| "From the moment you appeared, I was trying to figure out whose pocket you were in. Now I finally have the answer. Mine. Now you're in mine." |
| — Yangchen to Kavik |
"The Visitor" is the sixth chapter of The Dawn of Yangchen.
Overview[]
Yangchen surprisingly visits Kavik and his parents to know more about Bin-Er's situation and have a conversation with the waterbender.
Synopsis[]
Yangchen shows up at Kavik and his parents' door. Tapeesa and Ujurak, honored by the Avatar's presence, happily welcome her inside, although she asks to be treated as a regular Air Nomad. Cornered, as Yangchen knows about his secret job, Kavik tries to calm down.
His mother asks the Avatar to stay for dinner, but Ujurak suddenly remembers that there is meat in the stew, which Air Nomads are not supposed to eat. However, Yangchen calmly says that the Western Air Temple believes that they are allowed to consume meat if it is what is available for sharing; still, Kavik's portion of sea prunes are given to Yangchen. When she asks if only the three of them live in the house, the family hesitates before confirming, adding that they do not have many guests.
As Yangchen converses with the two parents, the Avatar and the informant give each other looks as if playing a game of strategy. Ujurak asks his guest about the reason for her visit, to which she responds that she is in Bin-Er on Avatar business and, in order to best serve people, she needs to talk to them directly and learn about their lives firsthand. Therefore, she begins to inquire the family about their jobs and their lives in the city. Kavik's parents tell her about their origin in the Long Stretch region of the Northern Water Tribe and how a rather fruitless season brought them to Bin-Er when the shang city was still small. The family explains that they arrived five years ago and that they still would like to return to the North, but it is impossible to get exit passes because the control office is corrupt and the only way to get something is if it somehow benefits the shangs.
Kavik brings up the riot in the town center earlier, revealing the people's growing discomfort with the shangs. The news takes the Avatar by surprise and says she wants to change how the vulnerable are treated. Although Kavik believes her, he sarcastically adds that "It's nice to want things." Annoyed by his comment, Yangchen threatens to reveal Kavik's secret to his parents by stating that she is actually at their home because of something their son did. However, instead of the truth, she says that Kavik stopped a thief for her, allowing the boy to tell the full story. He improvises a fake tale and promises that he did not do anything dangerous nor knew it was related to Avatar business. Kavik attempts to counterpunch by asking Yangchen how she came to know of his identity and his address, which she easily answers.
Yangchen then asks for permission to talk to Kavik alone for a moment, to which his parents readily consent. She asks him to show her to his room, which the Avatar carefully studies. The Avatar admits to having followed Kavik from above with the help of her glider and commets on his parent's unawareness regarding the full extent of his activities. When she inquires about his need to work running errands, Kavik claims he values his freedom, and Yangchen repeats a saying she has heard before: "Everyone you meet in Bin-Er is in someone else's pocket." The airbender then confesses that, from the start, she tried to figure out whose pocket Kavik was in, and she has now concluded that he is now in her own.
Production notes[]
Series continuity[]
- Ujurak and Tapeesa were honored to welcome an Air Nomad into their home, as giving hospitality to a monk or a nun was considered to be a great fortune, a belief that was first mentioned in "The Fire Sage".[1]
Character revelations[]
- Kavik and his family are from the Northern Water Tribe.
References[]
- ↑ Yee, F. C. (author), DiMartino, Michael Dante (author). (July 21, 2020). Chapter Twelve, "The Fire Sage". The Shadow of Kyoshi. Amulet Books.