Bo's Story

The Earth Sage Temple, a place rich with history and life, and any earthbender would be extremely grateful for the opportunity to even watch a training session of the sages. Bo, however, was a waterbender, and was finding her current location rather boring. She had begun to travel the world out of a need to see the world, but after being recruited to be the Avatar's waterbending master, she had been stuck here. It was cool at first, but she ran out of places to see quickly, and she refused to go into the caves around the temple, she didn't do caves. One positive thing, however, she found was the roofs of the building, nice and stable, perfect for absorbing sunlight.

This is where she currently was, loving the light and the feeling that came with it, very peaceful. However, this was short lived as a sage had bended the roof to make her fall off, and told her, "It is time for Avatar Zhi's waterbending lesson." Like a parrot. She said she was going to go, but instead went to she her favorite animal in the world, Kun, Zhi's bagermole. Bo had loved that animal forever, and she had felt the same way. Although Kun did not like the bows Bo made for her, she did lick Bo whenever she got near.

She was on her way, Zhi was use to her laziness by now. He had told her about it constantly, which gave her headaches, and she would run off to absorb sun. She hadn't seen Akara that day, which was odd, but she didn't really mind. She had to pass the front gate in order to find Kun, but on her way, she ran into the door sage arguing with some man, a very big man.

It was weird how big he was, and given the fact she was short, made it a bigger difference. She went up to the two, hoping to find a way to settle them from arguing.

"Alright boys, no need to yell," and smiled and turned to the man, "So, why do you want to see Zhi? I can get you in if you explain yourself." She said, in her usual flat voice. She could do it, and although he did seem like a potential threat, if she didn't have some fun, who would in this rock?

LightANDDark wrote:The Earth Sage Temple, a place rich with history and life, and any earthbender would be extremely grateful for the opportunity to even watch a training session of the sages. Bo, however, was a waterbender, and was finding her current location rather boring. She had begun to travel the world out of a need to see the world, but after being recruited to be the Avatar's waterbending master, she had been stuck here. It was cool at first, but she ran out of places to see quickly, and she refused to go into the caves around the temple, she didn't do caves. One positive thing, however, she found was the roofs of the building, nice and stable, perfect for absorbing sunlight.

This is where she currently was, loving the light and the feeling that came with it, very peaceful. However, this was short lived as a sage had bended the roof to make her fall off, and told her, "It is time for Avatar Zhi's waterbending lesson." Like a parrot. She said she was going to go, but instead went to she her favorite animal in the world, Kun, Zhi's bagermole. Bo had loved that animal forever, and she had felt the same way. Although Kun did not like the bows Bo made for her, she did lick Bo whenever she got near.

She was on her way, Zhi was use to her laziness by now. He had told her about it constantly, which gave her headaches, and she would run off to absorb sun. She hadn't seen Akara that day, which was odd, but she didn't really mind. She had to pass the front gate in order to find Kun, but on her way, she ran into the door sage arguing with some man, a very big man.

It was weird how big he was, and given the fact she was short, made it a bigger difference. She went up to the two, hoping to find a way to settle them from arguing.

"Alright boys, no need to yell," and smiled and turned to the man, "So, why do you want to see Zhi? I can get you in if you explain yourself." She said, in her usual flat voice. She could do it, and although he did seem like a potential threat, if she didn't have some fun, who would in this rock?

The morning air was brisk and refreshing, and Yun Shi breathed deeply of it. He smiled contently, standing on a platform overlooking a spacious view of the mountains. For a brief moment, he understood the lure of such monasteries. Cut off from the petty, violent, crude lands of men, with nothing but the majesty of what the world might once have been. For one long moment, everything was still and at peace.

Yun took in that peace, then exhaled it. He knew the calm mountains were a mere barrier, an illusion hiding the monastery from the rest of the world, where the Earth Kingdom was writhing in turmoil. There was work to be done and Yun was growing restless. Necessary as the Avatar's training in the elements was, the war would not wait for him to be prepared. Of course, Yun had given his own lectures on war and politics to the young Avatar in between his bending training, but knowledge was only so much without experience. There was much to be done indeed. The world knew of the Avatar's reemergence and that in itself would have an effect, much less when Zhi finally began his journey towards his destiny.

