Author's Note: I do not own "Avatar: The Last Airbender" or anything related to it. I do, however, own my characters. If you steal them or borrow them without my "Yes." I will hunt you down. Thank you for your time. And if you do not like this, you don't have to read it! I will not force you or beg you.

Dedication: This story is dedicated to Winter Rose Alchemist and to all my readers.

-Nobody Home-

Artymis sighed. She never had a fight like the one she had just left. "Katara, Sokka?" She called out.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for com - " Artymis' sentence was cut as a huge fireball barely missed them. Anduril took a very sharp turn that nearly everyone fell off. "They don't give up, huh?"

"No!" Sokka answered for her.

I'll show them! she thought and contacted Anduril's mind to go back for a quick comeback. Anduril flew down and the clouds disappeared as the view of the Fire Nation ship came in.

"Fire!" Prince Zuko shouted. A fireball, fried by that of the Fire soldiers, aimed for them. It hit the right wind of Anduril, barely though. Artymis saw this and anger rose in her.

Why Anduril? she thought, nearly shouthing the thought out in her mind. Her eyes began to glow and the gloves she had on, began to rip as a new desgin appeared on the skin of her arms. Two thin waves of water apeared on her arms now, they spiral their way up, above her elbows. They glowed the color of blue and white. On Artymis' forehead, was a cresecent moon glowing.

"Artymis?" Katara whispered, she was starting to get scared by the glows on Artymis' arms and forehead. Right after Katara opened her mouth, the Avatar leaped forward and was falling top the ocean and ice.

No! Prince Zuko screamed in his head as he saw the female Avatar falling to her death. But, right infront of his ship, a huge single spiral of water shot from the ocean and engulfed Artymis into a huge ball of water. The ball of water hovered high above the ship and glowed eerie.

"What the...?" the Fire Prince breathed.

"Prince Zuko, I advise you go below." His uncle whispered to him.

Zuko's anger came back and he yelled, "No!" he then ordered, "Fire!"

"Zuko - no!" Iroh warned, too late. A large fire ball aimed at the water ball. A small spiral of water emerged from it and dried the fire ball out.

"How dare you hurt my friends!" Artymis', a little echo, voice shouted.

She was sitting down in the middle of the ball, and now stood up and began to move her arms as the water from the ocean obeyed her will. Another water spiral emerged and joined the other as two spirals. It rose high up in the sky and aimed straight at the fire ship. It moved like a wave upon the deck of the ship, knocking everyone on their backs. Zuko immediately got out of the way, but ended up overboard. He caught a rope thrown at him just in time. He held onto to it and gritted his teeth. His golden eyes looked over to the Avatar, his eyes widen. The water ball began to fall down back to the ocean. Artymis fell as the water ball ceased and she seemed to have fainted, because she fell down without a scream or a yell.

"No!" Zuko shouted, he placed both of his feet on the side of the ship and pushed himself away from it, so he swinged. He extended out a hand and managed to catch Artymis' arm. He lifted his hand up, the one that held Artymis' arm, and let go of her. But, instead of letting her fall into the water and wrapped his arm around her waist. He held her close to himself, close enough to smell her damped hair. Zuko studied her tired and sleeping face. He was surprised at how much strength she had, even as a female.

Artymis's eyes fluttered opened, first thing she saw was Zuko's face. She thought it was a dream at first, because it almost seemed as if he was smiling - or trying to hide it at least. Dreams are such tricksters, Artymis thought, almost dazed by his smile. She realized it wasn't a dream when she smelled the ocean scent. She lifted her head from Zuko's shoulder and inhaled the cold air, she gasped. She hadn't realized how cold she was until now.

"You alright?" Zuko asked her, noticing she was awake. She shook her head and he held her closer so she wouldn't be as cold. Artymis flung her arms around his neck and held him tight. Zuko opened his mouth in surprise and closed it. "Hang on." he whispered to her.

"Prince Zuko, hang on!" The voice of his uncle made Zuko take his eyes off the avatar.

"Right!" He yelled back. The rope began to pull the prince and avatar up.

I'm a prisoner again. Artymis thought gloomly. "Am I..." she asked weakly. "...a prisoner, again?" Eventhough she knew the answer.

Zuko looked at her and answered her, "Yes, you are. You wrecked my ship!" His voice rose higher at the last sentence.

"You hurt my friends!" Artymis argued back. "So we're even!"

"I did not hurt your friends!"

"Did too!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Did not!"

"DID TOO!"

