Wandering Firebender

Seventeen: Training

"That was really nice of you to give Sri and her family some money until they can figure out a safer way to keep their business going." Cindra said to Elio as they walked alongside the trail. They were now finally starting on their long journey to Ba Sing Se.

"Yeah, well, I figure it'd be pointless if we saved Sri just for her to go right back into desert the next day. I'm sure they'll figure something out." Elio reasoned. Cindra nodded and chuckled.

"I saw Sri's face when you gave her the money. I think she might have gotten a crush on you in that moment." She teased him. Elio made a face and shook his head.

"Don't be ridiculous." He dismissed the idea. Cindra rolled her eyes and shook her head with a smile.

"Just saying. She was all like 'Oh, Elio, I really owe you one now'." She pointed out, deepening her voice to sound more like Sri.

"That is not what she said!" Elio argued, getting a little flustered at the thought of that exchange in the context Cindra was insinuating. Cindra laughed at him.

"Why are you so defensive at the idea of her liking you? Did you like her too?" She cooed at him.

"Oh come on now, Cindra." Elio scoffed and shook his head. Cindra shook her head again and smiled.

"You totally liked her."

"Anyways!" Elio spoke up, abruptly changing the subject, "I was thinking today would be a good day to train. The map says we should be close to a river. What do you say?" He offered.

"I guess we can... But it's not gonna be much of a training session for me. I only know a handful of moves. Not even really a handful, more like...half of a handful." She said.

"That's okay. We'll have a whole day to figure all of that out," Elio smiled. "I think you're better than you give yourself credit for. Plus, now you get to practice waterbending openly." He pointed out.

"Yeah that's true. Thanks." She smiled at him.

While continuing on their way, Elio and Cindra caught sight of the river. It was far away from the trail. There wasn't a lot of good coverage, but it seemed far away enough for them to practice their bending without being seen.

"This seems like a good place," Cindra suggested, setting her pack down. "Depending on how long we're here, we might be able to set up camp here too."

"Not a bad idea. We'll see how it goes." Elio agreed, setting his pack down too. He removed his extraneous layers of clothing until he was just wearing pants and his training vest.

"Do you plan on stripping down before every fight?" She asked teasingly.

"It's so my clothes don't get burned, Cindra." Elio said, looking at her.

"I know that, dork." She snickered. She removed her shoes and her outer garment down to her pants and a sleeveless undershirt.

"I'll let you do your own thing." Elio decided, taking a few steps away from the camp. Cindra nodded and watched him put some distance between them. Then she got to work on her own bending.

Elio's mind went always back to his time in the training academy when he practiced his firebending forms. He had been doing them all of his life. He knew them by heart. And as he'd been forced into more and more fights, he often relied on those basic teachings.

"What separates the mediocre from the good from the great firebenders, children, is poise. If you do not maintain your composure, you cannot maintain your fire; this leaves you open to attack! You must show your enemy your strength! You must be uncompromising, unrelenting!"