The ferry approached the pier of Air Temple Island slowly, carefully aligning itself to the wooden dock that served as its passengers' bridge to the island. A couple of air acolytes disembarked followed by a glaring princess and an anxious young man.
The two acolytes led the new arrivals towards the main building where the leader of the Air Nation was waiting. He had been informed of the identities of his new guests and he personally took on the challenge to orient them to the everyday life of the island.
"This is the main temple," one of the acolytes announced, "Master Tenzin is waiting for you inside."
Taking heed, Sheba and Yanis entered the edifice that stood before them. A mixture of herbal smells met their noses and caused Sheba to crinkle her nose. "This smells like an old apothecary. This sucks," the princess whispered to her companion.
"Shut up," Yanis replied in a hushed tone. A group of airbenders who were in deep meditation met them in the middle of the temple. "Who do you think among these tights-wearing people is Mister Ten-person?" Yanis asked.
"Master Tenzin," Sheba corrected. She nodded to the one in front, "that's our guy. The one with the tattoos."
"Oh. The way they say his name made me think he's so wisdom-y," Yanis remarked. "You know…white hair, long white beard—that kind of old guy."
"You mean like a wizard?"
Sensing their presence, Master Tenzin opened his eyes and stood. He offered the couple a smile and approached them, "Please follow me."
He led them out of the temple and stopped by a cherry blossom tree. "Welcome to Air Temple Island."
The looks on the teenagers' faces remained passive. Tenzin waited for a reaction to his greeting, however, all he got was a 'Sure' from the boy. He proceeded, "The Fire Lord informed me that your apprenticeship will last for six months. We don't usually get apprentices here since those who wish to be acolytes undergo acolyte training immediately after signing up. Of course, that is not the case to both of you since you are in for your penalization. If you would just follow me…"
Tenzin led them to another part of the island and continued on talking about their assigned tasks such as cleaning the Hall of Statues, arranging antique scrolls and other restorations in their newly opened museum that catered to the public.
"Being part of the Air Acolytes also require having knowledge of the Air Nation's culture and history," Tenzin informed them as they passed by the meditation pavilion on their way to the dining hall, "which is why you should also be required to join the early morning meditation to greet the day before breakfast. Any questions so far?"
"Nothing."
"I'm good."
"Alright. This is the dining hall," Tenzin said as they stood before the door. "Inside is where the acolytes and the island's guests dine. Some of your classmates in you Air Nation history and culture classes are inside now. Early this morning I took the liberty to announce your arrivals but I also took precaution and hid your real identity, Princess Sheba," he turned to Yanis, "although in your case, Mr. Ling, I don't think we'll need to mask your identity."
"It's alright," Yanis replied.
Tenzin opened the doors and the inviting smell of food and the clinking of the utensils met them. Several heads turned and one or two acolytes greeted Tenzin a good evening. The airbender led them to their table and sat them down.
The table was already laden with food and both teens started to dig in.
The meal was vegetarian, just like any other meals in the island. Sheba dropped her chopsticks and fumed. It wasn't exactly what she wanted for dinner. She's from the Fire Nation, and Fire Nation meals always contained meat.
"No," she said, a little out loud. She averted several eyes towards her and Yanis stared at her nervously.
"Stop it!" he warned, trying to mollify the clearly annoyed princess.
"No, no, no, no," Sheba pressed on, this time taking Tenzin's attention.
"Is there a problem?" Tenzin asked. Sheba opened her mouth to give Tenzin her ready answer and to inform him of her current feelings, but Yanis got to answer the airbender first.
"Nothing, nothing," Yanis waved Tenzin's concern off, "It's just, um…heh, my friend here ate too quickly and burned her tongue. Nothing serious." Yanis passed a warning glare at Sheba and grabbed her hand. He felt a foot step on his under the table and he was forced to shut his eyes in pain.
Tenzin gave them both a last look before returning to his dinner.
"What the fuck?" Sheba demanded, again turning a few heads from the adjacent table. She dismissed them with a questioning look and turned back to Yanis. "Don't you ever interrupt me again, skid mark."
