ATER Book 2: Air

Chapter 12: Morada's Story

I remember running, running hard and quick, my breath coming out in short huff, huff's! My heart was in my throat, adrenaline still coursing through me, yet my muscles ached.

I had stopped to lean against a tree to catch my breath. But not too long, Morada, I had thought. I remember glancing behind me, seeing that the black hounds with blood red eyes were still following me.

I was so tired, I could've collapsed right there. But I pushed on. I was weak, drained, and exhausted because when I tripped on a tree branch and fell to the ground, I didn't get back up.

The next thing I remember was waking up in circular room, chained to the wall. My head felt like it was splitting open. I moaned and set it against the cold floor. Everything around me was made of cold, hard rock.

"So, the sleeper awakens," a voice said from the shadows. A tall woman stepped out, filing her nails. Her shiny black hair was held in a simple ponytail. She wore dark red cargo pants and a black skin tight t-shirt.

"Who are you?" I croaked. My throat felt like I had been gurgling sand. The woman tittered.

"Who I am is not of utter importance," she replied. "However, who you are is. Fortunately for me, I already know your name, Morada."

"How?"

"The Lao Jee (pronounced la-ow shj-ay) have their ways, don't you worry."

That name gave me shivers. No one spoke The Old Language anymore. There were often words mixed in with the present day language, but most didn't realize it. Like Luna's name. It's Old Language for moon. But most people didn't outright speak it. So how did the lady know the translation for Wu Li Shong?

"But the Lao Jee haven't moved out of the Earth Kingdom except to attack the Northern Water Tribe," I retorted. "What are they doing in the Fire Nation?" I had come looking for Khanu. Unfortunately, I was captured before I could get very far. Luckily I had managed to send a letter to the air temple. It went like this:

Dear Moon,

I need your help. I'm in the nation of the element you can't bend. It's very important. I fear I'm being pursued by who knows what. I know I told you to stay, but this is important. I'm going as quickly as I can to find him, but there are no signs. Please help!

Purple a

Moon was Luna, but in case someone intercepted the letter, they wouldn't know who was going to. I even tried to code it as best as I could.

"Haven't you seem the news lately?" the woman asked, pulling me out of my trance. "Oh, that's right. You've been too unconscious to read." She clicked her tongue. "What a shame. I'll just read it to you!"

She read to me an article from I don't know how many days ago. It spoke of some Earth Kingdom cities attacking beaches in the Fire Nation. But what struck me as odd was that if these "Earth Kingdom Cities" were really the Wu Li Shong, why didn't the Fire Nation come out and say it?

After the woman finished reading the article, I said, "That still doesn't answer my question." The woman sighed.

"The Lao Jee are 'allies'-" she made air quotes "-when really all they're doing is getting their enemy to ear right out of their hand." Now I was confused.

"I thought the Earth Queen was their enemy."

"A minor one, yes. The only reason why they would want to over-throw her is to have more at their command when they carry out a full blown attack against the Fire Nation."

I frowned. "The Fire Nation? Why now all of a sudden the Fire Nation is their enemy?"

"If you can't figure it out, then I won't tell you. You'll be dead soon enough." She flipped her ponytail and walked out if the room, locking the door behind her.

About 5 minutes after she left, I heard a creaking sound over by the wall on the ground. I clawed at the wall, hoping to get some Rick to throw. Finally, it gave way, and I held the rock above my head, ready to throw.

The black air-vent cover on the floor popped up and a head poked out, looking left and right before crawling all the way out. When the figure stood all the way up, I got a good look him.

He looked to be about 17. His black hair was pulled into a small bun on his crown, with a sash circling his head. His bangs were uneven, and poked out over the sash. He wore sort if a uniform-type outfit: a white unitard with a shoulder strap on top, a chest strip connecting to that, and thigh straps.

He had a sash wrapping around his waist and going over his right shoulder. He also had a belt holding the sash around his waist. He had knee-high boots on with pointed tips, and small red sashes on the outside of the boot, wrapping around the ankle.

Holding the rock high, I said, "Step any closer and this rock makes contact with your skull." The boy held up his hands.

"I only want to talk," he promised. I scowled.

"Fine. But if you make a move-" I tossed the rock in the air and caught it. He shrugged.

"I get the picture. Why don't we start simple. I'm Ummi. (pronounced oom-me) What's your name?"

"Morada," I said tartly. "And may I ask what you are doing in here?"

"I like to talk to Mao Day's prisoners. She captures all sorts of people." So that's her name, I thought.

"Why does she capture people?"

"Who knows. Most I talk to are people who've stood up against the Lao Jee. Others are just ex-boyfriends that've annoyed her." I snorted.

"Tough love." Ummi sat back against the rocky wall, drawing lines in the dirt with his finger.

"So why are you here? Are you an enemy of the Lao Jee?"

"You could say that. I'm traveling around with the Avatar."

"The Avatar?! I didn't think there would be another."

"Well, there is. Her name is Luna."

"Is she here?"

"No, I came by myself. I was looking for a friend of ours."

"Did you manage to find him?"

"No."

There was a long pause before Ummi asked, "Why did he go missing?"

"Oh, a multitude of reasons." I then proceeded to tell him how we all met, then why we were at the Western Air Temple. Before I knew it, we were talking about my life in the North. Before I knew it, I had told Ummi that the spirits had given me the ability to predict the future.

"Whoa," he said, sitting back against the wall. "That's amazing. I wish I could do that."

I shook my head. "You don't want to, trust me. Sometimes, you get visions in public and...and people get scared. Everyone thinks your a monster." I bend my head down in shame.

I felt fingers life my chin up, and suddenly I was looking into Ummi's fiery eyes.

"You're not a monster," he whispered. "Don't you ever think that."I nodded, and suddenly he was yanked away from me.

"Ummi!" I exclaimed. He was being restrained by 2 guards. Next to them was Mao Day. She clucked her tongue like she was about to reprimand a young child.

"Looks like you need more security than I thought."

__________________________

Hey guys! I know I only do Luna's POV, but I felt that you needed to know everything. I hope you guys liked this chapter! Also, if you missed last weeks showing LOK Book 3: Change's first 3 episodes, you're in luck; they're showing all 3 again this Friday on Nick at 8pm EST! I know it's on the fourth, but I thought I'd let you know. Happy Fourth of July! Feel free to comment and don't forget to vote!

Ciao!-Lauren