"DID NOT - NOW SHUT UP!" With that last comment fron his mouth, Zuko immediately (somehow) regretted it. Artymis turned her face away and unexpectedly pulled her left arm away from his neck and puched him in the stomach. Zuko immediately let go of her and clutched his bruised stomach with one hand, while Artymis fell down.

She smiled as Anduril passed under her and caught her. She hit his scaly, soft back on her back but not too hard to be bruised. Katara helped her up and smiled brightly at her friend. Artymis thanked her and Sokka with a nod, the Avatar looked up and smiled at a certain stunned Zuko looking over the rail. She had laughter in her eyes and gave a laugh out. "Better luck next time!" She yelled as Anduril shot up to the sky, the ruined Fire ship fading behind them.

Prince Zuko was already on the deck and looked down to see the Avatar smiling up at him and yelling "Better luck next time!". He watched her, the dragon, and the two Water Tribe peasents shoot up in the air on the dragon. He threw his fist on the rail of the ship and felt the vibration of the metal go through him. He looked up again and saw Artymis laughing.

"Woohoo! Yeah!" Sokka said, lifting his fist up in the air. "The Fire ship sure got a doubt from that!"

The sun was starting to set from today's adventure, the sky was a pinkish color. Al though it was pretty uncomfortabe on the dragon's back for a while, it was their only fast transport to the North Pole, where Artymis promised to take Katara. The girls laughed at Sokka and Katara turned to Artymis and asked "I know it may not be any of my buisness, but why didn't you tell us you were the Avatar?"

Sokka frowned and looked at the teenage girl, "Yeah, why didn't you?"

Artymis turned her face away and sighed. She silently communicated Anduril's mind: Anduril, little help...?

The dragon made a low hum sound. Artymis, you know you must tell them why. At least to Katara and Sokka, they deserve to know the truth.

Or else what? Artymis questioned him, still avoiding Katara's gaze.

It's hard on her. Katara thought.

Or else I will simply loose you on our flight in the night.

Ok! Ok! Ok! Geez! You act like the Airbender teachers did! Artymis sighed and turned back to the Waterbender with a straight back.

"Ok, I will tell you." Artymis decided, Katara and her brother listened. "I was born and raised at the Southern Air Temple. I was about my age now, but I wasn't 115 years old! I was 15 of coarse, anyways. The Airbender Masters had told me I was the Avatar - the next one in this 'cycle' thingy majigy. They told me I was to go to another nation to learn all the other three elements. I didn't want to go, so I ran away." She dropped her voice. "I was riding Anduirl when we were caught up in this storm, the storm of the centurary. We barely made it, we wouldn't have if I made that ice ball." She pasued. "I reallly like to see my home though, it's been 100 years. I'm sure nothing changed, just, I want to see everybody I knew." Sadness overwhelmed her.

Katara looked at Artymis and smield as an idea came to her mind, she grabbed Artymis' hand and held it tightly. "Let's go then!"

Artymis looked up, "Really? But I promised to take you to the North Pole!"

Katara nodded her head, "Yeah, but I'm sure we can make a few stops, right Sokka?" She turned to her brother, who was lying on the dragon's back, already asleep. "Jerk!" she whispered, then turn back to her friend. "Let's go - tommorrow!"

Artymis, filled with joy, hugged her friend, "Oh thank you Katara! You don't know how much it means to me! Thank you so much!"

Katara hugged her friend back, remembering Artymis was in for the biggest pain in her life yet to come before falling asleep on Anduril. Artymis layed against the dragon's neck and told him the news.

Anduril - we're going home!

I know.

Seeing Artymis was fast asleep, and with one last look up at the night sky, Katara drifted off to sleep. Worrying what would lie ahead in the Southern Air Temple. Anduril floated through the sky like a slow-moving line of stars.

Prince Zuko watched his crewmen fix a few parts of the ships that had been wrecked by the Avatar. He watched from the control room and glared at the whole lot of them.

"Weaklings!" He muttered to himself, all his crewmen had failed to capture the girl. "She's a lot stronger than she looks!"

"So she is." A voice agreed behind him, the prince turned around to see his uncle standing at the doorway. Iroh walked to stand beside his nephew, "The Avatar, no matter what gender, is strong. Possibly stronger than the last reincarnation."

"She must have a destination in mind." Zuko commented.

"Yes, she must." His uncle said. "This Avatar, her name?"

Zuko remained silent. "Artymis," he answered in a whisper, as if her name was sacred.

"Arty - what?" His uncle questioned, though Zuko had a feeling he heard.

"Artymis!" The prince nearly shouted out of fury. His hand balled into a fist.

"Why the temper?" His uncle asked concerned, "Has the Avatar's escape decreased your confidence?"

