I have been looking forward to this fanfiction. I hope everyone gives me a review. But no flames please. I wrote this with a friend, so she deserves half the credit. Sadly though, she does not have an account at this time. So enjoy and please review!

{BURNING WATER}

The ice felt cold against my face. I don't know how long I'd been running, but I couldn't run anymore. Escaping the Fire Nation was difficult, but I could always hide in the Northern Water Tribe (perks of being a water bender). Footsteps alerted me of his presence before his shadow fell across my limp form. I could feel him brush my hair away and check for a pulse. I shifted towards him, he was warm.

"What's your name?" I heard.

His voice was fuzzy as I struggled to remain conscious.

"Hikari." I whispered.

He cradled me against him as I lost all coherent thought and a black wave engulfed me.

{BURNING WATER}

I woke to muted voices. I shook my head only to have a wave of pain shoot through me.

"Sokka, she's awake." A female voice said.

Rustling sounded and a hand was placed on my forehead. I opened my eyes to be face-to-face with a girl. Her blue eyes stood out strikingly against her dark skin and dark locks of brown hair were braided neatly down her back. She stood and removed her hand.

"I'm Katara, and this is my brother Sokka."

Behind her was a tall boy about 15. His blue eyes matched Katara's and his brown hair was pulled back into a short ponytail.

"Where am I?" I asked.

"You're in the Northern Water Tribe."

I knew that.

"Yes, but where?" I pressed.

"In our tent, we've been staying here for about a week." Katara replied.

I sat up quickly.

"How long have I been out?"

"About two days."

My stomach growled and I blushed.

"Sounds like someone is hungry!" a new voice said.

A boy close to the age of 12 walked inside. He had no hair, but arrow shaped blue tattoos were painted plainly on his skin. Anyone who had taken a class knew that he was an airbender.

"I'm Aang, the Avatar." He said.

I smiled and slung my legs over the edge of the bed. My stomach spoke again and Katara giggled.

"Let's get you something to eat and some warmer clothes. You nearly froze out there in that kind of clothing." She said leading me to the other side of the tent.

After shooing the boys out, I received a warmer set of clothes and some food.

"So Sokka told me your name is Hikari." Katara said as I was eating.

I nodded.

"What are you doing so far from the Fire Nation?"

The question caught me off guard until I remembered that up until about thirty minutes ago I had been dressed in Fire Nation clothing.

"I'm not from the Fire Nation. Those damn bastards are the reason I can't be with my mother." I hissed.

Katara visibly jumped at the remark and I expected her eyes to fill with pity as most did. But all I saw was cold understanding.

"The Fire Nation killed my mother. All I have now is her necklace." She motioned to the dark blue choker tied around her neck.

"Then you understand. Most just pity me. I can't go anywhere there without their piteous looks."

"In the Fire Nation? How do you walk freely as a water bender?" Katara asked in wonder.

"How did you know?"

"How else would someone be able to get past the Northern Water Tribe walls?" she laughed.

"Because I was part of a disgusting project. Worse than that, I was the only successful outcome." I spat the last sentence.

"Oh." Katara averted her eyes and dropped the subject.

"So you want to know why I am here." I stated.

Katara nodded her head solemnly.

"I came here because it was my only escape. Away from that damned Fire Nation." I clenched my fist.

Katara placed her hand over my fist gently.

"You are welcome to journey with us." She said quietly.

I looked her in the eye, "Would it be worth the danger? I am worth much to the Fire Nation Army."

She chuckled.

"It seems that you and Aang are on the same boat."