The Sparrow and the Wolf Cub

Subject: The Sparrow and the Wolf Cub Tue May 22, 2012 11:10 pm

~ Eleven Years Ago ~
Northern Water Tribe

Kanoei ran along the canal, his fur-lined parka seeming to drown him in fur and fabric. His mother had insisted he wear the thing, but it wasn't even that cold out. He always hated it when the fur around the hood tickled his face.

"Whoa!" said more than one person he passed. "Where's he off to in such a hurry?"

Where? Where else? The Outskirts, of course. He always met Sparrow at the last bridge near the western wall, bordering the Outskirts. A bright morning like this? There was plenty of playing to be done before he needed to be back at the school for practice. As he approached, he spotted her.

"Sparrow!" he called, waving.

Subject: Re: The Sparrow and the Wolf Cub Tue May 22, 2012 11:12 pm

HunHun leaned against the thick ice ledge and glared out at the sky. The wind blew lazily and she scowled as the furs of dead animals grazed her face. Animals that used to be alive. HunHun's lips furled into an even deeper frown, she despised wearing furs....they itched and....more importantly she preferred her pets alive instead of dead. The wind picked up and she let it dance around her for a bit. This was what felt like home.

And she mildly hated it.

Turning around and looking behind her, the 5 year old gazed out at the deep blue ocean and sighed. Briefly she closed her eyes and assumed the meditative position she often saw her mother in. Push...pull....push....pull... Her eyebrows sunk and she flared her nostrils, to say the connection was non-existent was n understatement.

Snapping her eyes open, HunHun exhaled and watched as a small gust of wind knocked some loose snow off of the ledge.

Why didn't the spirits make her a water bender? Or none at all?

"Sparrow!"

HunHun jerked to a stand and pivoted, "Kano?!" She blinked and shielded the sun from her eyes. Sure enough, that familiar spikey hair came into view.

"Kano!" She chirped and raced to meet him,careful not accidentally propel herself, "I thought you had extwa class time, what're you doing here??"

Subject: Re: The Sparrow and the Wolf Cub Wed May 23, 2012 12:09 am

Kanoei smiled as he approached his friend.

"I thought we could go play in the snow-flat." he said, pointing at the nearby gate which led out onto the tundra. There was a small sort of snowy plain they played on regularly which was shielded from the harsh winds by a large icy berm. "My dad had to go talk to the chief and my grandfather about something, so he told the advanced students to continue practicing. I'm... er... not old enough yet."

This wasn't true. At least, not entirely. His father had gone off to the chief's palace and the advanced students were practicing in the training hall, but he was supposed to be among them. The forms his father had told them to practice were forms he'd mastered years ago when he was about Hun-Hun's age, the basic set everyone learned first. The practice was intended to take everyone back to their basics. He knew his dad would be unhappy that he hadn't done as he was told, but the prospect of playing instead of going over and over what he already knew better than the back of his hand was a little too good to pass up.

"Want to go?" he asked cheerfully.

Subject: Re: The Sparrow and the Wolf Cub Wed May 23, 2012 1:40 pm

HunHun nodded enthusiastically. her lengthy ponytail bouncing fiercely with the gesture. Rough-housing in the snow flats was probably her most favorite activity next to causing chaos. The reason being that in the snow flats she could actually blast the snow with her airbending, leading most of the villagers to believe that HunHun was in fact just a really crappy waterbender. It suited her just fine, the less they knew of her bending the better.

She tended to stay away from liquid water though; one false move with that and she was screwed beyond redemption. But the snow flats? she mused, Definitely!

"Duh!" HunHun folded her arms and gave him a withering glance, "Course I wanna go, race ya?"

She jogged in place and smirked at him, "Why're you still standing there Kano? S'matter, BearCat got your mojo?" She stooped down and began to pack a sizeable amount of snow into her gloved hands. Another breeze that was chillier than the first blew by and she pulled her hood down.

"First one to get to the tundwa is a rotten penguin egg!"

HunHun aimed the snowball at Kano's face and, with a whoop, took off for the outlands.

Subject: Re: The Sparrow and the Wolf Cub Wed May 23, 2012 4:55 pm

"Hey!" Kanoei said after a moment's stunned silence following being pegged in the face with a snowball. He chased Hun-Hun through the gates and out onto the snow flats. It was a fine day today. Even though the ground and the wind were cold, the sun was shining down with a brilliant warmth. It was the perfect mixture, even though the sun wasn't exactly a waterbender's favorite celestial body...

Of course, they weren't there just to bask in the sun. Sparrow had declared war! It was going to be a fierce one, too. Snowballs flew back and forth, hitting or missing as they may. Kanei managed to pay her back for the sucker-punch with a nicely aimed hit to the back of the head. When all was said and done, they'd both forgotten who had the most points. They collapsed on the thick snow blanket and looked up at the sun.

