Dedicated to my "sister", Keitorin Asthore

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender.


His young, childlike laughter of blissful joy rang through the clear sky as women, men, children, his own father watched nervously from far below.

The bright afternoon sun glinted off the orange protective goggles that were pressed over dark brown eyes and gave everything a warm glow.

With the wind rustling his short and shaggy brown hair that had been messily thrown into a top knot, the cold bit at whatever skin was left exposed.
What a sensation!

Teo fell in love instantly with the feeling, the second his father helped launch him.

The feeling of true freedom.

The feeling like you're untouchable.

The feeling of weightlessness as he tested the laws of physics.

He, born of the earth, proved the impossible that day.

He flew.

His father tried to explain the science behind it.

He said it was simple gliding, hot air keeping him afloat as he explored the sky; the first to do so in over a hundred years.

Flight, gliding, it was all the same to Teo.

Others quivered and shook their heads, calling his father a fool for believing to be able to ride the wind.

No one wanted to test the invention, being as new as it was.

For if the screws, the nails, the wood, the paper like fabric of the glider, if any of it were to fail…

When Teo volunteered, the community had burst into cries of dismay.

They tried to talk him out of it, saying not to throw away his life.

Thirteen is such a young age to meet your end.

A chuckle of amusement escaped Teo's lips then.

Now there was no one to look down upon him.

Cripple.

Up in sky, everyone would be on equal ground… so to speak.

Cripple.

There were no limits to what he could do!

Cripple.

What use were legs when you were flying.

Cripple.

And oh, how Teo hated that word!

He hated how people would look down at him, not because he was in a wheelchair and his height was reduced.

No.

He hated how his fellow refugees, survivors of a tragic flood, keepers of the Northern Air Temple would look down upon him and think one thing and one thing only.

Cripple.

Though there were plenty of children to play with, he had no invitation.

When he'd wheel to them, asking to join the fun, they'd hide their faces and run.

Embarrassment.

They were embarrassed for him.

They were embarrassed he was a cripple.

They didn't want to hurt his feelings, Teo knew and understood that.

But when they'd run away, understanding did not make it hurt any less.

Cripple.

He was no such thing.

Teo was slightly different.

Bandages wrapped around his useless legs.

In a wheelchair, day in and day out, Teo sat.
But he refused to think of himself as a cripple.

And in the sky, the word never existed.

There were no need for legs when you were flying.

Teo grinned to heavens above.

His brain buzzed in happiness, and the sun warmed his cheeks.

And like a storm, the crack broke like thunder.

Teo's heart began to pick up speed.

Crack.

The sound, so quiet yet it seemed to pound in Teo's ears.

Crack. Rip.

A thin separation, almost invisible, in the glider's milky white wings above his head.

Rip.

A small beam of sunlight filtered in through the slit, and poured panic in Teo's blood.

Crack.

A nail breaking loose from the wood that held the specially made glider to his wheelchair.

Crack. Rip.

A deadly combination.

Teo searched frantically for the Northern Air Temple, a countdown beginning.

Crack. Rip.

Seconds began to fade.

And his stomach dropped and his body became as paralyzed as his legs.

So caught up in the moment of freedom, of flying, he drifted from the Temple.

He could see his father, standing slightly distant from the observing crowd.

Teo opened his mouth to shout.

"Dad, my gli-"

Crack!
The nail popped loose and wood snapped, sending splinters flying in every direction.

It hit Teo in the arms, the face and he tried to shout again.

The left wing of the glider broke off and sent Teo into a terrifying spin.

Suddenly, he couldn't tell if he was falling up or down.

The wind captured his breath, refusing to let him cry in terror.

Dizzying confusion as the world spun in endless circles...

They say your entire life flashes before your eyes.

For Teo, there was no time.


Author Note: I am truly sorry for the long delay for this chapter. I had begun writing this about a month ago, excited... a little depressed as I am when I write for this series, but excited just the same. I got about half way through the first draft, when I looked over at my Anole Lizard. He was dead. Now, normally I would have grieved for a moment, accepted this as the circle of life, then continued to write. But my lizard's name was Teo, and yes, he was named after the Avatar character above. Now you understand why I had put off writing this chapter. I hope you enjoyed and please reply with requests and ideas for future chapters. That'd be awesome and a big help!