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Chapter Text

Minsha ran after her boomerang as the other kids were yelling for her to hurry up. They had been playing for about an hour when a game of catch broke out. None of there parents were meant to see them treating their boomerangs like this but what they didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them.

“Minsha hurry up you slow poke.” Yelled one of the boys she didn’t get a long with all that well.

“Shut up Pekka I’m coming. It’s not like you ever catch it anyway. The rest of us are allowed to miss every now and again.”

“What did you say to me, Pheasant!”

“Don’t make me repeat myself Pekka. Just because you’re the son of the chief doesn’t mean you get to tell us all what to do.”

The other kids looked on as Pekka looked at her with rage written across his face. They all hated him as much as her but they weren’t willing to voice it like she was. He was a bully who used his status to boss them all around.

Her parents were healers. Something that the upper class normally didn’t look down on at all. Especially when you consider living in the south there were so few to go around anyway. What made everyone judge them was the fact that her father was one as well. As far as she knew there wasn’t another male healer in the southern water tribe. It was normally looked at as work for women and her dad was looked down upon for it. Even more so when the information got out that he had learned from her mother.

That was social classes for you though. The rich get to boss everyone around and the middle class and serfs were forced to do their bidding. Something she had always had a hard time accepting.

Just as she was about to fire the boomerang at Pekka’s face she heard the alarm bells being struck. All the kids had learned from their parents that if those bells were sounding it could never mean anything good and to go home immediately. All of them had fear in their eyes and scattered off in varies directions at the same time.

Minsha knew all the roads that led to her house like the back of her hand. Which normally leads to a very fast trip home but not when every villager is running around in a panic. She pushed her way through all the various adults yelling for their children when she finally came upon their house.

She saw her mother and father looking anxious on their front step. Clearly, they too had just ran here as they were still in their work things. Her father in particular had blood on his clothes. The relief that filled their faces when she entered their field of vision gave her an extra boost. The bell still tolling in the distance.

“Mom, Dad what’s going on? I was just playing with my friends when the alarm went off.”

“We are not for sure about anything but for now we need to get to the top floor of the house.” Her mother had tried to keep a calm voice but she was noticeably shaking. Her father led the three of them up into their attic. She had never been forced to move into this emergency shelter and it was only now that she saw all of the various supplies.

“Dad why is all of this stuff here? Shouldn’t all of our emergency supplies be downstairs in case of a blizzard?

“Minsha you need to be brave for us. Can you promise me that?”

She was very frightened now. Her father never lost his composure and her mother was visibly shaking. “I promise dad.”

“Good because that pattern of gong hits hasn’t been used in a very long time. It can mean only one thing water.”

“Water? We are surrounded by water every single day. Our house is made of it.”

“You misunderstand me.”

He stood up and waived his arm in the southern style of bending and a small section of their attic wall went flying away. It was then that she fully grasped what her father meant by water. Coming toward them was a wall of water from the sea beyond anything she had ever seen in the most severe of weather. She was truly scared now as the gong stopped in the distance.

Her father grasped on to the two of them and held them tight blocking their view of the environment. Her heart pounded as she could hear the pounding of the wave heading toward them. Right before she was going to look out into oblivion her father calmly and confidently said “You look at me.” Was this the end.

Over half a world away Avatar Yangchen woke with a start in Ba Sing Se. She had had very little sleep the previous night. Her old “gift” once again keeping her from true rest. She had been up all night when Kavik awoke for his usual early start when he had encouraged her to try and get in at least one rem cycle before getting up. It had been going well before that same feeling of grief overtook her.

Ever since the birth of Lishka two years ago her dreams and visions had taken on a new intensity beyond even what she had dealt with as a child. She saw things that her past lives had never shown her before. Things that were beyond even comprehension. What had these past versions of herself gone through? What was that terrible feeling of grief that came with the hazy visions? Even stranger now she was plagued by nose bleeds when she was tormented by them. Something that she never dealt with when she was younger.

Kavik had encouraged her to speak to Avatar Szeto for guidance on the matter. She had never really gone to him for this before and was convinced that with time these visions would pass like all the others.

The thing that was most strange and even Kavik agreed is he isn’t able to talk her out of these nightmares like he used too. It was something he had been gifted at ever since they had met all those years ago as teenagers. His ability to talk her down was second only to Jetsun who had been a master in the matter.

There were times when these other versions of herself would leave her alone and she would be at peace. It would never last very long though before they came back with a force like never before. Sadder than anything she had ever personally experienced.

It was one of these rude awakenings that she just experienced. She couldn’t have actually slept that long as Kavik had not returned from his morning run. Well, some sleep was better than none so it was time to haul herself out of bed.

As she made her way over to her mirror she realized the full extent of her unease. She looked like a hot mess. Her hair sticking in every which way and she had dark bags beneath her eyes. A small drop of blood flowing from her right nostril. If only she could get internal peace like Kavik.

Over the last several months her husband had taken up the habit of going for a morning run. What had started out as a one-kilometer run had quickly morphed into him running as much as five every morning.

She never understood where he got the energy from. He had recently turned 31 years old. Despite the fact she was only a few months older than him it might as well had been a decade with the lack of energy she had compared to him on a daily basis. The man looked just as much like a sculpted statue now as he had when he was 21. Which of course she loved to look at but she felt almost inferior to him at times.

Between the great physical shape he was in compared to the mess she found herself in the old doubts started creeping back inside her head. “He deserves better.” “You’re already graying at 31 imagine how bad your hair will look in a few years.”

Kavik had comforted her when she had brought these thoughts up to him. He being the wonderful husband that he was reminded her that he was in this marriage with her for the long haul. When he said this, she couldn’t help but chuckle. This man was the father of her two children Mikasha and Lishka. How could she possibly think he found her unattractive.

Nevertheless, there was one thing Kavik couldn’t explain away. That was why she couldn’t keep up with him like she was used to. When they had first met Kavik’s ability to physically keep up with her in any situation was one of the first things that had attracted her to him the most.

Her athleticism had started slowing down after the birth of Lishka. The healers and nurses had explained that stuff like this was natural but she wouldn’t hear that as an excuse. She was supposed to be the one leading an exhausted Kavik around not vice versa.

Beyond even their explanation about her athleticism losing a step the healers had attempted to explain away her visions as just depression after the birth of her son. No matter how much she told everyone though they never understood. She wasn’t depressed. What she went through every time she went to sleep was beyond anything thing they could possibly imagine.

After feeling sorry for herself for a few minutes she began getting ready for the day. Her hair put up a fight with her comb but eventually was straightened out. She dressed herself in her usual freshly clean robes and as she was putting on her prayer beads when Kavik knocked.

She couldn’t help but smile to herself. Even after all these years together he refused to just barge in on her and would let her deny him entry if she so chose too. “Enter”

Kavik as it turns out wasn’t alone. Their four-year daughter Mikasha was with him.

“Momma, can we go have breakfast? I’m starving.”

“Of course we can. I was just about to go and find the both of you before you knocked.”

“Daddy was talking to Earth King Xian while I played with his cousins.”

“Wait Kavik why were you talking to the Earth King?

“There’s a major situation that’s occurred to the south. The Earth King needs to see you immediately.”

“Alright that’s fine. Could you take Mikasha and go get Lishka from the day nurses? I don’t want to trouble them for too long.”

“That won’t be a problem. Actually, Tayagum and Akuudan are already watching him. They wanted to give you the opportunity to get some extra rest. They like the rest of us know that sleep has been hard to come by lately for you.”

“Thank both of them for me. I will be down to breakfast shortly after I speak to the Earth King.”

“Momma don’t take to long. I want to explore the palace with you.”

“I’ll be as quick as I can sweet heart. Now go with your dad and get something to eat. Be nice to your brother too.”

With that they parted Kavik and Mikasha off toward the dining hall and her making the long walk across the palace to the throne room from the Avatar suite.

Having personal chats with Earth King Xian was always strange to her. She had so many with Feishan prior to his assassination it was almost as if she were still talking to him. Albeit a much younger version of him. Xian had only come of age a year ago taking over from his mother’s regency.

She did find it odd he would desire to send for her. The young king usually kept to himself and would wait for Yangchen to come to him to deliver news. Now that she thought of it this was the first time Xian had ever summoned her to the throne room. Things really must be serious.

Upon reaching the door to the throne room she was met by the grand secretary. “Avatar Yangchen please right this way. I’m afraid there is no time for formalities and we need to begin immediately. Earth King Xian awaits.”

With that the grand doors opened and she entered the large room. It looked the same as ever. Every decoration and piece of paint was in the same place it had been dating back to the first time she had met Feishan as a child. Xian looked troubled as he twisted a blue scroll in his hands.

“Avatar thank you so much for meeting with me on such short notice. I know this is normally private time for you but I’m afraid this matter cannot wait.”

“Certainly, my lord. Please what is this business all about?”

“This morning, I received word from my sources in the southern hemisphere there has been a major earth quake off the coast of one of the unaffiliated islands of the south.”

Her heart rate kicked into overdrive as soon as he finished speaking. Her thoughts immediately going to her brothers at the southern air temple.

“Do we know precisely which islands have been most affected?”

“The quake originated off the coast of the island that houses the southern air temple. Now before you ask let me tell you that my sources tell me your fellow air benders are safe and the temple is for the most part unharmed.”
She didn’t say this but his words did nothing to calm her beating heart. If her brothers were fine than there was still more to his story. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been summoned to speak to him.

“Earth King Xian tell me what else is it. I can tell there’s more.”

“Perceptive as ever you are. While there have been minimal casualties due to the quake there have been many due to the tsunami that it created. Specifically in the southern water tribe. I’m told the destruction in some villages is beyond repair. Also, that many lives have been lost.”

“Well, the other nations have to mobilize. We haven’t a moment to lose. My team can leave as soon as this afternoon.”

“I’m afraid things are more difficult than you might think. I have received word from Chief Oyaluk that the people of the north will not offer aid. The northern council cited their poor economy and a renewed push to let the southern tribe have independence.”

She was seething. How could Oyaluk do this to his own people. This man put on a visage of being a family man and he is just going to let all of those innocent lives perish. It will definitely be time for a nice long chat the next time she sees him.

“Well, what about The Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation? Surely the Earth Kingdom will be sending aid to these poor souls.”

“Support will be coming but not in the traditional sense. The reworkings of the government after my father’s assassination has made it difficult for me to make any unilateral decisions. Especially those involving money. Which this situation will require a lot of. I will be working with the Earth Sages to convince them to sponsor aid but in the mean time I will personally be sponsoring a relief cause from my families own personal funds.”

“Xian the funds to sponsor a relief mission like this are immense. Are you sure?”

“Yes, surer than I have ever been of anything since I became king. I know in my heart it’s what my father would have wanted.”

“Thank you so much Xian. What of the Fire Nation? Will they come?”

“The Fire Lord has granted permission for The Fire Navy to join the relief cause. However, it will take some time for them to get to the southern tribe as they are stationed at Bin-Er all the way across the world.”

The full enormity of the task now hit her. Very little in the way of support. She and her team would have to go and try to help these devasted villages. Not only that they would have to leave today. Flying from Ba Sing Se to the southern tribe was no short flight.

“I know it’s a large task ahead of us all but I do have good news. I received a message from Abbess Yisha of the Earstern Air Temple. She let it be known that the airbender nuns are preparing a huge procession to provide aid. They have requested that you and your team join their bison as they make way south. They believe that it would be best for the Avatar to be leading this mission and I have to say that I agree.”

This would mean being separated from their kids faster than she wanted to be. Whenever they went on any mission since they were born that was even remotely dangerous, they had to leave them behind. Which if she was being honest was most of them. She didn’t like this and knew that Kavik wouldn’t either.

The more she thought about things though what choice did she really have. It’s not like she had never been on a relief mission before. Even as recently as a couple of years ago her team participated in a mission helping the Fire Nation after a powerful Typhoon hit several of the islands. A tsunami was a different sort of disaster but one she knew her sisters to the east would be familiar with.

“Very well send word to Abbess Yisha that I accept. It would probably be best to let Gonryu know as well since his navy will be involved with the operation.”

“The arrangements will be made and hawks are being sent as we speak. Good day to you Avatar. Let the Grant Secretary know what supplies your team will need for the trip. We will provide whatever you need.”

With that she turned on her heel and left the throne room. It wasn’t lost on her that Xian had said messages were being sent as they spoke. He knew the outcome of that conversation before it began. She didn’t like feeling like she was being manipulated. In time the young man would learn that was not how you get on her good side.

She returned to the guest hall and the sound of seven different voices all hit her at once. Apparently, the news of the tsunami had reached the ears of the rest of the palace which included her team. Kavik was on his feet at once with Mikasha and Lishka at his side holding hands.

“Yangchen is it true. Are my people truly as devasted as the rumors say they are?”

Over the next several minutes she relayed all the information she had learned from Xian. The looks of pure disgust when they found out Oyaluk would not send aid were absolutely what she assumed she looked like when she found out. Especially Tayagum and Akuudan who had it not been for the children what have had a few choice swears for the chief.

There was a mutter of assent for Xian’s desire to sponsor a relief mission. Even more so when she revealed her sisters had decided to join in with things. That assent became silence when she mentioned the King and Abbess Yisha thought it best for the Avatar to be at the head of the bison procession. Which would mean they would have to leave and soon.

She had expected Kavik speak his mind. She needed to hear what he had to say. He let out a sigh not looking particularly thrilled at the situation.

“I really do not want to be separated from the kids for a long stretch of time again. We’ve missed too much of them growing up already.”

“Momma I want to come with you. Lishka does too.”

She was really moved by Kavik and Mikasha’s words. She didn’t think it would be smart to bring their two young children into a disaster zone. Even though Tayagum and Akuudan could look after them it still seemed too risky. It’s not like they could ask Kavik’s parents to look after them either since they were all the way in Agna Q’ela.

Akuudan moved forward to look her squarely in the face. “What if they did come but just not to the area affected by the Tsunami. You mentioned the southern temple was for the most part unharmed. If that’s the case Tayagum and I could stay with the children there and at least then they are close by.”

Tayagum shook his head in agreement. “Yes, that would work out well. The two of us are getting too old to work in an environment devasted by a natural disaster as it is. We would just get in the way. That way you two along with Jujinta and Yingsu can go and help those poor people.”

Kavik looked much more confident now that they had a plan. “Yangchen, I think their plan would be for the best. This trip will take multiple weeks and we could still see the kids when we head back to our base of operations at the temple.”

“Very well I agree.”

Chapter Text

It was a very odd feeling for her. Despite the fact she was surrounded by her team on Thaven and the rest of the bison procession (they intercepted the eastern air temple nuns flying south only a few hours before) Yangchen was finally able to get some peace of mind. Being in the air had always done that for her.

Kavik and Jujinta were back in Thaven’s saddle having a spirited conversation about responsibilities once they arrived at the southern air temple and the southern water tribe. She was not really involving herself in their discussions much and simply supplied yes and no answers when appropriate. She could also tell from Kavik’s tone he could tell she was not really listening to either one of them.

Yingsu was reading a book to Mikasha and Lishka to give Akuudan and Tayagum and break from looking after them. The woman who had the deadliest demeanor in battle she had ever met deep down had a very calm soul and it showed around the children. She closed the book and she could hear the kids whine to her to continue.

Mikasha was particularly vocal in wanting Yingsu to continue. “Aunt Yingsu please tell us another one of your stories. You are so great at telling them.”

Lishka offered his opinion as well. “Yeah, auntie another one!”

Yingsu tried to play it off like she would not cave but Yangchen knew she was just teasing them. After some additional whining from the kids Yingsu told them one of their favorites. A story about a river spirit that inhabited a river from near where she had grown up.

Yangchen listened to Yingsu’s words drown out the sound of the men planning the relief mission. As more time passed, she herself started feeling her eyes start to droop. Maybe she would be fine just resting for a moment. After all, Thaven was more than capable of flying without her aware. He would never let her fall if she started to slip. All she needed was to rest her eyes for just a moment.

She was flying on a cloud. Finally, the inner peace that she had been so painfully seeking for months. Just her and Thaven on a perfect day without a cloud in the sky. They shot straight forward over the water below them just as perfectly blue as it was at a beach destination.

Everything was perfect until she heard a voice. It was impossible to tell what the voice was saying but it seemed to be male in tone.

The sky darkened as she listened to imperceptible words. Rain fell in sheets across her face with the force of extreme straight-line winds. Lightning streaked across the sky as she flicked the reins to get Thaven as close to the surface as possible. Once they were closer to the water the force of the waves was immense, and they were trapped between the water below them and the sky above.

As she looked up to try and see if she could see the end of the weather on the horizon they were overtaken by a huge wave. Panic encased her heart as she was separated from her bison. After flailing around in the water, they were hit by another huge wave. She could not see anything and that familiar pull of the Avatar state to save herself took over her actions. Just as she made to bend them out of the water everything went black, and she heard that voice much clearer in her mind.

“This time I’m going to put you to sleep for good!”

She woke with a start. Jujinta and Kavik each pulling her back into Thaven’s saddle as her bison bellowed his displeasure at her current state. She lifted her hand to her face and felt the blood flowing from each of her nostrils.

“Avatar stay in the saddle please if you cannot stay awake. I will take over until we get to the southern air temple.”

“Thank you Juji.”

Tayagum handed her a handkerchief and she focused on stopping the blood. It was only now that she saw the terrified looks on Mikasha and Lishka’s faces. Kavik and Yingsu were trying to calm them down, but it was not really getting anywhere. This was the first time they had ever seen one of her episodes. They always took extreme lengths to make sure they were never in the same room as her when she slept.

“Momma?” Was all Liska was able to give voice to.

“Momma is okay. I just have not felt well with being this high in the air. Give me a hug.”

She hugged each of them in turn. It was not lost on her that everyone else kept a close eye on her while she hugged her kids. Clearly, they had not bought it when she told them she was fine. Mikasha held her hand as if to try and offer her support. It did more than she possibly knew.

“Momma did you have a bad dream? It is going to be okay.”

“Yes, but it is over now. Thank you for the hugs, guys. You chased the nightmares away.”

Kavik was still giving her a sad look. He came to sit next to her a pulled her rucksack out.

“Hey, try and have something to eat. It might help steady yourself after the bad dream.” He said all of this with the look telling her he knows it was another vision. As if her bloody nose did not already give that away. Kavik gave Yingsu a look and she interpreted it correctly and immediately started entertaining the kids again.

“Which one was it? You cried out when Jujinta and I pulled you off the reins.”

“I do not know. I have never seen this one before. It was a storm and Thaven and I got pulled under the waves. I felt the pull of the avatar state trying to save us then everything went black. When I blacked out, I heard a voice that said. “This time I am going to put you to sleep for good.”

“By the lights Yangchen. What a horrible way to sleep. I need you to make me promise though.”

“What?”

“Never let yourself have a nap while at reins ever again.”

“I didn’t do it on purpose.”

“That is not the point. You scared everyone. Even Thaven was bellowing at you losing your grip.”

“Fine I promise.”

Once they finished their meal the southern air temple was within sight. Thaven and the rest of the bison procession started to descend to their destination. She wished they could have just flown in a straight shot to the south pole but knew that was impossible. The kids along with Tayagum and Akuudan would be staying here. Also, many of her sister’s bison were carrying food, clean water, and earth for rebuilding. It simply was not possibly with the load for them to fly that far with no break.

Many of her sisters flew off toward the stables near the dormitories where they would be sleeping. Thaven went to land on a clearing set aside for landing by the monks on a high peak. Once they landed the boys started unloading everyone’s bags.

She was not going to get her way as all she wanted to do was get to the avatar suite and be alone with her family. In the chaos of all the bison landing she did not see them getting approached by one of the monks. It was not until he was closer that she saw it was Mingyur. The tall man smiled and bowed deeply to her in the traditional manner. She bowed back and then embraced him with a hug. Due to her banishment from the northern temple, it had been some time since she had last seen him.

Mingyur’s hearing had never fully come back after the Unanimity incident at the northern air temple. He primarily communicated with sign language which was something all airbender children learned at a young age. Yangchen was admittedly a little rusty with her ability to sign but she was able to get the gist of what he had to say. Many of the monks from the northern air temple left in order to help the southern monks and the water tribe. Once he heard the eastern nuns were coming, he along with the other monks chose to wait before traveling further south.

She still was still not used to seeing him with his airbender tattoos (despite the fact he already had them when he attended her wedding). Kavik also embraced Mingyur and he met Mikasha and Liska. Both were very excited to have another “uncle.”

After all pleasantries were dispensed with the eastern and southern elders Yangchen, Kavik, and the kids finally were able to get away to the Avatar Suite (Jujinta and Yingsu would be staying with her sisters). She badly needed to rest as the sun had already set. Yangchen had zero intention of going to socialize with her brothers and sisters.

Once they arrived at the Avatar suite Kavik immediately started putting together the kids meals. They were fussy from the long flight. She knew neither would want to be left behind and was ready to have to convince them. As she laid her head down the kids ambushed her.

“Momma we want to go with you and daddy. We get scared being without both of you.”

Just as she was about to open her mouth to respond Kavik took up the question for her. “Both of you are not ready for what awaits us there. It is going to be hard work helping all those poor people rebuild. As much as we do not want to be separated from both of you there is just simply no way you will be happier there than here with you uncles.”

“But dad.”

“No and that is final. Do not pester your mother about it either. Now let’s finish dinner so we can all get to bed at a decent time.”

The rest of the evening passed without any event thankfully. Yangchen and Kavik had a quiet dinner once the children were asleep. They did not need to speak it aloud to know what awaited them in the following days. Once they got cleaned up, they went to bed.

Yangchen was dreading trying to sleep. She knew she needed some but did not want to deal with any visions tonight. She was wide awake until Kavik got in bed next to her and wrapped his arms around her. With him at her side she was able to get her first good night’s rest in ages.

Once she woke up in the morning it became apparent to her, she slept through the night. Kavik surprisingly had not gone for his morning run. It wasn’t even mid-morning yet which was prime time for him to exercise.

“I’m surprised you didn’t go do your morning cardio. That’s definitely not like you at all.”

“I thought given the circumstances it would be best for me to save all of my energy for the coming flight and work in the water tribe.”

“We should probably get the kids up. I want to spend the morning with them before we leave for the southern water tribe.”

“Yangchen, you have some breakfast. I’ll go and get them up.”

Their morning family meal was a quiet one. After their tense conversation with the children last night. Mikasha and Lishka had clearly not forgiven them for the decision to leave them behind.

Once it was mid-morning they started to pack once again. She packed her winter water tribe robes and her heavier air bender cloak. It was unfortunate that a situation like this occurred in the winter. It only made things more difficult to plan and the poor souls living their torture.

Once both of them did an inventory of their packs it was time to go. They received a knock on the door of the avatar suite. It was Tayagum, Akuudan, and Abbess Yisha. The two men first greeted the children when Akuudan rose to speak to them.

“It’s time to go. Jujinta and Yingsu have prepared Thaven and are ready to leave whenever you are. We promise to look after the kids all while you are gone.”

“Thank you both so much. You two really are a blessing to have in our lives, Akuudan.”

Yangchen and Kavik both hugged their kids good bye. They were warmer to both of them now that they were due to leave so soon. It would be some time before they see the kids again. Kavik took each of their hands into his.

“Be good for you uncles. If your mother or I hear anything from them or the Abbott about misbehavior you will be in big trouble.”

“We promise daddy. We are going to miss you and momma.”

Yangchen got down on her knees and hugged both of them and Kavik did the same. “We are going to miss you both so much. We’ll be thinking of you both every single day and will see you both soon.”

With that the kids went with Tayagum and Akuudan and they were left with Abbess Yisha. Yangchen wasn’t very familiar with her. She had only risen to Abbess in the last couple of years. She was younger than the typical airbender nun that would hold that title (only being in her early fifties).

“Avatar, I hope you don’t mind but I let it known with your two companions I needed a word with you. They obliged and brought me here.”

“It’s fine Abbess. What can I do for you.”

“Well, I was talking to your sister and brothers and we have decided it would be best for you and your team to leave before the bison procession and get to the southern water tribe first. This will give you and your people ample time to asses the situation before everyone else arrives.”

“How far behind will everyone else be? There’s only so much that my team can accomplish on its own.”

“Only a few hours. This will give the bison with the larger cargo more time to rest. It’s no easy task moving so much clean water and earth for the rebuilding process. Even with the earth benders who are coming.”

“Very well. My team will depart here shortly. Please leave within the next few hours after us.”

“Excellent then we have an agreement. I will see you off. Good day to you both.”

After the Abbess left the room Kavik gave her a significant look. She was sure he was thinking what she was thinking.

“Yangchen, I know the Abbess doesn’t want a riot from all the bison arriving at the same time. I really don’t think it’s the right decision though. There’s only so much the four of us are capable of. You and I can go work whatever infirmary they have but Jujinta and Yingsu are only two people. They can only help rebuild so much.”

“I know but it’s not our decision. The Abbess makes the decision on when my sisters and others will be joining us. We can make due on our own for a few hours.”

“Okay. We should probably finish getting ready to go.”

The next thirty minutes were a whirlwind. Between all of her brothers and sisters wishing her well and spending just a few final moments with the kids. When they got to the open pavilion with Thaven he was already packed and ready to go. Jujinta and Yingsu already in the saddle ready.

Mingyur pulled her aside and signed to her that he would be in the first group of bison arriving and if she needed anything from him, he was going to be there for her. She told him thank you. He had always been someone she could count on even in her darkest times.

After one final wave to the kids, she and Kavik mounted Thaven and were off. As sad as she was to be leaving her children behind, she couldn’t help but be happy to be away from everyone and back in the air.

