~The Real Search Begins~

"Oh, since now it's Christmas Day too," Candi looked at Katara, "what are we going to do once we find Aang?"

Katara shrugged, "Well, I don't know; spend time together, at least, being grateful that we have each other."

I KNOW THIS GIRL ISN'T COSIGHNING ME, Candi thought in her head. She stopped walking, "So what EXACTLY are you saying, Katara?"

Katara stopped too, "Nothing, it's just that I'm saying that since it's your birthday and it's ruined, I think the three of us should stick together, and just be grateful that we all have each other for a Christmas present."

"Uh," Robert turned around, facing them, "Katara, I think that was a rhetorical question that she just asked."

Katara asked Candi, "Was it?"

Candi faced the sky, with a little sarcasm, "Oh was it?" She looked down back at her, "YES!!!!"

"WHAT?" Katara's face turned red, "Don't yell at me young lady."

"You're not my mother," Candi kicked snow into Katara's face madly, "You're the one who cosigned me!"

Katara waterbended the snow onto Candi, "It doesn't matter now. All of us should be grateful. Right now, Aang is in danger!"

Candi poked her head out from under the snow, "I know that but…"

"Right now," Katara crossed her arms, "I'm not perfectly in a good mood, and not just because of Aang's danger…I have other issues right now. And the most important, I'm worried about Aang. I know you must be worried about him too."

Candi shook her head slowly, "Yeah, of course I do, but everything always had to deal with you, huh, Katara?" Her voice was very soft. Her voice was softer than any other times when she was upset. "Ever since we moved into the Eastern Air Temple, you've been complaining about your own issues, and took out your anger on ME. Before I decided to go with ya'll, I thought YOU and him had my back. You both promised and swore on the way to the temple. Aang kept his promise. You definitely broke it. I ALSO promised, gave my word, and swore that I'll help ya'll out too. And I'll never ever BREAK my word. You can ask Aang. I know that everyone is not perfect, but you crossed the line so many times—it's just that I didn't say anything."

All of that caught Katara's attention. She just stood there quietly, but shocked and so much guilt. She didn't notice all this time that she has been breaking Candi's heart.

I WAS THAT BAD? Katara thought, WOW, I REALLY DO NEED TO CONTROL MY TEMPER, INSTEAD OF TAKING IT OUT ON OTHER PEOPLE. Katara asked, "Can you give me an example what I did to you?"

"I have so many," Candi got out of the snow, "You pushed me against the wall when I brought a message from your grandmother. Days later, you pulled me out of your room when I was cleaning up the rooms-which were my chores. And the others…hurt me more than those two. I can't do this Katara. Once we find Aang, I'm telling him that I'm moving out, and I'm leaving." She walked straight ahead.

Katara missed grabbing her hand, "Look, I'm….sorry." She glared at Robert.

Robert shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know what really happened between ya'll. But I hope that the both of you will get it straightened out soon. Now come on, let's continue the search." He and Katara continued searching for Aang.

Back on ice, Aang was sitting on Appa, helplessly, "We're stuck. If we take one step, we'll be spinning around like crazy without help." He sighed, "If I die out here, I don't want to do die just a young boy who can just save the world. I want to die as a young boy who actually helped out his helpless, long-lost best friend and gave her comfort."

MoMo sat on Aang's head, trying to keep his head warm. Aang kind of cheered up, "Thanks, MoMo. He looked at the hill, miles away, "I hope Candi and Katara are Ok."

Candi, who was sitting on her air-made chair, continued praying that Aang would be Ok, "Oh, let Aang be Ok. I would give my life to him if we don't find him alive."

"You'll what?" Robert and Katara asked, coming up to her.

Candi looked up at them, "Nothing," She got up.

Katara went up to her, "But seconds ago, you've mentioned that you would give your life to Aang if we don't find him alive."

Candi made a face at her, "Oh my gosh."

"What?" Katara made a face back at her too.

"Don't look at me," Candi replied, "I don't know what to think. I'm not the one who has issues." She stormed away into the nearby woods.

"Okay, something tells me that we'll never find Aang with ya'll like this," Robert said to Katara.

"I know," a tear ran down Katara's cheeks, "All that time, I didn't mean to make her upset. I really am sorry."

"I'm not the one who needs to be apologized from the heart," Robert nudged her away; "I have my own problems with her. I'm totally in love with her."

"Oh," Katara wiped off her tears, "Good luck with that."

Candi came back out, "Look, ya'll go find Aang. I'm leaving now." She turned around and walked away.

Katara caught her hand, "Wait," Candi stopped and turned around, annoyed. "Where are you going to?"

"How about you don't worry about that, okay?" Candi snatched her hand away, but Katara caught her again.

"Please forgive for what I've ever done was wrong," she sat Candi with her, "Look, you need us, and we need you."

"What am I useful for?" Candi asked, "How am I useful to you? And why do ya'll need me?" She tried to walk away.

Katara stood up, "It's hard to explain, really it is. If I even try to explain it, I'll cry, so I can't explain."

"Well," Candi thought about it, "I forgive you." She sat down without making a sound.

"Are you coming though?" Robert made a little fire.

"Fine," she got back up, "but I'm staying far away as possible." And that's what she did.

Katara whispered to Robert, "Why don't you tell her that you like her?"

Robert whispered back, "Because she's not in a good mood. So I think I should just leave her alone."

"Should I tell her, then?" she grew curious.

"Uh, no. I'll tell her later on. Either that or she'll find out for herself."

"I see."

Candi shouted out, "AANG! AANG! WHERE ARE YOU!!!??" Her voice echoed out for miles.

Aang heard her voice, "Finally, they're Ok-wait, she's Ok. What about Katara? Katara is probably with her. MoMo, go follow Candi's voice and find her. Once you find her, lead her to me. If Katara is with her, make sure that they come too." MoMo flew off to the hill.

Appa slowly got up and moaned. Just like that, he started to slide away further out with Aang on him. "APPA! Why did you move? HELP!!!!" Now his voice echoed everywhere, in every direction.

Candi gasped. She heard him, "Aang's Ok. It's sound like he's in danger, but his voice is echoing, and I don't know which way is right."

Robert looked around, "Yeah, I heard him too."

Katara quickly pointed at the sky, "HEY! Isn't that MoMo?"

Yes, it was MoMo. He landed on Candi's shoulder. Candi pat him, "Hey boy, where's Aang and Appa?" MoMo flew up and gave them the sign to follow them.