=yellow] ”Mova start voice command 1.”[/color] With that the drone started its start up sequence and made some sounds. Before fully activating and soon enough hovering  in front of Reman’s face.   

[color=white]“Mova fully operational and what is your command Reman?”[/color] Then she looked around a bit, [color=white]“I see we are in the desert and where is the pipeline?”[/color]

[color=yellow]“Uhhhh….”,[/color] that is right she does not know about what has happened. [color=yellow]“Well, Mova there has been a change in plans and right now I need you to scan for possible water sources in the area. Do the widest search perimeter as possible and come back once you are done.”[/color]

Mova made a responding chirp,[color=white]“It will be done Reman.”[/color] So Mova went up slightly into the sky and went off. 

Reman got up and spoke to the group. [color=yellow]“Okay so it will take her time to find a possible water source and before you ask. No, she can not be tracked by anyone in the city. I made sure to that when I built her and since it will take time for her to finishing scanning and come back. Seeing how it is night, how about we all sleep and see what Mova has found in the morning?”[/color]

[center]...[/center]
The cold night passed without incident as the group rested. Eventually, the lights in the sky shuffled over to make room for the coming dawn as violets and reds began to push the dark away. At such an early hour, first light was a blessing. A kiss of warmth on cold skin or a heat that cut through cold dry air like a hot knife and pierced to the bone. In the distance, the sun finished cresting the horizon and set the world around the group ablaze in bright orange hues. For anyone besides Jin, like the night before, it was a display of color and beaty like nothing witnessed before from within the city. For jin, it was just another morning in a place all too familiar to him.

Everything and everyone was right where they were the night before... for the most part. Sumire found herself standing a little ways away from where the group was resting, standing curiously over a small desert flower that had sprouted from the sand.

[color=white]"Good morning!"[/color] She said to it. [color=white]"Jin! Look!"[/color]

[/color][/quote]
[/cell][/row][/table][/sub][/color][table=bordered][row][sub][b]Prompt:[/b][/sub][/row][row][cell][color=9f9f9f][color=white]Weiyuan[/color], regardless of how rested you are, you suddenly wake up to vibrations that are coming from the ground, the source of which is hard to pinpoint but you can make out a vague direction: Past you toward someone else.

These tremors are still too weak to be detected by the others.

Mova has not yet returned it seems.
[/color][/cell][/row][/table]