A/N: edit : 7/1/07)

Hey there! I'm back with a new book of this trilogy and I hope you all have read 'The Journey Begins' before you start to read this, or else this whole chapter won't make sense really. Sorry to stress that so much, but you just need to know. Lol, sorry if it's a pain to those of you who just found this series :( But that's all right.

YAY! On with the story! Oh and one last thanks to all my loyal reviewers to 'The Journey Begins', you ALL ROCK!

On with the sequel :)

- Vyntresser -

The Airbender's Love

- - -

Book Two - Water and Air

Chapter One - Forgotten Powers

Katara slowly woke up, and she peered through the morning air, yellow and red fabric suddenly meeting her eyes. She blinked a couple of times, remembering that Aang had fallen asleep next to her the night before. She smiled softly as she snuggled closer to the young airbender beside her, his arms still fastened around her shoulders for comfort.

She attempted to block out the world around her, but it was almost physically impossible. Especially when she'd lived with Sokka all her life.

"Good morning!" Sokka chanted as if on cue, his voice playing off the cold cave walls. Katara groaned inwardly and shut her eyes tight in hopes of miraculously blocking out Sokka's loud voice.

"AW, come on, no one sleeps THAT deep! Come on you two wake—what are you two doing in the same sleeping bag?" Sokka suddenly hollered as he stared at the two. Though, he did have to admit, the two did look very comfortable in each other's arms.

Sokka stopped his annoying act and looked down at the couple warmly cuddled with each other in Katara's sleeping bag. He thought about their situation for a moment. The two. Sharing the same sleeping space. In the same sleeping bag. Sokka grew tense before a voice in the back of his head calmed him down.

Sokka told himself time and time again that Aang was a good kid, and he knew Katara like the back of his hand. He knew that the two wouldn't do anything 'irresponsible'. Aang was just trying to comfort Katara through the hard time with her ankle and all. He smiled at the two, knowing their love for each other would only get stronger, and Sokka would still need to get over the fact that he had to let go of his little sister.

Sokka sighed softly with a smile as he carefully knelt next to Katara, preparing himself to do what he did best: annoying others.

"Oh come on guys, wake up! I made breakfast, and, if you don't get up now, I'll eat it all because, if I do say so myself, it looks mighty tasty," Sokka smiled and rubbed his hands together before he glanced down at the two laid before him. There was absolutely no movement between the two, although Katara was doing a poor job of pretending she was asleep. Sokka grinned and shook on Katara's shoulder gently yet firmly.

"Oh, come on, I saw your eyes open, wake up!" Sokka beamed. Katara quickly wrapped her arms around Aang's waist to stop the sudden shaking from Sokka.

"Sokka," Katara groaned, "go away." She instantly pulled the covers up close to her shoulders and cuddled further into Aang's arms. Sokka let out a loud sigh before he slowly stood.

"Fine, I guess I'll just have to eat ALL this food by myself," Sokka said teasingly as he began to walk away. Katara opened her eyes and stared at Aang's shirt. She had to admit, she was really hungry, and food sounded like heaven at the moment. Katara gently pulled away from Aang and stared at him for a few seconds.

He had a small boyish smile on his face as he blissfully slept, so Katara almost felt sorry for even thinking about waking him. He looked so at peace, and Katara regretted having to wake him up from his tranquil slumber.

"Aang," Katara said softly as she rubbed his upper arm gently. He murmured something as his eyes began to flutter open. He took a deep breath through his nose and blinked a couple of times before he stared at Katara.

"--Hmm?" he murmured before Sokka's loud voice was heard yet again.

"Okay, I'm going to start eating now!" Sokka called, his voice reverberating in an endless chant out of the cave. Aang opened his eyes further and slowly sat up.

"Sokka's up before us?" Aang croaked as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

"Supposedly," Katara giggled softly before Aang peered down at her, curiosity filling his eyes, "I guess he made breakfast for us."

"Great," Aang said happily as Katara slowly sat up next to him. She groaned softly and placed a hand on her forehead. Aang frowned and was about to say something when…

"GUYS! I'm not kidding when I say--"

"We're coming, Sokka. Calm down!" Aang croaked loudly as he carefully slipped out of Katara's sleeping bag. Katara followed his idea; she carefully crawled out of the warm sleeping bag and into the cold morning air. Aang helped her get from Appa to where breakfast was, seeing that her ankle was in no condition to be walking on.

After breakfast, which was, oddly enough, cooked by Sokka, the three took to the skies on Appa, searching for their next stop and whatever life threw at them.

A long, boring three hours went by, and Sokka was starting to complain about how Katara promised him meat the night before. Aang, having heard enough of Sokka's loud complaints, decided to keep a look out for the next village he laid eyes on. In no time, they found a fairly large town and landed.

"I'm so hungry," Sokka groaned loudly as he stretched. Katara instantly rolled her eyes after hearing that phrase for the tenth time in about a half an hour.

