Chapter 3

Avani headed back to the camp to get some sleep. She was exhausted and dawn was just around the corner. She would probably only get about an hours sleep, but that was all she needed.

The distraction she caused with the fire nation seemed to be enough. Now she would be able to give Aang and the others a heads up on her old friend's plans.

Finally she reached the campsite. It was a welcome site and she couldn't wait to climb back into bed and get that well deserved sleep.

Everything seemed like it was in place. Her sleeping bag was lying there. The three were sound asleep, Sokka still snoring, Aang still tossing and turning, and Katara sleeping like a baby.

Avani stretched and headed towards her sleeping bag that was lying not far from Aang. Then something seemed wrong. Something was different. She couldn't place what, but there was something.

She paused, confused, trying to figure out what it was. But that brief moment of confusion was enough for someone to get the best of her. In a flash she was being slammed onto her back from a strangely strong gust of wind. Now she knew what it was. Aang's was sleeping with his staff.

Then someone was splashing her with water, and her body temperature began to rapidly drop. The next thing she knew she couldn't move, and the three stood in front of her looking angry and distraught.

"How could you?" Katara asked. "We helped you. Let you stay in our camp. You even taught Aang some things. And you betray us! How could you!" Katara was screaming now.

The ice around Avani was getting colder and tighter. It stung her skin, and then burned.

Avani wanted to say something. Tell them what was really going on. Ask how they knew. But the ice was so cold it took all her strength just to keep from crying.

"I knew you were no good!" Sokka yelled out. "I just knew you were a spy."

"Wait Sokka. Maybe we should let her explain." Aang added in.

"Why? I saw her Aang! She was talking with the fire nation soldier as if they were friends!" Sokka yelled some what at Aang, but mostly at Avani.

Avani mustered up all her strength to speak. "We…are friends." She said as her teeth chattered.

"You see!" Sokka yelled once more.

Avani tried to say more, but her energy was gone. All at once her body collapsed. The world went black and she passed out.

The darkness began to fade and warmth flowed across Avani's body. She opened her eyes and the world around her cleared. She was still in the forest, but her body was wrapped in a blanket and fire was roaring beside her.

She looked to her left and there sat Aang poking at the fire, staring into it as if some hidden truth could be found from its flames.

Avani moaned as she sat up. Her head was throbbing and her body ached all over. It was night once again, so much for just an hour's sleep.

"Glad to see you're awake." Aang told her, still staring into the fire.

"Where are we?" She asked, still a little disoriented.

"Same place we were last night." Aang answered.

They hadn't gone anywhere. They had stayed behind for her. These were good people, and the fire nation was crazy to try and stop them.

"Where are the others?"

Aang finally turned to look at her as he stood up, brushing off his clothes. "They went to keep watch. There could be spies out there."

Avani's heart sank. Everything was clear now. She had to tell them the truth. But would they believe her? Would anybody? Even her own people didn't believe her.

"I'm not a spy." She told him blankly. "I was trying to help you. I swear."

Aang walked closer to her and sat back down. "I don't like to jump to conclusions. And I certainly didn't want you to get hurt in all this. That's why I had them let you go. I figured maybe you could try to explain."

Avani nodded. "You may not believe me."

"Sure I will. I mean look at me. I'm a hundred and twelve! It's unbelievable, but true." Aang told her cheerfully.

Avani smiled, but it was soon washed away by sadness. "I was born in the fire nation. My parents are fire benders."

Aang gave her a funny look. He was obviously confused. "But…you're an earth bender! How is that possible?"

"Well, let me explain." She said laughing at his antics.

Aang rubbed the back of his head and smiled big. "Sorry. I'll shut up and listen now."

"I can't really explain without starting from the beginning, so here it goes." Avani began. "I grew up in the fire nation. I had friends and family. I was the daughter of an army general. My mother was a beautiful fire nation woman who I adored more than anyone. And the boy Sokka saw me talking to was my best friend. I had a good life."

Aang listened intently while Avani told her story. "So what happened? Why'd you leave?"

"Both my parents were benders. Powerful benders at that. Seeing as whom my father was, I was to undergo training as well. I had the spirit for it and a strange attraction to fires beauty and power. I was to be a powerful fire bender like my parents. But obviously that never happened."

