05 ~ Fire and Spirits and Bears! Oh my! [Action]

[lordhotman]

[Locked to Sokka]

It was a day like any other. Zuko was going out hunting as he often did. Though this time Sokka was actually coming with him. Which was more than fine. Having two sets of hands meant bringing back more food. Not that especially needed all that much, but hunting had become one of Zuko's favorite hobbies here in Luceti.

It was one of those unusually warm days during the winter, and Zuko decided to take a route deep into the forest that he didn't often take. Maybe they would find something interesting today.

[Locked to Sokka and Raava]

Blood. Sweat. And Tears. That's what happens when you run across a certain familiar bear. But this time they were victorious! The bear had fallen under their combined might, and after a couple hours of field dressing the huge animal, they were carrying back home. The bear had been skinned, the choice pieces of meat harvested, the claws... and Sokka had even insisted on taking the thing's whole head back. Which Zuko made him carry.

The firebender sported his own sack of bear meat, as well as the bear's pelt over one shoulder. They were quite the sight walking through the forest.

[Open]

Eventually, after their encounter with Raava, Sokka and Zuko can be seen parading through the village with their cut up bear. Eventually making it back to their house where their friends were sure to notice too. They'll have two very proud young men carrying the remains of the bear. Enough meat to last them for weeks, and of course a new bear skin rug.

Comments

[aggraavated]

[Despite the importance of finding out why the human called Aang had a piece of her light inside him, Raava's attention was drawn to Wan the moment she heard his voice. She turned her body around in a quick snap, saying his name in a tone that was equal parts joy and relief.]

Wan!

[While she would hardly want to admit to herself the extent of her worry, she did acknowledge that she had felt some concern for him.

Her form lowered from the attempt to tower over Aang, sinking until the very tip of the 'crown' of her head was even with Wan's shoulder. And then she moved closer, her voice echoing a growing concern that there was something wrong.]

You have changed your physical appearance and you are... agitated with with me. If you are upset that I left you alone in this place, it was not of my own choice.

[Her voice lost the rough edge she had been using to speak to Aang as she tried to explain herself without prompting. Worried. Confused. What had happened to Wan in the short time they'd been apart?]

[savedtheworld]

[Now things are getting more confusing! Aang's face scrunches up as he looks between Wan and the spirit.]

You two know each other? [Then he looks back at the giant kite a little uneasily. Is this one of those spirits who terrified Wan so much? But then why does she sound so... concerned?] What's going on?

[aggraavated]

[Raava's upper half turned slightly toward Aang, indicating that she was 'looking' at him.]

Wan and I have been traveling together, human. We were separated when we were brought to this place.

[She turned her body back toward Wan, having not moved otherwise. Waiting. Worried.]

[justdid]

[Well, at least Wan's anger is short lived. Her voice sounded very familiar, and she clearly knew who he was. It took him a moment of studying her incredulously before he remembered.]

I don't know anything about that.

[he motioned for her to slow down while he puts the pieces together. He's more confused and alarmed that the whole event wasn't just a weird dream from spending one too many sleepless nights in Zompania.]

I think we've met before but it's really... complicated.

[And now he looks at Aang to back him up on this. Because he's really not sure how he can explain this and surely the avatar must remember talking to him when he was all glowy and stuff.]

[savedtheworld]

[Aang doesn't always have good memory regarding what happens in the Avatar State, especially when he's not in full control. So he still looks dumbfounded when Wan looks at him. Sure, the spirit seems familiar in a lot of ways regardless, but he still can't quite put his finger on why. Aside from a feeling of warmth within.]

Now I'm just confused... Did you meet or didn't you? [After almost three years, you think he'd expect all the complications that can come with people arriving in this world.]

[justdid]

Wait, you don't remember?

[and here Wan thought glowing and speaking in multiple voices was a memorable event.]

[savedtheworld]

I don't know what I should remember... If she knows you at home, then shouldn't this be something from years and years before I was born?

keywords relevant

[aggraavated]

[Raava was still confused as to why Wan was acting like they didn't know each other. And was also not amused by it.]

If this is a joke, you have chosen a poor one.

[If she'd been human, she'd be described as 'huffing'.]

[justdid]

[Wan is getting increasingly frustrated]

You were glowing and her voice was coming out of your body!

[How is this not memorable?!]

[savedtheworld]

[He turns to address Raava.]

N-no jokes going on here, Miss Kite! [He says that politely, really.] Me and Wan, we- we just have to straighten some things out!

[And then he looks back at Wan urgently.]

Wait - you mean when I was in the Avatar State? That was... [He trails off as he thinks back to that draft, when he was able to enter a controlled Avatar State. But that control slipped away when he saw Wan... and from then on his memories are hard to sort through...]

[aggraavated]

You hold my light inside of you.

[Raava said sharply, her tone returning to it's pointed and almost threatening note as she turned her body back toward Aang. Her tendrils flipping about like ribbons off a kite to settle gently around Wan's feet. Almost as if she were intentionally curling at least one around him protectively.]

How. Why. What have you done to Wan with it?

[justdid]

He didn't do anything!

