Chapter Eleven
"Why did you tell Sucker he was going the wrong way?" Azula crossly asked Aang, who sheepishly smiled. Azula held up her map and from what she could see, they went in the opposite direction they needed to go. Sokka also looked over the map and was doubly disappointed that he was wronged when he was correct.
"I really thought we were going in the wrong direction," Aang said with an apologetic smile. Azula furrowed her brow, not happy with his mistake.
"But I wasn't," Sokka told him. "And for once, Azula proved me right."
"I didn't say that," Azula chided.
"Well you implied it!" Sokka squealed.
"Maybe so, but don't expect it again," Azula told him.
"Calm down everyone," Katara told them. "We suffered a setback and arguing won't solve it."
"We should set down for the night," Zuko said as he observed the setting sun. "Appa's getting exhausted and we should all eat something." Appa groaned in agreement, urging Aang to do as such.
The gang separated to set up camp for the night on top of a dry cliffside. Sokka went to work setting up the tents while Zuko went to gather firewood. When the latter returned and saw the rolled-up tarps, he asked, "Sokka, aren't you forgetting the tarps?"
"Oh, right, got it," Sokka said, before grabbing each tarp and tossing one into each tent.
Zuko groaned and crossly said, "Sokka, the tarps go over the tents so we don't get rained on."
"Normally yes," Sokka said, "but since this is the dry season and hasn't rained in weeks. Besides those tarps make for pretty good blankets."
"And what if it does rains?" Zuko challenged. "What good is are the tarps going to be then?"
"What if it doesn't rain?" Sokka countered. "Then the tarps would have been put up for nothing!"
"And using them as blankets would be for nothing if it rains!" Zuko shouted back, causing Azula and Katara to look at them.
"Why don't you worry about gathering some better firewood because that kindling's looking pretty pathetic, firebender," Sokka spitefully said. Zuko growled and tossed the wood to ground and the two began to bicker further.
Azula rolled her eyes. "Boys, always thinking they're- Katara what are you doing?" she said when she noticed Katara was setting up more food than needed.
"What do you mean?" Katara asked.
"You need to ration that food," Azula told her. "We don't know when we'll be able to get more or even find anything edible."
"Well it's doubtful that Aang won't find anything out here," Katara said back to her, "so all the more reason to prep more food to keep our strengths up."
"Yes if we knew exactly when we're getting a resupply," Azula told her. "But since we don't we need to ration what we have."
Katara rose an eyebrow. "Since when did you become an expert on food prep? From what I remember, you always refused to help Gran-Gran and Ursa in the kitchen."
"I wouldn't say I'm an expert at food prep," Azula said, "but I do know about survival. It's better to eat half meals over the course of several days than full meals for a few days."
Katara blinked and looked over the food. By her estimate, they have maybe a week left if she would continue prepping full meals. If what Azula said was true, their current stock should last as twice as long. "You have a point Azula, but we still need to keep our strengths us. So I'll meet you halfway and partially cut down on the servings. I just hope Aang really does find something out there."
Azula crossed her arms in skepticism. "Well if Air Head doesn't find anything here, surely we'll-."
A sudden crash interrupted her and she spun around to find the boys rolling around on the ground throwing punches besides the collapsed tents. Azula rolled her eyes in frustration and marched over to separate them.
Right as she finished doing so by holding each of them by their hair, Aang walked up and noticed. "Uh, I managed to scrounge up some fruits from a nearby valley. What's going on here?"
"Oh you know," Azula said while continuing to hold the boys' hair, much to their discomfort. "These so called 'men' are having an argument over firewood and tents."
"Hey, I was telling him to set up the tarps!" Zuko grunted.
"And I was telling him he had lousy kindling for the fire!" Sokka shouted back.
"Okay, okay," Aang said calmly. "Azula, please let them go." Azula gave each boy a sharp pull of their scalps before releasing them. Aang sighed and said, "I can see you two were arguing over your chores and saying harsh words won't help, but action will. Why don't you two just switch jobs?"
Sokka and Zuko rubbed their scalps but were still rather unhappy by each other's actions. Or Azula's for that matter.
"Fine by me," Zuko said as he went to set up the tents properly.
"Whatever," Sokka grumbled before walking off to find better kindling.
Aang smiled in self-satisfaction. He looked over to Katara and said, "You see that? Settling feuds and making peace. All in a day's work for the Avatar."
"Well I'm glad you're optimistic about your skill," Azula sharply told him. "Because you've got a lifetime ahead of you doing just that with far worst people."
