The silence violently cracks and the sky seems to turn red with a single surge of immense heat. Most of the villagers knew what was coming. As the palanquin approached, the black figures of the distant soldiers seemed to take shape. He was unsure of what the hours ahead would hold; after all, Riyu was a boy of only thirteen. Silence. Halt. As the palanquin slowly gravitated towards the earthy ground, the jet black curtains parted and Riyu was sure he'd never seen a ray of light so dominate a space. There she was...she. The people of Ju Wa were told that a great new Fire Nation leader was coming to inspect their cavalry...this was a little girl. But no, she was not so.
"Hello all. I'm sure you've been expecting me. Before the inspection can be carried out there needs to be some new rules around here." This was all he heard. Her words cut through the air like swords aimed at his senses. "Bang!" He felt a strong and quick pulse of energy crash against his chest. "Stop it!", whispered Riyu. "She'll hear you." His heart didn't listen. "Only twelve?!", yelled a voice in his head. He was astounded at the way Admiral Tso seemed to shrink into a ball whenever she spoke. Usually he was the one making the rules in Ju Wa. As she and her procession marched down the dirt road, Riyu only saw her. He didn't know who she was and didn't care...politics wasn't his thing. He'd much rather try his hand at a game of Pai Sho with Uncle Shu. The villagers were just beginning to walk back towards their homes. But something awesome happened.
As Riyu turned along with the clouded mass of people, her golden eyes flashed before him. He knew who she was now. But that didn't change a thing. Her gaze seemed to dissect him into a million different pieces. His heart seemed to swell as he waved to his newfound love in a futile effort to gain her attention. He had to go now. Ma said he had to be on time for his shift at the family business and local sandal manufacturer, the Shu store, as he often came in late after an evening by the river with his friends. Riyu didn't care. Instead, he made a full sprint to Old Mrs. Wu's bookstore to try to learn as much as he possibly could about politics.
"Hello all. I'm sure you've been expecting me. Before the inspection can be carried out there needs to be some new rules around here." This was all he heard. Her words cut through the air like swords aimed at his senses. "Bang!" He felt a strong and quick pulse of energy crash against his chest. "Stop it!", whispered Riyu. "She'll hear you." His heart didn't listen. "Only twelve?!", yelled a voice in his head. He was astounded at the way Admiral Tso seemed to shrink into a ball whenever she spoke. Usually he was the one making the rules in Ju Wa. As she and her procession marched down the dirt road, Riyu only saw her. He didn't know who she was and didn't care...politics wasn't his thing. He'd much rather try his hand at a game of Pai Sho with Uncle Shu. The villagers were just beginning to walk back towards their homes. But something awesome happened.
As Riyu turned along with the clouded mass of people, her golden eyes flashed before him. He knew who she was now. But that didn't change a thing. Her gaze seemed to dissect him into a million different pieces. His heart seemed to swell as he waved to his newfound love in a futile effort to gain her attention. He had to go now. Ma said he had to be on time for his shift at the family business and local sandal manufacturer, the Shu store, as he often came in late after an evening by the river with his friends. Riyu didn't care. Instead, he made a full sprint to Old Mrs. Wu's bookstore to try to learn as much as he possibly could about politics.