Chapter 2: Warning
Feng Zhi was a valley in the northern Fire Nation with mountains on two sides and the ocean at either end. The land there was lush and green, but the high winds and the valley’s tendency to flood made it a less than desirable place to live for most Fire Nation citizens. So, instead, it had long been occupied by a small community of Air Nomads, who used the rain-soaked soil to grow rice and fruit, which they farmed and shared communally. Their houses were simple square structures two or three stories high and built on stilted foundations so that the floodwaters would flow harmlessly under them.
“So, how should we do this?” Kuzon asked when they landed just outside the village. “Should we climb the bell tower and ring the bell to gather everybody in the square and then tell them?” He asked.
“No. Remember it’s our nation’s navy who’s behind this attack, even though we want nothing to do with it. It’s practically inevitable that some of the people here won’t take the warning seriously if it comes from us. So, I think our best bet is warning someone I know will trust us and letting them handle the rest.” She replied, walking toward one house in particular.
“Ok, but who would that be?” Kuzon asked as he followed her.
“Aang’s parents. Feng Zhi is Aang’s home village,” she said.
“Huh,” Kuzon replied. “I knew most Airbenders lived outside the temples, and that villages like this one existed, but I don’t think Aang ever told me which one he was from.”
“You probably didn’t ask,” Hotaru reminded him. “ I’ve only met them a few times, and only been here once before now; but they’re the ones most likely to believe us, and the rest of the people in this valley respect his father, Rohan. They’re more likely to listen to him than us.” She said, walking towards one particular house; but she froze at the base of the ladder leading onto a raised front porch.
“Hotaru! We’re kind of on a time crunch here. Are you going to knock or what?” Kuzon asked.
“Oh, right. Sorry,” she replied.
“What’s wrong?” Kuzon asked.
“The last time I was here, I came looking for Aang right after I found out he’d disappeared. I asked his parents where he was, if they’d heard from him at all. I don’t know why, after all, this is the first place the monks would have looked for him, but I thought he might come home,” she explained. “They didn’t even know he was gone.”
“The monks didn’t even write to them about what happened?” Kuzon asked.
“Gyatso did, but I beat that message here. You should’ve seen their faces, I promised that I’d find him but I haven’t yet. Now here I am, about to give them even more bad news.”
“Well, think about what could happen to them, and everyone else living here if we don’t say something,” Kuzon suggested. “Think about how Aang would feel if we let that happen.”
Hotaru tried to picture it, but the thought was too horrible and she pushed it away. “You’re right. I have to do this,” she said, marching right up to the door and knocking.
“I’ll get it,” said a woman’s voice. The door opened to reveal a small-framed, bony, woman with delicate features, large gray eyes, and long, wavy black hair, the front of which was shaved so that her hairline was even with her ears and the sky-blue arrow tattoo on her forehead, was on full display. “Ah, Hotaru, always a pleasure to see you my dear.” She said with a smile as she looked down at her guests. “And who is this?” She asked, eyeing Kuzon.
“Oh, this is Kuzon, he’s a friend of mine and Aang’s,” She replied.
Kuzon smiled at the woman and bowed.
“So what brings you here? Did you find…” Sarabi began.
“Unfortunately no,” Hotaru said, cutting her off. “I wish, but actually this is about something else. We have reason to believe that the Fire Nation army and navy are about to go on the offensive and that Air Nomads are the targets. For your own safety, it’s imperative that you all evacuate this valley. Leave the Fire Nation, you’ll be much safer hiding in the forests of the Northern Earth Kingdom, at least for the next few days anyway.” Hotaru paused, she hoped it would only be a few days, but if they were right about what the Fire Lord was trying to do, well, she didn’t even want to think about that. “Where’s Rohan?”
“He’s out in the rice fields, it’s almost harvest season. He and the others are checking the crop to see how many people it's going to take to bring in the harvest before the Autumn rains wash it away. I’ll go get him.” She said, running out towards the fields, jumping down from the platform as though it were a single step and running towards the rice fields.
Sarabi’s husband Rohan was a tall man with large gray eyes that were narrower than his wife’s, chiseled features, and a small, thin, black mustache. The top of his head was shaved but he did have hair on the lower half of his head and a long braid that went down his back.
