Behind the Flames .:H2OVanoss:.

.:Chapter 10:.

          "Holy shit."
Its beauty almost brought Jonathan to tears. The sloping dirt path before them led deep into a wide valley, where a petite village of tattered, stone houses settled comfortably abut to one another. The steep mountain ranges were powdered with radiant white snow and shrouded in silver clouds.
          A small, glittering lake rest in the very center of it all, one so crystal clear it perfectly mirrored the mountains and clouds. Rolling fields of green and gold, coated with shimmering dew, now curled against the Earth in preparation for a long winter hibernation. Few trees of pale green, yellow, and maroon still clung to their leaves determinedly.
The clouds opened up every once in a while, dappling the valley with magnificent beams of light. The humid scent of rain and fresh grass drew completed it all, a place of fantasy Jonathan once had only dreamed of existing. As he stared further in, his eyes settled upon the sweet homes of the village. To his amazement, were built almost exactly the same as the ones back at Unity Island. They adorned the same architecture with stony walls, wood planked rooftops, and the common smoke-puffing chimneys that reached well above the rooftops.
"It's almost like we went back in time to see the island again!" David beamed at Tyler. The earth bender returned it and clicked to his bird, leading the way down the slope with a gleeful bounce in their gait. As they approached the entrance to the town, they could hear the restless stirring of the residents inside. The natives quickly walked out of their homes upon listening to the joyous shouts of their heroes' return.
The moment Dawn's large talon scraped against the trampled-down path inside the village, the warm scent of burning wood and drool-inducing goodies welcomingly flowed into Jonathan's nose. He could feel his mouth water and the eagerness to explore his new home grow faster than he could control.
He turned his head and met the eyes of the citizens as they passed them, and came across the admiring gazes of three children. They were wide-eyed with mouths agape, staring back with adoration.
"Look over there! The Chiefs brought back prisoners- I think they are from the evil Fire Nation!" A little boy pulled roughly at another's arm.
"But I thought only Water Tribers wore blue? Those two are wearing blue, dummy!" He pointed back and forth between Jonathan and David.
"There's a red one too! And look at his armor, it looks like the armor in our schoolbooks, doesn't it?" A little girl waved a finger in Evan's direction. "He must be a really bad guy!"
"Maybe they are really from the Fire Nation, but in disguise?! What if they try to kill us in the middle of the night?!" The first boy watched them pass with a suspicious look. As the returning group wandered a few steps ahead, Jonathan couldn't help but look back at them. The children had run out into the road, now accompanied by many other young ones, following the group curiously as they made their way through town.
David looked back as well, and gave a friendly wave to the kids. The children stopped dead in their tracks, giggling, and shoving one another out of the way to hide from the terrifying blue-eyed gaze of the stranger. They pushed and weaved until they disappeared into the crowd of adults. The water benders chuckled lightly.
"Ah, kids. Their imagination never ends." David commented and the other chuckled.
They finally approached the barn area where the animals were kept, and dismounted for the last time. A couple of burly men Jonathan had never seen before approached, assisting in getting the unconscious fire bender off his back. They proceeded to drag him off to who-knows-where, but before Jonathan could protest, he heard a strange, accented voice speak up.
          "David, holy hell! I hardly recognized ya!"
          Jon turned around and saw David interacting with Brock and another familiar individual. His hair was a dark and dirty blonde that trailed into a light beard and mustache. His eyes had bright blueish green waves of color, which appeared even more saturated due to the reflection of the colored trees and sky.
"It's me, Brian! An old pal from the island! Do you remember me?" Brian's face alit with a welcoming smile as he opened his arm to wrap around David's shoulder. David laughed and returned the action.
"Of course I remember! You aren't the type of person I can get rid of- I mean forget about, that easily!" They stood apart, just grinning at each other childishly.
"You bitch! I missed you so much, haha!" They shared another giddy hug. "So where's Jonathan? Brock told me that he was here, too!" He looked around, his eyes completely scanning over Jon's mask as if it hadn't stuck out at all.
"Geez, are you blind? He's right in front of you!" Brock walked up from behind Brian and laughed, pointing at Jonathan as he took a wary step closer.
"Oh spirits, haha! I'm sorry, man! I totally thought you were someone else!" Brian reached behind his own head and rubbed it embarrassingly. "I didn't expect to see you wearing a mask, now we have two masked mysteries in town! Not that it isn't cool or anything- I mean, masks are pretty awesome! I just kind of expected something else ya know? Like, a face that has seen years of adventure and war and- Ok now I'm just spewing shit. I'll just shut up now."
"Good idea." Brock laughed and slung an arm around Brian's shoulder. Brian and Brock seemed to be around the same height- Brian pulling up not even a full inch taller. Or, it was just his spiky hair that threw them off. Either way, they looked to be two perfect peas in a pod- only differentiating by face features.
