Many years ago, Avatar Aang disappeared shortly after the starting of a war. No one could locate the hero, and because of his absence the Air Nation diminished to nothing. The Fire Nation destroyed his home in hopes of finding him. When he reappeared hundreds of years later, he was found frozen in an iceberg within the Southern Water tribe. Now, many years in what would be his future, the Avatar has once again disappeared.

Twenty-two years ago was when the Avatar of the Southern Water tribe died, and the same twenty-two years ago that the Avatar of the Earth nation was born. However, there was a problem. No one shown any signs of being the Avatar, and whoever's family the Avatar was born into had chose to keep quiet. Hints of who might be the Avatar and many test had failed. The Avatar was gone, and that caused crime rates to go up within not only the Earth Nation, but the other nations, too. This Avatar had vanished, just like Aang.

He never really liked traveling to the Lower Ring. There were always beggars and pleaders who he couldn't help. He couldn't throw them the money they wanted and suddenly bring them out of poverty-that wasn't how society worked. Still, he wanted to help them. Of course he wanted to help his people. But he couldn't help everyone. He couldn't even find the Avatar if he was still in the Earth Nation. But even then, when he saw the eyes of a child staring up at in, in admiration and fear and jealousy all at once, who was he not to stop and offer something?

A small sigh escaped from the prince's lips, and he slipped into a small tea shop with his guards.

All eyes were immediately trying their best not to stare as he seated himself. Two of his guards stood behind him, while two more stood on duty outside. The tea house he had stepped into was called Paper Lanterns, and he had walked into it for a specific reason. The rumor was that the family who managed the shop had a daughter of exactly twenty-two years of age. Supposedly, she was born on the same day the Avatar was suppose to be born, but she had never taken the test of identification of the current Avatar. He hadn't heard anything else about her, no signs of being capable of bend any of the elements what-so-ever, but he needed to see for himself.

He needed verification.

It was easy to spot her for the simple fact she came over with a tray in a hand and placed in front of him a small steaming cup of tea. The whole time, she kept her eyes down, averted from his as he watched her closely. Her hair was long, untied, a black sheet that went down to her a bit past her shoulders. Bangs were swept to one side of her head, covering half her face from him, but he saw how tense her features around him. Her skin was a healthy shade of brown, well taken care of, no noticeable blemishes until he saw the palms of her hands: they were burnt. The prince made note of it in his head, and waited till she left without a word, to sip his tea quietly.

Time past slowly, afterward. Not many people came to the Paper Lanterns, and not many people left. His gray eyes watched the young woman serve those who came, and noticed not once had she spoken or made direct eye contact. The atmosphere was tense, and probably unusual for the place. That could have been thanks to his presence, or that fact that something strange was possible. It was something else he made note of while he sat at the small table.

Overall, he was disappointed. The girl hadn't shown any signs of being a capable bender. The tea house seemed as normal as normal could get with a prince sitting inside of it. The rumors of the shop were most likely true, but he didn't find it satisfying enough. If she wasn't the Avatar, who was? Why were they hiding? Why were they refusing to reveal themselves, and do good for those who needed them? It was frustrating! And he found himself becoming angry, angry enough to watch her even more carefully for some sort of sign, hint, that she might be the Avatar.

The only time she returned was to grab his cup and leave, but he grabbed her wrist, and flipped over her hand. The already silent tea house grew even more silent. Her eyes, a sort of muddy green, catiouslessly, yet calmly, locked with his silver orbs.

"Prince Jin," she spoke silently, his name soft on her lips.

Immediately, he felt wrong for his accusation. The missing Avatar was getting to his head, and desperation was holding his hand. "What happened to your hands?" he asked, still holding on to her wrist. She stared at him silently, and he loosened his hold. "I'm sorry," he apologized, "I just wanted to know."

"I played with fire," the unnamed woman answered, pulling her wrist from his hold. The prince's eyes locked on her even more. "I had a friend who was being bullied for her hair being cut like a boy's. I pushed the person who was bullying her, and it happened to be a fire bender visiting the Earth Nation. For it, my hands were burned badly by him. That is what happened."

A likely story, and most likely true. Her body nor voice had given signs of a lie. No falter, no twitching, no shaking, no sweating. Unlike everyone else within the Paper Lanterns, she was perfectly calm. Was that a reason to be suspicious? Could he really hold that to her? She stood tall, then turned her back to him.

"What about your name?" Prince Jin asked, blinking those gray orbs.

She hesitated on stopping to turn around for a second, but decided to keep walking. "Halcyon," she answered, and kept moving to the back of the tea house.

Halcyon.

Hhn, interesting name.