Swamp

Book Three

Volume 8

Ch. 107 Swamp

Pov.

-Kara-

"Luna, a beautiful and fitting name for my granddaughter. Worry not, my daughter's death has of no effect onto you, my son."

"You are too kind, I suppose it's safe to assume you knew this would happen?"

"Yes, I had a vision the same night she opened her eyes and wept. My beautiful daughter would one day join the moon spirit in all its glory."

"I see…"

"I only ask for your forgiveness. For my foolishness of keeping this information to myself. I'm sure it would've saved you from a great deal of pain, my son."

"Have no worry, Arnook. I knew what must be done in order to win this everlasting war. I am but proud of her selfless act."

"Proud?" He smiles "well I'm glad to hear you feel this way." Though I could tell he was still saddened by the loss

…

We spoke for a while longer before he mentioned sending me to the Earth Kingdom of Omashu

"Omashu? What business do you seek in Omashu?"

"I want you to escort the Avatar until he has found a proper Earth Bending Master."

"Escort? I'm a General. Not a bodyguard."

"You are the greatest warrior to ever step foot on our Northern Shores. It would be selfish of I to keep you for myself, rather than sending you off with the Avatar where you can infiltrate the Fire Nation."

"The Fire Nation can not be brought down without an army. I need an army, Arnook. It'll be impossible without so."

"And an Army you will have. When the time for the great battle has arrived, an alliance between the Earth and Water nations will be a new and you will have an army of thousands at your disposal."

"Thousands?"

"I'm sure word of what you have done for me and my people is known throughout. They won't think twice before letting you lead our Nations to victory."

…

"Right…"

He smiles

"You will be rewarded handsomely upon your return, my son." He nods

"Fine," I sigh, "we will depart at dawn."

There's nothing else I can do for this nation. Not with an army as fragile as this one has become.

I had a good talk with my men and the Chief about security measures. Once I was convinced they'll do fine on their own, we parted ways

"Alright, Amaterasu-"

"Kara." I cut Sokka off

"Kara?"

"Yes, that's my name."

I shut my eyes

"Y-your name?"

He looks at his sister

"We're on first name basis with the greatest General-"

I fall asleep before I have to listen to him ramble on

-

Kara's Past Ch. 17

-months later

"Mgh-Mgh-Mhk*" she chokes

I was nodding off when the door suddenly opened

"Mghk*" Ignias mom bumps her head on my desk

I pull my homework together as she crawls back out

"Paris, hey." My teacher— Mrs. Cavian— smiles as Ignias mom wipes her mouth

"Hey." She gulps

"I suppose the boy has learned his lesson for today." Mrs. Cavian crouched down in front of my desk

"No more fighting, alright?"

I nod

She called Ignias mom 'my guardian' after fighting a fourth grader during lunch

He was making fun of the bruise under my eye and my busted lip

I don't even remember what he said. I just wanted to punch someone

I look up at Ignias mom as she holds my hand and leads me through the hallway

She brought home another man the other night.

The third one this month.

She just now found I had been using her pills to make myself feel dizzy and fall asleep while it happened

She beat me so hard she told my teacher I fell off my bunk bed

"Your name is Paris?" I ask as I buckle my seatbelt

"Yeah, so what?"

"N-nothing…"

What a beautiful name. For someone so…

Horrible.

-

"Bumi!" Aang joins the king at his throne

"Aang, Kara! It's nice to see you again!" He waves as I enter behind Katara

Two months ago, Omashu fell under fire nation rule and I managed to free his kingdom of such.

"How are we doing today, Bumi?"

"Well, very well!" He snorts

"Bumi, it's time you teach me earth bending!" Aang salutes

"Me? Teach you? The Avatar? Hahahahaha!" Bumi laughs

"What's so funny?"

"Don't be silly, old friend. I can't teach you."

"What?! You're the best earth bender I know!"

"Hahaha." Bumi cackles. "That may be true, but…" he raises a finger "you must learn from a true earth bending master."

"A True Earth Bending Master?"

"Yes, one who waits and listens. One who sees best in the darkest depths of this world."

"Darkest Depths?"

"Yes! Hahahahaha." Bumi laughs

"What are you talking about? Nobody can see in the dark!"

"Badgermoles can." Sokka adds

"Indeed, you must find he who has learned from the founding fathers of Earth Bending."

"Someone who learned bending from Badgermoles?"

"Yes." Bumi nods

"Where are we going to find someone like that?"

"Hahahaha. Head for Gaoling. Rumor has it a great Earth Bender is in the making." Bumi said

"Gaoling?"

Bumi nods

"Right." I sigh. "Then let's carry on."

"Oh all right." Aang sighs.

"Be patient. Always remember, Aang. That is the key to Earth Bending."

"Okay, I'll see you later Bumi." Aang waves as we board their flying cow.

