| By King Bumis Heir | Genre | Rating | Reviews | Updates |
| More from King Bumis Heir | Action/Adventure/Drama/Comedy/Romance | PG-13 | None | No update page |
Overview[]
Today's the anniversary of when Palartok's son was killed many years ago, his son's death plagues his mind and he hasn't moved on. Today he faces his toughest year yet.
Chapter 6: Memories of an Admiral[]
Book 3: Earth
Chapter 6: Memories of an Admiral
The bright spring sun shone over the compound near the Meng River in Hankou. The sun's rays radiated off the blades of grass and changed the color from dark green to a base green color. The grass on the fields that surrounded the compound was cut down by the indigenous fauna that lived in the hills near the river.
Northern Rebellion Compound.
Palartok and Kireama exited their tent around the same time Senlin did. Senlin covered his eyes from the sunlight and peered over to Palartok. They exchanged no words, Palartok wrapped his arm around Kireama's shoulders, and together they walked toward the gates where they met the rest of the rebels.
Every morning they got ready for a run as was customary in all military outposts or compounds. While normally Kireama and Palartok were one of the frontrunners. Palartok was far behind as if he was distracted, even Senlin didn't bother to show up to the morning run. Kireama slowed down after they turned the first corner around the compound. She descended from the front to the middle and ran at the same power walk speed as her boyfriend.
"What's wrong?" she worried about Palartok.
"Today's Tukkutok's birthday," he murmured.
"Oh..." she paused "You know you don't have to do anything today," she resumed.
He shook his head, "No it's okay. I can do this, it's just life isn't the same without him. But I need to learn to get over his death."
Palartok picked up his speed and returned to a light jog they were the only two on the eastern wall. Most of the group was either behind the northern wall or reached the western wall and are close for one lap. He remained silent during the first lap around the compound he jogged in place while everyone went around the outside of the compound for another lap. Then he stopped and sighed Kireama went around the bend. He minced instead toward the mess hall and waited while the cooks prepared breakfast.
Several minutes later, Kimaru was the fourth to run back into the compound. Each morning they committed themselves to run two laps around the fort. Palartok was the first one in line, Kimaru nipped in briskly before anyone could get in.
He was surprised to see Palartok was in the line first, "How'd you get here so fast? Or were you late for the run?"
A waterbender bent a blob of stew into Palartok's bowl he turned to face Kimaru, "I woke up late, is all."
Kimaru continued with a few more words that went unanswered and ignored, he also realized Senlin wasn't in line. But he saw Inuksuk down the line and waited until after the commander received his food. They walked together to a table and he whispered along the way, "What's his problem?" he pointed at Palartok with his thumb.
"Today is the anniversary of his son's death, it's a hard day for him. Most of the men know this, I suggest you leave him be for today," advised Inuksuk.
"Fair enough," said Kimaru.
He dug into his sea kumquat stew as did the others, other men ate rice and fish or beef. Palartok played with his food a bit uninterested in what sat in front of him. His girlfriend Kireama sat across from him.
A sequence of memories rushed inside his head he found himself behind some crates. He felt the sun's warmth had made contact with his skin. The nights were no longer as cold the spring encroached on the North Pole.
He wore light purple clothing but he kept his fur and leathered gloves and boots on. So that his appendages wouldn't get frostbite. He hid behind the crates as he peeped every few moments as if someone had searched for him. He stared at his palms and turned them around to see the back of his hands weren't as wrinkled.
Its as if Palartok traveled back in time, maybe he dreamt of this. He pulled snow off the ground and made it into a sheet of ice. He checked his reflection on the sheet his face wasn't as angular as normally, his hair was a full shade of midnight black. He was young again, he was daydreaming he thought.
Small weightless footsteps were heard off in the distance he resumed hiding behind the crates. He waited for his enemy to approach him. He scanned his surroundings and found himself back in Aupaluk. The frozen structures made of ice towered over him and blocked out the sun, except where he hid there were no citizens. No life roamed about, it was just him and those footsteps that neared him but could not be seen.
Tukkutok.
Giggling echoed through the empty streets, the footsteps went silent. Small hands shook him and he felt a surge of fear travel through his body. He screamed, "Ahh!"
"I got you dad!" shouted a little boy, he giggled.
The small boy was about three feet tall, he was slim and well-covered head to toe in thick clothing. His hair was tucked tightly around his head, his eyes were purple. For a second, Palartok stared at the small boy and threw his arms around the child.
A small tear shed from his right eye he constantly thought of his son on a day-to-day basis. But this was the first time in a long time where he remembered everything vividly. Where he was able to make a conscious decision in his mind instead of having to replay everything.
"Not again," he chuckled he picked up the small boy and kissed him lightly on the cheek. The small boy's right hand touched his stomach and it rumbled. His father glanced down to see his son's gestures.
