A day in the life of Alohi (OPEN)

Pal was usually the first one up in the mornings when their parents were out. Allegedly his father and mother had both decided to go on an overnight seal-hunting expedition, but he had suspicions better not thought of when his mother almost forgot her spear on their way out the door and his father was grinning ear to ear. It had been about a month since their last seal-hunting expedition so he couldn’t really object too much to being left to mind the hut and family. His three younger sisters were still asleep, rolled in their sleeping furs. Piaka was drooling in her sleep, Pakoda was asleep face down and only the top of Pira’s head was visible in her bundle of furs. Yes, everything was very normal. Pal rekindled the embers of the tiny fire in their hut and put the kettle on for tea. Piaka could get the actual breakfast together, she was fourteen and more than old enough to do some household chores like breakfast.
Satisfied that he had done what was required of him for his family for that morning- for now at least, Pal decided it was probably a good idea to get some waterbending practice in, nice and early in the morning- especially before Pira woke up and decided that she wanted to ‘practice’ too. That thought in mind, he quickly got dressed and left the family hut.
Outside the city’s wall he had hoped to find a nice deserted stretch of icy shore to work on but he wasn’t the first person that morning to decide to get a little practice in. A short distance down the shore from him was someone practicing, and Pal couldn’t help but notice that they were making snow animals despite the fact that even at this distance the someone in question looked like he was a bit older than Pal. You’re just jealous that his snow animals actually look like something because the last time you made snow animals, Pakoda asked why you made a badger-mole when you were going for a lion-turtle… Pal’s subconscious chided. Pal sighed. His subconscious had a point. Jealous wasn’t going to make his bending skills any better, only practice would. “Today’s lesson….” He muttered to himself. “Lift water straight up from the ocean, until tired.” Not for the first time he regretted giving up more formal lessons but the decision hadn’t been all his.
Pal sincerely hoped that the other bender wouldn’t notice (or worse, laugh at) his limited attempts as he began doing the rather unglamorous waterbender equivalent of push-ups.


Mood: Sleepy
Condition: Healthy

At first, Pal was able to lift what he considered to be a fair amount of water, maybe about the weight of a large penguin. But after a few repetitions, his arms started to shake. Ok, lift less… he thought, frowning in concentration. And that worked, again, for a few repetitions. Maybe if I focus on lifting less water altogether, just lifting with my fingertips? Ten points of water coming up from the sea. Can I do that? It was worth a try… Pal’s frown deepened as he tried out his new idea. It was working! Pal grinned- and immediately the water dropped back into the sea. He sighed in frustration. “Concentrate already…” he mumbled to himself. His head hurt from all the concentrating he’d already done.
Motion out of the corner of his eye caught Pal’s attention and he turned to see the other waterbender heading in his direction. Even at a fair distance Pal thought he recognised him as that swampbender who’d come to the SWT not that long ago. Pal didn’t remember his name though, which was a little embarrassing. “’Morning,” Pal called when the other man got closer, but he didn’t wave. His arms were tired.

Mood: Awake
Condition: Healthy

Alohi, that was it, Pal thought after the man introduced himself. He felt stupid for forgetting the man’s name previously. Pal hadn’t shaken hands, lifting his arms was difficult, at the moment but he hoped the man hadn’t thought he was being rude.

Pal watched intently as Alohi created the large snow-bear, trying to get a good idea of how he was doing it.

Quote :

"Making snow creatures is a specialty of mine," Alohi said, "I know every water bender can do it, but I do it more than others.”

“I’m not so good at it,” Pal admitted, sitting down as well. It was a relief to sit down after some hard training. “I’m Pal,” he said. It seemed reasonable as the other man had introduced himself. “About the… lack of change, I guess, down here… I’ve heard it said that water is the element of change but my gran said it’s also the element of contradictions. So, if there are places that change a lot there have to be places like this that don’t change as much, even if you wish they would,” he added wryly, biting his lip.

It would be nice to have a change, to leave the Southern Water Tribe where he was just a below average water-bender and go somewhere different. “When did you start learning how to bend?” Pal asked. “I did when I was about eight but I’ve never been much good. Is water bending really different where you’re from?” He hoped he wasn’t being rude asking so many questions. Since he usually preferred for people to not bother him for questions it was a little against his nature to talk so much, but it was early in the day still.

Mood: Curious
Condition: Healthy