CHAPTER 29: Girl talk

"The plants have enough wisdom to transform our limited vision."

Katara stood amidst the freshly tilled earth, her hands still stained with the rich soil that she had tended.

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm glow over the Air temple, its golden rays painting the landscape in hues of amber and gold.

She had spent the day helping some of the villagers cultivate the old produce garden of the temple, which had seemingly been so important to them that it was the first thing they had chosen to do on their first day at their new home.

A sense of satisfaction washed over her as she surveyed the vegetable patch that she had helped to plant.

Rows of vibrant green seedlings stood tall and proud, a testament to the hard work and dedication she had poured into the earth.

It was like a small oasis of life amidst the tranquil serenity of the temple, a symbol of growth and renewal.

She smiled as she brushed a strand of hair from her face.

But more than just a sense of accomplishment, Katara felt a profound sense of fulfillment.

In helping plant the garden, she had not only provided sustenance for the new inhabitants of the temple but she had also helped foster a sense of belonging.

And she had made a friend too.

Kana, an old Waterbender of the village, had been her companion while working on this particular patch for vegetables.

Others had worked with other plots for fruits, berries and different sorts of veggies.

Katara had learned a lot from working with this wise old woman.

Kana referred to herself as a Plantbender, as she had spent her life in the jungle perfecting the art of bending the water within all types of plants.

Even though she was rather old, and her steps were slow and measured, she moved with the fluid grace of a leaf dancing on the breeze.

And in her presence, the plants seemed to be responding to her every whispered command. She spoke to them in a language older than words, as if in silent communion between soul and nature.

Katara recalled Nii using the same language when chanting at Aang.

"Kana, can I ask you something?" Katara smiled as they both had sat down to have a glass of water and admire their work together. "Something that might be a little private?"

Kana smiled at her with a serene expression and a soft voice.

"Well, of course, dear," she chirped as if delighted by Katara's curiosity.

"Can I ask you why you chose to come live here at the temple?"

Kana gestured around her, encompassing the surroundings of the temple as she spoke with eyes that reflected a deep sense of peace.

"This temple here is more than just a place to reside for me. It is my spiritual sanctuary. Here, in the whisper of the wind and the rustle of the leaves, I hear the gentle voices of ancient and sacred spirits calling me home."

She paused for a moment to glance up at the dormitory tower hovering next to them.

Her voice was tinged with reverence and gratitude as she continued: "Our village has always come here to perform some of our most sacred ceremonies. This place is the heart of our cultural heritage, and indeed, the reason for the placement of our village in the first place."

"Really?" Katara exclaimed with wide eyes.

"Yes dear," Kana chuckled before she seemed to turn her gaze inward for a moment, as if contemplating the depths of her own heart, before she returned to Katara.

"You see, the first villagers wanted to claim the temple as their home. However, we soon agreed that we did not wish to take the place without an invitation. We did not wish to impose ourselves on this sacred Air Nomad land. So when Avatar Aang gracefully invited us here, there was no doubt in my heart nor soul that I had to come. That is what my forefathers would have wanted."

Katara listened with her mouth open.

She had never imagined that the villagers had such a strong connection with this place.

Kana spoke of her culture with a sense of pride, each word infused with a deep appreciation for its rich history and profound wisdom.

"From the ancient scrolls that adorn its halls to the sacred rituals passed down through generations, this temple embodies the essence of our way of life, even if our culture has changed with time," she chimed.

She had a rhythm in her speech that seemed to flow like a languid river, smooth and hypnotic, drawing Katara into its gentle current with an irresistible allure.

It was as if each word was carefully chosen, each phrase crafted with precision, weaving a tapestry of sound that danced in the air around them.

A shadow seemed to flash over the wise lady's eyes, as she took a sip of water.

With furrowed brows, she breathed: "I have brought with me the ancient scrolls that my father once took from its library. Even though Avatar Aang did not accept my talisman, he will accept my return of the scrolls. I'll see to that, even if it's the last thing I do."

Katara felt a subtle shift within herself, like emerging from a deep slumber into wakefulness.

As Kana's words came to an end, it was as if a veil had been lifted, revealing the world in all its vivid clarity once more.

