Behind the Flames .:H2OVanoss:.

.:Chapter 8:.

"Welcome to the squad!!" Marcel cheered, yanking the brothers into a happy embrace. A moment later Brock joined in on the hug, followed by Simone, and even Tyler. A few other strangers randomly jumped in as well, only further preventing Jonathan from pulling away to talk to the mysterious stranger from before. He struggled to see him through the warm bodies and flailing limbs.
          "Yes, thanks for uh, for accepting us-! Ya, ya- let's totally hang out later, I'd love that, now if you'll just excuse me here-" bending his back he skillfully slid through the cracks, making quick escape as they loved on David. He jogged towards the few that were leaving the beach, his eyes catching sight of the brunette with a fluffy white monkey in his shoulder. He was surrounded by strangers and closely hovered by a tall blue-eyed blonde.
          "Hey, wait!" He called softly once he got close enough. Both blonde and brunette turned immediately at his call.
          "Can we help you?" The man with the blue eyes asked. Said blues traced his mask suspiciously, only righting his behavior with a warm smile and a soft, "And welcome to the team."
           "Oh, thank you." Jonathan scratched the back of his head. "But, I uh- I wanted to talk to him," he pointed at his mysterious twin. "I just needed to know, are you the only one here who can bend blue fire?"
          The boy hesitated, eyes flickering between him and the man next to him. He replied quietly, "I think so.. why?" His deep voice was the melody of an angel, serenading him with a coat of silk, not a single rumble to be heard as he spoke.
          Jonathan took in a wavering breath to steady himself. "Wow- ok well, I just wanted to come and say thank you. You know, for saving me during the battle last night. You showed up just in time; I would have been dead if it weren't for you." The man's eyes were first confused, then lit up as Jonathan praised him. "A-Anyway.. I just wanted to know more about you- even just your name is fine! I'd really appreciate knowing what to call the guy that risked his life for mine."
          The brunette looked at the blonde, who stood at almost the exact height, maybe a tad taller, as if he were asking for permission. The blonde stared back, his eyes like the sky and the sun: a beautiful light blue enveloping a glamorous yellow-orange that stitched around his pupils. Unfortunately, they glanced into the other's with concern. They shared a silent conversation, until the brunette looked back at Jon with soft hazel-browns.
          "Cry," was all he mumbled. At first Jonathan didn't understand, until he introduced his companion. "This is Felix."
          Jon tilted his head. Cry.. that for sure was an interesting name, even for the strange names of the island people. When he noticed Felix staring at Jonathan with a dangerous look, he cut his thoughts short. 'Maybe now's not the time to ask why he wears a mask, too..'
          "That's a really cool name!!" He blurted. Of all the things he could have said, why did it have to be that? "I'm Jonathan, maybe sometime the three of us could practice together later, or something..!" He suggested, unable to shake the daggers thrown from Felix.
          Both companions shrugged. "Ya, that'd be cool." Felix answered, the gentle smile back on his lips. "Well, it was nice meeting you." He placed a hand on Cry's shoulder, nearly startling him.
          "Y-ya! Nice meeting you too!" He waved as the duo turned and continued walking up the hill. Jonathan remained in his spot for a few seconds longer, awkwardly turning on his heels and dragging his feet to rejoin his own group. So many questions raced through his mind, shrouding his senses until he nearly walked straight into David.
          "Jonathan, where'd you run off too?!" His brother laughed as Marcel, Tyler, and Brock clung to him, refusing to let go despite David visibly struggling to hold them up. They were acting like total dorks, and it brought a familiar smile to Jon's face. Just like old times.

                             .•••.•••.

