[color=bfbfbf][sub][table= //////= POST DESIGN v1=\\\\\\][row][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][img]https://i.imgur.com/Pi5stxE.png[/img][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/row][row][cell][sup][img]https://i.imgur.com/ckNBBcU.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]Tu Zin · In collaboration with [@Exit][/color]Tu Zin · In collaboration with [@Exit][/center][/sub][/center][/color][quote][color=2e2c2c]____________________________________________________________________________.[/color] [color=9f9f9f][sub][sub][u][b][color=d5a6bd]canaryrose   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] The rest of their journey passed with little incident. Though, after a full 48 hours of dread and panic, Chu found that she couldn’t let go of her paranoia. Always looking over her shoulder, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the next disaster was just ahead of them. At Vasra’s insistence, however, she spent most of the next two days seated in the truck, trying to get as much physical rest as possible. She tried not to look at the trunk too hard. The last few days had taken their toll on her body, and, although she would never admit it, Chu knew she needed to recover. Every night, she probably badgered Feyi with the most questions. Where exactly was Tu Zin? What was it like? How many benders were there? She couldn’t believe the place even existed, let alone thrived as Feyi described it. It sounded like a fairy tale, a trap. She kept her thoughts to herself, but privately doubted what Feyi was telling them. It was too good to be true. [hr] Chu found herself staring out the window of her tiny room in the inn that morning, wondering if she was hallucinating. It certainly didn’t seem so, but she had to check one more time. The town was lackluster, but she was mostly clean of blood and dirt for the first time in days, warm, and, most importantly, safe. She didn’t know how to feel about it. Kanna had been right after all. The thought made her queasy, so she pushed it away and tried to see what she could out the window. The glass was flecked with grime and dust. Chu tried opening it, jimmying the lock with her bandaged hands, but found she couldn’t. Age had stuck the window in place. She sighed in frustration, but she’d leave it well alone. It would be better to explore than be stuck in this room, anyways. She left the tavern (such a funny word- there were no [i]taverns[/i] in Ba Sing Se, just bars and hotels), and emerged onto the street. She shielded her eyes almost immediately, hissing from the bright glare of the sun. She coughed. At least the awful air quality was familiar. Chu began a stroll down the street, but she couldn’t help herself from looking over her shoulder every few moments, paranoid of what might be following her. But there was nothing. No one. She walked among people going about their day, attracting stares and whispers, yes, but no danger. In her life, reverent stares were normal, but she couldn’t shake what they meant now. They didn’t recognize her for being Chu Hua, the legendary sports star- they recognized her for being their newest firebender. It was an ugly feeling, but… gratifying, maybe. Chu came to a small market and slowed. Something smelled [i]delicious[/i]. Her mouth watered, and she turned, looking for the source of the meaty smell. Her eyes settled on a small, ramshackle food cart, and she found her sneakers moving across the dusty ground of the crowded market towards it of their own free will. She stopped before the stall, appraising what the old woman tending it was cooking. Some kind of meat. It smelled good, and she was hungry… The older woman (really, she couldn’t’ve been older than 60), raised her head. “Gonna buy something?” She said this with the strangest accent Chu had ever heard. Chu blinked, short-circuiting for a moment. [color=firebrick]“Um, yeah,”[/color] she said. [color=firebrick]“Hold up.”[/color] She dug in her pockets for a moment, pulling out a few crinkled yuan. 10, 20, 30… she presented it to the shopkeeper. [color=firebrick] “What’ll this get me?”[/color] The woman looked at the money, surprised, and then looked back up at Chu. A certain look dawned on her face. “You’re one of the arrivals from last night!” she exclaimed. “No, no, I can’t take this. Keep your money, it’s free.” [color=firebrick]“I- I really can’t-”[/color] Chu protested, but the woman was already shoving meat skewers at her, and she was holding them awkwardly now, and she couldn’t give them back. [color=firebrick]“Thank you very much, miss,”[/color] she finally managed to say, blushing. After devouring the mystery meat in a short amount of time, Chu wandered down yet another strange path, away from what she thought of as the center of town. This place was incredible. People lived here, this far out from Ba Sing Se. There were children playing, couples laughing… a young couple that she passed on the street in particular made her sad. If only An was here. She stuffed her hands into her pockets as she thought it, digging her fingernails into her palms. They could’ve made a life here, maybe. All these people had. While trapped in her melancholy thoughts, Chu came to a small clearing among the buildings. Again, she slowed to a stop, staring at the makeshift field before her. There were children, playing, laughing… holding [i]sticks[/i]. Dumbfounded, Chu Hua watched as the little kids played some form of a stickball game, organized into little makeshift teams and throwing around the ball between them. Sure, they had the rules almost entirely backwards, but