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I need somewhere to put this since I'm running out of space on my hard drive. So uh, yea. Really, you shouldn't read this because this is April being bored.

Chapter 1

“So… this is it?” asked Shayde to her brother. Granted, they weren’t real blood siblings but the sentiment and the years it took to get to that point was definitely there. It was strange, though, since they did look like siblings. Fate had been kind to them for it was more plausible for them to pass through a town easier since they looked alike. Most villages and cities would question them instead of accepting them.

“Yes,” Kartik replied calmly. He fed off the strength, the sturdiness of Shayde while his insides were dancing like leaves on the wind. “We need this place.”

The phrase was said often but Shay still had no idea why they needed this place. Turning to her brother, she narrowed her very green eyes, “But why, Kartik? Why do we need this place? This place has nothing we need. You think we need to learn with little rich children from rich families? We nee-“

“We need stability,” he interrupted. He had heard this argument over and over but the decision was made and this was where they were. “You need… family.” The regret in his tone was obvious and Shay’s heart cracked even further. “You are my family,” she said, her dark brows knitted together.

But he pushed his way past her and began down the road towards the school that may or may not accept them.

Chapter 2

Ka-thud.
Ka-thud.
Chook-chook.
Ka-thud.
Ka-thud.

“STOP IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

There was a pause and a small chuckle from the other side of the room. Neoa glanced over his shoulder at the tiny little girl occupying his doorstep and the very big guy behind her. “You really shouldn’t hang out in the Earth bending dorms. There are always rocks being tossed against the walls,” Tye told him seriously. For the life of him, Tye had no idea exactly why Neoa always hung out in the Earth bending dorms on the start of the year.

“Well... at least they know who’s boss!” Neoa said, puffing out his chest. However, the second he said that, the “ka-thud”s started once more. Sky smiled and bounded into the room. She had no idea how she became friends with the loudest boy in the entire place but she loved her boys all the same. Pushing Neoa away from the window, the brown haired girl took a look out the window and smiled as she saw several girls getting their things into the dorm across from the one they were in. Looking into the building itself, it was easy to see through the windows and, if closely looked, one could see a few girls changing.

Turning around with her arms crossed, Tye was leaning against the desk in the corner while Neoa was looking sheepish knowing he was caught. “I don’t even get you…” she said shaking her head but smiling all the same.

Chapter 3

“Yo, is that a map?”

Anya turned, startled for some reason, so that the papers in her arms went flying. “I-uh…,” she stammered failing to get her wits about her as she knelt down to retrieve the papers. A petite hand came out of nowhere holding a small stack out to her. Surprised, Anya looked at the face and saw a black haired vixen. “You look like you needed some help!” she explained cheerfully.

“Thanks!” Anya said, flushing with acceptance.

An inescapable sigh came from above, however, as the girl in green was still waiting for her map. “So… these aren’t maps,” she said, stating the obvious while folding her arms together against her chest. “No, they aren’t,” replied Anya as the last of the papers were gathered and in her arms once more.

Now that she was on her feet, she saw that a small group had gathered and that it wasn’t just the Black haired girl who was helping her. Smiling at the group, she didn’t recognize a single of their faces. “But I can give you the grand tour, if you like,” finished Anya.

Waving her long, bright red hair so that it was out of her face, she finally made her own personal introduction, “I’m Anya. I’ve been at this school for several years, now so I’d be way more than happy to help you guys out. May I know your names?”

The short girl with short, black hair finally uncrossed her arms before bending over to pick up her heavy bag. “The name’s Pakpao. I just want to know where to stow my stuff. I have some warming up t’do,” she threw the green bag over her shoulder. Anya smiled, an easy question with an easy answer, “Water bending dorms are-“

“I’m an Earth bender,” she said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“And, little Earth bender, you are something, aren’t you? I’m Inari! And this…” she looked around for where her tall, white haired partner went to, “…is Adonis!” It was like a snowball effect. After the three had introduced themselves, the rest felt the need to as well.

Pakpao only seemed to beam at the somewhat compliment. A boy beside the little Earth bender piped up with his name as well, “I’m Enlai. Hand-to-hand, non bender.” His grin was infectious and Anya found that she was now smiling at full blast, now.

In moments, Anya had already forgotten half of their names but knew she would learn them throughout this year. Most like, she’d even befriend them. “Okay, let’s start this tour, then!”

Chapter 4
“Alright, then if you, dear, would please exit through that door,” said the woman behind the counter. She was fishing around for some papers for Kartik to fill out but he wouldn’t if Shayde could not stay by his side. They were a pair, they protected each other, and this woman was just being a pain in his side.

Kartik was trying to find the right words. All this woman had done was considered rude and unhelpful. “We’re not… you’re… but?” he asked as panic rose in his chest. He was trying to keep the patience in his voice and the calamity to a minimum. He felt, rather than heard, Shayde suck up the wind into her lungs and he wished she’d remain her steady.

