Melodies On The Breeze

by ArchangelArrow

"Since Beginning-less time darkness thrives in the void, but always yields to purifying light. To find balance outside, we must have balance within. Air is the element of freedom. This teaches us acceptance. Let your emotions flow, like Air." When two Water Tribe Siblings Sokka and Katara found the Avatar frozen in ice, he wasn't alone. Aang isn't the last Airbender after all.

3. The Boy In The Iceberg

Book one:

Water

Chapter One:

The Boy in the Iceberg Part One

"It's not getting away from this me this time," The boy leaned out over the side of the canoe, gazing intently at the water below, spear raised "Watch and learn Katara, this is how you catch a fish." he raised the spear higher and leaned further out.

The young girl, Katara, looked to him, then back at the water sceptically. A fish swam under the boat, catching her attention. Katara took off her dark purple gloves from her left hand and held it out over the water.

She took a deep breath and gritted her teeth. She moved her hand up and down gently, and ripples appeared on the surface of the water. Then, in a globule of the liquid, was an average sized fish, floating in the air.

"Sokka! Look!" Her blue eyes were wide with happy surprise as she used both hands and moved the liquid sphere and fish closer.

"Shhh, Katara you gonna scare it away," Sokka whispered back, eyes intent on the prize, tongue stuck out in concentration. He hummed under his breath, licking his lips "Mmmmm I can already smell it cooking."

Unbeknownst to him, the younger girl moving the fish in its water sphere closer, dancing above her head. "But Sokka, I caught one."

She drew the water and fish in, frowning in concentration, as it floated away past her right shoulder, and hovered in the middle of the canoe above the basket set there. Sokka raised his spear, to catch his own fish.

Oblivious to her success in catching her own fish, Sokka popped the water sphere as he raised his weapon to strike with the spear's end "Hey!" Katara scolded.

The fish flew back out into the ocean, and the water poured all over Sokka's head. He gasped out in surprise, and then sat still in his seat. He put down the spear and turned, annoyance on his face.

"Why is it that every time that you play with magic water, I get soaked?" He clenched his fists, water droplets dripping off his clothes.

Katara scoffed and frowned lightly "It's not magic, its waterbending. And it's-"

Sokka cut her off "Yeah, yeah, an ancient art unique to our culture, blah blah blah," he turned around and wrung out his hair "Look I'm just saying If I had weird powers I'd keep my weirdness to myself."

"You're calling me weird?" She demanded back, indignant, arms crossed "I'm not the one who makes muscles at myself every time I see my reflection in the water."

She smirked at him, mocking him. Sokka's grin as he gazed at his left arm, flexing his muscles, fell. He dropped the sleeve and turned to face her with a sullen unhappy scowl on his face.

Before they could say anything more, the canoe knocked into something, making them sway and jerk in the boat, with gasps and exclamations of surprise. Sokka looked ahead as the canoe was drawn into the fast current. They were headed right for an ice blockade.

Sokka grabbed his paddle, grunting as steered them clear, the ice crashing together behind them. "Watch out!" Katara called

The ice drifted closer to each other, the two kids staring in horror at their predicament. "Go left, go left!" They bounced off the small icebergs as they passed

Two thick pieces blocked them in from the sides and trapped them. Sokka grabbed Katara's hood and pulled her out with him, as their canoe was crushed to pieces. Katara managed to stay on the iceberg and not slip off.

They both stared, as they sat on their ice floe, in the middle of an icefield, far from home in the middle of nowhere. Katara scooted back, to sit beside him in the middle. She glared with accusation "You call that left?"

Sokka frowned, looking down and to his left, his spear stuck in the ground beside him "You don't like my steering? Well, maybe you should have waterbended us out of the ice."

As he mocked her, he gestured his hands in a poor attempt at copying her hand movements. Katara got to her feet "So it's my fault?"

Sokka crossed his arms "I knew I should have left you home!"

All around them was just water and ice, and the weak sun. Behind Katara's back, was a tall towering iceberg nearly ten times her height. Katara glared at the older boy as he continued "Leave it to a girl to screw things up."

At his words, her eyebrow started twitching, and an expression of displeasure and fierce anger came over her face. Needless to say, she was not happy. She pointed at him.

"You are the most sexist-"her hands flew back "-Immature, nut-brained- Urg I'm embarrassed to be related to you!"

In her anger, Katara didn't notice that the more she furiously gestured and threw her hands down, the higher the water behind her flew until it raced back and cracked the iceberg behind her. Sokka looked up, annoyed with her outburst, but the sound of cracking ice drew his attention.

"Ever since mom died I've been doing all the work around camp, while you've been off playing soldier!"

The ice cracked and split apart even more. Sokka glanced behind her, eyes comically wide with horror and fear "Uh, Katara?" He gestured, but she was too mad to notice.

"I even wash all of the clothes!" She jabbed her finger at him to get her point across "Have you ever smelled your dirty socks? Let me tell you- NOT PLEASANT!"

Sokka's eyes were wide, as she continued to yell, her bending enlarging the crack even more than before. "Katara! Settle down!"

The comment Sokka shouted at her in a high pitch voice, just made her even angrier than before. "No. That's it I'm done helping you. From now on, you're on your OWN!"

She threw back her hands one last time and stomped her foot. The water erupted from behind her with a loud crashing whoosh. Katara whirled around, finally noticing. The iceberg completely split apart and sent their float sailing back as they clung on to the edge.

"Ok, you've gone from weird to freakish Katara," Sokka commented wryly once they stopped moving, and the water was calm again

Katara was looking at the damage wide-eyed, her expression shocked and stunned and surprised "You mean I did that?"

"Yep," Sokka smirked and said sarcastically "Congratulations." Katara gave him a dirty look.

Beneath them, the water started to glow. They scrambled to their feet, as the water rippled, and erupted again in front of them. Another iceberg, this one glowing blue and white, and round like a sphere came out of the water.

