Chapter 6: The Tale of Svāhā
Summary: There is lore, and lots of it. Zuko continues to think Pima and Kojin are weird. Also featuring: friendship and a play.
Thank you so much for the support! Those comments bring a smile to my face. This writing of this chapter involved: procrastination, staring into the void, major editing, brainstorms, rewrites and rewrites of those rewrites, having an easier time writing future chapters than this one, lurking, and trying to make sure that everything is going to be understood when it's explained…
Warning: there is a point at the end where two animals get their throats slit. It's nothing too graphic, but it happens.
"See?" she grinned widely at Zuko. 'But not like the wind, you control your flames, where you want fire to go.'
Pima excitedly pulled Zuko with her. "Time for more training!"
Pima covered her amused smile when Zuko groaned about doing stretches and hot-squats.
"They're good for you!" Pima insisted, and slapped at her thighs and then did a twisting kick that showed off her flexibility and balance. "Your kicks will be amazing!"
She thought she maybe heard Zuko mutter, but it was such a quick and quiet thing. She could hear the drums playing in one of the practice yards where people were passing around the fire. There were also songbirds and insects; way too much noise to actually determine if Zuko did say something.
He sent her glance, his expression was a scowl. The sign he gave her was a very drawn out, 'fine.'
Pima observed as Zuko went through a few katas; he slightly stumbled on one step and lost his balance. It happened more than once, and Pima gently guided him until she was sure he'd get it right.
Zuko was as stubborn as a mule-goat, so he kept trying. He nearly fell, but Zuko was quick to correct himself. He tried again, and it was definitely better, except…a tiny something was ever-so slightly off, Pima started to notice.
She watched a bit more; Zuko hesitated at times, his balance was a bit weird in places like he didn't really know how to move when he totally should know already. Zuko started a kata over, almost starting with his left – but he stopped and shifted to his right. It was such a tiny thing, but it made a big difference in bending.
She waved, getting Zuko's attention. She signed and spoke awkwardly. "That was good. But. Tiny problem. Are you left-handed?"
Zuko made a face. He nodded slowly, looking unsure.
"Try starting with your left." Pima motioned to him expectantly. "Why are you using your right?"
Zuko looked as if she'd harshly admonished him. He hugged his left hand to his chest, and covered it with his right, as if protecting it. She frowned, not really liking what such a tiny thing implied. A few seconds later, he responded, 'Left-hand is wrong.'
He made being left-handed sound…look…? To him, left-handed was like a naughty, hidden away secret. But it was detrimental to those learning. What the heck were they teaching kids in the Mainland?
Pima blew a raspberry and replied, "Whoever told you that is a super-special kind of idiot."
Zuko gaped at Pima, like she had just insulted Agni himself.
"Go on, start with your left." Pima motioned expectantly.
Zuko did, and – it was definitely an improvement. So much more natural.
'Kick higher,' she demonstrated the kata, and Zuko followed. He needed to improve his flexibility.
"We're gonna go stretch!" Pima told him very enthusiastically, as she raised a leg up into a standing split with her knee practically by her shoulder. "You're gonna learn to do this! Fun, right?"
Zuko's expression fell. He was young and was already flexible – but a little more wouldn't hurt.
She then released her foot into an arc of flames, showing off just a smidge.
"So, then…let's start."
After a few rounds of stretching and various katas, she was sweaty and gross.
'Go time.' Pima signed, and an exhausted Zuko limped after her.
'Time to go,' he corrected tiredly.
Dropping Zuko off at his temporary house with Iroh, Pima grinned and ruffled Zuko's hair with both hands, making his hair especially messy.
Friendly-teasing Zuko in small ways was fun – it took a minute for him to catch on – he clearly wasn't used to people just doing such friendly-casual things. Or having physical contact, really. She pulled away, and stood with her hands behind her back, pretending to look innocent.
The combination of humidity and sweat did absolutely no-one's hair any favors. Zuko's attempt to smooth down his hair just made it frizz even more, and Pima laughed. He scowled at her, but there was no heat behind it.
"Tomorrow then." Pima said with a grin before she skipped off.
When Iroh had some sort of vision from the Spirits that made him have to leave, she and Kojin had an extra room, and Zuko was her precious student anyway. It made sense for him to stay with them.
When Pima checked on Zuko that evening to see if he needed anything, she saw he was holding something in his hand. It had all of his focus whatever it was.
She got his attention by gently tapping on the top of his head – but that resulted in startling him so much he jerked back. It was a good thing he'd been sitting down – so, probably shouldn't do that again. Pima folded her hands together in apology, before sitting next to Zuko on his cot. Sen jumped from Zuko's shoulders and decided her lap was the place to curl up and lie down. Sen pulled at Pima's hand to her cheek and made happy-grumbly noises.
Signing a bit clumsily with one hand, Pima asked, "What do you have? Can I see?"
He hesitated at first, but Zuko slowly held out a small, carved Dragon charm that was painted and polished a beautiful gold and red. It was attached to a red ribbon. There was some kind of mask-looking symbol embroidered onto the ribbon.
'My mom gave it to me when I…' Zuko trailed off, and frowned, brows furrowed. '…I left.' It didn't seem like that was the word he wanted to use. '…wanted me to have it. Said it was important.'
"You must miss her." Pima still had her Mama, and could see her whenever she wished. It was hard for her to imagine one so young having to leave it all behind. It must have been painful for his Mama to let her son go.
Zuko nodded. He looked a bit uneasy before he finally asked her, 'Uncle will come back, right?'
He'd better.
"He promised, didn't he?" Pima then added for reassurance's sake, "Besides, your uncle probably has a few Spirits watching over him since they sent him on this adventure."
The Spirits surely would not give a man such sacred gifts and then send him off into the world without ensuring what safety measures they could offer. Pima didn't want Zuko to start imagining whatever worse-case scenarios he could possibly come up with on his own. A kid's worried mind could go off into some pretty scary places.
Zuko at least, looked more at ease.
Pima had been in her late-teenage years when she suspected that something was wrong with her. Her womanhood never came. Pima remembered so vividly a Healer with white-golden-glowing-fire hands running across her belly.
"I'm sorry." The Healer had been regretful. "I cannot restore anything if there is nothing to restore."
Disappointment, shame, and guilt was what she felt. As her parents' only child, she believed that it was her duty to continue her father's legacy. But what she knew was strictly passed on from parent to child – unless the Masters deemed someone outside her family worthy of learning.
Kojin had his own Lost Arts, and Pima was upfront with him when he wanted to court her; she couldn't give him children. She was useless. While there were certainly others who knew the same Arts Pima did, her Papa's legacy – what was essentially like a bloodline, had ended with her.
But Kojin didn't need them, he had siblings who could continue his Mama's legacy. He wanted her.
It was near unheard of for an infertile woman being married – much less the man staying to go ahead and marry her. People gossiped and gave caustic comments disguised as helpful advice. Called Kojin a fool, and questioned his motives like he'd had something to hide.
She was grateful for Kojin's love, and loved him even more for it.
Continuing the legacy of her forefathers was still such a valuable, important thing. It was a rite of passage. She didn't want the techniques long-passed down to end with her. So Pima begged Agni and Svāhā; and the Masters, that if they allowed it, she could pass on her Papa's legacy.
Then one day, Iroh returned to the ruins with Zuko. And Master Ran extended her Blessing; granting Pima a student, and he would continue her legacy. Her parents understood, and did not mind that an outsider would be learning from her. Mama believed that the Spirits must have great plans in store bringing Zuko into their lives. Papa was overjoyed and proud.
