A/N: There's a Poll
Chapter 3: Cave of Two Lovers
I was really happy today. We had found a campsite close to a small body of water, and Katara said she would show me how to swim. Now that I think of it happy was understatement. I was ecstatic. After years of fearing water I wouldn't after today, but every time I thought about it I felt something tighten in the pit of my stomach. I just ignored it.
I was jumping up and down where I stood, and waiting for Katara to come out from behind Appa. Aang and Sokka were already in the water. Aang was in his orange pants, and Sokka was in his bottom bindings. It was a little funny to see him lounging on a drifting leaf. I was glad he wasn't mad at me anymore. All it took was a good meal for him to forget our little gambling. I really didn't have anything for swimming. So Katara helped me cut off the sleeves of my Kyoshi dress, and make the bottom shorter. Now instead of it ending at the floor it ended at my knees. I wore my black pants, but I didn't wear my shoes.
"Katara! Are you done?" I asked.
"Yeah," She told me, and walked from behind Appa. She came out in nothing but her white bindings, and I wondered how she could wear that and feel comfortable. To me it showed to much skin, and I would have been self conscious, but she looked like she was comfortable.
"Wow," I heard softly behind me, and when I turned around I saw Aang. His grey eyes huge, and his jaw would have been on the floor if it wasn't attached to his face. His cheeks were the color of the Fire Nation flag, and he just stared at her. I shook my head, and flicked my wrist in his direction. The little hit of air woke him up from his trance. I turned back to Katara, but I don't think she noticed.
"Okay first lesson well be floating," She said, and clapped her hands together.
"Floating?" I asked an raised an eyebrow. I wasn't sure why, but I expected something along the lines of moving in the water.
"Yeah floating. You can't just started swimming. You have to learn to trust water first," My waterbending friend said. I was a little disappointed I wasn't going to start swimming right away, but I trusted Katara. She motioned with hand for me to follow her, and she walked in to the shallow water. I slowly started making me way, and jumped when the fresh water touched my bare feet. We kept walking until the water went up to my knees. I never been this deep in water, and it was making me nervous. I looked at Katara, and she made a sheet of ice.
"Lay down," She told me. I didn't question her. I slowly got on the sheet of ice to see if it would hold, and it did. I went on to my back, and looked up at the clear sky. I took a deep breath and let it go. I tried to calm myself down. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," I said.
"I'm going to slowly melt the ice. Do nothing. Just lie there. Okay?" She asked. I nodded my head. I felt as the ice was becoming thinner. I could hear my heart beat in my ears. I tried my best to do nothing, and stay calm, but I started to get tense. This was to familiar, but not in a good way. I closed my eyes, but I saw a water room, and heard my screams from when I was a child. I snapped opened my eyes.
"No!" I screamed, and sat up before the ice before it could completely melt away. I stood up from the ice, and was standing on my own two feet. I waved my arms back, and forth while showing my fear. "I'm sorry Katara, but I can't. Not yet."
"That's alright," She said. She understood my reasons, and I turned around and walked back to shore. You're such an idiot. Being scared of water. I scolded myself. I walked on to the shore, and sat down. I watched as Katara was now helping Aang with his waterbending. He was in a stance, but he wasn't doing it right. Katara went behind him, and helped him. I wanted to laugh out loud when he turned many different shades of pink and red. He's falling hard for her. I thought. Watching Aang and Katara entertained me for a while, but then I was bored again. I watched Katara bend the water in front of her, and then I got an idea.
I hadn't practiced this in more than a month, but I remembered it. I stood up from where I sat, and placed my arms in front of me. I pointed two fingers, and extended my right arm. In, down, up, and out. Those were Uncle's words when he was showing me how to redirct lightning. Sure this move was never going to be a use for me, but it was still fun to do. I did it over, and over again until my arms instinctively were doing the movements.
"Hey river people," I heard an unfamiliar voice from behind me. I jumped at the unexpected noise, and turned around. There was a man with an instrument with a woman next to him. Then behind them were another pair. All them were wearing colorful clothing, and had a calm expressions on there faces.
"Were not river people," Katara said.
"You're not? What kind of people are you?" The one with the instrument asked.
