This had confused me initially because I know Kyoshi Island is the next important event, but somewhere along the road I had begun enjoying myself and pushed my concerns aside. After the experience at the Air Temple, we really have grown closer as a group – as a family. Even Sokka has begun to warm up to me. He isn't nearly as warm to me as the others but it's a big step forward from constantly glaring at and insulting me. If anything, I was the one having a hard time adjusting to him being a bit more open to me. I've been getting overly flustered and Katara has definitely noticed. Luckily, the boys seem to be completely oblivious to my inner turmoil.
Over the last week, I have tried to focus on learning how to meditate, which is what I'm trying to do right now. Aang had shown me the basics, but I am having a hard time relaxing enough for it to be useful. I keep getting so caught up in my worries that I end up working myself up.
Yay for anxiety. . .
However, I keep practicing, hoping that I might be able to commune with the spirit world and find La and figure out what the heck is going on and how to get home. That, and the fact that Sokka is currently sitting across from me in his underwear and I need to calm my thoughts down before they enter x-rated territory.
So far, it isn't working, as evidenced by my flushed face.
Beside me, Katara is mending a few of our clothes that had gotten frayed and torn after our stop at Kangaroo Island. Across from us (in plain view), Sokka is pouring over a map while Aang sits up front on the saddle.
"You have no idea where you're going, do you?" Sokka calls out to Aang dubiously.
His words tug at my memory, pulling me out of my thoughts as my heart thuds in expectation. The next episode is beginning and I'll get to meet Suki, a badass non-bending warrior – and Sokka's future girlfriend.
"Well. . ." Aang smiles back at Sokka, undeterred. "I know it's near water."
Sokka glances at him with an exasperated frown as he looks at the scenery around us, which is an unending ocean in every direction.
"I guess we're getting close then," he replies sarcastically.
Laughing under my breath, I return my attention to meditating, closing my eyes and listening to the conversation unfold around me.
"Hey Katara, check out this airbending trick!"
And there is Aang trying to show off for Katara.
"That's great, Aang."
And she's not paying attention so Aang gets all pouty.
"You didn't even look. . ."
Katara tries to fake enthusiasm –
"That's great!"
– except he's not doing it anymore.
"But I'm not doing it now."
And cue Sokka with a sexist remark.
"Stop bugging her, airhead. You need to give girls space when they do their sewing."
Irritation running through me, I open my eyes to watch the scene unfold, ready for Katara to put him in his place – not that Suki wouldn't be doing the exact same thing very soon.
"What does me being a girl have to do with sewing?" The needle in Katara's hand pauses as she turns to her brother with a withering gaze.
"Simple. Girls are better at fixing pants than guys and guys are better at hunting and fighting and stuff like that. It's just the natural order of things," he responds matter-of-factly, unaware of the two female's glares.
Katara and I share a look of annoyance before Katara throws the half-sewn pants at Sokka's arrogant face.
"All done with your pants! And look what a great job I did!" She chimes with an overly cheerful grin while I smirk beside her. This is one of the reasons I love this girl and this episode.
"Wait! I was just kidding. I can't wear these! Katara, please!" Sokka cries out desperately, pleading with her.
"Relax, Sokka. Where we're going, you won't need any pants," Aang comments mysteriously from the saddle.
"That doesn't mean I don't actually need pants," Sokka frowns pitifully.
"Well, I guess you're cursed to be pantless indefinitely," Katara spits. "Unless you want to do it yourself because I'm sure not gonna do it."
"But – " Sokka starts, but I cut him off, reaching out and snatching the pants off Sokka's lap.
"Oh, just give them here," I sigh, reaching for the needle and thread from a frowning Katara. To my utter embarrassment, Sokka reaches out and hugs me, throwing me off balance.
"Thank you, Shannon! You're the only one who cares!" He cries, clinging to me.
"Shan! You shouldn't condone his behavior," Katara frowns, sending a glower at her brother.
Blushing deeply, I wiggle out of Sokka's grasp, heart thumping. "This isn't for him. I just don't want Sokka lounging around in his underwear any longer," I state before murmuring, "It's bad for my sanity."
At my statement, Sokka turns a deep red as well and covers himself with the sleeping roll, inching away from me awkwardly as Katara and Aang erupt in laughter.
A few hours later we disembark on the beach of Kyoshi Island.
"We just made a pit stop yesterday. Shouldn't we get a little more flying done before we camp out?" Sokka comments as we disembark Appa.
