Avatar: The Adventures of Kyoshi

5: A Call from the West

Kyoshi wrung her fingers at her side, waving goodbye to the vessel that carried her heart and warmth. She couldn't remember the last time Rangi had departed from her side, but she knew it hadn't been for several years. Kami gripped her sleeve tighter, taking small sips of breath. The affect that the firebender had on the Avatar's life even extended to their child's softened cries.

The little girl that had arrived at the Mansion almost 4 years before had grown into a lanky child with a light brown topknot folded neatly at the top of her head. It seemed as if everything Kami did was an impression of the Lady of the Sei'naka clan, former Lieutenant in the Fire Lords military.

That was much to Hei Ran's delight, who crooned over the girl with more affection than she had shown anyone in her youth, but only outside of the training grounds. Kami had boasted more than once about bruised forearms, grinning about being able to take the one and only Hei Ran.

The urgent call to Caldera City had come at the worst time. Every head of clan had been called and would be in attendance, and after Hei Ran had shorn her topknot in the presence of the Fire Lord, that title had passed onto Rangi, who's absence could stand to dishonor the entire clan. Construction on Governor Wo's mansion had finally been completed, and there would be representatives from across the Earth Kingdom expecting the Avatar's presence.

No one could think of a way around it, so they had to plan their temporary parting. Kyoshi tried to suppress the boulder growing in her stomach.

It wouldn't take long, she reasoned. And they would be close enough that messenger hawks would be able to travel the distance in just a day or two, depending on the weather. They would write every day, and after the opening of their neighbors estate, Kyoshi would be able to fly Lychee straight to Capitol Island to join Rangi again.

"We should stop by Lady Sayi's before heading back to the mansion." Hei Ran said, leading Kami towards town.

Kyoshi muttered a curse under her breath. How had she forgotten to pick up such an important outfit?

~ ~ ~

Soni's mother complained a lot. She complained when her father stayed out on the boats too long, she complained when he didn't bring home enough elephant koi. About gutting them, about eating them. She complained about how the floors creaked too much and there was too much of a draft this close to the water. Complained that her sister got the farm, while she was stuck up to her elbows in fish guts.

Most of all, though, Soni's mother liked to complain about the Avatar. That was what she was doing today. That was what she was doing every day.

"I can't believe that weasel," The woman sneered as she plucked another bone from the oversized lump in front of her. "Always so entitled, even when she would live in filth! And then she gets a servant job with that supposed earth sage, and all of a sudden she's the most important person in the world!"

The knife slammed down on the fish with such fervor, Soni thought the counter would surely break. She breathed a little sigh of relief when it held. Maybe her mothers rants would run short today.

The knife sank into the wall across the room, dashing her hopes and making her heart race at the same time.

"What's going on in here?" Jae peeked his head in door, catching his daughter as she dashed into the safety of his arms. "Aoma, by the spirits, what are you so worked up about?"

She scoffed. "I have to go get more papaya. I'll be back."

~ ~ ~

"She's gotten big, hasn't she?" Lady Sayi crooned over Kami, writing down her measurements. "Two whole inches, she's sprouting like a weed!"