"No!" Zuko shouted, "It's not that." He whispered.

Iroh studied his nephew's actions and became serious, "I know, Zuko, I know."

Zuko looked at him oddly, "Know what?"

"I know your feelings."

Zuko gasped and turned his face away. "I'm sorry." He whispered, "I didn't know how it happend."

Iroh patted his shoulder, "Yes, first time?"

Zuko nodded his head. "It was... so sudden. I can't explain it. I have to find out how and why, in order to do that I need to find her!"

Iroh shook his head, "No need, it's here."

Zuko turned to his uncle with anger, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Iroh shook his head again, "I have asked you many times Zuko."

"What are you talking about, old man?" Zuko asked, it had occured to him that he and his uncle were not talking about the same thing. What is he talking about? he thought.

"Why, I am talking about this wonderful tea!" Iroh smiled beightly and held out a cup of tea to his nephew. "No need to find the founder of this fine tea, she died a few years ago and plus I have a whole load of tea!"

Clenching his fists, Zuko knocked the cup of tea out of his uncle's hand. He watched as the tea whipped out into the air and wet a map. That was when something clicked in his mind, Zuko went up to the map and studied it for a moment. Tracing his finger from the South Water Tribe, up all the way to a Temple. "There." He whispered.

"What?" Iroh asked, sipping his tea.

"The Southern Air Temple!" Zuko explained, "I am sure that, after a 100 years, she would want to see her home - or all that remains. That'll be the first stop they make!"

"We should stop by the Harbor, though, to repair our ship." Iroh pointed out, his nephew looked outside. True indeed did they need professional help to restore the ship.

"Captain..." Zuko walked out of the room and set a coarse to the nearest Fire Harbor, where there, they will repair their ship.

Iroh, on the other hand, sighed. "I thought some tea would calm him down. Guess not." He continued to sip his tea, as the sun rose from the horizon as a new dawn.

Anduril rose as fast as the wind. Sokka held on to his sister as she held on to Artymis, who smiled brightly as coulds surrounded them and the wind against her face. Anduril spiraled around a mountain and was nearly at the top.

"I can't wait to see all my classmates!" Artymis said, forgetting that she had been gone 100 years.

"Um, Artymis?" Katara said, the wind was no longer pressing hard against her face, only lightly. "Maybe there is a battle up there...or they had to evacuated?"

Artymis turned her smiling face towards her worrysome friend. "First of all, no one could get up to the Air Temples - it's impossible. Only Bisons can up here, with the exception of Anduril." She patted the dragon's neck.

"Will there be food?" Sokka complained, trying to rid of his sister's worry. Because he knew that once his sister was worried, she was worried about it night and day. "I'm starving!"

"Yeah, Soak!" Artymis joked, 'Soak' was officially Sokka's new nickname.

"Stop calling me that, Art!" Sokka teased back, with Artymis' official nickname.

"Alright, you two, calm down." Katara smiled, it was as if they all knew eachother their whole lives and joked with one another like siblings.

"She started it!" Sokka accused, pointing a finger at Artymis.

"Did not!" Artymis said.

So began a "Did too!"s and "Did not!"s debate all the way 'till they were above the white clouds. Artymis smiled at the way how the Air Temple stood still and beauitful, like a palace out of a fairy tale. Anduril landed on the snow before the stairs to the Temple, Artymis jumped off of her dragon companion and began to run up the slope that led to the temple. "Come on!" she called out. Anduril flew out of sight, probably hunting for some food.

Sokka and Katara watch her race up the slope. The brother and sister slowly walked towards the bottom of the slope, but Katara felt a faint crack beneath her right foot. She removed her right foot and saw a Fire Nation war helmet.

"Katara?" Sokka looked at the Fire helmet.

"Sokka, I can't tell her." Katara whsipered and covered the helmet with snow. "I think she needs to see the truth for herself."

"Spoke true." Sokka encouraged, then his mood lightened. "Race ya to the top! Last one to the top is a smelling fish!"

Katara blinked and began to race her older brother. The wind against their face and their legs moving swift, the brother and sister had fun like when they were children. They did indeed had to make a few jumps and twists, but it all ended well. They laughed outloud and finally reached the top, Katara won.

"Yes!" Katara raised her arms in victory.

"Hey, I want a re-run!" Sokka complained, chuckling. "Katara?" He called out.

"Sokka, where is Art?" Katara said worrying, she ran inside the courtyard which was overgrown with weeds. She netered the temple and found Artymis standing before two huge doors with three tubes scattered on the doors' surface and three horns. "Artymis!"

