Amaya was watching absently as a pair of koala otters frolicked on a nearby ice floe, which was pretty much all they'd seen for the past two days. She gritted her teeth as Sokka groaned loudly for the sixth time in as many minutes.

"Can't Appa fly any higher?" he whined.

"Hey!" Amaya snapped, turning around. "You try carrying three people plus provisions and a lemur on your back!"

"I would love to," Sokka snarked, turning around and pointing to his back. "Climb on everybody, the Sokka Express is open for business."

"Both of you, just calm down," Katara said, ever the peace keeper. "Everyone's just tired because we've been flying for two days straight."

"And for what?" Sokka demanded. "All we've seen is a bunch of ice! Let's face it; we're not going to find the Northern Water Tribe."

"We will," Katara assured him. "We just… haven't yet."

"Whoa, that's ice, that's ice!" Amaya's shout drew all attention to the sea in front of them, where sharp spikes of ice had just bloomed out of the water, reaching unerringly towards Appa. They jerked as Amaya steered Appa around another field of spikes, but the ice inched up faster than she had expected, solidifying around Appa's foot. The ice caught, held, and then snapped off, the momentary drag pulling Appa off course and sending him sliding on his side through the water. The water around them froze as Appa righted himself.

Boats began inching around the edges of glaciers they had been using for cover, steered and propelled by men in thick, furry coats, with dark-skinned faces. They surrounded the teenagers out in their little island of ice and stared at them hard.

"Who are you?" called one man.

"What's that beast you're riding?" another demanded.

"I'm Katara, and that's Sokka. We're from the Southern Water Tribe."

"The Southern Tribe!" the first man exclaimed. "You've made quite a long journey. Who is your strangely dressed companion? Why have you come?"

"Er, I'm Amaya, and this is Appa," she said, rubbing the nervous bison's horn soothingly. "He's a sky bison."

"We came because of her," Katara said. "Amaya's the Avatar; she's trying to find a master to teach her Waterbending."

"Avatar!" the man gaped, eyes locking on Amaya. "It is indeed an honor and a privilege, Avatar Amaya."

"Meh, I don't believe it!" called a querulous voice form one of the boats. "How do we know they're who they say they are?"

There was a smack muffled by cloth, and a small cry of pain.

"Be quiet, paranoid old coot," someone muttered.

"Yaka raises a good point," the first man said. "How do we know you are who you say you are?"

"Well, I've got Airbender tattoos," Amaya said, pointing to her face. "And, er, hold on." She reached into her tunic and pulled out a marble. "Check this out!" Holding it between her hands, she set it spinning. The man from the Water Tribe seemed amused.

"Very well, Avatar. You are welcome in the North, as are your friends from our sister tribe. Please, if you'll follow us."

The ice around Appa returned to water and they surged forwards through the ocean, escorted by a small fleet of Waterbenders. They were guided around a few shielding glaciers, slipping through a narrow passage until they reached a wide area of open sea. In front of them was a great snow wall, embossed with a huge rendition of the Water Tribe symbol.

"The Northern Water Tribe!" Katara squealed. "We made it!"

They watched in awe as one of the teams from the boats raised their hands and moved gracefully, opening a low tunnel at the base of the wall. They sailed through it and into a system of levies, the same group closing the gate behind them. Waterbenders lined the tops of the locks, draining water and lowering walls until Appa was able to pass further into the city.

The city itself was a sight to see. It was a winding mesh of water channels, buildings rising out of the sea. Walkways lined the edges of the canals and boats moved along, propelled by Waterbenders. Bridges arched gracefully over the waterways, each of them embossed on both sides with the moon and ocean symbol of the tribe. The whole thing had a modern, yet traditional feel, the grace of everything testifying to just who lived here.

People stopped what they were doing as Appa passed. It wasn't too surprising; how often did one see a giant bison wandering down the street. New seemed to make its way amongst the citizens quickly, and they began seeing bridges with waiting crowds watching eagerly, excited to see the new arrivals as they made their way towards the highest part of the city.


Amaya grinned. She loved the Water Tribe, it was official. The place was beautiful, the people were kind, and watching them edge closer to Appa cautiously was just too funny. Katara and Sokka were being welcomed with open arms, unsurprisingly, besieged with requests for new and stories of their travels. It had been an uproar and everyone had only just taken their seats at the low tables of the banquet hall. Appa had been supplied with a huge board covered in lush green seaweed by a quartet of skittish Waterbenders who had scampered off when the big animal rose and lumbered towards them.

