"Again!" Toph shouts.
Kor dives to one side, rolls smoothly to his feet and bends a boulder to deflect the one incoming from the old blind earth bender. He feels the air pressure change behind him in time to flip out of the way of a stream of water Katara has attempted to snake around him.
Out of nowhere an air punch blows him backwards but he manages to cushion his landing against a nearby tree before landing gracefully back on the ground. He spies Katara's son Tenzin nearby giving him a gentle smile. He arrived at the little house on the island a few weeks ago and has been patiently instructing Kor in air bending forms ever since.
"Not bad," sniffs Toph, with a grudging nod in Kor's direction.
Katara merely chuckles as she walks over and hands him a water skin. "You appear tired, young man."
He accepts gratefully and takes a gulp between gasps. "Whatever foolish thoughts I have had about the weaknesses of the fairer sex I gladly repent," he says with a rueful look at the two women, neither of whom look the least bit fatigued.
"Ha!" shouts Toph. "Hear that, Katara? I think we've just been insulted." She flicks her fingers and a handful of stones shoot towards Kor's head. He instantly throws up a shield and diverts them into the nearby lake. "Fairer sex, my fanny."
Kor chokes mid swallow while Tenzin blushes and clears his throat.
"Really, Toph?" Katara murmurs. Then she peers at Kor. "You'll want to get washed up. We're having guests for dinner."
Kor looks down at his muddy tunic and peels it off, revealing a muscular, sweat-covered torso. He had always been fit, but weeks of intense training had toughened him up considerably. "Washing is a good idea. I'm not fit for company right now."
"You'll need more than just a wash for that, boy," Toph bellows as Katara chases her away.
Kor rolls his eyes and heads for the small pond nearby where a small wooden tub sits waiting. A bucket and a tiny iron stove sits next to the tub to fetch and heat the water. With a sweep of his arms he bends water from the stream into the tub then bends it again to heat it up, happy to be able to bypass the great deal of physical labor it would take to set up the bath normally.
He looks around carefully (he learned his lesson about Toph's glee in torturing him at bath time the first week of his stay) then strips off his breeches and sinks down into the hot water with a relieved sigh. His head rests on the side of the tub and he gazes at the pinks and purples of the late afternoon sky, idly picking out random shapes in the puffy clouds. After hours of exertion the warm water lulls him into a half doze.
"Good evening."
Kor starts to stand up, startled, then yelps as he immediately drops back down into the safety of the tub, his hands instinctively covering his front. Before him Lady Sato stands with just a hint of a smile, holding a bundle in her arms. His face burns in embarrassment but to his immense relief she merely places the bundle on a stump near the tub.
"Katara realized you hadn't taken fresh clothes with you."
Kor blinks. "Oh dear. I forgot again." He allows himself a brief grin. "Last time I did that I attempted to bend my clothes clean. It didn't work so well as Toph will gladly tell you."
"Sounds like a story I'd like to hear."
He groans. "I have no doubt she'll share it with you at least twice." He pauses, feeling his blush darkening to his utter disgust. "Would you mind— Um—" He waves his hands in a circular motion.
She raises one eyebrow.
"I need to get dressed," he stammers. "If you'd be so kind as to—" He makes the circular motion again.
He sighs heavily. "Please turns you back Lady Sato, or I might possibly die from the humiliation."
The quirk to her lips is back. "I'm sure you've nothing to feel humiliated about, Brother Kor." But she turns around, her arms folded as she waits for him.
He stares at her in shock, then hastily exits the tub, bends himself dry and pulls on the fresh clothes. He clears his throat to indicates he's finished, standing awkwardly as she peers at him over one shoulder.
"I trust your modesty has been preserved?"
"Yes," he mutters sourly. "Thank you." Then he shakes his head and steps forward, offering his arm. "May I escort you?"
She tilts her head, her green eyes studying him intently, but she places her hand on his arm and they walk back towards the house.
"I must apologize to you, Lady Sato," Kor begins. "I was an uncouth fool at our first meeting, and I do beg for your forgiveness."
She is silent for a few moments, then squeezes his arm gently. "You are of course forgiven, Brother Kor. You were deceived for many years by a dangerous man under unfortunate circumstances. The truth may always come eventually, but not always easily."
"Still," he insists. "You always treated me with extreme courtesy and I repaid that with ill-temper and I am sorry for it."
She now gives him a real smile and his heart lurches at the beauty of it. "You're welcome, Kor." She squeezes his arm again. "Or shall I say, Your Highness?"
He stares at her then nods. Of course she knew. He considers her words and the answer comes easily to him. "I'm not Prince Korraq yet," he replies. "But I hope to earn the right to carry that name."
She nods. "I understand."
"Do you?"
She slides her fingers forward and grips his hand. "I truly do." She looks through the trees to where the little house sits, a column of smoke rising lazily from the chimney. "Will you trust me right now, Kor?"
"With my life, My Lady," he replies, thinking suddenly of Bolin. He hopes someday to make amends with the man. Then something catches his eye, and to his shock he sees not one but two columns of smoke. His pace quickens. A fire? "Master Katara," he bursts out and tries to run.
Lady Sato's hand tightens her grip. "Then trust when I say there is no danger here."
They emerge into the clearing and now see what was obscured before — a dragon curled up in the shade on the far side of the clearing, smoke curling from his nostrils. His skin is a dusky red and he raises his head curiously when he sees the newcomers, his eyes glowing as he examines them. Apparently he sees no threat and drops his head once again with a soft snort.
Kor is frozen in shock.
"I thought they were a myth," he whispers in awe. "Father Superior said that fire benders learned their art from demons, but I had heard rumors otherwise."
"No myth," Lady Sato agrees. "But they are rare, and precious."
Katara appears in the doorway, and she smiles and beckons them towards her. "Thank you for fetching him, Lady Sato. I was happy to send Tenzin to do it."
"It was my pleasure," she replies with just a hint of suggestion and Katara coughs knowingly. Kor once again feels his face grow hot and he glares at the old women for her intimation. Her eyes sparkle with mirth and there's nothing left but to follow the amused woman into the house. Toph and Tenzin are sitting at the table, speaking quietly. At the fireplace a tall man in a hooded cloak stands fingering the boomerang resting on the mantle. Kor had noticed it before but hadn't asked about it. The man turns as he hears them enter and pushes back his hood.
Kor stops in his tracks, staring at the dark red and gold robes and golden flaming crown tucked into gray hair. The left side of his face is deeply scarred, but his gaze is mild and his body relaxed.
"My boy," Katara loops her arm through his and propels him forward. "I wish for you to meet a very old, very dear friend of mine. He has long wished to meet you, and has come to help you train."
"I greet you, Korraq, son of Tonraq."
Kor clenches his fists, then forces himself to take a deep breath and bows. "I greet you, Fire Lord Zuko."
