Ursa's Home: Kya
Kya sat in the guest room of Ursa's house, her knees up to her chest, feeling upset. It was late at night, and everyone had gone to bed after Bumi finished his training for the day. Ursa was surprised by how quick he had learned, the speed unlike any that she had ever known. Bumi had blushed, embarrassed by the praise, saying that it wasn't a big deal, but Kya had been able to tell that he was pleased, nevertheless.
She sighed, looking out of the window at the full moon, feeling her heart pump faster than usual. Every time the moon was out, and as it got fuller every passing night, sleep would become harder to find, and at one point Kya had decided to give up whatever attempt at sleep she tried.
Then her thoughts turned to her mother. She had called Katara earlier, saying they were staying at a friend's house, which was technically true, but a small amount of guilt ate at her, and that was another reason why Kya couldn't sleep. The Waterbender didn't tell Katara about Bumi's strange powers, especially since it was still new to understand. Besides, the group didn't know how the world would react if they found out about a Bending ability that had been lost for centuries.
Unable to sit much longer, Kya quietly got to her feet and padded over to the door, opening it softly to avoid waking anyone else. A slight creak emanated from the door, making her wince a little, and she peered out. No one stirred, snores, both light and heavy, echoed throughout the hall. Breathing a sigh a relief, Kya stepped out of the room, climbed down down the stairs, and walked out the front door.
Breathing the fresh air in, Kya walked over to the fountain with three carved dragons spouting water into the pool. The moonlight made the water glitter like jewels, and the Waterbender started feeling her pulse slow and heartbeat calm just watching her element flow and ripple. It was so peaceful and quiet, like the world had calmed itself to sleep. Even the trees were silent.
Kya was absentmindedly playing with the water when a twig snapped, making her tense. She jumped to her feet and gathered water into tentacles while at the same time going into a stance, whirling around to face her foe. It was Luten. He jumped back, raising his hands in surrender. "Easy, Ky. It's just me." She could tell he was having a hard time keeping his laughter in.
Kya rolled her eyes and placed the water back saying, "You know better than to sneak up on me. I could have whipped you until your skin was red." She raised an eyebrow at him, crossing her arms. "What are you doing out here? I thought everyone was asleep."
Luten shrugged, crossing his arms and looking away into the trees. "I can't. I haven't been able to for a few weeks. What about you? What's your story?"
She sighed and sat at the edge of the fountain, the water gurgling. "The usual; full moon and such. I could never sleep when it's full, you know that."
Luten did know. This isn't the first time they had met at night under the moon, full or otherwise. It wasn't unusual for Kya to be out late at night. Yet he had the feeling that she was hiding something, and Luten was going to find out what. Sitting next to her, he placed a hand on her arm and said, "There's more to it than that. I know there is. What's wrong, Kya?"
She sighed, unsure. Kya didn't want others to worry about her, yet at the same time, the need to talk to someone became overwhelming. Swallowing her pride, she turned to Luten and said, "It's just..." She paused and sighed before continuing. "I'm worried about Bumi. After what had happened, I'm reluctant to let him learn this stuff. It nearly killed him, Luten. What kind of big sister would I be if I let him endanger himself more? There will come a point where I can't protect him, and he might die because of it. I don't want to lose him."
Luten hugged her then, seeing the tears come out and wanting to stop them. He hated seeing Kya like this; it reminds him that everyone has a vulnerable side, a side that people hide in order to show bravery. But thinking about Kya's words, the Firebender concluded that the true brave ones are people who show what they're feeling, not hiding it. He waited until the girl stopped crying; then said, "I know how you feel. Younger siblings, you feel as if you have no choice but to watch over them, to make sure no harm comes their way. But you have to understand. No matter how hard you try, they'll grow up and face the world. All we can do is be there for them and lend support. The decisions they make is up to them. We only have to be there for them and hope they'll be alright."
Kya sighed before raising her head. "I get it. I know that what you're saying is true. I just don't want to him get hurt again."
He shook his head. "He won't," he said with conviction.
She stared at him. "How do you know?" she asked quietly.
His gold eyes stared into her blue eyes. "Because he's a fighter, like you and Tenzin and your parents. I even remember when he stood up to the school bully and told him to leave that kid alone. It costed him a black eye, but Bumi never gave in. The kid's brave."
The Waterbender frowned, gazing into the rippling pool, which distorted her reflection. "Something tells me that this is worse than bullies. I don't know what, but those pictures Bumi drew was more than that. A battle's coming, Luten. I know it."
He gave her a squeeze. "Well, if one does come, we'll be ready for it. We're strong, Ky. Besides, anyone who messes with my friends is going to be burnt to a crisp."