Chief Arnook rose and silence fell but for the hiss of the huge crab that had just been lowered into the hot spring to cook.

"Tonight," he said grandly, his voice carrying to everyone with the authority of someone skilled in speechifying, "we are joined by our brother and sister from the Southern Water Tribe, Katara and Sokka. And they had brought with the someone who until now many of us believed had disappeared from this world. The Avatar!"

Applause broke out, accompanied by a few whoops form some of the younger people in attendance. Amaya blushed a bit and waved. It was one thing to have a small village wowed at you, it was another to have an entire tribe celebrating.

"And tonight we also celebrate by daughter's sixteenth birthday. Princess Yue is now of marrying age!"

A young woman stepped forwards. She wore a rich blue coat that looked more like a dress towards the bottom. Her hair was stark white, standing out sharply against her brown skin and bright, ice-blue eyes. It was pulled up elaborately with several decorations holding it in place.

"Thank you father," she said in a sweet voice. "May the great ocean and moon spirits watch over us."

"At least this explains how they whipped up a feast so fast," Amaya murmured. "I sort of wondered." Katara placed a hand over her mouth to cover her snort of laughter.

"And now, Master Pakku and his students will perform for us."

An old man back by two younger students stood on a stage across from the chief's table, three elaborate urns in front of them filled with water. They reached out, pulling the liquid up and streaming it around in increasingly elaborate streams. The two students were undoubtedly good, there was no denying it. However, it was the master that stole the show, his skill evident even in this theatrical setting.

Princess Yue sat down by Sokka and Amaya strained her ears to listen. She had seen his gob-smacked expression when the princess appeared. Sokka attempting flirting. It was a novel concept, sure to be entertaining.

"Sokka," he said, trying to be cool. "Southern Water Tribe."

"It's very nice to meet you," Yue said, her face lighting up with genuine pleasure. Her eyes held interest, and from the faint blush on her cheeks Amaya got the feeling Sokka may not be alone in his little crush.

"So!" he said after a very pregnant pause. "You're a princess!"

Yue nodded enthusiastically, eyes gleaming at the prospect of a conversation.

"You know, back in my tribe, I'm sort of like a prince myself."

Katara heard that last bit. "Prince of what?"

"A lot of things!" Sokka snapped, turning around and giving her a dirty look. "I- Do you mind, I'm trying to have a conversation here!"

"My apologies, prince Sokka," Katara said somberly, bowing as well as she was able sitting down.

"So it looks like I'm going to be in town for a while," Sokka said, turning back to Yue. "Maybe we could… do an… activity… together?"

"Do an activity?" Yue repeated, amused. Sokka turned away and abruptly began shoveling food into his mouth for something to do.

"Smooth," Katara teased.

"Avatar, could you come with me please?" Arnook asked, pulling Amaya's attention away from Sokka's love life.

"Sure," she grinned. "What's up?"

"Avatar Amaya," he said, leading her over to the same stern-faced old man who had preformed. He looked much less imposing up close, Amaya decided. Sort of beanpole-like. "This is Master Pakku. Master Pakku, meet your newest student, the Avatar."

"Just because you're destined to save the world, don't expect any special treatment from me," Pakku said by way of a greeting. Amaya blinked. Okay, she'd survived Jeong Jeong, she could handle a grumpy Waterbender. Maybe she was just catching him on a bad.

"That's okay," she said. "My friend and I are looking forwards to learning from you after we've rested up."

"If you want a vacation, go to a tropical island," Pakku sneered. "If you want to learn, I'll see you at sunrise."

Amaya folded her hands in front of her waist and bowed respectfully. "I look forwards to learning from you tomorrow then."

Pakku sniffed, then turned and walked away. Amaya looked at Arnook, who shrugged, but looked thoroughly unsurprised. So maybe it wasn't just a bad day. Drat.


"I can't believe it!" Katara said for at least the third time since she'd shaken Amaya awake a full hour before their sunrise meeting with Pakku. "I've dreamed about this day my whole life. I'm finally going to learn from a real Waterbending master!"

"Good morning Master Pakku!" Amaya called, waving cheerfully. Normally she wasn;t a morning person, but she was just as psyched as Katara, and it was keeping her from shuffling around like a half-dead penguin.

