Avatar: Lingering Tensions

Chapter 4: Sacred Pact

It is a foggy day in the coniferous forest. These landscapes are quite different from the standard subtropical forests of the Fire Nation that boast warm climates or the tropical islands of that nation. A cool breeze flows through the sky as several tall pine trees, rocks, and streams paint the landscape. A drill tank rises from the ground and emerges.

Alev steps out of left door of the vehicle and her hazel eyes shine in the sparkling sunlight. While yellow light still beams from the sun, the sky is relatively faint and less bright than what she is accustomed to. Alev: "This is the last place anyone would expect to find a Fire Nation general."

Hakon leaps out of the left side of the vehicle. His dark brown hair flows in the wind as he analyzes his surroundings. Gendall stumbles out of the right side of the vehicle a few feet behind Alev who is steadily walking forward. An inquisitive Cafri moves behind Hakon as the Remnant warriors advance.

Cafri comments, "It kind of makes sense, Eyre would want to be as far away from the Fire Nation as possible to avoid being detected. So he would want to go to somewhere with a climate different than most would expect but still within the reach of Fire Nation military forces." Cafri certainly has a point considering somewhere like the Northern and Southern Water Tribes would be virtually isolated from Fire Nation allies.

Ronin: "Where are we anyway?"

Hakon answers, "Boquera, a region located on the more frigid North-Central outskirts of the Earth Kingdom."

Alev looks at Hakon, "And this looks to be further north than even Nyarri."

Hakon: "It's quite a bit more north, it is about 500 miles further North. Nyarri is just the beginning of the Earth continent's North landmass anyway.

Gendall comments, "Every second you speak about this, I become more and more confused."

Hakon puts his right index finger on his chin, "Understandable, there is much more to this world than its surface." Alev notices a twelve-foot-tall light grey cave.

Alev looks back at Hakon, "Is he in there?"

Hakon shrugs, "We have no idea where he is, but spies suggest he is somewhere in this area. Some say he has been around this cave."

Gendall: "No use waiting around. Let's go." Gendall marches forward and Ronin creates a flame over his right hand to guide his friend. Alev generates her own light orange flame, Cafri generates an orange flame, and Hakon creates a bright red flame to led themselves through the cave.

As they walk, they notice several torches attached to the cave walls. Hakon comments, "These torches were recently lit, someone put them out."

Alev: "He knew we were coming." The team enters a large room where a stream of splashing water can be heard. They notice a board with writing on it, several books placed inside of wooden shelves within the room, and a man standing in the middle of the room. Alev enters her battle stance and lights up her hands.

Hakon and Cafri do the same while Gendall pulls out his sword. The man is relatively tall and extends his arms lighting the torches and illuminating the room. It is none other than General Eyre. His golden-brown skin shines in the light and this time he has a bit of a beard. Hakon: "General?!"

Eyre: "Why are you surprised? I needed somewhere to stay out of the reach of my new enemies. Unlike the remnant leaders, I knew better than to stay in the Fire Nation."

Alev: "In order to fight against your enemies, you must be close enough to them to strike a blow."

Eyre chuckles, "Strike a blow? I'm done with this pointless fighting." Eyre rarely laughs, this shows a great change in his character.