We are Here

"Remember the trick to the vertical climb is to not rush or panic." Shifu shouted up at me over the raging winds that would come and go as we were almost half-way up the stone peak. "Try your best to find previous fingerholds made by the millions who attempted the climb rather than making new ones by bending. Wouldn't want to shift a stone loose and bring the whole temple crashing down on us."

"Yeah I figure I'd be a bit upset as well if my home fell sixteen thousand feet into the canyons," I hooked my left heel up, my thigh against my armpit and lifted myself over a decent size ledge to where I could stand before reaching down to help Shifu up. In order to have a better grip against the face of the miles high pillars we wore rather than shoes, ankle armor to protect only the tops of our feet leaving the bottom and toe area exposed. "So how long do you think the avatar has been gone for, a month perhaps? They might think we were the reason he's gone."

He grabbed my hand and lifted himself next to me regulating his breathing. "I honestly don't know. There wasn't a specific time that was described aside from some time before the attack. Come on, we can rest when we get another quarter of the way up. This is still part of your training after all. No slacking."

Craning my head back I mentally groaned at the remaining distance we had to cover. 'Might as well get this over with rather than prolonging it.' Running my fingers over the jagged rocks I took the lead once more to continue the ascent. "Mph! Well tell me how long it took you to become a master while you were in Ba Sing Se. I have been trying to make a reference for myself on sub-goals to map my progress."

"If that's all you need I say I expect you to reach average to master rank in at least four to six years in total."

"That short of time?! Isn't that reaching the expectancy for a prodigy?" Squinting my eyes I dodged a gliding twig that near hit me in the face.

"In all honesty that's quite a long time. If you were in the fortress city I would be more inclined to agree with you. It took me twelve long years of training while searching for a proficient teacher in order for me to learn how to truly defend myself against another earth bender let alone go head to head against fire nation soldiers riding Komodo Rhinos in the Wulong plains" He wiped a stream of sweat from his brow. "You will be out in the open in constant battle up against some of the fiercest opponents with only your wits as well as your tactical skill. A man who is subject to danger constantly will be far more experienced than a sheltered civilian."

"Komodo Rhinos huh? Guess there are some benefits to having the whole world at war. Have to give it to them that they use some of their resources efficiently, even though most of them seem stupid." I took a few seconds to find the next foothold as I shifted my weight forward.

"Tis the war machine hard at work constructed from the former Fire lord Azulon. He took the time to see the potential vision his father Sozin had paved for his people. Phew! How best could he use the animals, their process to create technology, their bending attributes to further their civilization as well as creating new social cultural practices. His people however bring his ideas to null only due to being highly prejudice in underestimating their enemies."

"....I hate to admit it but thank goodness for that very prejudice. Umph! If we can keep exploiting weaknesses such as those we can bring them down."

Nearing close to four hours of climbing we finally made it to the point of the pillar where enough rock jutted out to where we could sit for a little while.

"Haah....Haaah...*Gulp gulp* Fuuu! I'm getting too old for this." Shifu exclaimed after drinking mouthfuls of water from his pouch.

I was allowing my arms to rest by lightly pressing my palms against my biceps and triceps area. Sweat was now drenching down my entire body from the top of my head down to my....well you get the idea. As far as my hands were concerned broken skin and blisters littered them on the inside including the tips. Rubbing them into the rock beside my leg I coated them in dirt and dust to prevent the moisture from making more. Leaning my back against the wall I took a few minutes to bring my heart rate down by closing my eyes and breathing through my nose slowly. The wind currents have risen to an all time high this far up sweeping our hair in all wild directions .The clouds was as if it was a rushing roaring river just under our feet to where we couldn't even see the ground leading into the mountainous canyons expanse below. As if the whole world was beneath you and you could take in fresh air. Elation. Serenity. Peace.

"Looks like a few nomads have noticed us." Shifu mumbled drawing me from my reprieve. With my gaze looking up I saw a dozen or so figures with reddish wings followed by a sky bison. They were headed to where we were at a moderate speed knowing we didn't have many options to escape.

'Well its either we wait for them to question us or leap off a mile and a half back down. And I would loathe the idea of foregoing the whole purpose of this climb in the first place.'

As they neared closer I noticed there were children my age using gliders with three elders on the back and head of the large sky bison. Shifu nudged me in my side as he stood motioning for me to get ready. Grudgingly I stood side by side with him stretching my legs. Fifteen seconds went by when the bison circled the rock peak twice low enough for us to see monks motioning us to hop on. Peeking to my side I could see Shifu with a playful smirk creeping up.