"I wonder what it's like to be a firebender..." Kanoei said slowly, squinting at the fiery orb overhead. "What it's like to feel a surge of power every time the sun comes up..."

Subject: Re: The Sparrow and the Wolf Cub Thu May 24, 2012 10:37 pm

HunHun propped her elbows up in the snow and kicked her legs to and fro, making a weird snow angel monster. "A firebender..?" She repeated and eyed the sun, "Dunno. Maybe it's a tingly feeling that wriggles everywhere like the live fish papa catches sometimes. Or maybe, maybe it kinda burns like the heat from the fires at our drum dances?" She closed her eyes and stifled a giggle at the memory. Anokki had often taken she and her brother down to the outskirts to learn ice fishing. Mikka, being the show off that he was, would always try to use his shoddy waterbending to catch more than HunHun. "If we waited on you we'd all starve, because your waterbending is so crappy!" He'd snicker.

And HunHun, being the tomboy that she was would simply push him in the water and watch him flail around. Well either that or she'd dive in head-first herself to try and snag a few. Fortunately their father was an excellent swimmer, because the siblings would've been dead by now. So it would go with Anokki showing them the ropes, Mikka showing off, HunHun doing something incredibly stupid and then the two of them would be at each other's throats. Then the loving father would sigh, yank them apart and then drag them back home to discipline them.

HunHun's lips quirked into a smile, 'Papa might actually take us down their today!'

She snapped her head in Kanoei's direction, "Kano, you're a good bender right? Show me how to bend." She didn't even care how ridiculous she sounded. HunHun was GOING to waterbend, and she'd relish her brother's expression. Afterall, stupid Mikka and his stupid waterbending wasn't special.....the spirits just mixed up her element. She'd get it right, and she'd show 'em.

Subject: Re: The Sparrow and the Wolf Cub Fri May 25, 2012 8:22 pm

"What?!" Kanoei said, taken aback. "Why do you want to know that?"

That was something of a stupid question, but he was surprised enough to ask it. Who wouldn't want to know how to waterbend? In any case, he knew the why. Mikka. He and Sparrow spent quite a lot of time together. He'd seen Mikka at his gloating more than once. He wasn't a bad bender, however Kanoei understood why she was eager to match up. He didn't have any brothers, but he understood what it was like trying to match up against a grand-stander. As he was the master's son, many of the older students were eager to show him up. It wasn't a good feeling when someone was trying to prove themselves better than you.

Subject: Re: The Sparrow and the Wolf Cub Fri May 25, 2012 8:59 pm

HunHun stood up and put her hand on her little girl hip confidently, "Because I'm going to beat stupid Mikka in ice-fishing, and waterbending is the best way to do it!" She punched her tiny fist in her palm and sweat dropped when a blast of air sent a snowball flying towards his face.

"Sorry!" She cried nervously. HunHun rubbed the back of her neck ferociously and gave a sheepish smile. This was starting off horrible and embarrassing already. Well, at least she hadn't blasted him into the ocean or something. That'd be terrible.

'Just you wait brother of mine,'She sneered, 'I'll show you who's the better bender between you and me. Kano's gunna teach me, at least I know my moves won't be sloppy.' The wind began to pick up around them and sprayed flecks of snow across the icy tundra. HunHun's hood flew off of her head and her hair ties slapped her in her face.

"Pretend you didn't see that," She blushed and twiddled her thumbs.

Subject: Re: The Sparrow and the Wolf Cub Fri May 25, 2012 9:22 pm

The winds were fierce... too fierce. But if she was this determined to learn bending, who was he to refuse her? It cost him nothing at all but more time spent with his closest friend in the world to teach her what she wanted to know. Putting aside his thoughts about this unnatural wind, he nodded.

"Okay." he said, smiling. "Let's teach you the basics!"

Kanoei walked out into the nearest open, flat space he could find. He beckoned for Sparrow to follow him as he entered his stance. It was a basic stance, to be sure, but it had been in the family for two-thousand years. There was a reason they kept it around. As soon as she was in position, he began to explain.

"Waterbending is about fluid motion." he said, nodding. "You have to behave like water, unrelenting and able to slip through even the tiniest openings. You can use this philosophy in battle."

It was a speech he'd heard his father give word for word, over and over again. He began cycling through the kata he knew and the water of the snow and ice around him began to dance and flow into fluid. He slowly returned to the beginning stance and looked to her.

"Give the first one a try." he made the motion again, making a wave form on the icy surface. It was simply known as the Wave. He'd heard tales that the ancient masters were able to make their waves many yards long and taller still. That was bending.

Subject: Re: The Sparrow and the Wolf Cub Sat May 26, 2012 12:35 pm

HunHun followed him obediently and watched him slip into the stance with earnest. She furrowed her brows but copied him anyway, her ears locked in on him when he started his speech on "the fine arts of bending".

