• A young boy, looking to be seventeen, lay restless within his bed, his pale-skin beaded with sweat, his black mane sticking to his wet forehead. He suffered a fever, and nightmares that were unbearable for even a Firebender like himself.
    Within the dream-realm, his fears became reality, and his nightmares grew worse daily. He was always in the same place, never moving, just standing, and watching. Watching as fire grows bigger within each dreams, and his title as Avatar gone. He watched his twin take control, becoming Fire Lord, shunning out Kaine, leaving him to die.
    In the nightmare, Kaine had no one. Even his own phoenix abandoned him, leaving him for his own twin. Only a mark, shaped of fire, was left upon his arm, given to him by his own twin, his other being.
    How could he do such a thing to him?
    Jealousy.
    Yes, it had to be jealousy. He was announced Avatar on their birthday, the Day of the Flaming Dragon, and his own twin was shunned out that day. Ever since then he acted strange, more dark then usual.
    Even their mother, Lady Asako noticed. She always had her eye on the older twin, but Kaine never minded his brother and his different ways. It was just him.
    Kaine thrashed about in his bed, destroying his sheets and ripping off is comforter. He lied there, in only his maroon-and-gold shorts and sleeveless shirt, shivering from the chilly wind that drifted within his bedchamber.
    He gripped his sweaty pillow, his fingers digging into it. Hazel eyes shut tight; he gritted his teeth, his lips curled to a snarl as he tucked in his legs. Such horrid images of death and destruction raced through his mind. He felt as if his dream would never cease.
    Until, an image of a girl, looking to be around fifteen, appeared within it. He stared at her, eyes wide, mouth agape. Such grace and beauty radiated from her body like the sun. Within her hands was a great bow, and two fiery arrow knocked with it. She drew it back, and released it. Her kimono, red like blood, had been cut into a shirt, held with a large sash of brown-suede. She was equipped with a quiver of arrows that strapped to her back. Pearly-white hair fell just below her earlobes, and hazel eyes stared off toward his brother. Shorts of black spandex covered her thighs, while leather wrappings covered her lower-arms, and red nails pierced the darkness of his dream.
    Who was she? She was so... Beautiful.
    Wrapped around her neck was a loose brown bandanna, a fire symbol embroided upon it. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Just silence. He reached out to her, but she was so far, yet so near, like his own guardian angel. She turned to see look at him, and then...
    He awoke, eyelids opening swiftly as he looked around his room. He sat up, thin legs dangling over the side of the bed as he scratched his head, ruffling his black hair. He sighed, placing his hands on his knees before pushing himself off the bed, hazel eyes scanning his darkened room. He blew upon a candle's wick, and a dull light lit his room, carrying it with him. His phoenix shifted on his roost, awoke briefly to see his master awake before closing his coal-black eyes and drifting into sleep again.
    He slipped on his maroon-and-gold robe before leaving his room. He wandered down the darkened hallway, into the foyer, and outside in the garden. The moon shone down delicately upon the four Nations, and he never seen it like this before. He sighed, sitting upon a bench as he stared into the great eye of the moon.
    Kaine was a handsome lad, tall and well built. He had his father's looks, and his mother lovely eyes. He was almost like her, though he kept to himself, unlike her.

    ~~~

    The sun rose in the western sky, bringing with it clouds and brightness.
    Kaine blinked, noticing someone had carried him back into his bed. His robe was hanging upon his coat-rack, and his phoenix was nowhere to be seen. He scratched his head and stood up, yawning loudly and wandering throughout his room, stripping from his nightclothes and into his royal-wardrobe.
    He slipped his hands into his suede-brown gloves, which were both missing the pink and the index finger. He wore his long-sleeved maroon shirt, trimmed with a deep gold. It was tied with a thin green sash that held together both a red leather-backing and his shirt. Brown pants fell to his knees, and stocking of white covering his calves. Boots covered his feet. A red bandanna clung to his neck as he tied it quickly before shutting the door.

    ~~~

    He left his royal fortress and into the courtyard, where an ostrich-horse and his phoenix, Tobikumo, awaited him, both impatient to begin their glorious adventures to other Nations. Holding the reins of the horse was his Firebending trainer, Sir Iso. He bowed his gray-haired head as he handed the reins to the boy.
    Thanks, Iso..." He curled one corner of his thin lips.
    Iso smiled. "Anytime, young sir." He rumbled a laugh as the newest Avatar mounted his steed, his phoenix alighting his shoulder.
    They stared at each other for a few moments, then Kaine tapped his steed's reins against its powerful neck and took off.

    ~~~

    It took him only a day to travel across the river by a ferry to get to his first destination: The Earth Kingdom. He smiled as he continued his steed onward_
    He strode through the gates of the city, realizing Wanted posters plastered against walls. His smile disappeared and went into a frown as he studied the posters as his steed walked through the crowd. His father had a good price upon his return home.
    No wonder Iso had his steed ready.
    He tapped Taizo's reins against his powerful brown, feathery neck, and quickened its pace. If he were to get out of this place alive, he would have to find his mentor and leave.
    Fast.

    ~~~

    To Be Continued...