As they flew further south, she noticed Kavik, Yingsu, and Jujinta all kept their eyes on her. No doubt worried she would have another vision while flying. She understood their concern but given how well she slept the night before it probably wasn’t going to be necessary. Nevertheless, they watched her like a hawk the entirety of the flight.

One thing she couldn’t get out of her head was that voice and its message. “This time I am going to put you to sleep for good.” She could interpret that as either a threat or a warning depending on which of her past lives had sent it. She was at least able to conclude that the voice didn’t belong to one her past lives. More likely someone they had confronted.

The vision of her flying with Thaven in bad weather and ending up in the water wasn’t entirely all that unusual based off of the scenes she had been shown before. Still there was very little to go off of to decide which Avatar that had been. Had they not been in the middle of a mission she could ask Kavik to research it for her but there was simply no time for that. No doubt she would learn more about it as she sleeps though.

The flight was uneventful which she was grateful for that. They had a quiet lunch and took turns in the saddle. Most of the time they discussed potential strategies for helping the people rebuild. Which in reality were probably useless since none of them had ever been in a tsunami disaster zone.

After a six-hour nonstop flight, they could finally see land. They could feel it as well and were pulling on their winter wear. The full scope of the destruction started to become apparent and fast. From the air they see how much the filthy water had destroyed. There was nothing left standing.

Chapter Text

All four of them looked at the chaos with only Yingsu voicing what they felt. “Poor souls”

Yangchen turned around to face the saddle. “Everyone when we land be prepared to be questioned for help from everyone. I’ve been a part of many relief missions in my life and desperate people will do desperate things to get what they need. Make sure all of your belongings are accounted for. Most of all go nowhere alone.”

Kavik, Yingsu, and Jujinta all nodded that they understood her. With that she turned back to face the reins and with a small flick they descended toward the village. The southern tribe has many villages and they had chosen this one to start at as it was the largest. In enough time every single southern tribe settlement would have to be visited by either her team or her sisters.

As they made their way to the ground, she thought it was plainly obvious that word had spread that they were coming. Only the chief was looped in on the plan so someone must have leaked it to the public. The big problem with that was the decision for only team Avatar to arrive first was decided on last minute with the Abbess. That meant that every adult in the settlement was waiting for them at the landing area.

After landing they were attempting to gather all of their things when the shouts from the crowd were getting hard to ignore. “Where are the other nuns? Where’s our water? How do you expect to help us without any disaster supplies?”

An older man stepped forward pushing his way through. “Please everyone help is coming. Please go back to your assigned dwellings. I must speak to the Avatar and her team in order to get the relief process started.”

The crowd begrudgingly dispersed. Many of the individuals muttering under their breath about the situation. The man stepped forward and extended a hand to each of them.

“Avatar Yangchen I’m honored for you and your team’s presence in this very trying time. My name Minuka and I’m the elected chief of the southern tribe.”

“Chief Minuka please let us walk and talk. There is no time to lose.”

“Yes, let’s walk through the destruction to give you all a better idea of what will need to be dealt with. Please tell me when are the rest of your sisters going to be arriving with the relief supplies?”

“They should be only a few hours behind us. Abbess Yisha asked us to arrive first in order to properly assess the situation so that this whole operation will move as smoothly as possible.”

“Well, I have to say that I am disappointed to have not been told about this plan. I could’ve tempered expectations for my people had I known this.”

Kavik stepped forward as they walked in order to speak. “Minuka it was a decision that was made just before we departed. Trust us when I say that every possibility has been accounted for.”

“Young man do I detect an Agna Qel’a accent? I trust you have an opinion one way or another on Oyaluk’s decision to not help his own flesh and blood.”

Yangchen could tell that Minuka’s question had left Kavik furious. She needed to step in before more personal attacks started between the two. “Chief, Kavik’s personal history has nothing to do with our current situation as he is here to help.”

“We shall see. The people of the south pole have no need for northern scum here.”

Yangchen was about to threaten to leave when Yingsu, who had yet to say a word a got in Minuka’s face. “Apologize now! You are insulting one of the few healers currently here to help your people. Not only that but he is the spouse of the Avatar. He is here for the same reason as any of us.”

Minuka was initially caught off guard by this extremely imposing woman confronting him but he quickly composed himself. “My apologies master Kavik. These are trying times and I let the situation get the best of me.”

Kavik said nothing and gave the chief an impassive look. The same one he used when playing cards. It appeared that was the best he was willing to offer currently and Yangchen was more than satisfied with how Minuka’s outburst had been handled.

The chief turned away from them and they continued to walk through the destruction. “As you can see the destruction reached very far inland. Not all structures were destroyed but we estimate at least 75% of them sustained at least some damage.”

“Minuka I can see the destruction but tell me what is the current biggest problem facing everyone that we can help with today.”

“I’m glad you asked Avatar. Have you our any of your team ever seen a tsunami up close as it’s happening?”

They all shook their heads one by one as he looked at them. “Well as the water destroys everything in its path it absorbs debris, dirt, and other trash. It’s as filthy an ocean water you will ever see. It leaves behind a disease infested environment to live in. It kills what little we are able to grow here in this hostile environment and the most vulnerable among us become ill. That already compounds with those who were injured in the main event itself.”

“Do you and you people have an infirmary set up? Kavik and I can begin our work almost immediately to help those in need.”

“Yes, thankfully we have our infirmary built inland enough for it to not be affected in situations like the current one. I will lead you both there now.”

Kavik wanting to maybe show a peace offering after their tense moments earlier responded. “Chief Minuka, Yangchen and I will do everything we can in order to help every sick and injured person. We will work as long as possible on each last person.”

Minuka gave him a very pleased nod. “I’m very glad to hear that, Master Kavik. The stories of the healing hands of the Avatar are a legend. No doubt we are very fortunate to have two very qualified individuals here to help those who need it.”

They were still walking further inland and continued to survey the destruction. Despite the fact the tsunami hit several days previously there were still buildings just barely still standing some even with flames still raging in them.

“We have not had time as of now to begin the tear down process for the buildings that are no longer inhabitable. We were hoping that some of your sister’s bison would help with the power needed to bring them down.”

Jujinta and Yingsu both made eye contact clearly hearing something they thought they could help with. Yingsu put on as kind voice she could muster up after threating Minuka earlier. “Chief destruction you could say is a speciality of mine. I would be more than happy to help with the tear down process of these structures while the Avatar and Kavik attend to the sick. Jujinta and I will not be able to help anyone in that situation.”

“My dear if I have you measured correctly you are fire national if I am not mistaken.”

“Yes, I am a fire national and I have a very specific set of abilities that make tearing down structures easy. Jujinta here specializes in remote explosives and together we are all you need.”

“Remote explosives?”

Jujinta looked less than thrilled at being asked anything about himself. Typically, Juji went out of his way to not speak to world leaders when he was in their presence. “I use a bow to set off explosives at a distance with Yingsu.”

“Interesting I will have to see that for myself. Well, if that’s the case I will leave the both of you here. This was the most devastated portion of our settlement.”

Yingsu and Jujinta did not need to hear another word. The both of them clearly wanting to get away from the awkward tour they had been receiving from Minuka.

After both of them stayed behind she and Kavik continued to walk behind the chief in silence. Yangchen continued to see lost looking civilians wandering the grime infested street. Many calling out for friends and family. She knew that since several days had passed since the disaster it would be unlikely these poor people would come across their loved ones alive. She couldn’t imagine being in that situation.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, they came upon a small building with no damage. A rather large tent had been set up adjacent to the building. A small sign identified it as “Nathika and Kavana’s infirmary for the sick, injured, and other maladies.”

“Well, this is it. The folks who run this infirmary are the only surviving healers in the south pole. They will fill you in on everyone they are currently looking after. I suspect we will next speak once the eastern temple nuns arrive. Good day to you both.”

They both looked at each other knowing what they were about to walk into what would be pure misery. They could hear screams, moans, and crying coming from the tent that housed the infirmaries overflow operation. Kavik took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Let me know if you need anything. I’ll come intervene if things become difficult.”

“Kavik this whole thing is going to be difficult no matter who we try to help. These people have had their lives devastated. No matter what we can not walk out on them.”

“You are right. All we can do is our best and see where that gets us.” She returned the hand squeeze he had given to her. After one final moment of eye contact, they walked forward through the tent flap.

The noise that they experienced outside was nothing like what they heard on the inside. The full scope of the vulnerable was made extremely clear to both of them. There were people of all ages in various levels of despair. There was a child right next to the entrance flap who looked to be extremely sick all by himself. As they continued to walk, they saw two people walk out from behind a set of curtains. There was a look a shook from both of them when they noticed Kavik and herself.

The man took off his gloves and walked up to the both of them. “Avatar, Master Kavik thank you so much for coming. My name is Nathika and this is my wife, Kavana.”

Kavana did a small curtsy to her and made to explain the situation. “Avatar Yangchen Minuka told us to expect you and your husband. We have many people we could use assistance with but right now there is one pressing matter ahead of everything else.”

Yangchen took a deep breath before agreeing. “Alright what can we do to help?”

“Kavana and I have been working on a man who was crushed by the roof of his home after the tsunami. He was very seriously injured. He left leg was not able to be saved.”

Nathika paused a moment to let the shock of the situation pass before continuing.

“We have managed to stabilize him for the most part. However, due to limited resources we have been unable to cauterize the wound. There is only so much water is capable of. We need a fire bender and I’m afraid you are the only one currently in the south pole my Avatar.”

Yangchen was dreading what was coming (if only Yingsu was here but would she even be able to work in an enclosed space like this). It just had to be one the worst injuries they had to start with. “Fine I’ll do it. Is the man conscious?”

Kavana answered for them. “Thankfully no. I specialize in mind healing and can use that ability to put patients to sleep.”

She had never heard of that technique and clearly Kavik hadn’t either when he spoke up. “I have never heard of mind healing when I grew up in the north. Is it a common technique.”

“No as far as I am aware I might be the only one. Anyway, we need to ask fast. Avatar, Master Kavik please follow me.”

The two of them followed the healers behind the curtains. Sure, enough there was a man asleep on a cot with bandages covering a red stump. Nathika started to unwrap the bandages and Yangchen took so deep breaths to steady herself. She hadn’t been expecting to fire bend today.

“Master Kavik please hold the patient down by the shoulders. We can’t assume he will remain knocked out while the Avatar works.”

Kavik positioned himself at the man’s shoulders pushing down with all his might. She continued her breathing technique just waiting for the all clear from the healers to cauterize the wound. Kavana unrolled the final bandage and if Yangchen wasn’t in the middle of such a serious situation, she may have been sick.

Kavana moved around he table to the top of the man’s head. She bent some water from a bowel by the bed and started healing around his forward. Nathika joined Kavik holding down the man’s torso. “Avatar, on three use a controlled burn for ten seconds on the wound. Even if he awakens continue until the time is up. One, Two, Three!”

After one final breath she let out a controlled fire blast from her fist. While it wasn’t by any means difficult to make a fire blast the circumstances made it so. They were in an enclosed environment with many flammable objects. She also had to concentrate on keeping the flame as hot as possible.

Nathika counted down the seconds and when he reached ten, she was finally able to stop. Thankfully the man had not awakened due to Kavana’s efforts during the cauterizing. She looked around and nothing had caught on fire either. Kavik released man and came to hold her while Nathika immediately started treating the wound.

Kavik took her by the shoulders to look at her. “Are you alright?”

“I think so. I wasn’t prepared for an injury like that to be the first thing we had to deal with.”

“Well at least the worst is out of the way. Although we still have so many other people to heal.”

Nathika and Kavana finished working on the man. They gave him one final once over before being satisfied he was stable. Kavana looked to the two of them and gestured around the tent. “That was by far the most serious injury that needed attention. There are many people here who are sick. Could the two of you please walk among the sick and offer what healing you feel comfortable providing?”

They both nodded and the two healers walked off to speak with and elderly man in the corner by himself. She had to give Kavik some direction. He was a very talented healer after so many years working with her. He still however worked best with adults as opposed to children. Especially since they had had their own kids he had learned he wasn’t comfortable healing young ones.

“Kavik go to the adults one by one and I will attend to the kids in here. Thankfully there’s not too many children so once I’m down with them I will join you.”

“Alright just call me over if you need me.”

She gave his hand one final squeeze. “Same for you. If you need me just say my name and I’ll be right over.”

They parted and she went to the young child that she had noticed when entering the tent. The boy got up as Yangchen lowered her hood revealing her arrow. While being the Avatar brought on its own difficulties occasionally it did have its perks. It bought her inherent trust with some people especially including children.

“You…… You’re the Avatar.”

It was not a question but a statement. “How do you know? I could just be any well-meaning air bender nun.”

“Air bender nuns can’t fire bend. I heard the flames from behind the curtain. The healers and that man with you are all from the water tribe.”

“Oh right. I guess I did expose myself with my bending. In the moment I had already forgotten.”

The girl started coughing uncontrollably after breaking out in a chuckle from her words. She gathered the water from the night stand and immediately started applying it to the girl’s chest. After a few seconds her wheezing stopped.

“When did you start having this cough sweetheart?”

“Immediately after the tsunami. I swallowed water from the wave. Nathika and Kavana told me with regular treatment I should be fine in a few days.”

“What’s your name dear and where are your parents?”

“My name is Yika. My mother didn’t make it out of the house after it started flooding. She cleared a hole through the front of our house so I could escape.”

The fact she said all of this without getting upset is what bothered Yangchen the most. Yika had clearly been forced to recount this many times to the point the details no longer upset her.

“Yika where is your dad?”

“He left for the monthly hunt the prior day before the tsunami. He and the other villagers should be fine as the hunt usually last a couple of weeks. They probably have no idea what’s happened.”

“Yika I promise my team and I will go search for them but for now I am going to talk to some of the other kids to see if I can help them. Just let me know if you need me.”

“Thank you, Avatar.”

As she walked away from the young girl, she was intercepted by Nathika. “Yika is still holding on to hope her dad is coming. We aren’t too sure his group actually left before the arrival of the water.”

“Regardless, I have already promised her my team will go out and look for them. We will find out one way or another when the time comes.”

They exchanged a significant look and moved on to continue their work. Yangchen spent the next hour looking after kids with various injuries and illnesses. One girl was with her parents and she spent some time healing a knee injury she had sustained. Another girl was running a fever who was all by herself. The final child she interacted with was only with his siblings and had a badly infected cut.

She was really struck by how much happiness the little ones got just by seeing her. She had a pretty good idea that most of them had never met an air bending nun before but she suspected they wouldn’t act this way around one of her sisters. If being able to meet her brought them some happiness she was glad to be able to provide it.

After she finished with all of the kids she went to find Kavik. She weaved through all the different people clutching at her robes as she tried to find him. Finally, she saw him as it looked like he was trying to convince an older women to allow him to provide her healing.

“The Avatar is here. I don’t want you unqualified hands to touch me. I am going to wait until she can look at me.”

Kavik was trying hard not to show frustration. Clearly trying to decide if he should just move on or not. He had always had a hard time accepting that not everyone would accept him as their healer. It was a difficult thing for anyone to accept.

“Please let me at least try to look at your shoulder. I’ve healed far worse injuries than it over the years. Everything I am comes from her.”

Yangchen was a few meters behind the woman’s bed but kept her distance as she gave Kavik a curt nod to go ahead and check out her shoulder. No doubt if the woman caught sight of her, she would demand Kavik stop to get attention from her.

Once the old woman got treatment and relaxed back on her bed Kavik rejoined her with an exhausted look on his face. “I swear some of them don’t actually won’t to get care if it means they are allowed to complain as much as they want. Either that or they get completely inappropriate with me.”

“Sorry we had to work a part for so long but I’m done with all the children. All things considered they are doing pretty well. There was one that had an issue I agreed to help with.”

Over the next couple of minutes, she relayed what she discussed with Yika. While she had expected Kavik to react saying it was unlikely the hunting group was still alive, he actually agreed with the girl saying it was possible they would find him. “What makes you say that?”

“It’s a long story. I’ll explain later. For now, we need to get back to the rest of the patients.”

With the two of them working together things started moving a lot faster. She had long thought they worked best as team when they healed people. It took two more hours but they finally got through everyone in the infirmary. The last woman was just delighted to finally have someone finally have time for her. She was particularly thankful as Kavik had helped heal some back pain she was dealing with when she looked to Yangchen. “My dear if I was young and pretty, I’d fight you for this one.”

After a laugh from that comment, she and Kavik walked outside for some fresh air. The sun had already set (not really all that surprising for it being the winter) and they were exhausted from several hours of work. They still had no idea where they would be staying the night. The group had brought their tent and camping equipment but that would be difficult to set up after dark. Just when they were about to gather their things and go speak to Minuka, Nathika and Kavana joined them.

Both of the healers were covered in blood as they two had been working along with Kavik and herself. They had clearly just come to a decision when Kavana said. “Avatar, Master Kavik since you came here on such short notice are we right in assuming you don’t have anywhere to stay the night?”

“Yes, but we are sure the chief could arrange something for us.”

Just a mention of the chief had been enough for Yangchen to notice a look that could only be explained away as annoyance. Nathika and Kavana quickly gathered themselves before adding. “It would be our pleasure to welcome you both into our homes to sleep and have a meal.”

Kavik answered but she could tell he really wanted to accept despite his answer. “Oh, we couldn’t possibly impose on the both of you. Plus, we have to other team members that have to stay with us.”

“That’s not a problem. We have a guest room that the two of you can stay in. Your other friends can stay in our sitting room. The only other person in the house will be our ten-year-old daughter.”

Kavik still trying to keep a polite tone but let an excited undertone enter his voice as he told them. “We would be honored. We will wait for you both to finish up in the infirmary before we go anywhere.”

The couple went back into the tent and Yangchen realized she would need to call Yingsu and Jujinta. Over the years they had developed a system for her to communicate with the team at long distance. When she was a girl, she had developed a technique to use bending in order for her to yell extremely loud. After enough time she had been able to use the same technique to enhance her whistle. With one breath she let out an extremely long sharp sound from her lips. In no time the two of them came moving slowly toward them.

Jujinta was covered in ash and as he approached looked relieved the call hadn’t been for some sort of a fight. “Oh, thank the spirits you called us to end the day. There’s only so much work her and I can do even with Thaven’s help.”

Yingsu nodded in agreement. Due to her power, she at least was not covered in filth like the young man. “I take it from your call that you have somewhere for us to stay the night?”

“Yes. The healers here in the south pole have offered to take us in for now. They even offered us a meal.”

As Yingsu and Jujinta both gave their assent for the plan she heard Nathika yell “light’s out” from within the tent. When they came back out in the elements, they greeted her other companions and left the front of the tent.

Luckily for everyone they stayed in the building adjacent to the infirmary. Nathika fished his keys out of his pockets and opened their front door. Just as soon as he did a girl ran forward and encased her arms around her father. “Dad, Mom why did you take so much extra time today? Surely there still aren’t more survivor’s being brought in.”

Minsha took a turn to hug her mother and noticed the other people. Kavana smiled at her daughter. “Minsha this is Avatar Yangchen and her team Kavik, Yingsu, and Jujinta.”

“Minsha you can just call us by our names too. To you and your family I am just Yangchen.”

“Okay. Mom I’m going to go up to my room. Will you tell me when dinner is ready?”

“Of course, dear. We will have it ready soon.”

The girl ran off upstairs and they all heard a door close. The parents exchanged and look. “She gets very shy around strangers. No doubt she will have a ton of questions for all of you once she’s used to your presence.”

Yingsu was particularly amused by the girl’s behavior. “I would be more than happy to answer whatever questions she may have. It’s just the nature of children to be curious.”

Both Nathika and Kavana bustled around the kitchen as the team made themselves at home. Yingsu and Jujinta decided where they would be sleeping in the sitting room while herself and Kavik dropped their things off in the guest room after they were shown where it was. In no time the couple had a meal ready.

Nathika went to collect Minsha and the family deferred to their guest to get soup and bread first before they did. Team Avatar sat on a mat in the sitting room while they ate and the family at their small dining table.

Even though it was just soup and bread they were all just happy to have something hot to eat. In no time though it was getting extremely late and the family retreated to their respective rooms while team Avatar took turns using the shower in the guest bed room bath. In no time though Kavik and Yangchen found themselves in bed finally able to get some rest after a long day.

“Yangchen, do you think we should be concerned that your sisters haven’t arrived yet?”

“I’m not really concerned. They could’ve been delayed for whatever reason. Getting over a hundred bison ready for flying isn’t they easiest task. If even the smallest thing is forgotten it could delay take off by hours.”

“Well hopefully in the morning they will have arrived. The villagers will no doubt get even more restless if they don’t see them in the morning.”

“Yes, and I’m sure my sisters wouldn’t be any later than a morning arrival. Bison are more than capable of flying at night by the stars.”

Kavik let out a small laugh. “You know we may be from completely different cultures but sometimes I’m reminded we are all human and survive in the same ways.”

“What’s that supposed to mean. Bison have really keen eye site and can see perfectly well in dark.”

“Oh, well maybe what I was thinking of wasn’t as directly comparable as I thought. Anyway, good night. No doubt we need a good night’s sleep with the work that awaits us in the morning.”

With that Kavik turned over and said no more. She wondered what he was getting at about everyone surviving the same way. Now wasn’t the time to discuss it as she too was exhausted. In no time she was fast asleep with her mind in a blissful peace.

Chapter Text

Her heart was beating a fast as it possibly could. All she knew is that she needed to run and get away from here as fast as possible. Looking behind her silhouetted against the orange sky she saw “him” coming after her. Not only that but he was gaining on her. There was only one thing to do she had to protect herself and she bent a ball of earth around herself making it as dense as possible.

Think Yangchen how are you getting out of this. She could always burrow below ground where she could try and get away. The terrain was decent enough for that to be an option. Getting away long enough to bend though would be almost impossible with her opponent now right on top of her.

She heard a pair of feet land right outside her little ball of protection. Would he try and gloat. If so, that might be the opening she needed to make her get away. The wheels were continuing to turn in her head when it happened. A very powerful blast of what could only be fire hit her protective earth. The heat was beyond comprehension and there was no where to go. The man blasted her shell several more times before he stopped.

“You’re weak, just like the rest of your people. They did not deserve to exist in this world, in my world. Prepare to join them. Prepare to die!”

This was it. There was no where for her to go as she heard him ignite another ball of flame in his fist. The fire made contact with her protective shell and it cracked. Just when she knew the pain would surround her, she blacked out.

She wasn’t dead. Far from it actually. She opened her eyes and the environment was completely different. It seemed that she was hiding in some sort of storage area under a table. Just as she exhaled a curious force dragged her out from underneath her hiding spot. It was a sensation of which she had never felt before and she was lifted into the air. This wasn’t like any airbending she had ever used before. She doubted this is even what Guru Laghima had written about when you become wind. Not that she seriously thought she had become wind in such an odd situation.

Footsteps approached her and she saw a man in a mask. He had his hand raised at her as if he was using bending to keep her suspended. What was going on? He forced her into a kneeling position and placed his thumb upon her arrow. “I told you I would destroy you.”

She fell to the ground and immediately attempted to strike back at the man. Nothing happened though. No fire or earth would strike at him. Dread filled her heart. She couldn’t bend. Why couldn’t she bend.

Just as she was about to lose control the scene blacked out. A voice she had heard before rang through her mind once again. With the same message it had tried to deliver before. “This time I’m going to put you asleep for good.”

“No get away from me!” Yangchen had awoken and fallen out of the bed. Where was she? How could she possibly be safe after what she had just witnessed.

A startled sound came from the bed she had just fallen out of. “Yangchen! What is it, Yangchen? I’m right here with you?” Kavik came into view and fell to his knees to hold her immediately. She just grabbed at his night shirt and cried into his chest.

There were additional sounds of feet hurrying toward the bedroom. Jujinta did not knock and entered with his daggers drawn expecting some sort of struggle and Yingsu not too far behind him. When their eyes finally found her on the floor, they lowered their defenses but their shock was no less than before. She looked down at her sleeping robe and it was covered in blood.

“Yangchen it’s me Kavik. Are you back with us? We need to take you to the wash room to clean up your face and robes before anyone else notices what has happened.”

She lifted her hand to feel her face and sure enough blood had been streaming from both of her nostrils. Kavik was right she had to get cleaned up but just as she began to try and stand with Kavik’s help Nathika and Kavana appeared in the door way.

They both looked at her with alarm. Kavana mentioned something about a first aid kit a ran from the room while all Nathika had to add was “By the lights what happened?”

“I feel out of bed and hit my nose on the night stand. Nothing to worry about really.”

Nathika saw through her lie immediately. What else could she say though. Revealing her gift to people who were practically strangers was not a good idea. She had a hard enough time just revealing it to those closest to her.

Kavana returned to the room with the first aid kit following her Minsha pocked her head in after her. “Mom what happened? I heard a lot of noise and was scared something might have happened to the house.”

“Everything is fine sweetheart. The Avatar fell ill tonight and your father and I are just checking her out make sure she will be alright. It’s still not even sunrise yet so your father and I need you to go back for bed.”

Thankfully the girl accepted the story without a second thought and returned to her bedroom. As the two healers helped move her onto the bed they started to work on her. As much as they wanted to “heal” her she knew there was nothing to be done. They looked at every inch of her face and seemed to finally be satisfied that her nose was not broken and there were no other injuries to be seen.

The two healers backed away from her and Kavik made to fetch a clean pair of her airbender robes from her rucksack. “I’m going to take Yangchen into the washroom in order to help her get cleaned up. Everything is fine. You can all head back to bed.”

