Koda rolled his eyes at her tunic comment. Of course he knew. Was it a crime to make small talk?

"Hm, yeah, and it wouldn't need to recover in the first case if you hadn't broken it. Thanks, by the way." He stood up and gave her a light knock of the hips before walking back towards the healing tents. "Are you gonna come and heal me fully so we can settle this or what?" He turned his head around briefly to see if she was following him.

"I've done everything I can," Soyala replied. "I got basic healing lessons at the North Pole, before I had to go to the Earth Kingdom. The rest of your healing is up to you, if you can stay in bed long enough to actually heal." Of course, she didn't tell him that she was going to go back to the North Pole to finish her healing training, but it would likely be after she finished earthbending and airbending.

"Fine, I'll rest," Koda sighed angrily, "But will you keep me company before you meditate again? It's awfully lonesome in the tents." A small grin played upon his lips. Was he up to something? Sure, he always had a plan stuck up in that tiny little brain of his. Was he going to hurt Soyala if she accepted his offer? Well, that was up to his temper. Maybe his anger would 'blaze up', or maybe it wouldn't.

"Not enough space," Soyala replied. Not that she really needed an excuse to refuse, but having one was always good. "Moving meditation requires room to really move." She shrugged a bit. "Talk to the monks. I'm sure you can be civil that long." She smirked. "Maybe if you behave, you'll get moved into the temple itself. I hear the monks make amazing pastries in the temple kitchens."

"Alright, alright. I'll try to behave. Maybe I'll get to see you again if they let me into the temple. Wouldn't that be fun?" Koda's eyes twinkled in amusement. He gave a quick bow that was partnered with an "It was a pleasure, Miss," before slinking off into the distance. He wandered back to the first aid tents and instead sat outside on a lone bench. He decided to take up Soyalas offer, waiting patiently for a monk to stroll by.

With that, Soyala kept walking out to what looked like a practice yard. She would have preferred pots full of water around the space, but she could make do with her waterskin for her katas. Less water to clean up later, anyways. Taking a basic waterbending stance just shy of center, she started to slowly go through her katas, picking up speed as she went. The water from her waterskin swirled around her as she went, twisting and coiling as she swept her arms around.

Jianyu managed to wander out to the practice yard as Soyala started her meditation. He knew better than to interrupt, but he had no problems sitting down to watch. He was willing to bet nobody around the temple had seen advanced waterbending forms before, so he was sure Soya was going to draw a crowd before long.

Sage popped out of the medical tent for a moment to check what all the fuss was about. Apparently, the Avatar was performing some type of appalling waterbending that everyone wanted to see. She let out a deep sigh. That would be amazing to see. Especially because it was the Avatar of all people. Still, she should stay with the wounded. Some weren't fully recovered yet, and would probably enjoy some company. She was just about to head back into the tent when she noticed a familiar man sitting out on a bench. "Hey, didn't I bandage you up earlier? You should be resting.." She called out.

"Your point?" Answered Koda when he noticed that the words were directed at him.

"Well, get back in the tent. You'll see waterbending again in your lifetime. If you rest and get better, that is." Sage approached the man cautiously, but with a brave look on her face. He was from the Fire Nation. If he was threatened, he could potentially hurt her.

"Make me." Koda's eyes peered up at the strange looking man in front of him.

"Fine by me." Sage stuck her arms out, flexing them to seem larger, and picked Koda up. Well, not really, because there was no way she could have ever been able to do that on her own. So, instead, she positioned herself into a stance and created several small puffs of air to pick Koda up off his feet an transfer him into the tent.

"Lay off you oaf!" Koda shouted as soon as he was on the tent and in the bed. Honestly, he wasn't expecting the man to actually make him do anything. He spat at the ground angrily. If this disgrace of a man was going to touch him again, he was going to explode.

"You good now?" Sage raised an eyebrow.

Jianyu glanced around and snorted when he saw how many nomads Soyala had managed to distract.

