The History of Renko: Book 1 Emotions (Avatar, boyxboy)

Chapter 12: The Walk Through Twilight

After a fitful night of sleep, Kuzo felt the sun peak over the horizon. He tossed in bed for a couple minutes more but then decided it was best to wake up. Rolling out of bed he dressed and looked at himself in the mirror provided in the room.

His blue eyes were cloudy from drowsiness and the lines under his eyes showed that he didn't get much rest. He washed his face in cold water, waking up a little more. Renko probably should wake up too, he decided, but when he went to wake him his room was empty. Curious Kuzo walked around until he was out on the cliff side facing Republic City.

Renko was there. Fire leaped from his finger tips and stones and rock flew through the air. He stood with his feet apart punching with his right fist sending bright bursts of flame into the air. He stepped forward kicking with his left foot sending small boulders over the cliff side.

A pillar of rock rose diagonally from the ground with a stomp of his foot and a rightward round house kick created a golden ring of fire that singed the air. He stopped when he noticed Kuzo smiling at him in approval.

"Early morning practice?" Kuzo asked still smiling out him.

"Something like that," Renko replied. He turned to the sun rising over the golden towers of the city. "I didn't sleep well last night so I just came out here. I thought training would help especially if I have to fight a crazy religious government."

"You're not going to go at it alone," Kuzo walked to stand next to him. "Besides your form was way off. There's no way you would beat anyone like that."

Renko rolled his eyes. "How did you sleep?"

"Eh as well as you did," he said He was interrupted by the morning bell of the Air Acolytes. Acolyte and Air Bending training began early on Air Temple Island.

"I guess we should get ready to go to the Spirit World."

Tiulo, Renko and Kuzo rode a small ferry across the bay. The sun was just beginning to peak over the tallest tower in Republic City and Renko set his eyes on the shimmering pillar of light that towered above even it. Renko walked to the bow of the ship and leaned over. He thought about what brought his life up to this point and let the spray wash his face.

"I thought we could go in through the Spirit Wilds around the tourist spot and enter the Spirit World," Tiulo said.

"Tourist spot? I thought that there would be a little more security around the portal," Kuzo questioned.

"From what Sud told me," Tiulo replied. "People flock from all over the world to see the Spirit World. There's only three on the whole planet."

"Think about it Kuzo," Renko added. "Wouldn't you want to see a world that is completely unlike our own?"

He just shrugged as if the whole idea was unremarkable. They docked shortly after and soon they found themselves on the edge of a wild and dark forest.

Not thirty feet from the pier at which they docked were long thick branches that spiraled from twisted trees. Sunlight spilled over the city onto the docks but nothing penetrated the thick canopy of the forest. Lights dotted in and out of sight-spirits flying around in the darkness.

"These aren't the same wilds as the swamp but they're pretty similar," Tiulo said. He placed his palm on the nearest vine and closed his eyes. "They water feels the same and the spiritual energy isn't as strong but it's there."

"How do we get through these branches?" Renko asked.

"With a little bending of course," Tiulo said. He stood feet apart and gracefully raised his hands. The branches and vines followed and it was if they stood up from the ground. Tiulo then pushed his hands out slowly, as if he were parting water and the vines parted in response.