Destined Girl

Ch.9 pt2: New Companions

That next morning, I woke up to someone nudging me awake.

"Saro," the voice cooed. I slowly opened my eyes and turned on my back. I saw Aang. I groaned as I turned back on my side.

"Not now" I complained.

"We got to get a move on" Aang told me. I groaned as I used my hand to shoo him away. Within a minute, I felt something cold hit the back of my head and my side. I opened my eyes, startled. I sat up and saw Aang grinning.

"Aang!" I grumbled. I got up and Aang quickly made a run for it, I chased him. I wasn't upset, I just wanted to mess with him. He laughed as I laughed too.

"Can you two not play around?" came Sokka's voice.

"Oh Sokka let them run around" came Katara's voice. "They haven't seen each other in a long time"

I got close enough to tackle Aang to the ground and I followed my idea. We rolled on the ground as Aang yelped in surprise and joined back in with the laughter, we landed on our backs as I clutched my gut as I howled in laughter.

As our joyful laughter died down, I got up to my feet and helped Aang up.

"You got faster" he told me. I lifted my foot and then set it back down.

"Ah," I said, shrugging. I gave him a smile as I motioned him to head back to camp. "Come on"

I packed up my own stuff as I attached my sword to my sash.

"Is that sword?" Sokka asked. I looked at him and nodded. He was wide-eyed.

"Not really trained well with it" I admitted, my face flushed in embarrassment. He shrugged and walked on. Aang came over to me. "He doesn't like me much does he?"

"Well, he's Sokka," Aang replied. "Once you get to know him, he'll start to like you"

I nodded as I walked up to Appa. I stopped, realizing what was going to happen next.

"Uh," I said.

"What's wrong?" came Katara's voice.

"Well you know," I said. "I haven't been on a bison, in a long while"

"Don't worry" Aang encouraged. "Just hop on and it'll be fine"

I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned and saw Katara.

"You'll get used to it" she told me. I smiled and nodded. I climbed up on Appa and settled myself in the saddle. Katara hoisted herself up and Aang used airbending to jump on the bison's head.

"Appa yip! Yip!"

Appa growled and soon jumped off the ground, he soared up into the air and above the clouds. I looked around me, I couldn't believe the sight.

"Oh my god" I said. I looked at Aang. "It's amazing!"

"See" Aang replied. I chuckled a bit. I settled down and faced Katara and Sokka. I was lost in deep thought as i stared at the leather saddle.

"Is everything alright Saro?" asked Katara. I looked up.

"Huh," I said. "Oh yeah"

I heaved a deep sigh, it was silent for a little while.

"So how long till we reach the North Pole?" I asked, breaking the stagnant silence.

"A few weeks" Katara said. I groaned.

An hour past, I was talking to Katara, Sokka was sharpening his boomerang and Aang seemed to be falling asleep. I looked at my brother.

"You alright lad?" I asked.

"Yeah" Aang's soft reply came. "Just tired that's all"

"Want me to take over?" Katara offered.

"I'll be fine" Aang said. "We only need to go a few more hours, I can make till then"

Katara looked at me, I shook my head.

"He won't" I told her. "Watch in an hour"

She smiled.

"Hey Saro?" Sokka asked. I looked up.

"Aye?" I asked.

"Do you have a map?" he asked. "You know a world map?"

"Yeah," I said as I opened my pouch.

"How can you carry everything with that little bag?" Katara asked me. I found my scroll.

"I was raised on a farm," I told her as I handed Sokka my map. "I had to make tons of trips out to far away villages, even on my own. I didn't need much"

She nodded.

"Hey what's this?" Sokka asked as he stared a tattered paper. "Looks like a picture"

"Good god," I said as I snatched it carefully out of his hands. He looked at me and cocked an eyebrow. I looked at my friends. "It's my friends,"

"Your friends?" Sokka asked. I nodded.

"Who where your friends?" Katara asked. I handed her the picture.

"The two boys are my best friends, Tommy and Sam Lind" I said. "they've been my friends ever since we were youngeons"

She studied the picture.

"What's in the background?" she asked. "It looks like a house"

"It's my house on the farm," I said. "My Pa snapped the photo"

"You look really happy in this picture" she said as she handed the picture back to me.

"Believe me I was." I said as I took a glimpse of it myself. "They were the best of friends, always there till the end"

She nodded.

"Tommy and Sam are twin brothers, like Aang and I are" I said. "Sam's the shortest one however, but they ain't that short"

"What are they like?" Katara asked. I chuckled.

"Sam's a stubborn, always questioning kind of guy, but he's funny, smart, well sometimes, kind and very creative" I said. "Tommy is the hot-headed one, he doesn't like anyone touching him or his friends, he can pick a fight or two any day and end up busting his opponent's hind. Tommy is also very sweet and caring and very curious when it comes to new things"

"Do you have a crush on this Tommy?" she asked me in a type of unusual tone.

"I really don't know," I admitted as I rubbed the back of my head, my face flushed. "He kissed me on the cheek when I left but probably just a good-bye"

Aang snickered. I glared at him.

"Watch boy-o" I warned, he turned to me. "I know you have a little crush right now"

"Saro no," Aang begged me.

"Aang likes-"

"Come on you two," Katara scolded both of us. I looked at Aang, he shook his head.

"I swear Saro," he said. "You just never change"

"Hey I've changed!" I shouted. "You told me just last night I looked stronger"

"I meant mentally" he said. "You never change mentally"

"I'll have you know that I am more mature than last time you saw me" I told me.

"Yeah," he said in a sarcastic tone. "You've gotten more mature"

"Hey yer the one who snickered!" I shouted. Aang laughed.

"Do you guys always fight?" Sokka asked.

"Nah," I said. "We just like to get on each other's last nerve"

"And your testing my last nerve right now Saro" Aang's voice came. I laughed.

"What can I say," I said as I leaned back. "I love to test nerves"

Aang chuckled.

"That's for sure" he said. I smiled.

"I sure missed you lad," I said.

"I missed you too" he replied. I smiled again. I looked at the photo and slipped it back into my pouch. I looked at my new companions and smiled.

Life was going to get better, no matter if there is a war or not.

To be continued

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