Jujinta and Yingsu made to leave the bedroom without question but the healers did not. They had clearly caught on to there being more going on that they didn’t understand. Nathika put a hand on her shoulder. “Yangchen something has clearly happened that you aren’t telling us. Kavana and I are healers and whatever you have to say stays between us. That’s healer patient privilege.”

For the first time since waking up her head started feeling normal again. “Let me get cleaned up. Juji could you please pull some sort of breakfast together? The last thing I want to do is try to go back to bed.”

“Of course.” He left the room at once with Yingsu taking up a position to stand guard near the door.

Kavik made to take her arm and guide her to the wash room but Nathika and Kavana still hadn’t moved. “Please let me get her cleaned up. There’s no point in trying to get my wife to talk when her whole front is covered in blood. You will find out more momentarily.”

They both seemed to finally relax. Kavana left the room following Jujinta toward the kitchen. Nathika gave them both a sad look and only replied. “Just know that we only want to help.” He then left the room going to check on his daughter.

Once he shut the door behind him, she finally allowed herself to cry again. She clutched onto Kavik’s shirt and just had to let it out. She had never been so scared in her entire life. If felt so real when those two monstrous men were bearing down on her.

Kavik held onto her and smoothed out her hair. “Everything is going to be okay. Let’s get into the washroom and get you cleaned up.”

“Kavik it was so real. The scenes that played out made me feel like I was going to die or even worse.”

“What could be worse than dying?”

“It was a figure of speech but I witnessed a scene where the avatar in question lost their bending. I felt their terror.”

“It’s all over now. I’m here and all of our friends aren’t going to let anything happen to you.”

She gave him a small smile. “You really are too good for me.”

“I’m as good as you deserve.”

Once she finally collected herself Kavik led her over to the bath and turned on the water for her to get cleaned up. In no time she was in the steaming hot water. Just as she was about to grab a cloth to clean the blood off herself, Kavik took it from her. “I just want you to relax. Would you be okay with me cleaning your face and chest?”

She nodded her assent and closed her eyes. Kavik worked very gently washing the dried blood away. She had thought about just laying in the hot water once Kavik finished but was disappointed to see the water take on a red sheen. Well, the universe was certainly trying to force her to get up and not let her relax.

She got out of the water and as she was drying her body off Kavik looked to her with a question. “How much do you want to tell Nathika and Kavana? They are healers and we are staying in their home. They deserve to know to an extent what is going on.”

She had been thinking about what she was going to say to them while in the bath. They weren’t stupid and would see through her lies about being sick. “I think I’m just going to tell them. If I take them on as my personal healers, they are obliged to keep what I say to them a secret.”

“If that’s what you want. I’ll do my best to support you when they learn your story.”

After getting dressed she took Kavik’s hand and they exited the guest bedroom. Immediately she was met by Yingsu who was still standing guard. “Are you alright Yangchen? I’ve never seen you look that disheveled.”

“As well as I can be all things considered. You don’t have to keep standing guard. Let’s go down and have breakfast.”

“I’m just not willing to take any chances when you are in such a vulnerable position. Just know I’m here if you need to talk.”

“Thank you.”

She and Kavik walked into the kitchen. Thankfully Nathika and Kavana only gave her a concerned look from the sitting room. Jujinta treated her normally as he handed her a plate with breakfast. “I thought you could use some protein so I made you eggs and also biscuits with some jam.”

“Thank you Juji. I definitely need it.” He handed everyone a plate one by one and they sat down and had a meal. It wasn’t lost on her that it was awkwardly quiet. Almost like they thought she would break down if they were too loud. She thought it would probably be best if she broke the silence.

“Did Minsha manage to get back to sleep?”

Kavana swallowed her eggs quicker than she would’ve normally now that she broke the silence. “Yes, it took some persuading but she went back to bed. We can always set some food aside for her when she gets up in a couple of hours.”

“I already set some extra aside. I figured your daughter probably didn’t want to have breakfast at five in the morning.” Jujinta immediately started gathering all their plates and made to go and clean them.

“Jujinta my wife and I are incredibly thankful for the meal. You do not have to do the dishes as well.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. I like being able to stay busy.” To someone who didn’t know him this would have looked entirely selfless but Yangchen knew Juji was trying to remove himself from the awkward discussions that were upcoming.

“Yangchen please Nathika and I need to know what happened to you tonight. There’s absolutely no way all that blood was from falling out of bed and hitting your face. Please be honest with us. We might be able to help you.”

“You are right there is more going on than either of you could possibly imagine. If I tell you I need you both to know that I am taking you on as my personal healers. That way I can feel confident nothing I say will leave this room.”

Nathika and Kavana looked at each other and nodded. “Avatar Yangchen we Kavana and Nathika take you on as our personal patient. Everything you say to us is between us and will not leave this room.”

She felt satisfied that these people weren’t going to gossip about her condition. “Alright in the simplest way possible I’ve been plagued by visions from my past lives since I was a little girl. When I go to sleep, they torture me with visions of what happened to them at their most vulnerable moments.

They both reacted as you could imagine. She could tell from the looks on their faces they had a million questions. Nathika however, voiced the first thing that came to mind. “This has been happening to you since childhood? How old were you when it started?”

“I was eight. When I started having the visions the western temple nuns were forced to tell me who I actually was in hope it would ease my condition. You see normally the Avatar finds out who they are when they turn sixteen unless they are in an extraordinary situation. My situation unfortunately qualified as extraordinary.”

“So, you have been dealing with this for most of your life. Did you ever find a way to ease your pain that your past lives inflicted on you.”

It took some time but yes. My sister Jetsun would research the names I would mention while I was having my visions. She would take the names of those I spoke and learn their story in order to talk me down while they were in my head. She was extremely talented at it and helped me feel normal.”

“As the years went by the elders of the temple created certain mental exercises for me to do everyday when I wake up and when I go to bed. They only help so much but if I forget to do them it can make my sleep particularly difficult.”

Nathika was shaking his head while Kavana had a hand covering her mouth while she asked. “How has your condition evolved over the years? If you have been having these visions for the last 23 years surely, they have changed.”

“It has changed but that is more of a recent development. After the birth of my children my visions were accompanied by a nose bleed. The one that I had tonight was the worst one I’ve ever had.”

“Yangchen, do you remember what I told you when we met yesterday while working on the man with the amputated leg?”

She shook her head no. The events of the last couple days were feeling a little fuzzy as of right now.

“Completely understandable that you don’t remember. I’m a mind healer and while your situation is different than anything I’ve ever dealt with before I’d be more than happy to have a session with you in order to see what can be done.”

She really didn’t want to hear from more people that she was depressed. More than enough experts had tried to diagnose her as such the last couple of years. “What kind of people do you generally have sessions with?”

“People who need help with their mental health. Everyone’s mental health varies from time to time so I use my healing to provide relief for those that need it. I have no idea what sort of affect it might have on you but I would love to at least try and see if I can help you.”

Kavik took her hand again. “I think you should give it a try. We’ve never met someone with Kavana’s ability. It’s always possible she could actually help you.”

She nodded to him in agreement. “How does a mind healing session work?”

“Oh, it’s relatively simple. Usually, we have sessions over in the infirmary but in your case, we will do it in our sitting room. All you have to do is lay down on our couch and I will talk you through the process while I have water healing around your head.”

“Sounds simple enough. Let’s do it.”

Yingsu spoke up from the other side of the kitchen table. “I think it would best for Jujinta and I to rejoin the villagers in the relief effort. I don’t think you need a large audience for something like this.” Jujinta also assented with this plan.

“Thank you both. If anything comes up come and let us know. After we finish with the mind healing Kavik and I will be working in the infirmary again.”

Both of them gathered up their rucksacks and said farewell to all of them. With the door closing behind them they were off.

Nathika stood from the table as well. “I’m going to ensure that Minsha is still asleep. The last thing we need is for her to eavesdrop on the session.” He got up and went up the stairs.

Kavana stood from the table and both her and Kavik followed her into the sitting room. “Yangchen please lay down on the sofa and I will go get some water so we can begin.”

As she walked back to the kitchen to bend some water to her hand Nathika returned and confirmed that Minsha was still asleep. Kavik pulled up a chair so he could sit next her in order to offer support. Kavana did the same and pulled up a chair to the arm of the sofa where her head was with water already bent to her hand.

“If you need to stop let us know as soon as possible. Mind healing causes people from all walks of life to react differently. I will be asking you questions throughout the process so just tell me to stop if it becomes too much.”

“Alright. I’m ready.” Kavana took her water and brought its healing properties to her forehead. It was the most wonderful feeling. She felt lighter than air. It felt like she was in the clouds only her and Thaven.

“Yangchen, can you hear me?”

“Yes, Kavana, I hear you.”

“I want you to fucus on what you saw in your mind from last night.” As soon as she said it, she saw flashes of the scene playing out in front of herself. This time she looked down on the scene the ball of earth she bent around herself and the man flying toward her.

Kavana’s voice penetrated her mind. “Yangchen what do you see?”

“I’m in a defensive position within a ball of earth. My opponent is bearing down on me.” She was really struck by how orange the sky was and that was when she saw it, the comet. “There’s more. The sky is burnt orange from a comet. It’s not something I’ve ever seen before personally.”

Just as the man bared down on her the scene changed again, she was on her bison in a terrible storm. She looked on from the saddle as she tried to guide Thaven to fly straight in the strong wind and rain. “I’m in a different place. It’s a terrible storm and I’m trying to guide Thaven through a storm but it’s not going well.”

“Was this one of the visions you had last night? You seem surprised to be seeing it.”

“It wasn’t from last night but it’s still recent. Wait we are being pulled under by the waves. I’m panicking and I feel the pull of the Avatar state.” Just as she was about to witness her eyes glow the scene changed again.

There was what appeared to be a court room around her as she came to but with a flicker of the Avatar state, she gave chase to someone that had escaped the room.

This time she heard Kavik’s voice. “Yangchen please talk to us what is going on.”

“Oh, right sorry everyone. I’m chasing after someone in a carriage being pulled by an ostrich horse. Wait I just sent a blast of air to stop the carriage.”

It was then that she saw the man emerge and put up each of his hands and that same unnatural force lifted her into the air. The same one she had personally felt from the other vision she had the previous night. It was then that she heard his voice the same one she had heard in her head the last couple of days “This time I’m going to put you asleep for good.”

The scene changed one final time. “Wait I’m somewhere else once again. It doesn’t feel familiar though. It’s some sort of water tribe home though. I’m no longer looking down at the scene but I am in my own head. There’s some sort of visitor based off the commotion.”

“I’ll take it this is him then. Yes, this is our son.” If being referred to as son made her feel strange it was nothing compared to what happened next. The man who entered the room was very old and had a long beard. It was then she realized she was so small. He knelt down and she got the shock of a life time. She knew those blue eyes. She looked into them every single day. They were Kavik’s. If she needed anymore proof, he wore the same necklace Kavik had worn since the day they met.

She forced herself away from the vision and flung herself away from the coach. She needed to get away from everyone. How could this be possible.

Kavik and Kavana tried to help her up. “Don’t touch me! Get away from me!”

She couldn’t look at Kavik. Not after what she had just seen. It was then that she noticed her head was wet after slapping Kavana’s hand away. The healer asked her in as calm a voice as possible. “Yangchen what did you see. You can’t be whole if you are holding it all inside.”

“Kavana I’m not like your other patients. What I saw has only one explanation and it’s one that just makes me seem crazy.”

Kavik placed a hand on her shoulder as she was still kneeling on the ground facing the floor. She initially had the urge to shake him off but decided she liked the warmth. “I saw a water tribe home. I couldn’t have been older than like six at most. There were visitors and an old man came in. He got down on my level and looked me in the eye. That was when I saw them. Your eyes Kavik.”

“What how is this possible? You said you were a child in the vision.”

She started to feel tears rolling down her cheeks. “I would recognize your eyes anywhere but beyond even that you were wearing the same necklace you’ve worn since the day we met.”

“How……. You think your visions are moments from the future?”

She was eternally grateful that he was the one to say it. Her being the first one to say it just made her feel like she was going crazy. Given who she was could it really even be the strangest thing that’s ever happened to her.

“I don’t know how to explain it. I’ve never read of any other Avatar who even dealt with slipping into their past lives. I know there’s no one who can even help us through this situation.”

Nathika and Kavana had retreated away from them in order to give them privacy. At her words though Kavana engaged her in conversation once again. “I know this is beyond what any of us even expected but know that you have us as an asset to help you. You explained how through my mind healing you saw these visions from a third person perspective and that let you analyze the situation in a way that you can’t in an uncontrolled environment. Beyond that you saw visions that you had never even seen before.”

She pondered her words and realized she had a point. “Thank you, Kavana. Perhaps in the future we can have other sessions as needed but for now I have to come to grips with what I’ve discovered.”

“If you will excuse us, we are going to go get our daughter up and warm up breakfast for her.” Kavana left for Minsha’s bedroom and Nathika went to warm up the girl’s food.

Kavik and her went back up to the guest bedroom in order to process what they had learned. If that was even possible in such a short time. Kavik closed the door behind her and they sat on the bed. “So, you are having visions of the future.”

“Yeah, I guess I am.”

“You saw me as an old man coming to visit you.”

She didn’t know how she expected Kavik to react. She personally just felt empty. It caught her completely off guard when tears started to fall from his eyes. She grabbed onto his arm to steady both of them. “What’s wrong? I mean beyond the obvious.”

The tears were really flowing down his cheeks now. “I’m going to outlive you. I don’t want to live my life without you as a part of it.”

It felt really odd that the tables had turned and she was comforting him now. She hugged him as tight as she could. “I’m here now and that’s what matters.” She looked him in his eyes. The same ones that had shattered her reality and kissed him deeply. Once she broke their kiss there was something else that just occurred to her.

“In a couple of the visions I witnessed a power that I have never seen before. The man telling me he would put me to sleep for good and another man in a mask used some sort of bending to lift me into the air. It didn’t seem like they were bending anything attached to my person but just my body by itself. Have you ever heard of anything like that?”

Kavik scratched his chin before replying. “No, I haven’t heard of anything like that. New bending techniques are always being invented so perhaps in the future some new technique is created to give benders control of another.”

“That sounds awful. Why would anyone want a power like that.”

“Well, I can think of someone who would love to have a power like that. It would’ve come in very handy for him.”

“Your brother.”

“Yes, it sounds exactly like a power Kalyaan would abuse. After our time in the southern water tribe is finished, we can spend time researching if something like it actually already exists.”

Just as Kavik finished speaking the sound of dozens of people running around outside met their ears. They got up and peered through the blinds and saw some good news. The air bender nuns were finally here.

Chapter Text

“My sisters are here.” She was stating the obvious but she needed to voice it nonetheless. She had almost completely forgotten their purpose for being here in the first place. She quickly made to grab her footwear out from under their bed wanting to get outside as soon as possible.

“Yangchen please slow down. You’ve experienced a traumatic event. The airbender nuns are more than capable or leading the relief effort on their own.”

She turned to look at him and noticed he had not moved from the window. It was under his concerned gaze that she realized he had a point. The sun had just rose and she had already been up for three hours and those hours haven’t been exactly peaceful. “Fine I won’t throw myself into the relief effort but I want to at least be able to help delegate supplies. My sisters need to see me there in order to raise morale.”

“Okay let’s go offer our support.” With their discussion concluded Kavik went to change into a new set of clothes as she had got blood on his night things. While he was changing she fixed her hair to make it look as normal as possible. Once they were ready, they went downstairs. She fully expected to be cornered by Nathika and Kavana on the way out.

As soon as the thought went through her mind Nathika appeared around the corner by the front door of the home. “Avatar where do you think you’re going? You are in no shape physically or mentally to participate in the events outside.”

“Nathika, I understand but my sisters are expecting me. I will take it easy and not over exert myself. It’s not my first time dealing with difficult nights.”

“Avatar you yourself even said that this was the worst of these most recent visions you’ve dealt with.”

She was getting frustrated with him. She knew it was his job to be cautious with patients (it felt ridiculous to think of herself as one). “Kavik will keep an eye on me. He’s got plenty of experience with doing so.”

“Alright Yangchen.” It was not lost on her the use of her name over her title. Whenever that happened, she knew she had won. “Kavana has left next door for the infirmary. I will be going in later this afternoon. If you or any of you team need anything I will be here with Minsha.”

“Thank you Nathika. You and your wife have shown us nothing but kindness and we are all incredibly grateful.” They both bowed to the man and exited the house.

As she and Kavik made their way along the same path, they had walked the previous day she saw more and more or her sisters arriving. It felt like the entire eastern air temple had emptied. Not all of them would be staying as there were plenty of other villages along the coast needing aid.

The further they walked toward the coast the worse the damage became. This relief effort wasn’t going to just last a few days. It was likely going to take months in order for life to return to normal around here.

As they approached the center of town, they saw in a way what was expected. Every villager was encircling her sisters as they tried to unload supplies from all of their respective bison. Many were yelling about hungry children, no clean water, and other problems. Abbess Yisha was standing on top of her bison’s saddle trying to calm everyone down but no one had any real desire to listen to her.

She looked over at Kavik feeling sure he wasn’t going to like the idea that she had. “I’m going to use my glider to join the Abbess. If they won’t listen to her, maybe they will listen to me.”

As she expected he furrowed his brow at her words. “What makes you think they will listen to you when they ignore her?”

“Remember the story I told you about how I became an airbender master.” Realization dawned across his features. “Your enhanced yell. It’s been so long since I’ve seen you use it; I had completely forgotten about it. Please don’t put to much strain on yourself.”

“I’ll only do it once. Could you go please find Yingsu and Jujinta? I’d suspect they are with Thaven and we will probably need him to help with moving the supplies.”

“Sure thing. They can’t have got to far from here. I’ll see you in a little bit.” They embraced each other and he gave her a quick kiss before turning to depart. While he had not picked up on it, she had been startled to be that close to his eyes. The very same ones she had seen in her visions. She was thankful that Kavik hadn’t noticed her unease.

She opened up her glider and jumped into the air and caught a small breeze. In no time at all she landed right next to Abbess Yisha on top of her bison. With a quick deep breath, she let out an order that everyone in town no doubt heard. “QUIET!” The scream immediately had the intended effect and they all thankfully shut up. “EVERYONE WILL GET FOOD, WATER, AND CLEAN CLOTHES. FORM A LINE FOR EACH AND YOU WILL RECEIVE SUPPLIES. IF ANY OF YOU TRY TO SKIP THE LINE, WE WILL CALL YOU OUT!”

At first there was nothing but silence. These people had never heard someone as loud as her but as the shock passed, they begrudgingly started forming lines. Her sisters calling out which one was going to be for what. As they started moving, she took a moment to rub her throat as her vocal cords felt sore.

Abbess Yisha was looking at her with a very fond expression. Initial relief efforts were always extremely difficult and sometimes dangerous. “My dear thanks for intervening. They were on top of us as soon as we landed.”

“It was nothing. Kavik and I saw the bison herd arrive and knew that we would probably be needed.”

“Where is your husband? I don’t see him in any part of the crowd.”

“He went to find the other members of my team. They left to help at another part of town early this morning.”

“It’s great to hear all of you have already been so involved with helping out here.” She craned her neck to look over Yangchen’s shoulder. “Yangchen, I see your friend Mingyur is having some problems leading the line handing out food. Could you possibly assist him?”

As she turned around to look at the situation it was obvious the man was uncomfortable handing out food. It frustrated her that one her sisters had not taken over for him. No good was going to come from the deaf airbender interacting with desperate disaster victims.

As she made her way over to Mingyur she could see Chief Minuka walking over to the Abbess to engage her in conversation. She had no desire to talk to the man after the morning she has had. Spending time with Mingyur even in a situation like this was far better than having to talk to Minuka.

Mingyur of course had not heard her steps coming and she placed a calming hand on his shoulder to get his attention. He jumped at her touch but his eyes lit up upon seeing her. He quickly signed a greeting to her which she returned. As they interacted the impatient villagers started to get testy.

“Hey miss Avatar talk to your friend later. We need food here.”

“Please be patient. You all will be fed. I give you all my word.” Her and Mingyur went back to work and started handing out rations. Some people especially the children were grateful for whatever they had to give them. Others, especially the men were not as happy to receive vegetarian options.

“Where’s the meat. Surely you can’t expect us to survive off this garbage. There’s no protein in any of this food at all.”

Mingyur even though he couldn’t really hear much of what the man was saying fixed him with an icy glare. “Would you prefer to have no food at all. By all means starve if you want to prove a point. I’m sure the women and children will be more than happy to have your portions.”

The man grumbled about not actually meaning he didn’t want the food. She caught what he said as he walked away. “I just wish the hunting party would hurry up and come back with their catch.”

That comment jogged her memory of the day before and her conversation with the girl Yika back at the infirmary. She had completely forgotten all about the hunting party the girl’s father was in. She would have to discuss the logistics of the hunting parties’ trip with Minuka later. Once she had all available information, she would go with Thaven and look for them on the frozen tundra.

After the testier villagers moved on to the other lines, she took turns signing questions back and forth with Mingyur. She had wanted to know about what caused the delay in the bison procession and it was a simple answer. He told her that a nasty westerly wind caused them to have to leave later than expected. Abbess Yisha didn’t want to risk the bison who were carrying the heaviest loads. He also then confirmed that they had flown through the night in order to get here in time.

She looked around at her sisters and she had to admit most of them did look exhausted. While flying through the night was not a challenge for a sky bison, it definitely took a lot out of their partners.

As the line dwindled, she saw her team approaching. Yingsu and Jujinta both looked pleased to see her looking normal. Hopefully Kavik had not said anything about what they discovered about her visions. She wanted as few people to no about that as possible.

She was even happier to see Thaven who she had not seen since their arrival. He walked beside the three of them with some sort of sled tied around his middle. It most be what they were using to get his help transporting large material. Mingyur gave her a nod and she went to greet all of them.

They both gave her the airbender bow of greeting before Jujinta gave his usually serious look to her. “We’ve made some progress in the most devasted part of town. There’s a clock tower that needs to come down. Yingsu and I were hoping it was water based but unfortunately it isn’t. Thaven also wasn’t able to take it down as well. We need your earth bending.”

“That’s perfectly fine. I think the initial handout is about to finish. I’ll ask Mingyur to bring Fengbao. We will just have to let Abbess Yisha and Minuka know where we will be going.”

Before rejoining the rest of the airbenders Thanven rubbed against her in an affectionate manner. He had always been really good at reading her when she had troubled sleep and no doubt sensed her unease from the previous night. This wasn’t lost on Yingsu and Jujinta either but as far as they knew nothing unusual had happened to her. She intended to keep it that way.

As they returned to Mingyur he grasped hands with Kavik immediately. She signed to him what Jujinta had told her and he agreed to help immediately. Just as he went to retrieve Fengbao Chief Minuka approached her team.

“Avatar where do you think you are going?”

“Your villages clocktower was damaged in the tsunami. As you are well aware off. My team needs my earth bending in order to bring it down.”

“I would have to think there are far better uses of your abilities. You need to be the face of the relief operation. There’s no need for you work on something so undignified.”

He wasn’t doing much to improve her inital opinion of him. He came across to her as a very weak leader and he had the gall to try and tell what she could and couldn’t do. “Chief Minuka my team has asked for my help and I intend to give it.”

“Very well Avatar. Once you and your people are done, I need to speak privately about a matter that will need to be addressed today.”

“You can speak to me here and now. The team of the Avatar is her eyes and ears. What you need to say to me can be said to them as well.”

He fixed her with a glare. She wasn’t going to be ordered around at his beck and call and he would learn that soon enough. “Fine if you want to talk out here in the open we will. Our hunting party has been gone for over a week now. I’ve had concerned family members asking about them and feel it’s time for a search party to go out and bring them home.”

“Why did you need to speak to me alone about something like this?”

“The less people who know we don’t know where that group is the better. I’m trying to avoid a panic from those that are missing family members from the group.”

“I promise we will find them. We will attend to the hunting group after we are finished here. We will only take two bison with us to be as discrete as possible.”

“Thank you, Avatar. I will tell Abbess Yisha the situation and she will assume full control of the relief effort. After you and your team return, I will be in my temporary office a half kilometer north of here. Good day to all of you.”

They all watched him walk away. How a man like this came to power in the village was beyond her. She had to admit though it’s not like the very best always led their people. If the truly qualified were the leaders of the world it would be a much safer place.

Yingsu still stared after the man. Clearly, she hadn’t forgotten his outburst toward Kavik the day before. “We may be here on a relief effort but if I have my way this man will learn respect before, we leave the south pole.”

She felt extremely fond of the tall woman. Yingsu had always been good at assessing situations and what they require from her. “Just don’t go causing an international incident.”

“As if the chief of a village in the southern water tribe would make the papers in the rest of the world. To the uneducated they don’t even know people live this far south.”

“Well nevertheless, don’t cause more trouble than Minuka is already causing us.” Mingyur returned to them with Fengbao and they all walked across town to this clock tower Yingsu and Jujinta had been working on.

As they reached the structure, she could definitely see why they needed her help. This area of town wasn’t covered by snow or ice as it had been washed away by the tsunami. Jujinta explained to her that they would need her to strike the foundation of the tower in order to bring it down in a controlled manner. The tower coming down in the correct way was very important as there were buildings very close by.

Kavik and Mingyur worked to attach the same kind of sled device around Fengbao so the bison could assist with dragging the debris away. Yangchen walked around the structure to see exactly where she would need to strike with her earthbending. Luckily for her the foundation was already damaged and would come down easily with the correct strike.

