Water. Earth. Fire. Air.
For generations the four nations lived together in harmony. Everything changed five years ago, when the Fire Nation attacked...
The young man was eighteen or so; maybe twenty. They called him Perrin, sometimes just Perr. He lay awake in his hammock and stared through the dimness at a knotty whirl in the wood plank ceiling above his face. The ship pitched a little on some crest of current, but it was moving gently enough on the water. It was clean all things considered, but the air smelled like sweat and sleep and leather. It was achingly still.
Sleep wasn’t going to come. He wished it would, and he could just wash his hands of the whole thing. But he recognized that he’d already decided. Perrin sighed and got up. Alright.
He pulled an earth colored shirt on and tied his hair back into a small club knot against his neck with a green scrap of wool. Shoes on, he calmly made his way toward the stairs. He’d have to cross above deck either way.
Mutiny or an Act of Conscience
Mutiny or an Act of Conscience
The sun went down as I crossed the hill. The town lit up and the world got still.
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings. Coming down is the hardest thing.
The good old days may not return. The rocks might melt and the seas may burn.
I'm learning to fly...
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings. Coming down is the hardest thing.
The good old days may not return. The rocks might melt and the seas may burn.
I'm learning to fly...
Re: Mutiny or an Act of Conscience
Living on a ship was not the life Selzan had dreamed of when she'd taken to the sea. She'd been told that she would see incredible far-off shores, put her feet on sands that no other Si-Wong had ever imagined, and know the taste of fruits and flowers fit for gods - she'd been told that her skills would be invaluable.
So much for all of that. All of that would have been a worthy trade for the home she'd left behind... War was an awful thing. It brought out the worst in decent people.
The whole crew had reeled from the news when they learned of the Fire Nation's genocide during the passing of the comet. After all, who could work in any kind of port town and not occasionally bump into one of the delightful little nomadic monks on a "spiritual sojourn". What a terrible way to mark such a beautiful celestial occasion. That had been two months into Selzan's tenure aboard the Summer Surf. After that, they did their best to work with a purpose, especially when other traders and port-goers started to talk about invasion forces massing off the shores of Ember Island. The war against the Earth Kingdom drove a simply galley like theirs away from the western shores and ocean trade, and into the colder southeast oceans - along with everyone else trying to escape the coming fire.
The new work landscape in the new world produced a new attitude in the crew as well. Their captain, noble man that he was, handed the Summer Surf to his first mate and left to join the earth navy, taking several of the best deck hands with him. Their new captain Shao-Mi was a decent man, but he was determined to stay ahead of the influx of freighters looking for safer waters, and he started to do business with people that Selzan knew for a fact were not the sort to do business with. It was like history was repeating itself... or maybe Selzan was just bad luck.
They eventually found themselves moving back into the warmer western seas, on errands for ambitious merchants and other sorts looking to do such noble deeds as bring important supplies to soldiers in the navy, and insure that essential exports from the Fire Nation continued to find their way inland. Selzan had seen what they were moving. None of it was important. But at least they were in shallower tropical waters again, and she was sandbending more often.
Then they had started hauling people.
None of the Summer Surf's human cargo was innocent, but they were all worth something to someone. New crewmembers that came on started to be of a rougher sort more often, and the occasional forced passenger started to become a more frequent side-hustle. They still moved supplies as their main stock and trade, but it was a change for the worse, and Shao-Mi seemed to have acquired a taste for the bounty rewards.
Selzan leaned on the deck-rail of the galley pondering the changes of the last few years, because she feared a new change was coming. They had taken on a few new crewmen that were nice enough and reminded her of the old days, but during their last portside drop-off, they'd also picked up a new piece of person-cargo. Not someone with a bounty on their head, just... someone Shao-Mi figured he could make some money selling to someone who hated the Fire Nation.
That didn't sit well with Selzan at all. Her people knew the horrors of slave trade; it was part of what had driven her ancestors into the desert, during the era before the loose unity the Earth Kingdom currently enjoyed. And so she brooded, flicking bits of dried meat off the edge of the ship occasionally for her Sable Hawk to catch and watching the waves drift lazily up and down beyond the vessel. If she didn't look too closely, it almost looked like the desert at night...
So much for all of that. All of that would have been a worthy trade for the home she'd left behind... War was an awful thing. It brought out the worst in decent people.
The whole crew had reeled from the news when they learned of the Fire Nation's genocide during the passing of the comet. After all, who could work in any kind of port town and not occasionally bump into one of the delightful little nomadic monks on a "spiritual sojourn". What a terrible way to mark such a beautiful celestial occasion. That had been two months into Selzan's tenure aboard the Summer Surf. After that, they did their best to work with a purpose, especially when other traders and port-goers started to talk about invasion forces massing off the shores of Ember Island. The war against the Earth Kingdom drove a simply galley like theirs away from the western shores and ocean trade, and into the colder southeast oceans - along with everyone else trying to escape the coming fire.
The new work landscape in the new world produced a new attitude in the crew as well. Their captain, noble man that he was, handed the Summer Surf to his first mate and left to join the earth navy, taking several of the best deck hands with him. Their new captain Shao-Mi was a decent man, but he was determined to stay ahead of the influx of freighters looking for safer waters, and he started to do business with people that Selzan knew for a fact were not the sort to do business with. It was like history was repeating itself... or maybe Selzan was just bad luck.
They eventually found themselves moving back into the warmer western seas, on errands for ambitious merchants and other sorts looking to do such noble deeds as bring important supplies to soldiers in the navy, and insure that essential exports from the Fire Nation continued to find their way inland. Selzan had seen what they were moving. None of it was important. But at least they were in shallower tropical waters again, and she was sandbending more often.
Then they had started hauling people.
None of the Summer Surf's human cargo was innocent, but they were all worth something to someone. New crewmembers that came on started to be of a rougher sort more often, and the occasional forced passenger started to become a more frequent side-hustle. They still moved supplies as their main stock and trade, but it was a change for the worse, and Shao-Mi seemed to have acquired a taste for the bounty rewards.
Selzan leaned on the deck-rail of the galley pondering the changes of the last few years, because she feared a new change was coming. They had taken on a few new crewmen that were nice enough and reminded her of the old days, but during their last portside drop-off, they'd also picked up a new piece of person-cargo. Not someone with a bounty on their head, just... someone Shao-Mi figured he could make some money selling to someone who hated the Fire Nation.
That didn't sit well with Selzan at all. Her people knew the horrors of slave trade; it was part of what had driven her ancestors into the desert, during the era before the loose unity the Earth Kingdom currently enjoyed. And so she brooded, flicking bits of dried meat off the edge of the ship occasionally for her Sable Hawk to catch and watching the waves drift lazily up and down beyond the vessel. If she didn't look too closely, it almost looked like the desert at night...
Re: Mutiny or an Act of Conscience
The ship pitched amongst the waves, gently enough to rock a seasoned sailor to sleep, but not so gently that it would bring any comfort to someone who had not once in their life been at sea. Fortunately enough for the Fire Nation youth he was somewhere in between, the waves weren't exactly comforting but nor were they an annoyance, they were just there like him. He crossed his legs as he sat in his cell thinking. That was of course all he could do. What choices had led him here? Father had taken him away from Capital City to learn near as he could tell nothing but treason against the great Fire Lord Sozin and the Military forces of the mighty Fire Nation. So what was a young man to do? Run.
His father had led him down a path that would only lead to both of their destruction, high profile family or not treason against the Fire Lord was met with harsh consequences and rightfully so. For the life of him he never did understand why his father made the choices he did, the Fire Nation had shown their dominance and their supremacy over the other elements and it was only natural that they took their place as the rightful and just leaders of the world. It was their destiny. Yet his father droned on about the true nature of Firebending and how that Fire Lord Sozin was the one guilty of treason and unthinkable crimes. The only thing he could do was try to redeem his name and reclaim his honor by enlisting and showing his loyalty and devotion to the Fire Nation and Fire Lord Sozin.
Zai let out a sigh as he reached into his pocket and pulled a folded up piece of parchment out and brought it up for his eyes to examine. It was dark in his cell but a single lantern near by illuminated the image on the parchment so that he could see it plain as day. His heart ached as he examined it and thought of home, a place that he would now likely never get to see again. He stared at it for a long moment and hung his head before folding the parchment up and placing it back in his pocket.
He raised his head and looked out of his cell at the flicker of the lantern, for a moment he questioned the intelligence of the crew and their captain. They of course knew he was a Fire Nation youth, but he somehow doubted they knew he was a bender. He was outnumbered and taken by surprise when he was captured, he never had a chance to display his bending. Now however they had left him alone in a cell with a flame not ten feet from him and the ship was wooden. Surely they were life boats, he needed to formulate a plan and quick, for it was not long before his life as he knew it would becoming to an abrupt end as he was sold into slavery....
His father had led him down a path that would only lead to both of their destruction, high profile family or not treason against the Fire Lord was met with harsh consequences and rightfully so. For the life of him he never did understand why his father made the choices he did, the Fire Nation had shown their dominance and their supremacy over the other elements and it was only natural that they took their place as the rightful and just leaders of the world. It was their destiny. Yet his father droned on about the true nature of Firebending and how that Fire Lord Sozin was the one guilty of treason and unthinkable crimes. The only thing he could do was try to redeem his name and reclaim his honor by enlisting and showing his loyalty and devotion to the Fire Nation and Fire Lord Sozin.
Zai let out a sigh as he reached into his pocket and pulled a folded up piece of parchment out and brought it up for his eyes to examine. It was dark in his cell but a single lantern near by illuminated the image on the parchment so that he could see it plain as day. His heart ached as he examined it and thought of home, a place that he would now likely never get to see again. He stared at it for a long moment and hung his head before folding the parchment up and placing it back in his pocket.
