Journey Through Lava
Xiong has been in his shack for three weeks, only leaving to take baths in a river that runs close by. He gets up and gets out of his hammock stretching. "Today's the fire nation festival, I can get some food since everyone there will be wearing masks." Xiong says pulling out a mask from last year's festival. He puts on a black cloak that covers the majority of his body before putting on the mask. He slowly opens the cloth that acts as a door and looks around, the coast is clear. Xiong slowly exits the shack and walks toward the fire nation capital.
He goes over to the store and buy several articles of food. "Hey there stranger. Nice festival this year, ain't it?" The clerk says joyfully toward Xiong. "A marvelous festival, it'll be hard to match this one next year." Xiong says with his voice deeper than his actual voice. "Precisely but the fire nation never ceases to amaze me." The clerk says giving Xiong his groceries. "Thank you ma'am." Xiong says taking the groceries. "My pleasure, come again." The clerk says smiling and nodding her head. Xiong heads back to the shack and sets his groceries down on floor in a corner.
He relaxes and later heads back to the festival. He sees Aang, Katara and Sokka at the wanted board but just thinks of them as other festival goers. He walks up towards them, unseen by any of them. He walks up behind Katara and sees she's reading through his wanted poster that has been stuck to the back of Aang's. "So, you are going to try and take on the Young Phoenix?" Xiong says to the group still hidden from view. Xiong spooks the group and they all nearly use their bending or weapon. Xiong catches sight of the arrow on Aang's head and realizes that he's the avatar. "Whoa, slow down, didn't mean to spook you, was just asking a question." Xiong says with his hands back in a defensive pose. "Oh, no, we are just looking at it." Katara says handing the papers to Xiong. "The avatar and the young phoenix. If the avatar wanted a fire bending teacher, the young phoenix would be one of the best, but he wouldn't be the best." Xiong says looking at the papers. "Yeah, it could spell trouble for us." Sokka says trying to stay undercover.
"Nothing gets by your friend. We can talk more about how bad the two of them meeting would be for us in my house. It's not far from here, you three can find me when you are done at the festival near the gates to the capital." Xiong says invitingly toward the three of them. "Well, I've always been really smart and sure why not." Sokka says without consulting Aang or Katara. "It's a deal." Xiong says as he heads over to the gate and relaxes. "Sokka, why did you do that, he could just be drawing us into a trap?" Katara says upset with Sokka. "If he meant us harm, I would've felt it." Sokka says as he slaps the board and gets a splinter. "Just like you felt that?" Katara says unimpressed. "Let's give him a chance, he seems like a nice guy." Aang says still being childish. "Alright Aang, we'll give him a chance." Katara says admitting to the decision.
Aang, Katara, and Sokka enjoy themselves at the fire nation festival. Sokka buys some fire flakes and tries them out, discovering them to be hot. They watch a firebending magician. They watch a puppet show about the fire nation winning the war to some kids. After all the excitement, they meet with Xiong at the gates. "You sure you want to leave just now?" Xiong says calmly. Aang looks at Katara and Sokka and they both nod their heads yes. "Yeah, we had enough excitement for one day." Aang says joyfully. "Alright then, follow me." Xiong says as he leads the group to his shack. They follow Xiong still wary of what might happen.
Once they arrive at Xiong's shack, he invites them in. Katara goes in first, followed by Aang and finally Sokka. Xiong looks around and enters shortly afterwards. "Why did you invite us over here?" Katara says warily. "Allow me to take off this cloak and mask, it should answer your question." Xiong says as he takes off his cloak and his mask, revealing his face. "Wait, you're the young phoenix?" Katara says surprised. "Yes, and I discovered that you are the avatar and his friends when I scared you all. Don't worry, I'm a traitor so turning you all in will not help either of us." Xiong says cooking some food. "Good, now we know that we don't have to worry about an ambush. Why did you invite us over here? You still haven't answered that." Katara says relaxed now.
"Simple, the avatar probably needs a firebending teacher, and who would be better than someone who doesn't work for the fire nation?" Xiong says offer a vast feast to the group. The group accepts and starts eating. "Sure, I was hoping to find a firebending teacher here who wouldn't turn me in. It worked out very well." Aang says before he and Sokka eat like they haven't eaten before. Katara eats slowly and sophisticatedly. Aang and Sokka reach for seconds. "We can start next morning with the basics." Xiong says eating as well. Katara finishes her plate.
"You want more miss?" Xiong says looking at Katara about to pick up a piece of food. "Oh, we should probably introduce ourselves. I am Katara. Aang is the avatar, he's the one with the arrow on his head. Sokka's the one who's eating like a ravenous wolf." Katara says introducing the group to Xiong while she sets down her plate on the floor. "I am Xiong, also known as the young phoenix. Nice to meet you all. You sure you don't want more?" Xiong says introducing himself to the group. "Yes, I'm fine. If he's going to begin firebending training in this morning, the avatar's going to need his strength, isn't that right Aang?" Katara says looking toward Aang, who's about to reach for thirds.
Aang's face changes from childish and joyful to mature and serious. "That's correct Katara. Thank you for the meal Xiong. Is there any place for us to rest?" Aang says bummed about not eating more. "Yeah, I have several hammocks, I had used them the previous nights to hold my food. Feel free to use them to rest." Xiong says motioning toward the hammocks. "Thank you." Katara says as she takes a top hammock, Aang takes the hammock under her and Sokka takes a lone hammock. Xiong puts out the fire and goes into the hammock beneath Aang and falls asleep.