A Recognition of Shadows

[Reno]

The paws moved some, looking towards the creature next to her cage in silence, regarding the paw with distrust. Maybe he just wanted her near to rip her in half. But Moomba-lions weren't often vicious...

Then again, neither were pygmy pumas. Her ears flipped back and she growled softly.

She looked up again when there were sounds of the cages being moved the bear and the puma inside were snarling, starving and ready to fight.


It was awful. Ven was lucky he hadn't come. And Sora made no true effort to part the crowd to see better as he heard the two animals killing each other. He was near sick at the smell of blood and the sounds of cheering. How... How could people... be so cruel?

Roxas faired little better, his hand clasped around a hidden sword to hide his shaking and fury. These monsters...
Terra watched with a dark gaze, a bottle dangling from his fingers, his expression unreadable.

The battle lasted long, testing the fighters' stamina and stomachs before it finally, thankfully, came to an end. But Terra frowned behind the alcohol scorching his throat, knowing the now one-eyed bear too would die. However, his eyes sparked in interest when a man walked out in the arena - and at his side... a cheetah-hound. And at his other side, a man with vibrant red hair.
Sora's heart skipped a beat.
Roxas leaned forward.
Axel's teeth grit.

"Ah, now wasn't that entertaining?!" The blonde called up, roars and howls of agreement cheering down. "DO YOU WANT ANOTHER?!" The shouts were deafening and the man held up his hands, chuckling, as he looked at the man beside him. "I think they want to know. Reno, tell them what we have lined up next for them. A real treat you'd say?"
"Oh indeed!" Came the cunning tone. "A mystery fight!"
Cheers, howls.
"But, Rufus and I are feeling generous. We'll give you a hint. It's a real cat and dog fight!!" As the crowd got riled, the two shared a glance.
"And before you consider just betting for the dog, consider the cat!" Rufus chimed in with a smirk. "Oh it could be just a sweet, little cat owl..."
"BOOOOOOO!!"
"OR a ferocious saber-tooth moose lion!"
"YEAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"

"Ah, but what about his competitor?!" Reno called suddenly strutting about the pit pointing up towards some men and asking them outright. "Do you fine chaps think it's nothing more than a labradoddle?!"
"NOOOOO!!!"
"No chance! Then we're agreed right?! It must be a BULL-WOLF!"
"YEAAAAAAA!!!!"
Reno laughed and turned to Rufus. "Well, I'm with them! My money's on the dog!"
"Well, I'll roll in riches when I see your dog fall to the cat!" Rufus called and beside him his cheetah-hound howled. "Everyone you have ten minutes! Make those bets fast!"

And in their cages, not knowing the sudden plot against them, a rabbit-fox and a raptor-lion cuddled against their bars, sharing comfort in the wake of the terror above.

[Rikugurl]

At the sight of his brother, pure ran ran through the fire bender, wanting to push through the crowd, jump down and choke him to death with his bare hands. He, unlike Roxas, would be able to kill his brother without a second thought... no matter how terrible it sounded. There was nothing good about his elder brother, nothing that he owed him and nothing that would snap him from his rage. Would people be interested in a human fight instead, because he would gladly partake in it! His foot stepped out, about to attempt it but he felt a hand around his wrist and he glanced back, about to punch whoever took him physically but only looked down to realize it was Roxas.

The blonde continued to act, telling him he better get his bets in before they close it up. They eyes stared at each other for some time before Axel pushed away violent. "Get off me." As he walked away, it was hard to tell if he was acting too or truly unset about his brother. Perhaps a combination of both. When he came back to the bowl, he received some snickering from the men he had talked to before. "Still going to rely on the pussy?" One taunted and Axel only placed down 50 gold pieces this time. "Yea. I like pussy." He grinned back, his eyes becoming wicked which made the other men laugh and he too was suddenly taken away to be bought a drink.

Ten minutes passed quicker than it seemed and again, the two were out to taunt and rally the crowd. This time, the four spies made sure to get close, making sure they got a good eye on the arena too see just what this cat and dog fight would include. If it had to do with Reno and this ringmaster, Rufus, it could tell them where Invidia was.

Down below, shadows came over the cages where the two cuddling creatures where. There was a zap and a yowl from the raptor-lion as a spark of electricity hit his rear. He quickly got up and turned around the best he could and growled at the man holding a long rod. The rod passed through the bars again and zapped his shoulder, making him roar this time and bite the metal... only to be zapped in the mouth. "YIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIP!!!" He cried in pain and suddenly he was slammed forward as they pushed his cage down the passage way, the zaps of electricity lighting the tunnel.


Is this... what he does... when I am scouting for the Fire Lord...?

