"We really shouldn't be here, Aang. There might be booby traps still active."

The airbender however was too enthralled in his little adventure to even hear the urgency in her voice.

"Come on, Katara, if you wanna be a waterbender you're gonna have to let go of fear."

Katara inspected the hall they were walking in, making sure there was no hanging weapons or tripwire, "I don't want to let go of my fear here, Aang. We should leave now."

The boy sighed before turning around, however he felt something on his foot and went to lift it to inspect it. Suddenly a trip wire snapped and mechanisms all around them started to come to life. The waterbender paled in horror, already expecting to blow up.

Pshooo!

As Aang and Katara braced themselves, a sudden light shot out of the ship and exploded into the sky with a thousands pieces.

Katara watched the sky with dawning horror, she snapped her head toward the boy beside her who smiled sheepishly and rubbing his bald head.

"Eh heh... sorry..." he then activated his staff that shot its wings out, he held his hand out for the older girl, "come on, we can leave now."

Katara blinked in confusion before pointing timidly at the sky, Aang smiled and nodded, the girl gulped before she was suddenly grabbed. She clung to the boy before he made an air current and flew them away from the ship.

By the time they both landed Katara was shakily trying to get her footing back. While she didn't like the initial take off or landing, she loved the feeling of being weightless and the crisp air biting at her skin.

Aang stood beside her with his hands out for caution, she smiled at him once she nodded that she was fine.

"Do you think anyone saw that?" Aang asked, looking back at the ship then to the sky that had darken streaks falling into the cold ocean.

Katara followed his vision and glared out into the oceans, "I'm not sure... but we should head back and warn my village about it.

Aang nodded firmly before grabbing her hand and running back to the village.

Katara was initially shocked about the action yet she shook it off once an impending danger filled her senses. She felt as if this had set off a long chain of events she had just stumbled into.

Perhaps she was right all those years ago.

Maybe she did have a purpose to end the war after all.

She just wished Nereus was here beside her.

(OO)

"You had something to do with that didn't you?" Sokka glared while pointing a spear at the boy. Katara gawked at him before shoving the spear into the snow.

"It's not his fault! He didn't know it was rigged." Katara defended.

Kya glared at her daughter with distraught, "Were you not with him? Didn't you try to stop him?"

Katara shamefully looked away, only confirming her question. Kya and Gran Gran sighed while Sokka jumped back and held the children away from the airbender.

"Out! I want you out of our village!" Sokka yelled.

Aang blinked in surprise before nodding and placing a hand on the enraged waterbender's shoulder.

"Its fine, Katara, I'll leave."

Kya glared at her son while batting him away from the boy, "ignore my son, dear. He is only trying to protect us. You didn't know about the ship and I am sure Katara didn't know it was rigged. For now let's try to calm down and plan if someone did see that beacon. It is best to stay together if something happens."

Gran Gran nodded at her daughter-in-law's logic, while she wanted the boy gone as well, if he was the Avatar then they would need to make sure he was safe. However if someone did find him here... their village could not survive another attack.

"She is right, young one. And if nothing happens then you are free to go." The old woman added quickly.

Sokka glared at his mother and grandmother before sighing and lowering his weapon. Katara smiled brightly as Aang nodded in relief.

"So, what's the plan?"

(OO)

Katara held her mother momentarily as they saw Sokka get flung from the firebender he had charged. The man was unimpressed at the attack yet found it annoying that the warrior kept trying to launch an attack. Finally a swift kick sent the boy to the ground.

"Sokka!" Kya yelled, Gran Gran and Katara quickly held the mother in case she tried something.

The man who attacked Sokka glared at them and strolled close, his small band of soldiers followings close behind.

Katara glared deadly at them, watching carefully if any of them attempting anything.

"What do you want from us?" She asked coldly.

The man snapped his head to her, his dark golden eyes stared into her hopeful blue ones.

"I am looking for a man. Probably an old one by now. Bring out all your elderly."

Katara silently growled as she held her grandmother's hand, however she looked up to her mother who nodded slowly to the village.

Most of the young women stayed by the elderly's side in case of danger. One by one the man shook his head, upon nearing the end steam was visibly rising from him.

"Is this all?" He asked darkly to Kya, who glared back and nodded firmly.

He stared at Gran Gran in front of him, Katara was continuous staring at him if he tried to hurt her grandmother.

However once his eyes laid on Katara, a certain twinkle in his eyes showed he recognized her. From where, Katara couldn't fathom.

The man suddenly grabbed her and wrapped an arm around her throat, suddenly the village erupted with yells and struggling, Kya being the most prominent one.

"Avatar! Come out here or I will kill this girl!" The man yelled.

Despite the commotion the man was listening very hard for the man he was looking for.

"Stop!" Came a young voice.

The crowd quieted down as Aang walked in front of them, he removed his hood and glowered at the man holding Katara.

The man holding Katara blinked in surprise, causing the waterbender to smirk with humor.

"You're the Avatar?" The man asked skeptically.

Aang nodded, "I'll come with you if you swear to let her go and leave peacefully."

Katara's heart sank, she would gladly come with him to help him stay safe, yet she caught the eye of Sokka who shook his head ever so slightly.

He knew what she was thinking, because he was thinking the same.

"Fine." The firebender spat before pushing Katara toward her grandmother and signalled two soldiers to stand near the boy.

As they left Aang glanced at Katara and smiled reassuringly.

(OO)

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?"

