Apparently some of you actually like my stuff... go figure. Anyway, here is the next chapter. I know it's kinda slow, it's really just a transition chapter really... to fill time... and... stuff... Oh, and if you find any minor grammar or spelling mistakes, feel free to point it out. I feel like a total idiot if I keep something up for a long time and in the whole time I don't realize that I put 'could' instead of 'couldn't' or something stupid like that... yeah... Have fun reading.

Chapter Two: A Journey

"Aang!" Kia's heart was racing when she saw him hit the floor, Ozai steadily approaching the Avatar. Her hands tightened into fists to the point where her knuckles turned white. She stomped her foot, a chunk of stone flying out of the ground. She punched it with all her might sending it towards the Fire Lord, stealing his attention from the airbender.

"Why don't you pick on someone your own size?!" She shouted bringing up two more stones to throw at him.

Angered, Ozai shot a ball of fire at her. She screamed feeling the flames burn her skin and the smell of boiling flesh became apparent to everyone in the room.

"AHHH!!" Kia sat up in bed panting heavily. "It… it was just a dream…" She looked down at her clenched fist, slowly opening it to see the Air Nomad stone. Taking several slow deep breaths, she knew that that was more then just a simple figment of her imagination. It was a vision. It had to be.

Kia glanced out the window and saw it was dark out. "This is it," she thought, "It's now or never!" She quickly hopped out of bed and grabbed a bag that was just big enough for a few days journey. In it she placed only a blanket, a set of clothes, and what little money she had. "Eighteen gold pieces and forty-five copper pieces… it'll have to do…"

She hurried down stairs to the kitchen where she took a few days ration of meat and bread and a skin of water. "I'm missing something…" She murmured to herself. She snapped her fingers in recollection before heading toward the den. She gazed up at the two swords that hung proudly on the wall. She reached up and grabbed them, strapping them to her back.

After one last look at her home, she realized something. Her parents. They didn't know anything about any of this. But she couldn't wake them up to tell them. So instead, she grabbed some paper, an inkpad, and a brush. She carefully wrote out how she was a telepath and an earthbender like she promised Sitka. Then she went on telling them about the dreams she had been receiving from the spirits and that she was meant for great things. But passionately reminded them that she loved them and wasn't trying to hurt them. This was simply something she had to do.

Taking a deep breath, she put the brush down. Carefully tiptoeing up the stairs again, she placed the note by her parents' bedside. Kia stared at them for a moment, sadness and grief washing over her. It hurt so bad having to leave the ones she loved, but she knew she had to. With one last fond look, she left the house and went outside.

She walked past the barn, but heard someone calling her.

"Mistress! What're you doing!?" She turned to see Sitka glaring at her.

"I'm going off to make you eat your words." She said in a heartless manner.

"You're going to get yourself killed!" He started bucking in his stall.

"Then I'll die knowing I'm doing the right thing." She turned, eyes shut trying her hardest not to cry.

"Kia… don't do this… don't be so foolish…" Her childhood friend pleaded. "These delusions of grandeur are only going to get you hurt."

She looked back at him, a single tear streaming her face. "I told them about my bending… and about all the animals I meet… I'm leaving this place Sitka. The visions are getting stronger, and I have a feeling if I don't leave tonight, something terrible will happen. I'm going. And I can either ride you to the temple, or I'll run there myself. It's up to you."

The ostrich-horse whinnied. "I'm sorry it's come to this then. You're on your own Kia. I can't approve of this."

"Then… I'll see you when I come back." She quickly turned and ran so he couldn't see more tears running down her face.

Later

She had been running for a few miles now, and was only a short distance away from a little town near the docks. She'd have to barter passage to get to the temple. Then it hit her. "The temple's on top of a mountain…" She moaned sinking back against a big oak tree. Then she heard a voice.

"What're you doing at my home!? Leave!" Kia looked up to see a twelve-foot long and six-foot high raven-eagle glaring daggers at her.

"Hey! Can you help me? I'm trying to get to the Western Air Temple!" She jumped to her feet, a glimmer of hope emitted from her voice. The bird of prey was taken back by this strange girl.

"You speak? I didn't know humans could speak."

"I'm a special human. I can talk to every animal you can imagine." She grinned up at the bird. "What's your name?"

"Y-Yasuo…" The bird fluttered down to the ground looking at Kia. "You said you needed help. If I help you… what can you give me in return, Obasan?"

(A/N: Those of you who are unfamiliar with Japanese terms, 'Obasan' is what you would call an older woman out of respect, and is considered rude to call a young woman. Basically it's like calling a nineteen-year-old 'old lady' and meaning it)

Kia frowned at his incorrect use of the term. "Call me Kia-chan…"

(A/N: 'Chan' is a tern used for young girls, as opposed to 'kun', which is the masculine to 'chan'. It's typically used to symbolize friendships. I'll stop inserting these, I promise. :P)

"Fine. Kia-chan. If I help you… what do I get in return?"

