And here it is.
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"Good morning.... It's an hour till sunrise, I have breakfast waiting for you. Hurry up you don't want to keep her waiting." I know I have to get up but somehow I cannot muster the strength to....but the furry that would wait for me if I was late, I need to get up. I grabbed the layer of blankets and flung them to the side only to face the bitter coldness of darken room. I guess the fire went out during the night, all that lay there now are dying coals.
I quietly tip toed about my room getting dressed, taming my hair, and quickly prepared myself for another tough day. I took a deep breath before walking out of my room and into the hallway. I followed the light, warmth, and hearty smells coming from our main room. Mom was quietly tiding up, while Dad had the radio on. Everyone was already up, sitting down, and eating in silence. The air was filled with awkwardness and fear but that's how it is everyday now. I sat down by my older sister and stared at my plate.
"This is the day we have waited for for so long. With the council out of the way, Republic City is ours. We will continue our conquest for equality, with our ever growing numbers, we will expand past this city and onto the other cities of this world."
I couldn't eat, I didn't want to touch my food. I could feel so many emotions run through my stomach, up my throat, and well up in the form of tears in my eyes. I was mad, scared, helpless. I looked up at my dad who sat at the head of the table. He turned the radio off before we heard the end of Amon's speech. Mom had finally sat down with the rest of us, speechless. My older sister, mom, and I are waterbenders while my dad and older brother are non-benders. This whole "equality" issue has never come up, I kept thinking we lived in the bubble. That this situation would never come to the southern water tribe, we were safe and away from it all.
"What are we going to do..." my mom was quietly sobbing. "We're going to be ready. Finish your breakfast and get moving." He put his plate into the sink, grabbed his equipment and headed out the front door. Mom followed after him, it left us siblings all alone. I stared at my plate looking for my words.. when I finally looked up and at my older brother. "Are you angry that you're a nonbender?" He smiled at me, "No. I wouldn't have it any other way." He grabbed his things and went out the door. It was getting late, I tried to eat something and I quickly followed behind them, leaving my sister to clean up.
I wiped the tears from my eyes and shook all my emotions from my body, I pulled the door aside and stepped out into the still dark and crisp morning. The city is awake, as usual. On my way I pass by all the familiar faces. People are always friendly, giving, compassionate. We're not exactly frozen in time, but we do hold on to our traditional ways.. we co-exist nonbenders and benders. I just don't get it. Before I knew it I found myself at the practice field and there she was ready for me.
"Sifu Kya, I am ready." She opened her eyes and smiled. I loved being with her, it made time speed up and slow down all at once. She taught me not only the ways of waterbending but the history of it. She told me many stories of Avatar Aang and his journeys. I will never forget the first thing she told us as children, "Many, many years ago someone sacrificed their life so that there would be waterbending in the southern water tribe. You are lucky and privileged to have been born with this skill and now I will teach you how to master it."
She handed me a cloth to wipe my forehead. I sat down by a ledge that looked over the city. She handed me a nice hot cup of green tea. It was peaceful and by now the sun was up and everyone was going through their daily routines. "Kya..." I stared at the tea leaves swirling in my cup.. "do you think Amon will reach the Southern Water Tribe?" A worried look started on her face but was quickly replaced with a kind and caring motherly look. "Alora, we need to put faith in those fighting to keep us all safe" she glanced towards the city "I believe it's almost midday. You're mother will be waiting for you and you did excellent." I smiled but some how I knew she was hiding something. She gave me a quick hug and I caught the smell of lavender. I waved goodbye and headed down the stairs.
I made my way through town and back home which I was quickly sent back out to get lunch to my dad and brother. I took the back alleys this time to save time. "Hey Alora! Where you going?" A couple of friends were at the corner, from the look of it they were about to go play some ball. "I have to get lunch to Dad, but I can be right there in a bit." I finally made my way just outside the city but still inside the inner wall, where they train for battle. There I my eyes fell upon a crowd of eligible and willing men, waterbenders and nonbenders, willing to give up their lives to protect our city. I found my brother through the crowd, "it's your favorite" I said and winked at him. I hurried away to not be a burden on anyone.
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I'll finish the rest of it later ;D
IT GETS BETTER!
I CAN'T WAIT TO READ MORE! :D
ReplyDeleteBTW. 'Dat heading picture
WHY is it so gorgeous and WHY do I not have it saved to my computer yet?! Where did you find it! O.O
Right?! I want a print! I found it on da :)
DeleteOMG!! Mattie!! You are an amazing writer!! D: I was on the edge of me seat!! Post more soon!! GAAAAH!! I wanna hear the rest! ><
ReplyDelete