"You're hungry?" inquired Palartok, the child nodded. Palartok smiled and walked back home with the boy, "What would you like to eat, Tukkutok?" he asked his son.
"Sea prunes!" the boy exclaimed excitedly.
"We had sea prunes yesterday, how about some leopard seal meat? We haven't had some of that in quite a while," offered his father.
The child thought for a moment, "Well..." he paused.
"It couldn't hurt to eat something else for today, we can always eat sea prunes another day," he decided on the offer Palartok gave. He led his son back inside their home he remembered it similar to how he left it all those years ago.
Palartok searched his home for ingredients while his son played with his wooden toy. It was carved in the shape of a polar bear dog. The most dangerous beast in the North and South Poles, he made the sounds of the beast while his father began to prepare the meat.
"Palartok!" he heard his name escape his son's lips, he rubbed his eyes and paid attention to his son. Tukkutok's head transformed in Kireama's, it startled him that it brought him back into reality. She was worried for her boyfriend, "Honey, you need to eat your stew its getting cold."
Palartok's hands trembled he grabbed the wooden stew utensil and began to eat. Concerned she questioned him, "What's wrong?"
"It's him. It's Tukkutok, I had a daydream about him but I felt like I could control what I could do, I wasn't replaying everything in my head," answered Palartok.
"Please eat your stew and I'll tell the boys you can't train with them today," she said, he nodded and continued to eat.
After about an hour of eating Palartok rested his head on Kireama's shoulder. She ran her fingers through his hair she knew that today was especially hard for her significant other and recommended that he go back to his tent.
Everyone finished their meals and Palartok headed off back to his tent he still hadn't seen Senlin. But chose not to bother him, today was about him he needed to take care of himself. He laid inside his tent and turned to face the left. He dozed off and found himself in front of the fire pit with spiced meat that began to cook on the stump where he laid it on.
Tukkutok resumed to play with his toys and started again with the noises of a wild animal. He took a gander at his boy and paced over to him. He asked his son, "Can I join you?" Tukkutok nodded to his dad, Palartok sat down nomad positioned and used two fingers as if they were a person who walked around.
His fingers ran away from the wooden beast that chased him, he pretended like his fingers tripped and fell. The wooden polar bear dog toy mauled the fingers and they both chuckled, Palartok sniffed the meat and quickly rose to his feet.
"Our food's ready," he said, the boy placed his toy down and ran over to the table and rested on a furry cushion. Palartok came around with cooked meat on wooden plates, he set down the food and they both lowered their heads.
Palartok awoke from his dream he had been sweating, he wiped his forehead of sweat and he exited his tent and to the water pump. He gently pulled out some water from the pump to hydrate himself. He stood there for a few seconds as he continued to drink some more.
He wandered off toward the training grounds where he leaned against a wall and observed the men who trained with Inuksuk. Palartok's men joined those in Inuksuk's group and trained in hand-to-hand combat. Every pair was two soldiers one gave soft blows while the other blocked it. The hot sun beat down on them and Palartok. He leaned in closer to the wall so that the shade covered him.
While in the shade he returned to his memories, he found himself in his home once again. Back where he left off, his son was halfway done with his meat. The boy asked curiously, "When do I get to meet mommy?"
He took a gander at his father who carefully used words to describe why she was no longer with them. He remembered the day she left, she paced out their room with the child before she handed the boy to his father. When Tukkutok's mother approached the door she sighed and turned around.
"Palartok," she called softly.
"Yeah?" he wondered as he looked up to meet eyes with her boyfriend.
"I-I'm leaving. I'm leaving you with our son, and I'm not coming back," she responded, Palartok gasped and stood up with Tukkutok in his arms.
"Alaise what are you talking about?" he worried, he held his child closer and paced toward her.
Alaise, Palartok's girlfriend and Tukkutok's mother.
"We can't be together you know this is wrong if he finds out.." she said then paused a tear falls from her eyes.
"He won't find out, run away with me let's go to the Southern Water Tribe. They'll take us in," he offered her to leave her home to safety in the sanctuary of the South Pole.
In the Northern Tribe citizens of the same social class had to marry each other. Different social classes marrying into the other was forbidden. In the South it didn't matter, nobles could marry craftsmen, middle caste can marry hunters, etc.
Children born of a mixed social class were known as their father's class or casteless often noble families killed the casteless who have tainted their bloodlines. She took in a deep breath before she let out an exhaled puff of air.
She shook her head, "No Palartok, I already lied to father too much. What next? I lie to him that I'm moving to the Earth Kingdoms? The Fire Nation? That I gave up my life as a noblewoman to become an oblate in one of the Air Temples?" she bugged him.
"No just run away with me you don't have to tell him anything if you don't want to. If you choose to let him know may it be from the safety of Southern laws," replied Palartok.
