Lei knew the journey to Republic City would be a challenging one, especially given the fact that every other person seemingly had the same plan that she did. The city called to people, a beacon of a new world amidst the still smoldering destruction. For Lei, she was a part of the destruction, another unsung casualty in the war that lasted over 100 years. Peace, therefore, became a word that was hard to swallow, and even harder to say. The Fire Nation had created soldiers, bred them, bribed them, and bought them. Now they were free to find a new purpose, but what if they didn’t have any?
Lei clutched her traveling jacket, feeling a chill overcome her. This was a place where she could be remade. Reborn. But where to begin? Her feet started down the main road, as she watched buildings being built, and people with smiles permanently etched onto their faces. Relief still pouring out of them. Actually, Lei had been so focused on one particular woman, with gray slowly enveloping her brown hair, that she hadn’t noticed the person she abruptly ran into.
“Oof,” the impact hadn’t been particularly hard, but it was jarring nonetheless. The whole place made Lei feel like she was spinning and she instinctively grabbed the sword that swung at her side.