"The breathing and eating kind," I told them with a big smile on my face. I wanted to see his reaction, but all he did was move back and forth.
"Aren't we all, brother," He said. I raised an eyebrow, and look behind me at Katara and Aang.
"Did he just call me a boy?" I asked, but before anyone could answer Sokka walks up to them and point a finger.
"Who are you?" Sokka demanded.
"I'm Chong and this is my wife, Lily. We're nomads, happy to go wherever the wind takes us!" He said unfazed, and started to strum his insturment.
"You guys are nomads? That's great! I'm a nomad!" Aang said cheerfully.
"So are we!" Chong said as if he didn't mention it before. This guy is weird. I thought.
"Nice underwear." He said, and pointed at Sokka. He was still in his bottom bindings, and looked embarrassed as ever. He took MoMo, and placed him over the area of his bottom bindings.
Sokka went to go change and as he did we got to meet the nomads a little more. Then one thing lead to another, and we ended up lounging on Appa. Appa didn't seem to mind, because he was being groomed. Lily was braiding Katara's hair with flowers, and Chong was telling us stories. I laid on Appa's head next to the girl that was braiding his bangs. I moved the orange flowers that were laying on my head a bit. They reminded me of the flowers me and my Dad planted in the backyard for Mom, but they weren't the same kind.
"Hey, Sokka, you should hear some of these stories. These guys have been everywhere," Aang said after one of the stories Chong told us.
"Well not everywhere, Little Arrowhead. But where we haven't been, we've heard about through stories and songs," Chong said and gave Aang a nickname.
"Look, I hate to be the wet blanket here, but since Katara is busy, I guess it's up to me," Sokka said and Katara shot him a glare. "We need to get to Omashu. No side tracks, no worms and definitely no rainbows."
"Oh, come one Sokka. Let lose a little bit," I said. Since he read the map wrong, and we were a week behind he has been on our case about getting to Omashu.
"You got to focus less on the "where" and more on the "going"," Lily said, but as she did she used a hand gesture, and pulled Katara's hair.
"O. Ma. Shu!" Sokka said, but spit also came out with it.
"Sokka's right. We need to find King Bumi, so Aang can learn earthbending somewhere safe," Katara said, and stood up.
"Sounds like you're headed to Omashu," Chong said, and Sokka slapped his forehead. "There's also a song about it too. Two lovers, forbidden from one another, the war divides their people and the mountain divides them apart! Built a path to be together!" As he sang everyone except Sokka moved our heads up and down. "Yeah, I forget the next couple of lines, but then it goes... Secret tunnel! Secret tunnel! Through the mountains, secret, secret, secret, secret tunnel! Yeah!"
"I like that song," I said.
"I think we'll just stick with flying. We've dealt with the Fire Nation before. We'll be fine," Sokka concluded.
"Yeah, thanks for the help, but Appa hates going underground, and we need to do whatever makes Appa most comfortable," Aang said, but five minutes later we were back with black smoke all over us.
"Okay, secret love cave," Sokka said as we passed the nomads. The nomads stood up, and Chong started to play his instrument. Lily was dancing, and Moku was patting another instrument. Sokka was ahead of us while trying to show he was the leader, and Aang and Katara were talking. I was about to join there conversation, but then we got to the love cave. I looked at the huge whole in the mountain, but as I did I noticed some words that said curse.
"Is there a curse?" I asked.
"Yeah, the curse says that only those who trust in love can make it through the caves. Otherwise, you'll be trapped in them forever," Chong said.
"Love?" I asked. It seemed so cliché.
"LOVE!" Lily yelled. I reached up and covered my ears from her little out burst.
"No! No way are we going through a cursed cave," Sokka said.
"Look a camp fire!" Moku said, and pointed in the direction of smoke.
"That's not a camp fire. That's the Fire Nation," I told him.
"So all you need to do is trust in love to get through these caves?" Aang asked.
"Yep," Chong said. I thought about this for a second. I loved people, but no one in the sense of 'lover'. Then we heard loud boom.
"In the cave!" Sokka yelled, and we ran for our lives. We kept running until there was another crash. We looked around and the walls caved in. We were trapped, and Appa was trying desperatly to get out.