Artymis turned around and smiled, "This was a room where the Airbender Masters would come. It was frobidden to other students." She then looked thoughfully, "I wonder where the other Airbenders are..."

Katara quickly changed the subject. "Could you open it?" she asked. Sokka was now beside her, following her plan.

"Yeah, just a little of air..." Artymis made an air ball in the palms of her two hands and aimed it straight as one of the tube opening. A loud horn sound was made as it confusingly opened the door's lock. The two doors opened wide opened. "Come on!" The Avatar ran in, followed by Katara and Sokka.

"This is too weird." Sokka said, following his sister. "WOW!" he yelled as they entered a grand room, dimly lit by the light from outside.

The room was in a circle shape. The ceiling seemed to reach the limits of the sky. The floor and walls looked marble and all around them, were statues amde of the same substance as the room was. They were aligned on a spiral shelf upon the wall and on the gorund before the younglings. The younglings felt as small as a pea in this room. It was as if this room was a small piece of heaven.

Artymis walked through the statues and stopped before a particular one. This statue was an elderly man, taller than Artymis about a head or so. He had a robe that Artymis could tell was from the Fire Nation. She looked upon the face. His face was not wrinkled as others would expect, instead he looked like a king. His hair was in Fire Nation style. Artymis peered into his eyes and could've sworn they were looking down upon her. She shuddered and looked upon the other statues to his right (her left). It was then she realized the statues before this man were in a cycle of elements and after this kingly statue, was no other.

It's me, she thought. Water, Earth, Fire, and Air. The cycle.

"Who are these people?" Katara asked, bewildered.

"Yeah, and they seemed to be in a cycle of some sort." Sokka pointed out, looking closely at a statue of a man who llooked liked he was from the Water Tribe.

"They're - they're my past lives." Artymis muttered.

"What?" Katara asked.

"These are all the Avatars, the ones before me." Artymis explained and pointed to the kingly man. "The Avatar from the last reincarnation was of the Fire Nation."

"Ha!" Sokka said, as he stood by the girls, "No wonder I didn't trust you before. You were a Firebender!"

"Avatar from Fire Nation." Katara corrected her brother.

"I'm supposed to be right here!" Artymis said, standing next to the elderly man.

"Ok, we'll be back!" Sokka joked.

Artymis smiled weakly and looked back at the man, there was something else about him. Something she could not put her finger on.

"Art, are there any monsters here?" Sokka asked, his voice thin.

"No, why?" Artymis was still staring at the man's eyes.

"'Cause there's one now!" Sokka screamed.

Artymis whirled around and saw a huge shadow of a monsterous shape in the dim light. She backed away with her friend, then laughed out loud. "What a cutie!" she said, as a very small monkey-like creature came before them. The skin was white and the insides of his ears were dark brown as well as his stomach. It bright eyes were too innoccent to cause harm.

"Excellant!" Sokka said, lunging forward. "Food!"

"No!" Artymis shouted as she chased Sokka who chased the small creature, Katara was tailing them all.

"Food! Food! Food! Food! Food!" Sokka cheered out of happiness.

"No!" Artymis tripped him and followed the creature. It disappeared beyond a curtain of silk, the Avatar pushed the silk behind. "Come out, I won't har -" The words died in her mouth as she took in everything she saw. There were bodies and rusted uniforms of Fire Nation soldiers all around her. They were skeletons. There was cracks and weeds in this small room, but something made Artymis cry. At the other end of the room, half buried in a pile of sand and dust: was her former guardian. His magnificant orange clothing looked new and his necklace was aging a bit, but his body. Nothing but bones. A ray of light from the sun shone upon him.

"NO!" She screamed.

Not him! she sanked to her knees. She turned to her brother figure for emotional support: Anduril, it happened...he's dead!

I'm coming! was Anduril's reply.

"No, no, no, no, no, no..." She whispered to herself and covered her eyes and shook her head. "It can't be!" Artymis ran from the room and outside, where a sad-looking Katara and Sokka were. "You knew?" They nodded, grief in their eyes. "Why didn't you tell me?" She pulled on their coats and asked them over and over again, tears shinning in her eyes. A long-lasting, painful, sharp knife punged into her heart. She looked up, anger and sadness mixed together in her tearful eyes.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME!"

Prince Zuko and his Uncle Iroh were walking away from their ship, which was currently being repaired on the harbor. Zuko wanted to avoid any toher Fire Nation high ranks such as general, commader, etc. He was walked normally as his uncle talked of how long they stay at the harbor 'till their ship was fully repaired.

