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My hands were burning. The hot steel plate in front of me was dented only slightly by

my blows, while the sun warmed up my robes. I continued to slam my palms against the metal,

reprimanding myself for incorrect form. Blisters had formed long ago, but I knew I had to keep

going.

What are you doing? a !oice said behind me. I "umped, not e#pecting my master to be

watching me. I entered a low bow, silent. $ou ha!e been out here for a while, Tie. What doyou e#pect to accomplish, training like that? %ollow me, I followed him into the training arena.

The room was all stone, with hard dirt floors. There were patches of burn marks on the walls,

and across the ceiling, as well as blood caked into the floor. My blood.

&it me, Master %engbao said, steadying himself. I entered a low stance, my left hand

in front of me and my right hand to my side, my eyes locked with his. I took slow, hea!y,

controlled breaths. I knew what was about to happen. %engbao mirrored my form, and I took

great pride in knowing he didn't ha!e to correct me. I thrust my right hand forward, e#haling

sharply while throwing my entire body into the punch. My hand met my masters with a loud

cracking sound. (ormally I would scream, holding my wounded hand, crying. But I was

resolute. I stood firm. My knuckles matched his, my form unwa!ering, my breaths stable. &is

left hand came in, and with the same mo!ement I matched his. )nce again the crack, and once

again my hand was steady. We stood there, knuckles bleeding, both of us unmo!ing. Then he

started to laugh. It was the first time I heard my father laugh in a long time.

&e took me inside the temple, past the praying areas, into the back part where we li!ed.

The smell of cooked goose la*ily floated through the house, and I "ust reali*ed how hungry I

was. My father walked me into the kitchen, where my mother was cooking+ she turned around

to see both of our hands bloody, and a small smile on my dad's face.

&e is ready, uaile my father said, now with a much sterner look on his face. My

mother turned around, looking me hard in the eyes. -he looked between us a few times, before

speaking.

What you are about to learn is !ery special, Tie. -omething that many use poorly, ande!en more people misuse it all together. re you sure you are ready for this? my mother said.

I looked at her. The years of pain I endured. ll the times I wanted to /uit, that my body wanted

to fail. But I had lasted. I had made it this far. I couldn't stop here. I bowed deeply to her. -he

walked o!er to me, and put her hands on my shoulders.

Today is the day you will become a firebender

000

It was hot. The dense !egetation blocked my path, but I pushed it aside, getting steadily

more irritated with e!ery branch that hit my face. The !egetation cleared to re!eal a dirty, green

ri!er. 1atagators lined the banks, sleeping. My robes were dirty, but I felt that cleaning them in

the water would do nothing. I followed the bank upstream, looking for someone, anyone, who

can help me na!igate this land. I had to reach )mashu, and surely some 2arthbender would

know the way to the capital city. There was a small footpath, and I followed it through the dense

"ungle. I'!e heard of !isions in this swamp, but none ha!e come. $et.

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The sun was setting, and the air was getting cold. I knew that the people li!ing here

didn't appreciate the use of fire, nor did the wildlife. I kept walking, searching for someone. The

swamp was empty of people, but at least it was not !ery dangerous. The trees loomed o!er me

as the swamp seemed to near suddenly plunge itself into darkness.