Training
“No, Kel! Watch me, and then do what I do!” Sokka scolds, demonstrating for a third time the specific move he’s trying to teach her.
She watches intently, trying to bank each move of his swinging stick and his body into her brain, hoping that she can repeat the movements. Once he’s done she tries again.
“Better. Go again!” Sokka encourages, watching Kelani’s movements. They’re hesitant and sloppy, but her memory recall of the moves is there. “Maybe this time, move slower. You’re choppy because you’re trying too hard. Your movements should be more fluid.”
Kelani takes his advice and slows her own movements, focusing on what she’s doing and how she’s doing it rather than what to do next.
“Better!” Sokka beams.
He throws her a large stick to practice with in place of a sword.
“One of these days we’re gonna find real swords.” Sokka grins, readying his stance.
Kelani mimics him, holding her stick with a death grip.
“Loosen the grip. You’ll be able to swing smoothly.”
She follows his instruction.
“I don’t know about a sword, Sokka. I just wanted to feel comfortable throwing a punch.”
Sokka advances towards her, hoping she’s able to stay alert while talking. He’s careful not to swing directly at her, and to still keep a few feet between them, just in case.
“If I can train the Water Tribe boys to be fighters, I know you can get there, too.”
Kelani smiles, trying her best. They spar until one of their large sticks breaks.
Katara approaches Kelani who’s sitting by the edge of the river.
“So, I’ve been wanting to ask about your time in the North. That’s where we’re headed. Aang needs a waterbending teacher.”
Kelani nods, swishing her feet back and forth in the water.
“I grew up there, but I didn’t have any parents. They died when I was really young. The chief took me in. Really, he provided shelter and meals and clothes, but he didn’t love me like his own, and I didn’t expect him to. Then, when I was eight, I was taken by the Fire Nation pirates that you took that scroll from.”
Katara nods, taking in Kelani’s words.
“Master Pakku should be able to teach Aang, as long as he’s still there.”
“Sokka told me you’re not a bender, and that he’s been helping you with combat training.”
Kelani nods and smiles at the memory of this afternoon.
“I didn’t know I was a bender until this year. Have you ever tried?”
“No, I thought it was just something you could feel and you knew you had it.”
Katara chuckles and shakes her head.
“In a way, kind of. But I didn’t have a clue. Now that I’m actively bending, I can feel it, though.”
Kelani keeps this in mind, thinking she might try to bend the next time she’s alone and the pressure is off.
“I could show you some moves if you want?” Katara offers.
Kelani ponders her offer. Although she’d prefer to practice on her own in case she’s embarrassingly bad, Katara is a good bender, and she shouldn’t refuse.
“Sure.”
The two girls stand and Katara starts demonstrating basic waterbending moves. Kelani watches intently. Katara’s fluid movements remind her of her sparring session with Sokka when he emphasized the same tactics. He must have picked something up from watching his sister and Aang practice their bending.
Kelani tries, and struggles to bend the water.
“I don’t know. I guess this is all unfamiliar to me. Especially since the women in the Northern Water Tribe only train as healers and are forbidden from bending as a combative strategy…”
Katara freezes, water swirling between her open palms.
“What? Forbidden?”
Kelani nods, explaining the separation of benders among the Northern Tribe. Boys train with Pakku and girls go on to learn healing from Yugoda.
“That’s unfair,” Katara argues.
“Yeah, in a way it is. But, healers are highly necessary. I just think you should be allowed to choose if you want to be a healer or a fighter, or even both if you have the time.”
Katara nods excitedly.
“Well, I can try to show you some of both, if you want?”
This time Kelani gets excited.
“Absolutely!”
The pair practice bending until the sun starts to set. Aang and Sokka come to find them to talk about getting dinner. The girls have taken to a very relaxed sparring in the river. The boys stop in their tracks, watching Kelani bend for the first time.
Sokka looks down at the ground, disappointed.
“Oh, hey guys!” Kelani greets, sending a little splash their way. They both duck out of the way of the splash. “This is so cool! I never would have known I was a waterbender if Katara didn’t encourage me!”
“Way to go Katara! She’s a great teacher, she taught me everything I know!” Aang agrees.
“Did you have Sokka teach you any combat? Or does that go against air nomads and Avatar philosophy?” Kelani adds, noticing Sokka’s change in demeanor.
He looks up at her and she grins at him, sending more water his way. This time he lets it hit his chest, and laughs.
“Don’t make me send my boomerang after you,” Sokka threatens, readying his trusty boomerang.
“I could take it,” Kelani retorts, steadying her stance in the river.
The two laugh as Aang and Katara watch them tease each other.
“So, dinner?” Kelani asks the group, the sun lower in the sky now.
Her three friends nod in agreement, and Katara steps out of the river to put her robes back on. Kelani does the same, wishing she had something to replace her wet sarashi. The wet cloth against her skin makes her shiver.