Chapter Two

A stone torii-style gate with a bronze lion turtle head mounted at the top guarded the entrance to the shrine. Aang stared up at the snarling statue head as the group passed under the gate, brow furrowed in thought. Three badly broken steps led them into the small, one-room shrine. Woven mats were strewn across the floor, revealing the worn wooden floor beneath. The shrine was barren of any furniture save for a wooden altar that housed another lion turtle head. The warm metal glinted in the sunlight coming through the damaged roof, highlighting the rudimentary air nomad symbol engraved on its forehead.

Sokka stepped into the middle of the room and crossed his arms, stating the obvious. "There's nobody here."

"Did she run around back?" Katara asked aloud. She peeked out of one of the holes in the wall to the trees beyond.

Toph rolled her eyes and walked towards the middle of the room. "Don't you people trust me by now? There's a hidden room right about…" She walked the perimeter, stopping at the right of the altar. With a satisfied smirk, she stomped her foot down. "Here."

"Don't scare her away again," Aang warned. He dropped to his knees besides Toph and examined the floor with the tips of his fingers. He brushed against a seam in the wood so thin that it would be nearly impossible for anyone who didn't know it was there to find it. He traced the edges, revealing a square shaped trapdoor and, seeing no other way to pry it open, bent the air just underneath to blast it out of place.

Curiosity engulfed them. Together, Katara, Aang, and Sokka shoved the trapdoor completely aside and kneeled at the edge to take a look. Toph leaned against a nearby intact wall, waiting to hear their report. Zuko hung back towards the entrance, studying the damaged room with increasing worry.

The secret room was nothing more than a dark, square pit dug into the ground, but the sunlight falling through the broken ceiling illuminated the space just enough to be able to see.

A young woman who looked to be around Sokka's age stood with her back pressed against the wall. She glared up at the intruders, her dark amber eyes narrowed. Thick black hair fell over her deeply bronzed shoulders in soft waves. Her rounded cheeks quivered as she clenched her teeth, lips parted in a snarl, brows knit together in an expression of anxiety mingled with anger. She wore a white strapless top that exposed her midriff and a silky wrap skirt woven with intricate patterns and vibrant colors. Around her neck, she wore a large cockle shell on a string.

"What do you want?" she cried, her soft melodic voice wavering. Her fingers dug into the wall as she stared up at them.

Katara exchanged glances with Sokka and Aang. Wordlessly, they wondered why she was so terrified. Gently, Katara said, "We just came to this island to look for supplies."

"Then take what you want and go!" the young woman snapped.

"I wanted to apologize for your instrument, too," Aang put in.

"And ask you what happened here," Sokka added.

The young woman did not move. "I'm not interested in your apologies or your questions. If you want something, take it and go. Leave me alone."

Katara frowned. "But-."

Outside, the great, rumbling footsteps drew close once again, and this time they were at a running pace.

Sokka stiffened and craned his neck to look over his shoulder. "It's coming back!"

Zuko glanced out of the entryway and shook his head. "There's nothing outside."

Toph nodded in agreement. "It's just sound. There's no movement."

The young woman seemed to falter for a moment. She glanced to the side and took a step away from the wall. As she moved, the beast's footsteps disappeared as quickly as they had come. She looked up through the hole for a clearer look at the intruders. "Who are you people?"

Relaxing a bit, Katara placed her hand on her chest and smiled. "I'm Katara, and this is my brother, Sokka. We're from the Southern Water Tribe."

"And I'm Aang," the airbender said with a grin.

"He's the avatar," Sokka added, clapping Aang on the back hard enough to knock him off balance.

The young woman was taken aback. She let out a quiet gasp and dropped her jaw. "You…are the avatar?"

Aang nodded. "It's kind of a long story, but my friends and I are hiding out, and we need food."

The young woman took another step forward to get a better look at them. "And the others?"

"Toph," the earthbender quipped. She moved so that her face was visible through the hole in the floor. "And the brooding guy over there is Zuko." She motioned for him to step forward so he could also be seen, but he quickly shook his head.

