The Serpent's pass was the most unhopeful place one would encounter on their path across the Earth Kingdom. To travel across it was many people's greatest fear, and to do so with a pregnant mother and worried father was madness.

But, it was what they must do. Avatar Aang had promised the small family safe passage, so safe passage was what they would receive.

They had not been walking long when they came across a break in the pass. Silently, Katara took up her bending stance. She knew what needed to be done. She quickly formed a bed of ice across the water, about ten feet wide at its center. Everyone boarded and the waterbender and Avatar took positions on the sides of the raft, using their unique bending abilities to push the ice forward across the water.

One of the youngest of the group, a blind Earthbender, could be heard muttering under her breath. "I don't like this at all, can't see a thing, stupid ice."

Suddenly, the raft lurched. All of the passengers cried out as the water around them began to rock and wave their little boat. With a cry, the pregnant mother fell into the water.

"No!" cried the husband. He jumped in after her.

"Katara! Aang! Can't you bring us any closer?" Shouted Sokka.

"It's taking all the power we have just to keep the raft afloat!" Yelled back his sister. Bits of the ice fell off into the water as their floatation device sank deeper into the water.

"I'll make sure they get safely across," said Suki, as she jumped in after the couple.

The ice was melting quicker then they had expected. The rapid waters of the serpent's path were eating up the little raft, sinking lower and lower into the current. As the water gave another vicious lurch, the blind Earth bender toppled into the waves.

"Toph! No!" Sokka quickly followed her, catching her in his arms and securing her in his tight grasp.

"I can't swim!" cried the Earthbender.

"Don't worry, I have you. I'll swim us to shore," promised Sokka. They began their journey to the edge where Suki had already pulled the shivering couple ashore.

"Aang, the raft is melting, we need to jump, now," said Katara.

"But-"

"Jump Aang!" Katara grabbed the air bender's slim wrist and yanked him into the waters. Their raft was sucked away by the rapids and pulled under the waves a second later.

The waterbender was right at home in the water. As she plowed her way through the waves, however, she noticed Aang was not keeping up with her.

"Aang!" she called, searching the waters frantically. "Aang!"

"I'm here Katara!" came a voice across the water. Katara plunged her way through the water, looking for Aang. She saw him a few feet away, and made her way through the icy water to him.

"Are you alright?" she asked, bobbing up beside him.

"I, I'm fine," he said. He was panted with the exertion of keeping his head above water. "I'm just not the strongest swimmer in the world; we didn't exactly go on weekend swims in the air nomad temples."

Katara laughed, but then quickly stopped because she gasped in some water. Once she had finished choking, she reigned her composure. "I will follow next to you, we'll get to the edge in no time."

Aang smiled his thanks. The two made their way slowly to the edge. Katara was always on her guard, ready to catch Aang the moment he went under. He managed to make it to the edge himself, however.

"Well, that worked," laughed Sokka as Katara and Aang pulled themselves to shore. "No more ice rafts for me."

Everyone laughed.


A/N-I'm in an Avatar writing comp now! Super excited! This is the first drabble I've ever done, but a longer themed piece is going to come out soon!

Team: Fire Nation

Round 2: Hope

Category: Drabble

Prompt: 10. (Line) The ice was melting quicker than expected.

Word count: 623