I'm back with another story, this time taking place after the Kataang wedding fic. I figure it's time we give our married couple their first adventure together, especially one that affects both their careers. My inspiration of this comes from a travel show in Hong Kong, where the host visited the Tibetan Plateau. One episode had the host touring a Tibetan medical facility, and I felt I just had to use this here. It'll be a different style in storytelling, but you'll still get a lot of Kataang goodness, including some slightly NSFW scenes. Enjoy the show!
Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko own Avatar.
To say Katara was having an easy time with this event would be a joke, as she trembled throughout the entire wait. She was currently outside the Dean's Office, waiting for the most senior administrator of the Faculty of Medicine to call her in. She was only months away from graduating with her degree in medicine, in which she could start her residency at the hospital. In fact, that was part of the reason she was visiting the Dean, to make sure that all her credits were accounted for. Everything should go smoothly from here on out, right?
Katara flipped through the pages in her folder and was reminded that it was not that straightforward. Sure, she passed all her courses with ease and had a fairly successful internship over the past year. However, Katara had one final aspect that she had to complete, which was a module involving service at a health provider outside of the United Republic. It was part of the internationalization of Republic City University's program, where modern medicine would meet various traditions across the world. With a number of students in her class already choosing their locations, it somewhat put Katara at a disadvantage.
"Katara Kuruk-Anil, you're next," the secretary called in a monotonous voice. Katara placed her notes back in her folder and slowly got up. She was still getting used to being called this name, even though it was a year after her wedding. Her husband Aang had the surname Anil, but Katara wanted her maiden name as part of her new name. As such, she chose to hyphenate it, meaning she had to submit all sorts of paperwork to various places to confirm the change.
Katara stepped up to the Dean's office door and softly rapped her knuckles on it. Once the Dean beckoned her, the water bender slowly entered. There were two bookcases lined up against the walls on her either side, with a large desk in the middle. The windows were at the back, shining light in from behind the Dean. "I'm glad you see you, Katara," the Dean, an older woman named Rafa, greeted, "Please take a seat."
Katara smiled at Rafa, trying to put on a positive face. Despite knowing that there was nothing negative about this experience, something kept gnawing away at her inside. "So, I'm just here to do a credit check and make sure I meet all my requirements for graduation," she stated with a slight stammer, "And of course, to make sure the name on my degree is correct."
"Yes, I remember that. And like I said to you last year, congratulations on marrying such a wonderful man," Rafa responded, turning to her computer. She quickly typed in Katara's information and pulled out her entire file. "I see that your name is correct, so no need to submit an additional form. You should have 'Katara Kuruk-Anil' on your degree when you graduate."
Katara breathed a small sigh of relief, knowing one item on her list was complete. The next one was regarding the courses she took, especially in determining what field in medicine she would enter. "I know I did all the basic ones, as they are all compulsory," the water bender pointed out, scanning through a list in her folder, "But it's the clinical practice courses that I'm worried about, because I'm not sure if they match up to what I did in my internship."
Rafa typed in some notes again, also moving her mouse and clicking on a couple of files. "I see that your internship at the General Hospital covers a lot of topics mainly dealing with patient recovery, particularly the brain," the older water bender described, scrolling her mouse over the notes, "Is this something you're interested in for your career? I think this is where we have something in common, with our interest in water-based healing."
Katara nodded. "I am interested in recovery processes, especially with head injuries," she explained, "It's why I want your opinion on where I should go to fulfill my final international requirement for my degree. Where should I go to get some knowledge on this?"
Rafa clacked her tongue, one finger tapping on the mouse but not really clicking anything on her screen. The easiest route would be to recommend Katara to go to one of the Water Tribes. Katara had roots in the Southern Water Tribe, which would probably serve her best. If Katara felt it was too far, then she could try the Northern Water Tribe, which was closer to Republic City. Both had water-based healing, which was an important part of the rehabilitation process. While not every physician ordered it, many familiar with it would rely on it.
However, doing some more research of her own, Rafa realized there was another area of medicine that Katara might be interested in. While it was not as prolific in healing and recovery, it had a personal connection to her. And knowing Aang's career path, Rafa believed this was a good opportunity for both Katara and Aang.
Turning back to Katara, Rafa made her bold suggestion. "Have you considered doing the international part of your program at an Air Temple?" she proposed, tapping a finger on her desk, "It's different from your program but still has some similarity to your life."
Katara stuttered, her mouth opening and closing with no words coming out. "Where did that come from?" she murmured, rubbing her forehead anxiously, "I mean, other than what I know from my husband, I'm not sure how Air Nomads view medicine."
Rafa smiled serenely. Turning her computer monitor towards Katara, she beckoned the younger water bender to the screen. "Our faculty actually has agreements with Air Temples that have extensive medical providers," the Dean elaborated, gesturing at the details with the arrow, "One of those is the Southern Air Temple, which has a mix of traditional Air Nomad techniques coupled with modern technologies. It may be something worth looking into."
