"Do you think this child is dangerous Armin?"
"Well, they were talking about firebenders? What's a guy to do?"
"Armin! What in the world has gotten into you?A child? Honestly! He doesn't look any older than thirteen! What could he possibly do to you or anyone else for that matter? And look at the others! The girl's is as cold as ice! She can't be that dangerous! And besides, her necklace has a water Nation symbol on it. Not a fire Nation sign. The older boy, what'd he say that thing they were near was? A Flying Buffalo?"
Aang opened his eyes. He was lying in a bed in a small house he'd never seen before. His head was acheing terribly. He rolled over, pulling the quilt up underneath his chin. There in the doorway stood a stout, motherly looking woman, she was standing next to a man with jet-black hair. He's the one who attacked us! What am I doing in his-Katara! Sokka! Where are they?
Aang stood up slowly, which grabbed the man called Armin's attention. But his head gave a painful throb, he became dizzy and sat back down. He reached up to soothe his head but was surprised to find it rapped in bandages.
"What happened? Where's Katara and Sokka? What about Appa and Momo? Are they okay?" He babbled on at the woman.
He stared at him before letting out a joyful laugh. "Well, your up. Now here drink this. It'll make you feel better." She handed him a steaming cup of hot chocolate before continuing. "As for those kids you were with, well, the older one went somewhere. But he's fine, except for a few cuts and bruises. Thanks to this oaf of a husband I have. Excuse him, he thought you were Firebenders. Why? I don't want to know. As for Oppa and Momo, did you say? You mean the Giant Bear-Beaver and Flying squirrel? They're out in the pasture. We thought they must have been important to you. And Katara? Is that the girl? Well, I'm afraid she hasn't woken up yet. She over in there." The woman gestured to a door. "Oh, forgive me. My name's Nancy and the man who attacked you I'm afraid to say is my husband, Armin. Now, do tell us who you are. The older boy didn't seem to trust us much. Ran out without saying much."
"My name's Aang." Aang mumbled. He was grateful to Nancy for being so kind but he wasn't ready to rush up and hug Armin just yet. "And thanks for your hospitality. Umm, the girl, her name's Katara. She's a Water Bender from the Southern Water Tribe with her brother Sokka. He's the other boy. Appa, the 'Bear-Beaver' is my Flying Bison and the 'Flying Squirrel' in my Leemer, Momo." Aang didn't care he was nearly telling his entire life story to these people. They'd saved his life, they couldn't be all bad, right?
"Flying Bison? But they're from the-"
"Air Nation, yes. I'm an Air Bender. I'm the Avatar. I came here to learn Earth Bending."
"Well, that's enough of an explanation for me. I suppose that explains the funny tattoos too?" Aang nodded. "Well then, you go out and play. I've got a patiant that needs tending too."
"Do you think-" Aang was cut short by a door opening. He looked over and saw Katara looking back at him.
"Aang!" She ran and threw her arm around him in a hug with a force so strong Aang nearly staggered backwards. He hugged her back before they broke apart after a moment or two. "Are you alright?" Aang looked at her. Her eyes were full of concern and she kept glancing fearfully at his head.
"I'm fine!" Katara didn't look entirely assured. "Really, what about you?"
Katara smiled. "Relieved." She had a few cuts and scrapes but looked alright except for-
"Your arm! What-?" Katara's left arm was wrapped in bandages and it hung in a homemade sling. She sighed amused.
"I was wondering how long it would be until you noticed. Come on, it's a long story," She took Aang by the hand and he felt his cheeks burn. Cut it out. Katara sat next to him on the couch he had been laying on earlier. She turned to face him before continuing. "Well, I guess I should start where you remember. Um, well, we were talking on the beach and, well, you remember." She glanced over at Nancy who had become oddly interested with refolding a washcloth seven times. Katara's cheeks went bright crimson before she started again. "Well, I passed out for a while. But, when I did wake up the man who attacked us,"
"Armin." Aang said suddenly.
