The Last Airbender (Part I)
South Pole, 95 AG (After Airbender Genocide)
The sound of the tides filled her ears, soft and steady - a sound that had once brought her comfort with its steadiness and, later, joy from its associations now only brought painful memories to bear. With luck, this memory would not be another regret to add to the association.
She followed the footprints in the snow, each one placed with care and discretion, weaving around the partially-buried rocks and patches of ice. The snow filled them in, slowly, and by morning all traces of them would be gone... the thought hurt her in a way she couldn't describe.
As she crested the hill, she saw him. Tall, tanned, but too slim to be a hunter, carefully placing one foot in front of the other in a slow but steady pace that she could never mistake for any other. Among all the Southern Water Tribe, only her son had
ever walked like that.
"Hakko!" Her voice was hoarse and at any other time she would have hated the weakness in it. He paused, but did not turn. As she scrambled down the hill towards him, she could feel the snow beneath her feet shift – and then he
did turn, raising his palms into the air and stabilizing the snowbank beneath her so that she could come to face him.
"Mother. I thought none were to witness my departure?" His voice was low and empty, and it drove the dagger further into her heart.
"Damn what the Elders say. Damn them and everything they believe."
"Mother. You don't mean-"
"Don't tell me what I mean, Hakko!"
"Mother." The emptiness of his voice gave way to the tiniest hint of softness, and tension she hadn't realized he carried bled out of him. "...Thank you. For coming here."
"Don't thank me. Don't you
dare. You... you stupid boy." Tears that she'd been holding finally broke free, running down her cheeks. Soon they would freeze – and perhaps they would scar. It would be a fitting mark.
His milky, blank eyes opened and she knew he
saw them. Even more so when he hesitantly reached up to brush them from her face. Seizing her opportunity, she pressed his hand against her cheek so hard it almost hurt.
"Moth- ...mom. This was the right decision. I... would have done the same, in the Elders' place."
"Don't say that. You've done nothing to deserve this. What next, will they exile those who disagreed with this decision? Will they-"
"You know it isn't the same. Whether I deserve it or not is irrelevant... for the tribe, it is the right thing."
She stared at him, reaching out to touch his face, memorizing every line. Unerringly, those blank eyes held her gaze. "...My son. My beautiful, brave son. No matter where you go, never forget that I love you. To the ends of the world."
"I won't. Not ever." He took a deep breath. "...Don't forget me, mother. For the others, it's better if they do, but... please remember me," he begged her, for there was no other word to describe his tone.
It broke her heart.
"Never. You will always be my son, and I will treasure your memory until the day I die."
His eyes closed and he nodded once... and like that the moment was broken. With numb fingers she released the hand he held against her face, and he stepped back, turning to face the ocean once again. He reached out, taking a firm stance, and there was a great
crack. Around him, a platform of ice split away and the tides began to carry it out to sea.
He turned his upper body, never shifting his stance. "Mother. If I do not say this, I will regret it for the rest of my life.
"I forgive you. You, and father. I love you both."
Then he pushed, and the sea pushed with him. The roar of the wave that carried him drowned out any reply she had... if any could have made it through the lump in her throat to begin with.
Thus began the exile of Hakko, son of the Southern Water Tribes.
Kyoshi Island, 95 AG
The first virtue taught to Kyoshi Warriors is patience, for the art of the fan is defensive in nature. An aggressive fan-warrior often finds themselves open and undefended; it is often better to wait for the enemy to expend energy on an attack and repurpose that energy for oneself. The second virtue taught to Kyoshi Warriors is insight, for if you know your enemy, you know their movements, and knowledge is the sharpest of blades.
Sulin had been an excellent student all her life, but those lessons were the ones she held the closest to her heart. It was why she had been chosen to teach the young warriors of this village. They lacked a master warrior of their own, but like all villages they needed protectors. Thus, promising young women were selected to learn, and a skilled warrior was selected from a nearby village to teach. So it had been done since Avatar Kyoshi first founded the Kyoshi Warriors.
Yet, while part of her mind considered her students, the rest of it observed the newcomer. Turning those virtues of patience and insight on he who would intrude upon neutral ground. She flit from one tree to the next, observing and collecting data.
