The shouts.
The flames.
The noise.
It was all so scary, so overwhelming to Pema. She crouched low, hugging her knees to her chest. She couldn't see her parents, or anyone she knew. All she saw was horrors, everywhere she looked. Pema knew she had to find her mama, she had to get to safety. Bracing herself, she picked herself up off the ground and ran. She had to find Mama, she had to get away. But somehow, she was tripping, and falling, and then the tears came, and she couldn't stop them. Pema curled up in a ball and sobbed and sobbed.
And then big strong arms had picked her up and were carrying her, running with her to where she knew she'd be safe. And then she fell asleep in the arms.
When Pema woke up, she was in a room she had never seen before. A bald man with an arrow on his head was holding her, and a young woman with two thin scars on her right cheek was beside him.
"Oh, Tenzin, she's awake" the woman said,tapping the man on the shoulder. Pema peered around the room. She saw couches and chairs, and photos on the wall. One of them showed a family of five sitting together on some steps in front of a large temple. She realized then that she was on Air Temple Island, home of Avatar Aang, and that the man holding her was his son, Tenzin. The woman could be none other than Lin Beifong, daughter of the greatest Earthbender in the world and chief of police, Toph Beifong.
"What am I doing here? Where's Mama?" Pema asked. She tried to stand up, but Tenzin pulled her back again.
"I'm sorry, Pema, but we could not locate your mother. Her name's Hope, isn't it?" Lin asked gently. Pema nodded slowly.
"But where am I going to live? And what's gonna happen to Mama?" Pema questioned.
Tenzin turned Pema gently so he could see her face. "After the Triad attack, when I found you on the streets, I brought you to my mother. She decided you can stay here, until we find your Mama. Until then, you'll be safe. Lin and I, and my mother and father won't let anything happen to you, Pema. You'll be safe, as long as you're with me."
Years later, long after the horrors of that day had past, a trickle of memory, a moment of that day still stayed with her. Even though she was so small, Pema would always remember the words he said to her on that day.
"You'll be safe, as long as you're with me."