The Wisdom of Others:
"Kai, did you take my glider?"
"Wha—no! Why do you automatically think it was me?"
"…oh I don't know, maybe because I saw you flying with it before, showing off for the Acolytes."
"Ah. Yeah, well Jinora, I was bored and Aana wanted to see some tricks!"
The Airbending master raised an eyebrow. "You're not exactly setting the example I wanted for our daughter. It's a good thing Ioran didn't stay here to learn or he wouldn't have learnt anything about our culture."
Kai shrugged. His hair was short, his blue arrow tattoo just visible under the tufty brown hair that had remained unruly from his childhood. His attitude hadn't changed much either; he was still the mischievous, charming man he always had been. It was just one of the reasons that Jinora loved him.
"Anyway, supper will be ready soon. Make sure you're there on time!" she said somewhat sternly.
Her husband laughed. "Yeah I'll get there, can't keep me away from your cooking! Pema taught you well!" he exclaimed, rubbing his stomach comically. Kissing his wife briefly, he walked off down the hallway, skipping slightly as he went.
Jinora rolled her eyes but smiled. She loved her family more than anything, despite the Air Nomad's being taught to detach themselves from earthly tethers. The master could never bring herself to do that. In any case, the new Air Nation was still just finding its feet twenty years on so maybe some of the older practices could be set aside for now.
As she passed a window in the Air Temple, she caught a glimpse of Kai flying past, quickly followed by their daughter Aana. Named after her grandfather, she was a delightful, high-spirited girl that had received Kai's humour and Jinora's wisdom. She was the best of both of them. Ioran, their older son, was far more serious and reminded her of her father.
"That man moves quicker than any Airbender I've seen when trying to get away from you when you're being stern", a voice observed behind her. Speaking of, her father stood behind her, watching his son-in-law and granddaughter flying. "Aana is growing up fast. You should be proud, you're doing an excellent job raising her and teaching her our ways," Tenzin said. His voice was steady but Jinora knew her father; this was as close to sheer emotion as he came, especially nowadays.
Tenzin's beard was grey and his face was more lined than ever. Despite that, the serious face that Avatar Korra had come to love and respect was still very much full of life. His pride in his children and the new Air Nation was evident. Having finally shrugged off the responsibility of being the Avatar's child, he had soared higher than ever.
"Thank you Dad," Jinora whispered as she hugged him. "I'm proud of them too."
Tenzin stroked his beard as he let go of her, showing he was deep in thought. "Have you heard from Avatar Jahn yet? He should have arrived by now, surely."
Jinora frowned. Not wanting her feelings to show, she turned her back. "No, nothing yet. He'll arrive when he arrives. If he does at all. It wouldn't be a great loss."
"Now Jinora, you don't mean that sweetheart. The new Avatar should be honoured to have you as an airbending teacher. You'll do a far better job than I did with Korra to begin with, I'm sure of it."
Jinora shrugged. "I do mean it. Seriously, why can't we just be left alone?"
Tenzin frowned and put a weary hand on his daughter's shoulder. "We help protect the world, you know that. What's going on here Jinora? You were even reluctant to speak to the Avatar when we heard of his existence."
The female airbender was silent for a moment before sighing. Turning back, she had tears in her eyes. "Because I miss Korra. I wish she could have met Ioran and Aana, I wish she was still here blowing things up, I wish she just wasn't….gone. If this new Avatar turns up, I don't know if I can teach him without feeling sad for Korra," she admitted, ashamed and feeling upset.
Tenzin observed his daughter with wise eyes. "As do I, Jinora. I miss her every day. As I miss my father and mother, and Kya most of all. But life has to move on and so does the Avatar Cycle. Trust me Jinora, it will all be fine. Take it from the world's best Airbender."
This made Jinora laugh. "Despite the fact you can barely climb some stairs anymore?" she teased, knowing her father would be stung by the comment.
"I'll have you know…" he began, before a gust of wind stopped him. Kai and Aana landed lightly outside, spinning their glider-staffs round swiftly. Rounding the bend and entering the hallway, Aana ran to her mother and embraced her with a delighted laugh. At only seven years old, she was still so young and yet showed so much promise.
"Daddy showed me a trick! He did the loop-de-loop-de-loop-de-loop…" she said, emphasising every loop with a roll of her neck until she became dizzy and almost fell over. Laughing, Jinora picked her daughter up and gave her a tight hug, distracting herself from her emotions. Her family was here around her and that was all she could ask for.
