DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
MacabreOfWriting
HTML https://macabreofwriting.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Avatar
*****************************************************
#Post#: 410985--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Fire Nation
DIR By: Evil Kitty
Date: September 20, 2020, 4:42 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Though that expression never changed, his eyes were every
observant as the girl fiddled with the garment. The water tribe
based symbol clearly meaning a lot to her; breeding caution
within himself. He couldn't allow a trip to the water nation,
so, he worried, but, for now, their paths were perfectly
intersected. So, why worry? He chuckled as his thought was
broken by her modesty. Merely shaking his head in disapproval.
"Oh, I've worked with a lot of benders. You'll do fine with some
experience." His words seeming blunt, yet, kind; even prenoting
his own weaknesses on the subject.
Though, quick to move on to a bit of a puzzled glance as she
outstretched her hand in introduction. Sadly, he seemed to be
carrying that incredibly long hilt in the proper hand to return
the gesture. "Oh, um..." He let out a bit of a nervous chuckle
before it seemed to occur to him. Refusing to release the sword
as he brought his closed hand into his other palm in a formal
bow. "Ichi. And this..." He seemed to turn off to face his sword
as he held it up to the side. "Is Sai. I'm kinda stuck with
him."
Of course, he knew those words had really meant THEY were stuck
with Sai. Not just him. Though, that was for the girl to see in
her own due time. Then she would really decide if she can make
him a companion. For now, Ichi merely turned to change the
subject as he began his first steps to continue their journey
towards the border of the fire nation. "Now to find us some
docks!" He yelled back enthusiastically after securely holding
the blade to his hip once more.
#Post#: 410986--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Fire Nation
DIR By: BethSant
Date: September 20, 2020, 5:46 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Bek nodded thoughtfully at his response. She hoped to one day
become a strong and powerful bender, so that she could return
home and prove to her 'father' that she was worthy of his pride,
but that would mean finding someone to teach her. Then again,
did it have to be a waterbender or could anyone teach her to
fight? Perhaps she could take techniques from other bending
elements and apply them to her own. She couldn't help but smile
though, perhaps he was right and all she needed was experience?
Surely instinct would take over?
Noticing that his hand was occupied by his sword, Bek instead
mimicked his bow and took his name. Ichi. It was certainly one
she had never heard before, so she was sure to remember it.
Though she was immediately perplexed by his introduction of his
sword. She had heard people gave weapons names, but never
referred to like that.
"You're stuck with... him?" She raised a questioning brow. Did
he mean that he was stuck to the sword? And why did he refer to
it as 'him'? She had almost as many new questions about this
weapon as she did the Light Clan. At least these questions she
may be able to obtain answers to though. Deciding that she would
try to ask, but not intrude, Bek followed slightly behind him.
Before she could ask any of her questions however, he had
changed the subject. Bek hurried along after him, her legs
working quickly to keep up. At only 5'2" she was fairly short
and as such, had short legs. She was used to waking fast though,
both of her brothers had been tall.
"The docks?" Bek questioned as her eyes lit up, falling into
step beside him. "It seems we were destined to cross paths, I
was aiming for the docks too!" She smiled, excited to be on her
way to water. As a waterbender she had always felt the pull
towards the ocean, but as her home farm had been so far in-land,
she had to settle for the stream at the far end of their fields.
She could almost feel the ebb and flow of the tide from where
they now walked. Bek didn't care where they went from there
onwards, her journey would take her where she needed to be. This
was only more proof of that.
#Post#: 410988--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Fire Nation
DIR By: Evil Kitty
Date: September 20, 2020, 6:07 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Ichi could only snicker in reply to her question as he walked.
He wasn't really averting from the subject, but, excited. After
all, it wasn't every day he had help getting around. So,
naturally, he had a bit of trouble focusing on one thing as he
walked; slowing a bit to match the girl a bit more closely.
"Well, ya' see, he's kind of a family heirloom. Each generation
of my family guards this blade."
He seemed to smile at the blade at his brief explanation, yet,
it seemed to be a bit more hollow than the other kinder glances.
"Though, I'm the last of the family, so, it's up to me to help
him instead." His words seemed distracted and vaguely
optimistic; seeming to need to remind himself that Bek had even
been present with him. Chuckling a bit before looking over his
shoulder. "Destiny? Of course! A young, ambitious, water bender
in search of time meets the kind young forgemaster with nothing
but! Both headed to the capital!"
