Chapter Four: The Warriors of Kyoshi
Zuko sat on the floor, his legs crossed, meditating. In front of him was a low table, holding four candles. The flickering flame atop each candle grew and shrank as Zuko breathed.
The door opened with a creak, and Iroh poked his head in. "The only reason you should be interrupting me if is you have news of the Avatar," Zuko said, his voice icily calm.
Iroh pushed the door open further, taking a few steps into the room, pulling a scroll out from the folds of his robe. He glanced down at the scroll. "There is news, Prince Zuko. But you might not like it," Iroh answered. "Don't get too upset."
"Uncle, you told me keeping a level head is a sign of a great leader. Now whatever you have to say, I'm sure I can take it." Zuko's voice remained level as he spoke.
Iroh shrugged. "Okay then. We have no idea where she is." He held up his arm to shield his face from the flames that rose from the melted wax of the candles as Zuko's disbelieving "what?!" echoed around the room.
Iroh pulled a fan out from inside his sleeve, snapping it open deftly and fanning away the smoke as the flames died down. "You really should open a window," he commented.
Zuko leapt to his feet, his hands clenched into fists. "Give me the map," he demanded, snatching the scroll from his uncle's hand.
"Well, there have been many sightings of the Avatar, but she is impossible to track down," Iroh explained as Zuko unrolled the parchment, glancing over the dots strewn haphazardly across the map that indicated where the Avatar had been seen.
"How am I going to find her, Uncle?" He asked, his shoulders slumped and a worried crease in his brow. "She is clearly a master of evasive maneuvering."
* * * * * *
Sokka studied the map, lifting one eyebrow to glance at Kija, who sat happily in front of the saddle, Appa's reins in her hands. "You have no idea where we're going, do you," he asked drily.
"Well, I know it's near water," she said sheepishly, glancing down at the vast ocean spreading out like a carpet underneath them.
"I guess we're getting close then," Sokka replied sarcastically.
Kija looked up at Katara, who was sitting relaxed in the front of the saddle, stitching up a hole in Sokka's pants.
"Momo, marbles please," Kija asked, and the small creature reached into her pocket, pulling out a few marbles and placing them in her outstretched hand.
"Check out this airbending trick, Katara," she said excitedly, an expectant smile on her face as the marbles began to spin around in her hand.
"That's great," she said offhandedly, concentrating on her sewing. Kija's pale face twisted into a frown, and the marbles fell into her palm. "You didn't even look," she said dejectedly.
Katara looked up from the fabric in her hands, a fake smile on her tanned face. "That's great, Kija," she said with forced enthusiasm.
Kija crossed her arms and sighed. "But I'm not doing it now," she complained.
"Stop bugging her, airhead. You should know not to bug girls when they're doing their sewing," Sokka commented offhandedly.
Katara's eyes narrowed dangerously. "What does me being a girl have to do with sewing?" Kija frowned, lifting an eyebrow. Sokka waved his hand dismissively. "Simple. Girls are better at fixing pants than guys, and guys are better at hunting and fighting, stuff like that. It's just the natural order of things," he said, shrugging. Kija laughed.
"Sokka, you do realize that I can't sew, and I fight better than you?" A smirk appeared on her face. Sokka glared at the girl. "Well that's just not normal then. Katara isn't gonna be a warrior for example," he said, leaning back against the saddle.
Katara suddenly sat up straighter, a big, fake smile on her face. "All done with your pants! And look what a great job I did!" She pulled at the fabric, revealing a large hole in the back. She tossed the cloth at Sokka, hitting him in the face.
"Wait! I can't wear these," he sputtered, pulling the clothing off of his face. "Katara, please!"
Kija giggled, yanking on Appa's reins.
"Relax, Sokka," she said, laughing. "Where we're going, you won't need pants!" Sokka looked at her, bewildered as Appa made a steep descent towards a small island in the middle of the ocean.
"We just made a pit stop yesterday," Sokka pointed out as he slid off of Appa's back, stretching. "Shouldn't we get some more flying done before we camp out?" He looked questioningly at Kija, who was searching the water.
"He's right," Katara added. "At this rate, we won't get to the North Pole till spring!"
"But Appa's tired already," Kija argued, nudging the bison who snorted unconvincingly. She nudged him again, and he gave an over exaggerated yawn.
"Very convincing," Sokka commented drily. "Still, hard to argue with a ten-ton magical monster."
Kija flashed a smile, pointing at the ocean. "Look!" A massive, red-orange koi jumped out of the water. "Elephant koi," she explained. "And I'm gonna ride them!" Kija began to run towards the water, an excited grin on her face.
