Chapter 27: Warrior (3)

Chapter 27: Warrior (3)Chapter 27: Warrior (3)

"Hey, paint at that spot!"

"No, that spot!"

A group of giggling children surrounded the wooden sculpture erected between the settlement's entrance as two men on wooden ladders redid the paint. Nik wandered to the area after noticing the commotion once he walked downhill into the heart of the settlement.

"Nik?" Katara was shopping by the stall. Seeing him, she walked up with small bags hooked around her fingers and a basket full of dried meat and spices in her arms.

"Hey, here, let me take some of this," Nik picked the basket from Katara's arms and then looked at the two men refurbishing the statue of a woman with long brown hair. They painted her face white with red marks extended past eyeshadows, just like the Kyoshi Warriors' attire. A golden headdress adorned her forehead, and she similarly held two unfurled war fans to the current generation of warriors.

"She's Avatar Kyoshi that the villagers talk about. It's funny thinking of Aang as a muscular woman," Katara smiled as Nik chuckled.

"That's a lot of stuff you've bought," Nik looked at her hands, more interested in her purchases as she couldn't help but take a deep breath.

"I'm tired of gruel and fish stew in the village... and I haven't tried cooking other things. So this will be a new experience for me."

"Oh! Hey girls, fancy seeing the two of you with fruits, meat, and veggies."

Sokka came snickering as Nik looked back. He could understand if it was a child or a teenager constantly making girl jokes, but Sokka truly liked to milk that particular cow. Aang made stupid decisions despite being deceptively wise, and Sokka was more than intelligent and cunning despite being childish.

'Maybe he should try milking the bull sometimes... nope, Esta was right, even if I hate her guts. Never make puns...' Nik closed his eyes, having a moment of silence for himself, and then looked at Sokka, "So? Did you find anything interesting near the ports?"

"Why?" Sokka remarked sarcastically, "So you can rush your ass out of the mess Aang might get into after your advice?"

"Sokka!" Katara frowned as Nik smirked. "I was just interested. Even if I wanted to leave, I don't have any money, remember? And besides Aang, I don't expect anyone else to take me to the mainland."

Sokka shrugged, "I was just kidding, don't take it seriously. We were all tense before breakfast. But no, I found nothing interesting near the Ports."

"So, we're here for some time until Aang makes up his mind," Nik muttered, looking towards the hill. Beyond the Chieftain's cottage is the Kyoshi Warrior's training dojo. He was interested in learning how to defend himself after encountering Suki's group since Kyoshi Warriors held a charming advantage over Sokka's guidance—technique.

"So? Where's Aang?"

"-- lp me!"

An echo attracted the trio as they looked up. Aang flew past them on his glider while a group of girls rushed past the trio, chasing after him.

"Huh... maybe this will set him straight. If he's running from girls then god forbid he encounters any tough monster further down the road," Nik mumbled as Sokka agreed with a chuckle.

"Anyways, I'll go to the cottage where the Kyoshi Warriors train. Suki said that she might just teach me some skills," Nik looked at the basket, "To the chief's house?"

"Sure," Katara nodded.

"Wait! You'll pick a bunch of women in make-up over me?" Sokka quickly followed.

"I'm not picking anyone." Nik inclined his head, "We're here only temporarily, right? I can try and learn a few things and then return to your wise guidance," he replied with ease.

"No way, nuh-uh!" Sokka snorted, "I'll test them myself. Maybe they're trying to make a fool of you. Katara knows it the best—women can be mean and dangerous. Heck! Even Aang knows it now, or he wouldn't be running!"

"Gliding," Katara corrected, "And Sokka's right. Maybe the Kyoshi Warriors have something else in mind, you know. I will come with you two. If they're teaching something, I want to learn, too."

Nik shrugged. Both of them were right, and Suki did seem oddly giddy while inviting him. He would characterize this as his charm, but there was also a chance he may have irked Suki by devouring her fans. So it was fine if the siblings wanted to tag along. One was an experienced fighter with a few smart-ass comments about women, and the other one happened to be a woman—balancing each other out—as all things should be.

--- Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

Alongside Sokka and Katara, Nik walked uphill to the larger cottage. It was built better than the other residences in the village. A sturdier roof and a thicker platform barely rose from one side due to the slope that gave stability to the cottage. The sound of rhythmic movements of clothes and the sharp edges of the war fans unfurled and used echoed through the closed doors.

"Go on, you said you wanted to test them," Nik looked at Sokka, happy to let the mighty Chieftain test the waters.

"Damn right, I do," Sokka narrowed his eyes. Standing in front of the door, he bent his waist back with his leg raised, ready to kick down the door. For a moment, he stood there silently and then lowered his leg.

*Knock* *Knock*

Sokka knocked politely. Feeling the stares on his back, he turned to give them a look, "What? The village is already having trouble doing trading. The last thing they want is a reconstruction on their list of worries."

He...wasn't wrong?

The sound of the women training stopped as the door slid open, revealing a woman dressed in the proper 'Kyoshi' attire.

"What?" The woman answering the door inquired sharply.

"Who's Suki?" Sokka frowned.

"Can't you tell?" The woman raised her eyebrow.

"No, because all of you look the same," Sokka frowned as Nik looked over Sokka's shoulder, "Hey, Suki. I didn't think you'd already changed your get-up again. I've come to take you on your deal. Hope you don't mind Sokka's fervor to better his skills by challenging you guys."

The man smiled as Sokka's lips twitched.

