Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender copyright Dante Dimartino, Brian Konietzko and Nickelodeon Studios.
They paused outside a grove of ancient gnarled trees. Zuko squeezed her hand once before bringing her fingers to his lips, pressing a soft kiss. "Ready?"
"No."
"Me either," he whispered, stepping forward. She closed her eyes and followed.
Tendrils of energy caressed her skin as she she stepped through the barrier. Wisps of fog trailed across a large clearing; knotted branches entwined like embracing lovers, weighed low with thick curtains of silver moss. Among the mist and flora stood the one she dreaded. With ethereal grace the Mother of Faces turned her carved faces towards them.