"If I tell him it will put all of our lives in danger," she exclaimed.
"You know better than to lay with someone outside of your caste, Sos," she added.
"You're acting as if this is my fault. You had much to do with this as I did, we don't have to leave the North Pole. I have family in Igliktuk out in Alaapaa, we can disappear," reasoned Palartok.
"You're NOT listening, Sos. My dad has money he'll track us down, I'm leaving to protect you and our son," she raised her voice which made the baby cry. She then repeated what she tried to convince him in the first place.
"I'll always be there for him but in the shadows, as Torngark intended, I know Mother Akna will be disappointed in me but this is the way. I'll return someday, maybe when Anguta picks up my father," cried Alaise.
"Tukkutok's life is too important to risk, Sos. I love you both but this is goodbye," she finished and wiped a tear from her eye.
She turned around to head out the door but Palartok grabbed her wrist with one hand and pulled her in for a final kiss. She then kissed Tukkutok's forehead one final time and left.
Palartok sighed, "Tukkutok, Anguta took mommy away from us years ago. You were only about a few months old when she still walked with the living."
"Anguta took her to the northern lights?" the boy guessed, Palartok nodded, "Yes, my boy. She dances with ancestors in the sky. But you know what? Your mother loved you very much."
Palartok returned to the water pump he released some more sweat from his forehead. He drank some more to keep hydrated when Kimaru returned from the scouting class he saw Palartok had collapsed.
He felt a nasty headache and his emotions were in distress Kimaru screamed, "Palartok!"
This alerted the others one of his men who trained with Inuksuk's group darted to his superior officer. His vision began to blur he remembered as his eyes and ears began to fail him, he could see Kimaru panicked and shouted for help. While the soldier ran off and several others ran toward Palartok, another ran for Kireama.
Palartok returned to the memories in his head, years later, a young man attempted to maintain his breath as he ran. With each step, he inhaled and exhaled at a moderate speed as he ran through the icy and snowy terrain of the track in the local park. A wave of snow surrounded the young man, he ran into the ice wall with his hands flat on the wall. He pointed them toward the wall, the wall of ice shattered and he continued to run through.
He then slowed down and sunk a bit into the snow as he glanced back he could see a much larger figure on his heels. The young man's face rigid as ever he bent snow and froze it solidly into icicles. He threw them at the man who chased him, the man created a shield of ice that took one or two spikes before the third shattered it on impact.
He dodged two more spikes that flew at him then the man disappeared. The snow again shook beneath the young man's feet and a fist of ice grabbed him. He was trapped and defeated he attempted to break free but to no avail. He gave up when the fist crawled on his wrists and ankles which prevented him from bending.
His captor removed his hood which revealed to be his father, Palartok, "You need to learn to use your environment more often, son. What if your attackers sneak up on you and you've got no resources on hand?" his dad questioned him.
"You're improving but it's not perfect, we'll do this again tomorrow," said Palartok. Tukkutok sighed and slouched in disapproval and exhaustion.
"When are you going to teach me how to make ice weapons?" asked Tukkutok.
"In due time, son. For now, I want you to get this through your head, fighting isn't always the answer. Sometimes we have to run, to fight another day," fretted Palartok.
"Fine, I'll figure out better tactics to use tomorrow. I won't let you catch me this time around," Tukkutok claimed.
"Let's go hunting then, I haven't eaten walrus bear meat in some time. It's always delicious," Palartok suggested. His son nodded his head slightly and smiled from ear to ear finally he got to hunt again.
A teenage Tukkutok.
Tukkutok was now fifteen-winters-old, one more year and he's legally a man by Tribesmen law. At his age, he needed to learn how to fight, hunt, and survive in the treacherous arctic environment of the North Pole. Palartok taught his son everything he knew soon he hoped Tukkutok will master the art of bending water from alien resources, like trees, plants, thin air amongst others.
They returned home Palartok prepared their carriage for their hunting trip he found a spear and tossed it to his son. Tukkutok caught the spear and used the spear as a walking stick, his father Palartok examined the whale shark jaw blade he had. He wanted to make sure it was sharp and not dull, so the kill would be more effective and quick and less of a danger to them. He gently touched the teeth on the blade and made sure they were sharp enough to cut through the thick skin of the walrus bear.
Palartok sat in the roofless cart he held onto the reins of the arctic camel and snapped them as soon as Tukkutok mounted the cart. They traveled toward the gates of Aupaluk's northern side the guards who stood watch opened the wooden gates that protected the city from the outside. Tukkutok read the map of all the caves observed by other hunters which claimed to contain a specific animal.
"How much further, son?" Palartok inquired to Tukkutok.
"We have to go further north, it's about four hours past Tulaktak," replied Tukkutok, "Thank you," thanked his father.