Katara walked forward. She blinked as it drifted closer, and saw something in the ice. She looked closer and saw it was a boy. A boy whose eyes seemed to open and glow brighter.

Katara and Sokka gasped "He's alive," she grabbed Sokka's club from its sheath behind his back "We have to help."

She pulled up her hood, and jumped across the water, Sokka following and grabbing his spear "Katara get back here! We don't know what that thing is." She ignored him, as they hopped across water using the ice like stepping stones.

Katara reached the iceberg first and started to hit the ice. She hit it once…twice… three, four times… she took a stronger swing and on the fifth, air blasted out, knowing them off their feet. The ice cracked, with a deep thundering, and they both watched as it split apart.

Then, a bright white beam of light shot out into the sky.

0o0

Somewhere not too far away, a metal grey ship sailed through the waters. Stood on deck was a boy wearing red and black armour. He had black hair done in a ponytail and a scar across the left side of his face. He stared up at the sky, his eyes going wide at first, and then narrowing in satisfaction, at the beam of light, as it then faded.

"Finally," he turned around "Uncle, do you realise what this means?"

The old man sitting down at the table with a teapot and cup, and a card in his hand looked up "I won't get to finish my game?"

"It means," he turned back to glare in the light's direction "My search is about to come to an end." The teenage boy's gold eyes narrowed even further.

The old man sighed heavily. The teenage boy pointed as the beam of light vanished "That light came from an incredibly powerful source. It has to be him."

The boy's uncle gestured to the sky "Or, it's just the celestial lights. We've been down this road before Prince Zuko. I don't want you to get too excited over nothing," He placed down his card. "Please sit. Why don't you enjoy a cup of calming jasmine tea?"

Prince Zuko whirled around, and exploding angrily "I don't need any calming tea! I need to capture the Avatar. Helmsman head a course for the light."

The boy's uncle gazed down at the card in his hand. It had three spirals on it. The cards moved in the wind.

0o0

The light faded, and Sokka straightened from where he had had his arms protectively over his sister. They stood, Katara holding his arm, as he held out his spear.

A small figure with glowing eyes appeared over the edge of the ice. Sokka thrust out the spear "Stop!"

The person stood, the light faded and left, and his eyes stopped glowing. He then collapsed. Katara gasped, and caught him in her arms, both of them grunting. Her with the effort, the boy with exhaustion

Katara held him and then glared at Sokka, who poked the boy's head with the butt of his spear. "Stop it." she pushed him back, glaring at him annoyed

She settled the person in her arms against the ice. It was a boy, a little younger than her. He had a slightly tanned skin tone, wore yellow and light orange clothes, and on his bald head was a light blue arrow. His eyes opened, and they were dark grey.

He looked up and gasped at what he saw. The boy saw a pretty girl a little older than himself, with tanned skin, and big dark blue eyes. The wind gently blew the two locks of hair in her face.

"I need to ask you something." he choked out

"What?" Katara questioned

"Please, come closer," she did. The boy paused, then said excitedly "Will you go penguin sledging with me?"

She pulled back, really confused, and surprised "Uh, sure. I guess."

The boy then…floated to his feet. Sokka jumped back, surprised, spear held out, while Katara gazed at him with a raised eyebrow, eyes a little wide in amazement. The boy looked around.

"What's going on here?" the boy questioned

"You tell us!" Sokka exclaimed back, then pointed at the mess behind them "How'd you get in the ice? And why aren't you frozen?" He poked him

The boy waved him away "I'm not sure."

Then there was a rumbling groan from behind the ice walls. Katara and Sokka looked up, confused and curious. The boy turned at the noise, gasping. He raced and scrambled up the ice, slid down inside, and hugged the furry head in front of him.

"Appa. Are you all right?" The boy lifted the creature's eyelid to see its brown eyes "Wake up buddy."

The creature didn't move, even when the boy tried lifting its head. Katara and Sokka came around the side. Sokka's jaw dropped, and Katara stared with shock. The creature then lifted the boy, as he laughed, with its tongue.

"You're ok." the boy hugged the creature as it got to its feet, and shook itself like a dog.

"What is that thing?" Sokka asked as he and his sister drew closer.

"This is Appa. My flying bison." The boy replied rubbing Appa's nose.

The creature behind him was a large fluffy thing, with six legs, horns, and a long tail. It mostly had white fur, but there was a pattern of dark fur in the shape of an arrow on its head, going down its back to its tail.

Sokka gave a sceptical expression, and dead-panned "Riiight, and this is Katara, my flying sister."

The bison then suddenly sneezed, and the boy ducked. The boy looked back and saw Sokka was covered head to foot in green goo. He grunted and groaned out in disgust, and tried rubbing his clothes against the snow. Katara just smiled, amused.

"Don't worry it'll wash out," The boy said, "So, do you guys live around here?"

"Don't answer that. Did you see that crazy bolt of light? He was probably trying to signal the Fire Navy." Sokka threw back over his shoulder at his sister, as she stood a little behind him.

Katara walked forward, expression doubtful, as she pushed Sokka's spear out of the way, causing him to stumble back "Oh yeah I'm sure he's a spy for the Fire Navy. You can tell by that evil look in his eye."

They both looked to the younger boy, who grinned and widened his grey eyes, giving them a completely adorable innocent look. Katara shook her head and gestured to her left "The paranoid one is my brother Sokka. You never told us your name."

She smiled encouragingly at him, hands held out in a peaceful gesture. The boy grinned "I'm- Ahhh, Ahhh-" his nose started to twitch "Ahhh-Ahhh-Ahhh AHHOOO!"

He sneezed loudly and suddenly wasn't on the ground anymore. He shot up into the air like a geyser, the sudden blast of air knocking the two siblings back a little, as they shielded their faces with their arms. They looked up, as the boy came sailing back down, slid down the ice, and came to a stop on his feet.

"I'm Aang." he sniffled and wiped his nose with a finger.

Katara was stood still, face blank, her blue eyes blinking in shock. Sokka held his spear, eyes wide as dinner plates "You just sneezed," He pointed upwards "And flew ten feet into the air."

