Azalea Hayes's Story

A smile lite up Azalea's pale feature's as she watched the entertainment portrayed in front of her. Upon her travels Azalea had stopped for the night in a small, fishing town in the Eastern Earth Nation but without much money she could not afford a inn room. She had decided to sleep in the meadow, where the long grass would give her warmth. When she woke up she didn't expect to see five children looking down at her with curiosity in their bright eyes. If she could giggle Azalea sure would have when the group scurried away upon her waking. At first it was awkward, the children just staring at her, waiting as if she was going to scold them. Azalea had just smiled and that is when Fluff took over. The small, feline spirit had quickly captured the hearts of the children and now in front of her she couldn't help her smile as she watched Fluff tease the children. The feline was hiding in the tall grass while the children were trying to find him. The little brat would pop his head at for a moment before hiding again and repeating the act in a different spot.

Azalea's green eyes widened in surprise as she made of the few sounds she could make. Her stomach growling. A blush flared her cheeks as the children all glanced at her, laughter bubbling up from their small bodies.

"That was really loud Miss, you must be very hungry" a small girl giggled. Azalea nodded her head in response while standing from her grass bed. She stretched before walking towards the forest that covered the left side of the meadow. Fluff followed after her, the children following him, as Azalea reached up and placed her hand on the trunk of a tree. She could feel the energy that flowed within, the spirit that dwelled within the small forest, protecting it. Azalea may not be able to talk to people but spirits were an entirely different manner. Suddenly a small spirit appeared on the tree, leaping from the branches its tiny wings kept it airborne. Waving its tiny paw for her to follow Azalea did. The spirit had led her to an apple tree. Her green eyes brightened at the sight of food and silently thanked the spirit before grabbing some fruit. She only took what she need, biting into the delicious red apple. The children watched the strange, silent woman.

"Children! Where are you little brats!?" the shouting of a woman disturbed the peaceful silence and the children gasp.

"We have to go Lady, Bye!" they all said in unison before taking off into the direction of the meadow. Fluff leaped up onto her shoulder and Azalea finished her apple before walking back to the meadow. She grabbed her bag, which she had left in the grass and made her way to the docks to see if she could catch some fish for later.

If I had to choose a genetic connection for the Water Tribes, it would be American Indians. Then have many of the same customs, tanned skin, dark hair and eyes. When I was born with white hair the shade of snow and teal eyes so sharp they nearly glowed, the entire village was confused to say the least. I'd never seen another person with hair - or eyes for that matter - even close to mine.

So when I ran into someone with white hair and bright green eyes in the most literal way possible while distracted by debate with Kitoji, I was a bit surprised.

Well, not so much 'ran into' as 'dodged'. That something had escaped my notice in the first place was unusual enough, but until she was nearly touching me? Maybe I'm off my game today? No, it was probably Kitoji's fault. Yeah. Definitely him. It's somehow always his fault.

Technically, we didn't 'crash' by the definition, which in this case is basically 'two objects hitting each other' since we didn't actually have any contact at all, due entirely to my reflexes and a brilliant example of fancy footwork on my part. I stepped a bit to the side, over her own step that would have crashed into me, and twisted out of the way. Thank the intensive water bending training. Unfortunately, the trained movement made our food bag slide off my shoulder, spilling half the meager contents off the dock and into the ocean. But apparently God does exist, because Tori was the one carrying the money today, and Kitoji had the bag with our clothes and a couple books we carried. But, a crash is a crash.

"Er- Sorry, are you alright?" I asked the girl.

"Whoa, Ki's got moves like Jagger!" Kitoji observed.

Tori took a subtle step away from him, covering his eyes with a hand. "I don't know them." He declared to the many people who were not listening.

Vi ran like the wind as he dashed across the beach sand. "COME BACK HERE YOU THIEF!!!" Guards of the Earth tribe shouted as they chased after him, spears pointed as they ran much too slow.

"Sorry guys! Traveler's gotta eat too! YAHOO!" He shouted as he suddenly took off into the sky, literally stepping on the air as he made it so dense under his feet. The guards grumbled angrily, knowing they couldn't catch him and turned back towards the town.