Kya chuckled despite herself. Luten always knew what to say. She rested her head in the crook of his neck, breathing in his spicy scent, like cinnamon. "I guess you're right," she murmured, her breath warm on his skin. Luten had to suppress a shiver. He came out to comfort her, and now he wanted to kiss her. Kya wasn't even aware of the effect she had on him. She continued. "Everyone has to grow up at some point. I'm sorry for putting my worries on you. You have enough to think about."
Luten smiled. "Don't worry about it. To be honest, I've been up for most of the night anyway. I've been thinking about everything that's been happening so far. Plus, I had the feeling that you would need someone to talk to." He shrugged. "It was weird. It felt like something was leading me to you. I can't explain it."
Kya pulled herself out of his arms to study his face, wondering if he was joking; all she saw was honesty and a little bewilderment. "Is that how you knew I needed help in the hall?"
"I suppose so," he said, frowning. "I got this warning feeling that something bad was happening, and had excused myself to find you being suffocated. I got so angry I could barely control myself from frying Hart alive."
She shifted to look at the water again and sighed. "Thank you," she said quietly.
Luten stared at her. "What for?"
The Waterbender looked at him. "For everything. You've been with me since we were kids, you stood by me, not to mention you saved my life. You've been my best friend, Luten. When I needed someone to talk to, you're there, no matter what." She looked back at the pool.
Luten grasped her chin to make her look at him. "That's what friends are for. You've been a part of my life for years, and I can't imagine living the rest of it if you were gone. You're important to me, Kya. If something bad had happened to you, I would never have forgiven myself." He brushed away a tear that had fallen. He wanted so desperately to tell what he felt, but he didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable. Plus, Luten knew she doesn't feel the same way. If all they were going to be was friends, then he would be content with that.
Kya searched his molten gaze, thinking hard. What was he saying? Was there something more to his speech, or was Luten only saying these things to make her feel better? Does Luten like her as more of a sister, or something bigger than that? Whether he liked her more than a friend or not made little difference to Kya. As long as he was there, she didn't care if he treated her like sister.
She hugged him again, feeling his strong arms wrap around her back. "Thank you, Luten. I needed that."
Luten kissed the top of her head, something daring, hoping to tell her through action what words could not as much as to comfort her. "Any time. Just remember: if you need someone to talk to, I'm there." Kya nodded gratefully; then yawned, suddenly sleepy. He chuckled. "I think you should go back to sleep. It's late. You have a trip the day after tomorrow. You need some rest."
Kya nodded and stood up to walk away. She turned back and have a sleepy smile. "Good night," she said quietly.
"Good night," he answered, and watched her leave, closing the door behind her. Then he sighed and brought a flame to life, watching the hypnotic sway of the scorching fingers dance. Luten thought about everything he knew and what he wanted, thinking about a future that suddenly seemed muddled, like looking through a dirty glass.
Luten had been sure of the future; he was going to head to college, master in writing, get married, have kids, and grow old. Secretly, and probably selfishly, he envisioned Kya being the one to bear his children and to grow old with. It was a dream, and Luten wanted that more than anything. But they were young; what do teenagers know about love?
Then he thought about his parents and their friends, and hope surged through him. He recalled his father telling him about how Aang and Katara were younger than them by almost two years, and they had been completely devoted to one another. Luten had seen the looks of love they had given each other, as if nothing else mattered in the world. His own parents were young, both reaching their seventeenth birthdays, when they became a couple. Maybe he himself and Kya would get lucky. Luten hoped he still had a chance to tell her how he felt, and could only pray she felt the same way.
Yawning, he extinguished the fire and stood as well. He needed to get some sleep too. He had a trip to get ready for as well. Eyes heavy, he went into the house, got to his room, and fell asleep without a sound.
The Next Morning: Aang's and Katara's Home
Everything was peaceful in the Montauk household. Aang and Katara were sleeping under the sheets, too hot for the blankets, especially after last night. Well, Katara was asleep; Aang was watching her, a small smile adorning his face, fingers playing with his necklace. He remembered when his soul mate had given it to him, saying she had made it, which made the trinket more special.
Aang thought about all that had happened to them when they were teenagers. It seemed impossible to him that everything had happened, like it was something from a dream. But then he sees the scar on Katara's collarbone, the one the knife had made, almost taking her life and feeling like he himself was dying right along with her. His own scar was still there, another reminder of their hard times.
He remembered after her surgery how her heart had stopped beating, of the third time that had happened. No matter what the doctor did, it wouldn't beat again. He had cried himself to sleep, praying all the while for the Spirits to bring her back, that she had a life, and of how everyone needed her. The next thing he knew, Katara was calling his name, and he had been overly relieved and happy that she was going to live. Aang wasn't sure how it had happened, but that didn't matter. His soul mate was back, and life had gotten better since then.