"He's right. At this rate, we won't get to the North Pole until spring," Katara comments, reluctantly agreeing with the still pantless Sokka.
"But Appa's tired, aren't you boy?" Aang encourages the Bison, who yawns unconvincingly.
"Yeah, that was real convincing. Still, hard to argue with a ten-ton magical monster," Sokka states, admitting defeat.
"Look!" Aang shouts, pointing towards the water excitedly as two monstrous koi fish erupt out of the ocean and crash back into the sea with a giant wave. "That's why we're here – the Elephant koi, and I'm gonna ride it! Katara, you've got to watch me!" He insists while stripping.
"Oh look, it's Shannon's friends. Is one of them the one who told you to protect Aang?" Sokka teases.
"One more word and I'm stitching butterflies into your pants," I threaten, pointing my needle at the partially naked boy, who quickly shuts up.
Seeing that everyone's attention has shifted to watching Aang ride the Giant Koi, I move to a more secluded area, knowing the Kyoshi Warriors would be showing up soon. Eventually, I find a small clearing where the only way to sneak up on me would be to come from behind. Satisfied, I sit beneath a large pine tree out of the way, continuing my work on Sokka's pants while studying my surroundings. Admittedly, I'm not as good or as fast as Katara, but I'm definitely decent considering I'd grown up mending my siblings' clothes.
As I sew, I ready the dagger at my leg, knowing that the Kyoshi Warriors will be stalking us soon. Half of me prepares like this because I would rather not be tied up, but the other half of me hopes that if I show a bit of talent defending myself, they might deem me worthy to learn from them. In the future, we will be battling someone every other day and I'd rather not be dead weight when that time comes. Just because I am generally a pushover doesn't mean I'm willing to sit on the sidelines when those I care about are in danger.
A while passes and I'm almost done with Sokka's pants. I am starting to wonder if the Kyoshi Warriors even know I'm here. Maybe I separated before they noticed us, or maybe I hid too well.
Just as I begin to consider heading back to the beach a tingling sensation runs down my spine, telling me someone is nearby and watching me. Trying to keep my breathing steady, I continue to sew with my eyes down, straining to listen. Iroh had taught me a little bit of how to throw out my senses and I sort of understood, but I'm definitely no Toph.
After a moment two hands fly forward from behind, but before they can grab ahold of me I grab one of their arms and use their momentum to throw them over my shoulder. To my surprise, it actually works, and a girl in a green dress and facepaint falls to the ground in front of me in surprise. Unfortunately for me that moment doesn't last long and she's quickly on her feet, two golden fans now miraculously in her hands. The girl glowers at me, sending shivers down my spine.
Holding my hands out in front of me, I open my mouth to try to explain, but before I can she lunges towards me. I dodge instinctively, rolling to the side and rising to my feet with my dagger in my hand to combat her fans.
Okay. Maybe talking isn't an option.
Seeing that I have a weapon, the girl's eyes flash dangerously. She circles me cautiously as we both evaluate the other. The girl radiates power and grace, striding without a single unnecessary movement and confidence in her ability, whereas I have a month's tutelage under Uncle Iroh.
I gulp nervously. This may be harder than I thought.
My first instinct is I need to disarm the girl in front of me, but I know that I need to think my next move through. The Kyoshi Warriors are skilled warriors who have trained half their lives whereas I'm still just a beginner. I had gotten lucky when she had approached, but that was only because I knew they were coming for me. This girl is a pro, and my first instinct will be what she is expecting.
Before I can fully come up with a countermeasure, the girl turns and runs up a tree.
Yes. This girl just ran up a tree .
Heart in my throat, I watch in awe as she uses her momentum to come flying down at me from above with more power. Before I can move, her fans catch my blade and disarm me, my knife falling from my hand and skidding away. At first, I think that's it – I'm done for, but instead, my body moves automatically. As she lunges across me, my free hand snakes out the sash from her waist and my feet side sweep her so that she falls on her face.
Adrenaline rushing through me in bewilderment at what just happened, I quickly bind her arms behind her back and place my knee in the middle of her back to hold her down.
I blink stupidly.
Had I just taken down a Kyoshi Warrior?
. . . What?
As I try to make sense of what happened, the girl growls angrily, struggling beneath me, as I try to catch my breath. "Who are you?! What are you doing on our Island?!" The girl snarls, trying to use her legs as leverage and failing as I lay my chest on her back and sprawl out my legs to keep her there.
