Follies of the Living, Concerns of the Dead
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A/N: I came up with this story after seeing an episode of MASH with this same title. I wanted to do this story because it sort of seems that it would be something that someone would experience with a 100-year war. This is chapter one of the five chaptered story. I don't Avatar, or MASH for that matter, but enjoy anyway.
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Chapter One
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“How’s he doing?”
“The fever’s gone up,” A soldier named Koden replied.
“Uncle, don’t go out tonight,” the sick soldier, Shi Yu, moaned, “It’s dangerous; they know you stole the melons.”
Hakoda sighed, scratching his forehead, “That fever’s got him going crazy.” He crossed his arms. “We better keep this from spreading. Keep him in his tent, otherwise we’re all going to start going start seeing Fire Nation ships that really aren’t here.”
Shi Yu groaned, “Uncle, beware of someone with a hat….”
“Well, that’s always good advice,” Koden grinned. He stood up to glance out of the tent before returning to Shi Yu’s side.
Hakoda knelt on Shi Yu’s other side, “It’ll be alright, Shi Yu. The Northern Water Tribe’s on their way, and they have tons of healers. They should be able to fix you up.”
At that, Shi Yu grabbed Hakoda, yelling, “Uncle, listen! The grandmother knows, she read your future in the polar leopard’s fur she put under you as you slept!”
Koden sighed, “He’s been doing that a lot,” He gently separated Hakoda’s wrist from Shi Yu’s grip. “He thinks I’m the grandmother.”
“Hm.” Hakoda stood up, “Has Bato returned?”
“I’m afraid not, Hakoda.”
Hakoda began to walk out, ordering, “Alright, Koden, stay with Shi Yu. I want you to report his condition to me every so often .”
Shi Yu sprang up at this yelling, “Grandmother, you put a curse on my cow pig stew!”
Koden turned to Hakoda who had his arms crossed.
“He doesn’t even like cow pig stew!” Koden replied.
“Maybe he would if you hadn’t cursed it,” the leader mused, walking out of the tent.
Hakoda strolled around the area, staring at the spot Bato left. There had been no word in the past few hours from Bato, who chose to scout ahead to look for the Northern Water Tribe troops. Koden, a member of the Northern Water Tribe, reached Hakoda’s troops in (in Koden’s words) a few minutes. Even if Bato couldn’t find boats from their sister tribe, he should’ve at least sent a message or something… anything….
“Hakoda!”
Hakoda turned to see Koden running to him.
“Koden, I told you to stay with Shi Yu!” Hakoda said frustrated at the Northern Tribesman.
“I was, but something caught my eye,” Koden pointing to the ships in the distance.
Aw, brilliant, Hakoda thought to himself before yelling out to the others, “Ready for battle men! Koden--”
“I know, I know,” Koden replied waving a hand and retreating to the tent, “Stay with Shi Yu.”
Hakoda turned back to the sea before running to help the soldiers getting ready to attack the ships… Fire Navy ships.