Welcome to chapter four, everyone! I'm introducing a canon character in this chapter, and decided to share a bit from Maia's perspective.

Thank you so much for the follows and the reviews! They really mean a lot to me. Y'all're amazing :)

Maia sat on a fallen tree trunk, staring out at the river before her. She was shaded from the blazing sun by the canopy of leaves. Sitting there, she silently observed nature around her, hearing every wisp of wind whisper through the leaves, every bird calling out its unique love song, and every pebble the water caressed. She swung her feet back and forth, feeling the dirt slide between her toes. It was cool and refreshing on this hot day and it made her feel at home. Slowly, she unrolled a scroll on her lap, her fingers gentle against the fragile paper. It was another bending scroll, this one depicting several earth bending moves: moves she longed to copy.

Her father had gone through a great amount of trouble to obtain the collection of scrolls he had. Half were inherited from his father, who had the same obsession with old, rare objects, while the others were bought from various locations in the earth kingdom. Once he had nearly been killed when one of his sellers neglected to inform him that they were meeting outside a fire nation occupied town for a transaction. She loved her father's collection and felt guilty as she held the beloved parchment between her fingers. If he found out she had been borrowing them she would be in for the greatest punishment of her life, but she knew she needed to help Huo on his bending journey. Him learning how to control his bending was more important than a bunch of old, dusty scrolls.

Sighing, she turned her attention to the scroll before her. Black and brown ink decorated the page. Longingly she traced the figures with her finger. A huff of disappointment escaped her lips and she let the scroll roll up upon itself.

Where was Huo? He was supposed to be here by now.

Dropping from her perch on the log, Maia decided she couldn't wait any longer. She might as well go home and focus on her studies.

She felt the ground beneath her feet. Small shivers tingled her feet: an all too familiar feeling. She sensed a connection with the earth, a magnetic pull that was stronger than gravity. When she sensed the connection, she felt free. Free to go where ever she wanted. Free to make her own decisions. But she could not bend. No matter how hard she tied, or how strong her connection was to the earth. She could feel the earth, but she couldn't move it.

She didn't complain about her lack of bending. Neither one of her parents could bend even the smallest pebble, so it was not expected of her, but she felt disappointed in herself, even if no one else would. Without bending, she didn't know what she was. She didn't have the potential that others had. Huo, for instance. He had tremendous power.

Yes. She was jealous of him. Even if she had a bending she had to keep secret from everyone, she still would feel special. Secrets were special. That's why she kept Huo's. She did not take the task of training him lightly. It was of the utmost importance, and seemed to be a task Huo was taking lightly today.

She huffed and turned her back on the river, the scroll clutched between her fist, intent on returning home. Closing her eyes, she sensed someone coming. Opening them and gazing towards the hill, she saw a figure rushing between trees, making an uproarious sound as his feet tore up the layer of leaves upon the forest floor. Huo came into sight, his face bright from his recent run. He quickly began to take deep breaths in recovery. Before he had fully recovered, he spoke to Maia frantically. "Sorry I'm late. We can't practice today. We have a guest."

Huo had woken up bright and early that morning, the sun prying open his eyes and his body doing the rest. He hopped out of bed and let out a quick yawn. He entertained a brief image of himself breathing fire, but he quickly dismissed that as impossible. Within minutes, he was dressed and ready. Maia had lectured him the day before that he needed to be at their rendezvous point as bright and early as possible.

Practicing his stealth skills, he tiptoed as quickly as he could down the hallway, and was on his way out the door when his mother called his name, causing him to halt in his tracks. "Huo!"

"Yes mother?" He asked. His let his right foot cross the threshold, toe by toe, letting it taste freedom that was most likely going to be denied him. His heart sunk into his stomach.

"Where are you going this morning?" There was a laugh in his mother's voice, and Huo turned. He saw her shadow in the kitchen and soon she came to the doorway and smiled.

"To play with Maia. We're meeting down by the river and I'm going to be late!" Huo hoped that the urgency in his voice would keep her from assigning him with some early morning chores.

"Have you forgotten, Huo? Your cousin is coming over."

"What?" Huo spun on his heel, abandoning the door.

His mother let out a small laugh. "You did forget!"

"When is he coming? Can't I just run down to the river and come back? I'll only be gone a few hours, I promise!"

"Have you cleaned your room?"

Huo bit his lip and wished he could turn invisible. It would certainly be a much more useful skill than fire bending. "I did last week..."

He was given a motherly gaze which was half smile and half disappointment.

"Can't I wait?"

"My sister-your aunt-, her husband, and Haru will be arriving at any moment. It's your duty to make them feel welcome, even if your task is as simple as keeping your room clean."

He tried not to look as annoyed as he felt as he trudged off to complete this chore.

He contemplated shoving everything into the closet, but he wouldn't let himself. He had to make Haru feel welcome after all. Fond memories of his cousin arose. They had so much fun together, and the fact that Haru could bend did not dampen any of his fond feelings towards him. But now there was something he had to keep a secret from him.

His fire bending.

It couldn't be too hard, could it?

Huo groaned as he dug clothing out from beneath his bed. It smelled like summer, meaning it held the aroma of grass, pond water, and sweat. He flung it all into a pile which he would bring to his mother so she could wash them. Then he made his bed, something he very rarely ever did, and straightened his closet. When he was finished, his heart lifted in pride. Maybe he would be able to spend some time with Maia before Haru arrived and have time to explain everything and maybe get some practicing in.

He dashed out of his room and raced for the door, this time not caring for stealth. But, when he opened the door, there were visitors upon their doorstep.

"Huo!" Haru greeted. He was a tall boy, around Huo's age, but about half a head taller than he was. He pushed his bangs out of his green eyes and gave Huo a big smile.

Huo's mother appeared in the doorway, and she and her sister exchanged long hugs and words filled with happiness. Haru's dad was included in the welcome, and the two boys stepped off to the side so as to avoid all the embracing.

"Come on," Huo beckoned, and he rushed off to the woods. He didn't check to see if Haru was behind him as he raced down the hill, his bare feet catching on hidden roots and stirring up the loam. He burst into the clearing and saw Maia staring at him, a bending scroll clutched in her right hand.

Bending over double, he quickly tried to catch his breath so as to warn her in time. "Sorry I'm late. We can't practice today. We have a guest."

Maia quickly slid the scroll into her pocket as Haru rounded the bend.