Queen Luana: Oh yes, it lives. Let's see if I can still do this.
Kanoni sped, manoeuvring her glider into the thick clouds
Kanoni sped, manoeuvring her glider into the thick clouds. She tried to cast a glance over her shoulder but saw nothing but a white fog. He could be so close right now. For all she knew, he could be right behind her. With a grunt she folded her glider and, while in free fall, used it to aid her air bending skills. With a powerful swing she sent a gust of wind right into the unknown. The clouds spread apart but she saw nothing. Where was he? Had he anticipated this attack? The adrenaline pumped through her veins as she unfolded the glider again and made her way down. Soon the pack of clouds grew thin and she saw the Southern temple. Nearly there…
There was hardly a soul in sight. Where had everyone run off to? Two maki's ran of in fear as she landed, folded her glider and hurried for cover. She pressed her back against the steady trunk of an old tree. Her heart was racing in her chest and she tried to catch her breath. Sweat drops tickled down the blue arrow on her forehead till they dripped from her nose. After she had gained her breath she peeked around the trunk and observed the vicinity. No one. Had he given up his pursuit?
A fierce blast of wind swept Kanoni of her feet and sent her through the air while screaming only to land flat on her back in the wet grass. She hardly had any time to sit up straight for her attacker had already landed at her feet, folded glider pressed against her chin.
"Well?" the young air bender demanded. Kanoni smiled feebly.
"Geesh, Ten, couldn't you have gone easy on me because it's my birthday?" she muttered and rubbed the back of her head painfully. His glider thudded into the meadow and soon he himself had fallen down as well, his lips pressed onto hers, his hands in her hair.
"Sixteen, gosh, you're old," he mumbled. "There, I think I see a wrinkle." As to silence him she hooked her hand in his neck and pulled his face down to kiss him once more.
"There you are!"
Faster than you could say 'air bending' Ten was back on his feet and Kanoni hastened herself to scrabble back up as well. An old woman hurried towards time, waving her arms enthusiastically. "I've been looking all over for you! The monks have news about the new avatar!"
The temple entrance was crowded with people, young ones as well as elderly. Kanoni hopped up and down but could barely see the shiny heads of the old monks. "Kanoni, up here." Ten had floated onto a nearby wall and he reached out his hand. Kanoni jumped up, floating up on the air current and sat down next to him. Even now, she could only just see their faces and their hands pleading everyone to calm down. After some time the fuss finally subsisted and Kanoni could hear them speak.
"The former avatar's eyes were glowing just a few hours ago," the eldest one spoke. "Avatar Koen appeared before me to announce the arrival of a new avatar and she is present here today!" The commotion started all over again and again the monks took efforts to calm everyone down. Only now the elder monk chose to speak above the fussy crowd. "She is among us! The avatar who was born here in the Southern air temple, sixteen years ago."
Ten squeezed his lover's hand as the monk scanned the crowd. "Where is Kanoni?"
The people went silent and looked at each other. One by one they started to turn around and found their new avatar sitting on a wall, face as pale as snow, knees buckling and eyes great with astonishment. Kanoni knew that she had been born nearly a day after the former avatar's death and she new that next one would be an air bender. But never had she considered the idea that she could just be the one. It all seemed so unnatural. Surreal. There had to be some mistake.
"All hail avatar Kanoni!" a monk spoke serenely and everyone sank to their knees. Everyone but Ten. He just sat there at her side, gazing at her. And not before long, she looked back.