Katara tapped a finger on her pursed lips. Aang was a frequent visitor to the Southern Air Temple when he was young, and he also took his air bending examination there. While Aang had not been there for a while now, mainly focusing on his career as a diplomat for the last year or so, it would be interesting to take a trip there with him. Besides, Katara was certain that Aang did not visit the medical centre at the temple when he was a kid. Having him see it firsthand now would definitely be a treat for him, even if his interest was not in medicine.
Clearing her throat, Katara tried to clarify what the accommodation would be like if Aang was invited to join. "I was under the impression that my tuition only covers me," she inquired, gesturing at the computer monitor, "If Aang comes along with me, then will the faculty allow that? And if we decide to pay out of pocket, then will the faculty cover at least my portion?"
Rafa rubbed her chin in response. While the faculty did make it clear that even direct family members would only be covered under extraordinary circumstances, there was some flexibility in dealing with this. "I guess you can create your own budget and see if it fits under the usual amounts we allocate to each individual student," Rafa pointed out, "Even when you have placement, you still pay your regular tuition fees, so anything that doesn't break the usual budget for a student doing his or her international component should be fine."
Katara tapped her chin, wondering how she could break this to Aang. He might have to take time off or try to get an assignment to the Southern Air Temple for a short period of time. Moreover, it also meant the couple had to calculate their budget for their time abroad, which would have to be brought back to the faculty for approval. Still, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity, both for her and Aang. At the very least, she should bring it to her husband's attention and see how he felt about such a journey.
Katara and Aang could not take their hands off of each other the second the lights were turned off. After meeting with her dean, Katara went straight home. As luck would have it, her husband Aang also had a long day. After a quick dinner of leftovers and a quick shower for each person, they were ready to get to bed. But even so, they weren't exactly ready to sleep yet, and before long they explored each other's bodies, just like they did when they got married.
"Is this the reason you wanted to get to bed early? You just want to get intimate with me?" Aang asked with a smirk on his face. Despite having their faces mostly shadowed, there was no mistaking each other's intentions. "You know you always have my consent to touch me, even if we're not in bed. How far do you want to take it?"
Katara smirked right back at Aang. Deciding to take initiative, the water bender climbed onto Aang's body and straddled on his pelvis. "Let's start with the usual, shall we?" Katara proposed, slowly unbuttoning her top, "How about you show me your torso?"
Aang smiled back, watching his Sweetie undo her pyjama top. As she placed her hands on his hips, Aang mimicked his wife and undid his top. He then pulled the sides of his pyjama top open, showing Katara his upper body. It was his so-called flasher's pose, where Aang would keep his top on but let Katara see his body. "Do what you want with me, Sweetie," he declared.
Wasting no time, Katara placed her hands on Aang's pectoral muscles and circled them around. Aang's skin was smooth and his pecs were just firm enough for Katara to press on. As Katara explored Aang's body, Aang asked, "So what did happen at your med school today? I recall you meeting with your dean to prepare for graduation."
Katara slowed her touching of Aang's chest. "I did, and we talked about fulfilling the international aspect of my degree," she explained, tracing both her thumbs up and down Aang's sternum, "She proposed a place for me to do that, and I want to run that by you today."
Aang nodded with interest, his hands still holding open his pyjama top. "We kept talking about other stuff during dinner time, and I guess we just got distracted," the air bender replied, "But now that you've got me pinned, you have my undivided attention."
Katara chuckled. "Believe me, there's something a lot more distracting in front of me right now," she retorted, tracing her hands outward towards Aang's ribs, "Either way, the dean wants to recommend the Southern Air Temple as my location for a month."
Aang's mouth shaped itself into a circle at that remark. Not only was this a place where Aang spent some time as a kid, it was also a rather interesting area for Air Nomad medicine. "I don't know much about the medical facilities there, but I've heard interest things about it," the bald young man remarked, "What does the dean plan on having you do there?"
"She wants me to learn about the traditional medical techniques of Air Nomads, but also how some of that gets blended into modern medicine," Katara described. Her hands now brushed across Aang's nipples, and Katara could not help but rub her thumbs over them. "I would love it if you can come along, but I guess that'll depend on your work schedule."
Aang nodded thoughtfully, emitting some soft moans as Katara massaged his nipples. Her hands were like magic to him, and that made Aang grant Katara consent every time she wanted to touch him. "As you know, the Department of Foreign Affairs wants to assign me to other areas," the air bender explained, "It's to gain experience in working with other countries. This includes going to the Air Temples, even though I am ethnically an Air Nomad. I can potentially ask if I can be assigned to the Southern Air Temple, just so I can accompany you."
"Are you willing to do that? Thank you so much, Sweetie!" Katara exclaimed. Pressing her palms on Aang's pecs, she lowered her face onto his and caught his mouth in a fierce kiss. That got Aang to reciprocate immediately, meshing his lips against hers while still awkwardly holding his top open. After a few seconds of face sucking, the water bender pulled back and marvelled at her husband's face. "I still have to work with the Faculty of Medicine to see if we can fit that into my budget, but the second it's approved, I'll let you know."
Aang smiled back at her, but soon felt the tingling sensation from his pecs again. He glanced down and saw that Katara went back to massaging his nipples, gently pinching and pulling on them. "If you're getting tired, then we can switch spots," the air bender suggested, "You spent all this time pleasuring me, so it's only right I pleasure you as well."
