The Winter Solstice-1
"Water. Earth. Fire. Air. Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, could stop them, but when the world needed him most, he vanished. A hundred years passed and I crossed paths with the new Avatar, an Airbender named Aang. And although his Airbending skills are great, he has a lot to learn before he's ready to save anyone. But I truly believe that Aang can save the world."
It was a beautiful day as Appa flew across the sky. The sun was shining, the sky was a brilliant blue, and the clouds just floated by.
"This is amazing." Tom sighed, laying on his back. "The perfect way to travel."
Pyrae was curled into a ball on my lap and I stroked her back. "It's such a beautiful day." I noted, looking across the sky.
"I know." Katara agreed, looking at the passing clouds. "Those clouds look so soft don't they?" she asked, glancing over at me. "Like you just jump down and land on a big, soft cottony heap?"
"Maybe you girls should try it." Sokka suggested, sarcastically.
"Ha-ha." I jokingly laughed.
"I'll try it!" Aang volunteered, jumping off of Appa's head.
The four of us looked over Appa's saddle, shocked. Using his Airbending, Aang flew right up and landed back on Appa, only now he was soaking wet.
"Turns out, clouds are made of water." he told us, drying himself off.
I shook my head and smiled.
"Hey, what is that?" Tom asked, pointing ahead of us.
We all looked in that direction and through the clouds we saw a blackened landscape.
Aang brought Appa down and we landed, and noticed that it was a scorched forest.
"It's so quiet." I noted, looking around.
"There's no life anywhere." Pyrae added, her ears falling flat.
"What could've happened here?" Tom asked.
I placed my hand on his shoulder, comforting him. "I can think of a few things." I muttered.
"Fire Nation!" Sokka exclaimed. "Those evil savages make me sick! They have no respect for-"
"Shh!" Katara and I hushed.
Sokka looked at us and we pointed to Aang, who was on his knees in front of a turned over log. Katara walked up to comfort him.
"How could I let this happen?" Aang asked aloud. "It's the Avatar's job to protect nature. But I don't know how to do my job." he sighed.
"That's why we're going to the North Pole." Katara reminded, smiling softly. "To find you a teacher."
"A Waterbending teacher." Aang reminded. "But there's no one who can teach me how to be the Avatar. Monk Gyatso said that Avatar Roku would help me."
"The Avatar before you." I remembered.
"But he died over a hundred years ago." Tom added. "How are you supposed to talk to him?"
"I don't know." Aang admitted, sighing.
I continued to look around the scorched area.
"Hey Phoenix." Pyrae called, pawing at the ground. "I think I found something."
"What'd ya find girl?" I asked, walking over to her with my brother behind me.
Pyrae continued digging until a small acorn popped out of the ground. I picked it up and held it gently.
"I think there's some more over here." Tom said, and Pyrae rushed over to start digging.
There were acorns everywhere, they were just buried. I found a few more and smiled to myself.
"Hey, Aang!" I called. "You ready to be cheered up?"
Aang sighed. "No." he muttered.
I giggled and tossed an acorn at him.
"Ow!" Aang recoiled. "Hey, how is that cheering me up Phoenix?"
Sokka giggled. "Cheered me up." I smirked and tossed an acorn at him. He rubbed his head. "Yeah, I probably deserved that."
I shook my head and walked up to Aang. "These acorns are everywhere." I told him, showing him the acorns I held. "That means the forest will grow back! Every one of these will be a tall oak tree someday, and all the birds and animals that lived here will come back." I placed the acorn in his hand and smiled.
Aang looked up at me and smiled back. "Thanks Phoenix." he replied.
"Who are you?" Sokka asked, as an old man approached us.
"When I saw the flying bison, I thought it was impossible." the old man replied. "But, those markings…are you the Avatar, child?" he asked. Aang nodded in reply. "My village desperately needs your help!" the old man continued.
The sun was beginning to set when we reached the Senlin Village, which is where the old man lived. The old man announced Aang as the Avatar and the village leader approached us.
"So, the rumors of your return are true! It is the greatest honor of a lifetime to be in your presence." the leader said.
Aang smiled. "Nice to meet you too." he replied. "So…is there something I can help you with?"
"For the last few days at sunset, a spirit monster comes and attacks our village." the old man informed. "He is Hei Bai, the black and the white spirit."
"Why is it attacking you?" Sokka asked.
"We do not know, but each of the last three nights, he has abducted one of our own." the leader replied. "We are especially fearful because the winter solstice draws near."
"What happens then?" I asked.
"As the solstice approaches, the natural world and the Spirit World grow closer and closer until the line between them is blurred completely." the old man answered.
"Hei Bai is already causing devastation and destruction. Once the solstice is here, there's no telling what will happen." the Senlin leader added.
Aang shrugged. "So, what do you want me to do, exactly?" he asked.
"Who better to resolve a crisis between our world and the Spirit World than the Avatar himself?" the old man questioned. "You are the great bridge between man and spirits."
Aang nodded nervously. "Right. That's me."
Katara tapped his shoulder. "Hey great bridge guy, could I talk to you over here for a second?" she led him over to the nearest window.
I looked out at the village, which was partially in ruins. It was then that it hit me, that since the War started, everything was thrown out of balance. Once again, the Fire Nation was the main cause of everyone's problems. I smoothed out my red kimono, nervously.
"Phoenix, you don't have to feel responsible for every Fire Nation attack." Sokka assured me.
I chuckled. "I think that's the first nice thing you've said to me." I noted.