"We can't stay long." Zuko interruppted. "We can't loose her tra - " He fell to the ground and clutched his chest where a long-lasting, sharp pain stabbed him - in his heart.

"Zuko!" Iroh bent down and aided his nephew. "What happened?"

"I - I - " Zuko managed to say through gritted teeth. " - feel a - a - pain - in my - my - chest!"

"Zuko, hang on!" Iroh said.

Why do I feel this...this pain? Is it mine? the prince though to himself as the pain grew stronger. Or...someone else's?

He clutched his chest tighter as the pain grew and grew. He shut his eyes and tried to stand up.

"No!" He heard his uncle's distant voice. "We'll get you help!"

Zuko heard another voice, before falling into a deep sleep. A voice he hated so much. "Well, well, well. If it isn't the banished Prince Zuko himself?"

It was Zhao.

"Artymis..." Katara's voice drifted off.

"Artymis," Sokka said sincerely, "I know the pain you feel now. It happened to our mother. It's too hard to bear."

Artymis drew away from there and began running blindly. She had no idea where she was going on. She didn't want to think ahead. All she wanted was to grieve for the death of her loving guardian, the father-figure to her.

Death isn't easy to accept.

The Avatar thought this line over and over. Death, to see, was easy. But accepting it, was a completely different story. She cried and fell on all fours. Clutching the snow in balled fists, heat waved in her body as the wind obeyed her will. She jumped up lightly and was hovering into an air ball. The arrows of an Airbender showing clearly on her arms and forehead. Her eyes glowed once more and her face was in a mask of revenge. She raised her arms into the air and stared straight up. The wind surrouded her and fearfully obeyed the will of the emotions that the Avatar had. They did not know, but the statues in that one grand room, had glowing eyes now.

Katara and Sokka were pulled back from the wind that their friend had conjured up, not purposely though. The wind was faster than it had ever been. Katara and Sokka took shelter behind two boulders. Clutching on to her own shelter, Katara popped her head out and tried to calm Artymis down:

"I know what it feels like!" The Waterbender cried out, remembering an old wound. "I've lost my mother too Artymis! It feels like you're left behind! Like they never loved you! I know!" The wind now violently shook. Sokka hid behind the boulder and admired his sister's courage. "The Fire Nation took my mother's life without hesitation!" A few tears were pulled away by the wind from Katara's blue eyes. "They took your loved ones! I know Artymis! I can even feel the pain you're suffering right now! But that doesn't mean you can kill yourself! You have new friends - Sokka and me!"

The wind shook less violently. It decreased to the point where the brother and sister no longer need to hold on to the boulders. Katara walked up to Artymis, who was being lowered to the gorund.

"Artymis - Sokka, Anduril, and I are you family now." Katara said, extending out a hand to her friend.

Artymis slowly turned around. The arrows had just faded and left the Airbender looking weary. The words Katara told her rang through her ears. Artymis slowly walked to her friend and embraced Katara, who hugged her back. Artymis cried on her shoulder as Katara soother her out.

"There, there, it's alright." Katara said softly. For now, Katara was the only comfort there was for Artymis.

Prince Zuko awoke and found himself lying in a tent. His uncle Iroh watching him, sitting a nearby chair. Zuko sat up and pressed a hand to his chest, the pain was gone.

"Zuko, are you alright?" Iroh asked, his voice worried.

"I -I'm fine, uncle." Was the reply.

"The healer says you have suffered either a mentel or heartbreaking pain." Iroh explained, "Who broke your heart, Zuko? Tell me, which girl?"

Zuko immediately sat up straight, he looked to his uncle oddly. "Me? A heartbreak? No way!"

His uncle sighed and said, "Whenever you're ready to talk, talk to me."

"Yeah." Zuko said, uncertain. He changed the subject . "Is Zhao here?"

His uncle nodded his head, "Commander Zhao, Zuko."

"Commander?" Zuko repeated and his memory drifted off to the Avatar. "The girl! Is our ship ready ye - "

"Girl? You're chasing a girl, Zuko?" Commander Zhao came in. He had a smirk on his face. Zhao was a man of high ranks and the most disliked guy aropund. His gray-black hair in same fashion as Iroh. He also wore a Commader's armor.

"None of your buisness!" Zuko said, getting up from bed, he turned to his uncle. "Uncle Iroh, we need to get back on the trail."

"Trail? What trail?" Zhao asked.

Zuko ignored that question. "Commander Zhao, we need to get back to our ship as soon as possible." The commander shook his head. "What!" Zuko yelled.

