Blazing Crystal (Revised Version)

Chapter 30: The Southern Water Tribe Warriors

Chapter 30: The Southern Water Tribe Warriors

Third Person (Southern Water Tribe Base Camp: Earth Kingdom Eastern Sea Shore)

A man in his late forties, with dark brown hair and tinted skin walked into the large blue tent that was set in the center of the camp. The camp had about a dozen other tents dispersed around the main one, and four southern water tribe vessels were anchored just a little offshore. Thirty men were seated or walking around the camp, their ages varying from the youngest being twenty up to the oldest who was in his late fifties. Other men were on the boats off shore, making repairs to sails and preparing for travel.

Inside the tent, the man stepped up to another who was seated cross-legged on a mass of fur pelts that covered the floor; he was analyzing a few maps sprawled out before him. He appeared in his late forties; some of his dark brown hair was tied back in a high ponytail while the rest hung down. He had two strands on the right side with beads at the end. A short beard decorated his face.

"Any word from the group yet?"

The man seemed anxious as he waited for his chief to answer. Hakoda looked up at his good friend with calm. "They'll be here soon, Bato. I know you're worried about your son being sent off on his own, but Kona is a strong young man. He is one of the strongest warriors apart from his brother."

Bato sighed, and then sat down in front of him. "I know... I guess I'm just an overprotective father... It's his first venture out alone without me."

"Jaka is with him, and Hoka and Ruja went to meet up with them. They're some of the youngest, but they are wise young men. You know I wouldn't send them out on a mission without being concerned for their safety."

He nodded. "I just expected them back by now. It's been so many days."

"They'll be here. Just be patient. The Earth Kingdom city of Ba Sing Se isn't a day trip. And we don't know if Kona was even able to get into the city..."

"Yeah... that's what concerns me. I hear Ba Sing Se is very selective on who may enter..." Bato met his friend's gaze, and then asked, "On another note... How are you holding up? I heard you received word from the Northern Water Tribe about Crystal."

Hakoda let out a heavy sigh. "Guess word gets around quickly..."

Picking up the scroll beside him, he handed it to Bato. As Bato read it over, Hakoda crossed his arms with deep concern.

"She managed to escape from the Fire Nation briefly..." Hakoda spoke, remembering everything he'd read. "She was captured again by the Fire Lord's son. She's still being held captive and is somewhere in the Earth Kingdom... Or so that's what the report says," Hakoda shut his eyes. "Sokka and Katara are still traveling with the Avatar."

Bato finished reading the report, and placed it down beside him. "It says Crystal fought hard to try and stop the Fire Nation though... She's a strong young woman. She'll be okay."

"My daughter hasn't been okay since her mother died, Bato. I still will never understand what she was thinking when she attacked the Fire Lord's son at the South Pole. I told her not to be rash... She already has one scar from the enemy... I can't imagine her receiving another..."

"I know you've been worried about her since I told you about her capture after I learned about it from Sokka and Katara... She'll survive this, though. She's stronger than we know. Obviously the Northern Water Tribe was impressed with her strength to emphasize it so much in the report."

Looking back down at the maps, Hakoda frowned. "I know she's strong... I suppose I feel disappointed in myself for not being there to protect her. I should've been there when the Fire Nation came... I wasn't there to save her..."