Chapter Seven

 "I want to remind everyone why we are here." I stated, my voice carrying across the deck. There was a squadron of 50 soldiers in front of me all standing at attention, arms tight at their sides and chins pointed up at me, shoulders squared. I had managed to dwindle Azulon's original numbers from three ships of 45, to two ships of 25. Now, I stood in front of the men of both ships, all congregated for my instructions. "We are traveling South to determine how much of a risk the Southern Water Tribe Stronghold is. This is not, I repeat, this is NOT, a genocidal mission as I'm sure some of you were led to believe. We are here for reconnaissance, no members of the water tribe should be harmed without due cause. If someone water bends at you, you are entitled to retaliate with enough force to bring the bender into the ship. No one shall be killed!" I reminded the soldiers sternly. The lieutenant beside me bristled with irritation at my commands. He thought I was being too lenient. "You will not take anyone who does not demonstrate an affinity for water bending. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Fire Lady Ren." They all coursed and I dismissed them.

–

"Just tell anyone who wants to speak with me that I am resting and will see them tomorrow afternoon before we break ice." I told my ladies maid, Emi, who had travelled with me on the ship. She was my most favourite servant I'd ever had by far, and best of all she was loyal to me instead of Azulon.

"Of course your highness." She responded, bowing. "Please be safe." I nodded and stepped into my metal canoe. I paddled far from the ship's view before using my fire to speed up. I did not want to be found out. Luckily the icebergs made maneuvering through blind spots easy.

–

"Guards! Positions!" I heard a stern voice shout as I approached the gate on foot. I stopped a few yards away and waited as men's faces popped up above the wall. I had stashed my boat in an ice alcove and ventured closer on foot to seem less threatening in every possible way. "What is your business here?" A man called out to me, he wore a dark blue parka and his face was stern but young.

"I come with news of the next raid." I responded loudly, removing my hood to show my face. His face disappeared and a few minutes later the gate was water bended open. I stepped up to the entrance but did not dare step foot over until I was invited.

"What is your name, girl?" The man asked. I bristled at the term 'girl' but I responded openly.

"I am Ren." I answered, giving a small nod of my head in greeting. I noticed his eyes narrow at my lack of title. I left out my origin, though I assumed he would be able to tell once he got a good look at my face... it was clear I was Fire Nation.

"What information do you have about the ships heading this way?" He asked.

"There are two ships, each carrying 25 Fire Nation soldiers." I said, he nodded. It was clear that he already knew this. "The difference this time is that they are headed by a female commander." I said, he shook his head in denial.

"Women don't lead soldiers." He scoffed. He was young, inexperienced and irritating me. I was trying to help, I needed them to understand that if they fought back everything would be worse.

"This Commander has a different view than other Generals." I supplied, ignoring his ignorant comment. "She will not harm-" He cut me off with a laugh.

"What do you know?" He questioned rhetorically, "you're just a girl. What? Are you the ship's whore?" I was appalled but the man to his right agreed with a smug smile.

"I beg your pardon?" I snapped, "I do hope you are not the Chief, or the South is going down hill." My words hit a cord and he snapped. He drew his warrior's club and stalked forward until his chin was almost above me and we glared at each other.

"What did you say?" He asked, clearly angered and irritated. The environment was high stress, I knew that, but acting like this to someone offering information that could help your people was just plain ludicrous.

"I want to speak with an elder." I demanded. He glared.

"I won't waste their time."

"You are subjecting your people to misery." I snapped. "Do you realize that? I have information that could be the difference between a massacre and a peaceful interrogation. You would be an idiot to pass that up."

"And how do I know you're not lying? You are Fire Nation after all." He hissed.

"All I ask is that you listen. If you choose to disregard my information, that is your choice."

Our staring contest was interrupted by another man jogging over. "Hakoda, the elders wish to meet her." I wanted to smirk at him in triumph but I held myself back, this was an urgent and important matter. The man huffed and turned his back on me, practically stomping back into the small city.

"Follow me." I complied.

–

As we walked through the small city I looked around, noting the wear and tear of war on the icy homes and the sad expressions of the people. They watched me with fear, clearly worried about the news I brought. We arrived at a larger igloo, and brushed a tapestry aside to enter. Around a small fire were six elders, two women and four men.

"Thank you for seeing me." I greeted them with a deep bow.

"I knew it." A familiar voice chuckled. I looked up. "When they told me a fire nation girl was at the gate I almost didn't believe them. But, when Yushu said your name was Ren... well I knew it had to be you."

"Yohan!" I gasped, a smile over taking my features despite my fears of the raid to come. He had aged in the eight years since our last meeting, but he still held the same welcoming energy.

"It is nice to see you, old friend." He smiled, opening his arms and stepping forward. We embraced tightly. I held in my tears.

"You as well! Is Mira here?" I questioned, his wife had been of Fire Nation descent while Yohan had been Water Tribe, I wondered if she'd finally been accepted here, afterall it was the original reason they had not moved to the South.

Yohan shook his head sadly. "She passed away a few years ago now. But, she always wished she could meet you again. She really did think you were a spirit." He chuckled.

"I'm sorry for your loss." I said sincerely, Mira had been a good friend and one of the only female ones I'd had in a long time. "And what of Alya?"

Yohan grinned, "She's here too. She will be delighted to see you." We were interrupted by another of the elders.

"You two can catch up later. What is this important information you have come to us with?" The older man asked, irritatedly.

"Oh hush, Izuyuk, Ren is a friend, clearly. She should be treated as such." One of the female elders said with a kind smile towards me. "Hakoda, go fetch our guest a mat to sit on." He grumbled but did so and the woman turned to me again. "Ignore my son please, he's just on edge with the raid coming and many of our men are out hunting, including my husband, the Chief." I nodded in thanks as Hakoda passed me a mat. Yohan retreated to his own seat and I sat down cross-legged. I began to recount what was to come.

"There are two ships, 25 soldiers each, they will be here tomorrow, most likely late afternoon. The Commander of the ships holds a different philosophy to most other Generals." I explained. I met eyes with Yohan and nodded, I would be leading the charge. "If a soldier does not witness the act of water bending they are not allowed to take the person into custody."

"This is ludicrous!" Hakoda remarked. Spirits, he was irritating. "You are only trying to bait us into a quick victory!"

"You have no knowledge or respect." I hissed, I was mad now. "You think you're all knowing? Well you are not. No one is." Izuyuk was about to interrupted but Yohan held up his hand to stop him. "There are horrors in this world that would make you fear more deeply than ever before. I have seen many of them and every day I fear I will witness more. I am trying to help you and your people. I have witnessed genocides before and I do not wish that on anyone. But, tomorrow, when the ships arrive if you do not heed this warning I assure you there will be losses."

"Is that a threat?" He raged, standing up from his mat. I stood up as well, and the elders watched on in concern.

"No, of course not. But it is inevitable. A waterbender from the Southern Water Tribe murdered Fire Lord Azulon's daughter. She broke in and drowned the 4-year-old girl in her bedroom. He will not stop until every waterbender is imprisoned or dead." I snapped angrily, and involuntarily the flames between us roared. "If you do not pretend to have no benders left, they will keep coming. It will never end. It is important that you understand that because you all have a choice." I stated, looking at each face in the room individually. "You can fight, and maybe not tomorrow, but eventually, you will lose everyone. Or, you can stay hidden, fight back with your fists if you need to, but hide your bending and live to see another year, get stronger and one day help defeat the empire." I was trying to control my breathing at the end, but my point was made.

"Ren is right." The Chief's wife stated. "We will hide our bending, and we will fight back with our hands if it comes to that."

:)