He raised his head and looked out of his cell at the flicker of the lantern, for a moment he questioned the intelligence of the crew and their captain. They of course knew he was a Fire Nation youth, but he somehow doubted they knew he was a bender. He was outnumbered and taken by surprise when he was captured, he never had a chance to display his bending. Now however they had left him alone in a cell with a flame not ten feet from him and the ship was wooden. Surely they were life boats, he needed to formulate a plan and quick, for it was not long before his life as he knew it would becoming to an abrupt end as he was sold into slavery....
"My life I give to my country.
With my hands I fight for Fire Lord Sozin and our forefathers before him.
With my mind I seek ways to better my country.
And with my feet may our March of Civilization continue."
With my hands I fight for Fire Lord Sozin and our forefathers before him.
With my mind I seek ways to better my country.
And with my feet may our March of Civilization continue."
Re: Mutiny or an Act of Conscience
Perrin’s feet tread lightly on the wooden floor. He moved past the oversized stockroom where a ragtag group of crew played their usual late dice game on barrels. Nevhen, a broad man in his thirties who’d signed onto the crew six months ago at the same port as Perrin had, glanced up and threw out a casual invitation. Perrin shook his head, replying with a relaxed nudge of his chin and the indication that he required the deck. Nevhen smirked dismissively and returned to the game, the younger man forgotten.
The slim young man sprinted calmly through the empty hall and up the stairs, so familiar with the bones of the ship by now that he seemed to step past every creaky or knocking old board. His mind was filled with plans and rope and bits of wood — a lifeboat, maybe. Not that it was necessary, strictly, but prudence suggested that it would be better.
The fresher, tangier, salt air kissed the fetidness away from his face the instant he emerged out onto the deck — Perrin brushed at his hair, getting it off the back of his neck for a second. He breathed through his nasal way and out through his mouth, emptying the staleness from his lungs and air passages in a single pair of breaths.
He rounded a corner and made his way up toward his favorite stretch of the deck rail. He needed to at least see the enemy. Maybe he deserved this. Maybe luck and justice would feel close enough to the same thing again for once and Perrin could go back to the dark hold and go to sleep until he got away from this sad boat to… To just go…
Gentle streaks of cirrus clouds swept across the perfect midnight blue sky, veiling the stars here and there in streaks of gauzy translucent veils. His eyes touched the sky and then dropped guiltily down to the water. No. They’d said the Fire Nation prisoner was just a boy. Perrin needed to see him first anyway, but even if he looked bad to the core — that wasn’t a just thing to hope for.
The smooth current of wings stirred him out of his reverie and he looked a ways down the deck. The sable hawk Ji'da swooped down almost into the water to snatch up a bit of food its partner had thrown. Perrin swallowed and quietly appreciated the bird again. He hadn’t let himself talk to her owner much, for no reason that Perrin could articulate. But he’d shared enough words with Selzan that at least they knew of each other… and he’d observed distaste in her expression recently. Perrin didn’t think she had love for some of the Summer’s last cargo services either.
Hm…. Well.
He found Selzan further down the rail and joined her.
“She is really beautiful,” he told her with a nod to the hawk. “Please just tell me if I’m interrupting… I couldn’t sleep much this evening. Not for the last few days, I guess.”
The slim young man sprinted calmly through the empty hall and up the stairs, so familiar with the bones of the ship by now that he seemed to step past every creaky or knocking old board. His mind was filled with plans and rope and bits of wood — a lifeboat, maybe. Not that it was necessary, strictly, but prudence suggested that it would be better.
The fresher, tangier, salt air kissed the fetidness away from his face the instant he emerged out onto the deck — Perrin brushed at his hair, getting it off the back of his neck for a second. He breathed through his nasal way and out through his mouth, emptying the staleness from his lungs and air passages in a single pair of breaths.
He rounded a corner and made his way up toward his favorite stretch of the deck rail. He needed to at least see the enemy. Maybe he deserved this. Maybe luck and justice would feel close enough to the same thing again for once and Perrin could go back to the dark hold and go to sleep until he got away from this sad boat to… To just go…
Gentle streaks of cirrus clouds swept across the perfect midnight blue sky, veiling the stars here and there in streaks of gauzy translucent veils. His eyes touched the sky and then dropped guiltily down to the water. No. They’d said the Fire Nation prisoner was just a boy. Perrin needed to see him first anyway, but even if he looked bad to the core — that wasn’t a just thing to hope for.
The smooth current of wings stirred him out of his reverie and he looked a ways down the deck. The sable hawk Ji'da swooped down almost into the water to snatch up a bit of food its partner had thrown. Perrin swallowed and quietly appreciated the bird again. He hadn’t let himself talk to her owner much, for no reason that Perrin could articulate. But he’d shared enough words with Selzan that at least they knew of each other… and he’d observed distaste in her expression recently. Perrin didn’t think she had love for some of the Summer’s last cargo services either.
Hm…. Well.
He found Selzan further down the rail and joined her.
“She is really beautiful,” he told her with a nod to the hawk. “Please just tell me if I’m interrupting… I couldn’t sleep much this evening. Not for the last few days, I guess.”
The sun went down as I crossed the hill. The town lit up and the world got still.
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings. Coming down is the hardest thing.
The good old days may not return. The rocks might melt and the seas may burn.
I'm learning to fly...
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings. Coming down is the hardest thing.
The good old days may not return. The rocks might melt and the seas may burn.
I'm learning to fly...
Re: Mutiny or an Act of Conscience
The wind shifted slightly as a pocket of colder air circled across the deck. The ship was slowly making it’s way back into colder waters as it sailed south and easy around the major landmass of the Earth Kingdom. They’d be completely out of the tropics in a couple more days. Selzan watched Ji’da take a graceful dip on the invisible eddy formed by the clashing hot and cool breezes – such a lovely animal.
The gold-skinned woman was disturbed from her reverie when Perrin appeared beside her – goodness he was such a lightfoot!
“Oh! Not at all, Perrin.” Selzan assured him, her Si Wong accent curling around her words. She let out a heartfelt sigh and glanced out across the waves again, raising her left hand absentmindedly to receive Ji’da.
“To be honest, I would say you’re just getting your sea legs still, but I doubt that’s it.” She shrugged, reaching up to stroke her hawk’s beak and give her another nibble of food. “I haven’t slept well the last few days either.”
The gold-skinned woman was disturbed from her reverie when Perrin appeared beside her – goodness he was such a lightfoot!
“Oh! Not at all, Perrin.” Selzan assured him, her Si Wong accent curling around her words. She let out a heartfelt sigh and glanced out across the waves again, raising her left hand absentmindedly to receive Ji’da.
“To be honest, I would say you’re just getting your sea legs still, but I doubt that’s it.” She shrugged, reaching up to stroke her hawk’s beak and give her another nibble of food. “I haven’t slept well the last few days either.”
Re: Mutiny or an Act of Conscience
Perr leaned on his elbows with his hands off the rail a bit. He watched the waves and felt the swirling changes in the spray and the breeze. The young man looked back to admire the hawk soon enough, and by extension, watched the way Selzan stroked and cared for the creature.
“You’re right; I’m sure that isn’t it,” he told her with a shift of his shoulders and a small open-hand gesture. When his eyes met Selzan’s, Perrin shrugged and just spoke. “My sea legs are fine, but I don't like to live with enslaving things.”
“You’re right; I’m sure that isn’t it,” he told her with a shift of his shoulders and a small open-hand gesture. When his eyes met Selzan’s, Perrin shrugged and just spoke. “My sea legs are fine, but I don't like to live with enslaving things.”
The sun went down as I crossed the hill. The town lit up and the world got still.
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings. Coming down is the hardest thing.
The good old days may not return. The rocks might melt and the seas may burn.
I'm learning to fly...
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings. Coming down is the hardest thing.
The good old days may not return. The rocks might melt and the seas may burn.
I'm learning to fly...
Re: Mutiny or an Act of Conscience
"Me neither... it wasn't always this way." Selzan handed her hungry raptor another bit of food, and then tossed him off to go find his customary nesting place.
"It's a bitter thing to say, since you're still so new to the crew. I'm not sure if I can stay on this ship much longer as it is. It's not my home anymore."
The dusty-eyed Si Wong gazed out across the waves, imagining they were sand dunes again. In the end, she didn't seem to have a home anywhere at all.
"If..." Selzan paused to take a heavy breath and swallow her contempt - and regret. If you want to get off at the next port and jump ship, you won't have to go alone."
"It's a bitter thing to say, since you're still so new to the crew. I'm not sure if I can stay on this ship much longer as it is. It's not my home anymore."
The dusty-eyed Si Wong gazed out across the waves, imagining they were sand dunes again. In the end, she didn't seem to have a home anywhere at all.
"If..." Selzan paused to take a heavy breath and swallow her contempt - and regret. If you want to get off at the next port and jump ship, you won't have to go alone."
Re: Mutiny or an Act of Conscience
“I don’t know if I’ll be welcome that long.” Perrin answered in a musing voice; stark and sincere, a little distant. The cool spray kicked up and a little breeze of the warmer air pushed their backs and out over their heads. There was nobody on this part of the deck, and at least the breeze pushed their sounds away well enough. He watched Ji’da fly off until the beautiful creature was away from sight. His grey eyes followed Selzan’s to the water, where he watched the waves play in low crests on the horizon.