The sound of voices broke Yun from his musings and he glanced down from the platform towards the path up to the monastery. Three people, two he recognized as the waterbending girl and one of the sage's guard. And a curiously dressed man on a badgermole. Quite strange indeed. Yun peered out to the distance further down the path. He did not see any force of armed men, which was a good sign. Of course, in his time with the warlords he had never seen scouts in white riding upon badgermoles, which would have hardly been a subtle approach.

Deciding to investigate, Yun stepped over the platform and slid down the rocky incline, one hand reaching up to keep his round straw hat in place. He grunted as he let the momentum carry him forward, and jumped up to grab a low branch of a nearby tree. Perhaps I am growing too old for this... Yun wondered as he flipped himself up higher onto the tree, much closer to the entrance to the monastery. But not yet. He deftly leaped to another tree, finding himself a perch on a branch where he could listen to the conversation below. One hand slid to the hilt of the katana sheathed on his belt, but he did not draw the blade yet. For now he waited, watched, and listened.

(Reposted to the correct place. Sorry about that!)

(Repost, since I just realized I posted it in the wrong place.)

In the weeks it had taken them to sail back and forth from the Northern Water Tribe, Akara had learned just how fragile the state of their world had been. The Northern Water Tribe was reluctant to even teach her the basics of healing; it was only after she'd retold her entire life story and after Bo had vouched for her that they agreed. Bo had advised her not to mention the training and mentoring she had done, for fear that the Northerners would view Akara's learning of offensive water bending as disrespect to their culture. After all, they only allowed women to heal, not to fight, and although Akara had hoped they would make an exception, hundreds of years of culture and tradition would not be undone by a stranger.

Their send-off had been less than amicable. Akara experienced great difficulty with merely bending the water, let alone finding the spiritual energy within to use it as a healing agent. Bo, ever vigilant, encouraged her not to give up, reminding her of the success she'd quickly found during their voyage, and of all the training that was still to come. Water was the opposite of Earth, and if Akara had been raised her entire life as an earth bender, it only made sense that she would find adversity as a new water bender.

Finally, Akara's determination had paid off, and it was no sooner after she'd finally got the hang of healing that the Northerners bade them farewell. Akara never even had the opportunity to ask about her mom, her family, why her mother had gone to the Earth Kingdom, and what had been the cause of her death. It was forsaking, certainly, and it made her feel all the lonelier in the whole of the universe. If it had not been for Bo - she was afraid to think on it any more.

With the news that she and Bo would be traveling back to the Earth Kingdom in order to mentor the Avatar, Akara felt her heart grow heavier, and her moods grow darker. In many ways, Akara blamed the Avatar for the ruin that had come to her home, and the disunity of the four nations. Certainly Akara had never known Avatar Fukoda personally, but wasn't it the Avatar's duty to establish and maintain peace in the world? How could it have come to all of this? What had Avatar Fukoda been doing while everything was falling apart?

The night before Bo's first session with Avatar Zhi, Akara was restless. She'd left their quarters with several of Bo's water bending scrolls and dipped into the surrounding woods. She'd barely removed the scrolls from her pouch before she'd been approached by a man, and his band of leering, smirking soldiers. They were wounded from a recent battle, and she'd taken them as harmless mercenaries. And despite her initial feeling of dread, the man, Hiro, had kept his word about her safety.

Perhaps that was what had troubled her the most, the question of, "Why?" He seemed interested in her affairs, and the people with whom they were traveling. She felt that she'd been careful with divulging too much information, and perhaps naively believed it was his attempt at striking up conversation to make her feel more comfortable while she healed. He'd taken her chin in his hand, his eyes were so...

Akara shook her head. This is foolish, she thought to herself. It would be best not to think on these things. With that, Akara shoveled the last bit of rice into her mouth and made for the Earth Temple. If the Avatar was to learn water bending with Bo, Akara must be present to show her Sifu her support.

