𝑾𝑨𝑽𝑬𝑺 || 𝑨𝒂𝒏𝒈 (𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 1) *Revamping

Jade

Sixteen years ago, a young woman born in the Northern Water Tribe decided it was time for change. And so, a choice was made. A choice to leave, and see as much of the world as she could.

The journey was a long and strenuous one. There were times when she wanted to give up and go home. But the sights of what the world had to offer quickly got rid of those thoughts. As a child, she never would have imagined seeing buildings not made from ice and snow. Or places that didn't require a warm fur coat every day.

In Nimeda's eyes, even the war couldn't take away the beauty of the world.

When she first left home, she had hoped to one day make it all the way across the world to the South Pole. No one had thought that it would be possible. But to Nimeda, impossible was just a word. When she put her mind to something, she would get it done. She'd been determined to get there.

...In the end, she never did. Not even her stubborn nature could get her there. Not after she found him.

Love at first sight had always been a silly idea to her. But when Nimeda met Kueng, it couldn't have been anything else. She wasn't sure what it was about him, about that quaint little Earth Kingdom village he called home. But whatever it was, she couldn't walk away. He wasn't like the men who competed for her hand back home. He was the sort who made her want to stay. And so, that little town of his became hers, too. She found a new home and new life.

Two years later, that life brought Jade into the world. It was a delight, no question there. But not long after, Nimeda grew sick and passed away, before Jade could grow old enough to remember her face and voice. Instead, all Jade had were the stories told to her by her father. Stories of everything her mother had accomplished.

Growing up hearing those stories, Jade started to wonder if she would ever compare. Then, when she was four years old, she started to show signs of being a bender. And, well....suddenly being special like her mom didn't seem so far-fetched.

She was the first bender in the family, and the only one in their little village. Being special was great and all, but it wasn't exactly easy. Especially when it seemed like she was the only one in the entire Earth Kingdom who could make her bath water fly. There was no one around to teach her to harness those abilities. To do anything besides totally winning water fights with the other kids. All she had was her dad's support, and his promses that one day she'd become a waterbender who did great things.

For a long while, things were close as they could be to perfect. Jade thought so, anyway. She was too young to understand that, in a time of war, perfect couldn't exist. And anything resembling it couldn't last for long. But what better way to learn that lesson than to have her life turned upside down?

She was six when the Fire Nation soldiers stormed and burned down their village. Jade, her father, and the thirty other villagers were lucky to escape safely. They became refugees. That was the first time Jade realized what war was.

Eventually, following days of travel, they made it to Omashu -- a city ruled by a kind king gracious enough to give them all a new home. To offer his protection. Jade had never known she could admire someone as much as she admired King Bumi. For all his...eccentrities, he was wonderful. Not just for his hospitality, but for the new life he gave them. For all the reassurance he gave Jade when she felt like she was just a little too different.

She appreciated his helping Kueng take on work, too. Jade's dad became a delivery man -- work typically handled by earthbenders. If he found it difficult, Jade never heard him complain. He worked hard, and she looked up to him so much for it.

Or, she did until she couldn't anymore. He took a job that brought him outside of Omashu. He and his partner left with eight year old Jade's best wishes. Kueng's partner came back.

Kueng didn't.

She never learned exactly how it happened. She didn't think she could bear to hear the story. But seeing Shiro return home with burns, injuries, and grief-filled eyes was enough. That was the second time Jade realized what war was.

It's been four years since then. She came to realize that things never got better, but they did get a little easier to bear. Jade's life in Omashu continued on, with her dad's best friend Shiro there to guide her. She did her very best, trying every day. Despite everything, Jade knew she was lucky. She knew that, and yet...Well, sometimes, she found herself wishing things might change. That one day, being special could mean something. That she could be of use.