Chapter 11: The Storm

Hey guys! I'm so sorry about the delay on this chapter! My computer crashed before I had a chance to post it before, and I had to rewrite it because it didn't save. I don't have any more trips planned at the moment so I should be able to update this story every few days or so from now on! Anyways, here's the next chapter of Legend of Kai, hope you enjoy! –Cleo0421

Disclaimer: I only own Kai

"Hey!"= Agni's thoughts

"Hey." = Vayu's thoughts

"Sup!"= Kai's thoughts

"Ack! Momo get off my face!" I shouted as I tried to pry the lemur off of me. We were all sleeping for the night, but we were rudely awakened by Momo jumping on all of us. He attached himself to my face instead of jumping right off of me. Sokka held out his club and boomerang sleepily as I rolled around trying to pry the fur-ball off.

"Whaz goin on? Did we get captured again?" He asked sleepily. Katara crawled over to me and finally pried Momo off of me. I plopped onto the floor and breathed in relief. Looking over at Aang I realized that he was the cause of the Momo attack.

"It's nothing…I just had a bad dream. Go back to sleep." Aang said as he curled up on his side. Katara and I shared looks of concern as Sokka immediately lay back down.

"Don't have to tell me twice." He yawned. I rolled my eyes at him as Katara turned towards Aang.

"Are you alright Aang?" She asked gently.

"I'm okay." By the tone of his voice I could tell that he was definitely not okay. Katara seemed to think so too.

"You seem to be having a lot of nightmares lately. Wanna tell me about it?" She questioned.

"I think I just need some rest." He sighed. Suddenly Sokka popped up with a smile.

"You guys wanna hear about my dream?" He asked happily. Katara gave him an unimpressed look as I smacked him upside the head.

"Read the atmosphere idiot…" I murmured. He rubbed his head as he glared at me.

"Fine, I didn't want to talk about it anyways." He stated as he lay back down. Katara gave one last look at Aang before following Sokka and heading back to sleep. I looked at Aang's prone form and sighed before standing up and pulling my sleeping bag over to his side. He looked over at me in surprise before looking back down with a frown.

"I don't want to talk about it right now Kai." He mumbled. I rolled my eyes as I sat up in my sleeping bag and leaned up against the rock behind us.

"Who said I was gonna ask about it?" I raised an eyebrow at him. He looked up at me in surprise.

"You're not? Then what are you doing over here?" He asked as he sat up on his elbow.

"Well, it doesn't seem like you're going to be able to sleep anymore, right?" I shrugged. He hesitated before nodding in affirmation. I nodded understandingly.

"It's almost dawn anyways, so you wanna hear some more stories? I doubt that I could go back to sleep either, not after getting a mouthful of Momo." I shivered. Aang smiled up at me brightly before sitting up beside me on the rock. I smiled back before holding my chin in thought.

"Hmm…oh, I didn't tell you about the time I broke my arm! I'm just gonna start off by saying that I'm so glad Sokka's watchtower was destroyed. Don't tell him that, he's very attached to that thing. Anyways, one time I was playing around in the watchtower. I could've sworn that there was something in the distance, so I leaned further out to try and see it better…"

The next morning we all got up to pack and get ready to leave. Aang climbed up on Appa and looked up at the sky.

"Look at those clear skies buddy! Should be some smooth flying." He stated as he pointed upwards. Katara flipped over our food bag and frowned as crumbs fell out. Momo immediately began to eat those. She looked up at Aang.

"Well, we better smoothly fly ourselves to a market cause we're out of food." She explained as she walked up on Appa. Sokka looked up with wide eyes.

"Guys, wait! This was in my dream. We shouldn't go to the market." He stated. We all looked over at him in confusion.

"What happened in your dream?" Katara asked.

"Food eats people!" He exclaimed with crazy eyes. I smacked my forehead as Katara and Aang simply looked unimpressed. Sokka pointed at Momo.

"Also, Momo could talk. You said some very unkind things." He crossed his arms. I looked over at Katara who was rolling her eyes.

"Can we please leave him here? I swear that I'll take all the responsibility."

"Ah, it's good! Perfect I'm telling you!" We arrived at a market and Katara was currently looking at a melon. The saleslady seemed very eager to get rid of the melons. Katara shook the fruit and grimaced as the juices inside swished loudly.

"I don't know if I like that swishing noise." She stated as she held the melon further from her body.