"Wait!" Katara cried out. "Aren't you going to take off your Air-Bender uniform so it doesn't get wet?" Kija gulped nervously, the smile disappearing as her face paled. "I-I can dry myself with airbending," she said quickly, wasting no time jumping into the foam-capped water.
"Cold!" She yelled, shivering slightly as she swam towards the shadowy figures of the koi in the water.
Sokka glanced at his younger sister, confused. She shrugged, turning back to watch the Air-Bender girl dive underwater.
Kija resurfaced, clinging to the fin of an immense koi, laughing as water sprayed up around her.
An amazed grin spread across Katara's tanned face as she watched Kija disappear back underwater, resurfacing again on the other side of the secluded cove. Kija waved at the siblings on the beach, a wide smile on her face. Katara cheered as the koi dove back into the salty waters, and Sokka shrugged disinterestedly.
"She looks pretty good out there," Katara commented. Sokka stood still, his arms crossed, and rolled his eyes.
"Are you kidding? The fish is doing all the work," he said, unimpressed. Katara's gaze shifted from the pale Air-Bender girl to the giant sky bison.
"No, Appa! Don't eat that!" She scolded, running off to shoo the bison away from the plant he was trying to devour.
Kija turned toward the shore, grinning, the wind making her squint.
"Sokka! Check this out," she called, waving to the Water Tribe boy with one hand. Sokka glanced in her direction reluctantly. "No hands," she yelled, letting to of the creature's fin and using airbending to balance on the back of the koi, her hands up. "Woohoo!" She cried out, her hair tangling in the wind.
Sokka's eyes widened, catching sight of a large shadow weaving its way towards the group of koi- towards Kija
"There's something in the water!" He cried out, leaning forward anxiously as one of the koi fish was pulled backwards, disappearing into the water. Katara burst out of the bushes, skidding to a stop next to Sokka.
"What's wrong?" She asked, concerned.
"Kija's in trouble," he said, a crease appearing in his brow. "KIJA!" He yelled, waving his arms, trying to catch the girl's attention.
"Get back here Kija!" Katara screamed, gesturing wildly for the girl to come back to shore. Kija glanced at the siblings, confused.
"Ahh!" She cried out in surprise as the koi she was riding lurched backwards, struggling uselessly as it was dragged under the waves. She was thrown into the air, landing with a splash.
Katara and Sokka watched as a massive, grey, spiny fin appeared in the water behind the girl, casting a shadow over the water. She turned around cautiously, her mouth dropping open. Her legs began to move, and a blast of air helped her to rocket toward the shore, sea spray flying up behind her. The gray-purple fin began to gain on her as she raced for the shore.
Sokka yelled in surprise as the girl barreled into him, knocking him backwards.
The creature reared it's scaly head, opening it's mouth to spray water towards the trio, before dissapearing under the waves.
Katara ran towards the two, a worried expression on her face. "What was that thing?" She asked as Kija stood up. Kija took a deep breath, clenching her fists, and a gust of air dried her, Katara and Sokka instantly.
"I have no idea," she answered, shivering. "But that was a close call."
Sokka rubbed his head, clambering to his feet. He dusted off his hands, and said decisively, "Well, lets not stick around to find out. Time to hit the road."
A look of surprise spread across Kija's pale face as a group of green-clad figures leapt down from the trees, surrounding them in an instant. Sokka was pulled backwards by a pair of gloved hands. Katara's parka hood was forced over her head, and both siblings were tossed down, blindfolded and with arms and legs tied.
Kija was locked in close combat with one of the warriors, her eyes narrowed as she blocked a sneaky punch to her throat. Kija lifted her arm, intending to jab her opponent in the neck with her elbow, but the warrior darted past her weakened defense, hitting her quickly in the stomach. "Ooof," she gasped as the breath was knocked out of her. "You're pretty good," she complimented as she was tossed to the ground, blindfolded and tied.
"I guess we're staying for a while," Sokka commented sarcastically from somewhere to her left. "I guess we are," Kija sighed as she was hauled unceremoniously to her feet.
"You three have some explaining to do," a deep, gravelly male voice said from in front of the trio, who had been tied to a pole.
"And if you don't answer all our questions, we'll throw you back in the water, with the Unagi," a higher, female voice finished.
"So... I take it the Unagi is the big fish-serpent thing?" Kija asked mildly, unfazed by the fact she was tied to a pole. "Yes," the female voice responded curtly.