Pakku jerked and the water he was bending splashed to the ground at his feet. He dropped his hands tiredly. "Oh please, barge right on in, I wasn't concentrating or anything," he said sarcastically.

"Ah, sorry," Amaya winced. Pakku turned to face them, his eyes flicking to Katara in a brief cursory examination. "This is Katara, the friend I told you about."

"Ah," Pakku said, bending an icy lounge chair out of the ground and sitting down. "Then I'm afraid there's been a misunderstanding. In our tribe, women are forbidden to learn Waterbending."

"What do you mean you won't teach me?" Katara said angrily just as Amaya exclaimed, "You've got to be kidding me!" Amaya took a step back and let Katara handle this one. The girl stalked forwards, hands on her hips angrily.

"I didn't travel across the entire world just so you could tell me no."

"No."

"But there must be other Waterbenders in your tribe!" Katara protested.

"In our tribe, women learn from Yugoda to use their powers for healing."

"I don't want to heal, I want to fight!" Katara shouted.

"I can see that," Pakku said dismissively. "But our tribe has rules, customs. I won't flout them for you."

"But you're teaching Amaya!" Katara pointed out. "She's a girl!"

"She's also the Avatar. She's the only exception I'll make."

"Katara," Amaya said softly. "Calm down. We can't make him teach you."

"So you're just going to sit there and let him do this?" Katara demanded, whirling on her.

"I don't like it," Amaya said sharply. "I don't like it anymore than you. But he's not going to budge. Besides, healing wouldn't be so bad, wouldn't it?"

"I can't believe you!" Katara said, throwing her hands up in the air. "The whole reason we started out in the first place was because you offered to take me here so I could train! Don't you remember?"

Amaya remembered.

"Where do you think you're going?" Sokka demanded.

"To the North Pole!" Katara replied angrily. "Amaya's taking me to find a Waterbending Master!"

"I am?" Amaya blinked, surprised. They had talked about it, but she didn't think Katara would actually go with her. "Cool!"

"I hope you and that big jerk have fun together!" With that, Katara stomped off angrily.

"Katara!" Amaya called after her, but Katara didn't even pause, to busy fuming. "Katara, wait!"

Katara was gone already. Amaya turned to stare at Pakku, eyes glowing angrily.

"Alright, let's get one thing straight now," Amaya said. "As of right now, I don't like you."

"That's fine, the feeling is mutual. Shall we get started?"

Three hours later, Amaya was cursing the fact that she had stayed with Master Pakku to train instead of running after Katara. She had hoped to go after the girl once her lesson was done and explain herself, but that was looking like never, and Pakku was looking like he needed a good airing out.

"You're moving the water around," Pakku said, absently stirring the steam above his hot soup. "But you're not feeling the push and pull."

"I'm trying," Amaya growled as she concentrated on the water in her hands.

"Perhaps that move is to advanced for you," Pakku said before slurping up his soup. "Maybe you should try something simpler."

Amaya had to restrain herself from throwing the whole wave at the man, instead hurling it to the ground and growling.

"If I have one more teacher tell me to feel something, I'm going to snap," she mumbled, remembering Jeong Jeong trying to get her to feel the sun. "I'd almost Firebend just to teach this guy a lesson." Katara's pained scream echoed in her ears. "No, no I wouldn't."

"Are you through muttering to yourself?"

"Okay, but I may drop him from a few hundred feet."


"Hey," Amaya said sheepishly when she returned to the rooms they were sharing. The entire thing was lined in furs, making it cozy warm, even though Amaya would have preferred some other form of insulation. Katara looked up from her poking at the fire. "Look, about earlier, I'm sorry, I just…"

"You have to train," Katara nodded. "I know. I was just mad."

"So I'm forgiven?"

"Yeah."

"Good," Amaya grinned, hugging Katara, who grinned, before flopping onto the ground and presenting her back to the fire. "So, what did you do today?"

"I went to the healing lesson," Katara said, visibly perking up. "And you'll never guess what I found out!"

"How to heal?" Amaya suggested drily.

"Well, yes, but… Gran-Gran was born here!"

"Say what?" Amaya said, sitting up interestedly. "No way!"

"Yes! That's what I thought too! But Yugoda recognized the necklace Gran-Gran gave my mom. She told me it was a betrothal necklace, and Gran-Gran ran away to escape an arranged marriage to the guy who carved it for her!"

"Who was it?" Amaya said interestedly. "Did she tell you?"

