Chapter 23
Liling hummed a little while walking a bit seeing a small kiosk sign.
"This should give us a good idea of what's around here." Katara said as she walked towards the small kiosk at the crossroads.
"It might be some warning posters about some plants or animas."Liling said getting a closer look at the posters.
"See if you can find a menu." Sokka quipped as he held an empty pouch upside down, "I'm starving!"
"You're always hungry Sokka…what happened to the nuts and berries I picked this afternoon?"Liling asked
"As if a bunch of plants will hold my appetite."Sokka replied drily.
"Hey guys, I bet we'll find something to eat here, the Fire Day's festival." Aang commented and pointed to the poster Katara and Liling were looking at, then he began to read what it said aloud, "Fire Nation cultural exhibits, jugglers, benders, magicians."
"Fire's day festival?"Liling repeated "I've known it just as Fire festival…"
Aang trailed off and he turned to the two girls with an excited look on his face. Liling smiled softly.
"This would be a great place us to study some real Firebenders!"Aang exclaimed looking at Liling.
"It would be nice to go, I haven't been to a fire festival in so long."Liling said
"You might wanna rethink that." Sokka said drily from the other side of the kiosk, "Look at this."
Aang, Liling and Katara walked over to Sokka to see what was on the other side of the kiosk.
"Hey, a poster of me!" Aang exclaimed and Sokka crossed his arms over his chest.
"A wanted poster." He grumbled and shook his head while Aang took own the poster, "This is bad."
"I think we better keep moving." Katara commented as she stared at the poster over Aang's shoulder.
"Yeah, I agree with Katara."Liling said "If we go there and he might get discovered."
Aang looked up at the two girls almost pleadingly, "I have to learn Firebending at some point and this could be my only chance to watch a master up close, unless…."Aang trailed off Looking at Liling.
"Aang, now is not the time."Liling said "Even if…"She stopped glancing at the watertribe siblings.
'I just can't teach him…I haven't even finished my firebending training..'She thought
"I guess we could check it out." Katara stated unsurely as she looked at the ground.
Liling looked at Katara with wide eyes, she couldn't help but crack a smile.
"What?!" Sokka demanded, looking at his sister in shock, "You wanna walk into a Fire Nation town where they're all fired-up with their, you know, fire?"
"Sokka it's just a little fire."Liling said "At the fire festival they control their firebending knowing when to stop, it takes weeks maybe months to get a trick down with fire."
"Lils what do you know about it?"Sokka stated "They could be all over the place with their fire, doing…fire stuff!"
"We'll wear disguises." Katara responded easily as she walked off. "If it looks like trouble, we'll leave."
"This'll be fun!"Liling exclaimed "I think you guys will love the festival!"
"Yeah," Sokka muttered sarcastically as he followed after the other three." I'm sure we'll have a lot of fun…"
"You guys stay out sight here while we go to the festival." Aang instructed Appa and Momo when they reached the edge of the forest a little bit a ways from the Fire Nation town and the two ducked down behind a small bush that barely covered Appa's face.
Aang smiled then turned to Liling, Katara, and Sokka, "Ready disguises!"
Sokka and Katara pulled the hoods of their black cloaks up over their heads while
Liling left her hair long in a loose braid pulling the black cloak up to lightly cover her face. The three turned to look at Aang as he turned back around, his orange shawl pulled over his head and a large grin on his young face.
"It's like you're a whole different person…" Sokka commented sarcastically as he looked at Aang's 'disguise' and crossed his arms over his chest, causing Katara and Liling giggled behind their hands.
"Let's go." Aang said as he turned and started walking down the hill in the direction of the Fire Nation town with Liling, Katara, and Sokka trailing after him.
The four entered the town and looked, taking in all the people wearing masks and having a good time, a large paper Mache dragon passed by them. Liling smiled happily seeing all the people and children run around.
"I think we need some new disguises." Katara muttered as the four pressed close together.
"Where are we gonna get masks like that?" Sokka grumbled in frustration.
"Get your genuine Fire Festival masks here!" A merchant behind them shouted, holding up a white and red mask as he gestured to the other masks on his stall.
