"Hello." Sokka said.

The girl, who's name was apparently Riko, nodded back at him. "Hello." She said.

She seemed pleasant enough, for all that he was still a little freaked out that she was part of the crew. How many of them were girls anyways? He hadn't really been paying attention.

"So," Sokka said, letting out of breath, "I was talking to Li. And he said that you were the one who actually met with my dad, Hakoda. And I was just wondering if you wouldn't mind telling me how he was doing? Like he says he's fine but I don't know if he's lying and I can't see him but you did see him…" and he was rambling.

He was rather good at rambling. And sarcasm. And eating. Hunting could also be added to the list. Maybe fighting? He'd never really had a chance to go against someone with actual training in an actual fight… but still.

Riko's lip quirked into a kind of half smile. "He seemed to be doing all right. The war is taking its toll- but it's doing that to everyone. He seemed really excited to have finally found a ship willing to go to the South Pole at least."

That wasn't as good as Sokka had hoped for, but it was also real.

"Thanks," Sokka said, grinning at her.

Riko's smile widened. She had a very nice smile. It was too bad that she was probably ten years older than he was.

Nope. He wasn't going to do it. He was not going to think about attractive Earth Kingdom merchants, especially since they were going to be gone soon.

…-…

Zuko hadn't taken two steps out of the tent before an irate Katara had grabbed hold of his arm and dragged him off. He could have escaped her grasp easily, but he didn't. He was supposed to try to stay on good terms with these people after all. The more people who could vouch for them, who could say that they were actually trying for peace, the better it would be. The easier the transition would be.

Katara stopped when they were somewhere remotely private. Zuko realized then that Uncle hadn't followed him. That was slightly concerning.

"What was that?" Katara hissed at him.

Zuko blinked. "What?"

"You can't just go in and ask someone what their plan is then tell them- "Oh and by the way your entire people is gone. They were all murdered." He's a very likeable kid. He had friends, parents- people he loved. And you just tell him they're dead? Could you think of a gentler way to tell him?"

Zuko looked at her for a long moment. "This is kinder." He finally said. "If you didn't tell him he'd wonder why conversations always trailed off when he tried to talk about the Air Nomads. He'd wonder why everyone told him not to go to the temples. He'd wonder why everyone was so uncomfortable when he spoke of those he loved and wished to see again. This way- he knows. He doesn't have to wonder where they are or what's really going on or why everyone is keeping secrets of where his family actually went. He knows."

Katara stared at him, slack jawed. "That's not the point! You could have done it a thousand ways that would have been better! I wasn't suggesting you keep it from him indefinitely- I was just saying that you could have broken the news first and given him some time before asking if he had a plan to save the world!"

She had a good point, so Zuko nodded. Still, it stung that this- this- whatever she was- friend of the Avatar maybe? Was raking him over the coals for trying to help the Avatar. Or maybe it was for failing to help the Avatar?

Well. At least he wasn't trying to capture the boy.

…-…

It wasn't possible. They couldn't all be dead. The Fire Nation couldn't have gotten up to the mountains. The Air Benders were probably just hiding.

Yes, that made sense. Aang nodded to himself.

He needed to go to the temples and look for clues, figure out where they'd actually gone. Then he could find them.

That was a good idea. A very good idea actually.

The Southern Air Temple wasn't far away, he could go there.

…-…

"I'm going to the Southern Air Temple." Aang announced.

Four people stared at him, faces showing various amount of horror.

"Why?" Sokka asked.

"They can't all be dead." Aang said, "There must be something- some clue they left behind as to where they went. I know them. I can find the clue and I can figure out where they went. Then I can find them."

Li and Mushi exchanged a glance. "If I might make a suggestion," Mushi began, shifting forward slightly, "I think it would be better to visit one of the other temples. The Northern Air Temple is actually inhabited by the Mechanic and his people. They aren't actual Air Benders, but their gliding is quite ingenious. The Eastern and Western temples are uninhabited, but clean. If you wish to look for clues those would probably be your best bet."

"What do you mean clean?" Aang asked.

"The bodies." Li said. "They're cleared out of the other temples. We hadn't gotten to the Southern one yet."

Bodies. There weren't supposed to be bodies, the Air Benders were all supposed to be alive and hiding somewhere safe waiting for Aang to find them, they weren't supposed to be dead.

"No." Aang said, shaking his head. He jumped up, stumbling slightly on a patch of ice.

"No." he said again, and he wasn't sure who he was talking to but- no. This couldn't be happening. "They can't be gone. They can't be dead." His voice broke, and he was crying.

Katara was at his side in an instant, wrapping her arms around him, holding him tight. He nestled in closer to her and let his tears fall.