Avatar: A Legend Reborn

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Moving On

Zarina proved to be good at her craft, but that should have been expected from someone with a history like hers. Tao’s use of weapons needed a bit more work, but she was sure the girl would improve in no time. The little band they had seemed to be pretty talented in more ways than one. However there was little time to continue playing with their new weapons because Krane was once again on the move. Everyone filed out, with Tanvi being the last one out. With a short whistle, Fei was on her shoulders. Instead of the entrance they originally took, the group headed towards a different exit. Once more, they were tied together with the silly rope. Tanvi always assumed one had to be a fool to get lost if there was someone guiding them, but then again, the tunnels were dark and pretty vast. It was hard to trust sound alone with the occasional echoes the tunnels made.

What a long walk it was too. It may have been a different path, but getting out of the Underground City was always a journey by itself. Not only was it long, but it was completely silent, save for maybe a cough or two here and there. It wasn’t too awkward of a silence though. Everyone had gotten past the first name basis and had more or less accepted each other as a group mate, so all was well. When they finally managed to see the light of day again, Tanvi stretched and shook her way out of the rope. Despite not walking for any of the dark trip, Fei still took water where she could and Tanvi did as well.

Knowing that they weren’t going to possibly walk all the way to the Treetop Village, Tanvi prepared to ask what their mode of transportation would be- or if they were really planning to walk to their destination- however Krane had other plans in mind. Tanvi’s arms crossed when he listened to this new ‘test’ he was initiating. She remembered before she was to sit this out, however with Suzzio gone she now had to fill in and spar Tao. Despite being called training, Tanvi had the feeling he just wanted to fight Zarina- to settle the score from earlier, and something also told her Zarina would happily oblige.

With a small shrug, Tanvi turned to Tao and gave a short wave. Sparring an earthbender? She had done so once before. It reminded her to stay light on her toes and stay quick. The last time she got into a fight with an earthbender, they bested her by keeping her stuck in one spot. However, that wouldn’t be the case any more. “This should be fun, yeah?” In actuality, she meant watching the stubborn duo duke it out, but there spar could be fun too, even if she spent lots of times avoiding fights. Coincidentally, it was another thing she used to her advantage. The less she looked like a fighter, the less they suspected her capable. "For now we get to watch two stubborn hotheads go at it. We may want to clear the area."
 
Zarina returned Tao's sentiment with a gentle smile and nod. She would have Tao's back as well when push cane to shove. She had to admit, if only to herself, that having a comrade...a friend...was nerve wrecking but also exciting and nice. Her thoughts were cut off when Tao returned from getting changed. She gave the other girls thumbs up in approval before Zarina slipped away to change. When she returned, their leader was ready to go.

After being attached by the rope, again, Zarina spent the trip sharing the silence of the group. She occupied herself by petting Fei every time the Fire Ferret scurried along her part of the rope. Really, how could something so small and cute have such soft fur? Her musings were disrupted however, when they came to the exit. She closed her eyes and smiled, happy to feel the sun on her skin again. She unwound herself from the rope then made her way to fill up her water skin from the tools Krane had given them. She took the time, since it was open, to look through all of the tools with a careful eye. She pulled the survival knife from its sheathe to inspect it then attached it to her left boot. She was sure that she'd be using it a lot, so having it in the travel bag would be a waste. Other than that, she left everything as it was, rolled it back up then returned it.

Zarina's eyes flashed at the mention of Krane's "test". She stood slowly from the water side and made her way towards the man. "Alright then. I'll give you a decent estimate of my talent." She said with a smirk. She would skip the Firebending, since she was sure everyone here had experienced the art at one time or another. No, she would go straight to the art she discovered, this way no one would be caught unaware should she decide to use it in battle. They would know how it worked, so she wouldn't be stranded.

"The first move is yours, Krane." She said as she slid into an almost restless stance. Her body rocked almost randomly to an onlooker, it was as if she was unfocused and well...reckless.
 
Yoshino watched in silence as Karan expressed his opinion, and very shortly afterwards Makki did the same, but also went a bit further and decided to start talking to Karan in what was obviously frustration. Feeling like some of Makki's words were a bit of place, she looked at the two and wondered if she should intervene when suddenly Tenten told all of them in a rather loud announcement.