“Did you hear the Fire prisoner is just a boy they outnumbered in the back of a tavern? Clubbing him in the back of the head and—selling him for some blood money and a grudge doesn’t help anything. Maybe if they were taking him to the court, but they aren’t. And, by tomorrow we’ll be too far off the coast until it’s too late. So… I think I will go to him. Assuming he doesn't make it easy and look like a soulless demon boy… I will do my best to take him to one of the boats. I’ll probably go with him, assuming we make it that far. I’m not a traitor. I'm not a.. sympathizer. But I’m not a slaver, at least it stands at this minute…”
The paler young man looked back at the Si Wong, offering her a shrug and an unhappy smile. “I'm good at quiet. Maybe bad at... making things easy. I’m sorry, Selzan. It's not a game. Maybe I shouldn’t have put that on you. But... you can make a different choice now if you want to.”
“Did you hear the Fire prisoner is just a boy they outnumbered in the back of a tavern? Clubbing him in the back of the head and—selling him for some blood money and a grudge doesn’t help anything. Maybe if they were taking him to the court, but they aren’t. And, by tomorrow we’ll be too far off the coast until it’s too late. So… I think I will go to him. Assuming he doesn't make it easy and look like a soulless demon boy… I will do my best to take him to one of the boats. I’ll probably go with him, assuming we make it that far. I’m not a traitor. I'm not a.. sympathizer. But I’m not a slaver, at least it stands at this minute…”
The paler young man looked back at the Si Wong, offering her a shrug and an unhappy smile. “I'm good at quiet. Maybe bad at... making things easy. I’m sorry, Selzan. It's not a game. Maybe I shouldn’t have put that on you. But... you can make a different choice now if you want to.”
The sun went down as I crossed the hill. The town lit up and the world got still.
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings. Coming down is the hardest thing.
The good old days may not return. The rocks might melt and the seas may burn.
I'm learning to fly...
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings. Coming down is the hardest thing.
The good old days may not return. The rocks might melt and the seas may burn.
I'm learning to fly...
Re: Mutiny or an Act of Conscience
The rolling sand dune waves held Selzan's attention less and less as the young man beside her slowly spoke his conviction into being. And of all the thoughts that whipped up into a dust devil inside of her and he talked, only one remained still and steady.
Why did someone else have to tell me this?
Since her earliest remembrings, Selzan had been raised with the ingrained understanding that all were equal. She was Si Wong, that knowledge was her birthright; it was in her blood. If she didn't act on this realization - this opportunity - every lie that had driven her family from the desert would have become truth.
Selzan took quick stock of any assets on the ship that might help them achieve such a goal. There were few enough - certainly not enough earth or sand for her to bend in a dire situation - but there was at least enough leeway to get their prisoner out of the cell and moving. Selzan winced internally as she thought about the day the cell had been installed, knowing that event alone should have been enough to prick her conscience.
The sun-seasoned woman finally physically tore her eyes from the watery horizon and found Perrin's face. "I'm not especially gifted at quiet on a ship, but I can definitely do fast if it comes to it. And I can definitely get the lock open."
Why did someone else have to tell me this?
Since her earliest remembrings, Selzan had been raised with the ingrained understanding that all were equal. She was Si Wong, that knowledge was her birthright; it was in her blood. If she didn't act on this realization - this opportunity - every lie that had driven her family from the desert would have become truth.
Selzan took quick stock of any assets on the ship that might help them achieve such a goal. There were few enough - certainly not enough earth or sand for her to bend in a dire situation - but there was at least enough leeway to get their prisoner out of the cell and moving. Selzan winced internally as she thought about the day the cell had been installed, knowing that event alone should have been enough to prick her conscience.
The sun-seasoned woman finally physically tore her eyes from the watery horizon and found Perrin's face. "I'm not especially gifted at quiet on a ship, but I can definitely do fast if it comes to it. And I can definitely get the lock open."
Re: Mutiny or an Act of Conscience
It felt as if there was the smallest change in the natural air currents; the breeze cool but less sharp, with the faintest scent of sun hitting a grove of broad green leaves. For the first time in weeks, Perrin's tight smile might have been genuine for a moment. The paler and younger of the pair nodded, and he straightened up from leaning against the rail.
“Thank you. And... That’s good! I was still working through it about the lock situation.”
Perrin turned away from the breeze and the sea spray, briefly and calmly asking the Si Wong woman another question or two — but there wasn't so much to say anymore. Soon enough they'd made their way aft to the lower hold, pausing to collect a few nuts and a small melon from the stores. When Selzan had said something about fruit for the guard, he'd supposed that she meant... as a bribe? And so the younger man found himself starting a little in the moment when he found that Selzan shared the week's desert rations at a notably higher velocity than expected.
But so it was, and with that there was no going back. They ensured the sailor would remain unheard for a while, and stowed the unconscious body in an unseen storage area. Quickly enough and without further incident, the pair of committed non-slavers in Earthen colors made their way to the cell. Perrin's grey eyes swept immediately to the even younger man's. Swallowing, he stopped moving for a second and looked in quiet fascination at the Fire Nation prisoner.
“Thank you. And... That’s good! I was still working through it about the lock situation.”
Perrin turned away from the breeze and the sea spray, briefly and calmly asking the Si Wong woman another question or two — but there wasn't so much to say anymore. Soon enough they'd made their way aft to the lower hold, pausing to collect a few nuts and a small melon from the stores. When Selzan had said something about fruit for the guard, he'd supposed that she meant... as a bribe? And so the younger man found himself starting a little in the moment when he found that Selzan shared the week's desert rations at a notably higher velocity than expected.
But so it was, and with that there was no going back. They ensured the sailor would remain unheard for a while, and stowed the unconscious body in an unseen storage area. Quickly enough and without further incident, the pair of committed non-slavers in Earthen colors made their way to the cell. Perrin's grey eyes swept immediately to the even younger man's. Swallowing, he stopped moving for a second and looked in quiet fascination at the Fire Nation prisoner.
The sun went down as I crossed the hill. The town lit up and the world got still.
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings. Coming down is the hardest thing.
The good old days may not return. The rocks might melt and the seas may burn.
I'm learning to fly...
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings. Coming down is the hardest thing.
The good old days may not return. The rocks might melt and the seas may burn.
I'm learning to fly...
Re: Mutiny or an Act of Conscience
There were sounds outside that caused him to stir, his eyelids shot open and his bronze eyes adjusted to the dim lighting of the room relatively quickly. He could feel a surge of energy and strength has there was a thud and what sounded like a sack of vegetables being drug across the floor. The youth sprang to his feet and approached the bars of his cell. What was going on? He looked around but his eyes centered on the hallway from which he was initially brought down. He could feel his heart beating quicker inside his chest and he readied to defend himself if need be. He could almost feel the heat in his finger tips until he stopped himself. He had no backup plan, or a primary plan for that matter. What was he to do? Burn them alive and then wait for the rest of the crew to come down and find that he had murdered their crew mates? He remembered his father's final lesson to him, he must practice restraint. If he used his power and abilities now they could very well be the means of his own destruction. Aside from that he had no idea who was in the hall and what had just happened.
The young man tugged on his uniform blouse and fixed the red and gold piping so that aligned with the Fire Nation symbol on his belt. He then ran his hands over his smooth black hair ensuring it was not disheveled in more than an understandable way, he did not have a mirror after all but he was relatively sure that his top knot was keeping everything in place. Finally he looked down at his black boots with red and gold accent piping and ensured that they looked presentable. He then stood as straight and tall as he could as the two strangers in their Earthenware colored clothes walked into the room. His bronze eyes took them in, he noticed the way they carried themselves. Were they here to harm him? He doubted it. Quickly he flattened his left hand and raised it up so that it was perpendicular to the ground, with his right hand he made a fist, then in one motion he brought his right hand to meet the base of his left hand and bowed in the typical Fire Nation salute as his shackles clanged. He then stood upright once more and spread his legs slightly and instinctively tried to place his hands behind his back, but the chains on the shackles prevented this. Instead, he let his arms drop in front of him. His face was quizzical, his eyes desperately trying to look for clues about who these two were and what they had come for.
"Good evening, I'm Zai and I am sorry, but I'm really confused."
A tinge of respect and genuine confusion lurked in his youthful and clearly adolescent voice that had not quite developed into low bars of what it would sound like when he was fully matured, but was not so high pitched and squeaky that he could be mistaken for a mere child.
The young man tugged on his uniform blouse and fixed the red and gold piping so that aligned with the Fire Nation symbol on his belt. He then ran his hands over his smooth black hair ensuring it was not disheveled in more than an understandable way, he did not have a mirror after all but he was relatively sure that his top knot was keeping everything in place. Finally he looked down at his black boots with red and gold accent piping and ensured that they looked presentable. He then stood as straight and tall as he could as the two strangers in their Earthenware colored clothes walked into the room. His bronze eyes took them in, he noticed the way they carried themselves. Were they here to harm him? He doubted it. Quickly he flattened his left hand and raised it up so that it was perpendicular to the ground, with his right hand he made a fist, then in one motion he brought his right hand to meet the base of his left hand and bowed in the typical Fire Nation salute as his shackles clanged. He then stood upright once more and spread his legs slightly and instinctively tried to place his hands behind his back, but the chains on the shackles prevented this. Instead, he let his arms drop in front of him. His face was quizzical, his eyes desperately trying to look for clues about who these two were and what they had come for.
"Good evening, I'm Zai and I am sorry, but I'm really confused."
A tinge of respect and genuine confusion lurked in his youthful and clearly adolescent voice that had not quite developed into low bars of what it would sound like when he was fully matured, but was not so high pitched and squeaky that he could be mistaken for a mere child.