He recited those words as if he had actually read them in some
sacred scroll that revealed some divine secret; only to let out
a chuckle. "And we both have to find something we need... Which
I have the secret for...!" He chuckled as they began to approach
the loud, bustling, shore line town; reaching his coat as he
pulled out a large satchel of gold coins. Looking to the girl
with a wide smirk. "Mind holding 'em for me? These salesmen
always bleed me dry." Holding the jingling, heavy, bag out for
her. It was well enough to live a life of luxury for months:
contrary to his tattered cloaks impression.
#Post#: 410990--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Fire Nation
DIR By: BethSant
Date: September 20, 2020, 6:25 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
His reaction caused Bek to furrow her brow but she was grateful
of his slowing steps. She looked up at him while he talked,
fascinated by his explanation despite it bringing more
questions. It seemed there was much more to this man than she
could discover in one afternoon.
"Why must it be guarded? Is it special?" She glanced around him
to the blade, her curiosity ever growing. She had to hold
herself back from listing off all of her queries at once, the
last thing she wanted was to give him the impression she had the
questioning habits of a child. Silently, she chastised herself
and decided she would ask more later. If they were to be sharing
this journey, there would be plenty of time to find out more.
His jovial words brought a smile to her face once more and she
felt almost bashful at his description of her. "You are a
forgemaster? Did you forge your other weapons?" Her eyes turned
to what lay beneath his cloak, wondering which he had made and
which he had obtained from elsewhere. Were any more of them
special like his named blade?
At the appearance of the coin bag, Bek's eyes widened. She had
never seen, nor heard, so many coins in one place before! She
held both hands up to take it from him as he offered it out, her
arms drooping from the weight as it shifted to her. Who was this
man to have so much coin! And to just willingly hand it over to
her so trustingly to take care of?
"Oh, gosh!" She squeaked, unsure of really what to say. She
scrambled to stuff it into her satchel, almost forgetting to
take out a small cloth bundle that wrapped up some homemade
sweetbreads so that they weren't squashed beneath the weight.
Settling the coins safely in the bag with her sweetbreads on
top, she adjusted the strap over her shoulder and chewed on her
lower lip thoughtfully. "Forgive me if this is rude for me to
ask, but if you have so much money why do you not use it to
travel in more luxurious means?"
#Post#: 410991--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Fire Nation
DIR By: Evil Kitty
Date: September 20, 2020, 7:04 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Ichi seemed to listen to the girl fully and completely;
chuckling and snorting out with an amused, though frustrated,
reaction to each of her questions. He had no idea where to
start. How could he explain he held an imprisoned, murderous,
bloodbending, warrior in his palm; waiting to be unsheathed and
take him over? It was a difficult matter to simply... Drop on a
girl just beginning her journey, though, he knew it was one that
was bound to be seen for herself: being he released the beast on
his walks. Away from life to harm. But, now was different.
Though, there was one question he could answer, brushing a bit
of hair from his face in a bit of a modest blush. "Yes, they are
all made by me, though, they are not all mine. My families trade
was making symbolic elemental weapons for various kingdoms. I
don't actually use them." With that he gave her a defining
smile; eliminating all possibility of those weapons being of use
to him. In fact their weight little more than a burden to him at
most times. His eyes only drifting down as the subject grew half
answered.
"As for the other things... Well.. I think it's best he tell
you." With that, Ichi had looked down to the blade with a bit of
second thought, regret even, but, Sai was far better of a
bender: thus more useful for boat travel. He also seemed to
be... Vaguely under control and even interested in these recent
events, so, it was worth seeing if this girl could impress him.
Looking to her with a bit of a confident grin before the opening
of the blade with heard, as if breaking of a seal.
Soon after, the band holding Ichi's long, white, hair together
in a tail had snapped as his hair was tainted a dry, coal,
black. What once seemed to be bandages under Ichi's clothes now
burned as seals against his skin as an awaken Sai: who's
shackled hands drew the, surprisingly short, blade. Even his
own, once white, pants had seemed to become a smokey grey: as if
covered in ash. His eyes had turned to the girl with a predatory
glare, though, he could only sigh in reply. "I am no simple
sword... Though, this is a simple idea from a foolish boy..." He
pointed out to Bek, as if she could relay the message. Adjusting
Ichi's jacket to use the hood over his dirtied, much more
fierce, face. It seemed to emphasise Ichi's scar.
