A/N: So this is my first fanfic, y'all, and I realize it is a little different! Different is good, though, right? So anyway, in my epic quest for the perfect OC who is NOT a Mary Sue, I thought, "Hey, there aren't any African people in the Avatarverse (that I know of) yet! What the heck, let's try it!" So I came up with this story. I had to kind of invent my own culture for this girl to be a part of and everything, so bear with me though the corniness here! Please R&R, concrit only cause I've never done this before! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own Avatar or I wouldn't be sitting here writing stupid stories about it to satisfy my addiction. However, I DO own Zari, Tana, and all the other characters relating to the Earthen People, and I will be supremely angry with anyone who tries to steal them or any of my other ideas! And trust me, I WILL KNOW! Bwahahahahaha… okay, here's the story.

Revenge of a Chieftess

Chapter One: The Dream

The ancient runes in the mahogany staff gleamed under the hot savanna sun as Zari fingered them. She couldn't interpret what was written there, only the village storyteller knew the art of reading. It was he who would carve the name of each ruler into the staff after his or her death. The staff had accumulated nearly five hundred years' worth of the tribe's history, beginning with Avatar Kenji and ending with Zari's grandfather.

"Father," Zari addressed the tall, wiry brown skinned man sitting beside her, "Tell me the story of Avatar Kenji." He smiled. Zari had heard the story many times, but storytelling was sacred to their people: the method of remembering history and honoring their ancestors. Chief Akin was happy to relate the story to his daughter once more.

"Do you see that village, Zari?" She looked down from the grassy hill to the bustling village of grass huts below and nodded. "In the Early Times, there was no village. Our leaderless ancestors roamed the land between the Ocean and the great city Ba Sing Se. The bending peoples considered us inferior and drove us away from their homes and towns. We thought that respect and honor would never come to us, until one day a child was born that would change that."

"Avatar Kenji," Zari interrupted. "Yes, Avatar Kenji. When he discovered his identity as the Avatar, he traveled the world and gained much acclaim as he mastered the bending of elements. He spoke on our behalf before the King of the Earth Kingdom. Thanks to him, these grasslands were granted to our people so that we too would have a home. Avatar Kenji returned to us and taught us of the things he had learned. He established the Four Villages and the Seven Clans."

The chief's face fell at the mention of the Four Villages. Under his father's reign, two of the villages had fallen to the Fire Nation, their buildings burned and their people massacred. The same had happened to one of the remaining villages only five years ago, leaving the one village, Mombaka, to face the world alone.

Akin regained his composure and smiled down at his young daughter. "Avatar Kenji established one clan among the Seven to be his own, the clan to rule the others. He ruled with this very staff, and when he died it was passed down to his son, his name carved into the wood. Ever since that time, the leader of the Clan of Kenji has ruled with this staff and had his name recorded on it upon his demise. Someday it will be yours, Zari. All of the people will look to you for help, safety, protection, and guidance, and you must provide it for them. You must maintain all these things in order to maintain your honor as chieftain."

Zari wasn't sure she could handle this responsibility. After all, she was only eight. But she knew equally well that she could never let her father down. He had taught her everything she knew, and Zari trusted him completely. When it was time for her to take up the staff and rule the Earthen People, she felt confident that her father would have prepared her for anything she may have to face.

A/N: Sorry we have to get all the boring historical stuff out of the way before we get to the action! It's for your own good.