Avatar: The Rise of Kyoshi (The Kyoshi Novels, #1)

by F.C. Yee

“Never wait to find out what the trouble is,” Wong said, already jogging away from the source. “By then, you’re already too close.”

“Those are our colors,” Wong said as he dipped his thumb and began to gently apply the paint to her cheeks. “White symbolizes treachery, a sinister nature, suspicion of others, and the willingness to visit evil deeds upon them.” Kyoshi could hear Rangi snort so loudly Te might have heard it in his palace. “But,” Wong said, scooping into the other side of the case with his forefinger. “Red symbolizes honor. Loyalty. Heroism. This is the face that we show our sworn brothers and sisters. The red is the trust we have for each other, buried in the field of white but always showing through in our gaze.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. The illusion that the self is separate from the rest of the world is the driving factor that limits our potential. Once you realize there’s nothing special about the self, it becomes easier to manipulate.”