"She didn't," Katara said sadly. "I'd love to know who it was though. Apparently she and Gran-Gran were friends though. I think I might go back tomorrow to try and find out more about her childhood."

"So healing: not a total pit of despair?" Amaya said with a teasing grin. Katara laughed.

"Not totally."

Sokka stormed in then, face black.

"So how's warrior training?" Amaya said, smirking as she leaned back against a pillow. Sokka picked a pillow and then flopped forwards, face-planting into it.

"Mts mnsmfs mooey."

"Sorry, what now?" Amaya chuckled.

"It's princess Yue," Sokka grumbled, pulling his face out of his pillow and punching it into place. "One minute she wants to go out with me, the next she's telling me to buzz off." He sighed and seemed to gather himself up. "So, how'd splash school go?"

Katara flopped face-first onto her sleeping bag.

"Master Poophead wont teach her," Amaya said darkly. Sokka just raised an eyebrow.

"So why don't you?"

Katara shot up onto her knees. "Sokka, that's a great idea! At night, Amaya can teach me what she learned. She gets to practice, and I get to learn. Everyone's happy!"

"I'm not," Sokka huffed.

"You don't count," Amaya said, taking the sting out of her words by affectionately ruffling his 'warrior's wolf tail' that was really just a ponytail. She and Katara ran out into the night, looking for a good spot to practice. The regular training grounds were out of the question, as Mater Pakku could easily show up there.

They ended up in the shadow of a bridge, the only light streaming from the moon. It was wide and flat, with a gentle slope down to the water. Amaya pulled a stream of water free and slipped through a form, raising a foot before placing it back down.

"Master Pakku said this was all about sinking and floating," she said. "I personally think he has midnight sun madness, but maybe it's a Water Tribe thing."

Katara pulled the water towards herself and attempted the move, following Amaya's move perfectly The water flowed where she willed it.

"That was great!" Amaya praised. The water shot from Katara's hand, swirled around her, and then shot up into the sky. Amaya gaped. "You've been holding out on me Katara. How'd you do that?"

"I didn't," Katara said.

"I did."

"We're screwed."

They looked up to see Master Pakku on the bridge above them, a foot on the railing and glaring down thunderously. A stream of icicle daggers lined the edging in front of him, showing where the water had gone.

"I was just… showing her what I did today?" Amaya tried, though it was a weak excuse. They were caught, and everybody there knew it.

"You have disrespected me, my teachings, and my entire culture," Pakku said, his scowl a force of nature as he spoke coldly. "Do not bother coming to lessons tomorrow, I refuse to teach you."


"I cannot force Master Pakku to take your friend back as student," Arnook said helplessly. How Katara had managed to get a council meeting called on this matter in all of ten hours Amaya had no idea, but she had managed it, but now she, Sokka, and Katara stood in front of Arnook, Yue, Pakku, and some of the tribe's top men.

"Please," Katara begged.

"I suspect he may agree if you swallow your pride and apologize," Arnook suggested, a hint of steel in his voice. He obviously wasn't thrilled with the blatant rule-flouting either.

"Fine," Katara snarled.

"I'm waiting," Pakku chirped, his expression mockingly expectant.

"No!" Katara shouted, swinging her fists. "No way am I apologizing to a sour old man like you!" Cracks formed in the floor beneath her and two decorative urns shattered, spilling water all over the floor. Amaya blinked, taking a step back.

"Is this how I got out of the iceberg?" she hissed to Sokka.

"Pretty much."

"Katara, maybe you should calm down," Amaya said, hoping Katara wouldn't raise another century old frozen person out of the ground.

"No! I'll be outside if you're man enough to fight me!" Katara whirled, having issued her challenge, and stalked out of the room with her head held proudly. Yue gasped, the other men gaping. Pakku just seemed annoyed and unimpressed.

"I'm sure she didn't mean that," Amaya said hastily.

"I'm pretty sure she did, Amaya," Sokka said. Amaya smacked him.

"Let's not get your sister killed, kay?"

"Okay," Sokka agreed, rubbing his shoulder ruefully. They chased after Katara, catching her as she stomped down the stairs. "Katara, wait! You're not going to win this fight!"

"I know, and I don't care!" she snapped, throwing her coat to her brother.

"I can find another teacher, it's not a big deal," Amaya said.