Alkas looked around nervously as she walked into the forest that surrounded the Earth Tribe territory. She instantly relaxed when she could no longer see the town behind her and was engulfed in the dense forest. She walked, barefoot, through the trees before coming to a rest in a small shaded patch beneath a large oak tree. A vine crept up and wound itself around her ankle, though this would normally instill shock and fear out of anyone else, she smiled softly, and giggled a little, stroking the soft vine and a flower budded at the end of it to meet her fingers.

Azalea was rarely taken by surprise so when almost walked right into a white haired boy she was in slight shock. Even though he had quickly dodged her Azalea had tried to move out of his way before he had moved. Her quick movement's made her loose balance and Azalea stumbled and fell off the dock. Her eyes widened in horror but before she fell into the chest high waters she was caught from behind. She now floated above the water and looking down she smiled. Two large fish spirits held her above the water and helped her back onto the dock. Once she was safely on the dock she noticed the slipped food floating and silently asked if the spirits could grab them. Bubbles from around the food and floated out of the water. The bubble popped once it landed on the dock. Azalea silently thanked the spirits and they disappeared.

The boy asked if she was okay and Azalea nodded in response, giving him a smile. Azalea gave a voiceless giggle when she saw Fluff perched on top of the white haired boy head, playing with his spiky hair. Fluff must have flew off her shoulder when she stumbled. She reached her hand up and took Fluff off the boy's head before placing the tiny feline in the pocket of her coat. Fluff's squeaky meow followed after and Azalea knew what he wanted, he was hungry. The sound of shouting drew Azalea attention away to see a boy fly up away from Earth guards. Her attention then was brought back to the group of men in front of her. She was unsure what to do.

I stared at the girl as she rose back to the surface, and deduced she must be an Oracle. Judging by the way the water reluctantly bent to her will, not a water bender, so I wondered why the water spirits would ever listen to her.

The water set her down on the dock, and then a slight wave brought our dripping wet supplies back to shore. Not that the bread would be any use anymore, but possibly the oranges could be salvaged, if the salt of the sea hadn't gotten in.

Then I felt something land on my head, and tug at my hair. Tori smirked at me. "Why do animals like the Ice Prick so much?" I heard him murmur to Kitoji, who shrugged. "Something to do with water stuff, probably..."

Keeping my usual neutral expression, I tipped my head forward so that the little kitten fell into my hands, and set it in the girl's arms. It mewled at me. "As much as I can appreciate your sentiment in attempting to groom me, little one, my hair is completely untamable. It's useless to try." I informed the creature.

Sudden screeching caught my attention, and we all looked over to see what was going on.

"He's... flying. Sorta." Kitoji observed. "Cool."

Tori, meanwhile, stared after the person with a suspicious look. "...Ace, Wasn't he coming from inside Chime's property?"

The was a moment of silence.

Kitoji took off running, the other two following. "If he took our supply stock, I'm going to kill him." Tori stated determinedly.

Vi flew through the air, laughing at having lost the guards then heard people running after him. "Huh, people usually give up by now..." He said to no one in particular. He did a diving swoop and then disappeared into the top of the trees, hoping to lost them in the forest.

As Vi flew through the trees he heard someone call him over. Without really questioning it he dove into the bush that the sound was coming from, hoping the people chasing him hadn't seen him.



Alkas leaned her head back against the tree and stared at the sky, beginning to sing a soft tune. "Waking up I see that everything is ok, the first time in my life and now it's so great..." The plants around her seemed to thrive at the sound of her voice, swaying to the song rather than any breeze.

Azalea watched the group of boys run off, waving goodbye to them even though she was sure they didn't see. She then made her way to the very edge of the dock, taking out her fold up fishing rod from her backpack then sat down on the wooden dock. She readied her fishing rod then started fishing. Fluff meowed.

'Can I eat yet?' the tiny feline's voice entered Azalea's mind and she shook her head in response.

' Stop being so impatient, fishing take's time' Azalea mentally replied.

Fluff growled 'Hurry up fish!' making Azalea smile down at him. It took a while but with some mud bending Azalea was able to catch enough fish for the two of them. She placed one of the raw fish on the deck and Fluff pounced, eating the fish.

After he was finished and his tummy full, Azalea bagged the rest of the fish and put it in her backpack before they left the dock to go and look around town.