The Poor Village (Mero's "home")

I walked to where we lived, I'd call it a home but it was far from it. During the day it got fairly hot, at night, unbearably cold. We lived in a ratty tent, there was padding on the floor to sleep, a few chairs and a small table when ever we had food, which wasn't often. My dad worked as a farmer, harvesting crops and plowing empty fields... it didn't pay to well. But we made it through... barely. "Mom! Dad! Look what my friend Siri bought for us!" I called with excitement.
"Hi Honey, what is it?" My mom asked softly.
"What did we tell you!!??" My dad roared.
"Not to come back without food or money, but we have food!!"

white= Mero's parents

I spat, "daughter... Mero! Go play with your monster."
"His name is Stitch." I reminded my dad.
"Go on honey, listen to your father." My mother said, a hint of fear and pain in her voice. I might be able to understand better if I could see...
"My name is Missu, and this is my husband Batyr" I told Siri. "Thank you so much for doing this. We can't really buy much food... usually it's just alcohol." I said glancing at my husband.

"Oh that would be great!" I said smiling. After the food was distributed equally I picked up a bowl of soup, some pastries and some roasted meat bringing them to Mero. I found a single apple guessing it was for my daughter's pet and set it in her lap. I kissed her forehead and walked back over to our guest. I started with the soup and closed my eyes in delight. "How refreshing..." I crooned. I glanced back at my daughter who was feeding the apple to Stitch. "Thank you so much Siri."

I turned and smiled my cheeks full of the tender, and delicious roast duck. I gave him a thumbs up and continued to slowly eat the food. Savoring every bit of it.
"She doesn't deserve that food. What's more worthless than a blind earthbender?" I growled.
"Come on honey she has some potential." I defended, even at the risk of getting hit. But we had a guest.

My husband stuffed himself and continued to read the news. "Yes, she's an earthbender, we're fortunate of that too. She hit her head when she was five and that's how she became blind. Luckily she can see with vibrations in the earth."

"Really?! Wow, no I've never heard of her, we don't really get much news around here..."
I finished with the duck and moved onto the soup. It was really warm but some how refreshing in this hot climate. I pushed the tray of duck to Stitch, giving him the scraps and bones.

I shrugged, kinda shy about it. I turned away to continue eating.
"She is kind of a shy girl... You're our guest, tell us..." I paused and looked over at my husband, and corrected myself, " tell me about yourself."

"Wow, a firebender! That's so cool!" I exclaimed.
"Do you personally know the Avatar?" I asked.

I snorted. "A firebender..." I growled under my breath.
"Batyr, really!? He's our guest! He brought us lunch with more food than you could provide in a year!! That war was settled decades ago! And peace was established by avatar Aang, and Fire Lord Zuko!
"Don't yell at me! I know who and what I don't like!!"
I sighed drowning out their arguing... again. I stood and mouthed to my mom what my plan was. She nodded while my dad continued yelling. She blew me a kiss and stared apologetically at Siri. I wrapped up my pastries (the only food I had left) and stood, motioning for Siri to follow.

Dark red= Mero's dad