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The village that Avatar Kyoshi called home was rushing to prepare its homes for a massive hurricane. Even as the Avatar, Kyoshi knew she was no match for such a powerful storm. Instead, the best she could do was help everyone prepare for it. Unfortunately, it didn't help quell her fear that her adopted six-year-old daughter Obsidiana was having a massive panic attack over the approaching storm.
Thankfully, for now, Kyoshi's lover, Rangi, was helping keep their daughter calm. The traumatized child had made some headway in her recovery from her ordeal of being in a concentration camp that an evil lord set up to illegally mine for precious gems. However, both lovers knew it could take years to recover significantly. Even then, their daughter would always have PTSD. Still, Kyoshi had to concentrate on battening down the hatches.
"Hurry up! We don't have much time left!" she called out while trying to help finish filling up the emergency cellar with supplies. She then helped herd the frightened children to safety. Finally, Kyoshi hurried back to her own home. "Hei Ran! Rangi! Is the mansion secure?!" she called out.
"We're as ready as we'll ever be, Kyoshi. Before you ask, I had to give our child a sleeping draft. Otherwise, she never would've calmed down. Hope is standing guard over her," Rangi quickly informed her lover.
"That's good to know. We need to get to the basement ASAP. The hurricane will be here in less then an hour! I'll grab Obsidiana and meet you in the basement!" as the towering young woman dashed to her child's room. Her daughter's cat spirit guardian was curled around her charge protectively. "Hope, we need to get to the basement! Come!" as she scooped up her daughter.
"As you wish, Kyoshi. This storm is even beginning to freak me out!" as the cat spirit followed everyone to the basement. They remained there for most of the night and the morning. Finally, an hour after noon, the storm had officially passed. Everyone emerged to take in the damage to their village.
It wasn't a pretty sight. Rangi's mother immediately took charge. She started assigning different groups with various tasks. She did an excellent job coordinating everyone to help get the village back on its feet. However, they're surprised when a young girl comes running up to Kyoshi. The young girl informed her there was a strange ship aground up the coast.
Kyoshi and Rangi instantly went to investigate the strange ship. First, they needed to see if anyone was on board. Plus, get them medical attention if they are. Unfortunately, due to the storm, any identifying features of the boat had been stripped away. So the duo needed help figuring out where the ship came from. It wasn't a huge ship, and with the broken crockery, Kyoshi guessed it was a merchant ship. "Let's hurry! We don't know if anyone needs us!" Rangi nodded, and they carefully boarded the boat.
"Hello! Anyone here?! Do you need help? Please answer if anyone is there!" Kyoshi called as they searched desperately for survivors. Suddenly they heard banging on a door that was blocked. Rushing over, Kyoshi called, "Hello! What's going on?"
"Please help us! My parents were knocked out! And the door is stuck! Please!" came a child's voice through the doorway.
"Give us a few minutes, sweetheart! We'll get you out!" Kyoshi and Rangi quickly removed the debris blocking the captain's quarters. Kyoshi ordered the child to stand back as she broke down the door.
Once inside, Kyoshi and Rangi saw three people. The girl's parents were Water Tribe, given their coloring and clothing. Yet, the little girl, who could've only been a few years older then their daughter, didn't look Water Tribe.
The little girl's long hair was black as ebony with a greenish-blue stripe. Moreover, her skin was several shades lighter then the tan skin of the Water Tribe. Her almond-shaped eyes were a stunning shade of turquoise, just like the pendant around her neck. Her silky ebony locks were styled halfway between Water Tribe and Fire Nation. Her apparel matched her eyes. Plus, her fantastical jewelry seemed to have strange energy around it.
However, none of that mattered at the moment. They needed to help this family. "Okay, sweetheart, can you tell us your name?" Kyoshi asked as she dropped to the child's height.
"My name is Turquesa. My parents are Zarya and Kaveri! We were on our normal trading route when we got caught in the hurricane! Please help them!" the hysterical youngster exclaimed.
"Kyoshi, I'm going back to the village to get help since we won't be able to move both by ourselves," Rangi remarked after assessing the situation.
"Go! I'll see what I can do here," Kyoshi ordered her firebender lover. Rangi nodded and hurried back to the village to get help.
Kyoshi turned back to the frightened little girl. "Okay, Turquesa. I know you've been through a traumatic experience. However, I need you to remain calm. Also, please tell me if there is anything I need to know to help you and your parents," the Avatar explained to the little girl.
Turquesa took a few deep breaths. "Okay, what do you need to know?" she asked timidly.
"First, tell me, how old are you?" Kyoshi asked calmly.
"I'm eight," the little girl replied immediately.
Kyoshi's inside twisted. This child was only two years older then her daughter. Her mind wondered if her own child was okay. Then she focused back on the little girl in front of her. "Okay, I need you to be strong. Can you do that for me?"
"Yes! Mommy is always telling me to be strong!" Turquesa immediately responded. She had a determined look in her beautiful eyes. However, you could see fear in them too.
