A Travel Memoir- Mai-Dee

[\Mai-Dee/ *Erity* ~Kenzi~]

Page One

I have no real idea why I'm bothering to try and keep a record of what's happening at all. Mom and Dad gave me this book and asked that I do so just in case. What is that supposed to mean exactly? It's like they're expecting me to fail somehow and they'll need this to figure out why I'm not coming home. I'm sure as hell hoping that's not going to happen, so I'll write what I want. If I were to- well, you know- for some reason I think they'd rather have an honest representation of me anyway.

It's strange to be away from Kyoshi Island; everything seems too big and open at times with all of the patches of grasslands between the patches of forest. There's no way I'm going to let some scenery get in my way though. Duty has to be important or nothing's really worth much at all in the long run. I remember my teachers telling me that it was the trait against which the rest of our life's work would be measured. I don't know about all of that but it's a good feeling, knowing that you're doing the right thing for your people. On Kyoshi no one's really forgotten.

There's a feeling in the air like something's coming soon; even the earth under my feet doesn't seem fond of whatever I'm walking toward, like it would move away if it could. Probably not a good sign, is it? it's a good thing Kan's not here, at least I don't have to listen to him whine about sleeping on the ground or something. Hopefully he's listening to the teachers now that he doesn't have me to fall back on. I can't keep everything from bugging him anymore, so he'll have to grow up. It'll be good for him.

No point in wasting all of my ink this early into the trip and the fire's burning low anyway. When I get more time I'll write again. Maybe then I'll have more to say.

[\Mai-Dee/ *Erity* ~Kenzi~]

Page Two

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The landscape hasn't changed much, but I guess I'm getting used to it. I can still feel the tension in the earth but it's wearing down a bit, if only through sheer repetition. Everyone seems to feel it though, even the people who aren't Benders of any kind. Animals, plants, people- anything with even a bit of a soul somehow knows, and it makes things uncomfortable until you just refuse to see it anymore.

I've managed to come across some small farming towns and bypassed Ba-Sing-Se for the sake of convenience. A lot of times I get noticed just for my uniform so I've toned it down a bit when I know it's a populated area. I don't mind questions as long as they're sensible and don't take all day to answer- but isn't it just my luck that those are the kind I always get? I'm remembering my manners though, don't worry; so far I haven't told anyone to piss off unless they were actually deserving of it for more than questions. Another reason I kept the makeup a bit more minimal, it's like a fetish to some of these guys.

The traveling otherwise is pretty steady, nothing I can't handle. It's a little lonely at times, and quiet without Kan making a fuss or needing patching up. I could almost miss the kid. I really hope he never reads this and finds out,. he'd be even more bratty than he is and I don't know if I could handle that. There's already times I just want to smack him on the back of the head.

Back to the trip- that's what the book is for, right? So far no mountains, just more forests and grasslands, minor rivers and stuff. The map I managed to find before leaving is pretty basic without anything more than major landmarks, so I've been slowly filling that in at the towns too. It's less accurate than I'd like but it'll work. There's stories of bandits as well; in all honesty those worry me a bit more than the other things. I've fought a lot in sparring with my fellow Warriors, and even against some tourists when they seemed like enough of a challenge, and I know that the Kyoshi Warriors are among the best in the world. But out here there's more at stake, no backup and all sorts of surprises to be thrown at you. I'm just assuming it's going to happen at some point. Then at least I'll be prepared rather than surprised.

I'm done with my lunch and this town doesn't really have that much to offer. Time to start walking again.

[\Mai-Dee/ *Erity* ~Kenzi~]

Page Three

I think this page may take more than one ACTUAL PAGE, if you know what I mean.

Starting at the beginning is always best, especially for a situation as confusing as this one. It's still not completely sorted out in my mind- and to be really honest, I'm still shaking a bit. I'm used to fights and being prepared, and I'm used to trying to adapt to the unexpected but this was some heavy stuff. Sorry for the poor penmanship for this entry.

