Avatar: The Legacy of Melina

Book One: Water

Chapter 1: The Avatar's Awakening

The icy winds howled outside as the first rays of pale morning light filtered into Melina's small, round tent. The thick, fur-lined walls muffled the worst of the cold, but even so, she shivered as she pushed aside the heavy sealskin blanket and sat up on the edge of her cot. Her breath clouded in the air, forming small wisps as she reached for her boots, stiff from the night's chill. Her fingers, pale but calloused, worked quickly to fasten the leather straps before she pulled on a thick, navy-blue coat trimmed with white fur.

The tent's entrance flapped open, sending a blast of frosty air swirling inside. Melina ducked her head against it instinctively before tying her coat shut. Beyond the tent, the day was beginning in the Southern Water Tribe village. The smell of salted fish being cooked for breakfast drifted on the wind, mingling with the sound of voices calling to one another as the villagers prepared for another day of fishing, hunting, and survival in the frozen tundra.

Melina stepped out onto the packed snow and looked toward the horizon. The sea ice stretched endlessly, glittering faintly under the weak winter sun. To her left, the village bustled with life: hunters sharpening their spears, women mending nets by the fire, and children chasing one another in the snow.

"Melina!" a familiar voice called.

She turned to see Tanu bounding toward her, his dark hair untamed and his parka half-fastened, as usual. Tanu was her closest friend, a non-bender with a mischievous grin and a knack for getting into trouble. His energy was infectious, even on the coldest of days.

"You're late," he teased, skidding to a stop in front of her and brushing snow off his pants.

"For what?" Melina raised an eyebrow.

"For everything! Hunting, sparring, throwing snowballs at old Suna's hut-take your pick!" He laughed, his breath steaming in the cold.

Melina shook her head, suppressing a smile. "You should be helping your mother. Didn't she say she needed more firewood today?"

Tanu groaned, tilting his head back dramatically. "She says that every day. 'Tanu, go chop more wood. Tanu, stop chasing otter penguins. Tanu, act like an adult!'" He mimicked her voice with an exaggerated whine, earning a chuckle from Melina. "Anyway, come on. The morning's wasting, and I've got plans."

"What kind of plans?"

"The kind that involves ice cliffs and not falling off them. You in?"

Melina hesitated. She should be helping her father repair the fishing nets, or at least gathering fresh water from the ice pools near the edge of the village. But Tanu was already tugging her arm, his enthusiasm pulling her along before she could protest.

They wove through the village, dodging a pack of sled dogs and slipping past a cluster of elders gossiping by the central fire pit. Tanu led the way out onto the open tundra, where the wind bit harder, carrying the tang of salt from the distant ocean.

The ice cliffs weren't far, towering over the shoreline like jagged teeth. Melina had climbed them a dozen times before, but they were always a challenge. She glanced at Tanu, who was already testing his footing on the slick surface.

"You're going to break your neck one of these days," she called, squinting against the glare of the ice.

"Only if I'm not careful," he shot back, flashing her a grin. "And I'm always careful. Now come on!"

With a sigh, Melina followed him up the first ledge, her boots crunching on the frozen surface. The climb was steep, but her years of growing up in the harsh environment had made her sure-footed and strong. By the time they reached the top, her cheeks were flushed from exertion, and she was breathing hard.