Before Aang could reply, he heard frantic chittering behind him. He turned and saw Momo trying to snatch a melon being held down by one of Appa's toe. After several futile attempts, Momo gave up and walked away. Appa groaned and let go of the melon to eat it, only for Momo to snatch it. As the latter attempted to escape, Aang snatched the melon away and sliced off a small piece for Momo while Appa got the larger piece. Momo chittered in protest, causing Aang to say, "Come on Momo, it's fair. Appa has five times the larger stomach than you!" Momo chirped one last protest before eating his share.
The next morning after packing, Aang led the gang to the rim of a cliff overlooking a massive expanse. "Here it is everyone, the Great Divide."
Katara stared at it with an awed expression. "That's amazing! I could stare at it forever."
"Truly a marvel of nature," Zuko said, impressed by the vast expansion of the canyons.
"Alright, I've seen enough," Sokka said with an unimpressed voice.
"How can you not be fascinated?" Katara said with an offended tone. "This is the largest canyon in the entire world."
"And I'm sure we'll be able to it very clearly from the air as we fly over it," Azula said as she walked back to Appa. "We've wasted enough time as it is and we need to get moving."
"Hey!" a woman's voice called, drawing the gang's attention. The woman, accompanied by a man, approached the gang in a frantic state. They were both were clad in white and gold clothing. "If you're looking for guide that leads people through the canyon, we were here first."
"A canyon guide?" Katara asked fascinated about learning more about the canyon. "He's probably very knowledgeable about the canyon and its history."
"He's not really a tour guide, or at least that's not why we need to see him," the man said. "He's an earthbender who leads people safely through the canyon. And he's taking our tribe next!"
The man's companion placed a careful hand on his arm. "Calm down Re, there's no need to panic," she told him before turning toward the gang. "Please forgive my brother. My name's Reshe and our tribe is desperate to reach Ba Sing Se as soon as possible."
"That's thousands of miles away," Zuko observed. "Why does your tribe need to get there?"
"Because we're refugees," Re said. "Our village was destroyed by the Fire Nation." Zuko's shoulders slumped at that, another reminder about what his nation of birth has done.
Azula was also a bit crestfallen about the subject as well, but then she noticed a group of people clad in dirty brown clothing approaching them. "From the looks of them, I think your tribe is late," she told Reshe and Re.
Reshe and Re looked over at the large group, the former grimacing in disgust while the latter snarled in anger. "That's not our tribe, not in a million years," Re said with disgust.
"That's the Zhang tribe," Reshe explained nervously. "They have been enemies of our tribe for one-hundred years."
"Hey you low-life Zhangs!" Re shouted. "My sister and I are saving this spot for our tribe, so don't even think about trying to steal it!"
A large burly man approached Re, who refused to back down despite being smaller in stature. "Well, where's the rest of Gan Jin? Are the men still tidying up the campsite while the women lounge about sipping tea?"
"Everyone in our tribe pitches in, women and men!" Re shouted. "Unlike you Bo, and your dirty Zhangs, we Gan Jins respect nature and clean up after ourselves!"
Bo burst out laughing. "And that's why your tribe is late, because you concern yourselves with chicken-pig shit like tidying up campsites. And I didn't know the canyon guide took reservations."
"Ha!" Re shout, despite his sister attempting to urge him to silence himself. "I'm not surprised of Zhang ignorance. So disorganized and ill prepared for a journey."
Bo scowled and approached Re dangerously while some other Zhang men approached to back up their leader. The gang looked on in concern, unsure if they should step in. Reshe looked at them with pleading eyes, which made up Aang's mind.
But before he could, the sound of rocks being moved were heard. Momo was perched on one of the rocks and managed to fly away in time before it floated in the air and was tossed aside by an old, bearded man wearing a straw hat. "Sorry for making y'all wait," he said with a kindly smile. "I'm Gah, the man who guides people through the Great Divide. Who's ready to get movin' and cross this thing?"
"Uh, one of them?" Sokka said uncertain while pointed in the general direction of the Zhang tribe and the Gan Jin siblings.
"We were here first!" Reshe said while urgently pulling her brother away from Bo and his men. "Our tribe is on their way!"
Gah raised an eyebrow and said, "Sorry young lady, I can't guide people who ain't here."
Bo smirked and said to the siblings, "Guess your tribe has to wait till tomorrow, assuming the Fire Nation doesn't find you first."
"It would actually be the day after tomorrow that I can guide your tribe though the canyon kiddos," Gah said with a sympathetic look, causing Reshe to look at him with pleading eyes to wait a little longer.
Bo barked a laugh. "That's even better!" Re looked at him with a snarl.
"Wait!" Reshe suddenly cried out. "Our tribe is here now!"
Everyone looked and saw more people in semi elegant white and gold clothing approached. At the head of the group stood a woman who clearly was the leader, given how she directed her glare at Bo, who frowned deeply at her.
