Well, this is my first ever fanfiction. I've got most of the plot figured out, but who knows what could happen over the course of the story? Anyways, I hope you like it! Please review when you're done reading. I'd really like everyone's comments! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar (sadly) or any of its characters, places, and what not.

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Part One

WIND ON THE RIVER

Chapter 1: A Forced Rest Stop

Aang sat atop Appa's massive head, the steering reins held loosely in his arrow marked hands. Dusk was approaching rapidly and the cold of night was beginning to hint its presence. A soft, yet uncomfortably cold breeze, slid through the dark sky, snatching at the young Airbender's clothing and sending shivers up and down his skin.

Behind him, nestled in the flying bison's huge saddle, were the boy's two companions: Sokka and Katara, siblings from the South Pole. Aang felt a small smile form on his face as he observed their sleeping forms. Sokka, the oldest of the brother and sister, was in a restless slumber. His expression was troubled by strange dreams, and between his long, low snores, he kept mumbling something about Fire Nation soldiers closing in on them. In his agitated sleep, he threw a punch at an invisible Firebender. This unexpected movement caused, Momo, Aang's pet lemur, to scuttle off of Sokka's stomach where he had been curled up before peacefully. The animal crawled away from Sokka and returned to sleep. Now Aang's stare shifted to Katara. Compared to Sokka's wild tossing and mutterings, Katara was completely undisturbed other than the occasional shudder. Her breathing was slow and even, and her closed eyelids concealed the jewels beneath them: her dazzling blue eyes. Her shiny, braided hair swayed slightly in the frigid wind. Aang couldn't help but let his gentle gaze linger on her still figure a moment or two more than necessary. If only she knew how he really felt…

Aang sighed heavily, and turned back to face the slowly darkening sky ahead. He didn't like twilight; it was what marked the end of day. The end of any action or activity till the following morning. At twilight, all one could do was wait for the coming of the sun the next day. Aang didn't like to wait; and his impatience had gotten him and his friends into many exciting adventures and difficult struggles. The Avatar liked to be out and about playing, talking, laughing, joking…doing something! Anything at all! Not sitting and staring out into the blackness. Just waiting for something to come along, if nothing else, the same, predictable daily sunrise.

As Aang was wrapped up in his thoughts, he didn't notice that Appa was steadily losing altitude. The flying bison was exhausted from an entire day of flying, and now the tips of his six drooping limbs grazed the waves of the ocean they had previously been soaring high above. The bison groaned. Aang snapped out of his reverie, and studied their predicament. It didn't look like Appa was going to be able to travel through the coming night; they needed to stop and let the bison rest somewhere.

The young Avatar looked ahead, trying to spot any form of land mass. He couldn't see anything, though: just endless depths.

Katara woke with a start as Appa descended more and a salty ocean wave sprinkled its cold spray on her face. She sat up; looking around at the waves glowing with the moon's reflected light. What was wrong?

"Aang?" she asked quietly, noticing that Sokka was still asleep beside her. Shakily, she rose and walked the bison's length. She then deposited herself next to the Avatar. "What's wrong with Appa? Why are we flying so close to the water? It's not safe. Prince Zuko will find us."

Aang pulled sharply at the reins and replied with a slight trace of fear in his unsteady voice, "Appa—Appa's just too tired to go anymore. We need to land somewhere." Now his voice rose in urgency as the threat of Zuko took realization in his mind, "Help me find an island or something!"

"I'll wake up Sokka. He can help us," Katara informed him, trying to keep her tone calm. She made the journey back to the other end of Appa much quicker than the first time. She knelt down next to her sleeping brother, grabbed his shoulders, and shook him persistently. "Wake up, Sokka! We need to find someplace to land." she said. Sokka's eyelids fluttered slightly, and then closed again.

"Give me five more minutes…" he murmured, rolling onto his side. He batted Katara's hand away as she tried to shake him again.

"Sokka, wake up!" No results.

Katara's upper lip trembled with frustration at her brother. Fine, we'll just have to do this the hard way, she thought forcefully. Katara put her arms straight out in front of her. Then, in a quick, easy movement, she curved them over her head and then brought them down at her side. A gush of ocean water rose up from the sea in reflection of her actions and shot right at Sokka, drenching him into total alertness.