Ringing interrupted his thoughts, and it took Aang a moment to realize it was the phone. Katara stirred from the noise, and slowly opened her eyes as Aang reached for the phone, squinting a little before sitting up and answering. "Montauk residence. This is Aang speaking." He listened; then his eyes widened with disbelief as the news sunk in before narrowing. His voice had a hard edge to it when he spoke. "When was this discovered?... Are you sure?... Yes, let them know... Thank you for telling me... Goodbye."
He put the phone back on its stand and sat there, his mind buzzing and anger coursing through his veins. Katara sat up, pulling the sheet up to her neck. She could sense his emotions through their link, but she didn't know what the call was about, so she asked, "Who was that? What happened, Aang?" He was quiet for a while; then he started explaining about a prisoner escaping. The Warden, the man who had called, had said that the guard was discovered last night while a different guard was doing the rounds. The man who was found inside the cell was still unconscious, and they had taken him to the hospital. The Warden was calling Sokka and their other friends who had been a part of the fighting years ago.
When he finished, Katara stared at him in horror, and asked, "Who escaped?" Aang just looked at her and said the name with his mind, not wanting to say it out loud. He didn't want to make it anymore real than it seemed. His wife looked about as incredulous and angry as he felt. "But how?" she demanded. "They said we had nothing to worry about! Their security was tight. How could-"
"It was a ploy," Aang said quietly, cutting Katara off. "The man's uniform was gone. It was used to confuse the others to make them think he was the one leaving."
Katara grimaced and shook her head. "This is just great," she said sarcastically. "Just what we need; trouble." She looked at him uneasily. "Do you think the blackout from the school had something to do with..." She trailed off, not needing the answer since she already knew it. She knew something bad was going to happen; she just knew it. Now everyone was in danger because of it. Which reminds her... "What about the kids? Should we tell them and cancel the trip?"
Aang shook his head. "I don't think that's such a good idea. They've been looking forward to this trip for months, and we shouldn't deprive them of it. Besides, if we're away, it would give us a chance to think of a plan. Sokka and the others will be able to handle it until we come back." Katara was about to protest, so Aang grabbed her face and stared into her eyes. "I know you might think that's dangerous, leaving our friends to defend the town. Maybe it's more danger keeping the kids in the dark about this. But they deserve to be normal, unlike us. They don't need to know the hardships of fighting for their lives. I don't want them to get hurt."
He removed his hands as she sighed. Katara touched his cheek in return. "I get what you're saying, Aang," she said quietly. "But they need to know. It's too risky for them to be off guard. They'll be in more danger if they get caught unawares."
Aang sighed and kissed her palm. "Okay, how about this: As soon as we come back home, we'll tell them what happened. Does that sound alright?"
The Waterbender sighed. "I suppose that could work. But you do know that our friends might tell their kids, especially Jet and On Ji. They know the design. They know how their people used to fight."
Aang nodded in understanding. Jet and On Ji did know how their old company worked, and they would want their children to be prepared. "I know." He took a deep breath and gave a small smile. "Let's not worry about it for now. If a fight comes, we'll be ready for it." He kissed her lightly. "Come on," he said, breaking away. "It's about time we got up anyway. The kids are coming home in a few hours."
He was about to get up when Katara brought him down with her. Aang stared at her when she shook her head. "Can we stay here a little longer? I don't want to leave bed yet. I want to have a little more us time, if you catch my meaning."
Swallowing, the Airbender felt his pulse leap and heart race. He slowly moved over her, sheets rustling around them, and kissed her slowly. "Did I ever tell you that you're wicked?" he mumbled against her collarbone, lips lingering over her scar.
Katara have a breathy laugh. "You might have mentioned it." Then she whimpered and brought his head up to kiss him. "Please don't tease me," she whispered against his lips. "Please..." Aang grinned as they continued their activities from last night.
The Next Morning: Tenzin
The thirteen year old Airbender walked through the house, as stealthy as shadow. The sun's rays were just peeking over the eastern horizon, starting a new day with a soft, unhurried glow. He and everyone else had returned home yesterday afternoon, when Bumi's training had ended. The Energy Bender had made outstanding progress, despite the fact that he was new at this. Tenzin was proud of his older brother. He knew everyone else was too; but he remembered Kya's look of worry when Bumi had gone into a seizure the first time. There hadn't been any more since then, but Tenzin understood where she was coming from. He didn't to want to lose Bumi either. But better to learn and control rather than be snuffed out like a candle to the wind.
