An Obscure Passage

Kako stared up at the spirit, having watched it emerge from the gloom. The basic choice he was presented was not a hard one: he didn't like the idea of giving into a 10 feet tall power-hungry spirit, and was fairly confident he could own it all if he wanted to anyway. However, he wasn't exactly in a position to refuse the spirit, as he wasn't sure of the power it possessed. Certainly, Kako was brave, but he also wasn't stupid. After all, he'd seen first hand the power of spirits, and didn't even know their limits.

As such, the choice really revolved around how to get out of the situation alive. Running wouldn't work, and he'd been over the possibility of fighting it. As he mused, another idea began to trickle into his brain. He'd taken on a dragon, why couldn't he keep the spirit as some sort of companion? After all, it seemed to have taken a shining to him. He internally shrugged, it was worth a shot.

He drew himself up, and made sure he sounded confident. "Spirit, I'm not going to be your slave. But I put this to you. Follow me, abandon the swamp, and I will guide you." Though externally, he seemed rather official and unshakable, inside he was ready to strike, should the situation go terribly wrong as it most likely would. He hoped the others were, too.

Mieko felt slight pressures around parts of her body. That being Tsuyoshi's bracer of metal he was using to keep her afloat in the water. Her consciousness finally slipped away as a tide would. She couldn't feel her body, there was nothing to see but a black void. It enshrouded her, blocking her from the nothingness that it itself was made from. Mieko felt a tug, it was the first feeling in what felt like an eternity. There was still nothing to see though. The numb nothing feeling returned, she again was cut from any feeling, any source of the material world. Another greatly extended period of time past, of course this time had no relation to the real world. Things acted differently here, time was meaningless, just truly abstract on this plain.

A blue light struck like sparks from a hammer to red steel. It was blinding. But, but she could feel again. Mieko flexed her fingers. Her body wanted to wrench out her gut from the lack of anything from before. It was an inhuman experience, to know what nothing really felt like. Slowly she opened her eyes. It wasn't the dark weathered swamp she was in before, or where they were in it.

Mieko slowly brought herself to all fours as she regained 'control' of her body. It was slow for that control to return. "Kako? Kross? Any of you guys here? What happened"? None of them responded. Were they just not here, had they fought that monster off? Mieko was without answers and without anyone to give them. She had fallen in to a strange land, full of strange mythical things she will shortly find out.

"I guess so... only me that doesn't have any idea what is going on..." He lowered his arm a little deflated "well... ok then, if you need me I will be over there doing...I don't know." he said, not like it mattered anyway. It was not an ideal time to be complaining but the big black blob seemed to be harmless enough right now.  He hopped off of the back of his giant beetle... He would have liked to have turned it around but there was not enough room to do so without a big hassle and since hopefully they would be setting off again soon, he didn't want to put in all the effort. He made sure to land on some tree roots, not wanting to make his boots too muddy, balancing with ease as he skipped over roots and stones exploring the area.

He had just considered leaving, take the beetle and skip across the desert, it would be faster and safer. unless there was a sandstorm, but if he was alone, he could probably just bend his way out of it. The more he thought about it the better an option it seemed.

He continued to think, a little separated from the group. a beautiful teal bird landing near him to eat a small insect, He didn't know what either of them were, never had much time to study animals unless they produced some sort of venom. The bird continued to peck between two roots where some insects must have hid from it, relentless it got lucky and snatched up a worm, it wriggled and writhed as it started to slide into the birds mouth in a quick motion, the worms tail, or its head, he couldn't really tell, wrapping around the birds head in an attempt of safety. The bird bit down with its razor sharp beak and split it in two. The innards of the worm tainting the beautiful feathers of the bird as the tail dropped slowly.

A moment later, the bird took off. Kross seemed to have come to a decision. there was no point waiting around here... Its not like he wouldn't be able to find the group again, if they survived. He was a great tracker after all and whatever that spirit was up to, he didn't want any part of it. He could just say he got scared, I am sure they would believe him. He looked around to make sure that no one was watching him, then he made the fog go dense around him and slipped away silently, using his bending to boost him up high into the trees once he was far enough way, so he himself could not be tracked.