Axel broke from his train of thought when a cage was opened on one side of the arena and the creature showed itself, roaring and looking none too happy as it looked around. It's golden eyes were hurt instead of ferocious but the crowd didn't seem to notice, cheering and yelling as they saw the young raptor-lion. Almost instantly, Axel could see the lion pull his tail between his legs and his ears lowering as he looked up at the huge crowd looking down at him. "Yiiiiiip...... yiiiiiiiiiiiiip!" It whimpered, trying to back away from where it had come but the doors were closed shut.

[Reno]

It was a good thing Roxas wasn't far so he could stop Axel from doing anything rash. He was surprised he didn't have to be doing this for Sora too! "Aye, you daft man? The table's that-a-way." He hid his hurt when the other snapped at him; knowing Axel was just acting - well, hopefully. Of course, he had his far share of fury about the whole thing too. He couldn't believe they had found this disgusting place at all! And now... Invidia...

He ground his teeth before making his way to the table and this time also bid on the cat. Terra, along with Axel, were both at the bar and Sora was again alone his emotions hard to read. Hopefully, they wouldn't have to suffer through all this much longer...


Green ears flipped up as she heard someone coming near - and then barked in alarm and fear as the Raptor-lion started to yowl. She stood and scrunched up against the side of her gaze, watching fearfully as the cat was riled and tugged away. She whimpered - and then gave a howl herself when a burning pain lashed against her leg. She hopped away only to turn and stare at the cheetah-hound who was taunting her.

It slunk around quickly and she cried as claws came for her again. It seemed to go on forever before she too was yanked away. She called and hopped about, her feathers a mess on her wings. What was going on?!


Roxas shut his eyes, seeing the Moomba-lion being thrown out, looking about as harmless as a newborn kit, instantly thinking of Lulu and her cubs who no doubt had been born by now. Had she ever lost any to this cruel game? Her mate maybe? How could they...?

His eyes snapped open when he heard the next gave open. And his eyes widened as the dog was thrown out.
Terra gripped the bottle of rice wine tightly, his eyes narrowing. Bingo.
Sora gave a near soundless gasp. Invidia!!!

The green dog twittered about nervously, hearing the shouts and calls above and with wide eyes looked up, her wings shaking. All around, a sea of faces, surrounding her from above. It made her snarl with rage. But more importantly... she saw freedom.

"Vi!!" She heard a call, faint and hard to hear in the crowd. It drew no one's attention but her own as her ears perked and she looked around wildly, knowing that voice like her own heartbeat. And that's when she saw him - a wide smile splitting his lips and with a bark of excitement she opened her wings and with a high hop took off into the air.

Vi... oh she was alright, she was alright!! Sora was near tears as he smiled more, seeing his companion had heard him and recognized him, even under all this frock. And she was flying towards him and everything was okay his arms starting to open to welcome her...

And then it became panic as a fireball flashed right over Invidia's head, so close Sora's eyes reflected the vibrant orange of the flame and could feel the heat on his skin. With a bark of alarm she ducked down wheeling in the air and he felt desperation well in him as she tried to climb again only for another blast of fire to make her swoop down to avoid it. There was a firebender, presumably one who worked there, standing on the pit edge as he took aim as he aimed, trying to force her down, to stir her up into a fight. Sora gripped onto the edge of the pit wall, crying out for her wordlessly, as for a third time she turned and came up, flying with hard, weary wing beats.

And the blast came again but she couldn't get out of the way. With a screech her right wing was hit and she fell from the sky.

"VIIIIIII!" Came Sora's horrified cry. And then hot rage surged in him and his mind shut off.

When the fire blasts started, Roxas fought the crowd recklessly, trying to get to the firebender who was attacking the rabbit-fox, his sword already partially drawn as he drew near. Then he heard the cry of pain and knew Invidia had been struck. He was maybe two feet away, sword zinging from it's sheath as he drew it out, but he never got the chance to strike.

For fire sailed right over the pit, so hot it was near white, and slammed into the Firebender who had struck the canine, and the crowd cried out in shock and confusion as he was blown off his feet and thrown into a far wall. Roxas stared in confusion, glancing at where he knew Axel was - but he was just as surprised... and then, with a sour taste in his mouth he looked to Sora... who had climbed onto the pit wall his arm still extended and smoking... and his eyes glowed as the Avatar State had taken him in his fury.

He jumped from the wall, falling the several feet to the crowd and a blast of wind kept him from breaking a leg but rather landing with ease. Calls of confusion were yelled, an earthbender threw a rock down, sailing for Sora's head but a fist rose and slammed right threw it, and his left foot slammed down before sliding over the ground, the earth quaking and giving a terrible noise as it cracked all the way up the wall, a jut of rock being thrust from the ground and smacking into that earthbender, tossing him without care.

