Chapter 2

"Up now Yi" Jinora started poking Yi with the end of her staff "You are an avatar in training now". All she got was a grunt in reply. The journey across the earth kingdom hadn't been easy for him, even if they were mostly flying. Jinora had been brought up an air nomad and had been free to travel the world but she didn't suppose that Yi had ever gone too far from home, seemed it was much that way in Ba Sing Se. She had tried her best to bond with Yi over the past few days, but he seemed like such a gentle soul wrapped up in his own small world and really said much more than he had needed to. He hadn't taken well to sleeping in the wilds but hadn't complained. However she could tell the sleep deprivation was getting to him. Yi grunted again. Jinora looked around the clearing they had camped for the night. Omaa wasn't too far away still lazing on her side. They had made good time so far, so it seemed her sky bison deserved a rest. It was a perfect time to test him on his apparent bending skills.

"Come on Yi, I'm quite sure that you're soon-to-be fire bending master won't stand for this kind of thing. I'd hate to have to dunk you in that stream over there..." Apparently she sounded convincing enough as the very bleary eyed Yi emerged from his sleeping bag. The neat hair he sported in Ba Sing Se had disappeared days ago and he had bags under his eyes. "Morning Yi!" Jinora said with somewhat feigned excitement.
"Morning Jinora" he croaked back.
"I'm afraid the time has come for you to fight me!" She said with a smile. Yi went from bleary eyed to wide- eyed instantly. "Fight you? I can't do that, I..." Yi began to stutter.
"You have to!" Jinora had been taught how to train different types of people as part of her father's trainings, one day she'd have to train her own kids, and she could tell that Yi had a problem. Supposedly he was an excellent earth bender technically but when he came to sparring he wasn't half as good. "I have been told that you have to pass the test before we leave here" Yi looked extremely worried. Jinora smiled, this was of course a complete fabrication but she knew what Yi needed as his first lesson. "I shall be back soon, you better be up" with that Jinora headed into the trees.

Jinora returned in much less than an hour clutching the head of a beautiful looking white and red lily. Yi was up and ready, looking more worried than he had done before. "It will be fine Yi!" Jinora comforted him "Just as long as you can take this from me without crushing it" She held her hand out showing Yi the flower. "Unless you want to head back to Ba Sing Se? It's a long way on foot..." Jinora was lying again, there is no way she would even be allowed to abandon the avatar in the middle of nowhere alone. Yi fell for it though. She smiled at the blank expressionless face that Yi gave and was completely unaware of what he was doing. He hadn't bothered to wait for her to say "go" and moved his left hand towards himself and the right one up. A fairly big rock knocked Jinora on her right leg causing her to lose her balance. She began to move to maintain her stance but the ground had already swallowed her left foot. Taken completely by surprise Jinora blew the lily up in the air so she could catch herself on the ground with her arms. She twisted around to easily break free from the weak grip the ground had got on her and went straight to a defensive stance compensating for a follow up attack. She levelled her eyes on Yi who had one arm reached out staring up into the air above her. Jinora looked up to see a thin slice of rock heading straight above her head but she didn't rush to defend her flower. The slice of rock caught the stalk and carried the lily along with it on its trajectory and embedded itself on a tree on the other end of the clearing. Jinora watched as a single petal fell of the flower head. Jinora turned back to look at Yi in as little awe as she could manage, once again he had that worried look on his face. "Was that cheating?" He asked "You weren't ready. And you could have stopped me catching the flower"
"If you thought that I wasn't ready why did you start?" Jinora asked curiously.
"I may be a nobody who never left Ba Sing Se but I can only assume that I'm not going to able to beat an air bending master...not in a straight forward sense anyway" Yi finished and Jinora glimpsed a rare sight of the tiniest smirk that was gone almost as soon as it arrived. "That was very wise of you. It hardly happened how I intended however you are right, you have passed. However you have not got off that easily. Defend yourself." With that Jinora released a heavy current of air straight at Yi.