[Wan snapped. He knew it was the avatar's job to deal with spirits but that doesn't mean he can't protect him as a friend!]

[aggraavated]

[Raava turned back, shrinking back a little in surprise. Wan had not taken that tone with her since he had separated her from Vaatu in his ignorance.

Her tendrils slipped away from him and she drifted back before pulling herself up to tower over both of them, defensive.]

You do not remember me and he holds a piece of me inside him. He has done something. I will have answers!

1/2

[savedtheworld]

[Aang step back for a moment, taken aback by her ferocity. But he take in what Wan said.]

Wait a second! If I've got your light... and if Wan remembers you from that time, then... there's only one person you could be. Miss Kite Spirit...

[savedtheworld]

[He points dramatically at Raava.]

You're me!

[aggraavated]

My name is Raava!

[She snapped and leaned forward.]

And I am not a human.

[savedtheworld]

Raava... [He takes a moment to repeat the name for a moment, as if in a trance. It feels like he's heard it before somehow... just like when Roku's name first came to him.

But then, he quickly is back into panicked/flustered mode, leaning back as Raava looms over him.]

I- I'm sorry, but there's a misunderstanding! I know you're not a human... but you're inside of me! Or you should be. [Now he's not sure how this works at all. Beyond the basic fact.] You're... you're the Avatar Spirit!

[That glow the spirit gives off. Now he can see it's just like the glow of the Avatar State. Even if the primary times he's seen it firsthand have been in his nightmares...]

[justdid]

[Wan will not tolerate the spirit looming over Aang like that especially when he is so clearly uncomfortable.]

Aang is my friend! Back off and stop trying to protect me!

[He will consider this whole "avatar spirit" thing after Raava stops pushing his friend around.]

[aggraavated]

I should not be inside of you, human!

[Raava's voice raised as her ire started to peak. Wan's anger at her driving much of it. She had spent the last few months with him and he had been nothing like this. Had it all been a trick? A supreme joke at her expense?

She pulled back, hurt and angered. Not at all sure how to handle this betrayal of her trust.]

I thought you different than other humans, Wan. I should never have trusted you.

[She practically spat the words out before flipping around and darting out of the house.]

[savedtheworld]

Wait, come back! [Even if she won't return, he shouts out the window.] Why don't we all just try to get a long like one big happy Avatar?

[Then after he pulls back from the window, he sighs, deflates, and sinks against the wall.]

[justdid]

[Wan isn't going to protest her leaving. He'll have time to think it over and connect the dots when he calms down. For now he will just glare in the direction she left before focusing his attention back on Aang. Sighing in frustration before squatting down to his level.]

Are you feeling okay?

[Yes, he is going back to his original question, because he is still really concerned. Not only because that was stressful but Aang was throwing up earlier so he wants to make sure.]

[savedtheworld]

I don't know how I feel! [The nausea's long forgotten even if some of the smell lingers in the air. He grips his head in confusion.

That was definitely the Avatar spirit. And she's outside of him now. What does that mean - is he still the Avatar?]

I think we just lost the Avatar spirit... [Then he gives a confused look towards Wan.]

You really are the Avatar, aren't you. [Jinora had tried to tell him... and come to think of it, Wan Shi Tong had tried to as well. He can't just ignore that any longer.]

[justdid]

[Wan didn't answer immediately. He always thought it was just a coincidence. It's not as if he were the only person in history named Wan. Plus the avatar was born with the power to bend all four elements, and he was born totally powerless. He doesn't even know how he would gain the other three elements if he wanted them. It's not like there are dozens of lion turtles just wandering around...

But the evidence was now impossible to brush off. There was an "avatar spirit" inside Aang that knew who he was and wanted to protect him. She acted like his friend when he had no idea she even existed-]

Not yet.

[At least that's the only thing he can think of that isn't "everything in luceti is an illusion".

If he didn't have to wonder how, or why, or deal with the sudden revelation that some of his best friends are actually his reincarnations thousands of years into the future he might actually be excited about this. But right now he is confused and even more exasperated with Raava.]

[savedtheworld]

[He looked at Wan as if looking at him for the first time. t-That guy with the big hair and the kitty on his sweater is his past life. His original life. Given the way that even Roku has been in Luceti before... He feels like should have seen it coming.]

But... You will be one day. And that Raava spirit... she's gotta be the key.

[He shakes his head softly, thinking back at all the troubles that have come from time period differences throughout his time in Luceti.]

We have to get Raava to understand and accept that.

[justdid]

[Wan isn't exactly jumping in excitement either. He doesn't even know how he's going to be the bridge between humans and spirits. Even if everything is true and one day he returns home, the spirits in the wilds are different. Even the grass wants to kill him. And even if he doesn't want to admit it- the idea of a spirit sharing a body with him is scary. Really scary. Luceti has twisted him around enough as it is. He doesn't want to turn into some giant glowing kite-human who is even more messed up.

But if he doesn't that would change Aang's entire future, and protecting that is more important to him than his personal comfort. So he will go along with it for his friend's sake.]

It's going to take awhile.