Disclaimer: I do NOT own Avatar The Last Airbender in any way.
Also, I'd like to shout out my guurl makatrash, for helping me write the first chapter of this fanfiction - go check her out cause she is so good at writing!
Now that we got that out the way, on with the fanfiction~
It was a dark, treachurous path through the forest, but the young airbender was determined to find some edible fruits for himself - Aang would and could never dishonour his beliefs and give in to the temptations of meat offered in the near by Fire Nation town.
However, Toph and Sokka were not vegetarians, nor vegans so they persisted to the town, with or without Aang. Katara attempted to persuade Aang to join the rest of the Gaang, but he assertively declined.
"Come on Katara", Zuko insists, slightly smiling at the girl infront of him, " Aang won't mind, he understands."
With a sigh of defeat, Katara followed after her friends as a thin-lipped smile spread across her face at the promise of meat.
The waterbender couldn't help but notice the feeling of needing to stay with Aang or potentially force him to go with them; but the offer of meat caused her to easily shake the feeling away. Katara supposed that Zuko had a little infuluence on her descision, but she'd never admit it -- as well as the obnoxious rattle of Toph and Sokka as they joyfully paraded towards the blinking lights of town.
Aang only came to the realisation that being a vegetarian was a struggle when the burns and cuts from the foilage had made prominent scars and bruises on his pale skin -- he eventually came across a bush of luscious berries that ranged from the colours red and orange, to pink and purple.
"These look good", the young airbender inquired, "what a score."
"I wouldn't eat those if I were you young man", an aged voice said behind him, " Unless you plan on having an unbearably itchy rash, scratchy throat and high fever in the next 24 hours."
Dreading the thought of experiencing any of those ghastly side effects, Aang threw the berries to the forest floor like unwanted dirt.
"Thank you, Sir", the Avatar gratefully said in his cheerful 12 year old voice, now looking at the mysterious old man, "I appreciate the heads up."
The old man chuckled under his breathe, "Of course Aang, I could never let one of my most annoying students suffer; especially the Avatar."
Thoughts and assumtions raced through the airbender's head at this comment, trying to ananlyse every possibility of him knowing this man -- then the identity of the old man hit him like a ton of bricks.
"Y-You're one of the monks from the southern air temple", the young Avatar stuttered in pure astonishment, " You... s-survived?"
"Well, I was able escape the attack, which is something the others unfortunately can't say for themselves", the monk explained matter'o'factly.
A sigh escaped his lips, "My airbending may be weaker after years of hiding -- but technically young Avatar, you're no longer the last airbender... you never really were."