It was a long days journey that brought them to the first town of the coast. Appa, who had
been flying all day, was exhausted. Aang had no choice but to land and seek shelter for the night.
In the months since he's training he had roughed it many times, but the promise of a warm mattress
was always preferable to the hard stone floor. It was still early enough in the evening that people
were about, the sight of a flying Bison landing was not a common event.
When they touched down he was sure he heard comments about him been the second air
bender of the day. Surely the first would have to be the fake. Aang hoped that the other bender
was still in town, he really wanted words. If what the other village said was true, then the phony
flew without any aid, Aang would be fresh from Appa doing much of the work.
People were nervous though when he asked them for directions. They treated him with
awe because of his air bending, but refused to believe that he was the Avatar from the rumours
that had reached the settlement. Katara tried to help by lending Aang her water pouch, but the
people stubbornly held that she was performing the tricks when he water bent.
As it got later they knew that the other Avatar would have to wait. Torches had been lit
and their wan flames, illuminated the tired streets. The cobbles underfoot had long lost the comfort
of terra firma. Each footstep had lead in it now. It was a young man in his teens who provided
them lodgings. His parents had died, and been sixteen at the time, he had been allowed to run
their business in their stead.
Domestication would have benefited him more from a woman in his life. His raven black
hair was scuffed, and he seemed underweight for his height. The dwelling was a couple of rooms
in a local inn, on the south side of town. The rooms were small, and Sokka would have to sleep
at the foot of the bed.
That night as they sleep Aang work to find a boy stood inside the open window. Sokka
was snoring soundly with no awareness of the newcomer. He stood five foot, four. Slung over his
back was a sickle like those used in the fields at harvest. The metal on it was clean and reflected
the pale moonlight from outside. His clothes were a forest green tunic, which lowered down to his
knees.
" Who are you? What do you want?" Aang asked, bending himself quickly up into a
defensive position.
" Why are you following me Air bender?" The boy had not changed his stance, he was
studying Aang with interest. His black eyes revealed nothing more of his intent.
" You are the Avatar I've been following?" Aang wished he could have come up with
something bolder, it sounded timid when he asked the question out loud.
" Yes, I am Avatar Li. Please, do not pursue me anymore. I have to finish my training
before I can unite the world.
" Well I am Avatar Aang. I'm the last Air bender and the only true Avatar. I have returned
after a long time to fulfill my role.
" There is no Avatar Aang anymore. There has been no Avatar for a hundred years. The
would needs a champion, s here I am. People all over the world are already gaining hope against
the fire nation. Even before my arrival people have heard of my coming now. There are a great
many stories about, some of which even I don't recall doing myself. Let go of this fantasy of yours
kid, it harms us both." Li turned and leapt up into the air. Aang watched for a second in
amazement as he climbed up over the rooftops with no visible aid. Air bending. Aang leapt from
the bed crying out to Sokka to wake up, then grabbing his staff he set out from the window after him.
Everyone was already in bed now, the torches on the street below danced and fluttered in
the breeze. Ahead of him, Li was moving fast.