A Go With the Flow Hero: the Story of Avatar Kuruk

Book 1: Water

Chapter 1: The Next in the Cycle

It was a time of peace. The four nations were living in complete harmony with each other. The Fire Nation, becoming an industrial power through new steam powered technologies, the Earth Kingdom building up their large domain with towering cities like Ba Sing Se, and the Air Nomads, solving minor international conflicts while a certain figure was absent.

But that certain figure was the sole reason for the Water Tribes being the busiest out of the four nations. Avatar Yangchen had died seven years ago, and while the Avatar wasn't needed as much as now, the Northern and Southern water tribes were filled to the brim with representatives from all four nations, searching for some sign...

"Mother, what were those men here for?" I asked questionably.

My mother looked at me slightly disappointed, and replied, "Nothing Kuruk, go back to reading those bending scrolls from Master Titus all right?"

I itched my head and pushed the topic further. "But mother! Those men mentioned a hero! A hero able to bend all four elements! I want to be that hero!"

"Kuruk my boy!" my father yelled from the doorway. I ran to his arms and he picked me up, spinning me around in front of our ice hut on Northern Water Tribe. "I just overheard you talking about a hero, am I right? Well this hero is called the Avatar, and you're right, it could be you!"

My mother looked angrily and said, "Don't put ideas into his head Palith. The Avatar could be ANY child in either water tribe."

"Don't be so sour dear, our boy Kuruk is the first water bender in our family for generations!" He grabs my shoulders and says more calmly, "He already is a hero."

My mother looks expectantly, smiles slightly, but returns to cleaning the already shining ice hut. While she does, my father urges me to water bend something, just to give him the satisfaction and for some enlightenment. Together we walk to entrance to the Northern Water tribe gates. On the way, many young water tribe girls from my classroom stare at me, and give me smiles...

"They like you son," my father says with a wide smile. "Show them you are a hero."

I return them a bold and bright smile while pumping my chest out wide. They giggle and point at me, but I already know its for good reasons. I like this feeling...this feeling of admiration. This feeling of pride and "going with a flow." I sigh and start running for the wide ocean that awaits us at the docks. On the docks lay hundreds and hundreds of water tribe ships. Some used for fishing, some used for battle. My father ushers me to the end of the land, where the ice ends and a void dark blue vastness awaits me.

"Go for it son," Palith says brightly. "I know you can do it."

I stretch my feet out slightly, my right foot giving me direction, my left foot keeping me balanced. I hold out my hands and thrust hard into the air...nothing happens. I frown and sigh with nervous tears building up in my eyes.

"Father, why can't I waterbend now? I bended a few days ago. Why not now?"

He smiles at me and kneels down so he is face to face with me. I haven't noticed until now, but his face displays gentleness. But, ferocity at the hands of being a water tribe warrior for decades. He says, "Water is the element of change Kuruk. It doesn't have a specific form, like earth maybe. And as water is the element of change, we must be constantly changing. So calm yourself son, and think of change. Go with a flow. Be the hero you were always meant to be."

I return a humble smile, and kneel down on the ice. I close my eyes, and what I expect to be darkness, I see figures. Milllions and Millions of figures, extending endlessly. And at the head of them is Avatar Yangchen. Her long brown hair frames her gorgeous face, marked with air nomad tattoos on her forehead and arms. I instantly flutter my eyes at her, taking in her immense beauty. And while I gaze at her, I see she wears a traditional air monk's necklace. But, it contains all four nation's signs on it. A smile unlike no other hits me like a wave of passion, love and...power. I open my eyes, and for a split second, my eyes glow a bright white. I stand up on the ice, a dead serious look on my face, with a tiny grin creeping up beside my chin. I lift my hands in the air, spin on the balls of my feet, and flick my wrists at the immense ocean ahead of me. What I see next surprises me. I expected a little wave, or a small tide in the least. But, a tsunami sized wave builds up in front of me, rushes out to sea, followed by strange gusts of wind, although it is not a windy day. I look in complete awe and a victorious yell begins at my tongue...but I hold it in. I turn to Palith, who's mouth is wide open in shock. I bring my hands together in the Northern tribal bow form, and slowly bow to my father. He is distracted, but shakes his head and bows back. As I run off to my house, I think about beautiful Avatar Yangchen, and what that whole vision meant. And I know behind me, my father is looking at me...gazing upon the first water bender in our family for generations...a hero.