          "No, that won't work. Look here," The next morning, Tyler stood over a large map in the center of their small makeshift camp. It was located in a camouflaged part of a nearby forest, completely covered with heavy undergrowth and hidden from most points of view.
          As it turns out, Tyler and his small group had been camping here for at least two days. Miraculously, they had been able to predict the attack prior, dividing the possible locations between this and three other nearby villages.
          "Why the hell didn't you come to help us sooner, if you knew it would happen?" Jonathan had questioned Tyler the night before.
          Tyler remained stoic and unfazed. "I may be brash and a bit of a dumbass on a normal basis, but I'm no idiot when it comes to battle strategy. I wasn't going to send my soldiers to fight a fight that we weren't absolutely positive could have been won. It would only lead to many unnecessary casualties. Hence, our strategy's main objective is to wait until we are needed most, often only in a winnable war."
          And thus, here they were the next morning, reviewing plans for the group's next 'incognito assignment'. The time was around noon, and the sun was beating down on them like a thousand campfires pressed close to their bodies.
          "This village was taken by the Fire Nation nearly a week ago-" Tyler argued with Marcel over the large parchment. "if we take this route, we risk being spotted by patrols on the cliffs. I suggest we keep to the forest, and avoid as many open areas as possible."
          "I thought that too, Tyler," Marcel looked to be at his wit's end, "but, remember, we aren't talking about you're common stroll through the park, we are talking about the Foggy Swamp- as in, the Foggy Swamp! The one where people don't normally go in, and don't normally come out!"
"I am well aware of the tales, Marcel," Tyler snapped. "-but do you have a better plan to get into the shrine undetected without taking a long-ass time going around? We don't exactly have that many days to work with!"
"What shrine?" A deep voice pulled their attention from the slowly igniting fire that was this conversation. Turning around, Tyler was met with the confused faces of his two newbies. Since they were a part of the group now, he supposed that they could get in on a little bit of the plan; If they were even a part of it.
Tyler sighed. "It's our top priority to figure out the Fire Nation's next move to avoid as many civilian casualties as possible. However, His majesty, Lord-Charcoal-Fuck has had us running in circles for years." They could only assume he referred to the Fire Lord. As Tyler turned away from David and Jon, glancing over the map once more, he placed a finger on a bright orange marker pinned into the middle of a dense forest area. "This is the supposed location of an ancient shrine. It was once dedicated to a very powerful spirit, one that I intend to make contact with. However, in order to get there, we have the option of two paths- through the swamp, or along the mountain paths that border it."
          David looked past Tyler's shoulder at the map and mumbled, "Pardon my asking, but why on earth do you think a spirit will help us? It's not like we can just go talk to them, we aren't Avatars."
          Tyler exhaled begrudgingly, as if he'd heard the same statement from many others. "You're right David, we can't. However, a short time ago, my team did loads of research on spirits of the spirit world- we even got help from the Southern Air Temple. After finding a few articles about the spirits written by past avatars, we came across a spirit in particular that may be able to help us."
"Her name is Mìngyùn, and she is the spirit of future sight." Marcel crossed his arms with a huff. "This shrine was built for her centuries ago, and is said to have a mysterious aura that lures people away so no one can find it. Buuuut, that doesn't mean no one has ever made contact. Ancient text quotes, 'those with righteous purpose and destiny shall be grant contact', but only if our timing is impeccable."
          "Why does the timing matter?" Jon approached to the map curiously, examining the beautiful detail.
          Brock, whom everyone forgot was there, looked up from the other side of the map. "Because of the Winter solstice." There was a pause, then he snickered as both water benders gave him the same dumbfounded look.
Everyone knew that the solstices were no special holiday, only days that marked the longest and shortest of the year. The summer solstice indicated the longest day of sunlight, while the winter was the shortest. Now that they think about it, the winter solstice should only be in a couple weeks!
          Marcel answered for him. "They may seem like any ordinary days, but in fact, are supernatural- when the Spirit world and the human world are 'closest together', making it the easiest time of the year to contact a spirit! Not very many people besides the Avatar knew what they were truly meant for, we only found out because of some old manuscripts in a library!"
          "That's incredible!" David's eyes twinkled in awe.
          Jonathan nodded in agreement. "Alright, well, what's the date for the winter solstice?"
          "A little over two weeks. Fifteen days, to be exact. I wasn't sure if you were coming on this leg of the trip or not, but since I'm feeling generous and going to share this information, consider yourself recruited." Tyler leaned away from the map to speak. "The first step is to ride over to our home camp. We need to recruit a few more people to help us get to our next destination; the Southern Air Temple. We must head there first because I need to consult some monks about important information. Also- if word of ANY of this gets out to other civilians or recruits, I will personally rip your jaws from your skulls and stomp on your heads until the mush of your brains stain my boots, am I clear?"
          The two swallowed hard. "Yes sir! You don't have to worry at all..!" David waved his hands around in a frenzy as Jonathan swallowed at the thought. Normally this type of threat didn't phase him, but somehow, he was convinced Tyler meant everything he said.
          Tyler smiled. "Good. This part of the trip should take no longer than four days. After the Temple, we head straight to the swamp. Oh, we already classified you two as deceased in your records with the water tribe, so there shouldn't be a problem with you leaving."
They exchanged a worried glance. Hopefully Yengen doesn't have a heart attack about this, but there was no going back now.
Without looking up, Tyler consulted his friend. "Brock, when's the earliest time we can leave?"
          "I can go with a few others now to prepare the birds. We can leave by noon if someone else is willing to take down the tents."
          Marcel chimed in. "On it. David, why don't you help me, and Jonathan you go help Brock. Maybe gather a few people on your way." He stood tall and adjusted his thick leather gauntlets.
          "Sounds like a plan! Let's move, guys!" Tyler cheered and pumped his fist forward. Marcel and Brock copied, then looked expectantly at the water benders. Jonathan glanced up at David with an excited twinkle in his eyes. The moments of being with their old friends brought waves of butterflies and deja vu.
          "Well, don't just stand there, bring it in!" Marcel laughed.
          Laughing together, the five soldiers threw their fists to the sky, dispersing with a giddy skip in their steps.