PARADOX

Chapter Twenty: Separated?

"Damn it! I can't believe we got separated from the rest of the gaang." I told Kovu as we made our way through the open plains, heading North because we could always get to the North Pole via an ice boat and my water bending. I had fashioned a pack out of ice that ended up looking like a gourd. Which frankly looked stupid even if it did carry more water than a water pouch could. And frankly it made me feel like a female Gaara cosplayer.

Kovu and I had been hunting when fire benders had attacked the rest of the gaang while we were away. We had hurried back as fast as we could the boar-q-pine we had caught slung over Kovu's back unceremoniously. We had found a bunch of scorch marks and a few trees that had been blown over by one of Appa's overpowered air attacks.

We had quickly booked it away from the scene of the ambush and headed North. I was supposed to be with the gaang right now. This should be the Northern Air Temple "episode", and I really hoped everything would go the same as in the real episode. I guess I couldn't help them with everything, that would be stupid. They managed to survive the first time line without me. So why couldn't they now? I tried to ignore how much that thought hurt.

Kovu whined deep in his throat, sensing my distress. I shook the thought away. "It's nothing." I told him reassuringly.

He tilted his head to the one side curiously.

"Just a thought." I told him shaking it off.

It was nearing night when we finally stopped. I quickly built a small fire and began to clean the boar-q-pine. It took quite awhile because I had to avoid the pointed quills on it's back. Luckily they were practically undefended on the underside. All it took was a ice spear to the heart and it died quickly. I quickly cut off a nice chuck and passed it to Kovu. I then began cutting the meat into strips for latter use. Jerky anyone? I ate a few pieces of jerky as soon as it was done and packed the rest up in the cleaned fur of the boar-q-pine.

I sighed. "Kovu we need to reach the coastline tomorrow. Would you mind carrying me?" I asked. He shook his head. He didn't mind. "Good night, then." I told him as I created a igloo out of water in the atmosphere. That would keep any predators from coming to get our meat.

The next day dawned far too early for my satisfaction. I quickly sublimated the ice into water vapor and made sure the fire was completely out before scrambling onto Kovu's back with grace born of a lot of practice. Kovu waited for me to get comfortable before he took off at a ground eating gait. I relaxed as I drifted off into thought. The first time I had rode on Kovu's back was both great and sad.

Flashback:

We had been out hunting Carribou-goats again. It was about a year and a half after I got Kovu. He had barely reached my elbow then but it was still enormous compared to wolves in my world. It seemed there was some natural energy in this world that made creatures grow strangely. More so than just being chimeras, or mixes of two or more animals.

There was a snow storm coming. I had learned to sense them early on. It wouldn't do to get caught in a snow storm and freeze to death after all. We had traveled a little farther than our normal hunting grounds because the Carribou-goats had migrated farther away this time trying to find some lichen that hadn't been covered over by fresh snow. Carribou-goats mainly survived on these lichen, snow berries,scrub and brambles.

The snow had been harsher than normal causing several of the oldest Carribou-goats to die of starvation because they couldn't reach the hidden food as well as the younger ones.

We had traveled nearly five miles more than our normal ten mile hunting range. I was occasionally using my water bending to create an ice slide to push me along.

Kovu was having a much easier time than I was. He was bred for this kind of life. The process of many years of Darwinism at work. The survival of the fittest, the fittest survive to pass on positive traits, and the weaker ones die as to not pass on the less positive traits.

I had finally sighed and called Kovu back telling him we would have to just survive on fish until the storm had blown over and we could attempt to hunt again. He gave as much of a grimace as a wolf could but quickly bounded over to my side. I looked up at the storm clouds gathering.

"We won't make it back in time." I had said worry clear in my voice. Kovu tilted his head to the side before trotting over to lay beside me. "You want us to stay here?" I asked incredously. He shook his head harshly and gently grabbed the sleeve of my coat to pull me over closer to him. "You want me to get on your back?" I asked even more incredulous. He nodded pulling me closer.

"I've never rode an animal in my life." I protested. He gave me a look that said he didn't really give a damn.

"Fine, whatever. Stubborn brute." I growled under my breath. He yipped in amusement and I clambered onto his back clumsily nearly going over the other side because of how horribly I had done it. I sat up strait on his back and cautiously grasped a couple fist fulls of fur and held on as he took off at a quick run only for me to get dislodged and fall on my ass. Kovu came back once he noticed my weight had disappeared. He made a new yipping sound and I had the distinct notion that he was laughing at my misfortune.

It took four more tries before I managed to stay on without falling off.

