The Deserter

Katara: "This should give us a good idea of what's around here."

I looked at the poster from Sokka's side. I lavishing Momo ,who sat on my shoulder, with attention as I looked to the posters.

Sokka: "See if you can find a menu, I'm starving."

Me: "No kidding Sokka. I had no idea, it's not like you told us that over and over again."

I smiled at his frown. Then couldn't resist laughing.

Aang: "I bent we'll find something to eat here at the Fire Days Festival."

Aang went on about how great it would be to go to the festival. I was just as excited about the festival. I hadn't been to one in almost three years.

Me: "That sounds fun!"

Sokka: "You might want to rethink that, look at this."

We looked at the posters that Sokka was looking at. We saw wanted posters and one of them was of Aang.

Aang: "Hey it's poster of me."

Sokka: "Ya a wanted poster!"

Me: "This is bad."

Katara: "I think we should keep moving."

Aang was disappointed but thought quickly.

Aang: "I have to learn firebending at some point and this could be my only chance to see a master up close."

Katara looked down considering Aang's plea.

Katara: "Well I guess it wouldn't hurt to go check it out."

Aang and I smiled ear-to-ear with excitement. Yes. It will be great to go to a festival. My though were interrupted by Sokka's irritation.

Sokka: "What you want to walk into a Fire Nation village were there all fired up with their.. you know fire."

Me: "Oh come on Sokka it will be fun."

I really wanted to go. Besides whose going to be looking for the Avatar during a festival.

Katara: "Don't worry Sokka we'll wear disguises and if it looks like trouble we'll leave."

Aang ,Katara ,and I started walking toward Appa. Leaving Sokka behind us.

Sokka:(sighed) "Ya because we always leave before there's trouble."

I laughed to myself. We may not leave before there's trouble but at least we manage to get out of it.


In our disguises we didn't look much different. Sokka and Katara wore their black hooded shawls. I pulled my black cape from my bag and throwing it over my shoulders. Now for Aang he just pulled his shirt up over his head like a hood. Much to Katara and my amuzement.

Sokka: "It like your a whole different people." (to Aang)

Aang: "Could on, lets go!"

We headed for the festival leaving Appa and Momo behind on the hill.


Arriving at the festival we found everyone wear colorful mask!

Sokka: "Kalin you didn't tell us everyone would be wearing masks!"

Me: "I didn't know."

And that was true I didn't. Usually they festivals had themes. This time was obvious masks.

Sokka: "Were are we going to get masks like that?"

Then response to Sokka question came a market venders call of, "Masks. Get your fire festival masks here!"

We all went over to choose a masks. There were all kinds of colors and painting to choose from. But it was the one with the white wolf-deer on it that caught my eye. The vender of couse nodded with a, "Good choice."

Katara's mask was of a fair lady. Which in my opinion suited her nicely. Aang and Sokka on the other hand ,not so much. Aang wore a red frown, Sokka a blue smile. So ya, that had to change.

Katara switched their masks making it more appropriate.

Then Sokka hungry was reward with fireflakes. Which he ate vigorously.

Sokka: "Ow ah eh Hot hot."

Katara: "Fireflakes hot."

Katara and Sokka. Definitely brother and sister. I thought as we followed Aang to a group of child watching a puppet show. Oh great! Maybe its the classic The Blue Spirit or The Painted Lady. But no. When we got there we saw a Fire Lord puppet burn an Earth Kingdom soldier.

Sokka: "What can I say the Fire Nation is crazy."

Sokka shrugged as we left behind the puppet show.

Me: "No, we're not! Usually those puppet show are very nice, but I... guess thing have... changed."

Sokka: "Kalin your starting to sound a lot like Aang with the whole' the Fire Nation was good but now its so different'."

Katara: "Sokka!"

Me: "It was like that! These people are as much victims of the war as we are."

Sokka: "I just don't see it."

I was so going to yell at Sokka if it wasn't that Aang ran off and we had to quickly follow him. Aang led us through a large crowd of spectators watching a fire bender performing tricks.

Aang: "Wow look at that. I want to learn to do that."

Me: "No, you don't. I knew fire benders and that is not good fire bender. He's just play with the fire."

Sokka: "Fire is fire what's the difference?"

Again I would have yelled at him so bad if the performer hadn't interrupted me. He had asked for a volunteer and Aang was dieing it be it.

Sokka: (hissed)"What are you doing?"

Aang: "I want to get a closer look."