"Show yourselves, cowards!" Sokka demanded, irritated that they had been captured.
"Who are you?" He asked, after the heavy, black cloth had been removed from their eyes, revealing a group of young women dressed in earthen green warrior uniforms, their faces painted. "Where are the men who ambushed us?"
"There were no men," a girl with shoulder length auburn hair snapped, pointing her finger at the bemused Sokka. "We ambushed you. Now tell us: who are you, and why are you here?"
"Wait a second,"Sokka scoffed defiantly. "There's no way a bunch of girls took us down."
The auburn-haired girl, who Kija realized must be the leader, grabbed the neck of Sokka's parka, a scowl marring her painted face. "A bunch of girls, huh? The unagi will eat well tonight."
"No! Don't hurt him," Katara objected. "My brother's just an idiot sometimes," she apologized.
The girl reluctantly let the blue fabric fall from her hand, and Sokka frowned.
"It's my fault we came here," Kija spoke up, drawing the attention away from the siblings. "I wanted to ride the elephant koi," she explained apologetically.
"How do we know you're not Fire Nation spies," a gray haired older man said angrily, pointing an accusing finger at the trio. "Kyoshi has stayed out of the war so far, and we intend to keep it that way!"
Kija perked up, her eyes widening in surprise. "This island is named for Kyoshi?" She asked excitedly. "I know Kyoshi!"
The gray haired man scoffed disbelievingly, his voice unkind, "How could you possibly know her? Avatar Kyoshi was born here 400 years ago. She's been dead for centuries!"
Kija glanced away for a second before turning to meet the man's steely blue gaze. "I know her because... I'm the Avatar," she said, her voice soft.
"That's impossible," the auburn haired warrior girl snapped, her fist clenched. "The last Avatar was an Air-Bender that disappeared a hundred years ago!"
Kija's shoulders slumped, her face clouded with mixed emotions. "Yeah... that's me," she said dejectedly.
The older man's eyes narrowed, distrust written plainly on his face. "Throw the impostors to the Unagi," he commanded, his tone leaving room for no argument.
The female warriors approached the trio warily,each girl swiftly snapping open two gold-plaited fans.
Without a word, a gust of air tore off Kija's bindings, and she flew up the pole, coming to a gentle drop on the other side. Her bending was met with a chorus of amazed gasps.
"It's true," the older man murmured, his eyes wide in surprise. "You are the Avatar."
Kija crossed her arms, sticking out her lower lip. "I'm annoyed you didn't believe me," she teased.
"I'm so sorry, Avatar," the older man began to apologize, his brow creased in worry.
Kija waved him off, raising an eyebrow in surprise. "I'm joking, I'm joking! Sheesh!" The older man smiled thinly, before bowing towards the Avatar.
She inclined her head respectfully in return and said honestly, "It's an honor to be here."
"The Avatar's on Kyoshi Island?" Zuko exclaimed as a crew member delivered the news, as well as his dinner. He leapt to his feet, turning to the relaxed Iroh.
"Uncle, ready the rhinos," he commanded as he stalked towards the door. "She's not getting away from me this time," he promised darkly.
Iroh motioned to the platter, a well-cooked fish steaming on top of a bed of greens. "Are you going to finish that?" He asked.
"I was going to save it for later!" Zuko snapped, annoyed. He turned back to the table, snatching up the warm plate and stalking off. Iroh glared at the table, his arms crossed, and his bottom lip stuck out as he pouted.
"Uhm... Dessert for breakfast?" Kija raised an eyebrow at the wide assortment of pastries spread over the table. She took a seat next to Katara and shrugged. "One day can't hurt," she reasoned before picking up a frosted cake and biting into it, the fruity center bursting open in her mouth.
"Mm... You have to try this," she groaned through a mouthful of food. "Well... Maybe just a bite," Katara allowed. The girl's eyes widened as she took a bite of the frosted fruit dessert.
"Told you it was good," Kija said with a grin, her hand hovering over a tray of pale yellow sponge cakes, filled with rich cream. She made up her mind, grabbing one of the cakes and shoving it into her mouth. "Mmmm..." She said with her mouth full of pastry. She finished the small cake, and noticed Sokka sitting in the corner, his knees pulled up to his chest and his arms crossed.
"Sokka? What's your problem? Eat," she suggested, tossing a flaky pastry towards him. The dessert hit the boy in the head and landed unnoticed on the floor.
"Not hungry," he muttered. Kija looked at the sulking young man in surprise. "But you're always hungry," she said, chucking another dessert towards him, that landed in his lap.