"Before you say a word Karan, I want both of you to listen carefully. This is not the time or the place to start an arguement. Getting the bandit leader to go with us until we're in the clear doesn't mean we're safe, only that we can try and use him as leverage. So, if you want to argue, do it after we are out of this forest. Right now, keep your mouths shut and both of you listen carefully to the surroundings. So far, Tenten seems to be the only one who is properly focusing on that fact." Yoshino spoke in a tone that made it clear that she was irritated by what has been going on before going to walk besides Tenten.

Upon reaching the side of the eldest woman in the group, Yoshino let out a sigh "Tenten, you are incredible for being a mother. She whispered to Tenten, gave a glance in the direction of Makki and Karan and then decided to focus her sight on the captive they had.
 
Just sat there, as if it was rain falling down off the rock. Some of what she said had thrown him through a loop, but nothing that got more than an eyebrow raise. Except for the chest comment, which earned a blink and suspicious eye movement. He would also speak nothing of the redness now on his face with the mention of chests and Yoshino. Luckily, he was able to keep from saying anything back to the girl with the same energy. There wasn't much use to it, right now. It wasn't the time.

As Tenten decided to give him free reign to break someone's arm, if they decide to act like a short sighted simpleton, he took the chance to punch his palm. It's snap was audible and Karan winked at the new prisoner. She was right and it was time to go.

He turned a bit, just in time for Yoshino to say her thoughts. There would be no argument, but she did ask a question. Makki would get an answer. Oddly soft, was the tone of his voice.

"You just named a few reasons. Pick your favorite and lets stop delaying."

The earthbender shook his head and began to follow the rest of the group. Until they were safe, he would be happy to on his guard. And it seems the clash was started to effect the others, which gave him more reason to contain himself. Of course, thoughts of their chest were now floating around his head. Silly adult thoughts.
 
Krane smirked as she told him to go first. He wasn't one to shy away from combat. Not only that, Krane was fully capable of taking the offense. In combat, those who strike first either lose because they are countered or secure victory through their first move. Krane understood both of these concepts and knowing there was no element of surprise, his first attacks would be safe ones. At least, for him. Krane straightened his legs and held his hands out in front of him, having only his index and middle fingers extended and touching. He breathed in slowly as his arms moved in a semi-circle pattern, curling his fingers and arms to create a curving visual effect before twisting around in a sudden jerk, releasing jolt after jolt of compressed at at Zarina. Krane continued to move his arms in these patterns, launching these jolts at Zarina. Each burst was enough to damage stone or leave small indentations on the ground, meaning a single hit could prove dangerous. Krane launched these attacks by the dozens, moving in quick, fluid motions that each released a new blast of this air. This was far from one of his more powerful techniques, but it was a great opening that debuted his capabilities. As he peppered the ground and possibly Zarina with his assault, he watched closely to see how she would react.
 
Makki was glad that Tenten hadn't weighed in on her 'conversation' and was focused on the bandit leader. Makki wasn't and him being a bender was bad enough, if she shifted her attention too long then she was likely to be the one with a boulder up her butt. Which would be an ironic turn of events that Makki wished to prevent with a crazy amount of determination. It was almost so much that she almost missed Yoshino's admonishments. Much as Makki hated to admit anyone was right, Yoshino was right. That didn't mean the other girl had to know that though.

"I can multitask. I can focus on embarrassing the crap out of Karan and making sure I don't become a Makki-sized missile. But if it makes you feel better I won't harass your wannabe boyfriend any further," Makki walked past Karan -who was blushing so hard his head might explode from all the blood rushing to it- and blew him a kiss to rub salt in the wound. He answered her question and she smiled, she had him now and if he wanted her to stop she'd probably offer to have her silence bought. Later though, bandit first, embarrassing Karan second. "Mmm, I'm going with my chest isn't as big. However, we have a schedule to keep and people to meet so I'll attempt to keep the teasing to a minimum."

The waterbender walked to the opposite side of Tenten, putting her hands behind her head and pointing her elbows up to the sky. She could act in a pinch, but it was comfortable to keep her hands like this after she 'airbended'. It stretched them out and she had a feeling that this wouldn't be the last time she'd need to rely on her old skillset from her more nomadic days.
 