"I'm bored!" Rina said loudly. Her father looked up from what he was writing and sighed.
"You're always bored!" He replied with little sympathy "Go do something! You're fire bending needs some practise, go do it. We go through this every time". Rina pouted her lip.
"There is more to life than fire bending training Dad!" She crossed her arms. It was fairly hard to get out of training when her father was also her fire bending master. Her father looked at her over the half moon spectacles he was using to read and sighed again before returning to his work. "I'm sure you are right, however you know the avatar has suddenly been found and The White Lotus has just decided to send him here. I'm not nearly prepared for this kind of thing! They should have given me ample warning, I mean who do they think they are?" Rina could see her father getting stressed.
"It's the avatar, Dad. It'll be fine! You're a great teacher, just do the same thing as you normally do". Rina crossed the room and put her hand on her father's upper arm. "I'm going for a walk".
"Okay" He smiled "Thanks Rina. Don't be gone too long okay?"
"I won't" She said absent-mindedly and she half skipped towards her front door.

The sun was just setting over the Fire Nation capital, though the warmth of the late summer day hadn't quite left yet. Rina shoved her hands in her pockets and just started walking, her thoughts wondering. She really worried about her father; since her mother had passed away he had a tendency to overwork himself. Rina pondered a while on grief. She had never had much of a problem with it, of course the loss of her mother had changed her and she still had bouts of tears, but it just seemed to stop other people in their tracks. That was something she didn't understand, Rina knew for a fact that her mother would not want her to be sad. Rina's very last memory of her was in her deathbed asking her to do that exact thing. "Be brave Rina, my time in this world is almost up, but I will see you in the next and I shall look forward to it. Smile for me" Rina reminisced aloud. "I am Mum" Rina smiled and looked out to the horizon. The sun had almost set, orange light danced on the tranquil seas and bled upwards past the horizon to the deepening blue sky. Rina's peaceful expression flashed from confusion to excitement as she noticed the smallest shape expand far out to sea. "DAD!" She turned to run "DAD!"

Jinora smiled. The Fire Nation capital was a truly beautiful part of the world and the sunset just emphasized that. "Excited Yi? We're here!" Jinora turned from where she was sat at the front of her bison and looked for Yi. He was huddled up in the corner with his small bag and a worried expression on his face. "Just a bit anxious." He said just loud enough for Jinora to hear over the wind "I'm not sure if I have even met a fire bender before and now I'm to live with them..." Jinora chuckled.
"It's not like they are any different to anyone else. Their culture is so elegant and beautiful! And they are so welcoming. I stayed here for a short while to learn, it was wonderful" She smiled once again. Yi managed to hold a smile for a second or two for her, but returned again to his anxiety. Yi had spent so much of his life sheltered in the most upper class and well respected part of Ba Sing Se and even though it had been many years since the war against the Fire Nation, Jinora guessed there probably weren't too many fire benders around.

As Omaa descended towards the crimson city Jinora turned her attention to the world beneath her. It had just occurred to her that she hadn't been given directions; she hoped that that meant someone would be waiting for them. Omaa slowed slightly and Jinora made the outline of two figures not far from them casting long shadows in the setting sun. Jinora guided Omaa to a convenient patch of grass below and drifted down closer to the figures. On closer inspection one seemed to be a middle aged man cloaked in traditional fire nation attire, the other a girl in casual wear that Jinora assumed to be a similar age to Yi. The man held a warm smile "Master Jinora I assume?" He bowed, subtly giving the girl a nudge until she bowed also. "I am Master Jang, and this is my daughter Rina. I have been requested to teach all I know to the new avatar" Jang cast his eyes over Jinora and Omaa as if looking for something "If he will take me".
"YI!" Jinora called. "Come and meet your new teacher!" The three of them turned to look over at Omaa's back where Yi's face could be just seen over the edge of the saddle. He gracefully launched himself straight of Omaa's back and landed on two feet with a slight earth bending ripple. As he walked towards them Jinora held out her hand. "This is Master Jang and his daughter Rina". Yi managed of his strained smiles whilst Jang bowed and Rina returned a grin. "I have refreshments and guest rooms available ready at my villa, not far from here" Jang said kindly gesturing to a path behind him. "I am very thankful Master Jang, but I must be returning to Republic City" Jinora replied gratefully.
"You're leaving already?" Yi looked at Jinora with disappointment.
"I am afraid so.." Jinora felt bad for Yi, he didn't seem the most sociable person and she was abandoning him with people he didn't know. "I have to return to my father to further discuss your training. He is the greatest air bender in the world and he shall be your teacher and spiritual advisor" Jinora paused slightly before smiling. "Besides I know if I sit down now, I'll never want to leave. I do love this city" Jinora bowed to Jang and Rina. She turned to Yi.
"Goodbye Master Jinora" Yi bowed, he was learning already.
"Goodbye Avatar Yi, I shall be seeing you soon" she rested her hand on his shoulder before turning around and climbing Omaa. "Yip yip" She called as Jinora and her bison flew back unto the darkened horizon.