So, here she was.
Pima smiled upon seeing Kojin sitting with Zuko at their table.
They both were drawing something with charcoal.
Pima carefully tapped the edge of Zuko's scroll with a finger to get his attention.
"What are you drawing?"
'Turtleducks,' Zuko replied, and gave much-too-much focus on what was a simple doodle. He over-applied himself with everything he did, Pima noticed. Like whatever he presented had to be the best the first time around. He was just a child; he should be able to just loosen up and not worry about perfection.
"It's a star-nosed-mole-octopus," Kojin explained his drawing. It was a longish shape from above, with tentacles and a nose – but it was impossible to tell which side was which.
Zuko frowned at it for several seconds. 'Which side is the front?'
Kojin scoffed. "Obviously this one," his indication was purposefully unclear.
'Why does it have wings?'
"Creative liberty."
'They don't have that many tentacles.' Zuko frowned, giving Kojin a rather judgmental look.
Kojin smirked, letting the boy know that he was teasing.
Zuko huffed.
Zuko was openly staring at her and Kojin, his brow furrowed. Like he was looking at a particularly tough puzzle.
Pima giggled at the perplexed expression on his face. Kojin hid his own amusement behind a cough.
"What's wrong?" Pima asked as she signed, very ready to friendly-tease Zuko. Getting him to blush and be flustered was fun, and the resulting pout was cute.
Zuko's expression looked a bit confused as he shrugged. He was obviously trying to figure out how to explain whatever was going through his head. He scowled even more, and made sort of grunting-huffing noises through his nose. He noticeably had some sort of problem – and he seemed frustrated not being able to express himself.
Zuko pretty much did a version of hemming and hawing – he would start to sign, but stop. This repeated itself a few times.
Kojin reached forward and gave Zuko's cheek a gentle pinch-and-pull.
"Focus, kid." Kojin said.
Zuko nodded and scowled even more, and then sighed loudly.
'You don't have to say directly.' Kojin signed, 'but…try to say what's wrong in small bits.'
'My parents aren't like you.' Zuko finally signed after several minutes, and Pima's smile fell. As did Kojin's.
They both shared a look.
"What do you mean?" Kojin asked carefully.
'You're…always together. Even after a fight? You're just together all the time.' He pointed at Kojin, 'You don't get angry and scary.' Pointing to her, 'You don't look sad all the time, you just…' Zuko shrugged helplessly again. 'You're different. You both…smile and hug way too much.'
It was a funny-yet-not statement.
This was a bit…uncomfortable. As in…they were unwittingly learning something deeply personal about Zuko's parents; that considering who they were, all those problems were likely kept strictly behind several locked-tight closed doors.
Which would explain a few things like Zuko's expression whenever he watched her and Kojin simply being together.
"We love each other." Pima said, but there was so much more to it than that.
Pima didn't really know how to explain the deeply complicated things about relationships to Zuko, when his knowledge was so limited. For Agni's sake, he didn't even know how to phrase his question about why two married people would be happy being married.
"When you fight to win in a relationship, you always lose. Terribly." Pima said, "You fight for each other."
"Well, we just – we always talk to each other." Kojin said, fumbling a little. "Er…don't let Agni rest on your anger."
Zuko made a face at both of them, like they'd said something absurdly weird. They probably had. He looked a bit unsure, as if he were still trying to put pieces of an extremely complicated puzzle together that was slowly increasing in its pieces.
After a few more seconds of staring at them both, Zuko rolled his eyes. 'Do you really have to use proverbs to explain? Why can't you just say it?'
What they told him probably didn't fully explain what he wanted to know.
"Hey, our proverbs are awesome." Kojin responded.
0000000
Today, Kojin was getting into what he considered to be any proper Fire Nation child's education. Zuko subtly rolled his eyes as Kojin told him this. He didn't call Zuko out on that, though.
Kojin practically complained to absolutely no-one that Zuko was only really knew about Agni, but not everything he entailed. Kojin muttered under his breath about Zuko's education. Why weren't they teaching the kid – or maybe it even included the Fire children outside of the Ruins – about the other Great Spirits?
Kojin was going to teach him about the other Great Spirits of the other three Nations – and Zuko absolutely absorbed stories about the Spirits, he asked questions, and lots of them. It was a good thing that Zuko was so curious and willing to learn, at least.
There was learning about Agni, of course. His wife, Svāhā, who was the Mother of Dragons and the Spirit of Harvest. There was their Children; Agni's Sister, Tui. The Moon being Agni's Sister wasn't something anyone had ever told Zuko before.
Agni, Tui, and La all shared a unique balance. This was basic knowledge, and was among the first things Kojin had learned. Why hadn't this been taught to the kid, early on?
There were the Mountain Brothers, Shangti and Yu-Huang; both of which looked like badger-moles, but they had a sort of mystical wildness to them.
There were also the numerous Children the Spirits produced; each having some kind of role in the world; be it for good or for evil.
'How do Spirits have kids?'
"No-one really knows." Kojin replied with a shrug. He paused for a moment, trying to think of exactly how to sign what he was saying. "I guess they just come into being. The two Spirits can come together to make something else. Sometimes, a Great Spirit is powerful enough they can just create life on their own if they think there's a need for it."
'Do all the Great Spirits have kids?'
"Not all of them, but many do."
00000
Learning about the other Spirits made Zuko feel like that time when he'd been sneaking around with Azula. Though, there was no worry about being caught here. Father wasn't there to tell them 'no'.
Father hadn't wanted Toshio to teach Zuko about the other Nations' Spirits. Not much, anyway. They were the Spirits of lesser people who didn't know any better.
Moving on, there was the Lion-Horse Jiǎo of the Four Winds who represented earthly knowledge and heavenly wisdom. He had looked upon the world and saw a group of people who sought peace, knowledge, and wisdom. He admired these traits, and so gifted them the Wind, so that they could travel freely around the world; always learning and sharing knowledge.
There were words that didn't make sense to Zuko at times. Kojin explained what they meant.
Zuko furrowed his brow as he read about Jiǎo. Looking at the illustration, the Spirit didn't really look anything like a Spirit that would lead an army. The illustration made his expression look friendly and peaceful. This Spirit wore robes that flowed around it; not armor.
When he started reading about the Air Nomads, Zuko gradually became more and more confused. What was written here conflicted with what he'd been taught.
'Didn't they have an army?' Zuko asked.
"…Who had an army?"
'The Air Army.'
"Zuko…they…" Kojin pressed his lips together, a bit tight. "Look. The Air Nomads didn't have an army. They had weapons, yes. They used what complimented their Bending. But they were nomads. They had their temples, but they mostly just traveled and explored the world. There was no need for an army."
That…didn't really make sense. Zuko briefly recalled some of what he'd read from one of his schoolbooks. That had to be wrong.
'Didn't they steal from people?' Zuko asked. 'They were always taking and taking. So Fire Lord S-O-Z-I-N had to stop them before they made everyone else starve.'
Kojin was gaping at him now. "What? You…" Kojin pressed a hand to his mouth, looking really uncomfortable. Finally, he pulled his hand away. "That's what you…you were taught?"
He muttered something, but Zuko didn't catch what he said. Kojin shook his head, and he didn't look happy.
