As Aang breathed in the quiet air trying to decipher how he would know if this was his tree-hopper or not, he then heard the quiet sound of crying coming through the window. Silently debating with himself whether or not to go and comfort the poor unfortunate person he swiftly forgot all about the 'tree-hopper'. Finally his kind Monk nature won out over his boyish awkwardness. He lightly set himself on the windowsill and lost himself in the vision before him.

Her fiery, auburn hair was splayed all around her in a messy fashion. Her tiny torso heaved at every sob and breath in between. Her dark clothing had bits of leaves in it and the stray twig here or there. Her small round face was pressed into the pillow as if it would quiet her cries. Aang's breath hitched as he realized who she was, Sensei Phyre! He let out a quiet laugh as he saw her sniffle into the pillow.

She suddenly stilled, her body freezing in place, and then after a moments hesitation, she whipped her head around looking hopeful. When her eyes laid rest on Aang, she realized it was one of her students and her expression went to a flicker of fear but then contorted itself into rage and anger. Her eyes screamed silent questions 'How did you get here? What's so funny? And how long were you there?' spilling out thoughts she didn't trust her throat to voice. Aang suddenly felt afraid of the small girl who surprisingly, had he not been trapped in the iceberg and been born in this time, would still have been younger than him.

He quickly started to explain how he was playing Chase with Momo when he saw her jumping from tree to tree. As he told her his brief explanation, her sniffles quietly subsided. Once he was done she gave a little cough and asked why he was laughing with as much venom in her voice as she could muster. His lips then spread in a grin while he said that someone as strong as her surprised him with her sudden tears. Phyre's face grew red as feelings of embarassment and shame at what she was sure an insult. But as she looked into Aang's kind face she realized he hadn't meant for her to take it as ran insult for her momentary weakness, he meant it as a compliment to her strength.

After a minute of tense quiet Phyre was just about to ask him a question when randomly, Aang let out a sharp sneeze that blast him backward into the tree behind him. Stunned for a second Phyre then let out a loud laugh that later Aang could only describe as springtime. When he regained his composure, he poked his head back in though the window earning him an other giggle, before she asked if he wanted to come inside. He gave a solemn nod and walked over to the entrance. He hesitated a moment before pushing the blanket/door aside as he strode into the room. She patted the spot next to her on the bed and he tried his best to gracefully sit down, sadly he wobbled a moment before plopping himself down on the thin mattress.

Aang had an anxious ball of nerves in his stomach as he debated asking her the question that had been on his mind ever since he saw her sobbing into her pillow. Why was she crying? he thought to himself. Then as he noticed her give him an evaluating look he realized that he said it out loud...After a moment of this he looked away from her piercing green eyes and he heard her let out a sigh. She mirrored him looking at the floor. Finally she said,

"On the first day I started teaching I told you all a dear friend had asked me to be there right? Well, he was more than a dear friend and I thought I was more to him too but I guess not. Today I was so happy because I would get a little more than an hour alone with him and I've been with you guys most of the time so I couldn't just abandon duty for five minutes with him. Obviously I was really distracted so I decided to let you guys go early so I could talk to him a little more. I'm at his door and I hear panting noises and thought he was just training right? So I barge in and there he is, making out with Smellerbee! Of all the people! The boy I mistakenly fell in love with and the girl I considered my sister! I'm so stupid!" her tone turned angry as she unknowingly let out a fresh wave of hot tears. She furiously wiped them away as she continued.

"I thought he loved me too though! He gave me the best presents at random times! And then, he would never let me go on any missions! Was it really because I was unprepared like he said? Or maybe he knew Silas would murder him if something happened to me." She finished in a suspicious whisper. Afraid of her continuing this paranoia he thought quickly, interrupting her rambling.

"Sensei Phyre, if you don't mind me asking, who is this Silas guy?"

She dismissively waved her and shortly replied that he is her older brother. After noticing his confused look she told him that everyone else called him Longshot.

He noticed that she clearly didn't want to talk about her brother as she drowsily wiped tears out of her eyes. Seeing her tired look her told to get some sleep. Suddenly she had a panicked expression as she asked,

"Will you stay here? It's silly but I don't want to be alone..." wordlessly he gathered her into his arms and leaned back on the bed. When they were in a laying position, she closed her eyes and murmured a quiet,

"Thank you,"