Come back to me!!! (Jia)

[dai]

It was a foggy morning and the water tribe was barely opening its eyes. The fishermen had already left the port and Dairou had yawned his way to the front of the palace. He barely saw the sun at all and it was time for a change in view. Swaying his hands left and right, simple motions that he learned as a beginner. Feeling his chi around the ocean and the sky.

Slowly the fog began to sink into the water, just like it rose. Letting rays of sunlight reflect off his fair palace. Illuminating the city in one big ray of sunshine. He grinned. It was perfect and Dairou breathed in the morning air. He wanted to surf outside the city and patrol his borders himself.

A chill ran down his spine. Nothing more than the shivers, and he began walking down the icy steps. Wearing his royalty attire, fair blue clothes with a fancy schmancy crown that rested on his light blue hair. Maybe he would patrol the borders this time, or at least check on the ice wall. In it all, Dairou was bored.

[jiadaiyu]

Jia was tired of the so-called 'Burning Legion' and she wanted a change of scenery. She stowed herself on a cargo ship, giving no second thought to where it was going. She was a wanderer after all, should it matter? Besides, it was probably going to some part of the Earth Kingdom. Most of the cargo ships do, seeing as how it's the largest nation.

It wasn't the most comfortable journey; the ship rocking back and forth, the boxes falling all around her, and even atop her. She was pissed at whoever 'strapped' these boxes in. Those lazy bastards. She endured it, but the trip seemed to last longer than it should. She figured it was because she was a very impatient person. She couldn't go on the deck to look around, seeing as how she was a stow-away, which pissed her off. She didn't have the money to take a real boat, so this would have to suffice.

The boat finally came to a stop, and she wanted to scream out, "FINALLY!", but she couldn't. She stood up and stretched out her body, waiting for the shifting of feet above to cease. She needed to get off this boat without anyone noticing; something she was used to. When it had finally ceased, in what seemed like an hour, she hesitantly went above, looking around before she emerged. When she had, she quickly made her way off the ship, not yet looking at her location.

It was pretty obvious where she was, and her body became paralyzed with overwhelming emotions as soon as she caught sight of the icy wall. This is where she was born. This is where her mother met her horrible fate. The Northern Water Tribe. This is the place where her father might still roam, although that's doubtful. She shouldn't be worried; who would recognize her after nearly fifteen years? She was not that young girl anymore, and certainly did not look like it. She was actually quite anxious, to see if anyone would actually recognize her, or even remember that little girl at all. Once again, that was doubtful.

There was one problem: how the hell was she going to get in?

[dai]

Walking the streets of the ice city, he nicknamed it himself, Dairou looked over at the wall and some commotion was going on. He lifted his hands upward so the water in front of him would rise and then stepped over on his small wave and onto the other side of the street. Walking calmly, passing one of the "Love Bridges." Sometimes local teens would pledge themselves to their partners on such bridges which he envied, only a decade or so before he too pledged himself to a few dates, but none saw him as the settling type.

After a moment or so, he reached the docking area and asked around. There was a trading ship that seemed to be having problems with its cargo. Normally, they would allow the ship to pass and settle the drama later, but it seemed that the ship's captain was pissed off. Dairou rolled his eyes and set his way up the icy steps to the wall. Grumbling as his bored mood was altered to annoyed. Peering over the ice wall and saw a ship anchored right in front of him.

He groaned. And signaled for all the water benders to make an opening so they could settle the matter inside the tribe. Slowly, but effectively, the water benders on the wall gently pushed their hands down, then made them rise high above their heads, and then down once more. Making a small ice tunnel right through the wall. The men on the wall waited for about five minutes before all groaning.

"This isn't going to be allowed here" Dairou growled. Normally, a person would climb down the ice steps, surf along the water and greet the captain of the ship. Or you could be a reckless chieften by jumping over a wall, sliding down the side and landing right on the ships deck. Startled by all the noise he made, the ship's crew stared at the young king. Quietly, Dairou pointed at the tunnel and they all nodded. Slowly it began to move and he sighed.

[jiadaiyu]

Jia stared at the ice wall, both in horror and anxiety. There was no way she was going to be able to open that herself. It takes many waterbenders to be able to open a gate so solid and strong. She sighed and looked back at the ship. She thought, and smiled. Oh how the answer was so simple. Of course they would open the gate for the ship!

There were a couple of emergency ladders upon the ship, in case anyone had been thrown overboard. One was on the back, and one was on the side. Jia stealthily sneaked to the back of the ship, and jumped onto the ladder. Here, no one would see her as the ship sailed through the wall. She thought this idea very clever, and she was proud of herself.

It had been several minutes, and still the ship wasn't moving. She wanted to peer around to the front, to see what the problem was, but she didn't want to take the risk of being seen. She sighed impatiently. Her arms were starting to hurt from holding onto the metal bars for so long.

"What the hell is taking so long?!", she thought. She then heard nostalgic small sound of the ice crackling as the tunnel was made. She smiled and started to tap on the ship, as if trying to make it move herself. Before she could feel the anchor pulling up, like she was anticipating, she felt the crash of something hitting the deck. Something larger than a box of cargo. What the hell is that?

It was then that anchor pulled up, and she felt the ship lurch forward. The ship was moving too slowly, so she thought she would help. Who would notice anyways? She removed one hand from the metal bar, and waved it before her. She willed the current of the water to move the way the ship was, pushing it a good deal faster. Not too much to notice, but it was a lot better than going the 1mph they were going.

The ship had gone through the tunnel, and she waved her hand once more. She made a small step for herself, using the water. She stepped upon the arisen water, and it swiftly moved her towards the solid ground. She layed one foot on the ground, her foot sinking into the somewhat deep snow. She looked up, looking at the Northern Water Tribe, which seems not to have changed too much. Or, at least, it hadn't in her perspective.

She shouldn't stick out too much as a traveler, for she was wearing the colors of their tribe. The only difference was that her clothes were made for slightly warmer weather, but it was fine. After being in the heat of the Burning Legion, this was a lot nicer. Well, the hard part was over with. Time to explore the place.