After a short tour around the northern edges of the temple, the duo landed on a large square square, which led to a large alley flanked with large stone bunkers. Darkness had already consumed most of the sun's light and the shadows of stone where covering most of the ground. The largest shadow was cast by a huge pristine statue of a Sky Bison. The gentle creature roared a warm welcome to any visitor kind enough to visit the Bison quarters. The two airbenders stood in the huge shadow of the Bison, taking a moment of silent to appreciate its craftmanship.

'Right. Lets pay good 'oll Meesa a visist, shall we?" boomed Mimus in his casual tone. Tuss frowned. Didn't he just mention he had something important to talk about? Or was that all just an excuse to visist the bison?

"What are you starin' at, Tusker? Let's mosey!" Mimus said cheerfully. Though his voice sounded like a rhytmic jazz tune, his face was carved out of stone. Noticing Tuss's continous gaze, Mimus curved his mouth in to a forced smile.
"Wha' are you yawnin' at?"
Tuss stirred uneasily. Mimus gently took Tuss's glider and retracted it. He dumped both gliders in a small basked with aged sign saying 'Spare Gliders'
"Didn't you say you had something important to say?" he asked timidly. Mimus waved away the comment and began marching trough the alley connecting the bunkers.

Most Bison where making preperations for the night. Mothers where guiding their little treasures to shelter, and fathers where gathering soaring off for a last evening stroll.
"Mimus...I already fed Meesa in the late afternoon." Mimus grunted approvingly.
"I can take care of my own Bison, you know."

Farther down the alleyway, the lane forked out into a crossroad. In the center of the crossroad was a large feeding trough filled to the rim with hay and fruits. Next to the trough was a large pound with fresh water. A group of Lemur where washing up, and a very aged Bison was slowly drinking from the pound with slow, steady gulps. Mimus located himself on the edge of the basin, and gently stroked one of the Lemurs, who purred approvingly.

"Remember how we used to spend hours, days in 'ere, Tusker?" Mimus smiled nostalgicly. Tuss held his distance and tapped his foot impatiently.
"Why don't you just get to the point, Mimus?" Mimus sighed deeply. The lemur lurched and fled from Mimus's huge retracting arm.

The duo took a right and strolled trough in silence. As they walked trough the heart of the Bison Quarters, Tuss could not help but feel inferiour for walking. Several Bison and Lemurs soared to the sky, roaring and purring happily. Walking felt slow and sluggish compared to the Bison's freedom

"We're in the right district, righ'?"
"Yes, Mimus. We're almost there."
"To the righ'?"
"Left."

A awkward silence gripped the duo again as they neared their destination. As the darkness grew even more dominant, most Bison had now returned to their respective homes and a comfortable silence descended on the Quarters.
"Ah, we're here" Mimus smiled excitedly as he recognized Meesa's shack and pointed at it.
"You are pointing at the wrong bunker. Didn't I say she lived on the left? That's right. Right?"
"Righ', sorry. It's the one facing it, then?" Tuss frowned at Mimus with a face that said 'obviously'.

Meesa was fairly small for a Bison. Her fur had a subtle shade of yellow, and her arrow was smaller than that of most Bison. Her small, black eyes and large ears sprung open when she recognized Tuss's voice. She flung her tail with great agility and approached Tuss with a timid interest.
"Hiya, girl! Had a nice meal?" Tuss whispered softly as he petted Meesa on the head. She roared approvingly and moved closer to Tuss.

"She sure looks pretty today. Had a nice bath today have we missus?" Mimus smiled as he inspected her fur.

"Yeah, we visisted a hot spring down the mountains today."
"Which one? You didn't take her to Devil's Mouth, did ye?" Mimus inquired.
"I told you," Tuss snapped back 'I can take care of my own Bison. Why would I take her to the hottest spring in the entire world? I know she hates heat" Meesa backed off with a sudden lurch, surprised by her master's aggression. "I know it better than you". Mimus flinched a bit, and flung himself on top of Meesa's back.
"Why don't we take her for a spin? It's a lovely nigh"
"No!" yelled Tuss. "Can't you see she's tired?"
"Righ', Righ'. Sorry" he appoligized to Tuss. "And to you" he petted Meesa behind her ear.

"Do you remember our first ride with Meesa?" Mimus chuckled. "She was still just a wee 'lil lass, but you insisted on takin' her for a spin, with us two on her back. We could barely fit on 'er, and she could barely float an inch. But she kept tryin'… and now look at 'er. She's grown so much" Mimus sighed nostalgicly.