"Lady Yihen!" Reshe shouted. "We were so worried you wouldn't make it in time."
Yihen smiled calmly at Reshe. "I am sorry to cause you and your brother worry. We had to make sure not to leave a trail for the Fire Nation to follow."
"Oh, I thought it's because you have such respect for nature," Bo mocked, earning a harsher glare from Yihen.
"That too Zhang," she said with venom. "With your disregard to such practices, I am both surprised and disappointed that the Fire Nation has not found you and your filthy lot yet."
"And I'm also surprised and disappointed that your delaying tidiness hasn't done the same," Bo spat before turning toward Gah. "My tribe was here first, so we get to cross first."
"But my scouts arrived first," Yihen said. "Certainly, the canyon guide has a first come first serve policy."
"Well, actually…," Gah began before Bo began shouting.
"Don't cave into the Gan Jins old man!"
"It would be wise to show the guide some respect, or else he may refuse to guide you at all," Yihen quipped.
"What do you know about respect woman?!" Bo shouted.
"A lot more than you, you filthy beast of a man," Yihen said with disgust.
Katara leaned close to Aang and whispered, "Well Aang, don't you think it's time to put your peace-making skills to the test?"
"Assuming that's even possible," Azula commented while Bo and Yihen argued with each other.
"Yeah, I'm not sure I could do it," Aang said with uncertainty. "Resolving an argument over chores is one thing, but these tribes have been enemies for one-hundred years."
"Everyone, listen up!" Katara shouted while waving her arms to gain both tribes' attention. "This is Avatar Aang," she said while gesturing to him, much to his dismay, "and if you give him the opportunity, I'm confident he'll come up with a compromise that will satisfy everyone."
Everyone looked at Aang, who was puzzled as to what to offer. He breathed deeply and said with uncertainty, "I suppose the canyon guide wouldn't mind leading both tribes through the canyon."
"Absolutely not!" Yihen shouted aghast. "There is no way I am allowing my tribe's children near those filthy Zhangs!"
"I doubt they would want to come near us, given how frighten they look," Bo mocked.
"You have no right to address our children in any way!" Yihen shouted, causing general pandemonium to break out.
Aang grunted and jumped onto a large boulder. "Alright, listen up!" he shouted in feign anger. "Here are the conditions! We are all traveling through the Great Divide together and my friends and I will be a buffer between your tribes so you don't have to interact with each other! Is that fair!?"
Yihen and Bo glared at each other before looking at Aang and his friends, along with the large bison. Believing the Avatar's word, they nodded in agreement, though it was easy to see how reluctant they were.
As the tribes prepared themselves, mainly by checking their weapons, the gang stood between the groups. "This whole tribe feuding is serious business," Sokka commented to Aang. "You sure it's a good idea to get involved?"
"It's not," Azula said flatly. "We have a bigger war to worry about than some squabble over tribal non-sense."
"Well, part of my duty as the Avatar is conflict resolution," Aang said. "Nobody told me the Avatar is allowed to ignore any conflict they come across, no matter how trivial it may seem." Azula rolled her eyes at that, thinking it was a huge waste of their time.
"Azula has a point," Zuko said thoughtfully. "But maybe if Aang can figure out how to resolve this tribal dispute, they may show some thanks by agreeing to help us in this war somehow."
"Yeah, and besides," Aang said optimistically, "I have to start somewhere with resolving more serious conflicts, right?" Katara and Zuko smiled at Aang's optimism, while Sokka remained skeptical. Azula huffed in disapproval, believing the Avatar had more pressing issues at hand.
"Alright everyone, listen up!" Gah called from a top of an earth pillar he bended. "The canyon has many dangerous predators that stalk the shadows, so stay away from any and all caves we may come across. It's also a two-day journey so we'll be makin' camp tonight, where the predators are most active."
"You have got to be shitting me," Bo exclaimed.
"Perhaps this journey is more perilous than it is worth," Yihen observed.
"It's dangerous, but when we make camp, we won't be starting any fires, much less cook any food," Gan explained. "It'll attract the predators for sure."
"So we ain't allowed to eat tonight?!" Bo shouted.
"I didn't say that," Gan said sternly. "I'm saying you're ain't allowed to cook any food; fruits and veggies are okay. And I expect you two to enforce this rule of survival…"
"Ah just great," Bo groaned. "Gotta eat like a Gan Jin."
"Perhaps that would the healthiest thing you would ever do," Yihen chided, earning a harsh glare from Bo.
"We'll be settin' out in ten minutes! No exception!" Gah shouted for everyone to hear before bending the pillar back to ground level.
