Chapter 2:Kyoshi Island
After two days of traveling, Kiaree is relieved to see Kyoshi Island appear on the horizon. Once she gets closer to land, Kiaree can make out the elephant koi gliding along next to the base of the boat. She doesn't know much about Kyoshi Island, only that, centuries ago, Avatar Aang visited here and road the Unagi. Kiaree involuntarily scans the water in search of the carnivorous eel. Once docked on the shore, Kiaree can make out the statue of Kyoshi marking the entrance to the town. She lets Kisu fly around the bushes in search of bugs or mice to snack on.
"Welcome to Kyoshi Island!" Jeong exclaims, spreading his arms in front of him. "This will be your home for the time being."
"Thank you," Kiaree says, looking up. White, fluffy clouds dot the sky and it reminds her of home. Teo loved laying out in the yard with her and looking at the clouds. It makes her miss her family.
"Shall we proceed?" Jeong asks, snapping her back to the present. Kiaree nods, whistling for Kisu. He flies through the undergrowth, a mouse-tail hanging limp out of his mouth. The three head down a path leading to the village, a boat worker carrying her bag behind them. Once in the village, Kiaree experiences the sheer size of Kyoshi's statue. While walking further into the village, Kiaree looks back at it, and notices that it looks like the statue is winking at her. She shakes it off, then turns to meet the crowd of people that have come to welcome her. They cheer, and she waves them a hello. Jeong rushes her past the crowd and into a Dojo at the end of the town. There, she sees eight women dressed in armored, green kimonos, medal headdresses, and white-faced makeup. One woman, who seemed in charge, steps forward. She seems young, probably in her twenties.
"Hello," she says, bowing. "I'm Shao, and these are the Kyoshi Warriors. We welcome you to Kyoshi Island." Kiaree bows back.
"Thank you," Kiaree says.
"Well now," Jeong says, clearing his throat. "I have business to attend to, so I'll be on my way. Kiaree, if there is anything you need, the Kyoshi warriors are here to help you. If you need to reach me, you can give me a ring on the telephone and…"
"We don't have telephones here," Shao says. Jeong looks confused. "We try to keep Kyoshi Island as 'out dated' as possible. But if Kiaree wants to reach you, we adapted a sort of messenger hawk from the fire nation."
"All right, then 'messenger hawk' me," he says, and then strides out of the dojo. The other Kyoshi Warriors disperse around the training dojo, but Shao calls one back over.
"Meg," she says, "your training is dismissed for the day. Will you show the avatar to her room?"
"Ok, follow me," the girl says, and the two walk out of the dojo.
"Hi," she says. "I'm Meg."
"Kiaree," Kiaree says. "So, I'm guessing you're a Kyoshi warrior?"
"Almost. I'm still in training." She takes Kiaree to one of the many wooden huts lining the village. "This is where you will be staying. My house is right next door!" Kiaree's room is on the main street, with two rows of houses behind it and in front. It is one of the houses she passed with Jeong, and the dojo is just a few buildings down. It has the same, traditional green roof and wooden shingles as the other buildings, but has a neater, less run down look to it.
"Omg! Is this your dragon?" Meg shrieks, stroking Kisu, who is resting on Kiaree's shoulders.
"Yah," Kiaree laughs. "His name is Kisu."
"I didn't even know dragons were allowed as pets, you know, because of how little of them there are," Meg says, then leans in closer to Kiaree. "So did you, like, steal him?" she whispers, causing Kiaree to laugh.
"No, the Sun Warriors gave him to me!" Kiaree laughs. She is starting to like Meg.
"Ok," Meg laughs, "just wondering. Well, I'm going to go back to train. Feel free to come watch any time." Meg start to leave then turns and shouts, "Oh! I almost forgot. Shao asked me to remind you that tomorrow your earth bending master is arriving and your training starts as soon as he gets here!" With that, Meg runs into the dojo. Kiaree sighs and turns back to her new home.
"This is all going by so fast," Kiaree thinks. Kisu flies into the house in front of her and Kiaree strides in after him.
The next day, Master Haru arrives on Kyoshi Island. He is to be Kiaree's earth bending teacher. As soon as he settles in, the two head to a bolder field behind the Kyoshi dojo to start training. They spend all day practicing forms and the basics of earth bending, yet, by the end of the day, Kiaree can barley budge a bolder. She is disappointed, but Master Haru assures her that in time, it will come to her. She just has to be patient.
"So, you know how to chi block?" Meg asks a week later. They are sitting at a café on one of the new streets on the island. It's a place they like to hang out at after both of their training.