"It's okay Appa," Katara said trying to calm the ten ton beast.
"We need a plan or better yet a map!" Sokka said, and started taking out paper. I shook my head back and forth. Sokka always thought logic was the answer. As soon as he started drawing on his piece of paper we started walking. At least it's not a cave from the North Pole. I thought. The ones from the North Pole were just so cold. I looked over to Aang, and he had his eyes on Katara as she walked next to Sokka. I smiled, and walked over to him.
"So when are you going to tell Katara you like her," I asked. He jumped back when my voice intrupted any thoughts he had.
"W-w-what?" He stuttered.
"Katara? You?" I said with the same smile on my face.
"Oh that..." He trailed off. His face became red, and turned his head the other way. I nudged him with my elbow, and he looked at me.
"Yeah. You know what I'm talking about," I said. The red on his face was suddenly gone, and he let out a heavy sigh. He dropped his head, and looked down.
"I'm not sure if she likes me. I'm not use to this. There never was a girl when I was around a hundred years ago. I mean there were but I was being raised by monks," He admitted.
"Must be tough, but don't worry. I'm pretty sure Katara knows a good thing when she see's it," I said, and winked at him.
"Thanks, Alec."
"No problem," I said. We walked in silence for a while until Aang spoke.
"Alec. When you were telling us about what happened to you it seemed like you weren't telling us something," Aang said.
"Me? What about you? I saw you twirling your thumbs around," I told him. I was actually trying to avoid Aang's comment. There was quite a bit I didn't tell them. Most of it had to do with Zuko. Like how he saved me, and how I woke up with him one morning. I definitely didn't tell them about mine, and Zuko's almost-kiss. I thought about that almost every night.
"Huh?" He asked.
"That story about Katara and Sokka sucking frogs. I noticed you were a little too quiet." He was about to defend himself, but then Katara's voice seemed louder than usual.
"Sokka this is the tenth dead end you lead us to," Katara said.
"This can't be right," Sokka said as he paced back, and forth with his map.
"Or you're just lost," I yelled out from were I stood. He ignored me and kept walking.
"The tunnels are changing," He said seriously. He spooked us all when he said that. Then I heard a light buzzing.
"Do you hear that?" I asked, and everything went silent. Then out of no where a wolf bat came flying through the cave. I heard many different screams as the creäture flew past our heads. Sokka had the torch in his hand, and tried to scare it off, but all was done was scaring Appa. Appa let out a fearful roar, and started prancing around the cave.
"Appa! Calm down, buddy," I yelled at him. Everyone was moving back, but I went in front of him trying to calm him down. He slammed in to a pillar of earth that was connected. As he did everything seemed to shake. I didn't have time to react when I saw the top of the cave collapsing. I felt a gust of air, and we flew to the other end of the cave. The air was taken out of my lungs when I felt myself land on the hard earth. Dust was everywhere, and I used my airbending to clear it. I coughed violently trying to breathe evenly again. I saw Sokka extend his hand and I took it.
I dusted off my sleeveless Kyoshi dress I didn't take off, and pants. I looked up, and saw the huge wall of rock in front of us. I ran up to the wall, and tried moving the rocks out of the way. Even Sokka was next to me.
"It's no use. Were separated. At least you have us!" Chong said. That just made Sokka dig faster.
"I don't care. I want to know if there safe!" I snapped, and started digging again. Me and Sokka did this for about five more minutes until we realized our work would be done in vain. We would have to get out of the cave first.
"Oh, don't let the cave-in get you down, Sokka! Don't let the falling rocks turn your smile into a frown! When the tunnels are darkest, that's when you need a clown, hey! Don't let the cave-in get you down, Alec!" Chong sang. Me and Sokka walked next to each other, and we both had the same annoyed look on our faces. These nomads were really getting on my nerves. They were singing for thirty minutes now.
"I swear to Agni if you don't stop," I threatened through my teeth. They stopped at that, and stared at me.
"I have an idea!" Chong said.
"Great. What?" Sokka asked.
"We trust in love!" Lily said. Me and Sokka at the same time palm slapped our foreheads.