“Rohan…” She called as she ran toward him.
“Sarabi? What is it, My Love?”
“We have a serious problem.” She replied, launching into recounting what Hotaru had just told her.
Rohan nodded, and jumped up onto the bell tower at the north end of the village, ringing it loudly until every person in the valley was gathered at its base.
In a deep, booming voice, aided by his airbending, Rohan addressed his village.
“Listen, everyone! It’s been brought to my attention that it’s likely we could be attacked within the next few days. Our safest option is for everyone to evacuate immediately. Everyone gather your belongings and get to a sky bison, we’ll meet at the end of the valley in an hour and fly east around the mountains, sky bison with children in their saddles should fly at the center of the herd.” He told them. His voice allowed for no doubt and no refusal, as soon as he jumped down from the tower the rest of the village dispersed and started getting ready to leave.
“That was amazing Sir,” Kuzon commented.
“It was nothing. All I did was tell the truth. We should really be thanking you, kids, for coming here to warn us.”
“Well our journey isn’t over yet, we still have two Air Temples to warn.” Hotaru cautioned.
“Then you’d better be off now, we can handle things from here,” Rohan replied. “Thank you again, Hotaru, for everything.” He added.
She nodded and then she and Kuzon got back on her dragon and left.
***
By the time they reached the Western Air Temple, it was almost midday. There wasn’t a moment to waste. Hotaru and Kuzon dismounted, used ropes to propel themselves down into the temple on the underside of the cliff they had landed on, and immediately started looking for the Western Temple’s council of elders. That is until Hotaru was approached by someone she knew.
“Hotaru? What are you doing here?” asked a familiar voice.
Hotaru turned her head and saw Malu, a friend she’d met through Aang, walking up to her. Malu had just turned eleven, she had short black hair which she kept clipped back in a spiky bun behind her head, delicate features, and large blue-gray eyes. She wore a knee-length yellow dress, yellow leggings, and knee-height brown boots with a hooded, orange poncho.
“Oh, hi Malu, I didn’t see you there. Do you remember Kuzon?” Hotaru asked.
“Sure do,” Malu replied. “Please tell me you’re here because you finally found Aang…”
Hotaru sighed and shook her head. “Unfortunately no, but it is important. This might sound weird, coming from two outsiders, but we need to speak to the Elder’s Council immediately.”
“Then follow me.” She said, leading them across a raised stone bridge and into one of the upside-down towers hanging off the cliffs.
Their destination was a large, round, stone chamber deep within the temple, where five women sat meditating peacefully on raised platforms, the one in the center being taller than all the others. Unsure, Kuzon and Hotaru stood behind Malu, and let her take the lead.
“Is this them?” Kuzon asked.
“Shhhh…” Malu whispered. “Just let me introduce you.” Then she turned to the council and bowed. “Mother Superior, these two are friends of mine from the Fire Nation. They have important information for us.”
Mother Superior was, surprisingly, the youngest of the five, her long black hair was only beginning to show flecks of gray, and she looked upon them with gratitude rather than annoyance. “Very well. Step forward young ones.”
Kuzon and Hotaru came closer to where the council was sitting. Hotaru spoke first. “The army and navy are on their way here. They mean to destroy the temple and everyone in it. You need to evacuate the temple immediately.” She informed them.
Mother Superior’s eyes widened in disbelief. “So, this day has finally come. Very well then, we will ready the sky bison and evacuate into the western Earth Kingdom. Thank you young ones, for doing what is right, even though it goes against your own nation’s wishes. Go now. Get yourselves out before the Fire Nation realizes they’ve been betrayed. Rest assured, the temple will be abandoned by this afternoon.” She said, standing up and nodding for the other members of the council to follow her and warn the rest of the temple.
“We’ll stay and help you evacuate,” Kuzon said without thinking.
“No.” She replied. “If you wish to help us further then go and warn our brothers at the Southern Temple.”
Hotaru put a hand on his shoulder. “She’s right Kuzon, every second we don’t warn them, the fleet gets closer and closer to the Southern Temple. We need to go if we’re going to reach them in time. Let’s go while we still can.”