Katara shook her head, given she was far from done with Aang. "Is the world's toughest diplomat overwhelmed by a little bit of nipple play?" she teased her husband, really focusing on the two dark brown nubs on Aang's upper body, "There's more from where that came from."
Aang already guessed where Katara was going when he felt her hands moving lower. She now felt out Aang's ribcage, rubbing the lower parts of the front of his ribs. Before she could go further and made Aang lose his mind, Aang tried to eke at least one question in. "What specific parts of Air Nomad medicine are you looking forward to the most?" he asked, feeling Katara's hands resting on his diaphragm, "I don't know much about air being a healing element, so for once I'll have to follow your lead on my own element."
Katara smiled serenely, placing both hands just below the ribs. Aang's breathing caused the diaphragm to move up and down, which was very hypnotic to her. It was part of the physical part of their relationship, something they enjoyed throughout their marriage. As she continued to massage the top part of Aang's midsection, Katara thought about Aang's question. It was true that air was not an element with a lot of healing attributes. Water was the best known one, with water-based healing techniques that Katara herself had learned. Katara was also aware that some fire benders could detect chi paths within the body, although their healing was limited. Katara had not heard of anything similar in air bending before, so this would be new for her.
At the same time, Katara did have a basic understanding of how Air Nomads traditionally viewed medicine. Air Nomads used to believe that illnesses are caused by imbalances in the body, and medicine was supposed to restore balance. They used really unusual ingredients for their medicine, including ones that people would not think to include in everyday medicine. While modern medical knowledge had replaced a lot of the old techniques and ingredients, some were still used as supplements. Katara was definitely interested in seeing how the Southern Air Temple's medical facility balanced the traditional with the modern.
Turning back to her husband, Katara answered his question with a smile. "I think we can learn this together. I'm definitely interested in the medical knowledge, while this is a chance for you to be in touch with your culture. We can get the best of both worlds here, don't you think?"
"Of course, but right now, I want the best of both worlds for something else," Aang stated. Then, before Katara could respond, Aang released his grip from the sides of his pyjama top. He placed them on Katara's ribs and flipped them over in one smoother motion. Now Aang was on top of Katara, while Katara tried to balance her husband above her by pressing her hands on his midriffs. "You can still touch me, but I want my turn now, if you're okay with it."
Katara nodded. "You always have my consent, even though I still say I can pleasure you some more first," the water bender retorted. Before long, Aang cupped his hands over Katara's breasts and slowly kneaded them. He pressed just hard enough onto the bra-covered flesh to stimulate Katara, but not so much that she felt excessive pain. As both sides proceeded with further body exploration, they could only wonder what their adventure would be like.
"You're learning healing in what place now?" Sokka asked with a stumped expression on his face. It was another one of the group's usual gatherings, where they would meet on a regular basis to catch up. This time, Aang and Katara hosted it at their home, and they now all gathered at the dining room table. Katara was about to tell everyone what her latest plan for medical school was, but there was at least one confused recipient of the news. "What's so interesting about medicine at the Southern Air Temple? No offence to Aang, of course!"
"None taken, Sokka," Aang responded, placing the final dish of the night at the centre of the table. As everyone prepared to dig in, Aang sat right across from Sokka with a smile on his face. "In the beginning, I was a bit sceptical too, since I don't know much about air as a healing element. But after talking with Sweetie, I think it's a fantastic idea."
Katara, who sat at Aang's left, couldn't help but smile at that remark. She squeezed his hand under the table, all the while leaning over and kissing him on the cheek. That soon led to another round of lip-locking, with Sokka complaining about oogies again. Before long, the married couple broke loose and glanced at the engaged couple sitting across from them. "You know, if you're visiting Kyoshi Island for a week at around the same time, you're more than welcome to join Aang and me at the Southern Air Temple," Katara proposed.
"I think that's a great idea, and I'm sure Sokka and I will seriously consider it," Suki interjected, cutting off Sokka before the latter could say another word, "After all, I've wanted to visit my ancestral home before marrying Sokka. We have some traditional activities to do there before the wedding can take place, so I'm sure Sokka is more than willing to drop by."
Toph, who set at one end of the table, couldn't help but slug Suki on the shoulder. "While I'm happy you managed to stop Snoozles from whining and all, I do have similar questions for Sugar Queen," the earth bender stated. She turned her body to the right, where Katara was seated in the seat directly adjacent to Toph's. "Katara, what really is Air Nomad medicine all about? Is any of it used in the techniques you learned in med school?"
The water bender snapped her fingers. "Excellent question, and I can show you a bit of background information," Katara replied, stepping away from the dining room table. That gave Aang the opportunity to spoon food items onto both their plates, all the while inviting the others to dig in. Before long, the entire group had their first helpings, while Katara trotted back with an iPad. "Traditional Air Nomad views on medicine are quite different from modern medicine, which I'm studying and will practice very soon. But I did see some similarities between them and I can understand why those techniques are still used today."