Water tribe clothing. Thin and lithe, without much visible muscle. Eyes closed and careful steps – but sure ones.
He walks as though he knows the land intimately... Even I would struggle to traverse the island with my eyes closed. The path he took would lead him to the village, and that could not be allowed. She grew still, waiting for him to pass beneath her tree, and a moment later she dropped down, fan in hand.
The moment her feet left the tree, his head snapped up and he dashed clumsily away, stumbling slightly and mismanaging his center of gravity. She struck the ground in a roll –
– and was forced to deploy her fan as a shield as water arced through the air. It struck the metal with a great ring and enough force to move her. "A waterbender? What are you doing here?" She shifted, lowering her center of gravity and preparing to charge.
"I'm not even sure where
here is!" The waterbender opened his eyes for the first time and looked at her... with sightless eyes. "Or who you are,
or why you're charging me!" He grit his teeth, but his stance didn't change. It was clumsy. Full of openings, and his hands shook... but he held his ground, a hand hovering over one of several waterskins.
"
What are you doing here," she repeated, her voice lowering.
"I'd be happy to explain if you'd like to tell me where I am!"
"...Kyoshi Island." His face shifted at that, some of the anger bleeding from his stance.
"...Ah. I thought I'd hit the mainland..." He sighed, although he didn't move. "I suppose that explains the welcome. You're holding on to your neutrality, right?" When she didn't immediately respond, he shook his head. "I'll be happy to leave you in peace, then. I'd appreciate it if you could point the way to the mainland, but if not I'll find my way eventually."
She shifted her weight, and observed how he leaned back slightly, preparing to fight if need be. She couldn't see any aggression in his bearing, and yet...
"...I'll take you to Oyaji. He'll decide what to do with you."
"...All right." Slowly, he straightened, lowering his hands. From a waterbender, it was only somewhat reassuring, but even so she allowed herself to relax a tiny bit.
Patience, and insight.
"So, what brought you here like a thief in the night? We've traded with your people before, but you don't look like a trader, nor did you arrive at the docks." Oyaji's voice cracked like a whip, and Sulin had always respected him for it. She had long since learned the difficulty of leadership, and though most of her subordinates were stubborn teenage girls... she admitted that, perhaps, leading a village
might be more difficult. Sulin stood slightly to his side and before him, within easy distance of both shielding her leader or subduing the waterbender if necessary.
The Water Tribesman was silent for a moment, his face drawn in a look of deep consideration. Finally, he took a deep breath. "...I was exiled. My intention was to head for the mainland and find my way to Omashu. I'd intended to bypass Kyoshi Island entirely, but... long-term navigation can be an issue for me."
"Exiled? For what, exactly?" Sulin tensed once more at the harshness of Oyaji's voice, one hand reaching for her fans.
"I learned... something I should not have, but my family loved me too much to silence me. But the knowledge could not be allowed to remain within the tribe."
"What did you learn, exile?"
"I won't say. It would be better if it died with me." The sheer
certainty of his voice struck a chord in her. It was a statement of fact, and nothing more, in the same tone that one might say
the sun rises or
children are difficult. "If that's a problem, I'm sorry... but I won't reconsider."
Oyaji met her eyes, and she found herself nodding. In response, the leader sighed. "...I'll accept that, for now. Let's return to my other suspicions. For example... from what Sulin tells me, you're surprisingly perceptive for a blind man."
He smiled, and there was a sort of cynical warmth to it. "I cannot see, but I wouldn't say I'm blind. I'm a waterbender, and I can feel water all around us." He raised his hands even as she tensed – and her eyes flickered to the window at the sound of rustling leaves. As he weaved his hand back and forth, the leaves mimicked his motion. "I find ways to manage. Still, while it's useful for finding my way on foot, the ocean is a bit monotonous... and I can't look to the horizon like most sailors. Like I said earlier, if you point me towards the mainland I will be glad to leave."
Sulin watched as her leader peered at the waterbender, eyes narrowed in suspicion. Finally, with a sigh, he waved them away. "Fine. Sulin, take this man to the northeastern shore and be certain that he leaves."
She nodded, and moved towards him, placing a gently firm hand on his shoulder. "Come."
The man chuckled to himself and allowed himself to be led.
