It had been three years since Nereus came to live with Hakoda and his family, and in those three years she formed a bond with Hakoda's daughter, Katara.
They were inseparable, if one was in another room, the other would follow, and if one was down, the other cheered them up.
It was nice, Katara finally had someone her age to play with, while either the older children trained or the younger ones were still with their mothers.
Hakoda had also taken up teaching Nereus how to control her fire, however as of recently he had let Gran Gran teach her along with Katara due to teaching the older kids in the arts of combat.
Currently it was night, becoming morning in another hour or so. The household laid sleeping in their cots. Most were sleeping quietly except for Sokka. Katara awoke with a fright when an echoing splash rang though the house. As she untangled herself from her blankets she could hear lowing in the distance, she paused then grinned. She then tackled her best friend and started shaking her urgently.
"Nere! Psst! Nere, wake up!"
Groan...
The seven-year old sniffled as she stretched, the being who was shaking her, giggled.
"Come on sleepy head, you're gonna miss it!" Katara whispered with excitement while getting dressed.
"Mmpf... miss what, Katara?" Nereus yawned out as she rubbed her sore eyes. The other little girl grinned happily as she pulled the covers off Nereus.
"It's a surprise. But you're gonna miss it if you don't get up."
Nereus halfheartedly kicked at Katara and crawled over to her clothes chest and pulled out her coat, boots and a thicker pair of pants. As she was doing this Katara was tiptoeing toward the entryway of their home, careful not to wake her parents.
Once Nereus was fully dressed she followed the waterbender to the shoreline and looked around.
"This b-better be worth it, Katara..." Nereus shivered, trying to sustain the warmth she had while in her cot.
Katara rolled her eyes in mock annoyance and nudged the slightly taller girl, "now you're acting like Sokka. Just look out in the ocean for a second."
Nereus scoffed as she did what her friend told her, "is it another penguin feeding?"
Katara shook her head, "noooo, I heard them earlier and knew what it was, but I thought you'd like to see it too."
"See what?"
Katara gasped as she frantically pointed out into the ocean, Nereus at the moment was glancing at her friend to not notice. Katara quickly grabbed her friend's face and turned her to the direction of the object.
A huge splash rippled the waters as multiple whales either breached or dove into the air and slamming back into the waters. They were far out however the children could still see and hear their harmonic lowing.
Nereus smiled brightly as she jumped up and down, "wow! They're beautiful!"
Katara giggled in satisfaction as she crossed her arms, "I knew you'd want to see it, aren't you glad I woke you up now?"
Nereus could only nod while watching the whales jump and dance in the waters. The young girl had tried to catch these whales doing such a thing for months however she either wasn't there when it happened or it happened just after Nereus had left to do something. Either way Katara could admire her determination yet laugh at it as well.
They had stayed for about an hour longer until the activity stopped, the morning was quickly approaching and both girls decided to try to get as much sleep they could before Hakoda and Kya woke up.
"Hey Katara..." Nereus started slowly causing the other girl to stop walking momentarily and glance at her.
"Yeah?"
"Do you think it's peaceful out there? I mean... it's awesome here but do you think other people could sit out and enjoy nature? Or is it bad where they can't even look out windows?"
Katara's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she tried to think of an answer, however the only answer was a question of her own.
"Where did this come from, Nere?" She asked.
Nereus glanced back at her friend when she was staring at the ocean, "I though about it when sitting with you and watching the whales. I felt so peaceful and then I was thinking about the war and then the Avatar..."
Katara smiled reassuringly while hugging her friend, "I know you're scared, I am too but the Avatar will come back."
"How can you be sure?"
Katara pulled away and held Nereus at arm's length, "because I know he will. The next one hasn't been discovered so there is hope that he had survived."
"And what if they discover a new one? And that one gets destroyed?"
Katara smiled again before patting her friend's face, "just trust me, Nereus. He'll come back and then the world will have peace. Who knows, maybe we would play a part in finding him." After she spoke she quickly pulled Nereus's hood over her face and giggled.
Nereus scoffed before smiling playfully and taking her hood off, "yeah right. With us here and young I doubt it." With that she held Katara's hand and led them back to the igloo.
"Would be awesome though..." Nereus then said.
Katara laughed, "yep. But if we ever do find him I'm doing the "told you so" dance."
"Uh huh, and if we don't then I will make you sniff Sokka's sweaty socks!"