“Alright everyone get clear and we can get demolition of the tower over with.” All of her friends got fifty meters clear of the area the tower would fall. After a couple of deep inhales and exhales she struck. She gave a couple of jabbing gestures and held her fist tight. She held the pose for about fifteen seconds and finally the structure came down without harming other buildings

Yingsu and Jujinta broke up the debris into smaller pieces and they loaded it on the sleds. They worked in silence for a while when Kavik broke the silence. “Yangchen how do you want to lead the search for the hunting party?”

“I will go alone with one of you to search for them. This could take some time and I need at least some of you here to keep an eye on Minuka so he doesn’t try anything while I am gone.”

“Alright well them I will go with you and the rest of team keeps helping out here.”

“No Kavik. I need you to stay here.”

He looked utterly perplexed at her statement. “What do you mean you need me to stay here? I’m the only one in the team that has experienced a water tribe hunting party.”

“You are right but nonetheless I need you here. One of us needs to continue working with Nathika and Kavana. Our job is to assist the infirmary as much as possible. If both of us go looking for the hunters the two healers will be overwhelmed.”

“Well, you aren’t going alone. Please take Yingsu or Jujinta with you?”

“That was my intention.” She turned to her other friends. “Yingsu I need you to stay here. I don’t trust the chief at all. I need you here to keep an eye on him. If he does anything odd you can operate with my full authority behind you to stop him.”

She was nodding at her words. “Oh, don’t worry that man will have me in his face again if he tries anything. Intimidating weak men is my speciality.”

Jujinta turned to her knowing what that meant for him. “I take it you plan on me to come with you Avatar?”

“Yes Juji. Would you be alright leaving the relief option behind for a while to accompany me on this mission?”

“Alright, that’s fine with me. I’m going to go and gather my rucksack and so we can leave as soon as possible. I’ll be back soon.” With that he went walking briskly back toward the center of town.

Kavik exchanged a look with Mingyur who also looked concerned about the situation. “Yangchen water tribe hunting parties are not easy to find. They can use their bending to create shelter where ever they need it. That allows them to hunt at night when caribou elk are out. It will be hard to spot them in the day time.”

“That may be but I promised the young girl Yika I would find her dad. I have to do this for her and all of the other people who are waiting on the men to return. I promise I will be careful. Juji and I will be back before you know it.”

Kavik still didn’t look convinced this was a good idea but relented. “I guess I should get back to the infirmary. I’ll be thinking about you the entire time while you are gone.” He embraced her and they shared a long kiss. After they broke a part, he gathered up his things and started walking back to the infirmary.

Yingsu went to stand next to Mingyur. “Well, I guess we should get back to work on the rebuilding effort here. Yangchen, would you ask Mingyur if he and Fengbao would be alright with helping me?”

She told Mingyur what Yingsu had asked of him. He replied with enthusiasm for her plan. He didn’t want to have to interact with the villagers if it could be avoided and this was a far better use their time.

“Keep an eye on town though. If anything happens you both need to intervene for me as part of team Avatar.”

Mingyur looked elated to be considered a part of her team and enthusiastically nodded at her request. Yingsu looked delighted to have his help as well. “Don’t worry Yangchen We both will make sure things don’t get out of hand in your absence.”

They both bowed to her and helping unhook Thaven from the sled turned to leave to another part of the carnage with Fengbao right behind them. As they left Jujinta came running back toward her. “Ready to go Juji? We haven’t a moment to lose if we want to take full advantage of the daylight.”

“I am ready. I got us a ration so we have something to eat for a meal while we are gone and a canteen of drinking water.” He immediately started climbing into Thaven’s saddle and secured their supplies. Yangchen followed him and with a little tornado was at Thaven’s reins. She looked around to make sure Jijinta was ready and once he confirmed he was she gave a click of her tongue and Thaven was off.

They flew further south for a significant amount of time. However, not so far that they couldn’t get back to the village before the sun set. They would not be staying the night out on the frozen tundra.

One thing about flying with Jujinta was it gave her time to think. When he wasn’t in the mood to talk he would simply remain silent. Most of what he usually had to say came from disagreements with Kavik or the fact he had a closer relationship with Yingsu. Not that she didn’t like spending time with him though. She understood Jujinta cared about her a lot and he was the closest thing she had to an actual sibling.

It wasn’t until he had been with her team for a few years that she realized this about him. He was consistent and always looked out for her and she tried to do the same for him. She had never viewed Kavik as a brother figure if that wasn’t plain for anyone that ever interacted with them.

Yingsu was someone she never really considered as a sister. Not because she didn’t love her but because she was fifteen years older than her. Their age difference had always made Yingsu more a friend than a sibling.

Tayagum and Akuudan had always been like uncles to her and Mingyur while she was extremely close to him was a brother in a spiritual sense. She supposed this was what made them such a great team. It made them a dysfunctional family that she had never had as a child and they were all there for her and Kavik’s children.

She was so engrossed with her own thoughts she didn’t realize Jujinta had moved to the front of the saddle. “Yangchen, are you looking for the hunting party?”

She snapped out of her thoughts and had no clue how long they had been flying. She felt awful that she wasn’t helping keep and eye out for the hunting party with Jujinta. “I’m sorry Juji I’ve just got a lot on my mind.”

“Come back in the saddle with me and we can look for the men together. Thaven can keep flying on his own. It’s not like we plan on landing anytime soon.”

“Good idea.” She careful pulled herself over into the saddle to join him.

“Are you alright Yangchen? I can tell something’s happened that you haven’t told Yingsu or myself about. I’m here and willing to listen if you want to talk about anything.”

He was giving as thoughtful a smile as he was capable of. Jujinta also had a softer side that would come out when they were alone. In a way it was a lot like how Yingsu had one with the children.

She took his hand just wanting to center herself and took a deep breath. “I don’t really even know how to begin. I feel lost day after day internally.”

He furrowed his brow in thought trying to decide how to respond. “Are you and Kavik, okay? I know that neither one of you wanted to leave Mikasha or Lishka behind.”

She let out a small chuckle. “Yes, Kavik and I are fine. Sometimes I feel like he’s the only one in the universe who can help me even feel normal. We both miss the children greatly but they are in great hands with Tayagum and Akuudan”

“What’s going on then? You’ve seemed off for days and that’s not to even mention what happened this morning.”

“I………. It’s a difficult thing to put into words Juji. I’m not sure I will ever feel normal again after what’s been happening to me lately.”

He gave her hand a squeeze. “Let me try to help you. I know you’ve probably talked about things plenty with Kavik but I can listen too. Who knows I might have something to add that he wasn’t able to think of.”

She didn’t reply and pretended to be on the lookout for the hunting party. Her heart wasn’t in it though as she thought of what to say to Jujinta. “This morning, I learned something that is going to change not only my life but all of my teams forever. As you will remember I gave Kavana permission to perform a mind healing session on me and I learned a horrible truth.”

She withdrew her hand from his and wrapped her arms around her knees. Jujinta was looking at her waiting patiently. “I learned I’m seeing visions of the future.”

Her declaration stood in silence as Jujinta seemed to be processing what she had said and didn’t speak for several seconds. “You found this out from the mind healing?”

“Yes. I’ve had suspicions for a while but seeing my dreams in a clearer manner gave me proof that I didn’t have before.”

“What did you see?”

“Kavik.” He looked at her with confusion and realized she needed to elaborate. “I mean I saw Kavik but as an old man. I was seeing a vision of him as the next Avatar when he was in search of me.”

“By the spirits Yangchen. I had no idea. How can you be sure it was Kavik?”

“It was his eyes. I’d recognize them anywhere.”

“Did you see any of the rest of us?”

“No, I didn’t. Based off of Kavik’s age in my vision Tayagum, Akuudan, and Yingsu are all likely gone. While I have no way of knowing that for sure it only makes sense. Kavik was ancient.”

“Who knows?”

“Just you, Kavik, and the healers. Please do not tell Yingsu. I don’t have it in me to talk about this again until a significant amount of time has past.”

“Okay just promise me you will tell her one day. She is a part of the team and she would take your secrets to the grave if necessary.”

“I will tell her when the time comes. I’ve been planning for a while on how I will tell Mikasha and Lishka about my visions one day. I’ll need Yingsu to know at the very least before I tell the kids. I can’t have her potentially find out from them.”

“Alright I’ll keep this subject to myself. Let’s have our lunch while we continue to fly to clear our heads.”

They each got their ration pack out of their respective packs and ate in silence. Jujinta true to his word didn’t bring up the subject again and the two of them continued to watch for the hunting party. She was just about to consider turning around as they were thirty kilometers from the village when both of them saw a fire in the distance.

“Yangchen it’s them.”

“I know. I know.” She jumped back to the reins and with a flick Thaven sped toward the orange fire in the distance.

“Let me do the talking Juji. They don’t know us and telling them what has happened be traumatizing for them.

“Right. I’ll be right there with you if you need support.”

As they approached the frozen tundra four men appeared from the inside of an igloo next to the fire. They frankly looked perplexed as none of them had ever seen a sky bison before. In another situation she would have found their reactions rather humorous but this wasn’t the right time for that.

As they landed, she gathered her staff and disembarked Thaven while Jujinta did the same. A strong looking man in a long set of blue furs approached them. “Who are you and what do you want?”

“My name is Yangchen. I am the Avatar and this is my companion Jujinta.”

As soon as she had said her name the men looked upon her with shock. It was rare for her to venture to the southern water tribe so no doubt the men knew something serious must be going on. “I regret to inform you that a major natural disaster has struck the southern water tribe in your absence, a tsunami.”

The men understandably had a million questions. She and Jujinta answered nothing as she needed them to be calm in order to get her message across. “Avatar how long ago did the wave strike? We’ve been completely out of contact for nine days on our hunt.”

“The wave struck not that long after your party left eight days ago. The relief effort is underway. My sisters from the eastern air temple have brought food, water, and supplies to help rebuild.”

“Thank you for bringing us this difficult news. We’ve only managed marginal success thus far and had not planned to return for a couple more weeks.”

“I’m afraid there is more. First a simple message from Chief Minuka. He requests you return home immediately and second, I most know who here is the father of the young girl Yika.”

A man not much older than herself or Jujinta stepped forward. He looked terrified that she had brought up his daughter’s name. “I’m Mazika and Yika is my daughter. Is she alright Avatar?”

“Yika is fine she is being looked after by Nathika and Kavana. I regret to inform you that the girls mother gave her life to save your daughter from the tsunami.”

Mazika was in tears before she even finished speaking. She pulled back to stand next to Jujinta to give the men some privacy. The others all spoke words of comfort to him in a language she recognized as Kavik’s native tongue but different at the same time.

The older man who had initially spoken to them told the others to take Mazika into their shelter and the three of them stood there with Thaven. “We will begin the process of coming back home immediately. However, there is a complication.”

“What is it?”

“There are other members of our party that are currently out tracking caribou elk. Not all of us will be able to with you otherwise these men will have no clue where we all went. Mazika will go with you on your bison so he can return to his daughter. The rest of us will wait for the other men and return with our polar bear dogs.”

“I understand. We will make sure everyone knows that you will be returning home as soon as possible.”

“Thank you, Avatar. If you’ll excuse me, I need to help prepare Mazika for the journey.”

The man walked back into the igloo and left them alone. She finally exhaled a breath she had not realized she was holding in. Giving news that she had been forced to give to Mazika was maybe her least favorite thing about her position. In a way it was even worse than having her visions. It wasn’t the first time she had been asked to tell someone a loved one had died and she knew it wouldn’t be the last.

About fifteen minutes later Mazika exited the igloo with a pack on his back clearly ready to travel. He looked at her with red eyes. “Is Yika okay? You told me she was with the healers.”

“She’s doing perfectly fine. I attended to her yesterday and Nathika and Kavana are looking after her to make sure she is taken care of.”

This at least seemed to calm him down somewhat. Even if he was still trying hold in the grief for his wife. Jujinta climbed back into Thaven’s saddle and took Mazika’a hand to help him up. Yangchen took her place at the reins and after making sure the two men were secure, she had Thaven take off once again.

They flew in silence. Yangchen and Jujinta had nothing to gain from asking this grieving man questions. That would’ve just been cruel.

She fully planned to fly in a straight shot back to the village as she wanted to get back before it got too dark. Her and Jujinta didn’t have the furs to be out in the cold after sunset which would be approaching soon. With a more aggressive flick of the reins Thaven understanding the need for haste flew at a faster speed.

In no time she could make out the scene of the village in the distance. It wasn’t exactly difficult due to the dark grime that the wave had left behind. As they got closer though there was definitely something off. There looked to be ships in the harbor that had been empty up until the point they had left.

She squinted to get a better look at the ships. This defiantly wasn’t the fire navy as they had only left Bin-Er a couple of days ago. The flags these ships flew were blue and had the design of a lion turtle on them. The ships were extremely numerous and there was only one explanation as to who they were. “Pirates.”

Chapter Text

The knot of dread that formed in her stomach at the sight of all of the ships threatened to be overwhelming. There had to be at least two dozen different ships out in the harbor. What could these people possibly expect to get from a devastated village. Unless this whole situation was more sinister than was originally let on.

She turned around to face the saddle. Jujinta was looking down on the ships same as she had been shaking his head. “Stealing from the vulnerable is the lowest of the low. I guess it’s to be expected from pirates though.”

She looked over at Mazika. He looked visibly shaken and that was really saying something because of how worried he clearly was about Yika. She had a pretty good idea he might know more about what was going on than either of them. “Mazika do you recognize those ships and the seal on their flags? If you do I need to know everything about who they are what they want with this place.”

He looked down at Thaven’s saddle and said nothing. He was trying to take deep breaths but it wasn’t helping him calm down. He looked up and she gave the man a fierce look to force the truth out of him. “Chief Minuka has been making deals with these pirates for a long period of time in exchange for natural resources from the south pole. They call themselves The Fifth Nation Fleet.”

Jujinta snorted at the name of the pirate fleet. “Fifth Nation? They sure have a very lofty opinion of themselves.”

She had to agree with his assessment. Pirates were not an uncommon problem in the world. During the era of the platinum affair many people from all nations used smuggling to get around the shang cities and their fees. They had fallen in popularity since Earth King Feishan’s assassination and subsequent reopening of shipping routes. “Mazika where did the pirates originally come from?”

“No one really knows. The only thing we’ve ever known about where they come from is that they sail east. No doubt they try to steer clear of the earth kingdom and fire nation. The eastern air temple nuns probably will know more about them than anyone who lives in this village.”

She felt like the man had finally revealed all to her that he knew. Which to be honest wasn’t all that much to begin with but hardly shocking as Mazika was not one of the village elders who would interact the leaders of the fifth nation fleet. She clicked her tongue and Thaven made for the makeshift government building near the harbor. A nice long chat with Chief Minuka was needed.

As they landed, she fixed Mizaka with a kinder look. He wasn’t the one who had caused this mess and she needed a favor from him. “Mazika your daughter will still be with Nathika and Kavana. My husband Kavik will be at the infirmary helping out. Could you please tell him what has happened and to meet us here?”

“Yes, my Avatar. Your wish is my command.” He bent low to give her a bow and was off immediately.

Her and Jujinta started walking toward the building that the chief had told them he would be at. The villagers were more unsettled now than they had been earlier in the day when her sisters had arrived. Not in an aggressive kind of way but more of a nervousness. They didn’t even notice them as the waded through the crowds.

She was so stuck in her own head that Jujinta’s voice almost made her jump. “How do you want to handle this? Diplomacy would probably be best as we don’t have the resources to fight them in this environment.”

“It’s definitely going to have to be diplomacy. Getting the fleet to leave will not be easy. They know we don’t have the resources to force them out so maybe we can make a deal with them. However, we will need to hear from their leader as to what their ultimate goal is. Until then we will have to play things carefully.”

He nodded at her. Just as they were approaching the area of town containing the docks and the government building, they spotted Fengbao. “Oh, that’s not good.” She had given Yingsu free reign if Minuka tried anything while she was gone and no doubt the woman would take her up on that. As the two of them approached Fengbao the bison gave off a grumble as shouting could be heard the interior of the building.

She and Jujinta rushed through the doors to find an odd and very tense scene. Yingsu had Chief Minuka by the hood of his furs with her lifting him in the air by her right arm. Mingyur was on her left trying to get her to put the man down but she simply held out her left arm to fend him off. In the corner a man whom she had never met before. He wore water tribe furs but not in the style of the southern or northern tribes. He simply looked on with amusement at the scene unfolding in front of him.

She took in a deep breath and raised her voice louder than was probably necessary. “Stop this madness immediately.” They all turned to look at her and Yingsu dropped Minuka into a heap at her feet.

Chief Minuka was furious which only made her angrier because if anyone had an excuse to be mad it was her. “Avatar I will not stand for your minion manhandling me like that. I demand an apology.”

Yingsu laughed louder than she ever did in normal company. “Me apologize to you? Why when the Avatar has her way with you, you’ll be wishing it was me who was the one to decide your fate.”

“That’s enough Yingsu. Don’t make me say it again.” The tall women held her gaze for a moment but backed off finally and came to stand at her side. Now that everything was calm, she could finally address the bigger and more dangerous problem at hand.

“Chief I haven’t been acquainted with your friend here.”

“Friend is a strong word in this situation Avatar. This is herald Bontha of the of The Fifth Nation Fleet.”

Minuka was not done speaking but the man sidestepped the chief to speak to her. “Avatar it is a pleasure to meet you. I’m sure Chief Minuka has told you all about my people and our commander Kisha.”

She shook her head. “No, he conveniently forgot to mention that he is working with pirates.” She spat as much disdain for the word pirate as possible.

“Well, my dear allow me to tell you why we are even here in the first place.”

Chief Minuka pushed his way back into the conversation. “I am more than capable of telling the Avatar myself thank you very much.”

They both looked at her seemingly asking for permission to speak. “Speak Bontha tell me you and your people’s purpose.”

“It will be my pleasure. As you know we are the fifth nation fleet. We do not think of ourselves simply as pirates. We are more protectors of those who cannot protect themselves. In the simplest way possible we are here to provide relief to the southern water tribe the same as the eastern temple nuns.”

“Forgive me if I find it hard to believe that you are only here for relief. You may not think of yourselves as pirates but that’s what the locals here certainly call you. I also have spoken with them and this is far from the first time you have set foot in this settlement.”

The man’s expression didn’t waiver as she told him what she knew of the fleet. “All can be easily explained. We have docked here various times over the years to trade with the people of the south. As you can imagine our kind are not welcome to do business within the Earth Kingdom or Fire Nation. We offer these people goods and services in exchange for food and other resources that can be only attained here.”

“What sort of resources are the fleet after and what do you provide in exchange?”

“We are after natural resources such as coal. The southern tribe is known for being a great exporter of the good. With what we provide in return I can tell you we have a very simple arrangement. We offer the southern tribe protection.”

Her fists were balled and she turned to Chief Minuka. “What could you possibly need protection from?”

He fixed with and intense gaze. His whole world was crumbling down around him. “You foolish woman what else would we need protection from but the other nations.”

Yingsu took a step forward to seize the man again but this time she managed to get an arm out in front of her making her stop. “You can’t be serious. You are a part of the water tribe and an attack on you is an attack on all people of water tribe descent. No one would ever stand for it.”

“Don’t be so sure about that. Chief Oyaluk would love to get rid of us. He sees us as nothing but an expenditure that he inherited. If he won’t offer relief for the tsunami, why would he ever offer us support in the event of an invasion.”

“You can’t seriously be comparing lack of relief from a natural disaster to that of an invasion from a foreign power.”

“Yes, I can Avatar and I will. You may be too young to remember it but the scars of the platinum affair still run deep in the world. Chief Oyaluk involved himself in a power grab and was lucky the world didn’t break into war because of it. Szeto was gone and you were far too young to come to anyone’s rescue. I had to do what’s right by my people.”

“How long?”

“How long what, Avatar?”

“How long have you been in league with The Fifth Nation Fleet?”

“Years. Well before Earth King Feishan’s assassination. I made my choice and will continue to offer the fleet tribute in order to protect us.”

Silence permeated the room. All she could do was shake her head. This man was so paranoid about outside invasion that he couldn’t tell that he invited one in right under his own nose. She turned back to Bontha. “Is what he says true?”

“For the most part yes. We offer the south pole protection from the other nations for a reasonable tribute that can be negotiated any time we come here.”

“Where does The Fifth Nation Fleet normally reside when they are not here.” She knew it was an unlikely question to be answered but she had to ask it nonetheless.

He gave her a wide smile. “Now Avatar what kind of herald would I be if I just gave away our secrets so easily. What I will say is that we normally reside within the eastern sea. Being there allows us to pick up potential followers from the earth kingdom. Something we’ve been doing frequently ever since the early days of the platinum affair.”

She racked her brain trying to think of a solution. It wasn’t coming to her between all the information she had taken in and how hungry she currently was. Night had fallen outside the government building. She was just about to start reciting Guru Laghima’s poetry in her head for inner peace when it finally hit her.

Bontha, you said tribute can be negotiated whenever the fleet comes here?”

“I did. Are you interested in meeting my commander, Avatar? I know she has taken a great interest in you over the years.”

“Tell your commander Kisha I will be negotiating for the fleet’s immediate removal from the southern water tribe. Effective immediately I will be taking over leadership of the tribe until further notice.”

Minuka looked incensed. “You can’t just take control of the southern water tribe away from me! I’m their elected leader and have been the sole reason why we have prospered in this hellish environment.”

“You’ve done this to yourself. If you cooperate, I’ll allow you to resign when this is all over with dignity.”

“No outsider has ever led the tribe before!”

“And effectively I won’t be as you are now my figurehead. Once the relief effort is over the various settlements will have an election for your successor.”

“I’m only doing my best to protect all of them. Unlike Oyaluk who should be doing it.” He almost spat on the floor when he said the man’s name.”

“Oh, trust me Minuka.” She was very careful to no longer refer to the man as chief. “Chief Oyaluk will be dealt with by me when the time is right. Now do you peacefully step aside or will Yingsu need to get involved again.”

The woman stepped forward again rubbing her hand from where it was still sore from the last time, she picked him up. Minuka, clearly seeing he was corned finally looked defeated. “Fine Avatar. You win”

“Win is not exactly how I would describe things.” She turned back to the herald. “Bontha tell your commander to send me word when she would like for us to have our negotiation.”

“Word will not need to be sent. Lord Kisha will be free tomorrow evening. We will speak again at the harbor after sunset. If you all will excuse me.” He walked with purpose out of the room and back toward the flag ship. With one final look at Minuka who was simply sitting at a table with his hands covering his face Yingsu, Jujinta, Mingyur, and herself left the room.

Once the four of them were outside she took out her bison whistle and used it to call Thaven. She wanted to get back to Nathika and Kavana’s as quickly as possible. She was worried about Kavik. Mazika had told her he would tell him where they were but he had never shown up. Which wasn’t like him at all.

They all said goodbye to Mingyur who was staying with Fengbao where all the airbender nuns were making camp. Once all three of them where aboard she clicked her tongue and they were off. Thaven clearly sensed her unease and grumbled at her for how tight she was holding the reins. As they reached the infirmary the bison let out a bellow that was no doubt a call so Kavik knew they were back.

As the three of them left the saddle three forms rushed towards them. The healers and her husband. All of which wanted to see how she was doing after she had promised to take it easy after he visions from the morning. She had to admit the morning felt like weeks ago at this point.

“We need to talk. A lot has happened and I need advice from all of you.” As they moved toward the house next to the infirmary, she saw Kavik’s face was covered in sweat. “What happened? You look exhausted.”

“I’ll tell you soon enough. Thing’s have taken a turn for the worse at the infimary. Let’s just get out of the cold.” She felt rather foolish for not having brought warmer robes with her today but she had been so excited for the arrival of her sisters that she had forgotten them. The opening of the front door hit her with a wave of warm air as she stepped across the threshold. As relaxing as it was now was not the time to rest unfortunately.

All of the made their way to the sitting room while Nathika busied himself in the kitchen preparing a meal for all of them. Kavana steadied herself on the sofa while the rest of team Avatar unloaded their packs. “Avatar please tell us what you have discovered about the pirates. We’ve been hearing about them all day from new patients coming in for healing.”

Over the next several minutes she told Kavik and the healers all she had learned. From the deal Minuka had made with The Fifth Nation Fleet to her impending negotiations with them in order to get them to leave. With each piece of information Kavik shook his head and swore under his breath in his native language. “I knew that coward was hiding something from us.”

Yingsu interjected her opinion. “Well, if you ask me that coward got what he deserved. He’s been rude to us ever since we arrived. He’s manipulating his own people for his own gain. You were right to do what you did.”

Nathika returned from the kitchen and handed them all bowls. He used water bending to gather soup from the kitchen and disperse it to all of them. She continued to think about the situation while they all ate in silence. After they ate for a few minutes, a plan started to form in her mind. “Nathika does your family have a messenger hawk?”

“We do. Who do you need to contact?”

“I need to send a note to Abbess Yisha asking her to meet me here in the morning. Bontha the herald for The Fifth Nation fleet mentioned they had had run ins with the eastern temple nuns in the past. I need to know whatever information they may have on them.”

“I can do that for you if you like. I’ll let her know to meet you here in the morning.”

“Thank you. Please before you do that will you and your wife tell us everything you know about these pirates.”

Nathika had already stood up to go and write the note for Abbess Yisha but sat back down. He and Kavana shared a look with one another before answering. Kavana took a deep breath before speaking. “Not everything Minuka told you was the whole truth. The Fifth Nation Fleet originally came to the south pole during the later years of Earth King Feishan’s reign. At first, they presented themselves as friends just wanting to trade but we suspected more nefarious goals.”

Yangchen shook her head while her team looked at the healers taking in everything they said. Kavik reacted next to her clearly recognizing something before her. “What did they do to you? Did they hurt you?”