Katara: "It's better we don't attract attention to ourself."

This is team Avatar we can't stay out of trouble. And in responses to my thought came it's truth. The performer started to get the crowd cheering for Katara to voluteer. One kid pushed me aside so he could push Katara towards the stage.

Aang:(pout) "Lucky."

As he gently tied Katara to the chair I realized something. This is not good. I needed to warn Aang and Sokka not to freak out. This act often scares both the audience and the voluteer.

Some Man: "Excuse me." (he stepped forward)

Me: "No wait..."

But it was to late Aang had already jump on stage. He air bended away the fire. Oh no. Sokka pulled on my arm and we quickly run on stage to help Katara. Aang was well dancing , probably.

Someone: "Hey he's the Avatar!"

Someone else: "The Avatar? Get him!"

Time to go. Together we fled down an alley way to escape the Fire Nation soldiers. Aang started to blow on his bison whistle over and over.

Sokka: "I hope Appa can really hear that bison whistle."

We run this way and that ,trying to loose the soldiers.

The Man: "Follow me."

And we did follow him. Right down an alley to a dead end. Brilliant.

Me: "Great."

Sokka: "What now?"

The soldiers were closing in on us. Oh come on, this is the part were we getaway safely. The soldier came closer, now pointing there spears at us. Then their grinning faces turn to frowns as Appa saved the day.

Sokka: "Get on, hurry."

We know. I used my magic to float on to Appa landing next to Katara. Appa flew us away from the festival which we, in a away, left in flames.

Sokka: "Nice touch setting the firework off."

The Man: "Thanks."

Me: "Who are you? What's your name?"

The Man: "I am Chong."

Sokka: "Your a Fire Nation soldier."

Chong: "Was..."


Later in the woods Chong tells us about Jeong Jeong. Who was once a great Fire Nation general but realize what the Fire Nation was doing was wrong. Were not a bad nation we are only a nation with a bad guy in charge.Chong's story was amazing and Aang ,Sokka ,and Katara thought so too.

Aang: "So there is a firebender not with the Fire Nation! He could teach me!"

Chong: "Yes that's why I came to find you. So that you may learn firebending from him."

Sokka: "No we're not going anywhere."

I heard something move among the trees and out came strange warriors who surrounded us.

As we wear led to their camp Aang tried to see Jeong Jeong.

One warrior: "No, Jeong Jeong only see Chong. The Avatar most wait."

We waited for Chong to return with the new in a hut. Here I do not mind waiting. Inside was nice and warm with soft mats to sleep on. I sat on one of the mats very please to have a moments rest. My nap did not last though. Once Aang saw Chong coming he wake me up.

Aang: "What did he say, can I see him now!"

No. The man wants to sleep. And so do I!

Chong: "No, he won't see you ,he wants you to leave. He said you haven't master water or earth yet."

Aang: "What? How did he know that?"

Chong: "He saw the way you walked into camp, he can tell."

Aang: "I going to see him!"

Aang got up and left the hut.

Me: "I wonder what well happen?"

Sokka: "Who knows."

Well what ever happens I will find out in the morning!


The coming morning Jeong Jeong had decided to train Aang because Avatar Roku had a talk with him. So while Aang trained I sat on a boulder next to Sokka. My eyes were closed and my breathing steady. I was training my awareness by listening to the water and the fish swimming in it, to Sokka's breathing, his movements. I could hear the water moving as Katara bends it and Jeong Jeong's voice instructing Aang.

Jeong Jeong: "Feel the sun's rays. Firebenders gain energy from it as it is the greater source of fire."

Feel the sun. I felt the sun hot on me skin. No, not the sun's heat I must feel the sun's energy. I heard Sokka and Katara laughing but chose to ignore it. Feel the sun's energy. As I did this I felt not hot but pleasantly warm instead. This is great. I wonder if Aang feels this warmth as well.

I opened me eyes to find Aang wasn't there.

Me: "Where is Aang?"

I turned to Sokka who was angrily staring at the water.

Sokka: "Jeong Jeong took Aang somewhere to train. Then he came back. Something about leaving Aang to concentrate."

Me: "Oh."

Sokka: "What were you doing that you missed all of that?"

Me: "I was listening to the earth."

Sokka: "That sounds like a silly thing to do."

Me: "Well after doing my silly thing I now know that all the fish are over there"

I jumped down from the boulder and pointed to a spot just a few feet from where Sokka was how. Then I went over to Katara leaving Sokka astounded.

