After the initial shock of Rei's appearance had worn off they all realized how hungry they had become. Sitting in a circle around the fire, the group ate their supper as they normally would. The only thing that threw them off was the fact that Rei was in the background playing with Appa and Momo…Loudly.

"Ummm. Does anyone else notice that she is a little….I don't know…weird?" Sokka asked with a full mouth.

"You're weird, and we are just fine with you." Suki replied with a laugh.

"HEY! I find that demeaning!"

"Don't worry Sokka." Aang assured him, "Rei is just fine."

"It does seem a little strange though…" Katara said.

"What does?" Rei asked from her spot right behind Katara. Everyone but Toph, who could feel her coming, jumped in surprise.

"Oh! Hi Rei." Katara recovered. "Pease sit by me!" Rei nodded and gracefully sat in between Katara and Zuko. Aang was on the other side of Katara, and he smiled a bit.

"So…" Suki started as an awkward silence crept over the group. "Where are you from?" Rei tilted her head in confusion at Suki.

"From…" Zuko sighed as he put down his plate.

"She wants to know where you were before you came here." He explained, trying to help Rei. She just stared at him with confused eyes until it clicked, and she gasped.

"OH!" She smiled at everyone. "I'm sorry, I just didn't understand."

"How can you not understand where you are from?" Sokka asked in amazement.

"No, no! I understand all that!" Rei explained, "It's just that the Spirit world isn't really place. I'm not from it because I am still linked to it. It's more of a state…"

"I know what you mean Rei!" Aang responded.

"Yeah, but that's just freaky Avatar stuff." Sokka added getting a strange look from Rei.

"If you don't mind me asking, why exactly are you here? Aang already knows all four bending styles, so what are you going to teach him?" Katara asked.

"Well, normally, it takes an Avatar about 30 to 40 years to master all four elements. They are given time to adjust to their new skills and live with them for quite some time. Most Avatars often visit the spirit world to learn even more about their job." Rei looked around the circle and noticed that they were all paying very close attention. "Unfortunately, Aang was not given the luxury of time. He has been forced to learn everything in the course of a few months, almost completely omitting the Spirit world part. And with the threat of the Comet looming in the future Aang is going to need all the help he can get. And I was sent to help."

"What kind of help does he need?" Zuko asked.

"He needs balance, and that's what I was sent to teach him."

"Wait a minute. " Sokka had both of his hands up, "You came down in a comet... From the spirit world…to teach Aang…how to balance?!"

"Not how to balance, just balance." Rei answered with a smile. Sokka shot his hands straight up in the air and scoffed.

"I thought you were going to teach him some magic-spirit-world-trick that would end the war!! What good is balance?!" He yelled in exasperation.

"Finding Balance is the most important thing an Avatar does." Rei responded.

"I think that saving the world is a little more important…"

"Actually Sokka," It was Zuko who spoke this time, "My Uncle once explained to me that the Avatar's job was to keep the balance in the world, both in ours and in the spirit world." Everyone looked from Zuko to Aang.

"He's right!" He said with a smile.

"So, how are you going to teach Aang balance?" Toph asked Rei.

"Simple. The same way you have taught him water, earth and fire bending. With Practice."

"But, how can you practice balance?" Suki questioned.

"Actually," Aang added, "That part confuses me as well…" Everyone looked to Rei, who tapped a finger to her closed mouth in thought. Gazing around the room, she perked up when her eyes landed on the small fire. With much grace Rei grabbed a small pebble on the ground and tossed in into the middle of the fire.

"Aang," She commanded, "I want you to retrieve the pebble…"

"Easy." He said before he earth bended the small rock straight up. Rei caught it in her left hand.

"Wow." Sokka said sarcastically, "It's truly amazing…" Rei threw him an un-amused look before turning back to Aang.

