Air is the element of freedom. These nomadic people detached themselves from worldly concerns to find a peaceful way of living.
Water is the element of change. These people are capable of adapting to many things, from the harshest winter to the shortest summer. Their sense of love and community binds them together to weather almost anything.
Fire is the element of power. The people from this nation are driven by desire, will, and energy to achieve what they want.
Earth is the element of substance. They are solid like rock, yet moldable like clay. Their kingdom is diverse and strong, built by persistence and endurance.
It is important to draw wisdom from many different places. If you take it from only one source, it becomes rigid and stale. Understanding all the elements and the other nations will help you become whole.
When placed under the tutelage of a new guru, the boy was hard pressed to find an opportunity to slip away unnoticed. Surprisingly, his lessons were less about the daunting—damn-near-impossible—undertaking as the so-called savior of humanity. The Guru taught him more about the world and finding one's place in it—as if everyone had a role to play, not just the Avatar.
The boy hadn't considered what he would do once he rid himself of his undesirable destiny. When he really thought about it, "one for one" was a very selfish notion.
He began to wonder about the other nations and their respective elements, too. His native peoples' teachings of isolationism and enlightenment also sounded self-serving and short-sighted to him. He'd never experienced familial bonds like the Water Tribe or felt an earthen sense of strength and stability. He'd certainly had a desire to accomplish this one goal, but that effort died in the fire instead of being fueled by it.
On so many nights, the boy would lie awake and imagine his life as if he didn't have to bear the curse of the Avatar. But never before had he considered…
What if he wasn't an airbender?