"I need to ask you a few questions, if you don't mind." Zhao indictated a seat for Zuko. Looking to his uncle, who nodded, Zuko sat down. "First of all, how is your progress in searching the Avatar?"

The prince had been waiting for this question up 'till he was awake, he was ready for it. "No luck."

Zhao shook his head, "The Avatar is the only thing that can defeat the Fire Lord. If the Avatar is captured, the Fire Nation will easily become the supreme element."

"Really?" Iroh said, hardly impressed in reality.

"My father is a fool thinking the entire world will follow him without a word." Zuko gritted through teeth.

Before the commander could say anything, a messenger came. He saluted Iroh and Zhao only.

"Report." Zhao commanded.

"Sir, we interrogetive the crewmen and it appears the Prince Zuko had the Avatar in hand, but let her escape." The messanger reported.

Zhao was taken back by a small fact. "Her?" He glancedat the prince, "The Avatar is a female?"

Clenching his fists, he answered "She's a lot stronger than you think."

"Oh really?" The commander laughed, "Or were you a lot weaker than she was?" He turned to the messenger, "Send this to all of our armies: The Avatar is alive and well. It's a female this time. Oh and Prince Zuko will tell us every detail from there." The soldier saluted and left. "Now," The commander sat in a chair. "How old is this Avatar?"

"About 15." Zuko automatically replied.

"I see, appearences?" Zhao asked, a smirk on his face again.

"She is an Airbender, though dresses all in white." Iroh answered.

"Like a bride?" Zhao laughed. "What else?"

"Dark brown hair, like the bark on a tree." Iroh explained, "Green eyes like - "

" - like shining emeralds." Zuko muttered. "Her lips are a color of gold." He hadn't realized that the two elderly men were staring at him, especially Iroh.

"Hmmm." Zhao thought for a moment than said, "Anything else?"

"She wears a necklace." Zuko exlained the designs and the colors of Artymis' necklace.

"You two are dismissed." Zhao said finally.

Zuko and his uncle walked out to their ship, only then when they were sailing, did Zuko questioned his uncle about the commander. "What does Zhao plan to do now?" Zuko asked. "He's going to find the Avatar before me, isn't he?"

"No, he won't." Iroh said firmly, this lighten the prince's mood a little. "'Her eyes like shining emeralds'." Iroh teased that it fumed Zuko up.

"Enough!" the prince said, "To the Southern Air Temple!"

Artymis, Katara, Sokka, Anduril, and that monkey-like creature sat around a warm fire inside the temple. It was already past sunset. Everyone sat in silence and watched the flames danced. Artymis was feeling much better now than she ever did.

"Good thing you found those snacks, Sokka." Artymis said.

"Anytime." Sokka said.

"Come here Momo!" Katara beckoned.

"Momo?" Sokka and Artymis chorsued.

"Yeah, I decided to call him that." Katara looked around, "Can we keep him?"

Before Sokka objected, Artymis said cheerfully, "Of coarse! He's so cute!"

"Oh great!" Sokka murmured, as he lay against a wall with fur on it. Suddenly the wall moved. Sokka jumped and everyone backed into one corner as Anduirl was in battle position. A low groan was hear was a tail whipped out and the "wall" turned around to reveil two big dark eyes.

It was a Bison.

"A Bison!" Everyone chrosued.

Anduril relaxed a bot and began communicating with the long-lost Bison. After a long conversation of groans and roars, Anduril trasfered it all to Artymis, who tolf her freinds. "Anduril says that the Bison's name is Appa." Artymis explained. "Appa was gone hunting when the Fire Nation attacked. He returned to find everything, his friends and family destoyed. He remained here, with Momo. Appa has stayed here since, he had not thought of anyone coming up here."

"That's so sad." Katara said.

Sokka nodded them jumped, "Wait!" he pointed at Artymis with a finger, "You can understand them?"

"No not really." Artymis said, "Anduril and I can communicate, telepathicly. He explains to me what Appa said."

"That sure is new!" Sokka said.

Artymis and Katara laughed. They all decided to keep Appa. They didn't want Appa left behind and he volunteered that they could sleep on his back, where there was a round piece of wood, used for large amounts of luggage and people. They agreed since it was hard to sleep on Anduril's back.

It was time to go to sleep, and they left the fire roaring. Appa and Anduril enclosed around the humans to keep them safe and extra warm. Sokka was agaisnt Appa with Momo sleeping on top of his head. Katara was also against Appa, having a nice dream. Appa was snoring lightly. Artymis was leaned against Anduril, who kept his head laid next to her. Everyone was asleep. But everyone was not sleeping peacefully, atleast not Artymis who was struggled through a nightmare. It was a beautiful dream, transformed into a nightmare.

