Fire, Air, Water, Earth.
Over a decade had gone since the passing of Avatar Korra. She had accomplished a great deal in her many years and lived true to her word, always fighting to guide the world towards peace and balance. She left behind a legacy almost equal to that of Avatar Aang, the boy hero. He completed his training in less then a year, a feat that often took a minimum of ten, before he stopped a war that had raged for one hundred years. The Hundred Years War had become a distant bad memory for the world, having ended almost 160 years ago. Tensions were lower and the Air Nomads were well on the way to filling the temples again. The world had, seemingly, found balance.
Rays of light tickled the edges of Air Temple Island as the sun was hidden behind a passing cloud. A cool breeze circled through the training areas and gently embraced the several bodies that danced among the courtyard. Anja laughed lightly, spinning with the wind and the other Air Nomads. Orange robes swirled around her slim figure and loose chocolate waves hung gently to the base of her shoulders. Light reflected the soft joy in her sterling eyes as they met the eyes of her dancing partners. Her eyes met chestnut in Jinora, a pale aqua in Yangchen and silver met silver as her eyes locked onto Aang. She admired the familiar faces as they circled, flowing through the air like leaves in the wind. Anja danced on and on, never tiring. I was not until the clouds blocked all the light from the sun leaving her in darkness, that she ceased. Panic began to flow through her heart until she was thrust from the clutches of sleep.
Anja sat lightly and gazed out the window across Yue Bay as the first rays of light began to touch Air Temple Island and the spirits that danced in the water. The Nomads were already flitting about with training exercises and chores, some even on the shores meditating. There was a longing in her heart to be out there with them, to feel the freedom and peace that came with the culture and the sense of community that was solid through each and every Nomad and Acolyte, even though Acolytes were becoming fewer as Airbenders returned to the world. She felt a sense of familiarity as she watched two younger students circle each other with flaring movements that reminded her of the dance of her dream. It was the same dream each night, dancing on the Island in orange and saffron, moving with the wind.
The morning of her thirteenth birthday was dawning gently across the bay, giving the water an inviting and crystalline sheen. Spirits dove through the currents like the dolphin eels in her books. Some flew above the currents circling and playing like young children in a spring field. Over the years some had dared to approach the cliffs that bore her home but none like today. The spirits gathered and flew to her window as the last traces of sleep left her system. Anja laughed at the display of colour and the sense of freedom she felt. She pushed open the window to remove the cell like feel of the room and one of the spirits flitted in to her bedroom. It was a squishy, lime green spirit with forest green leaves atop its head. It leapt as though it was swimming in the air and danced over to her bed. One of the leaves sprouted forward to touch the center of her forehead. Anja felt her vision change and coalesce into thoughts that weren't her own. Gentle patterns of earth and water animated her thoughts with a familiar voice she couldn't quite grasp.
"You'll do great today." It told her, a lasting word or two unintelligible before the vision was lost. Anja opened her eyes to see that all the spirits, save the soft green one in front of her had returned to dancing in the bay. Anja smiled to the spirit and bowed best she could before it fled her window to join its brethren.
Anja had grown up looking out that window, wishing she were an airbender, feeling an odd sense of familiarity with Avatar Aang's statue. A sense that felt stronger each night she shared in that same dream, teasing the back of her mind with the sensation she was not quite grasping onto a tidbit of information she ought to. She huffed gently as she heard the sounds of her home coming to life and left her window to greet her family. For the last few years she had been debating whether or not to tell them of her dream to live on the island, with her parents' blessing she could leave the moment her heart desired. The spirit's words rung through her heart. "You will do great today," it had said. Words that pushed her to decide that today, was the day she would ask.
"Anja, come out please." Her mother, Mae, called. Anja sighed and swept her chocolate hair into a bun so it was out of her face, although the strands that always fell to frame her didn't get the memo.
"Coming mum. Where is dad? I need to ask the two of you something important." Anja's heart was beating with anticipation of how her parents would react.
"He's in the kitchen but Anja make it quick, we have guests who will be here any second." Her mother continued rushing about tidying while her father cooked up a stack of pancakes on their stove. Her younger brother Kan was playing at his feet.
"Anja, sweetie what is it?" He asked with out looking, a little preoccupied.
"Well Dad, Mum, there is something I have wanted to ask for a while. I want to become an Air Acolyte, I would like to ask for your blessing." She tried to catch her father's eye but he was looking over her shoulder.
"Mae, you want to take this one?" Li asked, sharing in something Anja wasn't. The group was interrupted by a knock on the door and Kan rushed off to see who the 'guests' were. "Saved by the knock," Li chuckled. "Our guests can take it I think love." He spoke gently to his wife. Mae shook her head at him before opening the door to greet the strangers.
"Master Lao, Master Hikari, it's a pleasure to welcome you into my home. Your timing, might I add, is perfect." Mae bowed in the Earth Kingdom tradition, left hand solid, right hand clenched, meeting at the palm. Her loose black hair falling to cover the golden skin of her face. Li came up behind her, his own pale skin in sharp contrast. He also bowed, but in the Fire Nation tradition, left hand solid, the right in a fist but meeting with the thumb at the base of the palm. Anja looked curiously at her parents. Her mother was all earth, literally as a bender and figuratively, she had the caramel complexion of the central Earth Kingdom and bright eyes that shone through her usually tidy black waves while her father was all fire. Li had the pale complexion and dark brown eyes of his ancestors as well as the height and odd demeanor. Her brother was a carbon copy of Li although he had their mother's golden yet green eyes and had been showing the early signs of a Firebender. Not for the first time Anja was curious as to how she fit with them. Her own eyes were of the rare silver variety. Her hair was a dark brown instead of black and her skin was a shade or so darker than her fathers. She was tall for her age but lacked any hint of muscle. She glanced uneasily around the door between the entryway and kitchen to see her parents and the two guests. They were deep in conversation but Anja's attention was on the robes of the strangers. They were a flowing navy decorated with a white floral pattern around the neck. Anja's breath hitched as she recognized the uniforms for what they were.
"Mother, Father what is the Order of the White Lotus doing here?" She asked gingerly, coming out a little further from her place to get a full view of the two. The first was easily Earth Kingdom; his rich green eyes gave him away instantly. The second had to be Fire Nation. She lacked the sense of ease most Water Tribesmen possessed and her skin was a light shade similar to her father's. The two looked at each other before stepping in-between her and her parents.
"Anja?" They asked together gently. She nodded at her name. "I am Lao and this woman is Hikari. If you don't mind my asking, where have you heard the term 'White Lotus' before?" The man, Lao asked.
"In the histories, you aren't as secret as you used to be." She fought back the urge to laugh at the two, forcing it into a quizzical smile. The woman also appeared to be fighting laughter, the ringing sound still evident in her tone as she stepped closer again and spoke.
"Fair enough young one. We are masters of the Lotus, myself of fire and my esteemed colleague of earth and metal." Anja bowed gently,
"It's an honour, Masters Lao and Hikari." She came out of the bow to see Lao offering her an oddly pained look while Hikari gave her one of admiration.
She spoke gently in a tone that resembled honey, her hand on one of Anja's shoulders. "And you are the Avatar."