2: I Throw My Morals Out The Window

When I was little, the monks taught me how all life is sacred, how honesty is the key to a good life; how your intentions should be displayed clearly before you do something. Obviously, these teachings had lost their emphasis with time as I soon find myself staring hungrily at a stand filled with meat in a town north of Xiao that I haven't bothered to learn the name of. I hadn't eaten for however long I'd been trapped in the Spirit World - food was unnecessary and I highly doubt my unconscious body had digested anything while my soul was absent.

Starvation had begun to set in a while back, and it wasn't normal hunger; instead of normal slightly irritating if not easy to ignore growls emanating from my stomach, I felt hollow, as if someone had taken a chisel to my torso and whittled away at my insides until nothing was left.

I had no money, so if I was to get any form of food - or clothes, for that matter, as I needed new ones - I would have to steal. And this town didn't seem very vegetarian-friendly, so meat it was. I had never stolen anything in my life (except maybe Aang's glider jokingly), but this only sends sparks of adrenaline through my veins. Toward the end of the row of shops and stalls stands one that displays various types of Earth Kingdom fashion, and I opt for there first. It should be much easier to conceal food in the clothes...but of course, there is the matter of taking the clothes first. The front of my orange tunic is slightly baggy on me, so perhaps I can conceal something in there? I decide to cross that bridge as I come to it.

As I near the stand, I take in every detail that could possibly help me. The owner is a tired-looking middle aged man who looks as if he could fall asleep at any moment. He pays no attention, simply stares forward as I to rifle through the clothes that vary in all shades of greens and browns and in silky to rough fabrics that feel like sandpaper.

I single out a semi-loose fitting green tunic paired with tight brown pants and simple brown shoes, but one look told me there was no way I could sneakily take this. Sure, airbending makes me light on my feet, but it's hard to miss a girl clad in bright yellow with a bunch of fabric stuffed down her clothes.

My eyes search for a solution, landing first on the unsuspecting shopkeeper then on a plain brown bag behind his chair. Airbending is my friend as I lean forward, using the winds to keep my footsteps nonexistent. Quickly, I snatch it and push my chosen clothes into it, looking around to make sure no one saw. I'm clear.

It's not until I'm halfway down the road toward where I'd first seen the food when it occurs to me that maybe this bag wasn't for sale; maybe it was the shopkeeper's own. My fingers reach down into the bag, pushing past the fabric of my clothes until I feel the cool sensation of coins.

I know I should feel guilty, but I only smirk and continue walking, intending to steal the meat even though I now have enough money to buy it. There is something exhilarating about taking what's not mine, and I like it.


I wait until I am out of the town and in the forest nearby it to strip my Air Nomad clothes off and replace them with the Earth Kingdom ones, feeling much more relaxed now that I blend in with the forest and foliage around me. My nerves settled after stealing both clothes and food successfully, and eating enough to last me through the next day. Meat is wonderful, and I wonder why I've never tried it before; I suppose I was only vegetarian because it wasn't like there was any meat available in the temples. Past beliefs aside, I'm comfortable now.

The hair in the Earth Kingdom also differs from that of the Air Nomads'. My hair currently is pushed back, away from my forehead and tired up with a ribbon. But the women in the past few villages wore theirs in their eyes, or braided. So I untie my sleek, dark hair from the ribbon and let it fall into my eyes. The front part, which is much shorter than the rest, hangs in my face as I braid the longer part and let it fall down my back.

If I had my airbender tattoos, the hair over my forehead and eyes would be an excellent disguise, but seeing as I lack the traditional blue arrows crisscrossing over my body, the tool is lost.

I continue to travel in disguise, and time becomes more tangible - it's clear that much more time than I'd thought had passed while I resided in the Spirit World. Wary of asking any random passerby about the war for fear of raising suspicion, I decide to wait until I meet with Aang to question him about everything.

Checking a map I acquired (stole) from a town awhile back; I realize I have to cross something called the Serpent's Pass before I reach Ba Sing Se, assuming Aang is there or on his way.

The Serpent's Pass, I discover, is not named for its skinny pathway through the water. It isn't named for the winding roads, either. No, of course it isn't; just my luck, I get to discover why the Serpent's Pass is named so when I take a wrong step and fall face first with a splash in the water. I wasn't paying attention to the ground in front of me, but instead staring out at the vast, beautiful water to the east and west.

Instantly, I airbend myself out of the water and open my glider to fly over the break in the path, but a shadow passes over the sun and a green tendril shoots out of the water to swat me out of the air effortlessly. My glider twirls through my fingers to create a breeze big enough to stop me from crashing into the water yet again and I clumsily land on the other side of the broken path. The serpent dives forward as if to catch me in between its teeth, but I scream involuntarily and turn. Mind going into overdrive, my legs move of their own accord up the pass until I've put enough distance between myself and that thing. I don't even care that my clothes are soaking, hair dripping down my face.

Using the air around me to dry off, I open my glider to fly over the rest of the pass. My feet already ache from sprinting that short distance, and I have to conserve my walking energy. If I fly in Ba Sing Se, I could arise suspicion; if the Fire Nation has attacked, who knows what other crazy things could be happening? I have to play it safe.

Finally, in the distance a gigantic tan wall rises up from the ground; but I don't land. Instead, I fly over the wall, high enough so as not to raise suspicion from the guards. I really don't want to deal with them.