There I was, just walking down the trail, minding my own business as usual. Yes, there had been more stories of bandits, some pretty sophisticated ones, and some that weren't even really believed to be bandits at all, but since I hadn't been bothered yet, even seen any of them, I thought I was safe. Stupid Mai, assuming that anything can ever happen without hitting a bump in the road. There was some shouting and it didn't sound like the person was having a good day, so I decided to try and make a good name for myself by sticking my nose into someone else's business.

Evidently that's all it takes to find bandits- aggressively stupid curiosity. They didn't even look that threatening at first, and since they had a merchant held hostage it seemed that I should at least free him; I was already there anyway, so it wasn't out of the way. That's when someone else came up, an older man, but not associated with those people. All he did was watch so I pushed him out of my mind and started to get ready for a moderately fair fight. What Kyoshi Warrior can't handle two thieves? Things are never that simple.

There was a lot of fighting, and it turns out these guys were as bad as I was told- I nearly got pegged by a flying arrow, evidently they had reserves that were smart enough to climb up a tree. One almost stuck me, too. Then that guy- his name is Nijing Fa- jumped in front of me and took the arrow. It hit him right in the gut, and the blood was really dark. I think both of us knew it was the end at that point. I managed to take down a few of the bandits on my own and Nijing kept fighting. Then he started to talk and handed me this ruby flower with his name on the side. The story- well, I'll put that down later, once I sort it out enough to write it down with the respect its due. Then he told me to run, and I couldn't say no. I wanted to fight but.. He was dying, and I knew his story. He wanted me to escape so I could remember. You can't deny a last request.

Instead I sat by and watched his last stand, and how the last brigand fell with him a second later. Once it was over I came down and found him there, still breathing but in horrible pain. I've always heard there wasn't much worse than bleeding to death so I did the merciful thing. There wasn't anything else to do, was there? I can't think about it too much or I'll get angry and upset again, which doesn't do anyone any good. I found a map too- and I'm redrawing it at the bottom of this page, just to make sure it doesn't get lost. These landmarks are completely unfamiliar to me; maybe at the Bulwark someone will know. I'll just have to hope someone honorable happens to be there and isn't so busy they can't talk to me. After I had the map I gathered his gem weapons and buried him with them; there's a gravestone but it's basic. After I find whatever that map leads to and learn enough about Earthbending to incorporate the rose in an exceptional way I'll come back and fix him up right. He deserves it.

There's probably more to this, like the details of the fight and exactly what Nijing Fa said- but not right now. I just want to let my mind settle and make sure I wasn't followed. My view on this world has changed a bit, and now it's time to start the trip again. The battle with the Spirit Rift waits for no one, and I'll make it there. I have to...

[\Mai-Dee/ *Erity* ~Kenzi~]

Page Four

Another day of traveling- and at least there's no bandits this time. That's become a very large highlight of my day, looking around and not seeing anything out of the ordinary. I need to get over that thought before it makes me into a paranoid wreck.

There's been some more foothills rather than just flat grasslands and that makes the walk more interesting. I'm glad that I don't tire out easily because this would wear on me if I did. Not that I'd admit it even if I was more tired. Kyoshi Warriors don't whine- and some day I'll have that tattooed onto Kan's forehead so he'll always remember. Or the back of his hand, so he can always see it. That would probably make you guys really mad, but at least you'd see what I mean. He's going to hurt worse if he's not more careful.

I guess this is the time when I should finish the story about Nijing Fa, at least the part told me before I had to leave him to die. The ruby flower was a token he'd made with his particular form of Earthbending; it seemed to be really specialized in gemstones but it's not something I know a lot about. Anyway, he made it for his girl, and was going to propose with it, but he found her murdered. By bandits. He said that this was his way to redeem himself. I guess that means that he died for an ideal- love, or honor, or something. All I know is that I got to live because of it.

Out here things are so much different. There's more chaos, larger spaces, nothing seems to work quite right- but I guess people are still people, aren't they? Honor and sacrifice still matter to some of them, and not to others. Really it's kind of comforting just to know good people exist. Too bad one of them had to die that way.

