I stood at the river's edge, filling my water pouch before I returned to camp. Today Aang, Sokka and I are going to have to fly a few more hours than usual because of my brother Sokka's schedule. He's my brother but sometimes I just wanted to strangle him.

But today, we have no choice, because the Fire Nation Prince Zuko, is getting too close behind us for it to be safe.

At least, as safe as it can get when you're in the middle of a war.

I let out as sigh as I reach for my mother's necklace. I felt closer to my mother when I touched it and it brought me comfort. I finished filling my pouch and placed it on the ground before sitting down.

I just didn't understand why the Fire Nation could hurt so many people without a second thought. Or chase the world's last hope for peace. I added as I thought about the reason we were going to have to fly for so long today.

My brother and I had just met Aang, the young and energetic Avatar a few weeks ago at my home in the Southern Water Tribe. And ever since that day, we have been on the run from the Fire Nations prince and his small army of men.

Day after day, it was the same, just flying, eating, sleeping, and then doing it all over again the next day. It was tiring and arduous and I did all the cooking and cleaning up. It wasn't exactly fun when it was for two boys, but if given the choice again, I would have always chose coming with Aang.

All my life, I've had been surrounded by snow and ice, surrounded by my element. I never dreamed of being anywhere else, until Dad left. Then was when I had started to wonder what it might be like, far away from my icy village. And now, I was finally finding out.

Out here, it was so beautiful and full of so many colors. So many plants and greenery. I loved flowers the most.

I was surrounded by my element and always in my comfort zone, but failed to realize I was missing something. Out here, it was the exact opposite and I never knew what was going to happen, and I liked it. It was dangerous and thrilling and I was having a ball.

But still, being in the air all day long can get boring and I wasn't looking forward to the long flight we were to go on today.

So that morning, I lingered beside the water, humming a song my mom had taught me when I was little. If only my mother could see me now. She would never believe it. A small smile crossed my face as I continued humming.

~0~

I fixed my hard gaze over the area we were about to leave in a few hours to continue our chase. I breathed in the fresh air as I allowed a small smile to my lips. We were so close to capturing the Avatar.

Today is when I'll capture my key home.

So many years after constantly running circles and now, the end of my endless searching was in sight.

"Uncle! I'm going for a walk!" I yelled as I left, not even waiting for a reply.

After I was banished, and even before that, my uncle has always been there. Even in my darkest moments, I was aware of this and was thankful for him. Even if I would never say it out loud. My father didn't need anything else to be ashamed of in his excuse of a son.

I entered the forest and kept walking looking for a clearing where I could catch a few moments to fire bend. The deck of my ship I usually practiced on was familiar and the terrain was flat, if sometimes unstable in the rolling waves of the ocean. Perhaps an unfamiliar place would make it a bit more challenging.

To the left, through my shriveled ear, I heard running water. With water, there is usually a beach, therefore providing a place to fire bend without burning the forest down. I changed my path and started walking toward the water when I heard a different sound.

I quickly got behind a tree and looked towards the river's edge, and there on the ground, was the water tribe peasant always with the Avatar, humming a beautiful melody.

Strange, it sounds almost familiar.

I pondered about it for just a moment more before my mind brought me back to the situation at hand.

I reached behind my back for my duel blades to find that I had left them on his ship. I let out a "Humph" before I formed another plan.

I still have my fire bending. Perhaps I should capture her and demand she lead me to the Avatar. Looks like capturing the avatar was going to be easier than I thought.

I got ready to jump out of my hiding place when I heard a low growling or howling sound.

Just 30 yards away, was a giant Saber-Tooth Moose Lion. It looked dangerous and angry. And it was on an intent path. A path towards the water peasant.

I tensed. Isn't she going to move? How could she not hear that? But she still sat, humming that eerily familiar melody and listening to her element's movements.

I waited to see if the creature would stop, but it kept barreling through the forest, still heading for Katara.

My eyes shifted from the creature back to her. As much as I didn't like the water peasant, something inside me felt conflicted about just watching her get gored. Maybe it was one of my mother's teachings that sparked this feeling in me. She always wanted me to be nice to everyone. Even those stupid turtleducks.

So, just a moment before the beast tore out of the trees, I cursed myself and burst from behind the tree and ran for Katara. The beast was almost there.

I closed the short distance between us and lunged for the water bender. She let out a yelp as she was hit from behind right before we both fell into the river.