While The Parents Are Away

Chapter 2

"Say, Kya, you didn't happen to pack any of those kale cookies, did you?" said Bumi, reaching for the biggest bag they had.

"Not yet!" she kicked away his hand, "We only left home an hour ago. You can eat tomorrow, we can't be this reckless with our supplies."

"So there's a chance we'll run out of food soon?" asked Tenzin, "I wasn't planning on making stops that aren't for sleeping."

"Look, I packed plenty. If Mr. Bottomless-Pit can keep his hands off, we'll be set until we reach Lin's secret criminal island..." Kya mocked.

"I should show you where it is, Tenzin." Lin cut in, "Bumi, hand me a map."

"Where is it, Kya?"

"I didn't pack a map." Kya shrugged, "You didn't tell me to."

"It's common sense, bringing a map on an overseas trip." Bumi said and Tenzin nodded in agreement.

"And maybe I would know that if I went on missions with the army, or on trips with Dad..."

"Well, we're all lucky you packed you jewelry." Lin started.

"What? I'm not wearing any jewelry." Kya showed them her wrists.

"I'm referring to the jewelry in the bag."

"There is no jewelry in the bag, Lin!"

"Yeah, right... I can feel the metal in it from over here." Lin waved her hand to try and bring the proof out in the open, but stopped when she heard a muffled "ow" coming from the bag.

"You're chocking me!" Turned out that the necklace was attached to Suyin, who slowly crawled out of the bag.

"You snuck her on?" Lin turned to Kya again.

"No! I had no idea she was in there. She must have hid in there before Bumi carried it onto Oogi."

"My back!" Bumi rubbed his neck.

"You're such a brat, you know?" Lin yelled, "When people are actually trying to help you, to keep you safe..."

"You just didn't want me to come!" Su was at the brink of tears from just that sentence.

"Lin, maybe you shouldn't..." Bumi didn't like where all this yelling was taking them. This was not at all how he imagined being on Team Avatar.

"Shouldn't what, Bumi? Take any responsibility, like you?"

"I would have you know, you are speaking to a soldier of-"

"Everybody shut up!" Tenzin yelled out of the blue, blowing some wind their way, "If you do not stop arguing, I will turn this bison around and fly us straight home, Spirits help me!"

Tenzin's outburst seemed to do the trick and everyone stopped talking and even looking at each other.

"We're all tired, cold and a little scared, but we should still treat each other with respect. If we cannot find a way to work together, then we shouldn't be on this trip at all."

oooooooooo

After Tenzin's speech everyone kept quiet and just looked at the stars in thought. They stopped arguing, but they also stopped talking altogether. Within another hour Bumi fell asleep with his head hanging out the saddle. Su and Kya followed close after him, dosing off while Kya had the girl in her embrace. They didn't seem as bothered by Bumi's insistent snoring as Lin was. Sleep just wouldn't come to her, and maybe it was because Bumi sounded like a sky bison, but maybe it was because she was still so angry. Angry at her mother, at Su, at Kya and just... Angry.