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

Chapter 28: Deus ex Machina

Koa was glad to be out and away from Port Bão. The ugly little port had an ever present stench of fish and the air was thick and heavy from the factories. Away from the water's edge, the city streets sprawled in all directions without any plan or design. As they were escorted to the train station by the imperial guards, she noticed several streets would suddenly end as they turned a corner or zig zag instead of stay in a straight line. The buildings were of short stature as well, the tallest being perhaps 25 stories. She didn't see much of a redeeming quality of the place. The mountains and boroughs that surrounded the town were beautiful however and Kuzo told them all that most of the city's inhabitants lived on the mountain cliff sides or along the coast good ways from the ports.

But now, she was sitting in the train's caboose reserved for the Royal Family with guards outside on either end. It was furnished well. The car had several rows of couches with an aisle separating them down the middle. At the very back of the car, tables had been set up and behind that, a kitchen and bathroom. The whole place had a submarine feel to it too. Round windows punctuated the walls which curved outward giving it a tube shape.

She sat one of the tables looking at her notes. If she had more information, she could make a guess as to when the Dark Hand would attack. Instead, she put her face in her hands and tried not groan in frustration. It was late afternoon and she had spent all day trying to figure it out.

She sat back in her chair and looked up the car. Renko had taken his shoe off and dangled its shoestrings in front of his new Spring Tailed Tiger kitten, Nashi, its name was. Its eyes were huge as it gazed up at the dangling strings and occasionally it would give a low growl. Nashi's tail kept twitching. The spring shaped tail looked like it was flexing until it lashed out as if it had a mind of its own. It whipped out, gently snapping at Renko's hand to get him to release it. Renko just chuckled. Clearly, the little kitten didn't yet have the strength to take it from him.

Out the window, the mountainous terrain of the Fire Nation was in full view. They had just rounded a bend on a hill and passed over a valley between two mountain ranges. A crystal clear lake dominated the view and she could just make out ant sized people at the lake's edge. Kuzo came in from the kitchen and sat next to her.

"Is this your first time in Fire Nation?" he asked her. He looked out the window with her. "See that mountain range over there? That's actually a ring of volcanoes."

"This is my first time. It's beautiful," she said. "I've spent my entire life on Whale Tail. I always wanted to see mountains. These are much nicer than the ones around Republic City. Volcanoes, I'm not sure how to feel about those."

"Ha, don't worry, they're dormant," he replied with a small smile. "All those are good for are powering our power plants. After the Hundred Years War, we developed the technology to harness the Earth's power. We're trying to repair nature after we destroyed it."

"Port Bão certainly could use some work..." she muttered under her breath.

A roar shook the train and caused Nashi to hide under the couch. Another roar shook the train and a shadow passed over the car. Koa looked back out the window and almost gasped. Kuzo merely smiled. A green serpentine creature snaked through the air. Its wings the length of the very car that they rode. Its scales glittered in the sunlight as it flew away. They must be close to the Dragon Nursery that she read about.

The dragon twisted through the skies as it rose with the summer air. It danced gracefully amongst the clouds and roared again. This time, another deeper roar responded.

"Don't mind them," Kuzo said. "They're harmless. Unless you count the fire breathing."

Just then, the door separating the train they were on from the train in front of them opened. A train conductor stepped in and spoke.