[color=777777][sub][table= //////= POST DESIGN v1=\\\\\\][row][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][img]https://i.imgur.com/Pc4M7Rl.png[/img][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][/row][row][cell][sup][img]https://i.imgur.com/sZJu4bl.png[/img][/sup]

[color=2e2c2c]_______________________________[sub]........[/sub][/color]
[/cell][cell][color=white][center][sub][sub][sub][sub][sub][img]https://i.imgur.com/DHKvx27.png[/img][/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub][center][color=2e2c2c]West Gate[/color]West Gate[/center][/sub][/center][/color][quote][color=2e2c2c]____________________________________________________________________________.[/color]
Sunlight spread across the desert as a brilliant red, setting flame to the outline of Tu Zin against the mountain it was nestled against and heralding the return of another day. The warmth of its first light was cast across the dusty settlement like a net, chasing the last of the morning’s dawn into the shadows of rocks and rubble. It burned across dirt paths and slipped into the open windows and cracked doors of the earliest to rise; of those who woke to watch the sky catch fire and witness a beautiful thing impossible to see inside the walls of the Republic. Feyi never forgot her first time, and every day since then, she’d wait outside to give witness.

By the time the sun had slipped above the distant mountains, she was already well and truly up. She’d spent the early morning hours in the dark, directing a handful of people as they prepped for a journey into the Wilds. They loaded supplies into the back of a vehicle parked at the front gate; a jeep albeit an ugly thing when compared to the Kyoshi. Even in the softer light of the morning sun, it was obvious that years exposed to the elements hadn't been kind to it. What had once been a white coat of paint had turned to a smudged brown from sand constantly scratching at the surface. Damage sustained to the exterior over time had been repaired over and over again with sections of metal plates wielded… or sometimes taped to the frame. The windows had been reinforced, the grill too fixed with a bullbar. A makeshift cage had been crudely attached to one side of the vehicle to create more space for cargo. All of it was rather mismatched and haphazardly cobbled together like a misshapen puzzle. Cosmetics clearly weren’t a point of concern, but while Tu Zin’s own vehicles weren’t conventionally attractive by any means when compared to the Kyoshi, in some ways, they performed better. Tu Zin knew a thing or two about traversing the lands around their home.

Supplies were fairly straight forward. There was stable food and water, enough for at least a week outside the settlement which was longer than their three day planned excursion. Enough gas to get to and from their destination with some to spare. There were camping and cooking supplies, medical supplies and even some stacks of old newspaper for ass-wipe. All of it was loaded into the Jeep with a second, similar pile of supplies neatly stacked to the side and being loaded into the Kyoshi. Additionally, laid out on the hood of the jeep were a few extra guns, because while necessities were certainly important, what mattered significantly more to most going out were their means of defending themselves. Its why there was a large gun mounted to the roof of the jeep. The Wilds were dangerous. Fauna didn’t always play nice and sometimes, neither did the flora. People were dangerous as well but so too were spirits. They were out there, despite being less of a presence now than they were before the war. They were also incredibly dangerous. Bullets were useless, and according to Unye, bending wasn’t much help either. Their best chance in that situation would be to run.

[color=white]”You understand?”[/color]

[color=white]”You know I know some of this too, right? I [i]was[/i] the main operator for SynEn’s PipeRunners. Some might say the best. Mostly Jin.”[/color] Sumire gave Feyi a thumbs up. [color=white]”People bad. Spirits bad. Flowers bad. I've got it.”[/color]

Feyi placed another case of water into the back of the Kyoshi. [color=white]”Remind me again why you decided to leave? You’re not a Bender and Jin isn’t your blood, unless I’m missing something.”[/color]

[color=white]”Jin is... well he's...”[/color] Sumire’s eyes seemed to wander off as she willing let go of the words she wanted to say. She turned toward the desert sun and let golden light wash across her face, splashing the cool of a still retreating dawn from her cheeks with a gentle warmth. The softer edges of her were slowly beginning to harden during her time in the desert. Or maybe she'd always been like this. It was hard to tell. [color=white]”I've been watching his back for a long time. That idiot needs me.”[/color] She turned back to Feyi and beamed her a wide smile before grabbing one of the pistols from the guns laying on the hood of the jeep. She pushed it into place on her hip.

[center][i][color=white]...Or maybe I need him?...[/color][/i][/center][/quote][/cell][/row][/table][/sub][/color][table=bordered][row][sub]Prompt:[/sub][/row][row][cell][color=777777]A week has passed since the meeting with Unye. Although much had been discussed, three things seemed the most important:

First, he’d informed the group that they were not the only ‘settlement’ in the Wilds. Although it could be said Tu Zin was one of the larger ones, there were pockets of civilization dotting what was left of the world. Most survivors still lived near the capitals of the Bending nations and despite a more challenging way of life, these survivors thrived. Trade of goods and information did happen by way of dedicated couriers.

Second, he explained that while Tu Zin was relatively close to the City, the natural barriers surrounding the settlement helped to keep them out of the city's eyes. The area surrounding Tu Zin was a drone blind spot. It was impossible to pass through the Si Wong Desert from the North. East of that was the Bastion Sea and West were the ruins of Gao Ling. Synergy Radiation in the area disabled any equipment running on Synergy.

The third was the unfortunate reality of threats to Tu Zin. There had always been inherent danger to travel outside of any settlement but in the past couple weeks, it seemed disappearances had increased significantly, and not just on the road. Unye was forced to take a closer look at the situation when disappearances began happening inside the city. It had earlier been decided that after the conclusion of their celebration, a team would be assembled to investigate the disappearances. Reports had indicated sightings of strange creatures outside a nearby forest and it was there that they would start. An invitation was extended to the group in the hopes that in exchange for a place to call home, they would help to defend that home in its time of need.

During that meeting, the man standing next to Unye, Tenet, remained silent.

In the week between that meeting and now, the group was given free reign of the settlement once again, except of course to the town hall. Once the rest of the hunting teams returned without incident, the last part of their celebration kicked off with a huge feast. Sandworm is quite good. Posts for this round can include a snippet from their past week in the settlement.

It is the early morning on the first day of the expedition.[/color][/cell][/row][/table]