Hirako wandered forward through the Misty fog not knowing where he was or where the others were He sighed as he unsheathed his sword. The things he could remember on what happened in that short time when they got attacked by the spirit Hirako got hit in the head with something hard and woke up in the same spot his friends gone wondering where they went he set out to look for them wondering where they could be. All of a sudden two great big yellow eyes illuminated through the mist. Hirako unsheathed his sword and got ready to fight but as it got closer it turned out to be just an owl and he sheathed his sword. "Thought it was something big..." But when Hirako turned around he felt he pierce of a blade through his shoulder he only saw a shadowy blade. Hirako let out a sharp yell. But as the pain stopped he was ok no harm done as though his mind was playing tricks on him....

(OOC: Sorry for short post, also sorry for being away recently.)

Kako remained in his previous position, arms crossed. After suffering through the Shade's painfully slow way of speaking, he shrugged. "Well, that isn't my decision, is it? I don't know what you want, exactly." He could take a fair guess. "Name your price."

(Please don't post before you are approved...)

(For now he is an npc, and doesnt count anywhere else)

Kako found himself rather disapproving of this new voice in his head, then again, it was to be expected. In a second, a searing pain rooted itself inside him, centered in his chest and spreading outwards. Kako gritted his teeth, his face turning to a snarl, veins bulging as his arms straightened. He hadn't felt a pain such as that in a long while, but it was nevertheless manageable. The real problem was the flood of memories and feelings, several thousand years worth in fact. He couldn't make out much of it, most was blurred, though he sensed a need for revenge, along with a drive of sorts. The best way he could describe it would be instinct.

He followed the memories, reaching the present day. He saw him and his fellow comrades from afar; then much closer. More importantly, he felt the spirit's lust. Emotions overwhelmed him, and he felt like a predator. No, he couldn't allow it. Kako fought back, sending his essence back. It was not a pure one, but it was powerful in it's own way. Back in the real world, small spurts of fire ejected themselves from Kako, flying out in multiple directions.

Along with the power came something else. An emotion that creeped in, but was largely the essence of the ex-spymaster. Pride. An oppressive arrogance that was the center of his being began to well up inside him, giving him an odd sort of strength. He opened himself to the spirit. He would let it see just what he was made of, after all, what could hurt him now?

Kako almost collapsed at the sudden relief, his arms going limp. Panting a little, he listened to the spirit's statement, not exactly attributing much truth to them. After all, he knew the spirit pretty well too. However, it was certainly right about knowing him well, the dragon proved as much. He inspected his body for a moment, nothing seemed to have changed, and he seemed to be in the same area as earlier. He hadn't been tricked as of yet.

Kako drew himself up."So, Lucien. What has changed? What have you given me?" Kako was still wary of the spirit, but at least the battle was over, and so was the pain.

Kako resisted a smile. "Double? Really now?" He briefly considered turning around, straight up strolling back into the Fire Nation and showing Shula how he does things, but frankly that would take too much effort. He was also pretty happy about being able to visit the spirit world. The massive wolf form didn't really impress him that much. After all he already had his ottergator. He looked down, it appeared to have caught some sort of python in it's jaws. Kako smiled. Adorable.

He decided a forest might not be the best place to test his new firebending abilities, and he was a little tired anyway. He turned to the rest of the crew, dusting himself off and apparently unphased by the whole ordeal. "Are we ready to carry on?"

The group progressed out of the swamp, the rest of their journey was uneventful compared to earlier. Mieko presumably woke up, but might remain with an injury that they could could treat later on if need be in Omashu. Kako had his new companion with him, and Tsu and Hirako were just themselves. They emerged from the murk, into blinding sunlight. They progressed steadily towards Omashu. Eventually they arrived at the gate, to see what awaited the odd bunch inside the monolith city of Omashu.

Progress onward in the journey