Thirteen Years Later

Bleakshield Bay was similar to its western counterpart of Wolf Cove in terms of design. A large, circular, ice wall surrounded dozens of tents and igloos set near an eastern-facing shoreline. In the middle of the city was a sizable igloo where Chieftain Naku met with the other Southern Water Tribe Chiefs, hosted special events, and kept a humble residence.

Immediately outside the walls to the east was an expansive bazaar that then yielded to expansive docks. Junks and other boats both foreign and domestic filled the harbor as crews worked to offload their precious cargos. A significant amount of trade came through Bleakshield Bay despite the Four Nations being otherwise closed off to the rest of the world. Most imports consisted of wood, bamboo, and other materials that weren’t available in the expansive tundras of the South Pole. In return, the Silver Snow Tribe exported foodstuffs and furs that couldn’t be acquired anywhere else in the world.

Most deals and bargains were hashed out in the Bleakshield Bazaar. Anyone could set up shop there and sell nearly anything they had on hand. Order was maintained by the Silver Snow Tribe, who took a small percentage of all sales as payment for services rendered. Mijime and his daughter, Karri, happened to be one of the mainstays of the bazaar. And today was the busiest day of the season.

“I need another crate of salmon jerky!” Mijime called over his shoulder as he continued to haggle with a merchant wearing Earth Kingdom colors. “Scratch that! Make it two!”

“Got it!” called Karri from the tent behind the stall. Most of the time she remained out of sight while the stall was open, preferring to help with inventory rather than the actual business talk. Her ears and tail, while easily hidden beneath the hood and flaps of her white anorak, tended to elicit the wrong kind of reaction when trying to negotiate. But her unique features provided assistance in another way.

Today’s sales were exceptional thanks to Karri’s keen eyes. Like every morning, she had scaled the large cliff known as the Bleakshield that banked off to the north and guarded the city from strong northern winds. From those heights Karri could see everything that happened in the bay, as well as what vessels were coming in from the open sea. That’s how she spotted the pink and green flags belonging to the Spring Petal Merchant Fleet before anyone else. This forewarning meant Mijime and Karri could move and display the kinds of goods the Spring Petal Merchants tended to buy whenever they came to Bleakshield Bay before they’d even set a single foot ashore.

Karri hefted the two desired crates of jerky and stepped out of the tent with her hood up. As she stepped around the stall and placed the boxes next to the buyer, she mused at how animated her father was being. Supposedly, Mijime had once been a renowned hunter. Yet all Karri could see as she looked at him was someone skilled in hunting profits. The key was that Mijime didn’t hoard the wealth he accumulated. Instead, he only pocketed what he and Karri needed before focusing on philanthropic efforts. Efforts like the waterbending academy where one could learn how to heal and fight in the fledgling “southern style”.

Karri had attended a few lessons at the academy herself, though when she outshone even her teachers she stopped going. She could manage the odd looks she got from her animalistic features. What she couldn’t handle were the looks of frustration and envy that usually resulted when she waterbent in front of others. Karri never meant to show off. Waterbending simply came as naturally to her as breathing. So why did people give her glares of hatred?

She shook her head to clear her thoughts and focus on her job. Mijime and the Earth Kingdom man had clasped one another’s forearms to signify their agreement and appreciation for the deal that had been struck. Then the latter turned to notice Karri for the first time.

“Ah, this must be your daughter that I keep hearing good things about!” said the man as he bowed to show the same courtesy he’d given Mijime. “I am Molu. You are Karri, right?”

Karri quickly glanced at her father, who nodded. “Yes, that’s correct. I hope you’ll like the salmon jerky! I caught and prepared some of the fish myself. Dad’s been teaching me during the slow season.”

Molu smiled and offered another, deeper bow. “Then truly this jerky will fetch a good price back in Gaoling! I only wish your father would let me pay a more fair price!”

A laugh came from both Mijime and Karri almost simultaneously. “That’s my Dad for you! He wants to make sure everyone gets a taste of how pleasant and generous the people of the South are.”

