Chapter 4
"Sokka would you please stop eating and start packing!" said Katara rolling up a blanket placing it on a pile to be loaded on Appa.
Sokka was laying on the ground with his back against the log he was sitting up last night eating some of the leftover berries. "Why bother Katara? Appa still never showed since yesterday or Momo!"
"So what you could help Barb and Shelby take down the tents while we're waiting! Or you could go help Aang look for them!"
Sokka yawned and scratched his stomach "No actually I'm good right here." Katara gave him loathing glare…….then she smiled. While Sokka closed his eyes to take a nap Katara summoned a long whip of water and smacked her brother on his head, making Shelby and Barb drop the tent poles and bend over laughing.
Sokka rubbed the huge red mark that was on his forehead "HEY!" he cried as his sister laughed at him. Then he came rushing at her knocking her down sending them rolling all over the leaf covered ground.
"They're just like me and my sister!" laughed Shelby as she watched the two siblings tumble all over.
Barb pushed a piece of her black hair that had gotten loose and put it behind her ear" Come on Shelby we should get these tents put away." Shelby nodded as she picked up the tent poles and got back to work. After a half an hour both tents were disassembled and rolled up ready for Appa. Shelby ran her hand through her dark brown hair as she watched Katara grab Sokka by the hair and gave it a tug. Sokka then flipped Katara down her back and gave a short tug on her hair.
"Think we should stop them?" asked Shelby
"I guess before they rip each other's hair out!"
"I'll get Katara you get Sokka."
Walking over to the fight each girl took their person and got them off the ground.
"Now you too behave or else you're both going into a corner!" said Barb who was trying to control a struggling Sokka.
Everyone looked at Barb.
"Wow Barb you sounded like my mom!" said Shelby struggling to keep Katara still.
After about five minutes Aang flew down on Appa with Momo sitting beside him.
Landing gracefully on the ground with his airbending he walked over to them.
Aang looked at Shelby and Barb confused "What happened?"
"Well long story short, Sokka didn't want to help pack up so Katara whacked him on the forehead with a water whip and they got into it. HELP PLEASE!" said Shelby as Sokka was clawing trying to reach Katara.
"GUYS QUIT!" yelled Aang
The siblings stopped struggling and the girls let them go. They eyed each other as Sokka grabbed some stuff and walked towards the great fluffy monster and Katara went to get rid of the ashes from the fire. Barb and Shelby let out a sigh of relief as they wiped the sweat of them.
"Whew thanks Aang!" said Shelby as she sat down on a log.
"Yeah I don't know how much longer we could've held them." said Barb sitting beside Shelby.
Aang laughed and smiled at them "Good thing I came when I did. We would have got here sooner if Appa would have stopped eating moonpeaches!"
Both girls raised an eyebrow "What are moonpeaches?" they asked the girls.
Aang looked at them like they were insane "How do you guys not know what moonpeaches are!" The two of them shrugged. Aang sighed and opened up his handy grass pouch that he had brought from the night before. He took a huge round object. It was the size of a baseball and golden in color with white specks all over it.
"This." he said holding out the huge orb "Is a moonpeach. Probably the most delicious thing in the world. After a few of these you'll be filled to the brim!" He handed to Shelby giving her a goofy grin before walking back over a few feet to were Sokka and Momo were.
Both girls stared after him. Then Barb turned to Shelby and flashed her a smile.
"I think he likes you!" she exclaimed patting the airbender on the back.
Shelby shook her head furiously" No Way! Barb I'm 15! He's only 12! I don't like him in that way!"
"We'll see." she said as she stood up and tightened her ponytail.
"I mean it Barb! I don't like him!" said Shelby also standing up pointing her finger at Barb's chest.
"BARB! SHELBY! DO YOU THINK YOU TWO COULD STOP WITH THE TALKING AND GET OVER HERE AND HELP US!" yelled Sokka. The benders looked over to see both Aang and Sokka pushing on the fluffy beast in an attempt to get him up……which wasn't working too well. Appa yawned a long low yawn and put his head between one of his six arms. The girls walked over and started pushing on his side, but still the bison didn't move. Everyone started to push again even Momo was hitting Appa on the nose with his tail but he still didn't move.
"Come on Appa!" pleaded Aang as stopped to catch his breath. Appa just let out a long groan and dug his head deeper into his legs.
"Stubborn puff ball isn't he!" panted Barb putting one hand on Appa's side.
"O.K. people stand back!" cried Shelby backing up a few paces. Everyone looked at her but moved away. "CHARGE!" she exclaimed as she put her right elbow out in front of her running straight at the puff ball. When she hit him she just bounced off him and landed flat on her butt.
"You O.K. Shelby!" asked Barb looking down at her with a big grin on her face.
Shelby blew a piece of her dark brown hair out of her face "Oh yeah Barb I'm fine! I'm fine! I'm just peachy!" said Shelby her voice dripping in sarcasm she opened her mouth to say more but then she smiled. "I've got an idea!" she said as she got off the ground and brushed herself off.
Barb grabbed her by the shoulder "Wait a minute tell us first remember your last idea!"
"Just trust me." said Shelby taking Barb's hand off then she turned to Aang." Aang go find Katara. Sokka, Barb, and I will stay here a get everything on Appa."
Aang looked at her quizzically but nodded and took off into the trees.
"O.K guys let's go we have work to do!" said Shelby picking up a rolled up tent. With that the others picked something up and got to work.
:;Time Gap;:
"Everyone ready?" asked Shelby as she looked behind her at Sokka, Barb, and Katara.
"As we'll ever be." said Barb who was sitting between Sokka and Katara in the saddle.
Then Shelby turned to Aang were they were both sitting on Appa's furry head "You ready?"