it was something familiar in such an unfamiliar place, and she stopped to watch, mouth open as she stared. She leaned against the nearest building, watching their game with pleasure in her gaze. Her eyes sparkled. [sub][sub][u][b][color=bca346]Exit   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] Not unlike the game in the city, players were split into two teams of similar size and used ‘sticks’, although these were very obviously made of whatever they could find that resembled the same shape. Surprisingly, despite the difference in design, players here could still balance and serve the ball. The major difference between this variation of the sport and that of the city was the inclusion of obstacles on the field. There was junk between the two goals including a dilapidated car and a rusted fridge that the kids would often climb over or even through and would also use as a surface to ricochet the ball off of. There was a very strong element of parkour involved it seemed and some very surprisingly accurate banked shots. [color=white]”A-... are you one of the people from the city?”[/color] Came a voice next to Chu. Standing next to her was a boy that looked to be in his early teen years. He was a little scrawny. A little dirty. But you couldn’t tell just by looking at his bright green eyes. There was a bit of life behind them that refused to be snuffed by the dirt in the air. His short matted hair was pushed to one side and sliced at the air whenever he moved his head to speak. In his hand was a stick that was slightly bent at one end. There was no flat surface. [sub][sub][u][b][color=d5a6bd]canaryrose   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] Chu turned to the boy, smiling slightly. [color=firebrick]“Yeah. That easy to tell?”[/color] Her eyes flicked over him, trying to gauge what the kid wanted. He didn’t look like he was gonna ask her for anything. [color=firebrick]“Nice game you got going here. I’m Chu.”[/color] She didn’t ask his name, instead letting hers hang in the air. [sub][sub][u][b][color=bca346]Exit   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] He smiled back. [color=white]”I’m Twig! I thought I recognized you from Yesterday. I uh… ran up to the car you were in and saw inside… and got in trouble…”[/color] He laughed sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head. [color=white]”Anyways… is it… uh… is it true you can Bend?”[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=d5a6bd]canaryrose   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] The question made Chu instinctively jolt, a look of terror crossing her face before she realized that it was [i]safe[/i] to be a bender here. More than safe. They practically worshiped them here. She wouldn’t die for it, or even go to prison. She was safe. She looked at the kid- Twig- and nodded. [color=firebrick]“Yeah. Wanna see?”[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=bca346]Exit   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] Twig’s eyes brightened. [color=white]”YEAH!”[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=d5a6bd]canaryrose   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] Chu’s lips quirked upward, almost out of amusement. [color=firebrick]“Alright, get ready… and maybe step back?”[/color] Tentatively, she held out both of her hands, and then… woosh. A small flame surged up in between them. This was getting easier, she thought. She tossed the crackling flame upwards into the air, making a small, careful arc above her head before bringing it back down into her hands. Her smile grew until it filled her entire face. [i]This[/i] was what had been missing her entire life. Bending was fucking awesome. [color=firebrick]“Cool, huh?”[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=bca346]Exit   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] That same light in the boys eyes seemed to grow as he watched in awe at the display. The warmer light danced on the dust covering his face, illuminating the shape of his cheeks and nose and the smile spread across his lips. He remained silent during the entire demonstration and only spoke up after Chu was done. [color=white]”Gu- GUYS!”[/color] He suddenly yelled out, waving at the other kids on the field and getting their attention. While most of them stopped, one was a little slower than the rest and smacked another kid in the back of the head as they turned around to look. He got a shove in reply. [color=white]”SHE’S A FIREBENDER!”[/color] [color=white]”WHAT?”[/color] [color=white]”Hey! Isn’t that the lady you saw in the car?”[/color] Whatever game had been happening was immediately forgotten as all of the players abandoned their positions and began crowding around Chu. Their impatient questions and curious comments drowned each other out until the noise became a sea of small voices from the kids clearly enamored with the woman. [color=white]”She’s so cool looking!”[/color] [color=white]”She bends fire?! I wanna see!”[/color] [color=white]”Do you have a boyfriend?”[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=d5a6bd]canaryrose   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] Chu first looked startled at all the small children crowding around her, and then laughed, still holding the flickering flame in her palms. At calls from the little children, she drew her hands apart, letting the flame grow and then shrink back together as she brought her hands back together. Several children reached forward to touch it, at which she clicked her tongue. Finally, she clasped her hands, letting the fire die out. [color=firebrick]“Happy?”