"This isn't about you, this is about someone needing to teach that old man a lesson!" Katara said, turning to face the stairs. She didn't have to wait long before Pakku began making his way down. "So, you decided to show up?" Pakku just walked on past her. "Hey, aren't you going to fight?"

"Go back to the healing huts where you belong," was all Pakku said. Katara scowled. Water slipped up from the ground into her hand. She flicked her wrist like she was brandishing a whip, water slapping against Pakku's head. He paused and turned to her.

"Fine," he said. "You want to learn to fight so bad, study closely!"

He raised his arms and two pools erupted, the water flying into the air and swirling around him. Katara charged, but the water knocked her back. She scampered to her feet and the water spun a circle around the two fighters, cutting them off from the outside. Katara stumbled forwards and the circle tightened, losing her balance. She swung and arm to redirect the water and it flew away, slamming into Sokka.

Katara ran at Pakku and he raised an icy wave, protecting himself. Katara slid over the top and landed on the end of the stairs. Pakku turned the ice to water and sent the wave rushing towards her. Katara rotated her feet, locking them in ice, and accepted the blow, spinning it around herself and diffusing it.

'You can't knock me down!" she proclaimed.

"Go Katara!" Amaya cheered over the whoops of the watching crowd.

Katara jumped down and ran at Pakku, who raised an icy wave, but Katara turned it back to water and shoved it away. They were dueling hand to hand, and one might have expected Pakku's age to be an infirmity, but he calmly dodged all of Katara's punches and waved his arms, sending her flying with a wave of water to splash into one of the pools.

Katara was up quickly, along with a newly-formed pillar of ice that she slung disks from. Pakku shattered them all, dodging the last as Katara clambered out. She sent a wall of water towards him which he accepted and turned around, working it so that it jetted at her from around his shoulders and sent Katara sprawling back on her bag. She hopped up, panting, her hair a wreck, and brought her hands down. A stack of carved snow columns teetered and feel towards Pakku he quickly removed their shape and he was suddenly standing in a very localized snow shower.

"Well, I'm impressed," Pakku admitted. "You are an excellent Waterbender."

"But you still won't teach me, will you?" Katara asked shrewdly.

"No."

She sent a roll of water towards him and Pakku lifted himself into the air on an ice plateau, turning it to water and rushing forwards on the crest of the wave. Katara slung more water at him but her merely directed the mater into a ramp around her, icing over it and knocking her down as he slid past, landing lightly on a ledge. Katara hit the ground in front of him. She stood as Pakku raised the water out of the pool and turned it into crystalline javelins that fell precisely around Katara, pinning her.

"This fight is over," Pakku proclaimed, walking past her. Katara struggled, but couldn't get free.

"Come back here, I'm not finished yet."

"Yes , you are," he said, but he paused and picked up something from the ground. Amaya recognized the blue ribbon. Katara's necklace. She really needed to figure out how to get that to stay on better.

"This is my necklace," Pakku said.

"No it's not, it's mine, give it back!" Katara shouted.

"I made this sixty years ago for the love of my life," Pakku said, looking mournfully into the distance. In his distraction, the ice around Katara sloshed to the ground as water. "For Kanna."

"My Gran-Gran was supposed to marry you?" Katara asked, confused.

"I carve this when we got engaged," Pakku said softly. "I loved her so much."

"But she didn't love you, did she?" Katara asked, stepping forwards. "She wouldn't let your tribes stupid customs run her life, so she ran away."

Without warning, Yue burst into tears and ran away crying.

"Go on," Amaya encouraged Sokka when he hesitated. "Go win yon maiden fair, idiot."


"Keep practicing and you might get it by the time you're my age," Pakku said, but the bard was more teasing than scornful now, and Amaya knew exactly what brought about the change. That didn't mean she didn't really want to hit him though.

Katara ran up, panting.

"What do you think you're doing?" Pakku demanded, his face set in its usual stony way, before softening. "It's past sunrise. You're late."

"Great to see you here, Katara," Amaya grinned.

"Great to be here," Katara smiled.


Alright, competition time people! I want fanart! A scene from the story, how you see Amaya, one of the dreams, anything. Deadline for submissions will be September 13th. Just send me a PM or leave me a review with the link. I will pick the best one and that person will get to come up with a name and background for an Earth Kingdom woman who will play a decently sized role in the next two stories covering Books 2 and 3. Just be aware though, the woman does have to be fairly old, probably somewhere around Iroh's age. Sound good?