Okay, first things first, updates will be slowing. Christmas holidays are ending and I have exams coming up soon, but I will keep with this don't worry.

This may be a bit fast-paced but I couldn't really fix that without adding useless filler or padding so I'm sorry.

Please review and tell me what you think

Chapter 10: Burning Guilt

Eira was standing over a map, looking carefully and closely at it. She vaguely remembered the format of the map from the show but never one this detailed. She scanned the Earth Kingdom coastline for Kyoshi Island and as she did, she felt guilt. She was intentionally leading a Fire Nation army to an innocent, neutral village just to satisfy her own needs.

She shook her head and mentally smacked herself, she needed to focus.

Her blue eyes narrowed as she searched the coast and she finally found it. She pointed to the small island hesitantly.

"The avatar is there."

"Ah, Kyoshi Island, the home of the avatar's past life. It sounds credible." She heard Zhao say behind her. Eira scowled, she was up in the navigation room so she could show Zhao were he needed to go, bound in chains and with around three firebenders guarding her, Zhao really wasn't taking chances. It wasn't very good for her plans but she would have to press on.

"He is there." She persisted. "He would want to ride the Unagi or the Elephant Koi, he is only twelve."

"Very well." He turned to the navigator. "Set course for Kyoshi Island."

Please may this work. I know I don't make good plans but to whoever brought me here, please make this work. Eira prayed silently as the guards escorted her back to her cell.

She tried to silence the thoughts by staring at a wall. And she failed. Terribly.

She had been waiting for ages and ages until they arrived. Her guards came in, threw her up on her feet and shoved her out the door. They didn't really know the meaning of the word "gentle". As they dragged her up to the deck she looked around for any chance of escape, so far, none.

Zhao was standing on the deck, surveying the island approaching quickly. Little fishing ships made a wide berth for the huge killer warship they were on. Eira felt awful as the men on those ships gave them looks of utter hatred and fear. And it was Eira's fault.

While she was feeling awful at the fishermen's reactions, Zhao was thriving on it. It was like he fed on the hatred and terror. He was a truly awful person.

The ship stopped suddenly, landing at the harbour with a jolt. At the little dock people were running and yelling, dropping the baskets of fish and shells to try and get away from the iron ship and the evil people inside it.

The point of the hull opened to create a ramp for to walk down and around twenty firebenders walked out of it, fully armoured and ready for a battle.

Zhao looked at the scene with a sadistic pride and Eira couldn't stand it. They seemed distracted enough with the terrorising of the villagers, this was her opportunity.

Steeling herself for action, she shoved a guard back and lashed her foot out at the other. Zhao turned her attention to her and sent a flash of fire at her. She raised her chained hands to block the fire as it shattered the restraints. She sent a punch of air towards him and he fell overboard.

She ran across the deck and leaped off the bow landing softly on the ground and she ran as fast as she could go.

She came up to some villages with huts and saw Aang and Katara fighting off some firebenders skilfully.

"AANG! KATARA!" She yelled as she ran up to them. They turned to her and grinned as they saw her.

"Eira!" They cried out happily. "You're ok!" Eira ran up and hugged them, happy tears in her eyes, but then she remembered the grave issue she had caused and her expression hardened.

"We need to get out of here. Now."

"Why? We can deal with these guys." Aang said cheerfully, not really grasping the danger he was in.

"They're here for you, Aang… They're strong and powerful. They-" She paused guiltily. They stared at her with happiness at the sight of her alive? She had never felt so awful. Maybe this was a mistake after all. They wouldn't want to be around her if she told them. Why would they? SHE LED THE FIRE NATION TO AN INNOCENT VILLAGE! She couldn't tell them she led someone like Zhao to them.

"Look, it's a long story, where's Sokka?"

"He's with the Kyoshi Warriors over there but how are yo-"

"Right, got it, get on Appa and try put out these fires, get ready to leave. They won't leave unless you do." She said as she ran over to get Sokka. She ran past burning huts, screaming villagers and remorseless firebenders to find Sokka and Suki together next to a hut. She saw Suki leaning in to kiss him and felt that it wasn't the time to butt in but the again she needed to.

"Sokka!" Eira yelled as she ran up to him. When Sokka noticed her he ran up to her and hugged her.

