Blood runs thicker than water

Chapter Two

Niko is now reaching the age of eighteen, growing into a tough, strong young lady. She lives in her own house now, but the Avits know it as their second home. The Avit family, Dhati is seventeen years old, and Ori is now sixteen. They treat Niko like an actual sister, they love her, and are protective of her. She feels exactly the same way, but the only difference is that she doesn't usually say it but rather than show it. Since the day her family died, she has become quiet and closed off. Her and Ash are still inseparable; both are growing now. Ash is way taller and bigger than before; he is about six feet tall and seven feet long now. If anybody sees him now, they will never believe that she once carried him.

Niko learnt how to fight; she is an excellent fighter now. The only one that can beat her in a fight is Ash, hence him being a dragon, even Ori and Dhati try and fail painfully. She still feels guilty about her family's deaths; about why she is the only one to survive? She even thinks that she didn't try hard enough to help, even though she was just ten. That's why she is so protective over Dhati and Ori, they are her family now. She often flies with Ash to clear her mind, and most of the time she wears black to blend in with him at night. She visits their old island from time to time, or what's left of it, to visit her family. Since they never found their bodies, she just sits around where their house used to be, while Ash either rests or plays in the water. When she was younger, she used to visit them every day, now, with her responsibilities, she tries to visit them every week. She puts the flowers she got for her family down and turns to walk back to Ash as it's time to leave, when she sees something flying in the sky—more like four things. She quickly gets on Ash to head back to the island, and as she gets closer, she sees that these things are huge horses, but with wings. Niko has never seen a creature like it before. She then hears drums, which means they have visitors, these creatures are to land on their island.

When her island comes into view, she sees from above that Anu, Tul, Dhati, and Ori are standing side by side talking to the people riding those horse-like creatures. So, she lands beside them, and gets off Ash. She cues Ash to fly away and stands to the left of Anu, hands behind her back, trying to figure out who they are. They look different from them, their skin is light brown with brown eyes, while Anu and the rest of the village have light pale skin, almost white even with ocean blue eyes. Unlike Niko, she has brown skin as well, but with deep red eyes, just like her mother's, since her father is from the water nation and has the same physical features as Anu and the others, while her mother was a refugee from the fire nation, had deep red eyes and chocolate brown skin.

The visitors are a father, a mother, and four children; the oldest looks like he is older than Niko, the girl looks like she is Niko's age, and the other boy looks like he is Dhati's age. Then there is another one, a little boy who seems like he is seven or eight years old, holding onto his mother's hand and hiding behind her.

“You're late,” Dhati whispers to Niko.

“I know,” Niko replies.

“Anything new?” Dhati asks.

“Yeah, they are thinking of changing locations,” Niko says her face starting to fold up angrily.

“Hey, it's going to be okay. We will figure something out,” Dhati says, winking at her, trying to cheer her up.

Niko turns her attention to what is happening. This situation occurs a lot, where people seek shelter on their island.

“Hello, I am Neyt, and this is my family,” the father starts speaking.

“We are seeking shelter; Earthers destroyed our village,” he says, as Niko frowned.

“Why come this far? You could’ve sheltered in neighboring villages in your nation,” Anu asks as he takes a step forward towards the new family.

“Knowing that these monsters might attack again, I couldn't risk compromising the safety of my family,” Neyt replies, looking sternly at Anu.

The chief of this village, Anu, looks at Neyt, thinking. Anu turns to look at his wife, trying to think of a decision, his wife nods.

“Neyt and his family are staying with us. We will teach them our ways,” Anu says to his people, then he turns to Neyt. “My kids will show you to your new home.”

“My eldest, Dhati, will teach your kids how to hunt in the water.” He puts his hand on her shoulder as she nods at them, smiling.

“My youngest, Ori, will help you move around in the water with the help of our brothers and sisters. Our serpents.” He rests his hand on Ori's shoulder as well.

“And you need to learn how to fight, just in case,” he adds, whispering the last part.

“Niko will teach your kids how to fight.” He does the same, but she neither nods nor smiles.

“As for you, I will help you myself” he continues, “now you may settle in, Dhati and Ori will help,” he says, gesturing for them to go.