Liling, Katara, Aang hurried towards the stall while Sokka remained where he was for a moment, his eyes wide.
"That as surprisingly easy." He muttered then hurried over to his sister and two friends.
The four each grabbed a mask; Katara chose a lady with makeup, Liling picked a snow white mask with a dark red wavy design, Sokka a blue smiling mask with pale yellow petals around the rim, and Aang had put on a red mask with a severe frown.
Katara and Liling looked between the two boys then Katara removed Sokka's mask revealing his frowning face while Liling took off Aang's, revealing the large grin on his face. The two girls exchanged masks then Sokka put the frowning red mask on Sokka and Liling put the smiling blue on Aang. Then the four began walking further into the village, taking in the sights of the festival.
Liling smiled under her mask taking in the fun and reminiscing of her past.
'Be careful my little jasmine flower.' Her father said
'I'll be okay daddy!' The little girl exclaimed her big eyes glittered seeing the fire Jugglers.
Her father smiled looking at his child.
'Daddy look!' She pointed at the one performer bending the fire transforming it into a dragon. 'Can you teach me that?'
'Liling, these performers do things that I can't do.' He explained 'Fire has it's beauty but you also have to be very careful as it can also be dangerous. Sometimes I wish…' he stopped glancing at his daughter. 'But if I wished that then I wouldn't have met your mother.'
'Daddy…' She said her father patted her on the head.
'Let's have some fun tonight, I want you experience more of our heritage.' He said with a small.
"Hey, there's some food!" Aang stated, pointing towards a stand.
"Finally!" Sokka exclaimed and rushed towards the stand, pushing past Aang, Liling, and Katara who followed at him at a normal pace.
"What do ya have?" Sokka asked the man behind the food stall as he walked closer, putting his hand on the counter.
"Flaming fire flakes." The shop keeper said, holding out a small bag with smoking red flakes inside to Sokka as Katara, Liling and Aang approached, "Best in town."
"I'll take 'em!" Sokka said happily as he snatched the bag and began shoving the fire flakes into his mouth rapidly.
"I'll have some too!"Liling replied giving two copper pieces to the man. She took a bag and happily ate a few fire flakes.
"Aaahhh!" Sokka yelped, spitting out the flakes and rubbing hurriedly at his tongue, "Hot! Hot!"
"'Flaming fire flakes', hot?" Katara drawled sarcastically and crossed her arms over her chest, "What do you know."
"You're right mister, these are the best!"Liling said smiling as she kept eating a few.
"How come that doesn't burn your tongue?!"Sokka asked while still rubbing his tongue.
"I like spicy and hot food."Liling said a few kids ran past them.
"Hey look at this!" Aang said excitedly as he looked in the direction the kids had run in and the four over where a small puppet stage was set up with the kids sitting on low benches in front of it.
The four watched as the curtains pulled back, revealing a hand-puppet of the Fire Lord which caused the children to cheer and lift their arms in the air.
"Don't worry loyal citizens!" The Fire Lord puppet said, "No one can surprise the Fire Lord!"
The children gasped in horror when another puppet dressed as an Earth Kingdom general with a rock in one hand popped up behind the puppet.
"Oh no! Look out!" A few of the kids exclaimed, some even covering their eyes, "Look out!"
Liling, Katara, Aang, and Sokka flinched when the Fire Lord puppet suddenly breathed fire and burned the other puppet completely, causing the children to cheer loudly again.
"That's new…"Liling mumbled slipping away from the crowd.
Liling stopped hearing music and the sound of a beating drum.
"Those guys are playing some music." Aang said
"Music?"Liling repeated
There were three men, two were beating a large drum while the third man was beating a small one, Then a girl dressed in a dark red top with a long red skirt. The girl smiled and danced keeping up with the steady beat of the drum, she swished her long skirt gracefully.
"I remember that dance!"Liling exclaimed
Liling kept listening to the beats and saw the girl smile a bit, before she knew it Liling started to dance along with her. At first the dancer was surprised but smiled seeing Liling match each step she did gracefully. The crowd looked at them with awe.
