Avatar: The Last Airbender

Book 2: Earth

THE COMPANION

Chapter 2: A Familiar Stranger

As they were flying on Appa, Aang was thinking about the girl in his dream. Why had she seemed so familiar? How could he possibly know her when everyone he once knew is dead? Katara could see he was troubled and went to ask him what's wrong. "There's something on your mind isn't there." He was startled by her voice when she brought him out of his thoughts. "Whatever's been bothering you Aang, you can tell me," she told him with a reassuring smile.

"Or you could just stay quiet. The ride's actually quite peaceful without all the talking, and whining," Sokka remarked. Katara glared at her brother and then Momo flew up to him and Sokka started arguing with him for some strange reason. But hey, that was one of the many reasons she loved her brother.

"Ignore him. Please tell me what's wrong. You haven't been the same since we left the southern air temple. Did something happen?" She asked very concerned.

"Well, I guess. I mean, I'm not completely sure what happened." Aang began. "Last night, I had this sort of vision. The girl I told you we have to find, the one with the green eyes and long black hair, she told me it was important that I find her again. So, if I've met her before, then why don't I remember her? And why is it so important that I find her? But above all, how is she still alive?

Katara was silent for a moment. Then she told him, "I can't give you those answers Aang. But I bet she can. So, we're going to find her and you're going to get all the answers you need."

The one thing neither of them noticed however, was the missing member of their group.

Sokka was arguing with Momo, as usual, when he jumped up suddenly while yelling at him and lost his footing. He fell off Appa and started to yell on the way down. Exactly how high were they in the sky because now he was free falling down to the ground. FREE FALLING! As he neared the ground, he thought to himself 'So this is it.' But then, he was stopped. Something cushioned or stopped his fall.

He opened his eyes to see that he was stopped in midair, then the strange force that was holding him in midair, slowly took him to the ground and set him down gently. When Sokka stood up, he heard a giggle from behind the trees and quickly turned around and took out his sword. What he saw surprised him. It was a girl around Aang's age dressed in a simple green gown that matched her eyes. She had long black hair and seemed to be beautiful without trying.

The girl giggled again then said with a smile, "That was quite a fall you took there just now. It's a good thing I was here to stop your fall. Otherwise that landing could have really hurt." At that she laughed again.

"Oh you saw that huh?" Sokka groaned. "Well, It's not like I meant to- wait a second! You stopped my fall?" He gasped.

"Yes. And it seems like your friends haven't noticed your gone yet. We should let them know so they can come get you." She smiled sweetly then called, "Tiki! Could you please go alert Sokka's friends that he has fallen off Appa and they need to come get him?" The beautiful yellow bird flew off to go tell Sokka's friends he was missing. The girl watched the bird leave then turned back to Sokka to find his sword pointed at her.

"How do you know mine and my friend's names?" He looked angry and tried to be threatening, but the only response he received from the strange girl was a humored smile and a small laugh.

"Now now now, no need to get all worked up is there? Tiki is my friend. She's going to alert your friends that you fell. And by the looks of it, she succeeded because here they come." Both she and Sokka looked up to see the giant form of Appa descending from the sky. The mysterious girl told Sokka "Do you really want your friends to see you with your sword pointed at an innocent young girl?" At that she smiled, then turned and walked away only to stop at the trunk of a tree and lean against it. Her bird, Tiki, returned to her and he heard her say something to it like, "You did very good girl," or "I'm so proud of you. And so lucky to have you" All the time smiling at her bird and stroking it affectionately. Then she lifted her arm and let it fly away.

Soon after her bird left, Appa landed and Katara jumped off and ran to Sokka. "OH MY GOSH SOKKA! I am so sorry we didn't notice you were gone! Although, I had begun to wonder why it had become so quiet," she said with a laugh. Sokka couldn't help but laugh at that too. "What about you Aang?" When he didn't answer she turned around and asked him again, "Aang?" But Aang wasn't listening. His mind was focused on something else. So, Katara followed his gaze and saw he was staring at some girl leaning against a tree.

"You." he said

"Me." Was all she replied.

"Who are you?" Katara asked.

"Ask Aang. He knows." She said with a mix between a sort of satisfied and proud smile.

Katara looked at Aang for the answer, and as he stared into the strange girl's familiar green eyes, only one word came to his mind and out of his mouth. "Ananda. Her name is Ananda."