Unlike Ichi, Sai had no problem hiding the blade as he hid the
hilt under the back of the cloak where the sword hung free,
unsheathed, hooked to his belt. His chained hands now able to
move freely as he motioned to the docks. "In a city full of
people he sends a bloodbender..." Looking back to the girl with
a huff. "I am Sai and you are to guide me, girl." His attitude
was harsh, and condescending, though, the truth is he was lost
in social situations. This was the first Ichi had ever trusted
him to enter a city, so, he seemed off put by the boy's trust.
Hesitant to destroy it.
#Post#: 410992--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Fire Nation
DIR By: BethSant
Date: September 20, 2020, 7:29 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
So he had made the weapons himself? Bek was impressed. He was
clearly skilled in his craft. She allowed herself another look
at them before turning her gaze ahead at the upcoming town.
Maybe he could make her something? There had been pictures in
books about watertribes that her mother had found for her, great
spears and water tribe weapons that could greatly aid her
bending, maybe she could earn herself some money and ask him to
make one? Then again, he must charge an awful lot for his craft
for him to have gained so much coin. Could she earn that much to
give him? Her thoughts drifted for a moment as she toyed with
different ideas on how to make money, though she was soon pulled
back to him by what happened next.
Her steps stopped as he seemed to transform before her, no
longer seeing the kind and jovial face that had laughed with
her. Now it was replaced by someone else. Though it still looked
like Ichi, she knew it wasn't his eyes she was looking into. Was
this Sai? She was startled by the glare he shot her, her cheeks
paling in surprise before she scurried forwards to catch up the
steps she had fallen behind by. Her suspicions were confirmed by
his comment and she nodded as though to let him know she would
pass along these words.
His face seemed so different and yet still the same. Her eyes
drifted across the scar on his face. She had noticed it earlier
but now it seemed more... obvious? It made him seem more
dangerous. She took a breath and tried to remind herself that
this was not dangerous at all. Or at least, she tried to
convince herself of this. Though she had only known Sai such a
short time, she felt sure he would not have dropped her into
danger like that. Would he? Hmm...
"A bloodbender?" Bek gasped, her eyes widening once more. She
knew the practice existed but... hadn't it been outlawed long
ago? She had never dared even attempt it, not even during a full
moon. Maybe there was some danger here after all? She was taken
aback at being called 'girl', but she dared not point out it
felt rude. This man seemed such a distant comparison to the one
she had been talking to earlier, she felt sure he would not take
kindly to be being told such a thing.
"My name is Bek." She offered, in the hope it would coax him
into using her name instead. "You wish me to guide you to the
docks?" She glanced around as they approached the city,
buildings starting to line the road either side of them. She was
sure she knew the way without having ever been here before, she
just had to follow the pull of water. She could feel it, like a
magnet drawing her to it.
#Post#: 411045--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Fire Nation
DIR By: Evil Kitty
Date: September 21, 2020, 4:26 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
It was clear just why he had made such a bold demand as
buildings had began to cascade their surroundings. More,
importantly, people. Much like how the girl was a waterbender,
Sai was linked to blood more strongly than water. He could feel,
almost strong enough to see, every man, woman, and child
sitting, playing, and sleeping within their homes. It seemed to
gradually wear at him as his hands began to shake in
anticipation, almost anxiety, and causing the chains upon his
shackled wrists to rattle beneath his cloak faintly. "Yes..
Blood... It flows everywhere..."
He could barely manage to keep the focus between answering her
questions and maintaining his composure as they walked. Yet, for
him, this was doing well. His ravenous eyes darting to the girl
in a bit of desperation: as if fighting off a massive migraine.
"But, I... I feel it like you feel the ocean... It calls..." His
fist was clenched with those words as he exposed it from the
cloak; showing the girl his tangible frustration. "... The
money... You can guide us to the sea..."
With those final words, that headache seemed to have a momentary
calm as he managed to look back away with a huff of his composed
persona once more: even for just a moment. "Then your first
lesson begins." He spoke only to begin darting his head oft to
the sides as if looking through the walls of the very homes they
walked by. Inspecting every passer by as if a man or woman would
their next cut of seafood. Only continuing to tread on with the
girl, though, now slowing from his hesitation to where he now
paced a bit behind her.
#Post#: 411050--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Fire Nation
DIR By: BethSant
Date: September 21, 2020, 4:53 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
The noise from his shackles unnerved Bek, but she told herself
to remain calm and took a deep breath. If she were in danger,
there were plenty of people around to help, and if they couldn't
then she would simply run for the crowds of the city and
disappear. She listened to him intently and nodded as she
understood. Stories had made their way even to her deep in the
Fire Nation of bloodbenders and their powers. How they could
control the movement of their victims, stop their blood pumping
to their hearts and even pull it from their very bodies.
