Chapter 6: The Water Tribe

The Water Tribe
"Wow..." The Avatar glanced down from the saddle of a sky bison. She was surprised by two things. How breathtaking the surroundings were, and how much the city was in a silent war. Marching through the streets, dragging people from their home; the soldiers were everywhere. However, not a sound could be heard from that high in the air, making it all the creepier. As Team Avatar Zuli circled down to land, Zuli was conflicted. The view was breathtaking and she wanted to take it all in, but people were suffering below her and she needed to help them.

A palace of ice presided over neat rows of intricately carved buildings made of ice. Waterbenders pushed boats through the canals and under bridges. However, the scene was ruined by the army stationed outside the palace, and the protesters waving signs in front of the military. Butting head to head, locked in a silent battle.

"When did this happen?" Kilona sat to Zuli's left, directly across from Kitala, who her question was directed at.

Kitala bowed her head, embarrassed that her nation had become so... unpeaceful. "One week before we arrived at the Western Air Temple. We walked out of our homes, and held up our homemade signs. We protested the laws that kept us bound. We chanted, and we marched, but we were never violent in any way. As we neared the palace, the Chief walked outside, his waterbending daughter directly behind him, and sent the order to ‘leave no one uninjured or free'," At this, Kitala's eyes darkened.

"Princess Hikala never even lifted a finger at her father. She is a waterbender, and she watched as many of us were killed or imprisoned. She is a betrayer to her people!"

"That's... that's awful. I just hope that we aren't too late." Zuli turned her head and looked out into the endless tundra, hoping that no one had noticed her expression. Her face was covered with disgust and hatred of what had transpired in the Water Tribe. Yilai did the same. She turned her head back to search for a good landing spot. If anyone had been able to see her face, though, they would have seen a face that almost exactly mirrored the Avatars'.

No one talked much after that, and Yilai circled the sky bison, until she found a place to land. Everyone was absorbed in their own thoughts. Avatar Azuliona thought about how she would be able to find a waterbending master; Kilona thought about her friends and family back home, as well as the people down below; Yilai thought about Abbess Jiyana, and her recent mastery of airbending. Kitala and Akatua thought about their family and friends, most of which were imprisoned, and some of which were probably no longer living and breathing.

All anyone said was to agree that they needed to head to the palace and negotiate with the Chief.

Ogluah touched down, and everyone slid down from the saddle. Kitala and Akatua hid in the saddle bags, and would escape to somewhere safe when the opportunity occurred. As Team Avatar Zuli started to walk towards the palace, waterbenders shot jets of water at them, and froze them into place. Zuli, Kitala, and Akatua could probably unfreeze everybody, but they knew that if they showed intent to fight against the Chief's soldiers, he would not listen to them.

They were brought through a side door and dragged through the palace. The walls were made of ice, carved and covered with tapestries depicting waterbenders and the spiritual aspects of waterbending. They were tossed into a room, with the door locked behind them.

"This is the Avatar?" The Chief of the Water Tribe sat on a carved throne, his daughter directly to his right. "I had heard the rumors, but I had hoped them to be false." He acted as if Zuli and the rest of Team Avatar weren't standing right in front of him. His daughter, Princess Hikala bowed her head and looked at her feet, as if she was embarrassed by her father's words.

Princess Hikala had long black hair, plaited in three thick braids. One at her back, one went over her left shoulder, and one went over her right. They were bound at the tips with blue silk and wide, circular plates carved with the emblem of the water tribe. Her face was downcast, but her eyes were wide and alert. She turned to the Chief and whispered in his ear, "Father. Be more polite towards our guests."

"I am the Avatar, and my name is Azuliona. I would of you ask to call my companions and I by our names." Zuli knelt in front of the chief, and her friends quickly followed.

"I will only call your friends by their names if I choose to. Avatar," This he said with a drawl, as if he couldn't believe her to be the Avatar, "You will tell these terrorists to back down. If you do not do this, then you will never find a waterbending teacher, and be hunted down to your death by my soldiers."

Zuli grimaced, but understanding the consequences proceded to answer. She would find a way to change the laws of the water tribe, no matter what promises she made. She bowed her head in difference, "I will do as you ask."

"Good. On the morrow, you will stand next to me in front of the crowd and tell them that you stand with me. Tell them to back off. If you change your mind, I will be happy to do a public execution. You will be escorted to your rooms now. Guards!" The Chief turned away and walked towards his chambers. Princess Hikala stood there, and then she brushed past Zuli. Zuli felt something hard, cold, and wet slip into her hand. A block of ice. She rubbed her thumb over the surface of it, and felt letters carved into it.

She slipped it into her sleeve before the guards noticed it. The 21 guards from before split up, seven following the chief, seven escorting the princess, and seven dragging the Avatar and her friends to their rooms. Which got bolted behind them. No one was pretending that they weren't prisoners. It would be a waste of time and effort.

Once the guards left them, Zuli gestured for the others to huddle next to her. Or, blocking whatever was beneath them, which in this case was the Avatars hand holding a block of ice. They peered down at this block of ice and read the words carved into all six sides. The script was tiny, and extremely hard to read.

''My name is Hikala, though you most likely know me as the Princess. I am on your side. I can teach you waterbending, Avatar Azuliona. I have trained in secret since I was little, watching Tui and La swim around each other in the spirit oasis. I can heal, and fight. I would consider myself a master, but my father thinks that all I can do is make water move a small amount. He wants to take over all of the sea's around the world, even the ones under other nations' names. And then he wants to take over all the land. He believes that water is the superior element. He is power hungry, and will use you to reach whatever goals he has. I know you were lying when you told him you would do as he wishes, but please listen to me. Act as if you are going to do what he says, but make sure you get the phrase ‘Tui and La at war' somewhere in there. Space out the words, do hand signals, just make sure that those words get portrayed to the audience. They will know to run and hide in the great cave beneath the spirit oasis. My father does not know of its existence, he thinks there is just ice there. Lastly, you are going to need my help to escape from this palace. When you want to escape, signal me and I will hold my father and the guards back as you escape. Melt this once you are done reading it.''

Zuli looked her friends in the eye. They all nodded that they had read it, so she squeezed her hand tight around the block of ice. For a second, a flame seemed to come from her hand, but she made it smaller, and all that was visible was water dripping through her fingers and landing on the soft, plush, bear skin rug that covered the floor.

A guard pushed open the door and ran in.

"Hey! You! What are you three doing huddled over there?! It's the Chief's orders to make sure you are not doing anything suspicious, and I'm not going to be the one blamed for you."

Zuli stepped forward and pushed her friends behind her. "Let me handle this."

She put on an overly sweet expression. "I'm sorry. We were just talking about what we miss about home. Should we stop talking altogether?"

"I guess it's fine." The guard mumbled, his voice gruff. He walked outside and shut the door behind him. Of course, he locked it. That goes without saying.

As soon as he was gone, Zuli let out a breath she'd been holding. "We need to be more careful."

The three of them sat quietly in the corner and discussed random things, trying to distract the guards, and make them un-attentive. Their plan worked, and Team Avatar Zuli talked late into the night, in hushed voices, planning for the next day.