"My life I give to my country.
With my hands I fight for Fire Lord Sozin and our forefathers before him.
With my mind I seek ways to better my country.
And with my feet may our March of Civilization continue."
With my hands I fight for Fire Lord Sozin and our forefathers before him.
With my mind I seek ways to better my country.
And with my feet may our March of Civilization continue."
Re: Mutiny or an Act of Conscience
The grin was only just fading from Selzan’s face when she stepped into the cell behind Perrin, rolling her shoulder – it had been a while since she’d thrown anything that hard, but the bits of juicy melon plastered all over both sides of the hall were almost as satisfying as the dumb look on Lu Yun’s face when he comprehended the fate rushing toward the space between his eyes. The satisfaction of success, however, slipped from Selzan’s attention when she noticed Perrin’s sudden pause. This had been his idea, and suddenly he was frozen in his tracks just… staring at the fire nation kid. It was a bit, but sandbender smirked inwardly and stepped around her collaborator. Maybe this was his first time getting up to any kind of serious mischief. Or maybe he really had expected the kid to be a soulless demon boy?
The boy in the cell was just pulling his rather expensive-looking tunic straight when Selzan stopped abreast of Perrin, and he greeted them in a formal manner that took her aback slightly. This kid was pretty sharp, or at least well-disciplined.
“Hi there,” she whispered. “I’m Selzan, this is Perrin, and I understand your confusion. Look, our nations aren’t exactly being friendly right now, but our nations aren’t here on this boat, and this boat… Well, I remember when our cargo holds were full of nothing but fruits and flowers. We’re not going to stand around while it turns into a prison barge. We’re no slavers; I hope you can respect that.”
The gold-skinned woman pressed her right fist into her left palm and gestured toward Zai, then she reached up and tugged on a dark cord hanging around her neck. A small leather pouch, blackened from use, slipped up out of her tunic and into her grasp. She stretched it open and poured its contents into her other hand – roughly two ounces of fine, yellow desert sand.
With a backward wink at Perrin, the sandbender leaned down to the lock with her fingertips held just before it, and shook her palm. Instead of settling into a flatter pile, the sand stirred up and rushed forward into the locked metal door. When it was all inside the mechanism, Selzan made several finagling gestures with her fingers. In truth, she didn’t know how to pick a complex lock with sand, though she loved the idea of figuring it out one day, but these locks were nothing more than an enclosed lever, and a few moments was all it took for her to rotate the compacted granules in the right direction to make them turn.
When the lock was undone, Selzan smiled in satisfaction at her second success of the evening, and twisted her fingers again so that the sand retreated from the lock and back into the pouch, which she immediately tucked back into her tunic.
“Now, we need to get out of here before we’re found, or the wind carries us too much further from the coast.”
The boy in the cell was just pulling his rather expensive-looking tunic straight when Selzan stopped abreast of Perrin, and he greeted them in a formal manner that took her aback slightly. This kid was pretty sharp, or at least well-disciplined.
“Hi there,” she whispered. “I’m Selzan, this is Perrin, and I understand your confusion. Look, our nations aren’t exactly being friendly right now, but our nations aren’t here on this boat, and this boat… Well, I remember when our cargo holds were full of nothing but fruits and flowers. We’re not going to stand around while it turns into a prison barge. We’re no slavers; I hope you can respect that.”
The gold-skinned woman pressed her right fist into her left palm and gestured toward Zai, then she reached up and tugged on a dark cord hanging around her neck. A small leather pouch, blackened from use, slipped up out of her tunic and into her grasp. She stretched it open and poured its contents into her other hand – roughly two ounces of fine, yellow desert sand.
With a backward wink at Perrin, the sandbender leaned down to the lock with her fingertips held just before it, and shook her palm. Instead of settling into a flatter pile, the sand stirred up and rushed forward into the locked metal door. When it was all inside the mechanism, Selzan made several finagling gestures with her fingers. In truth, she didn’t know how to pick a complex lock with sand, though she loved the idea of figuring it out one day, but these locks were nothing more than an enclosed lever, and a few moments was all it took for her to rotate the compacted granules in the right direction to make them turn.
When the lock was undone, Selzan smiled in satisfaction at her second success of the evening, and twisted her fingers again so that the sand retreated from the lock and back into the pouch, which she immediately tucked back into her tunic.
“Now, we need to get out of here before we’re found, or the wind carries us too much further from the coast.”
Re: Mutiny or an Act of Conscience
The Fire Nation youth whom the sailors had hit over the head was no uneducated peasant. Judging from the cut and textiles of his garb, let alone the still nearly-neat top knot, or the disciplined way he carried himself, he was some minor noble’s son, or at least something like it… from some old, or decently esteemed family. The tight knot in the pit of Perrin’s stomach coiled around him and got colder. He swallowed and stood calmly, making a conscious choice to keep the tension from overpowering him.
Selzan’s mood helped, at least. Perrin latched onto her relaxed whispering, and her reminder of what he'd ket telling himself. They were no slavers.
His reverie broken, the older youth kept his hands relaxed at his sides. Perr knew the Earth greeting easily of course, and from the earliest traveling days in his childhood, he remembered the nuanced gesture of the Fire peoples. The Fire salutations were more formal, but they had been almost as exciting and familiar in his mind as the approving arm clasp of the Water tribes. Even a few years ago, he might have greeted in kind depending on mood and circumstances, or he might have put his hands together, or just casually…. But times for any of that had faded. The elder of the two young men found the will left somewhere in himself to give the younger youth a tight smile, and a clipped bow from his shoulders. They were in a hurry anyway.
“Hello, Sai. Calling me Perr is fine. We should keep moving. Please stay between the two of us; on the off chance anyone asks, we're taking you up deck by request... But it will be best that no one ask. Welcome to the Summer Surf'. Let's make our way off of it.”
Moving as he spoke, Perrin gestured Zai into the corridor and nudged him forwards behind Selzan's lead with a respectfully urgent touch of the boy's shoulder.
Selzan’s mood helped, at least. Perrin latched onto her relaxed whispering, and her reminder of what he'd ket telling himself. They were no slavers.
His reverie broken, the older youth kept his hands relaxed at his sides. Perr knew the Earth greeting easily of course, and from the earliest traveling days in his childhood, he remembered the nuanced gesture of the Fire peoples. The Fire salutations were more formal, but they had been almost as exciting and familiar in his mind as the approving arm clasp of the Water tribes. Even a few years ago, he might have greeted in kind depending on mood and circumstances, or he might have put his hands together, or just casually…. But times for any of that had faded. The elder of the two young men found the will left somewhere in himself to give the younger youth a tight smile, and a clipped bow from his shoulders. They were in a hurry anyway.
“Hello, Sai. Calling me Perr is fine. We should keep moving. Please stay between the two of us; on the off chance anyone asks, we're taking you up deck by request... But it will be best that no one ask. Welcome to the Summer Surf'. Let's make our way off of it.”
Moving as he spoke, Perrin gestured Zai into the corridor and nudged him forwards behind Selzan's lead with a respectfully urgent touch of the boy's shoulder.
The sun went down as I crossed the hill. The town lit up and the world got still.
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings. Coming down is the hardest thing.
The good old days may not return. The rocks might melt and the seas may burn.
I'm learning to fly...
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings. Coming down is the hardest thing.
The good old days may not return. The rocks might melt and the seas may burn.
I'm learning to fly...
Re: Mutiny or an Act of Conscience
He was dreaming, he had to be. He had fallen asleep by the gentle rocking of the ship in the mostly calm waters of wherever they were and this is what his unconscious mind thought up. Any moment he would awaken to the reality of the situation and breathe out a sigh of despair and take in the bitter taste of his current situation. He was about to pinch himself into a more wakeful state when Perrin nudged him into position, he felt the firm pressure on his shoulder, the shoulder that had already been bruised when he was hit over the head. His nervous system instantly sent the pain messages to his brain and instead of grimacing or wincing he smiled widely and his bronze eyes lit up as if they had gazed on the dragons themselves.
"FLAMEO!"
The first syllable of the three syllable Fire Nation expression roughly equating to cool or awesome was said loudly and with excitement while the following two syllables trailed off into a whisper as he quickly realized the gravity of the situation and the simple fact that these two did not want to get caught doing what they were doing. He thought about asking them to remove the shackles, but leaving them in place was a much more convincing rouse than removing them if they were questioned. He felt his heart rate increase a bit and his adrenal glands were on the verge of doing their thing, but he controlled himself. He had to remain calm and keep a cool head in this situation, one of the two of them was a bender and there was something about Perrin threw him off a bit, there was that pause when Selzan had introduced herself, it was almost like Perrin was reconsidering. Not that it mattered, he was clearly going through with the escape. Was this an escape? He hoped to hell it was, otherwise these two were sneaking him to exact revenge or something, but that didn't seem like them at all. He had to trust them, there was no other choice and they seemed like good people, perhaps Fire Nation sympathizers, either way their honor was not in serious question at the moment in his mind.
"Up deck by request, got it. It is an honor to meet you both Perr and Selzan, it is a noble and honorable thing you are doing, I won't forget it. Thank you."
"FLAMEO!"
