Ripples In The World

Chapter 12 - Water Wall

"How dare they think they can invade our land? Burn our forest? Haven't they taken enough?" Jet shouted in anger as he continued to pace the length of his hut. As everyone in the entire tree village could hear he wasn't taking this news very well.

"We will have to start devising a plan," he said twiddling the seeding grass in his finger, "a way to stop the fire, or prevent it from happening." He spoke mainly to himself.

"Jet what about the reservoir?" Smellerbee interjected.

"It hasn't been full for months, the underground springs stopped spewing; there'll never be enough to save the whole valley." He spoke quickly as he continued to pace, fingers on chin, the other hand behind his back.

"Maybe The Duke and Pipsqueak will finish building the pump." I could hear the desperation in Smellerbee's voice; she didn't like it when Jet was upset.

"They've finished it, many times and it's never been powerful enough, we'll never get enough water to fill the dam. We only have until sunset tomorrow!" his voice raised again, this time in frustration.

I stood there awkwardly for a moment before I realised they weren't going to figure it out, "I can fill the dam. If the springs still have water in them I can get it out." I said timidly a little hurt they'd forgotten my talent.

Jet stopped. He turned and his seemingly stone carved scowl vanished, his eyes lit up and for a moment it looked as if the stupid piece of grass would finally fall from his lips, but alas it didn't. He rushed over to me and picked me up and a bear hug spinning me around, I couldn't contain the squeal of laughter that spilled from my lungs. "Have I told you that you're amazing? Cause you're amazing!" he put me down and smacked Smellerbee on the arm playfully, "see I told you we'd need a water bender on our side! The whole water beats fire thing, you know." He was ecstatic and so was I, Smellerbee's eyes were shining with hope as she looked up at Jet adoringly. "Quick, call a feast tonight, we need to devise the rest of the plan." Jet announced to us joyously. I don't think I've ever seen him act like this before; it just didn't seem his style. I suppose if someone told me they were going to save my home I'd act the same way too.

"You go ahead Umiko, I'll catch you up." Smellerbee said as I waited by the door for her. I shrugged my shoulders still grinning and left the tent to go tell everyone that tonight we feast!

*****

Last night's feast was a joyous event. The Freedom fighters would evade defeat once more, thanks to me apparently. I got so much praise last night I'm sure my ego is as big as the North wall. There was fruit, hog-monkey steak and stew, and for dessert... Jelly candy! A special treat the group had been saving for an event such as this. It was a pity when it was over.

"The river is just through these shrubs," Jet shouted out over his shoulder as I followed him through the woods. Sure enough there it was; the river, well what was left of it.

"There's not much water is there." I spoke to no one in particular as we began to walk along the bank of the large trickle of water that occupied the base of the dry earthed riverbed.

"No, there's not. It hasn't rained it weeks maybe even months. That's why you're so important to us. No one else can get the water out of the springs but an amazing waterbender like you Umiko." My cheeks flushed at his words, as if I hadn't received enough praise last night for something I was born with. "I hope you enjoyed the feast last night, and had a good night's rest," he added on the end.

"The food was amazing! I slept like a log!" I laughed lightly.

"Haha, that's good to hear," he sounded amused but barely uttered a chuckle. He must be concentrating on where we're going or something. Out of nowhere a massive burst of air spurt out of the earth, scaring the daylights out of me. "We're here. The water is down there trying to escape, but I think it will need a little help from an amazing girl I know," he turned around and spoke with a seductive glint in his eye. I won't deny that Jet and I have gotten close this last week and a bit but nothing worth talking about has developed, yet.