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 Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 2:08 pm
It was easy to see why Sonam ws so concerned about Pabu, now that the little Sky Bison had taken to the air. He flew in awkward spirals and clumsy angles, changing his direction without meaning to. The infenction in his tail had clearly affected his bending.
Sonam swung himself up on his glider, so that his feet rested on the staff, and his arms were free. Standing on it was a littl unorthodox, but he needed his hands free, and the open air didn't frighten him. Even for a boy who'd grow up amongst the barren peaks of the Northern Temple, there was no thrill in the world that could live up to the rush of flight.
He darted forward on the glider, only for Pabu to turn upwards at the last minute, leaving him with an armfull of empty air.
"We'll try to herd him towards the courtyards!" Sonam yelled towards Miss Xi-Mei, using a blast of air to enhance the sound.
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Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 4:55 pm
Xi-Mei nodded, flying alongside the bison but not moving anywhere closer to him. The poor little guy could barely fly-- it probably wouldn't be too hard to catch him, especially as it was doubtful he'd be able to keep this up long in his condition. Besides, the herbs she'd given him sometimes made bison a bit drowsy. She'd given him a significantly smaller dose than she usually did the bigger bison, but she couldn't be sure it wasn't going to make him very sleepy.
She relaxed for a moment, though, enjoying the breeze whipping her hair about her face. Perhaps she ought to do like male monks did (from what she'd been told) and shave her entire head? No, she could deal with her hair being in her eyes.
"Then what?" she sent a return blast.
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Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:11 pm
"Then, dear lady, we'll stop troubling you!"
Pabu drifted into one of the temple courtyards, cornered by Xi-Mei and her glider. Sonam then blasted his way past the Sky Bison with a sharp gust of air, and hopped off his staff and onto the ground with a graceful roll.
By the time Pabu realized where he was, Sonam had grabbed an apple off of one of the courtyard bushes, and was holding it up for him. The little Bison happily lunged for the treat, forgetting all about the threat of a bath.
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Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:36 pm
"Oh!" she shook her head, "But I haven't finished yet! Look at his tail, I can't just leave him like that!"
She followed both bison and boy as they went down into the courtyard, and snatched her vial out of the pouch quickly, descending on the little guy while he was distracted. Gently, she reached out to scratch Pabu's back, motioning with the vial to Sonam in an attempt to make him understand that she was going to put the cream on his tail quickly.
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Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 5:55 pm
Sonam didn't nod, because Pabu was smart enough to notice the motion.
"Are you enjoying your treat, buddy?"
He petted the back of Pabu's neck, while the little Sky Bison gnawed at the apple in his hand, and once the fruit was done with he stopped petting and lightly took hold of Pabu's fur. Hopefully that would hold him in place long enough for Miss Xi-Mei to do her work. Sonam trued to cuddle the Bison so he wouldn't be spooked.
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Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 6:07 pm
She gently poured some of the cream on the hand that wasn't scratching Pabu's back and then brushed it lightly over his tail, ever-so-gently. She knew the tail must hurt like crazy with how red and inflamed it looked. Poor little guy.
"What happened to him anyhow? I mean, how did he get like this?" She was sure it wasn't Sonam's fault this had happened-- she had already seen how troublesome the little Sky Bison could be when he got it in his head to do so.
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Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 9:22 pm
Sonam looked towards the walls. He didn't want Miss Xi-Mei to see his expression darken. She seemed like a good person, sweet and devout, and he knew exactly how much of a shock the realities of the drear, muddy world could be to those who lived amongst the clouds.
"Pabu's a great prize for a poacher. With his size, he'd fetch a fortune from a circus or a zoo, or as a rich child's toy," he murmured. "They could easily cage him."
Pabu lowed, and shuddered at the feeling of warm cream on his inflamed skin. Sonam needed to keep his cool or else his buddy would fly away again.
But to chain a Sky Bison was a terrible thing.
"I fear- I wasn't attentive enough. He got caught in a trap."
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Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 8:49 am
Xi-Mei's eyes grew wide,
"Oh! But that's awful! Why would anyone do such a thing?" Money certainly couldn't be worth the life and well-being of a living thing! Nor could fame or entertainment. No-one would -really- do such a thing!
"But...no Air Nomad would ever..."
