Warriors and Boomerangs
"You must be joking."
Normally, that would be a good guess. This time, however, Sokka was completely serious. "Put the paint on, Mai."
"No."
"You have to. It's a necessary part of warrior training." He had already done his own face.
"Why?"
"It connects you with your environment. With the heritage of your people..."
"My people are Fire Nation, and my family specifically comes from a long line of scribes turned politicians. The only make-up my ancestors wore was for seduction purposes."
That thought nearly made Sokka gag. "Mai, we're not doing this until you put the paint on."
"No."
"Then you won't learn how to throw the boomerang."
"I'll get someone else to teach me." Spirits, Mai could be stubborn.
"Mai, the boomerang is a Water Tribe weapon. None of us will teach you if you don't paint your face. Suki is the only outsider who we've ever taught, and she'll make you wear the colorful face paint. It's your choice."
Mai's eyes narrowed at the mention of the traditional Kyoshi Warrior appearance. "Give me the paint."
"I can put it on for you-"
"Don't touch me. Just give me the paint."
To Mai's credit, she did a good job putting it on, using only the flat of one of her polished blades for a mirror. When she was finished, she looked even more fierce and foreboding than usual. Sokka approved. "Now you'll have to tie your hair back so that you don't look so Fire Nation..."
Mai's glare had become even sharper with the addition of the war paint. "My hair stays the way it is. Start teaching, or I'm done."
Sokka sighed. "Okay." He reached to his belt, and removed one of the two boomerangs he was carrying holstered. "I made this one for you." The whole boomerang was stained dark red, except for the cutting edge, which was a glossy black, like polished obsidian. "Don't ask how I got it red. You won't like the answer."
Mai reverently took the boomerang, gazing at it. Was that awe in her eyes? "Thank you."
Sokka took out his own boomerang. "No problem. Now, the trick is planning out the angle of travel..."
END