"How do you suppose we do that?" Sokka asked sarcastically. I raised an eyebrow waiting for an answer. Lily went over to Chong, and gave him a peck on the lips. It would have been a sweet gesture if we weren't stuck in this cave.
"We kiss!" Lily said after she kissed her husband. Me and Sokka recoiled from disgust. Then I saw Moku and the other woman kiss.
"Now you two," Chong said. Me and Sokka looked at each other and backed away.
"No!" We said in union. It's not that I didn't like Sokka. I did, but not like that. He was my friend, and I didn't see him like that. Both of our cheeks became a deep rosy red from embarrassment.
"Oh, Okay," Chong said a little disappointed, but then a smile came on his face. "Then we'll sing!"
"I wish they would stop," Sokka said from besides me. We started walking again with both of us leading the way. All you need to do is believe in love. I thought. It sounds simple, but how do you know you beleived in it? I loved Mom, and Dad. I loved Aang, Katara, and Sokka. I loved them like a family. Don't forget Appa and MoMo. I reminded myself. I never had a chance to notice anybody romantically.
Yeah right. Like you didn't notice Zuko. A voice said in the back of my head. Then an image of Zuko training shirtless came to me mind. His bare chest had muscles that ran up and down. His arms were molded perfectly. He had a look of fierce concentration when he did the traditional firebending forms.
Zuko arms on me when we danced. His touch left a spark, and his hands were surprisingly soft. The way he moved swiftly, and challenged me. I forgot about the world around me. In the end I found myself with his arms around my waist, and mine around his neck.
Zuko's golden amber eyes.
Zuko's soft touch.
Zuko's lips almost touching mine.
Wait! No.
I told myself. I blushed fiercely from the fluttering feeling I got in my stomach. I quickly through those thoughts out of my mind, and concentrated on what was happening. Sokka was covering his ears, and trying to block out the awful 'music'. I couldn't blame him. My ears already went numb to the noise.
"When are they going to stop!" Sokka yelled out of frustration.
"Let love lead the way," Lily sang.
"Let love lead the way with a kiss. Lover's will learn to miss," Chong sang. They wanted me and Sokka to kiss, and they were pushing us with the music. Me and Sokka looked at each other, and we both knew what we were thinking. Kiss or listen to this until we get out. I really didn't want to hear this. What will one kiss do? I thought. I looked at Sokka, and I nodded my head. Sokka nodded his head.
"Okay we'll do it," Sokka said. Chong and the rest of the nomads stopped in the middle of there song. I turned to Sokka, and we looked at each other with uncertainty. I saw him close his eye, and pucker his lips. I closed my eyes thight, and puckered mine. A millon thoughts went through me head, and everything seemed to go slower. I tried to think it was not Sokka I was going to kiss. I always thought I would give my first kiss to someone I liked. Someone I liked romantically. Not my friend, but we were doing this just to get the stupid nomads to stop.
I felt my heart speed up in my chest, and Sokka's warm breath come closer to my face. I clenched my eyes tighter, and prepared myself for what was going to happened.
"What's that?" I heard Muko asked. I snapped my eyes open, and move away from Sokka. Sokka did the same, and we look around for what they were talking about. We didn't have to see but feel. A strong vibration went through the ground, and shook the walls. I looked frantically around to see who was doing this, but my answer crashed through the wall. A cloud of dust appeared as a bagermole came from the whole it made. Me and Sokka moved back, and the bagermole turned its head towards us. I reached for one of my daggers, but then I stopped.
Bagermoles don't attack unless you attack first.
I recalled a lesson about these creatures that I learned at school. I grabbed Sokka by the wrist, and slowly moved back. Then another crash came from behind us. I turned around, and there was another bagermole. I looked at the first creatures to earthbend, as they bent a wall behind them. We were trapped.
The bagermole in front of us stomped one of it's foot, and Me and Sokka shrieked as we fell to the floor. I looked around for anything I could use. The bagermole took a few forward, and was now infront of us. I could see Sokka shaking with fear. I looked around one more time, and saw one of the instruments the nomads used. Bagermoles are sensitve to sound. I took my chances, and reach for the instrument. I place it in front of me and start strumming.
