Chapter 4

"Bridge between worlds," Mu sneered, looking down at his motionless foe. If separation was an illusion he couldn't help wondering why they needed an avatar at all. In the end, it had worked in his favor. Aaang resided in the Spirit World. Even so, time was of the essence; The Avatar couldn't be kept at bay for long. Fueled by anger and anticipation Mu fled into the night. He slowed only when he reached the quiet little camp among the towering trees. Though their sleep was shallow, the siblings didn't sense the presence of an intruder. They couldn't feel the warmth of the wind or catch the scent of fire. For them, it had become all too common. This would be easy enough. He'd make his way past the slumbering Bison and over to the downed log where the young girl was slumbering. He tried and failed to step forward, distracted by a deep lowing sound. Appa had always been a big softie. Mu had no doubt he was having an idiotic and happy dream. He extended his hand and patted the head of the gentle giant.

Looking thoughtfully at the group of tall beams that was the Airball field, Mu couldn't help believing that his skills were much improved. During the last game his team had almost emerged victorious. During the next one, "Almost" would be a thing of the past. He was sure of it. He spun the ball briskly and caused it to float in place over his hand. "If only I could get Jinju to play," he remarked with a laugh. He looked up towards the sky in time to see a glider frantically speeding towards the field. It's wielder narrowly missed the beams and hit the ground with a thud. "Master Pasang?! Mu exclaimed, helping the man to his feet.

"What's going-?"

"We're under attack," the teacher remarked succinctly. His eyes narrowed when the Fire Nation soldiers appeared, "I'll hold them off. Round up the others. Get as many to safety as possible."

"Can't let you have all the fun," Mu said. He drew the ball to himself with one fluid motion and filled it with speed before launching it like a comet. His smile grew even wider when it ricocheted off the helmets of one solider after another, robbing each one of consciousness as it did. The victory was short lived. For each that fell there were two others and they responded with flame.

The teacher made dodging and dispelling the attacks look easy, "Do as you're told for once, Mu. "

It was brief, but the look on the monk's face became a worrisome one. Mu nodded and raced towards the sanctuary. The temple was nestled deep within the clouds but Firebenders were entering somehow. If he could discover the source of them, he could make everyone safe. "First things first. I have to find everyone," he said. A sudden chill traversed his spine and caused him to halt. Something large and powerful was moving through the wind- something as cunning and fierce as it was gigantic.

"First dragon you've ever seen?," asked the general who stood upon the head of the same. Both he and the creature had appeared in a terrifying instant. For someone who bent fire rather than earth, the man was usually muscular. "You didn't think the Fire Nation hunted them all down, did you? We spared a few just for this occasion. I could have him burn you to a crisp but I think I'd rather let him feed on your Sky Bison while I head in to have a little fun." the man spoke again. He leapt from his perch with a bloodthirsty grin and grabbed a fistful of Mu's hair before lifting him from the ground, "Say, aren't you brats supposed to keep your heads shaved?"

"Why are you all doing this?" Mu demanded. Slowly but surely his fear was being replaced by anger. "An excellent question," the general decided. Flame roared to life on his other hand, "You can take it to your grave." The general didn't expect the blast of wind from the boy's clenched hand; it sent the flame squarely towards his own face. Mu didn't know which was more horrifying: The agonized wail that followed or the damage the flame had done.

"You're gonna pay for that, you little brat!" The general vowed. Another forceful blast of air sent him plummeting and made the promise an empty one, only this time, Mu could take no credit, "Gyatso!"

"Keep going!" The old monk instructed.

"But why are they here?" Mu asked. If he hadn't known better, he might have believed that it was difficult to keep up with the old master. "Aang," Gyatso answered somewhat solemnly "They're looking for Aang."

"Oh.." Mu managed. Looking for the avatar had become the pastime of everyone these days. He'd heard that the news of Aang's status hadn't exactly gone over well, but he never imagined that he would simply leave. The Fire Nation was even worse. They'd come to kill someone who'd be reborn the instant they did. The thought caused his anger to deepen- a feeling that would reign all the more when he entered the sanctuary.

Air was an element of freedom and spirituality, but these invaders had changed that. They'd filled it with smoke, screams and the smell of burning flesh. His body trembled when he viewed the charred remains of the fallen. Even facing death, they'd been hesitant to kill.

"Get to the others," Gyatso instructed as air erupted to life and swirled around his wizened hands," I'll buy you some time." With the slightest gesture, he slammed scads of soldiers against the walls. The most unfortunate of them found the ceiling instead. Hesitant to kill? This man wasn't anymore. However, Mu couldn't linger just to watch.

He made his way up the stairs quietly, overcome with the scent of billowing smoke as he did. It was too late. He didn't know how or why but it was too late. He swallowed hoping for at least one exception, "Jinju!" The name rang out across the smoke-filled halls between raucous coughs, "Jinju! Jinju, where are you?!" It was difficult to separate the air from the noxious fumes that had permeated it, but it could be done with effort. As he trekked through the the elongated hall, Mu failed to notice the unsteady hand that grabbed successfully at his arm. It half- shoved him into one of the many little rooms, shut the door and banished the smoke through the single window. Mu's eyes were filled with hate, but they softened the moment he saw who was responsible, " You had me worried there, Buddy. I didn't find any of the others. Are they-?"

Jinju placed an open hand behind his ear with a smile.

"Listen?" Mu pondered aloud "You're right.. You're right! I can hear them they're-"

A continuous blast of blue flame poured through the open window, one they narrowly avoided by leaping suddenly to the floor. A large and angry eye appeared next but it bore a touch of confusion.

Mu understood now. The sky Bison that were supposed to be the fearsome dragon's meal had instead become a useful distraction with a little help from the monks that dared to ride them.

"Then you were just.. waiting... for me?" Mu questioned, only to be startled by a deep and guttural sound. Mao had never been a patient beast and hovering in a blackened hellscape of a sky wasn't helping his attitude. For a moment, Mu thought about what pleas he could offer but as he mounted the Sky Bison with Jinju in tow, he only managed to say two words, "Yip Yip!"

At the command, the Bison soared through the blackened clouds. For now, the beast was focused on the others. If it wasn't snapping at them with it's sharpened fangs, It was spitting flame as blue as the scales that beset its body. Mu thought of leaving. He thought of flying into the distance to some other nation while the others continued this futile fight. His anger killed the thought. "I'm not like him," he muttered through gritted teeth, "I'm not like him at all. Take us closer Mao! Please!"

Mao obeyed. There had to be some way to bring the creature down. Air was not stone that could crush the head of or even gore the serpentine foe. Air wasn't water, that could gracefully douse a dragon's wicked flame and fire? It was master over that. What was air against something like this? Mu's eyes narrowed when he arrived at the answer "Breath," he muttered solemnly. No matter how powerful or strong, virtually everything needed to breathe. Pulling air out of such enormous lungs wouldn't be an easy task. "Got your glider Jinju? You should take it and go. I'm gonna stop this- at least, I hope I can."

Jinju crossed his arms. It was very easy to tell when the eccentric boy was playing dumb.

"Don't you understand?, I need to- What I mean is this isn't gonna end well," Mu remarked sheepishly. The Bison lurched and twisted to avoid the massive ball of flame that leapt forth from the Dragon's maw. It had noticed them. There was no more time to think. Mao turned and raced like an arrow towards the mouth of their attacker. He left the rest of the work to the two Airbenders that were now standing on his back. The next time it exhaled and spat flame as hot as the sun would be it's very last. Already its throat was aglow with blue light- a light they'd draw to themselves along with every lingering breath.