Chapter 4: Wanderer

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12 years quickly passed, Aang was a full fledged nomad. That's when my whole life changed forever.

****

“Hey, big sis!"

Diushi turned around, “Yea, Aang?"

He grinned, “Well, since I recently got my tattoos, I was thinking that we could take Appa or your flying bison for a little trip to Kyoshi Island to ride the koi!"

“I don't know...."

Aang jumped around, “Please? I've been practicing my techniques and I've been meditating a lot!"

“Fine, only because you've been doing so great. We'll have to take Appa, though, because Bai is still caring for her young," she said with a smile. “Hurry and grab a change of robes, alright?"

Aang nodded and ran off.

“Diushi! You're leaving to Kyoshi?"

“Ai!" Diushi said as she hugged her long time friend.

“So, Ai? How have you been?" She asked, a smirk on her face.

“Just... Just-well... A few days ago, you turned 25, right? I was thinking that we could, well... Go on a trip. See the world?"

She watched him with wide eyes, “Ai... I..." Her eyes fell as she blushed, this can't be happening... What if we want a child together.... I would have to let him go... She thought.

“Ai, I would lo-"

“Sister Diushi! Come quick! A young lady claims to be your sister!" A nun stated as she hurried toward Diushi.

Diushi looked at Ai, “I'll be right back..."

The woman had heavy garments on her slender body, her hair was long, braided messily behind her head. It could almost touch the floor, her eyes were blue, the same shade as Diushi's, but they were not the same at all; her eyes were red, swollen, like she had been crying for days.

“I am Huzn. Please, ladies, let me tell her all about me and my situation."

Diushi watched the other women leave the area, she was astonished with this stranger, Huzn spoke with authority and everyone listened, including herself.

“I am here because I kept seeing a woman in an all male temple in our nation. I heard the spirits say that you are my sister, and will aid me," she said, her hands were still.

“Why does this concern me?"

“You are old enough, our mother told me that she left you here, and I have been having visions of fire. Nothing but fire, my sister. I see all temples, including this one, being burned to the ground. I have also seen my own death during an out of body experience."

Diushi watched, she was frozen, “I too, have been dreaming of fires. Yet my dreams end with blue skies."

“Aha! So mom was right! She knew that you would have the dreams... See, you're special! Avatar Roku told me so!" She yelled aloud.

Her air bison whimpered quietly, she looked back, then at her feet.

“You have met mom?"

“In dreams. I've also met Roku through meditation. I need you to do me a lifelong favor, no, not for me... For our people."

Diushi looked around, “And that is?"

The older woman used a burst of air to fly towards her air bison, she sat on his saddle, grabbing a ball of blankets. She jumped off, “This child... He is my son... He's a few months old, yet I have not named him because I do not want the attachment once I ask you for the favor."

“I-I... I don't get it...." Diushi said sadly.

“I am going to ask that you.... That you take my son when you leave," she said as she teared up, “We are all going to die, the air nomads, that is. You need to leave immediately. Please don't tell anyone, this is our secret."

“Huzn, I won't leave the temples..."

Huzn walked towards her, handing her her son, “Yes, you will. I only ask that my son goes with you. He is a good and tranquil young boy. He won't give you any trouble," she said as she hugged Diushi, “The fate of our people and our culture lies in your hands... Meditate on it..."

Diushi looked at the baby, she was confused, but remembered what Roku had told her. Maybe this was all fate. Maybe she did have to forever wander. Lose everything.

She carried the baby to her room, she had not said a word about it to Gyatso. Instead she laid the baby out to play on ber bed while she sat in the center of the room.

****

After her meditation, she looked, seeing a sleeping baby. She smiled, “I guess I'll have to care for you, little one. Now please, stay here. I need to talk to Gyatso..."

She walked out of her room in search of her mentor, Ai watched from the halls, he wandered closer to her.

“Diushi.... Where will you go?"

“Ai...? What do you mean?" She asked as she stopped to face him.

“I saw you meet that woman... I meditated on it... And well... I guess this is goodbye...." He said as he grabbed the back of her head, “You know... From the moment I met you as a boy, I knew I loved you. I hoped that maybe we could become more than friends. Travel the world together. However, everything must come to an end. I want you to know that I will always be with you on heart and spirit," he said before his lips crashed into hers, her eyes were closed, as were his.

He pulled away and smiled, “Maybe we'll meet in the next life... Or even when we're both old and gray."

She nodded, “Thank you, Ai, for everything."

“Wait... Before my teacher died, he gave me these things beads. His Earthly father had given them to him before he dropped him off at this temple. I want you to have it," he said as he took them off and put them over her neck.

“I am sorry that I have to go... We'll meet again..." She said before she turned away to meet Gyatso.

Ai stood in that hall, watching her go, he wiped a year from his eye, “I didn't even cry when I was receiving my tattoos... Yet I'm crying for a woman... Spirits, forgive me."

Diushi wandered the halls until she found Gyatso in a field of grass, not too far from a statue, she sighed, “Forgive my intrusion, Master Gyatso, but I'm afraid I need to go."

“I know, and although I do not wish to see you leave the temple, I bid you farewell and safe travels," he stood up to face her.

She teared up, “Sifu Gyatso, you are my best friend, my brother-no-my father figure."

He hugged her, “I know this sounds selfish, but I don't want you to go... You are my child, I raised you in these temples. Do you remember when we played tag, and you fell, scraping your knees? You cried the whole time the nuns patched you up, but when Monk Tenzin scolded me in front of you, you stopped crying, and told him to leave me alone because we were only playing. That meant so much to me. You are my student, my daughter. You mean the world to me," he said as he let her go, he held onto her shoulders, looking into her eyes, “I love you so much, but fate cannot be argued against. Your bison, Bai, has already let go of her young, I have saddled her up with food for travel and money. Spend it wisely, find people you can trust, and maybe find a husband to spend your life with. Always meditate when you are confused, never forget your spirituality."

“Thank you, father. My sister, she left me with her son.... I'll find a partner who will love him... I'll take care of him, and no matter what, I will guard my spirituality with my life. I will shelter our bending and lifestyle. Thank you," she said as she hugged him, “I will never forget you."

He sighed as she walked away, “Oh spirits, take care of my little girl, care for her, wherever she goes. Even in enemy territory..."

***

Diushi grabbed the child, she watched him as she wrapped him up, attaching the cloth to her front side. He giggled as he held onto her to robes, she smiled, walking out of the room and towards Bai. Bai watched silently as Diushi jumped into her saddle. She settled everything in, sitting on Bai's head, she grabbed the reigns attached to her mighty horns and stated, “Yip yip!"

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