Hikari stepped off the Fire Nation ship and onto the frozen ground. The air had a severe bite to it, something she was not used to. The people native to the area had adapted to the cold, while Hikari was used to the warm, welcoming air of the Fire Nation. She waved to the captain of the ship as he took off back into the ocean behind her. The nerves in the pit of her stomach welled up at the sight of the ship leaving her. She had volunteered to help the Avatar in her journey, which, in hindsight, may have been a rash decision. Her life for quite some time was going to be traveling and training. Not to mention the chi blockers, which currently threatened her very existence. Without her Firebending, she was nothing.
She made her way through the icy town. Her traditional Fire Nation clothing stuck out like a sore thumb. Children hung out of their windows to get a glimpse of the outsider. Strangers stared as they passed her in the streets. Surely, they knew of her arrival? One of the children had gathered up enough courage to approach her from behind and tug on her coat.
"Miss, why are you red?"
Hikari chuckled at the child's blatant innocence.
"I'm from the Fire Nation; it's how we dress over there."The child's face lit up at the thought of someone from a completely different part of the world. "Woah! Can you Firebend? I've never seen a Firebender before!" The girl started jumping up and down excitedly.
Hikari rested her hand on the child's head.
"I'll show you something really quick, but I've got an important meeting to tend to," she said as she opened her hand to reveal a small fireball.
The girl brought her hands to her mouth and squealed in excitement. Hikari let out another laugh, then continued back on her walk to the Avatar's house. She looked up as a giant shadow crept over her. The body of a flying creature flew overhead, landing several feet in front of her. Hikari braced her feet as the ground rumbled. Aboard the giant beast were several men clad in orange and yellow tunics. One of the men stood up and jumped off the side of the creature, his descent slowed significantly. Hikari approached the Airbender. The beast leapt back into the sky, leaving a single Airbender behind.
"Are you the Avatar's Airbending master? My name is Hikari," she said with a bow.
The Airbender returned the bow.
"I am, indeed. My name is Tashi." Tashi gestured towards the building in front of them.
"Shall we?"Hikari nodded. She awkwardly knocked on the side of the door, unsure of the proper etiquette in the Northern Water Tribe.