"Right." Katara smiled again. "Armin, had taken the boulder off of me and was taking one off of Sokka. I got up and ran to the woods. He apparently heard me get up because he whirled around to where I was and started looking for me. I started to run away before I remembered you and Sokka were still on the beach, so I climbed up the tree I was hiding behind. I watched him take the rocks off of Sokka and you and kept watching until I saw him react when he finally really looked at you. He began searching you, I guess for a sign that we were from the Fire Nation. But when he couldn't find anything he started to see whether you were alive. He started to pick you up but that's when I jumped down from the tree." She blushed again and Aang waited for her to continue. "I tried to knock him out without hurting you. He, sort of slung you aside and I started to hit him as best as I could with the water from the beach. I was surprised that he didn't fight back for a while. He just kept dodging whatever I threw at him. But after a while he started to get sick of it I guess. He started Earth Bending and throwing rocks about the size of a fist at me. I realized he was only trying to knock me down and that he wasn't aiming to kill. But I kept up my act until he finally threw a small boulder at me and I tried to block it with my arm but it collided with it. I heard a crack and saw my arm bent back at a funny angle and it was hurting a lot. In a last attempt I ran into him trying to knock him down and he threw another rock. It hit my stomach and winded me enough to a point where I doubled over. Then, I felt another rock hit my head and every thing went black." Aang stared at her. Now that he saw her closely the small cuts and scrapes he saw earlier were really deep gashes all across her face and arms. He looked at her legs and saw they had small bandages in places and he could see where the blood had seeped through. Wow, she risked her life to save us. Sokka and me, and she kept it up even when she got hurt.
"But, Katara, you can't Water Bend…and it's all my fault." Aang stared at the ground, ashamed.
"What are you talking about Aang? I know I can't Water Bend now but, it isn't your fault." She tried to read him. What in the world does he mean? His fault?
"Well, if you weren't with me, you wouldn't have been attacked. You'd be back in the Water Tribe…safe." After now I wouldn't be surprised if she went back too.
Katara laughed softly when what he said finally sunk in. No wonder. "Aang, it may have been because I was with you," HiHHHHHHrdhs heart sank, here it comes, "But it isn't your fault I got hurt. That was my decision. And I wouldn't trade all our adventures for the world." Aang suddenly felt all bubbly and alive. He felt the need the need to run for miles. "Come on," Katara grabbed Aang's hand with her good arm and pulled him outside.
Outside, there were a lot of houses, just like Nancy and Armin's, and a few shops. Up ahead there was a palace, and everything seemed to be either gold, green, or both. Katara led Aang up a street where everyone stopped what they were doing to stare at them.
"Katara…" Aang pulled his hand out of her grip.
"What is it?" She stopped and turned to look at him. Suddenly she saw what he ment. What it the world? This can't be good. A few people seemed to be glaring at them. "Oh."
"Get them!" Some one in the crowd screamed.
"Run Aang!" Katara grabbed his hand as they ran as fast as they could from the crowd that was chasing them. Great. Just great. Katara panted as she pulled Aang around the corner and straight into a man who looked liked a guard. He tried to grab Katara who ducked so the man's arms closed around air. Aang suddenly pushed off the ground with such a powerful burst of wind that he and Katara flew straight onto the roof tops. They ran and jumped from roof top to roof top until they reached Nancy's house. They jumped down onto Appa and Sokka, who had been standing next to the pasture ran and grabbed one of Appa's toes as they lifted off the ground and into the safety of the sky.
"That's a nice welcome." Sokka smirked as Katara and Aang caught their breath. "What'd you two do? Katara threw an empty water bottle at him and it hit his head. "Ouch! Hey, watch it!" She didn't bother to hide her grin as Aang rolled around laughing. "At least we're safe-duck!" A large rock flew past the trio and they turned to see no less than twenty Earth Bending guards hot on their tail. "Look out!" They were bombarded by a shower if sharp rocks. Katara winced as a particularly sharp rock hit her bad arm and a searing pain shot through it. If only my arm wasn't broken. I could heal Aang, Sokka, and me back to normal. But attacking us for no good reason? That's the last straw…"
"Go toward the castle!" Katara pushed herself up, dodging rocks, and grabbed Appa's reins from Aang. Startled Aang stared at her as she turned Appa around and headed toward the huge building up ahead. "
"Sure. Let's go toward the people who're trying to kill us!" Sokka ranted. a/n That was taken from a line Sokka said 'Sure let's bring along the people who are always trying to kill us.' From the episode Siege of the North Part II.
"Shut up Sokka!" Katara was irritated, and they were being pelted by rocks, which was not the best combination. She flew Appa faster and landed on the castle roof. She jumped off and flew across the top of the building and disappeared behind a smokestack. "Come on you guys!" She shouted as Sokka and Aang clambered down off of Appa and around to where Katara was standing. "We're going down the smokestack."
"We're what!" Sokka stared at her as though she'd lost her mind.
Katara jumped down the chute without another word. Taking a deep breath, Aang followed her.
Sokka stared down the chute, "Aw, man. I know I'm going to regret this." But he jumped down the chute as well.