"We know," Aang and Katara replied, sounding strangely like a broken record, as Katara carefully slid down Appa's tail.

The three began walking in search of food for Sokka. Aang helped Katara get through the crowds. He'd carefully hold her up by one arm to help her walk on her busted ankle, and, sometimes, if things got too rough, he'd even pick her up in his arms and carry her a certain distance.

The three finally found a lone food shop, which was oddly enough at the edge of town. Sokka rubbed his hands together quickly and literally sprinted to the shop. Aang and Katara let out loud sighs in unison. Man, did Sokka love his food.

"What! No meat! None whatsoever!" Sokka hollered as he plastered his hands to his cheeks in shock. Katara instantly frowned. She didn't want to have to go through another long ride in the air with Sokka complaining that he wanted food.

"I'm sorry," the elderly woman of the shop smiled apologetically, "but a young man stopped by just a minute ago to get the last of the meat... although, the big guy with him seemed more into it than the younger man did..." the woman pondered to herself.

At this, Sokka sighed impatiently as he clutched his stomach. Katara moaned loudly and gently rested her arm around Aang's shoulder for support.

"Just forget it, Sokka. You had breakfast not too long ago," Katara said softly. Aang pondered and glanced at the elderly woman before them.

"This man, did he have a scar on his left eye?" Aang question warily, hoping the woman knew whom he was talking about. The woman pondered for a moment before she nodded, slowly but surely.

"Yes, yes as a matter of fact, he did. I kinda felt sorry for the boy," she said softly. Sokka shook his head quickly.

"No point in feeling sorry for Zuko—he took my meat!" Sokka screeched.

"Calm down! I think his uncle wanted it more than Zuko... Let's just move along before we all run into each other again. You remember what happened..." Aang trailed off, frowning as he peered down at Katara's ankle, which was delicately hovered above the ground so she wouldn't put any pressure on it.

"Yeah yeah..." Sokka sighed softly.

"Sorry, Sokka... maybe the next village we stop at will have food for you," Katara smiled, hoping to make Sokka smile, too. He didn't. He nodded slowly and the three headed back to Appa in silence.

- - -

"I just don't understand why he was protecting that dragon, Uncle. Why was he so determined to make sure that it didn't get hurt?" Zuko argued as Iroh munched on roast duck in a small bowl he held.

"I don't know, Zuko. You shouldn't get all worked up about it. Why did you even want the dragon in the first place?" Iroh asked calmly as he took a bite of his food.

"The dragon had wings, Uncle! It would've helped us get around faster! This stupid ostrich horse is no good!" Zuko hollered as he stood and glared at a large bird, of which his uncle called transportation, tied to a large wooden pole, "You filthy little--"

"Prince Zuko, don't take your anger out on the bird. Maybe you just need a cup of nice, calming, Ja--" Iroh was cut off.

"Dah! I don't need any tea! I need to capture the Avatar!" Zuko yelled as he glared down at his uncle. Iroh frowned and sighed softly as he set his empty bowl next to him. He then carefully prepared a kettle full of his favorite tea over the small fire before him.

"Well. No matter getting all worked up about what is in the past. Maybe we'll find--" Iroh was cut off by his own preoccupation, which happened to be a small crowd of young girls nearby. They were bickering and happily bouncing about. Zuko turned around and stared at the group. He listened in on what they were getting all worked up about.

"The Avatar is here!" one girl cried happily.

"Oh my gosh, where!" another hollered as she quickly looked about.

"He left on his flying bison! I saw it and everything!" yet another said happily. All at once, the group of girls began to squeal happily and bounce about. Zuko stormed over to them, determined to get more out of them.

"This Avatar, did you see which direction he went?" Zuko snapped as he looked down at the little girls. They all froze in a bashful manner and stared up at the banished prince. Zuko sighed loudly before he glanced about his surroundings, "WELL?"

"U-uh.. he-he went that way mister," a small girl pointed a shaky finger off to one direction. Zuko looked over to where the girl was pointing and grinned evilly.

"Perfect."

- - -

"Guys, we're out of water," Aang said as he shook Katara's canteen over his open mouth, hoping he could get at least a few drops out of it.

"We're also out of---"

"FOOD, we KNOW we know," Katara sighed loudly as she peered off of the edge of Appa's saddle. "Aang's right; we need more water. I'm starting to get thirsty myself."

"Oh, what, and food doesn't matter?" Sokka hollered as he glanced between Aang and Katara. The two fell silent as Aang subconsciously fingered Katara's canteen. Katara pretended to ignore Sokka as she continued to curiously look over Appa's saddle. She noticed a fairly large river in the clearing of a small forest.

"Oh, Aang, there's water right there," Katara smiled as she pointed downwards. At this, Aang jumped up quickly and made his way to Appa's head.

"So, you two are just going to ignore me? Is that it!" Sokka argued. He held onto the saddle as Appa made his way downward to the large river that Katara had spotted.

