Wandering Firebender

Sixty One: Cooperation

(A/N: Wandering Firebender hit a huge milestone recently! It's at over 100,000 reads on Fanfiction! What an achievement! And that's not even taking into account the other almost 50,000 reads on Wattpad! It's truly an honor to see so many people enjoying this story. To celebrate hitting these landmarks, I have decided to release this chapter ahead of schedule. It will still take me time to resume posting regularly, but I did want to show you guys what I have been working on lately. I know a lot of you guys have been waiting patiently for quite some time. Rest assured, I am still working diligently on new chapters!)

Elio developed a new appreciation for the sun.

After traveling for two weeks with no company except the sun by day, the moon by night, and the ocean always underneath him, he was thankful to have a way to be able to tell the days apart.

On a daily basis, he found himself questioning whether or not he was going the right way. He only got confirmation when he saw the corner of the Earth Kingdom below him and mountainous islands to his right. By consulting his Fire Nation map, he was able to stay on course and avoid all military strongholds.

The solitary journey also gave Elio ample time to meditate. He thought often about what happened in the Northern Water Tribe. It troubled him greatly: what his father had done, what he had to do, and how he'd almost died...

He knew he was never going to forget it, but he was more concerned about whether or not he could come to terms with it all. After everything he'd gone through, was inner peace even a possibility...?

And then finally, the big day came. The Fire Nation mainland came into view. Elio quickly came in for a landing just before reaching the beach. He grabbed his things and stuffed whatever he didn't need into his bag. The balloon landed on the water, drifted onto the beach, and got stuck in the sand as the balloon deflated.

Elio hopped out, his feet splashing in ankle deep saltwater. He took in a deep breath as he waded onto the shore, resting one hand on his staff as he walked up onto the beach. He felt the bottom of his boots sinking slightly into the dry sand with each step that he took.

He was finally home again.

Elio looked around him, but he saw no one else was here. That was very unusual. He'd already gone around the blockades, so he expected to at least see a few normal citizens now. But no one was on the beach this morning.

As a precaution, Elio put his cloak and hood on before continuing to travel inland.

He soon hit his first little town near the coast. He made his way through the market area carefully. He pulled his hood down a little to keep his face concealed as he looked around.

To be honest, he wasn't really sure what he was looking for, but he was hoping that he would find some information about what's happened in the immediate aftermath of the war ending.

The easiest way to figure that out would be to get someone talking.

"Hello there," Elio started off with a formal greeting, waving as he entered into a little shop full of knickknacks. "This is a cute little shop you have here, ma'am." He complimented, looking at everything available: wooden carvings, pottery, and various items with the Fire Nation symbol on them.

"Most of what you see here is made by hand. It's all good quality." The shop owner, an older woman with braided hair, said proudly in response.

"Wow," Elio said, going to a small vase and looking it over. "I haven't been to one of these little shops in a long time. I was away from home for a long time, what with the war and all."

"Yeah? Well it's good to have you back home, young man. I'm sure your family is very relieved." She commented.

"Heheh, yeah. I'm very lucky. Many didn't get the chance..." He said.