The Only Hope

Book 1: Chapter 2

I left the hospital, sulking. My glider’s end dragged against the ground, as I walked through the streets of Downtown. It had been nearly two months without an “episode” from Maia. I had gotten our hopes up. That she was getting better, except for those few rare episodes. Maybe the medicine was working, or maybe they were just allowing her to die. I didn’t know.

I sighed, as I entered the north side of the City Park. There was I greeted with a huge statue. It was of my grandmother, none the less. She stood, frozen in a graceful position. Her right knee bent out, while the left shot out behind her. Her right arm was shot out hand up and flat, while her left was bent in at her side, her hand in a fist. It was a classic Earth bender’s pose. A thin piece of metal twist at an angle from her foot up to where it held a rock. The statue was meant to capture as she bended a piece of Earth, which it did. There were three more around the Park. The one in the south was of her water bending. That one pose standing straight, her left arm out, her right bent across her stomach. From the left hand, water fell from each finger. That was a popular place for kids during the summer. The one to the East was of her air bending.  She sat up on a “air ball” her right hand reaching to the sky. One very windy days, air will fly around in the ball, and then shot up from her hand, as if she was air bending. The last one, the West one, was of fire bending.  She stands tall, like a tree both arms up above her head, hands fold flat on top of each other, facing the sky. There a small flame always burned, as my grandfather’s statue in the Central City Station.

Though each showed a different element, being bended; each also showed how much grace and beauty my grandmother held. She was beloved by many, most after the time of her death.

I looked up to the statue, dipping my head to the side. I searched the face, with a small smile planted on its lips, as if I could find the answer to my sister’s sickness there. When nothing happened, I opened my glider, and took off.

I spent the rest of the day training, and meditating. And training some more. I spent dinner in the Dining hall, along with the other Air Acolytes. I didn’t say much, though when spoken to I replied. I told them how my sister faired, and they gave me their words of hope. I smiled, and thank them. I then excused myself from the table, turning on my heels.

I entered my room, sliding the door slowly behind me. I slipped my boots off, and tossed them aside. I froze for a few seconds, listening. When I was sure I heard nothing, I slipped on a pair of soft souled slippers, and changed my jacket. I grabbed my staff, and slid my window open. I popped it open, before flying off into the night.

I landed right in front of the edge of abridge. I closed my staff, and slung it over my right shoulder. If I had timed everything right, I would make inside the Arena just in time of the first match.

It’s against the rules. I’m not supposed to sneak out, or even really leave the island too much. I was especially not supposed to go to Pro-bending matches. Tenzin is very strict on the rules for anyone under 15. But I just couldn’t help it. Maia and I love pro bending matches. Our father use to take us back before my mother even got sick. It was something we enjoyed together, and though coming to them brought back distant memories, those were easy to push aside with the action that was happening in front of me.

I found my seat, and slid my glider over my shoulder and under my seat. I had gotten a good seat for once. I was about 10 rows behind the front rows, and right on the border line.

“Welcome folks! Take your seats now, because the match is about to begin. I’m Shiro Shinobi, and I’m here and ready to report. Tonight’s game is going to be a big one, I repeat, a big one! One the blue side will be Ember Island Eel Hounds and on the red side; Red Sands Rabaroos! Here they are, rising up, and oh man folks! Does Adi look fired up tonight! She is ready to take on the Ember Island Eel Hounds, course I would be too after what their captain said the other day…”