Aang frowned a little and glanced to the sky in the direction the older Water Tribe boy was pointing. "Really? It felt higher than that."

Katara's was frowning in thought, then her expression cleared, and her eyes went wide as she gasped in shock. "You're an Airbender."

Aang nodded "Sure am."

Sokka looked sceptical, and dead-panned "Giant light beams, flying bison, airbenders, I think I've got midnight sun madness," he turned around and walked away "I'm going home to where stuff makes sense."

He stopped and gazed around, noticing where they were. Right in the middle of the ocean, standing on an iceberg, with no way across the opposite shore of the land. They were stuck, with no way home.

Both Katara and Aang stared at him for a moment then, but before either of them could say a word, there was a sound. The sound of a groan coming from Appa's saddle. Katara blinked and gazed up confused.

Sokka came back over, suddenly wary and suspicious again, spear held out as he crept closer to the creature. Sokka's eyes narrowed and he quickly glanced at Aang, and then back to the saddle on the flying bison's back "What was that?"

Aang frowned, confused, and shrugged. There was the sound of someone coughing and then….

"A-Aang? Aang!"

0o0

The first thing that I noticed when I completely woke from unconsciousness was the temperature. It was freezing, the kind of cold that seeped deep into your bones, and made them ache.

I shivered and blinked open my eyes. I was then immediately blinded by the harsh bright light of day. I raised my arm and shielded my eyes from it. I waited, and eventually, my vision focused, getting used to the light.

The wind picked up, and I shivered again. I sat up and looked around. I was in Appa's saddle. My hair fell into my face, and I tucked it back behind my ears. I frowned. Where was I? And why was it so cold?

I realised that I hadn't been by myself originally, and with frantic panic called out "A-Aang? Aang!" The wind answered me. Until a moment later…

"Mina? Is that you?"

At the sound of the familiar, young voice, my head perked up, like a deer-cat's ears do when it hears a far-off noise. I scooted to the side of the saddle, and leaned out, and gazed down, as I searched.

I found what I wanted.

Standing there, gazing up at me with that familiar big grin on his face was Aang. I let out a breath of relief that I hadn't realised I had been holding. For some reason, waking up, alone and not finding him filled me with dread and fear.

Seeing Aang, unharmed, unscathed and still beaming at me with that grin untied the knots in my stomach, and drew out the ache in my chest. I gave a small smile, as I swung my leg over the saddle's rim, and started to climb down.

I felt my hands were numb with the cold, and my arms were shaking, as my strength weakened. I hadn't had time to regulate my inner temperature with my bending yet, so with my hands half frozen…I fell.

I lost my grip and fell the last few feet to the ground. I was expecting to hit the snow, hard. I knew the fall was going to leave bruises. But instead…arms caught me.

There was a grunt from whoever caught me, as I landed into their hold. I had closed my eyes, in anticipation of the fall, but I opened them after a moment. My hair had fallen over into my face, and I brushed it back behind my ears again.

Then….I paused.

I was looking into the deepest sapphire blue eyes I had ever seen. I couldn't find a word to say, I was stunned. The eyes belonged to a boy my age, maybe a little older. He had tanned skin, and brown hair shaved on the sides and held back into a short ponytail at the top of his head.

I blinked. He blinked. I looked at him, he looked at me. I couldn't help it. He intrigued me. I had never seen such a boy before. He gave a cough, and I remembered my manners. I was in his arms, and staring like a fish out of water.

I unwrapped my arms from his neck- when I had wrapped them around his neck? -and he let me down to stand on my own two feet; which I did, shaking and stumbling. I coughed myself, embarrassed at being such a brainless idiot, and tucked my hair back again. I looked him over.

He wore a dark blue/grey coat, with white fur at the hood, the tops of the sleeves and the hem. He had on dark blue trousers and brown boots that stopped just below his knees. Around his neck was a white Whale-bone choker, and he wore three-fingered thick gloves.

The boy looked at me and raised an eyebrow. I noticed his grip tightened on the weapon in his hand, and I took a step back "Who are you? Are you with the Fire Nation?"

I shook my head and stepped even further back. His angry, annoyed expression and cold demeanour- not to mention the raised weapon- was starting to scare me. "Sokka! Stop it you're scaring her."

The older boy scoffed but lowered the spear, and walked away. I just stood with shaking limbs and fiddling with my hands. There was a carefree laugh, and I was almost knocked off my feet, by arms that wrapped around me and hugged me "Mina you're ok!"

I nodded, and hugged back, still in a daze from my encounter with the older boy. Aang laughed again, oblivious to my dazed confusion. It was then, for the first time I noticed where we were.

We were standing on a huge iceberg in a broken ice dome, surrounded by ice walls. And we were right in the middle of the ocean, with no other land or way across in sight, at all. Which, I realised a moment later, meant we were stranded. Appa rumbled from next to me, reminding me he was there, and I corrected the thought.

"Aang? Who's this?"

The unknown unfamiliar voice that had scolded the older boy drew my attention back from my deep far-away thoughts. I watched as a girl a little younger than me, walked forward, smiling sweetly, but with confusion and curiosity in her eyes.

I studied her.

She was taller than me- which wasn't a surprise I was just under 5 ft3 and shorter than almost everyone, even Aang was slightly taller and he was twelve! - And she wore a lavender/blue heavy warm coat that went to her ankles, with white fur at the hood and the ends of sleeves and the hem. She also wore dark lavender three-fingered gloves, and there was a necklace around her neck, though it was hidden behind her collar. She had the exact same tanned skin, features, and deep blue eyes as the older boy who had caught me from falling.

I realised that the younger girl and older boy were probably siblings, brother, and sister. Aang grinned, and smacked his head in disbelief "Oh, right, sorry I forgot."

He laughed, and took my hand and drew me forward. I bit my lip and wanted to hide behind the energetic twelve-year-old. I wasn't very good at meeting new people. I got very nervous

"Mina, this is Katara. Katara, this my best friend Mina." Katara smiled and waved her hand in hello.