I'm almost to the Bulwark, so I'm pushing myself even harder to reach it. I'll write more once I arrive.

[\Mai-Dee/ *Erity* ~Kenzi~]

Page Five

I finally made it- through numerous checks, more discussions and even a few extra stupid questions from the bystanders I'm inside of the Bulwark. It's like a dojo, farm, city and fort all at once, with the noise nearly overwhelming and the smell just as bad. I saw a river, couldn't some of these people BATHE every once in awhile? I'm going to, that's for damn sure- and if they try to have a peepshow, that's their funeral. Literally. I really mean it, I'm not that cheap or easy.

There's such a large amount of land dedicated to this defensive line, it's large enough to almost be its own nation, and there are people from everywhere. The nations seem to divide themselves naturally back into their old ranks too; instead of seeing different insignias all mixed together there's five or six from the same nationality and an alley before the next group. It seems like this idea of 'working together' only goes so far, and in the time between the battles people return to their old habits. What's the point if you can't find friends outside of your comfort zone to stand at your back? I'm not used to any Mainlanders, so what difference does it make to me if they're Earth, Fire, Air or Water? Everyone might as well be foreigners as far as I'm concerned because that's what I am.

For as much as I'm the stranger I seem to still get a lot of attention. Are that few of us ever seen outside of the Island? I know our main duty is to Kyoshi itself but if these monsters expand any more they'd eventually reach us anyway. It's not like we're not doing anything now though. I'm only one of a few, but I know how the Warriors work. We train until we're good, even if we're not the best among our own ranks, and I don't know that there's many groups with as much history as we have. The good thing about a history is someone's tried most things before.

I managed to find a spot to set up my tent, a bit on the outskirts and with someone of the older, more mature Earth Nation soldiers- at least they're not likely to steal anything and if I can make some connections with them it'll mean having a lifeline of some kind when the next battle starts. Not far away there's a few Water Benders too- and it's easier to understand them than some of the others that walk around, like the flighty Air Nomads or tempermental Burning Legions. Exceptions to every rule are around, but not in a mob environment. Then most people just fit into this mass of stereotypes.

It's time to find some secluded place and clean up. The grime of the road is just awful and sleeping in clean clothes with a clean body underneath is sounding really nice.

[\Mai-Dee/ *Erity* ~Kenzi~]

Page Six

So maybe I was a little harsh about my assessment when I first got here. The Spirit Rift is so close and there's so much general infighting that at times it's kind of hard to see anything else, but that doesn't mean it's not there. The trip was a long one and maybe not the best- but is that any reason to bitch and tantrum like a child into this book, which should be recording the facts and not some ignorant opinions? If I wasn't numbering the pages and didn't think it was dishonest I'd rip the previous page out. Luckily this isn't going to become a historical memento or anything; if it does, can someone please edit it? Thanks.

Every day there are small groups going out to fight on the outskirts of the Bulwark, mostly just to make sure the Rift doesn't expand any further than it is; a lot of people come back injured, but they also bring their stories with them, and I've been listening to as many as possible. Some of the monsters they describe are completely unthinkable, fuel for the darkest nightmares imaginable. Even the people who don't go out are generally training or doing some other useful task to keep everyone alive and in good fighting shape. It seems like this place is running in a bit more organized way than I could originally appreciate. That's not to say there aren't some camp biddies around, useless except for their pretty face and other assets, but for the most part they stay out of the way. Unless attractive guys are walking past, of course.

I've been sitting around for too long, it's time for me to get up and stretch my legs. Every so often there's areas that are informally considered 'sparring ground' and I think it's about time I get to one of them. Even though I have a better feel for the people here and they're not as bad as I first feared I still need to stay in shape and checking out the average skill level of some of these people could do me some good. A workout never hurts anyway. Maybe I'll even make a few Mainlander friends or gain some respect. Both would be nice...