Katara clicked on various items, all the while Aang urged her to eat. She managed to shove a couple of spoons of food into her mouth while waiting for the notes to load. "She did a lot of homework on this, and I learned a lot more about my own culture as well," Aang added.
Katara took a quick swig of water before glancing up at the crowd. "The main difference between traditional Air Nomad medicine and modern day medicine is the way they view the cause of an illness," the soon-to-be physician explained, "Air Nomads view illnesses as some sort of imbalance in the body, and curing that requires restoring that balance. This is different from the way I study medicine, because I base it on research and evidence. I diagnose based on what the data tell me, rather than making an overarching assumption that there is an imbalance."
The entire group looked on while Katara swiped at another icon. "But the way Air Nomads view imbalances actually fit into my research as well," Katara continued, "For example, one way they view balance is in the way the body circulates physical substances. This includes blood, oxygen, and even nervous impulses. In fact, it specifically refers to five specific body parts or systems, and how we regulate balances in these systems will affect the body."
The group nodded. There was something similar in water-based healing, where water benders would direct energy to wounded areas. That, in turn, would make the wounds heal faster, or in some cases, alleviate pain. "Since there is oxygen in the body, carried around by red blood cells, can an Air Nomad redirect that to rectify imbalances?" Suki asked.
"I'm not sure about that," Aang chimed in, his eyes tilting between his wife's iPad and Suki, "I don't think an air bender can be precise enough to manipulate the oxygen being carried by a red blood cell. There may be more air to bend in someone's lungs, and I can imagine a person being killed or seriously harmed by pulling air out of the lungs, or pumping in so much air that the lungs explode. But then again, Air Nomads can't use air bending techniques to harm or murder another person, meaning those two techniques should never be used."
Everyone looked at Aang, surprised at his detailed description. But amongst the group, they weren't sure if it was more shocking that Aang was aware of such deadly air bending skills, or that Aang knew that much about the function of red blood cells. "I guess my best man speech for Aang's wedding came true," Zuko remarked from the opposite end of the table to Toph's, "Aang did learn about medical knowledge along with Water Tribe culture."
That got everybody chuckling, including Aang and Katara. Rubbing his bald head, Aang turned his focus back to the iPad. "Is that what you want to focus on during your time at the Air Temple, Sweetie?" he questioned, "It sounds similar to water-based healing, but I'm sure you're looking for a lot more than that for your experience."
Katara shrugged. It was true that she didn't know Air Nomad views on medicine well. There were similarities between those views and her studies, but she also wanted to break out of the usual medical treatments. "Even though I still prefer the conventional medical approaches, I think it's important to open my mind," the water bender stated, "Water-based healing is not part of conventional medicine, but it works because the research has supported its effectiveness. If something else out there works just as well, why not look into that?"
"That's a really water bender approach to it," Zuko commented, taking one more glance at Katara's iPad before she put it away, "And I guess it doesn't hurt to think about those, even as a supplemental treatment to conventional medicine. I mean, Katara told me that fire bending has a similar technique that looks into chi paths in a patient. It doesn't have any healing properties, but it makes diagnosing damages a lot easier."
"I don't know any healing techniques from earth bending, but I know metal bending can be used in acupuncture," Toph added, waving a hand from the opposite side of the table, "An acupuncturist can use metal bending to guide the needles to the right places, before they pierce through the patient's skin. It just goes to show that there is so much in medical techniques and supplemental techniques that we have yet to learn."
"That's all well and good, but when will the schedule be provided?" Sokka suggested, putting everyone's attention onto his sister, "If Suki and I are visiting Kyoshi during your time at the Southern Air Temple, we don't mind staying for a few days just to see what we can learn."
Suki tapped Sokka on the shoulder, reminding him that they had to pay on their own dime. "You don't plan on piggybacking off your sister's tuition just to be there, right?" she retorted with narrowed eyes. While Sokka shot back an uneasy look, Suki turned to Katara with a smile. "No matter what you find out, Sokka and I, along with all our friends, will support you."
"That was a pretty bumpy ride through all those hilly roads, but looks like we're just about here," Sokka commented, struggling to carry his bags while glancing around. The flight alone from Republic City to the closest airport, which was on Whale Tail Island, took half a day. After disembarking, they had to take a ferry to the islands to the southwest, where the Patola Mountains were located. "I'm still surprised that bus didn't drive off a cliff, going up those hills from the ferry terminal to up here," Sokka continued.
"And just think, after our visit is over, we have to take the same bus back down the hills. We go right back on the ferry, this time taking us to Kyoshi Island," Suki added, quickly zipping up her jacket. She grabbed her bags from the ground and glanced up at the steps, the final route to the Southern Air Temple. "But seriously, I'm more surprised at the huge weather changes. It was pretty clear when we got off the boat, but now it's like the clouds just rolled over us."
"Welcome to the Patola Mountains, then," Aang replied, tilting his head up the way, "With how high up we are, these mountains can pretty much dictate the weather. It can be quite unpredictable, but with a water bender who is suited for change, I think we'll adapt just fine."