"Okay, please tell me more about what happened," Kyoshi again spoke calmly. She knew from her own daughter that you'd to approach a traumatized child delicately.
The little girl took a few deep breaths before telling the Avatar her story. "My father, Kaveri, is a merchant for the Southern Water Tribe. We're going on our annual trading voyage. We do this once a year to gather goods and other provisions for the Tribe."
"Okay, what about your mother? Is there anything I need to know about her?" again, Kyoshi needed to know everything to help the little girl's parents.
"My mother, Zarya, is a Water Tribe Priestess. She can communicate with the spirits and oversees the Tribe's spiritual affairs. So whenever Daddy makes his yearly journey, we always come along. Mommy said she couldn't bear the family to be separated. Plus, she loves to rekindle her bond with all the spirits we encountered on our ocean trip," the pretty little girl explained.
"Okay, thank you for telling me. Now let us check on your parents," she took the little girl's hand before hurrying over to check on the parents. The couple looked between late twenties-early thirties. Each of the parents was taller then average. However, they still didn't compare to Kyoshi's height. The burly man had long beaded hair and a beard. His robes were of the darkest shades of blue you could go.
His wife had a curvy figure and wore elaborate lavender and azure garments and an assortment of peculiar accessories. Her dark hair was also in a more intricate style then Kyoshi had seen most Water Tribe women sport.
She checked to see if they were breathing. Thankfully, they're still breathing. Yet, the mother suffered head trauma while the father had broken his left leg. Kyoshi turned to the little girl and noted she had no visible injuries. "Okay, Turquesa. Your parents are alive but need medical attention. Are either of your parents waterbenders?" Kyoshi asked to which the girl nodded.
"Mommy is one. But she knows better then to try and heal herself," Turquesa answered quickly.
"Why can't she heal herself? Or is it because she's got a head trauma she won't risk it?" Kyoshi asked cautiously.
The little girl nodded."Yes, it's her injuries. She said a healer shouldn't try to heal severe wounds on themselves, primarily when they can't correctly focus. They could end up injuring themselves worse."
"Okay, are you hurt in any way?"
Turquesa shook her head. "I'm fine. My parents protected me while the storm-tossed us about. But I don't know if Azurite is alright. I've not found her yet."
Kyoshi looked alarmed. "Who is Azurite?" she demanded.
"My pet polar bear dog. I've not seen her since waking up. I hope she's okay."
Kyoshi sighed in relief it wasn't a human in danger. She asked if the girl knew how to find her pet without risking herself. The girl quickly found a silver whistle and blew it. They didn't have to wait long before the puppy showed up. She'd been hiding in one of the few unbroken pots. By this time, Rangi returned with help. The villagers helped load the parents onto stretchers before returning them to the village to recover.
Kyoshi requested they be brought to her mansion. She asked the local healers in the village to stay and look after them. Meanwhile, she had Turquesa stay with Obsidiana. She knew her daughter was still timid around people, but she felt it'd be good for both of them to be around someone their age for now. Obsidiana didn't make a fuss as she led Turquesa into her room.
Bravely Obsidiana spoke. "Hi, I'm Obsidiana. What's your name?" her voice barely above a whisper.
"My name is Turquesa. I didn't realize the Avatar had a daughter. I didn't think she was married."
Obsidiana shook her head. "Neither of my mommies is married. They adopted me after saving me from an evil man. Both my mommies and grandmother take good care of me."
"Oh, I guess we've one thing in common. I'm adopted too. I've no idea who my birth parents were. My parents told me they found me on a shipwreck as a baby. They named me Turquesa because of my pendant."
"I don't remember my birth name. So my mommy named me Obsidiana because of my pendent," she held it out for her to see.
"So what do you want to do? Your mommy is busy with my parents. So is there anything you like to do?" the eight-year-old asked.
"We can draw. I love doing arts and crafts. What do you like to do for fun?" Obsidiana asked curiously.
"I love making up stories. I act them out all the time." Turquesa explained.
"Well, you must have a great imagination then!" the six-year-old exclaimed.
"Well, I also like studying the stars back home. Plus, penguin sledding. But we can't do that since there are no penguins here."
"I like nature. I also love playing with my dolls and kitty."
"I also play with dolls and my pet polar bear dog."
"So let's play!" the girls spend several hours enjoying each other company, with Obsidiana's family checking on both of them. Kyoshi's heart swelled with happiness to see her daughter finally make a human friend.
It took a week before Turquesa's parents woke up. They're pretty shocked to know the Avatar had helped rescue them. Kyoshi assured them they were safe, and so was their daughter. It took another month before Turquesa's family recovered enough to continue their journey. The village had helped repair their ship while the family recovered. Finally, both girls agreed to keep in contact.
They hoped to see each other in person again sometime. Turquesa promised they would and even woven them friendship bracelets so they'd not forget each other or their bond. The friends hugged one more time before Turquesa's family left. Kyoshi herself was sad to see her daughter's first human friend leave. But felt reasonably confident they meet again. Plus, they could keep in touch through letters. She prayed to Alanna that her daughter and her new friend would see each other again soon.