The betting crowd could only watch, as more shouts and calls were made as help was called for and tried to rush to the pit - but now the spies no longer worried about their disguises as they got ready to help their infuriated friend. The last thing Roxas saw as he drew his other sword and struck out for a firebender, was the Avatar leaning down and placing a hand on Invidia's head.

"Shit!" Terra snapped, knowing it was time to blow their cover as he saw the crowd worked up to a frenzy and the 'employees' of this illegal fighting ring come forward to strike Sora down for his meddling. Three of them never got that far as Terra shoved aside the crowd and his arms shaking with effort as he rose his hands, rocks erupting from the ground and he threw his arms forwards like he was pushing someone away, the rocks flying and striking three of them right in the chest, winding them.


The fall would of been bad, had not large paws caught her, laying her on the ground. Now Xio was close but low to the ground as he shivered in fright while the Avatar came near, even he able to feel the immense power. Invidia shook and whimpering in pain, the gentle hand on her head, doing little to soothe her as her damaged wing lay caught under her, the smell of burnt feathers a sickening but familiar one for her. She had smelt it before, when firebenders took away her family.

The Avatar looked up though when he heard the gates opening on either side, two men rushing out, familiar even in his haze. Rufus and Reno.
"What's going on here?!" The ringmaster called looking up to see the crawl breaking out up above and his customers - fleeing!! He growled before looking forward and his eyes widened as he met unnatural glowing eyes. He took a step back before running back for the hole in the earth on a foot away... and then the gates slammed closed on either side and puncturing the earth so deeply it couldn't be pulled free by his power alone. Tumai whimpered at him from the other side.
"Fuck!" He heard Reno calling, no doubt having tried escape as well. And then he heard a gurgle of pain and turned around, just in time to see a rock had punched the red-head right in the back of his spine and shoved him into the gate. He thought maybe he might be alive but it was hard to tell.

He watched in silent horror as the Avatar rose his hands and bottle smashed as alcohol spilled from glasses and he waved his hands, the liquid flying through the air towards him. Rufus tried to run, but the water flew faster, going over his head and curled around his middle yanking him back. It felt like he got punched in the stomach as he choked for air and he was yanked right off his feet, sailing helplessly right into metal. The blonde fell into a heap on the floor coughing as he sucked in air and only dimly away of the gaps beside him, hazily realizing it was Reno. His head rose some though as he heard earth crunching as Sora approached them, and he looked up, staring into that unforgiving face.
"How dare you. You both shall pay for your crimes." He spoke, but his voice was barely detectable... as he seemed to speak with over a thousand at once!

[Rikugurl]

The crowd quickly realized that the man employed below to keep the creatures in the arena wasn't the only firebender in the area. When he saw the sudden glow coming from the spot where Soran was, he knew that it wasn't good... for the strangers around him... nor his friends. Quickly, he helped to make the people flee the underground as his fits continued to punch through the air, blowing out bits of flames to get people away from him and heading towards the stairs to the outside. He crouched down and shot his foot forward, making a shot of fire head towards the people's feet and they quickly got the picture.

People were rushing, shouting and the whole world turned into chaos. For those who were too drunk to know better, Terra, Axel and Roxas had to get them away from the Avatar as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, Axel was having a harder time doing that for his bending powers were the dangerous of all. You couldn't knock someone out with fire, but you could burn them pretty badly. He had to use fear more than anything now. His hands made fists and one after the other turned into flaming spears and when he moved them, they started to act like whips. The hidden muscles that only Roxas surely knew about flexed and he shipped his arms around, snapping the ground with the fire and making more people flee.

"Yiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip...." The raptor-lion continued to press against the cold, bloody floor and back away the best he could until he felt a wall at his rear. His large, believed to be fierce, powerful paws, only pulled up to hide his face from the world around him as he continued to tremble. For having such a vicious sounding name, raptor-lions were not hostile or dangerous creatures. They actually were known to be loyal, yet rare pets that were very intelligent with a long life span.

Before Soran could take another step closer to the owners of this filthy business, a wall of fire shot up between them, halting the boy for a second. "Avatar Soran! Stop!" A voice called from above, the Sun Warrior looking down at him in concern. "It's not worth it! They will have to live with their own guilt and though they probably see nothing wrong with this, the Spirits have their ways of making people pay for their faults. But Avatar, you are the pure Harmony of this world. Remember, you cannot possible harm another being.... no matter how much they harm you or the people and things you love... You taught me that, Soran..."

The fire slowly cracked in front of the boy and Axel jumped down into the pit, gently picking up the frightened raptor-lion. The lion continued to shake and shiver but it's paws gripped onto each shoulder and looked out, it's golden eyes looking out towards the Avatar.