"Back then Liling always danced at festivals like this."Aang said
Aang looked at Sokka who was in a trance seeing Liling dance. She swayed a bit letting the music guide her. It ended with Liling doing one twirl and a small pose of her hands in the air, her mask came off by the fast motion with a wide smile.
The crowd cheered and the dancer girl whispered something in Liling's ear as she smiled shaking her head.
Liling grabbed her mask and went back to the trio.
"That was amazing." Katara complemented.
"Thanks..my mom and dad taught me." Liling replied, she looked at Sokka who's jaw was slightly open, she raised her hand and closed his mouth.
"What did the dancer say?"Aang asked
"She asked me if I wanted to go with her group to perform in the next festival." Liling said "I told her I can't I'm busy travelling."
The four walked around for a few more minutes until Aang suddenly rushed towards a large crowd standing around a raised stage near the back of the courtyard.
"Aang! " Liling called out as she ran following the bald monk.
"Where are we going?" Katara asked.
"I don't know." Aang asked with a shrug, "But there's a big crowd so it must be good."
"Knowing the Fire Nation, it's probably an execution." Sokka quipped sarcastically, Liling gave him a heated glare as the four pushed their way to the front of the stage.
There they saw a man in white and red clothes Firebend a couple fireballs all around his body before causing them to explode into three doves that flew over the crowd.
Aang tilted his mask up and looked up at the Firebender in awe, "I gotta learn that trick!"
"Aang, he's a fire magician."Liling commented."I don't think that's going to be useful for you."
"Thank you!" The Firebender magician cried out dramatically after bowing, "For my next trick I need a volunteer from the audience!"
"Oh! Oh!" Aang shouted as he started bouncing and waving his hand in the air childishly, "Me! Me!"
"What do you think you're doing?" Sokka hissed as he pushed Aang's hand back down.
It's better that we don't attract any attention to ourselves." Katara added
"We're only here to see."Liling said "It's not like he'll pick one of us-"
The three were distracted from scolding Aang when Malu appeared at the edge of the stage in front of them.
"How about you, little lady?" He asked, holding his hand out to Katara.
"Uh…" Katara stuttered, backing away and holding her hand up in rejection.
"Aw, she's shy!" Malu cooed then looked out to the crowd. "Let's give her some encouragement, folks!"
The crowd cheered and one kid even pushed Katara towards the stage, Liling was quick to go to Katara.
"Katara, don't worry he won't do anything that will hurt you."Liling whispered placing her hand on Katara's shoulder. "It's only a trick."
Malu grabbed her hand and pulled her up onto the stage.
"Aw!" Aang whined, crossing his arms petulantly over his chest, "That could have been me."
Liling couldn't help but smile under her mask She patted the top of his head affectionately then turned back to the stage.
"This next trick is called 'Taming the Dragon.'" Malu exclaimed grandly as he pushed Katara into a seat in the middle of the stage then used a piece of red cloth he pulled from his sleeve to tie her to the chair, "You will be my captured princess!"
Malu stood and Firebended the flames at the top of the four pillars into a dragon, which he directed around the stage.
"Don't worry, young maiden! I will tame this fiery beast!" Malu cried out, creating a fire whip which he attached the bottom of the dragon, then his expression became comically distressed, "It's too strong, I can't hold it!"
"We gotta help her!" Aang shouted but Sokka grabbed him by the arms, keeping him from running up on stage.
"No, we don't want to make a scene!"
"He's right just stay and watch."Liling said
"The rope, it's breaking!" Malu exclaimed theatrically as the fire-rope attached the dragon dispersed and the fire-dragon began flying directly towards Katara.
Katara whimpered and shut her eyes tightly as the fire-dragon came closer, causing Aang to break free of Sokka's grip and jump on stage in front of Katara, Aang twisted around and Airbended a large funnel of air from his hands that the fire-dragon flew straight into, causing the flames to disperse and turn into confetti.
"Hey, you tryin' to upstage me kid?" Malu demanded quietly from where he had fallen on the stage as he glared at Aang.
His mask having been blown off, Aang looked at the confetti in confusion and held his hand up to catch some of the colored paper. The crowd began booing loudly and Aang started dancing goofily as Sokka and Liling climbed onto the stage. Sokka hurried over to his sister and began untying her from the chair while Liling shook her head at Aang and stopped him from his dance.
