JoJu ATLA AU

Wake up call (1)

A soft crunch pulls me out of my dreamless hibernation, then another crunch, the unusual casing around me loosens a bit, allowing me to wiggle just enough to widen the cracks in my tomb until it all falls to shambles around me dropping me to the muddy floor of a cave with a blinding flash of light.

I suck in a deep breath of some musty cave air and cough it back out, I'm pretty sure I can taste the mould growing on these cave walls. I smack my lips, my dry morning breath isn't much better.

I blink furiously and squint, trying to get my eyes to adjust to the sudden and drastic change in light level from dark to light to dark again. I stand up and look around to get a grip on my bearings, I have no idea what I'm doing in this cave but It's kinda obvious I'd be groggy and discombobulated after my weird... Nap?

I walk out of the deep, chilly cave connected to the dried-up path that looks like it was once a river due to how the land is sunken in. The tall grass firmly rooted in the hard dirt waves casually due to the gentle summer breeze and I quickly realize how nice it feels when the sun warms my skin. I don't know how long I was in that cave but it was obviously long enough for me to miss the way the sun shines on the Earth kingdom's territory.

I look around and quickly come to terms with having close to no idea where I am. Which is a problem, to say the least. There's nothing more awkward than asking for directions and getting directions is nearly impossible when you're surrounded by a dense forest.

With a swift wave of my hand, I use the air around me to place me on the top of the steep riverbank and start my trek into the thick woods. Though my stomach quickly changes my plans from finding civilization to finding something in this forest that's edible.

It doesn't take a lot of time for me to start hearing shouting in the distance. If I'm lucky I can use my charming good looks and well-known avatar ability of conflict resolution to get the group to calm down and maybe get some food and directions as thanks.

I spot a cart being pulled by a pair of ostrich horses coming up an overgrown path towards me.  The conflict seems less like conflict and more like the people in the cart Laughing and joking around.

Thank Avatar Kyoshi, I'm not sure how well my skills have stood up to the test of time, and trying them out on angry people probably isn't the best way to see if they're still any good.

I step out into the path as they get closer and wave them down. The slow to a stop next to me.

"Hey, where are you guys headed?"

"The city, we've got some pretty valuable cargo and it'll auction off at a mighty fine price if  we go somewhere where there's a tonne of people." The driver pats something hidden under a bolt of cloth, it squirms violently. "Why? do you need a ride someplace?"

Criminals, great, just what I need right now.

"Actually yeah, a ride to the city would help me out a lot." I smile at the driver.

"Hop in kid, you look pretty strong and a little extra security might come in handy. If we run into trouble along the way I'll give you a few copper pieces when we drop you off."

I nod and clammer into the back and sit down next to the cargo as the driver gets us moving again.

"So what exactly are you smuggling into the city? Some rare animal?" I nudge the cloth slightly and the passenger in the back with me shakes their head disapprovingly.

"Oh, just the youngest Firenation soldier to reach the rank of Lieutenant!" The driver shouts proudly.

"Ah..." I utter in disgust, suddenly losing all pity for the soldier and moving my hand away from his covering. "Who'd waste their money on some Firenation scum?"