[Reno]

"Alright, get moving already!" Roxas snapped as he shoved yet another man towards the stairs of another secret entrance, and looked around. The place had nearly completely cleared out, Terra taking care of the few stragglers by moving the ground underneath them and sliding them closer to the exits.

He frowned, but looked back as he heard Axel yelling seeing that a wind had whipped up in the pit, sand and dust flying in a miniature tornado - and he knew exactly who was in the middle of it. "Soran..." His eyes widened though when he heard Axel calling down at the Avatar fearlessly, and his words... Oh... Axel... He smiled - but gasped when the other jumped down! The blonde ran for the edge of the pit and looked down, fearing for the red-head's safety.

Glowing eyes stared at Axel with an expression that was nothing like Sora's at all. Not every Avatar was able to live a bloodless life; some of them even believed killing those that destructed balance was the correct decision. For a long moment, Roxas was sure that the avatar was going to strike the firebender and he breathed softly in relief as he looked away, only for it to catch as the Avatar stared through the flames at Reno and Rufus. Fingers clenched at Soran's sides, his hands shaking and the wind whipped harder, hearing Reno and Rufus cry out in fear as sparks from Axel's fire flew over them.

'Avatar, you are the pure Harmony of this world'
Harmony.... Harmony... Why did that word strike a chord in him?

"Kazu... it means harmony."
"Harmony...? Like... peace, right?"

Peace...? Since when had things been peaceful? Since he started this journey it had been nothing but panic, despair and pain!! He had nearly lost several of his friends to these shadows and had seen an entire town destroyed! How could-

"What about... my name?"
"Yours? It means 'A Part of the Sky'. When we discovered you, you stared at us without fear, your eyes clear and blue like the one part of the sky still unclouded."
"...Harmony."
"Yes... I suppose it is very much like harmony."

How could he be harmony when he felt so torn up inside? He wasn't even an airbender - he was a firebender! He was just like Axel. So he should be threatening to burn towns and carelessly trying to kill his friends for honor.

"You will learn that you can still be yourself while bringing peace and happiness to all mortals and spirits alike. You have already gone through places that are foreign to you and you have helped them, not as the Avatar but as yourself.

But who was he now?

A soft, almost fearful bark invaded his mind.
How could he be a sign of harmony and hope, if he terrified even those he loved? This was not... the person he wanted to be. This was not the name he wanted people to remember.
Glowing eyes fell shut.
The wind died as if it had never been. When he opened them again they were blue once again, tears streaking down his face silently. He looked down at Reno and Rufus, but like one disregarded a dragonfly-wasp, he turned his back on them, silent for they deserved no words from him. He lent down and with care, lifted Invidia in his arms, holding her near but minding her wing.

The earth moved as Terra bended a staircase for the two, and together Axel and Sora climbed them and he told them to get out of there before leaving them - to free the other animals no doubt. Roxas hesitated, giving Axel a kiss on the cheek and him a smile before he followed after the brunette to give him a hand.

The two silently headed back for the entrance they had come in from and in the darkness of the stairs they climbed, Sora whispered softly but sincerely, "Thank you, Axel..."

[Rikugurl]

Axel smiled softly at the kiss but was quiet for the most part before following Soran up the stairs to the outside, the raptor-lion safe in his arms. He nodded to the young Avatar, though he knew he did not need to be thanked. If anything, it was Soran who needed the thanks, along with the rest of his traveling group, for making him realize he was in a hole, spiraling down into a dark pit of hate, guilt, rage and sorrow.

When they emerged from the passage, Ventus, Riku and Aqua were quick to reunite with them. There was fear yet relief in their eyes as they now knew the two were alright but...
"W-where's Terra and my brother?" A soft voice questioned, the air master's eyes reflecting a sudden fear. Before either could speak though, Ventus's eyes became large, seeing the hurt rabbit-fox. "Oh! Invidia! What happened to her?" Axel was the one who quietly filled them in, that Terra and Roxas were fine and they were releasing the trapped animals. He wasn't sure just how safe that was but he knew they would be careful. "We should head back to camp but before we do... I need to get this little guy back home." A smile rose over the firebender's lips as he patted the raptor-lion's growing mane.

They followed the lanky redhead down an alley and Ventus became curious on how Axel knew where the boy would be. Axel only remarked that it was easy to tell by the clothes the boy wore.
They walked a bit a ways, the group seeing more of the poorer sections of the Nation. It was not something the Tribal or Nomads ever saw, as their homes were rather equal besides the Palace and Temple. They looked down some streets and alleys until they stopped, seeing a young boy sitting at his doorstep. "Hey!" Axel suddenly called out and the boy looked up... before jumping up and running over. "JAX! Oh, you found him! You found my raptor-lion!" The boy called happily, his arms raising and Axel gently handed the creature over.