"Swishing means it's ripe! It's the ripe juices swishing around!" The saleslady exclaimed as she walked around to Katara. Aang nodded in agreement.

"I think its true Katara. Swishing means it's ripe." He said with a smile. But, Katara put the melon back.

"I just realized that we're out of money anyways." She smiled politely. The saleslady groaned before taking back the basket of fruit that Sokka was carrying. As we were walking away, the lady kicked Sokka in the butt making me laugh behind him. We stood by the docks as Sokka rubbed his injured behind.

"Out of food and out of money! Now what do we do?" He questioned. I raised my hand.

"I could go around and pickpocket some people." I suggested with a shrug. Aang looked around unsurely.

"But, everyone here seems so poor. I don't think it would be right." He stated. I looked around and realized that he was right. Everyone around us seemed to be dressed in rags and they looked dirty. Looking back at the saleslady we just left I pulled out a small bag of money.

"I'll be right back then…" I rubbed my head sheepishly as I walked over behind the saleslady and snuck the small bag of money back into her pocket when she wasn't looking. Walking back over to the others I shrugged as Katara looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

"What? She was mean anyways." I mumbled as I crossed my arms. Sokka sighed.

"I would've been fine with taking that old hag's money. She would've deserved it after that kick." He glared.

"Why don't you just get a job Sokka?" Katara asked with a sigh. Sokka was about to retort when suddenly a voice cut him off.

"We shouldn't go out there! Please, the fish can wait! There's going to be a terrible storm!" Looking behind Sokka I saw an elderly woman yelling at what I assumed to be her husband who glared back.

"Aw, you're crazy it's a nice day! No clouds, no wind, no nothin so quit your nagging woman!" he retorted. I looked over at Aang who seemed uneasy.

"…Maybe we should find some shelter?" He suggested. Sokka looked back at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Are you kidding? Shelter from what?" He asked as he looked up.

"My joints say there's gonna be a storm! A bad one." The elderly lady continued. The old man rolled his eyes.

"Well it's your joints against my brain." The man stated.

"Well I hope your brain can find someone else to haul that fish, cause I ain't comin!" the lady shouted.

"Then I'll find a new fish hauler and pay him double what you get! How do you like that?" The man smirked as he leaned forward. I was beginning to rethink the whole married thing. Suddenly Sokka ran up to the couple.

"I'll go!" He shouted. The man immediately turned towards him and pointed his finger.

"You're hired!" He announced. I raised my eyebrow.

"Seriously? Wow, that was easy." I muttered. Sokka looked back at Katara who was staring at him.

"What? You said get a job, and he's paying double!" He smiled. The old man turned towards Sokka with a raised eyebrow.

"Double? Who told you that nonsense?!" he asked with a frown. I groaned.

"Why do we always seem to find the crazies!"

"Sokka, maybe this isn't such a good idea. Look at the sky." Aang said uneasily as he stared at the grey clouds above us. I nodded.

"Yeah, it looks like there really is a big storm coming." I said as I crossed my arms. Sokka looked over at us.

"I said I was gonna do this job. I can't back out just because of some bad weather." He stated as he walked below deck. Suddenly the old lady appeared again.

"The boy with the tattoos has some sense. You should listen to him!" She yelled before walking off again. The old man suddenly stood up straight.

"Boy with tattoos?" He murmured before turning to look at Aang.

"Air bender tattoos…well I'll be a hog-monkey's uncle! You're the Avatar, ain't ya." He stated. Katara smiled brightly.

"That's right!" She nodded. The man suddenly glared at us.

"Well don't be so smiley about it! The Avatar disappeared for a hundred years! You turned your back on the world!" The man accused as he poked Aang. I glared at the man angrily. Old man or not, I was this close to kicking his butt. Katara cut in between them angrily.

"Don't yell at him! Aang would never turn his back on anyone!" She defended. The man looked at Aang smugly.

"Oh, he wouldn't huh? Then I must've imagined the last hundred years of war and suffering!" he yelled. I looked at Aang as his eyes widened in horror. Katara, oblivious to Aang's situation, retorted.

"Aang is the bravest person I know! He has done nothing but help people ever since I met him! It's not his fault he disappeared, right Aang?!...Aang? What's wrong?" Her face morphed into one of concern as she turned and saw that Aang had backed up significantly with a look of guilt on his face. Suddenly he opened his glider and flew away. The old man stepped up.

