Parker had been back at classes for almost a week now. Some of her classmates came talking to her about what had happened before, when she fought the dark spirit but most classmates, just like all the other students, whispered and stared. Parker could hear them talk when she passed by. It wasn't fun that people were talking about her behind her back but Parker wasn't so bothered with it like she would have been several weeks ago. She understood it would take a while for the people in the bending world to understand the situation since spiritbenders hadn't been seen in more than a hundred years.

Headmaster Iroh had talked to the president of Replublic City already to explain and in a couple days they would have a sit down with other important rulers. Parker would have to make an appearance, along with her parents at the meeting. But for now she didn't need to think about that yet. Parker was getting ready for her first ever airbending lesson. Since she now knew which element she was going to learn to bend first, Parker needed to wear the corresponding uniform. It was beige pants with a red orange strap around her waist. The long sleeved shirt was also beige and over that she wore a red orange sort of cape. Parker had seen several students wearing these clothes. Older airbending students sometimes wore a different uniform. The same colors but a bit of a different design.
After breakfast Bolin and Parker walked to the bending arena's together. They arrived at the earthbending arena first so they had to say their goodbyes already.

"Good luck" Bolin wished to Parker: "You're gonna do fine."

"I hope so" Parker replied nervous.

"You will. I'll see at lunch."

Sigh "See ya."

Parker took a deep breath and resumed her walk towards the airbending arena. After five minutes she arrived at the big building. With another deep breath she pushed the door open. Inside were other students waiting for class to start. They were standing or sitting together in groups and talked among themselves. Parker noticed a couple kids from her class but also students she only had seen on the playground before. But they all seemed to be first years. One of the girls from her class saw Parker entering the arena.

"Hey Parker" she said with a smile.

"Hi Eliana" Parker greeted back.

The rest of the students now also turned their heads towards her and most of them had a surprised or astonished look on their face. Luckily at that moment the teacher walked in. To Parker's surprise it was monk Kiyoto who entered the building.

"Good morning students" he greeted them.

"Good morning monk Kiyoto" the students greeted back.

"As you may have noticed we have a new student with us today. I expect you all to make her feel welcome. Now, let's start off our lesson as usual with meditation" monk Kiyoto said.

The reaction of the students was different than what Parker had expected. They didn't complain. The students just took place on the edge of a circle carved in the ground. Parker recognized the symbol in the middle. It was one of the symbols tattooed on her body and recently she had learned it represented airbending. The other three elements also had a symbol representing them and also had a place on Parker's body.

Parker sat herself down next to monk Kiyoto and Eliana. They took their meditation position and closed their eyes. A deep breath and slowly exhale. Fifteen minutes later, although it didn't even feel that long, monk Kiyoto opened his eyes and asked for his students to do the same.

"With our mind and spirit calm, we are ready to start the next exercise" he said: "Who knows which one that is?"

All students put their hand in the air, accept Parker, and monk Kiyoto let a boy answer: "The airbending gates." He said it while pointing at a tool behind him. Parker recognized the tool. It was the same thing she had seen on the spiritbender's island.

"Yes, indeed" monk kiyoto replied: "You are all getting closer to master this exercise, so let's keep practicing. Who can explain to Parker what you need to do?"

Eliana got to answer: "We need to be a leaf in the wind." Parker had no idea what that meant and it was readable on her face.

"Explain further, please" monk Kiyoto said.

"You need to move through the gates, while they are spinning, without touching them. So you need to be able to change direction at a moment's notice when you meet resistance."

Parker nodded but had no idea how it was possible to complete the exercise. In group they walked over to the gates. Next to it,Parker had seen, was another one so they could practice two at a time. Monk kiyoto made strong movements with his arms which produced wind and made the gates spin.

"Concentrate and move like a leaf in the wind" monk kiyoto said and nodded for them to start.

Parker let the other students go first. Almost everyone got knocked in the face or back by the first couple gates. Just a few student were able to move to the middle or a bit further but none of them could move all the way through the gates.

Now it was Parker's turn. She took a deep breath and walked closer to the gates, who were still spinning. She was really scared to get hurt just like the others but some unseen force pulled her between the first two gates. Her feet kept moving light over the ground. Parker step left, right, around, back left, left, circle, backwards, right, forward, another circle and backwards. To her surprise Parker stepped out on the other side of the gates facing the tool.

Parker could here 'aaaw's and 'amazing' coming from the other side. Her classmates walked around the gates with monk Kiyoto behind them. They came standing around her and looked awestruck.

"How did you do that?" Eliana asked astonished.

"Yeah. We've been practicing this for weeks and none of us have been able to get through all the way" a boy on her left said.

"I don't know" Parker said: "I just felt something pulling and pushing my body."

"Very well done, Parker" monk Kiyoto said: "You understand what it's like to be a leaf in the wind."

"So, how was your first airbending lesson?" Azula asked when Parker returned back at her dorm building after school.

"It was amazing!" Parker answered enthusiastic: "We had to get through these air gates that…"

But Parker's story got interrupted by a big black cat running towards her from out of the woods.

"Yin!" Parker called out. The black cat jumped around its best friend started purring while twisting around Parkers legs. Parker petted its head in return.

"Hey Parker, it's almost time for dinner so I have to get inside" Azula said.

"Oh okay" Parker said, looking up at her dorm leader: "See you later." Then she turned to Yin. "Then I'll tell you what I've learned today." Yin meowed in approval. Together they walked inside towards the dining hall while Parker excitedly told her cat friend about her day.

I hope you liked this first one-shot.
Reviews are welcome.