"Yah, my mom taught me, but she wasn't very good," Kiaree laughs. "She doesn't like to fight."
"Could you show me?" Meg asks.
"Sure. Do you have a practice dummy or something I could show you on?"
"I don't think so," Meg thinks. "Just chi block on me!"
"No way."
"Please!"
"I'm not just going to let you stand there while I chi block you!" Kiaree exclaims. "Though it would be fun," Kiaree thinks to herself, then smirks. "How about we have a little practice fight? Kyoshi Island Agni Kai!" Kiaree jokes.
"Ok!" Meg says, grabbing Kiaree and running around to the back of the dojo.
"Fine," Kiaree says. "Here are the rules. No bending, for me, and no fans, for you. It'll just be hand to hand. Ok?"
"Gotcha," Meg says, then bows to Kiaree. Kiaree bows back, then they take a stance and circle each other. The whole thing is too funny for Kiaree not to laugh, but Meg keeps a serious expression. Being a Kyoshi Warrior, she is trained in hand to hand combat. The two go at it for a bit and its obvious Meg has the upper hand. Kiaree sends a series of quick jabs to Meg's left arm and it goes limp.
"That's so cool!" Meg says, poking at her arm.
"You promise I didn't hurt you?" Kiaree asks, concerned.
"Yah, I'm fine, but lets keep going!"
"If you says so," Kiaree says. Meg rubs her arm back to life and continues. At one point, Meg dives behind the boulders and Kiaree can't find her. Kiaree stays in her stance and turns, looking for her. Meg runs at her from behind a rock and Kiaree can feel her through the ground. She panics and, not knowing her own strength, kicks her right heel up. The next step Meg takes sends her flying forward in the air. Kiaree stares at her flying friend until Meg does a somersault on the ground and lands on her feet, but then falls backwards. She just stares at Kiaree.
"What… what happened?" Kiaree asks, stunned.
"You made me fall on my butt. And you cheated!" Meg exclaims. "That's what happened."
"…Cheated?"
"You earth bended." Kiaree still can't believe this. She looks where Meg was standing and there is a column of earth where there hadn't been before.
"You mean… I did that?" Kiaree exclaims, pointing at the earth behind her.
"Yah, which means I win!" Meg jumps up. "Oh, and congrats on earth bending," she smirks. It finally sinks in that she earth bended, and a huge smile spreads across Kiaree's face. Then she remembers that she flung Meg 20ft in the air and rushes to her friend.
"Are you ok? Did I hurt you?" Kiaree asks, scanning Meg for cuts or bruises.
"Nah, I'm fine. But my arm still feels weird," Meg says, rubbing her arm. The two are laughing when Master Haru comes behind the dojo.
"Glad to see you're here early," he says, looking questioningly at the column of earth. "Who did that?" Kiaree slowly raises her hand.
"Wow, I'm impressed."
"I gotta go. Kyoshi Warrior training and stuff," Meg says, running into the dojo.
"See ya," Kiaree calls, then turns to face her master.
"So you did that," Master Haru stated. "How?"
"I'm not sure," Kiaree says. "Meg and I were having a little Kyoshi Island Agni Kai, just for fun, and she sneak attacked me. I panicked and accidently earth bended? I don't know…"
"That might mean you're starting to get the hang of earth bending. But for now, lets stick with rocks, not rock columns," Haru instructs and Kiaree laughs.
"Ok," she agrees. "Let's start training."
After two months of being on Kyoshi Island, The White Lotus message Kiaree that they will be coming soon. Their duties in Republic City took longer than expected and they will be coming soon to take her to Ba Sing Se. Not long after receiving the letter, the White Lotus arrive on Kyoshi Island. They inform Kiaree that they will depart in one day, to give her time to pack and say goodbye. Kiaree immediately goes to tell Meg, realizing that she will have to leave her best friend.
"No!" Meg exclaims. "You can't leave! You're the only real friend I have here!"
"You still have the rest of the Kyoshi Warriors. And I have Kisu. At least we wont be lonely," Kiaree states. "But, I know, I'm going to miss you too." The two friends hug.
"Well, we still have one day, so let's make it fun!" Meg says.
"Um," Kiaree starts. "Well, actually, Haru scheduled earth bending training for today. I tried to get out of it, but you know how he is."
"But… its out last day together," Meg pouts. "And not only that, its your birthday! You're fifteen!"
Kiaree laughs. "You're right," she says. "Which means I'm officially a year older than you."
"Whatever. We can both skip our training today and cause some trouble," Meg says mischievously.
"Isn't the avatar supposed to save the world from trouble, not cause it?" Kiaree laughs.