I open my mouth to answer her, hoping that if I explain myself she might not keep fighting me, but before I can a voice cries out from behind.
"Suki!"
My heart flies to my throat as I glance down at the girl under me.
"No way. . ."
Unfortunately, that is all I am able to utter before I'm tackled and pinned to the ground.
"Tie her up and gag her – and be careful. She's tricky," Suki orders as she is helped to her feet. As she speaks I am immediately bound, gagged, and blindfolded.
And here I had always assumed the first time this happened to me would be in the bedroom.
After being carried for who knows how long, I'm tied to a post along with the other three with my arms tied above me, hanging on something. Not that I can see anything due to the blindfold, but I've seen the episode enough times to know how this is going to go down. What I didn't know is that they apparently left the GAang tied around the pole for like an hour before coming back with the village chief and I can now tell you from experience that being gagged that long leaves your mouth super dry. That, and holding your arms above your head that long makes them fall asleep.
I had been trying to avoid being tied up, but in retrospect, this is a lot worse.
Beside me, the GAang chatters anxiously, to which I am unable to respond, but as I usually am a quiet person, this doesn't seem to faze them. At the same time, I am also hyper-aware of the fact that I am sandwiched tightly between Sokka and Katara and that they both smell strongly of the ocean, although Sokka has a distinct woody scent. I find myself breathing in the scent deeply and growing warm in my chest. I'm also hyper-aware of the fact that Sokka must still be pantless. His pants are probably still back in the clearing unless one of the Kyoshi Warriors grabbed them, which is unlikely. Maybe I should've just asked Katara to finish them.
Eventually, I hear footsteps approaching and breathe a sigh of relief.
"You four have some explaining to do," the village chief states, his voice grave.
"And if you don't answer all our questions, we're throwing you back in the water with Unagi," Suki adds, and my heart races. I hadn't realized I had been fighting Suki herself. Half of me wonders if she'll ever forgive me. The other half wants her autograph.
While I mull through this, Sokka decides to open his big mouth.
"Show yourselves, cowards!"
At long last, the blindfold is removed and I jump, alarmed at how close the girl in front of me is as she glares at me. Instantly I recognize her as the girl I had fought, meaning that this girl is Suki.
She's so cool – and intimidating – and amazing.
Unfortunately, I am unable to speak these sentiments as I am still gagged.
And rather irritated.
"Who are you? Where are the men who ambushed us?" Sokka glares. Turning, he glances at Aang and then Katara and me, his eyes widening in outrage when he sees me. I greet him with a nod as though unperturbed by my situation. His face screws up in anger. "And why is Shannon bound and gagged?!"
"There were no men. We ambushed you. And this one is bound because she overpowered me. Now tell us, who are you and what are you doing here?" Suki states, turning to Sokka with a fierce glare that for some reason I wish was back on me. . .
Okay. So I may be more masochistic than I thought.
"Wait a second. . . Shannon can't fight – she's just a girl! And there's no way that a bunch of girls took us down," Sokka declares indignantly. Any warmth towards the boy turns cold in my chest as I glare at him menacingly. As I begin to contemplate how to smack this kid, Suki grabs the front of his shirt, doing what I wish I could if I weren't bound.
"Can't fight? A bunch of girls? The Unagi is gonna eat well tonight," Suki growls menacingly, the sound of her voice sending shivers down my spine.
"No, don't hurt him! He didn't mean it. My brother is just an idiot sometimes," Katara cries from my other side, sounding exasperated.
"It's my fault," Aang interjects with a pitiful frown. "I'm sorry we came here. I just wanted to ride the elephant koi."
"How do we know you're not Fire Nation spies? Kyoshi stayed out of the war so far. And we intend to keep it that way!" The chief announces.
His words cause Aang to perk up. "This island is named for Kyoshi? I know Kyoshi!"
"Ha! How could you possibly know her?" The chief laughs. "Avatar Kyoshi was born here four hundred years ago. She's been dead for centuries."
"I know her because I'm the Avatar," Aang reveals, glancing up at the statue of Kyoshi with fondness. As expected, his words are met with disbelief and Suki steps forward with narrowed eyes.
"That's impossible!" She challenges him. "The last Avatar was an airbender who disappeared a hundred years ago."
"That's me!" Aang cries happily and only in this situation – as in actually being here – do I realize that his words sound as though he is making fun of the villagers, which is why their hostile response makes so much sense.
"Throw the impostor to Unagi!" The chief declares, pointing his finger sharply at Aang with a flushed face.