[\Mai-Dee/ *Erity* ~Kenzi~]

Page Seven

It's another day in the Bulwark. Monsters to slay, training to complete, and even a few friends to make if I can ever manage to get out of my tent and away from my duties long enough. Right now I spend most of my time trying to avoid the ones who want to cause trouble for me and otherwise going about my business just like I was taught. Senior Warrior Gerta used to say, "The only things that can really distract you from your goal are the ones you let in. If you don't let it affect you it's not a distraction." I know she's right, but that doesn't make it any easier sometimes, and I just have to grit my teeth and keep going.

There's another thing I've learned- every single one of the groups has its idiots. I know this because I think every single one of them has yelled something to me while I've been walking around, either praising features they had no reason to look at or in criticism of one thing or another. Fortunately I've met good, decent and SMART people in every group too, so it seems that the balance holds. It's not just that the mainlanders have more idiots necessarily- though I change that opinion about every ten minutes or so. It's just that they have more people in general. The ratio stays the same but the numbers increase in every category. Smart people, good ones, arrogant ones, even stupid ones- there's just MORE of everything!

Except female warriors. By percentages there's less of them. Go figure.

I did manage to get to the sparring grounds, and at first it looked like it would be a complete disaster. I just stood in the middle while everyone watched me and talked among themselves in rather loud tones- and suggested exactly what they thought I should be doing instead of fighting. Bastards. Fortunately for them the entire lot was too cowardly to step forward and take the smackdown of a lifetime and it was a completely uninvolved Water Tribe man who decided to take me up on the offer. He's a good guy, a good fighter and he agreed with me about not liking a huge amount of shouting people around when there's a match going on, so I think we got along well enough. The match was a pretty long one but it's always best to push yourself in a fight, otherwise you get cocky, lazy and flabby.

No, I'm not going to say who won. It was a sparring match, it doesn't matter as long as I improved and no matter who's the winner it's not like claiming victory in a traveling journal will make any difference whatsoever.

Dammit, I started babbling again and all that does is waste more ink. Time to go and eat before the dining area fills up and it's impossible to find a seat.

[\Mai-Dee/ *Erity* ~Kenzi~]

Page Eight

Not a lot to say right now, or reason to write. It's been quiet, and I'm almost seeing this place as regular. It's not home, but it's not the worst place I could be either, and it's being pretty well run. No one's starving and there's fresh water. A bath that didn't consist of pouring a bucket of water over my head in my tent or looking for a secluded spot on the river would be the best thing all year but you work with what you have. At least the cold shower will wake you up pretty well, and gives a really nice excuse to drink the tea. I think someone new is brewing it. It's that or my taste buds finally died.

There's more battles going on and I'm starting to learn the schedule of them, so soon I'll be seeing the demons for myself. Don't worry, I'm going to make it through; there's enough veterans of the battles around at this point that the stories have real information and not just exaggeration. I still haven't found any new Earthbenders to learn from but I'm still hoping that will change. I haven't seen any other Kyoshi Warriors either; hopefully it's just that they don't want to leave the island and they're not just dead.

I can't think about this very much right now. More to be written later. For now I need more tea and somewhere quieter to drink it while I try not to think about things.

[\Mai-Dee/ *Erity* ~Kenzi~]

Page Nine

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There's not a lot that I want to say right now so I thought for the sake of posterity I'd write down a list of my favorite things, mostly from Kyoshi. Maybe it won't matter much if something happens and I'm dead but people will have ideas for what to put on my shrine at least, and if it's just stuck in a library people will know what kind of girl was writing all of this down. Probably it'll just end up in the bottom of some cabinet until the pages are eaten by bugs and the book rots, but whatever. It's my book, I'm writing what I want to write, everyone can just get over it.

• The statue of Avatar Kyoshi.
  
• The ocean
  
• Real baths
  
• The sweets. Especially the maple sugar ones.
  
• Kyoshi Day
  
• Green colors
  
• Knowing where everything is
  
• Swimming
  
• Houses instead of tents
  
• Making jewelry
  
• My family, even Kan. Sometimes, and only if he's not whining.
  