"It's alright, Brian. It's great to see you again!" He walked over and accepted Brian's hug. "What years of adventure and war have you been up too?"
Brian chuckled and opened his mouth to speak, but words in a different voice reached Jonathan's ears first.
"Jonathan, I need to speak with you immediately." Tyler's voice wavered on the border of concern and confusion.
         "Oh boy, master chief here to ruin the reunion." Brian joked, shoving Jonathan towards him.
         Shrugging and waving goodbye to the other three, Jonathan had no choice but to follow Tyler across the camp after making sure Dawn got back to Brock. He walked after the 'chief' along a dirt path bordering the town, admiring the undergrowth, then looked at the back of his friend's head curiously.
"Is something wrong?" Jonathan questioned hesitantly.
"I'd think you would've already known the answer." He responded. Jonathan thought for a moment and scowled bravely.
"I assure you, Evan will not be harming anyone. I will watch him and care for him and-"
"That's not the only issue here, Jonathan. And you know that, it's plain as day." He wandered over to a large boulder and leapt onto it with ease, motioning for Jonathan to follow as he disappeared over the other side.
          Jon could feel his chest constrict with nerves; but he would much rather face a harsh, calm Tyler than an annoyed, angered Tyler. Climbing the boulder wasn't as difficult, but trying to catch up to Tyler was. By the time Jon had cleared the single boulder, Tyler was three over, leaning alongside a small crevice in the sloping mountain base.
"Please do inform me of the other issue." He tried not to sound sassy.
"You can't even guess?" Tyler rolled his eyes. "Open your eyes, Jonathan. We just kidnapped a military captain of the enemy and are holding him hostage in our home base. Do you honestly think that they won't even bat an eye at the fact he jut disappeared? What about his men? There are bound to be more of them showing up at our doorstep even sooner than we thought. I know I agreed to let you take him home, with many cautions at that, but I had to make a dangerous decision on the spot- but now that I have a clear mind and have had time to think about it, it could probably have been the dumbest decision I've ever made!"
Jonathan opened his mouth to argue, but Tyler silenced it by raising his hand. He continued to speak, "Here's my point, Jonathan. He cannot, I repeat, can not stay here. There is too much of a risk at hand. My only other options are to kill him, or send him away into a place where he will never be able to get out. Where he can rot alone and helpless, just like he deserves."
Jonathan's breath caught in his throat. "H-how could you be so heartless?! Tyler, we can't do that! He just needs time to see that the fire nation really isn't where he's meant to be! I can help him, I swear!"
"No, Jonathan!" His voice raised into a persistent beg. "There are many lives worth more than his miserable one! This is just how it has to be, there's nothing else I can do!" He clenched his teeth, hoping that Jonathan could not sense how pained he truly felt. Every time he had to choke out that traitor's name, Tyler could feel his own heart shred apart. It wasn't fair!
          Evan had been his best friend for years, the one that always stood there with him, and never judged him for who he was! Without Evan, Tyler would not have obtained the boldness and sacrifice of his nature. The "natural born leader" in him was because of Evan's encouragement and friendship in his young life.
All those who saw Tyler as a mean, selfish, inconsiderate child could never understand the labyrinth of complications Evan abandoned Tyler with. Tyler was and never will be any of those things, yet for the sake of those who follow him, he was always willing to take the blame. They depend on him to keep them safe and fight for what is right, so he intends to do just that. Even if it means he has to sacrifice a part of himself everyday for it.
Staring back at Jonathan, he could feel his anger bubble furiously, but he painfully forced it back. 'It hurts just as much to me, but you'll be just like everyone else- unable to understand.'
"Commander Tyler...?" A cautious voice called over the boulder. Tyler pulled himself together to stand tall once more, shaking off the stress in his expression and confidently marching down the boulders.
"What is it?" He responded strictly. "I'm in the middle of settling an important conflict."
"I understand, sir; but I was sent to deliver a request of your return to Commander Brian's headquarters immediately. He is said to have found an issue with your plan in going forth to the shrine. It is of the utmost importance, he claims, and demands to see you as soon as possible." The stranger seemed to have a familiar voice.
"..Understood. Thank you." Tyler waited until the stranger left, and without looking back at Jonathan, he ordered, "I want him gone by sundown. Dead or lost, I'll leave it up to you, since you have the strongest interest in defending him." Then he leapt out of sight, leaving Jonathan with another 'hardest decision of his life' to resolve. His legs buckled underneath him, accepting the uncomfortable icy stone as his resting spot for the time being.
A minute passed; Just laying on the stone in the silence. Soon two minutes passed, still silence, but on the third minute, he heard the light patter of paws. He opened his eyes and looked around, surprised upon seeing the white fluff of an all too familiar poodle-monkey, and a masked soldier perched on the edge of the boulder, his back to Jon. He didn't say anything, only stared up into the sky in silence.
