Hey everybody! Well, for anyone who's been reading this story as it goes on, I wrote a pre-prologue introduction, to get it all in the mood. For new readers, well, this chapter has next to nothing to do with the story, but it's a way to get it started…
And it starts soon after the Firebending Masters, except for some reason, the whole Gaang is there, and it's a lot farther away.
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Uncle Iroh hates tea. And I own Avatar.
All was quiet as the Gaang returned from the ruins of the Sun-Warrior Civilization. Aang, who was steering Appa, was lost in a reverie. He and Zuko were still awed by what the Firebending Masters had shown them, how Fire was not just deadly, but it was the source of life.
For without the sun, what would we be? Lowly cretins, which would have a tiny life-span, due to the lack of vegetation, and thus, food.
Zuko, sitting in the back of Appa's immense saddle, had a look of slight astonishment about him. He had been welcomed (although not quite graciously) into the Avatar's group, and experienced something most people lived their lives knowing to be non-existent. He had quickly realized that an air of unusuality always hovered about the Avatar and his friends, and strange things were always happening around them.
With a sigh, he leaned back into the saddle, bored and tired of the seemingly endless hours they had to spend on the great flying beast. His shaggy mane of hair moved about in the hot breeze. Toph was sprawled out next to Sokka, clinging onto his arm. Zuko noticed that she looked a little green, and wondered why she was clinging onto the Water Tribe boy.
Just then, Toph turned her head in Zuko's direction, and he caught a glimpse of her steamy green eyes. They seemed to pierce through him, and he looked away, unsettled. It was odd, having a blind Bender around. He could never remember that she was blind, in the way she acted, and more specifically, with the power and accuracy she Earthbended with. Then again, everyone in the little group was an exceptional bender, and in Sokka's case, swordsman.
Katara sat towards the front of the saddle, close to Aang. She had pulled her hair into a braid once more, rather than open in the Fire Nation style, in order to counter the heat. She looked out over the sea, which they were flying over in their futile attempts to return to the Western Air Temple that day. Her mind wandered, and her eyes subconsciously settled upon a certain Airbender in front of her.
Feeling a pair of eyes staring at him, Aang turned around, and met Katara's eyes. Blushing lightly, he said, "Is something wrong? Why are you staring at me like that?" His voice was not unkind, but he regretted saying those words almost immediately, remembering the first time he's brought Katara on Appa, and she'd asked him the same question, causing him to blush and stutter, which was precisely what Katara was doing at the moment.
In order to cover up her embarrassment at being caught staring, she pointed past Aang, and said, "Look, we've reached land, and the sun's about to set soon. We should stop here for the night."
He swiveled his head around to look at what she was pointing at. It was an island, with green vegetation perched atop hills of varying sizes. The beach was a wide expanse of pure white sand, and it was interrupted by a stream of freshwater which had an unknown source up in the forest. There was no smoke coming into the air from anywhere on the island, looking quite uninhabited.
Sokka, who had also heard Katara, had spotted some poor defenseless animal on the beach, drinking from the clear stream. "MEAT CREATURE!" he said, his stomach growling nearly as loud as his voice. "No meat for so long. Meat is sooo good!" She shut his mouth immediately with a punch from Toph, who was feeling very airsick, and didn't want to hear about food.
They were quickly approaching the island, and Appa growled. "I know buddy, we'll stop tonight." Aang said. He called over his shoulder, "All right, we'll stop here tonight. Appa's tired, anyway."
They landed minutes later, gently, and began to search for a suitable place to set up camp. They soon came upon a small clearing, through which the stream ran. After they had set up, Zuko and Aang left for a Firebending lesson, with Katara following closely, watching Zuko like a hawk.
Since he had already Firebended, Aang was able to master the basics of Firebending rather quickly, surprising Zuko. Sweaty and exhausted, but proud of their accomplishments, they returned to camp, pondering if life would be that easy until they re-invaded the Fire Palace.
Little did they know that complication was arriving at an alarming rate, in the form of another group member to the Gaang.
Yeah, I know the end was rushed, but I didn't have much time to write this. The later chapters are much better, I assure you! R&R please!
