Runner of the river

On North Pole, long time ago, there lived one waterbender girl named Ketturah. In northern water tribe, there was the rules which was discriminating for women and waterbender females. Ketturah wasn't very popular, in her family, she was only a drudge. nobody allowed her to practice Waterbending and she wasn't talented enough to learn healing. But every day after her houseworks, she was going to swim in cold ocean. She was really good swimmer.

But one day, when Ketturah was thirteen, her family sent her to the Earth kingdom, to one small village in mountains and woods. Ketturah had to leave her homeland and join the earthbenders. But in her new home, villagers didn't love her very much. Her classmates in the school was bullying her and the villagers thought that young skinny waterbender is too weak and good for nothing.Ketturah felt very frustrated and depressed. And finally, there was no ocean to swim in, only thin streams, not deep enough to swim there.

One summer afternoon, Ketturah was walking near the river called "Lotus Stream". She was sad and desperate. She sat down the grass and looked at the water. After a few minutes, water rippled and the River Spirit appeared in the stream. A creature similar to snake or dragon, with white and silver body, called Harok. He lookd at Ketturah. "Dear waterbender, why are you so sad?"

Ketturah was a bit scared, but she answered "I moved here from North Pole, but the villagers hate me. And I found myself useless." Harok came closer to her. "You're a good swimmer, aren't you?" "Yes, I am" said Ketturah "but I can't swim in the streams." Harok gasped. "Yes, this place is just a trees, rocks, soil and dust. To exceed the others, you have to swim without any water." Ketturah didn't understand. Harok wrapped softly around her body. "I'll give you two powers, my waterbender friend, to help you to survive in this land."

Ketturah felt very strange feeling and saw a white light all around. She felt the energy flowing through her body, when Harok was blessing her. He was wrapped around her for a few miutes and after that, he disappeared. Ketturah wasn't sure what is happening with her, but she felt so strong... and she was also very self-confident. She was happy and she felt the need to do something adventurous and foxy. She thought about the school and she decided to make a little revenge for her classmates. Now she was sure she will triumph them all.

She knew their teacher is very forgetful. He have to write a note about every homework before the lessons. So next day, Ketturah stealed in his cabinet and she erased his notes about the homework. When the lesson was coming to an end, all the class was expecting the homework. But the teacher said "goodbye tomorrow" and was ready to leave the classroom. The class was excited about it and sat in silence, hoping about the fact their teacher forgot the homework.

But Ketturah had a plan. She pretended she's dissatisfied with it and with sweet voice she said loudly "Master, I think you forgot the homework!" All the class turned to her furiously. "Oh, yes, you're right, my girl.... you'll write an essay about our village, of two thousand words. For tomorrow." said teacher. The class gasped angrily. They was fed up like they have never been. And when the class want out of the school, they blocked Ketturah's way. "You dirty dump floozy!!! What the hell do you think?! Why did you tell him about the homework, you beast?!"

Ketturah smiled. "I think it's right to remind the teacher when he forget something, isn't it?" The class got raving mad. They was ready to beat her up, maybe to death. "We'll show you now, you damn fish-eater..." "No, it will be me who will show you..." thought Ketturah. The boys held out their fists and some knives. Ketturah realized it's her time. She felt enormous energy in whole her body and her blood spinning in her legs. She felt very strong and fearless. She started laughing.

"Stop laugh! Die now, you brute!!!" shouted class and pounced on her. But Ketturah jumped and ran over the hills and forest like no one else could. The class stopped and gazed in silence. They have never seen someone running so fast. Ketturah was running so fast like she have never run before. She didn't know why is she so good runner now, but she really enjoyed it. She left the village, left them googling, astonished and amazed. She ran miles and miles away, through the forest, the hills, the fields, such a symbol of endurace! She was laughing loudly and cattily. "Hey, earthbenders, just catch me if you can!"

When she ran around the river, she jumped on the water surface and ran on it. She wsa the waterbender, and walking or running on the water, it was not a problem for her. She overpassed the waterfall and the bridge, when she heard Harok's voice. "I have gave you two powers - smartness and strong and fast legs. Now you'll be the Runner-of-the-river. This mountains will hide you from your pursuers, you'll be fast and foxy like nobody else, no one can touch you, nothing can stop you, Runner of the river. And you will bring your strength and victory to your people."

By the time she left the village, nobody saw Ketturah anymore. In the mountains, the people are telling the stories about Ketturah the Runner-of-the-river, and they think she's still live in the forest, but she's very careful and so fast and cunning so she will run away before someone could see her. She moved through the land and some people met her when she came near some village to help the fishermen and to punish the thieves. She managed to outfoxed everybody she wished, managed to triumph them all.

And some stories claims that's the reason why the water tribe people are so cunning runners and swimmers. Maybe they all are Ketturah's offsprings.