β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β β | ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________.. Exitβββ The man already in the clinic had his head rolled back and his eyes closed. It was hard to tell if he was asleep or not. Besides him, the reception area was empty and quiet, a rarity in recent days. Not even the child Chosah could be found nor the women who were constantly in Sarahβs shadow, assisting her at all hours of the day in shifts.
To say that the clinic had been stretched well beyond capacity was an understatement, especially when considering the size of the office. The reception area was small, divided in two by the singular desk standing off center toward the back of the room. There was enough space behind it for an old worn chair and the cabinets and shelving lining the wall. In front of the desk, if someone were to make an attempt, or if the situation called for it as it had many times in the recent days, you could force ten people to stand and wait uncomfortably. It was somewhat strange to see it as empty as it was now, with only a single occupant in one of only three chairs pushed to the side. It wasnβt so strange to see the desk unmanned. Sarah was often busy and was mostly likely within earshot somewhere in the back. Moleβββ What Toma had understood about the world had come crashing down. However, this morning as he made his way to the clinic, he had a deep rooted hope. It was the first time he had found himself with the ability to think with a clear mind. His thoughts werenβt exactly like the morning dew on young, green leaves, but they were hardy. He could look at the sky and see the sun without a tremble tickling his wrists.
Putting the pieces together was challenging. With meticulous precision, he was determined. His finger gently nudged the rim of his glasses, still intact, despite everything. He was an outcast, now. The word was an ugly one, and if he could rewrite it to something else, he would. For now, it remained soiled as an invisible but necessary badge.
As he came to the entrance of the clinic, the boxes of plants stopped him. The nervous tremors he was hiding withered, as he knelt to admire the flora.
βExquisite,β he whispered to them.
His finger reached out to nudge just the tip of one of them but in fear stopped short. He gave a calm smile, eyes glazing behind his glasses as he recalled the incident that led him here:
He was in the middle of teaching a class on botany. In front of all the students, such young ones, too, it had happened. If there was any warning, it wouldn't have made much sense, like the blast in the sky.
His hand rested at his side. This was his new reality. It was far different from his former life, and yet it was growing on him β as all things eventually do for humans.
Patiently, he knew he had to endure.
βSimply beautiful,β he whispered once more to the plants. He was truly mesmerized and wished to pause this moment and adore it with magnification. The subtle peace was going to be a rarity from here on out, and this simple beauty before him would very well be a sad rarity. Exitβββ βIβve taken to calling them βBlue Skyβ,β came a familiar voice.
Sarah approached from the direction of the square with a box in her arms. She stopped next to Toma, casting her shadow across the rest of the planter box and allowing only the flora in question to shine in the sunβs light. Its blue stem and blue stained leaves stood vibrant against the dust and heat of the world that was its new home. There were subtle spots of purple that seemed to dance gently just below the surface. βSomeone came through a few months back and had a few. Apparently theyβve sprung up around the ruins of the Western Air Temples and are helping to keep them attached to the mountain.β She nodded toward it. βGo ahead, you can touch it. It wonβt mind.β Moleβββ A small breath of surprise escaped Toma, but when he looked up at Sarah, his calm smile returned.
βA diamond amongst the rough,β he replied. βThank you for your encouragement, Sarah,β his eyes looked at the flower in the planter box, and carefully, with the tip of his finger, he lightly brushed one of the blue-stained leaves. The leaf, in return, wrapped gently around his finger.
For a brief moment, Toma allowed the soft touch of the leaf to be caressed around his skin. It was quite a delight. With a small tug, the docile leaf let go of his finger. βQuite a compassionate and friendly fellow, isnβt he?β
For another brief moment, Toma studied the flora. He memorized the shape and hues. How the blended and mildly swayed downwards. The outstanding design against the desert backdrop. Blue Sky from the Western Air Temple, he repeated in his mind.
And with that, he stood up. Tall as he was, his shadow touched and lengthened Sarahβs silhouette. Exitβββ βThe war did a lot of bad,β Sarah began, shifting the box in her arms. βBut thereβs some good out there. Anyways, come on in, this shouldnβt take long.β
Sarah pushed the door open to her clinic with a shoulder and stepped inside, setting it wide enough that it would hold itself open for Toma as they followed. βJaakuna! Wake up!β
The man in the chair shifted and his head lifted off the wall lazily, his brow arching as his eyes opened and regarded the two stepping into the small room. His eyes snapped to the box in Sarahβs hands and tracked it all the way to the desk where she set it down. After some digging around, she retrieved from inside it a small orange capsule half filled with pills.
βHere,β she said, tossing the pill bottle over to him. Jaakuna snatched it out of the air and held it up in front of him curiously. βThey should help with the pain, although you might have to take a handful for them to have any affect.β
βThe hell is that doc? An official dosage?β
βAs official as youβre going to get with pills that long expired. Be happy that idiot out there had any.β
Jaakuna frowned at Sarah and then frowned at the bottle, but whatever reservations he was feeling about it were short lived. In short time, heβd torn the lid off, poured an amount into his hand and tossed them into his mouth.