"That's right, keep flying!" He yelled as Aang disappeared behind the mountains. Katara turned on the man.

"You're a horrible old man!" She shouted as she ran up on Appa and immediately flew off. I stared at her for a minute until realizing that she left me behind.

"Hey! Katara!" I shouted, but my sister was too far ahead. I groaned. Now I'm gonna have to find some other way to find them!

"Hey! They left without saying goodbye!" Sokka yelled. I looked over at him and rolled my eyes.

"Your friends aren't too polite, are they…" The old man muttered. I glared furiously at him.

"Shut up! Like you can say anything about being polite!" I yelled at him. I quickly ran up to the man and pushed him into the water. Sticking my tongue out at him, I turned around and ran back through the market. I looked around frantically for any sign of them, but I couldn't see anything. I asked around the market if anyone had seen a flying boy or a giant, flying, fluffy monster with a girl riding it. But, everybody just seemed to stare at me instead of answering. Geez, they're useless! Oh, maybe Agni and Vayu can sense Aang! I stopped for a moment and concentrated.

"Agni? Vayu?"

"Kai! How nice of you to call!" I smiled as I heard Agni's voice in my head.

"Do you have any idea where Aang is? I need to find him!"

"We wouldn't know Kai. We only connect to you. Roku would know, but he's not here at the moment." Vayu explained. I groaned.

"Dang it, I don't want to wander around with this storm coming!"

"Kai! Do you have a boyfriend yet? You are almost of that age! Where are your siblings? Oh, how's your trip going? I miss you!" I winced as Agni's voice escalated in my head as I ran around, continuing my search.

"Geez woman! Keep it down! And no I don't have a boyfriend! I'm 12!"

"Good, because then I would beat them up for trying to steal your innocence!" I yelped as I accidently ran into a pole at Agni's statement.

"Innocence? What is happening to this conversation?! I have no idea what you're even talking about!" Just as I was about to continue my search, I stopped and looked up as a drop of water hit my head. Rain began to fall from the storm clouds, and I could tell that it would only get worse.

"Gosh, of all the times for Katara to decide to ditch me!" I groaned. Suddenly I gasped as an arm grabbed my shoulder and turned me around.

"Nima?!" A beautiful woman, who looked to be in her thirties, with long brown hair yelled as she pulled me around. I barely held back a scream, but a little squeak still escaped my mouth. The woman's eyes widened in shock before she released me.

"I-I'm sorry…it's just that you look like someone I once knew." She frowned as she scanned my face. I barely saw her eyes widen again as she saw my necklace, but she quickly schooled her expression. She grabbed my arm again, but gently this time.

"You'll catch a cold if you stay out in this weather sweetie. My house is right over there, do you want to come inside? I can make us some tea and snacks." She offered with a smile. I was about to turn her down, I mean she could be some sort of kidnapper! Plus, with my fire bending, I doubt that I would get sick. But, then she mentioned snacks and my common sense flew out the window.

"Kai, I don't think that going with this stranger is wise…"

"No, Kai! What if she's a pedophile?!"

"Sh! She has snacks!"

"…Kai, I believe that you are too simple minded." I quickly blocked their voices from my mind.

"Sure! Which house did you say was yours?"

"Would you like some more cookies?" The woman asked kindly as I continued to munch on a cookie. I was doing a great impression of a chipmunk. I smiled at her and nodded my head. She smiled back warmly before setting down another tray of cookies in front of me. I paused between bites.

"So, who are you? And, who's Nima?" I questioned before inhaling another cookie. The woman slipped her hand into her sleeve and pulled out a small, round tile and set it in front of me. I gasped as I saw that it had the White Lotus on it. I picked up the tile and pulled out my necklace to compare the two.

"My name is Avani, and Nima was the woman who gave me this tile. She and I became good friends during her stay here, and she said that if I ever got into any trouble then I could find a friend using this mark." She explained. I set the tile back down and pulled my necklace off and holding it up in front of her.

"Why did you show me it? And do you know about my necklace? You seemed to be shocked when you saw it." I asked as I handed her the necklace. She stared at it for a second before turning to me.

"Well, this necklace happens to be the one that she wore 12 years ago. She also happened to have a little baby girl with her." I gaped at Avani. This couldn't be a coincidence. A woman who had my necklace, who I look like, and who happened to have a baby with her 12 years ago…

"…D-did this woman happen to say the name of the baby?" I asked quietly. Avani nodded in affirmation.