Nathika continued where his wife left off. “They came to us one day and explained their lord Kisha was hurt. Some sort of bending accident was what they told us. They wanted one of us to go on their lead ship to work on the woman but we refused. Both of us had heard rumors of the fleet kidnapping people who wondered too far in their camp and didn’t want to take any chances.”

“Commander Kisha would survive from help that another village supplied but she never forgot what we didn’t do for her. This was five years ago and that was when our villages tribute to the pirates became more expensive. Minuka was forced to go along with what the fleet wanted otherwise they would’ve simply installed a puppet to give them what they wanted. This is a reality we have lived with in quite some time.”

She was shocked. Maybe Minuka had a point when he said the southern tribe was an afterthought to most of the world. If pirates invaded the fire nation, earth kingdom, or northern tribe it would be news everywhere. Events here just didn’t reach the rest of the world. “Thank you for telling me this. It will add context to my negotiation with them tomorrow evening.”

“Of course, Yangchen. If you will excuse me, I’m going to go and write that note to the Abbess.” Kavana stood and went to go and check Minsha who had already been in bed a couple of hours.

Kavik stood and gathered up all of their bowls to go and clean them in the sink. “We should all sleep together in the sitting room tonight. I also think it would be best if someone is on watch at all times. With the pirates knowing the Avatar is here no doubt they’d love to get to you if given the chance.”

They assented to this plan with Jujinta volunteering for first watch. After Kavik finished with the dishes (something waterbending made an extremely quick job of) they went up to the guest room to change. As they were going up the stairs, she remembered to ask him what had happened in the infirmary that day.

“The amount of people needing healing has doubled. There’s more too unfortunately. Not only are disaster victims in the infirmary but some of you sisters as well.”

“Wait how is that possible. Where they hurt by the villagers when handing out aid?

Kavik opened the bedroom door before continuing. “No, it’s actually a much simpler explanation than that. Two middle aged airbending nuns checked into the infirmary with hypothermia. They cited that they had never been in such a cold environment and didn’t pack appropriate clothing to wear. That sounds oddly familiar.”

He was giving her a smug smile at his last statement which clearly was meant for her. “Are these women doing all right?”

“Yes, they will be fine. Kavana supplied them with some water tribe furs. After the initial disgust at wearing furs, they seemed to start feeling better as they warmed up. Besides those two, many villagers are still checking in every day. With the arrival of the fleet Nathika and Kavana insisted at least one of them be in the house with Minsha at all times. That really increased the amount of work for whichever two of us were in the infirmary.”

She felt guilty at not being there to help. Being able to be a healer was the entire reason she was supposed to be here. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help.”

Her apology really took him off guard. “You don’t need to be sorry. More important issues needed your attention. That’s what makes us a great team. When you have important Avatar business the rest of us are still here to help in other areas.”

That really did make her feel better. When she was younger, she had no one when she left home (well except Boma). She had always read about how past Avatars had met their companions and couldn’t imagine how she could actually get people to follow her. She was so fortunate to have them all in her life. She wouldn’t be the Avatar she was without them.

As Kavik went to fetch a pair of his night things from his rucksack, she approached him and hugged him tight. “You are the best.” They rocked in place for a moment in silence before he responded. “Well, someone has to be.”

Once they got dressed they gathered up their sleeping bags since they would be sleeping on the floor. Once they were done upstairs, they rejoined Jujinta and Yingsu. Both of them looked rather on edge Jujinta twirling his daggers and Yingsu’s head rotating back and forth to the windows. “In what order will we be taking watch?”

The two of them shared a look. “I will be going first followed by Yingsu and Kavik.”

Stuff like this always annoyed her. She knew they were trying to look out for her after what happened the previous night but she was still capable of keeping watch just as much as them. She must have looked upset because the two of them recoiled when she looked them each in the eye. “You know I can’t stand it when any of you treat me as if I’m fragile. Just because I lost sleep last night doesn’t mean I can’t get up for a two-hour stretch.”

“But Yanchen the healers said.” Just as Yingsu was going to continue Kavik cut in. “If she says she can keep watch than she will keep watch. Drop it. Yangchen, will you take fourth watch after me?”

“Of course. At least I will be able to sleep for six straight hours before having to get up.” With that small disagreement out of the way they all settled in for the night. With Jujinta watching over them. With a flick of her wrist, she put out all of the light in the room.

This evening, she somehow managed to sleep thought the night. Which had been a rarity of late. Her past and future left her alone in peace. That was until she heard that voice again. The man who was trying to get away in the carriage she had seen during the mind healing session. “This time I’m going to put you to sleep for good.”

“Hey it’s time to get up.” Kavik was shaking her shoulder when she shot upright at the sound of his voice. “Is everything all right?”

“Yes, all is well for now. It’s your turn for watch if you’re feeling up for it.”

She was getting her bearings as she was gathering where she was. Still in Nathika and Kavana’s siting room. “Yes, Kavik I’m feeling up to it. Please go try to rest for a little while longer.”

He smiled at her and gave her a kiss on the cheek before handing her a scroll. “I’ve been writing a letter to the kids. I was going to ask Nathika if he would be willing to let us use their families messenger hawk to send it to them.”

“Great idea. I will spend my time up writing to them as well.” Kavik retreated to his sleeping bag after giving her hand a squeeze. She read what he had wrote to the kids. She missed them dearly and poured out her heart to them as she wrote. Being away from them was not only killing her but Kavik as well as he had said as much in his paragraphs. After giving her love to Tayagum and Akuudan she sealed the scroll ready for its journey.

She was on such a roll with writing that she pulled out another scroll and started to write out hypothetical terms for her negotiations with The Fifth Nation Fleet. She considered what sort of concessions she was willing to make in order to get them to leave. Not only that she had to consider what sort of demands they would make of her. No doubt commander Kisha would play hard ball with her.

As she wrote out every possible scenario a small droplet of blood hit the document. She had only had the small moment where she heard that same voice in her dreams. No doubt not enough for a major nose bleed but a major reminder of what could happen to her if she dozed off.

As she finally felt like she had her forthcoming negotiations with commander Kisha spelt out as best as possible the sun started to rise and with that her friends. They all greeted her before they all got changed into their regular things. They all had rations for breakfast when the healers and Minsha came downstairs from their bedrooms.

As they came and went into the kitcken there was a knock at the door. She had a pretty good idea who was waiting for her and went to answer it herself. Sure, enough it was Abbess Yisha arriving precisely when she had asked her to.

“Avatar you need to speak to me?”

“Yes, thank you for coming at such an early hour. We will need to speak privately so please follow me to the guest bedroom.” She walked by her team and gave them a look to mean “don’t let anyone interfere.” Yingsu went out to stand guard by the front door while Jujinta sat at the foot of the stairs. Kavik went to speak with the healers.

Once they were alone in the houses guest bedroom the Abbess spoke plainly. “Avatar what is this chaos? These pirates are throwing off our whole operation into madness. The villagers are afraid of them and won’t come out of their shelters while they are here.”

“I’m dealing with it but I need your help.”

“Or course my dear. What can I do for you.”

“Tell me everything you know about the fifth nation pirate fleet.”

The woman sat down on the bed thinking deep in thought. “I’m afraid there isn’t much I do know. We’ve had some run ins with them in the past but we always just keep our distance from them.”

“Have you or any of our sisters ever spoken to them directly?”

“I’ve only come into direct contact with them once before. Even that was fifteen years ago. They once tried to make contact with us in an attempt to open up trade. It was obvious to myself and the other airbenders that these people are pirates. So, we refused.”

“I doubt they took that very well.”

“At first as you imagine they did not. However, we resorted to telling them that airbenders do not keep personal trinkets so opening trade with us is pointless. Not only that but the temple is only accessible by bison. They weren’t exactly pleased but they left us in peace. After that day we would occasionally see their ships around the eastern coast of the earth kingdom but that was it.”

She shook her head. She had really been hoping the Abbess would know more information about them. “Can I count on you and the other airbenders for support?”

The woman gave her a very uneasy look. “This is Avatar business. Our purpose here is to help those devasted by the tsunami. I’m afraid you will have to deal with the pirates on your own.”

She shook her head that she understood. Abbess Yisha clearly catching on that the conversation was done got up to leave the room. Yangchen stayed sitting on the bed until she heard the front door shut again. She as always felt isolated from her sisters. It was just a fact of life.

Over the next few hours, she joined Kavik and the healers back at the infirmary. Even though she had her meeting with Kisha tonight she still had a job to do. Several of the hurt and ill she had met her first time in the tent but many others were new faces including even more of her sisters who came in ill and some now even with injuries.

Kavik handled healing her sisters. It wasn’t their fault that the Abbess refused to help with the fleet but she couldn’t help but feeling a tiny but of resentment toward them. She just didn’t have it in her to talk to any of them right now.

After lunch they retreated back to the healers sitting room to discuss logistics of her negotiation with Kisha. Sha had recognized why this meeting was happening tonight as it was the full moon. No doubt the pirates thought this would keep them safe. It didn’t really bother her much as she and Kavik could also call upon its power.

Yangchen discussed her planned concessions and which ones where necessary and others that were too far to even consider. Just as the sun started to set, Jujinta went to prepare Thaven’s saddle. After they all recited the plan a couple of more times, they were ready to leave for the harbor.

They all climbed onto Thaven in their usually spots and Yangchen clicked her tongue for her bison to take off. It was an oddly peaceful flight. Despite the fact the sun had set there was a large full moon lighting the path ahead of them. Little did she know it this was a path that would change her life forever.

Chapter Text

            The light of the full moon illuminated team Avatar as they landed at the harbor. Yangchen took a deep breath and leapt from Thaven ready to get this meeting over with. She turned to her bison wanting him to stay back from the pirate fleet. “I need you to keep your distance. I don’t want to take any risk with them possibly trying to hurt you or take you from me.”

            Thaven gave a low grumble to tell her he understood. She wasn’t going to risk something happening to him. She had never forgiven herself after all these years for what had happened to Nujian. The bison rubbed against her affectionately and waited for everyone to get out of the saddle before he turned and flew away.

            It was evident where they were all supposed to go as a group of the pirates awaited them on shore near their capital ship. Herald Bontha raised a hand in greeting which none of them returned. This was business and she had no intention of making these people feel like they were friends or allies.

            “Avatar thank you for coming. Commander Kisha was truly skeptical if you would actually come.”

            Kavik answered for her. “The Avatar arrives precisely when she means to. You had nothing to worry about.” Not exactly the way she would have said things but it was true nonetheless.

            “And we are all glad that you and your friends possess the ability to keep your word. Not all we do business with are capable of something so simple.”

            “Bontha let’s get on with this. It’s freezing and I would like to get back to our shelter before it gets too late.” She was very careful not mention where her and her team were staying. The last thing Nathika and Kavana need was the pirates showing up on their doorstep. If there was one thing, she knew about pirates was that they could be extremely petty and no doubt would still want revenge against the healers for not helping Kisha in the past.

She and her team started to walk forward when the herald put up his hand to stop them and the pirates behind him blocked the entrance to the ship. Her team protested immediately but she had known all along things wouldn’t be that simple.

            “Avatar I’m afraid we will have to go over the ground rules if you are going to come aboard our capital ship.”

            She gritted her teeth get more frustrated by the second. It wasn’t exactly surprising that the pirates would look to protect themselves in this situation but nonetheless it was slowing the process down. “Fine. What do you want from us.”

            “You will have to pick only one member of your team to accompany you while visiting commander Kisha. Secondly you and whoever comes with you must leave your weapons behind.”

            Kavik, Yingsu, and Jujinta all voiced their displeasure at once. Their plan had been to all be there to support each other but they had sniffed it out before things had even begun. She had no doubt her team could take any of these pirates when it was at full strength. Now came a difficult choice.

            “Quiet everyone. Bontha can you please give us a moment for us to discuss this development amongst ourselves?”

            “Of course, Avatar. We will await your decision on top of the ramp. Simply let us know when you are ready.”

            The four of them walked to the side of a building about twenty meters away. Once again, all three of them tried to speak at once. She put up her hand to silence them. “Yingsu you first.”

            “You are not going on that ship without the three of us. You aren’t at your full strength after poor sleep these last few days and the last thing we need is for one of this scum to sneak up on you when you’re not paying attention.”

            She was at least a little hurt that Yingsu thought she wouldn’t be able to sense if an assassins came after her. Her air bending sharpened her senses in a way that none of them could understand. “I appreciate your concern but we have to do this. Plus, they said I could still bring one of you with me.”

            Yingsu took a deep breath as if she was begging for patience. “Fine. I can’t be the one to come with you though.”

            “Why is that?” Yangchen knew exactly why Yingsu couldn’t be the one to come with her but she wanted to hear the woman say it anyway. “My bending is not useful in close range combat. If a situation comes where fighting occurs, I would be a danger to myself and you.”

            “Precisely. Guys what do you think.”

            Both Kavik and Jujinta made eye contact before Kavik answered. “Yangchen this is obviously a trap.”

            “Of course it’s a trap Kavik. Pirates aren’t exactly known for being the most standup individuals.”

`           “I guess I should’ve been more specific. It’s the full moon. Most of these pirates are clearly water benders. If they were super serious about negotiating with us, they could’ve just done it last night but they put it off so they would be at their most powerful. They are looking for a fight.”

            Truth be told she hadn’t really considered that. She had been preparing for potential assassination attempts but a full-on fight was something that had slipped her mind. Maybe she wasn’t at her sharpest right now.

            She clearly was showing frustration on her face because both men were now giving her sympathetic expressions. “You’re right. We could always just renegotiate at another time.”

            Jujinta shook his head at her as if turning down that suggestion immediately. “We have to get this done now. The Fire Nation Navy is on its way. When they get here the pirates will flee but they will just be back and we can’t leave these poor souls to deal with them.”

            “Okay then we are back where this conversation started. Which of you is coming with me?”

            Jujinta answered her question immediately. “Kavik is going with you. He can draw on the power of the full moon if a fight breaks out same as you and the pirates.”

            Kavik assented to this immediately. “I’ve got your back. We should probably get moving”

            The four of them started moving back toward the ship when Yingsu caught her arm. “If anything happens, I will come running. None of them full moon or not can stand up to me.”

            “Thank you Yingsu. It brings me great comfort knowing you have my back”

            After they returned Bontha descended the ramp to them. “Well Avatar have you and your people made your decision?”

            “Yes, Kavik will be coming to the negotiations.”

            “A fine decision. Master Kavik you will leave behind all of your weapons. You might as well not hide anything either as we will be searching you before you come aboard.” Kavik did as he was told handing over his club that he had strapped to his waist. The knife strapped to his belt. Finally, his hidden blade that he kept in his boot. “That’s everything. Search me and get it over with.”

            The guards moved forward and did a rough search that under normal circumstances Kavik would’ve never put up with. “Avatar you will leave your staff behind.” She was hoping that he would’ve forgotten about it. “Oh, you wouldn’t part an air bending nun from her walking stick would you.”

            “Very clever Avatar but yes you will leave it with one of your other friends.” She turned to Jujinta to hand it over. With one final meaningful look from him and Yingsu she turned back and walked forward as Bontha was finally satisfied they were unarmed. Kavik was still adjusting his belt after being searched as they entered the ship.

            They did not speak to anyone else and entered the interior of the ship. After climbing a couple flights of stairs, they stopped at a room that was no bigger than a study. Bontha gave them both a look and peaked his head inside to see whom she was presuming was kisha was ready.

            “Follow after me.” He pushed the door opened and entered the room. “Introducing Commander Kisha of The Fifth Nation Fleet. Lord of the Eastern Sea.”

            Kavik picked up on the formalities and stepped forward to introduce her. “Avatar Yangchen Master of all four elements. Great bridge between humans and spirits. Great lady of the shang cities and hero of Tienhaishi.”

            Her immediate impression of Kisha was that she was older than she expected. Maybe early sixties. Long grey hair pulled back and tied in a knot. She wore the same style of water tribe clothing that the rest of the pirates wore.

            She was giving Kavik a very appraising look. This woman normally would intimidate all that she came into contact with but not them. “What do I call you young man.”

            “I’m just Kavik.” She hated that he always had to add in “just” when he said who he was. He was more than enough for anyone.

            “See young man I’ve heard a lot about you over the years. The companions of the Avatar are always known to the world and you are no different. In fact, as a fellow water bender my respect for you in particular is immense since you are a great healer when men typically don’t bother in that craft.”

            Kavik was taken aback by Kisha’s words. If she was being honest so was she. He was obviously struggling to form a response when he gutted out “thank you.” Kisha gave them both a smirk clearly pleased with how uncomfortable she had just made him.

            Once Kisha was done with Kavik she turned back to her. “Avatar, I think we both know why we are here this evening. Sit so we can start the discussion about my fleet’s future.” She gestured the two of them to the small low to the ground table on the rug in the middle of the room.

            The three of them settled themselves on the ground. Both her and Kavik immediately started pulling out scrolls and other paperwork from their bags that had the deal they were going to try and make. It was not lost on her that Kisha did nothing but look on with amusement. She had no paper work of her own drawn up. Yangchen had been a part of many negotiations and that was never a good sign.

            After the two of them had everything organized, they sat in silence for a moment before Kisha broke it. “Avatar, my herald tells me you have never heard of my fleet before yesterday. Would you be interested in hearing our history?”

            Truth be told she really didn’t care much at all. The Fifth Nation Fleets history had nothing to do with why they were there. She knew however, that getting off on the wrong foot for this conversation was not wise so it was best to let Kisha talk. “You can tell me a compact version of it.”

            Kisha wore another pleased expression when she answered. “Lovely. I will keep things brief since after all we have more pressing matters to attend to.”

            “When I was a girl during the era of Szeto all I had was my father. He provided for me as a sailor. He would take whatever job was needed in order to provide me a good meal and clothes on our backs. Often that meant he skipped meals himself.”

            “It wasn’t an easy life but at the least we were happy. That was until those fools from the Fire Nation, Earth Kingdom, and Water Tribe instigated the platinum affair.” Yangchen wasn’t surprised at all by this revelation. Kisha’s herald had already brought up the platinum affair and she knew it wouldn’t be the last time it was used to justify what these pirates were doing.

            “After the fighting from the Platinum affair ended my father tried his best to keep providing for us but it wasn’t possible. Shipping was far more restricted to the Shang cities. As you are well aware of. My father’s ship in particular was raided by criminals who were looking to sell black market goods.”

            “Men from the water tribe do not easily give in and he and his brothers fought for their lives. He fought valiantly until my father was the last person from the crew alive. The criminals thought they had him beaten but my father was a master water bender and had yet to reveal what he was fully capable of and used his power to subdue them all.”

            “My father made every last one of them swear to him as their new lord. He renamed the fleet that had tried to overtake his ship and called it The Fifth Nation Fleet.”

Kisha stopped speaking which gave her and Kavik a chance to exchange a look. Kavik eyed Kisha and Yangchen nodded giving permission for him to engage her in conversation. “Commander Kisha that was very enlightening but it does leave me wondering something. Why did your father choose the name Fifth Nation Fleet?”

            “An excellent question. The Fifth Nation Fleet strives to serve those from every nation. I may be of water tribe descent but I haven’t identified as such in decades. During the early days of the platinum affair my father took in those needing a home from the eastern earth kingdom and beyond. Even including air benders who felt like they had lost their way. We don’t care about anyone’s background as long as you are loyal to our family.”

            Yangchen sat there in silence thinking of what Kisha had told them both. It was not lost on her that she didn’t think of her and the rest of the fleet as pirates. She never referred to them as such at any point. She viewed herself and her father as saviors. It wasn’t going to be easy to convince her they had to leave a place where they thought they were doing what they were made to do.

            She gave Kisha a moment in case she wanted to continue but when she didn’t Yangchen took that as she was ready to move on. “Kisha, I appreciate you giving me you and your people’s perspective. Unless you have more to tell me, we should probably get onto business.”

            “Thank you for allowing an old woman to reminisce. Why don’t you and your partner here start with your proposal and I will tell you what I think of it.”

            “Very well.” Yangchen had noticed how Kisha had referred to herself as an old woman. After having to deal with so many corrupt people during her time as Avatar, Yangchen had a great sense for knowing when she was dealing with a master manipulator. Trying to paint herself as a kind old woman wasn’t going to work in this situation as she had heard too much of what Kisha and her people were capable of.

            They had rehearsed the negotiation several times with the team and knew exactly who was going to say what. Kavik always had the public reception of being the Avatar’s accountant. Something that had transpired because they thought she as an air bender couldn’t possibly deal with money. While none of that was true, she encouraged the rumors nonetheless because it gave her the advantage of people thinking she didn’t understand economics at all when she actually knew more than very few in the world (thanks mainly to Boma).

            Kavik pulled open his first scroll and went on for several minutes talking about trade. They would allow the fleet to still dock in the southern water tribe if they were here for trade, repairs, or medical needs. The catch was that they would only trade with money from the water tribe. There would be no more trading of natural resources or the promise of personal protection against external threats.

            Kisha let out a snort at the end of this initial proposal. “Oh, that fool Minuka. He really thinks this rural tribe of his need’s protection. Very few people outside of the water tribe pay it any heed at all. Even the people from the north just view at as an expense. I will admit I was taking advantage of him to get more resources out of him by lying and saying one of the other nations would come and take everything.”

            Yangchen and Kavik were caught off guard not by her revelation but by the fact she admitted it at all. Now that Yangchen thought about it, she needed to go off script and address an important matter now while it was fresh in everyone’s minds. “I’m glad you brought up Minuka. In order for any deal between us to be successful you and your people will stay out of the southern tribe’s politics.”

            “Oh, but it’s so very fun. Like I said I don’t care about Minuka so that’s no lose for me.”

            “How about when I say that I have personally relieved Minuka of all his duties as Chief and he is now my figurehead. The southern tribe will elect a new chief once the recovery process from the tsunami is complete. Once that time comes you and your fleet will be nowhere near these settlements.”

            Kisha gave her an impressed look. “Avatar, perhaps I underestimated you. I would’ve never thought an air nomad would steep to such tactics.”

            “Perhaps in your old age you’ve forgotten about how I took over every Shang city and became their leader at the age of seventeen. That didn’t happen on accident. I have more experience running a settlement than you could possibly imagine. Running multiple cities is completely different from being the commander of a pirate fleet.”

            All fronts of friendliness were now gone. Kisha glared at her with intense dislike. Yangchen thought that look suited her face better anyway as opposed to the fake kind one she had been using. “I see we are past the point of playing nice with each other Yangchen.”

            Kisha was following the usual playbook as expected. The use of her name instead of her title was always a clue that the person she was in mental combat with was losing. “Perhaps we should cut the chase then Kisha and decide on what your fleets new deal with the south pole will be.”

            The look of anger that had been on her face slowly morphed into one that almost looked like she was about to break out in laughter. “Now let me tell you and your husband what I want from this encounter. You might as well throw away all of your scrolls that you had planned to discuss with me. Theirs is only one deal that we will make here tonight.”

            Her and Kavik stood immediately ready for a fight but Kisha stood up slowly not looking bothered by the situation. “I never told you my father’s dream for the fifth nation fleet. His goal whether it happened in his lifetime or the lifetime in one of his descendants was for his people to have a permanent settlement unaffected by the other nations. I’m not talking about a village of the coast of the earth kingdom but a place to make our own country.”

            Her and Kavik exchanged another look. He was doing his best to respond calmly to her. “What you ask for is impossible. Giving The Fifth Nation Fleet a place where they can build a country of their own would require unprecedented cooperation from the worlds ruling monarchs. You should take the platinum affair as a warning to even try such a stunt. It could divulge the four nations into a world war.”

            “There will be no need for war or help from those fools ruling the four nations. We do not ask for a part of one of the other nations but one of the unaffiliated islands of the south.”

            That didn’t exactly change what Kavik had said and it was starting to frustrate her. “Kisha there are many treaties that govern who can live on the southern islands. They are unaffiliated because the world’s governments have made it such. There is no giving one of them away. That’s not how the process works.”

            “No of course you are right. Which is why we are going to do something unprecedented.”

            “You are fooling yourself.” Kavik responded.

            “No, I’m not. Avatar let me show you.” The woman fished a scroll out of her robes and held in up in front of her. It was a treaty. “Avatar you are the thread that balances the four nations. If you sign this treaty granting my people a permanent home no one will question it. The worlds monarchs will have their hands tied if you sign this with your full authority behind you.”

            She shook her head. This woman just didn’t get it. The Avatar could not overstep the leaders of the nations. That wasn’t her job. She was only able to relieve Minuka of his position since the southern tribe is governed by the north. “You knew before these discussions even began that I would never agree to this plan.”

            “How unfortunate.” She stood up with the grace of a woman half her age and held out her hands. It was at that moment that Yangchen was pulled into one of her nightmares. Kavik was floating in the air across the room and came to a stop next to Kisha. “Avatar, I never specified how my father how my father defeated the raiders that over took his ship as a young man. He was incredibly fortunate that they choose to attack on a full moon. That’s the only time my family as ever been able to use its most powerful ability. Blood bending.”

            She felt like her knees would give out from under her. “Put him down! If you hurt him, I will not only destroy you but your entire precious fleet.”

            She was chuckling to herself as she pulled a knife out of her boot with her left hand as she held Kavik bent with her right. “Calm yourself Avatar.” She held the blade up to Kavik’s throat. “Or I will be forced to cut his pretty neck.”

            They stood there in silence assessing each other. The blade was starting to dig into Kavik’s neck and a small trickle of blood appeared. “Avatar sign the treaty now. Or lose your husband. This is simplest choice you’ve ever had to make in your life.”

            “Don’t do it Yangchen.”

