Chapter 1

Kiana's eyes snap open as the sun makes its arrival over the horizon. Her body sparks with energy as the approaching daylight wakes up her inner bender. It stretches her tight muscles and churns her brain into full gear.

Breathing in the crisp morning air, her legs wildly kick off the light covers. Kiana barely acknowledges the sting of ice that greets her bare feet as they touch the wooden floorboards, padding towards the bathroom both her and her sister shared.

Her fingers stir the cold bucket of water until it becomes a warm embrace for her face. Scrubbing with a nearby towel, she gives her face a once over before heading towards the kitchen.

As she walks along the empty hallway, she feels her hot energy spreading throughout the large house, warming every corner and lighting all the fireplaces.

It was her morning duty.

"That's better" she states to herself, admiring the dancing flames in the main kitchen fireplace.

Still pumped, she shrugs on her work gear, slipping her warm fingers into her leather gloves. Stretching a bit at the main doorway and cracking a few bones, she slips out, well before any of her other family members are due to wake.

The town is barely awake as Kiana makes her way to work. No stalls are open, all windows and doors shut tight from last nights cold weather. It had been cold in the ports, leaving a fresh smack on Kiana's face as she power-walks towards the water.

Her partner, Minnie, is standing up ahead, taking in the sunrise as it comes over the ocean. She barely notices when Kiana comes to a stand still beside her, still adjusting her gloves.

What is it with you waterbenders and water?" Kiana smirks, pulling up the sleeves of her oversized uniform.

She barely dodged the stream of water directed at her face, grinning like a mad man as it splashed down on to the docks, "Hello to you too."

"I don't understand how you can do early shifts," Minnie sighs while rubbing her tanned face, "I can barely keep my eyes open."

Kiana starts walking around the docks, beginning their duty of patrol and tucks her hands behind her sturdy back, "you rise with the moon, I rise with the sun. It's only logic Minnie."

"No more of your smart talk Kiana, it's still very early and you know what happens when I get angry." She snarls, stomping behind as Kiana lets out a short laugh before falling silent.

Her eyes drift back and forth, scanning the port for any suspicious behaviour. But with it being so early in the morning, there is unlikely to be any activity.

Sighing, she gets mentally prepared for the long day ahead.

— line break —

'Finally.' Kiana's mind kicks into gear as she spots the first pirate stepping of their boat, 'some action.'

The docks were finally starting to move as merchants were setting up their stalls and baking their morning bread.

Children were running in the direction of the school, some late for class.

All in all, it is the first steps to another busy day in the trader town. And Kiana loves it.

Both her and Minnie stop walking as a group of pirates open their ship doors to welcome in potential buyers. Kiana watches as they start to shout at one another, creating the first loud noises of the day.

"They payed their docking fees last night, didn't they?" I mutter towards Minnie while surveying the nearest pirate, a parrot perched cheerfully on his haunched shoulder.

"Three gold pieces," she replies while also staring at the rowdy bunch, "though with all the disturbances from yesterday, I say it should be double."

"Let's not pester them by staying here," Kiana kicks her legs into moving away from the rugged pirate ship, "the last thing we need is a fight."

She can hear Minnie grumbling behind her, still dragging her feet with energy draining as the sun climbs higher into the morning sky.

All the while, Kiana could feel her body pulling energy from the flaming circle, giving her feet kicks of life. She pulls her shoulders back, lifting her chin high and breathes in the fresh air.

"Morning Minnie! Kiana!" Mr Ping calls from his truck of deliveries, currently holding a bulky crate of radishes.

Beside him was his young son, Po, giggling as he ran in between the legs of his lanky father.

Kiana still remembers the day Mr Ping had found Po, rummaging around the back of his shop.

"Good morning Mr Ping," Minnie smiles, reaching out a hand to shake Po's messy black hair, "we getting ready for a long day of sales?"

He laughs while readjusting his old apron, "very busy. My sales have gone up ever since Po here started advertising them around the markets."

His eyes then spark up as he seems to remember something. With a small "oh!" he turns and grabs a package from the counter, handing it over into Kiana's arm.

"A small snack for YOUR long day of work. We cannot forget as salespeople to thank our security officers."

Kiana peers into the bag to see two sticky buns with fresh steam rolling out, instantly making her stomach grumble.

Minnie leans over as well, taking in a large sniff. The two girls both look at each other with wide smiles and eyes of delight before thanking Mr Ping several times.

It wasn't long after, that Kiana and Minnie were taking a small break by the waterfront with their sticky buns in hand.

Minnie is watching the waves, sometimes closing her eyes and seems to be listening to the constant crash of the water.

Kiana is taking a different approach. Her eyes continue to scan the port, watching everyone and what they are doing.

"You're staring at them again," Minnie states, her eyes still slightly closed from her peaceful state near the water.

Kiana drifts her eyes way from the strange woman moving from stall to stall, not touching anything but lingering for too long. Kiana was immediately suspicious towards her.

"Have we seen her before," she asks Minnie, jerking her head towards the curly haired woman," the one with several bracelets and the blue bandana around her head?"

Kiana watches as Minnie finds the woman as well, noticing her partner's eyes squint more in suspicion.

'It is only a few seconds now before we might have a chase on our hands,' Kiana thinks as she continues to trace the woman.

Her concerns are confirmed the moment the lady's hand snatches out and snap up a handful of jewels before taking off down the road.

"Hey! Stop right there!" Kiana shouts instantly with a surge of instincts and immediately jumps into action.

The woman slips a little at the loud noise but not enough to stop her running. Kiana doesn't give up though, pushing her legs harder as she grabs energy from the bright mid day sun.

It blinds the pain from instantly taking off and sprinting. Her limbs become numb as her body starts to become hotter and hotter the harder she pushes herself.

A minute later and Kiana tackles the lady down, pinning her chest to the dusty ground.

"Get off me!" The lady grumbles with her cheek pressed against stones, most likely cutting into her skin with the amount of pressure Kiana is supplying.

It takes Minnie to pull Kiana away and take over the arrest.

"Sorry." Kiana mutters out, breathing out slowly to try and slow her racing heart.

Minnie finishes tying the band around the strange woman's wrists, fixing them behind her back before turning to face Kiana.

"It's not your fault. You were running on the power of the sun and had no knowledge of the strength you were applying."

"I know this," she continues as more guards come, taking the thief away, "because it happens with the moon for me. It's just a hiccup that comes with being a bender."

Kiana smiles at her friend, grateful that she is her working partner for this job. It takes another bender to understand the problems that come with the ability to bend.

There is another shout down the port way, calling Kiana and Minnie back to their job with a sigh from both of them.