“Besides, you did pay a fair price,” added Mijime. “My only wish is that Bleakshield Bay can serve as an example to the other nations of what good can come from having open trade with one another.”

Molu bent at the knees to hoist up his purchase, remarking in the process, “I’ve heard the Fire Nation’s had it rough as of late. You’d think they’d be trying to import more food, though I suppose the only faction in the Fire Islands that even strays across the sea are the Sun Warriors. In fact, I’m fairly certain I spotted a grand junk belonging to them a half day behind us.”

Karri’s ears flicked up against the underside of her hood. “That would mean they should be coming into the bay around now! And we’re nearly out of stock!”

“I’m sure you’ll do fine,” Molu encouraged as he began to walk away. “Better an empty warehouse than an empty coin purse!”

Without even waiting for Karri to ask, Mijime said, “Go on then. I can handle the rest from here.”

The back of Karri’s anorak billowed as her tail began to swish back and forth. “Thanks, Dad! I’ll be back soon!”

With that she waterbelt ice-skates to her feet and slid down the rows and rows of the bazaar, past racks of fish, hanging animal pelts, tools made of bone, stacks of dark wood, and even a display of foreign green vegetables that Karri thought were something called a cabbage. A few of the merchants called out to her on the way, to which she returned their greetings jubilantly. Only once had Karri broken through the bazaar and out to the docks did she slow her pace to look around.

Sure enough, there was a three-masted junk colored in vibrant reds and golds in the final stages of docking. Emblazoned on the sides near the stern was the grand emblem of the Sun Warriors: a dragon’s maw emitting a flame that curled around to either side. The last time a Sun Warrior ship had come in was when Karri was seven. She fondly remembered playing with the firebending children, as well as the pleasant burn of their flaming fire flakes. Her hope was that this visit would be more of the same.

Karri watched from afar as the last ropes were lashed down and a plank was extended up onto the junk’s starboard side. She was expecting to see a captain or a purser coming down the ramp, not a girl with skin as dark as hers. The girl wore two prominent red tassels in her hair, as well as a crimson arhat robe accented in yellows. A sheathed jian rested on her right side at the perfect height and angle for a fast draw. Yet even from a distance Karri knew the sword was mostly for show.

This girl, whomever she was, had eyes so sharp and so stern that her mere presence was a weapon. The way she walked down the plank was confident enough to not be overzealous while projecting clearly that she had a mission. Behind her trailed an elder with gray hair shorter than his mid-chest length, well-kempt beard. Where the girl was the quintessential projection of power, the elder was one of service. The way he followed in her wake made it clear he’d been in her service for many a moon.

Greeting the pair at the bottom of the plank was one of the Silver Snow Tribe, Kan. He had foregone mittens and had the sleeves of his coat rolled up to the elbow. Thanks to Karri’s keen ears, she was able to hear the exchange from a distance.

“Welcome to Bleakshield Bay!” said Kan with a bow and sweeping of his hand. “How long will you be staying with us, and what sort of goods are you looking to acquire during your stay?”

The imperious girl affixed her gaze on Kan with enough intensity to make the warrior shrink. Even her voice carried the power of thunder. “I will only be here long enough to acquire the services of your finest waterbender.

“I see… Do you need someone more suited to healing, or to fighting?” asked Kan with a quiver in his voice. Karri found it amusing that he was withering before a girl that couldn’t have been but a year younger than herself. “I can recommend several waterbenders that might suit your purposes.”

“Perhaps I was unclear,” said the girl. “I want the best waterbender the South Pole has to offer. I will accept no one less to be my sifu.”

“Your sifu?” Kan questioned, tilting his head to the side. “Please feel free to correct me, but aren’t you a firebender? What could you have to learn from a waterbender?”

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He hadn’t put it together yet, but Karri had. Her eyes widened as the girl replied, “I shall make it plain then: You stand in the presence of the Avatar.”

