Sound Bender (Avatar: The Last Airbender) #Wattys2017

||Chapter 14 - Confrontation||

Himoko's POV

I walked throughout the town with Alea hopping at my side, determined to find the old man to speak to him personally. With adrenaline filling me to my very core. My gray eyes burned in anger and resentment, wanting to just lash out at the old man for what he did to Haru, how he showed no empathy or gratitude towards the earth bender that saved his life. I clenched my fists tightly at my side, nearing the mine that Katara had described to us last night when she and Haru saved the old man. As expected, a group of men were working on rebuilding the mine with the old man watching, his hands neatly folded behind his back. I stopped for a moment, taking a deep breath to calm myself. 'I need to come off as not an enemy but a friend, not passive but calm.' I repeated to myself over and over in my head before walking over to the old man

"Excuse me, sir?" I asked him, my voice calm and similar to a innocence teen who was only looking for guidance. The old man turned to me, taking in my appearance

"Ahh, a youngster eh? What is it that you need?"

"I was wondering if I could help out somehow." I asked him sweetly, carrying on my facade. Alea chittered, hopping over to the old man which he leant down to pet her on the head

"There is no need child, we have this under control." He peered closely at me, getting a better look, "... You don't seem to be from around here. I have never seen you before in my life actually!" He chortled with a small gasp. I faked giggle, smiling at him

"That's because I travel a lot along with my little companion, Alea. I was just passing through when I heard the news of a mine collapsing. Thought I could give a hand."

"So I see... What is your name youngster?"

"Hima."

"Well, Hima. I am Warren, the oldest one here might I add. If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask me."

"Oh really? Then may I ask you one right now?"

"Of course." He nodded and I mentally smirked to myself, 'Gotcha.'

"Okay~ Then..." I stepped towards him until I was in front of him before leaning down to his ear, "... Why are a snitch?"

"Huh?" He asked, confused by the sudden mood change in my voice. I stepped back, staring down at him

"Yesterday Evening, this mine was on the brink of collapsing while you, the unlucky fellow got caught in the rubble. Two people came by and saw you in need of help. A girl and a boy. And what did the boy do?" I asked him, arching a brow. He visibly gulped nervously, pulling on his collar

"B-Bended..."

"Correct. He bended the earth suffocating you to get you out safely before the mine collapsed completely on top of you. And how did you repay him?" I asked him with a slight sneer

"I-I Uh... H-How do you-"

"Because those two generous and great people are my friends. You reported the happening to a fire nation soldier and which, I was just told he was sent to prison for earthbending. You are an awful person, you knew what would happen if you reported Haru and his earthbending! He saved your butt and you repay him? BY SENDING HIM TO JAIL!" He jumped, startled by the raise in my voice, the ground shaking for a moment

"I hope you are happy with yourself because now, Haru is being charged for helping a lowly person who holds no gratitude OR empathy!" Alea squeaked loudly, slapping one of her floppy ears at Warren's left leg, making him jump again. I glared at him harshly, feeling many eyes slowly pass on me from the ruckus I was causing

"You don't deserve anyone's help. You selfish brat." Alea slapped her ear against his leg one more time before running over to me, climbing up my body skillfully before resting in my arms. I turned swiftly on my heel, walking away leaving him stunned in silence, his jaw hanging close to the ground in shock. 'Serves him right...' I thought to myself before dashing off, heading back over to the barn only when I arrived, Appa was the only one there. I furrowed my brows in slight confusion before realizing that they were probably initiating whatever Katara had planned to save Haru. I sighed deeply, scratching Alea behind her right ear, leaning into my hand while purring like a cat

"Well, let's wait for them to come back..." I decided to head into the barn and catch some shut eye from not gaining much sleep last night. They will probably wake me up when they get back. I laid up against Appa, burying myself in his fur while Alea settled down on my lap, curling up in a small ball while using her long ears to cover herself like a blanket. I closed my eyes and softly breathed in and out, mere minutes later I felt myself comfortably drift off into a peaceful sleep

When I awoke. I felt dread fill my whole body. I sat up, looking around in confusion at the strange surroundings. Stone pillars surrounded me with a fountain behind me, which I apparently was leaning on. I furrowed my brows, standing up before walking over to the edge, gasping in shock to see a ravine of nothingness, probably 10 miles deep by the looks of it. I gulped nervously, rubbing my sweaty palms on my pants before hearing a voice behind me

"Himoko..."

I jumped, swiftly turning around only to see no one, the sound of my name drifting off into the wind, lost forever

"Himoko~"

"Himoko."

"Himoko-"

"Himoko?"

"Himoko!" I jumped, a gasp leaving my lips at the sudden intensity of the voice, my knees visibly shaking. Was I dreaming? This has to be a dream! But, what kind of dream is this anyway? Everything feels so real. And yet, I have never been in this place before in my entire life. A shiver ran up my spine, feeling as if someone was breathing down the back of my neck coldly. I turned around again, stumbling a bit from the lost of balance from only being a step away from the edge

"HIMOKO!" I let out a scream, feeling myself being pushed forward and fall into the ravine, the ground no where being in sight. I thrashed violently around, trying to maneuver myself around to grab a hold of something to stop my fall but there was nothing I could reach out towards. The inevitable was bound to happen. Air left my lungs from the pressure of the air going against my plummeting body. I tightly closed my eyes, clutching tightly onto, wait, I was holding something?

"Himoko!" I opened my eyes again, sitting up suddenly only to knock heads with someone. I let out a pained groan, closing my eyes as I felt a headache come on from the sudden impact. I breathed heavily, my heart pounding against my eardrums violently. I gulped a breath of air into my lungs, opening my eyes slowly to come face to face with Sokka who was rubbing his forehead with a goose egg forming on it

"Oww! Jeez, that hurt!" Sokka cried out, cringing while Aang softly laughed, finding our collision amusing, "That was awesome!" The young Avatar yelled with a grin. Me and Sokka glared at him in pain and unamusement, my heart still racing from the odd dream

"You okay?" Aang asked me after a few minutes of me and Sokka trying to soothe our aching heads

"I'm fine. It was just a dream- Wait, where is Katara?"

"We put our plan into motion."

"And the plan was-?"

"We will explain it later, now come on, you have slept for a good few hours." Sokka stood up, lending a hand to me. I gratefully took it, him pulling me up from the ground. I looked around, seeing Appa no longer in the barn.

To Be continued