"Nice to meet you, Mina, I'm Katara." Then she gestured to her right, to the older boy who had joined her "And the paranoid, insensitive one over here is my brother Sokka."

I nodded, and gave a small timid smile and a little wave, before ducking my head to hide behind my now loose hair- it had come undone at some point without me noticing- and felt a warm blush spread across my cheeks like an ink spot on parchment.

Aang seemed to sense my unease, and must have noticed the offended look on Sokka's face, and the sad one on Katara's, and hurried to explain "Oh don't take it badly, Mina doesn't really talk to anyone. She's just really shy, especially with new people, right Mina?"

I just nodded. I was glad Aang was doing the talking for me- he usually did when we met new people- and decided to say a few words as possible. I didn't want to open my mouth and stutter and stammer and sound like a choking or drowning victim. It was humiliating and degrading.

Aang then laughed again and gestured to Appa "Anyway if you guys are stuck, Appa, Mina and I can give you lift." He airbent himself up onto Appa's head, then sat in the spot on his head, and took hold of the reins.

I frowned, confused. We were giving them a ride? I mentally shrugged. Why not. We couldn't leave them out here, to freeze, and I couldn't see how they'd get home any other way.

Katara smiled, and looked grateful and thankful as she came to Appa's side "We'd love a ride, thanks!"

I laced my fingers together, for her to use as a step- Appa was quite big and tall-getting up into the saddle was challenging for anyone who couldn't airbend themselves up. Katara beamed her thanks with a kind smile and put her foot in my hands. I pushed her up, and Aang took her hand and pulled her the rest of the way.

"Oh no, I am not getting on that fluffy snot monster." I turned to see that Sokka, was frowning, and looked determined.

I wanted to giggle at the way he described Appa- Fluffy snot monster indeed- but didn't. Katara scoffed as she got into the saddle and gave her brother a dirty look "Are you hoping some other kind of monster will come along and give you a ride home? You know, before you freeze to death?"

I couldn't disagree with Katara on that point. She was perfectly right in saying so. Sokka was acting a little bit silly. The older boy gazed up at his sister with lowered eyebrows and unamused eyes, his spear in his hand.

He opened his mouth, to protest or say a smart retort, but stopped. Even he couldn't argue with Katara. He sighed, and his shoulders slumped in defeat. I hid a smile behind my hair.

Sokka came forward, and I offered my laced together fingers as a step again, as I had for Katara. I just a got a slight frown in return. I bit my lip, suddenly a little hurt at his refusal for my help. I climbed up myself, without a word.

Katara gave a glare to her brother as he sat in the back beside her. Then she looked to me with an apologetic smile as I sat across from her. Her eyes said 'Sorry about his attitude'. I smiled an understanding smile in return.

Then we were ready to go. "Ok, first-time flyers hold on tight," Aang called excitedly over his shoulder, grinning.

Katara clasped her hands in front of her chest, excitement, and apprehension in her eyes, and an awed smile on her face. Sokka was still frowning, with his arms stiffly crossed. I bit my lip, to stop a smile. It looked like he was pouting.

"Appa, yip yip!" Aang gently snapped the reins.

Appa groaned, lifted his tail, and jumped up into the air and….fell into the ocean. I shook my head and held back a laugh. Katara crawled forwards to the front, and Sokka continued to keep his arms crossed.

"Come on Appa, Yip Yip!" Aang snapped the reins again, but the flying bison wasn't budging.

I moved from the front and sat on the left side of the saddle, sat with my legs crossed, back straight, and started to tie up my hair again. I plaited the front locks in a crown braid and then put the rest into a braided bun at the right side of the nape of my neck. Some loose curls came free and framed my face. I used a yellow ribbon.

I tucked the loose curls framing my face behind my ears, and sat still, my hands folded carefully in my lap. I heard a scoff and then Sokka spoke: "Wow that was truly amazing." He deadpanned.

I frowned down at my hands. Was he always this…this…this-well the only word I could think of was rude. Cynical or scathing might be a better choice of wording. I looked up and noticed Katara was frowning with an annoyed look.

"Appa's just tired. A little rest and he'll be soaring through the sky. You'll see."

I smiled. There goes Aang, with hope and enthusiasm and optimism. He could bring light to a situation that was as dark as a raging storm. He never had a bad word to say, and I was glad he hadn't lost it, even after everything.

Katara went to move and froze. Curious as to why I leaned back a little in the saddle and saw the closed-mouth happy grin on Aang's face. "Why are you smiling at me like that?" Katara asked.

I raised my eyebrows, waiting for Aang's answer. Why was he smiling at Katara that way? Aang's smile dropped a little "O-Oh, I was smiling?"

A heard a groan of disgust and a half-snore. I turned to see that disgusted and bored expression on Sokka's face. I shook my head. Was that boy ever happy?

We continued on, Appa's thumping his tail in the water and pushing us a little faster. I turned around, so my back was to Aang, and gazed out at the ice and sea around us.

It was a strange place…I peeked at Sokka, and hid a small smile….A strange place filled with even stranger people.

0o0

The young prince stood on the top deck, gazing out at the ice and snow all around, the wind blew his clothes about, as steam puffed from the pipe behind him into the darkening sky.

"I'm going to bed now," The prince's uncle gave a huge yawn as he stretched. "Yes, a man needs his rest." he hinted.

The young prince said not a word, ignoring the older man behind him. His uncle's shoulders slumped, as he sighed and gave an unamused expression that his nephew couldn't see "Prince Zuko, you need some sleep. Even if you're right, and the Avatar is alive you won't find him."

Still, the Prince said nothing. His uncle continued to talk "Your father, grandfather and great-grandfather all tried and failed."

Finally, Prince Zuko answered "Because their honour didn't hinge on the Avatar's capture," he frowned "Mine does," he turned back to the horizon "This coward's one-hundred years in hiding is over."

He gazed back out, gaze intent on the ice and sea once more.