The first syllable of the three syllable Fire Nation expression roughly equating to cool or awesome was said loudly and with excitement while the following two syllables trailed off into a whisper as he quickly realized the gravity of the situation and the simple fact that these two did not want to get caught doing what they were doing. He thought about asking them to remove the shackles, but leaving them in place was a much more convincing rouse than removing them if they were questioned. He felt his heart rate increase a bit and his adrenal glands were on the verge of doing their thing, but he controlled himself. He had to remain calm and keep a cool head in this situation, one of the two of them was a bender and there was something about Perrin threw him off a bit, there was that pause when Selzan had introduced herself, it was almost like Perrin was reconsidering. Not that it mattered, he was clearly going through with the escape. Was this an escape? He hoped to hell it was, otherwise these two were sneaking him to exact revenge or something, but that didn't seem like them at all. He had to trust them, there was no other choice and they seemed like good people, perhaps Fire Nation sympathizers, either way their honor was not in serious question at the moment in his mind.
"Up deck by request, got it. It is an honor to meet you both Perr and Selzan, it is a noble and honorable thing you are doing, I won't forget it. Thank you."
"My life I give to my country.
With my hands I fight for Fire Lord Sozin and our forefathers before him.
With my mind I seek ways to better my country.
And with my feet may our March of Civilization continue."
With my hands I fight for Fire Lord Sozin and our forefathers before him.
With my mind I seek ways to better my country.
And with my feet may our March of Civilization continue."
Re: Mutiny or an Act of Conscience
A self-conscious smirk split Selzan's face as she glanced down and saw the little ring of keys on Lu Yun's belt - whatever. She grabbed them anyway, just in case they needed to uncuff the kid in a hurry. Slinking back out into the hall, the desert woman listened for a moment to make sure there was no one in their immediate vicinity, and then nodded back at the other and shuffled out past the melon spatters.
At the far end of the hall, Selzan strode up to the door and was about to reach for the lever when she heard a footfall on the other side, and the level began to turn. She gasped and immediately backpedaled, but it was no use. There was no room to turn into, and even if there had been she'd only managed to back away two steps when the door opened and she found herself eye to eye with Jinso, one of the other newer crewmen. He was nearly a head taller than her. Selzan stared blankly at him for a moment, and then conjured up a guilty smile.
"Hey Jinso! Why are you out of bed?"
Jinso glared at her, suspicious of her affect, not to mention that the fire nation kid was clearly right behind her. "Why am I out of bed? Why are you down here with the prisoner?!"
"J - Tss! Keep your voice down, you'll wake everyone. It's fine, Captain told us to take him up for some air after we finished our deck duties." Selzan played off the lie as casually as she could, but Jinso clearly wasn't buying it. She couldn't quite wipe that guilty smile off her face, like a child caught with their hand in the treat basket.
The big man stepped through the doorway and closed it behind him. "I just came from the captain, and he didn't say anything about a fresh air break, so you'd bet-OHHH!"
Selzan had lunged forward and planted her knee square between Jinso's legs before he could finish his statement. Taking a firm step past the stunned crewman, Selzan opened the door into his back, and then shoulder-checked him as he stumbled against her, causing his head to snap back into the door again. Somehow, Jinso was still conscious, and trying to say something even as he gasped for breath. Selzan panicked and punched him again, then grabbed him by the front of his tunic and shoved him behind the door. Then she opened it wide, slamming it into his face one more time. Why wouldn't he just go down?
"Okay, this is bad. Come here!" Selzan turned to Zai and fumbled with the keys. This whole escape plan had all gone really well for about 45 seconds, but it was starting to look less promising. Even as she slipped the first small key into the cufflink, Jinso's labored voice boomed behind the door.
"Prisoner Escape!!" He shouted. "Prisoner Esca-OHH!" Selzan launched her heel back and slammed the door into him a couple more times for good measure.
"This is bad this is bad!" Selzan stood with one foot on the deck and the other against the open door as she failed with the first key and managed to unlock Zai's cuff with the second key. As soon as one link was off, she planted the key in Zai's hand and tossed a panicked look at Perrin. "Let's go!
Assuming the others to be in tow, Selzan ran up the stairs, taking three at a stride, and came to the small landing just as the door to the open deck started to open. She immediately grabbed the lever and pulled the door shut again, prompting a chorus of exclamations on the other side.
"Stupid Jinso..." she mumbled as she hung onto the lever.
At the far end of the hall, Selzan strode up to the door and was about to reach for the lever when she heard a footfall on the other side, and the level began to turn. She gasped and immediately backpedaled, but it was no use. There was no room to turn into, and even if there had been she'd only managed to back away two steps when the door opened and she found herself eye to eye with Jinso, one of the other newer crewmen. He was nearly a head taller than her. Selzan stared blankly at him for a moment, and then conjured up a guilty smile.
"Hey Jinso! Why are you out of bed?"
Jinso glared at her, suspicious of her affect, not to mention that the fire nation kid was clearly right behind her. "Why am I out of bed? Why are you down here with the prisoner?!"
"J - Tss! Keep your voice down, you'll wake everyone. It's fine, Captain told us to take him up for some air after we finished our deck duties." Selzan played off the lie as casually as she could, but Jinso clearly wasn't buying it. She couldn't quite wipe that guilty smile off her face, like a child caught with their hand in the treat basket.
The big man stepped through the doorway and closed it behind him. "I just came from the captain, and he didn't say anything about a fresh air break, so you'd bet-OHHH!"
Selzan had lunged forward and planted her knee square between Jinso's legs before he could finish his statement. Taking a firm step past the stunned crewman, Selzan opened the door into his back, and then shoulder-checked him as he stumbled against her, causing his head to snap back into the door again. Somehow, Jinso was still conscious, and trying to say something even as he gasped for breath. Selzan panicked and punched him again, then grabbed him by the front of his tunic and shoved him behind the door. Then she opened it wide, slamming it into his face one more time. Why wouldn't he just go down?
"Okay, this is bad. Come here!" Selzan turned to Zai and fumbled with the keys. This whole escape plan had all gone really well for about 45 seconds, but it was starting to look less promising. Even as she slipped the first small key into the cufflink, Jinso's labored voice boomed behind the door.
"Prisoner Escape!!" He shouted. "Prisoner Esca-OHH!" Selzan launched her heel back and slammed the door into him a couple more times for good measure.
"This is bad this is bad!" Selzan stood with one foot on the deck and the other against the open door as she failed with the first key and managed to unlock Zai's cuff with the second key. As soon as one link was off, she planted the key in Zai's hand and tossed a panicked look at Perrin. "Let's go!
Assuming the others to be in tow, Selzan ran up the stairs, taking three at a stride, and came to the small landing just as the door to the open deck started to open. She immediately grabbed the lever and pulled the door shut again, prompting a chorus of exclamations on the other side.
"Stupid Jinso..." she mumbled as she hung onto the lever.
Re: Mutiny or an Act of Conscience
Five—Six—
Perrin kept a subconscious count of Selzan’s panicked, but kind of impressive barrage of hits to Jinso. His hands were tense with doing their best not to shake, but the young man’s mind felt detached. Selzan was right; this was bad. Maybe he shouldn’t have involved her, but—it was the right thing. They both knew it... It just wasn't going very smoothly. Oh well. Selzan was pulling hard on the door, but it wasn't going to last long. Perrin's eyes darted from her face to sweep around the dim hallway until he spied a broom propped in a corner and snatched the thing.
“Ugh, sorry Selzan. I was hoping that'd go a little better. Uh, here let me—”
Perrin snapped around around Zai so that the Fire Nation youth was now just behind him and shot up the stairs to jam the wooden rod into the doorframe using the lever. It wouldn't help for long, but at least it was something to help Selzan's muscle vs. the handful of sailor's for a few seconds. Perr breathed in the dank lower-decks air, swallowing the catch in his throat while his mind spun with solutions and their consequences. He calmed his nerves enough to make sure that Zai wasn’t still fumbling with the key—and stared again at the stylized way the adolescent was dressed, his hair, the way he carried himself. Maybe he wasn't a soldier, but he was not a peasant. The boy would have been trained for... dueling, and this kind of thing. Perrin grabbed for the door and tried to keep from smashing his fingers in the broom handle. The crew would be going for an axe or something soon, he was sure.
“Okay, you.. Zai! Sorry, this is failing. Do you Bend? ...You want a broomstick? Please think fast.”
Perrin kept a subconscious count of Selzan’s panicked, but kind of impressive barrage of hits to Jinso. His hands were tense with doing their best not to shake, but the young man’s mind felt detached. Selzan was right; this was bad. Maybe he shouldn’t have involved her, but—it was the right thing. They both knew it... It just wasn't going very smoothly. Oh well. Selzan was pulling hard on the door, but it wasn't going to last long. Perrin's eyes darted from her face to sweep around the dim hallway until he spied a broom propped in a corner and snatched the thing.
“Ugh, sorry Selzan. I was hoping that'd go a little better. Uh, here let me—”
Perrin snapped around around Zai so that the Fire Nation youth was now just behind him and shot up the stairs to jam the wooden rod into the doorframe using the lever. It wouldn't help for long, but at least it was something to help Selzan's muscle vs. the handful of sailor's for a few seconds. Perr breathed in the dank lower-decks air, swallowing the catch in his throat while his mind spun with solutions and their consequences. He calmed his nerves enough to make sure that Zai wasn’t still fumbling with the key—and stared again at the stylized way the adolescent was dressed, his hair, the way he carried himself. Maybe he wasn't a soldier, but he was not a peasant. The boy would have been trained for... dueling, and this kind of thing. Perrin grabbed for the door and tried to keep from smashing his fingers in the broom handle. The crew would be going for an axe or something soon, he was sure.
“Okay, you.. Zai! Sorry, this is failing. Do you Bend? ...You want a broomstick? Please think fast.”
The sun went down as I crossed the hill. The town lit up and the world got still.
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings. Coming down is the hardest thing.