“May I speak with you? Sir?” Niko asks Anu in a hushed voice. “In private,” she adds.

“Sure,” he says.

He says his farewells and wishes good luck to the new family, the Potek family, as they walk behind Dhati and Ori. He takes Niko aside so that no one would be able to hear and starts to walk alongside the shore, he waits until they are far enough.

“So, what happened?” he asks.

“The reason I was late was because I went to spy on the earthers,” she says, lowering her head, knowing she would get a scolding.

“You did... WHAT?” he says, shocked.

“I know it's wrong, and I shouldn't do that,” she replies, trying to explain.

“There is a group, more like an island, near here where...” She lowers her voice on the last part.

“Where what?” he inquires firmly.

“Where the two humans who initiated and lead the attack on our island live,” she says as her face starts to fold up again.

“You know them? You know where they are? They’re alive?” He asks in disbelief.

“Yes sir. And I have been spying on them for a while,” she continues, “Ever since I found their island, I have been spying on them. Waiting for an opportunity, but now they are thinking of changing locations.”

“An opportunity to do what? Kill them? You would risk the safety of our village and your own,” He says, pacing as he is thinking aloud.

“I honestly don't know, but I can't bear the idea of knowing that they are living happily with their family and kids while ...” she says, starting to tear up, but holding it back.

She has been acting strong to try to drown whatever feelings she has been feeling since her family’s death; the only person to see her cry is Dhati.

“While my parents and siblings are dead,” she says in a muffled voice, letting out a breath she didn’t notice she was holding in, trying to keep the tears from falling down her cheeks.

“Come here,” Anu says as he pulls Niko into his embrace.

“We will think of something, just please tell me if you go to that island again. I need to know you're safe,” He continues, “I can't lose you like I lost your father.” He says the last part more to himself than to her.

“Now go. The Potek kids are going to be settling in, go and help your siblings,” he says, gently nudging her forward.

“Yes, sir,” she mocks a salute as he laughs.

She then starts to walk along the shore. Thinking about what Anu told her—an opportunity to do what? If she tries to attack them, they will kill her; she is just one person after all, and she will not put more people she cares about in danger. She looks for Dhati to tell her about her conversation with Anu, but when she asks Tul, she says that Dhati and Ori are helping the Potek kids learn how to swim. Niko decides to go and watch, she whistles, and Ash comes flying. She flies with him to where they are. When Niko arrives, she finds Potek’s youngest, Nero, playing with the fish as he giggles. That reminded Niko of her younger sister, Rora, even though she died at five years old. She fell in love at first sight with the sea. Niko spaces out, remembering her gone sister, until Ori calls her name.

“Niko, over here,” Ori calls from afar, waving.

She smiles and starts walking to where they are, she notices the three older siblings of Nero stiffen up at the sight of her. She knows she looks intimidating, but they do not even know her yet. She sits by the shore, Dhati sees her and comes to sit beside her, knowing Ori could manage teaching them on his own. Niko sits there silently for what feels like an hour but is only a couple of minutes, Dhati finally breaks the silence.

“So...” Dhati continues, “What did you talk about with dad?”

Niko takes a couple of seconds to rearrange her thoughts and says, “I told him.”

“I told him about the island and that I have been going there for a while,” she adds, crossing her arms.

“What? Did he scold you? I mean, obviously, he did, you are putting yourself in danger, and – “ Dhati asks too many questions too fast, not giving Niko a chance to reply.

“Hey,” Niko chuckles and continues, “He did scold me, but not for the reason I thought he would.”

“What do you mean?” Dhati asks, tilting her head to the side, confused.

“He scolded me not because I go there, but because I don't tell him I do. He wants to know so that in case something happens, he’ll be able to help in some way or another,” Niko says, smiling a bit, knowing that Anu still worries about her even though she's grown up.

“Oh, really? That's good then, just tell him next time,” Dhati turns back to look at Ori in the water with the Potek kids.

The one thing that is bothering Niko is that she does not know why earthers want to change their location. As much as she hates to say it or even think about it, they are happy where they are. So why would they move, if they don't have any more of Ninipie, does that mean they are planning to attack another island?