The boy hugged him tightly, making the little thing gasp a bit. Big fat tears ran down his face before looking up at the group. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! I'll NEVER forget you guys and what you've done for me!"
"Hahaha, alright~ You should get to bed though. Tomorrow is another day of Festival so you need your rest. And make sure you keep a close eye on your friend, ok?" Axel patted the boy on the head, making him smile. "Ok! Night!" The boy called as he turned and rushed back home, the little raptor-lion bouncing all the way.

Axel suddenly flushed however when he heard a teasing call from the princess about how fatherly that just was~~~


The group eventually returned to the camp ground where they spend most of their nights since they got here, realizing Roxas and Terra beat them to it. Strangely, Axel and Roxas headed to the forest while Aqua and Terra started to work their magic on Vi's wing. Ventus had dragged Soran away, demanding that they needed to meditate and Soran finally agreed. Riku was the only one without a thing to do so he watched the progress of Vi's wing, trying to block out the random soft sounds of groaning from the forest. It seemed like retrieving the firebender wasn't the only thing Roxas was able to accomplish...

[Reno]

"S-S-She got hurt..." Came the trembling answer to his friend, Sora blinking away the rising tears. The little fox whimpered and despite her pain lifted her head and licked his cheek where one was falling and the brunette looked down at her and smiled.

They took a small detour to the young fire nation child's house, and the way his eyes lit up when he saw the cat made even AXEL smile. It was a heart-warming scene, and Sora couldn't help but hold Invidia closer, managing even a smile as Aqua teased Axel as they headed back to camp, finding the blonde swordsman and brunette earthbender waiting for them and after a few moments, they all split up into little groups.

"Do they think we can't hear them?" Aqua said, rolling her eyes as she too heard the moans echoing from the forest, faint but detectable for what they were. She would say she was surprised but... she really wasn't. Well, maybe a little on Axel's end - but even though she only knew him for two days it was obvious how much Roxas had taken an interest in her flame-haired friend. Soran had been right again; he really did care more about Axel than anyone else.
"We're just going to pretend it didn't happen." Terra said, offering poppy seed for the rabbit-fox to eat for her many wounds, his cheeks flushed. After all, Roxas had the same VOICE as Ven so, it didn't take a genius to figure how his mind was wandering.
"You're kidding right? I'm gonna tease them until they've melted into goo from embarrassment."

"Well I'm... glad they are finally getting along." Sora said with a blush, finding it hard to meditate with such a strange noise echoing from the forest. He chuckled when Ventus blushed to his ear tips, knowing he was not able to meditate easily either.

The brunette smiled, then sighed, running his fingers over the cool links of his new necklace. Ven had held onto it for him while he was 'in disguise'. If only he knew how terrible he had been.... "I... I almost killed them Ventus. I... I wanted to so badly... it was like everything in my being was telling me too and I could hardly control myself... it was terrifying."

[Rikugurl]

Riku rolled his eyes at their talk but continued to watch as Terra and Aqua worked on the little creature. It didn't seem like anything would be easy for them. Not even a night of celebration were they able to relax. It was a life of an adventurer he guess and now he realized how much he took his guardianship for granted back in the oasis. Sure it was boring but this sort of non-stop worrying was going to make his already silver hair become lighter!

"Maybe we should skip out for the rest of the festival before something else goes wrong... and try to find this Spirit. Even though the shadow creatures don't attack here, doesn't mean they're not still attacking the world around us..." He frowned some, looking at his reflecting in the fire diamond.


"Soran..." Ventus sighed softly, never hearing such a story told from those lips. He wanted to.... to..... kill those people? But Soran was so... so.....peaceful. He looked down at the ground, wondering why something like this changed him. Sure his friends had been hurt again but...
"Do you think it's the other Avatars? I mean... your past lives?"

[Reno]

"Perhaps you are right." Terra agreed softly, rubbing some herbs on a small cut on Invidia's forearm. "But even still, Sora knows too little of firebending; whose to say when he goes up against the spirit that we aren't also sending him to his death?"
"He'll have us!" Aqua disagreed as she still worked on the wing, doing her best to make sure the creature would be flying by morning.
"Yes, he will." The brunette nodded. "But what will that solve? Rather than the avatar trying to settle things with peace, it will look like a gang of rebels trying to further infuriate a spirit. Furthermore... there will be many challenges, many fights Sora is going to face in his life and he won't always have us there."


"I... I suppose it has to be... I never felt like that before. Even Niyol, who always bothers and teases me, I never wanted to hurt him..." Soran frowned and shook his head. "But Avatars aren't evil. I know if they thought killing was the only answer they were not doing it selfishly but for the good of the world. Ila... when I found her in the Spirit World, she told me that sacrificing my own personal desires for the world is sometimes necessary..."