Katara leaned over and pecked Aang on the cheek. "It'll definitely take some time to get used to, since altitude sickness can be a problem here," the medical student pointed out, "Let's take it easy up these steps and we'll take breaks if we have to."
Following his Sweetie, Aang slowly moved up the mountains, all the while making sure Sokka and Suki could follow. Due to how isolated the Air Temples were from other populations, a lot of people saw these areas as the last pure lands on the planet. In fact, just seeing nothing but grasslands on the plateaus amongst these towering peaks gave Aang a good contrast to his home in Republic City. The sounds of people on their phones were replaced by bird calls. The rush of winds carried cool but fresh air, unlike the rush of air caused by cars zipping past intersections.
Aang glanced around at his group, making sure nobody was left hyperventilating. Unlike the big city, life had a totally different pace here, which definitely affected Air Nomad culture. Aang believed it would surprise Katara to learn that a pacifist culture like the Air Nomads had much deeper thoughts about life and death. Due to the harsh environment, Air Nomads were more worried about whether they might survive another day. That prompted them to focus heavily on cherishing life, including how to preserve life. And with limited resources in these high altitudes, the way Air Nomads sustained their living was unique as well.
"So Aang, how did Air Nomads of the past get up these mountains?" Suki asked, slowly trudging up the steps while adjusting her backpack, "Before they had airplanes or fancy ferries or buses, did they actually walk up here all the way from the waterline?"
Aang chuckled. "You'll see them when you get to the top, but they are the original air benders," the bald young man responded, gesturing at a turn deeper into the mountains, "Before airplanes were invented, the Sky Bison dominated the skies. They still transport goods from one mountain to another, but most large cities don't use them due to the risk of a mid-air collision."
Sokka shook his head. He remembered that well from Teo, back when they still did projects with their flying machine. They haven't touched that project since they both graduated university, but they recalled clearly the rules surrounding flying machines over a certain weight. Any collision with an aircraft would be dangerous and they could be found criminally liable. To think that a Sky Bison, something that weighed several tonnes, could crash into a plane full of passengers, Sokka could see why that had to be addressed.
"And where did Air Nomads get their nomadic nature from? Is it, like what we see here, a lack of resources?" Katara queried. Indeed, the montane grasslands were good for Sky Bison to graze on, but Katara highly doubted any agriculture would be successful here. "Air Nomads are vegetarian, so I can't see how a gatherer lifestyle will work staying in this place permanently."
"That is part of the reason, but the Southern Air Temple does have some agriculture. In fact, this is part of my assignment from the Foreign Service," Aang described, patting his own set of bags, "Some fruits and vegetables are grown in the temple, but the choices are limited. That's why my assignment is to explore an expansion of agricultural operations in this area."
"Wasn't there something similar that Mr. Bei Fong assigned Dad and Bato to do?" Sokka wondered aloud, "Their company wanted to do business in the Southern Water Tribe, and some of that involved renewing the approach the tribe has towards food. But then again, unlike the Southern Air Temple, people in the Southern Water Tribe aren't against eating meat. And given my bias towards eating meat, I'm still worried about how I'll do for the next few days."
That earned him a swat on the shoulder from Suki, who chided her fiancé to be polite. "Just because you're sticking around with Aang for a few days doesn't mean you get to take shots at his culture," she admonished Sokka, "Besides, we'll go to Kyoshi Island after a few days, and you can have all the freshest seafood you want. Just wait it out a bit more, okay?"
Aang took them past a few more turns, including marching through a narrow passage literally on the side of a mountain. Finally, when they got back on to flatter ground, the air bender gestured before him in a flourish. "Behold, the Southern Air Temple!" he declared.
The group glanced forward and was amazed at the sight. In the middle of the mountains was this fantastic structure, with several towers reaching high into the skies. The tallest one was a white tower in the centre, while the smaller ones surrounded it to form one large complex. There were also other structures on various mountaintops around the main structure, and the group could see some Sky Bison flying back and forth between each one.
Immediately, the group pulled out their cellphones and snapped as many photos as they could. Aang could only chuckle, stepping to the side while letting his wife and their friends admire the scene. While Republic City had its own Air Temple, it was nowhere near as grand as this one. Aang had been to the Southern Air Temple several times when he was young, but had not done so regularly since he received his tattoos. As such, coming back here as an adult with a wife seemed like things had come full circle for him.
"Aang, is there a head monk that we have to check in with?" Katara asked, readjusting her phone to take a panorama photo, "I know there are people in the medical facilities that will supervise me, but I'm under the impression that a head council is in charge of everything."
"You're right, and that head monk is Pasang. He's been the head of the council for a long time, dating all the way back to when I received my tattoos," Aang elaborated, "I'll also work with him for my diplomacy assignment, and he already knows I'm coming. Sokka and Suki can go to the accommodations first, since you're just regular visitors."
"Actually, I wouldn't mind coming with you to meet Pasang," Sokka stated, shoving his phone back in his pocket, "I'd like to see what the Southern Air Temple's architecture is like, and what things I can redesign if any repairs are required. Plus, why would I miss meeting the person that Zuko said would have had you castrated, at least according to your erroneous belief?"
