Higosha ~ Guardian

Chapter 10 ~ Knowledge

"Today's the day! Can you believe it? After all that time searching for a teacher, I'm finally starting earthbending!" Aang shouted making me jump and fall into the river. "And this place-it's perfect! Don't you think?" He asked looking around and I glared at him as Sokka did a similar thing. "Sokka... Oh, you're still sleeping, huh? Sorry!"

"What about me?" I demanded as I gestured to me being in my sleeping clothing and soaking wet. 

"Sorry..." 

"Good morning earthbending student!" Toph announced.

 "Good morning sifu Toph." Aang said respectfully. 

"Hey! You never call me sifu Katara." Katara said crossing her arms. 

I helped Sokka up as he grumbled, glaring at Toph. "Sorry, snoozles. We'll do our earthbending as quietly as we can." 

"I think I am going to go and make something productive." I said as Aang started going on and on about what Toph would be starting him with. I went and weaved a basket, it was something my mom did when I was little. Once I was satisfied that it would work and probably hold water, I decided to practice my lightning.

I did this for a few hours before I was utterly exhausted and on my back on the ground. "What are you doing?" A voice asked.

I looked over and saw Toph looking at me confused, "breathing."

"Well that was obvious." She replied. 

"Why aren't you training with Aang?" I asked confused.

"He needs to work harder, so he's working on waterbending right now." Toph said with a shrug.

"So you beat him to a pulp with your hardcore training?"

"Yep." Toph replied making me smile. "So what were you doing that you had to lay on the ground for?"

I sat up wincing, "practicing producing lightning."

"Lightning?" Toph asked, "but I thought you were a waterbender."

"I'm weird." I replied with a shrug. 

"How did you find out you could?" Toph asked as she gestured with her hands and made zapping sounds.

I laughed, "it's a long story. However, I learned about all of the elements and the basic principles behind them, so that I could understand all of the nations better, and so I could fight other benders efficiently."

"What did you learn about the other elements?" Toph asked curiously as she sat down next to me.

"Well, I learned about them from a wise old man, but I only ever applied them when I became Higosha." 

"What does Higosha mean?" Toph asked.

"Guardian, I'm supposed to protect the person who is my responsibility. I never received a new assignment after Yue became the moon spirit, so I just decided to help Aang." I told her. 

"You know the moon spirit?" Toph asked wide eyes. 

I smiled, "I also know the dragon of the west."

"What do you know about the other elements?" Toph asked finally. 

I thought back to how Iroh explained it and drew a figure in the ground for her to see with her feet. "Fire is the element of power. The people of the Fire Nation have desire and will, and the energy and drive to achieve what they want. Earth is the element of substance. The people of the Earth Kingdom are diverse and strong. They are persistent and enduring.

"Air is the element of freedom. The Air Nomads detached themselves from worldly concerns and found peace and freedom. Also, they apparently had pretty good senses of humor! Water is the element of change. The people of the Water Tribe are capable of adapting to many things. They have a deep sense of community and love that holds them together through anything."