Needless to say, practice was over after the arrival of Tahno and his subsequent restoring of bending. They all went out to lunch, Kari offering to pay as her treat (after all she was now quite rich in gold).
Dispite the fact that Tahno was clearly starving, he kept his manners about himself like a prince and took his noodles one dainty bit at a time. The others watched in disbelief at the sudden character change of their old rival. They were so distracted that they hardly touched their food. After a while, Tahno, slowed down to finally speak.
"Amon wasn't just a threat to you ,avatar, he was a threat to all benders, I never saw such fear in the bending community. I was actually threatened a few times before that match. I've already told you what happened in the alleyway. I borrowed some money after I couldn't compete anymore and I couldn't pay them back, so they've been tailing me and taking it out on my hide. Luckily, you were there, Kari, or I would have been dead. Speaking of which, what is your real name? Kari was just a legend from fifty years ago."
The fireferrets exchanged looks.
"Its really her, the legend is real."
he looked to Kari.
"Yes. Really."
"Huh...interesting. So, uh, Kari, you have to tell me how you did all that in the alley. I've never seen bending like that before. Who did you train with? What team were you on?"
"Team? I never had a chance to compete because the only bending sports were in earthbending, not fire. As for my bending...I've made it a habbit to learn from others most of my life. Firebenders can control lightning using waterbender techniques. I've just adapted the same principle to the rest of my life. Here, let me show you," she put her hand over his glass of water and slowily circled her finger around the rim. The ice melted and the water began to rotate and rise in a cone over the glass.
"you know I'm not a waterbender, but by manipulating the heat current in the water, i can make it look like I am moving it using waterbending. I can do similar tricks with the other elements but it takes great concentration because I have to see the element in a focused sight. Like picking up grains of sand on a beach one by one. Firebending is easiest."
"Wow, so you invented your own bending style..." at that moment some loud benders came in with a pose of groupies. Tahno ducked and took a drink to try to remain unseen, but it was too late.
"Never thought I'd see the day when Tahno the legendary wolfbat had lunch with the Fireferrets,"
"What do you want, Fushu?" He asked angrily.
"What do I want? I just came by to see how my competition is this year. Fireferrets- pathetic as usual. And the Wolfbats disbanned with a powerless waterbender captain. Where's the rest of your team, Tahno? I heard they fled the city after the attack. Guess they didn't want the shame of being nonbenders too-"
Tahno had had enough. Fushu was now on the floor soaked in the water bent out of the drinking glass.
"In case you didn't hear yet, I have my bending back, and the Wolfbats are not disbanned. In fact, I just found our new firebender, Kari"
Kari choked on a noodle, but got her composure together enough to stand and give a menacing look at Fushu and the Spidersnakes. She pulled Fushu up with a smile suspiciously too friendly, as she pulled him up, she made sure to hold him in the air for a second to display her strength before dropping him.
"Hehe, well played, Tahno, but you're gonna need an earthbender too. Good luck finding one this late in the training season."
"Thanks for the luck but we're fine," he said grabbing Kari's shoulder."
"Fine, we'll see you at the games." and he dusted himself off and left with his pose.
after they left kari gave Tahno a hard shove.
"Why didn't you ask me?"
"What?"
"Why didn't you ask me to join your team? I would have said yes, but dropping that on me without warning was just rude! Now I have to join the team just to prove that guy wrong!"
"-so you want to join the team?" Bolin interjected
"-that's besides the point!"
"-but-" korra tried
"now now, Avatar, I'm yelling"
"but you DO want to join the team."
"FINE!!! yes, I want to join the team, it sounds like fun and a good way for me to practice my new skills on that jerk Fushu and spend time getting to know some new people-" she said quickly in one breath. "oops...did I say all that out loud?"
Tahno stifled a snicker and put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry I hadn't warned you, but I had been thinking about it and Fushu made me say I had a team and you were here. After seeing you fight in the alley, I HAD to get you into the arena somehow. So," he said pausing to flip his hair, "ready to start some private training?" He said leaning in close.
She pushed him away gently, "won't we be needing an earthbended like Fushu said?" Tahno backed away, disappointed in the lost moment. "Do you know of any good athletes that aren't taken yet?"
He thought for a moment then grinned a sly grin, "I think I know just the one..."