"Look" Tuss snapped furiously "you brought me here for a reason. Obviously, you have something off your chest. Why cant you just give it to me straight? Is it that bad? Or are you still thinking of a way to deny me some information? I'm no child anymore, I can take it."
Mimus smiled uneasily.
"Always so straight to the poin', eh Tuss? Even back when you could barely stand up straight, you always made your point crystal clear. Denying you your wishes was like inviting doom fo' dinner" Tuss glared at Mimus. He was definitely getting impatient. For a moment, the three friends where completely silent. The master, the sudent, and the Bison, united in stillness. Then suddenly, Mimus broke the ice.

"The Southern court of Masters is going to meet tommorow night. We are discussing you, Tuss." Tuss's sneering glare melted almost instantly. Meesa stirred uneasily.
"We've been keeping an extra eye on you these last few weeks. The court has noticed your airbending skills, your popularity amongst other pupils, but most of all, your iron dedication." Tuss held his breath. He knew excactly what was coming.
"You are going to be a Master."

Tuss blinked his eyes wildly. He couldn't comprehend the situation at all. He had been working up to this moning for all of his life. He had struggled, climbing the ladder to the top with only one goal in mind: the Master's Arrows. Mimus smiled faintly.
"Congratulations". Tuss roared victoriously. He raised his arms and fell to his knees in a way that reminded of dramatic theatre. Before Tuss could say anything, Mimus interrupted.
"This moment belongs to you and your Bison. I should…leave you 'ere. Good night, Tusker." Mimus's face was heartbreaking. His eyes where wet, and his smile was extremely forced. As he turned his back to Tuss, his smile broke and a small pearly tear dropped to the ground. He swiftly exited the bunker, whiping his eyes with a giant swirl with his arm.

Meesa waggled her tail excitedly, and gave Tuss a bracing lick. Tuss pushed her away and rose up, brushing the dirt off his tunic. Something troubled him.
"Why was he so upset about this news?" Tuss whispered to Meesa, his excitement faded. Suddenly, he felt extremely tired. Meesa roared comfortingly.
"He's just asking like a jerk. Probably jealous because I am going to beat his record of earning the Arrows on the age of seventeen". Meesa stared at Tuss.
"You disagree, huh? You think too kindly of people".
"Oh well, I'm not going to let that jerk rain my parade". Tuss smiled slyly at Meesa. He yawned deeply and jumped on Meesa's back.
"Tommorow's going to be ledgendary." Tuss whispered. Meesa shrugged softly and shut her eyes.
"Goodnight, girl".

"Say what?"

"This airbender right here is about to earn his arrows"

"Woah, mayor".

"Very mayor".

The two airbending friends where discussing recent events under the enjoyment of a nice bowl of grain mixed with fruits and dairy.
"Well" Nytt said with his mouth full of strawberries, "don't start thinking you can boss me around, because master or not, you are still nothing compared to me". Nytt waved with his spoon to illustrate his point. Tuss chuckled heartily.
"Don't worry, I wont ask more than I already do. Like doing my laundry, for example. Speaking of which, what's taking you so long with the socks?"
"Oh ha-ha" said Nytt sarcasticly.

"What's that, Tussie? Are you getting your arrows soon?" A young nomad had approached the duo. He looked way too fragile to be asking anyone anything, but nontheless his huge brown eyes where filled with questions. Tuss grinned triumphantly.
"That's right, Jeet. Soon, I will be off to the Northern Air temple for my tatoos!"
"Not so fast Mr.Avatar" interrupted Nytt sharply. "the court hasn't discussed anything yet. Anything could happen" Nytt nodded sagely. Jeet looked dissapointed.
"Don't worry, Jeet," Tuss said quickly, "I've got the Master's Council wrapped around my finger. They'll vote positive, you'll see!" Jeet's face was still set on depression.
"But…I don't want you to go, Tussie!" Jeet said feebly. Tuss was stunned.
"Well, there's still a fat chance that he is not going anywhere." Tuss glared at Nytt for questioning his promotion, but he continued notheless. "But we're going to be the first to find out."
"What do you mean?" Tuss asked. Nytt pointed to the eavesdropping kid, and Tuss kindly asked him to leave, which he obeyed immediately. Nytt's voice dropped to a whisper. "Lets just say I ordered some first row tickets."

"This is stupid".
"No its not. Its genious"
Tuss and Nyt where standing in the centre of a circular platform. Unlike most parts of the temple, this particular, it looked crisp and sharp. There where randomly placed trees or stray bushes with Lemur poking out of them. The bricks where flawless and did not show the slightest trace of age. The platform was located in one of the lowest parts of the temple, near the centre. But somehow, it felt completely secluded from the rest of it.
"So, according to your 'source', the meeting's in there?" Tuss frowned.

