Left Behind

Chapter 3: Knocking over the Snowman

Only three people knew Rynn's secret; Sokka, Katara, and her little brother Kato. She didn't want to worry Nadi; her mother was already paranoid enough with her husband fighting in the War. Sometimes Rynn heard her sobbing at night, and when she went to check on her, she was clutching helplessly at the empty space in her bed where Daku used to sleep. And it filled Rynn with pain, to see her mother broken, with a hole in her heart that would take years to mend.

Perhaps that was why she was afraid to confess her feelings to Sokka – that she might experience the same emptyness when he left to fight in the War, when he left her alone with two young children who would never know the security of a father, his laugh, his smile, his comfort.

But Rynn was getting ahead of herself again – Sokka was only fifteen, only a year older than her. He would not leave for War. The War would be over by the time they were grown – shouldn't it?

Or would it be an endless rain of destruction, fear and fire?

Rynn was strong and determined. Everyday she and Katara would leave the village and travel far into the secluded ice snows where they would practice their Waterbending.

Two months had passed since their training regme had begun and yet they were still no closer to mastering simple Waterbending. Without a teacher to guide the two teenagers, they were lost, and their Bending was often without direction or purpose.

Rynn was concentrating hard. She and Katara had been out on the snows for over five hours, and they had both stripped off their heavy fur jackets and gloves, leaving them in their traditional woolen dresses and grey boots. A sprite of water was being pulled up from the snow. She was moving slowly, deliberatly, trying to flow from each movement to the next.

It was time-consuming work, but finally she managed to lift the Water out of the ground and carry it above her head.

“Katara!” she cried.

The girl turned from her own unsuccessful work to marvel at Rynn.

“Nice!” she encouraged. “See if you can hold it a little longer!”

“You wouldn't believe it!” Rynn said, smiling widely as she changed stance. She turned slightly and held the Water upright beside her, between her hands. “It's magical! Once you've got it, it's like a little pulse! You can feel little tremors and waves in the Water! And now it's easier to bend! Just move with the flow!” She demonstrated, changing stance again to hold the Water between her hands horizontally in front of her.

Katara watched, a little jelous, as Rynn pirouetted, carrying the Water in her hands naturally. She was experiemting now; letting the Water carry its own shape, moving her arms simply to direct, not to detain. It spread out, it grew compact, but Rynn was always moving, changing stances, flowing from one movement to another.

“That's amazing!” Katara congratulated.

“Thanks!” Rynn exclaimed.

She twirled slightly, collecting her arms by her hip, the water pooling over her hands like blue gloves. Then she struck forward, leaping ahead and throwing her arms in front of her. The Water whipped forward like a viper. The Water collapsed back into the snow as it moved out of her rein of control.

Katara watched in awe. “That was amazing, Rynn!”

Rynn was smiling broadly. “I can Waterbend, Katara!” she squeeled, leaping into Katara's arms for a tight hug. “I can't believe, I can finally Waterbend!”

“That's great!” Katara exclaimed, holding her friend dearly. She was so proud!

“C'mon,” Rynn invited, pulling away, “I'll help you!”

Until the sun dipped behind the icy horizon, Rynn bended spouts of Water then carefully transitioned them to Katara. After continual slipping over or dropping the Water, she finally, she gained the same amount of control Rynn had exerted.

“You're right, Rynn,” Katara said as she moved through the poses the girls had worked out. “The Water is like a little pulse. It's spectacular!”

“I know, it's simply magical!” Rynn agreed, going through the stances with her friend. They were going through the steps simultaneously.

“Ready? One, two, three!” Rynn counted down as they struck forward. They were trying a slightly different approach, so when they attacked their whips merged together to create a larger, more powerful strike.

It was successful, and the crumbling snowman they had built as a target collapsed backward into a pile of snow.

They held the final pose for a few seconds, breathing slowly.

“Katara,” Rynn said.

“Mmh?” she mumbled.

“We can Waterbend!” Rynn cried, leaping into her friends arms again for the second time that day.

Katara was so overwhelemed that she laughed, her broad smile matching Rynn's. They held in the tight embrace for a few moments, before pulling apart.

“We should go back to the village now,” Rynn suggested.

Katara agreed, and the two girls began the hour hike back to the tribe.

As they walked, Rynn's mind wandered. She was almost useful now. If she could learn more about Waterbending – maybe she could go fight in the War!

It was a frightening concept, and she didn't know which deep part of her mind the idea had sprung from. But the more she thought about it, the more promising it seemed.

The War needed to end; there was no question about it. And she could help. Waterbenders were scarce on the field of battle ever since the Southern Raiders rounded up all the benders from the Southern Tribe, locking them up and killing them in scores. It was almost a dead art, but one that could also be useful against the Firebenders.

The idea was growing on her. She had to learn how to fight! She had to put to use her abilities to the greater good, and protect her people.

And Sokka.

Perhaps if she weren't so scared that he would leave for the War, she could finally tell him how she felt.

And she would finally be able to feel his lips on hers.

Hey guys, thanks for reading, as always! Please comment and vote, I love it! Hope you enjoyed it Gaaraloverstorm, can't wait to hear your rendition :) ~Mel