Avatar Zhi

Zhi gave a shrug. "I am in no mood for a particular food. Perhaps some salted boar-q-pine meat? I believe the Sages are serving that in the dining hall for lunch, now."

The Avatar reached over and grabbed his pack, which had rested on a nearby shelf. He reached in and grabbed a stalk of rock candy, taking a bite from the delicious snack to soothe his hunger. He then gave a snort upon hearing his Sifu's crack about his apparent lack of anger.

"Believe me, there is plenty of anger simmering within me that will help me with firebending." Zhi replied, thinking upon his previous life as a penniless orphan in the streets of Saitong, and of how his parents had died as a result of the chaos caused by the warring fiefdoms of the Earth Kingdom. The memories of those injustices made his blood boil. Yes, despite his outward appearance of being a calm person, there was plenty of dormant anger laying about within him.

As the two of them exited the storage room to head down to the dining hall, a lessser Sage approached, and bowed to them both. "I apologize for disturbing you, Avatar Zhi, Master Zira. The High Sage has requested an audience with you, and your teachers and companions."

Zhi titled his head in surprise, wondering what the High Sage wanted this time. It wasn't often that the head of the Earth Sages requested an audience with him...

"Very well. Tell him I shall come once I have eaten something." Zhi replied. The Sage gave a nod and left to relay the message.

Meanwhile, at the Gate

An Earth Sage came out of the monastery's entrance, and approached the gate guard, Bo, and Wei.

"Master Bo, Master Yun Shi" the Earth Sage gave a slight bow to the Waterbender, and to the swordsman hidden from plain sight. "The High Sage has requested an audience with you both and the Avatar. Please come at once. And,"

The Earth Sage looked over at the airbender. "The High Sage has granted the airbender here entrance into the temple. The High Sage has also requested an audience with him."

The Gate Guard looked over at the Sage, surprised. "But I hadn't even informed the High Sage of his presence-"

"Thank you, guard. That will be all." the Sage declared, waving dismissively at him. He looked back over at Bo, Yun Shi, and Wei. "Are you both ready?"

Bo was still looking at the tall man with the airbender tattoos. I seemed a little off from what she was told about them, all love and fruit. He seemed like a warrior. Ready for a battle. Something about that made her want to invite the man inside. She smiled a little bit, and began to talk, "I am B-" She was cut off by an Earth Sage telling her that the head Sage wanted an audience with her, as well as the tall man named Wei. It always freaked her out a bit how the sages could find anyone in this place, she had trouble finding her way to a bedroom. She had perfered her life on the boat, everything was easy to find, and she missed it. The rocking of the boat to put you to sleep, the sailing, and the pirates. Well, maybe not missed the latter, but she did like sinking their ships for their crimes, she had a low tolerance for the lot of them.

"Well, I guess we are," She turned to the Sage, "We'll find our way, thank you." She said, making him understand that he needed to leave. She then turned to Wei, a soft smile on her face.

"Well looks like we are wanted." She said, and then went to his bagermole, "I'm Bo, if you didn't hear from the sage, and lets take your bagermole up, I hate walking all these stairs." She said, and then stood beside the animal, petting him, "Ready?"

Yun smiled thinly as he watched the scene unfold between the sage and the guard. The remaining bending master they needed, at their very doorstep. The spirits certainly had a convenient way of providing the Avatar with the exact assistance he needed. Of course, under normal circumstances Yun would have been cautious of such coincidences, but he had already found that dealing with the Avatar was far from normal. Not that he would be lax around their new arrival, he certainly appeared strange for an airbender.

He hopped down from his perch, landing quietly and standing back up straight. Glancing between the airbender and the sage, Yun bowed his head politely. "We would not wish to keep the High Sage waiting." He motioned for the others to venture up the winding path first and lined up behind them. His hand still remained on the hilt of his sword, though his steady stance made it difficult to tell if the gesture was one of tension or calming.

Bo took Wei's hand and climbed onto the Bagermole, who was male. She didn't need to see genitals to tell, ever sense she was a little girl, she had a fascination with this exact species. She could tell if one had reached maturity, gender, and even what type of ground they dig in. The power of books proved to be very helpful, and seeing these creatures up close was worth all of the pains that came with moving to the ground.