***

The Avatar. The. Freaking. Avatar. The bridge between human and spirit. The master of all four elements. Or, soon-to-be master if Karri had heard correctly. She was one of the few that had been privy to the conversation, otherwise the docks might have shut down in an instant. The Avatar was larger than life. For her to be here was cause for celebration and reverence. Just seeing her in the flesh was worth more than all the coins and goods currently exchanging hands in the bazaar.

Karri was already in motion towards the dock as Kan finished processing this new revelation. “You’re… But… Uh, wow. I’m not sure I know what I’m supposed to do here.”

“You can stop wasting both our time and give me the name of the individual I seek,” said the Avatar. “Unless this new arrival happens to know the answer?”

Karri slid to a stop next to Kan, dismissing her skates without stumbling over herself. “Don’t worry about Kan here. He’s just uh… feeling ill, isn’t that right, Kan?”

She glared daggers at Kan, hoping he’d get the hint. He did not. “Huh? I feel fine. But it’s good you’re here, Karri! Turns out the Avatar wants a word with you. Assuming she is the real thing, after all.”

Grimacing, Karri became the target of the girl’s attention. Though no bending was taking place, Karri felt as if she were gazing up at an unmoving mountain of fire. Then the Avatar spoke, “Very well. Karri, was it? I am Salai. I require a demonstration of your skills. I am happy to prove my claim here and now if you require it.”

Mostly to stall, Karri gulped, nodded, and answered, “I don’t need to see anything fancy. Just proof you can bend more than one element.”

Salai assented by holding her right hand palm up. With no movement other than an exhale, a burst of blue fire came to life in her grasp. Once she was certain all had seen it, she tossed the flame away and stamped down with her right foot. A small column of ice sprung up from the dock like how Karri had been told earthbenders fought.

“I trust that is sufficient?” Salai asked as the ice column glittered while falling back into place.

“Yeah, that’ll work,” sighed Karri.

Kan, unfortunately, couldn’t keep his calm. His voice grew to a shout as he started to call up the docks, “Hey! Hey everyone! The Avatar is here! The genuine Avatar has blessed us with her presence! She— WOAH!”

A new ice column jutted out from underneath Kan’s feet, throwing him into the water as Karri tried to shut him up the quickest way she knew how. But the damage was done. Enough people had heard Kan’s cries that they’d stopped working to gaze at Salai in wonder.

“So much for not making a scene,” Karri groaned. “What sort of demonstration do you want?”

Salai’s stony expression broke for just a moment as the corner of her mouth twitched upwards in a smirk. “I’d like to duel you, of course. My firebending versus your waterbending.”

***

By the time Karri led Salai to an open spot to the south of Bleakshield the rest of the city heard about the Avatar’s arrival. She swore the entire populace had dropped everything to form rows of spectators as she squared off with Salai. Her father had been intercepted by Salai’s retainer on the sidelines, meaning Karri had nowhere to run or seek solace. Truly, this was hopeless.

“Are you prepared?” Salai asked with the tone of a queen.

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” grumbled Karri.

“Good. This will not be a full Agni Kai. Permanent injury and death are to be avoided. We begin when my sword hits the ground. We end when one of us yields,” said Salai as she undid the lashings and held the sheathed blade out to her side. “On your mark.”

Karri closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. She thought about throwing the match, of not showing off her bending prowess. Surely showing off would just earn her more ire from her tribe, not to mention annoy the Avatar. That’s when she heard Mijime shouting from the spectators:

“You can do it, Karri! Kick her butt!”

That push was all she needed. Karri exhaled while opening her eyes. “Do it.”

The blade fell from Salai’s grasp. The instant it struck the snow-covered ice both girls rocketed forwards. Salai started with a simple palm thrust with her right hand, emitting a jet of blue flame that Karri easily matched with a swipe of water across her body. The resulting steam twinkled in the air as Salai stomped forward and sent two more blasts of fire at Karri. This time, Karri opted to bend her body around the fire and close the gap between them. Right as she was within fist-striking range, Karri swept upwards with her left hand, bringing up a pillar of ice and instantly changing it to water aimed for Salai’s face.