"Waterbending is about fluid motion." He nodded. "You have to behave like water, unrelenting and able to slip through even the tiniest openings. You can use this philosophy in battle."

HunHun watched him with rapt attention as he went through the kata set flawlessly. That annoying feeling she usually got when watching Mikka wrenched itself in her gut and she did her best to swallow her anger. Kanoei had went from stance to motion and made with water dance around him from solid to liquid without ANY effort whatsoever! After he repeated the set a second time HunHun punched her fist in her palm and gave a curt nod.

'Alright, first step!' She copied the same stance again and went through the first motion. Her muscles tightened and she frowned, 'This doesn't feel right.'

Waterbending is about fluid motion......fluid motion.....unrelenting....

She glanced back at him and smiled sheepishly before slowly moving onto the next motion.The snow just sat there, mocking her. HunHun frowned, why the Tui wasn't it acting right?

'But Air....' Came a gentle voice tickling her ears, 'Is intangible. Wild and free, it cannot be restrained.....'

HunHun shook her head back and forth and chewed on her lip ferociously. Her eyebrows were furrowed so tight that beads of sweat began to pool around her forehead. She did the next motion and closed her eyes shut in anticipation.

The snow remained on the ground.

"It's not working," She said aloud, almost exasperated, "The snow won't move!"

'Again!'

HunHun went through the kata set again and glared out at the tundra, willing the snow to at least melt or do anything, but it wouldn't.

'Water is unrelenting.....able to slip through the tiniest cracks....'

HunHun stomped through the next motion and growled, her muscles tightened. This was not right.

'The wind, little one, cannot be contained. Like fire, it does not need a source. It cannot be subdued or molded. It is independent, never fluid. The air makes it's own path.'

She was embarrassed, she was embarrassed and completely frustrated. This did not make sense; Kanoei did it effortlessly and made the water change state AND into a wave. HunHun copied him the best she could, but it was just....wrong. It didn't feel right.

"ARGH!"

In a final fit of anger HunHun abandoned the kata altogether and screamed as the wind died down around them. Not even thinking, she slammed her fists down toward the tundra beneath them. A mighty blast of air shot forth and propelled her 10 to 15 feet into the sky.

Subject: Re: The Sparrow and the Wolf Cub Sat May 26, 2012 1:31 pm

"Whoa!" Kanoei said, stumbling backward as the blast sent the snow on the ground in every direction, blasting clean a patch of solid ice beneath. He watched her soar into the sky and drift there for a second.

He didn't think about it much. An instinct he usually reserved for keeping himself from falling a great distance kicked in. He bend a large area of ice and snow into a whirlpool of water, sending it skyward in a great stream to retrieve her. As the water encircled her, swirling around gently, he commanded it to bring her slowly down, which it did. He found he was breathing heavily and sweating profusely by the time she had her feet back on solid ground. That had taken quite a tole on his energy. He felt the way he often did an hour before it was his bed time -- exhausted but defiantly awake.

The water from the great spout he had flowed off in every direction over the tundra, drenching the snow. He bent the water from her clothing and then froze the water solid for a few feet all around, so they weren't trudging around in a puddle. When he finally was able to approach her, he couldn't help but wear a broad smile, despite his exhaustion.

"I think I know why you can't waterbend." he said, still grinning. He couldn't believe it. All this time? "You're an airbender!"

Subject: Re: The Sparrow and the Wolf Cub Sat May 26, 2012 6:24 pm

So this was what it felt like.....

What it felt like to be walking on air.

For the first time in Hun-Hun's life she felt a rush, and it wasn't like the rush when you're zooming along the tribal streets. It was different from when she answered a question right, when she went penguin sledding, or when she and Kanoei were causing mischief and all types of mayhem.

No, this was the rush her mother felt. When Lihua used her powerful bending to blow the fish from the water, when her mother zoomed through the Water Tribe on her air scooter, with Mikka or Hun-Hun latched on her back and roaring with laughter. That gleam she noticed every time her mother touched down from a joyride in the sky.

Now she knew.

Hun-Hun burst into a fit of giggles, "This is so COOL!" The wind flipped her upside down and she peered down at the tundra. Kano looked so small! She wavered a bit in the air, her heart leaping into her throat. "I'm gunna fall!"

As if reading her distress, the winds compressed themselves around her and left her hovering in the air. Kanoei began doing a funny dancing move and her eyes widened as a column of water surrounded her, bringing her back to him.

Hun-Hun rolled onto the tundra and stared up at the sky, her best-friend's grinning face looming over him. "You mean, you don't think I'm a weirdo?" She wondered aloud. When HunHun sat up and looked at him, expression unchanged, her lips split into a smile so wide it reached from ear to ear.

The little airbender beamed,"I guess I am!" HunHun shot herself to her feet and the gust sprayed sheets of snow all over them and she giggled.

"HUN-HUN!"

HunHun choked on her own laughter and turned around. The color visibly drained from her face and the pit of her stomach burned. There, standing by the gates of the western wall was her brother.

