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.

Short chappie, sorry guys. I'm tired, my limbs hurt...and I don't feel like typing.

Chapter 9: History

Katara was behind Mika, who was again sitting as she faced the shores. Katara, a bit confused, was almost sure that Mika felt her presence.

"I don't want to leave," Mika said suddenly, still not turning around. A heavy wind cut through the night air, and Katara held her coat closer to her shivering body.

"What?"

"I can't leave, Katara. I can't leave my people." Mika's voice sounded far away, as if she was moving into the water. "I can't leave my people," she said again, her voice faint.

"What are you talking about?" Was Mika going crazy? These Cat things were not her people, there was a broad difference. "We have to leave now," Katara urged, glancing at the darkened sky.

"Not them," Mika continued, as if she had read Katara's thoughts. "Not them, these crazy Cat things. They aren't my people. They killed my family. I hate them, but I can't leave this boulder." Once again her voice was faint, as if it were hurt, a frightened whisper. "I can't leave."

Katara moved forward and sat by Mika, looking at her face, a sober collection of flesh topped with medium, white hair, small silver ribbons of tears coming from the corners of her eyes. "Why can't you leave?"

Mika turned to face her, her lower lip trembling. "Because Skya killed my mother, all of the other Dragons. In front of me, and I could do nothing."

Mika broke out into full sob, her breaths short and damaged. Katara took her hand. "What did they do?"

She looked over the water, her eyes distant, as if remembering. "I can't even remember it all. But I had something Skya wanted, and she Shamed all of the people in the village until they gave into her demands. It was as if I wasn't even there...and now I live alone."

Katara stood up, gently pulling on Mika's silk sleeve. "That's why we're going, Mika. To get you out of here. Don't you want to leave?"

"They drowned my people in Earth!" Mika continued, her eyes still distant. "In front of me...and I did nothing. I'm a waste of your time. Go, take the Avatar and save your world. Mine is not worth the trouble."

Hesitation blocked Katara's blood. No, she wouldn't give up. She let go of Mika's sleeve. "You're coming," Katara told her as she pointed to her sobbing face. "Whether you like it or not, you're coming. You have to get out of here, to teach Aang, and get away from everyone here that hates you. It's only logical, Mika. It's only best."

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Sokka tried to glance at Mika, but he got nervous every time he did. She was a Fire Bender. What was she doing with them? Then again, not all Fire Benders were liars and cheaters, and not all liars and cheaters were Fire Benders.

Mika was silent on the trip, her eyes staring over the dark clouds to her large boulder home. All she could do was think and stare and wait. Wait...she did not know what she was waiting for.

Cutting the silence, Aang's mouth opened wide and he let out a low, soft yawn; still tired. "So Mika--"

Katara had spun around and gave him a strange look. He quieted down, not saying anything else.