Zarina watched him carefully as her opponent made his moves before she set her own into motion. She kept her eyes on Krane as she followed his arm movements. His style was quite strange, aggressive but reserved. Deadly, but practically unseen if it wasn't for the cracks in the ground. She had to dodge roll to the side when a volley was sent in her direction though she kept up her movements by rolling to her feet then back flipping a step to the left. However, she managed to keep herself on her hands and swung her hips and legs in a downward, circular slash so that she was on all fours. A flash of bright red fire launched at Krane in the shape of the motion to collide with his attacks. Behind it, Zarina sent her own volley of attacks.

These attacks were bright green in color, and behaved almost like globs of liquid with how they behaved in the air. It wasn't quite a liquid but almost like...tangible fire. She punched and kicked her green fire at Krane as both an attack and a shield.
 
Krane saw this green fire and immediately took note of what traits he could before she began to punch and kick small, relatively slow bursts of it at him. The red flash of flame created a quick barrier to block his weaker blasts, so this left the verdant flames in the air the last projectiles present. Krane stood still and drew back his hand, covering the tip of the fingers he drew back with his hand and focusing around it. There was no airflow, this was solely a concentration technique. Before the green blasts reached him, Krane released a large, visible jetstream of compressed air that howled as it cut through the air and eventually the green blasts Zarina had fired. This jet of compressed air was fast and wild, racing towards Zarina like the head of a snake and with enough power to cut through her prior blasts. Anything it didn't cut through was fated to miss anyway, leaving Krane to channel the rest of the stream before leaping back and taking a new stance. Krane was relentless; he prepared for another attack before his first one even finished out. Krane waited in a very solid stance again, more akin to firebending, with one hand clenched at his waist while the other was held in a loose L-shape with his thumb and two forefingers extended. This was again, a unique stance, separate from either traditional airbending or firebending, yet resembling both.

"For being so traditional," Krane said, "you have quite the unique skill there."
 
Smugness was visible on Tenten's face as Yoshino expressed how annoyed she was, while at the same time offering a wise piece of advice. Certainly had the qualities of a mother, she had to admit. Right as she was thinking this, the woman was kind enough to compliment her. "Why thank you," she replied appreciatively, punctuating with a sheepish chuckle. Nearby, their prisoner was rolling his eyes and mumbling colorful words to himself. Tenten gave him a nudge, silently requesting that he shut up.

Makki's behavior shouldn't be encouraged, but she couldn't help but feel humored by it. She smiled briefly to herself before turning attention to the path that the bandit was gesturing to with a head nod. He walked ahead of them with the makeshift leash in her hands. With Yoshino's eye on him too, they should be able to catch him if he tried anything. Whether or not the other two were paying much attention was questionable. Everyone was tired, so she didn't blame anyone for getting distracted and cranky.

"How much farther?" Tenten demanded after a while of them following in silence. Lee was scouting ahead so she could alarm them of any threats that might be hiding out. So far, no bad luck. "Almost there," he grumbled. The mother grumbled back mockingly, almost wishing he had more of a personality so this could be more fun.

"There. That's where you want to go." Her brow arched quizzically while she turned her head, spotting a trail that had to have been made by travelers. The dirt had footprints in it, there weren't any plants to climb over, there were even signs to mark your distance along the way. Tenten was relieved to see this.
 
The young bender kept on the move even after she fired off her volley. Her style wasn't a stalwart one, she wasn't a rock weathering the stream. She flowed with the stream, became it...then took it over. Her flip to the left didn't come a moment too soon, for Krane had sent quite the attack at her previous spot. She felt the heat of the air and was struck with an image of a ship sailing through the waves. Krane's attacks were the wave...which meant that she needed to be like the ship. She'd need power yes, but she needed to be sharp to cut through the waves.