"Hey!" Someone in the crowd shouted suddenly, "That kid's the Avatar!"
Aang froze as Fire Nation guards began pushing through the crowd towards the stage with their spears raised.
"I think it's time to go!" Sokka stated as they removed their masks and dropped them on the ground.
"Follow me!" A man in a dark gray cloak with a cloth mask covering his lower face said suddenly from behind the destroyed wall of the stage as he gestured for the foursome to follow him, "I can get you out of here!"
Liling,Sokka, Katara and Aang followed thee man in the cloak, as the guards were tailing them.
"There they are!" A guard shouted as the guards climbed onto the stage.
The four teens ran through the hole in the wall and past the man, who threw a smoke bomb at the Fire Nation guards chasing them.
Sokka, Katara, Aang, and Liling ran after the man as he lead them through the crowded streets where people were still enjoying the festival.
"Over there!" Another guard yelled, pointing to the five as they ran past him and few other soldiers.
The five raced down an alley with the guards chasing after them. Aang reached into his shirt and pulled out the bison whistle.
"I'm calling Appa." He stated then quickly took a deep breath and blew the whistle.
"I really hope he can hear that bison whistle!" Sokka squawked as he glanced over his shoulder at the guards still chasing them.
"This way!" The mystery man called over his shoulder as he turned a sharp corner then skidded to a halt with the four friends almost running into him when some of the guards appeared at the end of the alley, "Okay! Not this way!"
The man threw another smoke bomb and the five turned down another alley only to skid to a stop again when they reached the end of the alley which was being blocked by a huge supply of fireworks. The five turned around as the guards appeared and started walking towards them with their spears pointed at them menacingly.
"Appa!" Aang shouted suddenly and the five looked up as the flying bison soared towards them, "Down here!"
Appa growled and landed in the alley between the five and the guards with his back to the Fire Nation soldiers. The sky bison slapped his tail against the ground and sent a gale force wind at the guards, blowing them clear out of sight.
The teens watched from Appa's saddle high in the air as the guards raced back into the alley. Their eyes widened when the mystery man took another smoke grenade from his cloak and threw it into the crate of fireworks, setting them off with a loud, colorful bang.
"Nice touch setting off the fireworks." Aang complimented the man as Appa sailed away from the village and the man removed the hood of his cloak.
"You really know your explosives…" Sokka commented in an impressed tone.
"I'm familiar." The man said.
"That was pretty cool."Liling complimented
"You're a Fire Nation soldier." Sokka stated matter-of-factly, causing Liling, Katara, and Aang's eyes widened in surprise as they looked at the man cautiously.
"Was." The man corrected then looked away from the fireworks and towards the four teens, "My name's Chey."
Aang landed Appa in a small clearing in the forest a few miles from the Fire Nation town and quickly set up camp then once everything was set up, the five sat around the fire.
"I serve a man. More than a man really, he's myth, but he's real, a living legend," Chey rambled as he looked at the four teens, "Jeong Jeong the Deserter. He was a Fire Nation general, or wait, was he an admiral?"
"He was very highly ranked, we get." Sokka snapped, clearly not amused by the possibly unstable man.
"Yeah! Way up there!" Chey agreed, oblivious to Sokka's tone, "But he couldn't take the madness any more. He's the first person to ever leave the army—and live. I'm the second, but you don't get to be a legend for that. That's okay though. Jeong Jeong's a Firebending genius. Some say he's mad, but he's not! He's enlightened."
Liling blinked a few times hearing Chey's words.
"You mean there's a Firebender out there who's not with the Fire Lord?" Aang asked and jumped to his feet excitedly, looking at Chey hopefully, "We've gotta go see him! He can train me!"
"We're not gonna go find some crazy Firebender!" Sokka snapped instantly and Chey got to his feet.
"He's not crazy!" He denied in annoyance then insisted, "He's a genius! And he's the perfect person to the train the Avatar! That's why I followed you into the festival."