Four hours later, they reached a small cave near the forests of Niptaktuk the resource of lumber for Northern battleships. The cave had a single walrus bear that slumbered in front of it, it wasn't too strange that a walrus bear strayed far from its natural habitat on the cold arctic beaches of the North or South.
The winds picked up Palartok advised that soon would be the time to strike. If the winds picked up harshly than now, it could be a danger to them both. They skulked about the beautiful white snow as silent as they could closer to the creature. The creature carried thick dark brown fur and flippers that were designed for swimming and running on land, which made this one of the nastiest predators of the poles.
Its snout carried sensitive whiskers for which it used to sense food and intruders and other things, another deadly feature to the walrus bear was the two long, sharp ivory tusks that every male and female walrus bear grew in adulthood.
The massive beast gave an ear-splitting roar as it awoke in anger that humans trespassed its territory. It charged at them as they charged at it, spear and blade in hand. The walrus bear stopped and stood on its hind flippers to intimidate the two humans. It went down for a swipe at Tukkutok he rolled back while his father distracted the animal. He picked up his spear and thrust the spearhead into the walrus bear's neck.
It growled loudly in pain hot steamed blood began to pour out of the animal's neck wound. Palartok used his bending and allowed the frost to creep on the beast's limbs. The ice held the walrus bear in place as it attempted to escape. It thrashed its head side to side and tried to use its tusks as weapons but Palartok and Tukkutok were far from its reach.
It thrashed some more the ice slowly had begun to crack Tukkutok threw more snow on the beast and encased it in more ice. Palartok ran in and sliced at it with the blade then he stabbed it but the creature still didn't fall. The ice cracked a bit more as the walrus bear continued its best to break free. Palartok took a few steps back and formed three snowballs into spikes which threw at the beast in crescent-shape toss.
Each impaled the beast in different locations one in the mouth, another in the shoulder area, the last one hit it in the ribs. Tukkutok ran up at the beast to finish it off this was his moment. The animal went into a blood rage and gave its last stand. It used all its strength to break free as Tukkutok noticed the ice shattered he stopped and fell.
The walrus bear went for him and slammed it's head down near him to bury its tusks in his body. It barely missed him he froze in place from fear he felt this was his end. Palartok created a disc of ice and skated around the walrus bear, as he channeled snow to help hold the monster in its spot. When it couldn't move Tukkutok got up and jammed the spear into the exposed chest of the walrus bear. A whimpered echoed from the beast and after that no more.
They fastened some ropes around the corpse of the large beast they hunted, Palartok mounted the artic camel while Tukkutok placed all the things back onto the carriage and they were about to head back home. Then his son pointed at smoke in the distance, "Dad! Look there's smoke coming from inside the forest!"
"You don't there's a wildfire going on?" Tukkutok asked him, Palartok shook his head and responded, "Stay here and watch Kamele, I'm going to check. That's no wildfire someone's camping."
"Why does it matter if someone's camping?" Tukkutok wondered.
The Qiangdian scouts' camp.
Palartok held a finger to his lips he gestured his son to keep quiet. He crouched and skulked into the forest. He found himself near a large tree as Palartok peeped from behind it. He saw seven men in Qiangdian Kingdom attire. While he continued to watch them they carried crates full of war contraband and they had begun to set up camp inside the clearing. One of them started a fire so that he and his brothers-in-arms could keep warm.
Palartok made his way out of there his son worried for his father took a few steps forward he questioned his father but he said nothing, "What did you find?"
Palartok climbed his arctic camel Kamele and gestured for his son to get in the cart. Tukkutok obeyed his father and climbed inside the cart and they returned home. About a few hours after they crossed the border between the Niptaktuk region and Aupaluk region. They were surrounded by the outskirts of the spirit forest sacred to their tribe.
The city walls were about south from where they were, like eighteen miles. On the entire way there Palartok remained silent and stoic. Tukkutok couldn't take it anymore and bugged his father again, "Dad what did you see?"
Palartok ignored his son again he was more concerned about getting the information to Chief Bato. Tukkutok repeated but louder he called out to his father, "DAD!"
Palartok turned his attention to his son and off the road, "I saw Qiangdian troops in the clearing within the forest. They were setting up camp."
"Qiangdian? What nation is that?" his son was confused.
"It's one of the kingdoms of earth, the two have split for over millennia now. No one knows why they keep fighting but they're always in a civil war," described Palartok.
"So then what are they doing here?" questioned Tukkutok.
"Six years ago, a war began between us and the Qiangda Kingdom, you don't know about it because I want you to focus on your childhood. World events aren't what's important to a child, I wouldn't want you to have fear of the world around us," Palartok answered.
"They're invading our lands? Shouldn't we tell Chief Bato?" Tukkutok suggested. Palartok nodded, "Yeah I'm going to tell him."
Another two hours later, they finally arrived inside of the city Palartok handed his son the reins of Kamele as he slid off of her. He said, "Here."
