1. This is the House that Bolin Built

[buymedumplings]

Characters: Bolin, Ping (his Meow Wow) & YOU
Content: Bolin decides to save munny and build his OWN house earth tent. Although he needs to clear the area of some Nightmares first.
Location: Traverse Town, Backstreets
Time of Day: Evening? Hard to tell with no sun.
Warnings: Abundance of cute? IDK

While a few people had mentioned the First District as a good place to set up camp because of the fewer Nightmares about, Bolin felt that it would be better to set up in a place a little less crowded. He needed to find a spot that wasn't so open and that wouldn't be a hindrance to others. Bolin was a city boy himself so exploring Traverse Town and keeping an eye out for such a place wasn't too difficult. How often and he and Mako done the exact same thing in Republic City when they were younger? Looking for empty alleys and abandoned back streets, where an earth tent would hardly be noticed and out of the way of police that might have hauled them back to an orphanage somewhere.

Bolin's wandering had taken him through a few of the districts and had certainly taken him across the paths of a few of the Nightmares everyone had warned him about. His first encounter with them had caught him off guard and he'd almost gotten hurt, just because he wasn't used to attacking small creatures. Ping had been a big help then and Bolin had quickly picked up the slack, slamming boulders and earth disks to cut through the Hebby Repps and Komory Bats that tried to ambush them.

It was honestly by pure accident that Bolin stumbled into the backstreets of Traverse Town, but as soon as he saw all the waterways and canals streaming through the area, he knew this was the place he was looking for. A little ways in he found a small alcove that was off the main path and surrounded by walls. The perfect alcove.

Bolin put his hands on his hips and looked to Ping, "Welp little buddy. I think we found our new home."

Ping tilted his head as if to ask 'I don't see it.'

Bolin took a step forward, ready to get to work, when several dark forms emerged from the air: Meow Wows, Hebby Repps, and Pricklemanes. Bolin frowned but brought his hands up, "Great. Looks like we have to clean this place out first." Ping jumped forward, his large butt wiggling in anticipation of the fight. The Nightmares sprung on them and Bolin and Ping started fighting back.

Comments

[skysmirror]

"I see. One of my best friends could use fire, and others could use water and air...That was really strong magic, though, I think." Xion had never heard an explanation of exactly how the others used their elements. Some of it did seem to be stronger versions of spells, but that didn't explain everything.

It seemed odd to her that Bolin didn't know about magic. It was such a big part of her life that not having it seemed strange. Though, maybe with benders, nobody needed magic. That was a sobering thought.

[buymedumplings]

"Yeah, we have stuff like that too. Though, again, we don't call it magic or anything." When Bolin thought of magic he thought of sleight of hand and the guys who did the vanishing acts in street performances. Or, you know, weird magic chants and stuff like that. Magic, as far as he was concerned, was something in stories. Bending was different.

"So. What do you think?"

[skysmirror]

"Oh, magic is for more than fire and water and wind. You can use it to heal, too." Having never heard of any other kind of magic, Xion couldn't even imagine what came to Bolin's mind when he heard the word. Then again, she'd never had time to enjoy street performances.

After one more look at the tent, she nodded. "It looks safe."

[buymedumplings]

Interesting. That topic gave Bolin some pause. He then added, "Well, we have healers but they use water to do it. There are some really powerful water-bender healers out there, my friend Korra is one actually." He tilted his head and decided to ask, "Are there spells like invisibility or teleporting or something?" That was more of the magic HE was thinking of, things that couldn't be done with bending.

He nodded, "Good. That's kinda what I was going for."

[skysmirror]

Bolin's version of healing seemed interesting to Xion. "Really? I think Cure spells are more plant-based." At least, it had always seemed so from the flower image that appeared when they were cast. She'd always thought it was pretty. The idea of using water to heal had never come into her mind.

"Safe is a good thing to go for." She smiled slightly, then looked at his Meow Wow. "What do you think?"

[buymedumplings]

"Weird." Bolin replied without thinking. And it was...to him anyway. "Guess there are more differences than I thought."

Ping wiggled his butt, tilting his head to Xion. Then Ping waddled over to the tent and gave it a good, solid head butt. Apparently this was a way to test the tent in Ping's eyes. Ping hit it hard too but then fell back on his bottom and shook his head as if to clear it. Ping then made a pleased sound when he looked back to Xion.

[skysmirror]

Xion nodded. "It sounds like there are." Which was interesting, and she would have to ask him more about them later.

For the moment, he attention was occupied with Ping's reaction to her question. Axel hissed amusement at the Meow Wow's antics, and Xion herself couldn't help smiling as she reached down to pet Ping. "I guess that means you like it."

That settled, she could have gone back to discussing the differences between magic and bending. Bolin and Ping probably wanted to rest, though, and she should move on before more Nightmares showed up. "I should get going. See you later?"

[buymedumplings]

Ping was satisfied at least. As long as Bolin got him something soft to sleep on anyway.

Bolin nodded, "Yeah, I'm sure we'll see each other around. Thanks again for your help."

[skysmirror]

"No problem. See you later." Xion smiled and waved as she started off. Axel and Barkley squeaked their own goodbyes.