Avatar Dakota

Chapter 5

Blaze woke up to the sound of coughing. He slid out of bed and walked out of his room, instantly smelling shisha burning. The coughing didn't cease as he opened the door. Dakota was sitting on the couch, coughing and suffocating on smoke. Blaze walked up and placed his hands on the back of the couch.

"You spend five months training with me and you're making yourself right at home, aren't you?" Blaze asked. Dakota jumped and gasped in surprise, making her coughing worse.

"I'm...s-sorry...I...got curious..." She spoke between coughs and gags. Blaze shook his head.

"It's alright. I don't care. That was a terrible hit though." He leaned back up and stretched. Dakota, finally getting some air back, looked up at him.

"So...what are we learning today?" She questioned. He looked back at her and shrugged his shoulders.

"You're not the best yet, but you know everything you need to know in order to Earthbend. So you could probably be on your way now."

Dakota looked sad for a moment. She grew fond of Blaze's company, despite his sarcasm and odd teaching methods. But she knew this day would eventually come, so she nodded and lifted herself up off the couch.

"Can I change real quick?" She asked. Blaze raised his hand towards the bathroom.

"You don't need to ask anymore, you know. Go on ahead."

Dakota changed into her winter clothes and put her hair back up in a bun. It was long before, but now it was getting out of hand. It was nearly past the small of her back by now. She shuffled back out and put her shoes on before turning back to Blaze.

"Thank you so much for training me and having me as a guest in your home. I am forever grateful." She bowed to him politely. He nodded to her and crossed his arms.

"No problem. Anything to help the cause."

Dakota walked outside and took Chichou out of the stables. The cold winter air took her breath away as Chichou wandered out into the cold. His thick coat kept him warm as the wind whipped. Dakota hooked the saddle into place and hopped on. She put the bag and staff around her back and started to head off. Blaze stepped outside and stopped her.

"Hey wait! I have some stuff for you! You're gonna freeze to death out here." Blaze said, handing her a bag with heavy winter clothes, light armor, and food. She put the other bag on her back and turned back to him.

"Oh wow, thanks! I really appreciate it!" She smiled at him. She put the scarf on and covered her mouth and nose.

"And one more thing," he said, pulling up a crossbow. This wasn't an average everyday crossbow. This was one of those professional crossbows that the royal guard had. She took it and examined it in her hands.

"Woah...this is amazing! Where did you get this from?" She gawked. He shrugged.

"I got it from a Dai Li agent I fought. Pretty nice, isn't it? Use that whenever you need to be quiet and can't bend."

She nodded and hooked it to the saddle. She smiled at him again.

"Thank you so much Blaze. You're too kind."

"Yeah, I know."

Blaze lingered there as Dakota rearranged her stuff. She faced forward again.

"Alright, be seeing you!" She and Chichou started to walk off. Blaze reached his hand out to her.

"Wait, Dakota..." He called out to her. She turned and looked at him.

"What's up?" She said. He walked up to her.