"He's just upset that a bunch of girls kicked his butt yesterday," Katara teased smugly.
"They snuck up on me!" Sokka protested, beginning to stand up, glaring indignantly at his younger sibling.
"Right," Katara proceeded, her tone mocking. "And then they kicked your butt."
Sokka shot to his feet, embarrassed. "Sneak attacks don't count!" He snapped.
"Aw, it's okay," Kija said sympathetically. "They kicked my butt too." Sokka glared at her and she shrugged, resuming her breakfast.
"Tie me up with ropes," he muttered as he walked towards the table. "I'll show them a thing or two... I'm not scared of any girls," he ranted, pausing to scoop up some pastries. He shoved a few in his mouth as he stalked towards the door. "Mm, this is tasty," he mumbled as he left the room.
"Serves him right," Kija chuckled after the Water Tribe boy had left. The two sat in companionable silence for a few moments. "I really like it here," Kija said finally, swallowing the last of her pastry.
"Hey, don't get too comfortable," Katara warned. "We can't stay in one place very long."
"Aww, but look how happy I made this town. And I really wanna train with the Kyoshi Warriors," she complained, looking at Katara with pleading eyes. Katara sighed in defeat. "Fine," she said begrudgingly. "But don't let all the attention to to your head," she added as an afterthought. Kaija shrugged off her warning. "Believe me, it won't." She stood up, stretching with a groan as her back cracked, before strolling leisurely towards the window, only to be met with a cheering crowd. She rolled her eyes and walked downstairs.
"I'm gonna try and sneak out," she cried back to Katara.
Midday found Kija amidst a forest of pine, her footsteps crunching on the snow. The Kyoshi Warriors' training but appeared over a rise, the thatched roof the first thing she saw. Kija climbed over the hill, catching sight of the auburn-haired girl next to the door.
"Hey," she called out, waving. The girl turned around, her stance wary. She relaxed, seeing it was the Avatar.
"Hello," she said formally. Kija approached her, climbing over the rocks dusted in snow. "I'm Kija," she said, her voice friendly. "I'm Suki," the auburn haired girl replied, a smile on her painted face.
"So..." Kija sighed. "I was wondering if you'd let me train with the Kyoshi Warriors..." She asked, shifting her weight uncomfortably. The smile didn't fade from Suki's face, and she replied, "of course! You're just in time for our first session. From sparring with you before, I can tell already that you'll catch on easily enough." Kija grinned happily, nearly jumping up and down in excitement. "Great! So can I start now?" Suki laughed at her impatience. She put a hand on Kija's back, and guided her into the building. "You'll need a uniform first..."
Minutes later, Kija was dressed in a dark green warrior uniform, complete with white face paint, arcs of red and black above her eyes. "So what is your style based on?" She asked as Suki began to stretch, motioning for her to do the same.
"It's not about strength, of that's what you're wondering," Suki replied as she leaned down to touch the ground. "It's about exploiting weak points in an opponent's form and using their weight and strength against them." Kija's eyes widened in recognition.
"So like airbending, in a way." Suki nodded as she straightened up, pulling her arm back behind her head. "Yeah. It's similar," she acknowledged. "Alright, time to go join the rest of the group," Suki said with a grin as she straightened up. "I'll get you some spare fans and we'll be ready to go!"
Sokka trudged up the snowy path, grumbling. "...can't believe I got beat up by a bunch of girls," he muttered as he approached the door to the dojo. Sokka peeked in the doorway, a slight smirk playing at his features. The young man entered the hut confidently, holding his hands up in apology.
"Sorry ladies, I didn't mean to interrupt your dance lesson," he said haughtily.
"Sokka?" A familiar voice rang out. One of the green clad warriors relaxed their stance, smiling at him. "Kija?" He asked, his tone disbelieving. "What are you doing here?"
Kija shrugged nonchalantly, her fan snapping shut in one deft movement. "Training," was her simple reply. "What are you doing here?"
Sokka took a few small steps into the barely furnished training dojo, stretching as he spoke. "Oh y'know, just looking for a place to get a good workout," he answered. Suki raised a questioning eyebrow at Kija, and she shrugged. `
Suki's stance relaxed as well, and the other warrior girls followed suit. "Well, you've come to the right place," she stated as Sokka reached down to touch the floor. "And sorry about yesterday, I didn't know you were friends with the Avatar," she added apologetically. Sokka smiled confidently as he began to stretch his arms.