"Is he up yet?" Rina muttered as she stuck her head out of her bedroom door. Yi hadn't said much the night before and retired to the guest room earlier than Rina would have liked. Rina didn't really have many friends. Due to the effects her parents had on her she had turned out quite different to the girls at the fire nation school she attended, she got on with them but didn't really enjoy their company. Rina hoped that she had a new friend in Yi; her life had been dull of late and needed some excitement. "Argh" She threw herself down onto her bed and sighed. "He better hurry up, I'm bored."

Rina was lying there on her bed in thought for quite a while before she was pulled back to real world by the sound of someone quietly making their way down the hall outside her room. She stuck her head out of the door again to see the back of Yi as he headed away from his room. "Morning Yi" Rina realised she had said that a little too loud when she saw Yi jump a mile. "Oh hey" he replied still shaken. "Do you want some breakfast?"

Five minutes later Rina had raided her father's cupboards for suitable foods and was digging in. "So what do you want to do today?" She said with mouthful of mango. Yi just stared at the selection.
"Umm...what am I suppose to be doing?" He asked carefully. Rina just shrugged and took another mouthful of fruit. "I guess I could give you a tour of the city" she said after a while. "I'm sure Dad doesn't want to start training straight away anyway".

"And this is where I like to go out for dinner" Rina said happily. She had been dragging Yi around for an hour or two by now, and she found his boredom difficult to gauge. He looked at many things with fairly blank expressions but every now and then a smile would creep in. "How different is it here?" She asked curiously. "Hmm..." Yi put his hand up to his chin. "It is hard to say really. I spent almost all my life in the Upper Tier of Ba Sing Se, and I have been told that it is fairly different to the rest of the Earth Kingdom. Looks fairly similar to where I lived, even if everything is much more red" This was the most talking Yi had done since she had met him. Rina grinned.
"So you're posh then? Bet you had lots of servants. Bet your hair was all silly like this!" Rina started messing with Yi's hair.
"Hey, get off!" he complained batting her arms away, giving Rina a confused look.
"I'm only joking! Chill out" She poked him in the side. He managed a small smile before Rina pulled at his sleeve "Come on let me show you my school".

As the day wore on Rina seemed to notice Yi soften up a bit and get used to her, he even seemed to be enjoying himself slightly. It was late in the day by the time they started to head back home sharing a packet of fire gummies. Rina's laughter dropped at the sight of her father waiting out the front of their villa and a small, worried grimace took the place of her smile. Her father did not look pleased "Rina! Where have you been?" he said with a strained voice.
"I was showing Yi around Dad!" Rina tried to defend herself
"You know training was suppose to start today" He looked between the two of them and their fire gummies in turn.
"My apologies Master Jang" Yi bowed. "It was my fault, I didn't realise we started today" Jang sighed. "Of course Avatar Yi, one should expect a tour of your new home. My Apologies also." Rina's father turned to head inside. "However we have much to discuss about your training, follow me." Rina's grimace in the meanwhile had turn to confusion as she turned to Yi. "Thanks!" She mouthed. She got one of his small smiles in reply as they both followed Rina's father inside.

Jinora was looking forward to getting home. She'd been travelling more than ever before of late and she missed her family. It was a big and noisy one, but it was also a close one. In the distance she spied the metallic twisted metropolis of Republic City glinting in the late afternoon. Luckily she didn't have to travel quite that far. Her family lived on Air Temple Island with many air acolytes, much less noisy and busy than the mainland of republic city. As she got closer republic cities watchful statues vastly grew in size. Avatar Korra and Avatar Aang stood in silent staring over the bay. Jinora exhaled, just slightly further was home.

