[Private]Well.. Now what?

[Inahku Yuzuki]

Terra knew she was going to get into so much trouble when she got back to Air Temple Island where she was staying with her mother. The two of them had been send to Republic City on a diplomatic mission for her father, the earth king. Her father had insisted that she should go with her mother on this journey so she could gain some experience in politics.

It wasn't that she did not like traveling with her mother, it was just that life on Air Temple Island was so dull and boring for the young fifteen year old girl. Councilman Tenzin and his family had been very nice to them and all, but the whole idea of being restricted to the island when there was just too much for the young earthbender to handle.

As she walked through the streets, she regretted not putting on some other clothes. The ones she was currently wearing was the same ones as she had arrived to Republic City in, and they clearly marked her as a girl of noble blood. The reason for this was that they were much nicer than what most commoners would wear, and it made her stick out like a sore thumb.

Most people just glanced at her and then went on with their own business, but a few people here and there shouted to her, some more inappropriate things than others. Terra just ignored them. Being raised as the crown princess of the Earth Kingdom, she had learned to always hold her head up high, no matter what, and that was what she was doing now.

Subconsciously, her right hand went to the golden metal fans she had hanging by her right hip. They had belonged to her mother, who had given them to her, claiming she had no use for them as an ambassador for the Earth Kingdom, and that her daughter would be able to put them to better use than she could. The weight of them and the feeling of the cold metal against her palm calmed her as she kept walking.

Somehow, she found herself in a large park in the middle of the city. It was a welcome break from the suffocating smell of smoke that all the satomobiles in the streets of the city gave off, and Terra decided to stay for a while. However, before she had walked very far into the park, Shia, her pet pygmy puma, had run off. Terra quickly followed behind, trying to keep up with the small animal.

To Terra's horror, Shia was running towards a boy that looked to be about her own age, who was lying in the shade of one of the park's trees. "No Shia, get back here!" she shouted to the feline, but it was too late. The pygmy puma was now rubbing it's head against the boy's arm and Terra quickly picked up the animal, all the while her cheeks were turning a nice shade of red.

"I'm so, so sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you" she apologized, holding Shia in her arms.

[Ryota Xiaoli]

Ryo was having the strangest dream about being at his grandmother's house when he felt something brush up against his arm. The physical contact was transferred into his dream as one of his grandmother's creepy sock puppets came alive and tried to crawl up his body. The young boy let out a shriek and felt his head hit something rough. A... A tree?

A twinkling voice broke through his panic.

"I'm so, so sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you."

Ryoto brought a hand up to shield his eyes from the sun as he looked at the source of the voice. He must have hit his head harder than he had expected because standing above him was an absolute angel. His face turned warm and he spluttered a reply.

"Oh, no! You're fine. I shouldn't have fallen asleep here anyway..." He stood up quickly and almost lost his footing, he caught himself on the tree to not fall over. The girl that stood across from him was obviously Earth Kingdom... and by the looks of her clothes she comes from a lot of money.

"Who's this?" He asked, reaching out his finger tips for the small pet to smell. He'd never seen anything like it before. Part of him was genuinely curious and part of him just wanted to avoid looking at the girl's pretty face. He doubted he could look at it for long without feeling self conscious about his own appearance. There was no doubt in his mind his hair was ruffled from sleep and there was dirt smudged somewhere on his face.

[Inahku Yuzuki]

Due to her past, Terra quickly regained her composure and set Shia down on the ground gain. The feline immediately went over to the boy again, looking up at him with big eyes, almost as if she was begging him to pet her again.

When the other boy almost lost his footing, Terra couldn't help but to giggle. However, she quickly stopped herself when she realized that the boy might think of it as rude, and she could feel her cheeks grow warm again.

Gee, what was up with her?

She never acted like this around other people. Usually, she was calm and collected when out in public, but not now. Maybe it was because she wasn't with her parents, and thus there weren't any expectations to the way she behaved herself other than what was normal.

She looked around somewhat awkwardly, not sure what to say or do. The boy in front of her seemed to be very poor, judging from his clothes, but Terra didn't want to push the subject as it didn't seem like an appropriate topic of conversation. So instead, her eyes went to the water benders who were practicing their water bending not too far from where the two of them were standing.