"Look. Like I said. Uh, they wandered through the world, always learning and sharing their teachings. Anything Spirit related, the Air Nomads were the people to go to. They took donations, but they always worked for whatever they were given. They had things to trade. They didn't just take from people."
But… Great-Grandfather stopped the… He'd stopped them spreading and stealing. Great-Grandfather was supposed to be a hero for stopping them.
Wasn't he?
It was an uncomfortable thought that made Zuko's skin scrawl. He didn't like thinking about it. And Kojin was giving him a look that Zuko couldn't figure out.
That train of thought thankfully was interrupted when Pima came into the kitchen just then, and got Zuko's attention by waving as she happily announced, "I'm gonna show you how to make pottery, today."
It was a welcome distraction.
Pima took Zuko to the artisans' section. She explained that people here made things like weapons, pottery, and jewelry – by using their firebending.
'Look here,' Pima pointed out a ceramic vase. It was beautifully painted, though Zuko didn't know why Pima would show him such a thing. It was just a vase. 'Now, look at this one.'
This ceramic vase looked different, somehow. There was a unique glow about it that shined even through the paint. Pima directed his attention to a few glass figurines of Dragons and horse-cats that seemed to have a fiery glow to them. It was almost like they were alive – and Zuko reached out with his Flame – and felt – it was as if there was an actual flame housed within the delicate glass.
There was a joy and a gentleness to the figurines. A sense of freedom.
"These were made by people who have been Blessed by the Masters – intent matters." Pima signed and spoke. Her signing was getting much better. "If these statues felt sad or angry, then they'd have to be melted down, destroyed and never found. It could bring a very nasty-bad omen on someone's home if they took in something like that."
Pima nodded towards a blacksmith. "The same goes for weapons. If someone is angry while making a weapon, they could cause the wielder to attract a Dark Spirit. Become possessed. That's why someone must have a certain…" Pima waved her hands a bit. '…calmness.'
"The firebenders literally put a piece of themselves – their very life into their art. They put whatever they are feeling into their work."
Smiling, she added, 'Isn't it nice people can put such wonderful feelings into something that can make others so happy and peaceful?'
That was always a nice feeling, Zuko agreed.
Her friend allowed them to use his kiln to make pottery. It was certainly about learning control with his flames, but it was fun.
Zuko didn't even care that his small pot cracked and broke beyond repair.
Sen was jumping around, and Zuko had to untangle her leash as it wrapped around his arm and waist. Because she had a tendency to shove her way into things, she couldn't have the same freedoms she usually did. No-one wanted Sen to start sampling the crops – which she would if given the opportunity.
Pima showed Zuko some of the plants that Kojin was growing in their garden, and the differences in the dirt.
'Firebending can help plants grow?'
Kojin smiled proudly and nodded, as he ran a golden-yellow glowing hand through the dirt.
Zuko watched wide-eyed as Kojin gently ran his hand along a vine, and buds slowly appeared.
"Yep! Firebenders have a way of making the dirt…healthy. Volcano dirt is different. Too bad there aren't any Earthbenders here…it would make things even more impressive."
Zuko ran his hand through the volcano dirt, and picked up a handful. He let it run out between his fingers. Pima explained that the vegetables and herbs grown here were different in richness and taste; because the farmers applied their firebending to it. They gave people more energy and made them feel fuller for much longer, or something like that. Medicinal herbs were also even more effective in their uses.
"The Sun helps plants grow. This is a process that takes time and lots of patience." Kojin easily explained. 'Too much, it will wither and die, or burn.'
'Can I learn to do that, too?' Zuko asked.
'Afraid not,' Kojin shook his head, looking apologetic. He signed and spoke. "You didn't receive the Blessing of learning under me. People need to have a certain attitude when it comes to sharing their Inner Fire. Arts connected to things like healing and creating are different than attack Arts because they carry…' Kojin finger-spelled 'I-N-F-L-U-E-N-C-E.'
"It means having an impact – an effect."
Kojin gently ran his hand along a budding vine, and flowers slowly bloomed. Not fully, but they would very soon.
"If I was upset or angry while I tended to the harvest, I could cause the fruit to rot because my Inner Fire isn't at peace. It could spread to the other crops. Healing also takes a special kind of focus. A person could cause serious damage if they didn't heal someone correctly.
That's why the Arts connected to such things can only be taught with a Blessing from the Masters, and never passed down in families like the attack Arts."
"The Master can see deep, deep down in a person's heart," Pima said, giving Zuko's chest a small poke. "They can see what a person refuses to admit about themselves. They can tell if a person would abuse the power given to them."
While Zuko was certainly happy that he was finally learning firebending, and was actually enjoying it… He'd like to be able to heal, too. But Master Ran didn't seem to think so.
'…Does that mean there's something wrong with me?'
"No, kid. Absolutely not!" Kojin said.
Pima grabbed Zuko into a tight hug. Was she speaking? She pulled away and looked teary-eyed.
"Don't ever think that. There's nothing wrong with you." Pima gripped his hands in hers for a moment before she let go and signed, 'Master Ran sees you as someone who is strong enough to protect others. The honorable power to protect those you love is a wonderful thing.'
Zuko huffed in his disappointment, and smiled a little. Still. He was enjoying himself.
The power to protect people he loved…he thought of Mother, Azula, and Uncle; and protecting them from…
Father was still a terrifying figure, and Zuko wasn't supposed to think of protecting them from him. That was a traitorous thought. It was Father's job to…
Kojin placed a bright red fire-berry in his hand. Thankfully distracting him from his thoughts.
It was the juiciest thing Zuko had ever tasted – and the flavor was so fresh. When he'd eaten these back at the palace, they'd still been juicy, but a lot of the spicy freshness had been lost.
Everything the couple told him was so interesting and exciting. He doodled shapes on the ground.
'Do the other Elements have Lost Arts too?' he wondered. 'Because K-O-J-I-N said…Earthbenders could make stuff grow too.'
'They do. My grandma once told me that when Earthbenders and Firebenders who used their Lost Arts to work together to create and grow things. So it was even better. They could grow entire forests!' Pima spread out her arms, to emphasize it. 'Imagine that! A huge, several-years' worth of forest grown overnight!'
Zuko wished he could see something like an entire forest grow.
'But Agni does like to show off quite a bit,' she laughed as she signed. 'He's a very,' she emphasized, 'prideful Spirit. He found any and every way Fire could be used, and just,' Pima gave a wide wave of her hand, 'basically said to the world, 'look at my Blessed and see what they can do.' His Daughter Chantico, was given to us just so we could show off his Blessing even more.'
"It probably forced the other Great Spirits to step up in giving and expanding their own Gifts." Kojin commented. "Isn't it great he did, though?"
Zuko nodded, agreeing.
He handed Zuko another fire-berry.
He'd already bitten it in half when Sen made herself look pathetic as she laid down and stared at Zuko with big eyes. It made him feel guilty he'd already had a fire-berry and she didn't. So he gave her the rest of the fire-berry. Sen chewed very enthusiastically.
Back at the…palace, when Zuko was learning under Hori, and everyone else he'd known back then – always emphasized Fire was about power, and that was it, it seemed.
In vast contrast, Pima and Kojin talked about Fire like it was wonderful and exciting. The way he'd originally been taught was so…limiting. Dare he think it – Sozin's Style was nothing; it was way too simple.
Which was the thought of someone decidedly not loyal to the Fire Lord. Why would someone want to not be able to do these things? He kept that thought to himself.
Zuko followed Pima to one of the other houses.