"Where are you going?" his son asked.
"I'm going to the palace, fastest way there is by canoe. Put Kamele back in her pen and ask our neighbors to help you prepare the walrus bear. Don't talk about what I told you until I get back!," Palartok told his son. He ran in another direction as he searched for a canoe.
After some time, Palartok got out of a canoe he paid for he found himself in front of the expansive snowy courtyard in front of the Aupaluk's Royal Palace. Where the public often gathered to catch a glimpse of the royals. He neared the steps and was immediately stopped by a royal guard, "State your business, civilian."
"I need to speak to the chief, I witnessed something while in Niptaktuk Forest. It's dire and very important that he hears about this," Palartok said. Prince Nanuq leaned on the balcony as he munched on some berries in a bowl. When he overheard the royal guard and the civilian's conversation about the forest of Niptaktuk.
"The chief doesn't care about whatever strange event happened in the forest. He's busy with the war," disapproved the royal guard.
"Please if I don't tell him the news, we could all be in danger," exclaimed Palartok. Nanuq continued to chew on his snack until he heard the word 'danger'. He spat out his berries and shouted, "Kongak! Let him through!"
The royal guard's head darted toward the balcony when he heard Nanuq's voice he scrambled to his knees and knelt before the prince. As did Palartok, the guard yelled, "My apologies, Prince Nanuq!"
Nanuq disappeared from the balcony. The guard escorted Palartok to the entrance of the palace where Nanuq reappeared to meet both men at the archway that led inside. Nanuq paced along with the guard as they escorted Palartok to the throne room. His hands were behind his back as he held a smile, "You mentioned danger my loyal subject?" he mentioned.
"Yes, Your Highness," said Palartok.
They reached the doors into the throne room the royal guard stayed behind as Palartok and Nanuq entered the throne room together. He and Nanuq knelt before Bato who sat in his throne focused in thought. He snapped out of it and then focused on the two in front of him the prince and Palartok rose to their feet and saluted their chief. Bato's copper skin was cold and while his black beard was coarse and moist. As if he had just showered in his bath he questioned the prince, his brother, "Nanuq who do you bring before me?"
"This civilian says he saw something in Niptaktuk, brother. I think you should hear what he has to say," answered Nanuq.
"Tell me, civilian what did your eyes allow you to see?" he asked Palartok.
"My son and I wer-" Palartok began then he was interrupted by Bato his hand signaled his subject's mouth to quit moving.
"You. Get out," he ordered his brother.
"But I want to hea-" said Nanuq before Bato interrupted him, "Not another word, out."
Nanuq sighed and slouched then he clopped out of the throne room, his brother Bato didn't allow him to hear anything that involved war. Nanuq hasn't even been considered the crowned prince yet Bato waited until his other concubines bore him children.
Except they weren't the problem, he was born sterile but he didn't know. Once his brother left the room he gestured for Palartok to resume, "My son and I were hunting a walrus bear in Niptaktuk just outside the forest. After we slew the beast my son pointed to a smokestack and I told him to wait while I checked it out. From where I hid I saw Qiangdian soldiers setting up camp. They might be scouts ahead of the army itself. If they're in the forest they could be aiming to attack the city soon."
"Hmm thank you for the report, civil-err...what is your name?" he thanked Palartok but then asked for his name.
"Palartok," replied Palartok.
"Thank you, Palartok for warning your chief I'll send some men to scout the location, and soon we'll mobilize and wipe the intruders from our forest. One of my guards will take you to the stable master he'll provide you a carriage home," repeated Bato then he offered him a ride in the carriage.
Palartok slowly opened his eyes his vision had blurred a mixture of colors above him. Within seconds his eyes focused those colors turned into shapes and then a face. Kireama had her hands enveloped in water. She hovered her palms over his body as the water around them glowed.
Palartok groaned, "What happened?"
"You collapsed, I think it was due to dehydration and heat exposure. But I got you, just rest some more I'm here," she responded.
Palartok rested his head back on his pillow a few minor bruises that were being healed by Kireama. He stared at the tarp of his tent and dozed off, he found himself at his son's academy graduation.
The graduates wore tribal clothing and ceremonial necklaces with animal teeth fastened together with a strong kind of lace. The head shaman of the tribe was an old man his assistant was a young girl. The young girl started the ceremonial ritual as the head shaman began to throat sing for the academical graduates.
Palartok along with several other parents watched their children as they graduated from the academy. The new year was soon, the threat in the Niptaktuk forest had been quelled. All that remained was Palartok taking his son and the neighbor's son ice dodging.
Palartok clapped along with the rest of the parents when he saw something from the corner of his eye. He turned to glance at the hooded and robed figure in lavender colors, the woman's hair was dark brown, her skin was older but still soft. His eyes met with hers, it was her. His mouth opened agape he saw his son's mother Alaise near the back wall as she attended her son's graduation.
