The Only Hope

Book 4: Prologue

The tavern was a tad bit warm for the early spring. While the cool nights called for a bit of fire, so long as the sun was up then the fires need not be, but yet they burned. The dust-time fire wouldn’t have been so bad had the tavern not be packed with people. Each table sat crowded and every barstool had a butt sitting on it. The work day had just ended and everyone was looking for a way to relax after another taxing day.

The bar workers were working like ants, taking each tip before they could even be properly given. As one seat was emptied it was quickly taken by another. One of the girls working behind the bar smiled at the new face that had taken the empty stool. Her smile grew a tad bit wider when she saw who it was.

“Luna, how are ya, the usual?”

The girl’s blue eyes looks up at her and a small smile curled the ends of her lips up slightly.

“Yeah thanks. I’m good Ralon, you?”

Ralon drug her wet cloth across the wooden surface of the bar top.  She gave Luna a small smile as she sloped the wet cloth over her shoulder.

“The after work crowd’s been especially ecstatic to night.”

She poured a mixture of fruit juiced into a small glass, stirring it a few times before sliding it down to Luna- who caught it and held it up.

“Why is that?”

Ralon looked around as she moved closer to Luna. Both women leaned in towards the other and Ralon kept her voice low.

“Well, next to Kuvira taking yet another piece of the earth kingdom and the Prince about to be crowned in a few weeks- they’re saying the Avatar is coming back.”

Luna’s blue gaze grew wide as she sat up.

“The Avatar?”

Ralon pulled back as well, slinging the cloth from her shoulder back onto the bar.

“Yup, it’ll be her-”

“Her first public appearance in three years, yeah I know… Despite what you believe Ra-” Luna took a sip of her fruity juice “I do keep up with the events of the world.”

“Hey- you said you’ve been on the road for almost a year- a lot can happen in a year.”

Luna held her glass midair, her gaze falling slightly.

“Yeah, I know.” Tipping her head back, she finished off her drink.

“I mean, take the Avatar for an example.” Luna sat her glass down, and stared at Ralon.

“What do you mean?”

“She’s been gone for three years, a lot more important things have happened since she left so I doubt she’ll show her mug for some coronation. Psh- I wouldn’t be surprised if she pulled an Avatar Aang on us. I mean how-”

“SHUT UP!”

Ralon was taken aback by Luna’s scream, and stopped talking mid-sentence. Everyone around them also got quite. Luna looked around, and hung her head forward so that pieces of her blonde bob fell over her forehead. Her eyes stayed glued to her empty glass.

“She nearly died. She couldn’t walk and needed time to recover. If she said she’ll be there- then she’ll be there.”

“Well dang Luna, with the way you’re speaking I’d think you’d know the Avatar.”

Luna’s eyes casted up for a second towards Ralon before casting back down to her glass.

“No, no, I don’t know her, I just looked up to her when I was younger is all. I looked up to all the Avatars.”

Ralon seemed satisfied with this answer and held a hand out towards Luna.

“Want another- they’re on me.”

“Um, sure, yeah, thanks.”

~~~

The last rays of sun wore on, and it was well into the night when Luna finally emerged from the Tavern. She was slightly woozy, having had a few drinks towards the later hours. She paid for a few drinks, giving Ralon a heavy tip as a final fell ware. She wouldn’t be back the next night, having a set goal in her mind for the first time in months.

So far, her journeys had been peaceful, a time when she could really find her true wants in life and even a bit fun. For nine and a half months, it had been nothing but her, two traveling sacks and a suit case, and her trusty camera. Though her travels throughout the Earth Kingdom and even a bit of the Northern Water tribe had been solo, she wanted to remember the time and adventures she took.

Making it back to the inn where she had spent the last four nights, she got ready for bed, and fell sleep swiftly.

The next morning she walked. With a sack slung on each shoulder, her suitcase on her back and a knife at her hip, she slowly made her way into the woods that sat on the edge of the village she had been staying it. Stopping at a small pond, she dropped her luggage to the ground and fell to her knees. Overlooking the pond, she ran a few fingers through her blonde bob. Closing her eyes with a deep breath, she gently pulled at her hair until it came off. Opening her eyes, she brought the blonde wig down. She looked at it for a few seconds before setting it to the side.

Reaching over to one of her sacks, she dug through it until she found the small tube she had been searching for. Opening the cap, she removed her all of her clothes, until she was bare to the world. She then placed the white paste all over her body, rubbing it mostly on her arms, legs and face. When she was sure the paste had done its job, she dove into the lake. The cold water surrounded her and awoke her body.

Rising from the water, she looked down to her arms, running her hands over them. It had been so long since she had seen her true skin.

Once dried off, and changed into an outfit that wasn’t Earth Kingdom colored, she found herself looking over the water again. She stared at her reflect for a few seconds before reaching up to her head. Slowly, one pin at a time, her true hair came falling to face. It fell gracefully and softly.

When the last strand fell, she was left staring at a woman. When she had pinned her hair up, covered her body and became Luna, the woman had been a girl- a broken girl. Now she was a woman, a healed woman.

The woman got took out one last thing from her bag, before packing everything up. It had been ages since she had looked down on the small piece of wood in her hands. But holding it- it was like a habit you learned but never forgot.

She slung her bags on her body once more, and held the stick up. She didn’t think twice before opening the staff and taking off on the glider as the wings glided out.

Take a break from reading, because I need a break from writing. I love it, but college is #1... cause Im paying for my classes.

Also- look up refection from Mulan... that song will play a key to this season!

#WhatWillHappenInBook4