"Oh yes, definitely. I've got this information from one of my most reliable sources." Nytt nodded full of confidence
"Which is?" Nytt waggled his foot uncomfortably. After a few awkward seconds, his grin returned.
"Lets just say I've got a man on the inside". Nytt pointed his thumb forward. In front of them was one of the largest strucutres of the Southern Air Temple, and by chance, one of the newest. The pristine, white marble reflected the sunlight brilliantly, giving the illusion that the building was emitting a soft glow. Large, intimidating sculptures of past airbending masters where guarding the entrance. Their gaze looked lively despite their solid form.

"You brought me all this way for nothing. I should have known". Tuss sighed with a strong note of dissapointment in his voice.
"What in fruitpie's name are you talking about, dude? Look, I know you don't trust Master Yegg-"

"You can barely call that wimp a master. Gehn merely has to snap his fingers and he waggles his tail, ready to obey" Tuss said loathingly.
"Well, that's besides the point, is it? He's a master-"
"Barely"

"Stop interrupting you twat" snapped Nytt, "he's a master and that makes the information valid. Your fate, young one, is being decided within these vast halls" Nytt waved his breakfast spoon dramaticly. It wasn't excactly clear why he took it with him, but Tuss was used to Nytt's weird hoarding of useless stuff.
"Look" Tuss began ranting, "even if your information is correct for a change, its still useless. How are we supposed to eavesdrop on the Master's Hall? Its like an impenetrable fortress."

Nytt sighed impatiently. "Don't worry, I've got it covered.
"Covered?"
Nytt's manical grin was spreading wider and wider. Clearly, he was plotting something.
"This 'impenetrable fortress' of yourse has a weak spot." Nytt paused to ensure a maximum dramatic effect. Tuss snapped his fingers impatiently and Nytt continued his scheming.
"These halls where crafted by Earthbenders as a gift to the Southern masters who had been their allies in some unimportant power struggle. Earthbending architecture has more flaws than I can count. The bigger the building, the more weakspots. Especially at the roof. Earthbenders somehow never pay attention to the roof". Nytt paused again, and Tuss coughed lightly.
"So, that's nice and all. But what are you trying to say here, you've found a weak spot?" Tuss asked. He said excactly what Nytt had wanted. He rose up, dusted off his clothes and cackled wildly.
"Excactly".

Moments later, the duo was climbing a rather vertical slope.
"This is madness" Tuss sighed, "why don't we just fly up with some airbending? Why didn't we bring a glider?" Nytt simply panted, as he waved his legs in a sloppy attempt to boost himself upwards. He smacked against the wall and barely had a chance to regain his grip. Tuss chuckled.
"I've got a better idea". With a gracefull swing of his arms, he places himself vertically, his legs directly attached to the wall. Building on his momentum, he thrusted himself forward with a airbending jolt and ran up the slope with suprising speed. When he passed Nytt, who looked completely smashed, he swung his arms upwards and launched Nytt trough the air, landing him on top of the building. Microseconds after Nytt landed, Tuss gracefully glided trough the air and landed right next to Nytt. He took a deep breath, and posed his hands like he was about to start meditating. Nytt simply grunted.

Shortly after, the duo was strolling along side the roof. Nytt kept looking downwards, searching for something. Tuss was getting increasingly annoyed. Nytt had not opened his mouth since Tuss's little airbending stunt back then. He was starting to think this little trip really was a waste of time.
"Ah!" Nytt suddenly roar brightly
"Ah, what?" Tuss tried to sound cool, but excitement was leaking trough his voice. Nytt's grin returned.

"The weak spot!" Nytt pointed at the marble. At first, Tuss saw nothing, but upon closer inspection he saw a little smiley, painted in green.

"You've been here before?"
Nytt shrugged. "How did you think I found out about 'oll Gehn's secret tart stash?" the duo chuckled heartily. After the short, cheerfull interruption, Nytt thrusted his spoon right in the center of the smiley. A soft crack echoed from the smiley, and Nytt carefully lifted a large brick, revealing a hole big enough pair of eyes. Tuss could not help but to gasp in surprise.
"You really did think this trough, didn't you?"

But Nytt wasn't listening. He was peering down the hole. Mumbeling could be heard from beneath their feet, barely noticable.
"Hey, there's good 'oll Gehn. Oh, and Yegg. That's my boy! And isn't that Mimus…?" Tuss rudely pushed Nytt aside and captured the peeking hole. The voices could be heard more clearly when he focused his eyes. It was easy to ignore the scowling of Nytt.