As soon as the young girl is off the ship she seems to be convincing herself not to bolt. "Follow me." She looks at Winter her eyes wide and she follows her. Her bow is on her back and as she walks students stare and point. Winter stops and says "eyes forward to them" their eyes widen and they scramble. "This way." She says going down some stairs and she knocks at a pair of wide double doors. "The general is expecting us." As soon as she hears "enter" she opens the door and gently guides the girl inside. The doors shut behind her and she walks forward her back straight her trained eyes taking it all in.
"Hello" the man stands up he bows formally "my name is General James Ironwood." He holds out his hand and after a moment the girl clenches his forearm.
He clenches hers after a pause and he says "now why don't you tell us how to contact your parents and you can be on your way home." He watches the girl's face and he says "is there someone else we should contact?" "They're unreachable."
"Surely they're within a dust tower's range" "I'll be able to reach them regardless" He claims. "Why would a tower be made of dust?" The man is behind a desk and he stops and stares at her. "Because that's how we communicate." "With dust?" The girl asks again disbelieving. "How do you normally communicate?" "Fire hawks but it's forbidden..."
"you've been forbidden from contacting your family?" The girl nods. "My uncle is the firelord I asked him after my cousin was banished and my grandfather went with him if I could write them a letter and he told me it was forbidden he even made a law." "Your uncle is a king?"
The girl nods. Winter sends him a look. "Then she says what about your mother? The girl's face becomes cold. "My mother is dead."
Winters eyes widen. "Is this fire nation territory?" "Fire nation?" "No this is the kingdom of atlas." "But is it fire nation territory?"
The girl asks again. "No" the general says "Atlas like the other kingdoms in remnant is independent." Slowly those words process in the girls mind as the man asks "why?" "Cause I'm not allowed back while he's Firelord. He's forbidden it." "Let me get this straight the general says you're not allowed to contact your family and your mother is also dead and you're also not allowed to go home?"
The girl nods her head tilting it she says "why?" "We're trying to help you!" The man says. Here take a seat I need to ask you something. The girl pauses before she listens and he says "before when you saw the ...wasp fly you shot it with a bow right?" The girl nods and he says "how did you use fire dust like that?" The man says.
She doesn't answer and he tilts his head and she looks him in the eye. "Is is uncommon for someone to produce an element without dust?" The girl asks. "Uncommon?" "It's unheard of!"
The girl's face goes blank and then there's a knock on the door. He sighs and says this will only take a moment. He presses a button on the desk and the girl watches the door slide open. Dr. Watts..he inclines his head. General. The girl is careful to keep her face blank as she watches the man walk across the room.
He stands in front of her and says "have you considered my proposal?" "Watts. I thought this was something that couldn't wait." He glances at the girl and Watts turns and grins at her.
"Who's this?" "She hasn't told us her name" Winter says. She stands up. "I'll leave you two to your ...business." She stands up and says "come with me. I know where to find you some clothes." Watts watches the girl carefully before the door shuts. "Where did you find her?" "The answer is no Watts" "I didn't even ask. Really James you must indulge me sometime."
The young girl follows Winter through long hallways and into several doors until she hesitates before opening another door. She watches the young girl run to the man that had found the woman in the bed and she clings to him. The man stares at the girl his eyes wide. His voice is raspy when he says "Rai?" He touches her face gently. The girl clings to him not answering. Winter stands back shock evident on her face. The man gently holds the girl in his lap as she stills falling asleep in his arms. He stands up the girl on his hip. "Winter" he says. Winter inclines her head. Lu Ten.
He looks around and she says "as I said before I am the only one that hears you here." "I know" he says. "I'm just wondering how my daughter found her way here." Winters eyes widen. "Your.." he nods and sits down rocking her gently.
She..Winter goes over and begins to tell him how they saw her in the small raft alone and how she fought the lancers with fire and water and how she refused to give up her name.
"Her mother and I taught her at a young age to deflect and to trust little." "She was the future princess of the most hated country in the entire world. We didn't even get to visit her mother's homeland.
We were going to invite the chiefs and their families for her sixth birthday. You know what she asked for?" Winter shakes her head. "She asked grandfather for peace with the water tribes. She said we could learn from them as much as they could learn from us. She said only thinking one way becomes old fast....my grandfather was a king Winter. He could've killed her for that. But my grandfather smiled and he says wisdom often comes from the mouths of the young." Winter looks at the young girl clinging to the man before her. "Something must've happened." Lu ten nods as the girl's eyes flutter. "Rai is Kai is your mother..." Rai doesn't answer. "Rai?" Rai jumps off of his lap and runs out the door. Winter's eyes widen and she says "I'll be right back." She watches the young girl in a defensive position against eight guards.
"Stand down!" She says. They back away and she goes over to the girl. She steps in front of the girl and is reminded of her own sister. "Rai that's your name isn't it?" Rai nods looking down. "You know" Winter says. "I know where the hot-chocolate is kept." "Why don't we get your farther and go somewhere ...private and talk about some things ok?" Rai looks up and says "what's hot chocolate?" Winters eyes widen and she says "it's a warm drink sweetie"
She gently takes Rai's hand and leads her back into the private room. Rai looks at the older woman that is speaking softly to her farther. "Rai come here sweetie." Rai goes over to her farther. "Oh she's beautiful" Rai bows to the older woman and she says "oh child" "come to grandma." Rai's eyes widen "you're ...you're my grandmother?" Rai slowly walks over to the older woman and she gently cups Rai's face. She kisses her forehead. She says "she has the eyes Lu." "I know mother." Winter goes over to Freya and speaks softly to her. "Go and enjoy your hot chocolate" she says and Rai holds her grandmothers hands in her own. She bows again before following Winter and her farther out.
