Chapter 2

Monk Gyatso had brought his pupils with him. That was Kaiee's excuse to why she didn't talk to him sooner. He was distracted by the ramblings of little boys and their needs. But one, then two weeks went by, and Kaiee realized that it wouldn't be long before Monk Gyatso left. On the fifteenth day after the Southern Airbenders arrival, Kaiee dragged Liane to the central mountain's peak, where Monk Gyatso and his pupils were residing.

Liane groaned in embarrassment. "Why do I have to come with you? I'm sure Monk Gyatso is very nice, he won't make fun of you!"

Kaiee gulped and continued to walk up the swirling paths to the peak. "You know I don't like asking for help with my bending! Just go ahead of me and check if he's busy!"

Liane grumbled some more, but grudgingly went up and called back. "It's okay, Kaiee, just come up already!"

Monk Gyatso was sitting calmly, surrounded by five young benders, maybe seven years old. The boys were all bald, but none had their arrows yet. Kaiee sighed in relief and bowed to Monk Gyatso.

"Sorry for the intrusion, I was just wondering…"

"Yes?" he asked happily, dismissing the boys, who stared at Kaiee curiously as they passed.

"If, uh…" she waited for the last of the boys to leave. "If I could have some help with my airbending?" she blurted the last bit out quickly, and bowed again hastily.

Gyatso smiled and stood up. "Of course, Pupil…"

"Kaiee."

"Well, Pupil Kaiee, thank you for asking. Yes, I would love to help you with your bending. But you see, I try to teach the basis of airbending to my pupils first, if you don't mind?"

"No, of course not. Go ahead!"

"Alright then. The root of airbending is in the abdomen, which you must draw energy from. You must use your entire body to form circles and coils. Since airbending is almost entirely defense, you are trying to keep your opponent from getting a shot in. I want to see your primary technique pose."

Kaiee arched her back and circled her arms, but Gyatso shook his head. "Airbending gathers the air and forces it back out. You need to be ready to push the air out again. Lower your arms to your abdomen and curve them a bit less. Here, pull your right arm back in a fluid motion."

Kaiee imitated Gyatso. "Like this?"

He smiled. "Good, good. Now send the right arm out and the left arm back. And don't forget to step forward with your right foot. And then sweep the right arm up."

Kaiee had done this many times, but obliged. To her amazement, the gust of wind was smoother and more solid then ever before. Gyatso smiled, and Kaiee felt a swelling pride.

Halay swirled a miniature tornado through the room, her eyes glazing over as Kaiee repeated the same technique for the tenth time.

"See, I could never master this before, isn't it great? The trick is to keep your arms at your stomach, and collect the air, and…Halay?"

"What? Oh, yeah." She yawned openly. "Listen, Kaiee, if you want to go hang out with Liane down by the pond, there's some kind of performance…"

Kaiee sighed like she was dealing with an immature child. "You know I can't, Halay! Monk Gyatso is leaving in just two months, and I have to reach the fifteenth step before he's gone!"

"Huh? Why?"

Kaiee looked away a little. "His pupils are getting their bison's while they're here. They're seven! I'm nine, I can't look stupid!"

"Seven year olds with bison? Wow, he must be good."

"He is!" Kaiee said eagerly. "I'm already on the eleventh step, and we practically started from scratch! I can't believe I got this far, but you have to get out!"

"What?!" Halay said in mock disbelief.

"Oh come on, Halay, you don't care, and it's distracting! Go on, go hang out with Liane for that performance or whatever!"

"If I go, you have to get out of this stuffy little room."

"Out out out!" Kaiee said, shoving her out the door. But Halay grabbed her by the arm and dragged her through the walkways, and Kaiee secretly smiled. She needed a break.