"She said that the baby's name was Xiaolian." I promptly began smacking my forehead on the table.

"Agh! Stupid coincidences! First the sword, and now this?! The universe just loves messing with me, doesn't it!" I complained as a large red spot formed on my forehead. Avani was looking at me with wide eyes.

"Um…are you okay?" she asked gently as she stared at my head. I waved her off.

"Yup, just peachy." I groaned as I lay my head in my hands. I sighed before looking back up at the confused woman.

"I haven't introduced myself yet, my name's Kai. But, you might know me better as Xiaolian." I explained. Avani gasped before she buried my face in her chest with a hug.

"I knew it! You looked so much like her except for the eyes, and that necklace couldn't have been a coincidence!" She all but squealed while I was currently suffocating in her chest. Can't breathe!

She finally released me after a full minute of hugging and squealing. I gasped as I collapsed in my seat.

"Oh dear, I'm sorry! I just got so excited! Nima stopped contacting me about two months after she left this town. I was worried." Avani explained as she sat back in her chair. I waved it off as I took in deep breaths. After I had caught my breath Avani began to question me.

"Where's your mother now? Is she here with you?" She asked. I looked down at my hands.

"Well, no. I actually don't know where my mom is either, or if she's even alive…" I explained as I continued to look down. Avani gasped before her face fell and she also looked down.

"Oh…but, what happened to you? How are you here?" She looked back up in question. I leaned on my hand.

"I was found by the chief of the Southern Water tribe, Hakoda. He took me in and raised me as his own. And, the reason I'm here is the person that I was looking for earlier. Me and my siblings are actually traveling with the Avatar." I leaned back as I waited for her reaction. She stared at me before her eyes widened in recognition.

"The Avatar?! He's here?" She shouted disbelievingly. I smiled and nodded my head.

"Yup! I was looking for him and my sister earlier when I ran into you." I explained. She leaned back in her chair and looked up at the ceiling with a large smile on her face.

"The Avatar…I don't believe it. Nima always told me that he would return. She always believed in him. And to think, her daughter is traveling with him." She sat up as she shook her head. I looked down at my hands as I thought about my mom. I hesitantly looked back up at Avani.

"Uh…about my mom. Do you think you could tell me a little about her?" I questioned hopefully. She looked at me with surprise before a smile formed on her face.

"Of course I will. Now, where do I start? Nima showed up at the docks 12 years ago in a small merchant ship. She had a small group of people accompanying her, and a small baby in her arms. She came here looking for refuge, said she was on the run from the Fire nation. At first, people didn't want anything to do with her. They said that if she stayed here that the Fire nation would follow. But, I just saw a mother in need. I took her and her family into my home and let them stay. After a couple weeks the rest of the locals also accepted her, it wasn't hard to do. Your mother was a very kind person. She was always calm and never turned her back on others. She was a wonderful friend." Avani stated as she stared off in the storm, lost in nostalgia. I smiled. My mom sounds pretty cool…I mused as she continued.

"She stayed here for 6 months, and by then everyone loved her and her family. But, one day word arrived that the Fire nation had caught wind of her whereabouts and that they were on their way here. For the first time since I met her, your mother began to panic. She ran back to our home and began packing her things. The locals wanted to fight for her, nobody wanted her to leave. But, she told us that she didn't want anyone dying for her and that she had to leave. Up until that point none of us knew why she was on the run from the Fire nation, and what was going on." Avani's gaze locked onto me.

"Your mother finally told us what she was. She was an air bender." Avani stated. I gaped. So I was right! My mother was Air nation!

"When the Fire nation laid siege to the air temples some were able to escape through secret tunnels through the mountains. They dispersed over the land to try and make sure that none of them were ever found out. Nima's ancestors were the ones that hid in plain sight. They grew out their hair and changed their identities. They hid among Fire nation colonies and never stayed in one place for too long. The Fire nation never suspected a thing. Nima grew up hearing stories of her ancestors and how someday the Avatar would return and set things right." She stated as she turned towards me.

"She would've been thrilled to see you traveling with the Avatar." Avani smiled. I smiled back before I cocked my head in confusion.

"Wait, so why did she end up running?"