As instructed, the tribes set out in a column with the gang between them; with a large bison between them and his powerful owner, the Gan Jins and the Zhangs saw little point in arguing. Satisfied that the two tribes had no interest in their dispute at the moment, Aang took the opportunity to shadow Gah and see if he can pick up on some earthbending techniques.
Aang soon had a prime example of one when there was a large break in the path ahead of them with a drop extending hundreds of feet down a canyon to their left. With outstretched arms, Gah extended an earth bridge to allow the tribes to cross safely, following a winding path down into the canyon.
"You have a real talent for earthbending," Aang told Gah, who chuckled at the compliment.
"Spending the majority of my life on ground like this definitely sharpens one's skill," Gah told him. "As the Avatar, you're destined to learn the same I'm sure."
"Yeah," Aang said unsurely, "but I have to master waterbending first and I'm only starting with that."
"Not to put pressure on you kid, but I hope you're a fast learner," Gah said with a reassuring smile. "A lot of people like the Zhangs and Gan Jins are depending on you."
Aang's shoulders slump in despair. "I know," he said softly.
After the tribes reached the canyon floor, Gah instructed everyone to stand clear of the canyon wall they just traveled down. "Watch yourselves!" he shouted. "There'll be falling rocks in just a minute here!" With a strong grunt and stronger form, Gah launched a large boulder upward, where it crashed into the bridge he created earlier, destroying it. People scattered as large rocks crashed to the canyon floor but no one was harmed by Gah's actions.
"Why'd you do that?" Aang asked.
"So the Fire Nation can't use it to get through the canyon Air Head," Azula told him. "You need to start thinking more strategically."
"Your lady friend is right kid," Gah added. "These people are fleeing the Fire Nation and we can't let them have an easy path to follow us."
And yet you have no idea how close the Fire Nation actually is, Azula thought to herself. They're essentially among you right now.
"Alright everyone," Gah called out. "Enough sightseeing. We need to keep moving or else-."
"What the hell is that?!" someone shouted, causing everyone to become frighten.
Gah quickly turned around and before he could react, a massive vicious insect picked up Gah by his arm with its pincers. The strength of the pincers were so strong that it broke Gah's arm and shredded part of the flesh. He cried out in pain and began begging for help.
"We have to help him!" Azula shouted before she launched her boomerang at the creature, cognitive of concealing her firebending. Sokka joined her and launched his own boomerang and both projectiles struck the insect on the head. The duo catch their boomerangs while the insect dropped Gah, who crawled away withering in pain.
The insect shook off the intense pain and began charging at Sokka, who yelped and began running away. "Okay, it's time to help me!"
Katara jumped in and attempted to whip the insect with water, though all it did was draw its attention away from Sokka. Katara continued to whip at it despite its advance on her. Aang swooped in next to her and blasted the insect with air, launching it into the rock wall. The creature was greatly stunned and slowly got back up, proving how tough it was.
But its slowed speed gave Zuko the chance he needed. He sprinted toward the insect from its blind spot, leapt on top of it and with both machetes, stabbed at the insect with a roar. The insect howled in pain but soon succumbed to its wounds.
Once Zuko knew it was dead, he got off of it and walked over to where Gah was. Katara frantically used water to clean out his wounds before proceeding to bandage them as best she could with the help of a couple of Gan Jins.
"Ugh!" Gan cried out. "My arm…"
"It's only a flesh wound," Katara told him calmly. "But it's also broken. I'll set it but you won't be able to use it."
Gah groaned both in pain and despair. "I can bend with my other arm, but not as well. The best I can do is move rocks out of the way…"
"And fighting is out of the question," Katara told him as she worked on applying the bandages tightly.
"Are we trapped in this canyon?" Zuko asked, dreading the answer.
"No, but it'll take longer to get out," Gah said before realizing what happened. "We need to leave! Now!"
"Why?" Aang asked. "What was that thing anyway?"
"Canyon crawler," Gah said before grunting in pain as Katara set his arm. "And we need to leave because the scent of a dead one will draw more."
"Nice one Zuzu," Azula chided Zuko, who scowled at her.
"How was I suppose to know?" he said defensively.
"Will he be okay?" Yihen asked.
"He will but we need to move," Katara said as she helped Gah up.
"More of those bugs are likely to show up," Sokka told the leader of the Gan Jins. He began directing the tribes to follow him hastily away from the crawler's carcass.
"What drew that thing to us?" Bo asked Gan.
"Sometimes a canyon crawler will pick up on scents we passed," Gah explained.
"Like our sweat?" Yihen asked.
"Not exactly," Gan said before grimacing. "By passed I meant gas…"
"Oh so the Gan Jin's farts are drawing those bugs to us," Bo accused. "Just fan-fucking-tastic."