He shut his eyes and shook his head slowly, the taste in his mouth sour. "But... I don't want them to make that decision for me..."

[Rikugurl]

"We don't have that kind of time, Terra." Riku suddenly spoke firmly. "We would all like it if Soran masters firebending but there is a crisis here and desperate times leave for desperate measures." He slowly looked at the Spirits that were circling around them before sighing. "Spirits... they know what they're doing. This Spirit who has plague this world must be taught a lesson that it cannot do what it wants to people and things of this world. It needs to be stopped... and I think anymore... it doesn't matter how. People are disappearing, Terra. Villages and cities are being ruined and children are becoming orphans because of this Spirit. Do you really believe anyone will look down upon us to want to try and stop it? The Avatar... has his whole life ahead of him to learn to fight his own battles. We are here to provide him protection... and aid.

He slowly stood, La and Yue curling around his legs and slithering up. "Now that Axel isn't.... well.... such a jerk anymore, I think Soran should work on his lessons tomorrow and maybe we should start brushing up too..."


A hand reached out and fingers touched the young boy's skin. Blue eyes looked into one another and the air master smiled, his bald head already becoming covered in blonde peach fuzz and hiding his tattoos. "Soran... Even though you are a recreation of the same spirit over thousands of years, you are still Soran. They can guide you and tell you what you should and shouldn't do but... it's your life now. It's the era of Avatar Soran.... and no one else. The past Avatars lived and did what they needed to do and now it's over for them. You control what you do, Soran... so.... don't let them push you around. Even if you are the Fire Avatar, you were raised by the good people of the Air Temple and that is your true root. It doesn't matter where you're born... it's from where you're from."

He gave the boy a bright smile, one they shared many times back at the Temple. "Elder Monk would be really proud of you. Everyone is. You're our friend and our peer. You're our teacher and our student. You are so many things Soran but ultimately, you're yourself...and we all love you."

[Reno]

Teeth ground down a bit as the silverette spoke to him, acting as if he was an IDIOT or something. Did he honestly think he didn't know all that?! That he had forgotten? They were attacking HIS kingdom more than anyone else's! And this fucker though he could act like he didn't realize just how much danger they were in?
His fingers clenched into a fist, crushing the herbs in his hands before he stood and glared down at the guardian. "The only one who needs any brushing up is you since other than making tea and talking like you think you know everything you're completely useless!!"
"Terra!" Aqua cried in shock at his harsh accusation. What had gotten into him?!
Wide sea blue eyes stared at the earthbender, before they narrowed and Riku snapped something equally harsh right back - in the next two seconds, they were yelling.


Wide blue eyes blinked back at Ventus, before they watered some and a joyful smile spread on Sora's lips. Quick as lightning, he swept Ven up in his arms, hugging him tightly. "T-Thank you Ven... I dunno what I'd do without you..." The other chuckled and hugged him in return, but as they pulled away, the brunette smiled, seeming more confidant now. "And you're right. Everything from here is my decision."

He strung the metal necklace around his neck, the pendant giving a light thump as it met his chest. "As long as I follow my heart... I can't go wrong." The blonde smiled opening his mouth to agree but neither of them got any farther when they started to hear shouting and looked back just in time to see Terra stomping off in a huff... again.

But Riku was looking pretty tense as well, and the airbenders spared a glance before getting up and hurried over. "Hey, Riku are you okay? What happened?" He frowned, seeing the way the silverette's jaw clenched and he refused to answer.
'Terra!' Ven was calling, trying to follow the brunette but water curled around his waist in a grip, holding him from going far. When he looked back with a frown, Aqua said softly, "You better let him cool down first Ven."
"Why? What happened?" Sora asked, concerned, confused and a bit hurt as Riku stomped away from him.
"Too be honest I'm not completely sure. Terra flipped out." Aqua responded. "I think we're all just a little tired and not quite used to each other really. It's barely been a week after all."
Sora frowned and lent down, picking up where the brunette had left off, and mumbled softly, "What did they say to each other?"
And slowly the bluette started to recite the story...



Roxas sighed in content as he stepped back into camp, his clothes somewhat ruffled and messy. Beside him Axel looked no better and both their cheeks were a little red and their skin slightly sweaty. He blinked however, looking about camp seeing almost everyone was sitting alone and far apart from one another, and... Terra was missing?

"Hey, who died?" The blonde only half-joked, the tension in the air unnerving.
"Well look who's back." Aqua teased, looking up from where she was sewing up a hole in one of her socks. "You boys have fun?"
"W-What?!" Roxas blushed.
"You've got a little something riiight there." Aqua teased pointing to her neck right under the curve of her jaw. The blonde's face flushed and he slapped a hand over the darkened mark.
"It's nothing! Just a... a bug bite!"
"Mmmhmmm and these bugs... they have red hair and like to play with fire?" She chuckled at Roxas' heavy blush but they were quickly brought back on track when Axel asked her what was going on.