Aside from shock, he looked pretty angry.

Mikka openly gaped, "What....did you....did you just AIRBEND?"

The 5 year old was at a loss for words, and so Mikka answered for her. His expression hardened and he glared at Kanoei, the enmity rolled off of him in waves. He took his sister by the wrist and looked her square in the eyes.

"What are you doing out here? Mom and Dad told me to watch you and I CAN'T if you keep disappearing whenever I turn my back on you. Can't you do anything right?" He tugged on her wrist for a little more emphasis and she snatched away from him.

"Shuddup, I don't have to listen'na you."

"Oh yes you do," Mikka retorted, "Because if you don't then I'll tell dad that you can airbend-"

"Liar!"

Mikka sneered, feeling incredibly empowered right now, "Yep! And then mom and dad'll have to send you all the way to one of those stupid temples....for the rest of your life. And you'll never see loser Kanoei here again. Right Kanoei?"

Subject: Re: The Sparrow and the Wolf Cub Sat May 26, 2012 7:31 pm

"Stop it!" Kanoei said, stepping between Mikka and Hun-Hun. "Leave her alone."

He totally ignored the insult. He didn't really care if Mikka insulted him. Mikka was bigger than he was despite being a year younger, but that didn't change a thing. Waterbenders fought with water, and they both knew who the more talented and more powerful waterbender between them was, even if Mikka wouldn't admit it. There was a reason that Kanoei was born to the Aowaka Clan. Water bowed to his will the way a man would bow to his king.

Still, that didn't stop Mikka from thinking that he was more than a match for him. Mikka swelled with anger and indignation at Kanoei's challenge.

"What are you going to do, huh?" Mikka said, poking him in the chest. Kanoei looked up into his face, his own twisted with defiant determination. His sapphire eyes were like little razor-sharp blades that were just itching to strike out at Mikka. "You going to use waterbending? You know your dad would kill you."

He poked Kanoei in the chest again.

"Go on then." he continued. "You going to stop me?"

"If I have to." Kanoei said defiantly.

"Yeah." Mikka said, sneering. "I bet your grandmother said the exact same thing to that firebender before he snuffed her."

Kanoei felt as though he'd been punched in the gut. His face contorted in rage. Mikka seemed to realize immediately that he'd gone far too far, but if he had intended to back-pedal, he didn't get the chance. A powerful blast of water shot upward out of the ice, sending him flying no small distance. All thought of simply defending Hun-Hun was gone from his mind. All he wanted to do now was hurt Mikka, and unfortunately for Mikka, he had the power to do it.

Kanoei brought streams of water up from the ice and let them form into whips in his hands, moving in on Mikka with a look of cold fury in his eyes.

Subject: Re: The Sparrow and the Wolf Cub Sat May 26, 2012 7:55 pm

Mikka tumbled backward onto the tundra and banged his head against the ice. Spit shot out from his mouth as he bounced across the snow. Landing on his face, the waterbender scowled and slapped his hands together.

This meant war.

He charged forward, hands flailing behind him as he called the snow to form into water. HunHun intercepted him before he could strike.

"No!" She moved to grab his hands but he shoved her out of the way. HunHun tripped over her own feet and tackled him, the two of them rolled around in the snow.

"Quit it you guys before somebody gets hurt!"

"Hurt huh?" He sneered and knocked her off of him, "You taking sides with this loser? You're supposed to be on my team Hun, we're family!"

HunHun kicked him in the back of his knee and rolled backwards, "I'm not on ANYbody's team. You're being mean, both of you shouldn't even be fighting!"

"She's right," A firm voice cut through the wind like a knife, "And you will stop, NOW."

Mikka and HunHun stopped abruptly and looked up into the narrowed eyes of three adults.

"Uh oh...."

Subject: Re: The Sparrow and the Wolf Cub Sat May 26, 2012 8:29 pm

Kanoei's father was standing there, the snow swirling around at his feet. He was furious and it was manifesting itself. Hun-Hun's parents were there as well, though they looked more concerned than angry. Kanoei realized all too late what this looked like -- it looked like he was attacking a defenseless Mikka. What little water Mikka had managed to conjure to his aid had quickly fallen back to the ground when he had seen the adults there.

"Mikka!" Kanoei's father, Tako said. "Bring your sister over here."

"What?!" Kanoei was outraged. He didn't want Mikka anywhere near Hun-Hun after how he had behaved. "Father, he was--!"

"Be silent!" his father growled, cutting him off.

"But he came here and was just going to drag Sparrow away!" Kanoei argued. "And he spoke of Gran's dea--!"

"SILENCE!" his father roared. "You have done enough!"

The snow all around in swirling shapes. It almost looked like some strange, white fire. His father was staring down at him with eyes full of fury. They were powerful. They seemed to control him, keeping him from moving at all. All Kanoei could do was stand there, frozen with fear at what his father might do.

