Chapter 2: The Avatar

Aang's POV

"Wow, what is that?"

I stared at a tiny little animal that looked like a fox, but it was the size of a squirrel!

Had it shrunk? Or maybe it was a baby or something? Strange…

I couldn't completely fathom exactly what this sleeping creature was, but I assumed it to belong to the girl Sokka and I had just met only moments ago. This is because it was sleeping right on top of her clothes.

I tried to think up a way to retrieve the clothes and bring them back, but the creature seemed so content as it slept on. I didn't want to disturb in. But, the seconds were ticking by, and well, the girl needed her clothes back.

"Okay, I'm sorry about this little animal, but I have to bring these back to the girl," I apologized as I gently lifted up the little creature along with the clothes all in my arms, and flew back over the lake.

"Chi?" the fox-like animal spoke up in an almost questioning tone as it began to awaken from its slumber.

I glanced down as it as we soared over the crystal waters.

"Sorry, but I really need to get these clothes back to that girl over there."

I pointed towards the girl who was still standing in that same spot where I had last seen her, with Sokka nervously looking anywhere besides her.

Interesting…I should look into that sometime.

Sokka's POV

Ho-ly Fri-ck-ing Cr-ap.

I am here. Alone. With this beautiful girl. Who just happens to be naked.

This is unbelievable. This can't be real. It can't, it can't, it can't! Okay, Sokka, calm down. Think this over; maybe you can make some sense out of this.

…

Oh Hell. Who am I kidding? This makes no sense at all, but it's still good. It's confusion. Good confusion? Oh dear, sweet God, please let this be a dream so I can wake up very, very soon and not worry about it anymore.

Hey! Look over there—yes! Aang's back so now this imaginary girl can get dressed and I don't have to continue questioning my sanity any longer!

Maoko's POV

I let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness Aang is back. I don't know how much more uncomfortable silence I could have taken.

Aang hopped off of him little 'air ball' as it disappeared a walked timidly over towards me. I could tell my presence set him on edge.

"Don't worry, I don't bite," I chuckled as he blushed and handed me my clothes. "Thanks. Hey, would you two mind…?" I trailed off and they seemed to get my drift.

"No problem! Come on Aang!" Sokka hissed as he dragged Aang into the bushes and stood straight facing the opposite direction. "We'll be right over here. We won't look, we swear!" his voice sounded high and pitched. Like he was nervous.

Ha! Serves him right.

Aang nodded curtly is response so I quickly began putting on my clothes.

"Chi!"

"Whoa, ChiChi, I didn't notice you were there!" I smiled as she stretched out her forepaws before leaping up and onto my shoulder.

I pulled up my black tights which stopped just below the mid-thigh region and I slipped on my bamboo sandals. I had just draped my kimono-like dress and began tying the silken sash around my waist when I heard the voice of a girl cry out.

I stopped and listened more closely.

Aang. She was shouting the words, "Aang" and "Sokka"!

Maybe it was another of their friends perhaps. I went back to dressing myself and hurriedly fastened the sash into a tight, secure bow and whipped around to signal to the boys I was done.

"Hey, did you hear that girl calling you guys before?" I questioned as the voice called out again. Only this time, closer.

They must have heard I too because they both cried out in unison, "Katara!"

Okay, now I'm confused. "Who's Katara?" I asked most intelligently.

Sokka turned to me, "She's my sister. She's a water bender, like you, ah, um…?"

"Oh! I'm sorry. My name is Maoko," I blushed at my rudeness.

3rd Person POV

Katara, holding many a branches of fallen trees for fire wood, wandered closer to where the 3 new friends now stood. All the while calling out to Sokka and Aang.

"Katara! Over here!" she heard her brother call to her from the left.

She ran as fast as she could in the direction of Sokka's voice without completely dropping all the fire wood she had worked so hard to gather for them. When she arrived to where Sokka and Aang were standing, she dropped all the branches she had held to the ground.

Katara's POV

Who is this girl?

I dropped my firewood at the sight of her and Sokka and Aang standing together. The sight confused me. Thoughts flashed through my brain. Who was she? What was she doing here? Why are they standing together? Wait—why is she standing so close to Aang? Why does Sokka keep looking at her?

What is going on?

"Oh, ah, Katara, this is Maoko. Maoko, this is Katara, my sister," Sokka introduced us quickly and I nodded, snapping out of my confused trance.

The girl smiled nervously and said a soft, "Hello."

"Hi," I responded with as much of a smile as I could muster. She seemed nice. But then again, I've learned that looks can be deceiving.

"So, uh, I see you've got the firewood," Aang commented as it was brought back to my attention that all of the wood had been dropped onto the ground.

"Oh! Yeah, sorry about that," I said weakly as I bent down to pick them up.

"Here, let me help you with that," I heard Maoko say as she knelt down and began picking up the branches as well. I smiled to myself.

Maybe she wasn't so bad after all.

3rd Person POV

After Maoko and Katara had finished gathering the fallen fire wood they all headed back towards the camp Aang, Sokka and Katara had set up just a little while ago before their little incident.

Katara and Maoko walked side by side talking away, happy to be in the company of a girl their own age, while Sokka and Aang walked in front in silence, delighted that the two girls were getting along. Considering they hadn't seemed to have gotten off to a good start.

"So, what are you doing all the way out here, Maoko?" Katara asked as they continued on around the lake to where camp was set up near Aang's pet flying bison, Appa.

"Oh, I've been searching for the Avatar. I've heard he has returned," Maoko replied airily as if discussing the weather and not the long awaited Avatar.

Katara, Sokka and Aang stopped walking all at once.

"Huh? What's wrong?" Maoko asked as she noticed their silence and stopped walking herself. ChiChi tugged on her ear a bit but she nudged her away so that she would settle down again.

No one spoke for a few moments which felt like an eternity for each of the weary travelers.

"Well Maoko, you see—" Sokka began, but Aang interrupted him. He stepped forwards towards Maoko and looked her in the eyes.

"I," he began. "Am the Avatar."

End of Chapter 2

Author's Note: Thank you all for reading! Especially those who reviewed, which would bet he following:

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Thank you all again! I hope you like this chapter! R&R again, as always! The next one should be out soon, I'm working on it now!