"I was a jerk when we first met, but that was because I judged you because you're a Firebender." Sokka admitted. "But, you're nothing like those soldiers. You're a friend, and I'm sorry for how I treated you before."
I smiled and patted his shoulder. "I forgive you." I replied.
We walked up to Katara and Aang, who had agreed to help the village the best he could. The rest of us stayed back in the shelter, but watched from the window.
As the sun was setting, Aang approached the village entrance. "Hello, Spirit? Can you hear me?" he asked, unsurely. "This is the Avatar speaking. I'm here to try to help stuff."
"This isn't right." Sokka whispered. "We can't sit here and cower while Aang waits for some monster to show up."
"If anyone can save us, he can." the old man noted.
"He still shouldn't have to face this alone." Sokka repeated.
"We just have to have faith in him, Sokka." I reminded.
The sun had completely set. Aang stood at the front of the village.
"The sun has set. Where are you, Hei Bai?" he asked. "Well…spirit…uhhh…I hereby ask you to please leave this village in peace." he spun his glider and stomped it on the ground, in apparent authority. He nodded and turned to walked back to the shelter.
As Aang walked back, a large black and white creature manifested and began destroying the village. Aang tried to talk and reason with Hei-Bai, but it really didn't seem all that interested. Aang tried to get its attention, but was thrown onto the roof of another building.
"That's it. He needs help." Sokka ran out of the building to Aang's side.
Hei-Bai grabbed Sokka and ran back into the forest, with Aang using his glider to follow. Katara ran out of the shelter and I followed her, and we stood at the entrance gate.
"Sokka." Katara muttered.
I placed my hand on her shoulder reassuringly. "It'll be alright, you'll see." I told her. I gave her a gentle hug and waited with her.
We waited by the village gate for hours, until the sun had finally risen.
"Your brother is in good hands." the old man said to Katara, as he draped a blanket over her shoulders. "I would be shocked if the Avatar returned without him."
I nodded in agreement. Appa approached us and nudged our backs.
"It's okay, Appa, don't worry." I assured the giant bison, petting the side of his head. "I'm sure they're on their way back. I bet they even found you a bunch of moon peaches for a treat."
Appa exhaled in response and fell on his belly, enjoying the attention I was giving him. I glanced back over at Katara, who had fallen asleep by the village gate. My heart ached for her, I hated seeing a close friend in such pain.
Later on, I told Pyrae to keep Katara company while I took Appa to search for Aang and Sokka.
"Sure you're gonna be alright sis?" Tom asked me as I mounted Appa.
I nodded. "Yeah." I answered. "If Katara wakes up, tell her where I went." I added, smiling. "I won't be gone too long."
I gently tapped the rope and gave the command.
Appa flew off above the forest and I kept an eye open. I flew for about half an hour or so.
"It's no use, Appa. I don't seem them anywhere." I sighed. "Our best hope is to go back to the village and wait." I redirected him back towards the village.
When we landed, I hopped off the giant bison and Katara greeted me with a hug.
"Phoenix, I was worried." she admitted.
"I just wanted to help." I replied, smiling. "You were sleeping and I didn't want to wake you."
Katara smiled back. "Thanks for trying."
"Sure." I replied.
It was sunset when Aang flew out of the forest and landed in front of the shelter.
"He's back." Tom announced.
Katara ran up and hugged him. "Where's Sokka?" she asked.
"I'm not sure." Aang admitted, looking down.
The sun fully set and night came along. Aang waited at the gate, but Hei-Bai charged in from the side. It came just inches from the shelter, but Aang halted it. He placed his hands on its forehead and gasped.
"You're the spirit of this forest! Now I understand." he realized. "You're upset and angry because your home was burned down. When I saw the forest had burned, I was sad and upset, but my friend gave me hope that the forest would grow back."
Aang placed an acorn in front of Hei-Bai and the spirit picked it up. As it turned to leave, it morphed into a giant Panda Bear and walked back into the forest. Bamboo shoots grew from the ground at the Senlin Village gate, and the kidnapped villagers and Sokka emerged from it. Katara ran up and embraced her brother.
I put my hand on Aang's shoulder. "Way to go Aang, I knew you could do it." I praised.
"Thanks Phoenix." Aang replied, smiling.
We all engaged in a group hug, happy that the gang was back together again. The Senlin leader approached us.
"Thank you, Avatar." he bowed. "If only there were a way to repay you for what you've done."
"You could give us some supplies, and some money." Sokka suggested.
Katara elbowed him in the ribs.
"It would be an honor to help you prepare for your journey." the leader agreed.
"I'm so proud of you, Aang. You figured out what to do, all on your own." Katara smiled.
"Actually, I did have a little help and there's something else." Aang admitted.
"What is it?" Tom asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion.
"I need to talk to Roku and I think I found a way to contact his spirit." Aang answered.
"That's great Aang." I exclaimed.
"Creepy." Sokka added. "But great."
"There's a temple on a crescent-shaped island and if I go there on the solstice, I'll be able to speak with him." Aang told us.
"But the Winter Solstice is tomorrow." I reminded.
Aang nodded and looked down, "Yeah, and there's one more problem." he added. "The island is in the Fire Nation."
We all exchanged a fearful glance.
I was afraid it would've come to that. I knew sooner or later I would have to step foot on Fire Nation territory. Sokka and Katara were dead scared when they heard that news, Tom and I were just as fearful. We were traitors to our homeland, and if we were caught, it meant life imprisonment or worse. Any sane girl would've said 'No way, I'm not going back. I value my life and freedom.' I guess I'm not as sane as I would like to believe…Homeland, here I come