Tenzin was letting the calm seep into him. Like every morning, he would meditate to clear his mind and find peace. It was his way of escaping the world, even for a short time. He could meditate for hours and not be aware of the time. There have been a few times before when he had meditated all day. Tenzin chuckled, remembering those days.
But his smile vanished when he got outside, for like every other day, Appa sat next to the spot where Tenzin meditated, staring at Momo's grave with sad brown eyes. The old dog looked up when Tenzin came and sat next to him before gazing at the cross again with a whine. The Airbender rubbed the dog's head, feeling Appa's misery like it was his own. "I miss him too, boy."
Appa raised his shaggy head and placed it on the kid's knee, his tongue licking his muzzle. Tenzin pat him a few more times before putting his fists together and closing his eyes. He slowed his breathing and took a rhythm, feeling his heart slow down. Everything became quiet for the boy. The world became dark, but a comforting sort of darkness, like being under a warm blanket.
After a half hour, Tenzin got the impression that someone was watching him. He was about to call out when he heard Appa growl, and a shiver of fear ran down his spine, for it was not a kind presence that alerted him. His gray eyes snapped open and turned to the trees, where shadows were thick. Appa was crouched, his hackles up and him snarling. His gray gaze wandered the blackness before resting on a spot where it seemed there were a pair of eyes watching him. But when he rubbed his eyes and looked back, there was nothing there.
Suddenly feeling vulnerable and unsafe, Tenzin shakily stood up and said, "Come on, Appa. Let's head in." He walked away and Appa gave one more growl before following, making sure no threats came to his young master and friend.
Meanwhile: Bumi
The teenaged boy was tossing and turning on his bed, sweat glistening on his body. He felt feverish. Someone was here, someone was watching. Something had woken him up, and the energy he was feeling was bad. Bumi also felt a gentle energy, like wind through a field. Tenzin. It had to be. Only his energy would be like that. And Bumi sensed his younger brother's fear.
He also sensed Appa's energy, which had shifted, forming protective and suspicious, like he too could sense someone was there when they shouldn't be. Heart pounding, the boy sat bolt upright, and jumped out of bed when the energy stayed. Then the evil presence itself was gone, though though some of it lingered, and Bumi felt Tenzin and Appa rush into the house.
Bumi grabbed and put on a pair of sweatpants and dashed down the stairs, two at time, until he reached the living room as Tenzin and their dog entered. The young Airbender looked shaken and paler than normal but unharmed. Appa still had a snarl on his face. Bumi went over to them. "Are you guys okay?"
Tenzin swallowed and nodded. "Yeah, we're alright." He scratched Appa's head to calm them both.
"What happened?" his older brother asked, and Tenzin explained what had occurred while he was meditating, the feeling of being watched, Appa growling his warning, the eyes.
"Whoever it was must have been there for a reason," Tenzin added. "They probably wanted to kidnap or kill me, but since Appa was there, they left us alone. Their presence felt... malicious and angry."
Bumi nodded. "I felt it too. That's what woke me up, the feeling that something was wrong. Who do you think it was?"
He sighed. "I don't know, Bumes. But I'll be glad to get away from everything. It's been crazy around here. I still can't believe that the maintenance man was killed at the high school. Stabbed in the back." The town had found out when the news came on yesterday around the time they had gotten home. It also explained Bumi's odd behavior when he felt pain. Ursa had been right: he was feeling what the person being stabbed was feeling. It was strange.
Bumi nodded, but before he could say anything, the boys heard someone walk down the stairs, and their father appeared, looking energetic. "Hi Dad," they greeted.
Aang looked at them. "Morning boys." He was about to walk into the kitchen when he did a double take at his oldest. "Bumi? What are you doing up so early? Normally you would sleep for at least another couple hours."
Bumi shifted slightly and thought as he spoke. "Uh, yeah. Well, I guess I'm just anxious to get going. You know, just to... get away from everything and... yeah." He shrugged, looking sheepish. The group had agreed to keep Bumi's abilities a secret for now, so no one outside knows of them, not even their parents. Bumi hated lying, but for now it was best to keep quiet.
Aang nodded, though he looked concerned. "Okay well, do you think you could wake Kya in an hour? We'll be leaving soon. We've got to take Appa to the kennel too." The dog had moved to Aang's side when the man had come down the stairs. Now he looked at his master dubiously as if unbelieving. Aang sensed the old dog's emotions and scratched his floppy ear.
Bumi grinned. "Sure, Dad. I can do that. No problem." Aang looked a little concerned, remembering how Kya woken Bumi up. What was his son planning? Did it involve Tenzin? By the way they were sharing grins, that was proof enough of their mischief. He went into the kitchen to make coffee and slice some apples for Appa. Today was going to be a great, and rather humorous, day.
