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"Have you ever had to worry about someone finding you, and completely destroying your life? Have you ever been forced to partake in a fight to the death? I have, Natsumi," she snarled."And I'm not going to take some back talk from you, whether you're an Airbender or not."

Rue winced. Though she had tried to keep her children safe from that particular side of their life, she hadn't been able to do so completely. While they were attacked only rarely, it still happened. It seemed the School would never be destroyed...even if her own mother was here again.

"Excuse me?" Sumi growled back, taking a step in Maddy's direction and pointing an accusing finger at her. "You don't know what I've been through, little lady. You don't know anything about fear!" Tears stung his eyes as he recalled the toughest moments in his life. He was the oldest and had a very rough time, particularly recently. "Don't you know that there are still a few Fire Nation people who are trying to destroy what's become of the Airbenders? More so, there's been a few revolts against bending in its entirety! They're wanting us gone!" He took a deep breath, extending his arms to the sky and tilting his head back is exasperation. "Other than my home, there are FEW safe places for me left! Very few! I've been captured by one of them, you know," He began, turning back towards her, anger still plastered on his face. "I was stuck there for weeks before my parents found me. And that was at the age of seven."

Uh oh, Setsuko thought. She remembered this story, when Sumi had been taken by the growing population of anti-benders. It mentally scarred him for seemingly forever. He had never looked at the world the same way again.

"I repeat," Sumi snarled, perhaps a bit unreasonable, but the only way for him to justify the rage swelling within him, "You know nothing."


~~

ooc--Legend of Korra reference there with the anti-benders. XD

"I would say I know nothing," Maddy said, breathing hard from anger. "Have you ever been through torture? I've been stuck in dog cages for weeks! I was freaking experimented on! At least you don't have to worry about going through that! I would love not having to go through all of that, actually being able to live my life without having to fear that a whitecoat or Eraser is around the corner! You don't know a thing about me, Sumi!" She could feel tears pricking at her eyes, an annoying reflex that usually accompanied large amounts of anger.

"I would love not to be treated like a piece of science equipment. I would love to call my home safe," she added, her voice a tiny bit softer.

"And you don't know a thing about me!" Sumi spat back bitterly, not quite hearing Maddy's softer comment. He took another stomping step forwards as he spoke, clenching his teeth and tightening the death grip on his staff. His eyes were silver pools of rage and frustration, his face a contorted display of anger.

Maddy remained silent, trying to bury the memories of the lab again. A lone tear streaked down her cheek, and she brushed in angrily away. She opened her wings and jumped, hurling herself into the air. She knew her mother would understand why she stormed off, so she flew higher, tears now flowing freely.

"Yeah, fly away!" Sumi shouted, voice cracking painfully, "No one wants you here..." He closed his eyes, furrowed his eyebrows, and clenched his teeth. "No one wants you," he repeated, softer, turning away from the audience that watched in silence, ashamed that they might see the tears he felt were coming. He cried a great shout into the sky, attempting to release his furled emotion, and opened his gilder only to fly quickly, expression still burdened with negativity, in the opposite direction that Maddy had taken to.

Maddy heard the words Sumi had shouted, and she wrapped her arms around herself in a vain attempt for some comfort. Sumi really did have no idea what she had been put through...at least he was only captured once. For her, it had been multiple times. Trying to shake away the memories, she flew faster, not botheirng to coast on the air currents like usual. She continued to flap, as if that repetitive action could sort out her emotions and calm her.

"Natsumi!" Kuilak shouted. "Where do you think you're going, son?" But the sternness in his words had nothing on what had just happened. Sumi ignored his father, pretending that he hadn't heard the order, and flew farther away. "NATSUMI!" Kuilak repeated. "SUMI!!!" Alas, the words had no effect.

Tess squeezed Misaki's hand unhappily; arguements always had a negative effect on her...she hated them. But this...well, it was one of the worst arguements ever. Worse than the time Maddy put shaving cream on Gale's ice cream instead of whipped cream.

Rue sighed. She knew Maddy would calm down within the hour, but it had left her with a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. She knew that even she hadn't ever had an arguement like that. She was tempted to fly after her daughter, to calm her down, but knew that would only make things worse.

Kya stared up after her brother. She wished she would go after him, but she was no Airbender, not did she have wings like Tess and Gale and Maddy. Setsuko grabbed Kuilak's hand, the gesture saying what words couldn't. The awkward, solemn silence was not broken until Li's whines rose; the infant felt uncomfortable and scared in this tense environment, even with his mother closeby. Yuumi, too, let out a few nervous whimpers.

Misaki spoke the first words. "Now what?" Her voice was tentative and soft.

"We go find somewhere to sit down?" Tess suggested tentatively.

"Y...yeah," Misaki agreed, stuttering slightly. "I think that's a good idea." Though for a moment she did not quite follow through with the plan.

Setsuko finally spoke up. "Alright then, guys. Let's head on in. We need more sleep than we probably realize." And with that, she walked through the trees.

Rue lagged behind, Tariq at her side. She ended up following Gale through the trees, her wings folded in tightly to avoid catching any unwanted twigs and leaves.

Tess tugged at Misaki's hand as she took a step forward, a gesture for her friend to follow.

Misaki followed willingly, not needing any extra tug from her friend.

Setsuko entered the trees and then stopped, surprised by what she saw. There was a thick canopy of trees overhead, protecting them from weather, but on the ground, there weren't tons of stems and stumps as one would expect to find. Rather, a soft layer of green grass coated the area. "Wow," Kanna whispered in amazement.

Rue examined the area critically, hoping to find some fault. While that may sound strange, she had never seen an area so perfect for camping on...it seemed almost unnatural.

"Wow," Tess murmured, echoing Kanna. "Mom? Why didn't we ever camp in a place like this?"

Rue's mouth quirked in a phantom image of a smile. "Because I could never find one," she answered simply.