The good old days may not return. The rocks might melt and the seas may burn.
I'm learning to fly...
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings. Coming down is the hardest thing.
The good old days may not return. The rocks might melt and the seas may burn.
I'm learning to fly...
Re: Mutiny or an Act of Conscience
All breaths of relief ceased as Jinso showed his face, Zai's stomach sunk to what be the lowest depths of the ocean as he saw the suspicious crewman giving Selzan the third degree. He felt his hands clench and warmth flooding to his fingertips, he was cuffed and he might hurt her if he tried anything, he took a breath and refrained as Selzan's knee moved squarely and forcefully between Jinso's legs. Instinctively Zai shifted his hands in front of his own groin region and winced audibly as he felt a momentary sympathy pain in his own stomach, probably one ten thousandth of what Jinso was feeling, but still. Then Selzan continued her flurry of assaults on the crewman called Jinso. Finally he was down and then he shouted again and Zai felt his adrenaline begin to spike right as she had exclaimed how bad the situation was. Zai immediately stepped forward and offered his wrists as she fumbled with the keys removing one of his cuffs. He was glad to be free of it and then he took the keys from her and glanced down at Jinso.
"That's rough buddy."
He offered a momentary bit of sympathy to his nearly unconscious captor, it was indeed a lot of physical abuse in a very shorty order, that he no doubt deserved but still...
He watched Selzan rush up towards the door holding it shut as Perrin rushed up the stairs with a broom stick apparently to help brace the door shut. Zai stood there for a half a heart beat pondering the situation. This was clearly not a Fire Nation organized rescue attempt, these were Earth Nation citizens and while their hearts and honor were certainly not in the wrong place their organizational and planning skills left something to to be desirec. No matter, they could learn, he could help them if of course this wasn't some elaborate trap, which given Jinso's current physical state...well most guys would take a punch or two for the sake of a story, but he had yet to meet one who would take a knee like that. Girls didn't fight fair, but alas it would work out in his favor this time, or at least he hoped. Then Perrin offered an apology and the youth's Bronze eyes settled at the question, what a question it was.
"A broomstick? I'd prefer my sword, but a broomstick could work, I'm skilled in hand to hand combat, I've been training since I was a kid. Do I bend? I mean don't you both? She clearly is a bender why are you looking at me?"
He shifted his hand and removed the other cuff catching the chain in his left hand and holding it firmly just in case it came in handy.
"That's rough buddy."
He offered a momentary bit of sympathy to his nearly unconscious captor, it was indeed a lot of physical abuse in a very shorty order, that he no doubt deserved but still...
He watched Selzan rush up towards the door holding it shut as Perrin rushed up the stairs with a broom stick apparently to help brace the door shut. Zai stood there for a half a heart beat pondering the situation. This was clearly not a Fire Nation organized rescue attempt, these were Earth Nation citizens and while their hearts and honor were certainly not in the wrong place their organizational and planning skills left something to to be desirec. No matter, they could learn, he could help them if of course this wasn't some elaborate trap, which given Jinso's current physical state...well most guys would take a punch or two for the sake of a story, but he had yet to meet one who would take a knee like that. Girls didn't fight fair, but alas it would work out in his favor this time, or at least he hoped. Then Perrin offered an apology and the youth's Bronze eyes settled at the question, what a question it was.
"A broomstick? I'd prefer my sword, but a broomstick could work, I'm skilled in hand to hand combat, I've been training since I was a kid. Do I bend? I mean don't you both? She clearly is a bender why are you looking at me?"
He shifted his hand and removed the other cuff catching the chain in his left hand and holding it firmly just in case it came in handy.
"My life I give to my country.
With my hands I fight for Fire Lord Sozin and our forefathers before him.
With my mind I seek ways to better my country.
And with my feet may our March of Civilization continue."
With my hands I fight for Fire Lord Sozin and our forefathers before him.
With my mind I seek ways to better my country.
And with my feet may our March of Civilization continue."
Re: Mutiny or an Act of Conscience
Someone on the other side of the door was trying to kick it in. At first they'd only been pushing on it, and Selzan had been able to resist that with her strong legs and ample surface to wedge herself against the door while she kept the lever from turning. But now someone was actively trying to cave the door in, and her left shoulder was taking the brunt of it.
"Thank you-oof!" was all she said when Perrin came and slammed the broomstick in place. That seemed to help a bit, but someone must have heard the door being braced, because Selzan was just about to turn and quip at the two young men about bickering like girls when an axe blade chopped through the door - right beside her clinched fists - right up to its haft. A single inch to one side and it would have taken off most of the fingers on her right hand at the knuckles.
"HOH that's even worse!!" As the axe got yanked back out, Selzan realized it had cut through the pin that the lever was holding in place. The door was finished. She yanked the damaged broomstick out of the door and finished snapping it in two, then glanced back to Zai.
"I hope you're something really special, kid."
The door smashed open, and Selzan was already crouching down when it hit the wall. With one hand on the ground, her entire body coiled tight for a single moment, and then snapped open. She slammed both of her feet into the first man through the door, catching him in the gut and chest and immediately throwing him back onto the man behind him. Selzan screamed her determination aloud and followed him out the door, diving into the midst of some eight sailors gathered outside the door in a flurry of kicks and broomstick slaps.
"Thank you-oof!" was all she said when Perrin came and slammed the broomstick in place. That seemed to help a bit, but someone must have heard the door being braced, because Selzan was just about to turn and quip at the two young men about bickering like girls when an axe blade chopped through the door - right beside her clinched fists - right up to its haft. A single inch to one side and it would have taken off most of the fingers on her right hand at the knuckles.
"HOH that's even worse!!" As the axe got yanked back out, Selzan realized it had cut through the pin that the lever was holding in place. The door was finished. She yanked the damaged broomstick out of the door and finished snapping it in two, then glanced back to Zai.
"I hope you're something really special, kid."
The door smashed open, and Selzan was already crouching down when it hit the wall. With one hand on the ground, her entire body coiled tight for a single moment, and then snapped open. She slammed both of her feet into the first man through the door, catching him in the gut and chest and immediately throwing him back onto the man behind him. Selzan screamed her determination aloud and followed him out the door, diving into the midst of some eight sailors gathered outside the door in a flurry of kicks and broomstick slaps.
Re: Mutiny or an Act of Conscience
There wasn’t much point trying to answer questions. Perrin knew well enough what Zai was, and knowing it was all he had time for. His attention darted to the wooden door exploding in a storm of a sailor mobbing with a charging axe-wielder in the lead. He danced to the side to give room for Selzan’s storm of kicks and broomstick halves, the axe swinger occupied for a second with recovering his center of gravity. The older of the two young men’s expression glazed over at something in the chaos for a second. He tensed both hands to his sides, then dropped his shoulders just as quickly and snapped his stare back to the Fire Nation son.
“I asked and she helped you.” He wanted that part clear. “We’re not soldiers. Just keep her alive and try not to burn us.”
There was no point arguing. Since the war started, Perrin had come to doubt everything he’d ever learned in the Fire Nation, but in this moment he trusted that the boy was honorable and human enough to do the right thing. If he wasn’t, then what did it matter now anyway. Perrin gave Zai room and pushed away to support Selzan. He slipped out from the path of a much heavier man charging at him, grabbing the sailor by the back of the shirt as the man overshot Perrin’s previous position, and redirecting the man head-first into a wall… rendering him unconscious. Or dead? It didn’t matter. Another sailor punched Perrin in the stomach and tried to quickly lock him into a choke hold. Perrin ducked under the man’s arm and pushed a third, but the next two punches slammed into his gut and temple and left him gasping in a flash of light for his stolen air. Now would be good, Zai.
“I asked and she helped you.” He wanted that part clear. “We’re not soldiers. Just keep her alive and try not to burn us.”
There was no point arguing. Since the war started, Perrin had come to doubt everything he’d ever learned in the Fire Nation, but in this moment he trusted that the boy was honorable and human enough to do the right thing. If he wasn’t, then what did it matter now anyway. Perrin gave Zai room and pushed away to support Selzan. He slipped out from the path of a much heavier man charging at him, grabbing the sailor by the back of the shirt as the man overshot Perrin’s previous position, and redirecting the man head-first into a wall… rendering him unconscious. Or dead? It didn’t matter. Another sailor punched Perrin in the stomach and tried to quickly lock him into a choke hold. Perrin ducked under the man’s arm and pushed a third, but the next two punches slammed into his gut and temple and left him gasping in a flash of light for his stolen air. Now would be good, Zai.
The sun went down as I crossed the hill. The town lit up and the world got still.
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings. Coming down is the hardest thing.
The good old days may not return. The rocks might melt and the seas may burn.
I'm learning to fly...
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings. Coming down is the hardest thing.
The good old days may not return. The rocks might melt and the seas may burn.
I'm learning to fly...
Re: Mutiny or an Act of Conscience
Zai cursed silently under his breath as the scene continued to unfold. This was a rescue attempt? Was there an actual plan, he didn't have time to think about this. As noble as they were this is what set the Fire Nation as superior to all other Nations and people's alike. They planned.This is what the war was about, spreading the Fire Nation's greatness across all four corners of the Earth, Fire Lord Sozin had certainly been correct. He remembered back several years, the weight that had been placed upon his shoulders by the great man himself. He took a deep breath in as he watched the two Earth Kingdom Natives somewhat holding their own in the fight. There was no question about what he had to do, he had to do the honorable thing, they had come to rescue him and save his life, Perrin's words did not fall on deaf ears and neither did those of Selzan's, he would never say he was someone special, his eyes caught the man fly into the wall, he heard the snapping of the bone, this was the real deal and there was no turning back.
