The Avatar
Book Two
Fire
By: Luna Khalo
I.
The clouds bruised the sky purple as Aang, Katara, and Sokka finally reached the North Pole. Appa skimmed the ground, big muddy paws making gapping tracks in the snow. Katara breathed the icy air with a smile. It was like being home again.
The peaks of the tents of the Water Tribe village curved gently out from a valley of snow. Warm smoke curled from the clay chimneys and the laughter of children could be heard in the evening air. Life existed frozen in time here, where the current war had not touched it…yet.
"Katara! Penguin sledding!" Aang squeaked, tugging her tunic sleeve. He pointed to a group of children chasing penguins, some successfully mounting their backs. Ang's eyes grew wide with excited anticipation. Katara smiled. Aang may be the Avatar, but all that power was locked within a twelve year old body. Sokka rolled his eyes.
"We don't have time for penguin sledding, Aang." Aang's lower lip formed a pout, but Katara placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"We'll go later, Aang. Right now, we need to find the chief of the Water Tribe." Aang nodded his head. He slid down Appa's thick fur to the animal's head and grabbed the reins. The faster they find the chief, the sooner he could go penguin sledding. And the sooner he goes penguin sledding, the less he had to think about being the Avatar.
"Appa, yip-yip!"
Appa landed in the center of the Water Tribe village, the huts forming a scuffed circle around the visitors. Curious children poked their heads from windows and around mother's legs. Like the South Pole tribe, these people were bereft of their men. The survivors of the war with the Fire Nation were always the same- the elderly, the children, the women.
A young woman stepped from the center hut and briskly walked up to the newcomers. She reached them with a knowing smile on her face as she smoothed back her copper colored hair.
"Welcome to the North Pole Water Tribe. The chief will be here shortly, Avatar. Please make yourselves at home." Katara unshouldered her pack. Aang tossed his pack aside and extended his hand to the girl.
"Nice to meet you! I'm Aang!"
"The pleasure is all mine, Avatar," the young woman smiled, raising her hand to meet Ang's. Sokka quickly grabbed Aang's wrist, staring at the girl.
"How'd you know he was the Avatar?" Katara stepped between Sokka and the girl.
"Sokka, what are you doing?" Sokka continued to stare suspiciously at the girl.
"She knew Aang is the Avatar, Katara."
"So? She may have heard about it from another tribe! It's no secret the Avatar has returned. The kingdoms are spreading the word…"
"Or, she could be a Fire Nation spy."
"Uh, Sokka?" Aang tapped the boy's arm, "my wrist is going numb." Katara pulled Aang's wrist from her brother's grip and glared at Sokka, her nose inches from his nose.
"Will you listen to yourself? What's wrong with you, Sokka? Even since our last escape from the Fire Nation, you've been more paranoid and grumpy than usual."
"So what if I am? Lately it seems like we can't trust anyone. Remember Jet?" Katara crossed her arms bitterly against her chest.
"You just had to bring that up, didn't you?" Sokka bent close to her ear.
"Look, I just have a weird feeling about this girl. Call it…"
"'Sokka's Instincts'?" Katara teased her brother.
"Whatever. Something's a little off. "By now, the entire tribe had gathered in the center of the village and was watching the arguing siblings with wide eyes. Aang turned to his companions.
"Uh, Sokka? Katara? Everyone-is-staring-at-us…" The siblings broke their stare and turned to face the copper-haired girl, who remained amused the entire time.
"We'd like to speak with the chief, please. We don't have much time," Katara announced. The girl raised her eyebrow warily.
"From your debate with your brother, I'd say you've got plenty of time, at least, time to waste on petty bickering." Sokka snatched his club from his pack and held it threateningly towards the girl. Shocked gasps circled through the village, several of the young women began to creep towards the visitors, hands locked around boomerangs. The copper haired girl held up her hand, both silencing Sokka and holding the warriors in check.
"Put that away, my warrior. I will explain."
"How'd you know we're related?"
"Oh, that's simple. All siblings fight like that." Sokka flashed her a swaggering smile.
"And how'd you know I was a warrior?" The girl answered by shoving an elaborately carved bone headdress in her thick hair. She reached for her own club, strapped at her side. Katara gasped and bowed her head in a sign of respect. Sokka followed suit, still stunned. Aang bowed and gazed up at the girl. Her eyes were warm and green, strange for a water bender.
"Knock that off; makes me feel old. Let's try this again, " she said, stepping to Aang with a friendly hand extended, "I'm Lenara, chief of the North Pole Water Benders. Glad you could make it!"