"Well, usually I'd hold a grudge, but seeing as you guys are a bunch of girls, I'll make an exception," he drawled. Suki looked at Sokka with wide eyes, her hand on her hips. "I should hope so," she said with blatant sarcasm. "A big, strong man like you? We wouldn't stand a chance." Sokka rolled his neck, unbeknownst to the girl's sarcasm. "True," he said, a condescending smirk on his tan face, "but don't feel bad... After all, I am the best warrior in my village," he boasted, crossing his arms smugly. Kija giggled from behind Suki, but quickly masked the laugh with a cough. "Best warrior, huh?" Suki leant forward, laying on the flattery. "In your whole village? Would you be kind enough to give us a demonstration?" Sokka's smirk was instantly wiped off his face, and he looked at the group of girls with wide eyes. "Oh... Well, I mean- I..." He stammered. Suki turned to the girls, her voice sickly sweet, "c'mon girls... Wouldn't you like him to show us some moves?"
The Kyoshi Warriors all nodded, except Kija, who shook her head. "Well, if that's what you want, id be happy to," Sokka said nonchalantly, his air of superiority regained. He strolled over to Suki, pushing her back a few steps.
"Alright. You stand over there," he said as he backed up. "Now, this may be a little tough," he said as he positioned himself into a lopsided fighting stance, "but try to block me." He stepped forward, readying his fist. Before he even made contact, Suki's metal fan hit him squarely in the shoulder. He backed up again, laughing uncertainly. "Good," he said, surprised. "Of course, I was going easy on you."
"Of course," Suki replied, mocking Sokka's smug tone.
"Let's see if you can handle this!" Sokka yelled, swinging his leg up in a sloppy kick, his arms limp at his sides. Suki quickly ducked under his leg, knocking him into the air with her arm.
She stood up, unfazed, and snapped her fan open, looking down at Sokka, who was sprawled out on the ground.
Kija shook her head frantically, trying to signal Sokka to stop. The Water Tribe boy's eyes narrowed and he began to stand up.
"That does it!" He snapped, before charging forward, his arm extended. Suki cooly grabbed his arm, one hand pressed into his shoulder, and began to spin him in a circle. She moved her hand to the top of his arm, and began to swing him the other way, she held on to his wrist with one hand as her other hand deftly pulled off his belt. She quickly tied the cloth belt securely around his wrist and his ankle, before letting him go. Sokka hopped forward a few steps, falling on his face with a thump, an embarrassed blush on his cheeks.
"Anything else you want to show us?" Suki teased, her hands on her hips as the other Kyoshi Warriors giggled, standing around his prone form. Kija stepped forward, her arms crossed.
"I told you, Sokka," she scolded as the young man looked up at the girls with wide, humiliated eyes. She reached down, untying the belt around his arm and leg, and hauling him unceremoniously to his feet. "Now shoo," she said, a small smile ghosting over her lips as she tossed the belt towards his retreating figure.
Katara stood in the quiet marketplace, the afternoon sun warm on her face. Her hands moved deliberately over the assortment of greens, picking the ripe vegetables up and placing them in a woven basket. She heard footsteps behind her, and turned to see Sokka, trudging through the streets, his shoulders slumped in disappointment.
"Sokka!" She called out, waving him over. She picked up the heavy, bulky basket, and asked, "can you help me carry this back to the room? It's kind of heavy."
Sokka raised his head to look at his younger sister. "Can't..." He grunted. Katara raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean you can't?" She asked disbelievingly. Sokka looked away, a faint blush on his cheeks. "Gotta go back to Kyoshi Warriors... Ask something," he muttered, embarrassed.
Katara smiled knowingly. "Ah. I get it," she said smugly, crossing her arms. "The GIRLS beat you, didn't they." Sokka didn't reply, he just kept trudging down towards the village. "I don't wanna talk about it," he grumbled. "I just wanna get some lunch." Katara smirked, watching her older brother's retreating form. "Maybe this'll make him less sexist," she thought to herself as she hoisted up the heavy basket, filled to the brim with supplies for their trip.
Kija watched Suki as she shifted from a horse stance to a forward stance, extending her arm, fan in hand. She followed suit, her stance strong and sturdy.
"More fluid," Suki instructed to her as she walked around the group of girls. "This isn't about strength, remember?" Kija nodded and relaxed her form slightly as she moved into the next stance. Suki resumed her place in the front of the group as they moved into a lunge. A voice piped up from the door to the dojo, and Kija's stance faltered.
"Uh, hey... Suki," Sokka greeted nervously. Suki stood up, her hands on her hips, and the rest of the warriors followed suit. "Hoping for another dance lesson?" She asked, her tone teasing. "No, I uh... Well- let me explain," Sokka said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head.