Aang was entranced by her story now. His eyes glistened from the light of the fire. Not even Momo climbing onto his back distracted him. He was lost in her words.

"I was sort of a disappointment during training. They kept trying and trying but I just couldn't do it. They didn't know what was wrong with me. Hakan, my friend, was excellent. He was a natural, a master by age 10. He was amazing. I, on the other hand, hadn't managed to bend anything at all."

The other two were returning now, shortly interrupting Avani's story.

"Oh look, the traitors awake!" Sokka cried out.

Aang and Avani both looked towards the still angry boy. Katara was trailing not far behind him. They both looked tired and slightly upset.

"Come sit down you guys! Avani was just telling me all about how she was born in the fire nation and has fire bending parents and can't bend fire!" Aang explained to the two.

There wasn't an argument from them. Sokka grumbled a little, but Katara jabbed her elbow into his stomach to shut him up.

"Where was I?" Avani asked.

"You couldn't bend!" Aang yelled excited.

"Right. Anyway." Avani continued. "I was becoming frustrated and it was starting to show. One day at practice the other kids were picking on me. They could all do advanced moves but I couldn't even do the simplest of things. They were calling me names and showing off. Hakan tried to stick up for me but it was useless, they just turned on him too. I was angry now. I felt like my blood was going to boil. I started to scream and stomp and cry. 'Shut up! Leave me alone!'"

"They made fun of you?" Katara asked.

Avani nodded her head. "Yes, but unfortunately I got the last laugh. I was a bender, but not a fire bender. I knew something was different about me, of course I wouldn't find out it was me for quite some time. I slammed my foot on the ground and then it cracked as if a giant had stomped on the ground." Avani paused for a moment, as if collecting her thoughts then started again.

"The other children ran screaming. I didn't know what was going on. Our master came out asking what had happened, what was going on. Nobody knew. We were sent home and an alert went out, that earth benders had infiltrated the nation and we were to stay in doors."

"But it wasn't earth benders was it?" Katara asked, just as intrigued as Aang had been.

Avani shook her head. "No, it was me. But we didn't know that right away. When I got home my mother had heard what had happened. She was more panicked than anyone. 'Avani! You have to come with me!' She yelled to me. I had no idea what was wrong. But she seemed upset."

Avani closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. She wasn't sure if she could go on. "I'm…I'm sorry. I don't think I can do this."

"What! You can't leave me just sitting here like this! You have to finish!" Sokka cried out. He had been quiet the whole time until then.

Everyone turned sharply to look at him. It was a surprise, although it probably should have been expected.

"What? I…I have to know what happened. To see if she's telling the truth." Sokka stumbled out.

Everyone just continued to stare at him.

"Fine! I want to know what happens."

Avani laughed then agreed to continue. "There's a lot of chaos in between. A lot of pain, a lot of confusion. But eventually I found out I was not who I thought I was. My mother and my father had an arranged marriage. But my mother was in love with a young earth bender. Even after they were married she still saw him anyway she could. The result was me. But my father…my fire nation father…could never know. But it could no longer be a secret. I had discovered my power. Needless to say, the chaos settled, I grew more until I couldn't take it anymore. I kept accidentally bending; I had to get it under control. I told my mother, two years ago, that I was leaving. I was going to find my biological father. I was going to an earth kingdom."

"But I thought you couldn't go to any earth kingdoms." Katara added in confused.

"I can't now. You see I never found my real father, but I found a master. He taught me for a while until my father who raised me came looking for me. To put it simply, the fire nation attacked the earth kingdom and I was accused of being a spy. My father tried to take me back and I confessed to him that I was not his daughter. He was furious, he left me here. I swore that I would bring back my good name. I will fight my own father."

"That's terrible. But he's not your father right? So it doesn't really matter." Aang asked.

"He is your father though. Maybe not biologically, but he raised you." Katara added in.

Avani bowed her head. "He is, despite it all. But I can't let him hurt you and destroy what I am. I'm not a fire bender and I don't belong there."

"Then we'll help!" Sokka yelled out again totally unexpectedly.

"I appreciate it but my needs are secondary right now. The fire nation knows you're here. We have to stop them."

"She's right. We need to come up with a plan." Katara agreed.

"Alright then. It's settled. We get the fire nation off our backs then help Avani." Sokka said smiling oddly at the girl.