It had to be a dream.

Unless Air Temple Island had invested in foggy surroundings and swamps that I wasn't aware of, I was definitely not conscious right now.

At first upon entering this environment, I sighed. My experience in the woods and without much shelter was problematic; no happy memories arose from such times so to basically backtrack through my memories was not ideal.

I walk through the area for ten minutes when I came across a familiar patch of ground and the makeshift tent I attempted to create as shelter. The grass and dirt beneath the horribly craft haven was a blanket of off-shade green and brown. It was much drier than the rest of the area. I guess I didn't do as bad as I thought. At the time though, it felt like the shelter did nothing to stop the rain. It may have just been the damp ground. Stupid.

A memory of holding Kira beneath this contraption comes to mind. I kneel down at the opening. Looking at it now, I cringe. This detour was close to Ba Sing Se, perhaps only a day or two after our escape. I quickly improved upon my craftsmanship with practice and experience. Even Kira could do better than this, I think as I poke at one of the damp support sticks.

It quickly topples to the ground.

I bite back a bitter laugh.

How did this help us any for the night?

I don't question it much longer and start to move on, retracing my steps through the swamp. The walk drags on for miles and miles, but I keep going. It's a dream, I have to arrive eventually.

When I feel close to my next destination, probably Lu's place, I catch a glimpse of red from the corner of my eye.

Hm?

I pause, wait and listen carefully. One of Meelo's techniques in meditating – which I sucked at; it was very difficult to block out the world around you – is to not move, close your eyes and your sense of hearing becomes more acute.

Rustle.

"Who's there?"

A pull erupts in my chest, leading me away from Ba Sing Se and to the west. After an uncertain beat, I follow the urge.

I start to feel foolish for chasing the unknown in a dream, but my curiosity has always gotten the best of me.

When I get to the edge of the swamp, I pause. Standing at the edge of a field; Fire Lilies are spread across the ground in clumps of red against such a pale green. Is this real? Does this place exist?

"Akari."

My head snaps towards the feminine, attractive voice.

A woman, in red, Fire Nation robes, I believe. When I drag my eyes up to her face, her gold eyes are answer enough. As is her jet black hair that frames her round face perfectly. She's beautiful... Why is she in my memories?

"Who...?" I trail off as the scenery changes suddenly and the beautiful meadow I had once been standing in is now the aftermath of a war. The ground is cracked into long columns, some raised high and some closer to the earth. If I miscalculated one jump, I would fall... I peer over the edge and suck in a gasp at the lava pooling around the bottom, just a few hundred feet below me.

The Fire Lilies are long gone.

The woman smiles sadly at me when she attracts my attention once more. She swallows nervously and before I know it, she's gone and I'm back in the field.

This isn't a dream.

It's a memory.

But it's not mine.

When I drag my feet into the dining hall, I can't shake the feeling that I knew that woman. Something about her felt so familiar. The way she called my name held an under tone of understanding – like she knew me and what I was going through...

"Morning Akari, how are- did you get much sleep?" Meelo asks as I rub my eyes and take a seat across from him. Kira has almost finished her meal and looks up from her book curiously at his change of words.

I nod slowly. "Yeah, just... I think I may have contacted a past Avatar."

"Avatar Korra?" Meelo's face splits into a grin. "How is she?"

That's right. Avatar's contact their previous carnation. Is it even possible to skip back a few Avatar's?

I look away from him, feeling a little guilty to tell him, "no. It was someone else, but I just got the sense... she knew me and when I woke up, I felt like I knew her."

Kira places her book down, forgetting the bookmark to regard me. "That's impossible – oh."

I side glance her as I sip some Geelong tea with one eye squinted shut. Honestly, I slept for a total of six hours, the amount of time Meelo suggests but after taking a trip down memory lane and meeting her – there was no hope of getting more sleep. Now, Kira staring at her book like she's going to tear it apart with her eyes and Meelo outwardly confused... my stomach sinks.

"Oh, what?"

"Do you... remember the night you went to the match? I was missing that book – of an Avatar."

I bite my lip. I remember. "The woman in my dream was a Firebender."

Her eyes almost bulge from her skull. "A Firebenderwas missing! It must be her!" She jumps to her feet, bows to the room and scurries out of the door. I watch her go sadly, knowing that my tea would have to be all the breakfast I get this morning.