She name Phantom stuck in her mind. It was cute, and she liked the animal, and his owner seemed alright as well. She was behind him, her legs on either side of Phantom, and at the slow pace at which they were going, she leaned down onto his backside, laying out on him. It was peaceful, the animal's heartbeat reminded her of the rocking of her ships. When she heard him speak up, she got back to sitting, and put her hands on Wei's back to stabilize herself.

'Why does he want to know?' she thought, but decided that he couldn't really do any harm with the information. "Well, let's see." She paused, as if trying to make up a history, but she was really slow to respond to anything. "I am originally from the Northern Water Tribe, although I have probably spent 8 months there before we left. My parents are merchants, so I've spent my life on the sea's of the world. Probably ten to eleven months out of the year, I would be on our ships. The Water Bison is our main ship. So, I'm mostly from the waters of the world." She said, and then breathed deeply, as she didn't take a brake in the entire time she said that. "How about you?" She asked inquisitively.

She had taken the walk to the Temple a bit more slowly than she meant to. Being back in the Earth Kingdom made her uneasy, and in many ways it made her feel that she had failed. This was not how things were meant to be. She was supposed to go to the Northern Water Tribe, learn about her family and the circumstances surrounding her abandonment, master water bending, return to the Earth Kingdom, reunite the villages and squash the civil war, all while showing the Avatar how incredibly useless he was. Akara could not help but chuckle at herself. Perhaps these goals were a bit lofty. She would have to content herself with knowing that she'd at least been to the North Pole, that she at least knew how to water bend and heal, and that the Avatar was within proximity for her to out-master.

Akara had been lost in her reveries for far too long, for she'd reached the Temple just as the door closed behind a badgermole and a stranger. She saw the last glimpse of Bo's bright hair, and stopped just ten feet short of the door. She watched the guard for a moment, trying to assess him, to sum him up. Finally, with a heavy sigh and a straight back, she marched to the door and gave a stiff bow to the guard.

"My apologies, sir," she said, her voice a flat alto and her dark hair falling forward. "The woman - Bo - is my Sifu. I am to join her while she trains to Avatar to receive my own training." She chanced standing upright, clasping her hands in front of her and letting them fall. "Would you let me in?"

There was no smile on her lips, no twinkle in her eye, just expectancy.

The High Sage

Later, the Avatar, his teachers, and his other companions were brought forward to the audience with the leader of the Earth Sages. The sanctum of the Sages was a wide and vast stone room, with a small throne-like chair at its center, where the High Sage rested. The person in question was an ancient man, his face and body ravaged and battered down by the passage of time. He was completely blind in both eyes, yet still, he seemed to follow the movement of the Avatar and his companions perfectly, as if he could still see them. When they were all placed before him, the High Sage glazed eyes scanned over each of them, before settling upon Avatar Zhi's visage.

"It is good to see you again, Avatar Zhi." the High Sage began, dipping his head toward him. "I am sorry for the sudden nature of this meeting, but it could not wait. I am afraid you must leave the Temple as soon as you can. There are mercenary groups hidden within the forest surrounding our temple, and I fear they are here to capture you. If you wish to avoid a confrontation, you and your mentors and companions must leave. And quickly."

Yun kept to the rear of the group, stroking the thin stubble on his chin as he listened to the High Sage. So, they have made their move at last. But who, and to what purpose? An armed force was an obvious sign of Otoki's hand and he certainly had the most to fear from the Avatar's judgement, but it was too obvious. Obvious enough that the more cunning Bei Fongs could be trying to secure the Avatar for themselves, or simply slay him and claim it as another sign of Otoki's monstrosity. Curious indeed. Worrying, to a point, but also an opportunity. The Avatar had spent too long hiding in the temple. He had gained knowledge that he certainly needed, but now was the time for the wisdom that came from experience.

"Do they bear the banners of any of the lords?" Yun asked, still scratching at his chin as he contemplated. "We will indeed have to move quickly if we do depart, before they block off the passes from the mountain. We cannot afford to be besieged here."