"Mother!" Jinora's face split straight into a smile and she flew down of Omaa's back and hugged her mother.
"Hey Sweetie, how were your travels?" Jinora's mother patted her on the back whilst wearing a mother's relief on her face.
"Good Mum." Jinora looked around the courtyard her mother had been working in. Where are the others?"
"Your father and Rohan are meditating, that's all they seem to do these days. Still I'm glad that he's found a child more at his own pace" She finished with a laugh that Jinora joined. "Ikki is somewhere but Meelo has gone to meet Bolin in town. He's been trying for ages to get air benders included in pro-bending." Jinora's mother just shook her head. "Any chance you could go find him? I know you have been travelling but I'm going to put dinner on soon. Would that be okay?"
"Sure thing, won't take me long. Meelo is always easy to find!" Jinora replied. Omaa roared. "It's okay Omaa you rest and I'll take my glider." Omaa roared in thanks.
"Thanks Jinora, see you soon" Her mother turned and headed inside as Jinora kicked open her glider and took off.

Jinora and Ikki were always sent to find Meelo, he was much more of a city-boy than the others and spent most of his time mingling with others as opposed to being more attached like her father had intended. Initially her father had been unhappy about it but Jinora reckoned he had given up trying to stop him by now. Like her mother said, he's much rather meditate. Jinora headed to Narook's Seaweed Noodlery, it was where Meelo and Bolin normally met up and was a sensible place to start.
"Master Jinora" She was greeted as she came through the door. She went to open her mouth before she was interrupted "Meelo is through there." Jinora thanked the waiter and headed in the direction he was pointing. Jinora found it amusing, she was on first name terms with the staff though she couldn't even remember if she had eaten there. Jinora clapped her hand to her face. Meelo was huddled in the corner of the room in between four girls. All four of them were hanging on to his every word.
" And that's when the sabre-toothed moose-lion attacked. Bolin was there lying on the ground still tied up" Bolin gestured to the table he was sat on "He couldn't move. It was so lucky that I arrived when I did 'cause the moose-lion was reared up like this" Meelo proceeded to do an impression of it. It's teeth were like as big my arm – yeah it was a big one – but then I shouted, I was like 'leave my buddy alone' and it turned to me and I saw the rage in its eyes, it was like nothing I'd ever seen-"
Jinora had heard enough, she slowly approached the table and cleared her throat. Meelo looked surprised for a second before hiding behind a smug smile again. "Ah Jinora. I'm sorry ladies. I'm needed elsewhere." He stood up and ushered the girls out the way. "I'm afraid us air bending masters are in short supply." He put on a serious face "The world needs me" Meelo said slowly. Jinora snorted but as the five people turned to look at her, she managed to pass it off as a cough.
"You're not an air bending master just yet Meelo" Jinora said with a small smile.
"Aha...don't listen to my sister guys" He put on a fake laugh and flapped his hand.
"What happened to you and Bolin? And the Sabre-toothed Moose-Lion?" All four girls where still firmly gripped by the tale Meelo was previously telling. "Next time ladies, I'm sorry" Meelo bowed and quickly excited with Jinora following at his heels. "Why do you always ruin my fun Jinora?!" Meelo muttered.

After Meelo and Jinora had returned the rest of the family had gathered and she spent a while greeting them all. Jinora's littlest brother, Rohan, looked older every time she saw him but then so did her father. As Jinora hugged her father she noticed that white streaks had crept into his already grey beard and he was skinner than she had remembered. The reunited family sat down as Jinora's mother brought in one of amazingly cooked meal. Jinora hadn't had a proper home cooked meal since Ba Sing Se and was looking forward to it. "So..." her father began "...anything new on your travels Jinora?"
"Yes actually..." Jinora smiled "I found the avatar" The rest of her family looked on her in awe and celebration.

He stumbled. Avatar Korra's eyes glowed with unearthly light. A twisting spiral of wind whipped around and carried her towards the sky. Korra began to shoot fire from her limbs; the ground beneath him trembled with the avatars endless power. He was so scared; he just wanted to go home. He turned to run, but the Avatar wasn't letting him get away. He turned to look over his shoulder as a tidal wave came out of nowhere and headed straight for him. Closer and closer it got, the wall of water was so close to his face. Then he felt it.