Summary:

Aang is gone. Zuko and Iroh are wanted fugitives. And Katara is a complete wreck. This chapter will focus primarily on Aang. Some good kataangst mixed in. I own nothing.

Chapter 2: New Friends

Katara ran over to where Aang was sleeping the night before. Tears began to fill Katara's eyes as she noticed drag marks and his staff on the ground. She couldn't believe that he was just gone. An inextinguishable fire began to burn in her stomach as anger filled her very soul. Then another wave of sadness and realization hit her like a tsunami. She remembered the argument they had the day before and what she had done to him. She broke down and dropped to her knees crying. She began to whimper and shake her head in disbelief as she began to drown in her sorrow.

She clutched onto Aang's staff and hugged it close to her body. She began to rock back and forth with her knees tucked close to her chest and Aang's staff in her hands. Tears streamed down her face like a torrent from a flooding river. She couldn't even begin to think of what Aang is going through. She felt a hand gently grab her left shoulder. She gave a half look at her brother and whispered one word.

"Why?"

Confused, Sokka replied, "What do you mean?"

"Why...did they take...him from me...us?" She said shakily. "And how...did they take him...without us noticing?"

Toph spoke up with guilt in her voice, "They probably knocked him out." she sighed, "And because I slept on Appa I couldn't feel them?" A single tear rolled out of her eye. Toph never felt like this before, but she had just lost a new friend while Sokka and Katara had just lost family.

Katara not seeing Toph crying snapped around to glare at the blind earthbender, "HOW COULD YOU..." She trailed off at the sight of Toph's tears. Realizing her mistake, she walked to the earthender and gave her a soft hug, "I am so sorry, Toph. I didn't mean to blame you. I am just shocked."

Sokka seeing how distraught his sister was pulled her into a long hug and whispered, "Everything will be alright."

Katara shot a look at him of sadness and desperation, "How? My...our best friend is gone." There was a short pause. "I said so many bad things to him last night." She sniffled as another bout of tears escaped, "And now he's...he's... he's gone." Katara dropped to her knees again and sobbed into her hands.

"We will find him." Sokka replied reassuringly.

Katara didn't move. Sokka had never seen her this way; even when they had lost their mother. He thought it best to leave her alone. As he walked away, Toph hurried to catch up.

"Will Aang be alright?" The young earthbender asked Sokka.

He looked over his shoulder at his broken sister, "I think we be asking 'Will Katara be alright?'"

Meanwhile,

The young airbender opened his eyes to the searing light of the sun and what felt like a knife through his head. He felt his body laying belly-down on the back of something uncomfortable and smelly. He turned his head and realized his hands were tied with a piece of rope while on the back of a Komodo Rhino.

"Wakey wakey, boy." Came a cocky and sarcastic tone. "I hope you had a good night's sleep."

Aang turned to see the fire nation soldier on the Komodo Rhino behind his own.

"Actually, I did." Aang replied cheerfully. "But I think I caught a cold."

"What makes you say that?" Replied the soldier dryly.

"Because I have to sneeze."

The souldier then cocked his head to one side, confused.

Aang then proceeded to take in a huge volume of air through his nose and letting out an enormous sneeze; launching him into the air causing him to do four flips before landing safely on the ground. He the set his sights on the spear thing (A/N: I don't know what they are called.) lying on the ground next to him. Before he could use it to cut the bindings off his wrists, He was surrounded by four Komodo Rhinos with two men on each of them. The commander spoke up.

"You thought you could escape so easily." He chuckled, "We are smarter then we look, wait, that came out wrong." He paused, "Never mind, what I meant to say is that we are not stupid."

A small smirk began to play on Aang's lips, "Yeah, you are pretty stupid." At this, Aang stomped his foot on the ground sending dust into the air (A/N: Toph has taught Aang basic earthbending) and then proceeded to run around in circles, with the aid of his airbending, to send even more dust into the air. He was all but invisible to the firebenders. He ran over to the spear and cut the bindings off of his wrists. With his hands now free, Aang sent a hug gust of air in all directions clearing the area of dust and knocking all the rhino's and soldiers down. He then darted towards the tree line; disappearing in an instant.

The fire nation soldiers gathered themselves and discovered the Avatar had escaped. All the soldier turned to look at their commander.

He sighed, "I will inform the princess of the Avatar's escape."

Meanwhile,

Everything was a blur. Trees, rocks and bushes moving past him in an instant. He ran and ran as fast as he could until he knew he was safe. As he stopped to catch his breath, Aang noticed the beautiful cherry blossoms swaying in the wind above him. A tear ran down his face. They reminded him of Katara, and he now realized he has no clue where he is or if his friends are alright. As he pondered this, he realized that if the fire nation were to want all of them they would have just attacked he and his friends. But, no, they just attacked him. He figured they would be safe but now they are worried sick of his disappearance. He needed help to reunite with them. He figured he would head to Omashu to find King Bumi and ask for his help, but first he needed to figure out where he was. At that moment, he heard a stream up ahead. Surely there would be people near the water and he could get something to drink. He walked forward and pushed his way through some bushes. He looked up and froze in shock and fear as he reached the water's edge and assumed his battle stance.