She blinked her eyes slowly, and she heard the birds chirping again.

Kana was enchanting.

Katara hoped that one day, she would become just as old and wise as her.

"I'm sure," Katara started in a hoarse voice, so she quickly cleared her throat, regaining her composure a little. "I'm sure that Aang will accept the scrolls. And please, Kana. Please consider sharing all of this with him, will you?"

Kana chuckled wholeheartedly.

"I think the Avatar has more important things on his mind than to hear an old lady's stories," she mused. "But I will do everything in my power to cultivate the teachings of his people. It's a privilege I do not take lightly."

Because of the tone of her voice, Katara decided to let it go.

But she vowed to herself to talk to Aang as soon as possible.

He had to know this.

Later that day, as Katara and Nii were preparing dinner together, Katara could not help but to look at Nii.

It was as if she saw her in a completely different light now.

As if Kana had helped lift a veil from her eyes that revealed layers of depth and a complexity that she had not been able to see before in this young girl in front of her.

Katara understood Nii's fascination with Aang now.

Or, she understood it on a much deeper level.

As she studied Nii washing off dirt from some ginger, it was as if she was seeing her for the first time.

Completely lost in her own thoughts, Katara did not realize that Nii had noticed her staring.

Nii shifted slightly on her feet as she stood there, as if she felt uncomfortable, a hesitant smile soon on her lips.

"Eh, Katara?" she asked, her voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty. "Is everything alright?"

Katara's cheeks flushed slightly, and with a sheepish smile, she shook her head almost imperceptibly.

Her eyes briefly darted away, a fleeting moment of embarrassment flickering across her features before she met Nii's gaze once more.

"Yeah, sorry, I…" she smiled at her. "I just thought about something from earlier. I worked with Kana in the kitchen garden today. She's great."

Nii let go of a small sigh, as if relieved, before returning a smile.

"Yeah, she's so wise," she said while breaking off some roots on the ginger. "She talks a lot, though."

"Yeah," Katara chuckled, before they both returned to the vegetables in front of them.

Her gaze flickered briefly, as she stole a furtive glance of Nii in front of her. Her eyes fell upon the Air symbol on her chest.

A long moment of silence passed between them.

"So… You and Aang, huh?" Katara smiled, her eyes now on the chayote in her hands.

Even though she did not look at her, she could see Nii's posture trembling slightly, as if her knees gave in a little, and she dropped her ginger while exhaling something between a surprised sigh and a gasp.

Katara giggled.

When Nii did not say anything, Katara finally lifted her gaze to look at her, and it was obvious that she was blushing heavily, lost in some sort of fight within herself as to find the right words to say.

"Come on, Nii," Katara said in another giggle. "I'm not blind, you know. Let's have some girl talk, why not?"

Nii composed herself a little, her posture gradually relaxing again, and she sent her a shy smile.

"Heh," she breathed in a slightly shaky voice. "I don't know what to say."

"You like him?" Katara asked with a smirk on her lips.

Nii blushed again, while she reached up her hand to stroke some of her hair behind her ear.

"Yeah," she nodded shyly.

Katara felt a flutter of warmth in her chest.

She had seen how Aang looked at Nii, and it brought her so much joy knowing that Nii could see the same qualities in Aang that she herself admired. He deserved to be loved and cherished for the great guy he was.

"Did you kiss?" Katara asked while raising a teasing eyebrow at her.

Nii exhaled again with a flush over her cheeks, and Katara could not help but to giggle with her embarrassment.

"Come on," she chimed. "You can tell me. I won't tell anyone, I swear."

A nervous laugh escaped Nii's lips.

"Um…" she smiled innocently. "I kissed his cheek once?"

Katara opened her mouth in surprise.

"What? He didn't kiss you yet?" she exclaimed. "Urgh, Aang, pull yourself together!"

Katara noticed a small frown on Nii's lips that was barely perceptible.

"Oh, Nii, don't worry," she said while waving a hand at her. "That's just Aang for you. He's super awkward when he likes someone. I remember the first time we almost kissed. He was like 'Oh, I'd rather kiss you than die.' As if kissing me even came close to that."

Katara laughed but her laughter quickly died out when she saw the look on Nii's face.

"You guys kissed?"