Chapter 60

“You gonna be okay over there?” Kyoshi asked as they got off the boat and started slowly making their way down the dock. Rangi almost stumbles after her, a little bit of color coming back to her face.

“I’m fine” Rangi called stiffly. “Just do whatever the hell Avatars do already”

“Fine, but Avatars walk faster” Kyoshi laughed back, starting to speed up.

She wouldn’t fucking dare.

“You’re carrying the bags then” Rangi called, swinging hers in Kyoshi’s direction almost causing her to stumble as the bag hit the Avatar in the back of the knees.

Kyoshi took it without another word and headed off the dock, once on land finding a rock to sit on patiently. Shooting Rangi an innocent crooked smile as she waited for her to catch up.

“You should have told me you get seasick.” Kyoshi said as Rangi sat behind her, letting out a long breath.

“It wasn’t relevant till now” Rangi replied, some of her dizziness clearing. “We should get going though, you do have a meeting set up with the Governor right?”

“No, I was just planning on swinging by” Kyoshi shrugged.

The fire bender could only rub her temples. Where is that damn monk when you need him?

“So we’re just going to walk in and ask if he knows anything about the scattering of Chin’s men, correct?” She asked skeptically.

“Hasn’t failed me yet”

Shaking her head Rangi stood once more, most of the weight in her head having cleared now. “Let’s get moving then, and hope his afternoon is free.”

It was a bit of a hike though the passage of the mountains to reach the inner city of Gaoling itself. Far wealthier than Yokoya by looks alone. There were more than a couple nice residents that looked like they could be fancy enough to be the Governor’s.

After making it to the streets of Gaoling, they had made a beeline for the Governor’s place. The streets were crowded with people traveling in the late afternoon as Kyoshi tried to push her way around, Rangi a step behind her.

“I heard rumors that they’ve gone south” The Governor said flatly, resting his hands on top of eachother.

The two had been invited in for tea when they arrived. Rangi calling Kyoshi lucky as they entered with her lack of planning.

“To the southern air temple, that seems problematic in more ways than one.” Kyoshi replied.

But he just shook his head. “Further, to the southern water tribe”

Kyoshi raised an eyebrow. “That’s some trip, and what will they do there anyways become pirates?” She joked.

“They’ll probably have the numbers”

“Spirits, they’re actually going to become pirates?” Kyoshi cursed, standing to leave. “Thank you then, for the updates. I hope to visit for longer next time”

He nodded as she left the room, Rangi a step behind blowing before they left.

Once outside Kyoshi paused, taking a breath of the fresh air. “Conquers turned pirates” She mused.

“If they have numbers, it may be best to involve some more bodies for defensive purposes. Though I guess that depends on their goal.” Rangi began, thinking through possible operations.

“I already think I know the people for the job” Kysohi said, looking back at Rangi.

“Who’s crazy enough to want to chase down a band of pirates.”

They both knew who first came to mind. “I’ll send out a letter tonight, we can meet them in the south”

With a simple threat, or practical persuasion as Rangi would put it, the two decided to stay the night in Gaoling. Finding a quiet inn on the outer side of town to crash after passing by a soup shop.

“No more small boats” Rangi mumbled as she finally crawled under the covers with Kyoshi resting her head on the Avatar’s lap.

“You’re still feeling ill?” Kyoshi asked, placing a hand over the fender’s forehead to check if there were any signs of fever. It could have been something else.

But her hand was nearly swatted away.

“No dummy, that ended hours ago. I just have a headache now” The firender ranted.

“I could probably help”

“I’d like to see that”

Kyoshi just rolled her eyes, as she went to undo Rangi’s topknot. Placing the golden pin and band on the bed side table.

“Wow, you’re a miracle worker. You took my hair down I never would have thought of that” Rangi called sarcastically before closing her eyes.

Kyoshi focused on a pitcher of water across the room, before pulling its contents away and to her finger tips. One of the firender’s eyes peaked open before shutting once more. “If you drop that water on me, you will sleeping on the floor”

“Maybe, just say thank you for once”

“I have yet to see you do anything impressive” Rangi shot back.

“Your eyes are closed” Kyoshi pointed out as started working through the healing techniques Aluat had shown her once long ago. The waterbender had described healing headaches like pulling the tension from a stuck drain.

“Still applies,” Rangi mumbled.

Humming slightly as she worked, Kyoshi tried her best not to let any of the water slip her grasp. Still amazed at the way the water glowed slightly in the dim room, as it swirled between her fingers.

But the glowing water had reminded her of the Avatar state, and the lack of connections as of late. It felt like all it had been was whispers, but those could have very well been hallucinations. It is more likely too.