"Yep!" he said taking the reins.
"Alright hold on!" Everyone did as they were told . Barb, Katara, and Sokka held on to the saddle while Aang was holding the reins. Momo was under Katara's hood so only his Emerald eyes could be seen. Holding Appa's horn with one hand Shelby leaned over his head and took out the peach waving it in front of his face.
"Appa lookie lookie! A moonpeach!" said Shelby as Appa stuck his tongue out trying to get the fruit. "YOU WANT IT! GO GET IT BOY!" yelled Shelby as she launched it into the sky with her airbending. With a lurch Appa took off into the sky sending everyone backwards. They rose higher and higher until they were above the white clouds and Appa caught the moonpeach. Finally everything was calm and they rode smoothly.
"Yes! It worked!" said Katara happily looking below them at the puffy snow white clouds.
"Great job Shelby!" said Sokka crawling behind giving her a thump on the back.
"You were awesome Shelby!" said Barb giving her the thumbs up while leaning back against the saddle.
Shelby gave them all an award winning smile "Thanks you guys!"
Aang looked at her with his soft grey eyes " That was a really good plan! I don't know why I didn't think of it!" Shelby laughed and looked ahead to see the sun rising.
"We would never have even thought about getting up this early at home." she said looking behind her at Barb.
"Yeah I know and we never have seen this beautiful sun rise." said Barb as yellow, red, and orange started to fill the morning sky.
Then Shelby let out a soft yawn and stretched.
Aang turned to look at them all "Why don't you guys get some sleep? I'll drive."
Shelby looked at the young Avatar she could tell how tried he was." No Aang you go rest and I'll drive."
Aang opened his mouth to argue to Shelby cut him off "Aang if you don't give me those reins and go to bed I'll push you off!"
Aang sighed and handed her the reins lying down next to Sokka he fell asleep almost immediately. Sokka was snoring loudly next to Katara who was fast asleep. Barb however was awake she smiled a mouthed "You like him." Shelby glared and mouthed back "I do not." Barb just shook her head rolled on her side and closed her blue eyes.
"This is going to be a long trip." thought Shelby as the bison flew into the rising sun.
Unknown to the group a certain Prince had seen them take off and was following them closely.
"I'll capture you this time Avatar." he whispered as he looked through his black telescope. He saw the white bison but just barely because he blended so well in the clouds. Zuko had been up all night tracking them to that island and he had watched them leave. He stood now at the front of his ship his black hair flowing behind him like a flag. His golden eyes focused in the telescope. Then suddenly a hand touched his shoulder. The Prince spun around in fighting stance only to see his uncle.
"Good morning Prince Zuko." said the old man who was stoking his beard.
"Morning Uncle." said the Prince stiffly as he looked at the clouds.
Iroh shook his head disapprovingly "Prince Zuko have you been up all night again? You should really get some rest."
Zuko growled "I don't need rest Uncle what I need is the Avatar."
"Nephew when they land you will need rest to lead the soldiers to victory." said the old man.
"No I won't because I'm going alone I want to beat the Avatar by myself, tonight." said Zuko angrily.
"Prince Zuko the Avatar is too strong for one man to take down!" said Uncle worriedly
"Uncle I am more than capable of being able to defeat a boy, a pathetic warrior, and a weak waterbending wrench!" said the teenager his fists lighting as he walked down the stairs to the lower decks. The old general watched him go shaking his head in defeat watching the sun rise over the blue sea.
:;Time Gap;:
"I am so glad we found a place to land!" said Barb lighting up the fire as she looked around at the huge wooded area.
"So am I!" said Shelby raising her hand from behind the tent, after just finishing putting it up.
Sokka's head just then popped out of the boy's tent "Hey when's dinner going to be done?"
"Sokka I told you we can't even start dinner with out the fish! Katara and Aang should be back soon." said Barb as she played with the flames.
Shelby came out from behind the tent with her staff "Hey Barb since we're done why don't we go for a walk?" asked Shelby
Barb shrugged "Sure. Sokka stay here and keep an eye on the fire." said Barb getting up walking over to Shelby.
Shelby waved at Sokka before they went into the woods. They walked about 10 minutes in silence until Barb said "This is really weird Shelby."
"What is?"
"The whole thing you and me being benders and our new looks." said Barb looking at her armor.
"Yeah well it was pretty weird seeing that I had arrows and that I had brown hair!"
"What's wrong with brown hair?" asked Barb stopping to glare at Shelby.
"Nothing it's was just a shock that's all."
"Well I just wanted to let you know that no matter what I'll be right there to keep you out of trouble." said Barb smiling.
"Ditto." said Shelby knocking knuckles with her.
Suddenly they heard footsteps coming towards them.
"Quick hide!" whispered Barb as they ducked into some bushes beside a tall maple tree.
Peeking out they saw Prince Zuko walking down the path towards the camp.
"Oh no! It's Prince Hothead!" whispered Barb "He's head straight for the camp what do we do!"
"You distract him I'll handle the rest."
Barb quietly followed the Prince until he was almost at camp and jumped out "Hey there!" she said leaping out making him jump.
"Who are you!" he snarled igniting his fists.
"Whoa easy buddy you need anger management!"
"Answer the question or fry!"
Then Barb saw Shelby from the trees, she winked and gestured her hands to get down.
"Sorry Hothead but I have friends in high places!" said Barb ducked just as Shelby opened her glider flying at the Prince at full speed knocking him down flat on the ground.
"Way to go Shelby!" said Barb giving her a high five.
"Thanks!" she said spinning her staff then looking at the man on the ground "What should we do with him?"
"Let's take him back to camp. Grab an arm." Barb said grabbing the Prince of Fire's left arm while Shelby took the right. Together they started on there way back.