"What do you want?" Jonathan flopped back down against the stone, staring up at the clouds that acted as a barrier from sunlight. He heard Cry shift, as if he were shrugging.
"I've been in a similar position before, kind of. But you don't look like you want to talk, and I respect that. I don't like talking much either." His voice played like a soothing melody into Jonathan's ears. How is this guy even real?
"Well, I'm not an asshole. I'll talk if you want me too." He propped himself up onto his elbows and crossed his legs.
"Nah, take your time, friend." Cry sighed in contempt. Jonathan however, just sat there uncomfortably, staring at the mysterious boy's back.
"...Well now it's just awkward." Jonathan sighed and got to his feet, sliding down the smooth surface and dangling his feet off the edge of the rock alongside his 'friend'.
"Silence isn't awkward. It's an open window for thoughts to flow, for emotions to be settled when riled. It corresponds with time to bring healing, but the thoughts must come out eventually; much like bending. Allow your emotions to speak once you feel keen. I'm not one to judge the feelings of another, especially if I think they relate to me." He always refused to meet Jonathan's eyes, which kind of annoyed him, but Jonathan figured it was better to just do as he says.
"I just- I don't know. That guy we dragged all the way back from the battle, I knew him once. In fact.. he was my best friend. He meant more to me than anyone I can think of. It's kind of scary, why I held on to him so long, hoping one day we will be together again. It's like I tried so hard to keep him in my life, even though for years I had no idea what became of him." The poodle monkey approached, nuzzling his arm and asking for pets. "I guess.. now that he's back.. I'm having mixed feelings. He's not the same, he's a danger to everyone else here and.. I don't know what to do."
Cry nodded, remaining silent for another awkward moment, making Jon hesitate. He really didn't want too share it all in detail, but for some reason, he knew this man was different. Almost like he felt he was safe, his secrets were safe, they wouldn't be spoken or abused in any way. They both wore masks to hide something, after all- how more in common can you get?
"I guess the first feeling is denial." He continued. "I've lived so long telling myself that we will be reunited and be the best of friends again! But now that he's here, I don't want to believe he's changed, even though he treats me like an enemy and an enemy alone. It's like my whole life plan just shattered in a single moment." He spoke despite the other not even asking.
Cry nodded again but didn't speak, so Jonathan continued. "I'm also feeling- I guess, really lost. I don't know what to do anymore! Either way, I'm going to lose him. Sure, if Tyler wants me to kill him or send him away, I'd send him away because I could never kill him.
"Of course, I could always just leave with him, but there's no telling how he would feel or what he would do to me. Probably try to kill me, ditch me, or betray me in the end. And I could never just get up and leave David- you know, the other water bender that joined with me. He and I have been brothers since the island crumpled! And I swore to be by his side till the end.. Spirits, is there even a win?" He slid a hand into his mask and rubbed his eyes.
"..Maybe you just need to figure out what's best for your friends, first." Cry finally spoke.
"Huh?"
"If you are willing to put forth the effort to change him, you need to give Tyler your exact strategy in doing so. You need to find this man's weakness, and prove that you can use it against him when or if the time comes. But don't get cocky- be logical and don't ever let your guard down."
After a few seconds pause to think, Jonathan replied, "I could do that, but what about the whole deal with him being in the village? They could track Evan down and find our base, then wipe us out."
"Well, keep him away from the base." Cry suggested. "You yourself take him away. Help him, like you promised. Maybe, if Tyler agrees, take him on the trip to the shrine. Dedicate yourself to changing this man for the greater good, and maybe make a promise that if Evan isn't reformed by the time of your return in two weeks, then Tyler and the other commanders can do what they wish with Evan."
Jonathan looked up quickly. That idea was actually quite brilliant! What better way to bond than to take a road trip. He will be out of the village, and under strict security. Along the way, Jonathan would do everything he could to bond with him all over again. Evan's alliance and friendship would be worth it in the end.
"You're right! Thank you so much, Cry. I really appreciate all that you said to me today." He looked over as Cry did, and they smiled beneath their masks.
"Jonathan! There you are!" Jonathan could recognize David's voice from a mile away. He watched as his brother raced up the dirt towards them, panting heavily as if he had been running for a long time.
          "You have to come with me right now! I just found out who the escorts from the air temple are! And they literally just got here, we gotta go meet them!!" He looked up towards Jon at the top of the boulder, eyes sparkling with excitement.
         "Wait, were getting escorted personally by air nomads?!" He sat up curiously.
          "Ya! Since we lost so many hours, they asked if a couple of monks could just fly us to the swamp, and they agreed! But that doesn't matter, do you even care about who these air nomads are?!"
          Jonathan couldn't help but laugh. "By the way you're hyping them, one of them better be the fuckin' avatar!"
          David grinned even wider.