I lay on my back staring at the sky. It's been six days since it rained which means it's been about 3 since I've had any water. I turn over onto my stomach and squint at the ocean line ahead. I take out my spyglass and peer through the glass. I look out of it and then back through. I put the spyglass away and look back at the sky above me. "I'm dreaming aren't I?" I thank La every day for providing me with food and Tui for lighting the night. My mother taught me about them. She said they loved each other so much they became mortal and live in the bodies of koi fish in the northern tribe. I pick up my tin cup and dip out some ocean water. Then I put it on the hot rock pan and I begin to boil it carefully only heating the water until I see the salt crystals at the bottom then I take my filter and pour it through getting most of the salt out. I put the salt into a pouch and the water through the filter again before I put it into the cup to cool by removing the heat. I take a deep breath. Then I drink the water taking in the slight taste of saltiness. I repeat the process until my larger water jug is filled and I sit back watching the clouds......
I blink as the sun filters beneath my eyelids. I see something flying above me.
Am I dreaming?
Then a creature dives and I take out my bow and I light it before letting it fly. The creature begins to fly down towards me and I put my bow down knowing I have a limited number of arrows. I take a breath balancing my weight on the small boat. I let off a stream of fire then I bring the water up encasing it into an icicle then it lands in the water and I dip it below holding it under. I bring it. back up and begin to set it on fire and then suddenly it disappears turning into black smoke. An arrow falls out of the sky and I bring water up to catch it bringing it to me the water evaporates and I catch the arrow. I stick the arrow back into my sheath and I take out my spyglass to look around for more of those giant wasp flies. Something comes flying towards me and I take out another arrow and notch it. Some sort of contraption is flying towards me and then it begins to speak in a strange voice.
You are now entering atlas waters state your name and purpose for your visit hold up your scroll ID for verification.
My scroll?
"Oh my papers!" I mutter to myself and I go to my bag and I take out my farther's seal. This otta be enough. I hold it up to the weird machine and it speaks again.
Hold up your scroll for verification failure to do so will result in retaliation
I tilt my head wondering what that means. I sit back down and put my farther's seal away. The machine repeats the message.
Hold up your scroll for verification failure to do so will result in retaliation
I take out the locket my farther gave me before he went to battle and open it to stare at the painting of the four of us and on the other side is Zuko and I I'm on his shoulders and he's grinning ...I close it when I begin to hear arguing.
It's a child ironwood she doesn't look like she's from around here!
She's probably just scared!
I tilt my head and listen as they continue.
Protocol is protocol
She was warned.
"I can hear what you're saying you know." I say aloud and then the device seems to change and then a reflective surface pops out of the machine and I see two people in it in an office of some sort. I tilt my head wondering if it's a mirror
Hello the younger woman says she has white hair and blue eyes. She smiles. My name is Winter Schmee "what's your name?"
I bow and say "I am..." the girls voice trails off and she gets a distant look in her eyes. "Are you alright?" The girl turns and her eyes widen. She stands up and looks into the screen confused.
The woman turns to the man and whispers so the girl can't hear covering the mic "General I don't think she understands what's happening." "Don't be ridiculous what child doesn't have a scroll these days?" He turns back and sees that the child is watching their mouths. "You want me to show you a scroll?" "Your ID" Winter says. "I don't have papers Oz- uncle didn't give me any before he sent me away." "Papers?" "I've never left home before." The girl says. "Not like this" the two on the screen share a look and then the woman says surely you have a name. The girl nods her blue gold flecked eyes wide. She turns when she hears a buzzing noise and her eyes widen.
The pair watch as she reaches forward grabbing her bow and she lights the arrow on fire puts the bow down shoots a gigantic stream of fire at the lancer brings the water out of the ocean in a wave combing it with the flame and in moments the lancer is turning to smoke. She brings water up catching her arrow. "Are you alright?" The girl nods and she sits back down on a crate and says "just a weird giant wasp fly" the generals eyes widen and then he says "what kingdom are you from?" The girl looks at studying him for a moment. Her face is suddenly unreadable and she says "why? what kingdom are you in?" "Atlas." He says. Confusion flickers across the girl's face as she realizes how far from home she is. "Why don't you tell us how to contact your parents I'm sure they're worried about you."
The girl looks down and says nothing. Then the woman says "are you alone?" When the girl nods she turns to the General her eyes wide. "Go" he whispers.
She turns back to the camera. "Hey I'm coming to your location ok?" "I'll have the airship lift the boat after you climb up" when the girl doesn't react she moves quicker leaving the general on his own. The girl turns away and begins to pack some things into her bag. He watches as she turns and his eyes widen slightly when he sees the scars on her back. He noticed the slight sunburn on her face and the odd was of the whole situation but doesn't say anything else the whole thing seemed to unnerve the girl. She puts a knapsack on on her back and she closes and locks into place a few crates that he can see are mostly empty except for non food items. She takes out an ancient spyglass and peers into the sky. Her eyes widen when a ladder lowers down and he says "that's winter" "you don't know me. Why are you helping me?" The girl asks. "You are a child."
The man says. "We can help you contact your family." The girl hesitates before she grips the ladder and begins to climb up. "Just stay there she'll pull you up." He watches the girl cling to the rope and stiffen when Winter helps her into the ship. She goes inside and goes to the farthest part of the ship and looks out the window as they haul the boat up. She sits on one of the seats looking out the window staying silent.