0o0

They had travelled far, but it was dark now, and everyone was tired. Sokka had laid down to rest and instantly fell asleep at the back of the saddle. Mina was curled on the side, breathing easy and light.

Aang was laid on his back on Appa's head, hands behind his head, feet crossed and staff tucked underneath his arms. He gazed at the stars as they trailed by. Everything was quiet and still, the only sound was the slight hushing and whispering of the waves as Appa swam on.

"Hey."

Katara had crawled to the front, careful not to wake her brother or the older girl. She crossed her arms and leaned her chin on them, gazing down at Aang. His expression was peaceful, tranquil as he looked up at the blue-eyed girl above him "Hey. Whatcha thinking about?"

"I guess I was wondering," Katara lowered her gaze for a moment, finding the words "You being an Airbender and all if you had any idea what happened to the Avatar?"

Aang's face was filled with surprise, and Katara didn't seem to notice his complete uneasiness. He sat up, bringing his arms from behind his head "Uh no I didn't know him- I mean I knew people that knew him but I didn't. Sorry." He gave an apologetic smile

"Ok just curious," She turned and crawled back to her space "Goodnight."

"Sleep tight," Aang replied turning away and crossing his legs. A guilty and uncomfortable expression on his face.

Neither Aang nor Katara realised that someone had been listening in on their short conversation.

Mina gave a small inaudible sigh. If anyone looked to her, they would have seen a sad, confused, pitying expression on her face, and seen her hands clench into fists, gripping the hem of her tunic. But, neither Katara nor Aang noticed.

Everything went still and quiet again. The only sound was the rushing of the water and the whispering of the wind.

0o0

Lightning flashed, like flickering lanterns but much brighter, waking him up from his sleep. He sat up with a gasp, suddenly feeling dread, and hoping it was unfounded.

All around there were grey clouds, thick ones that made everything blurry. Thundering roared, and the lightning flashed again.

The wind and rain worked together, knocking and jolting the two of them from each and every side. They both screamed as they were forced towards the broiling ocean below them. They hit the water, hard, and went under within seconds.

His companion had lost her grip on the saddle. He lunged out, grabbed her wrist, and flung her back into the saddle. He felt a rush of energy and used his airbending.

The air around them froze, turning to ice. "Aang! Aang!"

"Aang. Aang, wake up!" he sat up gasping "Its ok, we're in the village now." he turned to see Katara kneeling beside him.

Aang looked around and saw he was in a brown tent, a lantern hanging by the entrance. Katara stood, and gestured with her thumb behind her, a smile on her face "Come on, get ready everyone's waiting to meet you."

He got up, and Katara paused for a moment, curious. She looked at his arm and saw a blue arrow run up it, and then she looked down and saw another one on his foot. She gasped, in awe. As Aang pulled his shirt over his head, she looked to see another running up his neck too.

She walked forward, grabbed his wrist, and pulled him with her out the tent.

0o0

I was cold, positively freezing. And it wasn't just because of the icy air and snow here. The person sitting beside me was giving me a frosty reception. I sighed inaudibly and bit my lip, and started to fiddle with a loose curl of hair.

Sokka sat next to me, legs crossed and he frowned and glared as he polished and cleaned his boomerang. The sharp hushing of the cloth as he rubbed it up and down the weapon's edges was the only sound to be heard.

He hadn't spoken one word to me, nor I to him. We had arrived in the village very early this morning, so early the sun hadn't risen yet. Aang had been put into a tent, fast asleep, and Katara had been kind enough to share hers with me.

I had woken a little later and found Sokka in the exact same position he was in now, and I made my way to him and sat down. And neither of us had moved.

I looked up, as did Sokka at the sound of footsteps, and watched as Katara dragged Aang out the tent by his wrist. She smiled and gestured for me to follow, and I stood quickly and quietly to my feet and kept on her heels.

Katara came to stop in the middle of the small village, Aang on her left, me on Aang's left. She gestured with a wry smile "Aang, Mina, this is the entire village. Entire village, Aang and Mina."

Aang placed his palms together and bowed respectfully, and I copied him. After I straightened I took in the small group of people and studied them.

There were only nine adults there. There were ten children, ranging in ages from three to ten. I frowned. Why were there so little of them? Some of the adults drew their children closer.

Aang looked confused, and I was sure I did too "Uh, why are they looking at me-" he looked to me, and then corrected himself "At us like that? Did Appa sneeze on me?"

The oldest women there came forward and spoke "Well no one has seen an Airbender in a hundred years. We thought they were extinct until my granddaughter and grandson found you two."

Aang and I shared looks. Aang's grey eyes were wide, with shock. I was just confused. Extinct? How could airbenders be extinct? Weren't Aang and I living breathing proof they weren't?

"Extinct?" Aang repeated.

"Aang, Mina, this is my grandmother." Katara introduced us.

"Call me gran-gran." the older women dead-panned.

I studied Katara's grandmother a little closer. She had grey hair, pulled back in a bun and the front locks tied back around her head into little loops. She shared the same blue eyes as Katara and Sokka, and the same tanned-skinned all the villagers had.

Sokka strode up and snatched Aang's staff from his hands "What is this, a weapon? You can't stab anything with this."

I frowned but said nothing. Didn't he know it was rude to snatch things out of people's hands? Especially when the thing he snatched didn't belong to him? Aang brought his staff back to his hand with his airbending.

"It's not for stabbing. It's for airbending." he used his bending and opened the staff so the glider's orange wings came out. Sokka jumped back arms up at the sudden movement.

The children laughed and giggled, and one little girl exclaimed "Magic trick, do it again!"

I gave a small smile, and twirled my own staff, which I had with me, and opened it to show my glider's yellow wings. The little girl jumped and clapped her little hands. I smiled even wider. I liked making children happy; it was a beautiful thing a child's innocence.

"Not magic, airbending. It lets me control the air currents around my glider and fly."

Sokka's arms were crossed, expression sceptical and doubtful, eyebrows raised. "You know last time I checked humans can't fly." he sarcastically said.

