Zhang's Journey

Unraveling The Knot

  In the streets of Uhnderstone the trio passed men and women who kicked fire or forced up walls of earth. Benders. Zhang was amazed to see other benders, he didn't know there were any left his mother only told stories of people who were brave enough to use their bending. But here, in the city beneath the city, bending was an art.

  "Come on, over here," said Uyi as he drug Zhang to several of his favorite diners and pubs,"I usually grab a bite with friends here every so often," he looks to Zhang for his reaction but there is only confusion.

  "You bring your friends to dinner? My mother always told me my friends had to go home before dark,' said Zhang as he stared at Uyi with expecting eyes. Instead Unami answers

  "Uyi, Zhang was pretty young when he was abducted. Maybe you should take it slow with him," he put a hand on his younger brother. Zhang admired Unami for understanding. He had quite the trouble understanding most of what Uyi has told him. Most of the time he just smiled and acted like he knew what Uyi was talking about.

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  Finally, after more confusion and some explanation, Zhang and the others arrived at what the two brothers called home, an old, somewhat crumbling building. It looks sturdy enough to hold up but it wasn't what usually was built in a city. The brothers led Zhang in and showed him around. The place was nice compared to the prison that he had spent six years in. Once they finished their tour of the house, Uyi and Unami jumped on the couch in the living room and slumped down into a comfortable position. "Don't get too comfy, Uyi we have a meeting in a few hours and we need to be ready," said Unami as he peered at Zhang as if just noticing his presence,"Oh, and Zhang make yourself at home for now, we'll find you a permanent home eventually but right now, you can stay with us,"

  "Thank you very much," Zhang was given a dark green shirt and some sandals to wear. He didn't really want to walk around shirltess or shoeless. After all there were people everywhere down here and he did not feel like getting touched by strangers or stepped on for that matter.

  A few hours passed and Zhang almost fell asleep untill Unami jumped off the sofa and checked the clock that hung on the wall "Six o'clock," said Unami with wide eyes. Uyi let out a long sigh and jumped up with him. Zhang slowly removed himself from a raggedy recliner and joined the two on the way out the door.

  More astonsihing and plentiful men and women swam through the streets of the city. It was so wonderful for Zhang to see benders for the first time. Many times he caught himself staring in marvel at the power of some people-building walls, lighting torches, healing wounds. It was fantastic.

  Zhang finally stopped gazing at the benders to think of the task at hand. What kind of meeting would he and his new friends be attending? He had no clue but hopefully, as the avatar, he could help.

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  After some walking, the boys reached a large building with a spherical roof. The walls seemed to be made of pure sandstone and the windows looked to be thin veils of sand. They entered through large doors and walked to a room with no door. Unami stepped in first and Zhang and Uyi followed. A large oval table stood in the middle of the room, men in military uniforms huddled around it. On it was a map of the above city with markers placed at what seemed like sewer entrance points. "-We'll need men coming from here, here, and here. Bombs and traps will be planted here, at the capital. Once we have all the supplies and men necessary we will launch the attack and overthrow this horrible system of a government," said a very high-rank-looking man. Zhang knew that this plan could never work. He speedily paced up to the table and interrupted.

  "No, that'll never work. We can't do the same thing they did to us. Besides, just killing all the leaders doesn't exactly ensure all the agreement of the citizens," the words escaped his mouth and he regretted it. Everyone was staring at him like he'd just killed someone.

  "Who do you think you are coming in here and butting in, this is none of your business, kid," said the man who was previously discussing the attack

  "I'm the avatar," He steps closer to the board,"And my name is Zhang."