"Ding ding! Next ride going up to the penthouse!" He placed his hand as if he was tipping a hat which gained a strange look from me. "Psh...Killjoy." Turning around he did a backflip, catching me off guard, through the blanket of white. A few seconds later I spotted the bison flying by with him on the back of it with a smug grin on his face. Shaking my head at his antics I responded with my own. Turning around I faced the wall as he did with my heels as close to the lip of the edge as possible. Placing my arms slightly out I let my weight shift behind me causing me to fall backwards down through the whitish grey mass.

As the wind picked up it carried me further outwards away from the large pillar rushing past. With the pressure coming up from below me I unclenched my teeth and shut my lids. I could feel the resistance change when shifting my shoulders and arms to each side spiraling further and further down. With the wind racing on the sides of my face I gradually opened my eyes to witness the moment of where for five memorable seconds, time seemed to slow down to a crawl as my descent stabled from a spin.

The other kids on their gliders retracted their wings and were diving alongside me each with a deep smile on their faces. I'm not sure how to describe it but it felt quite refreshing, there was no fear of falling. The closest feeling I could relate it to was...feeling...free. Looking around to my side I could see the bison's saddle parallel across from my torso in the process of swooping underneath me. As the moment passed I could feel time catch back up as the gravitational force of the bison lifting us carried all of us up to the temple.

As we landed the three elders nimbly leapt off cushioning their feet with gusts of air. Each of them having intricate arrow tattoos of ancient text as well as the air symbol on their shaved heads as well as the back of their hands.

Getting off the bison I stepped to the one who stood at the forefront as the kids surrounded us getting a chance to see us up close. From what Shifu told me they don't get visitors often, or better yet at all.

"I, the fourth son of Holon the head of the Bàolì clan of the Earth Kingdom, greet the present Council of Elders. May your lives have many days." I bowed to them as they returned the courtesy.

"It has certainly been quite some time since we've had individuals attempt to scale our sacred mountain, let alone willingly leap from them." The one I spoke to had an character of lightheartedness as he presented us with a smile. But that wasn't what stood out to me, what did was he was thin in weight but more than made up for it in height. The robes he and the other two elders wore were different than the younger nomads as they wore small wooden Mala beads around their necks.

"We hope you could shed some light on your visit to this place."

"I apologize for our unannounced stop. We did not wish to be impertinent" Shifu placed his hand on my shoulder. "We have come to request teachings of wisdom. You see my young student is looking to change himself as well as his outlook on life. Upon realizing his search for knowledge I have taken it on myself to set him on the noble path he has chosen, and the best teachers on spirituality that I knew of were those who were in tune with the spirits."

The three men each looked to one another before coming to an unspoken agreement. "You are not mistaken in that regard I can assure you...." The man nodded his head as he tucked his hands behind his back. "Please, come, we can speak further over some Ginseng tea."

~Three hours later~

"You will stay here until the time comes." An air nun showed me to a small room that was bare stone all around. So much to where I could only tell where the bed was made into the wall where a flat rock was carved and a straw pillow was set on top of it.

'The idea of living a minimalistic life with almost no possessions is truly strong here I see.'

"There are countless distractions in everyday life when one is alone. It takes away from their purpose they have set for themselves. This is the reason why our resting areas are regarded as being empty." She seemed to read my reaction clearly. "Just give it time. You'll see."

Going to the 'bed' I saw what seemed to be a toy next to the straw pillow. "Is this a clay turtle? I thought these were to be extinct over a thousand years ago?" Looking to the nun I saw her make a strange expression. Was it sadness?

"A short time ago, someone else once dwelt in this room. He was around your age perhaps even a little older. He....is no longer with us I'm afraid." She turned to leave. "Tomorrow morning we shall begin the stages of teaching you our ways. Rest well."

"Thank you miss..."

"You may call me Nun Lio."

"Thank you Nun Lio."

"You are very much welcome."

As I was left alone I sat down combing my fingers over the figurine inspecting it closer. Placing it on the earth made shelf I laid back with my face to the wall and my knees to my chest. Instead of feeling the hopelessness it felt....familiar. It strangely reminded me of the cold cell I had gotten used to while I was..."Sssuuu.....ssuuu.....zzz..."

~Shifu POV~

As I stood in his doorway I imagined of how Aang would spend his times being in this very same room. I found it amazing in seeing the polarizing aspect of both inhabitants of this room. Aang who was raised here turned into a peaceful young man after his people were driven close to extinction. And my protégé whose whole family lineage and literal birthright were violently taken, outright stolen from him. I've spoken to him on what he could be in the future but I know one day, he is waiting for the day he can enact vengeance for his parents as well as his siblings. Since we began our journey every so often he gets a look as if he's far away. He tries to either ignore or hide it from me on a daily basis. Countless men, women and children had that same look when they step into the world of callous warfare.

"Sleep well, destiny awaits you tomorrow." I whispered to his sleeping back as I made my way to the library.