I saw the mischievous glint in Aang's grey orbs and knew what he was thinking instantly. I sighed but smiled. "Check again. Come on Mina!"

He moved the glider to his back and held on. A look on concentration was on his face. Then, he took off. I bit my lip, unsure. I wasn't comfortable with showing off. Aang called me to hurry up, and I chuckled silently, then followed suit.

The villagers oohed and ahhed as Aang and I flew to and fro. We twirled upward, going in spirals around each other. I suddenly stopped feeling self-conscious. Up here in the sky, in the air, I was free.

But then again, Air was the element of freedom. Aang was looking down, and I noticed the awed grin on Katara's face and in her eyes. Aang was so distracted; he flew straight into the snow tower on the edge of the village.

I flew down, and snapped my glider shut, and came to a stop on my feet. Katara rushed over, as Sokka's gasped in shock "My watchtower!"

Aang was covered in snow, as Katara raced over, a smile on her face. Even though I hadn't known her long, I liked Katara. She was nice and kind. She held out a hand, to pull Aang up "That was amazing."

Sokka raced over, and I came to Aang's side, as he twirled his glider shut. I heard a thump, and a grunt, and turned to see that snow had collapsed on Sokka. I bit my lip and hid a smile behind the hair that framed my face.

"Great. You're an Airbender, Katara's a Waterbender, together you can just waste time all day long." Sokka spoke as he pulled himself out of the snow. They watched him go.

"You're a waterbender," Aang exclaimed excited curiosity in his tone.

I looked up at Katara- who was taller than me despite being younger- and blinked in awe. A waterbender, Katara was a waterbender. She smiled and seemed to give a shrug "Well sort of. Not yet."

"All right no more playing. Come on Katara you have chores." Katara's gran-gran led her away, leaving me and Aang behind.

I hid another amused smile, at the dreamy look on my best friend's face, as he watched Katara leave.

0o0

"I told you they're the real thing gran-gran. I finally found two benders to teach me." Katara exclaimed to her grandmother.

They came to a stop, as they talked "Katara, try not to put all your hopes in that boy and girl." her grandmother admonished.

Katara frowned, and held out her hands "But Aang's special, I can tell. I sense he's filled with much wisdom." she looked over

Aang had his tongue on his staff and wasn't holding it, hands-free. He was grinning, at the children around him "'Ee? 'ow my 'tongue is 'tuck to my 'staff." his voice was muffed and some words were pronounced strangely.

Katara held back a laugh and then turned to their other guest. Mina was sat, crossed legged on the ground. In her lap was Kila, a little girl of six years old. Kila was giggling and talking, as Mina braided her hair, as two other children sat around them and talked to her as well.

Katara smiled. Mina was quiet, shy and hadn't spoken a word, but Katara knew she was gentle and kind-hearted and sweet, not to mention incredibly mature. Katara got the sense that Mina was filled with wisdom like Aang, and calm patience. Despite not having known the older girl long, Katara already liked her.

She smiled and went to go complete her chores.

0o0

The sky was golden, and spread across it was thin wispy trails of white clouds as the sun set below the horizon. The waters were dark and calm and the icebergs around were solid and sturdy. The grey metal ship with smoke puffing from it stood out amongst it all.

On the deck, were four figures. Two were part of the crew and dressed in uniform and helmets. One was the angry Prince, and the last was his uncle. The two crew members and Prince Zuko were standing; his uncle was sat on a small stool.

"Again" The older man stated, honey/brown eyes narrowed in focus.

The Prince let out two fire shots one to the left and one to the right; the two crew members blocked. The one on the left shot out first, then the one on the right jumped and blasted one shot high, one down low.

Prince Zuko jumped above the low shot and swung a fire blast at the crew member on the left with one hand, and another at the other crew member with his right foot. They stood, facing off, and held still.

The older man sighed heavily, then got to his feet "No. Power in firebending comes from the breath, not the muscles," He held his hands to indicate breathing and then flung out his left arm to indicate muscles. "The breath becomes energy in the body; the energy extends past your limbs and becomes fire."

The older man shot out a clenched fist of his right arm, and a stream of red/gold flames appeared, blowing back the prince's ponytail. His uncle withdrew his arm "Get it right this time."

Prince Zuko glared, eyebrows down, amber eyes narrowed in anger and impatience "Enough. I've been drilling this sequence all day, teach me the next set, I'm more than ready."

His uncle frowned himself and leaned forward a little, his arms folded behind his back "No you are impatient," he sat down hands on his knees "You have yet to master your basics. Drill it again!"

Prince Zuko growled under his breath, teeth clenched. Without warning he stepped forward and shot a leg out, fire bursting forth. The unlucky crew member he had chosen to vent his anger at had no time to block and was knocked off his feet with a grunt.

Prince Zuko turned away, and stepped closer to his uncle "The Sages tell us that the Avatar is the last Airbender," his uncle was scowling now but he didn't notice "He must be over a hundred years old by now. He's had a century to master the four elements I'll need more than basic firebending to defeat him. You will teach me, the advanced set!"

His uncle blinked, then frowned down at the floor "Very well," his serious expression added as he reached to a bowl beside him and picked it up "But first I must finish my roast duck."

Prince Zuko leaned back, a look of utter disgust and horror on his face as his uncle began to shovel in his roast duck with his chopsticks, a happy smile on his face.

0o0

"Now men, it's important that you show no fear when you face a Firebender, in the Water Tribe we fight to the last man standing. For without courage, how can we call ourselves men?"

I looked up from where I was braiding and plaiting the hair of another little girl by the name Lakka, at Sokka's serious words and long speech. I giggled and hid a smile making sure Sokka didn't see or hear.

Men indeed. Sokka was giving a speech to a group of six boys. Not men or even kids Sokka's own age oh no. A group of small boys, ranging from three or four to maybe eight or nine. One of the boys raised his hand "I gotta pee!"

