On Justice and Peace

Chapter 5

TW: injury resulting in death to a young character

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Kyoshi and Rangi spent the better part of the next two hours looking for the pub. This was made all the more difficult by the fact the pub did not seem to have a name and no one on Zixin's side of town seemed to know anything about it other than it meant "bad business."

Finally, just as the sun was beginning to set on the horizon they found themselves outside a run down looking building. It was made of earth and looked sturdy enough, however, you could see where things had been "patched" together. Different colors of earth mixed together through bending to create a seamless structure. There were no windows- it looked a little like a cave that had sprung up on the outskirts of town.

There was a young boy sitting outside on a rock that had been roughly earthbent into a chair. He raised an eyebrow as Kyoshi and Rangi approached, a flash of surprise and fear crossed his face. Kyoshi knew that she could be an intimidating sight, especially today since she had chosen to wear her head dress, making her seem twice as tall. He quickly fixed his face and stood up straight. "What's your business here?" the boy said, clearly trying to keep his tone casual. "We don't often get abiders for visitors." He spat out the word "abiders" as though it was some kind of curse word. Despite her face paint and headdress, she and Rangi stuck out like sore thumb in these parts.

Kyoshi felt a pang in her chest as she was momentarily reminded of the first time she had met Lek and his initial suspicions of her and Rangi. Had the boy not reminded her of Lek she probably would've been less polite about things, knowing that aggression was often the only way to earn respect around these parts of town. "We are not abiders, we are your sisters." Kyoshi felt Rangi flinch beside her. While Rangi had come to love their companions in the Flying Opera Company as much as she did, Rangi had never been quite as comfortable with being labeled as one of the Daofei. Having grown up at the Fire Nation Royal Military Academy she had a particular appreciation for the rules. "We've taken the same oaths as you, we are simply looking for a place to rest and get something to eat."

The boy paused for a moment, clearly weighing what she had said when he nodded and jerked his thumb at the door. "Whatever, just go in."

As they walked by, Kyoshi tossed him a gold piece. He caught it without a word. The room inside was dimly lit and strongly resembled a cave, there were no windows for privacy and a variety of mismatched furniture spread throughout the room. The only indication that this was an actual establishment was a stone bar along the far wall.

Despite the decrepit state of affairs, the tables were filled and the room was noisy from all of the patrons. Kyoshi and Rangi approached the bar, and a middle aged man turned to face them. They were met with a similar angry scowl that the boy had given them, "Get out here, there's no place for people like you here." So much for being discrete.

"We've just come to talk." Before he could stop her, Kyoshi continued on. "We have heard that this town has become the target for attacks recently."

"GET OUT!" the man roared, smashing the clay cup he had been holding. "If you want to talk bring me down to Townsquare with a warrant but I'm not taking any questions from abiders in my own home. If you know what's good for you, you'll leave!"

"You better listen to him." said a large man walking towards them. He was waving his arms as if to corral them towards the door. In the blink of an eye Rangi had put herself in between the man and Kyoshi, she stood facing him squarely. Rangi's message was clear, come any closer and there was going to be a problem. The man looked at her and laughed but didn't come any closer. "Didn't know abiders came with Fire Nation entourages now."