The hybrid man lunged. Tetsu braced, shoving Ren off of the bench. They both rolled onto the soil and looked up at the approaching figure mouths agape.
"Go."
They tore through the vegetation delicate stalks and flowers trampled in their wake. Tetsu craned his neck around for a moment. He caught a glimpse of the man bounding after them; his eyes two dark slits.
"Run...ha...faster," he said.
They swerved onto an unmanned path, their shoes displacing the soil as they turned sharply. Branches hung onto their clothes and prickled their faces. They halted in the middle of a small clearing. In the center was a decorative pile of stones. Sunlight hinted through the canopy. They swiveled their heads, fingers jerking with adrenaline.
"There's no way through," Ren said, his voice going up at the last syllable.
Tetsu looked around, "Can we climb that?" he said, pointing toward the white walls surrounding the garden.
They both spun at the sound of a pebble ricocheting. The man had lost his coat and under were archaic clothes. The color faded to milky brown, silver hemming floated off the garment in the breeze. Something auburn hung behind him. A tail. He jolted to them and swiped for Ren's neck catching a shred of cloth instead. His other hand arched toward Ren. Tetsu slammed into his brother, bringing them both down to the ground in a cloud of dust. They rolled away viscous green stains painting their backs. The man buzzed toward them. Ren sent a small lash of wind at the man while panting and holding his chest. The man dodged like a cat and then lunged again for Ren. In a split second, a large stone careened into the man's side knocking him down.
Ren's eyes widened. "...your eyes."
"What is it?" Tetsu said as he dropped to the ground.
Tetsu lay motionless in a small building. Ren crouched over him, his uncut hair hanging into his eyes. The structure was set in a field of flowers and across the way sat a decorative grove. Along the walls hung gardening implements. The man who had accompanied them earlier that day leaned against the wooden wall his head nearly brushing the ceiling. He sagged against the wood his uniform rumpled. Both peered toward the opening as Amaruq entered.
Amaruq looked around the small shack and then down at the Avatars situated on a small bench connected to one of the wooden walls. "You're lucky you both aren't dead," he said in a calm voice.
Ikiaq pushed past him into the room, her normally coy eyes wide. "I should have been here," she said.
"Stop being dramatic."
"What is wrong with you?" she said, swiveling on Amaruq.
He didn't make eye contact, instead bent down to feel Tetsu's forehead. "I felt the presence of a spirit and apprehended it."
"You didn't banish it?" Ikiaq gaped, crossing her arms.
"That would be against the law dear."
"I don't care about your laws!"
"And I don't care for yours," he said, standing and turning his gaze on her, "yet here we are."
"What was that thing?" Ren said slowly.
Amaruq turned his attention to him. "An upset spirit."
"It had a tail," Ren said.
"Tetsu," Ikiaq said, "what happened to him?" she whispered.
Both of them shifted their eyes toward Ren.
"Can you tell me what happened?" Ikiaq said, relaxing her posture and taking a deep breath.
"His eyes glowed for a second. Then a stone hit that thing in the head. He fainted right after. Ken appeared and tackled the spirit," he said, gesturing toward their escort.
Ikiaq raised her eyebrows and Amaruq nodded. "The Avatar state then."
Ikiaq turned toward the guard, whose uniform was torn in some places. "They got out of your sight, this doesn't look good for your record," she said brushing a piece of hair away from her face.
The escort Ken, looked down averting his eyes.
Ren stood up shaking his head. "It wasn't his fault. He didn't even know we were out."
Ikiaq glanced at Ren and frowned. She pulled out something from her pocket and spoke into it. "Shigo, I need you to come down." She put it back then looked crossly at Amaruq her kohl slightly smudged, "Where is that thing?"
"It is contained," Amaruq said.
She sighed and spun out of the building. Ren sat back down by his brother.
"You don't need to be worried. His energy is now stable," Amaruq said.
"That's not it. My bending is weak and he's the one who saved us."
Shigo bent over Tetsu, administering an earth-green tablet beneath his tongue. Then she rubbed her hands together and placed them on his chest and ran them up the sides of his neck. He awoke groggily, his limbs moving languidly.
"He'll be fine, heart rate is stable," she said, her yellow eyes settled on Ren, "You alright? Want me to—"
"I'm fine," Ren said, shaking his head and raising a hand.
Tetsu was helped up outside by Shigo and Ren. Ikiaq stood in the field the large flowers dwarfing her, speaking into the device. She turned her eyes alighting on them and her shoulders relaxed.
She came over to them. "Jinora is back in town. We should get back," she said, frowning fiddling with the pin in her pocket. She glanced between the two. "But maybe after you get something to eat."
Tetsu tensed up. "Where is that creature?"
Ikiaq held up her hand. "It's taken care of no need to worry," she said smiling. Ikiaq turned toward the physician. "You're dismissed, Shigo."
"I'm never really dismissed," she said, tying her sash tighter, "But I'll take it."
Tetsu placed a hand on Ren's shoulder to stand straight. "Amaruq—wasn't that a spirit?"
Ikiaq turned back to him. "He was here and apprehended the creature," she said waving with her hand.
Tetsu opened his mouth, then closed it nodding. A breeze blew into the garden and ruffled their hair blowing her hair directly into her face.
Ikiaq clamped her hands over her hair her cheek twitching. "I hate the wind here."
They went along a straight bridge and through a small man-made meadow. Ikiaq brought them to a place with plain digestible food that served soup, rolls, and healthy side dishes along with a large pot of tea.
"This tastes like grandmas's food," Ren relaxing in the chair he was sitting in.
"It should," Ikiaq replied, "It's run by one," she said dipping at her soup unenthused. "Why were you in that park in the first place?" her voice low elbows uncharacteristically propped on the table.
"We had gone to deliver a letter nearby and were waiting to be picked up."
"I hope you see why it's ill-advised to wander around alone."
They returned to the island escorted by Ken who sat stoically in the driver seat. Myla came up running to the car her pale cheeks stained pink.
"I am so sorry," she said bowing, "I came back and you two weren't there. I pinged Ken and he got to you as soon as he could. I should have stayed with you, I'm so sorry."
Ren and Tetsu shook their heads. "We were the ones that went into the park."
"We didn't even think. Things like this never happened to us before even when we knew we were the Avatars," Tetsu said.
"I have some good news-" Jinora said, as they returned to her building. She paused when she looked up and saw them. "What happened?"
"We were attacked by a spirit," Tetsu said.
"And he went into the Avatar state," Ren said pointing to his brother.
Jinor's eyebrows went up as she put down the paper she was reading smoothing it over. "You were alone?"
They both nodded.
"I know you are used to unrestricted freedom which is one of the reasons the rule of age was set into place, but it's not safe everywhere, especially as your potential is awakening. It's easy to be a target. Do you understand?" she said.
"Yes," Tetsu said.
Jinora sighed. "Do you remember anything about it? The Avatar state?"
Tetsu shook his head. "I don't."
Jinora nodded and her arms relaxed. "I received a message from the water tribes," she said to Tetsu, "They are on their way to Doku. They'll be there soon."
"How soon?" Tetsu said.
"Probably in two weeks depending on the weather."
"That's soon?" Ren said.
Jinora nodded. "It's the fastest and safest route for this time of year. It can take three months if you travel along the coasts. They are currently about two-thirds of the way there, "Go rest if you need to," she said.
Tesu exited. When Ren didn't leave the room Jinora peered at him.
"I'm fine," he said, "Actually I'd like to train."