I saw Sokka get annoyed, and clenched his fists, patience at an end "Listen. Until your fathers return from the war they're counting on you to be the men of this tribe. And that means no potty breaks." He gestured wildly with his hands.

I heard Lakka, and Kila and their other friend Ohkah giggle and whisper to each other in amusement. I just sighed and shook my head. The little boy looked desperate "But I really gotta go."

Sokka sighed, and his shoulders fell "Oook who else has to go?"

Just as I knew they would, all six young boys raised their hands at the same time. I giggled when Sokka smacked himself in the forehead in despair and exasperation. The boys wandered off, and I got up as I spotted Katara going over to her brother.

Kila, Lakka and Ohkah followed; Kila had my right hand, Lakka my left, and Ohkah gripped onto the hem of my tunic. "Have you seen Aang?" Katara asked her older brother "Gran-gran said he disappeared over an hour ago."

I frowned worried for a moment, until I heard a noise and turned with relief to see Aang coming out of the latrine tower, the six boys from earlier going over to him "Wow, everything freezes in there." Aang said, making the boys laugh.

I chuckled, and shook my head, an amused almost smirk on my lips. Aang would never change; he was still the goofy, energetic silly kid he had been when we'd met. Sokka huffed in annoyance, as Katara just smiled amusedly.

"Katara get him out of here!" Sokka exclaimed hand outstretched to indicate Aang "This lesson is for warriors only." he turned and walked away

Sokka turned back at a young boy exclaiming "Weeee!" All the boys were sliding down Appa's tail into a bank of snow, laughing.

Lakka, Kila, and Ohkah looked up me, eyes wide with pleas and I smiled and shooed them off, and they raced off to join the fun too. Katara covered her mouth with both hands, laughing too, as I did.

Sokka wasn't impressed as he strode over, frown on his face. "Stop! Stop it right now! What's wrong with you? We don't have time for fun and games with the war going on." he started to take down the make-shift slide as Katara and I came over.

I frowned confused, as Aang hopped down off of Appa "What war?" He questioned the two "What are you talking about?"

Sokka raised an eyebrow, sceptic again "You're kidding right?"

Aang looked down, and then his dark grey eyes lightened upon something over Sokka's shoulder. I knew that look, and covered my ears, and stepped back. Aang's eyebrows went high, and excitement and glee appeared on his face "PENGUIN!"

A penguin otter squeaked and waddled off. Sokka and Katara were confused, as Aang raced after the creature, leaving a trail of blown up snow behind him, and a blast of air that whipped up everyone's clothes.

He was gone over the horizon within seconds. I smiled, amused. "He's kidding. Right?" Sokka asked his sister.

Katara shrugged, then said she was going after Aang and left. It was just me and Sokka now, and it was awkward. Well, Sokka looked uncomfortable and probably thought it was awkward. I just thought it was a little awkward since there was not a word spoken between us.

I then bit my lip and debated with myself. War? What war were they talking about? There was no war, as far as I knew. I took a step forward, and lightly touched Sokka's arm. He jumped, startled, and when he saw it was me, relaxed a little.

I gave a confused look, and he seemed not to get what I was asking. I sighed and shook my head. It didn't matter. Aang would most likely ask Katara what Sokka had meant, and Aang would tell me later.

I felt a tug on my tunic and looked down to see Kila, Lakka, Ohkah and another little girl of about three years old, gazing up at me. I smiled, as Kila dragged me away, and asked me to braid Hala's- the three-year-old- hair.

I nodded, and left Sokka behind me, with a confused look.

0o0

Katara walked along the shore- for lack of a better name- gazing at the penguin otters, looking for a tale tell sign of the colour orange and yellow. She was looking for Aang "Aang?"

She heard a light laugh, and found him, chasing the penguin otters, trying to catch one with a smile on his face "Hey come on little guy. Wanna go sledging?" he lunged out, missed and fell into the snow.

Katara came over, and he turned onto his back to look at her, and then used his bending to float to his feet "I have a way with animals."

Katara placed a hand on her hip, as Aang imitated the penguin otters, making exact copies of the sound they make. She laughed at the sight "Aang. I'll help you catch a penguin if you teach me waterbending."

He let go of the tail of the penguin otter he'd managed to grab hold of and smiled "You got a deal. Just one little problem," he airbent himself to sit on his knees "I'm an Airbender, not a waterbender. Isn't there someone in your tribe who can teach you?"

She turned away, shaking her head; a sad, wistful expression on her face and in her blue eyes "No. You're looking at the only waterbender in the whole South Pole." she closed her eyes, sad.

"This isn't right. A waterbender needs to master water," He got a thoughtful look on his face "What about the North Pole? There's another Water Tribe up there right? Maybe they have waterbenders who could teach you?" he looked excited now at his idea.

Katara crossed her arms "Maybe. But we haven't had contact with our sister tribe in a long time. It's not exactly, turn right at the second glacier. It's on the other side of the world." she gestured to get her point across.

"But you forget I have a flying bison. Appa, Mina and I can personally fly you to the North Pole," He gestured to himself with his thumb, eyes wide and filled with confidence. "Katara we're gonna find you a master."

She suddenly looked doubtful "That's…I mean…" she looked down then back up again "I don't know. I've never left home before."

Aang shrugged, hands on his hips ''Well you think about it. But in the meantime, can you teach me how to catch one of these penguins?" he grinned.

Katara reached into her pocket, tone mock-serious "Ok. Listen closely, my young pupil. Catching penguins is an ancient and sacred art," she bowed then straightened "Observe." she then threw a fish to him and he caught it.

Suddenly he was surrounded by penguin otters, as the fought for the fish in his hand. Aang laughed, as he went down under the furry creatures.

0o0

I was sat intricately braiding and plaiting Hala's hair, as Sokka continued to try to teach the small group of boys about fighting. Kila made a sound of annoyance and scrunched up her nose

"Boys are dumb," she stated as if it was a fact "Girls can fight too, but Sokka won't let us. All boys are dumb." the little girl crossed her arms, pouting.