"I better go figure this out," I say to Meelo and drain the rest of my tea. I bow to him and stand.

"Akari... you should know," he doesn't look at me at all as he speaks. "Avatar Korra severed the line of Avatar's in her battle with Vatu. It would be impossible for you to contact any other Avatar than her." His heavy gaze rests on me. "This may just be a misunderstanding, but if it isn't and you are not contacting Korra... you may need to venture to the Spirit World for a better understanding of the situation."

The Spirit World.

I can barely make an air-ball – Po and Lin are so much further ahead of me in my Airbending training, what makes Meelo sure I can handle going to the Spirit World so soon? But a part of me achesto know who that woman was and what she was trying to tell me.

I nod and leave, feeling even worse than I had when I woke up.

Shen begrudgingly agrees to escort me and Kira into the City. His attitude towards the reporters and general public is unnerving but appreciated, he must care about me some to react the way he does whenever my Avatar responsibilities are brought into question.

"We should check out the library first," Kira decides with her arms braced on the back of the satomobile's front seat, her head poking out between mine and Shen's. "If we find nothing on the missing Avatar, then we might have to go to City Council."

I frown at her through the rear-view mirror. "We can't keep them out of this?"

"Think about it: The Council are built of extremely important people to handle the Avatar –" Not well. "If anyone were to have information on her, it would be them."

The satomobile stops, parked just outside the library. "I suggest you go now before people start to notice." Shen advises and scans the clear pathway for any suspicious looking citizens.

"You're acting like Shinra," I complain and thank him, exiting the mobile with Kira hot on my heels. We hop up the six steps and enter the library that outwardly appears to be a smaller version of the Council.

Inside is nothing like the polished Council and is covered in a thin layer of dust, the smell of books new and old waft through the entrance. The entire library is one large room with the front desk smack in the centre, outlined with four counters and one lonely man picking at his fingernails.

He waves us towards the aisles of bookshelves all around without looking up, "browse all you want, just don't break or steal anything."

Kira glances at me, a deer in headlights. I nod, assuring her and move further into the library, past the seven rows of bookshelves that extend high into the ceiling until I'm a few feet from the desk.

"We… need some help concerning the history of past Avatars, actually."

The man – Tao, according to his nametag – lolls his head towards us, boredom written all over his face. He blinks once, twice – gasps and shoots up in his chair. "You're the Avatar!"

I force a smile – this is my life now, this is what I will be referred to.

"That's me… can you help us?"

He stands and moves from around the counter to take my hands in his large, dusty ones. "Yes, I can help you, yes – past Avatars you say? Anyone in particular?"

Kira comes to my rescue, holding two books that she claims are in the wrong order and places them down on the counter. "These books are numbered correctly, but the cycle is wrong. A Firebender is missing… My sister believes that it's a woman."

Tao releases me to examine the books carefully. Kira and I stay to the side as he thumbs through the pages, clearly becoming more confused as time ticks on, then – he closes the book and faces us, weary. "You're missing Avatar Kilani."

We stare at him, waiting for him to elaborate.

"Don't concern yourself with this girl, just… go home." He shoves the books into Kira's arms and returns behind the desk.

"What do you know?" I press further, keen.

Tao swallows noisily, gazing at Kira and me in turn. "There are reasons Avatar Kilani was hidden from the history books and it would be best if her past stays that way."

As Kira flicks through the books in her arms, eager to find anything that could hint towards Kilani's mysterious past. I reach over the desk and clutch Tao's collar.

"What do you know?"

"Nothing." Tao gasps, attempting to claw my fingers off. "That's the problem, isn't it? No one knows anything. No one… but the people that travelled with her during her Avatar years," he sighs, finally. "They are long gone, I'm afraid. All that remains of her memory is a book documented by her friend, but it has never been found." He chuckles, sort of in a daze as if this mystery has been bothering him for years. "It could be some foolish myth, for all I know."

After that disappointing failure, we head straight for the pro-bending arena in hopes of running into Roza and Takeo with Shen's permission and demand to pick us up in two hours outside of the Council.

