Suha & the Sea of Red

Book 1: Simmer.

I remember the day that Chief Arnook, leader of the Northern Water tribe, was ruthlessly murdered in his sleep. It was much colder than usual in the North, and the bright full moon shining in the late night sky only made it easier for someone to attack.

When news spread of his death, and having no one to take his place, the North slipped into an abyss of madness. People of the water tribe hid in their homes for days. It was the emptiest I had ever seen the Northern streets be. It was practically abandoned- like a town full of ghosts. The rest of the world, hearing only a week later, increased their security of their world leaders and all vowed to not let what happened in the Northern Water Tribe happen in the Earth Kingdom or the Fire Nation.

However, all the traces of his killer were wiped from existence. No one could figure out who killed Arnook. That created an issue for the other kingdoms and nations- while the killer could still remain one step ahead of the game. Now, of course I would know how to and how to get away with a murder on that scale. I mean, who else had the guts and the wit to assassinate someone that important?

"It's been three months since Chief Arnook was killed." I ignored my demanding cousin and spun a stream of water between my fingers. "We need to make another move soon if we want this plan to work!"

My cousin aggressively pointed his finger to several spots on a map indicating some plan for another attack. He was an admiral for the fire nation- or at least faked his credentials into being able to rank as one. The thing was, all of us in this dumb meeting, on this dumb ship, had faked our way into power. None of us were legitimately given any titles, myself included.

I huffed in annoyance from my cousin's banter. "Amir, if we make another move soon, we won't get enough people to believe what you all want them to believe." If I was going to be the one who killed the leaders, I wanted to do it right. If there even was a right way...

"Killing Chief Arnook showed the world that we will take an eye for an eye. We will not stand around allowing monarchies to abuse their citizens! Xai Bau was what the world needed and instead of listening they assassinated him!"

"Xai Bau was an anarchist. We just don't want an oppressive government."

"Anarchy is what the world needs in order to retain it's natural order!"

Several members of the Red Lotus chimed into the arguments about the beginnings of our group. I was only there because they promised me three things- food, shelter, and belonging. I didn't care much for politics, but my cousin, Amir, was practically second in command since Xai Bau was killed a few months ago.

The Red Lotus was fairly new, being maybe about a year or two old. It's really like my only home. No one else, and nowhere else, would except some water bending freak like me. While I can bend water like a normal waterbender, unfortunately everything I touch with my hands loses its moisture. I have to wear gloves to prevent desiccating anything or anyone.

Yet, members of the Red Lotus all thought that I was some gift from the spirits. They valued freaks like me. It made me feel like I belonged somewhere.

In fact, almost everyone here was an outcast in some way, shape or form. Some were non-benders, like Kyra and Yuki. They were refugees living in the outskirts of Ba sing Se, and specialized in chi blocking or dagger throwing. Others were benders, much like my cousin and several others. However, most benders specialized in rare forms of bending certain sub elements. We had metal benders, Lava benders, blood benders, combustion benders- you name it. We even had a secret lineage of a few air benders who ran away from their temples and kept silent in hiding over 100 years. Avatar aang wasn't the only one left as everyone thought. All of us had wanted to end being tormented by monarchies who abused their powers. We didn't want to suffer anymore.