"Stuff like this doesn't happen everyday…it might be nice meeting him."Liling slowly said
Sokka stood as well and crossed his arms over his chest, "Look, thanks for the help, but we're leaving for the North Pole in the morning, we don't have time to meet him."
"Sokka, this could be my only chance to meet a Firebending master who would actually be willing to teach us!" Aang protested, looking at Sokka pleadingly. "Besides we could use his help!"
"It can't hurt just to talk to him." Katara said reasonably.
"That's what you said about going to the festival!" Sokka retorted in annoyance, tossing his hands in the air, "Why doesn't anyone ever listen to me!"
"We do listen, we just don't agree." Liling said getting up.
Sokka pouted and turned around, only to almost impale himself on a spear that had appeared out of nowhere.
Liling took a defensive stance instantly as the five were surrounded by men in wearing straw hats, light armor made from straw and grass, wielding spears with tribal makeup. Aang turned and gasped quietly, shifting into his own stance when saw three of the men pointing their spears at him.
"Don't move!" The leader ordered, his spear pointed at Sokka.
"Jeong Jeong told you not to look for Avatar!" The leader snapped harshly as he scolded Chey fiercely. Leading the five,Momo and Appa.
"Hold on," Sokka said as he looked between Chey and the leader, "You know these guys?"
"Oh yeah!" Chey replied enthusiastically as he paused and looked back at the four young people, "Lin Yee's an old buddy! Right, Lin Yee?"
"Shut up!" Lin Yee barked in annoyance as he pushed Chey forward, "Keep moving."
The group followed Lin Yee and Chey down a hill where a small cottage covered in leaves and logs is at the bottom.
"Go on!" Lin Yee snapped at Chey, "He sees you only."
"Oh that's okay," Chey denied, sounding slightly nervous as he gestured with his hand, "We can chat later."
"Is that where Jeong Jeong is? I need to talk to him right away!" Aang said and tried to step forward but was stopped by a Lin Yee's spear.
"No! You wait there." Lin Yee barked then pushed Chey forward roughly, "Go now!"
"Don't worry! Everything'll be fine." Chey said as he looked back at the teens briefly then started towards the small cottage, "He's a great man, great man!"
Aang, Liling. Sokka, and Katara watched the former Fire Nation explosives expert walk the rest of the way down the hill before being ushered into another small cottage on top of the hill by Lin Yee.
Liling closed her eyes and decided to take a short nap.
There stood an young girl near the river she pushed and pulled the water, then slowly bended it out into a small stream.
'Daddy look!' she said in a amused tone.'Mommy showed me this!'
The man smiled softly seeing his daughter play with the water.
'That is great my little jasmine flower…' He said 'I do wish I could do that with you..'
The little girl smiled and placed the water back into the river she ran towards her father.
'We can still do this together.' She said a small spark of fire was in between her fingers.
'I know….but be careful.'He said 'Fire is beautiful but dangerous…I want you to learn from your mother first and until she says that you finish your training is when we start.'
The girl nodded as her father patted her head affectionately.
Liling's eyes slowly opened seeing Aang on his feet.
"Lils! Jeong jeong is going to train me!" Aang said excitedly.
It was the next morning….
"Widen your stance." Jeong Jeong commanded as he stood in front of Aang, who was standing on a flat stone in the river.
Aang shifted his feet farther apart, his elbows bent with his fists even with his hips.
"Wider! Bend your knees." Jeong Jeong barked and Aang shifted his feet further apart again and bent his knees, "Now, concentrate."
Aang's expression twisted into one of concentration and Jeong Jeong nodded in approval.
"Good, good." He praised then began walking away.
"Wait!" Aang called out, his concentration failing as he stared at his teacher, "What do I do now?
"Silence!" Jeong Jeong snapped as he turned around to glare sternly at the young Avatar, "Talking is not concentrating! Look at your friends, are they talking?"
Aang looked over to where Katara was practicing her Waterbending on the riverbank a few feet away, Liling was picking a few herbs looking at each plant with focus.
"Even that oaf knows to concentrate on what he's doing!" Jeong Jeong stated harshly as he gestured to where Sokka was sitting on a rock a few feet with a fishing pole in hand.