Suki's eyes narrowed and she crossed her arms. "Spit it out," she demanded. "What do you want?" Sokka met the girl's gray-brow glare, his brow furrowed anxiously. He took a deep breath, and bowed his head, falling to his knees.
"I would be honored... If you would teach me," he said humbly.
Suki raised her painted eyebrows questioningly. "Even if I'm a girl?" She snarked. Sokka didn't raise his head, his eyes glancing to the side.
"I'm sorry if I insulted you earlier," he said sincerely. "I was... Wrong." Suki's reply was indecisive. "We normally don't teach outsiders, let alone boys." Sokka glanced up at the girl and practically begged, "please make an exception." He looked down at the floor. "I won't let you down." Suki thought for a moment, before giving a small nod. A smirk formed on her painted face, and she answered, "alright... But you have to follow all of our traditions." Sokka straightened up and met her unwavering gaze, replying quickly, "of course." The smirk on her face became more prominent as she added, "and I mean all of them."
Sokka stood in the dark green warrior outfit that the girls had forced him into, his face painted white, black and red. "Do I really have to wear this?" Sokka asked. "It seems a little... Girly." His shoulders slumped.
Suki stood a little ways away, her arms folded behind her back. A small smile played on her lips, and she replied, "it's a warrior's uniform. You should be proud." Sokka glanced down at his outfit as she spoke. "The silk thread symbolizes the brave blood that flows through our veins. The gold insignia, represents the honor of the warrior's heart." Sokka began to smile, straightening up proudly and placing his hands on his hips. "Bravery and honor," he repeated.
Kija smiled mischievously, and piped up, "Yep, it's not any dress, it's a fighting dress!" Suki giggled, and Sokka sulked once more.
Katara sat in the hut, a small bowl of water in front of her. The late afternoon sun shone through the window as she practiced her waterbending technique, a tendril of liquid swaying back and forth with her movements. A sudden noise from in the foyer caused her to lose her focus, and the rope of water fell back in the bowl with a splash.
"Who's there?" She called, surprise in her voice. A reassuring call answered her. "It's me," Kija yelled as she took off her shoes, walking into the living room. "
How's training?" She asked politely as Katara refocused her attention the the small wooden bowl. "Good... I'm not really doing much now, but later I'm planning on going down to the lake to work on a wave that I'm trying to make," Katara answered absentmindedly. "That's great!" Kija said, a smile on her pale face. "I'm just gonna grab some lunch, then I'm heading back to train with the Kyoshi Warriors a bit more." Kija left the room quietly, and Katara sighed, returning all her attention to her waterbending.
Kija grabbed a roll from the table, and ran back through the living room, stuffing the bread in her mouth as she pulled on her shoes. "I'll be back later, Katara," she yelled as she bolted out the door.
"You're not gonna master it in one day," Suki commented, watching as Sokka concentrated on finishing the complicated form he had learned.
"Even I'm not that good." He continued to move through the stances, and thrust out his arm, the fan in his grasp flying forward and crashing into a tree outside.
"It's not... About strength," Kija panted from outside, out of breath, seeing as she had ran all the way there.
"Correct," Suki said with a smile. "It's about using your opponent's force against them," she explained. "Think of the fan as an extension of your arm," she continued, as both her and Sokka shifted into fighting stances.
"Wait for an opening, then..." She moved forward, aiming with the fan to get past his defense. Sokka's eyes followed her arm, and he darted out of the way at the last second, and pushed her backward. Suki landed on the hard ground with a grunt, and Sokka crossed his arms.
"Ooh, he got you," Kija teased from the sidelines. "I fell on purpose to make you feel better," Suki protested, a blush on her painted cheeks.
"I got you," Sokka crowed, pointing a finger at Suki. "Admit it, I got you!" Suki grabbed his finger, twisting it backwards slightly.
"Okay, beginners luck," she allowed as Sokka tried to maneuver out of her grip. "Lets see you do it again," she challenged with a small smile. The pair began to circle each other, and Kija slid to the ground, crossing her legs, content to just watch.
Katara walked leisurely through the trees, a pattern of sunlight and darkness dappling the ground. The leaves crunched under her feet as she walked towards the shore of the lake. She emerged through a clearing, and made her way to a nice secluded spot, where only the sound of waves lapping against the shore could be heard. Katara stood on the beach, and took a deep breath before beginning the waterbending technique. Her hands rose up, a small mass of water forming a wave that splashed on the shore. Katara grinned, and set off to make a bigger wave.