Me: "So what are you doing?"

Katara: "I'm going to start lunch. Aang has been gone a long time and is probably hungry. So I want to have lunch ready for him."

Me: "Well don't count on fish. And oh, do you need a fire to cook with?"

Katara nodded and so with a flick of my wrist I made a fire.

Aang: "I can't believe he just left me there!"

Katara: "Aang!"

Katara smiled but Aang just walked past us. Aang is going to yell at Jeong Jeong! I wonder...?

Sokka: "Kalin are you going to help Katara with lunch or what?"

Me: "Oh... Yes... right."

I helped Katara make lunch. Sokka ,Katara ,and I ate but Aang did not. Instead he sat on the rock in front of Jeong Jeong tent and though. After I ate I went to the edge of the forest to listen to the earth again. Ever since I was banished I spent most of my time doing this. In the begin it was a way of coping with my sorrow. Now it has became a hobby and a way to clear my mind.

I listened to the wind and the water and the FIRE. My eye shot open in time in see Katara get burned by a wave of fire. Katara cried from the pain and ran off. I followed knowing, just knowing how it felt.

Once I reached Katara she was on her knee with her burned hands close to her crying by the river bank. I sat next to her.

Me: "Katara put your hands in the water. It'll make them feel better."(small smile)

Katara:( still crying) "How do you now?"

Me: "Because I've been burned before. My magic catch heal burns so I put my burn in water. It helps."

Katara looked at me wide-eyed before dipping her burned hands in the river. She winced then relaxed.

Me: "Katara look!"

Katara's hands were glowing a gentle blue. She lifted them from the water to reveal her hand were no longer burned.

Jeong Jeong: "You have healing abilities!"

Me: "Yes but she knew that right."

Katara: "No I only offered to heal you because ...well it was the first thing that came to mind." (embarrassed)

Me: "Oh well than it's a good thing I can heal." (laughing)

Katara laughed to and we hugged. Jeong Jeong gave a small smile.

Jeong Jeong: "I always wished I were blessed like you ,free from this burning curse."

Katara turned back to Jeong Jeong.

Katara: "But your a great master. You have powers I'll never know."

Jeong Jeong: "Water brings healing and life. Fire brings only death and destruction."

I was going to object when a blast of fire came hurtling toward us. Jeong Jeong stopped the flame from hitting us.

Jeong Jeong: "Go! Leave this place and do not return or you well all be destroyed!"

Katara and I did not hesitate. We ran as fast as are legs would take us back to the camp.

Sokka: "Katara are you ok."

Katara: "I'm fine but we need to get out of here. Where is Aang."

Sokka pointed to Jeong Jeong's tent. Katara went to fetch Aang but I did not follow, instead I helped Sokka prepare Appa to leave. With a few quick movements the saddle was packed and ready.

Katara: "Aang wait!"

I turned my head just as Aang sped by. He'll be ok he is the Avatar.

Sokka: "Kalin give me your hand."

I grabbed Sokka's out stretched hand and he pulled me up into the saddle.

Me: "Now what?"

I could see Katara was already in the saddle.

Katara: "We wait for Aang to return."


Aang: "Have a nice swim home!"

Sokka: "Aang come on lets go!"

Aang jumped on Appa with a "Yip yip" and we took to the skies.

Aang: "Wait where's Jeong Jeong?"

Sokka: "He disappeared. They all did."

When we were a safe distance Aang join us in the saddle.

Katara: "Aang let me see your arm."

Katara bended some water out of her pouch and used it to heal the burn on Aang's arm.

Aang: "Wow when did you learn to do that?"

Katara: "I guess I always knew."

Sokka then proceeded to name all the times that he got hurt but Katara didn't heal him. I sat back to listen when Sokka was interrupted.

Katara: "Kalin before you said you'd been burned before. How? Why?"

Sokka ,Aang ,and especially Katara looked at me intently. I sat back up and unwrapped the bandages from my left arm. But I did not yet show it to them.

Me: "When I was banished I was sent by ship to the Earth Kingdom. Along the way there... I sort of... insulted an officer. And... well he grabbed my wrist a burned in."

I now showed them me wrist. It was scarred red and like a bracelet around my wrist. They gasped at it.

Sokka: "He just burned you. One of their own people!"

Me: "No I was the banished daughter of a maid. They didn't care."

Aang: "I can't believe anyone would that."

Katara: "That's awful! And you can't heal burns."

Me: "No that I can't."