The Avatar Wings

The Swamp and a troll

Korra tapped her feet while groups of fairies waited in the clearing field near the swamp. The young Avatar was beside her best friend and Avatar partner, Wan. Korra was not going to lie. She hated these exercises, Tenzin leaving her in the temples to connect with ‘thou inner self.’ Air bending and, by extension, magic dealing with air was not her forte. Wan struggled with water and with air. Well, he was talented. The professor soon pulls Korra’s thoughts. He was an elf, simi tall with orange hair. “Welcome Class to Black Mud Swamp. I’m professor pal-,” he was interrupted by his allergies. Korra shot an amused at Musa, who gave her a similar look awkwardly before they put their attention back to the professor.

"I’m Professor Palladium. As you can sneeze, I mean see, I am allergic to the sap from the Iglee Thorn.” 

 “Professor Palladium, a mosquito just bit me!” A girl called out.

“Well, we are in a swamp, and it's just a mosquito. It's no big deal.”

“But look where it got me!” She pointed at her thigh. Some male fae started snickering, “Yeah, teach. It got me right here too.” One of them flexed their biceps. The professor, flabbergasted, turned away.

    “He does look a bit squeamish.” Bloom committed while turning her gaze to the energy fairy, Kaiyo, “Yeah, nervous energy written all over him.” Kaiyo yarned. "A good fairy should be able to listen to what nature tells us. Today's exercise in the swamp is designed to put your skills to the test. You are all put into groups of your choice, so we're ready to begin. You have three hours to get out of Black-Mud Swamp and reach the clearing in the middle of Gloomy-Wood Forest without using magic. Remember, listen carefully to the voice of nature, and follow its advice..” Before anyone could protest, the professor vanished in thin air. 

    Korra smacked her lips, "I knew this would be that type of thing.” 

“Yes!” Kaiyo clasped her hands, “Finally, something I can do!” The younger fairy was practically bouncing on her heel while Korra was slumped.

    “Come on, Korra, no need to grumble about it.” Flora was the first walking to start the assignment. Korra’s gaze flicked upward but soon followed after the rest of the club did. 

Traversing through the swamp was no easy task. Korra would have sworn she was bitten by several insects by now. “Hey, does bending count? I never asked him that. It’s not magic, right?” Wan shrugged while he placed his hand on the scruff of a goatee.

“I wouldn’t count on it. He said no magic, so no bending too,” Boom pointed out. Stella steps into a muddy river along with the rest of the gang. Stella shrieked, “Something's crawling up my leg! Ew, I can feel it!”

“It’s just mud, Stella.” Korra crossed her arms. “What happened to 'Mud does such wonders for my complexion ?” The group burst into a small laughing fit while Stella huffed. 

"Just so you know, I don't know if you realize it, but we're knee-deep in what I would refer to as a problematic mud puddle. All right, you guys, take cover! I'll handle it." Tecna’s hands glowed green, preparing to use magic until Bloom stooped her. “We can’t use magic, remember?”