Subject: Re: The Sparrow and the Wolf Cub Sun May 27, 2012 7:46 pm

Mikka flinched at Tako's sudden outburst. Tiredly he leaned on his knees and pushed himself up and gently pulled his sister to her feet by her shoulders. Hun-Hun winced at the sudden shift and bit her lip; He locked eyes with her briefly before turning to face the grown-ups.

"Mikka," Anokki said sternly, "What is the meaning of this?"

"I'm sorry," Mikka murmured, his eyes contrite with sorrow, "I went looking for Hun just like you said father. When I went to fetch her she wasn't in her room, Kipa said she was gone!"

At that moment little Kipa giggled behind her mother's hand, "Uh-oh!"

Mikka slumped his shoulders and lowered his eyes to the ground. Hun-Hun flared her nostrils and snuck a glare at him, that fool could act.

Lihua, who to her credit held an unreadable expression, raised an eyebrow, "And then what happened?"

Mikka looked up sheepishly, "I saw her out by herself and when I was about to call her Kanoei came and chased her out into the tundra. She started screaming so I came after them and....." The seven year old's breath hitched and he looked them square in the eye,

"I saw him hit her! Hun was trying to waterbend but she couldn't really put up a fight cuz she's so small! And then Kanoei had her wrapped up in like this....this water column thingy and I thought he was gonna' throw her or something!"

"What!" Hun-Hun protested, "That's no-"

Anokki cut his daughter his signature glare and she clamped her mouth shut.

Mikka continued on anyway, his tone exasperated,"I'm sorry Sifu Tako! I didn't know what else to do! Hun-Hun's my baby sister and I'm 'posed to protect her. Just look at her face!"

He lifted his sister's chin up to show a nasty scrape on the side of her forehead and a busted lip. Whether it was from the rough snowball fight or when she was fighting with Mikka, HunHun couldn't remember. She didn't even care, Mikka was such a liar!

"And then when I told him to leave her alone he tried to fight me. I'm not an as good a water-bender as him but I just didn't want him to hit my sister no more!"

HunHun's eyes widened like dinner plates and she jerked her head out of his grasp. "No! Papa that's not wha-"

"HunHun," Lihua stooped to her level and gave her a warm smile, "Come. Why don't we go and look at that scrape of yours and see how we can make it better hm?"

She gently took her hand and began to lead her away from the group, but not before turning and regarding the rest of them. Her soft grey eyes landed on Kanoei specifically and glimmered for a moment.

HunHun looked back at them and resisted the urge to pelt her stupid brother with a blast of air. This was all wrong! The horrible thing about it was that Mikka's story made sense, and no matter what they said the situation would still look bad.

As she was being led away, the wind current gave her snippets of her father and Tako's conversation.

"I think that, perhaps it is best if young Kanoei and my daughter do not see each other any more. In the long run it may curb both of their mischievous streaks......."

ooOOoo

"There, all better!" Lihua beamed. It quickly turned into a frown.
"What's wrong Hun?"

HunHun jutted her lip out looked her mother in the eyes, "Mikka's a storyteller! Kanoei didn't hit me, it was all a story!"

Lihua remained silent for a long while before replying with a solemn, "I know."

Subject: Re: The Sparrow and the Wolf Cub Sun May 27, 2012 8:38 pm

As Hun-Hun was led away by her mother, the two fathers turned their attentions upon one another.

"I think that, perhaps it is best if young Kanoei and my daughter do not see each other any more. In the long run it may curb both of their mischievous streaks......."

Kanoei's mouth gaped open. The injustice! How could he believe that story?! It was obviously a lie. Hun-Hun's father, Anokki had known Kanoei all his life. He knew he wouldn't do that. Kanoei's gaze moved to his own father, desperately pleading with him to see through this ruse. He was about to learn a lesson about being careful of one's wishes...

"Anokki." Tako said, turning his gaze upon the other man. "My son is many things. Today, he was a fool. But he is neither prone to meaningless fits of temper nor abuse of his friends. I am not blind to the friendship my son and your daughter share. It is unlikely that he would have done anything of the sort."

"And the waterbending?" Anokki said. "Look at this place, Tako! You can see the bent ice and snow!"

"There are many possible explanations." Tako said. "It is obvious we cannot trust the testimony of either of them."

"Father!" Kanoei started.

"Enough!" Tako growled, making Kanoei fall silent. "As I was saying, their stories are suspect if only for the fact that they contradict each other and each cast their tellers in the best of lights."

"Then what do you suggest?" Anokki said, folding his arms.

"You may deal with your son however you wish." Tako said, his eyes narrowing almost imperceptibly. Kanoei's heart sank. He knew that look. That was the you-broke-the-rules-and-now-you'll-pay look. "However, your son is no longer welcome in the Aowaka School. Ours is not an art to be bandied about at the whim of the likes of him."