With a shudder, she pushed the thought from her mind and
carefully placed a hand on his arm. "Then I will guide you, we
will stay together." She looked up at him and brought a smile to
her lips, it was truly sincere. She could see the visible
struggle he was dealing with - the way his eyes would not
settle, he seemed fidgety and annoyed.
She paused briefly to feel for the water, feeling it pull her
towards the left. "This way." She began to walk, bringing her
gaze to him occasionally to make sure he was following with her.
"My first lesson?" Bek looked at him, puzzled. Was he offering
to teach her? She hoped so, but she also was weary. He didn't
intend to teach her... bloodbending did he?
Although she found it fascinating, she certainly didn't intend
to learn how to use it. She would have to be sure before
accepting any lesson from him. "You must be a waterbender, yes?
To be able to use bloodbending?" She travelled at his pace when
he slowed, continuing to lead them through winding streets
towards the docks and occasionally checking he was still with
her.
#Post#: 411051--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Fire Nation
DIR By: Evil Kitty
Date: September 21, 2020, 5:21 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Sai could only nod in reply to her final acceptance even with
his vague explanation. Merely managing what he could as he
followed behind her, though, it was difficult to keep his feet
in line with each step as his eyes wandered. Only her constant
questioning, though agitating, him catching his focus time and
time again. A visible frustration forming over him over a
flustered need to answer her questions, to wreak havoc, and to
control his instincts. "Child!"
His words were instinctual, and, seemed to bring him relief,
though, was sure to bring the attention of any citizens of the
docks passing by. Finally letting out a bit of a grumble as he
spoke, though, far more focused at least. "Have you no
patience?" He pointed out before pulling in a bit closer. His
grumbling tone continuing. "Yes, and no..." As he spoke his eyes
began to wander, though, he lifted his palm with a needle from
Ichi's cloak as if to show Bek.
Taking the needle in his fingers as he pricked the palm. He
seemed to have no flinch, nor even feeling, of the prick of the
needle as the bead of blood was exposed in the center of his
palm. Seeming to focus the spirit to his own hand. "See, you are
right. Talented waterbenders learn can learn to bloodbend when
abandoning morals..." He chuckled at the very idea, though, it
did seemed disenchanted. "Though, you forget, I am a spirit: not
a bender. I can tap the waterbending ability Ichi is too hapless
to use. I am solely a bloodbender by nature. Thus why I do not
hear your oceans call, but, instead, the call of the livestock"
As he spoke those last words he closed his palm to end his
display and put the boy's needle where it belonged. Letting out
a bit of a sigh as they walked, that bleeding hand now firmly
fixed on the handle of that blade. "So, I can teach you, but,
not much. You will need a real master. One who is a bender,
hopefully."
#Post#: 411052--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Fire Nation
DIR By: BethSant
Date: September 21, 2020, 5:37 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
His shout startled her and caused her to stumble. She squeaked
and spun around to face him, her cheeks flush as she avoided the
gazes of those around them. "[I]I am not a child.[/i]" She
hissed, despite being very aware of how much younger than this
spirit she likely was. She may only be 16, but she certainly
didn't believe she was some petulant child.
"I have plenty of patience, but not if you are going to be so
rude." She grumbled, half under her breath. Her father's snap
temper had weedled its way into her over the years, though she
was careful not to push him. He was still, after all, a
bloodbending spirit.
She watched with interest as he displayed his palm to her,
curious now whether Ichi felt what he did. She wanted to ask,
but he seemingly did not have much tolerance for questions, so
she merely settled for a nod of understanding. She would ask
Ichi later. The display unnerved her, it felt so weirdly
unnatural, but she reminded herself that it was simply a twist
on bending. It almost helped her feel better.
Continuing towards the docks, Bek could not only feel the pull
of the water but also the stares of the people around them. The
outburst had been enough to draw attention but now it seemed
their conversation had been overheard by several and she could
almost hear the whispers of bloodbender around them. It would
not be wise to hang around.
"Well, I shall look forward to your teachings. But for now I
think perhaps we should quicken a little. The docks aren't far
and I think it would benefit us to get there before the wrong
people hear what you can do." She furrowed her brow and glanced
around quickly. If word spread to the guards of the city that a
bloodbender walked among them, there was sure to be trouble.
*****************************************************
Page 2 of 3
DIR Previous Page
DIR Next Page