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Chapter Eight - Gaoling

A cloaked figure sat on the roof across from the local tea shop. Watchful eyes peered out from under the hood obscuring most of the petite figure's face.

Unaware that they were being watched from above, the townspeople went about their evening as usual.

Merchants and vendors proclaimed their last calls from their booths. Storekeepers began to close their shops for the night, watchful for any last-minute shoppers as they did. Guards patrolled here and there, some ending or starting their shift.

Gaoling was a large town and well populated. A large estate sat at the far edge of the town from where the stranger had entered.

Apparently the Beifong family lived there, which the stranger had heard a little bit about.

But she wasn't in Gaoling for the rich couple.

When most of the patrons left the tea shop, the cloaked figure leapt off of the roof, blending in with the growing shadows once she landed on the cobbled street.

Glancing both ways before crossing, she stepped swiftly to the window and peered in.

Besides the tea maker, there was one person left inside.

Slipping in through the open doorway, the shadow closed the door behind her.

Both men inside the shop looked up, surprise evident in their expressions.

"We are closed for the night," started the tea maker, giving the stranger a suspicious look.

The figure held up a pale hand, head turning towards the old man in the corner, seated by a Pai Sho table.

"I am not here for tea, good sir. I only wish to challenge the resident master Pai Sho player in a game."

The older gentleman rose an eyebrow at the petite figure, looking her up and down once. He stroked his greyed beard thoughtfully.

"Just one game, dear friend," he finally said, speaking to the younger man. "I doubt it will take long."

"Alright," grumbled the tea maker, picking up a broom. "One more game for you and then out you go. I'd like to go home to my family sometime tonight if you don't mind."

As he left the store front, heading to cleanup in the back, the old man chuckled, beckoning with a hand.

"Come, stranger. We shall play."

The cloaked figure moved over to the Pai Sho board and sat down across from the man.

He studied her, noting the pale skin of the lower half of her face.

"She seems young, the voice does too," he thought.

"The guest has the first move," he said aloud, gesturing with a hand to the board and pieces.

Quickly, the pale hand emerged from the black cloak again and reached for the white lotus tile, placing it in the middle.

"Ahh, the white lotus gambit," the man said quietly, leaning forward as if deciding his next move. He glanced shrewdly up at the shadowed face across from him. "Not many still cling to the ancient ways."

"Those who do can always find a friend," replied the stranger lowly.

"Then let us play."

As they did, the man kept pondering the young hooded stranger.

She was quite young from his guess, too young to be an initiate. But somehow, she knew the password. And the game.

Soon enough, the tiles were arranged on the board in the shape of a lotus flower.

The old man gave a nod of approval, raising an eyebrow again as he stroked his long beard.

"Welcome, sister. The White Lotus opens wide to those who know her secrets."

"That it does," the stranger said, reaching into a pocket in the inside of her cloak. The movement revealed a forest green tunic underneath the cloak, but did not move the hood on her head.

Retrieving a piece of paper from the pocket, the stranger extended it to the gentleman.

Carefully, he took it. Usually, members met when one needed help. This turn of events however, made more sense with the presence of a member so young.

Or rather, not really a member, but a messenger.

Unfolding the paper, he quickly read the neat calligraphy, expression staying blank, schooled with experience.

Once he was done, he glanced back at the messenger. For a second, he thought he saw glittering gold eyes staring back at him from the shadows of her hood.

But then, the hooded head tilted downwards and he wasn't so sure if he had.

"I will ready a reply if you'll stay a few more moments?" he asked neutrally, already halfway to his feet.

A silent nod was the only reply.

Quickly, he hurried over to the satchel he'd set nearby, taking out a piece of paper and ink. Placing both on the nearest table, he quickly wrote a reply. It was not very often a messenger was sent to him, and less often that the message that was carried was from a Grand Lotus.

Soon, he was finished and after letting the ink dry for a few more moments, folded the note and walked back to the Pai Sho table.

He handed it to the messenger, who was standing about where she'd been sitting before. She took it and placed it in her pocket where the other message had traveled in.

"Thank you for the message," the man said lowly, dipping his head. "I trust you will get my reply back to him?"

The hooded head nodded. "Yes."

"Very good," the man said. Noting the messenger was ready to be on her way, he continued. "I wish you safety on your travels, young one. And good luck."

"Thank you," came the quiet response. The petite figure bowed and turned, her cloak fanning out like the wings of a raven behind her.

The man looked towards the kitchen, where the noise of dishes could still be heard.

When he turned back towards the girl, she had vanished.

Walking to the window, he looked out onto the dark street. Against the starry sky, he thought he saw a fast-moving shadow leap across the rooftops across the road. But only for a moment. As swift and silent as she had appeared, the cloaked messenger disappeared into the night.