Subject: Re: The Sparrow and the Wolf Cub Sun May 27, 2012 9:19 pm

Anokki's eyes narrowed to dangerous slits, "Hn. So the rumors are indeed true then."
He turned away from Tako and headed back toward the city. Anokki honestly didn't have time for this man and his pompous bullcrap. He had a war meeting to attend, troops to speak with and a letter to send off to a friend in the Southern tribe. As far he was concerned Mikka wasn't going back, and it would be even better if Hun-Hun never spent time around them ever again. Anokki stopped only to glance, calling sharply for his son to follow him. Mikka followed him obediently and smirked inwardly.

This was just too good of a show for him.

ooOOoo

Lihua sighed and watched Tui and La listlessly. She was seated on the grass in the sanctuary after meditating for hours on end. Her head pounded and she closed hr eyes briefly, rubbing her arrowed forehead.

"Spirits know that I love that man but he can be so....stupid sometimes!" She threw her hands in the air for emphasis. Lihua fell back onto the grass and stared up at the sky, that argument hadn't gone well at all last night.

"Ban her from seeing him? Do you hear yourself? We live in the same tribe they're bound to run into each other!"

"I don't care Lihua; You know as well as I do what he meant when he made that statement. It's because his mother is an airbender!"

"......Anokki....it's because your son is a liar......and a bad one. Fortunately I gave him the whipping of his life."

"So you're siding with him?!"

"I'm not siding with ANYONE. You sound ridiculous!"

"I'M THE ONE THAT'S RIDICULOUS?"

"YES! And until you come to your senses consider yourself sleeping on the bear rugs tonight!"

Lihua pinched the bridge of her nose and started for the tunnel leading back to the city. Normally banishing him to the bear rugs knocked some sense into that thick skull of his. Lihua grimaced, her husband was so easily roused into hysterics! She needed to talk to him, but she had to do something else first, a few something actually.

ooOOoo

"And so, I believe it's good for you to know that I managed to knock some sense into my husband. Mikka is being rightly punished for his actions and I am apologizing greatly on their behalf." Lihua dipped her head forward and looked Tako in the eyes, her expression grave.

"In effect," She continued, now smiling like a child in Kanoei's direction, "I do believe it unfair for the two of them to be barred of friendship. And with that, I brought you this..."

A squeal sounded as Hun-Hun propelled herself from behind her mother and flew straight into Kanoei, knocking them both over. She scrambled all over the little waterbender and planted a kiss on his cheek.

She then, with Kanoei almost in a choke-hold, turned her big blue-grey eyes on Tako, "Me and mama are really sorry Sifu Tako. Please don't be mean to Kano he's my bestfriend!"

In the meantime Lihua just sat there in shock, her daughter....was an airbender!

Subject: Re: The Sparrow and the Wolf Cub Mon May 28, 2012 11:24 am

Kanoei grunted as he was bowled over backward by Hun-Hun, but he was beside himself with glee that they were together again. He laughed as she scrambled all over him and when she kissed him on the cheek, he actually blushed. Pushing himself back up into a sit, his neck firmly in quite a good choke hold on her part, his gaze turned to his father, who was sitting there, as stoic as ever. The only thing that could keep them apart now was Tako and whether or not he was willing to forgive this little event.

But Kanoei knew a secret that most other people didn't know about his father -- the man had a soft heart. Even if he exuded an aura of stubborn indifference, there was no way that he would refuse such a heart-felt apology. It also didn't hurt that his mother, Suna, was working in the next room. Both he and his father knew her good ears. In all likelihood, she was eavesdropping on this little conversation. If Tako denied it now, he would have a dragon to answer to later. She might have been born in the Earth Kingdom, but she had the temper of a Fire Lord...

"I think..." Tako said slowly, his gaze passing from Hun-Hun and Kanoei to Lihua. "All things considered, this entire event was an unfortunate one. Friendship with your daughter means much to my son, of that much I am sure. And, while I agree with Anokki that separating them might curb a few of their more miscreant behaviors," Kanoei averted his eyes guiltily. "keeping them apart is a cruel punishment for such an insignificant crime."

Kanoei beamed. That was that! They weren't going to be separated. He couldn't have been happier in that moment.

"Furthermore," Tako continued. "I have spoken to Kanoei about exactly what happened and I believe he has told me enough of the truth of the situation to be getting on with. Banishing Mikka from the school was, I believe, something of a mistake. I realize he is not my student, but even the great masters amongst our tribe learn from the wisdom of my forefathers. I cannot take a part of his culture away from him for one foolish mistake. If he admits that mistake and apologizes, he will be allowed to return to the school as he pleases. Kanoei will do the same," he turned his gaze toward Kanoei. "Won't you?"

"Yes!" Kanoei said eagerly. He was, perhaps, a little too eager in this. Frankly, if it took fighting a polar-bear dog to put this behind him, he'd have done it. An apology was no problem. He was just happy to have Sparrow back.

