The Only Hope

Book 1: Chapter 17

It was all so sickening. I wanted to be sick. During my short gang days, I had the stomach for anything, and I took pride in it. But now, with my very ability of bending being threaten, I just wanted to vomit. And toss Hiroshi Soto in the Bay, if I could have done it with the radio, I would have. But we needed the radio. I was grateful that the United Forces would be here soon.

General Iroh will help us take them down. Plus I’ll get to see him! Maybe that will help lift me up into battle mode.

“Bri! Zabri!”

“Huh, what?”

“Here’s your bowl.”

“Oh, thanks Bolen.”

I took my bowl, smiling at Gommu.

“You are a wise a noble hobo.”

“Thanks so much, Gommu. I’m going to owe you one.”

“Mm! This is the best tasting street ghoul I’ve ever had.”

I took a bite. It wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t amazing.

“I collected it from the finest dumpsters the city has to offer.”

The one bite I had just swallowed came pushing back up. I fought it, pushing it back down. As I did, Asami took one bite, spit it out, and then sat her bowl on the ground for Pabu. Closing my eyes, I took another bite, hoping to not taste or think about it.

That night I dreamt of the past. They were random little bits from my life. Visiting my aunt within the palace, she looked grand and regale. My father spinning me in the air, laughing. Hold Maia for the first time, her squishy little body resting up against my three year old one. Running around our garden chasing bugs as Maia stumbled on cubby baby legs to walk after me. Going to school, and seeing Sima Mcan seeing her after she burnt half of her own eyebrow off. Air bending lessons with my mother, her voice ringing through my head. The first time she was ever sick. The day my father walked out to the gardens, no coat, in the rain; and fell to his knees crying out. The ceremony, sitting there as all those people looked at me with the same horrible look; pity, sadness. The first time I met Tenzin. Seeing my father less, and moving in with Tenzin. Maia’s first attack, so strong she fell down a flight of stairs and broke her arm and a rib. And the last one was out of place, it broke order.

I was around six, and was visiting my aunt. Iroh, my cousin, was in his preteen years; my sister and I being the youngest out of all of my grandfather’s grandkids. We played in the garden, messing with the turtle ducks. Then one bit me. I scream, running with the turtle duck still pinching my arm with its beak. Once I finally shook it off, it landed on its back, struggling to get back up. I laughed at it, happy that I had come out on top. It cried out to the others, and they responded. I ended up getting chased into a corner by about twelve turtle ducks. I called to Iroh, wishing he would save me. With a warrior like cry he came jumping over the railing behind me, scaring the turtle ducks away. Shaking, and crying, I hugged him.

“Don’t worry Bria, I’m your older cousin. I’ll always protect you.”

Protect you.

I told that to Maia.

“I will always protect you, Maia. I will never leave.”

Protect you.

I opened my eyes, and glanced around. Everyone else was still sleeping, the whole hide out quite. The stillness only made the lump in my throat, and the knot in my stomach, grow.