Avatar: Tales of Mushi

Powerless - Chasing Shadows (Edited)

Chin City was like Kyoshi Island in many ways, only larger. Mushi knew its basic history, how it went from a village on a cliff to a city. Recent rumors drew him to the small dot on the Earth Confederation's southern coast. As Mushi heard, the number of refugees passed by him in the streets. Many of them were dressed in clothes from places like the Southern Isles to the South Pole.

"Hey, watch it!" spat one man who bumped Mushi's shoulder.

Mushi ignored him. He had to look for someone, and he doubted a wandering bum would know. After asking around for directions, Mushi came at last to a certain street within Chin City. Approaching one of the tiny gray homes, he breathed and knocked on the dark door. A man in his thirties peaked out and asked, "H-hello?"

Mushi waved. "Uh, hi. I'm new here, and I was wondering if you can help me find somebody."

"Who?" the man said, his eyes scouring for any onlookers from the streets.

"Well, do you know anyone called Shroud–" Mushi stopped and knocked on the slamming door which cut him off. "Hey! Hey, I wasn't done!" he called, but silence answered him, much to his chagrin. "Okay, I'll try elsewhere."

A minute later, he knocked on the next house. Mushi began again for an elderly woman. "Hi. I'm from out of town, and I'm looking for someone named Shroud–"

Again, the door slammed shut in Mushi's face. His eyes narrowed on the door, and after knocking on it a few times, he went to the next one.

"Excuse me, do you know a woman called Shro–"

And the next.

"–I just need some help looking for–"

And the next.

"Do you–"

And the next.

"–know anything–"

And the next.

"DoyouknowShroud–"

And the next.

"Oh, come on!" Mushi cried out and stomped away, too frustrated to count the doors he knocked on or notice any onlookers. This place wouldn't help but there were others. He'd look through the entire city if he had to!

He'd do that if not for the figure in his peripheral vision. Mushi turned, seeing the figure trail from a distance. The fine blue cloak stood out in an otherwise crowd of dulled colors. Was the man trying to be seen? Mushi learned the answer was "yes" when the man matched his powered stomps.

Mushi sped up his walk some more. Another glance said he failed to lose his pursuer. He sped up again by two steps, but the man was still following. After a few minutes, the irritated Mushi threw caution to the wind, bumping into the odd person or two on the way. He turned left to enter another street, looking over his shoulder to see if his 'stalker' was behind him.

A gentle breeze from ahead made Mushi turn around. In front was the figure landing in front. Mushi tried to stop himself from crashing. He did, only by a tiny jerk that forced him to fall sideways. "Ugh..."

The shadow of the blue cloak fell on Mushi, and the fair face looked down from atop it. "I'm sorry about that," the man had said and extended his arm. "Do you need a hand?"

Mushi didn't accept it. He instead pushed himself onto his feet, dusting off his pants and jackets. "I'm fine, thanks," Mushi grumbled, craning his neck at the tall stranger. The man couldn't have been older than mid-twenties. "Mind explaining why you've been following me?"

The man's head tilted to show the blue tip of an arrow tattoo sticking out of his short dark curls. "I was just curious. You were so loud about your... predicament that I thought I could lend a hand."