ATLA: Book One: Water |Makki|

Chapter Three

Chapter Three: Kyoshi Island

Makki |~|

After a few long days, I've almost been able to call this Fire Nation ship a home. Not because I'm finally comfortable here or because I'm able to call the people on the ship 'family', but because I've almost come to terms with the fact that I'll be here for a long time. Although, I have learned that there are a couple of times in the day where no one is on the deck so I could stay there and practice water bending for some time.

The only way I can get stronger is to water bend, maybe then I can get off this ship.

I just snuck up to the deck to see that no one was there. I made sure that one could see me from the controls of the ship and bended a stream of water up from the ocean. I bended the water into making many loops and twists around my body before creating a stream over my head. As it was over my head, I tried to strike the water at the ground like a whip but it instead turned into ice and struck me on the head.

"Ow!" I exclaimed as the ice and I landed on the deck.

How are you supposed to do this?!

I rubbed my head where the ice had hit and stood up, holding the ice.

"Try to keep your hands loose but your arms firm when you strike."

I spun around to the voice and, in the process, dropped the ice on my foot. I fell over again, in pain, and looked up to see Iroh smiling at me.

"Wh-What're you talking about?" I asked, trying to lie.

"Your water bending," he said.

"M-My what? I don't--"

Iroh interrupted me by pulling me to my feet. He stood in a wide stance.

"To strike with water, your hands need to be loose at the wrist," he explained. "They need to flow while you aim at your target and when you're ready, you stiffen your arms."

I copy his stance and follow his moves. I bended the ice back into water and watched Iroh as he moved his arms close together, then far apart, then swings his left arm back as he flicks his wrist. I reflect his moves exactly and the water struck at the floor of the deck, like a whip. I smile widely at my new technique and turn to Iroh.

"How do you know that?" I ask.

"I've traveled very far in my many years," Iroh smiled. "I would be a fool to have not picked up a few tricks."

Iroh lightly rubbed his beard, pleased with his teachings.

"Thank you, Iroh," I said.

"My pleasure."

"Sir!" a soldier came running up to the deck. "We have some disappointing news that we are... uh, not willing to speak to Prince Zuko about."

"What is it?" Iroh asked, his smile fading.

"We've lost the Avatar's trail," the soldier admitted. "We are unsure of where we are going."

"Hmm, continue this course," said Iroh. "I will speak to Prince Zuko."

Iroh walked under the deck leaving me and the soldier. The soldier looked at me with a blank stare, as if waiting for me to do something. I gave him a wide, awkward smile before racing after Iroh.

"Wait for me!"

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Iroh and I peeked into Prince Zuko's room. He was sitting in front of a table with four candles, all lit to keep some light in the room.