Northern Water Tribe :: Amethyst (NiyNiy) [Topic of the Month August 2012 **To Be Moved Once Closed**]

Laura had spent many days travelling by boat from the Earth Kingdom to the Northern Water Tribe so that she could get something for a client of hers. As a travelling Ronin, a masterless warrior, she was reduced to taking on odd jobs for money; this particular job, required her to travel to the Spirit Spring of the Northern Water Tribe and return with a small jar of the Spirit Water which the Water and Moon Spirit's, Tui and Yue, swam in.

Her client was a simple healer--Ronin or not, Laura wasn't about to do anything illegal such as murder, theft or otherwise--who wanted some Spirit Water for a very sick client of hers. He had come down with a sever fever, and he wasn't fairing well. The Spirit Water was his last chance, and Laura was sympathetic to those in need, therefore she was more than willing to help.

Laura walked into the Spirit Spring, and then noticed that a boy was sitting there. Albeit he was a very handsome boy, but regardless this was not the time for her to be distracted by her own feelings. She pulled out a small cordial that her client had given her, and walked up to one of the springs. It did not matter which, for all of the Springs were bless'd by the Spirits. Laura bent down, and began to scoop some water into her cordial, and when she was satisfied with how full it was, she stoppered it once more, and then placed it back within her robes. Pulling her hat back up over her head, and tilting it forward, Laura prepared to return to the boat, when she noticed the boy was blocking her path.

Remaining calm, Laura simply breathed, and placed her hand to her sword, and then asked, "Why do you stop me, stranger?" she asked, "I have not hurt you, and I am simply borrowing this water to help a sick client. He is deathly ill, I urge you to let me pass." Laura stared right into his deep eyes, they were like the ocean, vast and unforgiving, and yet calm and inviting at the same time. But Laura was not to let this distract her, for this gave her discretion, and how could she make decisions when she had discretion?

Laura was taken aback by this. No one had ever questioned how she came about the knowledge of the Spirit Spring, not even her employer. Then again this was not something she told everyone she met, but her employer needed some healing herbs, and so Laura suggested the Spirit Water. But even then the woman who asked her to come here did not ask how Laura knew of such a place. She simply asked her to come.

Laura looked at the boy, staring him straight into the eye with a straight face, and told him the blank truth. "This information is a family heirloom," she said, "My mother told me, as her mother had told her. No one in my family knows why we know, we just do. My family knows much about this world that only those of higher standing would know. My sister thinks we are related to Royal Advisors and Guards, but I think that we are related to the Avatar somehow. These are simply our own ideas and figurings though, we do not know for sure how we know this. But we know it."

"As for your other question, I am taking it to my employer. She requested that I get her this Spirit Water for a deathly sick man. He has a bad fever, and he isn't recovering no matter what this woman has tried. She is a healer and a water bender from Ba Sing Se, and is one of the best in the Earth Kingdom, but even she couldn't help him. This could be his last hope..."

And with that Laura side stepped Castiel, spun and then ended up behind him walking towards the door before he could react. She didn't mean it in a bad way, she simply wanted to leave and get the Spirit Water to the sick man before he died. Haste was important, and she had already answered the boys questions. "Whether you believe me or not that is not my problem," she told him, "I answered your questions and that is all I had to do. Good day."

"This employer of mine is an old woman," said Laura simply, "She will not harm you. I was the one who suggested the spring to her, come after me if you are going to do any kind of inquisition. I am the one with the knowledge, not her." Laura, as a warrior let alone a ronin, had a duty to protect her employer's identity and safety at all costs. "Take me into custody if you will," she said placing her wrists together infront of the boy.

Besides, anything Laura could learn about this Tribe, more specifically this boy, would be helpful. He was very good looking...she would very much like to return for a little flirting session with the boy. Later. But for now she needed to return to the woman, well, she did until this boy started to get nosey. And then it dawned on Laura, she didn't even know his name.

"Who are you?" she asked suspiciously, "And more importantly why do you care about this oasis so much? Are you the guardian? Or perhaps some just concerned citizen? Regardless, if you're not taking me into custody then I will be leaving, hinder my departure and I will not be afraid to strike." Laura took everything at face value, and did not hold back anything, regardless of who she was speaking too. She felt it was her job to "tell it like it is" and that's exactly what she did.

"You're not?" she asked surprisedly. Laura had been on similar jobs before, and in doing had been arrested in four of the Six Nations. In the Empire she was arrested for knowing the secret entrance into the palace--which she needed to retrieve a lost diadem from the catacombs of the palace--in the Earth Kingdom it was for discovering the secret entrance in the Outer Wall of Ba Sing Se--in her defence she needed a way into the city, and her mothers information had once again helped her. And in the Light and Dark States she was arrested for finding her way through the Dark and Light Shrines, which are supposed to be navigable by only the Warriors of the Elements and those that share their blood.

Maybe Laura was descended from a Warrior? Or maybe her mother was just unnaturally knowledgeable? Or even moreso, her mother's stories may have just been lucky guesses. No matter what the reason was, Laura was not only shocked that she was not going to be arrested again, but was now beginning to question the source of her mother's knowledge. And all because of this boy. This prince, of all people for her to meet.

"So you're a prince huh?" she asked, "Don't expect me to bow to you. I respect your rank and all, but in all fairness I am not a member of this tribe, therefore not your subject. I am subject to only your laws, not your customs." Royalty never impressed Laura, she had always been brought before them in the past, each time she got arrested she had to answer to the kings or queens of whichever nation she was arrested in. And somehow, they always seemed to let her go, so not only was she not phased that this boy was the prince, she was also--very slightly--unimpressed.

"As for my name, I am Laura." she stated simply, "Laura Yeina, daughter of Kokoro and Mitsuko Yeina. I hail from Vermilion City, and am currently living within the Middle Ring of Ba Sing Se. Does that answer your question?" Like any Warrior, Ronin or Samurai of the time, Laura was sure to announce her residence, origin, name and parents. Any other information was unnecessary and considered impolite. Such was the Way of the Warrior.

"Handsome?" she smirked, "You wish. I've met handsomer men, but I suppose if you want to compare yourself to an older man. You're no Emperor Owlan, or an Earth Bending Wrestler, but I suppose you count." Laura flipped her hair and placed her fingers in her mouth. As she did, a messenger hawk flew in and landed on her arm. Laura tied placed the vial into the pouch on it's back, and sent it off once more.

"On any normal circumstance I would return myself with the water," she said to the prince, "But today, I'd much rather stick around and get a tour of the city. And since you're here, Mr. Gem of the Tribe, you're going to be the one to show me around. I'd quite like to see everything."

Laura smiled and crossed her arms, "What's wrong? Big bad Parent of the Tribe not up for a walk with little old me?" she mocked jokingly, "Or you too afraid I'll show you up in your own tribe?" Laura enjoyed toying with this boy, because he seemed to be toying back, even if slightly. And she had done her job, the water was going to reach her employer, so she had time to flirt. And this boy was rather handsome, so Laura didn't mind. "Well?" asked Laura, "You coming?"