Oi... I'm so stinkin' sick it's not funny. I came down with something the night before my Psychology AND literature test, and I've been sick ever since. It STINKS. I feel horrible... and the world continues without me. Oh well... here's the new chapter for everyone... review and make me feel better, please! Sniffle (I dinnot own Avatar)

The next few days passed in a similarly pleasant manner. During the day we would fly on Appa's back. We talked, practiced bending, and spent a lot of time teasing each other. I must say, I was greatly enjoying myself. Sokka and Katara told me all about their home, in the Southern Water Tribe. They eventually convinced me to tell them about my home. A lot of the stuff took a long time to explain, like cars, phones, and electricity. That one took a long time.

I noticed Sokka had started showing signs of crushing on me… I wasn't all that pleased, seeing how I'm scared of guys who have crushes on me. Every now and then I would catch him watching me, then looking away when our eyes met. Blushing was a common side effect.

Why me?

I had caught Sokka looking at me 'discreetly' for the … I don't know, seventh time? I rolled my eyes and looked the other direction, catching Katara watching us with a grin.

"What." I asked in my annoyed voice.

"Nothing!" Katara smirked and went to join Aang at Appa's head as we landed for lunch. I groaned dramatically and jumped off as soon as we landed on the ground.

"I'm going to go for a short walk, need to relax somewhere. See y'all in a bit!"

Katara waved distractedly as she set out some bowls.

Slinging my bag across my shoulder again, I set off through the lush foliage. I definitely needed some alone time. Though I had initially started off at a brisk walk, I soon slowed to a more relaxed pace as I wandered around. I didn't go too far from the campsite, but just enough to feel alone.

The trees were shedding leaves in a faint wind, and they fell all around me on the ground with a gentle rustling. Light filtered through the leaves and turned the world a pale green. I breathed deeply, closing my eyes and listening to the peace and quiet.

Dallas has nothing on this…. But… An unchecked sob caught me by surprise and I quickly held others back. I feel so terrible. I've tried to keep from missing my family so much that I've pushed them completely from my mind! I let my bag slip off my shoulder and onto the ground. What kind of a person am I?

A tear slid down my cheek and I brushed it away fiercely. I wouldn't let myself cry. I was here for a reason, and even if I missed my family, I would stick through. I would be strong and grow.

After mastering myself once more, I looked around. I had stopped in a small clearing, leaves falling and settling on the floor.

Maybe I should just practice bending. It's calming…

Taking a ready pose, hands held in front, I closed my eyes and began the movements. Stepping into a wide Waterbending stance, I gathered a little moisture from the soil and atmosphere, dragging it through the air after my hands. In one motion I swept my hand low to the ground, returning the moisture to the earth while simultaneously pulling a trail of leaves from the ground as I finished the motion.

I focused on moving them together, a long trail of leaves rushing around me as I spun, then flying high into the air when I threw my hand up and released hem. When they began their descent I created a small shield above my head; concentrating on keeping the leaves from landing on me. It was pretty easy.

After most of the leaves I had thrown landed, I caught one on fire and moved the flames around carefully. I didn't practice too long with Firebending, seeing how I'd already had a lot of practice with Iroh. Last of all, I drew the earth higher underneath me, almost like a pedestal, leapt off and landed lightly on the ground while rippling the earth faintly beneath me.

I opened my eyes, and heard the sound of light clapping from a single person. Spinning around quickly I caught sight of a fairly roughly dressed man standing on the edge of the clearing. There were two others on either side of him, both looking equally impressed and shocked.

"Amazing. That was some impressive Earthbending."

I almost sighed out loud in relief; he must have missed the other stuff. I placed my bag over my shoulder once more.

"Thanks." I smiled lightly. "Name's Kristen."

The man approached, and held out his hand. "Renu-Poi."

Odd name. But OK! I reached out and took his hand.

Before I could think he grabbed my hand roughly and twisted it savagely behind my back. My mouth opened in a silent cry of pain, and I spotted other dirty men coming out from the trees too. Renu-Poi tied my hands in front of me with an abrasive rope, and began dragging me after him amidst the jeers of his fellows.

"Hey! Stop! Who are you! What are you doing?" Caught off guard, I struggled vainly.

"As I said, my name is Renu-Poi, and these are my fellow bandits." The men sneered at me through crooked, blackened, or missing teeth. "But most importantly, we specialize in the slave trade."

I stopped my struggles, feeling suddenly numb. My voice felt snatched from my throat. I whispered. "No…"

A split second after my initial shock had worn off I leapt to my defense. I drew a thick film of dust from the ground around us, and pulled a rock out of the earth to send it crashing into Renu-Poi's head. He collapsed, unconscious, and I was freed from his grip though my hands were sill bound.

To keep them from guessing at other bending abilities, I stuck with Earthbending and lifted the earth directly beneath me into the air and above the heads of the confused bandits, surrounded in dust. I landed the rock I had been riding out of reach of the bandits and set off at a run toward Aang and the others.