Yihen eyed Bo with a hateful glare. "Knowing how savagely the Zhangs eat, I would not be surprised it was actually your tribe that attracted that crawler."
"Why you dirty, good for nothing-!" Bo began before Aang interrupted him.
"Okay, okay," he pleaded. "Arguing is not going to change what happened, and it's no one's fault for it happening. It was an accident."
"An accident that almost cost us our guide's life," Yihen pointed out.
"And pretty soon, ours too," Bo added.
"We still have Gah," Aang said. "And you and him have me and my friends. We'll get you out of this. All of you," Aang finished with confidence.
Bo grunted and said, "We'll see about that." He fell behind and mingled with his tribe.
"I have confidence in you Avatar," Yihen said. "I just do not have any confidence in the Zhangs." She sped up and soon began checking on the children of her tribe.
Aang sighed and Katara said to him, "Do you really think we'll get out of here Aang with both of these tribes?"
"What choice do we have?" Aang countered.
"I agree with you we need to help them, and we can, but what I'm worried about is this feud between them," Katara said.
Aang pondered why the tribes were at near grave odds with each other. He thinks he recalled an incident with names that sounded familiar to each tribe but he could not remember any specific details. "Well to settle this feud, we need to understand it better. They'll be setting up camp later separately Katara, so you and Zuko go with the Gan Jins while Sokka and Azula go with the Zhangs." Aang suddenly realized he paired Katara and Zuko together much to his chagrin. But if what Zuko said back during the scuffle with the pirates were true, he sees Katara as a sister. Or so Aang hoped.
"Hey, who put you in charge?" Sokka asked.
"When it comes to establishing peace between people," Aang said confidently, "I'm in charge."
"But-," Sokka began to protest before being cut off by Aang.
"I said, when it comes to establishing peace between people, I AM in charge," Aang said more assertively, making Sokka pout a little.
Azula smirked in a hint of pride. "Guess you are learning from me after all Air Head."
Despite his injury, Gah continued to lead the tribes through the canyons, more cautions than before. With his uninjured arm, he was still able to earthbend, though with difficulty. Eventually though he and Aang worked out a system where Gan would lift up whatever earth was in the way to allow Aang to move it with his airbending. It took some trial and error but it worked out quite well.
"Does this mean I'm an earthbender now?" Aang quipped after they perfected their system.
Gah chuckled. "You're still using your airbending my boy! It's cheating!" Aang laughed in response, glad that the old man was in better spirits.
As the sun began to set, Gah called the tribes to a halt. "Alright everyone, we're about at the halfway point. It's much too dangerous to travel through the canyons at night, so it would be best to set up camp." Bo and Yihen approached him. "It would be wise to have any warriors on watch tonight. I'm certain the canyon crawlers will be on the hunt for us. And remember, no fires or cooking food."
"Don't worry," Bo said confidently, "my men will keep an eye out for any of those bugs. But the Gan Jin are the more likely ones to be eaten."
"My warriors are far more capable than yours will ever be," Yihen defended. Before Bo could react, Aang stepped between.
"You two would best spending what energy you have on settling your people down for the night," he said cautiously. Bo and Yihen shared one last glare with each other before setting off in opposite directions to help their tribes. Aang sighed before turning to his friends. "Good luck tonight guys." They nodded and went off to where Aang directed them to go, Katara and Zuko with the Gan Jins, Azula and Sokka with the Zhangs.
At the Gan Jin's camp, Zuko watched as the men set up the tents, including the overhanging tarps. "You really think it's going to rain tonight?" he asked Yihen.
"I do not believe so, but one cannot be too cautious," she said, much to Zuko's approval.
Nearby, Katara helped others prepare tonight's dinner. As per Gah's word, they only prepared fruits and vegetables. She noticed that they were preparing full meals. "Are you sure it's a good idea to prepare full meals? Aren't you concerned about running out before you could restock?"
"According to our maps," Re said as he helped his sister, "there's a village not far away from the last canyon we need to cross. I'm sure we can restock our food stores there."
"Also," Reshe began to add, "there's a lot of forests after these canyons. I'm sure we can also forage from the lands, or hunt if possible. Besides, full meals are much better to keep everyone's strength up. Not to mention their spirits." Katara smiled in approval and continued to help prepare the meals before distributing them.
Over in the Zhang's camp, they were also setting up their own tents, with everyone tossing their tarps into the tents. Sokka turned and asked Bo, "You're not putting up your tarps?"
"What for kid?" Bo asked. "It's not gonna rain, hasn't in weeks. Besides, those tarps make decent blankets."
Sokka released suppressed exasperation and said, "Finally someone who sees my point!"
Nearby, Azula noticed a couple of Zhangs taking stock of their food supply, with both carefully organizing it to provide the bare minimum everyone needed, citing rationing of their stock. Azula smirked in approval, glad to be around people who had some semblance of foresight and common sense.
