"Katara, Sokka!" Aang cried, as he dove down towards them on his glider.
"Found any food?" Sokka asked as his stomach grumbled.
"No, but I have really good news!"
"What could be better than finding food?" Sokka asked, frowning.
"I've found someone who can teach me Firebending." Aang said, smiling.
"Really?" Katara asked, surprised. "When… where… who is it?"
"Her name is Keiko."
"You future teacher is a girl?" Sokka asked amazed. "I didn't even know there were any woman Firebenders."
Katara frowned at him and put her hand on Aang's shoulder.
"Aang," she said, " Are you sure about this. It could be a trap."
"I'm pretty sure! She even invited us for lunch!"
"Awesome!" Sokka cried. "I'm starving! Where does she live?"
Aang pointed to the smoke, "Right there."
"Told you there was food there!" Sokka said jumping up and down.
"We can take Appa there." Aang said as Momo jumped up on his shoulder.
They went over to get Appa, and flew over to cave.
Keiko was standing outside, near an open fire. The bird was perched on a log right next to her.
"Welcome, Avatar!" she said, bowing.
"I told you," Aang said, smiling, "call me Aang."
"You have brought your friends, also, Aang."
"Hi!" Katara said, a big grin on her face. "My name is Katara, and this is Sokka. And over there there's Appa, Aang's flying bison!"
"Yes, I'm Sokka, and I'm starving!" Sokka said leaning over to see what was cooking over the fire.
Keiko smiled and handed Sokka a bowl of soup.
"I made this earlier." She smiled at Sokka, eyes gleaming in the bright sun.
Sokka looked at Keiko for a second and then grabbed the bowl and started eating. Keiko gave a bowl to everyone, as they waited for the main dish.
"What's cooking?" Sokka asked.
"It's fish." Keiko answered. "It's fresh. Caught it yesterday night."
She reached over to the fire and looked at the fish.
"It's not ready yet." She said, after examining it.
"Can't you just use you bending to heat it?" Sokka asked hungrily.
"I don't waste my energy on things I can do without using my bending."
Sokka blushed, as Keiko smiled at him.
They all finished their soup, and Keiko gave them the fish after a few minutes.
"How do you like it." Keiko said.
"It's the best fish ever!" Sokka said, his mouth full.
"It's delicious." Katara added, looking menacingly at her brother.
"Thank you." Keiko bowed her head.
"If it doesn't bother you to talk about it, why do you live here?" Katara asked once she finished her fish.
"It's a long story, and not a happy one, but if you would like to hear it, I would be glad to tell you."
Everyone nodded their heads, and Keiko began.
"It all started long ago. I was about six, and lived in the Fire Nation capital, along with my mother, father, and my younger brother. My mother, Nami, and my father, Jiro, were very respected when they were young. Prince Zuko's father was my mother's cousin. You know him don't you?"
Aang and Katara nodded, but Sokka blurt out, " You mean to say you're related to Zuko?"
"Yes, I know that he is searching for you. If you find him evil, and despicable, then I, too, agree."
No one said anything, only Sokka shrugged, and looked at Keiko, unsure.
"Back then he was only a bit older than me. My family lived in the mountains, close to the Capital, and I would always go down to see his family when time permitted. Early on, I showed signs of greatness in my Firebending. I could do at that age, what other could when they were much older. Lord Ozai would always say that I would grow up to help the Fire Nation. He praised me, and said that I would be a great warrior. Zuko was different. He would always laugh at me. He seemed jealous, seeing a girl being praised by his own father, when he wasn't even encouraged. Zuko's father got me a teacher, Master Hiro, to teach me the basics, but I excelled, and he ordered me to stop Firebending. He thought I would become to powerful. I was only a child, and didn't know much. I would play with fire, and once I almost burned the house down. It was hard to control my bending. Soon I wasn't praised anymore, I was called a menace. Everywhere I went people would either be afraid or laugh. My brother was banned from ever learning Firebending; they feared, he too, would be an excellent Firebender, even better; as he was a boy. Zuko was infuriated at me, and was planning to get rid of me. One night, he sent five Firebenders to raid our house. I was only eight. My birthday had taken place the other day, and I had gotten my bird, Yuu, from my brother. The Firebender burned our house down. My parents got away, but my brother and I were trapped in the blaze. If only he knew how to Firebend…"
Keiko sobbed, but Sokka came over and put his hand around her. She smiled, and continued.
"I couldn't find him. I looked, but couldn't. I sent a blast of fire into a wall, to burn a hole through, and climbed out. He was trapped, and I knew I had to hide. I had to… forever."