"You'll like my friend Yong-Am," Pima told him, quickly finger-spelling the name, "and her niece, Hana. They help with the harvest festival, but this year is special, because there's a big play. So things are lots of crazy-busy."
A play? He wondered if he'd at least get to see it. He'd missed going to them.
Pima didn't explain what she meant by things being so busy, because they stopped outside of a house where Pima put a hand up to her mouth and said something. Up above them, a woman leaned over the side of the roof and waved them up.
On the roof were several women – all surrounding an older girl who was standing on a stool or something as they worked on her clothes.
There were also a boy and girl who both looked to be a year or two older than Zuko. They both sat off to the side, watching a few people paint and decorate several masks.
The woman who had waved them up smiled at them from over her shoulder, saying, "-ah***** Pima, sorry about ****, you know?"
Pima nodded, and signed, "Yeah, I understand."
"This is your student, huh?"
"Zuko." Pima quickly introduced them, "And this is Yong-Am, my bestest friend," finger-spelling one woman's name. Wait… 'bestest' wasn't a word, was it? Pima didn't even sign it. "This is her niece, Hana. And Hana's friend, Ryu."
The two kids waved at him.
He felt somewhat nervous. Other than Azula, he'd never really been around anyone else his age before. Zuko shyly waved back.
Yong-Am was sitting at the feet of the older girl, sewing extra material to an elaborately decorated skirt with the help another woman.
Pima proudly signed as she announced, "This is my cute student, Zuko."
The others all greeted him and smiled, some of them saying something – but Zuko focused back on Pima.
Pima signed, "This is Han-Yi, the Chief's wife, and Kaori, their daughter." Kaori was the girl wearing the fancy clothing.
Kaori nodded and was saying, "You have no idea. It's-****"
Zuko missed whatever she was saying as he gave one of the polite bows he'd been taught to do with royalty. He hated missing bits of the conversation, but this was always required. Why wasn't Pima-?
Pima tapped his arm. She smiled gently. "No need for that, it's okay. This is just casual."
So…how did people treat royalty here? The Chief's wife and daughter were at least like the Fire Lady and a princess, weren't they? No-one was scolding him or staring at him strangely…
He watched as Yong-Am adjusted the skirt around Kaori's hips, and Yong-Am said something. Pima then stood up to help the other women hold the material. It had…beads and tassels sewn in elaborate patterns and folds. The mother helped pin the material in place.
Kaori smiled at him. She stood with her arms spread out, letting the sunlight hit the shiny beads on her decorated sleeves.
She said something, and Pima signed as she motioned to the skirt. "What do you think?"
He smiled and signed, 'Pretty.'
Kaori looked at Pima, and then grinned wide at Zuko. "Thanks!"
Pima signed, "Oh, I almost forgot – Kaori is playing Svāhā. When the Chief's daughter – or the eldest daughter turns seventeen, there's a play…" Pima waved her hands a bit, as if looking for the right words. "It's a…big honor for her. To remember Svāhā and the love and loyalty to her people."
Hana then came over to Zuko and said without any context, "I'm playing the ce*******ums."
Zuko glanced at Pima for clarification.
'She plays the drums,' Pima helpfully clarified.
The women doing stuff with the clothing were talking about something. Zuko caught none of it – which was mildly annoying. He knew he couldn't exactly expect Pima to tell him everything, but – that train of thought was cut off when Hana took his hand.
"Wanna see the masks?"
The man who was working on them said something.
"We know, we won't." Hana replied.
There were eight masks set off to the side. They were all elaborately decorated in various ways, except for one. It was plainer-looking, but still beautiful. Zuko had to hold onto Sen because she kept squirming and trying to reach towards some of the shiny stones the man was using to decorate a mask. Maybe he should just keep that makeshift leash on her outside of the house.
Hana spoke a bit slowly, which was much better than when she first spoke to him.
"These are…Svāhā's faces." Hana shrugged. "Um. Did you know it's bad luck to imitate a Spirit? That's why we use the masks. Ha***"
He didn't know much about imitating Spirits. And did Svāhā have a bunch of faces? He didn't remember the illustration of her having so many.
His confusion was clearly evident, because Hana looked at him and laughed, then stopped.
"You do know who Svāhā is, right?" Ryu asked.
Zuko waved his hand back and forth, 'A little.' He fumbled with Sen again, and he gave the back of her neck a quick pull. Sen quit trying to escape and climbed on his shoulder and nipped his ear, which was probably her way of complaining.
The two kids looked equally amused and fascinated.
He pointed at the masks, trying to figure out how to ask why there were so many. Hana and Ryu both shared a glance then looked back at him.
Ryu said something to Hana, and she nodded.
Hana held up a finger telling him to wait, and disappeared into the house for a few moments. She came back with a slate and some pencils and handed them to Zuko. She also handed a pencil to Ryu while she also had her own.
They sat off to the side on the floor.
Zuko wrote down his question.
"Why are there so many faces for Svāhā?"
The two read what he'd written, and Ryu wrote,
'Sól, Sōma, Ṭi'u, Vōna , Thonglun, Baliga, Dosei'
…The days of the week?
Hana then wrote on the scroll,
'These are the names Svāhā used when she talked to Agni. She approached him seven times. Then he married her.'
Ryu then pointed to the masks, telling Zuko which day a mask represented. He seemed very proud that he knew that.
'Why did she use different names? Why couldn't she just talk to Agni as herself? Why did he marry her? What made her so special?'
Hana read what Zuko wrote, and responded,
'Because Agni didn't really understand Humans. He would have been insulted. It's a long story. The play explains it.'
Zuko glanced back at the others, somewhat hoping Pima could help explain things better, but they all were looking at a different outfit.
He turned back to Hana when she tapped his knee.
She spoke a little too fast, "Hey, wanna come seemdums?"
Her words blended together. Again, Zuko glanced at Pima for an explanation, but she just nodded and smiled. "Go ahead."
Zuko was then pulled into the house. Ryu followed after them, carrying the slate and pencils.
Hana was speaking, but she wasn't exactly facing Zuko. There was something about "clothing" and "boring".
Hana led Zuko to what was her bedroom – and there was a drum.
"-so. It's a big deal, yanno."
Hana let go of Zuko and picked up a pair of drum sticks.
Ryu held the slate up to Zuko.
'She just likes showing off.'
Zuko just nodded, like he knew what was going on.
Hana beat the drum a few times, and Zuko placed his hand on the side, feeling the vibrations. He recognized the pattern – this was played when he and Uncle were climbing up the stairs to meet the Masters.
He was certainly excited that he knew it – and he grinned. He signed, 'Dragon.'
Hana stopped playing and looked at him. "What's that?"
Ryu handed the slate to Zuko, and he wrote out the character for 'dragon', then signed the word again. He even exaggerated the movement a bit.
Ryu copied the sign. "That's kinda cool…"
Hana then began playing a different pattern, and Zuko also recognized this one. It was the beat that played when the Sun Warriors were passing around the giant flame in the training yard.
Hana played a few more songs? Was that what he could call them? There was definitely a clear, different pattern to the beats. She also handed Zuko the drumsticks and let him hit the drum a few times, though…he probably didn't actually play anything. Hana did take the drumsticks away briefly to show him a few actual songs so he wasn't randomly hitting the drum.
"Show us a few signs." Hana said after a bit.
Ryu elbowed her and said something, but his mouth movements weren't clear. He motioned towards Zuko very pointedly, and Hana rolled her eyes.