"Guess you better save the world from me then," Meg says, running off.
"Ok, fine," Kiaree yells, running after her. "I'll skip training. Now let's go have some fun."
Meg and Kiaree spend the day together, and that night Kiaree receives a letter from her father.
My dearest Kiaree,
Happy Birthday, my love. I've missed you so much. Now that you're gone, Teo won't stop sitting in your room asking where you've gone. I can tell he misses you as much as I do. Your mother sends you her best wishes, though she isn't able to write at this time. She is busy with Teo. You know how she babies him. I hope your avatar training is going well. The White Lotus informed us that you will be headed to Ba Sing Se soon. I know how much you've wanted to see a big city and I am excited for you. I miss and love you dearly.
Love,
Your Father Korruk
Kiaree gets teary from reading her father's letter.
"Figures Mom wouldn't 'have time' to write to me," Kiaree thinks. She lies down on her cot and presses the letter to her chest. Kisu flies to her and snuggles around her head.
"Hey there, buddy," Kiaree murmurs, stroking Kisu. After the long day, Kiaree drifts to sleep. But when she wakes, Kiaree isn't in her house anymore. She is standing at the front of Kyoshi Island, near the statue. Smoke starts to billow around her and Kiaree realizes that she might to be fully awake yet.
"Hello?" Kiaree calls out, hearing noises come from in front of her. Kyoshi's statue starts to shimmer, and something flies from it.
"Hello," an unfamiliar voice says. Kiaree spins around and standing behind her is a woman. "I'm Avatar Kyoshi."
This takes a minute to sinks in. "How… how am I talking to you?" Kiaree asks, astonished.
"I am a part of you. Though I was the avatar many centuries ago, I am still within you, as are all past avatars."
"Am I dreaming?" Kiaree asks, pinching herself.
"Most likely," Kyoshi says. "I came because I can tell you are in need of advice."
"I am?" Kiaree asks. "I didn't know I was in trouble."
"Not yet," Kyoshi says. "But in the future, trouble may befall you. It all depends on the choices you make and how you shape your destiny."
"So, what's the advice?"
"I came to tell you to know who your friends and enemies are. Sometimes, it may be hard to tell one from the other. Know who you can and can't trust Kiaree, or people may end up betraying you."
"Who are you talking about?" Kiaree asks, but Kyoshi has disappeared. "Wait! I have more questions!" Kiaree sits up in her cot and yells "Kyoshi!" but she has woken up. She swings her legs over the side of the bed, her hand on her forehead.
"And I though this was going to be easy," she murmurs. "Guess not."
The next day, Jeong comes to her door bright and early. Kiaree is already up. She couldn't sleep after her weird dream.
"Today's the big day, Avatar!" he calls through the threshold.
"I know," Kiaree grumbles, brining her bag to the door. Jeong takes her bag and hands it to a boat worker behind him.
"Let's head to the ship," Jeong says.
"Wait!" Kiaree says, grabbing his sleeve. "Can I say goodbye to my friend one last time?"
Jeong sighs. "Ok, but hurry up. The boat leaves in ten minutes. Kiaree bows a thank you to him and runs next door to Meg's house.
"Meg?" Kiaree calls, waking the sleeping girl up.
"Kiaree? Are you leaving now?" Meg asks groggily, sitting up on her cot.
"Yah, I am. But I couldn't leave without saying goodbye."
Meg sighs, standing up. "Guess this is it then. I'm really going to miss you." Meg hugs Kiaree.
"Maybe you don't have to," Kiaree says, pulling away.
"What do you mean?" Meg asks.
"What if you came with me?" Kiaree exclaims, jumping up and down. "You've almost finished your Kyoshi Warrior training anyway, and who knows how lonely I might get! Kisu isn't a very good listener. And... I'm the avatar. If I tell the White Lotus I want you to come along, it's not like they're going to say no."
Meg thinks for a minute. "It does make sense. Ok, let's do it! I'll go talk to the Kyoshi Warriors and meet you at the boat." The two run out with big smiles on their faces. Kiaree whistles for Kisu and he flies to her side. Once at the boat, Jeong asks if she is ready to leave.
"Almost," Kiaree says, looking back at the village. She sees Meg run out of the dojo and over to the boats. "Ok, now we're ready."
Meg bows to Jeong.
"What's she doing here?" Jeong asks.
"Meg is coming with us," Kiaree says and the two friends stride on the boat. Jeong shakes his head and follows the girls. Master Haru is already on board and gives Kiaree a mad look for skipping training. She shys away from him.
"All Aboard!" calls the captain. "Next stop, the Earth Kingdom!"