"What was that for?" Sokka demanded indignantly, jumping to his feet as he pulled out his bladed boomerang, water dripping off of the ends of his clothes and ponytail and onto the saddle.

"Appa needs rest badly," Katara explained quickly, "And Zuko's going to come along and spot us if we don't find land to hide on right now!"

Suddenly, a large splash echoed through the night as Appa dropped like a stone into the water. Sokka and Katara were knocked off their feet, crying out in surprise. Aang was soaked by the splash of the impact. The grounded flying bison limply stroked the water with his paddle-like tail, moving them forward slowly. Painfully slowly. If Zuko spotted them, he'd catch up easily. They needed to find somewhere to hide as soon as possible. Katara and Sokka got back on their feet and seated themselves on either of Aang's two sides. Now for their task. The three companions began straining their eyes to see through the black and locate a patch of land.

Just as Aang was beginning to think it was hopeless, a dark mass began to take shape ahead of them. Land!

"Katara! Sokka! There's an island over there!" he exclaimed, using a pointed finger to direct their eyes. "Hang in there, boy," the young Avatar told Appa, patting the bison's wet fur, "Not much farther now."

"I hope they have a market place," Sokka said, a hungry gleam in his eye, "We're down to just those dumb crackers. I want some real food! Some hot, tender meat and broth…and some rolls and pastries…" His voice trailed off as he got deep into his fantasy and began salivating.

"Now you're making me hungry," Katara laughed grimly.

"C'mon, the crackers aren't that bad…especially next to...meat." Aang over exaggerated a shudder of disgust and made a gagging noise.

Sokka raised an eyebrow and shook his head. "Vegetarians…"

Aang and Katara chuckled, in spite of their circumstance. When their giggles eventually trailed off, the young Airbender kept smiling ridiculously at Katara. His smile seeped with devotion and all the innocent love in his heart could offer. When she looked towards him, however, he somehow managed to wipe it completely from his face. Aang was relieved that his burning crimson cheeks were hidden in the nightly shadows. Embarrassed, he turned his gaze away from Katara, and at the oncoming island.

He squinted his eyes a little, trying to make out some of the island's features. From what he could see, it was covered in dense forests. Good, something to shield them from unwanted eyes. Or more specifically: Zuko. He could not see buildings, a harbor, boats, or any other sign of human inhabitance. It was probably just a deserted Earth Kingdom island, which meant no market place. Sokka would be crushed. But maybe there was an Earth settlement in the forest or on the other side of the island that was just out of his view. He doubted it, but there was still a sliver of hope for the revival of their sparse supplies.

The island was advancing inch by inch with every weary movement of the bison's tail and small stroke of his legs. The three friends passed some of the time with idle chatter, but after some time, they fell away into bored silence. Finally, Appa's feet touched the sandy ocean bottom. His passengers saw and felt the sturdiness of dry land, and slowly Appa heaved himself up onto the beach and he collapsed onto his stomach.

Aang jumped from the bison's back, smoothing his descend with some easy air-bending. Katara, with Momo riding on her shoulder, and Sokka clambered down after him, Sokka clumsily falling face first into the sticky sand. Momo leapt from his perch on Katara and ran off into the forest to do some scavenging. Katara found herself sighing with exasperation as she helped her brother to his feet. "Now what do we do, Aang? We can't just stay on the beach, we'll be seen."

Aang nodded blearily, putting his comforting hand lightly on one of the bison's legs. "Come on, boy, you just have to walk into those trees a little ways and then you can sleep as long as you want to. Promise."

Appa groaned, and reluctantly stood with lots of urging from Aang and Katara. The bison's strength was almost completely drained, and the group slowed their pace greatly so he could keep up with them. Aang walked next to his Animal Guide, his fingers never leaving Appa's furry side. They pressed forward for several minutes, stumbling in the darkness, until Sokka deemed a small clearing equipped with a freshwater stream at the side a worthy campsite. Appa fell to the ground for a second time and was instantly fast asleep. Aang pet the ten-ton bison's shaggy head sympathetically. "You sleep as long as you need to," he whispered in an assuring tone.

