Imagine, if you will, a small bubble. Flying high where the wind takes it, looking as shiny and luminous as ever. And then suddenly it pops, just implodes without warning sending the remaining bits of soap in all different directions. That bubble was my brain, before and after we sat down with this little tribe of people who claim to know people who can move earth and air. Granted, that shouldn't be so hard to believe after the fire and water demonstrations but on the scale they are implying it's so massive. That would mean, unless someone somewhere was pumping something into the waters- and idea I'm genuinely not ready to let go of just yet- that this was real, standardized birth-right abilities that people were just born with at random. And if that's true then why hadn't Jeb or my mother or any of the scientists ever mentioned it? Sure I can lift a rock and throw it but I can't just pull the earth out from underneath me. If this was true, about them, then… like, What was the point of us.
"You're quiet" Fang broke into my thoughts.
I instinctively wanted to be catty to him for some reason but I also realized that it's annoying and unreasonable for be to be mad for technically no reason so I swallowed a sneer continued to focus on the task at hand- in the form of Nudge's always impressive hair.
After dinner two of the women had showed us to our pretty darn spacious animal skin tents & offered us a bowl of hot water for bathing. Taking off any layer of clothing in this weather was very unappealing, no matter how many fires were built, but I figured at the very least washing our hair should be enough.
"Yeah, enjoy it while you can." I replied while delicately detangling Nudges wet hair in front of me, courtesy of a generously offered watertribe comb.
"Don't you want to talk about...any of this? I asked about the war and Brigid said that-"
"Maybe you should write down all your questions, concerns and Brigid factoids in a notebook or something so you don't forget any of the details when you update your loyal blog fans the next time we're anywhere near electricity." I offered in my most helpful voice willing him to drop the conversation.
"Are-" he tried again but I opened my mouth before he could finish
"Nudge, sit still!" I snapped loudy but with as little venom as possible, cutting of Fang at Nudges expense. She wasn't even moving that much- I made a mental note to do something extra nice for her later.
I didn't look up to read his expression but mercifully, there was no follow up after that.
"Max is it true that there are more benders out there than normal people?" Nudge asked as calmly as she could manage while bouncing around.
"Normal is relative honey," I said while processing the rest of her question
"Oh, right. I mean…. More benders than um.. non-benders?"
"Right. I think… what she really meant is that there are more people who are related to and know of benders in their bloodline than those who aren't? Like how most of the people in this village can't waterbend but know people who do...It's possible though that since they dont look physically any different than what we assume most people look like- you and I sans the wings- that maybe we just didn't notice because we were usually looking for people with more…."
"Fur?" Gazzy offered from the corner of the room
"Right." I said, giving myself a minor mental pat on the back for coming up with such an inspiring answer, post bubble-brain.
"What would you be Nudge if you could pick an element!" Gazzy asked excitedly
"Mmmmm..." Nudge mused carefully weighing all her options
"I think I'd be a waterbender" Angel offered
"I'd be FIRE!" Gazzy said jumping up and I winced at the global- no- galactical damage that would be caused everywhere, everyday, if this one particular kid had the power to summon and wield fire at will.
"Wouldn't that be, like, weird though since they're kind of the bad guys." Nudge said running a hand through her own hair to judge how close to finishing I was.
"I don't think there are bad elements Nudge." Iggy interjected, cross-legged on a mat taking apart his wrist watch for the umpteenth time "Only bad people. Like how doctors can heal people or hurt them but being a doctor isn't inherently a bad profession."
"Wow Ig, when did you get so profound" I mused teasingly
He scoffed with a small smirk "I'm just saying, where would be without fire to light fireworks with or keep us warm or cook our food… imagine eating only raw meats and fish for the rest our lives!"
Nudge, Gazzy and Angel all made displeased faces. "Just so you know Ig- we are all making disgusted faces at that nightmare doomsday scenario." Nudge notified him
"I am to please." he said with a half bow
"In the wrong hands, anything is a weapon." Angel agreed a moment later "Water can drown people, Earth can crush them, Air can suffocate…" She trailed off and I sat the comb down finally done with Nudges hair, consciously choosing to… not reply to that.
"And on that cheery note." Fang said standing up. "I'm going to go for a short walk, just around some of the perimeter for last looks- Care to join me Max?"
I would rather pluck out every last one of my feathers one by one and swallow them whole but I could tell by the look in his eyes that he wasn't going to let this go. I rolled my eyes.
"Fine. 10 minutes guys, don't blow anything up please."
I stood up in front of Fang and crossed my arms glancing pointedly at the draped entryway out of the tent. "After you."