The young woman crossed her arms over her chest, thinking things over. Finally, she sighed in defeat but made no move to leave her underground room. "I am Moria. If I help you gather food and supplies, will you leave my island?"

"Only if you tell us what hap-."

Katara quickly clapped her hand over Sokka's big mouth and smiled reassuringly. "We would love your help, Moria."

"But I want to know why the village was destroyed," Sokka hissed through his sister's fingers.

"It's obviously a touchy subject. Don't say anything stupid," Katara whispered harshly back.

Sokka slumped his shoulders but agreed to remain quiet.

Moria pulled herself out of the hole and brushed the dirt from her hands. A cautious smile touched her lips, but it quickly disappeared when she spotted Zuko. She let out a surprised yelp and leapt backwards, nearly toppling back into the hidden room. Her eyes widened and she shrieked, "You didn't say you had the Fire Nation with you!"

Katara reached out and took Moria's arm gently to steady her. She caught her eye and took a slow breath, wordlessly encouraging Moria to do the same. "That's Zuko. He's…with us."

Moira shook her head. "He's Fire Nation."

Katara glanced at Zuko before turning back to Moria. "Did the Fire Nation cause all the destruction outside?"

Moria narrowed her eyes and pointed at Zuko, her voice low and angry. "Ask him. He knows."

"I don't," Zuko finally spoke. "I'm sorry."

Katara lowered her eyes. Quietly, she explained, "Zuko has defected from the Fire Nation. He's working with us – with the avatar – to help defeat the Fire Lord and finally end the war."

Moria blinked. "War?"

"So, you see?" Sokka butted in, grinning. "He's no threat. Now, can you help us with those supplies? Do you have dried meat?"

Katara rolled her eyes and shoved her brother aside. Aang took his place and looked at Moria earnestly.

"Where are the rest of the islanders?"

Moria's eyes never left Zuko. A deep anger burned within them. "My people were all killed. By the Fire Nation."

Katara gasped. "Everyone?"

Zuko appeared to shrink under Moria's harsh glare. She pushed Katara aside and stepped closer to Zuko, hands balling into fists. "Everyone. Except one. You missed me. I was down there. No one thought to check. Your army came to my island and slaughtered my people. For no reason! We haven't done anything to you. And you claim to know nothing about the attack?"

Zuko lowered his eyes. "The Fire Nation has taken out many villages," he said quietly. "I can assure you; I did not participate in the slaughtering of your people."

"I'm expected to believe that?" Moria scoffed.

"When did the attack happen?" Aang asked gently.

Moria glanced at him and relaxed her stance. "About three months ago."

"And you've been living here by yourself all this time?" Katara asked, astounded. "Why wouldn't you just leave?"

"I can't leave," Moria said, bewildered by the question.

Sokka cut in once more, glancing nervously over his shoulder. "Since you've been here, you must have seen that monster making all the noise. What is it?"

Outside, the footsteps started up again, circling the shrine.

"That monster?" Moria asked.

Sokka began pointing frantically at the walls where the creature lurked just behind. "Yes, that monster! The one that keeps chasing us, but we can't see! What is it?! Where-." Sokka's mouth continued to move, but no sound came out. His eyes widened in shock and he gripped his throat, jumping from foot to foot in a panic. He tried desperately to speak, but not even the sound of whooshing air passed his lips.

"What's wrong?" Katara cried, alarmed. Aang and Toph stepped forward to try and help, and Zuko inched closer in concern.

Outside, the footsteps stopped.

Moria crossed her arms and looked Sokka in the eye with a raised brow. "Can you calm down please?"

Sokka continued with his panic dance for another moment before stopping. With his hands still clasped at his throat, he stared back at Moria with bulging eyes.

She sighed. "You can speak now."

"What was that?" Sokka let out a whooshing breath. His jaw dropped as he noticed the faint smirk on Moria's face. "Did you do that?"

Katara furrowed her brow. "How could she have possibly done that?"

Aang raised a hand to his mouth, his eyes shining with astonishment. "You did do that, didn't you? And the monster's footsteps…" He took a step closer to Moria and looked up at her. "Are you…a soundbender?"

