Chapter Two: Training, and Other Things

The week went by fairly quick. At least it was quick for Phyre. But that could be because she wasn't doing much of anything, and that suited her just fine. She learned during the week that the young man's name was Sokka. He seemed to have a general distrust of all the freedom fighters. His younger sister was Katara, and she just seemed to be utterly blind to Arrow Head's puppy love looks for her. Though she did see, much to Phyre's distaste, Jet making flirtatious looks at her.

The bald one well, his name was Aang. Over the week she had been able to meet all of her students, but only these few had made a real impression on her. She felt a strong connection to Aang, but she couldn't figure out what it meant. She just felt, happier, around him, happier than she'd ever been, well since her parents died...But, she always felt happy around Jet, all those secret looks that made her feel, special. When she was talking with him she felt, wanted and beautiful.

That very afternoon Phyre was to report to Jet's hut so they could talk about the new recruits' progress. He had told her to meet him an hour after lunch, so here she was using the chutes to lift her up in to the trees. She had let class out early because she was just so excited, she hadn't been able to see Jet since she started teaching. She landed on the walkway next to Jet's hut, she was so happy she started skipping to the door. She stopped at the door ready to knock when she heard panting noises. The first though to her mind was that Jet was training. She smiled to herself and pushed aside the flap that served as a door and stepped inside, not prepared for what she saw...

What she saw, was Jet, but he wasn't alone...He was crouched over, someone, they were close together and Jet was mostly naked (AN: He had his pants on, pervs...) He seemed to be heavily, and heatedly, making out with someone. She was pressing herself up against his body rubbing her hands against his abs. She had her face buried in his neck while he held her body to his with one hand and with the other steadied them. he had his eyes squeezed shut and was breathing heavily. He kept trying to steal her lips from his neck but they kept drifting back to the skin above his jugular. Their legs were a jumbled mess, all tangled together.

Unable to keep tears from forming in her eyes, Phyre let out a loud sob. She immediately clapped a hand over her mouth, immobile. Jet took notice of Phyre standing there and jumped back on his mat. The girl was still clinging to him and Jet had to shove her off of him. Finally she saw Phyre standing in the doorway and turned to face her. Phyre's heart broke into even more pieces. The painfully familiar face staring into her own was none other than Smellerbee. Holding another sob back, Phyre staggered backward out of the hut. Her mind was flooded with betrayal, heartbreak, and above all pain. Heart wrenching pain.

Before she fled into the trees she saw Smellerbee try to bring her back but Jet raised a hand and she just sat back down on the hut's wooden floor. She didn't know how, but she had somehow fled across the treetops to her own hut and was flinging herself on her bed crying her eyes out. She didn't hear it but outside her window was the sound of rustling leaves, and soft laughter.

*Aang's P.O.V.*

"Get back here Momo! Ha ha ha!" I was chasing my little lemur across the light branches. Swiftly using air bending to keep me aloft, I jumped into the air and try scanning the trees for any movement. I see something rustle the trees in a line that's coming in my direction. I curiously wonder what it is because Momo has a slight zigzag pattern when he plays Chase with me. He thinks it'll throw me off, silly lemur. I shake my head to clear my thoughts.

I realize that what ever it is isn't staying in a straight line like I originally thought. It would dash across five or six trees, go a little off course then right itself and continue. Also by this time I noticed I was losing altitude, and quickly cushioned the air around me so my decent would be a bit more graceful. By this time I had forgotten all about Momo and I's game of Chase and was fully focusing on the strange tree-hopper. I finally came to a crashing stop at the canopy (Quite literally, I ran into a hog-monkey!).

Once nearer to ground level I was able to more clearly identify my target. It was still unidentifiable but I could tell it was humanoid in shape, was kind of small and had long hair that shone in the sunlight. It seemed reddish in color and my first thought was of my Sensei, Phyre.

Over the past month I remembered how the young master of combat had helped me and Katara learn how to fight if our bending was rendered useless. Though she and Sokka had sort of rivalry relationship. As I jumped from tree limb to limb I thought of their first major confrontation. Sensei Phyre had just finished telling us about a new technique and wanted a 'volunteer' to demonstrate it in the Ring with her. Offhandedly she called out Sokka to come up. As he sank into a battle stance, she called out to him.

"Well this tells me where you've been. You've obviously been to Kyoshi Island recently," As he blinked in surprise she added, "You appear to have no moral guilt about fighting a girl and you have adapted their stances into your own. Also you hold your hands in a blade like form as if you were holding fans. Anyway I'm going to demonstrate a move not many have seen because it is one of my own. but for this I want you to come at me with everything you've got Sokka," And come at her he did. She had the tiniest look of shock on her face as Sokka viciously came at her. He was giving it all he had while she just ducked and dodged.

With a look of alarm on his face she caught an arm that had wildly swung past her face. After a moment of quiet stillness she threw his hand down on the ground bringing him down as well. She sharply stepped on his hand keeping it firmly in place then she swung around to place her other foot on his back after removing her foot from his hand he started wildly wiggling trying to get her off. she wobbled slightly then jumped into the air performing at least three flips while bringing her knees together and while Sokka was trying to roll over she dove her shins into his back driving all the air out of his lungs.

Her 'volunteer' unable to continue she released him and brought him back to a standing position whispering words into his ears he nodded and sat back down next to Katara. Then Sensei Phyre continued the lesson. I suddenly remembered today's class. She seemed distracted, and had occasionally let a smile slip once or twice during the breaks. She had even let Sokka get in a few shots while she was demonstrating with him. And then she lets class out early.

But without realizing it I suddenly came upon a quaint little hut. I paused in the treetops wondering if this was where the tree-hopper had fled.