"Fine. Zuko. Will you please show us a few signs?"
She asked how to spell her name and Ryu's, and then his, and then was pointing to various things around her room. Hana pulled Zuko with her into the kitchen and had him show her the signs for things in there, too.
Did she really have to drag him everywhere?
Ryu then suggested that they play a game.
They showed Zuko how to play some sort of collecting marbles game. Sen ended up stealing some of the marbles, and Hana pouted because it had been her growing stash that Sen had chosen to loot from.
Hana and Ryu had something of an argument about her not actually losing? Or winning? Zuko sat uncomfortably as the two argued, and pointed at him and then Sen at times. All he could really do was watch them.
Hana slapped the table. "Zuko, I won! Tell Ryu I won! Just because I lost ******f my marbles doesn't mean I ******-ee lost them!"
"**** can't tell you that!" Ryu argued. "You didn't ***** so that's ******!"
"Your ferret-fox stallfarme, and you lost to Ryu anyway!" Hana was pointing at Sen now. She was glaring at him. "So you *******!"
…
Zuko had no idea what they wanted him to do. He shrugged and shook his head.
Ryu thankfully retrieved the slate and handed it to Zuko. Instead, Hana grabbed it and the strokes of her characters were written with such ferocity that it was an amazing feat that nothing sparked.
'I may have lost the marbles I collected but I didn't lose them to ANYONE IN the game. The ferret-fox took them AFTER I collected them. It was YOUR ferret-fox so Zuko has to decide if I won. WHICH I DID. No dumb rules about lost marbles and them not counting after they were collected!'
Ryu now grabbed the slate once Zuko looked up from it, erased what Hana had written with a swipe of his hand, and glared at her. He wrote down a response.
'She lost the marbles so they shouldn't count because they aren't in her stash'
Zuko had never had to settle an argument between two people before. He'd never even played this game before.
Well…if Hana would have won, and it maybe was his fault that Sen took the marbles. He pointed at Hana.
She cheered. "Suck on that, Ryu!"
Ryu threw his hands up.
What exactly was Ryu supposed to suck on?
Zuko didn't get a chance to ask, because both Ryu and Hana then decided that they should play outside. They led Zuko a short distance away to a small yard. There was a ball and two make-shift boxes at opposite ends of the yard.
Again, this was a game that had to be explained to him – but thankfully, the rules were easy enough. Both Hana and Ryu kept sharing some sort of look between them as Ryu told him how to play.
Since they had an uneven number of players, it was a "free for all" as Ryu put it.
It was kicking the ball and trying to get around the other person and getting the ball to the goal, which seemed easy enough. They played some variations of the game, which was fun. Again, Hana and Ryu got into an argument about…lines? Stepping?
Ryu was pointing at the ground, and stomping on it.
Hana kept sliding her feet around and her movements were all over the place.
They both looked at him demanding, "Well?"
…
Ryu sloppily signed as he spoke, "Hana stepped out. You saw her, right?"
Maybe? He just agreed with Ryu to get them both to stop arguing. Plus, if both had a win on their side, there'd be less of a chance for their arguing to get bigger.
"Fine." Hana signed as well, looking particularly sarcastic.
They played another round with the ball. Sen also got involved by pushing the ball around and trying to run with it. Trying to catch Sen became a whole new game.
The sun was low in the sky when both Ryu and Hana looked in the same direction at something.
"Auntie's calling." Hana said.
"Yeah, so's my dad." Ryu said.
The three made their way back to the house.
Pima beamed at him. 'You're absolutely filthy.'
She was smiling, so she wasn't angry?
Pima turned to look at Hana. She then signed,
"Do you want to play with Hana and Ryu again?'
Zuko nodded. Getting to finally be able to play with other kids was fun.
The two said their goodbyes, and Pima and Zuko started walking home. He was exhausted. This felt just like after a day of training.
As they were walking home, Pima asked, "Did you have fun?"
'Yes. They're nice. But…they kept arguing. Hana's bossy. Ryu kept telling me things he knows.'
Pima just laughed and ruffled his hair.
He then asked something that he'd been curious about much earlier.
'Does the Chief's daughter always play Svāhā?'
Pima tilted her head, briefly. "Yeah. The Chief's first daughter does, when she turns seventeen. It's part of why this year is so busy and important. Kaori's taking on a duty to her people, just like Svāhā. There's a ritual…"
Pima stopped walking, as did Zuko.
"The Chief will give her to Agni, as a symbol. Kaori's parents and the Masters will bless her. She'll be sort of like a… Priestess, serving the Masters and Spirits." She explained. "Her role is important, and not one to be jealous of. She's taking on a lot of responsibility."
Pima further explained that Kaori would be a spiritual advisor to her people, maintain the Shrines, and she had several more duties that honestly seemed like tasks only a servant would do.
It was so different to what he'd been taught. The people were to serve the members of the Royal Family, not the other way around. A prince or princess didn't serve anyone.
The Sun Warriors were strange.
But Zuko had to admit that there wasn't any uneasiness with Chief Kaji and his family. People were able to be casual with them. And the Chief had gone out of his way to talk to Zuko.
He couldn't really imagine Grandfather doing that. Grandfather had never gone out of his way to talk to Zuko, ever – even before he was flawed.
It had never been that much of a concern for Zuko to go off by himself. He'd done it several times before. He enjoyed exploring various areas of the ruins and mountains.
Zuko was looking at one of the carvings on the wall in front of him, when he noticed movement out of the corner of his eye. He glanced over and saw a boy who had to be a few years older than he was. The boy said something nonsensical, maybe? Was he actually saying words? He smiled – but his smile was not – Zuko didn't like it.
Sen's tail started thrashing out of the corner of his eye –
Suddenly, Zuko couldn't see when something slipped over his eyes. He was grabbed from behind on his shoulder, and he lashed out – panicked and confused.
Someone punched his face before he was shoved to the ground, and Zuko kicked out with a plume of flames. He felt his leg connect. There was the smell of something burning, but it wasn't him – he wasn't the one burning – Zuko began to panic with quick, tight breaths because he knew that scent – Sen.
What happened to Sen?
There was a long pause. What was going on? Did they leave?
Zuko was pulled up by his arm non-too delicately, and the blindfold was ripped off. Sen had red dripping from her mouth and red dotted her white fur, and she'd been burned. A guy that Zuko didn't recognize was holding onto her as she snarled and writhed, trying to get to whatever held her ire.
Jugo – the one Sen had bitten weeks earlier – was there, gripping the two boys by their ears. One boy was holding a hand against the side of his face where blood was seeping through. He also had several bloody scratches going down his torso. The other – the one that Zuko had seen first, had a bloody gash on his leg and a small burn.
Zuko was feeling a bit too panicked to even really register the situation.
Jugo was clearly yelling at both of them, but Zuko wasn't paying any attention to that.
The guy holding onto Zuko – from his similarities to Jugo, they had to be brothers.
Jugo said something else, finished by a fierce nod of his head. Jugo refused to let the two boys go. He practically dragged them by their ears, and he said something to his brother as he moved. And then all of them were walking, with the brother leading the way as he held onto Zuko.
He passed Sen over into Zuko's arms. Zuko held onto the ferret-fox tightly, and Sen seemed to sense his panic and unease. She nestled against him.
They went to Pima and Kojin's. When had they arrived?
The couple took one look at them, and quickly pulled Zuko in. Away from the boys. He was thankful and relieved that they were so far away.