"Hmm... well we were just discussing options of what to do tomorrow Terra and Riku got into a fight about it." She finally said. "And then after we put Invidia to bed Sora went to go try and make Riku feel better and they got into a fight. And when Ven tried to make Sora feel better - well, I suppose you can guess what happened. Seriously, and they say girls are moody?"
Roxas frowned, this seeming a little off. He thought he and Axel were the only ones who got into fights! "......... Really?"
"Well, I'm not making it up." Aqua said and when Axel pushed for answers the two sat down comfortably as she told the story again. When she finished, Roxas wasn't quite so disillusioned.
'Disappearing', huh?

"Oh..."
"...Oh? That's a kind of 'oh' that tells me you know something."
"Well..." Roxas lowered his voice confidentially, "I just think I can guess sort of why Terra reacted so badly. When we were freeing the animals we had to um..." He frowned, his shoulders slumping. "We had to put some of them down. They were in bad shape and half-starved and sick. And one of the ones we had to put down... was a bull-wolf. It's eyes had been gorged out and one of it's horns snapped right off and it's stomach..."

Roxas shuddered, unable to go into more detail, "It was amazing it was alive at all. And Terra... well he threw a fit over it - and even moreso when I offered to be the one to put in down. He couldn't even stay in the room when I did it." There was a pause, the two benders reveling in the small tale before the blonde sighed, not noticing he was speaking in a normal tone of voice - his words catching the attentions of the two airbenders and the one guardian. "I think he's just... worried about his family back home."
"Well... wait a second. Wouldn't he want us to get there faster then?"
The blonde frowned, then shook his head. "No, because Terra wants to make sure the Avatar is prepared to face this spirit; because if he loses this spirit will run rampart across our world until the new one is of age to deal with it. We might not have a lot of time but we also don't have YEARS of time either."
"But we'll be there to help!"
"Help? Help how? It's solely the Avatar's duty to handle the spirit world and the spirits who dwell among us; that's why people call him the 'bridge between worlds'. Sure we can fight the spirit's pawns but we can't... we can't fight the spirit itself. I mean... really what are we going to do? Our enemy isn't just some petulant child that we're going to scold for being bad; it is immortal and powerful in ways beyond our human comprehension. We can help... but in the end we'll tire long before he ever does... and we'll die where he can't."

Sora held himself as he spoke softly from where he and a rabbit-fox sat on his bed, Invidia having fallen asleep long ago. "Well... that's scary..."

[Rikugurl]

"Like throwing rocks every now and again is more helpful!?"


Slowly, Ventus put his hands down, having them cover his ears when his twin started to talk about the poor, injured animals. He really couldn't take it anymore! Hopefully they would never have to deal with something like that again and he had no clue how his brother could actually... oh.... He shook his head from the thought, looking around at the group as they all became silent. "So... what do you think we should do?" Slowly, his eyes gazed over at his best friend. "Maybe... you can train until you feel ready while... the rest of us try to find out more information on the spirit? We still have to find him and learning more about him might help us too."

He quickly glanced at Axel and Roxas before smiling wit an idea. "Riku and Terra sent that message on Maipe that was kind of vague right? We never had the chance to ask them if they found out more that what we know now." The group all seemed to look in Riku's direction, seeing his back turned to them and his silver hair drifting in the night breeze. "Err.... maybe you should speak with him, Soran and maybe I should go look for Terra now."

[Reno]

There was a slow nod and Soran smiled back at Ventus - it seemed all was forgiven between them. "Alright, good luck." The two airbenders stood and walked in separate directions, Ventus disappeared in the forest while Soran approached Riku but the silverette stubbornly looked away.

He crossed his arms, trying to think of a way to go about it. It wasn't like Riku was DEAF. He certainly heard them. He looked down and chuckled when a black snake broke away from the circle like a disobedient child and slunk up his leg, around his waist and stretched up to curl around the crook of his arm to make it around his neck, Sora chuckling at the ticklish feeling. He pet the snake gently then looked down at Riku, smiling some as he realized the other was looking back at him now.


It didn't take Ventus too long to find Terra, the trembled in the ground giving the earthbender away. He found the teenager in a small clearing of forest, with rock 'creatures' set up around him, an obvious training session. A tiny army was out to get him. The ground was covered in shards of rock from previous 'battles'. The brunette was panting softly as he rose his hands, his eyes narrowed with determination.

