On the southern coast of the earth kingdom...

NAbiki woke up to the sound of peaceful waves lapping onto shore. And a not so peaceful barking sound.

"Hmm?" She sat up, blinked a few times, trying to remember where she was. Slowly, the memories of her night there flowed back and she blushed. She looked over at Lukas, his breathing moving him up and down steadily. Nabiki reached out a hand and touched his shoulder, hoping to wake him. She didn't want to face whatever might be out there alone.

Lukas was having a nice dream of rainbows and earth bending. He was battling the rainbows in a fight to own a piece of ice. For some reason he really wanted this piece of ice and the rainbows didn't want him to have it. Also, he was a rock.

When he felt something on his shoulder, Lukas sat up quickly, looking around and seeing Nabiki sitting next to him. The night before rushed over him and Lukas smiled at her. "Morning! I hope you had a good sleep!" He said with a smile before finally looking at her once more.

"What is that sound? It sounds... like a strange sound." He said, stretching out his arms and back, puffing out his chest some. "Gah! Bright! Crystals aren't good for sleeping in late." He said, shielding his eyes some.

"So strange sound, lets see?"

"I slept great!" Nabiki replied, grinning. "And as for the sound, I think it's barking... C'mon, open the crystal!" She'd tried to forget the previous night, thinking of it as a past experience to learn from and move on after.

He smiled at her as she said she had a great sleep. "Thats good, sleeping is a good thing." He said, chuckling and looking at her. When she said that the strange sound was barking, Lukas laughed. "Barking? I wonder what could be barking." He said, walking over to the door and punching it, causing the wall to fall forward.

"Sweet," NAbiki said, jumping up and walking over to the open entrance. Sunlight streamed through, but Nabiki was used to the harsh glare from snow and ice, so it wasn't so bad for her. She still shielded her eyes as she began to look around. The sound came again, louder now that they'd removed the crystal.

"That way," NAbiki said, turning her head and pointing toward her canoe's little tent. "C'mon! I think i know that sound!" She strated to run, laughing as her feet connected with soft sand, slowing her. "I feel like I'm only walking!" She was grinning, the kind that made her look like she'd never be sad again. She was having fun with nothing. Just sand and a noise.

Lukas smiled as she passed him out onto the island, the temperature feeling like a tropical area with some cold breezes coming out from the ocean. He strode out of the cave casually, following after Nabiki and looking around as he heard the strange barking sound once more. Whatever was making the sound he couldn't see it yet, but since Nabiki had no fear of it he had no reason to fear whatever either. He couldn't help but watch her with a smile and a slight flush, grinning gently as she moved along.

Nodding when she spoke, Lukas moved after her with such ease that the sand seemed to bend to his will. "You know what this.. this 'barking' sound is?" He asked, catching up to her faster now so he could be close to help her, just in case. "Well, sand isn't an easy thing to walk on." Lukas said with a laugh. He felt so at ease, watching her run and smiling at him, the flush still evident on his face as he continued toward the canoe.

Why is he blushing? Nabiki asked herself, but then dismissed it. MAybe it was just the heat.

"I think so. Remember when i told you about the polar bear dogs? That's what on sounds like..." She slowed to a walk and when the sound came again, she nodded, finalizing her statement. "That's definitely a polar bear dog, but i wonder what it's doing out here..." As she turned around the "tent"'s entrance, she saw It.

'Oh, wow! How'd you get here, love?" she asked, moving closer when all that happened for the creature was it's head tuning to her and it's eyes seeming to regain some kind of strength and vigor. It had probably almost barked itself hoarse by then. When she moved closer, Nabiki could see that it was a female. And judging by the bulge of the polar bear dog's belly, pregnant. "Lukas! C'mere! She's friendly!" Nabiki already had her hand on the creature's head and it was enjoying the attention immensely.

"A polar bear dog... all the way out here? What happened, did it stow away on your boat without you knowing?" He asked, making his way over to her and following behind her a bit, not knowing what was going to be around the next turn. It was a very fun situation, but since he had never even seen a polar bear dog before it was also quite mysterious. By the look on Nabiki's face he could see that she had encountered the creature.