            Kisha took the flat end of the knife and slapped his face with it. “Quiet.”

            That was the opening she needed. Yangchen stepped forward and just as she was about to strike, she lost control of her body. Kisha had dropped her blade and was controlling her with one arm and Kavik with the other. It had been going on ever since she used her power on Kavik but the familiar pull of her past lives rang through her head. Along with the visions from her dreams that she finally understood were a warning.

            She could feel the power of the Avatar State within her. That was when Kavik fell to the floor in a lump at their feet and the pirate focused all of her attention on her. “You foolish girl! I was giving you the deal of a lifetime and this is how you react. I guess you leave me no choice but put you asleep for good.

            Kisha twisted her arms and pulled her into the air. Her limbs started being pulled in unnatural angles with her left knee feeling like it was being torn apart. It was at this point that she screamed from the immense pain. It was beyond anything she had ever experienced in her life. She heard a large crack through her pain with a voice broke through the torment. “YANGCHEN LET GO!” It was all she needed to hear and she let the full might of the avatar state over take her.

             Kavik slowly opened his eyes. He didn’t have a clue what happened or where he was. The last thing he knew was he and Yangchen had been in a negotiation before he passed out. It wasn’t until his eyes adjusted to the darkness that he realized he was stuck under a bunch of wooden debris.

            Thankfully what he was trapped under was not all that heavy. He was fortunate to have not been crushed to death. As he was wiggling his way out of all the destruction around him, he heard an explosion in the distance. That was when he fully remembered what had happened and what he had yelled. He had told Yangchen “To let go.”

            He pulled himself out of the corner he was trapped in. After getting to his feet, it was apparent that the ship they were in had come ashore from Yangchen’s power and was laying on its side. Mainly from the fact that he was walking on the side of the room.

            There was a large hole in the ceiling of the ship which was no doubt Yangchen’s doing as the Avatar State was not something that could be controlled in an enclosed space. He had seen her use it on numerous occasions but it was never something he wanted her to have to resort to. He hated seeing her have to experience so much rage. She was such a gentle person and it just wasn’t her.

            There was another explosion outside. While he didn’t know for sure he felt pretty confident that Yangchen was facing the rest of The Fifth Nation Fleet in battle. When they had arrived at the harbor there had been around two dozen ships in total. While she was completely outnumbered the avatar state was the great equalizer and he had no doubt that she would defeat them.

            Just as he made to pull himself through the opening Yangchen had created for herself, he spotted a shoe underneath a pile of rubble. He had a pretty good idea who it was and thought about leaving but he had to check and see if she was still alive. It was his duty as a healer to help those in need.

            Kavik approached the rubble and lifted it. He was met with the sight of Commander Kisha who was completely crushed by a support beam from the ship. He quickly checked for a pulse and but there was nothing. “We offered you a good deal. It didn’t have to be this way.” He took one last look at the woman and pulled himself out of the room.

            His instincts had been correct about the ships current position. They were inland no doubt from the force of the avatar state. The ships extreme angle was very treacherous. He looked for other members of the fleet but it looked like they had all been able to flee the vessel. Which he was glad of. Yangchen never wanted anyone to suffer for the mistakes of their leader if it could be avoided.

            When he was finally on land again, he was able to see Yangchen. Her battle with the rest of the fleet had clearly been going on for quite some time. Four ships all looked to be destroyed. The rest were using catapults to shoot flaming rocks at her.

            Yangchen herself was using a technique he had watched her perfect over the years. It involved having all four-elements swirl around her. It allowed he to have an impenetrable defense but also allowed for powerful counterattacks. As the next set of flaming rocks were launched at her she used a powerful blast of air bending that eroded the rocks into dust. Just as that dust was going to fall into the sea, she collected it with a sweep of her arms and added it to the boulders encircling her.

            What he watched her do next shocked him. She went completely rigid with her fist clenched at her side. He didn’t realize what was about to happen until it was too late. Yangchen went from rigid to make a jabbing motion with all ten fingers pointed toward the fleet. The boulders encircling her broke up into thousands of tiny pieces and struck the fleet at a high velocity. Where had stood crew from the fleet on all the ships was now nothing but a red mist. The Fifth Nation Fleet had been defeated.

            Kavik wished he had looked away. All of those people gone in a blink of an eye. That wasn’t Yangchen’s way. She had perfect control of the avatar state ever since she was sixteen and she would never use it kill. She always went out of her way to subdue in battle.

            What had happened? Something must have caused her to lose control and then it hit him. Commander Kisha had used the technique she referred to as “blood bending” to threaten his life. He ran his hand across his neck and could even feel where her blade had cut his throat. Yangchen had given in and due to his cry of letting go had lost all control.

            He stood there in shock. Yangchen had always warned him that a day might come where she lost control but it was hard to believe that that moment was here. He was about to step forward to do what he knew must be done when he heard Yingu’s voice. “Kavik oh thank the spirits you are all right.”

            Jujinta was with her as well. They both stopped in front of him and seemed to realize from the look on his face the seriousness of the situation. Jujinta grabbed him by the shoulder. “Kavik what’s wrong? The Avatar finished off the fleet. We can put this whole mess behind us and help rebuild.”

            He shook his head. “No Jujinta. Yangchen and I were nearly killed when the negotiations went bad. I was trapped and going to be killed if she didn’t give into Kisha’s demands. I yelled out for her to give in to her past lives and for the first time ever she’s not in control. The Avatar State is on a rampage.”

            He pointed out toward her. Sure, enough even though the battle was over Yangchen had made no move to join them over by the destroyed capital ship. In fact, the debris from the destroyed fleet had begone to collect beneath as if she was some sort of magnet. If things couldn’t get worse some of the buildings in disrepair from on shore where being torn a part to join the debris forming beneath her. It was as if a mountain had formed with the Avatar and the elements swirling around her at its peak.

            “I have to go to her. I’ve prepared for this moment ever since I was seventeen. I have to be the one to bring her back.”

            Tears were now streaming down Yingu’s face while she was looking out at Yangchen. “Well come with you. Thaven can get us all there.”

            “No! I’m not risking any of you. If you, Jujinta, or Thaven got hurt Yangchen would never forgive herself.”

            Considering the situation Jujinta was still extremely calm. “Kavik, she would never forgive herself if she hurt you either.”

            “No, you are right. However, when an Avatar goes on a rampage someone has to be able to stop them and the two of us have trained for this moment. She doesn’t want to put me in peril but she also realizes I’m the only one equipped to handle the situation.”

            The tears had stopped flowing from Yingsu’s eyes. Kavik knew that since he had suggested he was the only one capable of stopping Yangchen that would bother her. “Kavik, I know you are her husband and the father of her children but Jujinta and I are also perfectly capable of helping in this situation.”

            “You don’t get it Yingsu. What is your bending good for in this situation? Are you going to blast her out of the sky?”

            “That’s not what I meant.”

            “Clearly. You both need to understand this has nothing to do with personal strength but in our ability to protect ourselves.”

            Yingsu wanted to keep asking questions but Jujinta put up his hand to tell her to drop it. “What do you need for us to do Kavik?”

            “I need you both to make me a promise.” They both shook their heads in the affirmative before he even said what it was. “Part of Yangchen’s last will and testament is in combination with my own. If both of us were to perish in battle we made the difficult decision to appoint both of you as the guardians of Mikasha and Lishka.”

            Each of them gave him a dumfounded look. “Look I know it’s a lot to ask but we don’t have a moment to lose. I’m about to go and step into the inferno of the avatar state. I need to know that if things go bad our children are taken care of.”

            Yingsu was starting to cry again. “But Kavik, Tayagum and Akuudan would be much better guardians for them.”

            “Don’t think Yangchen and I didn’t discuss this at length. You both are better with them than either of you would ever admit. The deciding factor was Tayagum and Akuudan are getting older and we want our kids to have guardians that will be around for a large portion of their lives. Now I need your word.”

            Jujinta stepped forward and held out his arm. Kavik grasped his forearm and pulled him into a hug. “My word brother.”

            The two of them ended their embrace and Yingsu looked at him. She was still shaken up but looked like she had come to a conclusion as well. “I will look after them as if they were my own flesh and blood.”

            He gave them one final nod and immediately jumped off the dock bending a bridge made of ice toward the avatar. He didn’t have it in him to possible say good bye. Even doing it as a precaution just felt wrong.

            It was exhausting work to create his path and move along it. While he had made a lot of progress the process of actually reaching her was taking a lot of time.. As he went Yangchen was still drawing more debris toward her mountain of wood with her inside the swirling elements at its peak.

            He had to have been at it for at least fifteen minutes before he finally reached her. He had to admit the next task was daunting. She hovered at least twenty meters above the ground. He would have to climb this mountain of debris in order to reach her.

            When he and Yangchen had been young adults, she had forced him to plan for this moment with her. She knew that someone would need to bring her back if the avatar state went out of control. Between the two of them they developed something to allow him to get close to her. It was similar to an earth bending technique where they would bend earth around themselves in a protective suit. Only Kavik would be using water instead. It had taken him some time to master because bending ice into a suit of armor for lack of a better term that had movable joints was challenging.

            He took a deep breath. This was something he needed to get right the first time. He had already wasted enough time just getting out to her. He had his first clenched out in front of his face until he whipped them down and spread his fingers a part. It was a success. He was covered from head to toe in an ice shell.

            He immediately started to climb. This suit was not easy to move in. Water could become extremely heavy fast and this frozen suit was no different. It really didn’t matter though he had to get up to her.

            The debris really was an assortment of every kind of trash you could think of. There was debris from the fleet and the neighboring buildings. A lot of trash from the harbor. Which wasn’t surprising considering this was a shipping port normally. None of that mattered though as he continued his climb.

            He continued to climb until he could start feeling the air swirling around him. That was the sign he was waiting for. He braced himself and continued through the elements. The air, water, and earth bending were no match for his suit but the hard part was maintaining his protection against the avatar states fire bending. He could feel the heat and concentrated with all his might on climbing and making sure she didn’t accidently hurt him.

            Just as he felt like he might have to left the suit of ice armor fall away there was peace. He had penetrated her protective shell. At that moment he let the protection from around his head melt away. She would need to see his face.

As he now stood at the top of the mountain he reached out and grabbed her forearm. She looked down at him with a look of fury written all over her face. He continued to pull himself upright until he was fully embracing her.

He stood there for spirits knows how long. It was in that time that he noticed how badly hurt she was. Yangchen had a compound fracture of the tibia not that far below her left knee. It was grotesque to look at. If he had felt any sympathy for Kisha having been killed in this madness it was now gone.

What was even more concerning to him than her serious injury was the blood pouring down from her nose. It was just like when they had awoken that first night at Nathika and Kavana’s. He couldn’t even imagine what she was going through. So, he did the only thing he could do. He embraced her and tried to find his voice.

“Let go.”

“Let go your earthly tether.”

“Enter the void.”

“Enter and become wind.”

Yangchen had always been a fan of Guru Laghima’s poetry. She had told him she used it to calm herself in the most stressful situations. He thought that this situation qualified. He recited it over and over again. Finally, he felt her upper body move and a small sound escape her mouth.

He drew back from their embrace. Her eyes where glowing just as much as they were earlier but this time, she seemed to be taking in that someone stood before her. “Yangchen it’s Kavik. Your best friend. Please I just want to help you.”

She continued to take him in. Hopefully his words found Yangchen and not the other avatars. He didn’t care about them. He just wanted his Yangchen back. It was then that she opened her mouth again and what had previously been imperceptible sound came out as two words.

“Kill me.”

He was in about as much shock as was possible. His best friend. The love of his life asked him to kill her. He couldn’t do that. They had so much more life to spend together.

He looked at her face and once again took in the blood coming from her nose. She was being tormented by these other Avatars. It was cruel what they put her through. These visions had only become worse with age. How bad would they possibly be in another ten years or twenty years.

He was shaking. She just continued to look at him as he struggled with what she had just asked him to do. They had talked to so many people about how to calm her visions but they both knew deep down that there was no way to truly stop them. Unless he made the most difficult choice he would ever have to make and save her untold torment.

He reached down to his leg and used water bending to form part of his suit into a sharp blade. He held it out in front of him with a shaking hand. Yangchen was making no move to defend herself. Her torso was completely unprotected.

More time past and he thought of their children. Mikasha would never forgive him and Liska wasn’t going to be old enough to remember his mother. Strangely enough even beyond their kids he couldn’t picture himself without her. That day he had went to rob her in Bin-Er had been the first day of the rest of his life.

He made what he fully realized was the selfish choice letting the blade melt away and embraced her again. Yangchen said nothing. While looking up at the stars he finally found his own voice once again. “It’s not how you are alike to all of them it’s how you are not. You have your friends. You have your children. You also have me. I know none of us will ever fully understand what you go through but I promise I will never stop giving you the support and love that you need to have as normal a life as possible.”

There was another long period of silence until he started to feel her body relax. He reacted just in time to catch her as the power of the avatar state passed. Yangchen had thankfully passed out and it wasn’t until he knew she wouldn’t hear him that he finally allowed himself to cry. He held her broken body in his arms wondering if they would ever be whole again.

Chapter Text

Kavik had no clue how long he stood on top of that pile of debris holding Yangchen. Truth be told he kept his eyes closed and tried to block out all of his other senses. All except the feeling of holding her in his arms.

He thought back on all the major events the two of them had experienced since they had met. Him being sent to rob her and reluctantly becoming part of her team. His betrayal and the subsequent effort he put into regaining her trust. When he confessed his feelings for her on the same day she met Thaven. Their wedding that had been destroyed by the shadow. The birth of both of their children. Finally, Yangchen’s request for him to end her life. He had always thought he didn’t deserve her and now he truly understood that no one in the world could ever possibly deserve her.

He thought about her injury. A compound fracture of the tibia wasn’t something he would be able to heal. He wasn’t an expert in injuries that severe and he was honestly unsure if healing was even capable of healing something like it. That doesn’t even mention that she could be hurt even beyond what his eyes had been able to see.

After crouching there with her body in her arms he heard a bellow. His eyes snapped open and he was met a sight that was almost too good to be true. Two sky bison were flying toward them. It was Thaven and Fengbao. In no time the bison and their riders were on top of him.

Jujinta was at the reins as Yingsu walked out onto to Thaven’s tail to reach out to them. Thaven was straining to stay airborne which wasn’t easy with his tail completely straight. “Kavik are you alright?”

“I think so but I won’t know for sure until later.”

Yingsu took a quick glimpse at Yangchen’s mangled leg before turning back to face him. “Here you hand Yangchen to me and I’ll get her into the saddle. Get rid of the rest of your protective suit and I’ll help you in as well.”

Just as he was about to hand Yangchen over to her, he realized this was going to require a more delicate hand. Or more precisely the hand of an airbender. “Wait Yingsu due to her injuries I think it would be best for Mingyur to take her. He can propel himself into the saddle while holding her. It’s much less likely to cause her more pain.”

Yingsu seemed to quickly process what he had said and turned to the monk. The three of them weren’t the best with communicating with the man as their exposure to sign language was minimal. Kavik would have been the best one to “speak” to him but his hands were obviously full right now.

After some gestures and Yingu’s best imitation of airdending and jumping into the saddle Mingyur shook his head that he got it. He jumped from Fengbao’s reins over to Thaven’s saddle. He walked down Thaven’s tail and leapt. He landed light as a feather next to Kavik. The two men nodded at one another and Kavik carefully handed over Yangchen to Mingyur. Once he made sure he had her injured leg supported properly he leapt once again with a burst of airbending and landed in the saddle next to Jujinta and Yingsu.

Once Kavik was sure Yangchen was secured, he whipped his arms once more and his ice suit dissolved from around him. He took a moment and looked. He definitely had taken some hits from the avatar state. His torso was bleeding beneath his undershirt and his pants were torn. He couldn’t feel anything wrong with him thankfully and once Yingsu descended back down Thaven’s tail she grabbed his hand and pulled him to safety.

He collapsed in a heap at the head of the saddle. He was exhausted. Their night which had started at the harbor had to been several hours ago. Just as he finally collected himself the questions started. “Kavik how did you stop her? What happened to her leg? What had happened in their negotiations with Kisha?”

For two people who knew how to keep their mouths shut they sure asked questions at the wrong time. “We aren’t talking about this right now. Get us to Nathika and Kavana’s right now!”

The two of the them flinched at the harshness of his tone. Even Mingyur seemed to understand from his exasperated look that he wasn’t talking right now. Both of them mumbled. “Oh right. Sorry.” Jujinta returned to the reins and Mingyur jumped back over to Fengbao. With a flick of Thaven’s reins Jujinta said “yip yip”

Thaven flew faster than he would of normally for such a short flight. The infirmary was on the outside of town but that was still only five kilometers from the harbor. No doubt the bison could sense the danger his partner was in.

Yingsu came and sat next to him. “Kavik, we don’t even need to go back to the infirmary. You could work on her now.” She said this as she held her drinking water.

He was about to yell again but stopped himself. It made sense that a non waterbender would think all healing was created equal. “You have to be trained specially in certain kinds of healing for an injury like this. Yangchen trained me and it was always more for general care than broken bones. That was always something she dealt with. Truth be told though my hands would never stop shaking long enough for me to work on her.”

Sure, enough he held up his right hand for her to see and it was shaking badly. He just looked down at the Avatar once again and worried. Would the healers even be able to fix this. He felt like he might start crying again until he felt a warm touch on his palm. Yingsu had taken his hand to comfort him. It wasn’t the first time she had ever done this and she knew now was the time he needed it. “Kavik she’s going to be okay. We will go to the end of the earth to make things right for her.”

He gave her a small smile and a nod which Yingsu returned. They started to descend and they had arrived. Nathika and Kavana came running from the infirmary tent. Kavik thought that the news of what had happened with the avatar state likely spread fast. Mingyur came back over to Thaven’s saddle and brought Yangchen down from her bison. As the rest of them got down he heard both of the healers react. Kavana was in tears and Nathika exclaimed “by the lights what happened.”

Once Kavik was firmly back on the ground Mingyur made to carefully hand Yangchen back to him. “. The negotiations were in bad faith and they tried to kill us. Yangchen used the avatar state to destroy the pirate fleet but at the expense of her own body.” He wasn’t willing to go into more detail now. Yingsu and Jujinta would get the full story but that would come after everything was over.

Nathika seemed to come to a conclusion. “Alright then. Everyone follow me into the house.” As they were walking, he had the thought that they could possibly still be in danger even now. No doubt there could still be fleet members lurking around. “Yingsu, please stand guard once we are inside. We can’t risk anyone finding us while Yangchen is in this condition.

“I will do that.” She split off from them as they reached the house to check the perimeter. Jujinta was making to follow her when Kavik touched his shoulder. “Jujinta I think it’s possible we may need you here. Please stay.”

“Right, I will.”

He had a sneaking suspicion he knew what was going to be required to get Yangchen the care she needed and if he was right, he would need Jujinta.

Nathika rushed into the house and led Kavik over to the kitchen table. He pushed all of the contents on it to the floor. Not caring what smashed. “Lay her here. It’s to risky to have her get care next door in the tent so this will have to do.”

Kavik did as he was told and put Yangchen on the hard surface. Nathika straightened out her injured leg. To say the Avatar’s left leg looked mangled would be and understatement. Even if they could heal her compound fracture there was no telling what other injuries her knee or ankle might have.

At the sound of the contents from the table hitting the floor Minsha rushed from her room. “Mommy. Daddy what’s going on?”

Kavana looked back and forth between the stairs where the sound of her daughter’s voice came from and Yangchen sprawled out on the table. “Don’t come down here sweet heart. I’m coming up to your room.”

The girl had just poked her head around the corner when Kavana left the room. Mingyur who had noticed the girl followed. Airbenders always have a way with kids and no doubt he wanted to be able to help in some way. Especially since Minsha’s parents would have no idea how long they would have to work on Yangchen.

Kavik turned back to Nathika who was gathering supplies and bringing them over to the table. He was muttering under his breath about various things. “Can’t forget to make sure your hands are clean. We have to clean her wound. We can’t be responsible for losing her.” Kavik and Jujinta said nothing while the man went around in circles trying to make sure he had everything accounted for.

Kavana returned from her daughters’ bedroom. “Your friend offered to stay with her. Minsha has always been fascinated with air benders and Mingyur seemed delighted to spend time with her.”

Kavik shook his head that he understood her. He was still in shock after what had happened and Kavana seemed to register that now as well giving him a sympathetic look. “Kavik, I think it’s best if you and Jujinta go to the guest room to not witness the work we are going to have to do on Yangchen.”

“I have to be close to her.” He was starting to feel the tears starting to fall again. “I always promised I would be there when she needs me most.”

“And you will be. Why I say that is because this whole process could take time and there is really no point for you both to exposed to what you will see. My husband is an expert at healing lower body injuries but one this extreme is not something we normally work on.”

Jujinta cocked his head to the side in surprise. “Not normally work on. I thought healers could solve all ailments.”

“That is unfortunately a misconception. Water is limited on what it can accomplish. With an injury this severe it is definitely possible she could need surgery. Which is something we do not specialize in. I would highly recommend the two of you discuss the next steps as that probably is in her future.”

Both of them stood there in silence until Kavik confirmed he understood. Kavana satisfied that her message had been delivered returned to her husband who was putting on a healing apron he used to work in. Kavana assumed a position behind Yangchen as she no doubt was going to be healing Yangchen’s mind in order to keep her knocked out during the process. The last thing she needed was to wake up right now.

The two of them headed toward the guest bedroom and closed the door behind them. They said nothing between the two of them and sat on opposite sides of bed.

He thought of what Kavana had said to them about planning their next steps. If Yangchen needed surgery they would have to leave the southern water tribe on short notice. There was no way a qualified surgeon was going to get here in time. Let alone even finding someone in the first place.

“Kavik where should we end up going? We won’t be able to stay here after today no matter how Nathika and Kavana are able to do.”

“Realistically we could probably only go back to the southern air temple. Yangchen won’t be able to handle a long flight. Her body is in too fragile a state to be loaded in saddle over and over again.”

A silence over took both of them again. A solution to their problem wasn’t presenting itself but a solution to another one was slowly starting form in Kavik’s brain. “Jujinta I’m going to write a letter to Tayagum and Akuudan. They need to know what happened so they can break the news to Mikasha and Liska. They also need to be able to prepare the temple for what is coming.”

Jujinta slammed his hand down on the bed after Kavik was done speaking. “Kavik that’s it! We need someone to potentially perform surgery on Yangchen.” Kavik nodded at him that he was following along. “Well Yangchen is the Avatar. There has to be dozens of people who would come to help her. Especially someone who has pledged to always be her ally in any situation.”

Kavik couldn’t believe he had not thought of this. He smiled for the first time in what seemed like days. “Are you thinking of who I think you are thinking of.” After briefly making eye contact, they both blurted out “The earth king.”

He thought it over one more time. Ever since the assassination of Feishan at his and Yangchen’s wedding she had made a promise to always look out for the young king. The king had no reason to come to their aid but he always had in the past when they had asked him to. As he had assumed the full wait of the monarchy from his mother, Xian had always viewed Yangchen as his closest ally.

“Jujinta can I count on you to go into town and buy us three messenger hawks?”

“Three? Don’t we only need to send two letters to the southern air temple and Ba Sing Se?”

“No actually four letters. I figured we can ask the healers for their messenger hawk to send the letter to Tayagum and Akuudan. I have some other people in mind that will be able to help Yangchen that I’m writing to as well.”

“I can do that. How fast of hawks do we need?”

“For the trip to Ba Sing Se as fast as you can find. The others aren’t as important but will be long distance. Take our funds and spend whatever you have to in order to get these birds.”

Before either one of them could answer Yanghen gave a huge cry of distress from the other room. It made both of them jump to the door. They could hear the healers speaking rather aggressively to one another. “I’ve got her back under. Keep going.”

Kavik wanted to run to her side but knew Kavana would scold him for not respecting her wishes and getting in the way. Jujinta put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “She’s going to be fine. Sha has to be.”

Jujinta gathered up his pack and took their money supply and left the bedroom without sparing another second. Once he heard the front door close behind him Kavik finally let out a deep breath he hadn’t known he was holding in. It felt odd to be alone but he didn’t have time to think about that.

He got up and went to his and Yangchen’s rucksacks in order to find the necessary parchment he would need to write these four letters. He was able to work in absolute silence. Which was something he normally craved and now was no different as the only thing he would possibly hear in the guest room was Yangchen if she woke up which thankfully she did not.

The first letter he wrote and by far the longest was the one for Earth King Xian. He let Xian now in exact detail everything that had happened since they had last spoke. He needed Xian to understand how desperate they were for his help. Kavik was explicit where they would be going so the help they needed could find them. After finishing the letter Kavik added the familiar P.S. about Lake Laogia. After sealing it he addressed it as “To our concerned friend.”

Next, he wrote to Tayagum and Akuudan. This was no easier as in a way he was writing to his kids. He knew that they would be very upset by what has happened once the news was broken to them. They were extremely young and while they may not understand the details, they would fully grasp it when Tayagum and Akuudan told them that their mother was hurt.

After addressing that letter, he moved on to the final two. He didn’t need to say much in either of these. The news of what happened to Yangchen would spread like wild fire once the fire navy got to the south pole. Which to his knowledge was imminent. The public knowledge was going to be more than enough to get these individuals to come so he left it short and to the point.

He looked over at the clock in the corner of the bedroom. He had been writing for and hour and a half. There had been a couple of different drafts in his letter to the earth king that had caused him to use more time. Overall, he was satisfied with what he had written.

Just as he got up from his seat there was a gentle knock on the door. It was to early for Jujinta to be back and Yingsu would never leave the house unguarded to check on him. So that left one option of who it could be. He flung the door open and was met by the sight of Kavana and Nathika. Both of whom looked completely exhausted.

