Niya ran up a hill that was somewhere in the mountains, there were a lot of mountains and the air had also run thin. It was a little chilly but luckily they had long sleeved clothing on for this.
"Kyoshi, can we stop for awhile?". Sorin asked.
"No". Kyoshi replied.
This was the fourth time that Kyoshi had refused to stop for them, they only stopped when they reached a town, but even towns were miles apart.
"Hey, look! A town at the side of that mountain". Rangi said, glad to finally have reached a town.
"Oh, thank the Spirits. Kyoshi was getting cranky anyway". Sorin said with a teasing smile.
Kyoshi narrowed her eyes in annoyance as they pulled up to the town, she knew Sorin was only trying to cheer her up but it wasn't working because she didn't need his sympathy. A man who noticed their arrival, walked up as they all dismounted the shirshu.
"Welcome, travellers". The man said.
"Hi, my name is Sorin and these are my friends Rangi and Kyoshi. Kyoshi doesn't talk much". He said, introducing everyone.
Kyoshi glared at him for that. Sorin winced under her gaze.
"My name is Kin Lo, this is Kin's mountain pass village. I have seen you have travelled for awhile, allow me to serve you some food". The man said.
"That would be heavenly". Rangi smiled.
....................................
Kyoshi, Rangi and Sorin all sat by a table in the tavern of the small town and ate their food, Kyoshi on the one hand didn't eat much. Kin Lo appeared to their table with a jug to offer them drinks.
"Kin Lo, how long has this town been here?". Sorin asked.
"Oh, for centuries now. My people first came to these mountains to travel to the North Pole, as this path served as a shortcut. They met airbenders of the Northern Air Temple and they always traded goods with each other, after that my people decided to just settle by the mountain and have a friendship with the Air nomads". Kin Lo said.
"Wow!". Rangi said.
"I'll say". Sorin said.
"So, does that mean your town and the nomads have a connection?". Kyoshi asked.
"Yes, we used. But twenty years ago, the Air nomads stopped communication completely between our town and their temple". Kin Lo said.
Kyoshi looked disappointed.
"You see, my friend here is the Avatar and she needs to start her training with the airbenders". Sorin spoke up.
"Oh, I see". Kin Lo said, a little surprised.
"So, you wouldn't happen to have an alternative way of sending a message to the Air nomads, do you?". Sorin said.
"No, our messenger hawks all died out a year ago. Sorry". Kin Lo said before walking away.
Then all three of them sagged in disappointment.
"I wish I could shoot lightning. Then I would have shot one up the mountains and the sound would have probably reached them". Sorin said.
"Maybe". Rangi said.
Then there was a bellow from the sky outside the tavern, the people in the tavern all turned to look outside. Kyoshi and the others all looked outside as well.
"What was that?". Sorin asked.
"That was a sky bison. Haven't heard one of them in years?". Kin Lo said with a smile on his face as he appeared.
Then a tall man entered, he had bald head with a blue arrow running down his forehead. He had yellow, orange and red robes on and he had a grey beard on his face and his eyes were cheery and happy. All the people watched the man as he walked in, Kin Lo quickly walked up to the airbender.
"Hello". Kin Lo said, bowing.
"Hello, my name is Samten". The man replied with a smile and bowed,"I'm looking for the Avatar".
Kin Lo smiled,"Ah, you came to the right place. She is right over there at a table with her friends". Then he turned and pointed at the table, where Kyoshi and the others were still staring.
"Thank you". Samten bowed before heading for the table where Kyoshi and the others sat.
Sorin stared at the man in awe. Rangi's eyes glistened in wonder but Kyoshi looked up at the man with no interest.
"Ah, you must be Avatar Kyoshi?". Samten said.
Kyoshi looked at the man,"How did you know who I am?".
"Well, the Fire Sages told me to look out for specific features. Your tall height and the green eyes". The man said.
Kyoshi huffed. She was still sensitive about people pointing out she was insanely tall but she didn't care, as she loved what she looked like.
"My name is Samten and I will be your airbending teacher". The man said.
"You?". Kyoshi asked a little surprised.
Samten nodded.
"My friends?". Kyoshi asked.
"They are welcome to come along. But accommodating your shirshu will be a problem as we do not eat meat". Samten said.
Rangi smiled,"Don't worry about Niya, she hunts for food on her own".
Samten smiled.
"I always wanted to meet a real Air nomad because I read a lot of stories about your people. You see, I'm a travelling nomad and I have been travelling the world in search of stories, poems and songs". Sorin said.
Samten smiled at Sorin,"Fascinating".
"Yeah, I'm already achieving my dream of writing a biography on the Avatar's life". He said.
"Really? That is interesting. I will see to it that you are provided the essential equipment, plus you could also browse our library as well if you would like". Samten said.
"Your library? Yes, of course!". Sorin gasped in excitement.
Samten smiled at the boy's enthusiasm, it was awhile since he last saw youngsters have any interest in history. Sorin made up for that.
"Shall we go?". Samten asked.
Sorin and the others nodded and they all went outside.
"So, how are we getting to the temple? Don't tell me we're taking the sky bison?!". Sorin said excitedly.
"Yes, we are". Samten said.
"That's okay. You guys go on the bison I will go with Niya". Kyoshi said.
"What?". Sorin,"You can't be serious?".
"Come on, Kyoshi. Flying will be faster". Rangi said.
"No, I think I'll stick to the ground". Kyoshi said, absentmindedly brushing Niya's fur.
"Your shirshu can run up to the mountain, there is a small trail leading up to the mountain. Unfortunately, you can't ride the shirshu there as the trail isn't fit for riding and the breeze could easily knock you off. I would suggest you ride with us". Samten said.
"Please, Kyoshi". Sorin said.
Kyoshi was about to say no but quickly realized that Sorin had done a lot for her over the years, even if she didn't need his help. She could at least do this for his satisfaction.
"Fine". She said.
.....................................
Kyoshi really hated flying. She thought she would be over this once she flew on a dragon with Sorin, it was a happy memory but it didn't help with a phobia of being off the ground. She was so faraway from the earth and she couldn't feel her chi into the ground below, this was too high, too high.
"Are you okay?". Samten asked.
"Yes, I'm fine. I'm just not used to flying". Kyoshi said, making sure there was no fear evident in her voice.
"We flew on a dragon once together". Sorin pointed out,"I thought you would be over this".
"That was only one time". Kyoshi said.
"You flew a dragon together?". Samten asked.
Sorin nodded.
"Yes. It was a Moon Fury one of the most deadliest dragons in the Fire Nation, but Sorin was able to tame it and he flew with Kyoshi on it". Rangi said.
"Amazing". Samten said,"Maybe there's more to you than meets the eye".
Kyoshi nodded her head in agreement. She knew that Sorin was very intelligent and was a prodigy in everything that he did, it was as if the universe had created a perfect human being. He was also a very strong bender. Is that what the fortuneteller meant when she said that Kyoshi would marry a strong bender?
"Don't be silly, Kyoshi. Sorin is your friend and you two have no special connection".
Or did they?