Later that night, each tribe hunkered down quietly in an attempt to get as much sleep as possible in the dangerous territory. Azula and Sokka volunteered to keep watch for the first shift of the night, mainly to speak with the Zhang's leader.
"Excuse me Bo," Azula began politely, "why is there such animosity between you and the Gan Jins?"
"Ani-what?" Bo asked.
"Uh, she asked why your tribe hates them," Sokka said.
Bo furrowed his brow in scorn. "About a hundred years ago, Gilan, the oldest son of our tribal leader, met a young woman named Yii of the Gan Jins. This was before our tribes hated each other; I think they haven't met at the time. Anyway, the two of them spent time together and eventually fell in love."
"Oh great, a love story," Sokka groaned.
"I have a feeling that this love story doesn't have a happy ending," Azula commented.
"You guess right," Bo told her. "Anyway, Yii asked Gilan to marry her and he accepted."
"Isn't the guy suppose to propose?" Sokka asked, causing Azula to roll her eyes.
"You think only men can propose?" she asked.
"Well…," Sokka said thoughtfully, "you're right they can."
"Can I continue with my story?" Bo asked impatiently, prompting Azula and Sokka to nod. "So after he accepted, they gathered their tribes in one location, causing confusion and given our tribes' differences, they didn't take a liking to each other. And when Gilan and Yii announced their engagement, our tribe accused the Gan Jin girl of charming and seducing Gilan to gain some type of power within our tribe to benefit hers."
"Seems like a rather rush to judgment," Azula commented.
"Well it was after the Gan Jins falsely accused Gilan of sexually attacking her and was using scare tactics to control her," Bo said with disgust, causing Azula and Sokka to be rather shocked.
"How did Gilan and Yii react to all that?" Sokka asked.
"They admittedly said they were in love and only wanted to bring our tribes together," Bo continued. "But given how Gilan disappear shortly after, we believed the Gan Jins killed him as a form of revenge."
"What about Yii? What happened to her?" Azula asked.
"She disappeared too," Bo told her. "She must have found some rich noble and married him for money."
"So that's why you and Gan Jins hate each other," Sokka concluded.
"Yeah, our tribal leader's oldest was murdered at the hands of the Gan Jin because of some gold-digging girl," Bo said in disgust before standing and walking away, hopefully to calm down.
After Bo was out of earshot, Sokka leaned over and whispered to Azula, "Do you really think that's what happened?"
"Maybe," Azula said thoughtfully. "A hundred years is a long time and story exaggeration tends to happen more frequently than we'd like."
"Well I believe Gilan is innocent," Sokka said stubbornly. "False accusations like that are pig-bullshit."
"Sexual assault is truly heinous, but if it's a false accusation, it just makes the accuser the one committing a crime," Azula said thoughtfully. She looked in the direction of the Gan Jin's camp, feeling that a similar story was being told.
In the Gan Jin's camp, Yihen moved about to see to everyone's needs. When she was finished, she was taken aback that Katara and Zuko were waiting for her. "You two should get some sleep. Being the capable fighters you are, we need you as rested as possible."
"Actually we wanted to talk to you," Zuko told her.
Yihen raised her eyebrows. "Very well then. What do you wish to discuss?"
"We were wondering," Katara said as tactfully as possible, "why your tribe and the Zhangs have such animosity between each other."
Yihen frowned slightly, but she knew the Avatar and his companions had a right to know why they did not tolerate the Zhangs. "Very well, it began one hundred years ago, when the sole daughter of our matriarch Yii met a man named Gilan. They spent much time with one another and eventually fell in love. When Gilan asked her hand in marriage, Yii accepted."
"So somehow their love turned into hate?" Zuko asked.
"From a certain point of view perhaps," Yihen said. "When our tribes gathered for the first time, we saw each so different that we could never cooperate with one another, putting us to a bad start to an alliance of sorts. When Yii and Gilan announced their love for one another and their engagement, the Zhangs accused her of seducing and manipulating him to gain power over them."
Katara gasped. "How misogynistic of the Zhangs."
"Their clan has always been headed by a male, what else do you expect?" Yihen stated. "We were deeply offended and we believed Yii would never do such a thing. Gilan though, looked like the type who would intimidate a woman into doing what he pleased, especially in terms of sex."
"She he assaulted her?" Zuko said with disgust.
"We believe so, but it gets worst," Yihen said before breathing deeply to control herself. "Not long after, Yii disappeared without a trace. Surely the Zhangs murdered her out of revenge."
"That's horrible," Katara said aghast. "What happened to Gilan? Did he commit the crime?"
