III.
Rich green shadows were ripped by small patches of light from holes made in the trees. The long shadows of Aang and Lenara joined them. Lenara began with the basics-Iroh would have been proud.
"Remember to use your breath instead of your muscle, to command the strength of the fire. Everyone's Fire Soul is different, so you'll have to find a pattern that's comfortable for you." Aang tried taking a huge breath and squeezed it out through his arm. A spark popped from his fist.
"Easy, Aang. You can't force fire. Let it flow, just breathe a little slower and…" a long, graceful flame shot from Aang's fist, "you'll get it."
"So, this is what Roku felt when he used fire?"
"Probably. It was his element. I'm used to my body feeling cold, not warm; it's so awkward switching back and forth." Aang watched Lenara's eyes become unfocused, as if she were lost somewhere else. She unconsciously scratched the scar on her palm and Aang flipped her hand over to get a better look.
"Ouch! Where'd you get that?"
"On the ship. I was careless and got cut."
"But it looks like it was burned."
"It was. They don't have much in the way of medical stuff…or sewing supplies, for that matter."
"Sokka said something about Zuko," Aang wanted to tread lightly here," that he helped heal it…" Lenara clenched her fist and released it. It still felt warm. That was a comfort.
"You care about him, don't you?"
"Would you be disappointed in me if I said yes?" Aang shook his head. She said:
"It's probably a lost cause anyways. He's the future ruler of the Fire Nation and I'm a Water Tribe Chief out on holiday. We're way too different."
"Not so different that he couldn't reach you when you were lost to your Fire Soul," Aang pointed out. He tried another practice shot, then turned to Lenara.
"Do you think he could help me stop this war?"
"I have no doubt. He's the Fire Nation's best hope of regaining some peace. I think he'll turn out to be a great leader." Aang sat down on an overturned tree.
"I never understood why he was trying to capture me until I heard how he had disagreed with his father about the war. I can't believe he was banished in return. He doesn't seem mean-he wanted to save his people, heck, he even rescued me."
"Zuko's reasons are his own and I don't think even he fully understands them. His relationship with the Fire Lord is something I'll personally never comprehend. I guess it's because my father and I were really close."
"Yeah, just like me and Gyatso." Lenara perched on the log beside Aang.
"I'm sorry you had to leave the ship because of me," Aang replied.
"Aw, Aang, don't apologize. I can't afford the luxury of Zuko's company right now. That's just the way it is."
"Maybe one day you can," Aang replied. Lenara said nothing; she picked a twig off of the dying tree instead.
"Titles shouldn't mean anything, Aang. Just because you're the Avatar doesn't mean you shouldn't get to live a normal person's life." Aang could tell she wasn't just thinking of him when she mentioned titles.
"Yeah, but we gotta make due with what we're given, Lenara, titles included. I still get in plenty of penguin sledding and koi surfing. Besides, even if I weren't the Avatar, I'd want to do whatever I could to help stop this war. Those with a title may feel obligated, but it's those without a title who want to help that I admire most. At least they care enough to do something."
"Yeah, apathy drives me crazy," Lenara muttered. They shared an understanding smile.
"Uh, would it make me sound lame if I told you I'm kinda nervous?"
"Wouldn't harm your credibility with me one bit, Aang. Even the Avatar is allowed to be nervous if he's never saved the world before. Your friends are with you. We all have never done this before, but the time to hesitate is through, Aang. Are you ready?" Aang thought about everything he had gone through-the empty Air Bender temples, refugees from the Earth Kingdom, waking from his sleep in the glacier to see Katara's beautiful smile, warring villages, child outlaws, dead mentors…
Aang let the wind that rippled the trees blow around him, creating a funnel that carried him up like a sock in the breeze. He could just escape all this, leave it all behind, it would be easy…but that would be the coward's way out. And he wanted to be one of the people he respected, one that stood fast and fought hard. He was finished running from Zuko's ship and hiding from Zhao. It was time to finish this.
Aang descended back to the clearing. Lenara slid off the log and stood in front of him.
"Everything okay?" Aang thought she already knew the answer.
"Yeah. I'm ready."
"Okay. Let's move on to the Dragon step, then."
IV.
Day passed to night and the next morning a red sun had risen to greet the four travelers.
"Bad omen," Sokka muttered.
"Blood's gonna run this day," Lenara murmured, shouldering her satchel.
"Oh, cut it out, you superstitious nerds! Think positive!" Katara rolled her eyes and scrambled up Appa.
"Hold on, Katara. My instincts are telling me we'd better walk." Aang and Katara groaned.
"Not again!"
"We're too close to the Fire Nation. We'll be crossing their border today. We need to keep our profile low."