She didn't reply to Krane, and instead focused her chi into her arms. Slowly, her arms were covered by a crawling stream of pale red fire up to the tips of her fingers. She moved her arms in a circular pattern in front of her, her hands were relaxed and flowed with the movement of her arm. Left behind were rings of pale red fire, that were connected to her hands. She closed her fists and shot chi forward into it, which made the rings collapse in on themselves. Connected to her hands were whips made of green fire, not unlike a fire or water bender. She lashed out with one, which split into three spikes. She rounded her arm and torso to shoot the spikes forwards at Krane at surprising speed before another whip formed to replace the missing one. She stabbed them both into the ground and both slithered into the ground like snakes. She smirked at Krane and took up a waterbending stance that was suspicious in nature. Her arms circled around her body before she unexpectedly stepped forward and threw an upwards punch. A green fire spike launched at Krane from the ground in front of him. This took a lot of concentration, as she had to keep her talent from dissipating as it burrowed and moved with her pale red fire covered arms.
 
Lead by Krane, and tugged along by rope, Tao followed quickly behind the group as they were lead out of the city and through the tunnels once again. The silent journey to the northern entrance of the tunnels allowed Tao to reflect on her goals, and the current task at hand. Since meeting Krane and Tanvi she had pushed away thoughts of the past, and her time in Gaoling. For a split second she had almost forgotten why she had truly joined, but as the tranquil walk through the tunnels cleared her mind, she was reminded why she was here.

Sitqa, Mato, Tahani, Situ, Iokua, Master Kong, Shang, and her Parents; She was doing this all for them. And with nothing to lose she would get stronger, and finally get even.

There were going be stops along the way, sure, but after eating and resting back at the Underground City, Tao was ready to get on the move. This was the beginning of the big journey North, and with anticipation and energy fueling her, Tao felt like she could run to the Treetop Village. It was an absurd thought of course, but after meeting Uquo, and getting a new set of clothes, and equipment, Tao felt like she was ready for anything.

Finally reaching the end of the tunnel, fresh air rushed through her hair and ran across her face. The suns bright rays forced her eyes to squint as she took in a deep breath. Removing the rope from her waist, Tao raised her arms above her head and stretched. Yawning loudly the bones in her back and shoulders cracked with her strained movement before she sauntered over to the pond. Knealing down and cupping her hands into the water, Tao leaned forward and splashed her face with the cool liquid allowing it to calm her nerves, and settle her thoughts. The tunnels, and the Oasis held a tranquil feeling, allowing her not only relax but almost feel at home. Admiring the scenery, Tao took another dwell inhale and--"And this is where I want to test you!"

Attention pulled, a small snort slipped from the Earth Bender. He had spoken of this idea earlier, so it didn't shock her that he brought it up now. However, with Suzzio gone, Tao now had to face Tanvi. Glancing at the chi-blocker, Tao gave a wave back at the girls gesture before forking her water pouch and walking over. "This should be fun, yeah?" Nodding in agreement, Tao grinned with excitement, "Yeah, it should. It's been some time since I've had a good spar!"

Tao had never fought a chi-blocker before. In fact, the only time she had seen Tanvi in action it had been brief. A good knock to the head had left Tao dizzy and disoriented during their meeting, but what she had seen told her enough. Sparring close range with Tanvi would be dangerous, and would probably lead to the end of there round. If Tao wanted to win she would need to keep her distance and protect her body, but until it was their turn to face one another she would focus on the match at hand and strategize later.

While it had been short, Tao could remember her match with Zarina clearly. Her moves had been quick and precise, and with the way things were going, Zarina was sure to give Krane a run for his money. "Come on, Zarina!" She shouted, fist pumping in the air, "Knock the wind out of him!"

Standing along the edge of the field with Tanvi, Tao bent her arms so her fists were level with her waist. Raising her left leg high and stomping her foot on the ground, two flat topped boulders rose from the dirt giving them a place to sit. "Here we go!" Plopping down on the seat closest Tao folded her legs together and grinned, her gaze following Krane and Zarina's actions carefully, "Man, if only we had some snacks, then this would be perfect!"
 
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“I haven’t sparred in a bit either.” The last spar she had was with Krane, which wasn’t surprising. It had been one of many since she met him and she was proud to say she managed to best him a few times. Tao seemed pretty excited about their match, which was perfectly fine. In the mean time, the two were entertained with the show of skill in front of them. Krane's style was nothing new to her, but Zarina's, well the green fire was new. She'd have to ask a bit more about it. She had never seen a firebender do something of the sort, so her best bet was to ask questions and learn how to avoid it- or counter it. What she did realize however were the styles she used. Some similar to what she thought was waterbending, while the other, firebending. She was quite similar to Krane in a sense. Both used different techniques to incorporate in their bending...and both being so eager to fight each other.

