Thank you for reviewing last chapter! I hope you guys enjoy this one. This one's dedicated to those of you who write Linzin fics!
Chapter 8
"Mom?"
"Yes Kuzon?"
The seven year old looked up at Lin, almost tripping over a rock on the bumpy road. "Where exactly are we going?"
"I can't tell you. It's a surprise." she said.
He pouted. "I hate surprises."
She snorted. "Just wait."
"Can I have a hint?"
"We're going to see your Grandma Toph's earthbending teachers." Lin replied.
Kuzon sighed and looked at the ground. "I miss her."
It had been two months since Toph had died. Lin and Kuzon had been grieving ever since then. He had nightmares about her death every night after she died. Toph having spasms and then her eyes becoming blank, he had told Lin. Kuzon could not sleep and Lin had found him sleeping in her bed multiple times.
She placed her hand on his shoulder. "So do I. But I don't think she would want you to be grieving all the time."
"Yeah, I know." he muttered. "Are we almost there yet?"
"Almost." Lin answered.
The two walked for about half an hour before they reached their destination.
There was a large cave in front of them. Kuzon pointed at it and looked at his mother. "Are we going in there?"
She nodded. "Yes."
"Wow. Grandma's teachers live in a cave?"
"Yeah, they do." Lin replied.
He frowned. "Why?"
"You'll see." she said and began to walk inside the cave, Kuzon at her wake.
"It's dark in here." he whispered.
Lin rolled her eyes. "Really? Didn't notice." she said sarcastically.
"I know what to do!" Kuzon said. "I'll use my seismic sense."
"Good. You'll need it." she replied. "There aren't any lights in here."
They walked in a peaceful silence for a long moment. Lin thought it was the most peaceful moment she had since her son was born.
Until he broke the silence.
"Are we there yet?" he asked.
"No." she answered.
After a minute, he asked, "Are we there now?"
"No."
"Now?"
Lin gritted her teeth. "No, Kuzon."
"When will we be there?"
"In awhile."
He remained silent for a few minutes before asking, "Are we there now?"
"Kuzon Beifong!"
"...now?"
She stomped her foot and made her son fly into the air by a small column of earth. He easily got back on the ground. For an earthbender, he was light on his feet. He got that from Tenzin.
"I will tell you when we arrive. Don't even think about asking again or I will earthbend you to Ba Sing Se!"
He shut his mouth and kept walking. Lin wondered if she was being too harsh.
She ruffled his hair affectionately. "I'm sorry if I was being abrasive."
"It's okay. I guess I should try to be less annoying." Kuzon said wisely.
"I would appreciate that very much."
They heard a strange noise coming from a tunnel to their left.
Lin smiled in the darkness. "There they are."
Two badgermoles approached them and sniffed Lin, then Kuzon.
He giggled when one of them licked his face. A young one ran to them and jumped on Kuzon. He laughed and hugged the young badgermole.
"Grandma Toph's earthbending teachers were badgermoles?" he asked once the little badgermole returned to its mother.
"Yes. They are very good teachers." Lin said.
"I wanna play with the little one. I'll call him...Iwao! C'mon Iwao, let's play." Kuzon exclaimed. He bent a ball of earth and made goal posts. "Earth soccer!"
They played while Lin and the two badgermoles watched. They occasionally licked her face while she talked to them. She mostly talked about Kuzon, and told the badgermoles of Toph's death. They hung their heads in respect for a moment. Then Lin talked about other things while the badgermoles listened intently to her words.
"Kuzon, we need to go now." Lin announced.
"Aw, but Mom!"
"No buts, it's getting late."
He sighed loudly. "Okay. Bye Iwao. I'll see you later buddy." Kuzon said and hugged his new friend.
After a long goodbye, Lin and Kuzon went out of the cave. The sunlight seemed so bright after their time in the darkness.
"Did you learn from Iwao? I expect that he taught you more about earthbending." Lin said.
He nodded. "Yup! And I even made a new move."
"Really? Show me."
Kuzon made a round rock and balanced on it. She noticed it was similar to the air scooter, but he had made a stand of earth that he could sit on and it moved with the rock so he never fell off.
"It's so fun!" he said and laughed happily.
He reminded her so much of Aang. His cheerfulness, his looks, and sometimes his wisdom.
"That seems a bit complex. Good job on figuring it out." Lin commented.
"Thanks." Kuzon said. "At first I just ran on it but this way I don't have to."
He was smarter than she thought.
"So Mom, are we going to visit the badgermoles again?"
"Of course." she said. "Maybe in a couple of months. I'm busy with work."
"Okay. Hey Mom?"
"Yes Kuzon?"
His expression turned serious. "Iwao had a mom and dad. But I only have you. Where's my dad?"
Lin bit her lip. She had been expecting to hear this for a long time. Nothing could've prepared her for this.
"Your father is gone. He's with someone else." she said and paused. "He was...a firebender."
"Wow. A firebender?"
"Yes." she lied.
Kuzon looked at the ground. "At least I have a mom though."
Lin hugged him and gave him a light punch on the arm. "At least you have me." she agreed.
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