"We do not know for certain, but he is the most likely suspect, as he was never seen again. His tribe likely aided his escape from retribution," Yihen said. "Regardless, she was murdered by a Zhang and that is why we have such animosity with them."
"How adamant did Yii and Gilan proclaimed their love for one another?" Zuko asked, feeling sick to his stomach. Katara said nothing as she was fuming in anger.
"Oh they were very adamant, but as I said, we believe Gilan was intimidating and controlling her to agree to marriage," Yihen said.
The three of them were silent for a moment before Yihen spoke again. "Is there anything else you would like to speak about?"
"I've heard enough," Katara said with a frown. Zuko dared not to ask any more questions, fearing the answers would anger Katara further.
"Then I suggest you two rest," Yihen told them. "You will need it for tomorrow." Yihen walked away, seeking rest herself.
Zuko looked at Katara and cautiously asked, "Are you okay?"
"No I'm not," she said with a frown. "It's disgusting what Gilan did and how the Zhangs tolerate it. For all we know they even approve of it!" Zuko looked down at the ground with an uncertain look. "You believe Yihen, right?" Katara asked.
"I don't know what to believe," Zuko admitted. "Yes, assault of any kind is wrong, especially if it's sexual. But it's been a hundred years, maybe Yii and Gilan ran away together, given how dead-set they were about being in love."
"Well I believe Yihen," Katara said firmly. "Those Zhangs look like the criminal type." She walked away from Zuko, who looked toward the Zhang's camp, wondering if Azula and Sokka were hearing a story somehow opposite to Yihen's.
Aang sat atop of Appa's head, who laid roughly halfway between the two camps sleeping. Momo was perched on one of Appa's horns. "Would be nice if these tribes could get along. It would improve their chances of survival, and it's just plain nice to see people be friends." Momo moved suddenly to catch a bug and offered it to Aang, who waved to turn him down. "Thanks buddy, but I'll wait for some leechy nuts or something." Momo ate the bug with one bite.
"It's lonely isn't it?" Gah said from below. "Trying to be impartial that is."
"What do you know about these tribes?" Aang asked. "I think I heard of them before, but I can't exactly place them."
"I've heard of them too," Gan said. "I don't know much but from what I've heard, they been feuding for one hundred years or so."
Aang's eyes widen at that as his memory made a small connection. "One hundred years? Are you certain?"
"As certain as I could be about rumors," Gah said. "You should get some rest kid. We've got a long day ahead of us."
"Right," Aang said before laying down, but he struggled to sleep as his memory attempted to recall something from before he was told he was the Avatar.
The next morning, Gah took the lead again as he navigated the tribes through the canyons. After reaching a point where the obstacles would be infrequent, Aang rounded up his friends. "So guys, have you found out why there's so much hostility between these tribes?"
"Oh yeah, we found out," Katara said harshly. "The Zhang's really wronged the Gan Jins. One of the Zhangs named Gilan abused and tried to control Yii, the matriarch's only daughter from one hundred years ago!"
Aang raised an eyebrow, not sure what Katara was talking about but had a feeling this was connected to what he was trying to remember. The name Gilan did sound familiar to him. "What are you talking about Katara?"
"That was a false accusation Katara!" Sokka answered. "Yii was seen as someone who was trying to seduce and manipulate the tribal leader's son."
"Like hell she would do that!" Katara shouted back. She and Sokka continued to argue while Aang tried to calm them down.
Azula and Zuko looked at each other. "I take it you were told about Yii and Gilan?" Zuko asked.
"How perceptive of you Zuzu," Azula teased before turning serious. "I'm inclined to think that perhaps both Gilan and Yii were falsely accused by their opposing tribes."
"And escaped to avoid watching their tribes fight over them," Zuko added.
"Yes, yes because they were so in love," Azula finished with a hint of mockery.
"What is going on here?" Yihen said with a commanding voice, prompting the gang to look at her.
"Sounds like they're arguing over what happened between our tribes one hundred years ago," Bo said as he walked over to face Yihen, who stared at him with contempt. The tribes loosely form up behind their respective leaders.
"Perhaps it is time we settled this once and for all," Yihen said with a dangerous voice, her hand drifting near her sword.
"You read my mind," Bo grunted as Aang rushed to placed himself between them.
"Please, don't do this," he pleaded. "There has to be a peaceful way to resolve this."
"Peace was an option lost long ago," Yihen said flatly.
"I guess we were just bidding our time before we finally settled this," Bo said he and Yihen made a move to attack each other.
Aang used airbending to stop them. "We don't have time for this!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. "There's no telling if there's more of those canyon crawlers around and we don't want to find out, right?!"
Just as he finished saying that a woman screamed out in fear. Everyone turned and saw one canyon crawler approaching them.