“Woo! Go Zarina, kick his butt!” She laughed and cheered the firebender on. The fight almost seemed evenly matched. Which could only last for so long. She wasn’t betting against Krane pulling some trick from his sleeve, but Zarina was keeping up pretty well. She too could probably pull something from her own sleeve. “Who will come out on top? Who will be the champion of the first sparring match? Will it be the fiery airbender Krane or the noble firebender Zarina?” Tanvi would have continued She heard the ground shift and casually, without even looking back sat on the makeshift seat behind her. Tanvi pulled her legs up and crossed them. “Lucked out on the snacks. Sorry, but you’re right. Snacks and a show would have been great.” She continued to watch their movements, learning their respective styles and techniques.

At some point, the fire ferret had climbed into Tanvi’s clothes, only to peek her head out and watch the spar as well- and then to scamper around.. She received a pat on the head and Tanvi rested her head in her hand. “I’m sure the next time Krane initiates a spar, you’ll be going up against him. Then again, I’m sure he’ll be initiating plenty of sparring sessions at random.”
 
And with that, it was over. Suna and his band of thieves, in spite of his apparent illness and their antiphons of shock and awe to the events that had just transpired, basked gloriously in the scene’s newfound state of renewal at the hands of the Spirit of the Great Divide. It was that same creational power that imbued Dhune with such destructive force, initially devastating the lands that acted as their humble encampment. Fitfully sleeping, Dhune was nigh dead before the three, too drained of his energies to even breath consecutively and soundly. With his hands on the bark of the tree, Suna let loose another discharge of puke before erecting himself. He eyed his friend, his brother, and his mentor who was like a lowly carcass before him. Suna could end his life then and there, taking revenge for what the native of the Great Divide had just done… but no, the words of the Spirit, still echoing through the corners of Suna’s mind, made itself known once more via a thought in passing. The Sandbender paced ever so slowly to Dhune, motioned his right hand and readied a strike and, with a powerful serpentine thrust, wrapped the sleeping Dhune in a coffin of hard rock. It had a hole for Dhune’s head. With Suna’s strength, he carried his brawny friend and put him in the caravan. He shattered the earthen coffin into sand particles and refilled the clay pots. Using basic Earthbending, Suna buried the remains of the ruined caravan to cover their tracks. “Let’s give him some time.” Suna coldly whispered, his thoughts still an admixture of fear, guilt, and contemplation. With a flick of his wrist, he signaled the two girls to return to their posts and wear their merchant guises. He rode the Dragon Moose afterward, struck the ropes that held its noose, and they moved on.
 
Deciding to ignore Makki's remarks and just being pleased that the two agreed that arguing among themselves was wrong, Yoshino kept walking besides Tenten for the time being. When the bandit leader claimed that they were almost there, Yoshino looked around. She wanted to ensure that it wasn't a signal to any other bandits to be ready to strike. Thats when she knew how to ensure the bandits won't follow them.

Once the bandit had shown them the path, Yoshino, much like Tenten, looked at it and saw the different details that proved it was a legitimate path. That didn't mean Yoshino would be quick to just let the bandit go. She moved her left leg along with her hands in a smooth movement, which would create an earth casing around the man that held his arms tight together and trapped his legs in the ground.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but this is simply to ensure the bandits will be focused on releasing you than coming after us. A last insurance, so to say." Yoshino calmly explained to the bandit and then looked at the others "I hope no one minds. I'm not eager to see any bandits suddenly jump us the moment we leave this place." She said. After this, she would wait for the others agreement before going onto the path that was meant to lead them out.
 
She asked, and yet she continued and acted like her behavior didn't give someone a reason to think her a little brat. Does this girl even have any friends? By all that is considered sacred, when this mission is over, Makki will become nothing more than an annoying memory. Then he can go back to being a simple tunnel burrower. A simple, needed job. Scoffing, he moved forward and listened to bandit point out the path. It looked like a nice meal and a nicer shower was well on the way. As Tenten mocked the bandit's actions, it brought a smile to his face. Truly, not a lot was more satisfying than making fun of your enemy and them not being able to do anything about it.