Six Hours Later
They had made it to the mountains, the forest covering almost every bit of rock, forming a green shelter of leaves and bushes, which cast different shades of green and white, like a natural jewel on the earth. The middle mountain, way up high where it was almost impossible to see the top, was gray, but it sparkled as if diamonds resided within the stone itself as the sun shined down.
It was as majestic as Bumi remembered as he and his family climbed the base of a smaller mountain, and judging by his relatives looks, they were as stunned as he himself was. Bumi understood how Toph had appreciated the rocks, for they resembled strength and power. The sheer size was enough time make even the bravest person bow down to its might.
He only wished that Appa was there to enjoy it, for when he was younger, the dog used to bound up the hill and chase wildlife, not harming anything but enjoying himself nonetheless. Bumi felt his eyes prick, and he closed them tightly. Appa didn't have much time, and everyone knew it. He still remembered the look of sadness the dog had given everyone when they had dropped him off at the kennel, as if he understood his time on earth was coming to a close. It was heartbreaking.
Bumi took a deep breath and stood up with everyone else, for they had been taking a break, and was about to follow when his senses started tingling. Someone was here with them. Brows furrowed, he looked at the shadows on his right, where they were thick. The tingling became more powerful, and he strained his eyes. There was a darker shadow there. But oddly it wasn't threatening. In fact, it seemed more shy than anything else. Who was that?
The young Seer was about to investigate when his father called, "You okay, Bumes?" He looked up to see his family waiting for him a few yards away. Bumi blinked and looked back at the shadows, but whoever was there had gone.
Licking his lips he called back, "Yeah, Dad. I'm alright. I'm coming." Giving one last look, Bumi climbed up the slope, wondering who that had been and what they had wanted.
An Hour and a Half Later: Kya
One of Kya's favorite parts of camping was setting the tents up. There was something invigorating about building them, knowing they were going to stay in them for a full week. The two large tents, one blue and white, the other orange and yellow, were big enough to house four people. Kya and Katara got the blue one while the boys got the orange one. Good thing too, because Kya remembered the last time they shared the tent with Bumi. His snores had kept them up most of the night before they had sneaked off to sleep with Aang and Tenzin for the rest of the camp out.
She wiped her brow and looked to see how her family was doing. Her mother was gathering water from the fresh water stream they always camped near, using her Waterbending to fill everyone's water bottle and a pot for the soup she planned on cooking. It was one of the times Kya didn't mind eating vegetables like her her dad and Tenzin. Bumi was a little reluctant about eating like a rabbit, but after a couple more trips, he got used to it.
Kya looked over at him, who was taking the coolers out of the van, still a little miffed about what he and Tenzin did this morning. She had been about to wake up on her own when a breeze had blown through her room. She had sat up and walked over to the window, only to discover it was closed. She had thought her imagination was playing tricks on her. Then she had gone over to her door, opened it, and the next thing she knew, something wet and sticky spilled on her, causing her to shriek.
Bumi had come of his hiding place along with Tenzin, both grinning like idiots. "Time to wake up, Ky," he had said cheerfully.
She had looked at them in disbelief, suddenly understanding what had happened. Tenzin had made that breeze. She was covered in watered down honey. "Why you little-" It had been right then she noticed the bucket of feathers in Bumi's arms. She had raised her arms. "Don't you dare-"
"Now, Zin!" he had cried, turning the bucket over, which flew at Kya thanks to Tenzin's Airbending. She had covered her face when the feathers had come at her. When the wind had stopped, Kya had looked at herself. The feathers had made her feel like a chicken.
Her two brothers laughing had caught her attention, and they had backed up, chuckling, knowing what was going to happen then. Bumi had shrugged. "Dad did tell me to wake you up. He just never asked me to do it nicely." Then he and Tenzin had ran, for the enraged Waterbender had started chasing them, yelling how she was going to kill them. Aang and Katara, who had been packing their supplies in the van, had watched with amusement, knowing Kya's threat will never come to fruition.
Someone put a hand on her hair and plucked a feather that lingered. Katara came into her vision. "Thinking about the bird incident?" she asked, laughing to herself. She tried to be sympathetic, but it was too funny.
Her daughter sighed, annoyed. She thought all the feathers were gone. "I'm going to get back at them. Just watch; I swear I will! Annoying brothers."
Katara laughed, sitting down and letting the feather go, watching it fly away on a breeze before landing in the water. Then she said, "Don't be so hard on them. They were just having fun. They've been looking forward to this trip all year."
Kya crossed her arms. "Still! They should have tried waking me up like a normal person instead of embarrassing me."
