Chapter 2

"Delyssa!" my mother screeches the next morning. "Come on!" My stone trunk is across my room, still mostly empty so I grin mischievously, and tuck my bow and several arrows in it, covering it with my robe. Mom will find it probably, but I suppose it doesn't matter.

Because I am going to the Ba Sing Se Academy for Earth Kingdom Heiresses, or whatever the hell the name is, and my life is officially ruined. I reached into my pocket, and feel the piece of paper. I can't help but blush, and I don't know why.

I smoothed it out the best I could the night before and folded it neatly, tucking it into the pocket of today's outfit. "Coming!" I shout down the stairs. I leave my trunk though. The servants will get it.

"If we get your uniforms ordered today," Mom muses, "they should make it in time." The next semester starts in a couple of weeks. Spring is beginning to arrive. And I love it.

Spring is the season that corresponds with the element of my kingdom, Earth, and I think that might be part of the reason I love it so much. I like to go outside and see the flowers just blooming, before Mother trims them because 'their stench is too much for my delicate nostrils.' I like to go outside and see the baby turtleducks playing in the pond before my dad has them shot because 'their incessant quacking distracts me from my work.'

Sheesh, I'm depressing myself.

My mom grabs my hand and yanks me out the door, practically shoving me in the carriage. I scowl. I'd rather just ride my ostrich-horse, but my mom says that young ladies don't actually touch the beasts, they just use their services. I stare outside the window as the world flashes by.

All that empty space, just waiting to be turned into a shooting practice arena. I'd rather be doing that. When Mom's not looking, I practice my forms, pretending like my bow is in my hands, and that I'm shooting arrows out into empty space. I wish I could go shooting out into the empty fields. I'd rather…

If I say I'd rather one more time, I might have to kill myself. The rest of the day is just a blur really. I remember stepping into my dress (UGH!) and having the ladies in the shop poke and prod me with needles until I actually start bleeding. Then they yank the fabric off me and glare at me like how dare I bleed on their dress!

There's iron in blood, right? While my mom talks to the shopkeepers, I wonder if earthbenders can bend their own blood. I've heard some Waterbenders can bend blood, but I'm not so sure I believe it.

Then my mom drags me around the market. I'm not really sure what she buys, because I've retreated deep inside myself. To my happy place. In my happy place, I'm alone. By my trench. Shooting. And when I shoot, I'm so good, I'm so good I know that I could beat anyone. I'm so good that I know I could just pack up and leave home and take care of myself.

I like your hair.

The words ring in my ears. Today is different. Today, the young man who drew me is in my happy place. He isn't a fighter though. He watches me and showers me with compliments. Mostly about my shooting, but every now and then it slips in there. "I like your hair."

"Delyssa!" Mother snaps, and I'm jerked out of my happy place. I scowl. "Don't do that. You'll get frown lines. Anyway, like I was saying, do you like this hat?" She motions to the ridiculous contraption on her head. I stare at it, at its hideous form and shape and smell, and I snap.

"No!" I shout, and when I stamp my foot, she clucks at me, making me angrier. "I hate it! I hate all of it! I hate this! And I hate you, and I hate me, and I hate the Academy for Bimbos!" I stomp my foot again, and I don't even realize it, but I've stepped on her foot. She howls.

I'm used to everyone staring at me, but they are not staring at my hair. This time, they stare at my face. I blush and I run. I'm not sure where I'm running to. I just know that I must run. Tears pour down my face, but I'm not going back. Not this time!

Several hours later, I trudge back into my house dejectedly. I made it about two hours away before I realized that I had nowhere to go, no one who would help me. My mother stands by the stairs, her arms crossed.

"Get out of here!" she trills.

"What?" I asked sullenly. She pushes a bundle into my arms and repeats herself. It sinks in. "You're telling me to leave?"

"I don't want a bloodthirsty, warmongering monster living in my home!" she squawks. Despite the fact that I was ready to run away a couple of hours ago, fear pierces my heart at the thought of leaving.

"D-Dad won't let you! Where would I go?" I stutter, and my stomach growls. "What will I eat?"

"I neither know nor care! Your father agrees! You insufferable, greedy brat! Get out!" she howls, shoving me out the door. I start to walk. I don't feel. I don't think.

When the rain starts to fall, turning the dirt to mud, I trip a couple times, but I keep walking. I knew I was ungrateful, I knew I was mean, but I never thought… that she'd kick me out…

This time, when I stumble, I don't catch myself in time, and I fall. I don't get up. It was just so sudden. My mom hates me, but she wouldn't…

Something's out of place.