"Well, your mother ended up meeting a charming young man in the Fire nation. Her family was against it, but this young man had ideals and beliefs that were different from others in the Fire nation. He held resentment over what his nation has done and he believed in balance between the four nations. He and your mother became great friends and eventually they began dating. She didn't want to keep secrets from him so she told him of her origins. He was understandably shocked at first, but he became thrilled. He was relieved that the Air nomads lived on and he still loved your mother. He proposed not long after. They were happily married and even had a baby girl. They named her Xiaolian and your father crafted a necklace that symbolized both sides of your heritage." Avani reached over and pointed at my necklace. I pulled it off and flipped it over, looking at both sides.

"Your father was not a fire bender, but he was apparently from a prestigious line of fire benders. He was shunned from his family for his lack of bending, but he grew in fame because of his mastery in both making and using swords. He became one of the best swordsmen. Obviously people would pay attention to his life, which included his wife and child. When you were first born things seemed like nothing would go wrong, but a tragedy was soon to follow. Your mother's family had been exposed as air benders. Apparently one of your father's attendants had betrayed them to the Fire lord after your birth. Knowing that soldiers would come, your mother and her family prepared their escape. Your father planned to go with her, but your mother knew that he needed to stay. He would be branded as a traitor and he would also be tracked down and potentially killed by the Fire nation. The night before they planned to leave your mother and her family snuck off without your father. Nima left a note to him stating that she would always love him, but that he was needed there. She knew that he would be able to do more from the inside of the fire nation. So, she left without telling your father where she was going. To keep suspicion off of your father she told him to say that he had no idea about her heritage and that she had left before he heard anything about it. She and her family ran from the Fire nation after that and they ended up on our docks." Avani finished and took a deep breath as I began to process everything.

The air benders are still around, my mom was an air bender, my mom was here…Afterwards she must've headed towards the South Pole.

I looked up at Avani.

"Have you heard anything from my mom ever since she reached the South Pole?" I questioned as I searched her gaze. She shook her head.

"No, not after she arrived at the South Pole. The last thing that she sent me was a letter telling me about how she had met the chief of the Southern Water tribe." She stated. My eyes widened at that last sentence. What?!

"Wait…my mom met Hakoda?!" I shouted as I stood up quickly and slammed my hands on the table. Avani jumped at my action before nodding.

"Well, yeah. Didn't he ever tell you? In her last letter she told me that she had met up with him and explained her situation." She stated. I sat down slowly, my eyes wide. Hakoda met my mom, and he never told me?!

"He told me that he found me abandoned on a boat and that there was no one else there! He never told me that he had met my mom!" I threw my hands up in the air. Avani's eyes widened before she raised her hands up in a placating manner.

"I'm sure he had his reasons." She insisted as she tried to calm me down. I huffed in my seat.

"He better…" I mumbled. If my mom had explained everything to Hakoda, then he must've known all this from the very beginning. He had no right to hide this stuff from me! He knew that I was Fire nation and he knew who my mom was!

"Next time I see him I'm gonna give him a piece of my mine." I stated as I crossed my arms. Avani was about to respond when suddenly the door burst open revealing the soaking form of the old lady from earlier. Avani quickly stood up and went over to her.

"What's wrong?!" She questioned as she pulled the woman inside and shut the door. The old lady shrugged her off before turning to me.

"I thought I recognized your annoying voice! Where's your sister and the Avatar kid?!" She questioned. I raised my eyebrow. Rude much?

"Uh, look lady, I'm not sure where they are either. Why do you want to know?" I asked. She merely pointed out into the storm. I looked at it over her shoulder and looked back at her with a shrug.

"Are you scared of lightning or something? The Avatar can't control the weather you know." I explained as I crossed my arms. The lady smacked her forehead before she whacked me over the head.

"Ow! Look, I don't know how you people do things here. But, where I'm from we don't ask for favors by insulting people and whacking them on the head!" I protested as I rubbed my throbbing head. The lady rolled her eyes before pointing out into the storm again.

"My husband is still out there!" she yelled. Oh, so they are married…wait, wasn't Sokka with that old guy? Uh oh.

"Sokka! Come on grandma, we gotta go find the others!" I shouted as I jumped out of my chair. Avani stood up with me.

"I'll come with you!" She stated. I nodded before leading the other two outside and heading towards the mountains behind us. If I took off flying then this is where I would go. Rain soaked through my clothes as we reached the base of the mountains. I looked between the different mountains. Which one are they on? Suddenly I felt as if something was knocking on my mind. Then, I remembered Agni and Vayu. I quickly opened my mind and let them in.