He felt like he needed to back away his son was in meditation along with the others. He nipped backward and stopped by the back wall where the woman stood. She turned to face the man's now wrinkled features he was middle-aged now.
When she stared at his face long enough she recognized him, "P-palartok," she murmured.
"Alaise?" he tilted his head as he wondered he reached for her hood but her hand stopped him.
"What are you doing here?" he asked her.
"I came to see Tukkutok's graduation...he looks exactly like me. A male version of when I was his age," she replied.
"He always reminded me of you, personality too," commented Palartok. "How is he?" she inquired.
"Why do you care? You abandoned him when he was just a babe," Palartok said.
"Because I brought him into this world, not a day goes by that I do not think of him," she claimed.
"Yeah well...that's not enough for my son. You chose your father over your son," Palartok denied her claim.
"Palartok, you know I did what I had to do. For you and for-" she said but then he broke in, "Stop. I gave you a chance to run away with me to Iqaluit and you told me no. You need to leave, Alaise."
"Palartok please," she whispered a tear shed from her eye. He didn't care he wanted to protect his son this time around.
"Stay away from my son, Alaise," repeated Palartok, he lowered his head as he stared at the teardrop as it fell to the snowy ground underneath their feet.
Palartok regained consciousness he felt heat near him but he wasn't sure what it was. His body was wrapped in a hide, his girlfriend Kireama held a bowl of steamed stew in her hands. She smiled when she saw his eyes fluttered open.
"Open your mouth I brought you some stew made by Kungo," she said.
Palartok's mouth slowly opened and she bent a small portion and gently placed it into his mouth. He winced as he swallowed it, "That was a bit hot."
"Sorry let me fix that," she apologized, she concentrated on the bowl when she stopped he noticed it gave off less steam. She had cooled down the temperature of the stew so it wouldn't burn him. Kireama bent another spoonful of the stew and hovered it slowly over her boyfriend's mouth.
"What have you been dreaming all day?" she questioned him and gave a gentle whispering tone. She was concerned about him.
"I'm just reliving the past again I thought when I left to become an oblate at the Baiyan Air Temple that maybe they'd help me move on from my grief. And I thought that too but I guess I was wrong," answered Palartok.
"Sometimes I'm glad that I get to relive snippets of my memories with my son, from when he's a newborn babe to the time when he's a young adult. But each lucid dream is like the last the ending remains out of my control. I tell myself next time I'll wake up on time and I wake up too late," Palartok mentioned, the death of his son has conflicted him. To the point where he was no longer himself.
He opened his mouth once again to swallow some more stew, he used his hands and slid himself up so that he sat down. He twiddled his thumbs as he attempted to go back into his head but nothing happened.
"What's the last thing that went through your head?" Kireama asked him.
"I found myself at his academic graduation, I was so happy for my son. Then from the corner of my eye, I noticed Alaise. She came to see him graduate and I told her to leave. I had the right to tell her to leave, I allowed her to leave with us to the South Pole and she chose her father," remembered Palartok.
"I've heard this story hundreds of times, yet each time it makes me hate her more. I don't know if I could leave my child as your ex-girlfriend once did. She had a reason for it, one that I think I understand but would never do myself," Kireama commented.
"You're going to defend her?" he questioned his girlfriend.
She shook her head, "No, I'm just saying I think I understand why she did it. But she was wrong to do that." Kireama continued to speak to Palartok but he ignored it.
His home shook, Palartok awoke to the explosion outside. The watchtowers blew horns he knew the city was under attack. He quickly got out of bed to dress. He darted toward Tukkutok's room maybe his son was frightened when he checked Tukkutok's bed it was empty.
"Tukkutok!" he called out another explosion outside was heard.
He didn't know what was going on outside that he burst through his door. Northern elite soldiers dressed in navy blue leather armor and fur plated shoulder pads ran down the street with their weapons in hand and their water gourds at their sides.
These were the Water Warriors, elite soldiers who were experts at hand-to-hand combat, waterbending, and weapon masters. They wore fur cowls over their heads and their faces were covered with face paint. They rushed toward the explosions one of them stopped and shouted at Palartok, "Hey! Get back into your house!"
"My son is gone! I need to look for him!" he yelled back.
"We'll find any trapped civilians don't worry about it, we have this under control!" the Water Warrior assured Palartok. Another explosion went off the smoke passed by them the Water Warrior froze the smoke in a globe of water and then ran off.
Palartok reentered his home he rummaged the living quarters for a dagger he carried to which he once told Tukkutok to use if an intruder broke in while he was home alone. The dagger was the size of Palartok's hand it was a hand-carved mantashark barb. The barb came from a pup that was almost fully matured.