She shook her head, finishing up with the cream quickly enough and moving the hand that wasn't still covered in a light coating of the stuff over to scratch Pabu's head a bit,
"See, that wasn't so bad, was it? And it'll feel -lots- better afterwards."
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Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 4:36 pm
The cream started to do its work. Feeling the soothing numbness spread throughout his tail, Pabu turned himself around, to gently butt his head against Xi-Mei and cuddle her chest.
Sonam smiled softly, and a little sadly, and hoped that the harshness of his features did not make it seem cruel.
"I fear, Miss Xi-Mei, that these were not Air Nomads."
He took the opportunity to check out Pabu's tail on his own. The little guy hadn't let him near it during the time they'd been traveling, and Sonam knew better than the try to look at it in Pabu's sleep. Sonam's best friend usually insisted that he be the last one to fall asleep, as though vigilance could make up for his tiny size.
"I know that the separation between one's self and others is an illusion, and that to lash out at others in anger is to harm one's self. But- I am pleased to be back among our people, for a short time, to make sure that I don't lose my composure."
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Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 6:07 pm
"Ah, I see," she sighed, wiping the cream on her pants and putting her arms around the sky bison as he leaned against her,
"Poor sweet guy. I suppose it would be hard for him in the other Kingdoms; they can't see many sky bison. But, you would think they'd have enough sense not to harm another living creature."
She couldn't imagine what would possess a person to injure an innocent being like this little guy. And somehow, she suspected Pabu wasn't the only one who'd had a hard time outside of Air Nomad territories.
"Is it truly awful out there? I've only been to the Earth Kingdom before for a cousin who had some sick ostrich-horses and they were very kind, though strange in some of their ways."
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Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 9:12 am
Sonam was silent for a long moment. He watched Xi-Mei cuddle Pabu, who was keening softly. He listened to the flying lemurs chitter in the treetops.
"I think," he finally said, "it's harder out there. It makes some stronger than we are. And some, I fear, it makes very black-hearted."
In the Air Nomad culture, everyone was always taken care of. From cradle to grave, you knew that you could return to the temples to clear your mind and lick your wounds. None of them were ever rich, but none of them had to worry about starving for lack of work, or putting children through school, or keeping up a home, or any of the other things that most people labored their whole lives for.
The outside world was full of suffering, and was more vibrant for it. Sonam had met good, kind people there, as well as the foulest of miscreants. It was only right that those who were fortunate enough to have the peace of the temples try to bring some of that to the wider world, no matter how unwanted their efforts.
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Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 10:47 am
Xi-Mei tilted her head thoughtfully,
"But then, why do you go?" she asked softly, making sure her words wouldn't bother the rather comfortable little bison.
"What's it like out there? I mean...perhaps one day I'll leave the Temple for a bit. Travel the world. See what it's like."
She hadn't had much curiosity about the other kingdoms before, but now...well, it wouldn't hurt to know, right? And perhaps she would become stronger in her faith in the Air Nation because of it.
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Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 11:18 am
"Because-"
Because as much as Sonam loved the Air Temples, he would grow bored there. He was young and restless and the skies were so free.
"There are a lot of good people out there too, if you know where to look for them. And out there, I feel like what I do can make a difference."
He smiled, closed his eyes, and shook his head. It was all he could do not to laugh wryly at his own foolishness.
"Miss, I truly must apologize. Pabu has caused so much commotion, and now I suspect I've worried you needlessly. Is there anything I can do to thank you for your kindness to us?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 11:48 am
Xi-Mei grinned,
"Oh, it's no trouble at all. He's such a sweetheart, and you're very nice too. I suppose you could do me the favour of coming again sometime? Even before he's healed-- I'm sure he could use another check-up in a couple weeks, just to be sure."
This had been sort've fun. Perhaps she'd see if she could go visit one of the other Temples some other time as well. If nothing else, the sky bison there could possibly do with some checkups!
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Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 10:26 am
"Of course!" Sonam brightened. Then he realized he was probably acting too eager, and bowed hastily. "I mean, whatever you advise as Pabu's caregiver! If you could teach me how to make that cream, I would be deeply indebted to you."
Pabu floated listlessly, his snuggles no longer quite so insistent. The herbs were finally starting to kick in.
"But first I think someone needs a rest. I'll show him back to our guest quarters."
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