Avatar: The Adventures of Kyoshi

Before: The Northern Water Tribe

"Horse stance." The firebender sunk lower into her haunches, letting a deep breath out.

Kyoshi smiled, lowering herself into her own stance, "You're almost back to new."

"It's been six months." Rangi's breath wavered, struggling in a way that she hadn't when the pair had been teenagers. "It shouldn't have taken me this long to get back on my feet, especially here."

They focused in on one another, and for several minutes they stood there. A slight shiver from Rangi made Kyoshi panic for a moment, pushing her own heat outward, pressing the warmth into the fur-lined walls of their tent.

After seven minutes, Rangi collapsed, falling backwards on her rear, huffing. "That felt like forever, Kyoshi."

Kyoshi straightened herself before plopping down next to her firebender, reaching out and pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Will I ever be as good as I was?" Rangi stared off, and Kyoshi propped herself up on one elbow, looking over the other girl.

"You're almost there. Sifu Atuat said that you should be at 100% within the year, a remarkable turn around, considering..." Kyoshi's voice was smooth, calm. She had complete confidence in her words. If anyone could come back from the brink of death, it was Rangi.

Kyoshi leaned in, cupping Rangi's face in her hand and pressing her lips against her girlfriends. Rangi met her eagerly, nuzzling in to her embrace.

A voice sounded off from outside their tent and they pulled apart, reluctant. "Avatar, may I come in?"

Kyoshi considered turning the monk away. But Jinpa made a point not to bother her or Rangi during training unless absolutely necessary, following an unfortunate accident in which the nomad had his eyebrows singed off by an over-emotional and under-composed firebender.

"Yes, Jinpa, come in." Rangi called to him, pulling herself up into a sitting position.

"Avatar Kyoshi, Mistress Rangi." The monk bowed deeply to the both of them. "I hope I'm not disturbing your training."

He turned to Kyoshi and held out an ornate green envelope. "I know you try to avoid the calls from Sages, but I believe that this may pique your interest."

Kyoshi reached out, taking the envelope from his hand and bypassing the broken seal. Her eyes skimmed the pages, 4 full pages in delicate green writing.

"What's so special about this?" Rangi asked, only half leaning over Kyoshi's shoulder to read the letter.

"Well, it seems that a new Governor has taken temporary residence in to Yokoya Port." Jinpa answered her question, crossing the small space and sat next to the pair on the floor. "They wish to meet with the Avatar on some matters of importance or another."

Kyoshi folded the letter neatly, tucking it into her robes and rising to her feet. "Jinpa, please notify Governor Husheng that we will be there within the week. Arrange for our departure tomorrow."

Jinpa stood and bowed deeply before leaving Kyoshi and Rangi alone again.

She looked down at Rangi, the worry plastered on her face. "Let's go on a walk."

• • •

"Avatar Kyoshi, it has been an honor to host you and your companions in our great capital these past months. We hope that as you return to the outside world you continue to carry the favor of the spirits with you."

Kyoshi smiled, nodding slightly from her seat at the large main table that hosted the royal family and important visitors. Kirima had almost squealed when she had first been escorted to her own seat, two down from Kyoshi's.

"Five places away from the prince! I never imagined I'd ever sit that close to royalty!" Of course, being the Avatar's first waterbending Sifu came with some perks.

The Chieftain of the Northern Water Tribe had insisted on holding a feast before their departure. The briney, blood rich food of the water tribe had become a norm for Kyoshi in the past months, and no longer bothered her the way it had when she and Rangi had helped confront Tagaka, the Pirate Queen of the Fifth Nation, what felt lifetime ago.

Rangi's arm brushed against hers, her warmth spilling over as she reached for some pickled thing or another. Kyoshi's smile widened as she studied the relaxed features of her firebender. She had been hoping to stay in Agna Qel'a for longer, until Rangi was closer to being fully recovered. While she wasn't in any physical danger anymore, Kyoshi's firebending Sifu was hardly able to hold a basic stance for longer than a few minutes, and wasn't anywhere near the level she used to be before their old friend, Yun, had tried to stick a dagger of stone into her lung.

As the feast began to wind down and the royal family excused themselves, The Flying Opera Company - plus Hei Ran and Jinpa, and Minus Lao Ge - joined the rest of the general populous around one of the many seal oil lamps that gave off an extra bit of necessary heat in the cold winter night. Gourds filled with intoxicating liquids were passed around, and soon much of their group were beginning to slur their words.

"Ugh, no." Kirima half heartedly flicked some water at a necklace that was being eagerly held out by an unknown man. Kyoshi wasn't sure how many proposals the waterbender had dodged while being back in her home tribe, but it was safe to assume there had been quite a few.

Kyoshi took her second and last drink for the night before getting to her feet and excusing herself. "We've got an early start in the morning. I'm going to turn in for the night."

Rangi stood up and bid the rest of the people in their circle goodnight. They began to make their way back to the paradise they had called home for the past months

"I wish we didn't have to leave so soon." Rangi said as she began to peel off layer after layer of furs. To some, the amount of clothing she wore may have seemed like overkill. But Kyoshi knew that Rangi had been struggling with her own temperature control in her recovery.

"I know." Kyoshi pulled back the blankets and settled into bed, holding her arms open for Rangi to climb into. "I would stay here forever if we could."

Rangi settled into Kyoshi's waiting arms and the pair sunk into a deep embrace before falling into a deep sleep.