"The idea is to create a giant wave," she murmured to herself as her brow furrowed in concentration. A large surge of salt water began to rise from the surf, and Katara's hands trembled with the effort. The wave grew to a decent size before falling unsuccessfully into the ocean, leaving Katara to wipe the sweat from her brow and try again.
The wave she conjured the third time around was almost over her head when it fell into the lake with a splash. Katara smiled, proud of herself. She sat down on the rocky shore, sweat gleaming on her forehead.
Her training was interrupted by a foghorn that echoed through the rocks. Katara climbed over the rubble warily, her blue eyes widening at the sight of a gray, cast iron ship sailing towards the island.
"Zuko!" She murmured, before scrambling down the rocks, intent on warning the village.
"I want the Avatar alive," Zuko ordered as he and a select number of his crew descended from the ship on the backs of giant Komodo-rhinos. Each rhino held a Fire-Bender and a spearman, who sat in the two-person saddles as the rhinos paraded towards the village.
Kija and Suki circled each other warily, their movements quick and light. Suki thrust her fan forward, only to be blocked by Kija's arm.
"That was good," she complimented sincerely. "Sokka, c'mere," she called to the young man slouched against the wall. "It's your turn." The boy stood up and stretched, before strolling over to Suki, and snapping open the golden metal fan in his hand. Suki jabbed forward with her closed fan, but Sokka swept the blow aside, darting into close range and trying to push Suki back. Suki slid to the side, and Sokka's momentum sent him sprawling on the floor. He stood up and got into a fighting stance just in time to block a thrust from Suki's fan.
"Not bad," she said with a smile, that Sokka returned easily. The sparring session was interrupted by the old man, Oyaji. "Fire-Benders have landed on our shores," he informed them, terrified. "Girls, come quickly!"
Kija giggled, glancing at Sokka, who, dressed in a Kyoshi Warrior uniform, looked like the other girls.
Sokka threw his arms up in exasperation. "I am not a-" he began to protest. "Oh whatever," he grumbled, racing out the doorway after he two girls.
"Come out, Avatar!" Zuko yelled angrily, his voice echoing through the silent town. All the villagers had hidden in their huts as the rhinos stopped in front of the statue of Kyoshi.
"You can't hide from me forever," he called out, his gaze sweeping over the few brave people looking out from doorways and behind buildings.
"Find her," he ordered to the soldiers on the three other rhinos around him. The rhinos began to trot forward slowly, and the few braver villagers shrank back in fear.
In the shadows, a golden fan snapped open, and one of the soldiers turned to look at the spot where a figure had been seconds ago. A form darted between two buildings, and another Fire-Bender's head snapped to the side, eyes narrowed, searching for the moving shadow.
Suddenly, three green-clad figures leapt from the rooftops, knocking the Fire-Bender soldiers out of their saddles and onto the dirt. Another girl swiftly blocked a thrust from a spear, sending the nonbender crewman sprawling on the dirt.
Suki ran forward towards Zuko, leaping into the air to escape a burst of flame. She began to swing her fan, aiming the hard metal at the young man's head.
A snarl twisted Zuko's features, and the komodo-rhino he sat upon turned around, it's tail catching Suki in the stomach and knocking her to the ground. She lay in the dirt as the prince sent a ball of flame towards her head. She flinched away, feeling the heat of the fire.
Sokka slid in front of her at the last minute, knocking away the flame with his open fan. "I guess training's over," he stated, his brow furrowing as he watched Kija leap from the roof, landing in the komodo-rhino's saddle, facing the scarred young man.
"Why hello," she said with a grin, before blocking the punch the angry teen sent her way. She threw in a jab of her own, and zuko grabbed her wrist, trying to twist it. "Not nice," she said with a frown, before pushing him out of the saddle with her free hand, wrenching her wrist from his grasp. Sokka and Suki rushed over to help the girl as Zuko began to sit up. He looked at the group surrounding him with a scowl, and pushed himself up onto his hands, swinging his feet around, producing a ring of fire that sent Sokka and Suki flying backwards. Kija jumped up at the last second, her foot singed by the flame, using airbending to propel herself onto the roof of a nearby building. Zuko leapt forward into the middle of the village path, his fists clenched in anger.
"Nice try, Avatar. But these little girls can't save you," he said coldly. Kija smiled from her place on the rooftop. "Oh really," she called down teasingly. "I think they were doing a pretty good job roughing you up, Ponytail." Before Zuko could make a move, she jumped down from the edge of the roof, landing behind the young man. "Finally," he hissed, spinning around to face her, a jet of flame spewing from his palm. Kija flinched for a second, before quickly knocking his hand away with her own.
