Avatar: The Legend of Anzen Hyriu, Book 1: The Legend of Beifen

Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Snow of Soot, Rain of Fire

We rushed down into the city; the black snow still falling. I heard the beat of the warning drum. Everyone was running to the palace, and we joined the panicked crowd. Once everyone was in the palace, Arnook stood.

"The day we have feared for so long has arrived. The Fire Nation is own our doorstep. It is with great sadness that I call my family here before me, knowing well that many of these faces are about to vanish from our Tribe, but they will never vanish from our hearts. Now, as we approach the battle for our existence, I call upon the Great Spirits. Spirit of the Ocean, Spirit of the Moon, be with us. I am going to need volunteers for a dangerous mission," Sokka, one of the Avatar's friends, volunteered, as did a few others. "Be warned, many of you will not return. Come forward to receive my mark if you accept the task."

He painted three red lines on the foreheads of the volunteers.

"Now then, the rest of you will either prepare the city for battle or will help evacuate the women and children to safety. They will be brought into the higher parts of the city for now. Dismissed." He said.

We walked up to him and the Royal Court.

"What are all of you doing here?" He asked in shock.

"Our scouts spotted the armada, so we came as soon as we could, which seemed to be just in time," Wei explained.

"Hmm." Arnook looked at Koluk and me. "And you thought it was a good idea to bring them?"

"Uh...er...um, actually Hyriu and Koluk came on their own authority. They were stowaways," Wei said. "But they will mostly just help evacuate the women and children."

"What?" Koluk and I said at the same time.

"Yes, they will not actually fight, unless the soldiers break through to the city," Wei said to us and Arnook.

"But I can-" I began.

"No!" Wei cut me off. "I will not have you engage in naval combat. You have no experience with that. It is only for the utmost elite."

"Um, Anzen here," I said. "I am practically the Avatar."

"Yes, but naval combat is incredibly difficult. There is a reason naval training in Hydronia begins at the age of eighteen. You need lots of experience of fighting on land first. You can't just jump into it, expecting the best outcome and no consequences," Wei said.

I sighed, "Fine."

Koluk and I left the palace and saw Sokka sharpening his boomerang. We walked up to him.

"Hey, uh, Hyriu, right?" He said when he saw us.

"Yeah, this is my friend, Koluk. Koluk, Sokka," I introduced them.

"So are you two going to help fight?" Sokka asked, looking at our gear.

"Apparently, we're just going to help evacuate," I said, rolling my eyes.

Sokka laughed. "Ah, alright. Oh, you can sword fight?" He asked and pointed at my sword.

"Oh, yeah," I said and unsheathed it. "I even came up with my own disarming technique." I demonstrated it to him.

"Whoa, that's awesome," he said.

"Yeah, G. B. is pretty cool," Koluk said.

"G. B.?" I questioned him.

"You know, Gambing Blade, G. B." Koluk said motioning with his hands.

I laughed, "I like it."

"Hyriu, Koluk, come on; I'll show you where to start leading people. We need to get as many to safety as possible." He gave a nod at Sokka.