Toph immediately scoffed. "That's ridiculous. Who ever heard of a soundbender?" Behind her, Zuko grimaced and kept his eyes trained on the floor.

Aang ignored the others around him and kept his eyes locked with Moria's. "You are, aren't you?"

He was not the only one surprised by the claim. Moria mirrored Aang's awed look. She squeezed the cockle shell at her neck and whispered, "How do you know of my people?"

"I-I don't," Aang stammered. "Not really. But the monks would tell stories…well, myths, really. But I didn't think they were real. No one did."

"Just what kind of stories did the monks tell?" Katara asked, studying Moria's face.

"They talked about an ancient subset of airbenders who could bend the vibrations in the air," Aang explained. "They could use music to make people feel things. They could control people's voices and make them say whatever they want. But the monks always said it was just a story. Kind of like a cautionary tale. They always said that no one should have a power like that because it's too easy to abuse."

"I suppose your monks were right," Moria said with a sigh.

"But I don't understand," Aang looked up at Moria earnestly. "If soundbenders really do exist, how come no one knows about them?"

A sad smile touched Moria's lips. "My people were erased from history, avatar."

Katara frowned. "Tell us what happened. Please."

Moria sighed heavily and lowered herself to sit on the floor, motioning for the others to do the same. Only Zuko, standing uncomfortably by the open doorway, remained standing with an expression that said he'd rather be anywhere but there.

Placing her hands on her knees, Moria glanced up at the remaining ceiling. Remarkable paintings had once been there, but the stories they told were now in tatters. "One thousand years ago, my people lived alongside the Air Nomads. As the avatar said, the ability we possess is derived from airbending."

"Does that mean you can airbend, too?" Aang asked eagerly.

Moria shook her head. "We bend the vibrations in the air, not the air itself. The monks were correct when they spoke of our abilities. I could make you say anything I want, and the words would be in your voice. I can conjure any sound I want you to hear. I can make people go mute, as you saw. We use music to get inside the mind and manipulate feelings. If you are angry, I can calm you in seconds. The strongest of my people could create what's called a sonic explosion, which does serious damage.

"Despite us living peacefully among the Air Nomads, there were some who were distrustful. They feared that we would use our abilities in a coup against all nations and force a political uprising. They were convinced that all we wanted was ultimate power."

"Was it true?" Sokka asked, earning a hard shove from Katara.

"No, it was a vicious lie!" Moria cried with feeling. "My people have always promoted peace and harmony. But rumors are a powerful thing. Word quickly spread to other nations. Soon, benders began to fear us. No one would come near us. They were terrified of what we could do to them, because the reality was that we could send them into a spiraling state of madness if we really wanted. We could snap their minds forever, but that was against everything my people stood for.

"No one would listen to us. Eventually, an international summit was held without our knowledge." Moria swallowed thickly and glanced at a hole in the ceiling. "It was decided that the soundbenders would be banished. Forever. We were gathered up – soundbenders and those who could potentially pass on the ability – and brought here. Our captors were kind enough," she spat the word out like acid, "to leave us with livestock and seeds so we had a fighting chance of survival, but that was all. We were abandoned here. It was forbidden to discuss soundbending, and all documents mentioning us were destroyed." She spread her arms and bowed her head. "That is the last thing my people knew of the outside world. Until the Fire Nation came and destroyed us."

"But I don't understand," Toph said with crossed arms. "Why not just build a boat and leave?"

"You really do not understand…" Moria narrowed her eyes suddenly and pointed towards Zuko. "You have been so quiet. What are you hiding?"

Zuko cringed as all eyes swiftly moved to him.

Katara caught on to his reluctance and frowned. "Zuko. What do you know?"

Defeated, Zuko slumped to his knees. Reluctantly, he began, "In the meeting I attended with my father…a general was ranting about an uncharted island his crew had noticed. He said he believed it to be the mythological island of soundbenders. He claimed tales of soundbenders had been passed down for generations in his family. He convinced my father to let him examine the island by explaining the danger a soundbender posed if they existed. I think my father really just wanted to get him to shut up, but he gave the general permission to explore the island and," he swallowed thickly, "exterminate any soundbenders he found."