"But," He paused, looking towards Zhi. "We do not necessarily need to avoid them. Someone has sent these men because they fear you, young Avatar. But they also think that a few hired swords will be all that it takes to subdue you. The mountains give us the advantage. There are numerous places to ambush a large force, to the point where their numbers are meaningless. We must know who has sent these men and what their master wishes of you." Yun paused once more, letting his words sink in before the final point. "And if we dissapear into the night, they will likely besiege the temple, and slay every person who does not give them the Avatar." He restrained himself from smiling. Yun did not want to look too smug as he presumed and made use of the youthful intolerance of injustice, especially that of an Avatar. It was time for the Avatar to made himself known to the warlords.

Wei listened to what Yun was saying and nodded. As he listened to the obviously battle experienced man, he studied the Avatar. He seemed young, confident, eager. Wei supposed you could consider him handsome, and something abut him reeked of raw power and ability, untamed and untrained. His breathing was controlled and calm but behind that exterior he could tell there was a man if raw anger and passion. Wei knew that, if he could direct this passion, if he could focus it, the Avatar could easily unite the Earth Kingdom. Wei just needed to now think how. He also considered what the Avatar would do AFTER the Earth Kingdom. He could unite the world, Wei realised. And so the Avatar would need to learn to fight. And so he would agree with Yun.

"That is a sound plan, Yun. We could split into two groups. One would serve as a distraction in the ground to divert the enemies, then the mountain group could swoop down from the mountains and flank them from behind. However, we need to know how many there are."

He turned to look at the Avatar, who was clearly looking at who he was. He extended his hand and spoke to the young prodigy.

"Wei Jingshen, Avatar. I am an Airbender, and I swear my blade to your service".

He smiled. The next few months would determine the fate of the land. Wei was going to be a part if it all.

((Also, can we assume that Wei told Bo all his history on their way into the temple, as we skipped before I could respond? Thanks!))

Had he overstepped his boundaries? His eyes blinked a few times, lazy and confused, but he accepted her request, making a mental note to call Akara solely by her name for now on. He let a comfortable silence fall between them, or what he thought was peaceful, serene even, as their footfalls made soft sounds against the path. Gao let his eyes drift shut for the duration of the trip, feeling the ground through his feet, the vibrations and Earth being his guide as he blindly navigated towards the temple. He knew the path they choose would lead them to calamities and joys all the same, that the young woman beside him would most likely have to redefine her outlook on life, just as he would find his mindset being altered as well. This was a time of war, and they were practically fugitives, it was inevitable. If he had any luck he would be able to prevent them all from succumbing to the hardships to follow, and his fingers pressed against his palms tightly before releasing. He had to.

When they arrived they were immediately notified that they were to attend a gathering of sorts, and though he would very much like to soak himself in hot water he followed the Sage, letting the man lead him to bad news that created a sinking sensation in his stomach. This wasn't something they could avoid, people would come after the Avatar; mercilessly, without morals, many without humanity, and his pupils drifted upwards to the ceiling, trailing over the design of wood. It couldn't be a coincidence that he had heard voices on his way back to the temple, they must of been the mercenaries, and he had been foolish enough to walk on without even listening in. Gao's temple knotted in his frustration, listening to the conversations around him. He was supposed to be beyond these stupid mistakes, and he should never trust anything to be a coincidence or constant, should never let his guard down. He had pulled a knife on an innocent woman that woke him up and didn't think to check out the arguing in the woods. These mistakes, he'd be sure not to repeat them.

"Admittedly I was away from the temple this morning and heard voice in the mountains. From what I can tell there was an argument passing between two confident figures. I can't say for sure whether it was two separate groups or two people from the same group." Finally he spoke up, and despite the embarrassing truth his words were calm, coherent, and solemn. He knew that this was the time to be serious, and he looked straight ahead at the others, expression unwavering, but not guarded or unfriendly, he was simply collaborating. "In the case that we have a confrontation with the enemy, we can use the strife among them to our advantage. An army is weak enough when being ambushed," Gao glanced over to Yun, acknowledging that the man had a very valid point, it might even be beneficial to them if they fought, and sent the message that the Avatar was not to be targeted carelessly. "When they stand against each other, they crumble." He concluded the thought with a mischievous smile, but still he remained bothered by a few details; the numbers of these groups, and if they were benders or not.