"Kai, I have received news from Roku on Aang's location. He is up in a cave. Follow the path to your right and it will lead you to him."

"Thanks Vayu! You're the best!" Suddenly Agni's voice cut in.

"Hey, what about me Kai?! I'm way better than Vayu!"

"Uh-."

"You're too childish sometimes Agni. Calm down."

"Kai likes me better, right Kai?!"

"I gotta go!" I quickly closed my mind again, ignoring Agni's protests. I motioned for Avani and the old lady to follow me as we ran up the path to the right as we ran through the storm. Rain pelted us and the wind wasn't helping either. I could've sworn that the wind almost blew me clear off the mountain multiple times.

We finally reached the top of the path. There was a level clearing of rock that led into the entrance of a cave. I could see the faint glow of firelight flickering off the walls. I looked behind me at Avani and the old lady and pointed at the cave. They nodded before we quickly ran to the entrance. Looking inside I could see Appa, Momo, Aang, and Katara sitting by the fire. The old lady pushed in front of me.

"Help! Oh please, help!" She shouted, rather dramatically might I add, as lightning struck behind us. Aang and Katara quickly looked up at the woman in shock. Katara quickly ran over and helped the lady inside. Avani and I followed behind.

"It's okay now, you're safe." Katara reassured as she pat the old lady's shoulder. The woman shook her head.

"But my husband isn't!" she announced loudly. Katara looked at her with wide eyes.

"What do you mean? Where's Sokka and Kai?!"

"I'm right here, but Sokka's gone. They haven't come back yet." I walked further into the room with Avani. Katara and Aang looked over at me, having just noticed that we were here.

"Kai? What are you doing here? I told you to stay with Sokka!" Katara yelled. I looked at her confused.

"Eh? You did?" I scratched my head as my sister groaned.

"Yes! I told you to stay with Sokka after I left with Aang!" She stated. I thought back. Oh…maybe she did. I wasn't really paying attention. I laughed nervously.

"Heh, oops. But that's not important right now! Sokka and the grumpy, old guy are stuck in this typhoon!" I pointed over my shoulder at the raging storm. Aang stood up with a determined look on his face.

"I'm going to find them." He announced. Katara nodded.

"I'm coming with you."

"Me too!" I raised my hand.

"I'm staying here!" The old lady announced as she sat down stubbornly, crossing her arms. I looked at her with a raised eyebrow. Isn't she the one that wanted to help them? I shook my head and turned to Avani.

"Avani, you should stay here with the lady." I stated. She nodded in agreement.

"Alright, but be careful Kai. This storm is getting bigger." I waved at her over my shoulder as we got on Appa and flew out into the storm. We flew as fast as we could, looking down below to try and find the fisherman's boat.

"Where are they?!" Katara shouted over the storm. We kept looking around, but suddenly I gasped as I looked in front of us.

"Aang, lookout!" I pulled on Aang's sleeve and pointed at the giant wave in front of us. It easily towered over us. Aang gasped.

"C'mon Appa!" Pulling up harshly on the reins, Aang led Appa upwards trying to clear the wave. The waved got closer and it looked like there was no way to clear it. Just as the wave was about to hit us Aang jumped up and rapidly spun his staff in front of us, clearing a path straight through the wave. I let out a sigh of relief as we reached the other side. Suddenly I spotted a little speck in the distance.

"The boat!" I shouted out as I recognized the little figure. Aang quickly led us towards the vessel. We flew right over it and Aang jumped down onto the boat. Katara shouted out in warning as the mast suddenly broke and began falling towards Aang, Sokka, and the old guy. Aang gasped, but he quickly bent three spouts of water at the falling beam making it split in half and land safely on either side of them.

Aang grabbed a rope and tied it around Sokka and the old man. He grabbed the other end and jumped back onto Appa.

"Hang onto the rope!" He shouted down to them. They quickly tightened their grips on the rope as Appa swung his head to the side, pulling the two up and onto his back. They looked at each other before smiling after landing.

Suddenly we all turned around as a giant wave formed behind us. It was three times the size of the last one so there was no way that Aang could break through. Terror gripped me as it closed in on us. I shouted out as Appa was drawn into the wave by his tail, taking all of us with him. We all crashed under the water roughly. I felt my breath leave me from the impact of the water, and darkness covered my vision. As I lost consciousness the last thoughts that I had were, I really hate water…

"Kai! Wake up!" I winced as a voice shouted into my ear as I began to wake up. I blinked my eyes as the light from the sky above us blinded me. I could see the blurry image of my family above me. Slowly sitting up I rubbed my eyes.