Salai waited until the last possible second to react. She stepped aside and forward, knocking aside Karri’s arm as it continued upwards. Then Salai brought up her knee with such power that it would have instantly knocked the wind out of Karri had she not used the same trick she’d used on Kan to tumble over the incoming blow. Karri used the momentum granted by her ice stilts to vault over Salai, waving her arms to turn her leverages into water whips aiming for Salai’s feet.

Instead of finding purchase, the liquid tentacles were turned into steam by Salai with a lateral slash across her body. She followed Karri’s descent to the ice, already stamping and pouring energy into a fiery blast where Karri would land. Karri flung out her hand, ripping a chunk of ice towards her to use the same whip method to snag her wrist and pull her out of the fire’s way. In the process her hood fell off, revealing her snow-white fox ears.

“Your technique is impressive, spirit!” called Salai as she and Karri recentered themselves. “The last waterbender I fought fell at the third blast!”

“Half spirit,” corrected Karri as she used the surrounding moisture to encircle her body twice over. “You’re not half bad yourself! Though to be fair the last firebenders I fought were when I was a kid, so I don’t really have a good point of comparison.”

Rather than comment further, Salai dipped her head once before going on the assault once more. This time she relied on fire-powered kicks rather than outright jets of flame. The burst of energy from her soles caused her limbs to move faster than normal. Karri only just managed to form an ice barrier from her water ring to block before Salai’s next kick came in from the other side.

Karri stumbled to the side like a drunk, keeping her body loose as it bent just enough for Salai’s foot to pass within a hair’s breadth of her chest. Then Karri somersaulted backwards while turning her gathered water into a storm of icicles she sent towards Salai. None of the projectiles landed but gave Karri enough time to put some space between the two of them.

Now that they both had room to bend, the two girls began a new series of movements. Salai attempted to wear down Karri’s defenses through an overwhelming outpouring of fire, while Karri did her best to continually form temporary shields. A thick cloud of steam and mist hung over the battlefield as Salai continued her assault.

“You are running out of steam!” shouted Salai as she advanced on Karri. “Yield!”

Karri grinned almost unnaturally wide. “Out of steam? Look around you, Avatar. You’ve provided all the steam I need.”

In an act that she’d never shown to anyone, Karri crossed her arms in an x-formation in front of her. Her fingers clutched at the steam in the air, seizing the moisture and turning every single droplet into a tiny sliver of ice. Then she raked across and down to send the thousands of spikes hurtling at Salai.

Salai was good. Very good. But she could not avoid all the incoming spikes no matter how much fire she bent around herself. And each time the ice was turned to steam Karri bent it right back to being solid and sent it hurtling in from a new direction. This continued until the air cleared, and a single streak of blood appeared on Salai’s right cheek.

A cheer came from Mijime as the rest of the crowd remained shocked in horror. Karri had injured the Avatar. But rather than smite Karri as the crowd was expecting, Salai bent her head back and laughed:

“Hah! I yield! That was invigorating! I have much to learn from you, not just about waterbending!” Salai lowered her gaze to beam at Karri and put one hand into the other’s palm before her. “I humbly submit myself to your teaching, sifu.”

Now the crowd waited on baited breath for Karri’s response. Yet no one was expecting her to say, “Eh, Nah.”

Several sputters and chokes came from the spectators as Salai raised an eyebrow. “No? Why not?”

“I don’t know anything about you,” Karri said. “Sure, you’re the Avatar. But if I’m going to be teaching someone I need to know them first.”

Salai’s posture relaxed, and for once Karri felt as if she was speaking with someone her equal rather than someone above her. “What must I do?”

“You can start by having dinner with Dad and I. You hear that, Dad?”

Mijime found his tongue and shouted, “Sure did, sweetie! I hope you like five-flavor soup, Avatar!”