• The other Warriors.
  
• Everyone else.

I actually feel a little bit better now, I'm not sure why. Maybe there's something to that idea that writing is cathartic. Maybe it's just that I don't have any friends I'm comfortable complaining about all of this to yet, so I'm making do with pen and paper. Hopefully this is a temporary thing, it's not in my nature to be so much inside myself. 'And this too shall pass', right?

Time to actually get some sleep and hope it's a full night's worth. Tomorrow I'm going to see about going with one of the groups into the Spirit Rift again and I'll need all of the rest I can get to be prepared. Don't worry, I'll be back to write again.

[\Mai-Dee/ *Erity* ~Kenzi~]

Page Ten

Too much going on to write a good deal. Made some new friends and things are quiet overall but there's a lot of work to do and still more battles going on. It seems like the monsters are just dying to get out, whether it's to kill us or die or whatever. At least there's always fresh fighters coming in and the ones that live are a lot more experienced. The ones that die, of course, don't learn anything. If I die I hope it's to bad luck rather than being cocky or under-trained. I would hate to prove all of my teachers wrong and make us Kyoshi Islanders look like fakes and idiots.

More to come later, too much to write now and not enough time for a good closing. Wish me luck!

[\Mai-Dee/ *Erity* ~Kenzi~]

Page Eleven

Still a lot to do, but I have a bit more time to talk about some friends. I found a few people willing to come with me on my mission of honor to find whatever is on the map left by Nijing Fa. It's a confusing crew but not all bad- though if one of the members could manage to tone himself down I'd be eternally grateful. Really.

Saizo I met back on Kyoshi Island, he was doing some blacksmith work there and made some of the training weapons. They turned out really well and I ran into him on the beach when he got turned around looking for the dojo. I can already tell he's the oldest and most responsible of the group, and has one of the best senses of humor- and he doesn't ogle like the other guys. If I had an older brother I think he'd be a lot like Saizo. He's an Earthbender too and that's always nice just in case there's something I can't do.

Then there's Ryumo. He's in the Burning Legion and seems like he'd be someone kind of important but exactly what position he's in I'm not sure of. He's polite and seems quiet, but there's some iron strength under his skin and he's cute too. Definitely not someone I want to lose as a friend for more than a few reasons.

Lastly- some guy called The Jackal. Such a brat, but he's a friend of Ryumo's, has an airship and knows the Si Wong desert, which the map leads to. That makes him useful and I'm hoping some more time around him will make him less likely to needle me to bits. If not I may have to smack him on the back of the head until he gets it and I don't think he'd take it as well as most adults would. He's not that much younger than me but SO much less mature.

Enough for now. Time to go.

[\Mai-Dee/ *Erity* ~Kenzi~]

Page Twelve

Well, it looks like I'll have a little more time to write for now. There was a slight accident and now I'm in bed with a concussion. The healers checked me out and said that it's minor so I should be up in a few days to a week, but I've got to heal up as fast as possible. Things are finally set up to go to Si Wong and that's not something that can be easily put off for very long. Luckily it's supposed to start in about ten days and that should be plenty of time to heal up but you can't expect what kind of complications will develop.

I don't know how much I can get written down for now, since focusing for too long makes the headache come back. Long story short, there was this guy that I ran into- literally. I fell down and the next thing I remember was his helmet, which had flown off before, hitting me in the side of the head. He seemed really sorry about it but with the other shit going on I didn't really notice. It's all kind of foggy, I guess concussions are like that.

Anyway, he took me to the medic after I passed out and stuck around to see if I'd be alright, which was really nice of him even if it was kind of his fault. Toppah- that's him- agreed to go on the trip to Si Wong too, and I think it was mostly guilt that led to it, but it works.

Besides, he's pretty hot, and he's built too, even if he does act a little goofy at times, and that's kind of cute looking back at it.

Time for me to get some sleep before I pass out and make this page one big smudge. I wish someone could wish me sweet dreams.