"It would be in our favor to learn how many armed forces we would be up against, howbeit, it's not exactly information we can acquire easily." The man ran a hand through his lengthy hair, tousling it further, and allowing the dark strands to fall back down to his shoulders as an exhale expanded his chest. There were no easy answers, yet there wouldn't be a moment when he would surrender to ignorance or the power of mere purchased forces. "We do know they are being paid. While it is true that money is an incentive that can make men go mad with greed, it often isn't personal enough to make them sacrifice their lives. As long as we overwhelm them, many of the opposing forces will flee once they decide the end doesn't balance with the means. In the case that they outnumber and overpower us we can be certain that their numbers will dwindle as long as we hold our ground. A forceful ambush might be just the tactic we need."

Gao pressed his lips together, forming a thin line as he continued to mentally go over all of the possibilities, anything he might be missing, and once Wei and Zhi were finished making some sort of pact he turned his head over to the young Avatar, and spoke with a simple question. "Have you been training Harumi recently?" Birds were intelligent creatures, hawks were no exception, and they have been used in conflict throughout history, there was a time where he made use of them himself. If Harumi was trained enough, then there was a chance they could use the hawk to help them scout out the position of the mercenary groups, therefore giving them an advantage. If not anything else, it would be worth a shot.

Avatar Zhi

"I accept your service, Wei." Zhi replied curtly to the Airbender. He considered the advice of his companions, and gave a nod.

"Very well. I agree, it would be best to ambush these mercenaries ourselves." he decided. The very thought that those scumbags might rush the Temple, and kill all the Sages within it made his blood boil. Even if retreating was the more sensible option, Zhi was not about to do it if it meant the Sages would die. They'd done so much for him and Kai, so much...it hardly seemed just to repay such a kindness by allowing the Sages to become sacrifical lamb-cows.

He looked over at Gao, his mind considering the various ways they could go about such an ambush. "Yes, I have trained Harumi. Why do you ask?"

Hm...Harumi might be useful indeed. The Hawk might be able to scout ahead, perhaps help in distracting the mercenary companies? No doubt the people who had hired such thugs new about the Hawk he had been gifted in the Fire Nation, and would tell those brutes to be on the look out for the Avatar's pet bird. Harumi could certainly help in a distraction, perhaps along a few of the others.

"Kun could be useful, too." Zhi speculated, considering his pet Badger-Mole. "She might be able to dig in a small hole beneath the mercenaries, and collapse them into it when given a command. It won't hold the mercenaries long, especially if there are Earthbenders among them, but it could buy us time."

Ignore

Zira has listened to the people around he speak. And since she found no reason to speak out, she didn't. That is, until Zhi spoke. "Very well. I agree, it would be best to ambush these mercenaries ourselves." He'd said. He then continued about his pets and how they could be of use. But Zira was only worried about the young Avatar.

"Zhi. If you are going on this ambush, you really should get some more training in you know. You have barely even begun your firebending training!" Zira spoke, making a point not to look at anybody but him. She figured, she might as well try and teach him something to deal with firebending before he put his life in danger.

She knew that there was no way he'd back down from protecting these people, so she wasn't going to bother telling him not to. But she though that he seriously needed to work on his training before anything else. He was smart, but things like this usually required luck as well.

Bo was in the room with the avatar, and his entire company, herself being part of it, but she didn't really pay attention to what people were saying. Sure. she was listening to everything, and absorbing it, but she was still too busy relaxing on Phantom to really be bothered by anything. She knew the mercenaries would be a problem and a confrontation was likely to occur, but she kept her opinion out of everything. She smiled when Zhi accepted Wei's help, and listened to everyone's plan, which she wold go along with. It wasn't very likely she would have a plan of her own, too much brainwork.