(Half-an-Hour Later)

NO! Artymis sat up straight from her nightmare. She panted and the sweat trickled down from her. She sighed and thought, It was all a dream. It was all a dream. Seeing everyone asleep, Artymis got up and quietly walked around Appa and Anduril to go to a spring inside the temple. One tiny little sound, and Anduril and Appa will be up - especially Anduril.

Anduril, at times, was very very overprotective of Artymis. Whether it was an Airbender boy flirting with her or teasing her lightly, Anduril took it seriously. Artymis still remembered when she fell off a cliff, that Anduril was a blur and came right in time - two seconds after she fell - and caught her. "Very overprotectice brother" Artymis called him and they would laugh happily. Back when she hadn't learn who she really was.

Remembering the steps to the spring, Artymis recalled her nightmare.

It felt realistic, she thought as she passed two opened doors. She smiled to see the spring was still untouched. The spring glowed as clear water fell from the top of it's fountain. The fountain, in shape of a Bison, was crystilized. Although it was a very dark room, the spring glowed. Artymis, smiling weakly, ran to the spring and sat on the high benches around it. Taking her knee-high boots off, she thought to herself of Prince Zuko.

"What could he be doing now?" Artymis muttered as she dipped her toes into the spring's water.

Prince Zuko was being led into a hidden cave by his captain. The cave would lead them up to the Southern Air Temple, this was how the Fire Nation invaded and kill the Airbenders. Zuko was side-by-side with his uncle, who, whenever the captain was too busy where he put his foot, teased Zuko.

"'Her eyes like shining emeralds'?" Iroh repeated, he laughed. "Which poem did you get this one out of?"

"I didn't get it out of a poem!" Zuko said, he gritted his teeth, for the 50th time.

"Oh, you didn't?" Iroh smiled. "Then, in that case, you have the ability of a poetic."

"Uncle!" Zuko hissed.

"Oh, alright!" Iroh agreed. "No more talk of your strange poetic ability back there."

"Thank you!" Zuko said.

"In here!" The captain said, as the three ran up a staircase. They surfaced out into the temple's courtyard. "Should we secure the perimeter?" he asked.

"Yes," Zuko said, "Go back to the ship and bring the crew here."

With a nod, the captain left and Iroh and Zuko were slone in the courtyard.

"What do we do now?" Iroh asked his nephew.

"We find the Avatar." Zuko answered and head inside the temple, his uncle closely following him. They walked around and Zuko heard water running, like a waterfall. "What's that?" he asked.

A pause. "A fountain or a spring." His uncle answered, both followed the source of the water.

When they were at the doorway of the room where the water was running, it was a spring. Zuko was not looking at the water or the fountain itself. He was staring at a figure by the spring. She had her feet in the water and was humming softly. It was Artymis. Creating a fireball in the palm of his hand, Zuko silenced his uncle and pointed at the the Avatar. Zuko hurled the fireball at her.

Unaware that she was targeted or being watched, Artymis thought her dream over. Fire. Ashes. Blood. She shook her head and sighed. She pulled her feet from the spring and was about to turn around to see a fireball hurled at her. Artymis moved quickly and fell on the floor as the fireball smashed into the top of the fountain, the crystal bison. Crystal shards flew in every direction and everyone in that room covered their heads.

Zuko peeked a look at the Avatar, he gasped as a sharp shard was targeting her. "Avatar!" He warned, Artymis looked at him questioningly. Next thing he knew, Zuko was shielding the Avatar from the shards by holding her as a few shards bounced off his armor. He was bleeing though, since some went through the armor. Zuko embraced Artymis as a mean to protect her. Artymis clung to him and called for Anduril.

Anduril!

Artymis!

No, wait! Get out!

Anduril was already coming for her, Artymis looked up. Zuko's face was in a mask of pain. He fell to the ground when all the shards stopped. Artymis held on to him still and supported him. Zuko opened his eyes and stared at how she was still trying to help him.

"Why?" He asked.

"You saved me, I save you." Artymis said.

"Zuko!" Iroh came and helped Artymis carry Zuko to the spring. "In here," Iroh said.

"Why?" The prince asked.

"It'll help you recover." Artymis replied and helped his uncle dipped the prince halfway in.

The old Firebender and young Avatar straighten up and watched the spring glow even more as it healed Zuko. Artymis glanced at the old man. He seemed like a nice man, like a grandfather. She then noticed that his eyes were golden, like Zuko's.

"Are you his father?" Artymis asked the elderly man.