Subject: Re: The Sparrow and the Wolf Cub Mon May 28, 2012 9:16 pm

The moment Tako dismissed the incident, Hun-Hun found herself flying off of Kanoei and sailing through the air like a ring-tailed lemur. She latched onto Tako and tried to wrap her small arms around his broad chest with all of her might. When that didn't work, she settled for scrambling all over him until she gripped her arms around his neck in an affectionate choke hold.

"Xie Xie!" She chirped and grinned widely, thanking him in the little knowledge of the Air Nomad's tongue that she knew, ""Wo ai ni Xie Xie Sifu!"

Lihua sweat-dropped with embarrassment and let out a sheepish laugh. She strode over to Tako and plucked her daughter up from off him. Hun-Hun did nothing but hug her mother tightly before scrambling away from her and zipping back to Kanoei.

To tackle and kiss him again.

A short, sharp breeze blew around Lihua before her eyes hardened and she whipped her head sharply behind her. She pursed her lips together, "Mikka, Lai!" A few minutes passed by before the young waterbender sauntered into the center-room. Hun-Hun briefly noticed that her brother had a slight limp in his stride and winced with every step.

She couldn't help but turn away from everyone's eyes and grin wickedly.

Mikka stopped before his mother and didn't dare meet her eyes, "Ne, Ma?"

Lihua's gaze did not waver, "You will apologize, now."

Mikka threatened to jut his lip out and fought for a reply, "W-Wo bu dong-"
"NOW."
The seven year old slowly willed himself to face the grandmaster and dipped his head."Ne,Sifu Tako.....dui bu qi-"

"Bie zhe yang, Or I will make it worse."

At this Mikka stiffened and he clasped his hands together, "I am extremely sorry Master Tako, what I did was really stupid and really wrong. I shouldn't have lied and I p-promise that I'll never do it again!"

[OOC: XieXie= Thank you. Wo Ai Ni= I love you! Lai=Come! (command) Ne, Ma? =Yes mama? Wo bu dong= I don't understand/B-but I! Dui bu qi= I'm severely sorry. Bie Zhe Yang=Don't be like this (command/threat).]

Subject: Re: The Sparrow and the Wolf Cub Mon May 28, 2012 9:46 pm

"Hen Hao." Tako nodded, massaging his neck slightly. It had been awhile since he'd had a child hanging from his neck and he'd hardly been ready for it. "Your apology is accepted, Mikka. Kanoei?"

Kanoei nodded. He stood up and bowed to Mikka, taking care to bow just a bit deeper. He wasn't one to try and one-up anyone, but he certainly wasn't going to let Mikka seem more respectful than he did. The liar!

Apologies should not be given lightly, Noei. he heard his grandfather's voice say in the back of his mind. When you apologize to someone, you must feel your mistake in your very soul...

He peeked up at Mikka quickly and then put his dislike for him as far out of his mind as possible. He had reacted badly to Mikka's words. He had to forgive him and move on... and yet...

"I'm..." he said slowly. "I, uh..."

What's the matter? said a little voice in his head. He knew it well. It always spoke up to give him a good, harsh kick whenever he felt down. It was his personal pet peeve. Just say it. 'Sorry.' What's so difficult about it?

Kanoei slowly straightened up and looked around. His eyes fell on Hun-Hun and he felt a horrible pang of guilt. Mikka might have been able to apologize just like that. He thought he could as well. But he couldn't. It didn't matter what the cost would be. He so wanted to just say it, but his heart wouldn't let him. He hated Mikka for what he had said...

"I..." he repeated slowly, hanging his head. "Can't."

"Kanoei, apologize!" Tako said as Suna emerged from the next room. She was looking at her son with a concerned look in her eyes. He managed one look at her before he turned.

"I just can't."

"Kanoei..." Suna said slowly, stepping toward him. However, the moment she did, he darted from the room, holding his arm up to his face to stem the silent tears now flowing from his eyes.

(Translation: Hen Hao - Very well / very good.)

Subject: Re: The Sparrow and the Wolf Cub Tue Jul 03, 2012 9:01 pm

Lihua followed the small boy as he tore away from the room, her catty grey eyes lowering a fraction in his wake. Unbeknownst to the rest of the adults in the room, Lihua had an inkling to what may have sent Kanoei running...to what may have barred him from blessing her son with his forgiveness. And though what Mikka had said was dreadfully out of line, though it was bad form of Kanoei to leave....she honestly did not blame him.

Lihua ghosted down the hallway of her home and rounded the corner to her children's rooms. As she floated by the one closest to the entrance, a guttural banging sound resounding through the doorway that was a jar. Lihua halted and peered inside. Hun-Hun was standing atop her rolled up furs with her small hands wrapped around a stuffed seal. Her was contorted into a nasty pout and her bluish-grey eyes were set on something at the same end of the room. Lihua inched in a touch and found a rather sloppy drawing hastily tacked onto the wall. It was a huge circle on a stick body with grey dots for eyes and chocolate brown hair pulled back into a wolf tail.