Katara nodded as she climbed onto Appa, Sokka stood by the beasts' side with his boomerang and club.

Kya stood in front of them with Gran Gran by her side, most of the villagers were in their huts sleeping, it was only by Sokka's clumsy exit that alerted Kya that her children were about to do something extremely dangerous.

"He traded his life for mine, mom. And I will not allow him to fall."

Kya bit her lip as she nodded, she then looked toward Sokka, "please protect your little sister..."

Sokka nodded seriously, "with my life."

(OO)

Azula awoke to whimpering in her room, not one for such noises she grumbled as she kicked off her blankets and lit two of her fingertips aflame.

She searched her room momentarily until she caught the writhing form of her pet.

Nereus was curled tightly in a ball as her limbs twitched and hardened. Her breathing ragged and fast. A light sheen of perspiration glistens in the dim light.

The princess blinked in shock before lighting a lamp and quickly rushing to the mutt.

"Nereus? Wake up!" She orders harshly as she shook the girl.

Suddenly the pet's eyes snapped open in shock, her golden eyes pale and her pupils dilated. Her abnormal breathing continues.

"NEREUS!" Azula finally yells.

The dead eyes blink to life and the pet yawns as if nothing happens, she rubs her eyes as she glances up to Azula.

"Master? What are you doing up so late?"

Azula glared in confusion as she removes her hand away from her pet, "you woke me up with you constant whimpering. I thought I had gotten rid of that when you first arrived."

Nereus furrowed her eyebrows as she sat up, "I was whimpering?"

"You don't remember?" Azula answered with a question.

As her pet shook her head no, Azula was already getting a headache from this annoyance.

"What were you dreaming about?"

The pet stammered for a moment then inspects her sweat covered hands, "I... was chasing something."

Azula narrowed her eyes, "you woke me from my sleep because you were chasing something?" She stood and held a hand to her forehead as she sighs.

"And to think that I thought it was serious."

As Azula walked back to her bed and blew out the light, Nereus laid back down with fear.

As she couldn't remember much, she could remember her extreme fear.

The fear of losing her master.

(OO)

Aang smiled happily as he hugged his animal friend, the big beast had greatly missed him from the time the airbender had been taken. Sokka and Katara were currently hugging their mother, which was just glad they were back.

It had been a day and a half when Katara and Sokka left to save Aang, to lead the firebender away they headed in a different direction until they lost them and were allowed to go back home.

Now everyone was just glad to be safe.

"So... you are the Avatar." Gran Gran started. The boy nodded meekliy as he watched the family's reaction.

"Well it is a great honor to have you in our village." She smiled before bowing. Aang blinked as he watched the rest of the village bow as well.

"I'm grateful to be here." He said rather nervously. Katara was the first to stand straight and smile brightly, she knew he was the Avatar! She just knew it!

However her sense of happiness died when a conversation from long ago reappeared.

"Who knows, maybe we will play a part in finding him." A young voice echoed.

"Yeah right, with us here and young I doubt it." Another rang.

"Where will you go?" She asked, hoping to block the emotions omitting from that memory.

Aang looked toward her and smiles, "I don't know. But... my offer still stands though."

"Offer...?" Kya trailed off. However once she saw the pain in her daughter's eyes, she knew what it was.

"Mom... I... I want to go to our sister tribe. To learn how to waterbend."

The mother smiled sadly nodded, Sokka balked at the announcement and ran into the tent, both women watched with mild confusion as he came back out stumbling with two cots and a bag full of supplies.

"You're not going anywhere without me by your side!" He stubbornly announced. He then looked to their mother once he placed the items beside Appa and hugged her tightly, Katara ran to do the same.

Kya smiled while tears brimmed her eyes, "oh I'm so proud of you two already... please be safe out there."

"We will mom." Katara replied with a broken voice. Sokka could only chuckle and nod.

As they climbed onto Appa, Katara checked her bag for a certain item and paused when she couldn't find it, she then handed it to Sokka before running back into the hut.

She quickly rummaged through her chest for a certain bone and smiled once she felt one of many of its nicks, she then ran back to Appa and climbed on.

"What did you have to get, Katara?" Aang asked curiously.

The tanned girl smiled tenderly before opening her palm and showing the same carved whale to the boy.

"It was a good luck charm but I've never was able to use it until now."

Aang nodded, "what is it suppose to bring?" As he walked he yelled 'yip yip' to Appa to launch him into the air.

Katara at the moment was tying it around her wrist, "its suppose to bring protection."

(OO)

Azula glared at her pet as the girl was sparing with two soldiers with her Qiang, if the sudden thwacks and thumps of wood wasn't proof enough that the guards were losing, she didn't know what was.

However she wasn't observing her training today, she was pondering. The pet claimed she didn't remember anything but Nereus was extremely clingy today, following her even to the war room and sitting by the door.

Her pet was afraid of something. Something that involved her, she was sure of it. However no matter what threat she used or punishment she tried, the girl stubbornly refused to speak.

The last guard fell to the floor with the blade positioned dangerously close to the back of his neck. Suddenly the pole moved and clanked as it hit the ground instead, Azula smirked with pride as her pet bowed before her once the spar was over. However her smirk faded when she continued to think about the night before.

Perhaps after some time, her pet will speak about it.


A/N: I would like to thank everyone for following, putting of their favorites, and reviewing this story! It truly means a lot to me that you've taken a chance to read this, I hope I don't disappoint.