Kirana woke see sunlight shining through the thin canopy of the tent. Yawning, she stood, stretched and looked around. There was another cot on the far side of the small tent and she could see shadows of people moving around outside, while the smell of food made her mouth water.
The flap at the entrance moved back and a young pregnant woman came in, a brown dress in her arms. "This doesn't fit me, and probably won't again, so I thought you would like it." Her voice was soft and kind. Kirana nodded her thanks and marveled at the women's generosity. She looked around for her knee-high boots, found them, and took out one of the canceled daggers. With two quick slashes, the dress now crudely resembled a waterbender's. She slipped it on over her firebending pants, pulled on her boots and attached her father's sword to her belt. Then, while re-braiding her hair, she left the tent.
Jo was talking to a tall man with a graying top-not and beard. Kirana picked up a bowl of stew and headed over. "Hello."
Jo turned, "May I introduce my father, John. He's the leader of this band."
"You didn't tell me you were a prince?" Kirana said shocked. John laughed.
"I like you," John said. " You wouldn't mind sparing today would you? I hear your shoulder is newly healed and is in need of some conditioning." His voice had a gruff tone while still deep, unlike Jo's calming deep voice.
Kirana shot Jo a look of mock anger. "I'd love to."
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The training arena was in a clearing several minuets walk from the main camp. Roughly hewn benches surrounded a clearing blocked off by logs stacked to three feet. The area inside it was the sparing arena. Smiling, she was happy about being out of the palace and outside, Kirana took a seat next to Jo.
John leaped over the logs, with agility not of his age, to address everyone. "We have a special guest among us, the Avatar. Does anyone want to take her on?" Kirana leaped over the logs happily, and for a moment one man didn't seem too happy as to what she had done to her dress then Jo rose to the challenge.
For what seemed like forever they circled each other, ready to spring. Kirana moved first. She lunged aiming a blow to his face. Jo dogged, caught her arm, and twisted it behind her. Hissing, Kirana struggled until there was enough room for her to back-kick him. Jo released her arm and doubled over, winded. To her surprise Jo recovered even quicker than she could of.
Jo aimed a flame kick towards her she did the splits to avoid it. Laughing at his surprise, Kirana kicked Jo's legs out form under him and then pined him to the ground. For a couple of minuets Jo struggled to get Kirana off him. He eventually did, by jabbing a foot in her back. Kirana fell backwards in pain, but forced her self to get up. Now she was getting mad.
Spinning, Kirana tried to get Jo in the guts with her kick. Instead Jo caught her foot bringing her down. As her came to pin her, Kirana caught him in the chest with her feet, causing him to fly a couple of feet. Leaping Kirana straddled his legs with hers and pinned his arms using hers. She kept one finger by the newly bandaged arm, keeping Jo's retaliation at bay. Finally Jo admitted defeat and left the arena breathing as heavily as her. Kirana turned to walk away for a break, her shoulder starting to throb. Kirana fought many other times loosing few. One of the ones she lost was to Jo's dad, John.
Setting down her empty bowl, Kirana looked up to see Jo coming over. "Follow me." She got up and followed him into the woods.
They walked for several minuets in silence before Jo stopped. Motioning for her to continue he moved aside.
Kirana stepped into a clearing filled with wildflowers and surrounded by white barked tree's whose leaves were showing the first sign of fall. But, oddly, the flowers in the middle were black and white, shaped into a pattern. She walked around until she saw a rock in front of these flowers. She sat cross-legged and laid her hands on her knees.
It took her a while before she realized the pattern it was ying and yang. Suddenly she felt herself slipping from this world and into the next, the Spirit World.
She found herself standing in a plain of wildflowers and a figure was flying towards her. As it drew closer she realized it was a bird, and not just any. It was Avatar Danielle's spirit guide, Freedom. She held her arm out, for no apparent reason, and Freedom griped it then took off. Taking her across the ocean, past the Earth Kingdom until they stopped on an island of the coast of the Earth Kingdom. For a moment Kirana was able to gaze at the huge temple erected there, before she was whisked inside.
They came to a stop inside a room that was twice as large as the tiled calendar inside. In the middle of the calendar, which was made of green and brown tiles with elegant black characters for each season, stood a statue of gold emblazing the former Avatar. Kirana reached out to touch the talon Freedom held out to her, again for no reason, and felt the visions come.
Zu Ling stood atop of a chair, two bodies in front of him twitched then died, her's and Jo's she realized. Her father a prisoner of his own ship saying "Don't rescue me yet, your not ready." Then all to abruptly the visions stopped. "How do I get here?" Kirana asked looking at Freedom. The bird swiveled his head and pointed to a map, a line of red appeared showing her the way.
Walking over there Kirana began to mesmerize the map, and when she did she turned and said, "I'm ready to go back."
Kirana opened her eye's to see Jo looking at her. Is that worry in his eyes, she wondered, but it was gone in a flash. Rising, she brushed the dirt from her dress and followed Jo back to the sparing area.
They returned as to see men sparing with swords and other's with the bow. Kirana looked at Jo and asked, "Ready for a rematch." A wicked smile spread over his face as he drew his sword in answer.
This time it wasn't long before one started the mock fight. Jo swung at her side and Kirana blocked, holding the hilt with both hands because of the difference in their strength. Kirana swung to parry another bow, and kicked out at Jo. Somehow he managed to both execute the swing and avoid the kick.
Quickly their matched turned into a deadly, yet, oddly, graceful dance. The other's stopped to watch at the strength and grace each opponent showed. The fighting lasted for an hour before they really began to tire, both unwilling to give up. Of course they stopped eventually, in a draw.
An arrow flew out of nowhere a struck the ground at Kirana and Jo's feet. Immediately Jo grabbed her arm and shoved he in into the circle of men forming. Their risking their lives for me, Kirana realized. This wasn't what she wanted, so she opened her mouth to speak. A look from one of the warriors told her to hold her tongue. Someone called for the ambusher's to show themselves.
A ring of men came out of the woods, surrounding them, all in full combat armor. One, obviously the leader, spoke. No demanded. "Hand her over and no one gets hurt."
"Never. She must learn the elements to save us all." John said this as his men cried out in agreement. Kirana knew their was only one thing she could do, she whistled. Three other men, along with Jo, followed suit.
A yell of surprise came form where the horses were corralled. Apparently the palace guards didn't want anyone escaping. Not my spirit guide. Kirana thought angrily as the horses barged into the ring of men. Seeing a man on top of Sienna Kirana brought her fist up into his face then dragged him of her horse. Swinging up Kirana looked around.
She couldn't leave them like this, not now. She looked down to see John standing by her foot. "You must leave. We can hold them off. You must master the elements. You will get used to making sacrifices, Avatar. I believe in you." With that John leaped into the fray. Kirana looked away, tears in her eyes. Jo motioned for her to follow, and for the second time they made a mad dash for freedom.