Meme
So I just finished the bigbang, and I'm a bit in between projects. I'm planning to work on "Last Firebender" but for now I'm on a bit of a break. As such, I though I'd try to improve one of my big weaknesses, namely, short stories. And these here meme-things seem like a good way to do it
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How the Tiqkae came to be (as told by Anernerk, elder of the tribe)
Long ago, we were not of the tribe. Instead we lived above the clouds, on glorious temples, on the highest mountain tops. But jealousy grew within the hearts of the others men, and the Fire Nation plotted to due evil, for the Avatar was with us, and they plotted to kill him as a child.
The Fire Nation burned the temples, killed our women, and killed the avatar. Only a few Airbenders were left, and we had nothing, for none could be trusted. We hid in caves, coming out only to take what we could, and hiding again.
For years we lived like this, until Kanosak, champion of Chief Sapputi came to our lands. “I come seeking challenge. There is none in the Earth Kingdom or Water Tribe who may stand against me.” But none came to him. “I see there are naught but cowards here. At least the other stood against me, will none challenge me?”
“I will challenge you!” Kanosak looked down, and laughed as he saw his challenger. “You are but a boy. You cannot fight me”
“I will fight you. I am Chogyal, and for those you may be strong, I will show you I am better.”
Again Kanosak laughed, and this time the other airbenders came, and consulted. Look at him, see his power. You cannot fight him, he will crush you with one blow, while 100 blows from yourself will not even dent him. “
“Then I shall land ten-thousand blow before he can land one.”
And he fought Kanosak. Kanosak attempted to crush him with his club, but Chorgyal was far faster, and could not be crushed, Chorgyal reigned blows with his own club. Next Kanosak sought to spear Chorgyal. But Chorgyal was already a master of airbending, and ran around, to where Kanosak’s guard was vulnerable. Finally Kanosak grew angry, and ordered the waterbenders, to catch Chorgyal. But Chorgyal ran away and up high, where the limited water they had brought could not touch him, from there he threw stones until Kanosak was forced to flee in shame.
In this was did Chogyal (who is now known as Tiquana) best Kanosak.
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“No.” Kanosak kicked the boat in frustration, losing the fish was not an option.
Damnit all, it had been going so well. Kanosak had lead the ship further south than usual, in the hopes that they’re be something there, and it had all worked out. They’d had a full moon to fish under, and a full moon bounty of fish. But then the damn storm came, and now they were ashore in the Earth Kingdom, the ship might be damaged, the storm was pouring, they were all exhausted from staying up the entire night, and they couldn’t get back home. “Set up a rotation to keep the fish rotate, we can at least keep them from rotting. I saw some caves a little ways up, let’s at least get out of the damn storm and get some shut eye.”
OoOoOoOo
Chorgyal knew he shouldn’t be doing this, outsiders were to be avoided, and never approached alone, but he was curious. These strangers were different from the people in the lowlands who normally traveled through the mountains. They came ashore on a large wooden ship, and… and it was just so different, their clothes, faces, everything. He had to investigate.
Chorgyal peeked out from the trees, there seemed to be no one at the entrance to the cave. How strange, did they keep their guard someplace else? Maybe they went out, but Chorgyal had seen them enter the cave, and he knew this area, there was no other pass…. Unless they were like the Earth Kingdom people in the valley, and manipulated stone. Or… a dark thought entered his head, perhaps they were the Fire Nation the elders talked about. He should run… but if they were, then wasn’t it his duty to find out.
Chorgyal moved forward, toward the entrance of the cave. As he looked around his jaw dropped, they were all sleeping, in the daytime. Chorgyal knew a few others who slept during the day and came out at night, those who claimed it was safer, but even they had a guard. Still, Chorgyal felt a sense of relief, they had normal face, not the skulls the Fire Nation had, and slept during the day.
Curiosity overcame him, if they were asleep, he could investigate there packs… maybe there was something good inside. Carefully, ever so carefully, he tipped toe around the sleeping bodies, till he came to one of the knapsacks, and began inspecting it.
Most of the stuff was uninteresting, rope, a wooden club, a sharp spear, and meat? Why would you keep meat in a back-pack. Chorgyal inspected the meat, it didn’t look like any type he’d seen before, and it felt, weird, not liked cooked meat, not like raw, and it didn’t smell old, even though it couldn’t have been cooked recently, there was no fire marks in the cave, and the rain meant they couldn’t have done it outside. After debating with himself, Chorgyal took a bite.
It wasn’t bad, bland, but better than most maybe he could take some back to the elders, they might know-
“Who are you?”
“Oh monkey-feathers.”
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The thief, whoever he was, was quick on his feet, and managed to dodge his club. Strong to, the kid (or perhaps teen, it was hard to tell) sent him flying into the wall. Luckily, the noise woke up the other men. “He’s stealing the food, get him!”
It was 10 against one, in an enclosed space, it should have been a foregone conclusion, but somehow the thief just kept dodging and hitting them, sending them flying. For a second it looked like the theif was going to get away, jumping like dolphin leaping out of the water but Kamik managed to catch him foot with a water-whip and drag him back.
He screamed, and Kamik went flying back, this time Kanosak was sure of it. “He’s an airbender!” Not that he looked like any airbender Kanosak had ever seen . Not that he’d seen many, but he had vague childhood memories of people in robes and staff and bald heads visiting the village. Not half naked boys with a full head of hair that looked like it didn’t know what a razor was.
Regardless, the battle didn’t pause for that revelation, and the fight continued. “Use the nets, keep him from getting out. Two of his men listened, and grabbed on side of the net each, blocking the cave entrance. Not a moment too soon, as the airbender had managed to get away from everyone else, and shot toward the mouth of the cave. He hit the net full on, and Kanosak was amazed at the force. The two men holding the net were fishers, strong from the world of hauling full nets from the sea, and they were still thrown off their feet and lost hold of the net.
The airbender didn’t fair much better, and was entangled in the net. He began trying to free himself, but before he could get out Kamik sent a torrent of water, freezing him in place.
OoOoOoo
Chorgyal was terrified. These weren’t Earth Kingdom they were, the bent water. Chorgyal half remembered stories some of the elders had of them, stories of visiting them before the Fire Nation came. They never seemed so scary in the stories, but there they were. They were big, strong, and looked really angry, and he was trapped.
Chorgyal screamed. “HEEEEEELLLLLLLPPPPPP!”
OoOoOoOo
The airbender had some impressive lungs. Kanosak grinned, “Oh no, not now. Your going to need help for trying to steal our food an-”
He felt Kamik’s hand on his shoulder. “Kanosak, look at the mountains.”
“What- oh La’s icy depth’s.” Clouds of dust were appearing all over the mountain. Lots of them, it took all ten of them just to catch one airbender….“RUN!”
“What? Why should we?”Asked on of the other men. Kanosak smacked the idiot.
“Don’t question me! Just run you stupid bastard. We need to get back to the boat.” He let out a silent prayer to Tui and La that the tide would be high enough to get the boat out.
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"La's icy depths" is going to be one of my go-to curses for the Northern Water Tribe, now.
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The "myth" part was actually based on reading a book of african mythology, and noticing certain archtypes that cropped up between it and more familiar fairy tales. There's the vision quest, the riddle (drink no drink, eat no food), as well as the one's mentionied above. It's also notable that people will fight at the drop of a had in myths/fairy tales, which carried over into the drabble. The myths give no explanation for why the "champion" decided the best way to go recruit warriors was to pcik random fights, it just happens.
(Also, the name change, the new name means "adopted son" in Inuit.)
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