"I'm not special..."
A sailor burst past Perrin and Selzan, axe in hand. He had brought it over his head and swung it with fury at Zai. No time to think. React. Zai grabbed the chain from his cuffs and held it up, catching the axe handle in it. He absorbed the energy as the blade came closer to his face than he would have liked. He wrapped the chain around the handle of the axe and spun it out of the Sailor's hand, he cast it aside and it embedded itself in the wall with a thud. His bronze eyes narrowed in concentration, and instinct controlled his actions. He made a punching motion with his left hand directed at the Sailor's face, and a ball of orange fire shot out impacting the sailor in the face, his skin burned and his hair was aflame as he fell to the ground screaming all at the same time trying to breathe. The next attacker was on Zai, he spun and kicked another ball of orange flame hit the sailor in the chest ending him flying back and into his uniform smoldering as he pat himself trying to put the fire out. Then there was Perrin's attackers.
Zai ran forward to Perrin's postion, he blocked a punch and head butted an attacker, meanwhile the man holding Perrin left his leg vulnerable, Zai grabbed the back of the man's uniform and pulled him back and kicked him hard in the side of his knee with all the force he could muster. He punched another sailor attacking Perrin in the side of the head, and forced his way to Selzan's position he position, too close for bending. He threw himself on the back of an attacker and punched her in the sides repeatedly, trying desperately to free Selzan, he felt a dull thud against his back followed by sharp pain shooting through his body...he tuned it out and grit his teeth in pure determination as he felt himself starting to get overwhelmed by punches from different angles. He wrapped his arm around the female sailor's neck and flexed hard, until her eyes rolled back in her head and she fell to the ground unconscious from his choke hold at least for the moment.
This was the last victory, a fist hit him in the side of the face and dazed, his eyes widened as another fist hit him in his gut, and another his nose. He felt his legs starting to get weak as he fought back with every ounce of energy he had in him...
"I'm not special..."
A sailor burst past Perrin and Selzan, axe in hand. He had brought it over his head and swung it with fury at Zai. No time to think. React. Zai grabbed the chain from his cuffs and held it up, catching the axe handle in it. He absorbed the energy as the blade came closer to his face than he would have liked. He wrapped the chain around the handle of the axe and spun it out of the Sailor's hand, he cast it aside and it embedded itself in the wall with a thud. His bronze eyes narrowed in concentration, and instinct controlled his actions. He made a punching motion with his left hand directed at the Sailor's face, and a ball of orange fire shot out impacting the sailor in the face, his skin burned and his hair was aflame as he fell to the ground screaming all at the same time trying to breathe. The next attacker was on Zai, he spun and kicked another ball of orange flame hit the sailor in the chest ending him flying back and into his uniform smoldering as he pat himself trying to put the fire out. Then there was Perrin's attackers.
Zai ran forward to Perrin's postion, he blocked a punch and head butted an attacker, meanwhile the man holding Perrin left his leg vulnerable, Zai grabbed the back of the man's uniform and pulled him back and kicked him hard in the side of his knee with all the force he could muster. He punched another sailor attacking Perrin in the side of the head, and forced his way to Selzan's position he position, too close for bending. He threw himself on the back of an attacker and punched her in the sides repeatedly, trying desperately to free Selzan, he felt a dull thud against his back followed by sharp pain shooting through his body...he tuned it out and grit his teeth in pure determination as he felt himself starting to get overwhelmed by punches from different angles. He wrapped his arm around the female sailor's neck and flexed hard, until her eyes rolled back in her head and she fell to the ground unconscious from his choke hold at least for the moment.
This was the last victory, a fist hit him in the side of the face and dazed, his eyes widened as another fist hit him in his gut, and another his nose. He felt his legs starting to get weak as he fought back with every ounce of energy he had in him...
"My life I give to my country.
With my hands I fight for Fire Lord Sozin and our forefathers before him.
With my mind I seek ways to better my country.
And with my feet may our March of Civilization continue."
With my hands I fight for Fire Lord Sozin and our forefathers before him.
With my mind I seek ways to better my country.
And with my feet may our March of Civilization continue."
Re: Mutiny or an Act of Conscience
Things went well for Selzan in the first five to ten seconds of the fight. Once she was in the middle of everyone, they had a hard time swinging at her hard enough to do any damage without risking a blow to someone else. She, on the other hand, had none of the concerns that came with the luxuryof superior numbers, and so she slithered around between them like a sidewinder, striking at odd angles and from unexpected heights while they all tried to fight her like tavern brawlers. She found aid as she wound through the brawl in the form of Perrin or Zai close behind, accosting an attacker or two that came near to getting ahold of her. But she kept moving with every dodge and every blow; the point wasn’t to defeat all the other sailors – that would have been hopeless – the point was to get through them to the longboat resting by the ship's rail and heave it overboard with themselves in it. Selzan was near to weaving and jabbing her way out of the precarious brawl when she heard a door slam elsewhere, and looked up to see the ship’s recently ascended captain emerging from the smaller cabin across the deck with a dadao longsword in hand. That was a real problem.
Selzan raced toward the longboat, hoping to beat the captain to it even as he raced in the same direction. She beat him to the small boat by a scant second, but it didn’t matter. She alone had made it through the surprise of the sudden fray at the door, and she hadn’t realized it until she glanced back and found herself alone with the captain. Selzan’s stomach sank like a rock, and she fell back out of the way as the captain swung his long blade at her. There was nothing within reach that she could fend him off with, so she had to retreat toward the brawl in hopes of robbing him of the advantage his sword provided – that was where she needed to be anyway, if Zai and Perrin hadn’t made it through.
Nearing a sailor who was putting hands on Perrin, Selzan lunged at an odd angle and planted her feet on a nearby sailor in a full-body kicking that sent him stumbling away, and also gave Selzan the bound she needed to spring forward a stride more and drag Perrin’s attacker to the ground. She immediately planted her foot on the fallen sailor’s chest and stomped him by way of rising, but it was in vain. Even as she turned to see where Zai was, she heard a blow connect solidly with Perrin’s face, and her eyes watched Zai take several blows at the same moment. They’d both been beaten bloody, and she feared she couldn’t tip the balance for both of them alone. It didn’t matter. Even as Selzan shifted her feet to move in Zai’s direction, she heard rattling behind her, and glanced over her shoulder just in time to see a fishing net fall across her entire body. Another sailor saw the attempt and grabbed the edge that had just fallen over her, completely trapping her under the heavy rope mesh. She was about to tackle him when something metallic connected with the back of her head. The world spun into shadow and she tumbled through the floor of the ship into unconsciousness.
Selzan raced toward the longboat, hoping to beat the captain to it even as he raced in the same direction. She beat him to the small boat by a scant second, but it didn’t matter. She alone had made it through the surprise of the sudden fray at the door, and she hadn’t realized it until she glanced back and found herself alone with the captain. Selzan’s stomach sank like a rock, and she fell back out of the way as the captain swung his long blade at her. There was nothing within reach that she could fend him off with, so she had to retreat toward the brawl in hopes of robbing him of the advantage his sword provided – that was where she needed to be anyway, if Zai and Perrin hadn’t made it through.
Nearing a sailor who was putting hands on Perrin, Selzan lunged at an odd angle and planted her feet on a nearby sailor in a full-body kicking that sent him stumbling away, and also gave Selzan the bound she needed to spring forward a stride more and drag Perrin’s attacker to the ground. She immediately planted her foot on the fallen sailor’s chest and stomped him by way of rising, but it was in vain. Even as she turned to see where Zai was, she heard a blow connect solidly with Perrin’s face, and her eyes watched Zai take several blows at the same moment. They’d both been beaten bloody, and she feared she couldn’t tip the balance for both of them alone. It didn’t matter. Even as Selzan shifted her feet to move in Zai’s direction, she heard rattling behind her, and glanced over her shoulder just in time to see a fishing net fall across her entire body. Another sailor saw the attempt and grabbed the edge that had just fallen over her, completely trapping her under the heavy rope mesh. She was about to tackle him when something metallic connected with the back of her head. The world spun into shadow and she tumbled through the floor of the ship into unconsciousness.
Re: Mutiny or an Act of Conscience
His ears rang. The deck underneath him pitched from the waters and all the commotion. His palms itched…. But, he. Could. Not! There were too many to deal with. It would be better for him to lose at this point then… what? Getting rid of everyone wasn’t anything he wanted to be responsible for. He felt guilty for Selzan though. And the Fire boy? The captain had his sword. He was trying, but now it was Perrin’s fault. A heavier man—Kai?—it was Kai, cracked a hand across his face. Everything turned to molasses and his lungs quit while he fell and the soldier’s fire spread from the stable to the little way-house by the pond while a handful of sailors swarmed to put it out and… get.. Zai?
By the time Perrin could think again, he noticed that tied hands were uncomfortable and the mast behind his back was charred, but.. solid. And abnormally soaking wet. Had they… poured a barrel of water on Zai? Somehow the older boy found the notion so absurd that he was almost laughing when he tried to push his elbow into the Fire Nation boy and wake him up… What were they doing with Selzan now?
By the time Perrin could think again, he noticed that tied hands were uncomfortable and the mast behind his back was charred, but.. solid. And abnormally soaking wet. Had they… poured a barrel of water on Zai? Somehow the older boy found the notion so absurd that he was almost laughing when he tried to push his elbow into the Fire Nation boy and wake him up… What were they doing with Selzan now?
The sun went down as I crossed the hill. The town lit up and the world got still.
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings. Coming down is the hardest thing.
