Ash twisted up towards the darkened sky, unnoticed by those who had congregated around the fire. They were calm now, sharing a little mirth after the events of the day. Earlier, The Swamp had separated them and bestowed its hallowed lessons. It had filled their eyes with visions and the rest with a growing unease but it was over now. With these teachings they were content or so their ethereal observer believed. Had any of them been able to witness the sharp virid eyes that watched them from the darkness, they might guess that their owner was very much an exception. As much as he desired that, Mu knew it couldn't happen—not yet anyhow.
"Here you are," he mused inaudibly "You haven't changed after all this time." The wind shifted and made much of the ash the captive of the shadows. There it danced about until it clung to him and gave him form. The statement was true for both of them. Avatar Aang hadn't aged a day. The swamp had granted him knowledge that was no doubt essential for saving the warring world. It meant little as far as Mu was concerned. It was a task Aang had accepted a century too late. "Sometimes the powers that be are a little too..." Mu paused and watched as the root of one of the many trees batted away its screeching inhabitant. "soft,"he concluded, tugging briefly at the rim of the conical hat that crowned his unshaven head. The ashes had done their work. The Swamp however, had not.
He made a small fist, unable to decide whether to be amused or annoyed. The memories that flooded his head in the moments that followed were stark reminders that it was very possible to be both.
"Still having trouble?" Gyatso chuckled It would be a moment before Mu could answer. He sat up with a groan and and waited until the two old men that stood nearby finally became one. Since when were Sky Bison such temperamental animals?"It's no use he replied, struggling to his feet. "We're supposed to be friends for life but someone is too STUPID to know that!", Mu complained,undaunted when the Bison responded with a bellow of its own.
Gyatso sighed. He often found it hard to believe that the ill-tempered boy was an air bender. Everything from a stubborn attitude to a head that refused to stay shorn and be devoid of the long light brown hair that adorned it suggested that earth would suit him much better. "Is a friend someone you endeavor to manipulate at will?"
Mu rolled his eyes. Much of what the old teacher said would pass through one ear and out the other but that would change in time for Mu to hear Gyatso's next instruction.
"Call him." Gyatso said, he produced an apple and deftly tossed it to Mu, "A little incentive might help."
"Mao..Mao, I'm sorry for calling you names. We can learn a lot about each other if you give me a chance." Mu held the glistening fruit out in front of himself and smiled somewhat sheepishly,"There's an apple in it for you."
The Bison sniffed. He inched forward cautiously and snatched the fruit up using his enormous tongue. "I'd like to go for a ride if its ok,Mu explained softly, "I promise to make it a short one." Mao stayed calm as his rider mounted. He rolled his eyes when he heard the joyous laughter that accompanied Mu's success.
"Look at that. Friends already. Have a nice flight, Mu." Gyatso said before taking his leave.
Mu took a deep breath "Alright! What was it? Uh... Yip Yip!" Mao ascended a short distance before tossing the boy from his back with ease. He'd have been dead ten times over without some ability to command the air. It wasn't long before he sat up once again. The bison's large eye caught a glimpse of the disappointment in those of the rejected rider. It was mixed with a hint of deep sadness.
Let go of your earthly tether. Enter the void. Become the wind,"Mu recited softly. His sadness faded as quickly as it came. "Once I do that, we can fly together. Side by side. Doesn't that sound great? After all, it doesn't hurt to be a little different."
Mao responded with a friendly lick just as another bison landed. Even moments before it had, Mu Recognized the rider. "Hey, Aang. Enjoy your flight?"
He'd never gotten an answer. Even back then, he'd had a knack for escaping Aang's notice, but that wouldn't happen again. Not when there was so much to answer for. The group had been gone for quite sometime but he knew they were headed for a small village and that he could reach them before they arrived. In this state- whatever it was- he could go most anywhere. He raced nimbly across the dwarfed blades of grass, gripped by a familiar yet unknown feeling. It was steadily growing in intensity as he pursued. All this time, the Avatar had been full of life and sharing it with people he held dear- a luxury many didn't have anymore. Time hadn't given him so much as a wrinkle. The swamp had only shown him a glimpse of the future but as Mu approached the little camp that became visible in the distance, he knew that shortly, it wouldn't matter at all.