And then, as if a bell was rung, he attacked. His foot slammed down behind him, the grounds trembling as it rose at either side of his ankle and circle the army to get to the back to sentries and the two rock 'soldiers' in back burst apart as the ground exploded under them. Terra wasn't watching his own destruction as he continued to attack, slammed his other foot down and sliding it, juts of spiky rocks shooting out in front of him as they attacked through the line. He dropped down to the ground and artfully swept his body around, sweeping out his leg and a wave of earth thrust forth into the three trying to sneak up behind him, crumbling instantly.

He drew his legs together and hopped up and as he came down landed hard enough to make the land shake and his enemies tremble. He thrust his right arm up and a rock erupted and he punched it out towards some of his foes and they fell to his attack. With the last two, he drew his outstretched arm around to his other side before drawing it to his chest and the ground rose and circled around the little warriors before slamming into them both from behind.

Again, for a possible countless time, the army was gone and Terra was the victor, standing alone in the sea of uprooted earth and dislodged boulders. He sighed and panted, running a hand over his forehead.

[Rikugurl]

Ocean like eyes reflected the black snake that had curled around the brunette. La really had a liking for the Avatar. He could only wonder why. He looked away again, seeing Yue had stopped as La had left, climbing up onto his lap and resting. "Terra was right..." He spoke finally, softly and almost too quiet for Soran to hear if he was not trained with the wind. "I don't help at all except make tea..." He felt Yue shift and he could feel her eyes on him but he refused to look down at her, knowing that she would stare at him until he took that back. It was then that he glanced up a bit, seeing Soran sit across from him, his legs crossed as if he was about to meditate.

"Maybe I shouldn't of come..." Riku continued before his eyes closed, his silver eyelashes hardly contrasting on his pale skin. "I shouldn't have left the oasis. Not only am I leaving it vulnerable... but I am placing the Spirits life in jeopardy with having them travel with me..."


There was sudden clapping and the brunette looked back, seeing the air master emerge from the forest. "Wow, that was really impressive." The boy giving him a shiny toothy smile, walking up to him and stopped close. He had to crank his neck back some to look up at the much taller earthbender but it didn't seem to bother him any. "I'm sure your uncle will be real proud of you when you return home and you show him that you've been practicing." He nodded but frowned when he saw the grim look on Terra's face. His hand reached out and gently grabbed the other's, moving slightly so that he could catch Terra's eyes again. "They will be there when we get back. Everyone will."

Terra started to speak out against it but Ventus was quick to place his fingers over the brunette's lips. "Ah! No negativity. Elder Monk once said:
Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.
You believe that your uncle is a great earthbender, do you not? Maybe you are not giving him enough credit. If you believe that he will protect your family, village and Atteris, you must know it to be true."

[Reno]

Lips turned down in a disapproving frown, but a hand reached out, placing it softly over Riku's own. "You really think that Ri?" The other opened his eyes looking at him with a frown and Sora drew back and crossed his arms, before nodding. "Perhaps you're right. In fact, I think your wisdom is excellent!" The other blinked at him, confused.

"You're right. We shouldn't keep thinks we care about unprotected. Come tomorrow, I'm putting a leash on Invidia and making sure she never flies without me again!" Sora nodded as if that was settled. The other just stared back at him in shock. The brunette cracked a little smile and he reached up, allowing La to slither over his fingers. "Only... she would never forgive me if I did. She might be my animal guide but she also has a life of her own. As do you and La and Yue... I think you forget sometimes they ARE spirits Riku. You think, if they really objected to coming with you or you leaving, they wouldn't have prevented it themselves? After all 'spirits know what they are doing' hmm?"

He let La curl up in his lap, before giving the other stern stare. "And don't you ever say that again. Terra didn't mean that Riku; he was just being a jerk. And if he REALLY thinks your useless, I'll punch him in the face for it!" His expression lightened suddenly. "You help all the time Riku, don't you see that? You helped find Maipe. You talked to me while I was struggling to get to the Spirit World - and protected me during the attack. And furthermore, you're our friend! And if you think THAT'S an easy job, then you really haven't had many have you!"


Terra looked back as he saw the airbender, unable to stop a tiny smile as the other applauded him. He looked out across the field and sighed; just in a few days he had really improved. Fighting in real battles taught you to learn and learn fast. His eyes darkened though when the other mentioned his uncle. He had to thank him for everything though really... and now he had abandoned them.

"But Ven-" He started to argue as the other tried to tell him they were okay - and was cut off quickly. He blinked slowly, hearing the other's wisdom and sighed past the other's lips. "Perhaps you are right... but I can not help but worry." He looked down and away and sighed. "And I can't help but feel I keep doing things wrong. I keep getting into arguments with everyone and making the wrong decisions. I... If I had just told you guys that Invidia's gem was a Fire diamond... maybe she wouldn't be hurt right now. Whose to say... leaving my home wasn't the wrong decision too?"