"I guess nobody around here has ever seen waterbending like that, huh?" he asked out loud. Soyala's katas didn't falter, proving how much focus she was giving to her movements. He looked around at the monks. "Doesn't anyone do moving meditations here? Or kata practice?" Spirits, he'd known people to do moving meditations before. Not many, granted, since earthbending required a lot of external focus rather than internal focus, but the idea was the same.

"Yeah, I'll be just peachy once you leave." Koda tossed over in his bed, trying to stay as kind as possible. He shouldn't be angering the monks, or anyone for that matter. At least that's what Soya had said. He could burn down all of the tents if he really wanted to. It would be so simple, and many people would be too injured to move. Especially if they were still inside the tents. Still, his own kind could be staying in those tents. His father would frown upon friendly fire. Koda made a mental note to ask his next visitor exactly where the fire nation soldiers were being kept.

Sage left the medical tent without a word. From now on, it was probably best to just treat the remaining wounded and go. She was missing valuable time with the spirits after all. So, to make up for that lost time by heading straight for the temple. She passed by Soyalas 'show' on her way, and stopped to admire Soya's handiwork. Man, she was incredible. Sage shot Soya a quick salute and continued toward the temple. Soyala was probably too focused to even see her gesture, but that was alright. Its the thought that counted. Upon arriving at the temple, Sage climbed to the very top balcony, closed all the doors and curtains, lit a small candle for light, and began meditating.

Soyala finished her katas and guided the water back into her waterskin. Turning around, she jumped a bit when she realized she had an audience.

"Um... I didn't mean to bother anyone," she said sheepishly, turning just a little red in embarrassment. Jianyu snickered.

"No worries, Soya, I think they're impressed," he said, grinning. "You know, with you being a badass waterbender and all."

"Shut up, Jian," Soyala retorted, giving a good-natured grin. "Just wait till we find a good place down the mountain to spar."

"Yeah," Jianyu agreed, grinning back, "I think you're overdue for another defeat, huh?"

Soyala just rolled her eyes and stomped one foot, throwing Jianyu off-balance just enough that he stumbled.

Koda poked his head out of the medical tent briefly. He saw no sign of the snarky man who carried him in earlier. Thank the spirits for that. It was getting boring just laying down and resting, and he needed entertainment. The best way to get that? Go and instigate some trouble. So, off Koda went, flicking small balls of fire occasionally out of his fingertips. There really wasn't a method to his madness this time. Soon, after waking up a few of his soldiers that were resting in nearby tents, he found Soyala and her little pet that followed her everywhere. What was his name? Jenkins.. Joe.. Jay? It was unimportant anyway. He propulsed himself up to the safety of a low roof, and after a stern "do this, or I'll have my father behead you." to the soldiers, he watched as his three men headed straight for the group. There were a few stray monks left over from the crowd Soya drew, but it didn't matter to Koda. The more blood, the better. Besides, if him and his leftover soldiers were to leave this nation, they were going to have to toughen up. Freedom doesn't come without a fight. Honestly, he could probably just sneak off and leave. It wasn't like they were holding him in a cell. Still, what about the dozen other fire nation soldiers that he had yet to find? He couldn't just leave them there. He was cruel, but not that heartless.

Soyala ended up spending a while on the mountain, learning airbending forms. Jianyu headed back to the Earth Kingdom to continue his own earthbending training, leaving Soyala with the monks. At the solstice, Soyala went back home to the Southern Water Tribe to celebrate her birthday, and then to the Northern Water Tribe for more healing training. She returned to the Earth Kingdom after that to finish earthbending. Finally, it was decided that she'd attained mastery in three of the four elements. It was time for her to learn firebending, so she was on her way to the Fire Nation to see if she could find a bender willing to teach her.

The past few months were crazy for both Koda and Sage. Sage's secret was spilled shortly after the Avatar and Jianyu had left. She was nearly kicked out of every temple altogether, but since the monks were so forgiving, she was able to join the Southern Temple once again. After awhile, she left once more to travel on her bison and think things out. Koda, on the other hand, left as soon as his wounds healed. He headed back to the Fire Nation and finally caught up to his father, who was not happy at all. He sat through the whole 'You're a disgrace. There is no reason for you to attack without me.' riot act several times. He was revoked all of his authority for a week. God, how much of a pain his father was. Now, he is back at home practicing the one thing he loves- firebending.