And a few dozen more for me to feel comfortable doing it.

End Flashback

We stopped suddenly and I realized that Kovu had gotten us to the coastline while I had been reminiscing.

I scrabbled off and quickly used a bit of water bending to craft myself a boat. Hopefully Aang and the gaang would continue to the North Pole. After all, Aang needed to learn to water bend more then he needed to find me. Hopefully Sokka would be able to convince him that.

I made the boat more than big enough for both me and Kovu. I figured it would take about a week, considering in the series Zuko and Iroh had managed to get from the North Pole to the Earth Kingdom in three weeks just drifting. I would have an actually boat and I would be using water bending to propel myself. Kovu curled up in the boat. Looking relieved. Truthfully I had no clue why. He had enjoyed swimming when we used to catch fish during the summer of the North Pole. Not that it ever got warm but it wasn't cold enough to stop us from swimming and catching fish.

It had been five days since we set off, the boar-q-pine had gone quickly considering how much Kovu ate. And I had been catching fish and using a little bit of fire bending I had managed to learn from Aang's lessons with Jeong Jeong to cook them. Of course more often then not they ended up either overcooked or undercooked. Kovu didn't complain though so I managed to suck it up and finish my portions. It was my own fault anyway. I should have practiced fire bending when I had the chance.

I had been coaxing a small globe of water out of the ocean, a medium sized fish stuck in the middle swimming in small circles, when the assault came. From all sides lances of ice came out of the ocean. I stood quickly dropping the fish back in the water quickly melting the closest lances and sending waves of water back at them. A quick burst of breath and an outward thrust with both hands sent the waves freezing just as they reached the source of the attack.

I was suddenly encased in a jail of ice, no room to move my arms. Which would've been enough to stop all but a master water bender. Unfortunately for them, that's just what I was. I breathed out thrusting my arms away from me even as I shattered the ice sending gorgeous ice crystals flying. I took a second to admire my work before I was forced to fight several men who were upset they were being shown up by a girl, in front of their master no less.

I drew my arms up creating a large wave and morphing it into a large dragon which immediately attacked the benders attacking her.

Finally a spear was held at my neck. "Surrender." The male voice ordered.

I turned my head partially to the side to look at him before chuckling. "Okay, okay. I conceed defeat. But for one against nearly twenty I think I did pretty good. Your lucky we're not on land or Kovu would've gotten involved. Summoned by his name a snarl came from behind the man who was holding me at spear point.

"A lynx-wolf." An older man said stepping forward. Master Pakku.

"A lynx-wolf/polar bear-dog crossbreed." I corrected absently.

"Who has taught you to bend? Who has broken our traditions?" He demanded.

I snorted. "I taught myself. And I don't have to obey your traditions because I'm not from the Northern Water Tribe." I countered.

"Why are you in our lands?" He demanded unable to refute my last statements.

"My friends and I got separated. We were heading here and I figured I could meet them here." I answered.

"Why are your friends coming here?"

"Aang needs to learn water bending to save the balance of the world, ect, ect. You know normal Avatar stuff." I said with a bored look on my face.

"You expect us to believe your friend is the Avatar?"

"I swear on my bending and the bending of any offspring I produce." I said easily. It was akin to swearing on your families immortal souls. No one did that unless they were absolutely positive of what they spoke.

Pakku looked like he had been forced to swallow a lemon, rind and all. "Very well. We will escort you to the Northern Water Tribe."

"I thank you." I responded easily. sitting back down in my boat. "Any of you riding with me?" I asked. The spear man nodded sitting beside me and as far away from Kovu as possible. How cute, he was afraid of the big bad wolf.

I used water bending to move my craft forward much to the distaste of most of the water tribe men. Sexist assholes. I shrugged. I wasn't really bothered stepping on a few toes. They would get over it. I was a water bending master and it would be criminal to just stop bending.

A/N: Hi guys, (Rubs back of head sheepishly.) Sorry it took so long to update. I really had no clue how to do the Northern Air Temple so I thought to myself 'self, why don't we just skip the Northern Air Temple. It would give the Gaang experience acting without Kiara's influence and it would diviate from the show and not change the timeline irrevocably.' And then I was like 'self that is a brilliant idea. Why didn't I think of it?' and then I was like 'I did think of it.'. So now that I know hearing voices is acceptable if you're a writer, I'll try to update this sooner rather than later. Please send some thoughts about me changing the title to Paradox Book 1 and making two more or just keeping this a super long story with all three books in it. REVIEW PLEASE. IT MAKES ME WANT TO WRITE MORE.

Signing off, Kage.