Her mother raised an eyebrow. "Like how you did a few days ago?"
Her daughter rolled her eyes. "Fine; point taken," she consented. Then she looked over at Bumi again, sitting alone on a rock, looking at the trees. Concern came into her being.
Katara followed her gaze and frowned. "Is there something wrong?"
The teenager shook her head. "I'm just wondering. Does Bumi seem more distracted than normal? Usually he would play with Tenzin and Dad when done unpacking."
Katara grabbed Kya's hand and squeezed it. "Maybe he has too much on his mind. Give him some time; Bumi will come around."
Kya nodded and looked over at Aang and Tenzin, who had made up the fire pit and was now twirling sticks in the air. She sighed. "I wish that was me."
Katara frowned, confused. "What do you mean?"
The younger Waterbender gestured at the males, now moving an air ball between them. "That. They look so... so... together. Ever since Tenzin had shown signs of being an Airbender, Dad has been spending more of his time with him. It makes me feel like Bumi and I don't matter anymore." There was bitterness in voice, along with sadness. Voicing how she felt relieved her of some the weight that had been pressing on her chest.
Her mother looked at her sternly. "Now Kya, that's not being fair. Aang loves you and Bumi very much. He's just happy to have someone to train, who shares his abilities and beliefs. Don't be too hard on him." When her daughter remained silent, Katara thought for a few moments before saying, "Did you know that your father came to rescue me after I was kidnapped?"
Kya looked at her. "Well, yeah. I mean, details are a little sketchy, but everyone knows the story. But I don't know who had taken you. You and Dad never talk about it."
Katara nodded. "That's because we wanted the identity of the kidnapper secret, so we begged the judge to keep Jet's identity from reaching the papers."
Kya looked shocked. "Jet? Like, On Ji's husband? I thought you guys were friends."
"Not at the beginning. Jet had this crazy idea for revenge on Aang, since he was the one who put Jet's father in jail. Edwardo Jenks. From what I learned of him, he was a cold, cruel man who was obsessed with money and drinking. When your father was fourteen, the man had killed both of his parents while he was at school, and had attacked Aang when he was on his way home. The man had killed my mother when I was eight." Katara had to pause and wipe her eyes. It was hard talking about her mother, especially when she was dead.
One she had control again, Katara continued. "Anyway, Aang and Jenks had fought, and the man was put behind bars. Aang and Gyatso had moved to where we live now. We met during school, both fifteen, became close friends, and not long after, we became a couple." There was a dreamy look on her face, like she was remembering the day they became boyfriend and girlfriend. Kya was fascinated. It was rare of her mother to talk about her past. It suddenly made herself feel more connected to her parents.
The older Waterbender continued. "Things were going nicely for a while; but then Jet had tried to tear us apart, thinking he could get rid of us."
Kya gaped. "He tried to kill you?!" she whispered/yelled. How dare he!
Katara waved her hand. "It's all water under the bridge, now. Let me finish. It wasn't entirely Jet's fault. His mom had died from cancer when he was my age, around eight, and his dad was very abusive. Anyway, he had kidnapped me when the company, the Black Mamba, went down. Aang came, they fought, and when Jet was about to finish him off, I had managed to cut myself free and Bend oil into him, saving Aang. When we were embracing, Jet got up and was about to stab your father in the back. I pushed your father out of the way, and got this as a result."
She pointed at the long white scar on her collarbone, and Kya stared at it. That wound could have killed her. But how... "How are you alive?" she asked with a mixture of awe and horror.
Her mother shrugged. "I keep asking myself that. The Spirits must have given me another chance. Aang told me he had been praying for me to come back. The next thing I knew, I was awake. In the end, Jet had realized his mistake, took time for it, and came back a changed man. We've been friends ever since."
Kya took a long time to process everything her mother had just told her. It was a lot to take in. Both of her parents had been willing to sacrifice for each other in order to safe their other half. Her blue eyes looked over to her father and brother, who were lying down, watching the leaves sway in the light breeze. Her father was a hero, just like the stories told. Her mother was just as brave, like they had been told.
Katara hugged Kya. "Your father has been through a lot. He went far to get to this point. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be alive, and you kids wouldn't be here. Aang's sacrificed a lot for this family. Don't ever feel like he's abandoned you. Always remember that he will be there, no matter what happens."
She nodded, warm in her mother's loving embrace. "Thanks, Mom. I love you." Katara gave a squeeze, kissed Kya's forehead and smiled at her before they released one another and went back to their jobs.
