Prologue: Lost in Time
Aang, she's not here." Katara placed her hand on the young man's shoulder as he scanned the distance for any signs of life.
Endless hills of sand rolled on for what seemed an eternity. The heat was unbearable, but Aang could care less for the beads of sweat forming on his brow. For a year he had traveled in search of the friend he had cast away, and for a year he had only met with disappointment.
"It sounded like Kuro." Aang cast his eyes downward as he realized it was just the wind howling in his ears. "Wherever that lion is, she'll be there."
Katara leaned on Aang's shoulder and pulled him closer to her. He had outgrown her 6 years ago on his 15th birthday (technically his 115th birthday). She could still recall his childish features and round, cheery cheeks, but one glance at his face now and you could tell he had faced some hardships. His grey eyes swirled like liquid metal as his sadness settled in.
"It's been a whole year since… that day." Aang clenched his fist as he let himself fall to the floor, "why did I tell her those things Katara?" Tears began to flow out of his eyes as he mourned for his lost friend.
Katara sat in the sand by him and clutched on to the shaking young man. He had lost someone important to him. She had been wary of Aang's new friend when they had first met; it wasn't exactly comforting to see the love of her life completely enchanted by another girl, but she had proved to be no threat to her and Aang's relationship. In a sense, the mysterious girl had been Aang's other half… a piece he had unknowingly sealed when he had frozen himself in ice.
"She'll come back Aang, I know she will." Katara spoke softly as she quieted his sobbing.
He looked out at the shifting sands and wondered where she had gone - Kyra. When he had found her she was was on the verge of death. A large lion with wings, Kuro, had dragged her towards him and Appa one day when he was flying over the South Pole. She had long white hair, full lashes and soft lilac eyes. When Katara had helped him nurse her back to health, he was thrilled to learn that she was an airbender, and shocked to discover that she had control of the other elements as well. It was only through time and memory that they figured out how she could possibly harbor the same powers as the Avatar. When he had sealed himself away, more than a hundred years ago, he had unknowingly sealed his Avatar spirit in another. It could have been her that Katara had found that fateful day, but it was Aang instead. Kyra had slept through the whole war and woke to a world set at peace.
"I didn't mean it Kyra… there is room in this world for the two of us." Aang bit his lip and pulled Katara in closer as it became clear to him that Kyra wasn't coming back.
The young waterbender held the Avatar firmly and looked up at the purple-hued sky; it was the color of Kyra's eyes. She was out there somewhere; Katara could feel her spirit in the air. One day she would come back, and the Avatar's heart would be whole again.