Chapter 2
When I reached the oasis, Yue was already there, sitting crosslegged and staring at the always circling fish. I knelt down across the pool from her and focused on the black fish. Only then did Yue speak.
"Did you hear the news?" she said.
"Other than the news about a giant monster landing in the arena? No."
Yue laughed.
"Yes, but do you know who was on the bison?" she asked. I shrugged.
"It was a bison? No, I was herded away before I could do anything except avoid getting smashed." I said.
"It's the avatar. And two of his friends."
"WHAT?" I stood up quickly, momentarily breaking the flow of the fish. Yue blanched for a second, then the color flowed back into her face and she exhaled in relief.
"Sorry," I said, and sat down. "But really? How do they know it's the avatar? Can he airbend? Will they be at the feast tonight?"
"I don't know," said Yue. "But let's get started before we run out of time."
My sister and I met weekly at the spirit oasis, to attempt to connect with the water and moon spirits. Yue, being extremely connected already to the moon spirit, would concentrate on the white fish, while I concentrated on the black fish. I hadn't connected to the spirit yet, but I noticed my waterbending was always at its best right after each meditation session.
I crossed my legs and closed my eyes…
All was black for a second, but then a huge flame flashed across the blackness. It flickered there, until a a strange blue arrow sliced through it. The fire disappeared and was replaced by a smaller flame, warmer and… friendlier somehow. Water flowed from the other side of my vision until the water and fire combined into one blue flame. I woke up, sweating and gasping. I had had my first message from the spirits.
Yue's eyes fluttered open shortly after mine.
"Any luck?" she asked.
"N-no…" I lied.
"I saw nothing, either," she said. "Come on, let's go find father and prepare for the feast."