"Good," She dropped the pebble into the fire again, earning her a look from everyone. "Now, I want you to retrieve the pebble again, but this time with no earth bending. And the fire must not go out." Aang stared at the small fire with a look of utter concentration. After several silent minutes of thought, Aang air bended a small whirl to pick up the pebble. It got to the middle of the fire, lifted the pebble up an inch or so…and the fire died, along with the wind. The room was cast into utter darkness and Aang sighed in defeat. Zuko filled his hand with fire and the room with light.

"Not so easy, is it?" Rei asked the small monk with a smile. Aang smiled back and then bowed to her.

"I am ready to be taught."

"Well, have fun with that twinkle toes. I'm ready to get some sleep." Toph announced as she stood up. Suki murmured in agreement as they each walked out of the room and to their own quarters. Sokka mumbled something about wanting to get up early as he set off towards Suki's room.

"Rei, I think your clothes are gonna take a bit longer to dry…Are you gonna be ok in that cloak? I'd give you some of my extras but they aren't really suited for this heat." Katara said as she held Rei's dripping wet clothes in front of her.

"Why doesn't Aang just dry her clothes?" Zuko asked loudly causing silence to fall over the remaining four. "Well…" Zuko added awkwardly, "He is an air bender."

"Your right." Aang replied stupidly. He then blew a gust of wind at Katara which caused her to drop all of the garments. They blew everywhere in the room and landed in random places. Katara's hair had become a giant ball of static fluff and she glared at Aang.

"I'm SO sorry Katara!" The boy apologized frantically. Katara turned on her heel and marched out of the room. Aang shot the others a pained expression before he hastily followed her, hoping to make amends. His departure left Rei and Zuko alone to wallow in awkward air. They looked at each other silently for a moment before Rei burst into laughter.

"How lucky for me to be able to teach such an eccentric person!"

"Yeah, he's…….different."

A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A

It took Rei and Zuko about 25 minutes to gather all of her things. Mostly because he had no idea what they looked like and she was easily distracted. Zuko noticed that, like a small child, Rei found wonder in the smallest of things.

"Well, goodnight." Zuko said as he turned to go to his room.

"Umm, Zuko?" She asked in a small voice causing him to turn around. He was amazed at the sight of her; a young woman with pure white hair carrying a bundle of dark clothes looking utterly lost. "Sorry to bother you…but…"

"Yes?" He asked warily.

"I don't know where to go…"

"Oh…"

The two set off to find Rei a room and after what seemed like an eternity, they managed to find an empty one. Zuko was about to walk away again when Rei stopped him.

"Zuko, wait. I must return this to you." Rei said after she walked into the room and placed her garments on the bed.

"You can keep it until tomorrow." He replied.

"No, I must return it and thank you for your kindness!" Rei began to fumble with the strings that held it together. Zuko's face flushed bright red as he realized what Rei was planning to do. His white hands snaked out and grabbed hers, forcing them to stop.

"No! Really, it's ok! You just keep it!"

"Oh, I couldn't possibly!" Rei explained as she tore her hands away from him and proceeded to untie the clasps. Zuko's blush intensified as he whipped around and bolted to the door.

"NO REI!" She paused and looked at him curiously. "Umm… I'll just get it tomorrow! It's late and... training and …." He stole a quick glance at her. She was looking at him with her head tilted slightly, her hands at her sides. "Well…welcome to the group!" He slammed the door shut behind him and leaned against it breathing hard. On the other side of the door, Rei stood very still for a second. She then smiled slightly and turned towards her new bed. It was a very strange start to such an important journey.

A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A

Authors notes.

Sorry that this is so short, but I realized that it wouldn't work if I started the next day in this chapter.

A HUGE THANK YOU to all who reviewed!1 I REALLY appreciate it. I enjoy it when you favorite and all, but I really REALLY love reviews!! Make um long too!! Tell me what you think!!

I will try very hard to up date frequently, but I have two stories to finish also. This is one of my major priorities however!

Thank you for reading and PLEASE REVIEW!!