Then another.
Then another.
Followed by a dozen more.
"Aw hell that's a lot of canyon crawlers!" Zuko groaned as he unsheathed his machetes.
"We barely survived one!" Sokka squealed as he drew his boomerang.
"How did they find us?!" Katara shouted.
"The scent from the one Zuko killed!" Azula shouted. "It must be on him!"
"Oh so it's still my fault?!" Zuko shouted at her.
"Pretty much!" Azula shouted back.
"Everyone kill them!" Bo shouted as he and his warriors ran toward the crawlers, attacking them in teams of three or four.
"To arms! To arms!" Yihen shouted, urging her own warriors to defend their tribe.
The gang also joined in on defending themselves from the crawlers. Aang was especially active, trying to use his airbending to knock the creatures back enough to make them realize that it was not worth the effort. "Don't kill them!" he shouted. "It'll draw more of them!" His friends complied with his word, as did the Gan Jins, though the Zhangs were reluctant to comply but they did none the less.
In less than an hour, the crawlers were driven off, but at a price; two Gan Jins were killed while five Zhangs were also slain. A few others were wounded as well, though they were mostly minor injuries.
Yihen overlooked the care being provided to her people and, quite reluctantly, that of the hurt Zhangs as well. Bo took his warriors to see if any crawlers were hiding among the rocks but they found none. When he returned, he found Yihen and they stared at each other.
"Never thought a Gan Jin could hold their own in a fight," Bo commented begrudgingly.
"And I never considered a Zhang can be depended on in a fight," Yihen admitted, though it pained her to do so. Aang approached them with a hopeful expression.
"I hope this will help your tribes learn to coexists peacefully," he said before finally remembering who their ancestors were. "If not, I might be able to shed some light on what happened to Gilan and Yii."
Yihen and Bo looked at him with surprised expressions. "How would you know what happened to them? It was a hundred years ago," Bo told him.
"Yes, I would like to hear your explanation, Avatar," Yihen said.
"Well, I was frozen in an iceberg for a hundred years," Aang admitted to their disbelief.
"It's true, we were all there," Sokka told the tribal leaders while Azula, Katara, and Zuko offered gestures of agreement to that statement.
"So, yeah I'm a hundred and twelve years old, even if I don't look it," Aang said with a smile. "Anyway, I did meet Gilan and Yii a hundred years ago with my airbending teacher." Yihen and Bo stared at him in disbelief, while others from their tribes gathered around to listen. "We were exploring the southern part of the Earth Kingdom when we came across them. They were quite haggard and we helped them. They told us their story and my teacher decided they needed a safe place to recover their strength. So we took them to the Southern Air Temple to let them recuperate and give them supplies for their journey."
"I don't believe it," Bo said.
"So they just… ran away while our tribes argued with each other," Yihen said, relieved that Yii survived.
"That's right," Aang said with a sincere smile.
"If you weren't the Avatar, I would say your story is ridiculous," Bo said.
"I believe you Avatar Aang," Yihen said with a small smile. "But what happened to Yii and Gilan?"
"I was told they planned to reach Ba Sing Se to be safe," Aang said. "After that, I guess they lived their lives in peace."
Bo and Yihen shared looks of shame, along with their tribes. "I suppose we were both false accusers in this," Yihen commented.
"Yeah," Bo said. "I really don't like hanging onto this hate. It wastes a lot of time."
"I agree, truthfully," Yihen said. "We might not be able to form one tribe, but my people and I can learn to tolerate yours."
"And we'll give it a chance too," Bo said before looking hopeful. "Who knows? Maybe we are kin if Gilan and Yii had children."
"That would be a rather ironic twist of fate," Yihen chided before she and Bo organized their tribes to begin marching out of the canyon and toward Ba Sing Se.
"Wait for me!" Gah shouted. "I'm done with this canyon. I bet they don't get canyon crawlers in Ba Sing Se."
As the gang watch the tribes disappear, the teens turn toward Aang. "It was really fortune you met Gilan and Yii," Katara said with a proud smile.
"What are the chances you found and help them here in the Earth Kingdom?" Zuko asked.
"Well," Aang said while nervously scratching the back of his head. "Gyatso and I weren't the one who saved them…"
"You two weren't?" Sokka said in disbelief.
"No they were found by someone else," Aang admitted. "Though I did meet them at the Southern Air Temple and helped them prepare for their journey to Ba Sing Se."
"So you stretched the truth to get what you want," Azula said with crossed arms. She smirked and said, "You really are learning from me Air Head."
Aang laughed and said, "Now do we have a custard tart? I'm starving!"
"All we got is leechy nuts," Zuko said flatly, making Aang groan in disappointment.