"I'm no chief, whatever, I'm going back to sleep. It's late," Sokka huffed when the man stopped him, "Fine, young man, do you want to see something amazing?"

"What things?" Sokka inquired dubiously. He has had enough of older individuals trying to lure him into their private spaces for illicit deeds, so being alone with older people, especially women, keeps him on his toes.

"Avatar Kyoshi's weapons," the village chief replied.

"Oh, alright," Sokka nodded with interest. As they walked up, the group of Kyoshi warriors walked out in numbers. Seeing them, Sokka dodged their gazes and avoided their slightly mocking smiles. Greeting the group, the village chief led Sokka to the small, well-built hut on top of the hill.

"Avatar Kyoshi was Young Avatar Aang's predecessor almost 400 years ago," the village chief spoke up, kindling the lamp post outside the hut and two other lamps inside. Dimly lit, Sokka observed the spacious interior—Avatar Kyoshi's personal effects.

"Those are her shoes?!" Sokka gasped as he looked at the size of the large boots. Easily twice his size, he mused.

"Hehe, Avatar Kyoshi had the largest size of feet ever recorded for an Avatar," the Chief replied, a little smug about this accomplishment.

Inside the hut wasn't just a pair of shoes on display. Large war fans, at least, larger than what the Kyoshi Warriors use. Sword and a shield. A large headdress and a few locked shelves.

"What was your name again?" The Chief inquired as he took a piece of clothing, cleaning the items around.

"Hm? Sokka," he replied non-committally.

"Sokka, it may not be my concern, but you introduced yourself as a Village's Chieftain. What changed?"

Sokka sighed sadly, "I was the strongest warrior in my village. Well. I am the only warrior, but still, I kept the village safe. I kept Katara safe... but here, all I got was defeat. How can I be the chief of the next generation of warriors if I'm not an unbeatable warrior myself?"

He inquired rhetorically. His tone already suggested that Sokka wasn't expecting an answer. But the old man calmly replied, "A true warrior isn't a person who wins every battle that life throws at him, but he is the person who has the grit to stand after experiencing failure. No matter how many times he falls or how hard he falls—a warrior always stands up."

Sokka grew quiet. If only life was so—

"But it is hard, Sokka. That image of a warrior is only right to those who have also experienced surrendering to defeats."

"I did not surrender to anything!" Sokka scowled instantly as the Chief turned slightly and chuckled, "Then you will stand up surely, this time, wiser. Being a warrior, after all, is a path that never ends for an individual."

"It was Suki who beat you out of shape, right?"

The chief inquired as Sokka nodded with a groan.

"Find empathy in your heart, Young Chief. After all, how would you act if you're bound to an island, shackled by principles while wishing to change the situation of those around you?"

"Frustrated," Sokka answered with ease.

"And thus Suki vents," The old man explained, "After the war, when the Phoenix Procession led past our island, they failed to find anything of value. To them, even the relics of Old Avatar mean nothing because of one supreme ruler now existing. A few Kyoshi Warriors from other villages attacked the innocent informants. Attacking the innocent out of frustration for losing their loved ones to the war... broke Kyoshi's code. We managed to reason with the messengers. They weren't ill-tempered, and traveling around seeing others' misery had softened them a great deal, so the island wasn't troubled later. And from then on..."

---

"... I have wanted to leave the island and help those who cannot fend off for themselves. Kyoshi Island is protected. Many Kyoshi warriors will serve the general populace to redeem for actions taken on impulses. But I cannot help but keep myself from wondering, did Avatar Kyoshi want this from us? I don't dream of rebelling. And I don't dream of overthrowing anyone. But I dream of helping where others can only accept cruel treatment."

"Avatar Kyoshi separated Kyoshi Island. Maybe it was because of consequences I have yet to imagine, but seeing your group, I, too, want to leave. I want to leave with you guys and help the Avatar in whatever he deems right to do."

Suki sat on her knees and had her palms resting on her thighs. She explained everything, and Katara couldn't help but acknowledge some of the things Suki said. However, Katara wanted more. She did not desire the Fire Nation on top of everything for personal reasons.

"And you will teach us regardless of what Aang decides?" Katara inquired.

"I will not be teaching the core techniques of the band. Every Kyoshi Warrior swears their honor to not teach such things to outsiders or men. But Kyoshi created our Order to teach the needy and the defenseless. You fulfill the latter conditions. So I might be persuaded to seriously tutor you two if you both promise to follow the code of Kyoshi Warriors."

Suki's words made Nik speak up.

"Alright. When can I begin?"

"Hey, you didn't even hear their code of conduct," Katara rolled her eyes as Nik smiled, "How bad can it be?"

"Very well," Suki smiled, "I will take out the facepaint. And what about you, Katara?"

"... Fine, I guess."

Suki walked into the adjacent room while Nik looked at Katara curiously.

"Did Suki just say facepaint?"

With a smirk, Katara spoke mockingly, "Relax, how bad can it get, right?"

***

Alternate Title: The Kyoshi Sculpture; Aang Has a Long Way to Reach Kyoshi Glory; Sokka Milking a Genre of Comedy Hard; Cursed Puns; The Kyoshi Duel; Girls Do Be Mean; The Kyoshi Shrine; Run, Aang! RUUUNNNNN!; The Flexible Suki; A Warrior's Path is Not About Defeat—But Making A Comeback!; The Broken Code; Suki's Resolve; Exchange; Nik Raising Flags; Suki Indeeds Said Face Paint