"Eira, you're ok. We thought the Fire nation killed you…" They thought I was dead?

"No, they just took me captive so I would tell them where the avatar was… And I-I…" She looked up at Sokka. Despite for his thick white and red makeup she could still see his worried expression and bright blue eyes. She couldn't tell him. "I escaped, but they followed me, they won't leave unless Aang leaves." He nodded in understanding and now Eira got a good look at outfit and it was hilarious.

It was a heavily armoured green kimono but it still looked feminine and as such it looked amazing on Sokka.

"By the way, that outfit really suits you."

"Hah! Hah! Hah!" He laughed sarcastically. He turned to Suki sadly. "I swear that I'll come back, but I have to go now."

"I understand. We'll manage against those bastards." She held up her fans and kissed Sokka softly. "Bye." She said as she ran off the deal with some firebender soldiers behind her. Sokka stood there silently as he watched her wistfully.

Eira went up to him quietly as she touched his arm.

"We need to go now. You will see her again. I promise you." He nodded and they both ran over to Appa who was slamming his tail against the wave of firebenders swarming him, sending them flying back. "Come on!" Eira yelled at Sokka as they ran over to the huge sky bison. She jumped and climbed up its back to the saddle and pulled Sokka up behind her.

Strands of her pale hair flew in front of her face and she realised that her hair bobble had snapped. That was going to get annoying pretty soon.

Once Sokka was ready on the saddle Eira gave Aang the clear.

"Yip! Yip!" He yelled so his command could be heard above all of the chaos. Appa flew up into the sky and they all looked back at the burning island with grief. The orange light reflecting off their sad faces.

"Look what I brought to this place." Aang said mournfully. The guilt was killing Eira. It was her fault.

"It wasn't you fault, you can blame that bastard commander, Zhao. He's the one who brought them here."

"Zhao? But Zuko was the-" Sokka began but he trailed off when he saw Aang.

He was looking down at the lake and with determination, and he jumped off.

"AANG!" Katara screamed as he fell. They knew that because he was the avatar and an airbender he wouldn't be crushed by the fall into the water but Katara and Sokka didn't know what he was going to do.

They saw him fly down and hit the water, using his airbending to soften the dive. He was bobbing in the water and looking around until he swam towards a fin slowly gliding through the water. The Unagi.

"Look out!" Katara yelled as if she didn't see him swimming towards it. Eira turned to her and placed a reassuring hand on her arm.

"Don't worry, he'll be ok. He's doing this on purpose. He knows what the Unagi is capable of." Katara looked slightly better but she looked at her with that doubt again. It was awful.

She turned away to see Aang flailing around on the Unagi's face and trying to direct it towards the burning village. He wrenched the Unagi's mouth open and it shot a huge jet of water on the village, immediately dousing the flames and burning houses and blasting the firebenders back.

Below them Aang leaped off the Unagi, using his airbending to propel him higher up and safely onto Appa's head.

He looked at the trio already sitting on the bison and went to defend himself.

"I know, I know. That was stupid and dangerous." But Katara was smiling as he sat down.

"Yes, it was." Katara pulled him in closer and hugged him sisterly and Eira watched happily as she saw his blissfully happy expression. They all looked at Eira with the same happy expression.

"We're glad you're ok, Eira." Katara said, and then she saw her arm, namely her burn. "Oh my La!" She exclaimed. "What happened to you?" Eira looked down at her burn and then back at them with a smile.

"It's nothing, just a little disagreement with Zuko. But… I have something I need to tell you guys." Concern entered their faces.

"What is it?"

"W-We have a new enemy as well. I mentioned Zhao before? It's him. He's a commander from the Fire Nation army and he wants you, Aang. He took me from Zuko so I could tell him where you were, and I-I." Eira's voice cracked with emotion. She had caused all of this. The burning of that village, Zhao following them sooner than he should, the changing of the timeline. All so she could escape one sociopath.

"It's ok. We can deal with anything they throw at us, we're just glad you're back." Katara hugged the teen and she was so kind and sisterly, for once, Eira felt that she could stay with them. She was glad to be back.

Thanks for staying with this so far and YAY! Eira's back with the Gaang but I bet she'll be feeling a bit guilty about the whole "It's my fault" thing but she'll finally be able to be taught airbending properly by Aang.