That got Aang sputtering like crazy, as his wedding roast came right back to haunt him. With everyone now chuckling at the way Zuko roasted Aang, it only made the air bender wonder what other embarrassing things during his previous visits here would now be brought up.
"That was quite an interesting meeting with Pasang," Sokka remarked, dropping his bag onto a bed and unzipping it. All four had a chance to meet with the head monk, who greeted Aang like an old friend. After quick introductions, Pasang brought Katara to the medical facilities at the temple. "And Suki wanted to go with Katara, so that just leaves us two."
Aang shrugged. "At least it gives us a chance to talk about what you were interested in earlier," the air bender responded. While Katara and Suki went to check out the medical wing, an Air Acolyte brought Aang and Sokka to the residence area. As Aang and Katara were married, while Sokka and Suki were engaged, there was no need to segregate by gender. Luckily, the couples got rooms that were right next to each other, connected by a door between them. It meant Aang could see Sokka unpack, while Sokka to call out to Aang through the door.
Hanging up a couple of shirts, Aang asked Sokka about his interest in rebuilding and redesigning. "It's one thing to say that you want to redesign, but you still have to keep some of the traditional designs in mind," Aang pointed out, gesturing with an old coat hanger, "Are you trying to do a mix of old and new, if you do end up proposing ideas?"
Sokka glanced back at Aang and grinned. Stepping up to the connecting door, he leaned on the doorframe and crossed his arms. "It's kind of interesting, if you think about it. The term 'Air Nomads' evokes a sense of wandering, meaning air benders can make their home anywhere. But here we are, in a large temple where Air Nomads live, gather, and train. And we have you living in a big city in a stable home. How does all this figure into that lifestyle?" Sokka asked.
Aang stepped away from the closet and sat on the bed, shifting his bag away so he could directly face Sokka. "I already partially answered that when Sweetie asked during our walk from the pier," Aang explained, referring back to the terrain they marched through, "The Air Temples, with the exception of the one at Republic City, are all built on very harsh environments. With such limited resources on these plateaus, a static gatherer lifestyle doesn't work for getting nourishment. That's what initiated the idea of a nomadic lifestyle, as your attachment to any certain thing may only bring you further hardship in the long run."
Sokka tapped his chin with one hand while resting the other across his torso. Air Nomads were encouraged to let go of their attachments to achieve freedom and enlightenment. Never did he think about it from a survival aspect, where too much attachment to a place not suitable for habitation would lead to death. But still, why did Air Nomads build a temple in these areas then?
It was as if Aang read Sokka's mind when the former explained the temples themselves. "Letting go of attachments means achieving maximum freedom, and Air Nomads are taught to help each other with that," the air bender described, "That's why an air temple like this is built, so that Air Nomads can congregate and learn from each other."
"Right, and I see a lot of Air Nomads doing meditation or prayer all around," Sokka observed. While neither Kuruk sibling was particularly religious, Sokka became more curious about that after Katara married Aang. While he still had problems with religious or spiritual stuff, he did admit that meditation was a useful tool. "So should we redesign an Air Temple to have more space for air benders or Acolytes to meditate?"
"You could, but my focus here is a lot different than yours," Aang answered. He pulled out his laptop and placed it on the bed. The air bender then turned the laptop on, all the while waving his brother-in-law over. "My assignment from Foreign Affairs mainly deals with food security and sustainable agriculture in a harsh environment like this. Part of my inspiration for this idea is from a similar project your father and Bato did."
Sokka leaned his head in, staring right into Aang's laptop screen. Aang pulled out a couple of documents with drawings that resembled transparent igloos. Sokka recalled those as a type of farming structure for the Southern Water Tribe, where the transparent igloos served as greenhouses for growing food year-round. He could understand how these could work in the South Pole, where the land was flatter and the summer's midnight sun worked to the structure's favour. And with the igloo shape of the greenhouse, it was a good callout to Water Tribe culture.
Shaking his head a few times, Sokka inquired about how Aang would get these built in a totally different environment. "That plateau that we just crossed is the flattest land anywhere near this temple, and I don't know if the monks will let you destroy that just to build your new greenhouse," Sokka suggested, "Will you have to build this on the cliffs or something?"
Aang tilted his head back and forth. He was tasked with proposing this idea to the head monks in the spirit of international cooperation between the United Republic and the Southern Air Temple. However, when it came to designs, he was the last person they should ask. "I agree that the domed greenhouse in the Southern Water Tribe won't make a lot of sense here, but maybe something that lines up with the hills will?" Aang proposed.
Sokka tapped his chin. Leaning over, he borrowed Aang's laptop and clicked on the icon for the internet. A few searches later, and Sokka had a new idea. "I noticed that not every hill in this area is barren and rocky," he commented, "So technically, we do have the ability to grow some edible vegetation in those areas. What if you design the farm along the length of the hill, to the point where you can still use the soil, but not put so many structures on the steep spaces?"
Aang rubbed his chin in thought. While that would solve the issue of potentially having Air Nomads fall off the cliffs when harvesting, it did not address the two main issues. "What do we do about poor soil nutrition, to the point where we don't get a high yield?" the air bender countered, gesturing at the pictures before them, "And what do we do about the harsh climate here, where the weather holds back any agriculture?"