Later That Night: Bumi
Bumi lay awake, listening to the light snores of his brother and father. Nature's sounds also echoed throughout the forest; an owl hooted, the river bubbling, a light breeze ruffling the trees leaves. Normally it would help the boy sleep; but Bumi couldn't, for he was thinking about earlier today, when he sensed a presence. He wondered who it had been, or if it was just his imagination. He sighed, unsure.
Then his senses started tingling like they always did when someone special was near. A Bender. But their energy was strange, unknown and foreign. It was unlike any Bender he had come into contact with. He looked over at Tenzin and Aang. His dad stirred a little but didn't wake. Probably having a dream, since there was a small smile on his face, barely noticeable in the faint light.
The sound of a twig snapping caught his attention. Heart pounding and senses tingling like crazy, Bumi slowly stood up and opened the flap, running the zipper down as quietly as he could. The last thing he needed was to wake the others. He stepped out into the night. Thinking for a moment, he turned back to the tent and grabbed a flashlight before closing the tent again behind him.
Bumi turned it on, keeping the beam away from the tents, and looked around, shining the light into the trees. A shadow shifted on his right, and he swung the light in that direction. His Seer senses buzzed, and the shadow seemed to leap away from the light, running away through the woods. Using his powers more than the flashlight, Bumi ran after it, determined to catch this mysterious person.
After a few minutes of running, he stopped, out of breath. Hands on knees, Bumi panted, trying to get his breathing back under control. Once he did, the teenager swung his light around. The shadow seemed to have disappeared. But he knew better, for his powers were screaming at him. He slowly walked backwards to the left, feigning ignorance as he looked in the opposite direction. When he was close enough, Bumi turned the light off, turned, and jumped.
There was a yelp as he collided with someone, and they tried to get away; but Bumi already had the person pinned down. They struggled, but he was stronger and only tightened his grip. Then the person, realizing it was futile, stopped and whimpered. Then they begged, "Don't hurt me! I mean you no harm! Please don't turn me in!" It was a boy's voice, definitely scared. He sounded younger than Bumi himself, maybe thirteen or fourteen. What did he mean by turning him in? Was he a criminal? No; Bumi sensed nothing malicious from the boy. Only fear and shyness.
He loosened his group slightly, but not enough for the kid to escape. "Who are you?" Then a thought occurred to him. "It was you who had been following us, wasn't it? What do you want? Where did you come from?"
The boy swallowed, nervous. "Yes. I did follow you. If you let me go, I'll explain the best I can."
Bumi frowned; then said, "Only if you promise not to run away again. If you do, I'll come after you again." He knew he was scaring the kid more, but he needed answers.
The unusual Bender nodded. "I promise." Bumi waited a few more seconds; then let go and stood up, tense and ready in case the boy decided to make a run for it. But he didn't. He stood up slowly, rubbing his back and wincing. "Jeez, did you have to pounce that hard? I thought my back was broken."
Bumi had to press his lips together to keep from chuckling. The kid had a sense of humor. Maintaining his serious expression, he examined the boy before him. The kid was dark skinned, hair as black at midnight with no moon or stars, dark eyes which might have been brown had there been more light besides the waning moon. He said, "Okay. I need answers. Who are you and what are you doing here?"
The boy sighed. "Well, to start with, my name's Matt, short for Matthew. I live in a cabin a few miles away from here with my twin sister, Melisa. We've been here for years." He wouldn't make eye contact.
Bumi narrowed his eyes. "I'm Bumi." Might as well be formal. It was only fair. Then he asked, "How old are you?"
He looked up through his lashes. "Fourteen."
Well, he got that part right. "Where are your parents? You don't expect me to believe they would leave two kids alone in the woods."
Matt looked away again. "I haven't seen my parents in a long time. They died in fire when me and Mel were only two years old. When we were old enough, my uncle dropped us off here. We haven't seen him since." A vague sadness engulfed him like a blanket, one that Bumi felt.
The young Seer paused. That was unexpected. "I'm sorry," he said. What else was he supposed to say?
Matt shrugged. "Don't worry about it. We barely remember them. How can you miss something if you never had it, let alone remember it? Anyway, you wanted to know why I was following you." Bumi nodded. "Well, as weird as this is gonna sound, it all started with a dream when I was ten. I dreamt of meeting a boy who can sense people like me. It's hard to explain, but I had the feeling that this person could make a difference in the world of Bending. And you guys have been coming around, so being curious, I followed you sometimes. My last dream occured the night before, and the moment I saw you again on the trail, I knew you were the one from my dream. I've been trying to get your attention ever since."
