"I don't really think this is a time to be goofing around!" Sokka yelled out at Aang.

Aang's laughter could be heard from up in the trees. Although Sokka couldn't see him, it was obvious what he was doing. Aang was soaring through the trees, bending the air to his will.

"Aang! We need to get back to camp." Katara hollered up at the boy.

Aang did a few fancy flips and in an instant was landing right in front of the worrisome duo.

"Come on guys lighten up. It's a beautiful day! After spending all that time in the North Pole I just love the feeling of grass and trees." Aang said with a laugh.

"I understand that Aang," Katara told him with a sigh. "But you don't have that much time. You've mastered water but now you have to move on to earth bending."

Sokka had already walked off, finding Aang's childish antics tiresome. He wasn't one for playing, especially at a time like this. Aang still had two more elements to master and very limited time to do it. They were headed through the earth nation to try and find Aang a master. It was only a matter of time now before they found him one.

Aang and Katara stood debating about how much work they should do and how much fun they should have in between. But their arguing was ceased by an angry cry from a familiar source.

"What are you doing?" Sokka yelled out. "Get back here."

Aang and Katara immediately rushed off to investigate the problem. From above Aang could see a hooded figure running away from the camp. And from the ground Katara witnessed a very angry Sokka darting off after him.

"Wait Sokka! Hold on!" She yelled after him.

But of course he didn't wait. Soon all three children were chasing after the hooded figure through the woods.

Aang jumped through the trees, moving the air beneath him so he wouldn't fall. Being so high up gave him an advantage. He was catching up to the surprisingly fast person whom they were pursuing.

Now he was ahead of him. It was the angle he had wanted. The other two kids had figured it out and covered every escape they could think of. Aang jumped down from the trees landing hard, inches from the individuals face.

A gasp came out of the person. It sounded young but the person did not stay there long enough for Aang to get a good look at his face.

In a flash the character was running back the other way. He didn't get very far before he met up with a very irritated, and winded Sokka.

"Stop…right…there." Sokka howled between gasps of air.

Of course they didn't stop. He bolted to the left and there stood Katara, face to face with him.

It was obvious he wasn't going anywhere. Now they were closing in on him. He looked around in a panic, his brown cloak swinging around him as he twirled in a circle.

"Why are we chasing this guy again?" Katara asked sokka, who was now breathing normal again.

"This guy was stealing from our camp!" Sokka screamed, pointing at the criminal.

He didn't say anything. What happened next took everyone by surprise. In one fluid motion the figure swung off the cloak and screamed. "I am no thief. And I'm not a guy!"

In the middle of the three children stood a youthful girl about fifteen years old. All but two strands of her ash blonde hair, which fell loose around her face, was pulled back into a loose ponytail. Deep brown eyes glared at Sokka as they stood staring at each other.

Suddenly the girl stamped her foot hard on the ground and a large boulder came shooting up from underneath her, sending her soaring through the air and over Sokka's head.

Sokka just stood, astonished as the girl flipped above him. She landed behind him, hard and in a crouch, but didn't run.

"She's an earth bender!" Katara yelled half surprise half excited.

"Tell me something I don't know!" Sokka yelled back.

The girl stood back up, still looking at Sokka. "My name is Avani."

"So you thought we were fire nation spies?" Sokka asked shocked.

"I wasn't sure. I didn't even get through one satchel of things before you showed up." Avani explained while walking with the three children.

"So why were you out here in the first place?" Katara asked.

"It's a long story. But basically I was just passing through. I don't really have a home. I'm sort of a nomad." The young girl explained sweetly.

"Can you teach me that awesome bending trick!" Aang yelled out, mocking her movements with no avail.

"Well I suppose, but you would have to be an earth bender." Avani told him slightly confused.

She looked the young boy up and down taking in his every look as she did to everyone. It was important to know what peopled looked like just incase. She noticed his strange clothes, and the bizarre staff he carried around everywhere he went. It didn't seem like it would be good for much. His face was young and bright with life. And on the top of his hand was an arrow tattoo. An air bender tattoo.

Avani's jaw dropped. She stopped in her tracks and gave Aang another good look.

"You're the avatar!" She yelled out.

"Yup that's me!" Aang said smiling.

Avani was in total shock. She had heard he was back but never dreamed she would be teaching him anything.

"Can you teach Aang?" Katara asked.

Avani shrugged for a second. "I'm no master. I can't teach you everything, but I can show you what I know."

"Awesome! That thing you did was great! I would love to learn that."

"Well it's not as good as air bending. That was really awesome." Avani said, returning the compliment.

"Well if you two are done gawking at each other, we should really get some rest. We have to make our way to the earth kingdom." Sokka interrupted.

The children ran to catch with Sokka. All except Avani that is. She stood looking around, as if something was wrong.

Katara turned to look back to Avani. "Aren't you coming?"

Avani took a deep breath and shook her head. "I can come with you now. But I can't go to any Earth Kingdom."

"But why?" Aang asked disappointed. "You're an Earth Bender, aren't you from and Earth Kingdom?"

There was a brief pause as Avani searched for the words. "It's a long story. Don't worry about it. I'll go with you guys as far as I can."

This seemed to satisfy Aang's questions for now. However Sokka was not so easily soothed over. Although he didn't say anything then, it was obvious to all of them that he had suspicions.