The good old days may not return. The rocks might melt and the seas may burn.
I'm learning to fly...
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings. Coming down is the hardest thing.
The good old days may not return. The rocks might melt and the seas may burn.
I'm learning to fly...
Re: Mutiny or an Act of Conscience
There was a feeling of mild nausea in his stomach as his eyes slowly fluttered open, the edges of the surrounding environment were blurred as he took in a couple of breaths. One breath fine, the second shot shooting pains through his head and slowly but surely he became distinctly more aware of his surroundings. He was tied to the mast behind him, he felt the rope against his wrists and he moved his head, the scenery seemed to move behind him slowly at first. He closed his eyes and concentrated. Focus. This might be life or death and he couldn't let his foggy mind be the deciding factor here. He took a few breaths in slowly in almost a meditative state, he felt the pain in his cut lip pulsate for a second, his cheek throbbed and he became keenly aware of the lump on the back of his head as well as various other soon to be bruises all over his body. He took stock of these things and reasoned that nothing seemed to be broken and he tried to will the pain away, but as he did so for the first time he became keenly aware that he was soaking wet. What? He looked over at a brute of a sailor as he slowly moved his arms bumping into Perrin's and perhaps Selzan's elbows? He didn't want to move his head quickly and look back.
"Okay...."
He groaned a bit trying to speak
"I get the punches....and I guess I get being hit over the head...for the...uhh...second time in a week."
The young fire bender winced a bit.
"But why did you idiots pour water on me?"
The brute of a sailor scoffed and looked at Zai a matter of factly.
"So you'd stop with the fire of course."
Zai's face went blank, for a moment the pain from the back of his head and various bruises dulled in a moment so unbelievable he had to wonder for a long moment if he was actually awake of if he was still in a concussed delusional state, he hoped for the latter because this was by far the stupidest thing he had ever heard.
"...So I'd stop...with the fire....?
He sat there dumbfounded staring blankly at the sailor. He took in a deep breath and slowly exhaled flames from his nostrils.
"Good job."
"He said defiantly, but then without hesitation the sailor retrieved another bucket of water and dumped it over Zai's head. Zai's blank stare turned into one of pure annoyance as his bronze eyes narrowed to slits and he felt the vain in the side of his head pulse. He shook his head and spit water out of his mouth onto the deck below."
"I was going to ask you if you were stupid, but I believe you just answered my question..."
He moved both of his elbows back again trying to hit Selzan and Perrin.
"So you two are clearly the smartest people on the crew. Sailor, tell your captain they had nothing to do with it, I used fire magic to trick them into helping me...they're innocent."
Zai said confidently. Fire magic? The absurdity of it was beyond anything that normally would come out of his mouth but the sailor had demonstrated a fairly low intelligence quotient and they might just buy it, at the very least Perrin and Selzan might be spared.
"Okay...."
He groaned a bit trying to speak
"I get the punches....and I guess I get being hit over the head...for the...uhh...second time in a week."
The young fire bender winced a bit.
"But why did you idiots pour water on me?"
The brute of a sailor scoffed and looked at Zai a matter of factly.
"So you'd stop with the fire of course."
Zai's face went blank, for a moment the pain from the back of his head and various bruises dulled in a moment so unbelievable he had to wonder for a long moment if he was actually awake of if he was still in a concussed delusional state, he hoped for the latter because this was by far the stupidest thing he had ever heard.
"...So I'd stop...with the fire....?
He sat there dumbfounded staring blankly at the sailor. He took in a deep breath and slowly exhaled flames from his nostrils.
"Good job."
"He said defiantly, but then without hesitation the sailor retrieved another bucket of water and dumped it over Zai's head. Zai's blank stare turned into one of pure annoyance as his bronze eyes narrowed to slits and he felt the vain in the side of his head pulse. He shook his head and spit water out of his mouth onto the deck below."
"I was going to ask you if you were stupid, but I believe you just answered my question..."
He moved both of his elbows back again trying to hit Selzan and Perrin.
"So you two are clearly the smartest people on the crew. Sailor, tell your captain they had nothing to do with it, I used fire magic to trick them into helping me...they're innocent."
Zai said confidently. Fire magic? The absurdity of it was beyond anything that normally would come out of his mouth but the sailor had demonstrated a fairly low intelligence quotient and they might just buy it, at the very least Perrin and Selzan might be spared.
"My life I give to my country.
With my hands I fight for Fire Lord Sozin and our forefathers before him.
With my mind I seek ways to better my country.
And with my feet may our March of Civilization continue."
With my hands I fight for Fire Lord Sozin and our forefathers before him.
With my mind I seek ways to better my country.
And with my feet may our March of Civilization continue."
Re: Mutiny or an Act of Conscience
Everything was dim, and hazy, when moments of vision swam through Selzan's disoriented eyes. The sounds of pelican-gulls in the distance echoed in and out of the sailor's ears as she slowly faded back to consciousness. Her eyes finally found the resolve to stay open when a few drops of cold water dappled across her face and neck, and loud conversation erupted off off to her left... no, it wasn't loud, her ears were just ringing still. The slowly-fading disorientation burned off with a jolt of surprise as half a bucket of sea water splashed across Zai and down Selzan's back. Now she was awake - now she was angry. Zai's elbow smacked her own left, and she smacked it back, looking around to realize that she was tied to the main yard mast. They all were. Like a bunch of feckless idiots.
"Oh shut up! Only half of them are that stupid -" Selzan craned her head around to see the other sailors gathering to chuckle and poke fun, "- but you're ALL fool enough if you think you'll be comfortable on this ship once it becomes a prison barge, if it even stops at that! We came to the East Ocean to get away from the war, not drag it out here with us!"
"Oh shut up! Only half of them are that stupid -" Selzan craned her head around to see the other sailors gathering to chuckle and poke fun, "- but you're ALL fool enough if you think you'll be comfortable on this ship once it becomes a prison barge, if it even stops at that! We came to the East Ocean to get away from the war, not drag it out here with us!"
Re: Mutiny or an Act of Conscience
Perrin watched Shesh’s exchange with Zai sidelong through half opened eyes while he let the side of his head lean back against the damp mast without calling much attention to himself.
So he’d stop with the fire…! Really?
The older youth’s mouth twitched as he avoided an incredulous laugh, channeling the impulse into a short and soundless exhale—an exercise which he promptly repeated with nearly as much success when the new bucket of water sloshed over Zai and caught the left side of Perrin’s face and side. The ridiculous absurdity aside, Perrin let the cold jolt and the tepid saltwater taste finish waking him up, his thoughts spinning with what to do next or what he should say to get a better gasp on the situation. The Fire Nation boy wasn’t his main concern or especially any worse off than before, but Perrin knew that this was his fault about Selzan. Whether it was the moral thing or not, he should have done better if he was going to get her involved.
Perrin shifted and opened his mouth to intervene before the younger boy tried to say anything stupid— but Zai elbowed him in the side and kept going, and the brazen level of stupid boldness and… sheer honor… the way the Nation used to be anyway…. that came out of Zai’s mouth stunned Perrin back into shocked silence.
Unfortunately it didn’t have the same effect on Selzan.
“Stop it, all of you,” Perrin finally cut in before either of his wild-card mutiny mates or the sailors managed to make things more exciting.
“She’s right… and he’s right.. about some of it. It’s not really Selzan’s fault. She has strong feelings and we got her involved. I have… Fire.. family..” The disgust in his voice came off harder than he hoped for, so Perrin stuffed the bitterness into a wince and a forced coughing fit until he had his expressions back under control. “I couldn’t let him be treated like that, but no one here was supposed to end up dead… I’m sorry. You should do what you want with the two of us. Kick her off by that coast. She’s right. You really don’t want the war here. It’s rotten.”
So he’d stop with the fire…! Really?
The older youth’s mouth twitched as he avoided an incredulous laugh, channeling the impulse into a short and soundless exhale—an exercise which he promptly repeated with nearly as much success when the new bucket of water sloshed over Zai and caught the left side of Perrin’s face and side. The ridiculous absurdity aside, Perrin let the cold jolt and the tepid saltwater taste finish waking him up, his thoughts spinning with what to do next or what he should say to get a better gasp on the situation. The Fire Nation boy wasn’t his main concern or especially any worse off than before, but Perrin knew that this was his fault about Selzan. Whether it was the moral thing or not, he should have done better if he was going to get her involved.
Perrin shifted and opened his mouth to intervene before the younger boy tried to say anything stupid— but Zai elbowed him in the side and kept going, and the brazen level of stupid boldness and… sheer honor… the way the Nation used to be anyway…. that came out of Zai’s mouth stunned Perrin back into shocked silence.
Unfortunately it didn’t have the same effect on Selzan.
“Stop it, all of you,” Perrin finally cut in before either of his wild-card mutiny mates or the sailors managed to make things more exciting.
“She’s right… and he’s right.. about some of it. It’s not really Selzan’s fault. She has strong feelings and we got her involved. I have… Fire.. family..” The disgust in his voice came off harder than he hoped for, so Perrin stuffed the bitterness into a wince and a forced coughing fit until he had his expressions back under control. “I couldn’t let him be treated like that, but no one here was supposed to end up dead… I’m sorry. You should do what you want with the two of us. Kick her off by that coast. She’s right. You really don’t want the war here. It’s rotten.”
The sun went down as I crossed the hill. The town lit up and the world got still.
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings. Coming down is the hardest thing.
The good old days may not return. The rocks might melt and the seas may burn.
I'm learning to fly...
I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings. Coming down is the hardest thing.
The good old days may not return. The rocks might melt and the seas may burn.
I'm learning to fly...