When she spoke, Lukas slowed down a bit more and continued walking over to the girl. With the invite to come closer, Lukas walked over to her side and looked at the animal that she was currently petting and smiled. "Aww... I wonder how long its been out here like this... it must be hungry and thirst though, do you have anything you could share with it?" Lukas asked, getting down on one knee and petting the creature on the side of its neck.

"I dunno, but she must be domestic, i wish she had a collar..." Nabiki replied. "Get the packs from my canoe, i have some stuff in there. Jerky, dried seal blubber..." She pointed to her canoe. "Water in the small barrel at the back," She instructed, still petting the affectionate creature.

"A domestic creature eh? Strange..." He said, looking at the polar bear dog. When she began to give him some things to do, Lukas nodded and walked to the canoe, looking for the packs and picking up a few as well as what he was sure was the water barrel she had mentioned. With the items in hand he made his way back over to the two, handing the packs to Nabiki as he opened the water barrel and placed it on the ground.

With a palm on the ground, Lukas twisted his hand and lifted up, making a small stone bowl from rock. With the bowl made, he poured in some water and moved the bowl next to the polar bear dog and closed the water barrel. "So are all polar bear dogs this... large around the belly?" He asked with a sightly skeptical voice. He had a feeling that the answer was no, but he was hoping it was a yes.

Nabiki shook her head. "No, I'm pretty sure she's pregnant, and close to birthing as well. She's probably only a month away from having her pups. I think i remember her from the village, She's Azia... She probably did stow away. That might be why the boat moved so slowly!" Nabiki smiled. "Anyway, Her owner died just before i left, the funeral was the last time i saw everyone. There's nobody there who can really keep her and a bunch of pups with them... Maybe we can give her and her pups to the Foggy Swamp Tribe if they promise not to eat them..." She shuddered.

Azia licked her hand, comforting and begging for the food Azia knew was in that bag. Nabiki laughed, reaching over with one hand to get the pack, the other resuming petting Azia. "Here you go, girl!" Azia gently took the jerky from Nabiki's hand, chewing ravenously on the tough dried meat.

"So what do you want to do with her?" Nabiki asked Lukas, lookin gup from her kneeling position.

"Pregnant eh... close as well... just a month as well... Well Azia, welcome to this place you pregnant polar bear dog." Lukas said with a smile. Petting the dog, Lukas smiled and looked back at Nabiki, "So this polar bear dog is here and we won't be leaving her alone here then as well." When Nabiki told him the story about the dog's previous owner, Lukas let out a sigh before taking a swig of cactus juice once again. "The Foggy Swamp tribe are friends of mine, they will refrain from eating her and her pups if we simply ask them." He said, shrugging and looking at her.

As Azia chewed on the jerky that Nabiki gave her, Lukas chuckled and rubbed the top of head. "Well, doesn't seem like she lost her appetite, so that's good." He said with a smile. "My only suggest is take her along and make sure she will be taken care of." He said, shrugging.

"Okay, well... How are we getting to the foggy swamp tribe? I know she'll come with us... You'll have to be out fearless leader now, mkay?" NAbiki winked at him, grinning. "After all, where would i be without you?" She actually meant the last sentence, she'd probably be dead without him.

"Well, we both have a ship we can travel to the Earth Kingdom, so from then on we have to walk, ride, and the like our way there." He said, smiling over at the two as he stood off to the side. "We just have to make sure to keep her safe and healthy until we arrive, and avoid anti-water tribe earth kingdom soldiers." Lukas said, looking at Nabiki. He knew that some people in the earth kingdom weren't fans of the water tribe.

"And where would you be without me? Not sure. This trip would be a lot less entertaining without you... I am glad we met." He said, smiling.

Nabiki frowned, her brow furrowing. She didn't like war, not in the least. War takes epole away, and she'd lost too much already. Nabiki smiled in silent reply, then turned back to Kiera.