"Hey!" Sokka protested in indignant annoyance.
Aang looked away from Sokka and back at Jeong Jeong in exasperated confusion.
"But What am I concentrating on?"
"Feel the heat of the sun." Jeong Jeong replied, gesturing with one hand towards the sun high in the sky and Aang turned to look at it over his shoulder while Jeong Jeong continued to talk, "It is the greatest source of fire. Yet, it in complete balance with nature!"
Aang looked at Jeong Jeong with an excited expression, "So when do I get to make some fire?"
"Concentrate!" Jeong snapped again then walked away.
Aang took a deep breath then blushed when he heard Katara and Sokka laughing at him. The young Airbender turned around to look at them but they stopped and gave him innocent looks.
"You!" Jeong Jeong said pointing at Liling.
"Yes?"Liling replied cautiously.
"Come with me."He said
Liling looked at the gang, they gave each other a curious look until she followed Jeong jeong wondering what he wanted, Liling kept her guard up at all times. She followed him going up to the mountain path going to the top.
"Um…Jeong jeong..why are we here?"Liling asked
"When you walked in my camp I knew what you are."He said
"You know?"Liling said in disbelief
Iroh held the note in his hand, the note that Liling left in his cabin the day she escaped.
Iroh, if you're reading this then I left the ship…I am sorry that I left without saying goodbye to you since you and I shared a small friendship despite the uh..circumstances of my arrival. I appreciate what you did to make me feel comfortable and I won't forget it ..also if you manage to find my necklace take care of it until we see eachother…. I do hope we see eachother again.
Zuko glanced at the amber stone in his hand. He still felt the slight tingle at the memory of the kiss. He knows he should forget about her and capture the Avatar. But knowing that she's there with him made him feel angry. He wanted to toss the amber stone but decided against it knowing it might be useful.
Liling displayed what she had learned from her father, she was fully concentrated at it. She sent streams of fire, she brought up her right leg in a crane position before lowering her foot she brought her left fist around in sweeping arcs of fire until she stopped and gave a small bow finishing her demonstration.
"Excellent form."Jeong jeong commented
"Thanks..my father taught me."Liling said "He didn't let me even make a small spark until my mother gave the okay..he wanted me to finish my waterbending training first. He wanted me to learn patience and discipline."
LIling then looked at Jeong Jeong in the eye.
"Only Aang knows about this…My friends don't know yet..i'm afraid of how they'll react."Liling said "I want to tell them when the time is right."
Without a word Jeong jeong stared at Liling then turn to leave. Liling stood there and looked at the sky.
'Ýou are so lucky you can bend both elements my little Jasmine flower, I wish I could too..'
Liling tighten her fist, she started to practice her firebending since no one was around. With every stance she felt as if her father was still with her guiding her through each step.
'Never forget who you are…don't ever try to hide your true self.'
Before she knew it a tear rolled down her face at the memories, of her and her father training.
"I won't.…"Liling said
She went hours doing her training until she was done, When she went to see what they were doing.
Jeong Jeong looked at the young Avatar for a moment, "We're going to work with fire now."
"Oh yeah!" Aang cheered in excitement before realizing what he did and becoming serious again. "I mean, let us begin."
Jeong Jeong snatched a leaf as it fell through the air, pressing his thumb and forefinger to the center which rapidly began to smolder as he walked to the edge of the riverbank.
"Concentrate on the fire." He instructed as he handed Aang the leave with the smoldering center, "I want you to keep the flame from reaching the edges of the leaf for as long as you can."
'That was my first lesson too..'Liling thought
"Lils? What do you think of this?"Katara asked
"Your form is right but relax your fingers." Liling spoke as she bended the water from the river. " Be gentle..like this." Liling swirled the water around fully concentrated at her demonstration.
Aang groaned quietly and shifted into his stance when one of the tribal men suddenly rushed out of the trees towards Jeong jeong and Aang.
"Master!" The man exclaimed, slightly out of breath, "There is trouble!"
"What's going on?" Aang asked, instantly worried as he straightened slightly.
"Concentrate on your leaf!" Jeong Jeong barked as he and the tribal man hurried back into the forest.