Meanwhile,

Zuko and Iroh ran. They were now enemies of the fire nation. After they were a safe distance away, they stopped at the bank of a stream. Zuko pulled out a small knife and proceeded to cut his ponytail. Iroh did the same dropping it into the water, letting their past lives drift away in the current. Suddenly, they heard a rustle in the bushes across the stream. They assumed their fighting stances.

A young boy stumbled out of the bushes across the stream. He took two steps forward and froze in shock then assumed his battle stance.

"The Avatar!" Said Zuko.

Zuko blasted a ball of fire towards the Avatar which was quickly smothered out by the water raised in his defense. Before the Avatar could retaliate, the fight was interrupted by a loud yell.

"ZUKO!" Yelled Iroh in a strong and commanding tone. "STOP! NOW!"

"But...he's the Avatar." Replied a confused Zuko. "We can take him to Azula; she will clear our record and my father will restore my honor."

Aang was confused and dropped his arms to his sides while knee deep in the river. He thought Zuko was just a commander, not a criminal. He decided to let his uncle, the man who helped them restore the moon spirit at the North Pole, deal with the situation now that they weren't fighting.

"My brother will not restore your honor." Iroh retorted. "And do you think Azula will let you return home with the Avatar. She would take you and the Avatar for herself!"

Zuko looked down in contemplation. Weighing the options, he became confused and stormed off into the woods behind them.

Aang looked at Zuko with concern as he stormed off. The airbender strode out of the stream and up to Iroh, "Do you think he is going to tell, Azula was it, about me?"

"No, he's just thinking." Iroh turned back to Aang, "Where are my manners, I am Zuko's Uncle, Iroh." He bowed

Aang bowed in return, "I am Aang, the Avatar." Then pondered for a moment, "May I ask what you two were arguing about?"

"Ahh, so you haven't heard the story."

Aang shook his head.

"Well, three years ago Zuko was banished by his father, my brother, for being disrespectful and 'doomed' to chase the Avatar, you, forever since you had disappeared a hundred years ago. After the fire nations failure at the North Pole, the Fire Lord blamed Zuko and I for it. He sent Zuko's sister, Azula, to trick us into coming back. When her captain accidentally alerted us to her plans, we fought the crew off and escaped. We are now fugitives of the fire nation as you see us now."

"So...are you two against the Fire Nation now?"

"In a way we are...I don't think Zuko sees it that way yet."

"So...can I at least call you a friend."

"Yes you can. I realized a long time ago that the Fire Nation is corrupt and evil; I was buying my time until it was right to leave." Iroh then had a puzzled look on his face, "How did you end up here by yourself anyway? Where are your friends?"

"That is why I was hoping I could call you a friend."

"What happened?

"Well...I woke up last night thinking I heard something then someone covered my mouth and knocked me out. I woke up on the back of a Komodo Rhino and escaped. I then ran here."

"Were your friends captured?" Asked Iroh concerned for the young boy in front of him.

"I think they are safe. If they wanted all of us, they would have just attacked rather than kidnapping me." Aang looked down with a tear running down his face.

"Don't worry young man...you said it yourself, they are safe." Iroh replied concerned.

"It's not that...I miss them and I had an argument with Katara last night.

"The young master waterbender." Iroh interrupted.

"Yes, I just feel so bad that that is the last thing we had together; a stupid argument."

Aang sits down on the shore of the stream, looking into the water. Iroh joins him.

"I am sure she realizes it was stupid as well. In situations like these, forgiveness is easy to come by."

Aang sniffles, "I know, but that doesn't mean I can forgive myself."

Iroh gives him a coupe sympathetic pats on the back, "Don't worry, we will find them. But first we need a plan." Iroh paused, "If I am not mistaken, you are to master water, earth, then fire."

Aang nodded, "I have mastered water and know basic earthbending." There was a moment of silence. "I was planning on going to Omashu to learn more from king Bumi once I realized I was seperated from my friend."

"Ahh...Bumi."

"You know him?" Asked Aang in complete shock,

"Yes...but that is not important right now. It is a two week journey east to Omashu from here; we should get moving tomorrow."

"Thank you for all your help, Iroh."

"It is my honor." Iroh stood up, "Let's find some shelter, my nephew and some tea leaves."

After a short walk into the surrounding forest, Aang and Iroh found tea leaves and a cave to stay in. However, it was already occupied by a disgruntled banished prince.

"So...we are taking him as our prisoner?" Stated Zuko, dryly.

"Zuko." Iroh replied sternly. "Show some respect towards my new best friend."

"WHAT!" Zuko shot up and hit his head on the cieling of the cave. Aang barely suppressed a giggle. Zuko rubbed the top of his head, "Why are we doing this, Uncle?"

"We are no longer wanted in the Fire Nation. Now we can do what is right and help Aang fulfill his destiny." Replied Iroh with a smile.

"But, what about my honor?"

"You will restore your honor by doing what is right?" Exasperated Iroh glanced at Aang and back to Zuko, "Now, be respectful and introduce yourself to our new friend."

Aang smiled and decided to be the initiator. He stepped forward and bowed, "I am Aang, the Avatar. Nice to finally meet you in a kinder setting."

Zuko, bowed reluctantly, "Likewise...Aang."

Iroh piped up, "Good, now let's make some tea."

Zuko sighed and smacked his palm into his forehead.

To be continued,

Thank you for reading. This didn't feel like my best piece of writing but please R&R.