While she did like her earth bending just fine, she couldn't help but to marvel at the grace with which the water benders moved. It seemed almost as if they were one with their element.

"Oh this?" she asked, after she had turned her attention back to the boy. "This is Shia, my pet pygmy puma" she replied as the feline once again began to rub its head against the boy's hand to get attention. "It's strange, though - she's usually never this affectionate towards strangers" Terra mused, looking at the creature. Usually, the only one who was allowed close to her was Terra.

"She must really like you" the girl concluded with a grin. It was no wonder that Shia did not like strangers: when she had still been a cub, Terra had found her in the lower ring of Ba Sing Se where some orphan street rats had been mistreating it, beating it with sticks and shouting at it.

[Ryota Xiaoli]

"A pygmy puma," He said curiously as the small feline rubbed her face against his hand. He couldn't help the smile that took over his face. He had never really had a pet when he was at home, he didn't know why. It could almost look scary, if it weren't for the size and the big puppy eyes it was giving him.

Ryo decided he liked Shia.

When he stood up he noticed the girl blushing, it must have been something he did... Or something he didn't do. He wondered if she had noticed his poor appearance. He really hoped she wouldn't judge him based off of it; He may be poor, but the amount of money he had didn't define who he was or how people should treat him... Well more the first thing, it seemed like the second thing was impossible to avoid. But as he stood observing the pretty girl, who looked close to his own age, he remembered what might be the problem. OH! Where was his manners?

"Well, I'm Ryo," He grinned cheekily and stuck out a hand. "Well, really my name is Ryota Xiaoli... But I really don't like that name, so you should just call me Ryo," He was babbling and he knew it, "Most friends just call me that- Not that you're my friend! Wait- not that you're NOT my friend!" He spluttered, face turning redder than the fire lilies that crowded the park's gardens.

He hung his head in embarrassment, "I'm sorry, can I start over?"

[Inahku Yuzuki]

Terra couldn't help but to smile at the scene before her. It was true that Shia had never acted like this around anyone else, so for her to behave like this was... well, unusual.

"Yeah" she began explaining. "They mostly live in the outer ring of Ba Sing Se and that was also where I found Shia here" she said, looking at the feline with a small smile. It was odd, that ever since she had nursed the pygmy puma back to health, it had refused to leave her side, almost as if it wanted to protect the young girl in return for what she had done for it.

"They usually live in packs, but Shia here had been left on her own and when I found her, she was being attacked by a group of orphans" Terra said, her smile turning into a frown. She still did not understand how anyone could bring themselves to do something as awful as what those kids had done to Shia.

"I took her back home and nursed her back to health, and ever since then, she's been by my side, no matter where I go" Terra finished explaining, her eyes moving from the feline to Ryo.

To be honest, she thought it was kind of cute how he was blushing and stumbling over the words, but she said nothing about it. Having grown up in the palace, Terra had never really had any friends her own age, and it was nice to meet someone who did not judge her or would only be friends with her because they wanted to get something from her.

When he asked if he could start over again, Terra giggled a little, but then stopped herself. "Sure" she said with a small smile as she looked at him. "It's nice to meet you Ryo" she said politely and then added: "I'm Terra" Her green eyes were twinkling with amusement at the whole scene, but she also felt oddly content.

[Ryota Xiaoli]

When he shook hands with Terra he was praying to the gods that his hands weren't sweating. That would be embarrassing. But he guessed that it wouldn't be the first time he had embarrassed himself.

Ryo frowned and his eyebrows furrowed as he heard the story of the small feline, he looked down at it and felt a sweep of sympathy. Shia was a good cat.. panther... thing.

"I can't believe someone would actually hurt her," He said, squatting again to give her a pat on the head.

"Also, pretty name," He said and gave Terra a wide smile. He took the opportunity to really get a good look at her. She was really pretty.

"So.. Uh, what brings you around these parts, Terra?" He asked and stood back up, nonchalantly leaning against the tree. For some reason he really wanted to know more about this girl. She was about his age but wasn't as nearly as hyperactive and carefree as he was. He came to the conclusion that she must have come from a lot of money, and therefore she was taught the manners he'd never even dreamed of.

Really, as long as he was kind and thankful, his mother had never said anything. Saying please, thank you and not talking with his mouth full was the extent of what he was taught.