Prompt 1: Fire

Terran had always thought fire was dangerous. Because it was. So, logically, those who could bend fire to their will were dangerous. Because they were. At least, that was what he had been taught to believe, and what he continued to believe since starting his journey. Wherever he went he could see the destruction fire could wreak. It was a no-brainer, really.

Of course, that was all in the past.

Now Terran knew that there were good firebenders, after all. What a shocker! If it hadn't been for Freya and Soren, he would have died in the cold. Not that he would admit that. He would just thank them for their help and be on his way.

But for now he was huddled close to the fire that the benders had kindly made for him, draped underneath Soren's huge jacket. Even with all the warmth his teeth were chattering, and he couldn't seem to stop shaking. If he could see himself, he would be surprised at how blue his lips were.

"It gets cold this time of year," Freya was saying in her soft, kind voice. She was sitting beside her husband, arms wrapped around her knees and toes pointing at the flames.

"I f-figured th-th-that out, th-thanks," Terran replied, resisting the urge to roll his eyes.

Soren and Freya only smiled.

"Lucky we were passing by," Soren said cheerily. "I had a feeling that something exciting would happen today, didn't I?"

"Yes, you did," Freya said, snuggling into his muscular side.

Terran would never admit it, but he felt a bit warmed by their affection.

"Why are you out here all alone, anyway?" Soren asked, his chiseled face hardening slightly, though not unkindly.

Terran only shrugged. He didn't want nor need to explain himself to passing strangers, even if they did save his life. It wasn't that he was ungrateful, far from it, in fact. But his reasons were for himself only. To his relief, Freya and Soren accepted his half-answer in stride and moved on.

Throughout the conversation (which consisted of the happy couple talking on and on about anything and everything, regardless of whether Terran participated or listened), Terran vaguely wondered whether they would have helped him had they known he was an earthbender. But the longer he was with them, the more he resolved that they would. They just seemed too innocent and kind to leave even a stranger lying on the side of the icy road.

Eventually, he drifted off into sleep, which he would have never done had he mistrusted his company. But when he woke by the same fire, using Soren's jacket as a blanket, and with the couple sleeping not far from him, Terran knew without a doubt that not all firebenders were bad. Freya and Soren were definite proof.

As quietly as he could, Terran folded up Soren's jacket and laid it beside his hulking, sleeping figure, then gathered his own belongings and set out down the road. After a few paces, he suddenly remembered something and turned back. Picking up a thin but sturdy stick, he wrote his thanks into the dirt where he had slept, hoping that they could read.

Then he was gone.

A/N: These prompts are written for alyssialui's challenge, The Bender Challenge. They're pretty fun. :) Terran is my OC earthbender, and no one shall have him~!

Thanks for reading, the next will be updated as soon as I write it.