Nathika who had been the one working on Yangchen’s leg spoke first. “Kavik, I did all that I am capable of. I managed to clean the wounds, realign the bones, and close her up.”

Kavik’s heart leapt at his words. She was going to be okay. Just as he took a step forward to go and see her Kavana put out a hand. “I’m afraid there’s a lot more. While her bones are realigned the break was sharp enough that it was not able to be healed. She will need it repaired surgically to heal properly.”

“Okay well Jujinta and I already have something in mind to help with that. She’s going to have to be moved to the southern air temple to get treatment.”

Both of them shared a concerned look. “Kavik I’m afraid I wasn’t done. The ACL and MCL of her left knee are both torn. With the knee injuries along with her tibia fracture we would suggest you start preparing for the worst-case scenario.”

His heart kicked into over drive. He had been so tunneled on his own work he couldn’t even consider what would happen if things went badly. “What’s the worst case scenario?” It was a hollow quest for he already knew.

“There’s a real possibility that she looses her left leg.” None of them spoke. He had to remain positive this was only worst-case scenario. “However, this is only a possibility at this point. With the right surgeon they could and can fix her.”

He took a deep breath fully have taken the possibility of their words. “Can I ask you both a favor.” They both nodded their heads yes. “Please do not mention this conversation with anyone else. There’s enough for everyone to worry about without the possibility of the Avatar losing her leg looming over us all.”

“We can do that. Yangchen did make us her personal healers. So, we couldn’t talk about her condition with anyone other than family no matter what.”

Just as their conversation ended there was a knock on the front door. Kavik immediately thought of Jujinta hoping he was back and ran from the guest bedroom. He was completely caught of guard when he saw Abbess Yisha standing there.

“Oh, thank the spirits I’ve found you. Your friend wasn’t too happy about letting me enter the property.” Yingsu was entering through the front door behind her.

Kavik raised a hand to calm Yingsu. “It’s alright she can stay.” Abbess Yisha’s entrance had really caused a commotion as now Mingyur was standing next to Kavik as he no doubt probably saw the Abbess coming from a window.

“We saw what happened from a distance. Master Kavik your rescue of the Avatar will go down in the history books. She is incredibly fortunate to have you as a life partner.” Kavik just kept staring at the woman knowing that she had more to say otherwise she wouldn’t have come here. “Is the Avatar well? I’m assuming these fine healers have taken care of her.”

Abbess Yisha took one step forward as if to go and see Yangchen. All five of them moved to block her way. Kavana who was nowhere near as exhausted as Nathika spoke up. “I’m sorry Abbess but The Avatar will not be able to be seen by you right now. She is asleep and requires peace and quiet.”

The woman despite being incredibly wise only now seemed to understand that the situation was serious. “Oh, please don’t take me a nosy child. I’m actually here on important business. There is a lot of uncertainty with who is currently supposed to be leading the people of the south pole. The Avatar was leading the relief effort but as this incident with the pirates leads me to believe she won’t be able to spearhead the effort. If you can confirm she is hurt I will take control of the relief effort until the Fire Navy arrives.”

Everyone looked at Kavik. Nathika and Kavana couldn’t say anything about Yangchen’s condition. Yingsu still looked unhappy that the Abbess was here the begin with and was unlikely to say anything. And Mingyur had been upstairs keeping an eye on Minsha. Kavik decided he would have to divulge two pieces of information. “Yangchen will not be leading the relief effort anymore. She will be leaving the southern water tribe within the next couple of hours.”

“I see. Well in that case I have a lot of work to do and will be on my way. My sisters and I will pray to the spirits that The Avatar find the healing that she needs.” None of them offered any thanks for this and the woman didn’t seem upset by their lack of response either. As she was walking away Kavik couldn’t help but think the Abbess found them just being here in the first place to have been a distraction. Which was rich considering she asked them to come.

Yingsu resumed her watch while the rest of them closed the door and went back inside. Nathika and Kavana led them back over to the sofa in the sitting room where they had moved Yangchen to rest.

Kavik was happy to see her leg at least was sealed. Although it was bruised severely. What really caught his eye was the scar from the compound fracture that bisected her tattoo. He felt horrible for her. Yangchen loved her arrows and the knowledge that they were imperfect hurt him since she would eventually find out.

Nathika broke the silence. “She’s really tough. Not too many people would be able to withstand what she’s been through so well.”

He used his sleeve to dry his eyes as he was starting to get emotional again. He realized though there was still more to be done before Jujinta returned. The logistics behind moving Yangchen to the southern air temple would not be easy. “How will we be safely able to travel with her? We will try to get to our destination in one straight shot but I’d imagine special circumstances are necessary for the situation.”

The healers looked at each other again and Kavana spoke. “While we worked on her we decided that I’m going with you. I can keep her asleep for the duration of the trip and will be able to also do so when her leg is getting repaired.”

“Are you sure? You would have to leave behind your family and the infirmary for a time.”

“We’ve already discussed all of that. Yangchen is too important for us to leave up to uncertainty. Kavik the help you and Yangchen provided in the infirmary helped get things to a manageable state. Something that we haven’t had since the Tsunami hit.”

Nathika also added in. “Kavik it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had to look after things here on my own. We are the only healers for hundreds of kilometers. Sometimes we have to travel to help those in need. This situation is no different.”

“Thank you both. I don’t know what we would have done if we had not met you.”

Both of them gave him a very kind smile. Kavik turned his gaze back to Yangchen. “Will there be a way to keep her leg stable during transport?”

“Yes, we have a make shift cast that we will fit her into for the journey. The two of us are going to go get cleaned up and after a talk with Minsha we will get her fitted into it.” With that the two of them went upstairs to their bedroom. Just as they left Jujinta entered through the front door.

“So, I’ve got the hawks. The owners weren’t so keen on allowing me to use so many but when they saw the sack of gold they changed their minds. The birds are waiting outside for the letters.”

Kavik ran back upstairs to get the letters he had written and attached them to the appropriate birds when he returned. Jujinta, Yingsu, Mingyur, and himself all watched them fly off carrying their last hope with them.

Chapter Text

Kavik and the rest of the team wanted to depart for the southern air temple immediately. Nathika and Kavana would not allow this under any circumstances. Jujinta, Yingsu, Mingyur, and himself had been up all night and after they had finally set the hawks off it was already late morning.

Jujinta and Yingsu begrudgingly went off to the guest bedroom to get at least few hours of sleep (Mingyur departed for the air bender nuns camp to sleep and alert them he would not be returning after he departed with team Avatar). They had come to a consensus that they would leave around dinner and fly through the night. Kavik was going to join his friends and get some sleep when Kavana touched him on the forearm to hold him back.

“Kavik, you need to let us take a look at you.” He gave her a questioning look not quite understand why she would need to take a look at him. “You have experienced a traumatic event and based off of what you told us about the situation you could’ve suffered an injury that you don’t even realize you had. At the very least you need to have that cut on your cheek cleaned.”

He slowly raised his right hand up to his cheek to feel the cut. He had forgotten about when Kisha swatted him with her knife. He could feel some dried blood on his as well. He had to admit she was probably right about needing to be looked at. “Alright where do you want me?” She gestured toward the sitting room where Nathika awaiting him on the couch. He did as she suggested and joined the man on the sofa.

“Kavik I’m going to take a look at you while Kavana packs for the journey. We won’t be doing anything that will require both of our attention.” Nathika already had water bent to his hand ready to heal the gash in his cheek. As he started to work on it Kavana walked away and left them alone.

The healing gave him time to reflect on their journey. Even though things had seemed bleak when they had arrived here, he still had a lot of hope they would be able to do some good. He had to believe that. It’s the only thing that would make him leave his kids behind. Both he and Yangchen really felt strongly that any journey they made had to make a difference. That had become a core tenant of their lives as they got older.

He had learned all too well though that not everything can always go to plan. All the planning in the world could’ve never prepared him and Yangchen for that monster Kisha and her “bloodbending.” He had never heard of such an ability before and couldn’t really describe what it had been like to be held in the air by that woman’s powers. He made a mental note to ask Tayagum and Akuudan about it when next he saw both of them (which would hopefully be soon).

“Alright Kavik your cut is clean and bandaged. It very well may scar but you should feel lucky considering how close the blade came to your orbital bone.”

“Great. Are we done here?”

“I’m afraid not. I’m going to ask a series of questions to make sure you are not concussed.” Nathika asked him a bunch of basic questions about who the fire lord was. What was the name of his mother and father. When was he born.

After Nathika was satisfied Kavik got up and before going to get some sleep he took one last look at Yangchen. She at least right now was at peace. Her eyes were still closed and her breathing was strong. He wanted to hold her close but knew that wasn’t a good idea looking down at her leg which while no longer mangled looking had the long scar bisecting her arrow. “You’re going to be okay. I’ll make sure of it.”

After he left the dining room, he went upstairs and joined Jujinta and Yingsu who were both already in their sleeping bags on the floor. He didn’t have the energy to get his out and just face planted on the bed. He rolled over and let his exhaustion take him into an uneasy sleep.
He awoke to a hand on his shoulder shaking him awake. It couldn’t have been more than three or four hours later based on the sun light. Kavana stood over him. “Kavik it’s time that we prepare to depart if we want to keep our current schedule.”

“Right. Is there anything I can do to help prepare Yangchen for the journey?”

“No, my husband and I have already taken care of everything. Her leg is secured in the temporary cast and you friend Jujinta has already prepared the avatar’s bison for the journey.”

“Wait Jujinta is already up.” He looked at the floor in front of the bed where his friends had been laying down and sure enough not only was Jujinta gone but Yingsu was as well.

“You did not get to rest as soon as they did so we gave you an extra forty five minutes. Now we haven’t a moment to lose. Change into some fresh clothes and we will leave. Nathika has already packed us a meal that we will eat on the way.”

“Thank you, Kavana. You and your family have been too good to us.”

She gave him a squeeze on his shoulder. “We’ve been as good as you deserve.”

She left the room and Kavik pulled a clean change of clothes out from his rucksack and got ready to leave. After making sure he gathered up all of his personal belongings and making sure nothing of Yangchen’s got left behind he headed downstairs.

To say things where a commotion was an understatement. Kavana was saying goodbye to Nathika and Minsha. Kavik tried not to dwell on the fact that it was impossible to know how long this family would be separated. His friends were all gathered around Yangchen and discussing moving her. “Kavik should move her. That’s what she would want” said Yingsu. “It’s impossible to know what Yangchen would want right now Yingsu. We need to follow Kavana’s advice and have Mingyur do it.”

They hadn’t noticed him approach as he went to stand by Mingyur. “Yingsu thank you for the concern but we are doing what the healers say and Mingyur will move her.” Yingsu shut her mouth immediately and nodded in the affirmative.

Kavik turned to Mingyur and did his best sign language to explain that it was time to place Yangchen in Thaven’s saddle. Kavik was unsure if his sign language was actually good or Mingyur just figured he was going to be the one to pick her up anyway. The monk moved forward and lightly picked up Yangchen. Her black cast looking completely out of place with her robes and he brought her out the front door where Thaven was waiting for them.

Thankfully there was no problems getting her secured safely. Thaven seemed distressed but that wasn’t exactly surprising considering his best friend was so badly hurt. Both he and Jujinta took turns trying to calm him but it was no use. The bison just wanted to get going.

Kavik would be at Thaven’s reins as the bison flew to the southern air temple. He seriously doubted the creature need him for guidance but it was needed nonetheless. Only Kavana would be in saddle looking after Yangchen. They had all agreed that Thaven having as easy a journey as possible was the most important thing. Because of this decision Jujinta and Yingsu would be riding on Fengbao who also carrying most of their personal belongings.

Kavik turned and looked at Kavana. “Are you ready? Being on a bison is unlike any other feeling in the world.”

“I’m sure I will be fine. I’m not going to have much time to think for myself since I will be looking after Yangchen.”

Kavik gave her one last nod to the woman after she climbed in and before taking off made eye contact with Mingyur to check if they were ready. Once it was apparent they were they took off. “Yip Yip” with a flick of the reins Thaven soared into the air and flew with haste toward their destination.

He and Jujinta had discussed potentially being able to arrive in eight hours if they flew at a consistent pace. Thaven however was clearly giving this flight everything he had. Kavik had noticed the Fengbao was nowhere to be seen behind them after only a few minutes. If they kept this pace, they might be able to arrive an hour earlier than expected.

After flying for about an hour Kavana pulled the meal out of her bag that Nathika had prepared. It was nothing special but Kavik had to admit that even this sandwich he was eating tasted divine after he had consumed so little over the last twenty-four hours.

He spent most of his time just simply watching the stars after the sky darkened. Traveling at night had never been an issue for him and based off of what Yangchen had told him about the keen eyes of the sky bison he knew Thaven wouldn’t have any issues as well.

The most noteworthy thing he and Kavana saw on the flight was a set of about twenty to thirty ships sailing below them. It was impossible to tell what this fleet of ships was. It could’ve been the fire navy on its way to the south pole but it just as easily might have been the remainder of the fifth nation. He knew that it was unlikely Yangchen destroyed all of them. He tried not to dwell on the criminals as he knew full well they have not seen the last of them.

Just to play it safe Thaven rose up into the clouds to keep any unfriendly eyes off of them. The temperature was extremely frigid up in this high but thankfully they only had to remain at that altitude for a few minutes before they were able to descend again.

Kavik’s mood increased greatly when he started seeing land. Which in this part of the world wasn’t exactly the greatest indicator of where you were as there are hundreds of islands and only one that housed the southern air temple. It was still a great thing to see as while this was not their destination it did mean they were approaching it.

Just as he was reflecting on how much farther they still had to go he heard the sound of water being bent behind him. As he turned, he saw Kavana keeping her water near Yangchen’s fore head. The Avatar was tossing and turning slightly.

“Is everything alright?”

“Yes, I have everything under control. The sleep like trance I put her under back home started to wear off. I knew this was coming so there is nothing to be alarmed about. Just focus on flying Kavik.”

“Right. We will be there soon.” The woman went back to putting Yangchen in another sleep like trance with her mind healing and Kavik turned away to give the woman privacy while she worked. Too say he had total faith in the woman was an understatement. He had seen what she was capable of on many different occasions and had no reason to question her ability with healing.

After another half hour of flying Kavik finally saw the spires of the southern air temple. He felt elation at finally arriving. Not only had they arrived but they had managed to get to their destination before sunrise. Which meant they would be able to get Yangchen into the Avatar suite without any prying eyes trying to get a look at her.

He gave a grateful pat to Thaven for this hard journey he had subjected himself too. He had understood the seriousness of the situation perfectly. “You did great boy. I’m going to make sure Yangchen knows what you did for her.” The bison gave a tired grumble that he understood.”

He turned to speak to Kavana. “We are going to start our descent. Once we reach the landing area I might have to go find help. They weren’t expecting us this early.”

“Alright I will stay in the saddle with Yangchen. There’s no way either of us should be the ones to move her and Mingyur won’t arrive for a while if I had to guess.” Kavik nodded that he agreed as they began to descend toward the temple.

Kavik had not wanted to have to go wake anyone up and thankfully he wouldn’t have to. Kavik spotted Akuudan waiting for them in the landing area. The man was waving at them to get his attention. He had never been so happy to him in his entire life.

He jumped down from the saddle as soon as they landed. Akuudan looked frantic and like he wanted to ask a thousand questions. “Kavik, we got your hawk. Let’s get her down from the saddle and into the avatar suite as soon as possible.” Before Kavik could say anything, the man moved to climb up Thaven’s tail to check on Yangchen but Kavik grabbed his arm to stop him.

“Akuudan, she’s too fragile to move without the touch of an airbender. Her leg is seriously injured and we don’t want to make her injuries any worse on accident. We flew ahead of Mingyur who left on Fengbao but beat him here by a considerable margin. Is there anyone awake that can help get Yangchen down?”

“The Abbott is awake. He was going to take the second shift out here waiting for you to arrive. I’ve actually only been out here for fifteen minutes so he is probably still awake.”

“Alright. Please go and get him. I will stay here with Kavana and keep an eye on things.”

Akuudan was just now taking in Kavana for the first time. He had never taken well to strangers in their group even though Kavik had made sure to mention both Kavana and Nathika in his letter. Kavik didn’t blame the man for being uneasy about a stranger looking after Yangchen.

The man was only gone for a few minutes before he returned with the Abbott. Normally Kavik would have objected to a leader of the temple picking up his injured wife as they weren’t usually the most agile due to their age but this man was thankfully nowhere near as ancient as Abbess Dogmola. “By the spirits what happened.”

Kavik shook his head at the man. “Now is not the time to explain. We need to get her inside. Can you please get her down from Thaven.”

“Oh, right sorry.” The man jumped into the saddle with the grace of someone twenty years younger and gently picked up Yangchen and jumped back down to safety. Once that was done Kavik carefully took his wife into his arms.

Kavana descended Thaven with as much grace as she could muster. Akuudan moved to give her a hand which she gratefully accepted. Kavik heard some quiet introductions being made as they all started to walk. It didn’t take long for them to get to the suite where Tayagum was waiting.

“Quickly get her in here. I’ve already prepared the room for her arrival.” Kavik went and laid Yangchen down on the large mattress. At least this was a more dignified place for her to rest than the kitchen table in Kavana and Nathika’s house. She did look oddly peaceful and if he didn’t know any better, she could’ve just been resting.

Once he looked away from Yangchen, he couldn’t help but notice that his kids where nowhere to be seen. He had expected to see them in the avatar suite where they normally slept. “Tayagum where are Makisha and Liska?”
“They have been staying in our room since we got your messenger hawk. Given how targeted Yangchen was by this fifth nation fleet we didn’t want to take any chances. We all still remember what happened to Henshe.”

Kavik of course remembered as well. He had not considered his family being targeted at being a possibility so he was glad to see the two men had thought of the danger. “Okay when we are done here, I want to see their faces even if they asleep. Have you two told them what has happened?”

“Only from a certain point of view. We told Mikasha that her mother was hurt. There’s no need to tell someone as young as her all the details. Lishka is to young to tell even that. In time they will both understand. Kavik, we do have a pressing matter that has to be discussed privately.”

“Of course.” The Abbott excused himself mentioning he needed to get back to bed. Kavana told them she would wait outside. She wasn’t willing to get to far away from Yangchen.

Once the door to the suite closed behind Kavana, Tayagum pulled a scroll from the interior of his robes. “We received this scroll about an hour ago from a fierce looking bird. It was addressed to you so we have not broken the seal which you will no doubt recognize.”

He handed it over to him and Kavik did indeed recognize the seal as the earth king. He was rather surprised to have already received a reply from Xian but then again, he had assets for communication that Kavik could only dream of. Xian didn’t have to go send someone like Jujinta into a devasted village asking if he could borrow messenger hawks. Kavik broke the seal and read.

To my illustrious business partners,

I understand the gravity of what you have told me. I have organized with my family’s personal surgeon and we will be traveling by eel hound once we have the proper equipment packed.

Please continue to have faith that this situation will be resolved. Our business that our two companies has generated will benefit the earth kingdom for generations to come.

-Xi

Kavik had always hated how he had to talk to the earth king in letters. He realized it was necessary in case they were intercepted but it was a headache that he didn’t need. It didn’t help that Xian really leaned into the bit. At the very least they were on their way and if they were traveling by eel hound, they would be here in just a few hours.

Akuudan had been reading the letter over his shoulder. “Wait a second why is the earth king coming. He very clearly refers to we in the message.” Kavik had missed that part being far more concerned that help was on its way. Once Akuudan pointed out what Xian had written he smacked his forehead. “I swear he’s more like his father than anyone gives him credit for. The last thing we need is for Xian to travel to the southern air temple. The Avatar is already badly hurt and the last thing we need is for someone to try and take Xian’s life.”

Tayagum and Akuudan looked nowhere near as concerned as he was. “He’s made his decision and there’s nothing we can do about it” said Tayagum.

“Your right but I can’t help but get mad when he’s making an already difficult situation even worse.” Kavana knocked on the door and asked if it was alright for her to enter and the men told her it was fine. She took up position besides Yangchen and started to work on hydrating the avatar by very carefully easing water down her throat.

Akuudan finally asked the question that he and Tayagum had clearly been waiting to ask ever since they had arrived. “Kavik what happened?” It was then that the three of them sat down and Kavik told the men everything. The most difficult part had been telling them about Yangchen asking him to take her life.

Neither of them really reacted much to what Yangchen had asked of him. They were plainly aware as much as he was that Yangchen had been tortured in new ways by the other Avatars.

“I do have something I need to ask both of you. Have you ever heard of this technique called bloodbending? It felt unlike anything that I’ve ever experienced in the past.” He felt some tears start to fall from his eyes. “It nearly killed Yangchen.”

Both of them gave him a moment after they had heard his voice shake some. It was Akuudan who answered. “I have only heard rumors about it. Bloodbending is a very rare ability and one that neither one of us has ever witnessed in person. In fact, prior to you telling us it was actually real I would’ve said it was an old tall tale used to scare children.”

“Right. Well hopefully with Kisha’s death that ability is gone too. It was truly an evil thing to use on someone.”

“We agree with you Kavik but it’s not going to be good to dwell on something like that. Waterbenders are vast in numbers across the world so it’s impossible to know if any other blood benders exist.”

He shook his head and took a deep breath. “Let’s go see my children. I need to see their faces.”

Kavik followed the two men to their room further down the hall. Tayagum pushed the door open and they entered. Miksha and Lishka were both fast asleep. Even though they weren’t awake it brought him great joy to see them. He had thought they would be separated from them for a much longer period of time but he only wished returning was under better circumstances.

He took a moment to smooth out Miksha’s hair. It was so very like her mothers and it was something that he had always loved about her (among many other things). He went over to Lishka who had always been an extremely hard sleeper. Something he and Yangchen had always been thankful for.

Just as he turned to leave the Abbott returned. “Gentlemen another bison has arrived. They have asked for you presence immediately.”

All of them rushed from the room at once with Akuudan closing the door silently behind them. They made their way back to where Thaven had landed and found Fengbao next to Thaven who was laying there exhausted.

Everyone pitched in helping unload Mingyur’s bison. Kavik told his friends that Yangchen had handled the trip well. They were glad to hear that and took their gear with them on the way to the dormitories so they could get some sleep. They like him had stayed awake during the entire trip.

As Kavik watched them walk away, he realized just how exhausted he was and told the two men he wanted to try and get a little sleep. He went back to the suite and went into the washroom to change into his night things to spare Kavana from having to watch him get dressed. After confirming Kavana was alright with him doing so, he pulled out his sleeping bag and did his best to relax on the floor. In no time he was falling asleep as the first rays of sunrise started filling the room.

He felt like he had only just fallen asleep when he opened his eyes and a tiny face was only centimeters from his face as he woke up. “Ahhh. Mikasha please you know I don’t like it when you do that.”

“I’m sorry daddy. I was just really excited when uncle Tayagum told me you and momma were back.”

Kavik eyed Tayagum who had just now entered the room. “Did your uncles tell you why we are back?”

Mikasha was noticeably sad when he asked and she looked over toward the bed. “He said that momma got hurt.”

He fixed her with the most serious look he was capable of giving her. “She did. I’m going to need you to be brave for me and your brother. There’s a special doctor coming to look at your mother and he should be here soon.”

She went over to the bed to look at Yangchen. Kavana was very kind to the girl and offered to pick her up so she could look at her mother. Mikasha agreed and Kavana lifted her up. She was very happy to see her face but became sad when Yangchen didn’t answer her greeting. It was this more than anything that seemed to convince Mikasha the seriousness of the situation. “Is momma going to be, okay?”

Kavana lowered her back to the ground. “Your dad and I are going to do everything that we can to help her.”

The little girl nodded that she understood and left with Tayagum. “Kavik, do you want to try and get some more sleep? You’ve only been out for about three hours.”

“I might just try to rest my eyes. It’s hard to sleep after having her get in my face like that.”

Kavana laughed at his remark. “Welcome to parenthood. There’s not a child in the world that doesn’t do that.”

He turned over and shut his eyes. He tried to clear his mind. He had been meditating with Yangchen for years and went through all the different techniques she had taught him. He had to admit it worked well as he fell asleep again.

He opened up his eyes again. And noticed that the sun was sky high. He had finally got the sleep he had so desperately needed. As he sat up, he noticed that Kavana was not in the room. He was just about to leave the suite to look for her when Yingsu entered the room. “Kavik the earth king is here. Get dressed and meet us outside. Mingyur just left to go and collect them.”

He hurried out of his sleeping bag and got dressed as quickly as possible. After getting his tunic on he took one last look at Yangchen. He was not comfortable leaving her alone but he reasoned it would not be for very long. He rushed from the avatar suite to go and meet the earth king.

He joined everyone outside and was immediately met by his children. He hadn’t seen Liska yet so he took a moment to get on his knees and hug the two-year-old. The boy was very surprised to see him which he understood must have been unexpected after he and Yangchen last departed.

After a couple of minutes Fengbao arrived barring Xian along with a man Kavik had never met but who could only be this surgeon. Everyone waiting helped them down. Xian was in disguise as an earth kingdom commoner. Kavik should’ve been upset with him for risking his safety but he just didn’t have the energy to get into a big argument. “We came as soon as possible. Bintha is the man whom I’ve brought with me to help the Avatar” Bintha bowed to each of them after getting out of the saddle. “He is as good a surgeon as you will find in the upper ring.”

The man turned away from them and continued to unload all the gear he had brought along with them. Kavik and the rest of his friends all helped unload everything. He noticed as they did so there were other air bender monks trying to see what was going on. If they knew what had happened, they would’ve all been over here helping unload everything and not just watching.

