Blood in the Water

The last thing Toka remembered was a rather sharp object slamming into the back of her head. It was a new experience, one she regretted having. When she woke up, her hands and feet were bound, and a pair of firebenders were staring at her. "What now?", asked one. "I-I don't really know...I mean...I've never done this before..." The first nodded slowly, "Do we...talk to her...or just...get right to it?" The other shrugged, "Wouldn't you want to know what was about to happen to you?"

Toka's mind raced, what were they doing, where was she? She moved her fingers slowly, wiggling her hands. "Hey, hey look, she's awake. Say something, stupid!". the first said. The other mumbled a curse, and stepped forward, "Hey...uh, sorry to-", there was a sharp sound, like a slap, "Ow, what was that for?" "Don't apologize, just tell her what's what so we can get this over with." The second went back to speaking, "Well, look, here's the thing, we don't really like Earthbenders, and, well, uh, you are gonna be our warning...so, we're gonna have to kill you, but we might...want to do some stuff to you first, like...well, stuff that you probably don't want."

Toka grimaced, and stomped both her feet, launching the pair into the air, and then tearing her hands free with a spike of earth which split her bindings. She approached the two men, who were cringing, and crawling backward. "You better remember this moment, and tell your friends, I am Toka Pathyer, and if I ever feel you near me again, I won't hesitate to crush you. It'll just be blood in the water, no one will notice you're gone, your faces will fade into nothingness." The two didn't move, but nodded.

She stepped around them, leaving what she sensed was a small barn. She continued on into the city, the back of her head was still bleeding, she felt it, and she had a terrible headache.

Toka walked in silence for a time, but it wasn't long before the feeling of steps made their way toward her. She sighed lightly, ignoring the wound on her head, it could wait until later.

The person confronted her, asking what she was doing, that was none of his business now, was it? Then he continued, and asked her if she was alright.

She pivoted around, looking directly at the person with her blind eyes, "I'm fine; I was teaching lowlifes some manners, and I'm not a kid, I'm thirty years old.", she said.

Toka watched the stranger[I use the term 'watched' loosely]. She hardly moved at all, beginning to become less tense. "It wasn't fun so much as it was necessary.", she said.

"I don't really have a reason for where I'm going. I decided that I want to go to the Fire Nation Capital, nothing more." She turned back the way she was going, "What are you doing up here, so far from the city?"

Toka walked ahead a bit, and nodded slowly, "It couldn't hurt.", she said quietly. "Yeah, that sounds good." She wasn't usually one to accept hospitality from strangers, but this didn't seem like a bad idea, "My name is Toka.", she said.

Toka adjusted her clothes absently, "It's nice to meet you Kaji-san.", she said. It was her way, too used to being proper. Coddled and somewhat stunted by it. "So, fishing, huh? What's that like?", she asked, walking toward the city again.

Toka chuckled lightly, "Sorry, it's just that, I've never been out on the water in a boat before, I'm really curious, I guess. I never took the time to learn how to swim...so I've always been afraid that I'd sink like a rock if I fell into any deep water."

Toka followed you for a while, shivering slightly at the idea of having to learn how to swim. She wasn't usually a fearing type of person, but the idea of water in any place aside a small creek or a bath made her feel terrified. She listened to your offer, and followed you inside slowly, she couldn't tell what color anything was, but she could sense it really well. "Um...thanks for inviting me in.", she said.

Toka walked around the room slowly, 'watching' as you moved furniture around, curious as to why you were doing so, but she didn't ask. Then, she was surprised when you stepped forward and grabbed her hand, guiding her to sit down. She wondered if he realized she had the ability to see her surroundings, not in color, but the shapes. "Um, thanks."