He blinked and shook his head, "No, I am his uncle."

"Oh." Artymis said, then pointed at Zuko. "He should be healed now, the spring is pretty fast at healing." She picked up her boots, pulled them on, and began to walk out when a fireball hurled past her roght eat. Artymis went pale. She turned around and saw Zuko in position battle. She groaned, "Come on! You're in no position to battle, the spring may heal quick. But you could still easily bleed if you don't wait a day or so."

"And?" Zuko asked.

"And?" Artymis was now tired of him eventhough it had been only two days since they met. "And I will not fight you."

"Good," The prince said, "It'll be easier to capture you!"

"Capture me?" Artymis was still shocked that after she helped him heal, he would still fight her. She looked around at the windows and smiled. Turning her attention back to the prince, she saw that his uncle was trying to calm his nephew down, saying she was right about the spring healing.

"I don't care!" Zuko shouted, "I will capture this Avatar and head home for good!"

"Um, you don't want to do that." Artymis said, almost singing it.

Zuko glared at her. "And why not?"

"My brother is coming." Artymis said, nodding her head. Obviously the two Firebenders were surprised at this.

"Your brother?" They asked.

"Older, and very very overprotective brother." Artymis corrected.

"I'll take him as well." Zuko said proudly, a smirk on his face.

Artymis laughed, "You won't have enough room!"

"Why not?"

A roar tore the sky apart and the window and walls cracked as a silver dragon came bursting in. He gritted his sharp teeth and growled. There was menace in his large eyes that never left the two Firebenders. His tail whipped around and snatched Artymis. A bison also came in, growling lowly but dangerously. Both dragon and bison flew out.

"No!" Zuko shouted and watched once again the Avatar escape. He had no time to see which direction they were going, because there were mumblings from above. Zuko looked up. His men, including the captain, were all tied up and were hanginfrom the roof.

"Damn it!" Zuko shouted.

"Katara! Sokka!" Artymis said, riding on Anduril's back. Her freinds, including Momo, were riding on Appa. There was more room over there.

"Artymis!" Katara nearly yelled angrily, "You had us worried sick when the soldiers came and tried to kidnap us!"

"I'm sorry!" Artymis said, truly feeling sorry.

"From now on, you will be chained to us - 7 days a week, 24hrs. a day!" Sokka said.

Artymis noticed Katara's expression soften and asked "But you wanted to see everything, huh?"

Artymis nodded. "I will never go anywhere alone without any of you guys with me!" she said seriously, "Promise!"

"Good!" Katara sighed and sat back down.

"Art, you have better be careful next time!" Sokka said.

"I will, Captain Soak!" Artymis agreed, saluting him.

Her friends fell into a deep sleep. They slept as she talked with Anduril, and he would trasfer words from Appa to Artymis.

Artymis, you were nearly captured again! Anduril growled.

The Avatar sighed. Sorry, I didn't mean to. I just wanted to see the spring. Please forgive me!

You know I do. Anduril answered. Did that man, Zuko, do any harm to you?

No, actually, he shielded me from harm - for a moment atleast. Artymis replied.

I be careful about him, I know there's a rat when I smell one! Anduril and Artymis laughed, along with Appa who listened.

Artymis did not tell either of her frends of her nightmare, all she thought was: It's a dream, nothing more. She smiled as she recalled what she lost and gained. She lost her father-figure and old friends, but she gained a completely new family. A home, for her and Anduril. They flew over the sea. The stars in the sky sparkling brightly.

Prince Zuko opened his eyes and sat up from his nightmare. He sighed. Zuko placed his face into his hands and breathed. He had nightmares of the day of his banishment, but none like this where the Avatar, Artymis, came in.

"I have to find her." Zuko muttered, "And I will."

Author's Note: Phew! I hope you guys like this chapter. Let me tell you, I had a writer's block at the beginning of this chapter, then (like last night) I got a bunch of ideas! I hope it isn't too long, it was like 9+ pages in my computer. Well, if you see any mistakes, please tell me, I will get to it as soon as I can. I also don't know if I did a good job in this chapter, so please fell free to point out anything that doesn't make sense or need correcting.I had to add a little humor to Uncle Iroh about the mix up Zuko had, to me it's kinda funny. L8ters!

PrincessZula24400: Thanks for pointing out the mistakes, I appreciate it. I always though Sokka and Katara were twins, go figure!

Audrey: Thank you for your compliment. I feel special now. lol

Firework: I feel your pain about stories you like take a LONG time to update, or they just never do. I've been there, and I guess this chapter got here faster than I expected.