Yoshino applied her solid bit of insurance. Karan nodded, feeling it may be necessary. "I agree. Better they focus on him than us. Then again, I was looking for a reason to actually break his arm." The bandit gave him a dirty side eye and he leaned in close and just stared at him. "If you think you are man enough to do something about it..." He looked down at the earth in between them. The bandit just looked away. Most likely because no matter how he looked at it there was more of us than him. The muscled bender looked to Yoshino and smiled gently. He didn't know why, maybe it was an apology for engaging Makki at all, or maybe he just naturally smiled while looking at her. Who knows. Turning away, he moved over to Tenten.

"Not too far, and then we are safe. We should move quickly, who knows when his friends will find him."
 
"Geez, you think I'd want him following us? His breath smells and honestly he's being very rude to us." Makki turned to the bandit and had a sarcastic smile ready to fire at him, "such language, sir, do you kiss you mother with that mouth?" Makki even stuck out her toungue to add insult to injury before turning back to the group after realizing that they were all looking to get approval before they got the heck out of dodge.

Makki rolled her eyes but added to the discussion. "Listen, are we gonna scare the bandits or not because if you're squeamish about breaking his arm I'm not. If we're going to run to get away I'm all for that. However, discussing where we're going and what we're going to do in front of the bandit is not a good idea. So, yes. I would like to leave the woods and get back to civilization and showers as soon as possible, please."

Makki walked ahead of the group onto the trail, not much caring if they followed her. She was tired and dirty and her shirt was ripped. Makki would have to sew that up later, because she very much doubted that she would have enough money -even the amount she'd scrounged from the rest of the group- to buy one like it. Besides, the shirt had a few good memories in it that Makki wanted to preserve a little while longer.
 
The Sparks that Burn

Krane watched her movements. Her fluid dodges. Her arced arms, the spikes she fired, the lashes she made. This was no ordinary firebending in the same respect his airbending deviated from its traditional roots. Krane had to learn, and learn fast. With that in mind, Krane watched the projectiles as they dashed at him. They were fast. Not as fast as a fireball from Azula, nor nearly as fast as lightning, but they were still daggers of intense heat in the air. As they came at him in all their fury, he merely spun his fingertips in small circles, creating pockets of air that eventually became visible. He waited until the very last moment, measuring her blasts to feel the air as they neared him and the speed they came at. The air was burning hot in the trail it left, and the green fire was utterly exhausting it of its resources. Krane knew.

At the last moment, Krane darted to the left in a jolt of mad speed, completely avoiding the projectile and going so far out of the way of Zarina that it almost seemed like a retreat. However, as Krane dashed off, one of his balls went in the opposite direction. Krane was running in an actual circle around Zarina, but in the same jarring speed he dodged in the first time, he jolted into the air, leaving the second ball of air to continue in its course. While in air, Krane flipped onto another ball of air he made mid-flight and balanced on it above the previous battlefield. In a brief few seconds, Krane had became a moving, mid-air target and avoided all of her techniques, while also leaving two random balls of air to circle in a radius around him. Krane was playing this safe, and was seemingly on the defensive. He needed to learn, and believed he had a lot more to learn about her style than his. This green fire, its properties, how it acted; it was an entirely different technique than regular firebending. His airbending, however, was the same air, just used in different ways. Krane didn't know how to win; not yet.

Three days past...

The journey to New Taku had been quiet from that point on. Very little discussion, especially about what happened. No one asked where Duhne was, not even Naomi. There had been no more interuptions from Phoenix Kingdom patrols, either. The group was a mere two or three miles away from the outskirts of New Taku where they would meet their informant. Suna had an almost overwhelming amount of emotions and thoughts to wade through. Lily was essentially threatened by one of the most peaceful men in the entire resistance. Naomi had seen the dark side of her mentor. Each of them had a devastating encounter with a spirit. And, all of them were dealing with it in their own way - all without Duhne, the most spiritually attuned of the group.