Katara continued to ignore her brother for the time being. She felt as if the two simple words "I'm hungry" were the worst two words on earth, and, at that, she pretended those simple words coming out of Sokka's mouth were just of nonexistence.

Appa quickly landed by the large river. Sokka immediately stood and made his way off of Appa's saddle.

"While you two are getting your so called precious water, I'M going to go look for food," Sokka said loudly as he began to walk away. "Not that you two care or anything," he added offhandedly.

Aang sighed softly and strolled over to Katara. She rolled her eyes at her brother as he vanished through a set of nearby trees. Aang carefully knelt next to her, and, without word, he slipped his arms around Katara's waist and under her knees before he gracefully leapt from Appa's saddle to the edge of the beautiful river.

Katara smiled happily as Aang gently set her down on the soft ground before the river. Aang slowly stood once she was situated and peered out to the pretty, clear river water. He then curiously glanced down at Katara; she had a small smile on her face as she blissfully gazed out to the calm, bubbling water.

"Is your ankle feeling any better?" Aang suddenly asked calmly as he knelt down to Katara's level. Katara quickly glanced down at her neatly bandaged ankle with a small smiled before she looked up at Aang.

"It's fine, I-" Katara stopped what she was saying as she quickly fixed her eyes on the moving water before her. Memories suddenly came flooding back to Katara's mind as she continued to stare into the clear water.

"Katara? You okay?" Aang asked softly as he glanced at the water where she was staring. Katara didn't say anything and after a while, so Aang grew a little worried.

A small smile spread across Katara's face as she remembered something. Something from awhile ago... how could she forget? It was what a certain firebender had told her. His words stuck to Katara's mind like glue; his voice rung in her ears like a broken record.

"You have healing abilities," Jeong Jeong said. The calmness his voice supplied was so soothing, " The great benders of the water tribe sometimes have this ability. I've always wished I were blessed like you. Free from this burning curse."

Katara blinked a couple of times as she replayed Jeong Jeong's words over and over. She continued to ponder until she felt Aang's hand gently fall on her shoulder.

"Katara, are you all right?" Aang asked softly as he carefully shook her shoulder.

Katara, without words, quickly began to take the bandage from her ankle. The process of doing so made her ankle throb all over again, but she was determined to make what she was about to do work that she barely felt the pain at all. Aang sat in confusion as he watched Katara unravel the white cloth of which Aang had put around her ankle to help it heal.

Once Katara had her ankle completely freed from the bandage, she set the cloth aside and carefully scoot closer to the edge of the riverbank before she, ever so slowly, dipped her foot in the cold water. Katara grit her teeth and let out a soft whimper before she sighed softly, noticing that her foot was beginning to shine in a soft shade of light blue.

Aang sat in awe as he stared at Katara's foot. Just as he was about to say something, Katara gently pulled her foot from the river water and scoot away from the edge of the bank.

In a matter of seconds, Katara had carefully pushed herself to her feet and was standing on the once-busted ankle easily, as if it was never twisted out of proportion. Aang gaped and glanced from the water to the girl standing proudly next to him.

Aang suddenly hopped to his feet and let out a soft laugh as he continued to glance back and forth form Katara to the cold river water that had just healed her ankle.

"H-how did you... I never thought that... why-why didn't we think... your ankle is better!" Aang yelled happily all at once. Katara giggled softly and quickly began to bounce about on both of her feet. Aang smiled and dropped the canteen he was holding before he joined Katara in her little happy dance that she was doing.

Katara laughed happily as she quickly grabbed both of Aang's hands. The two then began to twirl in circles quickly, and their laughs and smiles only grew.

Sokka slowly trudged into the clearing by the river with no food in hand. He groaned loudly before he noticed his sister and the young monk laughing and jumping about. Sokka gaped and stared at his sister as she skipped about happily on both of her feet. Was he being pranked or something?

"What are you two doing! A-and how is your ankle better, Katara?" Sokka asked loudly as he ran over to the two. They stopped skipping about and panted softly from the excitement. They happily smiled at Sokka and pointed down to Katara's foot.

"Katara's healing powers! We forgot all about them!" Aang said happily.

"Oh yeah! How could we forget? That's so great!" Sokka mocked as he batted his eyelashes and clapped his hands together in an odd manner before he continued, "Now help me look for food."

"Katara's foot is better and now all you can think about is your stomach?" Aang asked as Katara heaved a long sigh and looked around.

"Yes, now help me," Sokka chuckled as he peered through the set of trees he just came from. Katara and Aang sighed loudly as the three began to walk in that direction. Katara giggled and happily draped her arms around each of Aang's and Sokka's shoulders.

"Sokka, you're so difficult," Katara teased.

"I know."

A/N: There you are! The first chapter of book two. Please R&R and no flames :)

- Katara -

Mohalo ;)