"Bagermoles are fair,
Bagermoles can't see,
Bagermoles are nice,
They won't be decived,
Earthbend the tunnel,
Earthbend without sight,
Lead thy maiden home tonight..."
I sang in a soft lullaby tune. I looked up at the bagermole, and he was now looking at me. I slowly stood up while strumming, and walked away from Sokka.
"I am lost in the cave,
Help me find my way,
Through night and day,
My family awaits,"
I sang, and by the time I was done I was back against the wall, and both bagermoles were staring at me. I stood there holding the instrument, and I knew the bagermoles were deciding. Then one stomped it's foot, and feared I would be killed, but instead an earth coloum rose me up. One of the bagermoles bowed it's head, and I climbed on. A huge smile spread across my face when I realized it wouldn't throw me off. I looked down at the nomads, and Sokka. They all gaped at what they saw.
"Can my friends have a ride too?" I asked the bagermoles. I wasn't sure if they would understand me, but I think they did. Two more coloums were made under the nomads, and Sokka. My bagermole walked over to Sokka, and bowed his head. Sokka saw what I did, and did the same. He climbed on, and sat one his back. I could feel him shake as he wrapped his arms around me, but I also couldn't help noticing something else too. No spark. I thought. There was no spark when Sokka touched me.
The bagermole I sat on moved towards the wall, and earthbent a whole. He looked at the other bagermole that had the nomads, and went in. I thought the bagermole was going to walk, but I was mistaken when it started running. The cave wind hit my face, and went through my hair. This was a bigger rush then when I jumped off of Appa. I looked at Sokka, and he looked thrilled, but terriffed. I smiled. How could I have kissed him? He was my friend, and if the bagermoles hadn't came in I would have.
"Thank you bagermoles!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, and through my arms in the air. I was having so much fun, and I knew it would end soon. The next thing I knew the bagermoles busted through the wall, and the sunlight was on my face. I closed my eye, but opened them when I heard a familiar voice.
"ALEC! SOKKA!" Katara yelled. Sokka let go of my waist, and jumped down. I was right next to him and we ran up to our other two friends.
"How did you get out?" Sokka asked.
"Like the legend said. Let love lead the way," Aang said with a goofy smile. I smiled back, and moved my hand over his head. I would have ruffled his hair, if he had any.
"I bet you did," I said.
"Really? We had huge beast lead our way," Sokka said, and I nudged him with my elbow. I turned around, and waved to the bagermoles. They both turned around and went in to the cave. When I turned around I was pulled in to a hug by Katara.
"I'm glad you two are safe," She said. After we said our goodbye we went our separate ways. We all turned towards our way to Omashu, and everything was silent. I looked behind me, and saw Katara blushing at the ground. I stopped for a second, and started walking when she was next to me.
"So how did you 'let love lead the way'?" I asked with a smirk on my face. Katara jumped from my voice, and looked at me. "C'mon you can tell me."
"Okay," She said. She had a giddy smile on her face like she was dyeing to tell. "Me and Aang...kinda'...kissed."
"Really?" I asked, and squealed like a little girl. Where did that come from? I thought.
"Yeah, but lower it," She said in a whisper. I looked at the boys, and they looked unfazed. I turned back to Katara. "So did bagermoles actually lead your way, or did you kiss my brother."
"Uh... I...Not, but... um" I started, but turned a deep red. Katara's jaw dropped.
"You kissed Sokka? Didn't you?" She asked.
"No. The bagermoles saved me just in time," I told her. She was holding her breath, and tried not to laugh, but she couldn't hold it. She laughed histaricly, and I burned a darker shade of red.
"Aw. Shut up!" I snapped, and walked ahead of her. I covered my ears from her taunting laughter.
"Now the great city of Om... Oh no," Sokka announced. I kept walking up the hill until I saw what he was looking at. It was Omashu, but with a Fire Nation flag in front of it.
Hey you guys! I hope you liked the chapter but I'm having serious WRITERS BLOCK! All your reviews really help.
I'm really trying, but I'm thinking about posting once a week for a while untill it's over.
Any ways there is a poll about Sokka on my profile, and it has to do with Alec.
Go vote!
'till next time my loyal readers
- ALec