But I falter and almost fall out of the sky when I see it: a huge metal drill, a quarter of the way pushed into the bottom of the wall. Displayed on the top is the insignia of the Fire Nation. Swallowing the bile that rises in my throat, I keep going over the wall until I land in the Middle Ring, according to my map.

Its twilight, so not many people are milling about when I land - good. The less people who see me airbend, the better. I can't pin it down, but my instincts tell me I shouldn't draw attention to myself in any way.

I assume Aang is already here, but I don't want to spend all night looking for him. The city is enormous and I have no time to search the entire Upper and Lower Rings for him and his friends. But the man I'd stolen the bag from a week or so ago had a decent amount of money, despite living in a ramshackle town such as his.

I decide to first find something to satisfy my profusely rumbling stomach before figuring out where I will spend the night.

Further down the road, past a cluster of houses and open-air food stalls, I discover a row of shops that sell everything from clothes to trinkets to beautiful pieces of art like ornate vases and paintings. One of the signs outside a small building to my left displays that they sell tea, so I step through the already opened door, slipping silently into a seat by the door, just in case I need to leave quickly. One of the advantages of being an airbender is being light on my feet, so no one really hears my footsteps as I walk in - the only sound I make is the squeak of the chair on the floor when I pull it out from under the table.

A young woman with her hair pulled back in a plait greets me with a smile, telling me she recommends the manager's special, whatever that is. I decide to get it. She comes back in a few minutes with a cup of steaming tea and a plate of an unknown meat. Over the past few weeks, I've learned not to question what exactly food is, so long as it's food.

"Thank you," I tell her, and she nods before walking away. I eat in silence for a few moments, not really paying attention to anything. My body rhythmically lifts the cup, the food to my mouth and I find myself staring absently at a particularly grimy patch of dirt on the wall next to me.

I snap back into focus at the sound of the chair across from me being dragged out from underneath the table. A boy, somewhere around my age, sidles into the seat and clasps his hands together. He stares at me for a moment with striking golden eyes until I set down my tea.

"What?" I raise my eyebrows. He doesn't look dangerous, but I'm not taking any chances. Another thing I've learned: everyone is an enemy until proven otherwise. Plus the stupid smirk on his face makes me want to reach forward and smack it off.

"Just trying to figure out why someone like you's sitting all by herself." He leans forward slightly, saying it conversationally. My hand drifts toward my pocket, fingers itching for the dagger I acquired a few towns before crossing the Serpent's Pass.

"Someone like me?" I ask, my tone icy.

He nods, staring at me as if I should understand. "You know, young, dangerous-looking...pret -"

"Do not finish that word."

"Pretty interesting?"

"How do I look dangerous?"

He takes a moment to think about it. "You looked like you wanted to kill someone when you were staring at that wall."

"Fair enough." A while ago, I would've been punished for even mentioning the word kill, but now I choose to push down the Air Nomad nature bubbling up inside.

"I'm Taro." He introduces himself, unclasping his hands and offering one to me. I stare at it for a moment before taking it.

"Aya." I reply, but my left hand stays resting on the pocket where my knife lays; this doesn't go unnoticed by Taro.

His mouth quirks in a lopsided grin. "Suspicious?"

"You bet."

"But really, what are you doing all by yourself? The city's pretty dangerous..."

My eyes go steely. "I just got here, but I can handle myself, thank you."

"I never said you couldn't, Aya."

I don't know how to reply to this, so I continue eating and taking periodic sips of tea until my plate is cleared and the only liquid left in my cup is the dregs of my drink. When the woman comes to pick up my plate, I hand her a few gold coins before she goes back.

Taro speaks again as I stand, pushing my chair back in. "Where're you staying, Aya? I'll walk you there." I hate how he uses my name in conversation so much - it's just us, who else would he be referring to?

"First off, this isn't a date -"

"I never said it was."

"So you don't have to walk me home. Second, I still don't know where I'm staying but I'll figure it out. Nice meeting you."

I try to turn the other way, but Taro steps in front of me. "Places to stay here are kinda expensive, and you look a little young to have enough money for somewhere. Why don't you stay with me? I have an extra -"

"No. I literally met you like twenty minutes ago. I can find it myself. Goodb -" Taro interrupts me again.

"Aya, stop being stubborn. I'm trying to help you."

"I don't need it."

He grabs my arm, and I whirl around to face him. "Don't touch me, either."

"Hey, before you go..." Taro pauses, mulling over the words he's about to say. "I have one question. If you just got here, why are you already in the Middle Ring? New arrivals usually start in the Lower."

I suddenly regret telling him I'd only recently arrived in Ba Sing Se. Pursing my lips, I sigh. "If I go with you, can I refuse to answer that question?"

Taro nods.

"Alright, let's go."


I sleep with Taro's spare bedroom door locked, my fingers just brushing the dagger under my pillow. Just in case.


I wanted to skip all the filler episodes bc I'm sick of there being an excellent OC and during the filler chapter (s)he is just randomly stuck in with a few lines here and there to make their presence known. So while Aya is traveling, the Gaang has arrived in Ba Sing Se a few days before. Just thought I'd clear that up.

If there are any continuity errors or something that is unclear/doesn't make sense, please let me know! Sorry, one more thing but I noticed I'd skipped from past tense in chapter one to present by this chapter so I'm going to go back later tonight and change it all to present, sorry about that.