"So, does this mean Sokka's Instincts will be carrying our gear for us?" Sokka gave his sister a look and strapped on his gear, none too happy with the decision himself.
"What was that about thinking positive, Katara?" Lenara grinned as she took half of Katara's pack, "Sokka's right. We need to get to the Nibushi unnoticed and Appa does tend to stand out. No offense, my friend," she patted Appa's wide flank. He grunted.
"Could we at least ride Appa?" Katara whined.
"Let's give Appa a break. He's done so much for us already. He deserves to take it easy, don't you think?"
"Yeah, we owe him a lot, don't we, boy?" Aang scratched Appa's chin and he rolled his purple tongue up Aang's body, the bison equivalent of a hug. Aang laughed. Sokka stuck out his own tongue in disgust.
"Let's get moving." They walked through the forest at a quick pace, Sokka leading. An hour passed. The forest began to slope down, a sure sign they were heading into the Fire Nation. Lenara jogged up to Sokka.
"How far do you think we are now?"
"From the border, we're about twenty miles out. We'll make it by sunset."
"Great." They walked in silence another mile, scaling a stack of fallen trees. Sokka held out his hand for Lenara, but she pushed it away.
"I'm okay, thanks." She climbed the slimy trunks and slid down the other side, her foot suddenly caught and she pitched forward. Sokka caught her before she landed face first on the ground.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, just getting in my daily requirement of clumsiness, that's all." She stood, but Sokka stayed close, waiting for Aang and Katara to guide Appa over the blockage, like vessels trying to navigate a clogged heart.
"How's your ankle?"
"Sore, but it won't slow me down."
"Just let me know if it hurts too much. I'll carry you."
"I'm fine, Sokka. I don't let boys haul me around like a sack of rice just because I got hurt. It happens. I'll deal with it. If boys are expected to live with sprained ankles, then so can I, right?" she turned up her mouth in a mischievous grin. Sokka shook his head.
"Fine. Just don't come crying to me when it's all purple and swollen."
"I won't."
"Fine."
"Good."
"Great."
"I know it's great." Sokka turned away from Lenara and smirked. Just like a sister. They pressed on.
Near sunset, the trees thinned and a great, dry plain stretched beyond the burned forest, like skin stretched from a laceration that has healed terribly wrong. The deep ruts in the overturned land seemed to run up to the border of the Fire Nation, ringed with a high wall. It was just a mile or so away.
"There it is," Lenara said, sweat running down her pale brow.
"You don't look so good," Katara wiped some of the moisture from her companion's forehead with her sleeve. Sokka stepped in front of them.
"Let me see it."
"See what?" Aang eyed Sokka, puzzled. Lenara bent and raised the pant leg of her torn Fire Nation garb. Her ankle was an ugly blackish purple, reminding Aang of rotten plums in the hot sun. Katara gasped.
"What happened?" Sokka unshouldered Lenara's pack without a word of protest from her. He discarded his own, taking them both up to Appa's saddle.
"Sorry, Appa, but it's only one more mile." He jumped down and knelt in front of Lenara.
"C'mon."
"Why don't I just ride Appa?"
"Those branches are getting lower and I don't want to risk hurting it any more than it is." Lenara nodded, too exhausted to argue any further. She leaned forward against Sokka's back. He stood, gained his balance, tucked his arms around her legs and felt her arms circle his neck.
"Hold on. Okay, let's go." Katara smiled to herself. Sokka couldn't let go of his role as protector. They walked the last mile a little slower, keeping their eyes open for soldiers lurking in the woods.
Sokka stopped at the edge of the forest. Campfires shuddered in golden dances everywhere, like stars that were scattered on the ground. Guards could be heard eating their evening meal. The smell of hot rice made Sokka jealous. Aang glanced at the line of drool Sokka sucked back into his mouth.
"What now?"
"We head back into the forest until we can't see their fires and set up camp." Lenara stirred and rested her chin on Sokka's shoulder. His back felt damp with sweat.
"Head east. I heard something stir in the west."
"Okay." The group waded into the dark forest. The fires were growing dim. Aang stumbled. Lenara was struggling to keep herself conscious.
"Hold on, Sokka." She held out her fist, and a flame wrapped itself around her wrist and enclosed her hand.
"Aang, give it a try." Aang created his own lantern and they continued on. Lenara sighed, letting her flame wink out. She closed her eyes, her hands loosely draped over Sokka's shoulders.
"Is she asleep?" Sokka whispered to Katara.
"Almost."
"Let's stop here, then." Aang grabbed the sleeping bag from his pack and spread it out. Sokka knelt and Katara lowered Lenara onto the sleeping bag. She topped the Water Chief off with a blanket from her own pack.