Moria was on her feet in an instant. She raced to Zuko, grabbing the front of his shirt with both hands and giving him a good, hard shake. "You did know! You are responsible for the death of my people! I should take you out right now. An eye for an eye, isn't that what they say?"

"I didn't think it was real!" Zuko said but made no move to defend himself. "You said yourself that the soundbenders were erased from history. How could I have known?"

Gently, both Katara and Aang took Moria's arms and pulled her back from Zuko.

Still fuming, Moria allowed herself to be moved away, but her fierce glare stayed locked on Zuko. "How can I trust anything you say?"

"You can't," Zuko readily admitted. "All I can do is apologize for what the Fire Nation has done."

Moria remained silent and a heaviness fell over the small group. It was Sokka's rumbling stomach that cut through the thick atmosphere, and he rubbed the back of his head.

"So, you mentioned helping us gather supplies?" he asked with a sheepish smile.

Moria exhaled slowly and straightened her skirt. "Come on. I'll take you to the storehouse."

Behind the shrine and through the small thicket of trees, another trail wound around fenced-in livestock areas and fertile patches of farmland. The gardens were becoming overgrown. Weeds were overtaking the vegetables and creeping out of the short fences used to contain the crops. The unkept gardens looked to have been untouched for months.

"What have you been doing for all this time?" Katara ventured to ask.

"Giving my people a proper funeral," Moria shot back bitterly.

The gang fell slightly back, casting apprehensive looks at each other.

"I can't imagine staying on an island all alone," Aang whispered out of Moria's earshot.

"Maybe we should take her with us so she can teach you soundbending," Toph suggested. "If the ability is dangerous enough to banish an entire group of people forever, then it can probably help you defeat the Fire Lord."

Aang nodded. "If it stems from airbending, it can't be too hard to learn. But do you really think she'll come with us?" He glanced back at Zuko.

Toph shrugged. "Better than living alone on a remote island, am I right?"

"It wouldn't hurt to ask," Katara added. "She seems like she might be willing to help the avatar."

Moria stopped in front of a large wooden shed. She pulled open the double doors and motioned for everyone to go inside. At the sight, Sokka immediately began to drool. Dried meats lined an entire wall. Barrels and crates of fruits and vegetables filled the floor. Dried exotic fruits hung from the back wall. Long grasses and large leaves were hanging out to dry from the ceiling.

"Take what you want," Moria said. She leaned against the wall near the door, arms crossed over her chest. "I certainly can't eat all of this before it begins to spoil."

"This is heaven," Sokka said, sounding on the verge of tears from his joy. "How much do you think Appa can carry?"

Aang glanced around and shrugged. "Maybe a few crates."

"Let's get packing!" Sokka cried, grabbing an empty crate near the door and dragging it over to the meats.

Aang hung back by Moria and heisted for a moment before asking, "Would you like to join us?"

Moria blinked in surprise. "You're asking me to leave my island?"

"Well, you're all alone," Aang said, kicking his foot against the dirt. "And I'm training to master all of the elements. I think soundbending will be a useful skill. If you're willing to teach me, of course."

Moria chewed her lower lip as she mulled over the offer. She watched Sokka eagerly throw the dried meats into the crate and Katara and Zuko fill another with vegetables. Toph had grabbed a sack of rice half her size and was in the process of dragging it towards the door. "You really think I can help you?"

Aang nodded. "There's a lot going on in the world right now. I'll fill you in later, but your ability could be just what I need to restore peace. What do you think, Sifu Moria?"

"I never thought I could leave my island," she said quietly.

"You can. We'll help you," Aang assured her.

She cast a skeptical look at Zuko. "And the Fire Nation boy?"

"You can trust him. I promise." Aang placed a hand on Moria's arm and gave her a wide grin. "It wouldn't be right to leave you here all alone."

She nodded slowly. "There are some things I need to take care of first."

"Sure," Aang said, giving her arm a gentle squeeze. "Take your time. We'll be ready when you're ready."