Instead of tapping his chin, Sokka rubbed it with the palm of his hand. It was definitely a challenge with the climate, given the unpredictability in the high altitude. It might be worthwhile to investigate how to build an indoor greenhouse on the slopes of a mountain, assuming the angle was not too steep. But then again, all this would require analyzing how much additional yield was possible in this new method, compared to what was available without the greenhouses.
"I'm glad you're thinking about these things, though," Aang complimented his brother-in-law, "Sweetie's entire project is about learning medicine, and how people living in a hostile environment like this preserve their health. But often times, we forget that they have their set of values and wisdom to allow for their survival. It's not a secret that any changes can bring one a bit closer to death, but there are always opportunities to create new ways to live on."
Sokka smiled. "I don't usually get philosophical, so I'll leave that between you and Katara," he stated, "But I do want to say that you both are doing a wonderful thing. She'll become a great doctor one day, and your work in international cooperation will make you a great diplomat. Whatever you decide to do with your careers, I'll support you all the way."
"Thanks, Sokka," Aang replied, placing a hand on the non-bender's shoulder, "Now let's unpack the rest of this stuff, and tonight I'll make you all a classic Air Nomad's dinner!"
"And this is our medical facility here at the temple," Pasang announced, holding the door open for Katara and Suki to enter. Katara knew she would get a tour of the facilities on the first day, but she didn't expect the head monk would do the honours himself. Despite his stern demeanor, Pasang was quite hospitable and knowledgeable. Just hearing him provide the background in his office was enough to get Katara interested, even before seeing the facilities. "It's different than what you see at Republic City, but it's functional," Pasang stated.
Katara nodded, taking a glance around. While the front area was for emergency cases, Katara could see areas in the back that stored the medicine. Pasang had gone over medication the Southern Air Temple kept, some of which were unique to Air Nomads themselves. "Is this where you create your own medicine?" Katara presumed, gesturing to the shelves.
Pasang nodded. "The main building is split into two wings. The wing on your left is where the medicine is produced," the uni-browed monk described. Katara took a gander at a long hallway leading to various rooms on each side. She could hear low rumblings of what sounded like machinery, all the while the chemical smells of herbal medication blasting into her nostrils. "We can let you tour that later on, but the head of the medical department wanted to see you first. Shall we move to the wing on our right?"
Katara and Suki took one more glance at the medicine production hall before doing an about face. They marched through the emergency ward, where a few patients were scattered around the unit. The usual sounds of machines beeping or ventilators hissing echoed through the chamber, but it was nowhere as chaotic as the hospital Katara was at in Republic City. "Do they take the medicine from the other wing and use them right here on the spot?" Suki wondered.
Pasang pointed at the Kyoshi Island native. "Suki is right," he responded with a small grin, "Along with the latest pharmaceuticals, our Air Nomad medication have served our people well for centuries. They are freshly produced every day, based on the orders from each unit. Most of these are also recognized by medical licensing bodies worldwide."
Katara and Suki both nodded, impressed by how widespread Air Nomad medication was. As a medical student, Katara was aware of certain medicines, but didn't do much research into how they were created. She usually left that to her colleagues at the pharmaceutical sciences department, even though she did communicate with them for a few classes. She was aware of some cultural techniques that were widely recognized, such as her own skill of water-based healing. But to see something like Air Nomad medication produced and used on the spot, this was definitely a new experience for her.
Leaving the beeping and hissing sounds behind, Pasang led Katara and Suki through another set of doors. Like the other wing, it was a long hallway with doors on either side. "This is where we keep our patients, although our services are not as specialized as your hospital," Pasang explained, gesturing at various rooms. He marched straight to the centre of the unit, where the clinician's desk was located. "All the communications for patient care, physician assignment, and medical reports can be found here," the head monk pointed out.
Pasang then turned into a staircase just behind the clinician's station, taking Katara and Suki to the second floor. "There are more hospital beds up here, but the physician's offices are also located on this floor," he pointed out, taking two steps at a time.
By the time they exited the staircase, Katara could see the rooms containing hospital beds on the side leading back to the centre. A large room was adjacent to the staircase, between the patients and the offices. "This is our lounge and prayer room, where patients and their families can meditate or spend some moments of quiet," Pasang stated.
Katara and Suki took a gander at the prayer room. It was quite large and roomy, with no specific decorations on any side. The walls only had a few windows, and the sills had carvings of various Air Nomad symbols. "It looks pretty neutral, not necessarily favouring one culture over another," Suki observed, rubbing a hand on the smooth walls, "Do you have patients who don't live in the Air Temples or surrounding areas? Are they from non-Air Nomad communities?"
Pasang nodded. "Most patients are Air Nomads or Air Acolytes, so we leave this as a quiet room for meditation and prayer," the head monk elaborated, "But for those who don't come from Air Nomad backgrounds, they can still use this room for peace and quiet. As long as they respect other cultures and people using this room, we are very free in terms of who can use it."