Jugo was talking, but –
Pima was saying something – who was she talking to? Pima practically ran out the door.
Then Kojin sat Zuko down in the kitchen. When had they…?
Kojin put his hands on Zuko's arms, sharing warmth and grounding him.
'Are you alright?' Kojin asked, distracting Zuko from his mind going off into a panic. 'What happened?'
Ashamed, though he didn't know why, Zuko admitted, 'They snuck up behind me.' Zuko shook his head, no. 'One was in front, talking I think. He was saying stuff that didn't make sense. I don't know if he was saying real words. The other came behind.' Shakily, Zuko signed, 'They put a cover over my eyes, and…'
It didn't need to be explained that he'd been…attacked? His flaw had been used against him? Why had they attacked him when he hadn't even done anything?
Kojin inspected his eye, which was already tender. His hand glowed as he ran his thumb over and under Zuko's eye.
'It'll bruise, but won't swell. Thankfully, it looks like nothing serious.' Kojin told him. 'Are you hurt anywhere else?'
He shook his head.
Zuko's fingernails were bloody – none of it was his. He felt a bit mollified because of that.
"I'll look at Sen, now."
Sen had only been slightly burned, thankfully. Just a mild salve for a few days, according to Kojin – and she shouldn't move around too much. Which would be kind of difficult. Her fur would still grow back, fortunately.
He wiped at his eyes, fighting back tears. He shouldn't be crying over something like this. It was dumb. It was weakness, and he didn't want –
Kojin knelt down. "Hey, you're alright, yeah?"
Zuko wiped his face and nodded.
"This wasn't your fault, you know. Those boys are little ***…" Kojin stopped and looked a tiny bit embarrassed. "I mean…they're troublemakers. They'll stay away from you from now on. We'll make sure of it."
Kojin stood up and motioned to him. 'Want to help me make some burn salve for Sen?'
Zuko took him up on the offer.
00000
Pima stormed into the house huffing out steam and spitting sparks nearly an hour or so later.
Kojin was waiting for her. He had tea and alcohol in two different cups, and he offered up both.
Pima took the alcohol and drank it all in one gulp, ignoring the burning sensation in her throat.
"How is he?" Pima asked first thing.
"Just bruised – and a bit shaken, understandably." Kojin shook his head. "But maybe a bit ashamed because of how they jumped him. He went to bed not long ago."
"I messed up." Pima said, as she leaned on the table and covered her face with her hands and fought back her tears. "This is my fault. I taught him a bunch of fancy techniques and how to make a stupid clay pot, but not real combat." Her voice hitched. "All of that's freaking useless if he doesn't know how to actually apply it! I was teaching him to have fun. I'm such an idiot."
Kojin pulled her into a hug and she leaned against him. It was obvious he shared her frustration. "Hey. Hey, Pima. You didn't think you had to."
"But I should have!"
She knew some people were gossiping and whispering and didn't like that an outsider like Zuko was learning something so sacred. But she hadn't thought – she was just grateful for a student, she should have better prepared him for – for what? For people to attack him? To actually sneak up on him like – and blindfold him just to – for what purpose?! It was just –! It accomplished nothing!
Pima imitated a particularly whiny, nasally voice, "'It was just a joke, we didn't think he'd freak out so much!'" Pima scoffed. "Little meanie-bastards! Reiko was furious, not at her brat, oh no! But at Zuko, like it was his fault. Sen bit off half her kid's ear because he attacked Zuko. And the brat got scratched up so badly, and so that means it's Zuko's fault. At least Yura-Min acknowledges her kid did something wrong!"
She scoffed again loudly at the very idea of it.
Jugo and Shinku – who'd been walking by at that moment – had explained what they'd witnessed; that they more than likely were just playing a cruel prank that quickly got out of hand.
"The Masters judged them, just in case." Pima said. Whatever their punishment was, if there even was one; it was between them and the Masters. They hadn't been banished to the Wilds, so maybe it simply was a prank and not done out of jealousy or something.
But Chief Kaji still made it very clear that they were not to go anywhere near Zuko – and Zuko would likely avoid them on his own without having to be told. He plainly said that if anyone retaliated – he'd be far less lenient than the Masters.
"They are just kids after all…" Kojin muttered bitterly.
Pima felt a helpless sort of anger. It was already perfectly handled, she was just thinking of what she would have done had she been angry, rash, and vengeful. It was pointless to think such things and not her place. She let that bit of anger go, and directed it more at herself.
But it was actions like that – what they'd done to Zuko, if they'd done it out of jealousy – they more than likely would never receive the Blessing to learn any of the Lost Arts. Maybe they still had a chance to receive a Blessing if they learned and grew from this.
Pima knew what the attack Arts could do in the hands of a Master. An unbalanced Inner Fire could spread rot and turmoil.
She hated the helplessness she felt. Zuko would leave, someday. He obviously wasn't going to stay here. He had Iroh and a life out there.
"What if…" Pima started, haltingly, looking up at Kojin. "What if Zuko's out there in the world and something like this happens again? Someone realizes he can't hear them – and – they…use that against him?"
She gripped his hand in hers.
All the worst case scenarios flashed through her mind; each getting more bloody and violent than the last, enemies growing in size and number with Zuko always on the losing end crumpled to the ground and not moving. Never getting up again.
Kojin squeezed her hand. He seemed to be able to read her mind. "Then we'll do whatever we can to make sure it doesn't happen again."
The next day, Yong-Am's opinion on the matter was, "Reiko has been letting that boy suckle at her breast since he was a babe, indulging every whim! 'Bout time he realizes there's consequences. Maybe now Reiko will finally let his fruit drop since he's faced the Masters without her hand-holding."
"Yong-Am!" Pima gave a meaningful look towards Zuko, who was looking at a nature book; while Hana muffled her giggles.
"What? It's not like he can hear me." Yong-Am casually gave a lop-sided shrug.
"Still." Pima said, and Yong-Am rolled her eyes.
"Fine. I think he's old enough to know such words, though. Hana does."
"It's not the words, it's the order in which you used them." Pima responded. "Anyway. Iroh didn't say anything about…those terms. He didn't tell us to inform him of such things. It should be up to him to explain, shouldn't it?"
Hana snickered again, and Zuko glanced up at her curiously. He then looked at Pima, obviously wanting an explanation.
"…Later. When you're older." Pima said, feeling a tad guilty. She felt even more so when Zuko scowled at her. Crude phrases probably weren't what Iroh was expecting his beloved nephew to learn.
"I'm gonna go meet Ryu." Hana announced. "Can Zuko come?"
"Ask him." Yong-Am replied.
Hana got Zuko's attention and said bluntly, "I'm gonna go meet Ryu. You're coming too."
Zuko looked blinked. 'I am?'
"Hana, that's not how you should invite people." Yong-Am reprimanded, though it was very half-hearted.
Hana rolled her eyes. "Ugh. Fine. You wanna go see Ryu?"
Zuko glanced at Pima, silently asking for permission.
"You can go, if you want."
Zuko had barely even nodded, before Hana joyfully called out, "Great!" and dragged Zuko out the door with her.
It was so nice that Zuko had friends.
0000000
The weather was really nice today, as they stood in the training yard. Pima's parents, and Kojin were there to help.
For the first few days, Zuko stuck close to Pima and Kojin; probably closer than was actually necessary. He felt a bit nervous being outside away from them. But Hana and Ryu always stuck close, which was a comfort.