"I bet you that book is in Wan Shi Tong's library," Kira comments as we enter the arena through the back door. Outside is swarming with reporters that I rather not deal with. "The one that Kilani's friend documented… they must have been close."

The only knowledge I retain from Kira's endless rants of the Library is that it's lost in the Earth Kingdom's sand dunes, now only accessible through the Spirit World. Meelo had suggested I take a journey there, but I wouldn't even know how to begin – nor do I want to know.

As hungry as I am for information on Kilani, I'm still just adjusting to being called the Avatar let alone acting like one.

"I'm sorry, do we know you?" Roza questions sarcastically as Kira and I enter the basement training room.

I give her an expectant look and play along, "is that any way to treat an old friend?"

Kira accepts the hug that Takeo gives her and starts to inform him on the Kilani mess. I poke Roza' side as her uniform clings to her. "Over-training is just going to cause injuries, Roza. Take it easy."

"Have you seen outside?" Roza reaches past me to grab a wet face towel and slaps it on top of her hair which is pulled into an unspoiled ponytail. "Takeo and I have been getting the same question over and over: How well do you know the Avatar? I can't just say that I haven't seen her in a week now can I? Training is the only way to escape them."

I sigh and despite her dishevelled appearance and sweaty skin, I pull her in for a quick hug. "I've been trying to come visit you, Roro."

She shoves me away. "I know, I know – and what have I told you about calling me that?"

I grin at her and wait as she and Takeo gather up their bags. The two agree to get lunch with us at the Triplets Bar.

We escape the reporters yet again by using the back exit. Half way up the block, Roza pokes my cheek.

"You're too recognizable now; you need to get a hood of some sort."

Kira grins beside me. "You can always wear the one you chastised me for spending so much on?"

I roll my eyes as they gang up on me – seriously, the amount Kira had spent on it was just ridiculous but it was pretty. It was a long sleeved faded green top with the built in hood to keep your ears warm. It would definitely serve for sneaking around the city now.

"You two should order," I comment as the four of us enter the bar. It's not entirely populated but enough people are here that if I was recognized, it wouldn't bode well for escaping. "I'll save us a booth."

Takeo follows me to a booth hidden in the back and away from the noise and curious eyes. He sits opposite me and places his large hands palm down on the tabletop.

"You need to call more often."

I glance at him and let my hair down in attempt to shield my face. "I try, Takeo. I do but Meelo started training me right away. When I'm not Airbending, I'm meditating, if I'm not doing that I'm taking care of the Sky Bison, helping around the island, cooking meals, meeting the nomads and conversing with the other benders." I rub my temple at the mere thought of what could be waiting for me back at the island. "There is never a moment to rest."

The only reason I believe Meelo let me take the day off was because of my dream… or memory, whichever it is. It clearly unnerved him which put a nauseating feeling in my stomach.

He reaches over to swat my hand off my face and adjust my hair back in place. "Sorry, I wasn't trying to accuse you. I just miss you."

Roza and Kira slide into the booth and I smile tightly at them. Way to ruin a moment.

"I hope you're fine with rabbit stew because it's all we can afford."

That sounds more than amazing after constant rice and fish for a straight week.

We eat, laughing and joking as if the past two weeks had never happened and our life is just as it had been. It's an escape from the truth and at this moment, being with my friends and sister, it's more than enough. If I can have these fleeting days with them at least once a week, maybe I can do this Avatar thing. Maybe I can be the Avatar everyone wants.

It's close to when Shen wants to pick us up, but Kira is so invested in Roza's story of how she escaped the reporters right on their doorstep that I can't find the will to end lunch so soon.

Something moves from the corner of my eye and I glance over, chin resting on my fist as a dark figure moves out of view from the window overlooking the main street.

Remembering Kilani, I excuse myself quietly to not interrupt the story and make my way to the entrance, almost tripping over my own feet with anticipation.

But I don't see her. I don't see anyone oddly enough since its peak hour in the City.

I move to return to the table but stop as a piece of paper stuck to the window catches my eye. I rip it out from underneath the flyer for 50% off of tutoring classes and stare at the black paw print that I have a sinking feeling belongs to a fox.

*rubs hands together* now we get to the plot. I write this story like the chapters are episodes so if something doesn't make sense now, it will later!

Review if you have the time! Even just one word would make my day.