βAnd Toma, how have you been acclimating?β Fiberβββ Her arms were sore. Her legs were sore. Back, head too, all of that was sore. That wasnβt a new feeling to Yukiko; her body was a testament to all of the scrapes and scraps she had been in year after year. Sometimes she got them checked out, by whatever passed for a medic in the lower ring or the prison system, more often she just pushed on through. There was a saying they had in the lower ring, older than anyone could remember βNew growth cannot exist without first the destruction of the oldβ. It was one of the few phrases she had liked enough to think about getting a tattoo of it, but in here experience everyone who bothered to get a quote tattooed on themselves turned out to be an utter tool, and so it stayed off.
At the clinic she walked in, still wearing the muddied and tattered orange jumpsuit she arrived in, and always checking her back instinctually. When she saw how empty it was, she breathed a sigh of relief, then found a spot by the wall to lean up on, even when the chairs were empty. Yukiko got an idea and poured out a drop from her canteen into her palm, then focused on it and started to do some subtle motions. It twitched, and then finally the water droplets began to flit around the palm and fingers of her hand, amusing but harmless. She tried to hide her surprise that she was actually getting this waterbending thing to work. The novelty wore off and she said to Sarah βOi, I forget your name but I heard I had to come back here if I wanted to get some pills. Iβd be happy if you could just give me them and Iβll be out of here, donβt need any more doctorinβ, thank you. You can put the name βYukikoβ down if you need to keep a record.β Moleβββ Toma carefully looked at the woman. She had the kind of brute that was only found in the lower ring. Regardless, he made a polite smile and allowed her to take authority over the conversation. Obviously, she needed Sarahβs attention much more than he did; and if he was to complain, it was only about a soreness in his neck when he turned his head and a soreness in his lower back when he slept. As well, It was trivial of him to mention the occasional panic spells, which he assumed would subside as he studied and became better acquainted with his surroundings. Exitβββ The man in the chair eyed Yukiko as she practiced with the water in her hand. Casually, he lifted his, and with a snap of his fingers, produced a flame at the end of his index. It was weak but serviceable as far as firebending went. Good for the occasional party trick or to light a cigarette. When he was sure Yukiko noticed, he threw her a wink.
βPlease. No open flames in here, Jakuuna. Iβve told you before.β Sarah said, eyes snapping to the man as he begrudgingly snuffed the flame. βAnd Yukiko...β Her eyes drifted to the woman next. βNot pills. Just a check-in and maybe some manners.β Sarah mouthed Toma an apology. βAnd maybe some new clothes.β Moleβββ βOh, itβs alright,β Toma glanced briefly again at the Waterbender and the Firebender and then gave Sarah a reassuring smile of warmth, βAnd really, anything that ails me can be healed easily with Time.β He closed his eyes and let out a sigh. His hand rubbed the back of his neck. Taking pills was not ideal. Now was not the time to let his guard down, and even if he was in the comfort of his home in Ba Sing Se, he would prefer pure holistic remedies. He had been to the Lower Ring enough times to see the social retardation. Exitβββ Sarah stepped away from Toma and returned to her desk, rummaging again in her box. She eventually pulled out what looked like a faded, dark red windbreaker, the words βGaolingβ embroidered across the chest and straddling the zipper break in the center. She turned and held it up for Yukiko to take. βPlease consider putting that on at least over the jumpsuit. That thing isnβt going to last another week out here by itself and I canβt have you walking around naked in the desert. That should do until after Iβve found you some new pants.β Fiberβββ Yukiko stopped playing with the water and held it in her palm before curling it shut, wanting to see how she could compress it and hold it in. She walked over and took the jacket with one outstretched hand and checked the fit as she put it on. She liked it better with the sleeves scrunched up a bit, she found. She was turning to walk away but stopped to say βHmmβ¦thank you for the clothes. What else do you need to ask about or check?β Yukiko was not one for pity or charity, but she knew the value of respect. There was a difference one learned on the lower ring, respect was always earned, never given out for free. Maybe if she stayed longer sheβd get to know more about what kind of person Sarah was. Exitβββ βI just want to make sure there there aren't any other issues that have come up since you arrived. Sometimes things go unnoticed until after the worst of it is over.β Sarah returned to Toma. βIβm sorry. You first, Toma. Tell me how youβve been. Any concerns come up recently? Physically?.β
Before Toma could answer, Sonam suddenly appeared in the door. She was out of breath and her hair tossed as if sheβd just finished a sprint. Not stopping to address her sudden appearance or anyone in the room beyond a quick glance at each of them, she moved immediately to the back room and disappeared through the door way.
βSonam?β
βWhereβs the girl? Whereβs Chosah?β Sonam called from the back.
βUh-ah I thought she was with yo-β
Sonam appeared again only a half a second later stopping in the doorway. βSheβs not here?β
Sarah shook her head. βNo. Whatβs going on? Is she alright?β
βSheβs missing. All the kids are missing!β | _|
Location. The Wilds, Tu Zin Time. Afternoon, SE+12
Fiber as Yukiko Mole as Toma Mori Exit as Sarah, Sonam & Jaakuna
Jaakuna originally created by Altered Tundra ___________________________.............. Summary. Yukiko and Toma do a wellness check with Sarah who wants to make sure they're acclimating to their new home. They're interrupted by Sonam who informs them that Chosah as well as other children are missing. |
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