"Alright." I sigh, quickly falling asleep before I have to listen to Sokka speak for another five hours

…

-hours later

I sit up

Where the hell am I?

I look around

A swamp?

I lick my lips

Tastes like it

I pull myself up

Where the hell is that flying cow?

Or was it a bison?

Did we crash?

How'd I sleep through it all?

No surprise, really. I haven't slept all week

I pat myself down

Shit.

I must've dropped my smokes

I could really use one right about now

After drying myself I walk around for a bit

"Kara?"

…

I felt shivers go down my spine

That voice..

I jerk my body around

"S-Sasha?"

I heard her

Am I… crazy?

Just as I convinced myself it was nothing..

"It's okay-" I hear Mikasa

I turn back around

My heart began beating out of my chest

I know what I heard

I'm not crazy

It must be this swamp

"to be afraid." Historia adds

After jerking my head around I spot a woman, standing on the spot light of the sun

It wasn't Historia but she was short

Extremely short

About three foot eight to nine inches

Not even four feet

If it weren't for her proportions and the tattoo on her back you'd easily mistaken her for a child

Her hair was long and straight

So long that it reached her hips

The tattoo running down her spine read 'Beloved Light Illuminating Heaven' in Arabic

The meaning behind my name, Amaterasu-Kara

She was holding a puppy— a Great Dane to be precise.

She seemed happy

The smile on her face made me feel.. funny

…

I couldn't figure out who it could possibly be

It must be some kind of illusion brought forth by the light

I switch to my sharingan

And sure enough…

She was gone

And I was left with this odd feeling of regret

I could've been there for ages

I've never seen anything like it. Her beauty.. it was… enchanting

I head up the stream where I spotted the girl

But of course. There was nothing here

"Hya!" I hear Sokka in the distance

"Aang!" Katara cries

I quickly sprint through the swamp water and through the trees until I found the trio fighting some kind of monster

"There's someone inside!" Katara shouts

I quickly make my way up a tree

He must be bending the water inside the vines

I kick off the tree branch and break through, feet first into the monster

I slam my heels into his chest and I knock him out

I draw my blade and-

"Wait!" Aang shouts just as the tip of my blade dug into the skin on his neck

I don't dig any further and wait for the Avatar to speak

"Why did you call us here?"

"What?"

"He's the avatar, these things happen a lot." Sokka shrugs

"Oh, The Avatar. I didn't call you."

"You didn't? Then who did?"

"Come, you must follow me."

I remove my blade and step off his chest

"Where were you?" Katara asks

"Yeah, we thought you were dead."

"Oh… no, I was asleep."

"You slept through all that?!"

"I was tired" I shrug

"So did you… see something too?" Katara asks

…

"I thought I saw my mother. Sokka said he saw Yue."

"Did you see Yue too?" Sokka asks

"No. I don't know who I saw."

"Right? Me neither." Aang agrees

"The fruits of memories that birth upon this tree exceed space and even our time."

"Does that mean we haven't met them yet?" Aang asks

"Indeed."

"That's amazing. This tree must be super old." Sokka examines the bark

"That's what you got out of all this?" Katara sighs

"What? I'm a simple man."

After finding the Bison and flying monkey we were back on track to Gaoling

…

We arrived by daybreak of the following day

After asking around we ended up in an underground tournament

I was falling asleep after some meat head that went by 'The Boulder' kept winning every fight. When it was finally time for the reigning champion to defend their title

"That's… the girl I saw back at the swamp!"

"The blind bandit?" Katara asks

"Yeah, the one who sees best in the dark." I sit up

It's some little girl.

"Wait, you can't seriously believe she's blind, right?" Sokka asks

"Yeah, maybe it's just a stage name."

"No, look at her eyes." Aang stands up

"Yeah, she really is blind." I add

And with that…

She obliterates 'The Boulder' who had been speaking in third person up until now

"She's amazing!"

"No!" Sokka cries after rooting for The Boulder this entire time

"Anyone dare take on the Blind Bandit?!" The host shouts "I have Five Hundred Gold coins for whomever is brave enough!"

"C'mon, Aang." I pat his back

"Your right, nows my chance!" he hops onto the stage

The two dance around until Aang manages to blow her off the stage

"Where is she?" I ask after he came back by himself

"She earthbent her way out of here." He sighs

"Don't worry Aang, we'll find her in the morning. We should get some rest until then."

We took the night off and morning came around and according to Aang's vision we found she was a member of the Beifong family the, wealthiest people in town and possible the entire continent

"What? You think we should knock?" Aang asks after they were ready to sneak over the wall

"Yeah, I mean you're the Avatar, just say you're dropping by for a visit."

"Hey, you're right. I'm sure they'll be honored to meet you Aang." Katara agrees

"Hmm, alright."

…

-to be continued