"Aang and I will get some wood for a fire," Katara explained and they disappeared into the darkness, taking the only light with them. Sokka rolled out the other mats and blankets. Lenara stirred and sat up. She felt her forehead. It was extremely hot, so hot that she jumped when she touched it. Blisters began to form on her fingertips.
"Lousy Fire Soul," she muttered, "must be my fever." Sokka walked over to her.
"I should wrap that ankle."
"Don't touch me. My Fire Soul is reacting to my fever. I just burned myself touching my own forehead." Sokka unwrapped one of his wristbands and wound it around his right hand. He took the other band and slung it over his shoulder.
"Okay, Doctor Sokka is ready for the examination. Let's take a look at that ankle." Lenara let out a weak laugh. Sokka grinned and rolled Lenara's pant leg up to the knee, then removed her boot and sock. The bruise was ugly, but not as swollen as he'd thought. He stuck of few leaves of eucalyptus on her ankle for the pain, then used his other wristband to bandage up the ankle.
"Make it tight. I don't care if it hurts."
"Hey, who's the doctor here?"
"Uh, neither of us." Sokka finished knotting the ends of the bandage.
"How's that?"
"Much better. Thank you." She pushed her pant leg down. Sokka sat on the mat next to hers, removing his boomerang and his knife, lodging them both under his sack, which doubled as a pillow. The twilit blue sky was a lace pattern between the black leaves, allowing very little light to filter down into the forest. Lenara held out her palm and a small flame grew to life. Sokka watched the fire, hypnotized.
"You shouldn't do that, you know. You'll make your fever worse. Save your energy."
"I'll be fine until Aang and Katara get back. You worry too much."
"Can't help it," Sokka mumbled, resting his chin in his hand, "guess it's just second nature after our father left." Lenara felt lightheaded, but shook it off.
"Sokka, do you think Aang will be able to stop that comet?"
"Wait-you're doubting Aang? That's not like you…it's gotta be the fever talking." Sokka leaned forward, but Lenara moved away.
"I'm serious, Sokka. Aang has been through a lot. You've been with him much longer than I have. Do you think he's up to it?"
"Well, sure. He's not a dumb kid. He's pretty goofy, but Aang takes being the Avatar very seriously. Well, unless he's licking honey off my pant leg."
"What?"
"Never mind."
"Have you ever seen his Avatar Spirit?" Sokka met her eyes. His look said it all.
"I take that as a 'yes'. Is it only activated when his life is threatened or when he is upset?""Most of the time."
"That's rough. Having to control both a Wind Soul and the Avatar Spirit. Not to mention the other three elements he's connected to. I sometimes wish Aang didn't have to be the Avatar, so he could just be a regular kid."
"You and me both."
"But," Lenara leaned back on her elbows," I think if anyone had to be the next Avatar, I'm glad it's Aang. It could have been a lot worse, you know. The powerful Avatar spirit in the body of an unstable, angry person-that would have been a disaster in the making." Lenara lay her head down on her mat, turning on her side to face Sokka.
"Do you hear them?" Sokka lowered his head close to Lenara, ear to the ground. He heard faint footsteps, two people, both with a lively step.
"Yep. They're on their way back." He suddenly noticed how close he was to Lenara. He swallowed, as streak of red brushing his cheeks. Lenara's eyes were closed, her breathing slow and deep. She had finally fallen asleep. Sokka threw caution to the wind and reached out, tucking a rouge strand of hair behind her ear. Appa grunted, watching Sokka with a warm, tender eye. Sokka whispered his confessional:
"I know you'll never care about me like you do him, but I'll always be here for you if he isn't." A branch snapped and he shot up, knife clutched in his hand.
"Little jumpy, Sokka?" Katara emerged from the brush and dumped the branches unceremoniously in a heap on the carpet of pine needles littering the ground. Aang added his to the pile.
"Okay, Katara, watch this!" Aang blasted the kindling with a controlled fireball. The campfire snapped, bright and warm, throwing shadows on the campsite.
"Pretty impressive, Aang." Katara unrolled the jerky from the morning before. She glanced at Lenara.
"She still asleep?" Sokka glanced over the fire at his sister.
"Yes."
"Well, I'll save a few pieces for her if she gets hungry."
"I'll keep first watch," Sokka replied, munching on the jerky without actually tasting it. Aang dug into his bag of Lichi nuts and berries.
"Running low on food," he muttered. He fed a few to Mo-mo, then hopped up and shared the rest with Appa. Sokka watched him laugh as Appa licked the last few berries out of his hands. 'If Aang stops this war,' Sokka thought, 'maybe he can try to start living like a normal kid.'