"Did we all die?" I questioned as I looked around. Katara giggled as Sokka slapped his forehead.

"No Kai, we're all okay." Aang smiled at me. I smiled back as I stretched my arms above my head.

"Oh good. I at least want to live until I'm 13 years old." I announced sleepily. Aang nodded in agreement as Appa landed back at the entrance of the cave. We all dismounted and walked through the entrance.

"You're alive!" The elderly lady quickly ran and hugged her husband in relief, Avani slowly walking behind her. The lady suddenly took an emotional 180 as she pulled back and glared at her husband.

"You owe this boy an apology!" She demanded as she pointed at Aang. The old fisherman rolled his eyes.

"He doesn't have to apologize." Aang stated as he walked up to the two. The fisherman rubbed his beard in thought.

"Hm…how bout I give him a free fish and we call it even?" He suggested. I rolled my eyes. How sincere…

"Actually, I don't eat meat." Aang announced with a smile. The old man turned to him with a raised eyebrow.

"Fish ain't meat." I then decided that this man was uneducated enough for me to forgive him for what he said earlier. Avani giggled from beside me. Sokka walked up to the old man and held out his hand.

"Seriously, you're still gonna pay me, right?" He asked. The man just threw a fish into my brother's hand, making him shriek like a little girl. Aang walked over to Katara and I could tell that they were about to have a heart to heart so I walked a little further away to give them privacy. I turned around as I felt a hand on my shoulder. Avani smiled down at me.

"Your mother would truly be proud of the young lady that you have become." She stated warmly. I smiled up at her before looking out of the cave.

"I just wish that I could've met her. She sounds like a pretty cool person." I sighed. Avani stayed quiet beside me. I glanced at her from over my shoulder. Her brow was furrowed in deep thought as she looked intently out the cave.

"…What is it?" I questioned as she stayed silent. She looked back down at me, a thoughtful look on her face.

"Kai, your mother was a very strong woman. I have to believe that she's still out there somewhere. There's no way that she would have died like that. I bet that she's out there, perhaps she's wishing to see you again as well." Avani smiled at me at the thought.

"That would be nice…I'll have to be on the lookout for her. I'm going to believe she's out there somewhere. Even if I never find her, it's still nice to hope." I turned to Avani with a smile. She pulled me in for a hug.

"You be careful out there. Your mother would have my head if something happened to you." She squeezed me tightly. I hugged back.

"I will, and don't worry. If I find my mom, you'll be the first person I tell." I stated as I pulled back from the hug. She ruffled my hair and laughed as I smacked her hand away with a glare. The old fisherman's voice brought our attention back to the rest of the group.

"Well, if you hadn't been here today, then I guess I wouldn't be here either. I thank you Avatar." The old man walked up to Aang and patted his shoulder with a smile. I smirked.

"Oh? Is the mean old fisherman actually apologizing?" I snickered. The old man turned to me with a glare.

"I ain't givin you one! You're the one that pushed me into the water!" He pointed an accusing finger at me as I stuck my tongue out at him. Katara walked over to me with a glare.

"Kai! Even though he said mean stuff, you don't go pushing people into the harbor!" She smacked my head. I groaned as I rubbed my injured head. With all these people smacking me it's a wonder I don't have a concussion by now…

"Fine, you're right. I shouldn't go around pushing the elderly into the water. But, he's old anyways! I heard that drowning is the least painful way to go." I stated matter-of-factly. Everyone stared at me before Sokka smacked his forehead.

"Sometimes I worry about you Kai…" He mumbled. I shrugged.

"You have it easy. I worry about you all the time." I smirked as he began protesting. Suddenly he stopped shouting and he put his hand up to his ear.

"Do you hear that? It stopped raining." He smiled as he pointed to the mouth of the cave. We all walked out of the cave and looked at the beautiful scenery around us. It was so peaceful. But, the moment was broken as Appa decided to shake his fur right next to us, spraying us with water.

"Appa!"

"Agh! It got in my mouth!"

That's a wrap! Again, sorry for the delay! The next chapter will be up much sooner than this one. Thanks for reading!