Three Refugees

Reaching the final summit, Kodok looks over the valley containing the town of Gaoling. Surrounded on all sides by steep, rocky hillsides, a collection of ornately decorated stone buildings is visible in the waning sunlight. Reaching the village center will require following a winding path past the elaborate mansions of the wealthy lining the outskirts of the city.

Kodok hurries down the face of the cliff he is on, realizing why this mountainous town was avoided by the fire nation. He is following a path, but it drops fifteen feet off a ledge before continuing.

Not wanting to waste the remaining time before nightfall, Kodok uncorks his canteen. Water spills from the container and floats above his palm. Bending the water is easier than climbing, and with a few fluid motions he creates a slide of ice that leads to the path. All that remains is the long walk into the market.

Water-bending is an ancient form of martial arts that allows one to control any water; however, not everyone can learn it. Kodok's abilities are a blessing and a curse. They allow him to be self sufficient, in both traveling and fighting, but they also make him a target for the fire nation.

Not that the fire nation needs an excuse to attack. After starting a war 100 years ago, they are still in conquest of the entire world. Rumors that the Avatar, a reincarnated bender that can control all four elements, has resurfaced to stop them have been spreading. While he is the only one who can stop the fire nation, he hasn't been seen in over 100 years. Even if he is real, and is back, the fire nation seems too powerful to be beaten.

These thoughts occupy Kodok's mind has he drags himself to the closest inn he can find. To reach Gaoling he had been climbing mountains for the better part of the day, and he is in dire need of a good nights rest.

"How much for a room?" the weary water bender asks the inn keeper.

"One copper piece gets you dinner and a bed," the elderly man replies. Kodok lays one copper coin on the counter. "I'm sorry sir, this is water tribe money."

"It's all I have..."

"Not my problem, stay somewhere else for all I care."

Kodok sighs and turns to leave. "Hold on, I'll pay for his room," a boy with short blond hair, green eyes and a green tunic to match shouts. He turns to Kodok and extends a leather gloved hand. "My name is Lee, nice to meet you!"

"I can manage on my own," Kodok grunts. His stomach growls as if to protest. "Fine, but why would you help me, Lee?"

"Hey, we refugees have to stick together!"

"What makes you think I'm a refugee?"

Lee gestures to Kodok's blue and white fur coat. "Anyone dressed like that, who is carrying only water tribe money, has to be from the southern water tribe! Besides, you aren't the first one I ran into today."

"There are others from the southern water tribe here?"

"No, no, you aren't the first fellow refugee! What's your name though?"

"Kodok."

"I've never heard that name before! Grab some food and come join us; we are sitting in the back corner over there." Lee points with a hand covered in burns, an obvious sign of a fight with fire benders.

Ordering the only seafood on the menu, Kodok carries his tray to Lee's table. There is another kid, roughly the same age as him and Lee, sitting at one of the stools. A simple black tunic gives away nothing about him, but he has a broad sword on his back and dagger on his hip. Both are sheathed, yet his hand fiddles with the hilt of the dagger, as if expecting trouble.

His amber eyes scan the room periodically, but mostly focus on Lee. Short black, stiff hair looks more like a helmet. Lee fixes his gaze on Kodok, forcing the water bender to advert his eyes.

"There you are!" Lee bellows as Kodok approaches the table. "This is my other new friend, Chang."

"Hey," Kodok mutters, taking a seat at the table. Chang nods his way but says nothing.

"I was just telling Chang that I'm from Chin. It's a small costal city west of here, the Rough Rhinos pretty much destroyed it though..." Lee explains.

"Sounds like most of the world right now."

"Yeah, I figured it would safe here. Heading to the walls at Ba Sing Se was my first thought, but that's a major battle zone now. How about you, Kodok?"

"Why doesn't your friend answer first?"

"You are both my friends now, and Chang doesn't want to open up."

"Then I don't either." Kodok takes a seat across the table from the two strangers. His grey hair falls in front of his blue eyes, and the three eat in silence.

"I was fighting in the war over by Omashu; when the city fell, I fled," Chang says without looking at either table mate.

"There's nothing to be ashamed of friend. Everyone was shocked when that crazy old king of theirs just surrendered," Lee offers.

Both of them look over at Kodok. He sighs and responds, "I am from a small island in the south. One fire navy ship is bigger than my whole village. When one showed up, I left."

"Did they attack your village too?" Lee asks.

"No, they didn't notice us. I'm a danger to my people though. If that ship knew a water bender was in my town, they would have attacked. Fire benders are ruthless and cruel."

Chang stands up. "I'm sorry," he mutters. "At least you two have been blessed with bending you can rely on." With that, he heads up the wooden stairs to the sleeping chambers.

After watching him make his exit, Kodok shoots a questioning look to Lee. "I'm an earth bender," Lee says with a shrug. "Change might not be able to do it."

"That would explain the weapons..." Kodok grunts. Downing the rest of his drink, he also stands to go to bed. "Thanks for the help: I owe you one."

"Of course, I'm sure I'll see you around town if you are staying."

"Yeah, it's the only place the fire nation isn't invading."

"Well, goodnight."

With a nod, Kodok retires to a small room comprising of a bed, small table, and dresser. He has little space to stand since the room is barely large enough to hold the meager furnishings, but this tired traveller isn't in the room to stand. Soon, he is fast asleep.

Light from the rising sun peeks over the mountain top and wakes Kodok. He gathers his few possessions and heads downstairs. Until now, he always had a destination, but now that he has arrived, there isn't a plan.

Lee is in the lobby, he smiles and waves at the lone water bender. "Morning, Kodok, what are you up to today?"

"No clue," Kodok admits. "I have just been focused on getting here until now."

"If you need work, you can stick with me! There is an earth bending fighting area that is willing to pay a silver a week for people to sell tickets and clean up after the crowd."

"Sounds fun..."

"It's a start, and I was going to get breakfast in the market."

Unable to find a reason to refuse, Kodok agrees to Lee's proposal. They stroll along the smooth stone street in search of food. Lee stops in front of a kart selling assorted tarts and custards.

As they peruse the delicious looking pastries, an elderly man with grey hair shouts, "My cabbages!" His green hat is clutched in a fist he is waving towards a masked figure fleeing the market with a cabbage under each arm.

Opening his canteen, Kodok forms his water into a whip. Judging the distance carefully, he reasons that he can reach her without resorting to a projectile. Swinging his arm upwards, the whip raises. Before he can lower it, a hand grasps his wrist.

"Let her go," Chang insists. "Sir, I'll pay for those two cabbages." He flips a gold coin to the cabbage man.

"That's more than the cabbages are worth," Lee points out.

"He can keep the change. It might be enough to get him all the way to Full Moon Bay. From there, he can get behind the walls of Ba Sing Se."

"Do you know the thief?" Kodok inquires.

"No."

"How do you know it was a she?"

"I had a run in with her at Omashu... let's just say I owe her the cabbages." Chang turns to leave.

"Hold on," Lee blurts out, putting a hand on Chang's shoulder. "Why don't you join us? We are going to look for work and start over."

"I would love to, but my debts are paid off yet. If you are staying here, make sure no one takes the north path until tomorrow."

"Why, what's wrong with the north pass?"

"Nothing, yet." Chang shrugs Lee off his shoulder and continues down the street.

Suspicious, Kodok peers to the north. He gasps as a tower of black smoke is just distinguishable against the otherwise blue sky.

"What is it?" Lee asks, following Kodok's gaze.

"Fire nation," he responds, narrowing his eyes.