Hello! I'm very excited about this fanfiction, and am pleased with the characters!

This is occurring a long, long time before Aang and friends. Way before Roku.

Please correct me if I get my facts wrong, and I'll do my best to change them soon.

Please review!

Disclaimer: However much I wish it to be true, I do not own Avatar: the Last Airbender. Any connections to other works are incidental, and I apologize.

The day Sya turned six years old and hadn't showed any signs of bending, the monks of the Southern Air Temple were ready to give up.

"She's just not a bender," said Monk Cynion. "We have to face it."

Monk Doi frowned. "When we found her, I was sure I felt something. She's different somehow, I simply know it!"

The other members of the council of monks one by one slowly shook their heads.

"I'm sorry, Monk Doi," Cynion spoke softly. "We've tried our hardest. Sya isn't an airbender. We have decided."

Doi gave a short nod, his face an emotionless mask. "Of course. She isn't an airbender. Done. Decided."

Monk Alyia peered at Doi's wrinkled old face. "You're hiding something," she noted.

Doi sighed. "She's a firebender."

A ripple went around the council. Eyes flashed. Heads tilted. Hands folded. Positions shifted.

"Why didn't you speak of this earlier?" Monk Tyrano asked calmly.

"Because… I have grown close to her over these six years, and I do not wish to see her go."

Heads shook. Tongues clucked. Eyes narrowed.

"You know the ancient law of bending placement," said Alyia.

Doi sighed heavily. "'Those who are found from other nations, proven by different bending skills, must be returned to the nation of their bending element. They belong where their element thrives the most.' I know it, but-"

"But what?" Monk Zixin leaned forwards with a glint in his eye. "Are you you suggesting we break the law?"

The council held their breath as they waited for Doi answer.

He held Zixin's glare for a long time, then nodded. "We're almost isolated from the other nations, we could hide her, I-"

"We're nomads, Monk Doi. Traveling is part of who we are."

"Then let the girl stay here. She'll be a well-kept secret"

Zixin raised an eyebrow. "And what purpose will she serve?"

"Warmth."

At this, Zixin laughed. "And who will teach her to firebend?"

"I will."

At this those few eyebrows that weren't skyhigh flew up.

"And how will you do this?" Tyrano questioned.

"I have my ways."

"So…" Zixin began. "You expect us to break the law for warmth."

"Monk Zixin, Sya has no idea what it is like to live in the Fire Nation. Without me - us - to teach her, she'll have trouble adapting."

"Well-" Zixin began uneasily.

"You'd send an helpless, little girl like herself alone into the Fire Nation?"

"It's been done before, Doi. A family will adopt her-"

"Eventually. In the meantime, she'll be terrified and alone."

"What would you suggest?" asked Zixin skeptically.

"Let me raise her. I know how. She will be safe here."

Slowly, the rest of the council nodded their heads. All except Zixin

"You're outnumbered, Monk Zixin," Cynion spoke.

"Fine then," Zixin said. "Keep the girl. But it won't turn out."

"Then it's decided," said Cynion. "Sya will stay."