THE OTHER AIRBENDER (Book 2)

(IX) Earth

"It's pricey... but I really do like it."

We've been hanging at this market for quite a while now. Supposedly, we only came here for some supplies, but Sokka's been eyeing the same green satchel for a while now, unsure on whether to buy it or not.

"Then you should get it, you deserve something nice," Katara tells him.

"I do, don't I?" Sokka says, but then shakes his head. "But no, it's too expensive. I shouldn't."

"All right, then don't," Katara seems just as bored as me at this point.

I decide to let Sokka continue with his internal debate and follow Aang and Katara down the street, before we're stopped by some random man holding some flyers.

"Psst, psst! Hey, you kids love earthbending? You like... throwing rocks? Then check out Master Yu's Earthbending Academy."

"Look! There's a coupon on the back! The first lesson is free," Aang notes.

"Who knows? This Master Yu could be the earthbending teacher you've been looking for," Katara notes, which I seriously doubt.

***

"Ehhh, he's not the one," Aang says, after he finishes his first lesson with Master Yu.

"No kidding. Anyway, we don't have enough money to pay for more lessons," I observe, making Katara nod.

"Alya's right. We need to keep looking."

"I think The Boulder's going to win back the belt at Earth Rumble VI," I overhear one boy tell his friend as they walk past us.

"He's going to have to fight his way through the best earthbenders in the world to get a shot at the champ," the other boy agrees.

Aang seems to hear this, too, and he approaches the boys quickly. "Excuse me, but where is this earthbending tournament, exactly?"

"It's on the island of Noneya... 'Noneya' business!"

"You little..." I begin, taking a step towards them, before both Aang and Katara hold me back.

"'ll take care of this," Katara assures me, before hurrying after them and disappearing behind a corner. "Hey, strong guys! Wait up!"

"It's not fair. Why does Katara get to beat those guys up?"

"Katara? Oh, no. She's probably going to convince them calmly. Remember, Alya, an airbender never goes around picking fights."

"Well, I'm only half airbender, you know."

"What's the other half?" Sokka raises an eyebrow.

"I..." I frown, unsure of what to answer. I don't really know anything of who my father was. All my mother told me was that they met on the Earth Kingdom.

"You ready to find an earthbending teacher?" I'm thankful to see Katara walking back towards us with a smile. "Because we're going to Earth Rumble VI!"

"How'd you get them to tell you?" Aang asks, sounding surprised.

"Oh... a girl has her ways."

***

Once we get to the arena, we head towards the front row, where surprisingly enough, it's practically empty.

"Hey, front row seats! I wonder why no one else is sitting here," Aang says, clearly thinking the same thing as me.

Just as we finally sit down, a large boulder comes flying right past our heads, making us jump back to our feet.

Sokka gasps. "I guess that's why."