MAYA [Book 1 - Water]

Chapter 38 - Anika's Childhood

My Dearest Maya,

I know you probably have a lot of questions in mind. You may be wondering about who am I, where I came from, or if I ever had a family. You must be feeling lost and don't know what to do, but don't worry my darling. I will explain everything to you.

Let me start with the day that my life changed forever.

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-Anika's Point of View- 

[From here on out is a combination of the letter content and a flashback]

It all started in a small town near the outskirts of the fire nation.

"Huo, can you fetch some more firewood? We're almost running out," my mother said to my father.

My mother, Fei, was just an ordinary citizen of the fire nation. She was a non-bender, and so was my father, Huo. Together, they had a son and two daughters.

The eldest was Cyra, my older sister. Next was me followed by my brother Kohan, who was the youngest in the family. Among us three, I was the only one who can bend fire.

I didn't know I could do so, not until I was five; where I accidentally burned my brother's chest.

It was an accident.

"KOHAN!" my mother shouted as she rushed towards my fallen brother. Beside her was my father, and afterward, came my sister—all worried.

Kohan and I had a fight; he destroyed my doll on purpose just because I didn't want to share. It was a normal petty fight between two growing siblings with an age gap of one year. 

All I meant to do was push him to the ground. I didn't mean for fire to be involved.

I stared at all of them with fear and guilt buried in my eyes. I stared at my hands and all I could think of was that; I'm a monster.

I thought I had killed my own brother and that my parents wouldn't want me anymore, so I ran away. I ran as fast as I could without even thinking, and the next thing I knew; I was inside the Forgetful Valley.

I spent the night in that forest seeking shelter underneath exposed tree roots. I cried myself to sleep wishing that my brother was fine. 

After a few hours, I was woken up by the sound of water. When I opened my eyes, it was a gigantic wolf drinking water from the lake that was in front of me. It was standing on the other side.

It stared at me before running away deep into the dark forest. Suddenly the circular lake glowed, and a majestic spirit appeared. 

"I am the mother of faces, and I am here to grant one request. My dear child, I can see great pain and agony within, what is it that you want to forget?" the spirit said. Her voice was compelling and soothing; it felt like home.