"And there I was, surrounded by spirits, when all of a sudden…"
"Yes Bumi, we know. You told us this the other day," Tenzin told his brother wearily. In his old age, Bumi had become even more irritating by telling the same stories over and over every week.
"Well I'm sure you haven't heard how it ended! There I was…" Bumi continued with a twinkle in his eye.
Tenzin sighed. "Yes yes, the platypus-bear came from nowhere and chased you into the river. You had to half swim, half fly when Bum-ju tried to lift you out. We know."
"Oh," Bumi replied, looking disheartened. His white hair and beard were wispy but his enthusiasm for life had not diminished. "Well in that case, we have some time to spare! How about coming to the market with me?" he asked his brother with a wide smile.
Tenzin pondered for a moment. He'd felt totally out of balance ever since giving up his duties to his daughters and sons; his father had continued to be the Avatar until the day he died, so Aang surely never felt this lost. "Fine. But no shenanigans. I can't be having you running off again."
"Wahoo!" Bumi crowed, before coughing heavily.
They left the Temple on Oogi and landed by the docks. The bison was more than happy to lie in the water and relax, allowing Tenzin and Bumi some time to browse the nearby market. The stalls were vast and varied; ranging from produce to furniture to spirit snacks. Bumi took great interest in the latter, although Tenzin was reluctant; Bum-ju had been gone for the last two years but Bumi did not seem to remember.
"What about these Tenzin? Air nomad windchimes! Quite well crafted too!" Bumi shouted, making the stallholder smile and nod frantically.
"I'm afraid not. We have plenty at the temple and Pema dislikes them anyway."
"Then get them for Jinora! I'm sure she'd love them and then flank to the left, let them retreat…er, what was I saying?"
Tenzin took his brother carefully by the shoulder. "It's ok Bumi, we were just heading back to Oogi. Come on now," he said delicately. Bumi's memory was fading fast and it broke Tenzin's heart to see it. At least Kya had passed away and hadn't suffered.
Making their way back towards the docks, they were stopped when a spirit flew down from a rooftop and landed in front of them. Coiled like a serpent, it had the head of a blank mask and when it spoke, it did not move even a fraction. "Airbenders. Turn left ahead. You'll find what you're looking for." As quickly as it arrived, the serpent unfurled four fluffy wings and launched itself into the air.
Tenzin frowned. Oogi was literally right ahead but the spirit had told them to head along the docks slightly. "Come on Bumi," he finally decided. "We're just going to check down here quickly in case there's anything you want."
Bumi pulled a face. His voice was far quieter than usual. "I'm tired Dad. Can't I go to bed?"
Tenzin closed his eyes, forcing the emotion deep down. He had his good and bad days. Today wasn't so great, but at least Bumi hadn't started being violent. With his airbending, it would be difficult to restrain him. Wanting desperately to just fly home on Oogi, the elderly airbending master instead supported his brother with one arm and helped him along the docks.
"Hey you!" a voice called from a stall by the edge of the water. A middle aged man with tufty hair beckoned them over and began pointing at the tattoos on Tenzin. "You're an airbender right? Know th' Avatar's kid?"
Tenzin nodded. "My father was Avatar Aang. Can I help you with anything?"
The man pushed a box of fish to one side and leant against the counter excitedly. Pointing behind him, he clearly indicated to two battered photo frames hanging up at the back. One showed Avatar Aang and the other showed Avatar Korra.
"That's my ol' man's Wall of Avatars! He gave them to me to carry on th' tradition! Hey, don't suppose you know of th' new'un?" the man asked quickly.
Tenzin shook his head. Seeing both his father and Korra was not what he needed right now, not whilst Bumi was so ill. Maybe he could revisit and see them at a later date. Wishing the fisherman well, he'd only took a few steps when another voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Excuse me? Did you say you were the Avatar's son?"
The airbender nodded. His patience was beginning to fray slightly. "Listen, whoever you are, I need to get my brother back to the Island. Forgive me but I don't have time for your trivia right now."
"Well I've been looking for you for a while now. You can't just leave."
Tenzin turned. The speaker was a young man in black clothes trimmed with green, with White Lotus printed along the trim. The clothes were rather distinctive and Tenzin's eyes widened slightly. "Who are you?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
"My name is Jahn and I'm the Avatar. I need to be taught airbending and I come due to a request from Avatar Korra."
There was a silence for a moment whilst neither party spoke.
"Hey there!" shouted the fisherman. "Can I get a quick picture? It'll just take a second!"