"Shut your yapper," Yanis barked back. "These are holy people. You shouldn't talk all vulgar and mean."
"Holy people, my ass," she shot back, again turning a few head in her direction, "Oh please, I meant the donkey-cow."
Sheba returned to her food, and munched on a cabbage leaf suppressing a groan that was escaping from her.
After dinner, Tenzin accompanied both teenagers to the residential part of the island. "This is my personal residence. I have housed you both in two separate bedrooms. Princess Sheba, you will share a room with Opal Beifong. I think you will get along just fine. Mr. Ling, you will share a room with some old boxes. I asked some acolytes to prepare the store room for you since our male dormitories are full at the moment."
Princess Sheba was accompanied by both Tenzin and Yanis to her room. She half-heartedly thanked Tenzin for the 'comfortable' accommodation and 'lovely' dinner. After the door was shut, Tenzin led Yanis to his room and asked the boy about the other companion Princess Sheba had with her on the airship.
"How come Princess Sheba's companion didn't accompany you here on the island?"
Yanis scratched his nape and hesitated for a bit, "She was assigned to the Police Department."
"Really?" There was surprise in Tenzin's voice. "Lin never accepts apprentices."
"You got me," Yanis reacted, a little too much in Tenzin's opinion. He shook his head, "I actually find the city really alien."
They reached his room and Tenzin bid the boy a good night.
Yanis sighed and analyzed his room. A piece of paper rested on a tiny desk and the inscription made him growl. It informed him that morning meditation would start at 5:30 in the morning. Unknown to him, the paper on Sheba's room, which contained the same information, was already burned to ashes.
Lin watched the sleeping form of Taavi and pondered on the thought whether to wake her up or not. Taavi was lying prone, her hair covering her fave, and her mouth slightly open. It was already fifteen minutes to six, and Lin was already dressed for work. If she wants to get to work with Taavi on time which is at seven, the young lady must be awake by now and getting ready for her first day.
She softly shook Taavi's shoulders and called her name, "Taavi…wake up."
The teenager did not budge and was still fast asleep. "Taavi." Still no response. She shook her again.
"Hmm," came her grated voice.
"Wake up."
"Go away," came Taavi's whisper. Lin scratched the back of her head, annoyance starting to build up. She shouldn't feel this way about Taavi, but the teenager's manner of being woken up somehow resembled someone who Lin had had countless experiences waking up. Suyin was a heavy sleeper if she stayed up late when she was a teenager, and Lin had the trouble of waking her up for school. Now, she is faced with another problem. Taavi stayed up late the previous night, and when she does so, she proves to be difficult to be roused from her sleep.
"Taavi," Lin called out, louder this time. "If you do not wake up, you will have to walk to the headquarters alone." Her threat was only met with a shift in Taavi's position.
Lin gave up and walked away from her bed, "Fine. If you want to walk to work, go ahead."
She headed to her kitchen and ate the breakfast she prepared. Lin cleared her mind as she drank her coffee, glancing at the wall clock every now and then. 6:15 turned to 6:30, and then to 6:45 with Lin still sitting in her kitchen. She drummed her fingers on the table and waited. Still, no Taavi emerged from the room adjacent to hers.
She stood and entered Taavi's room again, this time more determined to wake the sleeping person.
"Taavi," she said, louder than the last time. "Wake up, kid."
"No…" Taavi answered softly, as if in a dream.
"Wake up!"
Taavi sat up quickly, eyes still shut, hair disheveled, and her face frowning. Taavi whimpered, causing Lin to nervously approach her. Taavi was still clearly in a rude awakening and was still half asleep. "Get out of my room, Yanis." Taavi fell back and hugged a pillow to her face, defeating Lin once and for all.
The police chief marched out of Taavi's room fuming. She eyed the phone in her living room and picked it up, dialing the police station's phone number. She'll have to inform them that she will be running late.
Author's note: Hope you enjoyed reading this. Have a prosperous and happy new year to you and your family.