Gyatso and Kara: Prodigies of an Avatar

Chapter 37- Training Day

When Topaz, Kara, Kyoshi, and Rika got to the training area of the military base, the sun was shining hotly on the ground. Topaz, who was holding her sandals in her hands, jumped when her feet hit ground.

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!" She screamed, sliding her thongs under her feet quickly and sighing at the coolness of the fabric under her feet. She wiggled her toes in relief before she resumed walking to the makeshift seats that the boys had made for them.

"Oh, these are so cute!" Kara squealed clapping her hands. She jumped onto the widest seat, which was a circle about four feet in diameter, forgetting that if the ground was blazing hot, the dirt seat would be just as hot. She jumped, just as Topaz did, but instead of making a sound, she smoothed down her oddly thin skirt and took a deep breath before sitting down again.

"Smooth." Iroh said coolly as he walked over to the girls, looking straight at Kara. Her cheeks reddened immediately after she saw and heard him. Iroh, seeing her reaction to his comment, regretted that he had opened his mouth at all.

"No, Kara, I meant that seriously." He said, concern clearly painted on his face. His golden eyes were strained and his face was pale, not to mention sweaty, that made him look even more nervous. Little did he know that Kara wasn't blushing because of his comment alone.

"Oh, I, uh, I-I-I knew, um, what you meant." Kara mumbled averting her gaze to her brother in the hopes that her heart rate would return to normal and her skin color would go back to normal. She nervously shook her hair with her fingers, blowing the peach scent into Iroh's nose, forcing him back up.

"What did I do?" She asked, hearing the lubb dubb in her chest get louder by the second.

Iroh, seeing her worry, shook his head. "You didn't do anything, Kara. It was just. . . sometimes I get nervous spasms that cause my body to do random stuff-like jump back."

"Oh," Kara sighed, feeling better.

Nervous spasms, really, Iroh, Topaz thought shaking her head. Why won't they make up their minds and tell one another that they either want to go out or don't. Their drama is annoying the crap out of me.

"Topaz," Gyatso interrupted her thoughts, with his yell. "You're the referee!"

"Oh," Topaz said with her foreign phony-enthusiasm. "Okay. Great, awesomeness . . . get ready, boys."

She took in a deep breath and yelled out, "ONE. . . TWO. . . BEND!"

On the count of 'bend', both boys ran to their respective sides of the training arena. Gyatso's back hit the blazing hot, dirt wall with a slap, the heat feeling like one million hot plates being shoved on his back. His sucked his teeth, sliding his water pouch out of the loose belt that held about ten of them. Gingerly, he uncapped the pouch and made a claw with his left hand, pulling it slowly back to take the water out.

Iroh scrutinized Gyatso's every movement as he readied himself to fight. Taking a huge inhale, he felt the heat enter his lungs. His golden eyes went up to the shining sun, and he smiled to himself. Perfect weather for training, he thought feeling the fire build up in his body, still inhaling. In a short, staccato movement, he exhaled and the fire not only came out the ends of his scrunched hands, but his nose as well. He bent forward, extending his fist and knee, pushing a small, but thick pocket of fire forward towards Gyatso.

The fire may have been small, but it flew right over to Gyatso. He dodged the attack by only a half-step, feeling the heat above his head pass him. Quickly, Gyatso ran half way up the arena extending his relaxed hand sharply, the clawed hand holding the water underneath it. Water shot out from under his hand, swinging fast to Iroh. It slapped him in the face, leaving a dark red bruise on his cheek.

"Oh!" Kara whispered, covering her mouth. That looks like it hurt, she thought as she closed her eyes, feeling her friend's pain.

"Come on, Kara. It's just training." Topaz said, trying to reassure the girl that she considered a sister.

"Topaz is right." Kyoshi added, taking Kara's hand softly. "Just grin and bear it. The pain will only make him stronger."

"Okay." Kara mumbled, returning her focus to the match.

After wiping his face, Iroh swiftly ran up towards the middle of the arena. He was only five feet away from Gyatso, when another attack came towards him. This time, he was ready. Iroh ducked to the ground, doing a scissor kick that blew fire at the opponent. Gyatso jumped back, missing the hit by an inch again.

Let's change it up a bit, shall we, He thought with a wheezy inhale. Gyatso opened up another water pouch and bended the water out. This time, though, he brought the water up to his mouth and softly blew on it. Soft ice covered the newly made water ball, and he extended his hand again, aiming for Iroh.

"Nice try." Iroh mumbled, pushing his hand out to burn the ice. It steamed, the smoke going delightfully up his nose.

"Darn it. Why didn't I see that coming?" Gyatso moaned, trying to separate the water from the smoke. The try failed, for he hadn't perfected the art yet.

"You weren't thinking about the temperature, the angle of the sun. All of the cards are in my favor." Iroh said, throwing another fireball at his friend.

"Remember, Iroh," Gyatso yelled sliding over to dodge the shot. "Your dad said that before he was defeated by my mom."

"Actually," Iroh chuckled, standing straight. "Your mom said that to my dad at the Northern Water Tribe under the moon. She forgot about the notion of sunup. Kind of like you not noticing that your robe is burning."

"What-AHH!!" Gyatso yelled jumping up. He began screaming and slapping his robe, which made the fire worse.

"Oh, shut up." Rika sighed, getting up. She threw one of his extra pouches on him and twisted her heels with attitude.

"Still pissed, I see." Topaz said with a sly smile.

Rika turned to her with a death glare, making the "I'm watching you sign". Topaz defiantly waved her fingers at the girl, tipping Rika off of the edge. Before Rika could tell Topaz how she really felt, she was interrupted by a hearty laugh from the entrance of the arena.

General Fong stood there, laughing like a maniac. His laugh, however, was more sinister than comforting. His bearded chin was pointed up, looking down at the group. And then . . . he began to clap.

"You boys are very good at your crafts." Fong said smugly.

"Thank you." The boys pushed out only out of politeness.

"You're welcome . . . NOW PROOVE IT!!"

"Oh, great." Katara whispered, getting into bending position. "The old man has one heat-flash and now he's doing it again. Oh, well, a boar can't change his horns, huh?"

Yay! I actually liked this one. I was really nervous about it because action is not really my forte, but this turned out fine. There's obviously going to fight scene in the next chapter. What are your thoughts on it? R&R

God Bless,

Leelee488512