Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar, the Last Airbender, or any of its characters, except for the kids I made up. I own them, for sure.

Skya: I thought you were going to sell us on...Ebey

Me: It's Ebay, and I changed my mind.

Skya: What? Why?

Me: -shrug- I don't know. I don't really feel like it right now.

Skya: Til is almost dead!

Me: Where is Til anyway?

Chapter 4: Lies

Katara, after a while of searching, finally found a scroll that might help them. It was a red scroll, red paper and a red coin placed on both ends of the scroll.

"How do you know that this is the right one?" Aang asked, eyeing the worn scroll. "It doesn't say anything...where did you get it?"

"Over there," Katara said, pointing. "And it's red, Aang. It must be a history scroll."

"And you know this because..."

"Because that key over there says so. Now come over here and help me look."

Aang's shoulders moved inward and he sighed. Sure he wanted to know more, but this looked like it would take a long time. "Coming..."

Katara placed the old scroll on the table and carefully opened it, revealing small, yellow and black ink print and a circle with pictures of animals on the edge.

Katara gasped slightly and traced her pointer finger over the letters. "Aang, do you know what this is?"

"A scroll?" Aang asked, his face dull.

"Not just any scroll. I know these people, Aang. Of course..." In a flash Katara was up and the scroll was back in its place.

"Katara, wait!" Aang hastily ran after her.

---------xXx----------

Mika breathed in slowly, her body tense and her face frigid. It was getting darker out side and the water was gaining motion towards the shore. She breathed in again, her chest pounding.

"Hey!"

Mika spun around, her fists clenched and her body alert. It was just Katara, now with a strange look on her face.

"Sorry if I frightened you," Katara began.

"You didn't," Mika said coldly. "Can I help you with anything?"

"Um...no. I just wanted to...to tell you good night. So, good night."

Mika smiled slightly. "Good night, Katara. Do you know how long you will be staying?"

"Not too long. It's dangerous for us to stay in one place."

"The Fire Nation won't find you here, trust me. They haven't found us for more than 100 years. They won't find us now."

"I hope your right," Katara stated. "Aren't you coming inside?"

"No, I usually just sleep here."

Katara furrowed her eyebrows. "Before I go," Katara stated lazily, "do you mind showing me some of your Water Bending moves?"

Mika grimaced her teeth, her breath tense. "Katara," she whispered.

"Yeah?"

"Can I...can I tell you something?"

"Sure, anything. What is it?"

No...no no no no... Mika's mind tensed, her blood hot and alert. "Nothing, nevermind. I was just...just thinking of something. Good night."

Katara stared at Mika as she turned around, facing the waves and sitting cross legged, giving way to her two, gray, flattened wings.

"Do you mind if I ask you one more question?" Katara asked.

Mika swallowed. "Um...OK..."

"Can you fly?"

Mika turned around again, and this time she stood up. "I haven't used my wings for a long time."

"So you can use them?" Katara asked excitedly.

Mika smiled faintly and scratched the back of her neck. "Yeah, I used to be able to."

Katara smiled broadly. "Good night, Mika."

"Good night."

---------xXx-------------

"So did you find out what was wrong with them?" Sokka asked as he spread his sleeping bag on the ground of the cabin.

"There's nothing wrong with them, Sokka." Katara spread out her thick blue coat on the ground, lying on her back as she looked at the ceiling.

"Then can you explain the ears and tails?" Sokka placed his hands on his head, flapping them back and forth. "If nothing is wrong with them then how come they look so weird?"

Katara didn't answer. She was tired, and her brother's stupid questions would have to wait. What she wanted to know was what Mika had intended to tell her. Something wasn't right, but she couldn't figure out what it was. Why did Mika sleep alone outside? Why didn't she want to teach Aang? Questions built upon questions as Sokka and Aang drifted into sleep, and as Katara crept outside.

She pulled her robe closer to her chest. It was freezing outside. The warm weather of day and noon had given way to temperatures as cold as the South Pole. She squinted in Mika's boulder's direction. Something was moving, something like...light? The boulder was glowing in orange bursts, red colored flames licking at the bottom and sides of the boulder. Something was burning!

Katara raced over at the boulder, her feet stumbling on the heafty sand. She breathed in heavily as she made her way over to the brightening boulder.

When she got there she looked over the side of the boulder, only to find Mika dancing around with the flames, fire bursting from her limbs as she threw kicks and punches in the air, the boulder accepting the heat and glowing with pride.

Mika was not a Water Bender, she was a Fire Bender.