"Awww man!" Sokka whined suddenly, receiving weird looks from Katara and Aang. "This place is empty! There's no city! No market! We're going to starve! I'm too young to die of hunger!"

"We still have plenty of crackers, you know," Katara said teasingly. Her remark earned an enthusiastic laugh from Aang.

Sokka wasn't amused. "Like I said, I'm going to starve. A warrior needs more inside of him then stupid crackers! I need protein!"

"Why don't you go find some nuts, then? They have your much-needed protein," Katara chuckled, "And you just have the knack of finding them wherever they are!" She and Aang burst into laughter.

"Ha ha…very funny, you guys," Sokka said grumpily.

"Yeah, you go crazy with the nuts, Sokka. We'll stick to crackers for now," Aang laughed, pulling some of them out of the brown sack the trio had traded for their last copper piece. It had been the only thing they could afford at the expensive Earth Kingdom market place two days ago. He handed a few to Katara, who popped them into her mouth, crunching down. Not much flavor or texture, but they sufficed.

"Are you sure you don't want even a little, Sokka?" Aang waved the bag temptingly around in front of the water tribe boy's nose. "You won't be able to go hunting till the morning. Are you really prepared to spend the rest of the night with an empty stomach?"

"Give me that!" Sokka snapped, yanking the bag out of Aang's grasp. He pulled out a handful of crackers and stuffed them into his eager mouth. Aang beamed triumphantly.

"See? They aren't that bad, are they now, Sokka?"

"Humph…" Sokka snorted, pretending to have trouble swallowing his dry and meager dinner.

Aang's smile just broadened. He heard the striking of flint, and turned around just in time to see Katara light the kindling in the center of her stick teepee. Pretty soon, a blazing fire cackled merrily about the larger branches she had added gradually. Intense waves of heat washed over Aang, striking away the cold fingers of the night.

"Now we won't freeze tonight," Katara confirmed with satisfaction, briskly brushing her hands together. "Hopefully it won't die on us during the night; we might have to take turns keeping it lit."

"I'm sure we'll be fine," Aang told her, knowing how tired they all were. "It's not that cold, anyway."

"Starvation and hypothermia: the two most perfect ways to die," Sokka said bitterly, drawing Aang and Katara's attention. The Waterbender merely shook her head dismissively.

"That's right, Sokka, you just keep looking at the worst side of things. That will just make everything better," she said sarcastically.

"You really don't have to be so negative, Sokka," Aang added to Katara's statement cheerfully, "That takes all the fun out of life." His comment was received with a glare from Sokka.

"Oh yeah, Aang, why would I want to spoil all the fun we're having out here? I mean really…" his voice trailed off into low grumbles.

Aang couldn't help but smile for about the hundredth time that day. Then, a strange rush of frustration flooded through him: why was he always so smiley, anyway? He unexpectedly wondered if anyone was annoyed by it. The young Avatar shrugged the thought off.

To his side, Katara was laying her sleeping bag out on the grassy ground in front of Appa. She then took off her parka, folded it neatly beside her bag, and climbed into the covers. She shifted to her back, staring up at the stars. Carefully, so as not to draw her suspicions, Aang dropped his bed roll just a little ways from her. He got down, turning to his side, so he was facing Katara. He felt something drop down next to him, and he glanced up to see Momo curling up into a little ball to sleep. Aang scratched the lemur's ear affectionately. Soon, Sokka was in his sleeping bag, and everybody was readying to sleep.

"'Night, Sokka. Good night, Aang," Katara murmured.

"Good night, Katara. Momo. Appa." Aang responded. Then, the little campsite became quiet except for the sizzling and cracking coming from the gradually dispersing fire. "Good night, Katara…" the Avatar repeated under his breath. He didn't bother saying good night to Sokka; the older teen was already out cold, loud snores breaking the still air now and again. Within moments, Katara's deep and even breathing joined in the chorus. Aang closed his eyes, his chest slightly falling and rising, as he too, entered deep sleep.

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