Avatar: The Last Airbender

Book 2: Earth

THE COMPANION

Chapter 3: A Distant Memory

Katara and Sokka looked at Aang with surprise and confusion written on their faces. "H-How did you know that Aang?" asked Katara.

"Because he knows me," replied the girl, Ananda. Everyone turned to her to see that she was smiling. She stood up from her leaning position on the tree and slowly started walking toward them. "Yes my birth name is Ananda, meaning spiritual bliss. But I also have many other names. Aang had a special nickname for me, didn't you? Do you remember what it was?" She was smiling brightly, but you couldn't quite tell what kind of smile it was.

Everyone looked at Aang waiting for him to answer. He just stared at Ananda. "No, I don't remember giving you any nickname. I don't even remember meeting you!" he exclamed.

"But I look familiar to you, do I not?" She kept walking closer and closer. "You recognize me, especially when you look into my eyes, am I wrong?" She was wearing a smile of satisfaction by this point. "Come on Aang. Give it a go." She was now standing right in front of Aang. She looked him in the eyes, got right in his face, and wispered, "What was my nickname?" Then she backed up to wait for his answer.

He wanted to say he didn't know what she was talking about. But then, some sort of vision, or flashback hit him.

It was him and Ananda sitting together, laughing and joking around. "You always know exactly how to cheer me up don't you Erity?" Aang told her with a laugh.

She looked at him smiling, and said "That's because I know you!" She said with a laugh of her own. "And why did you just call me Erity?"

Aang smiled at her and said, "It's my new nickname for you. It means one who's special." He told her with a sweet smile and wink.

She was surprised that she would be given such a nickname. "Oh no! There's nothing special about me." Then she looked down at the ground.

The vision ended and Aang looked at her. She was smiling like she knew what he just saw. "I called you Erity, meaning one who's special."

"Very good. So your memories are coming back." She sounded excited and everyone looked at her strangely.

"What memories?" Everyone asked at the same time. "You know, it doesn't even matter because we have to get going." Sokka told her.

"Really? Why? Where are you headed?" She asked them.

"We're looking for an earthbending master to teach Aang earthbending." Katara told her. She had a strange sense she could trust this girl. Besides, she looked like the girl Aang described. Long black hair, green eyes, but she wasn't wearing a white dress.

"Katara! Are you insane! What if she's fire nation!" Sokka yelled, freaking out.

"Sokka stop it! You could offend her!" She whispered to her brother, scolding him. "Sorry about my brother." She told Ananda.

But Ananda just smiled and gave a small laugh. "It's okay. Don't worry about it. I can understand why he wouldn't trust me. But it's getting late and you guys need to rest. I have an inn just beyond these woods. You all could stay there if you'd like." She smiled sweetly, "I was just about to make dinner when Hachi told me an odd creature was flying above the woods and someone fell off."

"You know, as nice as that is, I think it'll be safer if we pass on your generous offer." Sokka told her.

"I have meat." She said.

Sokka's eyes lit up at that. "You know guys, I think we can trust this girl! Now let's go get some of that meat!" Then he ran toward the trees but was stopped by Ananda.

"Hold on Sokka!" She said laughing. "It's almost dark, and you don't even know the way there! Just follow me." And with that, she guided them in silence through the woods toward her inn.

Katara finally broke the silence when she asked her, "So, who exactly are you? How do you know so much about us? How do you know Aang?"

She didn't stop walking, she just smiled and gave the waterbender a simple answer. "You'll get all the answers you're searching for after dinner." Then, they emerged from the woods and gasped at the sight before them.