"We're going to teach you how to fight," Pima said, signing at the same time.
Kojin had learned his fighting tactics from his father and brothers. He began to carefully explain, while signing.
"Here are the weakest points on a person's body," he motioned to his nose, his chin, his neck, behind his ear, a point just under his chest, "This takes the wind out of them. Hit hard enough, they won't get back up again for a while. Another point is, kidneys. You gotta hit hard and fast when you have the chance."
He pointed to his knee, "You can kick someone's knee out of the socket. It's not a pretty sight."
Kojin certainly knew how to firebend, but it wasn't his only resource. He fought dirty, some would say. He skirted the rules of honorable combat. But that didn't matter. His father didn't believe in holding back or fighting fair just because someone whined about it. They should have been better prepared for someone to fight unconventionally.
His brothers were a testament to that fact. Having four other siblings pretty made a kid have to fight dirty as a rule.
If Zuko would have to learn to fight dirty, then so be it. The world was hardly ever kind to people who were seen as weak. Honor was certainly a good thing to have, but too much of it and a person would be considered a fool who got themselves needlessly killed.
Kojin ran a finger over his knuckles, "This is pretty strong here, but here," he tapped on his fingers between the knuckles and joints, "This is a weak point on the fingers. You angle your hand like this," Kojin positioned the knuckles of his opposite hand against his fingers, "You position it just right, you'll break their fingers if someone tries to punch you. You got it?"
Zuko looked up at Kojin wide-eyed and nodded.
Pima's grin masked everything else, "Break all the bones in their bodies and make 'em burn and bleed, yeah?"
Zuko was admittedly on the small side now, but they could still show him how to move.
Her parents began demonstrating different fighting techniques – grabbing someone's arm and flipping them over the shoulder – getting out of holds to fight back. It was something they would have Zuko practicing again, again, and again. Drilling it into him to have quick reactions without even having to think about it.
Kojin also planned on sparring with Zuko using his swords.
They would eventually practice teaching Zuko how to fight multiple, larger opponents at once. It wasn't a guarantee, Pima was quick to admit that. But he'd sure as hell be able to give anyone a nasty-bloody-fight that thought they could exploit his biggest weakness and make them regret ever even trying.
Zuko was seen as a butterfly-mouse; easy to hunt, and very delicate. He needed to be a badger-scorpion; resilient and dangerous.
00000
Pima didn't tell him much about what they were doing; it was intense training alongside his firebending lessons. His training regimen increased; it seemed like it was constantly changing.
Pima didn't say it was because of what happened; she didn't have to.
He didn't know if it felt better that she didn't say anything. Kojin always rested his hand on Zuko's shoulder whenever they went out of the house and were walking through the residential areas. He always seemed to know when Zuko was feeling anxious.
There were times when Kojin was giving him an odd look; and he couldn't tell what it meant. Even Pima was looking at him at times, and she always masked her worry with a smile, teasing, and messing up his hair.
'Don't go anywhere by yourself.' Kojin told him very seriously, looking uneasy about something. He'd tried hiding it, but it so obviously showed. 'Don't wander out in the Ruins or go into any of the temples.'
The odd warnings felt completely out of nowhere.
It was a relief that Hana and Ryu were there. They were more than happy to drag Zuko out of the house and show him how to play various games. He genuinely had friends after what seemed like so many years.
Zuko's unease melted away as the months passed.
In combination with Pima's firebending lessons and combat training, things in his life seemed like a normal and peaceful routine.
000000
Zuko had been a tad moody for a while. He kept rubbing at his jaw, and he couldn't really chew on one side.
Kojin sympathized with the kid. A loose tooth was never fun.
Kojin offered to help pull it, but Zuko always denied the help. He probably just wanted to be able to pull it himself. A kid kinda did get bragging rights for pulling out their own teeth when the time came.
On a day that they were sparing, Kojin was using a staff and Zuko was using his swords.
As Kojin swung his staff, Zuko went to block. Of all freak accidents to happen, the staff slipped over Zuko's blade – and whacked him in the face.
Zuko fell backwards, mouth completely bloody. He was teary-eyed, but not crying.
"Oh, sweet Agni!" Kojin grabbed up Zuko – he paused to gather his staff and Zuko's swords – and ran back to the house in a panic. He was a terrible teacher. Guilt ate away at him. He'd hit the kid across the mouth! He'd inured Zuko!
"Pima!" Kojin burst into the house, startling her bad enough she yelped and turned around in a firebending-stance, dropping the basket of laundry she was carrying. Her fists were on fire, ready to attack.
She stared wide-eyed at them, and put out the flames. "What happened?"
"I hit him! It was an accident!" Kojin exclaimed. "We need to – you have to help me!"
"Kojin…" Pima started.
"Get me a cloth or something, we have to clean him up and see how bad it is!" Kojin touched Zuko's jaw, and he winced. That was bad. Really bad, it had to be! What if his jaw was cracked? "We need to take him to one of the healers, so-!"
"Kojin!" Pima shouted.
"What?!"
"You can heal."
Oh. Right. Kojin slapped his forehead. He was an idiot, going into such a blind panic.
Zuko made a face as he twisted his mouth. He reached in and – pulled out his tooth. He smiled, looking freakish with all the blood.
The kid could bounce back easily enough. Kojin let out a sigh of relief.
Pima retrieved the earlier requested cloth and handed it to Zuko.
Zuko traded his tooth for the cloth and wiped his face. When he was done, Kojin ran a glowing hand along his jaw just in case.
Pima started getting teary-eyed. "He's growing up!"
"He certainly is," Kojin agreed, as he ruffled Zuko's hair.
Zuko huffed and didn't pull away, resigned to his fate of hair-ruffling.
000000
A play for Harvest
(The Harvest play was finally happening, and it was also the day Kaori would take up her role as Priestess to Svāhā, the Masters, and lead healer. Zuko was clearly excited for the play. Apparently he hadn't been to a play since he'd gotten sick. He sat with Pima and Kojin near the back, and Ryu and his family joined them.
Kojin translated for Zuko, as people in colorful outfits flitted out onto the stage.)
Long ago before Agni and Tui traded places consistently, before bending, before Dragons, it was always cold and dark; never a full, true day. Agni never showed his divine faces for very long as he passed through the land, riding his elephant-goat. The plants grew in abundance wherever his Light touched, but his Light only reached so far.
There were those who were able to live along Agni's path, so they had food in abundance. But there were those who did not have that luxury.
Plants grew, but it was far too slow. All people knew was that Agni's Light helped, but it wasn't enough; even with the water the skies provided. People had fire, except it did not keep their houses warm; the fire's heat was limited to the flame. The fire only provided light and just enough heat for their cook-fires.
As a Spirit, Agni did not really understand that Humans needed important things like warmth and enough food to live.
The people living at the edge of Agni's Light were slowly starving. They might as well have been living in a famine. Not enough food was growing for people and the animals who lived off of the land at the edge of his Light. They were worried that they would all die off before the year's end. People had approached Agni before, trying to appeal to him, but he did not understand what they were asking of him.
Wasn't he gracious enough already to give them fire? Wasn't his Fire enough so that they could have light even in the darkness? So that they could cook their meals? It was insulting to ask, and it seemed that they were ungrateful.
Svāhā was a Human woman desperate to save her people. She was the daughter of the Chief, and so knew how dire their situation truly was. After thinking carefully, Svāhā came up with the plan of how she would appeal to Agni, but her father was strictly against it.