While they were lugging everything in Kavik hung back to speak to Xian. “Has the news of what happened to the avatar spread?”

“Yes, but only just. News from the south pole takes time to spread and it’s been less than forty-eight hours. The fire navy only arrived at the south pole this morning. No doubt that will accelerate how fast it spreads.”

Once all of the necessary equipment was in the avatar suite Bintha insisted he immediately take an initial look at her. Kavana accompanied him and the rest of them were shut out of the room.

Kavik along with everyone else waited in the courtyard outside the suite for news. They weren’t operating yet so this couldn’t take too long. After about a half an hour they emerged and Bintha approached him.

“I’m going to need to open her up today. Kavana and her husband did a good job of realigning her tibia but she will need a plate in her leg to keep it stable. Even before I can do that, I need to take a look at her knee. Kavana told me that she suspects there is ACL and MCL damage if not an outright tear and I need to see how bad it is. There really is not point in waiting to get this done. The Avatar can only stay asleep for so long and she will be a danger to herself if she woke up right now.”

Kavik realized that everyone was looking at him. He was just taking in the information that was provided when it hit him. Yangchen couldn’t make this decision for herself and he was going to have to do it for her.

“What happens if you find that her ACL and MCL are torn?”

“I will have to do a secondary surgery after fixing her tibia. I’m hoping they are still intact so that won’t be necessary. It’s possible they could just be strained.”

He looked at everyone around him. They were all waiting for him to give the go ahead to begin the procedure. “Fine do it. Please be careful with her.” He didn’t know this man and he knew that usually when someone needed invasive medical work done you went to someone you could trust. It just wasn’t a situation where he could be picky. This had to get done today.

He walked over to Kavana and gave her a pleading look. “Please stay with her through this. I can’t imagine the pain she would feel if she were to wake up during this procedure.”

“Of course I will Kavik. She is my patient and I will stay with her through the whole ordeal.”

Bintha and Kavana retreated back into the avatar suite to begin working. He had no idea how long this procedure would take. It was then that help a couple of hands tugging at his tunic. “Is momma going to be okay? That man was making me scared.”

He gave them both as brave a face he was capable of making. “She’ll get through this because she’s strong. She has all of us here rooting for her.”

Tayagum and Akuudan mentioned taking the children to lunch and asked if he would be joining them. There was no point in waiting for the procedure to over when it would take hours so he followed them.

“She just has to be okay.”

Chapter Text

Yangchen felt her eyelids sticking together as she felt herself waking up. Her mouth was incredibly dry like it was filled with sandpaper. Her pounding headache certainly didn’t help with realizing where she was.

Wait. Where was she? The last thing she could remember. What was the last this she could remember? She closed her eyes again and thought hard and then it hit her. Kavik in danger and suspended in the air by that horrible woman. Why couldn’t she remember anything else.

She attempted to open her eyes again which was still proving to be difficult. She looked down to the end of the bed she was in and could see her left leg with elevated. It was covered in some sort of hard material that was unfamiliar to her.

She was just now making out a figure sitting in a chair at the end of the bed. She couldn’t see who it was but they were slumped over either asleep or trying hard not to do so. Maybe this person could get her some water to drink. Which was all her brain would let her think about.

She opened her mouth to speak and just as she was about to use her voice the coughing started. She hacked worse than she ever had in her life. She was so busy trying to regain her composure that she completely missed that person hurrying to her bedside and put a cup in her hands.

“My dear please drink this. They warned me that you would need fluid if you woke up.”

She gratefully started gulping down the drink and she took in Boma’s face. He looked weary and worried as he looked down at her. It had been far too long since she had last seen him. He had formally announced his intention to retire three years ago and they had only been able to see each other a handful of times since them.

She finished drinking and while she had a lot of questions one needed to be answered before all of the others. “Where am I?”

“You are in the southern air temple. It is ten o’clock in the morning on the 23rd day of winter during the 31st year of Yangchen.”

She felt for sure that she had lost a lot of days. She wanted to know what happened over the last week but something else came out instead. “What are you doing here Boma? You are supposed to be enjoying your retirement.”

He gave her another sad smile. “I’m here because my daughter needs me.” It was this more than anything that really made her understand something serious had happened and she looked back down at her leg. “Your team tells me that you were seriously injured in your relief mission to the southern water tribe. They brought you here so you could get proper care for your injuries”

“I don’t remember what happened. How bad is it?”

“You have a compound fracture of your tibia. That was by far the most severe injury but luckily everything else was able to be healed.”

“How did you come to be here? We haven’t corresponded in so long.”

“Kavik sent for me. He explained everything that happened and I left at once. I don’t get around like I used to but I’ve spent most of my life on the road so it wasn’t that difficult. I only arrived last night and volunteered to sit with you this morning.”

Her head was spinning based off of all the information she had received. She had been forced to have surgery on her leg. Well at least that explained the cast. She still had more questions but they could wait for Kavik and the others. That made her realize that they weren’t here. “Where is everyone else? Could you go and get Kavik and my children.”

He looked grim again. “I’m afraid I can’t do that. The Abbott and Kavik both came to an agreement that you are not to left alone under any circumstances. Henshe’s assassination is still remembered by everyone and you are far too vulnerable right now.”

“No offense Boma but if an assassin tried to do me in you aren’t exactly the best person to stop them. No offense obviously.”

“None taken.” He pulled back his robes to reveal a dagger hidden along his thigh. “I may not be as agile as I used to be but I would do anything I could to protect you. In the meantime, while we wait for everyone to realize you are awake, I will brew us some tea.”

While they had their tea, he told her about all of the people he had met when he arrived. Apparently, the temple had tried to keep her condition a secret as much as possible but it was slowly getting out to the wider world. She didn’t really care if everyone knew though. Maybe Chief Oyaluk would finally realize he made a mistake not supporting the relief effort for his people as it had led to her condition.

The door to the Avatar suite burst open and Mikasha ran in. “Momma you’re awake. I told uncle Akuudan that I could hear your voice.” The girl ran over to hug her after Boma reminded her to approach her good side to avoid touching her leg. They embraced and that was when the tears started falling down her cheeks.

As soon as she was done hugging Mikasha, Akuudan entered the room with Lishka. He wore a scarred look on his face which no doubt came from seeing her be hurt. Akuudan lifted the boy up onto her bed and she held him quietly. The boy hugged her around the neck.

Akuudan gave her another moment before helping Lishka back down. “Yangchen, seeing you awake really is a blessing. If you are alright with me leaving the kids here, I will go get everyone else so they know that you are conscious.”

“That’s fine Akuudan.” The man turned to leave but before he left room she added. “Akuudan it’s so good to see you.” He gave her a soft smile and then ran off to find the rest of her team.

She spent the next couple minutes just enjoying some alone time with her children and Boma. Liska didn’t know Boma well but Mikasha was extremely excited to see him. Apparently Boma had taken over watching her before he had had the proper opportunity to greet everyone.

The first person to rush into the room was Yingsu. “I was just patrolling the courtyard when Akuudan told me you’re awake.” The woman came to her bed side and took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “I can’t stay long. We aren’t taking any chances with you in this condition.”

“I understand Yingsu. Thank you for everything that you’ve done for me. I’m sure there will be much to tell me about when things calm down.” The woman nodded and left the room.

Tayagum and Jujinta came in next. Apparently, they had both ran here upon receiving the news that she was awake. Jujinta in a rare display of emotion embraced her around the shoulders. “I thought we had lost you.”

“Come on Juji you know that it would take way more than some low life criminals to get rid of me.”

“Avatar please don’t joke about that. Things were extremely serious.” He fixed her with a sad smile before backing away so Tayagum could speak with her.

“I’ve always known you were mad of stronger stuff than any of us. With what you’ve gone through I’m surer than ever. My husband and I truly are fortunate to call you a friend my Avatar.”

“Stop with the formalities Tayagum. Please don’t refer to me as Avatar while in private. I’m only with friends and family. Which is what I consider you and Akuudan.”

He shook his head that he understood and turned to see Akuudan enter the room again followed by Kavik who looked pale and exhausted. Boma picking up on the seriousness of her gaze with Kavik and ushered everyone out of the room. “Kids let us go get your mother something to eat from the dining hall. It’s been ages since she’s had real food.”

Mikasha took Lishka’s hand and they followed him out of the room followed by the rest of her team leaving her alone with Kavik. He stood in place not saying anything at first before approaching her bed and sitting in the chair Boma had vacated. “It’s good to see you awake again. There was a point where I thought… Well, I’m not sure exactly what I thought.”

She reached over and took his hand into hers. “I understand Kavik. I’m here now and that’s what matters. I must be the luckiest Avatar in history to have someone like you in my life. I’m alive because of you.”

“I shouldn’t have ever thought that way though. My mind was just filled with concern about the kids and well myself. We all need you in our lives.” His voice had started to shake when he finished speaking. He used his sleeve to wipe the small amount of moisture that had formed around his eyes.

“I need you and the kids too.” They sat in silence for a couple of minutes just enjoying the feel of each other’s hands. Now that they were alone and the initial shock at seeing him was passing, she had questions she needed to ask him. Ones that he probably didn’t want to talk about but she had to know.

“Kavik why do you keep coming back?”

He gave her a puzzled look. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

“What I mean is being in my life has caused you so much pain and torment. I know that while our fourteen years together have had its good times there’s also been plenty of bad. Why do you keep coming back to me?”

He didn’t try to refute what she had said about there being plenty of bad things in the times that they had known on another. He raised his right arm up to his chin in a thinking gesture. “I can answer your question but not in a straightforward way. That’s if you’re willing to bear with me for a moment.”

She nodded her head for him to continue. “One of the first things I ever told you about my family is how Kalyaan and I got lost in a blizzard. My brother saved me when all hope was lost. I’ve never told you how exactly Kalyaan led us back home.”

“I always assumed it was luck. You were both so young at the time.”

“Luck probably did play a role in it but the major reason we got home was because of the stars. The stars are unchanging in the night sky. When people from the water tribe are young, we learn how to navigate by them. The biggest reason for this is because we live in a frozen desert.”

“The thing about deserts that makes them the most dangerous is that they are ever changing. There are no reliable landmarks because sand or in the case of my brother and I, ice is unreliable. For this reason, we are taught as kids for survival reasons to memorize the night sky so that if you do get lost you can always find your way back home.”

He paused for a minute. It was pretty clear he was leading up to something. “I was only five when I got lost with Kalyaan. I didn’t know the stars at that point but he did and that saved our lives. It was that experience that taught me just how valuable they can be.”

This seemed to trigger something in her brain. “Wait you’ve referenced this before and I didn’t even notice. When we talked about bison traveling at night you said something like maybe we all aren’t so different after all.”

“Yep, that was exactly it. The water tribe may utilize the night sky but we don’t own it and we are far from the first to use it as a landmark.”

“Kavik this is all very interesting but I still don’t get where you are going by telling me this.”

He closed his eyes and took her hand again. “You asked me why I keep coming back. It’s because you are my starlight, Yangchen. You are the best of us and you are the brightest. I will always be there for you no matter what.”

He brought her hand up to his mouth and started kissing her arrow. She wasn’t the type to get emotional but this was a time when she just let go. His expression of love for her was so personal that crying was all she could do.

“Kavik I… Well, there’s nothing I can say to follow up what you just told me. Just know that I consider myself to be the luckiest person in the world. I wished you nothing but joy from the first moment I saw you.”

He leaned down to kiss her on the mouth. I felt amazing to feel so alive again after so long. That’s how he made her feel. After he pulled away from her, she looked down at her cast again. “Who fixed my leg?”

“After you were hurt Kavana and Nathika did everything they could but your injury was too severe for it to just be healed. You needed to have surgery to fix it. I wrote to the only person who I felt I could trust to help us the earth king. Xian and his family’s surgeon Bintha traveled here by eel hound.”

“Wait the earth king is here? How can he be so reckless after what happened to his father. Does he not understand everything we went through to help establish him in his role.”

“Yangchen, I think he understands that more than anyone else in the world. There was no one else I could write to for reliable help. He answered immediately and while I didn’t want him to come either I’m glad he cared enough to make the trip. It means I was right in trusting him to help.”

“Still though my point stands. I want to talk to him as soon as we are done talking.”

“That won’t be possible. He left with Bintha two days ago after the surgeon declared everything a success. Xian thought it best that he wasn’t gone for too long from Ba Sing Se. There was only so much his mother could say to cover for him.”

Kavana is here and she will be leading your recovery. She’ll remove the screws and plates that were installed once the bones are strong enough. However, I’ll let her tell you about the process as she is much more knowledgeable about that sort of thing.”

She took her tea that Boma had made her and drank while thinking about all that she had learned. That was when the scope of her recovery seemed to hit her. Her injury was serious and she wouldn’t be able to travel for a while. “Kavik did Kavana mention how long the recovery process will take? This type of healing isn’t something I know much about.”

“She estimated to me that it would take four to six months. I’m already making arrangements with the team how Avatar business will be conducted while you recover. Yingsu, Jujinta, and Mingyur are planning to leave and help solve mysterious disappearances on a fire nation island in the coming days. They didn’t want to leave until you woke up.”

“Is that why you contacted Boma?”

“Partly but also, he considers you to be his daughter and any father would want to be there for her when she is hurt. He’s already agreed to handle all of your correspondence and will be staying here until you are back to full strength.”

She was slightly disappointed by this. The man deserves a peaceful retirement but she knew there was no way she would be able to convince him to leave. “Did you write to anyone else about what happened?”

“Just my parents. I want everyone in our family here to help look after things. My dad also suffered a severe ankle injury as a teenager so no doubt he’ll have all sorts of suggestions when it comes to physical therapy. They should be here in a couple of days. They sent me letters over the last few days. I’m taking Thaven to pick them up from a port in Whale Tail Island.”

There was a knock on the door and they could both hear chatter. “Enter.” Her kids and team reentered the room carrying her a tray of food which she ate from with gusto. Being on a liquid diet can make almost any solid food taste amazing.

After spending time with her kids Kavana came to see her. Everyone else was forced out of the room while they talked. Yangchen apologized from making her be separated from her family but she just waved her off like it was nothing. They had come to a joint decision for her to come to the temple.

Kavana asked her to do various stretches and wiggle her toes just to make sure everything was working properly. She then confirmed Yangchen’s worst fear about being bed ridden for the next several weeks. Unless she wanted to be pushed around in a wheel chair. Which was better than nothing.

They went over the recovery timeline. Eventually when she progressed to weight bearing, she would be forced to use a cane. She knew that would make her feel like an old lady but it had to be done.

Finally, Kavana walked her through and extensive physical therapy routine she would begin in the coming weeks. According to her it would feel completely normal to get exhausted over even the smallest things.

It was then that she had a thought thinking of Kavik. “Would the simplest way to strengthen my leg when the time comes just to do cardio? That’s something I would love to do with my husband.”

“Yes, Yangchen that would be lovely. I will discuss with both of you a schedule to follow once you’ve graduated to using a cane. Now tell me are you feeling tired from all the stress since you’ve woken up.”

She smiled at the woman. “Was it that obvious?”

“Yes, you look rather exhausted. I’d recommend a quiet night with minimal people here in the room with you.”

“That sounds good to me. Could you please tell Kavik and Boma to decide on who will be sitting with me tonight. I’m just going to try and get back to sleep.”

“Of course, Yangchen. I’ll go and speak with both of them now.” She had wanted to try and spend some more time with the kids but before she could see whether it was Kavik or Boma that would watch over her she fell back to sleep. The sun already setting on another day.

She was awoken by Boma shaking her shoulder. “Avatar, Kavik’s parents have arrived. He went last evening to collect them and Thaven just arrived. It would probably be best if you prepared to see them. I made you some coffee.” He handed her the cup and she drank greedily.

“Thank you Boma. I love Katusha and Linka but they can be a lot sometimes. At least Kavik and I have two more people to look after the kids when the team leaves for the fire nation. It would also be nice for all that work to not fall on Tayagum and Akuudan.”

Boma walked over the window to assess the situation down in the courtyard. “They are heading this way and it looks like they have a couple of more individuals with them that will brighten up your day.”

She didn’t even have time to consider what that meant before there was a knock at the door. Boma scurried over to open it. No sooner had Katusha entered the room was she over smothering her in a hug that only a mother could give. “My sweet girl. I’m so sorry about what happened. We came as soon as we got Kavik’s letter.”

When Katusha pulled away she was met with the surprise that Boma had referred to. It was Pik and Pak. The lemurs ran in from behind Linka (who was giving her his customary bow) and climbed into her bed to be as close to her as possible. As the two of them got older they had really taken a liking to Kavik’s parents and had decided to stay with them. She gave them each a scratch behind the ears. “Boys it’s good to see both of you. I’ve missed having you guys around me every day.”

The lemurs curled up next to her and she greeted Linka with a handshake and a hug. “I brought all the books I have on physical therapy. I had a lot of time on my travels here to read up on recovery from a compound fracture so I hope I can help. I’m sure Kavik mentioned I broke my ankle as a teen. While it’s not the same injury it was traumatic in a way I will never forget.”

She couldn’t help but chuckle at the man. He loved his books and studies. Perhaps she could entrust him with helping Boma with all of her correspondence. She wasn’t too sure if Kavana would allow him to help with her healing process but she had no doubt that if the healer deemed it appropriate the man would do anything to help her.

Having everyone here she felt so warm. While her body wasn’t whole her heart was in a way that could only be brought on by having everyone, she cared about around her.

Scene Break

The weeks passed and so did her recovery. Kavik, Boma, and his parents wheeled her around the temple to help her feel as normal as possible. She hated feeling so tied to the earth like this. All she wanted to do was grab her glider and fly away from all of her troubles.

Her team had left to deal with troubles in the fire nation that she wouldn’t be capable of attending too. They had also been asked by a noble woman from Agna Qel’a to help with unrest. While known of them were too keen on helping Oyaluk they had to be better than him. Yingsu, Jujinta, and Mingyur all agreed to go.

That had all been weeks ago now. She missed all three of them dearly. There was only so much of reading books that could fill this place in her heart.

Since she had yet to graduate to walking with a cane, she spent much time with Kavana reverting back to her mind healing sessions. Her visions were not all that bad right now all things considered. However, given they had ascertained she was seeing the future they all agreed it was best to continue the sessions indefinitely.

With her visions not be as strong, she wasn’t able to get the sense of what was going on in them as easily. The two that stuck out to her the most was the comet in the sky and the masked man who used bloodbending. She could guess now that this comet had to be the one known as “The Great Comet” that came every one hundred years. It had come six years ago when she was twenty-five years old. Kavik and her had used the festivals surrounding its arrival to celebrate their engagement.

All they could really do was keep a journal of everything she was seeing for future reference whether that was for them or the next generation. The thing about these visions was she had no clue when they would happen. Well, she could guess that the one with the comet coming likely wasn’t her since she had already lived through the comet’s arrival once. Very few Avatars lived long enough to see the great comet more than once. That came down to luck more than anything.

After a couple of months of recovery Kavana removed the screws and plates that had been inserted in her leg to support her tibia. She had been knocked out during the process. Kavana removed her cast to do the procedure and warned her that when she woke up it might be shocking to see her leg so underdeveloped compared to the rest of her body.

Before she went under for the procedure Kavik asked to be alone with her. “What’s wrong? This procedure is nothing to be worried about Kavik.”

“It’s not that. I need to tell you something that happened due to your injury, “I’ve kept it from you so as to not worry you while recovery was going on.”

Her heart rate kicked up at his words. What could be so awful that he would need to keep it from her for over two months. “Your tibia fracture went through your arrow. When Nathika and Kavana healed the wound they both told me that it was likely going to scar. Leaving you tattoos bisected. I’m so sorry.”

It truly was upsetting to hear him tell her this. She didn’t consider herself to be particularly vain or anything but having a scar mutilating her arrows was tough to here. She had already made all sorts of plans to rehab with him and become stronger than ever. Doing so she now knew would cause her to always be met with that fact she would never again be whole.

She took a deep breath and nodded. “I understand. I may not like it but a scar means I lived. You did the right thing not telling me until now. It would’ve eaten away at me while I’ve been stuck in the wheelchair.”

He gave her hand a squeeze as Kavana came back into the Avatar suite. She was prepared to perform the procedure. “I’ll see you and the kids in a little bit okay.”

“Yeah definitely.”

Scene Break

It was a difficult day. Kavana was leaving the temple to return to her family after three months away caring for The Avatar. She had waited for her to be able to get around with a cane safely before turning over all instructions for her physical therapy over to Kavik, Boma, and his parents.

She slowly approached the woman who was about to climb into Thaven’s saddle. Kavik was already at the reins ready to take off. “Thank you for everything your family has done for us. You, Nathika, and Minsha have become lifelong friends.”

“Yangchen I’m so happy to hear you say that. You are one of the strongest patients I’ve ever worked with. I know you will return back to full health in no time.” The two women hugged before she climbed aboard Thaven and they were off.

Over the coming weeks she worked hard to strengthen her lower body. To say it was difficult was and understatement. The most difficult exercise was where she held herself up with two banisters. She didn’t feel great at all attempting this and the only thing that kept her going was that her children and her lemurs were positioned at the other end for her to see them.

Kavik and Linka where very understanding of her situation and would always ask if she needed to stop. She did everything she could until finally one day she was able to walk all the way from end to the other. To the applause of everyone that sat in to her physical therapy sessions.

Kavik had gone to the trouble of making her a pool to swim in. She enjoyed this much more for strengthening her leg. The only downside was having to look at her mutilated arrow. She was getting used to the sight of it but it was difficult to accept. She would do her best to swim back and forth in the pool until she was to exhausted.

After a month of work, she finally graduated to walking without a cane. Although she was still limited on how long she could stand without support. It felt incredibly freeing to be able to go where ever she wanted when she wanted. At the very least being more mobile made using the bathroom so much easier.

Two more months passed and she had one final test. It was time to see if she could run. Her leg felt normal as she remembered it being before the accident. She knew that it likely wasn’t the case as she looked at its muscle mass compared to her right leg but her left looked so much better.

She started waking up every morning to go on walks with Kavik. It was ironic to her that it took a traumatic event to get her to cardio with him every morning. It was nice to get alone time with him as they walked the gardens. Her able to keep up with him as long as they walked a normal speed.

This running test was seen as a huge milestone for her to be able to resume her duties as the Avatar. It was so big that Jujinta, Yingsu, and Mingyur returned from their duties abroad for the big moment.

Kavik gave her a look of assurance. “Don’t feel like you have to push yourself is anything feels wrong. You’ve already beaten the recovery timetable to get to this point.”

Katusha and Linka joined her along with the children. “We all believe in you Yangchen. Know that no matter what happens we are here for you.”

“Thank you everyone. This all means a lot to me. Having my entire family in one spot for such a big moment is everything.”

She walked away from all of them and began to stretch. The last thing she needed was to pull a hamstring from not warming up. As she was doing so Boma approached and handed her a piece of folded parchment. “I think this will help get you in the right frame of mind for what is about to happen. You’ve got this.”

As he walked away, she opened the scrap piece of paper. Let go your earthly tether. Enter the void. Enter and become wind. She couldn’t help but smile. She put the paper inside one of her pockets and prepared to take off with her team and family all watching her.

Okay I’m going on three. One, two, three. She launched herself forward and she ran. Running without the aid of airbending as the human body was meant to do. It felt so freeing and it was at this point that while she wasn’t flying, she finally understood what Laghima meant by becoming wind.

EPILOUGUE

Ugh the protestors are still going. Wouldn’t they ever leave him and his family alone. Oyaluk had grown tired of these people being outside the palace over the last few months ever since the news of the Avatar had reached them. That combined with the lack of care shown to the southern tribe had created almost daily protest.

He had tried to cut deals in order to placate the people but they wouldn’t be denied. The only thing that would make them happy was his resignation as chief of the water tribe. Little did they know he had no such plans to do as they wished.

He sat down at his desk. He was going to continue working while he was served dinner by his primary attendant. It greatly bothered him that the man was running so late though. He was in no mood to have a late dinner with everything else that was going on.

The sound of the door opening behind him finally came. “Finally. I thought you had forgotten your way to my study with how long the meal was taking.” There was no plate of food sat before him. He was only met with a dark sounding chuckle.

“Careful Chief Oyaluk or you might become a dinner to all those people calling for you resignation outside.”

His blood turned to ice. He recognized that voice. It was one that he still had nightmares about. The man who killed Earth King Feishan. Tieguai of the Earth Kingdom. He spun around to see the man with his own eyes. Sure, enough the man looked the same after five years.

“What are you doing here?”

“You know exactly why I’m here Oyaluk. You’ve failed your people for the last time.”

He had been prepared for this moment for a long time and pulled a dagger out from his robes. “What are you going to do Tieguai? You have no earth to bend. This entire structure is made of ice.”

He laughed manically. Do you really think that little dagger is going to stop me from getting revenge for your people and the Avatar. You’re a fool if you think so.

“Why do you care what I do with my own people. You aren’t even a citizen of the water tribe. The Avatar has clearly painted you as a criminal so I don’t know why you would want to help her.”

“The Avatar is my past, present, and future. Now let me show you.” He pulled a metal pendant from around his neck and opened it. Inside was the smallest amount of earth. Before Oyaluk could even react with his dagger Tieguai whipped his hand forward and used the earth to slice his neck.

“So, passes Oyaluk Chief of the water tribe.”

Oyaluks body was discovered several minutes later by his staff as they brought him dinner. There were screams at the discovery. The room was searched many times over but no clues where ever found. The mystery of Chief Oyaluks death went on through the generations never to be solved.