She did, however, shoot up when the blasted bird was mentioned. She eyed the room very carefully, and making sure it wasn't with them, she got down from the bagermole and joined the group. "I do not care what our plan is, a preemptive strike would prove useful, but we have no idea how many benders they have, or bagermole's or other animals. Our best option is to take the tunnel's out of the temple and avoid them entirely, although something tells me you are against that." She said, aiming at Zhi, and after thinking about it, Wei would probably be in favor of some ass kicking. Now that she thought about it, she was really the only team member who didn't enjoy using his/her bending when other options were available. Even her student, Akara, could hanker for a fight like anyone else.

"I'll go along with any plan, but we should keep the running away option open, just in case."

Akara folded her arms across her chest and listened intently to the Sages' words. At the mention of mercenaries, her brow arched, and something inside her gut began churning. She remembered the night not too long ago...

The men in the forest, the darkness, the masks hanging on their belts. They'd been heavily armed, and gossiped like they'd just returned from a party or tavern. Had it been so? Akara absentmindedly began back pedaling, finding a place at the rear of the group. She ran her index finger over her lips, along her jaw line, and she began to shake. What she perceived to be idle banter with the handsome man was a terrible mistake. She'd told him about her friends, the benders with whom she was traveling, and about the Avatar's presence in the temple. She was so foolish to not realize they were mercenaries, and that the "party" they were returning from was most likely a terrible slaughtering or bloody misdeed.

Akara's eyes fell on Bo, who she knew would be disappointed most of all. How could she confess? These mercenaries were here because of her own doing, and she'd put them all in danger. And while she couldn't honestly say that she cared much for the Avatar, or his arrogant decision to endanger himself by facing an unknown force, she did find that she cared about Bo's life, and perhaps even Gao's, whose mannerisms she'd found initially off-putting had somehow endeared him to Akara.

And now these fools were talking about staying and fighting? No, this was wrong.

She took quick steps to Bo's side and gently took her elbow, trying to pull her away. "Bo, please, a word." She swept her eyes across the rest of the group, praying they would be too involved to pay any notice.

Avatar Zhi

The Avatar looked over to Zira, and gave her an annoyed glance. "I very much doubt you would have the time to teach me actual firebending before the mercenaries are upon us, Sifu Zira. If I do not make an appearance outside the temple soon enough, no doubt they shall try to storm the monastery. I will have to work with my earthbending, and what I know of waterbending."

Truly, it was no one's fault but Zira that he had yet to progress in actually bending any fire. It was an unfair analysis, perhaps, given Zira's concerns about his intent to accelerate his elemental training. Still, she had made the choice to prolong his training in the very basics of firebending.

Next, his eyes turned to Bo. "I am not about to abandon these people, Sifu Bo. But...I will keep your words in mind. If the mercenaries prove too numerous for us to handle, then a strategic retreat may be called for. But not until we know for sure our chances against these bandits."

The Avatar sat in contemplation for another few moments, working on a plan of action. To have a successful preemptive strike on the mercenaries, their distraction team would have be able to blend in, more or less, and their ambush team would have to strike hard and fast, before the mercenaries even knew what hit them. Hm...

"Gao," Zhi turned his gaze over to his longtime mentor and friend. "If you have an ideas for our plan, I'm all ears. What did you wish to do with Harumi?"

Zira scowled at the Avatar as she placed a hand on her hip but said nothing. He obviously doubted her training methods. She needed him to learn patience and she had tried to teach him about what fire truly was without her telling him. 'cause otherwise it would be meaningless. He obviously didn't realize he was learning the basics.

She walked over to the nearest pillar and leaned against it. She lit a little fire imp and tossed it from hand to hand, trying to calm herself and concentrate at the same time. She pulled at the fire, wrapping it around her fingers but not allowing it to actually touch her.

She didn't know if she'd would assist the Avatar in his adventure. That was all up to him actually. It depended on if he wanted her there, and ever then, Zira wasn't sure if she would go. Because nothing was ever that simple with Zhi. Just because he says something, he has moments where he really doesn't mean it. And that usually is just when he's trying to be a gentleman and doesn't want to hurt ones feelings.

She watched the man before her converse with others, finding she could still hear them slightly.