The mysterious figure paused at a shop window. Noticing the shopkeeper's speedy retreat, she turned down a nearby alley.
The five boys occupying the alley whispered among themselves, snickering and pointing at the stranger. A blonde-haired boy reached out and yanked off the cloak, revealing a short, tousled-looking girl, dressed in the blue clothing of the water tribes. Her dark braid flew as she spun around, grabbing the boy's retreating hand. Grasping it tightly, she twisted, efficiently breaking his wrist.
"Aack!" the boy shouted in pain. The other boys, still until now, jumped into action. Bursts of fire flew from their hands, aimed at the girl.
"Firebenders," she snarled, dodging the blasts and shoving the blonde boy into the gutter. As she dashed around the group, giving painful blows at random, water rose from the gutter. The blonde boy tried to warn his companions, but the water had already lowered around their young faces. Arms out, the girl held the water with basic waterbending. Fear plastered itself across the five faces as it became apparent that the water wasn't going to continue its fall.
Hurried footsteps echoed through the empty streets, coupled with rough voices.brbr "Tha' fire came fr'm o'er thur," a thickly accented voice said. Another man grunted in reply.
The waterbender glanced around uncertainly as the footsteps sounded closer. Apparently making her decision, she dashed away, releasing the waterbending.
"I'll be back…" she whispered to herself, diving through a nearby hedge.
Humming brightly, Rose filled her kettle with water from a bubbling fountain. Bringing it to a boil with firebending, she set the tea bags to seep. Setting the ornate pot on a small stone table, she sighed happily. The garden was so beautiful, especially compared to the drab and dreary town in which it grew.
Hearing angry shouts and several splashes in a nearby alley, Rose rolled her eyes. Just another stupid fight, she thought, turning back to her tea. As she poured the steaming liquid into her teacup, fire flashed against the grey, overcast sky.
"Oh dear," she murmured, spinning to face the direction of the disturbance. Fights were common, of course, one could not expect civilized behavior from Earth Kingdom ruffians. But firebenders getting involved? That was just unusual…
Still holding the cup of tea, Rose walked speedily towards the gate. Just as she reached out her free hand to undo the latch, someone dashed through the tall hedges, running into her. The stranger stopped, as if to apologize, as Rose lost her grip on the teacup. Its contents spilled, apparently going to fall on the stranger's odd blue clothing… But it didn't. The tea halted its journey, mere inches from its destination, the stranger's hands raised on either side of the brown liquid mass.
The antique teacup fell onto the grey stones, shattering, but Rose paid it no attention.
"You're a waterbender, aren't you?"
The other girl flinched.