"What is your name?" Her voice broke through the silence as she led him through one of the mountain passes. It was, technically, the quickest way to the northern shores... even if the trek could be a bit frustrating. He'd taken it fairly well so far, however.
"Hakko. Formerly of the Southern Water Tribes. I take it you are Sulin?"
"Of the Kyoshi Warriors, yes. So, Hakko, what exactly do you plan to do should you make it to Omashu?"
"I'll have to find my own way. I have a few skills that should be enough to earn a living there."
"As a... blind waterbender?" She couldn't completely keep the incredulity from her voice. "In the middle of the Earth Kingdom?"
"I'll have you know I'm a skilled healer. I'm sure I can find some uses for that, so close to the front lines. If not... well, I've been told I'm a talented cook. People are always willing to pay for good food."
"Hmm. Well, I'll wish you luck." There was a pause before he spoke again.
"You seem... less hostile than the village leader. Is there some reason for that?"
She sighed. "Oyaji has many responsibilities, and they weigh upon him. I, myself, find it unlikely that the Fire Nation would send a blind waterbender to spy on a trade port."
"Well, I-"
"Haha! I got you good that time!" A child's voice rang out through the pass, startling both of them.
"No fair! You weren't supposed to use that hand anymore!"
"I didn't!"
"You
totally did!"
As they reached the top of the slope and it opened up to the cliffs, Sulin nearly dropped her head in her hands.
There were many of her students, Suki included, along with several village children.
None of whom were allowed to venture into the mountains alone.
It took a second for any of the children to notice them, but once they did the news spread quickly. She could
see the wave of realization pass through them, as each child understood they'd been caught. After a few seconds of staring, one of the children gently pushed Suki forward.
"Um... hehe... hi, Master Sulin." She smiled widely. "Whaaaat... are you doing up here today?"
Sulin remained silent, tapping a single foot impatiently.
"Um... Sooooo, we came up here because... er... we needed to...?" Suki looked for support and found nothing useful. Finally, her shoulders slumped in a great sigh. "...Sorry, Master. We come up here to play sometimes..."
Sulin knelt slightly, putting a hand on her best student's shoulder. "Suki... Being honest is sometimes difficult. I'm proud of you for telling the truth."
"...Thank you, master. Um... are we still in trouble...?"
Sulin smiled radiantly. "Oh, yes. Immensely."
The children wilted.
"So... who is this, master?" Thoroughly scolded, Suki shuffled from one foot to the next, peering up at the strange man.
"This is Hakko, from the Southern Water Tribes. He's... a traveler, on his way to Omashu. I'm leading him to the northern shores."
"Leading him? Can't he just follow the road?"
Hakko smiled, with only a hint of brittleness. "I'm afraid I might have a bit of difficulty with that." He opened his eyes briefly before closing them once more, ignoring Suki's gasp of surprise.
"You're blind!"
"That I am."
"...Can we come with you to the northern shores, master? Please?"
Sulin crossed her arms. "Did we not
just discuss the fact that the wild areas of the island are still too dangerous for you?"
"Wouldn't it be safer for us to stay with you?" Suki's smile appeared guileless... but she wasn't fooled.
"No. Absolutely not. For all your talent, you are
not a Warrior yet. I cannot protect you and all the others if something happens."
Suki stared at her. More than that, she could
feel the gaze of her other students.
"I'm not reconsidering. You aren't ready."
Somehow, her student's eyes got
wider.
"The answer is still no."
They
shined.
"...
Fine. You and the other students can come.
But no others."
She chose to ignore Suki's whispered "
Yes!" for her own sake. Likewise, she ignored Hakko's chuckling.
A/N: So I did this. I'm going to be attempting to weave some actual narratives into these, although different jumps may or may not link together. This is a side-project, and I make no promises to the quality or frequency of the writing.
The next post will have the builds involved, for those who care about such things. On a meta level, I already have
some plans for different jumps, but it's always in flux.
I also want to give a bit of a basic premise here: In most "worlds" (which may have more than one jump), the SI will be playing a role of some sort. This doesn't necessarily preclude being a Drop-In, or even imply metaknowledge, but they'll be doing...
something. In general, they'll be trying to avoid overt use of abilities that they can't explain in-universe, unless their hand is forced somehow.
Of course, during occasional jumps they might throw away that restriction.