Pasang soon led Katara and Suki out of the prayer room and into the offices. Katara could see some of the rooms as being shared by several junior physicians, some of whom were in their residencies. There were dividers between each seat, almost like a more open version of a cubicle. Deep down, Katara wondered which one she would be assigned and who the training physician would be. Katara has had good mentors so far, and she hoped the streak continued.
Pasang took them to the end of the hallway, where a larger office was located. Knocking on it a couple of times, he waited for the call before opening it. Indeed, seated behind a large desk was a middle-aged man with a shaved head. Unlike Pasang, the man did not have an arrow tattoo, which made Katara believe that he was an Air Acolyte instead of an air bender. But like the head monk of the temple, the Air Acolyte also wore the traditional robes of Air Nomads.
"Katara, please meet Abbot Shung, the lead physician in our medical facilities," Pasang introduced the Air Acolyte to the water bender, "He is our most senior physician, and from what I read in the agreement with your university, he will personally supervise you during your stay."
Katara and Shung shook hands, with the former also introducing Suki. "Suki isn't really here for a residency," Katara explained, "My brother is her fiancé, and they are on their way to Kyoshi Island. They are just dropping by for a visit, and they'll leave in a few days."
"Just out of curiosity, Abbot, what is your role in the temple?" Suki queried, taking a glance at the office. There were lines of books on the shelves, but also some diagrams of the human body in Air Nomad style. "An abbot is like an administrator of the organization, but you're not really the head monk, which is Pasang here…"
Shung and Pasang both chuckled at the question. "First of all, just Shung will do, as we're pretty informal here. Second, you're right in that I'm not the head monk, but an abbot. I do have some supervisory responsibilities in the temple, and they include managing the medical facilities," Shung described, clasping his hands on his desk, "I run the day-to-day operations, and I report to Pasang and his council on what happens here."
"To be clearer, Shung deals with all matters on training medical staff, including the agreement between our temple and Katara's university to train here," Pasang elaborated, "But the final decision on the agreement and Katara's evaluation will still go through the council. And since I know Katara's husband well, I must recuse myself for some decisions to stay impartial."
Katara turned to Shung and inquired about her assignments. "I'm expected to start in the next day or two, so is it alright if I know my duties ahead of time?" she asked, "I assume my file from the university has already made its way here, so what assignments will be given to me?"
Shung waved his hands at Katara. "In due time," he assured the water bender with a smile. Shung was happy that Katara was so enthusiastic about her task. Hopefully, with both a mind to medicine and married to an Air Nomad, Katara could learn a lot more along the way.
And here is my list of acknowledgements for the first chapter of this story:
1.) Kelev gets the first nod for her contributions during the planning stage. She was the one to suggest that Katara will look at Air Nomad medicine as a supplement to conventional medicine. We agreed that Katara, being a future physician, is unlikely to use something abstract like body imbalances to diagnose her patients. She will want to use evidence-based techniques, including those proven ones from other cultures (ex: water-based healing). However, nothing stops Katara from supplementing convention techniques with Air Nomad medicine, especially when she is married to Aang. As such, thank you for suggesting this and I will work on including it in the story.
2.) The next inspiration is Air Nomad medicine, which is inspired by Tibetan medicine. As suggested in this story, Tibetan medicine is big on imbalances in the body. Due to the harsh terrains of the Tibetan Plateau, Tibetan medicine focuses on finding a cure within the malady. This involves using a lot of ingredients for their remedies that are not usually found in conventional medicine. More on that as the story progresses, but at least you can expect to see something like this.
3.) Sky Bison are still around in my AU, but are not as frequently used. The reason is exactly as I stated, which is that they are a hazard to airplanes and helicopters. We all hear stories about bird strikes on airplanes, especially with the Hudson River landing from 2009. If a goose weighing less than 20 pounds can bring down an airplane, think of what will happen if a large Sky Bison collides with an airplane. As such, they are limited to the Air Temples only and planes are not allowed to fly near their habitat.
4.) This story will feature a canonical Korra character appearing with canonical Avatar characters. Abbot Shung is an Air Acolyte in charge of the Southern Air Temple in Korra, Book 2. The reason I chose Shung is because there are no Air Nomad characters in the original series who can serve the role I envisioned. Even though Pasang and Gyatso are both alive, I already have roles for them in this story that have nothing to do with medicine. As such, Shung will take over as the senior physician in charge of Katara's training.
5.) Using fire bending to detect chi paths is from "Beginnings, Part 1" in Korra, Book 2, where a Fire Nation shaman used this technique to help Korra. Using metal bending to perform acupuncture is from "Old Wounds" in Korra, Book 3, where an acupuncturist from Zaofu used this technique on Lin. Hakoda and Bato doing a project in the Southern Water Tribe under Lao's leadership is from "North and South" where Lao offered to work with Hakoda to develop the Southern Water Tribe (with Toph as Lao's delegate). And Sokka telling Aang that he'll support Aang all the way is from "Day of Black Sun, Part 2" in Avatar, Book 3, where he said the same thing to Aang when invading the Fire Nation.
That's it for the first chapter. There will be more later on, including some steamier scenes. Hope you enjoyed and catch you next time!
