Runa leads me to a park bench, the cub curls around her feet after she sits. She pats the seat next to her for me, I go and sit followed by Turk who lays his head on my lap. Runa looks at me expectantly, I sigh.

"Runa, this isn't easy, I don't really like talking about, er this part of me.. I usually keep it hidden, not just because it's illegal but also I don't... Like it." She nods and pats my shoulder, which usually is a gesture of comfort but not now, now it just makes me more nervous.

"When my family moved to the poles, I didn't fit in at school really, not at first, probably because of my mom... There was this one group of boys, they were the worst,the chief's son, he was a non-bender, and his two friends who were water benders... When they first picked on me it bothered me allot, but after a half year I got over it and ignored them mostly and didn't react to their bullying. A year after I started ignoring them, they seemed to be letting off, but then one day after school, they called me out, and I don't know why I did it, maybe I was just sick of them and thought this would end it, but no, they ganged up on me and started beating me to a pulp, we had a rule for training lessons at school for fighting: if your opponent is badly injured and can't really fight any more, you leave them, you're supposed to give mercy. They did not. I was hurt badly, laying down defenseless in the snow, but they still went beating the shit out of me. Then the chief's son, picked up his club and went to hit me with it." I pause,

Runa's clutching my hand and I can see sorrow for young Jace in her eyes, " his arms were raised like he was reconsidering his actions, but then I heard him grunt and I raised my arm to try to protects self, my other arm was over my eyes. But suddenly, I felt water rushing towards me , and I knew, that if I bended it I might just be saved. So I stopped the water and I heard a shout of horror from on of my attackers. I opened my eyes, and saw the chief's son his arm with the club sticking out straight as a line, he was looking at me with horror, and I realized that I did that. I stopped him, by- by bending his blood... So I made him throw the club then released my hold on him, I was in shock and just as horrified. The boys backed away then ran. After they were gone I fainted. " I sigh, Runa starts to say something but I stop her.

"no there's more, might as well tell you the whole bloody thing. Lou found me, passed out in the snow, dad had sent her out to look for me, thank the spirits for that, and after she got me home and I woke up, I explained what happened to my parents, and they took me to Katara, the only person they thought could help, she understood their concern and over the years she taught me to control my anger, how to avoid using my new ability. Everything went great for awhile, I didn't get into too much trouble because I acted in self-defense. But peaceful times always come to an end, I suppose." I pause briefly then charge on, " Lou had started going to school with me, after her fire bending training, and I guess I should've noticed, some scumbag started bothering her, she never told me, or Mom, or Dad..."

"One day we were walking home from school, and this guy was walking and talking with her, it didn't look too concerning so I was a few paces back with some of our friends. We lived close to the compound so as we walked our friends broke off to get home, but the guy, he didn't leave. I respect my sister's privacy so I stayed back, but as we walked, his posture was turning aggressive and Lou was getting twitchy and her body language was turning defensive. So I got closer, 'come on, Lou, ditch your bro so we can go have some real fun,' he said, Lou jerked back, 'I told you to leave me alone, you're freaking me out, you know I have a thing for Ray!' She growled, his face contorted in anger, 'you fucking tease! Such a bloody tart!,' he smacked her, I should've been more alert but I immediately went into action, I shouted for her to duck, she did and I shoved him. He slammed into a wall, spun around 'whats your problem, man?' He screamed and tried to punch me, I caught his fist and growled something around 'don't mess with my sister, asshole' and shoved him against the wall again. We fought it out a bit, he was a good fighter, I can admit that now," Now I was squeezing Runa's hand as hard she was mine.

"and well I should've excepted some sort of trick, I didn't want to hurt the guy, just make him leave Lou alone, but he backed me onto an icy spot, I slipped and fell, he jumped on top of me and started strangling me, I think Lou was in shock most of the time, she had tried to pry us apart previously but that asshole hit her again and told her to screw off, but this time she flew atop him and with all her strength tried to help, she kept shouting stop, and he kept slamming my head into the ground. My vision got spotty and Lou must've seen the faraway look in my eyes because she shouted, "Jace, do it! Please he'll kill you if you don't!" So, I got a firm grip on his arms and made him freeze, I pried him off me and threw him to the ground, I could already feel myself slipping away, my knees buckled and I clutched onto Lou for support as she screamed at the guy to run for his life and that she was going to kick his sorry ass herself if he didn't leave. He got up and ran off, tail between his legs and that whole bit, I fainted after that.. That always happens the black out after..." I look up at Runa, she looks terrified.

" I'm sorry I wasn't there the protect you afterwards, I tried to come back but I-" she cuts me off with a hug.

"Shhh, Jace it's okay! It wasn't your fault, I'm so sorry!" She pulls back and strokes my cheek, "you could never let me down," she says answering an unasked question.

"I- I, thank you... It's been almost 1 year since then... I didn't get nearly in as much trouble as last time, I took me a week of healing to get over it, the guy's only real major injury was his hand, which I had crushed, I had a kind of 'oops' moment when I heard that, I hadn't meant to hurt him. I don't want to be a monster... Like that crazy equalist and his brother our parents tell us about..."

She turns my face towards hers, "Jace you'll never be a monster, your too kind, raised by good parents, you're too good a person, trust me, you've got a rough exterior, but there's not an evil bone in your body" she's such a reassuring person, and I could soak up the warmth she radiates forever. I squeeze her hand.

" thank you, people've been telling me that for years, but now that you've pounded it into my thick skull I think I believe it."

She laughs and kisses my cheek, "no prob, we better go," she looks around, " Kai'll kill us for this." She laughs and stands, so do I.

She pats the cubs head and takes my arm, "come on Kishan! Up and at 'em!" I look at her puzzled. She takes in my expression and giggles. her curls are pulled back into a messy bun, and one lone curl dangles by her ear, she quietly tucks it back and says, " oh, yes I've forgotten to tell you, I named him Kishan! Kishan meet Jace, Jace this is Kishan!" She sweeps her hand from the cub to me and back.

I crouch down and shake Kishan's paw, "nice to meet you, Kishan!" He makes a sort of mewing sound and licks my face, I lean away a bit, "sheesh, you're just as bad as Turk!" I swipe the tiger saliva off my face, laughing, Turk bumps into Runa's back, his signal for wanting to know what's up. Runa laughs and shoves him away playfully.

"Don't you dare lick me Turk! I still think you're worst!" She tells him, hugging his massive head, Turks whines and wags his tail happily.

I laugh and pet Kishan, "want a ride to practice?" I ask Runa,

she smiles, "of course, just help me get Kishan up there" I nod and together we coax Turk into lying down while we shove Kishan up onto Turk's saddle, the cub doesn't look too happy about being up so high and moving so fast at the same time but he'll live.