"I know they don't like us... I know that because my father and the others left to defend us. What I'd like to know is how they can be so suspicious of a tribe that doesn't even live close enough to ave stolen the avatar and left so quickly! It doesn't make any sense for our people to be the prime suspects in this stupid fight!" She slammed her fist into the sand, making it fly out in all directions. She wanted her life back. Her father back. " I just wish i lived when the Water avatar was around. That time was so peaceful, hardly anyone fought, and certainly no one like this.

Nodding his head, Lukas watched as she not only bore her dislike of the war and her anger toward those who started it, but also her sadness and hatred. Lukas gave her a soft hug and rubbed her back softly. "I know, I know, but as things are we can just make sure to have things go good for us." He said, and then poured her a cup of cactus juice. "Drink up and lets just hope this war ends sometimes soon."

Nabiki sighed, but accepted the juice. Denying herself the juice wouldn't do her any good. She threw it down in a gulp, like it was a shot. The wonderful feeling spread over her, like she was going to float. She forgot that she hated the war, that the bad things even existed. She felt warm, almost too warm. The ocean looked so appealing that she ran into it, the cold water making her feel cooler, less overheated and she giggled

"C'mon in!" She called at ukas, waving a hand to him in a "come on" motion.

Watching as Nabiki started to become relaxed, Lukas smiled and took a sip of cactus juice himself. It always seems to make people better, and as he watched Nabiki become relaxed, he just smiled and chuckled to himself. "Its good that you are feeling better now." He said, watching as she looked at the ocean before running into it. Getting to his feet, he smiled and walked over toward her, putting his stuff behind him on the sand before walking into the water and smiling at her. "So what now Nabiki?" He asked, enjoying himself in the water.

Nabiki's eyes glinted mischievously. She twitched her hand, as if she were plucking something out of the air. A small drop of water rose above Lukas's head and then, her hand stopped moving and the drop fell.

"WATER FIGHT!" She shouted at the top of her lungs before dashing to a safe distance and waiting for retaliation.

Lukas looked at the girl when she suddenly seemed just a little mischievous, he simply tilted his head. What could she be planning, what could she possibly be planning. He looked at her, seeing her hand move just a tiny bit and he was wondering what it was she was planning on doing. All of the sudden, he felt a drop of water fall onto his head and he blinked, looking at her. When she shouted water fight, he smiled and then moved after her, swinging his arms toward her to splash her with them.

Nabiki water bent a large-ish wave and sent it at Lukas, intending for it to crash down on him and completely soak him.

"Mwa ha ha ha!" She said, sounding eerily like toph (melon lord XD) as she turned her wrist to send it toward Lukas.

Lukas looked at the large wave and blinked, feeling like he was slightly out numbered by the strength of the wave that she was about to strike him with. Yet he had a feeling that she was about to strike down at him he could be able to escape quickly. With a spin he sunk into the sand and then slid through the ground beneath the water before coming out behind Nabiki, pulling her against his chest. "Ha! Gotcha now! Take that!"

nabiki squirmed, giggling, completely unaware of the position they were in. It did not look as innocent as she would've thought. But she had absolutely no clue they could've been two four-year-olds for all she cared.

She squirmed and pulled her arms free, pulling a huge wave out of the water and bending it over their heads, like an umbrella.

"The sun was too bright." She said simply before grinning evilly. "Or maybe i just have a weapon.. " And with that, she let the water drop. right onto their heads.

When she got her arms free Lukas knew it was all over for him. Looking up at the wave, he just sighed and closes his eyes. As the water splashed down onto them, Lukas shook his wet hair and looked at Nabiki, still against his chest by his arms. "Oh, well, then, lets see how far we can sink into the sand then?" Lukas said, starting to sink in slowly, the water rising up to her chest.

Nabiki sqealed and squirmed, trying to leave his grasp before the water went over her head. She bent it into a ring of ice around the top of Lukas's arms, trying to weaken him.

"Noooo!" she cried in play terror, screaming again and wriggling to free herself from his clutches. "Leme go!" She squealed, giggling. "Aaah!"