He rightfully worried for her. She was his only precious daughter.
If Svāhā insulted Agni in any way, she would surely be killed as others before her had.
But Svāhā was very shrewd, and she intended to seduce Agni seven times…
(Kojin wondered how he should explain this, 'she S-E-D-U-C-E-D…'
Zuko didn't know what that meant, so Kojin batted his eyelids and signed, 'Hello, Agni. You're so handsome, want to date me?' He made a kissy face at the end.
Ryu and Zuko both muffled their giggling. Kojin grinned at his success of making the kids laugh.
Pima lightly elbowed Kojin and whispered, "Shh! Behave."
Though, she was obviously amused.
Kaori changed her mask and clothing within seconds as she spun in a circle and appeared before Agni.)
When Agni rode through the land on his elephant-goat, spreading his Light, he was stopped by a beautiful maiden he had never seen before.
Svāhā bowed and introduced herself as Sól. She presented Agni simply with a gift of expensive oils and perfumes, she thanked him for his divine Light and left.
With each passing day, Svāhā waited for Agni, wearing a different mask and introduced herself with a different name; praising Agni's beauty and strength. She demanded nothing; and always left some sort of gift tied with an orange ribbon, and with each persona, always left Agni curious and wanting more.
(Zuko watched the play wide-eyed and excitement building.
There was also some sort of fancy-poetry language going on between the two actors that Kojin didn't really have a chance to translate because to translate what was being said literally wouldn't have made much sense. Or it was rather…adult at times, and Zuko probably shouldn't know any of that, yet. When did kids learn about these things? Kojin had been a few years older than Zuko was…
Even using euphemisms, Zuko didn't understand all of the words. He would have had to pause to explain what the actors meant, and that meant missing out on the rest of the play. The book was much better in his opinion, so that's what he'll be sharing with Zuko.
Pima loved him, but his critique on accuracy was something she gladly skipped out on if she could.)
When Svāhā approached Agni the eighth time and revealed herself by bowing and placing each of the seven masks in front of him.
Svaha explained why she had done everything; how her people were starving, and begged Agni to help her people. She offered up her life as payment, if only Agni would spread his Light to them as well.
Instead of being angry, Agni was impressed by her persistence and cunning, and loyalty for her people. Agni married her and made Svāhā a Great Spirit, and the Sun rose for the first time. His Light and and his warmth spread throughout the land. The world became warm and life flourished like never before, as day and night started trading places.
Life truly flourished across the land.
The Dragons were birthed from their union, symbolizing a promise; strength; and comfort. Agni further Blessed Svāhā's people, by allowing them to learn firebending from the Dragons so that they would always carry his warmth with them.
At the time of Harvest was when the people thanked Svāhā, and burned offerings of their harvest to give back to her. This was the feast for her table.
Agni and Svāhā had four Children; their Daughters, Agneya, Chantico; and their Sons, Kumara, Vinayaka, who all serve various important purposes for Agni's Blessed. Their Children are considered Sacred Gifts to his Blessed and the world.
Agneya, represented hearth fires, love and warmth; Chantico was gifted to amplify Firebenders' power so that they could celebrate Agni's Gift; Kumara represented the heart of craftsmanship; Vinayaka represented passion, justice and warfare.
('V-I-N-A-Y-A-K-A is the volcano where we live. He allows us to live in his belly.' Ryu told Zuko.)
The play was finished now, and people began beating on the drums, and Zuko was excited as he told Kojin that he could feel the – it took Kojin a moment to understand that he was talking about the vibrations. They could see Hana from where they were sitting. She looked very serious as she played her drum.
Dancers came out and performed a choreographed variation of the Dancing Dragon; which legend told that Svāhā had danced for Agni.
After that was over, the Chief then came out onto the stage, and began talking about their bountiful harvest, and thanked the Spirits for their mercy, protection, and guidance.
Kaori came out wearing an elaborately decorated robe. She then bowed in front of Chief Kaji.
'He's making a speech about how she will serve her people,' Kojin explained.
Chief Kaji then poured a special mixture of oils over Kaori's head. It wasn't very much; just a small cup's worth.
'The oils are to cleanse her, and wash away…evil and disease. To get rid of any possible Dark Spirits that shouldn't be there.'
She went through a process of bowing several times, and then her mother placed a headpiece that was based on the Dragons on her head. The Masters circled overhead, and then landed in front of her. They both reached forward with their whiskers and touched Kaori's forehead for several minutes.
Kaori bowed to them as well when they separated.
Two people brought forward cow-pigs decorated with blooming flowers.
Zuko's eyes widened and his jaw dropped in shock – as Kaori took a large knife that had clearly been crafted by someone with the Masters' Blessing from how it shined even in the torchlight; and cut the throats of both animals. It was done so quickly and efficiently, any butcher would be proud. She didn't even get any blood on herself.
She then presented the cow-pigs to the Masters.
They blew fire onto the offerings, and ate the cow-pigs in one bite.
The Masters roared, and the people couldn't help but wince from how loud the sound was. It was truly impressive that Kaori didn't even flinch. The Masters took off, and circled overhead a few more times before they flew back to their caves.
Kaori then removed the robe, showing off the tattoos that now decorated her arms, signifying her role. She walked over to a large pit and after a series of movements while the drums beat out a rhythm, she lit the pit on fire. The drumming stopped at the same time, in a dramatic fashion.
"Come forward and offer your prayers and gratitude to Svāhā, for a bountiful harvest." Kaori announced solemnly. She was clearly nervous, but she carried herself very well. "May we continue to prosper in abundance, and always remember to give back a portion of what we've been given."
The people began to toss sacks of grain, fruits, veggies, spices, and bottles of oils into the fire.
The combined scent of their burnt offerings was a pleasant one.
Pima gave Zuko a small bag of wheat that had dried red poppies, and chrysanthemums tied to it with an orange ribbon so he would have something to toss into the fire.
'We're giving back to Svāhā,' Pima explained as she tossed in a small bag of rice with the same flowers tied to it as well, except it also had fire lilies, 'our bounty is a result of her love and sacrifice.'
Red poppies for remembrance and sacrifice, chrysanthemum for harvest, fire lilies that were a sign of Svāhā and Agni's love – and so fire lilies were a wish to bless marriage. All tied together with an orange ribbon for harvest.
'Am I supposed to ask her for something?' Zuko wondered.
Pima got down on one knee so that she was level with Zuko. 'You could ask her for guidance and protection for the people you love.'
Kojin found himself smiling as he observed the exchange. Pima looked exceptionally beautiful in the firelight. The way she focused wholly on Zuko, letting him know he had her full attention.
He frowned a little as he looked at Zuko. He was just a child – why would – Kojin took in a deep breath to calm down. Now wasn't the time to be thinking about such things. The kid would be okay.
Zuko had a thoughtful expression. He gripped the small bag of wheat in his hand as he silently said a prayer. He then tossed the bag into the fire. Kojin briefly wondered what was going through his mind.
The people began chanting Svāhā's Name as they raised their hands skyward.
It was a sacrifice because she never saw her family again, and gave up aspects of her Humanity – and she would never again step foot in the mortal realm. But she showed a Great Spirit how to have compassion.
'They've made the story a lot more dramatic and romantic over the years,' Kojin added. Much of the original story had been lost to time and reinterpretation.
Because of everything going on in this chapter, it turned into two so there's no info overload. Several elements of this chapter is slowly setting things up for future events later in the story. ***There will be a quiz.