"Yuck!" Katara jokes as she runs back home, with Nereus close behind her.
(OO)
Nereus panted as she ran through the village, with a piece of seal jerky in her mouth and a boot in her hand, she bobbed and weaved through the people toward her destination.
The only good thing about being a firebender was that she was a bit warmer then the average person. She was glad caused she needed the foot that was currently bare and running on the rock like snow.
"Gah! Katara's gonna kill me!" She scolded herself once she gulped down the half eaten meat.
She had slept in, and they were supposed to be training today. And she had promised Katara that she would play with her afterwards. However Gran Gran was a stern teacher, if you failed to do your homework she made sure you finished it when you arrived.
And Katara wasn't going to like that.
"Excuse me! Sorry!" She yelled out when she bumped into a man carrying a basket of snow crab.
"Hey!" The man shouted once he had stopped slipping on the ice patch he had walked on.
Nereus was in the process of looking back at the man when she accidentally bumped into another person. Said person grunted and slipped on the ice, tripping the girl and bringing her down as well. Nereus grunted from impact and heard a familiar voice chuckle at the situation.
"Late for training as usual, sweetie?"
Nereus looked up at the woman and nodded sheepishly, "ah heh... I'm sorry, Kya..."
Kya laughed warmly before getting up and helping the child up, "it's fine, Nereus. Though you really need to watch your surroundings."
Nereus gulped nervously as she scratched the back of her neck, "that's what Sokka told me the other day."
Kya smiled again as she patted the girl's shoulder and then proceeded to walk off, "then perhaps it is something you need to work at, have fun at training."
"Thanks, Kya! Bye!" Nereus waved before darting off again, causing the mother to roll her eyes and smile again.
(OO)
"You're late." Gran Gran pointed out. Currently Katara was trying to keep a glob of water in a ball, however once Gran Gran spoke, her concentration broke and the water splattered across the ground. She then placed her hands on her hips and gave her friend a stern look, it was something they had seen Kya doing and apparently Katara wanted to try it at Nereus.
It worked like a charm when said child flinched and offered a silent apology by smiling.
Nereus then gulped while sitting on the ground and pulling her boot on, "I'm sorry. I kinda slept in."
Gran Gran smirked playfully, "I noticed. However since you're here now you should try to catch your breath."
That was music to Nereus's ears as she fell against the ground on her back and sighed heavily.
Gran Gran chuckled lightly before turning to face Katara, "now, Katara. I want you to try again however only focus on the water, feel it move and let it flow."
Katara nodded before concentrating on the water again, however since she knew she had an audience she was a bit shaky.
"Concentrate, Katara. Ignore me and Nereus. It is just you and the water in your control."
Katara nodded again while offering a small smile, she then closed her eyes and started to weave her hands in the air, the water that had fallen started to come alive and move with Katara's movements.
Nereus blinked in awe while watching the water move and form into a ball, she had seen Katara do this many times but each one always fascinated her to no end.
Gran Gran smiled as she watched the small waterball dance. She was no waterbender herself yet she had watched the waterbenders from the Northern Tribe train young students in this way. She was glad she had remembered what they did. But as for firebenders. She had no clue. All she knew was that it needed to be calm and controlled.
Katara opened her eyes briefly and smiled brightly as she saw the water keep the form of a ball, apart from a few ripples it was smooth and calm. She looked to her grandmother, Gran Gran smiled in return.
Then she looked to Nereus.
Nereus was smiling in awe as she was mesmerized by the water's movement, however once she glanced into Katara's eyes. The waterbender's heart skipped a beat and a blush formed quickly, the action alone caused Katara to lose control and the water started to leak and drip.
Gran Gran was quick to pull Katara and Nereus out of their shared look.
"Katara, you're losing it."
"Huh?" Katara asked before the water fell back on the ground, splashing Gran Gran and herself.
"Gah! Cold!" Katara cried out. Gran Gran couldn't help but laugh while trying to shake off as much water she could from her coat.
Laughing could be heard in the distance and Katara glared at her friend, who was holding her stomach and trying to contain her laughter.
"I-I'm sorry! B-but your face!" Nereus snickered before sputtering into more laughter.
Katara stomped her foot in irratation, "stop laughing! It isn't funny!"
Nereus snickered again as she pointed, "you're right it isn't funny. It's hilarious!"
Katara growled before scooping up some snow and throwing it directly at Nereus. The firebender didn't notice the flying projectile coming at her so she didn't dodge it.