It should be more than that right? She certainly wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t like there weren’t millions of things Kyoshi could probably be doing better at.

But the poles have stronger spiritual connections right? She asked herself as she moved the water away from hovering over the firender and back into the pitcher. It settled into the container with a small splash.

When Kyoshi looked back down to Rangi she was out cold, and sleeping quite peacefully she might add.

Slowly Kyoshi shimmied her way down from her seated position to be able to fully rest her head on the pillow. Rangi’s head on her chest, rising and falling with her breath.

I wonder if Kuruk is mad about the whole portal thing? She wondered as she finally closed her eyes. The only one she had been able to hear since then was Yancheng’s voice.

But a lot has happened since then, surely he’ll be over it by now. She let out a long breath. I mean I severed a continent for fucks sake, that’s pretty cool.

Maybe I could annoy them into talking to me, go find a dark spirit to mess with or something.

She brought one of her arms up to rest over her forehead. But then Rangi would probably kill me, if the spirit didn’t get the chance first.

The next morning Kyoshi woke to the sounds of rain beating against the window. As she sat up she found Rangi putting her hair back up in front of a mirror, smiling as she caught her gaze in the reflection.

“Your party of criminals is in to meet us in the Southern water tribe” Rangi said, picking up an opened letter on the desk beside her.

“That was a fast response, think they missed us?” Kyoshi called.

“Well an outing with you pretty much guarantees entertainment”

“I’ll take that as a complement.”

Kyoshi moved across the room, rummaging through her bag before pausing to look back out the window where the rain was still coming down hard.

“Guess the makeup is a no today huh” She spoke to herself, before tucking the makeup containers back into the mess of clothing. “I don’t need to walk around looking like a complete crazy person.”

I wished it rained every damn day then. Rangi though, looking over to Kyoshi eyeing the freckles that scattered the Avatar’s face like stars.

“A real shame” Rangi said finally, with no remorse in her words. “We should get going, grab something to eat before heading out.”

Nodding, Kyoshi swung her bag over her shoulder and opened the door for Rangi.

“Jinpa should get here this morning,” Kyoshi said as they walked along a street looking for a shop to duck into for breakfast.

The nice part about being in a rich town was the fact that a lot of the shops had coverings over the front of their shops, so the rain only landed on there should’ve every couple of steps.

“What’s the monk been up to lately anyways” Rangi said, as her pace synced with Kyoshi’s.

“He was at the Eastern air temple I believe,” Kysohi shrugged. “Not sure why though.”

“Probably taking a break from you” Rangi shot back as she caught somewhere that she deemed acceptable and lead the way in.

“You’re no picnic either you know”

“I’m a delight” Rangi replied smuggly, before turning to order some dumplings from the shopkeeper.

“I got a couple for Jinpa as well,” the firender said as they left the shop, heading back into the rain. “Where are we meeting him anyways?”

“The front end of town,” Kyoshi replied, taking one of the containers from the firender and popping a dumpling in her mouth as they headed out of town.

“Jinpa” Kyoshi cheered as she started booking it once the mook was within sight.

“Kyoshi” He smiled, from his spot under a large tree evading most of the rain drops. “And Lieutenant Rangi, always a pleasure”

Though Rangi wouldn’t be the first to admit she did miss having Jinpa around as of late. In more ways than one they had all grown close over the years of chasing behind Kyoshi’ various antics.

“Yokoya is an island now?” Jinpa asked, looking back at Kyoshi and Rangi. They were now scoring through the air heading south. The winds starting to pick up a chill.

“It was either that or Chin’s men infiltrated the town.”

“You could’ve had back up” He suggested, looking at Rangi who he had assumed would have come up with the blatant solution.

“Could’ve, but I think my solution worked just fine.” Kyoshi said proudly.

“Rangi I fear we’ve made a monster” The monk replied looking back forward.

“Hey I’m not corrupt or anything” She shouted back.

“I was only joking Kyoshi”

But seriously, does the world even know of half of Kyoshi’s abilities? Jinpa asked himself. Severing a continent? Has any previous Avatar pulled off such a feat?

Seriously a moment of appreciation for Kyoshi severing a continent, I mean that’s pretty cool. Anyways I promise there will be action the next chapter. Huge shoutout to for the people that are brainstorming with me in the comments, I feel good about the future chapters to come 🙂 thanks for reading!

Alsoooo the 3 year anniversary of this story is June 2nd, and I wanted to do something special. SO if you have any ideas please let me know- long chapter, specific chapter idea(s), etc.