Etsuko's Decisions [Open.to.all]

Etsuko sat outside her igloo, watching, observing. What used to be home felt like solitary confinement, a prison rather than a sanctuary. A prison she could escape. She knew she had the power to leave, but didn't know if she wanted to...or if she could. If she could leave behind everything, all of the happy memories. Laced with heartbreak and loneliness, the memories where bittersweet. She looked around, and tried to harden the expression that was forming on her face...the expression that opened the window into her heart...she looked scared. As her face reverted back to a neutral expression, a single tear slipped out of her gray eyes, sliding down her cheek.

She looked around the snowy Water Tribe she called home. All of the faces. None of them looked particularly worried, most of them looked perfectly happy. Most of them hadn't gone through what she'd gone through, they hadn't lost their parents. They hadn't had to push through, trying to make other people happy. They hadn't done...anything. Etsuko reminded herself to breathe, and told herself that she can't blame these people for behind happy, it's what she wanted. And so she sat there looking, the single tear lingering on her cheek.

Zoki walked through the ice field. She was almost to the Souhern Water Tribe. It had been a long walk, her transportation had left her stranded in the middle of no where and now Zoki was almost to civilization. The long walk made her feet sore and it was still quite a bit before resting came into view. Zoki saw a dot and couldn't identifyif it was a person or an animal. She got excited and started speeding up her pace. A grin came across her face as the dot became larger. Pretty soon Zoki would be able to identify the object and all would be well, unless if it was a carnivore of course. She was filled with excitement and started to feel a burning sensation through her body. Hopefully she wouldn't go into a rage near this village. That would lead to ultimate humiliation and trouble. And not the good trouble either. Zoki led herself forward and finally came close enough to the figure. It was another human, thank goodness!! "Hello! My name is Zoki, I come from the fire nation far, far away." Zoki introduced herself. She started to feel nervous after she mentioned herself being from the fire nation. Would they kick her out? Who knows, but it was only one person who heard her say fire nation, right?

Etsuko looked up at the noise, she was surprised. People don't normally yell out around here. She couldn't quite make out what the noise was, she looked up and saw another girl. A little younger than herself, walking through the snow towards the village. That's strange...she thought to herself. She got up and walked towards her, until the girl was completely visible. "Hello?" She yelled out.

Zoki jumped at the voice. She turned around and slipped. Zoki fell in the snowy ground and laughed. "Heheh, clumsy me..." Zoki said nervously. She looked up and smiled. She stood and brushed off the snow and held out her hand. "My name is Zoki Yinn! Nice to meet you." Zoki smiled.

"Ummm...Hi!" Etsuko tried to put on a smile, but she was slowly becoming concerned. Why would this girl be here? What was she doing in the South Pole? She looks innocent and happy, but could there be more behind that bright smile? Her eyes became cold and calculating as she looked Zoki up and down. Then she tried to look happy again. "I'm Etsuko Mara, water-bender, at your service!" Etsuko made a fake bow, and laughed. Her eyes remained cold.