Splat!
"Gah!" Nereus sputtered out before spitting the snow out of her mouth and then proceeded to wipe off her face.
Now it was Katara's turn to laugh.
Nereus pouted before snickering and shaking her head.
Gran Gran smiled, "now that you both have been settled, how about you dry off and Nereus can start her training."
Katara nodded before running back to her hut. But not before waving and saying that she would be back.
Nereus waved back then got up from the ground and jogged to Gran Gran.
The old woman smiled before sitting down and pointing to stand in front of her. Nereus did as she was told and faced Gran Gran.
"Have you been working on your breathing?"
Nereus nodded eagerly, "yep, I usually do it after supper though since I don't want to keep lighting the firepit."
Gran Gran nodded, "has anything happened?" She asked while bringing out a bag and pulling out supplies to start a small firepit.
"Not that I noticed." Nereus said with concern.
"Don't be worried about it, Nereus. Now I want you to concentrate on the fire in front of me once it lit. Breathe with it."
Nereus nodded while she waited for her Master to start the fire, she felt a bit down because she couldn't help quite yet.
The last time she played with fire was when her parents didn't want her afterward.
Gran Gran happened to sense where Nereus's mood went and stopped momentarily to place a hand on the child's shoulder.
Nereus glanced up at her and they locked eyes with each other, in a wordless conversation Nereus nodded and smiled.
Gran Gran returned the smile and then resumed to start the fire.
"Katara told me about you two's little adventure this morning." Gran Gran said to past the time.
"Ah..." Nereus started awkwardly before she saw the mischievous smile on the old woman's face.
"I've done my share of things, sneaking out past my bedtime was one of them. How did you like the whales?"
Nereus perked up as she smiled brightly, "oh they were so beautiful! And their singing... I almost fell asleep just listening to it."
The older woman chuckled then stood and backed away from the fire. "I am glad you finally could watch them."
Nereus laughed briefly before jumping onto her feet and backed away from the fire.
"Now concentrate on the fire. Tame it and control it."
The child nodding before sighing heavily and staring into the fire.
At first she felt nothing, then gradually she felt warmer. And warmer. Then hot.
On basic instinct she got into a stance, her legs spread apart and her fists toward the fire. She could feel it, it felt... wild. Untamed and wild. She breathed in deeply before digging in deep into the heat.
She felt resistance, she felt pride, she felt power.
With a swift swing of her arm, the fire streamed from the firepit and shakily obeyed her command.
It was powerful. Resisting even now. She turned halfway toward the open terrain. The flame streaming around her as well. She punched a fist out and a part of the flame broke off and shot out into the field. She then weaved her hands and the flame spun around, it rapidly gotten smaller and smaller until it formed a tight ball. She glanced behind her and saw Gran Gran smiled and nod toward the flame.
This is what she liked best about training, it meant she could play with her fire and not be frowned upon.
With the fireball still obeying, Nereus kicked out at the flame, causing it to scatter and shoot out into the field as well.
She then spun her arms rapidly until sparks were flying and a flame started in the motion. She then pulled the flame out and steamed it once again, it was odd, the fire didn't like to be streamed as if water. She tried a different tactic, she used force and either punched or kicked to command the flames.
It seemed to obey better.
So focused on the fire, Nereus didn't notice that Katara had come back a while ago.
The waterbender was in awe, much like Nereus was when she watched her train. Katara always thought that fire was only a primal need to survive, or as of recently, one meant for destruction, yet somehow it could be rather beautiful when the right person controlled them.
Nereus stopped momentarily and panted, the flame she was controlling burnt itself out quickly.
Gran Gran approached Nereus and patted her back, "I see you're doing better then last week."
Nereus nodded before sitting, "it doesn't like me commanding it."
Gran Gran nodded before handing the child a waterskin to drink, "fire is a wild thing. Like everything else it needs to be tamed. Your fire is still young and strong and it will take a while before you can control it properly."
Nereus nodded before sighing heavily with relief, the cold water was quick to cool down her body temperature.
Gran Gran walked over to the burnt out fire pit and kicked some snow onto it to put out any more burning embers. She then turned and motioned the children back to the village.
"Come now, I am pretty sure both have made quite the appetite this morning."
Nereus could only nod while Katara rolled her eyes at Nereus's antics about food.
"I wonder who's going to fight over the meat this time?" She had thought to herself with humor.