The Lost Spirit

The Lost Spirit Book One: Raava (Part Two)

Episode six: Forest Dwellers

Bato, the Spirit Forest just outside of Republic City

Mud squelched under their feet. 

It had recently poured down with rain, and the three companions trudged through the vines of Republic City's vast spirit wilds. Bato assumed it was the safest way to escape because of its growing number of vicious spirits, but he was starting to regret walking through miles of swamp and shrubbery.

"Please tell me Bato," Aya piped up.

Here it comes.

"Why are we are still knee deep in poison prickles?!"

"I thought it would be the safest route to Botai Bay," he sighed. Botai Bay was their default plan. The city was a famous blue-collar town that gained popularity due to its recent job availability. The town took off in population over the past few years and became quite the destination for tourists and such. Not to mention, it was also the closest port to the Fire Nation.

"Aya, we will never reach Botai Bay with that attitude," Rei chimed in.

Aya let out a dissatisfied groan. "At the rate we're going, we won't even make it to Wulong Forest!" Something rustled in the bushes.

"Gah!" Aya jumped "See! This place is crawling with danger!"

Rei slammed her face in her hand. "Look, I know this seems bad but Bato has a point with this, okay? We have to play it safe."

"Fine. But just for the record? We could've been chillin' in Botai Bay right now if we just hitched a ride on a train or something."

Bato walked past Aya and ruffled her hair. "You keep thinking that, kid."

They kept moving.

***

Avatar 18, Republic Dominion Private Hospital, Republic City

The steady, high-pitched beeping drove him nuts. Lito's body just lay there, breathing. His chest rising and falling. In and out. Nothing else. Nurses and other hospital workers swarmed in and out of the room, constantly performing unnecessary checkups. The Avatar just sat beside Lito's bed on a rickety folding chair with his elbows on his knees, just aching for him to wake up.

"They say it might take a couple days. Even weeks," said Governor Pi-Gang when 18 had first visited.

"Why? Is he gonna be okay?"

The Governor pinched the bridge of his nose. "Apparently the trauma to his head and neck was enough to put him in a coma. So, we're keeping him on life support... but the truth is... we aren't really sure if he'll be okay."

18 noticed the unusual pain in the Governor's words. He took lito's lifeless hand in his and squeezed in hopes he would wake up right then and there and tell him to let go. But that didn't happen, so he simply said "Well... if I know Lito, I know he'll power through whatever stops in his way! Yeah. He'll be fine.... I know it."

That was a week ago.

***

Aya, the Spirit Forest

Aya trudged through the forest, deep in thought. So Botai Bay was the plan, huh? What did Botai Bay have to offer? It certainly wasn't worth hiking through spirit-infested forests. Bato and Rei seemed to know exactly why they needed to reach the Fire Nation. Aya was clueless. Rei didn't tell her squat, so either she's picking favourites, or Bato just found out on his own. Either way, no one bothered to tell her what was going on.