Soyala managed to get into the Fire Nation without much incident, and ended up being directed to the general's residence. She'd been told that a member of his household would be able to teach her firebending. So there she was, waiting at the door to be allowed in to talk to the general.

"Sir, there is someone here for your father. He's out right now.. So u-umm. Will you talk to her for him?" A maid questioned with a small rap on the door.

"Yeah, yeah." Koda waved the maid away. He sat up and straightened himself out, taking his time to reach the door. Nowadays, his father was always away. He was off doing 'business'. Yeah, like Koda actually believed that. "Yeah?" He asked as he opened the door, not actually paying attention to who was there.

Soyala blinked when the door opened and revealed Koda. She regained her composure quickly, though, and gave a small bow of respect.

"I apologize for the intrusion," she said evenly. "I was instructed to come here and ask about instruction in the art of firebending."

"Mhm, yeah, well.. We don't exactly off-" Koda stopped abruptly in his sentence as he looked up. This woman seemed familiar. Could she be? No, there's no way. Or maybe? Yeah, she was definitely Soyala. "Oh, Soyala. How great it is to finally see you again. And you asking me for a favor. How darling. Of course, we would do anything for you," He snorted, "You are the avatar after all. Did you want to be instructed or something?"

"Oh good, you haven't lost your attitude," Soyala retorted, relaxing slightly. This, she could deal with. "It would have been a shame if it had stayed broken after the incident at the Air Temples." She shifted her weight slightly, but stayed relaxed and unthreatening. "I was sent here. I asked for instruction and was told that the best person to teach me firebending lived here."

"Oh, really? So.. Im the best?" Koda smirked smugly. Well, his dad was better than him, so there was a chance that Soyala wasn't exactly sent to him. She might not have been told that though. "So, you're in need of a teacher, and I just happen to be willing to have a student. If you're up for it, I'd love to teach you. Come in." Koda stepped back slightly and bowed, gesturing toward the sitting room. "After you, my dear."

"I'll come in," Soyala said as she went in the door, "but I was sent to speak to the general. Is he around?" She wasn't going to fall for the 'I'm the master here' attitude from Koda, not until she'd spoken with the real head of the household and figured out what was going on.

"No. He won't be back for awhile either. He's a busy man." Koda sighed softly. He plopped himself down onto a chair into the sitting room before continuing. "Anything you want to say to him, you can relay through me."

Well. That sounded kind of like a sore spot.

"I was sent here by the Fire Sages," Soyala said carefully. "I was informed that the best person to instruct me in firebending was here, and that I should discuss it with the general." She looked at Koda. "If this is a bad time, I'm sure I could go back to the Fire Sages' temple and have one of them teach me for a while, until the general returns." She rolled her eyes a bit. "I bet they'd love to watch me meditate if they knew I've talked to the last three Avatars before me." She knew very well that while the Avatar before her was an Air Nomad, the one before him was Fire Nation.

She was sent by the sages, huh? Figures. They had always sucked up to his father when they were young. People never change.

"No, no, it's fine. You can stay in a guest room somewhere. I believe the lord has room. There is no need to go back to the sages." Koda crossed his arms and sighed. "Just stay somewhere close until my father returns. He'll teach you everything, and if not, someone else will."

Soyala looked at him for a moment. Something seemed... off. He wasn't snarking at her like he had before, it wasn't normal.

"Koda, what's wrong?" she asked finally. "And I won't believe you if you tell me it's nothing." She stood firm, not backing down, and waited for an answer.

"Well, you'll have to believe me because it's nothing. I've just been under the weather lately." Koda turned abruptly toward the hallway. Alright, so, the last part wasn't exactly true. He wasn't sick at all, but didn't feel the need to explain his whole life to Soyala. She wasn't close to him. Heck, she tried to squash him like a pancake just months ago. "Leave now. The maid will alert you when my father returns."