Heimat | Aang

THIRTY-ONE

"Harder!"

For once, Tapeesa had become like Toph in her commands. The shield of ice she had formed in front of her body was almost intact from Yua's attacks and Tapeesa wasn't even tired, even though Yua had been panting slightly for a few minutes now.

The concept of the day was to train them in attack, specifically, how to violently use ice to strike down their opponent. Tapeesa had decided to be their opponent for their training, the one they would have to defeat, but so far, even though all she did was raise a shield of ice, it couldn't be broken. Yua was failing and getting tired.

"Harder, Yua," she implored as yet another attack fell uselessly on her shield. "Attack as if I did something to you. Unleash your power on me, I can take it."

Yua tried again with a strangled cry but her attack wasn't all that powerful this time as well. Tapeesa frowned slightly behind the ice before she schooled her features and drew her shield back to herself, let it turn into water and deposited it in the bucket by her side.

"I didn't expect you to do it on your first try," she consoled Yua who appeared disappointed as she noticed their session was over. "Next time will be better. Tomorrow. You need to get a hold of your power."

Yua nodded in understanding and with a hum Tapeesa turned to face Li who took her position opposite her with a determined expression. Tapeesa briefly looked at the entrance, where she could see Aang standing, this time not alone but with Suki next to him, the two of them talking among themselves. She turned back to Li.

Tapeesa reached a hand over the bucket by her side as she watched Li. Quickly, she striked.

The water turned into miniscule blades of ice that crashed against Tapeesa's wall. Li's eyes widened as most of her attack was destroyed at once. With the little ice she had left, she sought to make it one singular piece and as if it were a hammer, she hit it against the wall. Tapeesa let her hit against her wall for a moment longer before she retrieved her barrier, letting Li know their practice was over. Slightly disappointed, Li retreated.

"Spreading the ice into little blades was a good idea but not one that worked in this situation," she commented, "as you saw, they crashed against the wall and were lost. Your second attack was a lot more practical." Li nodded in understanding and Tapeesa let go of the ice she was holding so it fell right back in the bucket.

"Same time, tomorrow. By the end of the lesson, we will have practiced on your force."

Li and Yua nodded and muttered their farewells as they left. Tapeesa briefly glanced at Toph who was still training the earthbenders, standing in front of them—she had refused a chair when Suki had offered her one—before she trailed over to Aang and Suki. At the sight of her coming near, they stopped talking but sent her smiles.

"So you have finished for the day," Suki said in lieu of greeting.

Tapeesa nodded, "I will go to the hospital now and then I will head back to Air Temple Island."

"I'll be there," Aang replied with a smile before his brows furrowed in confusion. "I mean, I know I'm always there but-"

"I get it," Tapeesa assured him, cutting him off before he could start rambling and end up being more embarrassed. She reached up to pat his shoulder in an effort to comfort him. "I will see you there."

As she walked away, she missed the unimpressed look Suki leveled Aang with as the Avatar blushed and looked away.

The walk to the hospital seemed a lot swifter the second time and she was accepted the moment the healers saw her without hesitation. She was asked to examine various patients, some that had a simple cold and others that had broken a bone, and without realizing, a few hours had passed until Tapeesa left the hospital and she had taken a look at all patients in their beds.