Was that supposed to be her brother?

"Stupid Mikka and your stupid stories!" Hun-Hun screamed, well more like squeaked, and chucked the stuff seal at the picture. She maneuvered her hands in a spiral motion, (When in the world did she learn that??) and created an air current that sucked the discarded toys to her. Picking up a stuffed bison, Hun-Hun pitched it and hit her "brother" square in the nose.

"Plbbbt! You big dummy!"

Her mother decided that this was her cue. "Hun..."
The tiny girl gave an eep and accidentally propelled herself behind her buckskin toy chest. Lihua suppressed a chuckle and paced into the room. Her eyes swept over the piled up toys and her daughter's slightly sweaty forehead. Why were her children so violent? Hopefully Kipe wouldn't grow up and adopt the oldests' violent tendencies.

"Mama! I...was just....um..."
"No need to explain my little lemur. I...can see from your little drawing there what you were doing, mind telling me what this is all about?"
Hun-Hun glanced up at her mother and looked into her deep grey eyes. Her mother's stare, though gentle, was unnerving...as it always was. No matter how her family tried to keep something underwraps, those eyes tended to rip the burden from you. In other words, HunHun sang like a canary. She told her about everything from the start of the day to Mikka showing and what he said to get the fight started.

"I beg your pardon?"
The little airbender sucked in a breath, not really wanting to have to re-repeat the details again,"He made of Kano's gram-gram a'cuz she's dead and stuff. Cuz she got killed by a fiyuh-bendaw!"
Lihua's jaw tightened, "Hun-Hun, my little lemur, why don't you put your toys away and work on your characters okay? Better yet, go and keep Kipa company, she's been missing you all day."

Hun-Hun twiddled her thumbs and looked up with tinted cheeks, "Am I in trouble Mama?"
Lihua's eyes softened, "No honey, but I need you to go play with Kipa okay? Dont worry about the toys for now, Mama needs to go speak with Daddy for a minute."

Hun-Hun suddenly found herself looking into her mother's knowing eyes again, "You know what, Hun? Kano needs his best friend now more than ever, don't you think?"

Hun-Hun nodded, "Uh-huh."
Lihua smiled, "So go and check on him and see if he's okay, alright my little lemur?"
The 5 year old instantly brightened, "Okay!" She propelled herself forward with a jet of air and took off down a random hallway, her tiny voice squeaking in the household.
"KANO WHERE ARE JOO?! I'M COMING TO WESCUE YOU NOW!"

When she deemed the child was out of earshot, Lihua met Tako and Suna's eyes,"I believe this is something you need to hear, At least to understand Kanoei's predicament."

She rounded on her eldest instantly , "Mikka, Lai!"
The boy trudged forward and faced his mother, "Y-yes mama?"
Lihua fixed her son a hard look and slid her eyes from him to Tako and Suna. "Tell them what you said Mikka, and tell them the truth."

"I...I....um...."

Subject: Re: The Sparrow and the Wolf Cub Wed Jul 04, 2012 9:54 pm

"I see." Tako nodded slowly, stroking his chin thoughtfully as Mikka concluded his confession. "So Kanoei was telling the truth about what you said. You realize how incredibly deeply that insult must have cut him, don't you, Mikka? Of all the mentors my son has had in his short life, his grandmother was his most treasured."

He sighed. This wasn't good.

"Lihua," Suna said, looking quite worried. "I'm afraid to say that Kano is not going to forgive Mikka easily for this. I do not believe he has even fully recovered from the loss of his grandmother. To have that loss thrown in his face... it must have been very painful for him..."

"The simple fact of the matter is that I couldn't make Kano apologize for what he did to Mikka even if I wanted to. I'm sorry to say I find it very difficult to forgive him for this myself. When Kanoei first made the claim, I had assumed he was exaggerating."

"You know he would never--!" Suna began incredulously.

"However," Tako continued holding up a hand to stop her. "I was mistaken and admit that in my anger I did not consider the facts in their entirety. Suna is right. It will not be easy for Kanoei to forgive this..."

~~~~~

"KANO WHERE ARE JOO?! I'M COMING TO WESCUE YOU NOW!"

Kano was sitting in the corner of his room. He was hugging his knees pulled up against his chest, resting his chin upon them. He'd sought the shelter of solitude in the only place he knew it would be available to him in the ancestral halls of his family. When he heard Sparrow's voice, he looked around at the door, debating internally whether he should call out or not. He was teetering on the edge of deciding not to when his mouth made the decision for him.

"H-Hun..." he called out timidly. He would have been surprised if the word escaped the room, it was spoken in such a tiny voice. However, he didn't follow it up with a repeat. He still wasn't sure he even wanted the company right now...

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