Aang scowled at Jeong Jeong's back, "This is the worst Firebending instruction ever! All he does is leave me for hours to concentrate or breathe!"
"I'm sure there's a good reason." Katara said reassuring from the riverbank where she had continued to practice Waterbending and Aang pouted at her.
"He's probably like this to help you train." Liling piped in. "Every teacher does things differently, my dad was like that too, well…not as intense at Jeong jeong."
"But I'm ready to do so much more." Aang stated matter-of-factly, then his eyes widened as an idea came to him.
He looked down at his feet for a moment then shifted into his horse-stance and began breathing though his nose and out his mouth as he concentrated on the leaf. LIling and Katara stopped what they were doing, both of their eyes widening when the leaf burned up completely and became a small flame.
"I did it!" Aang exclaimed excitedly as he looked at the tiny flame in his hand, "I made fire!"
"Aang, that's great, but you should take it slow." Katara suggested as she walked further along the bank until she was directly across from the rock Aang was standing on.
"Aang…I think that's enough put it out before you get hurt." Liling cautiously said to him.
Aang took a deep breath and made a slamming motion with his fist, causing the fire to shoot up into the air slightly.
"Careful!" Katara gasped, cringing backwards as Aang wobbled on the rock and almost fell into the river before regaining his balance.
"Aang! Don't do it like that!"Liling cringed "Just put it out."
"I can't Lils! that's Firebending." Aang said excitedly as he looked over at the two girls with a grin, the fireball still in his hand.
"Just listen you shouldn't do that! You could've hurt yourself doing that!"Liling scolded the young monk. " Now put that out now!"
"It'll be fine, Lils Don't worry so much." Aang replied dismissively then he launched a stream of fire in the opposite direction.
Aang continued to play with the fire, Liling walked apprehensively and stared at Aang.
"Aang, Lils is right , just put the fire out or you'll hurt yourself." Katara warned, her voice just as worried.
Aang ignored them both and began tossing the fireball from hand-to-hand, bending and moving around as he did it, ignoring Liling's calls to put the fire out.
"I wonder how that juggler did it." He mused to himself as he paused and looked at the fireball for a moment.
The girls watched as he closed his eyes and twisted into a crouch then stood up rapidly, spreading his arms out wide as he stood. A wide, delighted smile appeared on his face as the fire shout of surprise and a cry of pain. Aang's eyes widened when he looked over at the two girls. He saw Katara was crouched on the ground with her hands clutched to her chest as he saw some steam coming from Liling apparently at the moment the fire spreaded she had manage to get some water for a small shield but didn't react in time to help The watertribe girl, the darkhaired girl quickly ran to Katara.
"Katara! Lils!" Aang shouted as the fire dispersed and he jumped over to stand beside the crying Waterbender and a pissed off Dualbender "I'm so sorry!"
"Katara! What's wrong?" Sokka asked in concern as he rushed forward then glared up at Aang, "What did you do?!"
" I told you to put that out!" Liling scolded at him. "This is why you should listen to someone that knows about fire! " Her body trembled a bit speaking the truth.
"I'm sorry!" Aang apologized desperately, his expression pained as he looked from the sobbing Katara. "It was an accident!"
Sokka growled and lunged at the younger boy, tackling him to the ground.
"I told you we shouldn't mess around with this!" Sokka shouted as he glared down accusingly at Aang, "Look what you did! You burned my sister"
Katara, still sobbing lurched to her feet and ran away from them, Liling followed Katara as Sokka got up glaring at Aang.
"He burned my sister!" Sokka shouted then pointed accusing at Jeong Jeong as the older man walked towards them, "This is all your fault!"
"I know." Jeong Jeong replied, looking away remorsefully for a moment then looking back at them sternly, "Now pack your thinks. You must leave immediately."
Aang looked up at Sokka, his eyes sorrowful and full of guilt.
"I'm sorry, I didn't…" Aang started to apologize but Sokka scowled at him and ran off, "I'm sorry!"
Jeong Jeong stopped beside Aang, looking down at him with a displeased and disappointed expression. Aang looked up at him pleadingly but the older man merely shook his head and turned his back on him, walking away.
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