"Um… would you settle for turkey-duck meat?"

The raven-eagle turned his head to one side. "And what would I be required to do in order to obtain this… meat?"

"Can you fly me to the top of a mountain?" The bird circled her and after a moment of thought he said, "I suppose I could… you don't seem too heavy."

"Uh… great…" She wasn't sure if she was supposed to be excited of insulted by his acceptance. "I'll give you half now and half when we get to the temple. Is it a deal?"

Yasuo bobbed his head and flapped his long wings. "Can I you give it to me this instant?" She laughed lightly amused by his antics. "Of course." She reached into her pack and grabbed a strip of meat and tossed it at the raven-eagle. He snatched it up in mid air with his beak and easily swallowed it down.

"Come along now, it's half a days journey when I fly myself. I'm not sure how long it'll take with a human on my back as well."

Kia nodded climbing onto his back. She situated herself, and what she packed, into the most comfortable position for both her and her mount. "I'm ready when you are." She said holding onto him. Yasuo cawed before flapping his wings. Kia had closed her eyes praying to whatever spirit that was listening that they might make it to the temple before it was too late, or more to the effect of her immediate worries, that they would make it off the ground.

"Kia-chan, open your eyes! Look at the world below you!" The mighty bird shouted over the power of the wind blowing in his face. She slowly opened her eyes seeing the whole Northwestern Earth Kingdom below her. "Oh my gosh! I've never seen anything like this!" She laughed, her grip still tight on Yasuo's neck.

"Hold tight my friend, we wouldn't want you falling off." She nodded, a wide spread grin on her face. She couldn't believe that this was really happening. She was actually flying on the back of a raven-eagle headed toward the Western Air Temple to meet the Avatar!

With her right arm still clinging to Yasuo, she reached her left hand into her pocket and pulled out her Air Nomad stone, which was firmly grasped between her thumb and index finger. "I'm coming for you Aang." She whispered before clutching the stone tightly in her fist.

The Next Morning

Kia found herself on the steps on a massive building, with her bird companion sleeping beside her. "Yasuo-kun?" She muttered rubbing her eyes. "Where are we?"

The bird buried his head under his wing. "The temple, like you wanted Kia-chan. Took me all night to get us here, but I did it…"

Kia's eyes widened in realization and she stood to her feet. "I made it? I made it! Ha! I'm at the temple!" She shrieked with delight as she took in her surroundings. She looked up at the hand carved walls of the female Air Nomad monks of old. The pictures of bison and lemurs that once populated the four temples over a hundred years ago. She made it… she was finally here…

"Now to find the Avatar." She started to run off when she remembered. "Oh yeah! Yasuo, here's the rest of the meat I promised you." She pulled out a large strip of turkey-duck meat and tossed in next to her newfound friend. "Thank you from bringing me this far." The bird looked up and caught her as she bowed to him respectfully, and ran off into the temple.

Kia stared in awe at her surroundings taking in the sights as she went further within the confines of the temple. Her eyes followed the edges of the stones she walked on and caught sight of little hermit crabs crawling along the ground staring at yet another stranger that had intruded on their home. Smiling, she knelt down in front of a few. The tiny creatures pulled themselves inside their shells to hide from her. She laughed lightly picking one up into her hands. "Hey there little guy. Have you seen an airbender around here?"

The crab poked his head out, ever so slightly. "Yes…"

"Did you see him here today?" She asked eagerly.

He felt comfortable enough to where he came out of his shell entirely. "Just this morning. He's kinda sad though."

"I'm sorry to hear that…" Maybe this was why the spirits called her here, to encourage him. "Do you know what part of the temple he's in?"

"He's in the central courtyard. He's easy to spot. He spends most of his time sitting on his big fuzzy thing."

What? Big fuzzy… "Oh, you mean his sky bison."

"Yeah! That one!" Kia smiled stroking the hermit's shell.

"Thank you for pointing out where he is."

"Sure thing!" The crab crawled down her arm, down her leg and back onto the ground to join his kind. Satisfied with the information, Kia stood and started running toward the courtyard that was easily seen from the hall she was walking down.

Then all of a sudden she couldn't move her feet. "Hey!" She cried looking down at her legs incased in rock. With a forceful punch, she was able to earthbend her way out, then with a kick to the ground a rock flew out of the ground and she readied herself for a fight. "Who's there!?"

Kia heard an aggressive grunt and a pound in the earth. She turned to see a teenage boy and a little blind girl in fighting stances dressed in Earth Kingdom clothing. She frowned at the duo. "What…?" Then they charged at her.

I promise it gets better. Please review. :3