Up ahead, atop a boulder, was none other than their mentor simply loafing in the sunlight. How he got ahead of them was uncertain, but his clothes were new and clean and his demeanor was far more relaxed than last they saw him. "Glad you got the directions right this time, Suna," Duhne said. "We'll never make a leader out of you if you can't head the right direction," he added. This tone. This was the tone they had known Duhne for. The tone he used back in the treetops. He was joking, although laced with a more serious undertone. Duhne had underwent a physically and spiritually exhausting endeavor just days ago, but he appeared fine. Jovial, even. And, somehow ahead of them.​
 
Zarina watched the man dodge his way through her spikes. Her mind was going a mile a minute as she analyzed him. Her instincts yelled for the chase, her blood demanded it. But she held it back. She wasn't going to fall into his routine, he was the mouse. And she was the cat. She would be patient, and would wait for him to misstep. His element, the very air itself, would fan her flames, her green fire. There was no need to chase, no need to dance to his rhythm. She would let him run.

She stepped strongly with her left foot and circled her right arm upwards, wrist bent towards the air. Spikes of her green fires rose in front of Krane and curled towards him like a wave. She stepped again and made a punching motion, which launched the curled blades of green fire at Krane in a diagonal arc. Whether it was a distraction or the real attack, would be unknown, as another spike burst from the ground behind him. She would force his hand, and keep him moving. He would make a mistake...she just needed to wait for it.
 
The heat from her verdant flame gave Krane precise knowledge of each of her attacks. He could feel it through the air and predict where it would go. The same held true for essentially all fire, and being trained to fight the likes of Azula only made Krane more adept at this. He could feel through the thick mist of the Foggy Swamp as if it were an extension of his body only because of how well he honed this technique. Krane lept to dodge her initial wave of green flame, landing on another ball of air only to prematurely flip in the opposite direction of her diagonal slash through the air, dodging it before it even followed through. This was how Krane fought. At a distance. The farther he kept from Zarina, the greater advantage he had, and using delicate spheres of air as platforms to balance on kept his advantage at bay.

Meanwhile, the two little balls of air completed their first circle, and in doing so created a vacuum of stores. Now, at incredible speeds, they darted around and around in a circle at a rate faster than the eye could perceive. To maintain this, Krane couldn't use any advanced technique, only dodge as he was doing, but it was all he needed. As Krane landed from his flip through the air, he performed a more traditional air bender movement, swirling his arms in a large circle atop the final floating sphere he created. The balls of air created a vortex around both him and Zarina, a barrier that prevented entry and exit. As Krane swirled his arms, he began ripping the very oxygen from the air, starving Zarina and her green flame of what he believed to be its very life essence. No fire, Krane thought, could exist without air. Krane set this entire technique up hoping Zarina would chase him while his balls finally created a circle around her. Instead, she stayed still and tried to blast him down. It would only take moments for this vortex to force all of the oxygen from the ground and lower levels of the ten-foot windwall out into the sky, and all Krane had to do was keep dodging to maintain it.

"Azula had lightning," Krane explained, "I couldn't use this and redirect lightning." Krane looked down at her and smirked, although his eyes were closed. He was feeling the air itself to sense her attacks. Krane spent his entire life fighting firebenders, learning tactics like this to beat them. It was hardly fair, but at the same time, Krane was hardly capable in traditional airbending. Krane used a series of techniques a true master would consider gimmicks, mere tricks, but the way he utilized them made him a force to be reckoned with.
 
She had to keep her head, but it was so hard. She could feel the breath being stolen from her lungs, could feel her heart almost exploding out of her chest. She could believe that this man would reduce his techniques to this for a spar.

Regardless, she still had a trump card...an escape. She dropped to the ground, one hand on the ground. She gripped her shirt as she gripped the earth beneath her fingers. Her fist enclosed tightly and shook. She wouldn't fall here. "I--am NOT Azula." She gasped out as her plasma erupted beneath her. It swirled angrily around her arm, lashing out with a rage. "And this...is not lightning. " She lifted her hand, which laser focused the plasma into a collapsed needle point. She slammed her fist into the ground and drove her plasma into an excited state beyond anything she's created. The plasma glowed brightly and exploded outwards towards the wall. The shockwave seemed to spike as they speared into and through the wall, obliterating the lower part. She took in deep gulps of fresh air, even as she looked up at Krane as her plasma dissipated.

She carefully stood, despite the heavy weariness she felt in her bones. She wouldn't be able to plasmabend for a while. She would be able to firebend for a few more minutes, but anything other than that would probably knock her out immediately.
 
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