[/color] she teased. At that last question, she paused. The happy look melted off her face. The kid probably meant no harm, but… [color=firebrick]“No, I have a fiancee,”[/color] she explained. She held out her hand, pointing at the gold engagement band. [color=firebrick]“It’s like… a girlfriend who’s gonna be your wife soon.”[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=bca346]Exit   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] One of the girls stared wide eyed at the gold ring, the light of the sun glinting off the dusty metal and dancing in the brown of her eyes. She was speechless. The curious boy next to her was not. He placed one end of the stick in his hand into the ground and leaned on it with both hands. [color=white]”You ain’t afraid someone’s gunna cut yuh finger offa that?”[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=d5a6bd]canaryrose   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] Chu raised a brow, then laughed. [color=firebrick]“I’m not afraid of anything, kid. I’d just firebend at them until they gave my finger back, yknow?"[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=bca346]Exit   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] The boy shut up, his eyes widening too, this time in fear. Twig, who was standing next to him, spoke next, seemingly emboldened now by the mention of Chu being ‘fearless’. He moved a little closer, pushing the other boy to the side. [color=white]”What about ghosts? Are you afraid of those?”[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=d5a6bd]canaryrose   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] [color=firebrick]“Don’t believe in ‘em,”[/color] she replied evenly. [color=firebrick]“Why? Are you haunted?”[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=bca346]Exit   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] The girl responded first, shaking her head. [color=white]”No, there are… there are ghosts stealing people...”[/color] Twig nodded and the other boy continued to eye the gold on Chu’s finger. Twig stepped in front of him, breaking his line of sight with the trinket and pointed in the direction of the main gate. [color=white]”Outside. Are you guys here to help? I know Benders are powerful but we only have one!”[/color] [color=white]”Nu UH. We have three!”[/color] Came the boy’s voice from behind Twig. Twig turned to the boy. [color=white]”Feyi’s sister is just a kid, you idiot. And Tikaani… well… he never came back…”[/color] [color=white]”What?”[/color] [color=white]”I think he’s gone, Desh.”[/color] Twig turned to Chu. [color=white]”There’s a man who usually brings Benders from the city. He’s in charge of it I think. Was he with you?”[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=d5a6bd]canaryrose   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] Chu frowned. So many people had died, and she had never learned their names. No Tikaani had come back with them. [color=firebrick]“Who you saw is who made it, kiddo,”[/color] she told them. [color=firebrick]“I’m sorry.”[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=bca346]Exit   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] [color=white]”So we’re down to two and one of them can’t fight.”[/color] Desh peered around Twig and stared up at Chu. [color=white]”Can you fight?”[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=d5a6bd]canaryrose   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] Chu Hua looked down at the kids, bemused, fighting the urge to laugh. Ghosts weren’t [i]real[/i]. Spirits had been real once, maybe, but ghosts? Nah. Instead, she kept a serious look on her face, crouching down to their eye level. [i]Stealing people[/i]... now that was serious. Maybe the RSF had made it this far after all. Her face didn’t betray the fear she felt at that notion. [color=firebrick]“Hell yeah, I can fight,”[/color] she said, not admitting that she really couldn’t. Playing stickball and doing martial arts were wildly different. [color=firebrick]“Stealing people, huh? Tell me more about that, and maybe I can help.”[/color] [sub][sub][u][b][color=bca346]Exit   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] Twig stepped to the side, shooing another one of the kids away from him with a wave of his hand and creating some space. He then took his stick, pushed the end into the ground and began drawing something in the dirt. A long circle became a head with two shallow holes for eyes and out of the top of its head, Twig drew two long lines that resembled a shape not unlike horns. [color=white]”Ghost.”[/color] The girl said when Twig was done. Twig nodded at the drawing, satisfied with his work. [color=white]”Some people are afraid to leave. But some of the adults say it’s not ghosts. It’s just dangerous to travel.”[/color] [color=white]”Maybe ghosts are afraid of fire…?”[/color] Desh surmised. [sub][sub][u][b][color=d5a6bd]canaryrose   [/color][/b][/u][/sub][/sub] [color=firebrick][i]Creepy.[/i][/color] Chu stared at the drawing for a moment, furrowing her brows. It didn’t [i]look[/i] like anything from the city. But these were kids. Unreliable sources. She looked up at Twig and the girl again. [color=firebrick]“Well,”[/color] she said, standing up. [color=firebrick]“I’ll keep an eye out for horn dude here and let you know. Promise.”[/color] She ruffled the kid’s hair affectionately. [color=firebrick]“I’m gonna get going. Thanks, kid.”[/color] With that, she turned and walked off, leaving the kids to play their game. Ghosts… now that was something. 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