[Third POV]
The next day was calm as the team swiftly passed throught mountains and plains heading towards an uncertain future.
Nonetheless the lack of food had started to affect the soldiers' mind and body as their faces got whiter.
They had entered the ruined lands for weeks and during this time they survived with as little food as possible. They assumed that they could have a good meal at the border but the unexpected situation has forced them to continue living with barely enough food.
'Their moves are organised but their control is sloppy. They are slowly breaking down, the only thing keeping them moving is their will to return to their families.' Solon noted as he looked at the men one by one.
Unlike the rest Solon's body and mind are under no pressure. He doesn't require food and water like the humans, althought he does enjoy the act of eating.
'I could stop eating to allow them to eat more but that would blow my cover. Right now I am a civilian that can't imagine living on an empty stomach. I have to act that way.' He though as he forcefully pushed the pity he felt to the depths of his mind.
Suddenly the man leading the team slowed his Ostrich-horse down as he looked at the sky that was getting darker by the minute.
"Halt! We will rest right here. Eat all our rations, we have to hunt tomorrow eitherway and I prefer hunting in the noon." He said as he looked at the sm all opening in front of him and then at his map while noting some information.
The men nodded as they came down from their Ostrich-horses and started building a small camp using earthbending.
"As for you. You can rest for now, but you will be the one to keep watch during the night." He said as turned to Solon.
Solon nodded as he took out some books he copied from Wan Shi Tong's library and started reading.
Slowly, the sun setted and moon rose from the ground to illuminate the world.
Solon ignored the world around him as he knew that his senses would warn him if a chaotic spirit got close to him.
He continued to read his book as time passsed, until the sun rose.
Or at least that would be the ideal situation.
Instead of that during the middle of the night a raven landed in front of him looking at him intendly.
Solon ignored the raven for a while as he continued to read his book and the raven didn't make any move to disturb him.
[Solon POV]
It took me approximately half an hour to finish my book and Thanatos hadn't made any move to stop me which told me, even if indirectly that nothing extremely important was taking place.
I slowly closed the book and put it on the ground.
"How have you been Thanatos? Any interesting fact you would like to share with me?" I asked him as I took out my tea-making tools.
"Nothing too important. My work has become more tiring since the war is taking place but nothing I haven't gone throught in the past." He answered in his calm and heavy voice as I brewed us some tea.
'White tea was always one of his favourites.' I thought amused at how the spirit representing death liked this kind of tea.
"Ahh... White tea my favourite. A delicate brew that could be ruined if the smallest mistake gets made. It's just like life you know. The smallest mistakes can ruin it in a way no one can imagine but if brewed correctly, something worth remembering gets created." He said after taking the first sip of the tea
"Now that we have some tea to enjoy, isn't it about time you told me the reason for your visit?" I asked as I also took a sip from my tea.
"Can't I come visit just because I want to? Maybe I want to see my little brother." Thanatos answered with a small smile.
"We both know you are too much of a workaholic to visit me. I assume it has something to do with the war and the chaotic spirits that run rampant in the world?" I asked knowing full well what was the reason he visited.
'Concept-level spirits don't care about everyday problems if they don't endanger the world. Chaotic spirits feed on the world. That must have drawn too much attention for them to ignore.' I thought as I analyzed calmly every piece of information I obtained during the last days.
"That would be true, althought not completely. We are calling the council to decide how we are going to proceed with this situation. I know you like reading so I created this, it has all the information you need about the gathering." He said as he passed me a book.
"Why so serious? Even if chaotic spirits are a danger we could always erase them. There's no need to advance the gathering by over 9 thousand years for this" I said as I looked through some of the pages in the book.
"That's the problem, we can't. Vaatu created them on purpose to exterminate the human race and when Raava found out they got into a fight."
"A battle between opposite concepts? Chronos should be taking care of that, and if he can't the previous rules agreed upon should take effect to limit them. So why the council?" I asked with surpise at how serious the situation had become.
"Chronos is on vacation for some time and the last rules can't take effect because they were created during the time we needed to nourish the tree of time for your birth. Since you got born they are null." Thanatos answered me calmly once again.
"I see... I suppose that calling the council was the correct move then."
I thought about all the possible outcomes from this gathering and nothing good could come from it, and the fact that I owe Terra a favor didn't make things seem any easier.
~~~~{chapter end}~~~~