Disclaimer: I do not own A: TLA

Chapter 1

I walked through the woods, trying to find my dragon. I had had it up to here with people today. I had travelled to a new village, alone, as usual, and of course, the second the people found out I was the Avatar, they were bending over backwards for me. Why couldn't they just accept that I was just like any other 15-year-old? I hated being the Avatar. Why couldn't I just be Roku? Like I was before? When I first found out who I was, I was so excited, dreaming of all the brilliant adventures I'd have, and how incredible it would be to bend four different elements. Now I was older, I knew how naïve I had been.

Even small children in that village had been silent and respectful. I could hear parent's urgent whispers as I approached. "Sh, children! It's the Avatar!"

"You must be respectful!"

"Bow, and don't look at his face. It would be most improper,"

"Do not speak unless spoken to!" I sighed inwardly as I heard the men and women shushing their over-excited children. I would rather have been jumped by all of them waving sticky sweets than be forced to listen to their parent's orders. I could hear one voice that was definitely not lowered. A young girl and her brother were having an argument outside their house. I sat unnoticed on a bench and watched as the scene unfolded. "I don't care! I'm telling you, it's not my turn to do the chores tonight, and I definitely don't intend to do them! I have far more important things to do!"

"Like what? Your precious 'studies'?"

"Yes, my precious studies! I don't see why you can't just do your share of the work!"

"Because father says-,"

"Like I care what father thinks!"

"Mother does her chores without complaining! Why can't you?"

"Mother shouldn't have to! She's not very well, and you and father just pile more and more work on her!"

"So help her out, and do your share!"

"I've done more than enough of my share of the chores! Why can't you do it?"

"Because I'm a man!"

"Oh, and that makes all the difference. Well, like it or not, you are going to do some work for once,"

"I work! I am a skilled warrior!"

"And the last time we had a war was…?" The girl asked, her hands on her hips, glaring at him. Her brother seemed at a loss for words.

"We're here to look after you," He said at last.

"You couldn't look after yourself. Two weeks without me or Mama, and you'd starve. And probably smell bad and have no clean clothes. So, as soon as you learn how to do those things for yourself, the sooner you'll be a true warrior," The girl turned with a smug smile on her face, picked up an armful of books, and stalked off, leaving the boy stood in the garden, mouth agape.

Now I pushed through some branches and heard a voice. "Hey there. You're magnificent! I've never seen one of you up close before," Confused, I looked towards the source of the sound, and found the girl from earlier talking to someone blocked by the trees. Who on earth could she be talking to?

"Can I touch you?" She asked, offering a hesitant hand towards whoever it was. They must have said yes, because a moment later she moved forward with a little more confidence, and to my surprise my dragon's head leaned forward and let her stroke him. Mildly surprised, I moved to a better position and watched as she traced her hand across his rough skin. He made a small contented noise in the back of his throat, and I felt a little bubble of anger erupt within me. He was my dragon, and it taken me years to build up the kind of trust she had managed to earn in minutes. "What do you think you're doing with my dragon?" I demanded, stepping out from between the trees.

New story! Yay! Okay, so I don't know the name of Roku's dragon. Does anyone else?

And I know it's quite short. Chp 2 will be quite short too, but it should get longer after that.

REVIEW!

Miss SJB