He headed out the door against the Water Warrior's orders and ran toward the explosions. He called out for his son once more, "Tukkutok!" Off in the distance, his son heard his father's voice but it was nothing but a faint whisper.
His head darted in the direction of his father's voice, "Dad?" he said.
A small rock the size of his head came at him. A wave of water froze in front of Tukkutok and stopped the rock, a guard yelled, "Watch out kid!"
A warrior threw a boomerang which struck an enemy soldier in the head and knocked him out. Another came by and dropped his mace on the unconscious man and shattered his skull. Tukkutok prevented an archer from death. He killed the archer's attacker first because the archer stumbled on some rocks and had gathered his fallen arrows. The man looked up and smiled at the young teenager that came to his aid. Tukkutok helped the archer up and ran off in another direction.
A squadron of Qiangdian soldiers invaded the city they carried a mission it was suicide however. The scouts reported only a hundred and fifty invaders, Bato and Nanuq were taken to the Spirit Oasis where they waited until the invasion was over.
They were surrounded by twenty-five royal guards who secured the perimeter while Bato prayed by the spirit gate just behind the pond where Tui and La danced in the waters. Palartok uncorked his water sack and slapped an invader with water and froze his head. He used his leg to overpower the man and slammed his head into a building which knocked him out. He gathered his water and ran toward the fighting to find Tukkutok.
Soldiers and guards fought off the invaders Palartok helped when he could an earthbender in Fun Kiu attempted to run a line of pillars at some soldiers but was quickly washed away with a torrent of channeled water. When the men looked one of them recognized him and shook his head. Instead of giving the man a lecture, he thanked him with a thumbs up.
"Tukkutok!" yelled out Palartok.
Tukkutok joined a line of guards and split up his water to share with the others. They froze their portions and created spikes before they shot them at the Qiangdian troops. Women screamed while they ran with their children. The men stayed to defend their homes, the civilians that had no hunting or combat experience were slaughtered by the enemies.
The intruders controlled the southwestern gate that led toward Ikiruk another town they held. A flare went out something that hunters and fishermen outside the city responded to when the city was under attack. A soldier chased a woman and her two children, the snow around him rumbled and he has buried waist-deep in it. He tried to break free but couldn't.
Tukkutok ran in front of the woman and her children who cowered, a child screamed and pointed but luckily the archer returned and put an arrow into an earthbender's skull who was about to perform a sneak attack on Tukkutok. He gestured for the woman and her children to hide into the alleyway.
Another soldier charged at the children until a mace was used to leg sweep him. The man fell face first, the woman covered her youngest child's eyes and the mace-wielding warrior went to town on the enemy's skull.
Soldiers mounted on arctic camels and polar bear dogs rushed forward, the polar bear dogs carried a special saddle on their backs. Two barrels filled to the brim with water, they burst open and men were washed back with torrents of water.
"Have you seen my son?!" he called out to one of the civilians he knew.
The old man shook his head. Palartok lowered his head, "TUKKUTOK!" he roared.
"DAD!" cried out Tukkutok he ran toward the sound of his dad's voice.
He saw a child lost in the middle of the fighting. Palartok ran to the voice of his son as well when he arrived at the town square where the battle raged he saw his son run another direction.
The little boy was scared and had sobbed because he was lost two men charged at the child but were met with walls of ice that shoved them away. One of them was disoriented while the other fell back but quickly had gotten up. Palartok ran toward his son, Tukkutok picked up the child and took him toward a home where another person was willing to take the child for the time being.
Once the boy was safe inside another's home he ran back toward the figure he made out to be his dad. Just as Palartok could see his son's face someone placed their arm around Tukkutok's neck and pierced his back with a bone blade.
Tukkutok screamed, "ACK!" with the adrenaline that pumped in his body he threw his assassin over his shoulder before he collapsed to the ground.
"NOOO!" cried out Palartok.
A soldier came by and struck the assassin dead while Palartok ran toward his dying son. Tears filled his eyes while Tukkutok spat out blood, his voice quavered with emotion and pain, "...D-dad..." he whispered.
Tukkutok held his father's hand while Palartok squeezed his son's hand, Palartok's vision blurred as his eyes filled with tears. His head felt warm the blood rushed to his face while Palartok held his tears back. Tukkutok's strength faded he let go of his grip on his dad's hand as well. Palartok's tears fell to the snowy ground as the battle resumed around him.
Palartok spun around and gathered the snow around himself which gave him much needed height. He balanced and spun around on a snow spout in anger he lashed out at the invaders as their numbers dwindled. Waves of snow crashed on more enemies, the men were engulfed by the snow that froze around them while Water Warriors dispatched the trapped enemies.
Palartok rose in a spout to help quell the invasion after his son was killed.
The watchtowers drum beats went off after several minutes the last of enemies were defeated. Palartok still filled with mixed emotions spun in the snow spout. It lowered and spun slowly as his feet gently touched the ground just a few inches from his son's body.