Hearing a loud ruckus had drawn Jaylee closer to the stadium. A poster nearby told her that something called Earth Rumble VI apparently was what the ruckus was.

Whatever it had been, it was over now, people streaming out of the exit, babbling on about the fights.

Apparently, there had been a new fighter that no one had ever seen before.

And apparently, she was only a kid.

As one group approached her hiding spot, Jaylee, drew further into the shadow, pulling her hood farther over her face. Once they passed, she slunk out into the open and took off, intending on heading back to the Wani.

Once she reached the nearby forest where she had emerged to investigate closer, something caught her attention.

Through the trees, she spotted a small figure hurrying along, away from the stadium, back towards Gaoling.

Jaylee narrowed her eyes as she hunkered down behind a bush to watch.

"What's a little kid doing out here? She must be lost."

Suddenly, the girl stopped, as if listening.

"I know you're there," she called loudly, turning her head slightly towards where Jaylee was hiding. "Why don't you come out and quit stalking me?"

"What? She can't have possibly seen me," Jaylee thought, eyes widening. "Or heard me."

"What's a matter? Too scared to show yourself?" the girl, who must be several years younger than her, called out challengingly. She placed her hands on her hips. "I don't blame you; I am the best earthbender in the world."

Jaylee quirked an eyebrow at that. Whether this kid actually spoke truth or not, she didn't feel the need to give her what she wanted.

It sounded like she was looking for a fight. What she was doing out in the forest by herself looking for one, she didn't know.

Maybe, if she was supposedly the greatest earthbender ever, it was the new kid from the stadium.

What Jaylee did know, was that she had places to be and if the girl had that good of senses to have known she was there, she should be fine by herself.

With that thought, the firebender stood and took off, swiftly climbing up a tree and leaping through the foliage.

If the kid really was an earthbender, even a half decent one, Jaylee would prefer getting away from the earth so she didn't get earthbent into a hole or something.

"Hey! Get back here!" yelled the little girl.

Obviously, Jaylee was not going to listen, and once she was several trees away, climbed back down and ran.

A smirk on her face and a message in her pocket, she wove in and out between the large tree trunks, boots nearly silent on the forest floor.

No sound of the other girl's pursuit met her ears.

Soon enough she left the forest and was heading towards the shore.

It was nearly sunrise when Jaylee got back to them.

Iroh, Zuko, and Jaylee had taken the river steamer into the bay the evening before, leaving the Wani out on the open waters to attract less unwanted attention. Once the princess had left them, they went back to the ship to wait.

When the cover of darkness began to wane, both Iroh and Zuko had left again on the smaller boat for the shore once more.

Now, in the dim light, they spotted the cloaked figure appear on the beach.

Zuko guesses that from the grin on his cousin's face, her trip went well. Or at least, she had enjoyed it.

Suppressing a grin of his own, he helped his uncle bring the steamer closer to the shore.

Once she was in the boat with them, she was practically crushed in a hug.

"Jaylee, I'm so glad you're back safe!" Iroh said.

"Dad! Not breathing!" Jaylee gasped, awkwardly returning the hug. "I'm not gonna disappear!"

"I'm sorry!" came the reply, Iroh quickly releasing her.

"I wasn't even gone that long," she said as she pulled away a bit, a small grin on her face.

Zuko rolled his eyes with a slight smirk. "He worried. A lot."

"Of course, I did!"

"No need," Jaylee replied, pushing her hood back. "There wasn't any trouble."

"Did you find out anything?" Zuko asked, trying not to sound too eager.

After all, he was supposed to be the crown prince of the fire nation. And also, Uncle was watching.

"I'll tell you on the Wani. Maybe after a nap."

Zuko gave a short nod and moved away, preparing to return to the ship.

Iroh noted how the girl was trying to be hopeful, but he knew that tone.

If she'd learned anything about the Avatar, it was not much. Definitely not anything worth immediately investigating if the girl wished to catch up on sleep first.

Jaylee's gaze then turned to Iroh as they headed the steamer back out of the bay. A small nod of her head and she was then following her cousin, brushing past her father as she did.

When she had left and both children were out of sight, Iroh reached into his sash and pulled out the note his messenger had slipped there.

His eyes narrowed as he frowned at its contents.

The words were concerning.

But the world was not right. Not right at all.

Hmm, I wonder who that mysterious girl in the forest was... ;)

Apparently, the crew of the Wani wished to go to Gaoling and slightly changed my plans of how much the Gaang members turn up before the start of season one.. But that's totally okay by me! (This story sometimes writes itself) And hey, if they were going to be in the neighbourhood, of course someone was going to have a run in with the resident earthbending champion.

Thanks for reading! Stay safe everyone!