13. Badgermoles
Toph crawled through the bushes, hands tracing every pebble in her path. Between her sense of hearing, touch, and smell, she had no need for sight.
Her mother's panicked shout echoed through the mountains. Toph nudged her way through the bushes until she found the cave. She crawled inside. The heat of the sun abated, replaced by shade. Like any good earthbender, she sat, waiting patiently.
The walls rumbled, stones shattering. She felt the steady tromp of paws approaching. A growl echoed from the depths of the caves.
Her parents didn't understand her, or her disability. But the badgermoles did.
14. Waterbender
Katara's voice pierced the frigid air. "Dad, guess what?"
Hakoda turned toward his daughter. "Katara, pull your hood up. It's freezing."
"Sorry," she said. "But look what I can do!" Her arms moved in a wide circle. The ice at her feet melted and danced with her movements.
"Katara . . ."
"I'm a waterbender. Isn't that great?"
Images of fire, of ships with red flags and steel hulls, flashed through his mind, coupled with the crippling pain of loss. She's the only waterbender in the South Pole.
It didn't matter, he decided. He'd never surrender his daughter to anyone.
15. Gone(150)
Pakku dusted the last of the ivory shavings off the pendant and threaded the blue ribbon through the hole at the top. This one's much better than the first. Kanna will love it.
He skated over the walkways with the help of his waterbending. Master Lu said he was a promising student. Surely Kanna would see the worth in him, even for an arranged marriage.
Most mornings, Kanna hung out at the docks, staring out at the ocean. Pakku ran, hoping to catch her before she returned to her duties. When he didn't see her right away, he addressed one of the boys hanging out by the docks. "Have you seen Kanna?"
"You're . . . Pakku?"
"Yes."
"Kanna told me to tell you she's going south, and that you shouldn't wait for her."
The necklace fell from Pakku's hands. "What?"
Pity filled the boy's eyes. "She's gone. I'm sorry."