Storm

Chapter 6

            “What are you waiting around for, winter? Get out of here, girl!”

            The rough voice sent Storm tumbling into the street, away from the grubby statue vendor’s stall. She’d been helping him all morning, but just like the others she’d met in the two days that she’d spent in this town, the vendor took what she gave and kicked her on her way.

            Storm trudged through the streets, feeling sorry for herself. She hadn’t made any friends, and she’d almost had to fight seven different people! She was sick of this town… but she couldn’t seem to make herself leave.

            There was something about the feel of it--she’d come to love the noise and the clamor and the bustle of the Merchant’s Pier.

            She was sure she could find that feeling elsewhere, but the problem was… her map couldn’t tell her where that elsewhere might be. She still needed a guide. And the forest around her small campsite, about a mile out of town, was growing bare of nuts and berries. She would have to move on soon, or starve.

            She had seen people with food here, of course--strange smelling confections that almost looked like they might taste good. She’d seen those foods traded for small, round, shiny things. She didn’t have any shiny things except her necklace, and she didn’t have the desire to brave the strange foods.

            So she would move on, she decided, in the morning. If she couldn’t find a guide before then. Storm was still optimistic--one never knew what the next minute would bring, after all.

            Unless one was Wan Shi Tong, and thought that one knew everything.

            She giggled to herself, then quickly shook her head to banish the thought. People looked at her oddly when she giggled to herself, and she didn’t like that.

            She turned a corner, her eyes forever roaming--but not roaming fast enough, apparently, because when she stepped around the corner, she slammed into someone coming from the opposite direction.

            The bundle of scrolls and papers the man was carrying spewed out across the street, and instantly Storm dropped to her knees to pick them up. “I’m sorry!” She spoke quickly, feeling bad. “I didn’t see you.”

            “No, no, it’s my fault. My brother always tells me I need to watch where I’m going.” She glanced up, surprised, into a pair of bright green eyes in the face of a young man.

            She stood and handed him the last of his scrolls, and he smiled. “I’m Kinu. What’s your name?”

            “I’m Storm.”

            “Storm? That’s an… interesting name.” She just smiled. “It’s my name, too.”

            Kinu laughed. “So it is.” His gaze traveled her, taking in her clothes and mussed hair. “You’re from the Fire Nation?”

            She noticed how his eyes became guarded as he said this, and she shrugged. “I came from there, yes. Why?”

            He shook his head. “No reason.” But Storm knew there was a reason. She didn’t press it, though. If it was important, she would find out soon enough.

            Without her realizing it, they had begun walking toward the docks, but even once she noticed it she didn’t stop. “So where are you from?” She asked him, feeling the need to even the playing field.

            That was something Wan taught her--if someone knows a thing about you, you should also know something similar about them. Otherwise it’s not fair.

            “I’m from Senlin Village. It’s a little town to the south of here, across the river.” She smiled--she remembered seeing the name on her map.

            “So what are you doing here?”

            “My brother and I bought a boat. We’re going to sail around the world.” He said this proudly, like it was quite an accomplishment. Storm figured that it probably was--and she thought that it sounded like a whole lot of fun.

            “Really? Can I come?”

            Kinu stopped walking and stared at her. “Well… I mean…”

            Storm tilted her head, waiting for him to finish his sentence. Kinu sighed. “I’ll ask my brother. But you’re gonna have to get some new clothes.”

            She frowned. “These were a gift.”

            Kinu bit his lip and sighed again. “Well, see… where we’re going… in some places… that is… I mean… people aren’t…”

            It dawned on her then, what he was trying to say. “You mean because they’re Fire Nation clothes. Because of the war.”

            Kinu nodded, relieved. Storm thought for a moment. “I suppose… if it means I can go with you. But I’m keeping these!”

            Kinu laughed. “Well what else would you do with them?”

            Storm was confused, and when Kinu saw that, he just laughed some more. “Come on. The ship is that way.”

            He jerked his chin to the left, toward the south end of the docks. Storm followed him, excited and hoping for the best.