Here's another entry in ASN's drabble contest. I didn't place this time, but I knew going in I was going to be pushing the theme to the breaking point. (Side note- the bird in this story is actually a recurring bit in my personal Avatar mythology, and may appear again in some of my stories.)
Prompt- The First Benders: "I want you to create a story about the first benders. What does that mean? Doesn't matter. It could be about Spiritbending or the Sky Bisons. Interpret this theme how you want, and if you are unsure, just ask."
The Heron
Long ago, the three nations lived together in harmony. Then, everything changed when a heron flew down from the heavens. It spiraled down from beyond sight, a small black speck in a sky so brightly blue that eyes watered. It was a pure bird, elegant in movement, form, and physical construction. It could be called unique, had any been around to discern the bird clearly, for none living had seen a heron without whiskers on its beak or round ears on its head or spines on its back. It was simply a white-feathered heron, wings spread, feet back, and neck curved. It glided through the thin air, skimming by clouds, lazily approaching the colorful spread of the planet below.
The first land the heron explored was the Earth Kingdom. The bird tilted its wings just slightly, and below it swirled the rocky grounds and lush forests. War had long since been forgotten, so the stone cities were open and the people moved about freely. Earthbenders practiced their art. Some sparred with each other. Others summoned their element for construction. Many moved just for the sensation, the feel and the call and the joy of being one with the bones of the planet.
The heron did not take notice of the Earthbenders.
The bird flew over the other people, flapping its wings to propel itself just over their heads. It called, asking for attention, and upon receiving it, solemnly demonstrated its freedom from the Earth they walked on. None of the people were moved. They were in love with their country's element, and although they found the heron beautiful, they did not think much of flight. So the heron wheeled off to another realm.
The heron soared over the oceans, the seas sailed by the Water Tribes. The endless blue lacked permanent features, but it was no less interesting for its transitional nature. In some places, the waters were still and sparkled with reflected sunlight, while in others, massive waves reached for the heavens and then came down in mighty crashes that swirled the water around and below them. Water Tribe ships bobbed and cut through the blue, propelled by serene Waterbenders lost in the feel of the push and pull.
The heron did not take notice of the Waterbenders.
The bird circled the boats, randomly diving towards the waters and plucking fish from the waves. The Water Tribe sailors also fished for food, casting lines and spears, hauling nets and cages, working hard under the sun, while the bird was much more relaxed in its hunting. The heron let gravity and momentum be its strength, with a slight adjustment of its wings carrying it back into the sky with prize in beak. The sailors were not impressed, though, since they valued the strength their work gave them, and had too much love for the constant spray of the ocean on their faces. So the heron turned to the islands.
The heron found itself over the Fire Nation. It was a contrasting patchwork, with spots here and there still natural and beautiful. Other spots were covered in sprawling cities, made from metal and glass and materials not found in nature. The buildings rose high into the sky, forcing the heron to fly higher, or to dodge around humanity's constructions. Most of the clearer skies in the cities were above the sparring grounds, where Firebenders practiced, fought honor duels, and trained to master themselves both in spirit and body. Even from the skies, flashes of light could also be glimpsed in the windows, where professional benders focused heat and flame into manufacturing and scientific experimentation, to advance the world through technology and engineering.
The heron did not take notice of the Firebenders.
Instead, it flew out to the farms and villages, where benders were rare, and the children of Agni endured the heat of the sun without any special abilities. They plowed the dirt, fished the rivers, and worked stone and inks and tiles into works of art. The heron hopped onto their houses and fences, opening its wings below the sun and showing off the freedom that flight provided, the freedom to go anywhere and live regardless of station or wealth. It would then take to the skies and cry out happily, inviting any to follow it to lands of bliss. Yet the commoners of the Fire Nation did not spare any attention for the bird, so focused were they on completing their work before sundown. They believed they had no time for flights of fancy. Some even fired their guns at the bird, some for sport and others for food.
So the heron left all the known lands. It flew over land and sea, high above the clouds. Eventually, it found itself on an island somewhere in a remote ocean. The people there didn't worry about which nation to pledge loyalty to. No one bothered them, and they in turn focused on living productive and happy lives. However, it was not the most lush of islands, having little in the way of pleasant crops. One young man, still retaining a token childish spirit, had taken it upon himself to purchase fruit seeds from foreign parts, and was traveling the island to plant them everywhere they might thrive. He sleep on the ground, beneath the stars, and beside the beaches.
The heron took notice of him.
It landed a short distance away from the man, and watched as he dropped some seeds into the dug ground. The man didn't notice the bird until he had finished. Smiling in delight, the man waved at the bird. The heron, in turn, spread its wings, and slowly flapped them as if it were flying. The man approached the bird, seeing it unafraid.
The heron called, and slowly flapped its wings again.
The man was close now, and surprised that the bird stayed on the ground. It once again waved its wings. The man, curious and amused, flapped his arms back in mock greeting. The bird called once again, and leapt into the air. It circled low above the man, flapping its wings regularly.
The man became thoughtful, and rose and lowered its arms in time with the bird.
A breeze spun out from the man's arms. The heron called out once more, and flew away satisfied.
The man looked at his hands and wondered. Where did the breeze come from? Could be brought back? Could other movements do more?
As the man wondered, and the heron returned to the heavens, the Airbenders made their long awaited return to the world. A new era had begun.
END