“All of our Earth bending slots are filled, but we have plenty of male air bending slots to BE filled,” she said, giving a nasty smile. To Shayde, her smile seemed fake. It looked like she enjoyed doing this to them. “Maybe you should stay, dear, if not for bending lessons than to learn to speak for yourself. Or comprehension skills… either way, we can no longer pick up anymore… strays. I-“

“Naiba,” snapped a voice from behind the pair. The woman was severe looking and the duo was startled beyond comprehension. Shayde whipped around with a rock based whip as her disposal but right as it were to strike the woman, a huge gust of air disturbed the entire office and the whip fell to the ground as dust. Shayde’s wild eyes went to Kartik’s as she realized what had happened.

The woman did not move an inch; neither did a single hair on her head. Readjusting her tunic-like shirt, for she was wearing classic fire nation garb, she simply said in a harsh tone, “Follow me, please.” With that, she turned on her heel and left the office. Looking back, Kartik saw that his gust of wind had seemed to disturb every single paper that had been neatly stacked and/or filed for papers and transcripts were everywhere.

With haste, he pulled his scared sister along to follow the woman. At the end of the hall, she was holding open a door for them to enter. Not speaking a word, they entered and she followed, closing the door behind them. “Please, have a seat,” she said, gesturing towards the seats in front of a desk. Crossing the room, she took her own seat behind the desk and looked at them, waiting for them to take their seats.

Once both Kartik and Shayde had taken their seats, Kartik immediately went to defend his sister. “We’re very sorry! Shayde, she didn’t mean to we’re jus-“ the woman held a hand, abruptly cutting him off.

“We have ten open seats for each element at this school for those that come from unfortunate backgrounds, like yourselves. Some were kicked out of their homes for some reason, others left home, others are orphans, and so on and so forth,” she said, only blinking once. As Shay’s nerves began to unclench, she counted how many times the woman blinked with a neutral face. “My secretary is obviously not very sensitive to these types of children and I must apologize on her behalf.”

Kartik’s breath began to slowly release as he realized what this woman was getting at. But rather than assuming the best, he kept the small feeling of dread in his stomach to prepare himself. “You refuse to be separated therefore, we must simply take both of you,” she paused, waiting for their disbelief and, as if on cue, it came on both of their faces. It was Shayde who spoke first, “And what’s the catch? You accept an extra student in Earth bending and what do I have to do? Pay this school back tenfold?” A scoff left her lips as she stood, Kartik not far behind.
A small smile reached the pinchy woman’s face, a genuine smile that made Shayde stop. “No, this is your last chance or else you will have to live as nomads. Afraid to enter any city for whatever reason because you have done something shameful in your past,” she said simply. Her hard eyes gazed into each of them. “This is your last chance to start over and gain some credentials. This is your last chance.”

Slowly, Shayde and Kartik sat back down still untrusting of this woman but what she said was truth. “Yes, there is a catch,” she said once more. Kartik’s back stiffened as he waited for it. “You may not give up for three months. That is half of a term. The second catch is that we will split you up but only for night time. We do not permit males and females to sleep in the same room, even if they are siblings. We also divide each student by their bending capabilities. Meal times, however, will be together as will any free time you may have. However, and foremost, classes are also divided. You will be automatically enrolled in your bending class, Air for you and Earth for you, but you have the choice to be enrolled in a hand-to-hand combat class.”

Shayde was the first to get her bearings back. “Are you… serious?” she asked. So far, the woman had blinked but four times. “Yes. Between you two and me, you’re not alone. You are not the only ones who have been in your situation. You can trust me,” she said in a near whisper.

After several more exchanges, questions, and disbeliefs, Kartik and Shayde were sold on this woman’s ingenuity.

Chapter 5

There were but two students left. “And the best for last!” cried out Enlai to the pretty red head once she had showed all the benders to their dorms. There were three others who were left alongside him. Anya turned to see who she had left. “Okay, so… Enlai, Lotus, Hakan, aaaaand,” Anya cringed as she forgot the boy’s name. With a raised eyebrow, he cleared his throat before admitting, “Griffin.”

Anya’s cheeks turned red, “Oh, right… I’m sorry. Well, this is the hand-to-hand dorm rooms.” She gestured to a miniscule building compared to the other dormrooms. But it was understandable considering. “Don’t forget, dinner will be ready in about an hour so feel free to get settled, freshen up, and then check the maps in your rooms to find where the eating hall is!”

She watched as the rest of them filed into the dorms with their stuff to check in and get settled. It was strange and yet familiar for her as she was always the ever helpful return student. Some would even go as far as calling her a teacher’s pet… which was true in some respect. Turning around, she made her own way back to the water bending dorms.