Air Buds

[savedtheworld]

Who: Aang, Jinora, Korra, Opal, Kai.
What: Airbending practice!
When: Early on September 26th
Where: Out in front of House 56 and by the airbending gates
Summary: It's time for Aang to tutor Luceti's airbenders.
Rating: Y7

[With all these airbenders around, it's time to hold a group airbending practice. The group's been told to get up bright and early, by 7, and then it's time for training on the lawn and at the airbending gates. Some food is laid out on a picnic blanket nearby - mostly some rice-y snacks to hold them over until breakfast.]

Comments

Air Gates

[savedtheworld]

[Open for anyone trying out the air gates! Constructed by the long-gone Hiccup Haddock, they're located in a forest clearing near House 56.]

[raavatars]

[ Korra can be found admiring the Air Gates. She knew they were there, having seen them before with Jinora, but this was her first real close-up look. She can't help but smile. ]

They look like the ones back home. [ She wishes they were all training back on Air Temple Island instead, but thoughts like that weren't going to help anything. So instead she continues on with a sheepish laugh. ]

...Even after I burned them.

[savedtheworld]

[He gives a few confused blinks.]

...You what?

[raavatars]

[ WHOOPS. Continuing to look appropriately ashamed, Korra gives Aang an apologetic look. ]

See, the thing is... I didn't always used to be good at any kind of airbending stuff. And sometimes I got a little frustrated. [ "Got," she says, when she knows full well what she means is "get." ]

[savedtheworld]

A... little frustrated? S-so what exactly did that make you do? [He knows about her struggles with airbending, but that it put her that far...]

[raavatars]

I... burned them. Accidentally. On purpose. [ She hangs her head. ] It was dumb and horrible, but I was so angry and they were the closest things I could take that out on.

[savedtheworld]

Accidentally... on purpose. [He lets that sink in for a moment, looking conflicted, but then he quietly shakes his head.]

It's okay, Korra. Mistakes happen, especially with fire. And, it sounds like you learned your lesson.

[raavatars]

I definitely don't plan on burning anymore Air Nomad relics. [ She agrees eagerly, a little surprised at the lack of horrible disappointment she'd almost been expecting. Hastily, she remembers to add: ] And the acolytes fixed them up and everything after, they look good as new.

[ But she can't help but give the gates a once over, remembering. ]I must have gone through them a hundred times after burning them before I even airbended at all.

[savedtheworld]

That's really nice of them. I'm glad they were restored, at least. [He nods. It's sad for relics to be destroyed, and restorations may not be the same but... it's something he has to settle for.]

A hundred times? How many of them did you do good on?

[raavatars]

And burning isn't going to be a problem with any of the new airbenders, either, so I think they'll be safe now. [ Although that's small consolation. As far as doing good, she perks up a little. ]

A lot, actually. Once I got the hang of it they weren't hard at all. It just had to click for me, you know?

[savedtheworld]

[He gives a soft nod.]

I understand. Sometimes that happens when it comes to learning bending. I know I had a lot of trouble learning earthbending, and some with firebending too.

You don't remember it, but... I knew you here when you weren't able to airbend yet. So I've seen how far you've come, Korra, and... and I'm really, really proud of you.

[raavatars]

Oh, yeah.. Tenzin told me about you and earthbending. [ He'd been meaning to make her feel better about her own airbending problems at the time, she knows, but it hadn't helped much then. As for Aang's praise she can't help but look a little embarrassed, at first. ]

Is that when you met me? [ She's surprised- of course she knew by now that she'd been here a couple times but she hadn't actually put much thought into when it had been, at least for her. ] Yeeeeah, I wasn't the best student. Sorry if I ever tried to get you to help with airbending then, too. [ Because it likely didn't work out too well. ]

But... thank you, Aang. it really means a lot to be able to hear you say that. [ Although she looks a little troubled, she tries to cover it up as quickly as she can. He still didn't know everything she'd done... everything she'd failed at. But, this was about airbending specifically, right? That she could handle. ] It... must be weird, huh? Seeing me at different times like that. Mentoring the next Avatar a little early.

[savedtheworld]

[He smiles meekly.]

Yeah... That is when I first met you. Before you stopped that Amon guy. But there's no need to be sorry. And... I don't think it was weird. I thought it was... an honor. To help anyone to learn how to airbend is like a dream. For a long time before I came here to Luceti... I was facing the idea that I might not see any other airbenders again. So I'm glad just- just to help someone else who might be able to airbend.

And seeing you at different times? That just helped me to see... see how much you've grown. That's why I'm so proud of you, Korra.

[spiritwalking]

[It's important to train the new airbenders but she doesn't know if they've tackled the air gates yet, so Jinora faces the others.]

The point is to get through the spinning gates and come out on the other side without touching the gates. I'll demonstrate.

[She turns and sends a strong gust of wind towards the gates which causes them to start spin rapidly. Then with her arms up by her chest, Jinora steps right into the middle of two gates. Her progress through the obstacle is a smooth and quick one - constantly changing directions with spiral movements to avoid getting hit by those large pieces of wood.

When she comes the other end, Jinora looks around the gates.] Like that. Flow with the wind changes and keep light on your feet.