I held back a laugh, and when the little girl looked to me I nodded to show I agreed. I then did something I hadn't done since I was very small- since I was Hala's age more likely. I made a face and stuck out my tongue at the group of boys.

Kila, Ohkah, Hala, and Lakka gasped at first, and then started to giggle and burst into high laughs filled with glee and hilarity. Sokka glared over at us, and I hid my smile and quiet giggle behind my hand. "Would you girls keep it down? We're trying to do men's work over here!"

When he turned I did something else I hadn't done since I was small. I held up my hands to my head, thumbs on my temples, wiggled my fingers, then stuck out my tongue and made a noise of mocking.

The little girls burst into giggles again, and I quickly lowered my hands, and gave Sokka an innocent look and shrugged my shoulders, as if I had no clue what was going on. He grumbled and muttered under his breath. Something along the lines of "Girls are weird." I went back to braiding Hala's hair.

But not before I discretely used my bending to make Sokka trip and fall onto his face, for the 'girls are weird' comment. I hid a smile.

0o0

Aang and Katara were busy elsewhere. They shot off a cliff edge on their otter penguins whooping and laughing for joy and fun, Aang was louder than Katara. They raced across the ice, going at speeds where things were a blur.

Katara was ahead, and Aang zipped up a slight natural ice ramp, laughing as he did "Ye-eh-ah!" He dragged the word out in his glee.

Katara looked up as the younger boy zoomed over her head and in front. She whooped as her own penguin otter ran up another natural ice ramp. They both laughed as she landed beside him.

"I haven't done this since I was a kid!" she exclaimed

Aang raised an amused eyebrow, and still with laughter in his voice replied back "You still are a kid."

They zipped, raced and zoomed around each other each one taking the lead before the other flew past again. They went into the ice tunnels, everything turning blue, as they flashed past spots of lights shining in through the holes in the walls.

Katara looked back for a moment and grinned. Aang used his bending, circled above her, sledging off the roof, and they came a slow, halt on a flat surface of the ice. They got off, and the otter penguins waddled away.

"Whoa," Aang said as they came to a stop before a sight he was stunned and in awe to see "What is that?"

In front of them was a grey metal ship. It was tilted at an angle, raised and surrounded by ice spikes. The red Fire Nation flag blew in the wind, as the sun behind the ship cast its shadow over the ice.

"A Fire Navy ship. And a very bad memory for my people," Katara replied tone dark and low. Aang walked forward "Aang stop! We're not allowed to go near it. The ship could be booby-trapped."

She reached out her hand, missing him as he kept going. He turned to her, and smiled reassuringly "If you wanna be a bender, you have to let go of fear." he told her wisely.

She looked down, unsure for a moment, and then with a look of dread and trepidation on her face walked forward to join him, they went inside the ship through a big hole in the side.

They walked along the hallways, glancing into the rooms, all empty of people but filled with other things such as weapons and sleeping spaces for the crew members. They came to a stop in a particularly gruesome room filled with sharp spears.

"This ship has haunted my tribe since gran-gran was a little girl. It was part of the Fire Nation's first attacks." Katara solemnly stated as Aang gazed at the weapons.

"Ok back up. I have friends all over the world; even in the Fire Nation," he picked one the spears up "I've never seen any war."

'Aang. How long were you and Mina in that iceberg?"

Aang got a confused, lost expression on his face "I don't know- uh…a few days maybe?"

Katara frowned, thinking "I think it was more like a hundred years." her eyes went wide as dinner plates at the sudden realisation.

Aang put down the spear and got a frown on his face, one eyebrow raised in disbelief "What? That's impossible. Do I and Mina look like a one hundred and twelve- year- old and one hundred and fifteen-year-old man and woman to you?"

Despite his doubting and cynic tone, Katara continued "Think about it. The war is a century old. You and Mina don't know about it because- somehow- you were in there that whole time. It's the only explanation."

Aang's eyes went wide, his jaw dropped, and a feeling of dread and shock speared all over his face in his eyes and posture. He stumbled back, hand on his head, and dropped to sit on the floor. "A hundred years. I can't believe it."

Katara knelt on one knee and put a hand on his shoulder "I'm sorry Aang. Maybe, somehow there's a bright side to all this."

He looked thoughtful, and then gazed up at her; suddenly a little shy and unsure though confident in the actual words "I did get to meet you."

They stood "Come on. Let's get outta here."

0o0

"Aang lets head back. This place is creepy." Katara stated as they entered another room.

Aang looked down; just in time to see his foot catch on what was previously an invisible string. "Huh?" A bared grate snapped down, shutting them in. They grabbed at the bars "What's that you said about booby-traps?"

The pressure valve went crazy, as the pipes groaned and whistled, steam escaping here and there. Katara and Aang watched with wide dread filled eyes at the sight. There was then a loud screaming whistle and a boom.

They looked out the window to see a bright golden flare rocket into the sky. "Uh oh." Aang dead-panned.

Aang turned to see a hole in the roof and was glad for a way out. He grabbed Katara, lifting her bridal-style, in a remarkable show of strength for his young age and size "Hold on tight."

He used his airbending to lift them up and out into the air through the hole, Katara gasping in shock and surprise, as she clung to his neck.

They landed on the roof of the command tower, gazing for a second at the flare.

0o0

Not too far away, someone gazed intent through a telescope, spotting the two small figures, one in blue and one in yellow on the ship. The person followed the two figures movements, as the one in yellow hopped down the ship using the lower levels, carrying the other.

"The Last Airbender. Quite agile for his old age." Prince Zuko narrowed his amber eyes at the sight.

He pointed to the two guards behind him "Wake my uncle! Tell him-" he turned to stare back out the ship and the two figures "- I've found the Avatar."

He watched through the telescopes as the two figures ran from the ship. He frowned, thinking, then trained the telescope away, and found what his thoughts had assumed to be there.

A small village, with little buildings made of snow and ice "As well as his hiding place."

His amber eyes narrowed once again, this time in unbridled determination.

0o0