He crawled over to his son's body and closed his eyes for the final time. Palartok gripped Tukkutok's hand and buried his face into his son's parka and continued to cry. A Water Warrior approached and knelt beside the father who grieved the death of his son. He placed his hand on his shoulder.
The next morning came, a knock on Palartok's door came he sat down and faced the wall. He uttered no sound but his neighbor, the father of a friend of Tukkutok's entered his home. Concerned he carried a basket full of cooked food.
"Palartok, we're sorry about what happened last night. We want you to know that Tukkutok died a hero, my wife told me to bring you a hot meal," said the man. He hoped his words comforted his son's friend's father.
"Thanks," murmured Palartok, he held a frown and shed some more tears and returned to face the walls.
"Last night they were here to assassinate Chief Bato, but he's still alive. He's going to have a meeting with Aput in the South soon. He wants them to join the war, as one tribe like our ancestors intended. I don't want to push anything on you because you're hurting right now. But I'm enlisting this week, you should join me," mentioned the man.
One Month Later
Palartok and the man found themselves at sea in strange waters their ship neared an enemy coast. He knelt and prayed with his prayer beads to Tui. The beads carried a carved piece of wood with each representation of every deity on the Tribesmen pantheon. A horn blared above him, cannons boomed and he joined the waterbenders. He froze the hull of the wooden ship that sat in while the warriors jumped to the other ship and lunged at the Qiangdian soldiers.
He landed on the other ship and rolled forward, tripped a mallet-wielding warrior, and jammed an icicle in his neck. All that ran in his mind was his son's body as it laid in the courtyard. That evening of his son's death haunted him.
Palartok awoke and found Kireama rested her head on his chest. She gave a long exhale as she slept soundly. He gently removed her head from his chest as he sat up, she woke up and opened her eyes slightly.
"Where are you going?" she asked him.
"I'll be back," he whispered.
Palartok got dressed and headed out of the tent with a small sack in his hands and a folded paper in his pocket. She got up as well and followed him out of the tent. She opened the flap to the tent, "Let me go with you."
"No, I need to do this alone," he said, she lowered her head and returned into Palartok's tent.
He stopped by a lone tree outside of the compound. Inside the sack were some pears, spark rocks, and candles. He placed the candles down and collided the spark rocks into each other, sparks flew at the wick and lit the white candles.
Palartok placed the fruits down by the stump of the tree he sat nomad position. He reached into his pocket and unfolded the picture of his son. It was painted by an artist with different colors of paint. One of the few he carried around with him in case he ever lost the painting of his son.
Tears fell from his eyes as he wiped one of his eyes he sighed and said, "That should've been me on the floor of that courtyard, son. Not you. Yet the world has cursed me to continue walking because I need to serve a purpose."
"You died a hero, my boy. You did what was right I fought with myself for so long and joined the navy because I believed that I needed to avenge your death. But even then it wasn't so satisfying because you were not at my side," he continued.
"I've done wrong after I left that air temple, I lived long enough to see myself become a villain. I hope soon I can do the right thing and make you proud," his voice quavered with strength as he released more tears.
"I think the right thing to do is help the Avatar takedown Senlin..." he finished.
Kireama eyes widened and she gasped but not loud enough for Palartok to hear her. She hid behind one of the corners of the compound where she heard Palartok's words alone. He sat there and looked at the painting of his son. Everything that happened to him in his life led to this moment. While he sat there and cried some more he found himself in front of an Air Nomad. He meditated with the tattooed man as they sat in silence.
Palartok was bald and wore a yellow tunic and orange shawl, his head lowered. He remembered his memories at the air temple flashed through his mind. He spent about five years as an oblate there, five long years and but he didn't age another five his aging became stagnant.
He looked back at the picture of Tukkutok and put it back into his pocket, he left the candles and the fruits there. He rose to his feet and slowly clopped back to his tent Kireama was near the water pump where she waited for him. She should've been angry because he planned on betraying Senlin instead she ignored it. She ran into his arms as he held her and she kissed him for several seconds. She rested her forehead on his and then held on tightly to him as he cried.
They returned to his tent to grab some things when they walked out Senlin emerged out of his tent as well. He smiled at Senlin and they met eyes with each other, "There you are, come on dinner's ready."
"Today's the anniversary of my imprisonment and the end of the Thirty Year War," Senlin mentioned.
"Figured that would explain why you weren't seen all day," Palartok commented, he saw Senlin enter his tent once again.
She gently grabbed his hand and he held hers they faced each other and she asked, "Should we go to dinner?"
Palartok shook his head, "Let's sleep in."
They went into his tent and laid beside each other, Palartok wrapped his arms around Kireama and they dosed off. Both with a smile on their faces, Palartok believed that this year was better than last, he knew what needed to be done.
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