"Eager to see me, are you Ponytail," she taunted, having regained her wit. She moved backwards, ducking under another blast of fire, and picking up her staff from the porch of the house she'd been staying at. She used her staff to quickly extinguish the next fireball. Her staff dropped to the ground as another burst of flame knocked it out of her grasp, and she maneuvered her way into his blind spot rather easily. She snapped open her fans, and used the metal objects to airbend a gust of wind at the quickly approaching teen. Zuko flew backwards, crashing into a door. "Well, it was nice seeing you," she called sarcastically to the pile of rubble that held the scarred young man as she grabbed her staff, which was lying on the ground, and threw it into the air, grabbing the smooth wood with her hands. She looked down at the burning houses that made up the village and her eyes widened in sadness. Even the mighty statue of Kyoshi was blackened and burnt. She caught sight of Katara, ushering the children into one of the burnt huts. Her glider arced down, and snapped shut. She fell to the ground, airbending cushioning her fall.
"Look what I brought to this place," she snapped angrily, her voice full of contempt for herself.
"It's not your fault," Katara said soothingly. Kija's eyes narrowed, and she turned around abruptly. "Yes it is. These people got their town destroyed trying to protect me!"
"Then lets get out of here," Katara suggested. "Zuko will leave Kyoshi to follow us. I know it feels wrong to run, but I think it's the only way."
Kija looked at her with wide eyes, before hanging her head in defeat.
"I'll call Appa," she said sadly.
"There's no time to say goodbye," Suki said, glancing at Sokka with some sadness in her eyes as they crouched behind a building.
"What about 'I'm sorry'?" Sokka asked, leaning towards her slightly.
"For what?" Suki questioned, curious and surprised.
"I treated you like a girl when I should've treated you like a warrior," he explained, his voice quiet.
"I am a warrior," Suki agreed with a small smile, before leaning in to press a chaste kiss to his cheek. "But I'm a girl too."
A blush rose in Sokka's cheeks, and he touched his cheek in surprise.
Suki leapt to her feet, standing in the alley between two buildings. "Now get out of here," she ordered. "We'll hold them off." Suki rushed out into the main street, and didn't look back.
"C'mon, Sokka!" Kija called from aboard Appa, having shed her Kyoshi warrior uniform. "We have to go!" She leapt back to the saddle, reaching out her hand to help pull the boy up from Appa's tail. She used airbending to propel herself through the air, landing with the reins in her grasp. "Appa, Yip-yip, Yip-yip!" She yelled desperately. The bulky sky bison took to the skies, soaring over Zuko's head and off into the skies.
Zuko glanced up as a shadow cast over his head. He caught sight of the sky bison flying off, and turned to his crew, who were not faring very well against the Kyoshi Warriors. "Back to the ship," he yelled over his shoulder as he headed back the way he had come. "Don't lose sight of them!"
"I know it's hard, but you did the right thing," Katara said softly as she leant over the saddle. Kija nodded halfheartedly. "Yeah... Ponytail would've destroyed the whole place if we had stayed." Katara's comforting hand squeezed her shoulder. "They're gonna be okay, Kija," she murmured.
Kija sighed dejectedly. "There's gotta be something I can- Oh!" Her eyes lit up as the idea struck her. Without another word, she leapt from the back of her bison, diving headlong into the water below her. The wind was loud in her ears, and she could barely hear Katara's scream of "what are you doing?!"
She plummeted into the icy water, disappearing for a second before emerging on the back of none other than the Unagi, her hands gripping its whiskers like they were reins. She was thrown around a few times before landing on its scaly back, pulling its whiskers back, forcing the monster's mouth open. A jet of water spewed from its mouth, raining over the village. The flames were extinguished, and the Fire Nation soldiers were drenched. A small smile flashed over her lips as the Unagi flung her off. She used a jet of airbending to send herself flying up, clinging to Appa's furry side.
"Thank you, Avatar," Oyaji said with a kindly smile as he watched the trio fly away from Kyoshi Island on Appa's back, the fires in their village now extinguished.
"I know... It was stupid and reckless," Kija said as she climbed into the saddle, sitting crosslegged between the two Water Tribe siblings, smiling. "But I had to help." Katara smiled kindly, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm glad you did," she said softly, pulling her into a hug as the bison flew farther away from the island. "I'm really glad you did."