I hadn't gone very far when I heard the once more familiar whistling sound of an arrow. Spinning around quickly I tried to dodge the projectile but it had been shot with precision. The hardened tip hit my left shoulder with a loud Thud, the force knocking me back to the ground. I cried out in pain. Though I may have been hit by paintballs before, this was nothing compared to it. Tears leaked between my tightly clenched eyes and I brought my hands up toward the protruding arrow.

Someone snatched my hands away from it and pulled me to my feet, disregarding my cries of pain as I moved. As I stood, I felt dizzy and opened my eyes. My protective screen of dust had settled, and the bandits stood around me once more, Renu-Poi clutching his bloody head. The man who had pulled me to my feet had a sling of arrows across his back, and a bow in his free hand. He pushed me toward my captors.

"She's yours. Let's get going now."

Someone moved the arrow sticking out of my shoulder and I screamed in pain as the point moved deep inside the wound. Then I lost consciousness.

When I opened my eyes some time later, I realized someone was carrying me. Well, more like I was slung across someone's back. The second thing I noticed was it was dark out, as in night dark. The last thing I realized was we were passing through a village of some sort. There were buildings around, and what could have been a marketplace in daylight. I groaned, suddenly feeling the soreness in my shoulder. Pain lanced through my shoulder and head.

"Well, look who's finally awake!" The person carrying me shook me slightly. "It's about time too, it'll make our exchange much smoother with the product able to stand." I could hear laughter around me. Someone slapped the back of my thighs, dangling over the shoulder of the man carrying me. I cringed.

"Quiet!" I recognized the voice of Renu-Poi. "Don't draw any attention to yourselves… I want this to go off without a hitch." He knocked on a thick wood door. It creaked open, and a man whispered urgently.

"Inside. Quiet."

When we had all gathered in the black room, the man lit a light and our shadows were played across the walls. The man carrying me set me down roughly on my feet.

"This it?" A chubby, greasy skinned man peered at me closely. He was balding, and had a thick beard. Eyeing me up and down like I was a horse he was inspecting before purchasing.

"She's wounded." He poked my shoulder and I winced.

"Not our fault." Renu-Poi complained. "She tried to run away, and a stupid freelancer shot her with an arrow, fixed him good for that. But see? We bandaged her up good." He pulled my tunic off my shoulder to show the hole. Though the wound was closing nicely, there was an unhealthy look around the cut skin.

The bald man looked closer. "Hmm… it looks infected. But with proper medical attention it should heal up fine." He ran his finger over the skin of my shoulder. I cringed. "Healthy, pretty, strong... Interesting hair." He fingered a curl. I tried to yank it away and he grinned. "I'll take her."

I slumped against the wall. Everything began blurring; noise, sight, feeling. I knew the men were discussing payment and cost, but I didn't care. I was being sold. When the man grabbed my wrists and pushed me into a smaller room I still moved in a daze. I overheard him telling the others they could sleep upstairs, then the outside room was silent.

As soon as the sun peeked through a small crack in the mud wall, the greasy man dragged me out of the room and pushed me out of doors behind his house again. During the day, the square was transformed into a bustling market. There were vendors, buyers, and the bandits. A crowd of people had gathered in front of a small platform, and I saw a few other people whose hands were bound along the sides in a line.

It's just like I pictured something like that would be.

I was placed at the back of the line, and the bandits stood around watching for soldiers or someone who would attempt to run away. I was still too stunned, too out of it, to do anything to help myself.

The greasy man pulled a little boy up beside him on the platform, and the crowd in front of him hushed expectantly.

"First up, we offer a strong, healthy ten year old boy! He has strong arms," here he demonstrated by lifting the boy's arm, "good teeth," again, he opened the boy's mouth, "and he doesn't try to run away!" A few in the audience chuckled. "Starting at ten! Do I have ten? It's a good bargain!"

I zoned out as the people before me were sold in a similar manner one by one. Looking around, I caught sight of Renu-Poi watching the sales. I suddenly noticed he had my bag slung over his shoulder, and my Katana stuck in his belt along with his own wide saber. I couldn't help but glare slightly.

I was snapped out of my thoughts when the bald, greasy man grabbed my wrists and pulled me onto the stage.

"Now here," already I could see some people's eyes in the audience light up, "is an beautiful specimen. Amazing hair, pretty face and body, and not a weak girl!" He winked at the audience and a few men looked pretty interested.

"How much?" an older, fat man called in the middle of the crowd.

"Ah I could get a good 40 for her in Ba Sing Se! But since you are such good customers, I will start at 20!" A hand shot up. "I have 20, how about 25?" Another hand. "30?" Two hands. "35!" One hand this time. "40?" No one raised a hand. "35 then?" The same hand was raised; another greasy, fat man with a greedy look in his eye. "35! Any others? No? Sold! You have a great bargain sir!" He took my wrists again and began dragging me down the stage toward the man. I resisted, locking my legs and refusing to move forward.

"Come on, foolish girl!" He tugged again. "Move!" He glared at me, as I stood silent and immobile. He turned suddenly and backhanded me hard across the face. My head twisted to the side and I fell off the platform and into the dirt, landing on my wounded shoulder. I cried out in pain.

As I struggled feebly to get to my feet, I spotted through the dust a pair of very red, familiar shoes. My eyes traveled up the legs, pants, and armor to look into the stunned eyes of Zuko.