The steamer was a week into its journey, and for the sailors and Kiyoshi warriors accompanying Katara, Toph, Suki, and Ty Lee on their hunt for Azula, the upper cabins of the steamer ship were fast becoming the only tolerable place to rest. Many of the lower holds had been packed wall-to-wall with crates of food, Even though the main cabins were more spacious, Toph and co. taking up residence in a few was enough to make the entire level foul smelling and uncomfortable. Most of the time they were also choked with smoke from the near-constant food preparation taking place in the galley and on the main deck.

For one Kiyoshi warrior in particular, the whole setup was borderline unbearable. Liu, a short, almost ghostly-looking enlistee of 15, had to blink back tears whenever her shift for patrol or food transport was up. Being an exceptionally lithe and patient, she was often the first assigned to scouting duty and the last for any head-on confrontations. The work made her willowy arms pulse with burning pain, and more often than not she was seasick and prone to skipping meals, which only made her constitution worse. She didn't want to blame her best friend, but she definitely did not jump at the opportunity to board the ship when it was presented by commander Suki.


Neither of them having left Kiyoshi, her closest friend and fellow warrior Song, two years her senior, insisted they take the opportunity to see the world. Song wasn't much more imposingly built than Liu, but her sun-kissed skin, bright hazel eyes, and shoulder-length, slightly tangled brown hair instantly marked her as the more assertive of the pair; Liu's inky-black bangs covered part of her face when not clipped up for duty, and she had a bad habit of staring at her feet when not at attention. It had been Song's idea to go on the trip, but Liu knew that she only suggested it because she thought they both would enjoy time away from Kiyoshi Island.

Liu grit her teeth and marched down to the main floor to meet Song before going to work hefting crates of provisions up to the main deck. What little color she did have drained from her cheeks as she inhaled the smoke, salt, and lingering flatulence in the air of the main holds. Song, possessing a sounder constitution, was quick to strike up a conversation. "So, Rou Lan and Wen were ordered off their night shifts, so I'm stuck hauling boxes for the next four hours." Liu's eyes widened. "How did that happen? And I'm sorry to say it but better you than me, I would keel over hour three." Song gave a dismissing hand gesture. "When I asked them in the flesh, they just shrugged at me and gave this -annoying- little giggle. They must have weaseled an early lunch out of the commander too, I saw them waltzing down to the kitchens. " A large wave pounded the side of the steamer, and Liu's stomach gave a little flip. "....Don't talk to me about lunch break." Liu murmured.

After a back-breaking two hours of hauling up butter and preserved meat, Liu's shift was over. "I'm heading up to my cabin Song, want me to bring you something to drink while you finish your double-shift?" Song, slightly winded but still in command of her wiry strength, shook her head. "Nah. This is what we get for stopping to take on even more supplies at Omashu for two days; what is our commander thinking? Urgh, anyway, I'll be up when I'm done."

---

Liu was beginning to drift into a sound, exhaustion-fueled sleep when the door to her cabin gently swung open. "Hey Liu, I figured out how to get those extra breaks from the commander!" sang Song's voice from the doorway, after a little belch.