At his command, Suki and the rest of the Kyoshi Warriors move forward, revealing their fans menacingly as they surround us, ready to attack. Nervously, I glance at Katara, who is watching them warily, but not say anything.
Again? I think to myself. Why is it that little things keep changing?
"Anghsh!" I try to shout through my gag, thrashing to try to get Aang's attention. Luckily, my odd action – which I'm sure makes me look like a flopping fish – catches Sokka's attention.
"Aang. . . do some airbending," he chides, elbowing the airbender in the arm.
Realization flashing in his eyes, Aang airbends himself out of his restraints and up into the air, then slowly floating to the ground, leaving the spectators of the village gasping in awe.
"It's true. . . you are the Avatar!" The village chief exclaims.
"Now. . ." Aang starts, and I frown as he pulls out the marbles from his robes. "Check this out!"
His trick gets many oohs and ahhs from the crowd – going as far as to make on guy foam at the mouth and faint – but neither is of any help to me in my current state.
After a few moments, the Kyoshi Warriors approach us to release Sokka, Katara, and me from the pole. Released from the pole, I slump to the ground, my and arms still bound. Sokka turns to me with worried eyes and reaches down for me, but before he can do anything, a man approaches Sokka carrying a pair of green pants.
"I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you to wear pants," he states awkwardly. "There are children in the village."
Sokka's face becomes a brilliant shade of red and I snort into my gag. As I do, Sokka turns to glare at me and I try to mask my laughter as a cough. Face screwed up in anger, Sokka snatches the pants and pulls them on violently. Once dressed, Sokka turns and glares at me and the Kyoshi warriors before stomping off after Aang and Katara who are talking with the chief, leaving me to be untied by the warriors.
"'I'm sorry about him. I promise he's a good person," I assure them as soon as I regain my speech, glancing at his back as I rub my sore wrists.
"No, it's us who should be apologizing," Suki says, stepping forward. "We attacked you and even bound and gagged you. We didn't know you were friends with the Avatar. Your name is Shannon, right? I'm Suki, leader of the Kyoshi Warriors."
I grin in response. "Nice to meet you, and you don't need to apologize," I assure her, tugging on my shirt. "You didn't know, and we were strangers on your beach. It was right to be cautious. . . and I'm sorry about back at the clearing," I add, hoping she isn't still mad. To my relief, Suki smiles at me.
"Don't be. You were attacked unprovoked. By the way, your reflexes are amazing," she admits with an admiring gaze. "It's been a long time since I've been bested."
I turn red at her compliment. "I just got lucky. I'm still a beginner when it comes to self-defense."
Suki stares at me with wide eyes. "You're kidding, right?"
I shake my head and grin wryly. "I only started learning a month or so ago."
"That's incredible. . ." Suki trails off, eyeing me curiously. "You have outstanding talent."
"Not really. . ." I insist, my chest growing warm at the thought of the one who trained me. "I just have an amazing Master."
Suki's eyes sparkle. "Who is your Master?"
Surprised, I pause, biting the inside of my cheek and tugging at the end of my shirt. I hadn't meant to bring up Iroh. As much as I love and adore Uncle Iroh, it's not exactly prudent to reveal that the person who taught me is a retired general of the fire nation.
Seeing my discomfort, Suki smiles awkwardly. "Ah. . . Sorry. You don't need to say if it makes you uncomfortable. Either way, it doesn't matter. Even with a brilliant master, you have to be something special to become as proficient as you are in such a short period of time."
I feel myself turn an even deeper shade of red as I ponder her words. Am I actually good at something here? Half of me had always assumed that Iroh had been exaggerating when he would compliment me, but Suki has no reason to do so.
A sudden sense of pride begins to swell within me. Back in my world, I had been average in almost everything – a jack of all trades but master of none. Yet here I've felt so. . . right. It's like I've been walking with my shoes on the wrong feet my whole life and I've finally fixed them.
Unaware of my inner contemplations, Suki studies me seriously, eyeing my exposed arms and legs. After a moment an expectant smile grows on her lips.
"You wouldn't be interested in training with us, would you? We could use a fresh body in the dojo," Suki offers, her eyes sparkling. At her words, my heart leaps in my chest. This is exactly what I had been hoping for.
"Yes, yes – I would love to!" I cry, reaching forward and gripping her hands excitedly. Suki blinks at me in surprise at the closeness of our faces as I beam up at her, but her shock doesn't last as her expression melts into a smirk, her ears tinged red.