Bumi licked his lips, thinking about what Matt had informed. He started pacing. Something about Matt seemed familiar; he was Bender, that much was clear. But his energy is different from what the four elements felt like. Stopping, Bumi faced him again. "Okay, I'll bite. What exactly do you Bend? I've been around Benders all my life, but never had I met one with energy like yours. The energy for air is free; water energy is flowing; earth energy is stubborn; and fire energy is relentless. But what I feel from you is..." He paused, trying to come up with a word or phrase that describes Matt's power. "Vague, blurry, almost ghost like."
Matt shifted on his feet, looking uncomfortable. "Well, that's one way of putting it." When Bumi raised an eyebrow, he sighed and gestured at Bumi's flashlight. "It would be better if I showed you. Turn that on and place your hand in front of it. I'll give a demonstration."
Bumi hesitated; then did what he was told, turning the flashlight on and placing his hand under the beam, creating a shadowy version of his limb. He saw Matt staring at it in concentration. Then he raised his hand near the shadow and... moved it. Bumi gasped, watching the hand move left and right, and he wasn't even doing it! He was still staring as Matt said, "I can control shadows. I can enlarge it." He did so to a point where the light was almost gone. "Shrink it." He made it the size of a pebble. "And lastly..." Then Bumi felt his hand move along with the shadow. He tried to stop it, but he couldn't. As panic started setting in, Matt released his control, and the limb belonged to Bumi again. He dropped the flashlight and cradled his hand, flexing it, trying not show how shaken he was. Matt finished in a somber tone, "I can control people by their shadows alone."
Bumi looked pale and felt clammy as he stared at his hand. "Shadowbending," he whispered. The boy was a...
Matt nodded like he read Bumi's thought. "Shadowbender. Like you, Benders like me are rare. There are only a few of us that exist."
Another thought occurred to him and he slowly looked at Matt. "Wait a minute. You had said you have a twin sister. Since you control shadows, can she control... light?"
The Shadowbender nodded. "Yes. Melisa can control light. It's a little like Firebending. But the difference is light is energy on its own. Fire is a force. Besides, light is bit harder to control. Even she had hard time getting it right." He paused; then said, "Shadows are said to be the dark side of everyone. That's true. Even the most nicest person can be dangerous. It depends if that person let's their shadow overcome their light. You'd be surprised by how much danger there really is in the world. Trust me; I should know."
Bumi studied him for a few moments before saying, "When I caught you, you said not to turn you in. Why? What did you mean by that?"
Matt sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Well, because of my... abilities, people assume I could be dangerous. Not that I blame them. The reason there are so few of us is because my ancestors had used their Shadowbending to kill and steal. The ones that were caught, even the innocent ones, were tried and put to death. The only ones who really got mercy were the Lightbenders, considering they were the 'angels'." He had air quoted the word angels like he begged to differ. Matt shook his head. "Anyway, that's probably why my uncle left us here; to protect us or save his own skin."
"Maybe it was for both," Bumi added.
The Shadowbender shrugged. "Maybe." Then his brow furrowed as he gazed around. "It's morning."
Bumi looked around too, but couldn't tell for it was still dark out. "How can you tell?" he asked curiously.
"The shadows are shifting. They always do when morning comes. I have to go. Melisa will be up as soon as the light from sun appears." He was about to leave when he turned back and added, "Can you keep our conversation to yourself? At least until tell I my sister?"
He looked unsure but nodded. "But you do realize that I'll have to tell my friends. They have as much right to know."
Matt bit his lip before sighing. "Only after I send a message."
"How?"
"The shadows will help me. But for now, I have to go. Melisa will be worried."
"How do you plan on getting back in time?" He was curious; no one can hardly blame him after learning of a different kind of Bender.
Again he said, "The shadows will help. They can make a kind of portal for me to go through to get from one destination to another. But the shadows have to be thick, otherwise it's pretty much useless." Matt stopped and cocked his as if something was talking to him, then sighed. "I have to go. Later, Bumi. We'll see each other soon." With that, he turned, manipulated the shadows so it swirled, and stepped through, disappearing completely before the shadow leaped away up the hill, vanishing from sight.
The Energy Bender stood there for a minute, making sure Matt was gone. He didn't feel anything. Then sighing, Bumi walked back to camp, suddenly tired. At least now he knew what had been bothering him since they got here. A Shadowbender. Who knew?
When he got back to his bed roll, he collapsed and fell to sleep instantly, mind going blank like a TV being turned off, temporarily forgetting his encounter.
Whoa that was looking! Over 8,000 words! Holy Poseidon! Or was it Apollo? Naw, his poems aren't exactly good. *sun shines on me enough to make me melt* Sorry! *reverted back to normal* Anyway, I'm going to put a new chapter on this story every week, since the chapters are longer, and I don't want people to think I quit on it. I haven't! What do you think of this chapter? Good, I hope. Leave a review please!