Finally, it was lunchtime. I got my lunch box and ran out of the school. I ran towards the community centre in front of our school, narrowly avoiding other people. I opened the door and went inside the Youth Room. Once in, I saw Haigriv at the dining table. He waved me over, and I sat down next to him. He pulled out his lunch and started munching his sandwich.

"So," I said.

"So," he replied. He didn't look at me.

"Do you have any pasta?" I asked.

He smiled. Back in India, we had a running joke about trading food. We kind of set up a trading system in the cafeteria. We had had bunch of people come and trade food. Usually I had paneer butter masala and Haigriv had pasta. Sometimes we stole each other's food.

"No," he said. "But I have a surprise for you. And I swear it will blow your mind."

I frowned. "What?"

"I'll show you," he said. "First let me eat."

After some time, he got up while I was eating my perogies. He packed his lunch and drank some water.

"Come on," he said. I looked up at him, then gulped down the last remains and packed my food as well. I got up and followed him out of the community centre. He started running towards the back of the school. I had to jog to keep up with him.

"Where are you going?" I called, running up to beside him.

"Just come on," he called back. He turned his head towards me. "Why are you panting?"

"Uh, maybe because you're running at top speed?" I said, raising my eyebrow.

"Wait, I'm running?" He stopped running and started walking, looking confused. "I'm sorry, man. I was just running a lot in the past few weeks. People were chasing me throughout the world."

"Why were people chasing you?" I asked, concerned.

He smiled grimly. "If I came looking for you, the Avatar, don't you think I would be in danger?"

"How do I have enemies already?" I cried.

"Later. Okay, we're here."

He stopped suddenly, making me crash into a tree. He suppressed a smile, but quickly regained his composure.

"Watch this," he told me. He faced the tree I crashed into. He made his hands into fists. He slowly put his hand forward. The tree bent backwards the more he put his hand forward. Suddenly he brought his hand backwards, and the top of the tree shot forward, the branches snapping off and falling to the ground. Then he shot his hands upward, and the tree flew out of the ground, disappearing into the sky. I saw it coming down a few hundred meters away. I heard a loud crash, and I cringed.

Haigriv turned and grinned at me.

I stared at him. "You're an Earthbender?!" I yelled, joyful and stunned. "But, but, Aang said that I was the only bender in the world that is known of. How can this be possible?"

"He probably meant that the world knows of," he said, with a weird smile. "There have been many unofficial cases of people with weird powers and that they can control air, water, earth, and fire. But the government tried to destroy the documents and the people who have the powers. I'm one of them."

"But why didn't you tell me earlier?" I cried. "I could have helped you master Earthbending after I learned it."

"Wait, what are the terms you're using to describe me?" he said. "What's an Earthbender?"

"There's a lot to tell, but the basics are this: There are 4 basic elements, Air, Water, Earth, and Fire. There are people who can control these elements, who are called benders. About 5000 years ago, there were four countries based on these four elements. These were the Air Nomads, Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, and Fire Nation. The Avatar is the person who can master all 4 elements, and is the bridge to the Spirit World, another realm where weird creatures live. You already know that I am the Avatar."

"So, do you already know all the elements?" he asked.

"No. I only know Water. I have to learn Earth next. I can't learn any other element, even if I wanted to. There's a cycle I have to follow. Water, Earth, Fire, and Air."

"Oh," he said, quietly. "Wait a minute. Hold on. Maybe I can teach you Earthbending! I'm really good at it."

"Are you sure?" I asked, not sure. "I mean, you just learned it.

"Sure!" he exclaimed.

"You sound really excited," I said, backing away.

"Of course, man," he said. "I'm going to teach the Avatar! Oh, and also, I didn't master it just now."

"What?" I asked. "But my past reincarnation told me that a lot of people just got bending abilities."

"A lot of people," he said, slyly. "That doesn't mean me."

"Then how did you learn bending?" I demanded. Sometimes I get irritated when I don't get something right.

He smiled. "Tomorrow. After school. 4:00 p.m. 2271 Collegeway."

"Okay," he said.

We ran back to the school.