The heat was nearly unbearable. You'd think being raised in the Fire Nation would help you with warm climates, but I never tolerated heat very well.
"Is this necessary?" I groaned.
Why we were walking in the desert I did not know.
"Because Appa's tired and can't carry so many people in this heat."
I couldn't blame him, I wouldn't be able to do it. I whipped around, glaring at our most recent passenger. The professor donned a worried expression. I faced forward again, smiling victoriously.
"So where are we going again?"
"I tell you, the library is magnificent! It holds knowledge of nearly everything!" The professor exclaimed.
Everything? Maybe they'll have information on bi-benders…
"Look!" Katara called, a few yards ahead of the group.
A tall tower rose out of the sand, the only structure around for miles.
"Wow…how come we didn't notice that earlier?" I asked.
Everyone looked at me and shrugged. I continued trudging through the sand. I hate the desert.
{BURNING WATER}
"Whoa! Check this place out! It's so big!" I stared wide-eyed at the large expanse of knowledge presented in front of me.
There had to be something about bi-benders here.
"Welcome." The whole group jumped at the booming voice.
A great owl towered over us.
"To enter my library, you must present something worth value to add to my collection." He waited patiently after speaking.
Everyone deposited something in turn, and I fished around in my bag and pulled out a leather bound black book with a red Fire Nation symbol stamped plainly on the cover.
"What is this?" the owl questioned curiously as I held it out to him.
"It's a Fire Nation military journal."
"How'd you get your hands on that?" Aang asked baffled.
"There are so many things to take when you have hours to roam the Fire Nation Palace." I smiled.
The owl swiped his wing over my hand, and the leather bound tome instantly disappeared.
"You are free to inspect my library. But be forewarned, previous visitors have not had lucky findings." And with that he was gone.
{BURNING WATER}
"What are you looking for?" Katara frowned, watching me skeptically as I dug through stack after stack of books.
Her arms were overflowing with water bending scrolls.
"What do you plan on doing with those?" I eyed her strangely.
"Well…" She trailed off.
"You can't take all of them." I murmured, turning back to the shelf.
She waddled off and I pulled a dusty novel from the wood. Scrawled across the cover was: Burning Water: The Inner Strength of the Bi-bender. I slid another book off the shelf: The History of Bi-benders. I placed them gently in my bag, along with some bi-bending scrolls I had happened upon.
"Find anything?" Aang appeared suddenly next to me.
I tried not to show my surprise. "Yes, some important things." I smiled before securing the latch on my bag.
"That's good, but you may want to run now." Aang ducked around the corner before returning and hauling me away by the arm.
I glanced behind me to see Sokka and Katara running too.
"Damnit Sokka! What did you do?" The owl rounded the bookshelves, and my question was answered.
Aang let loose of my arm, and looked back again to make sure Sokka and Katara will still there. That resulted in me face-planting into the floor. I cursed under my breath and pushed myself up. Sokka assisted, but the owl was right on our heels.
"You would make quiet an exotic living specimen for my collection. There aren't many of you left, bi-bender." I shuddered at the thought.
Sokka shoved me up the rope while Aang lifted Katara out on his glider. I released a long breath when my feet hit the sand.
"Aang?" Katara's voice called worriedly, bringing me back to attention.
The library behind us was already gone, sunk in the sand. Aang was on his knees, sobs racking his body. I looked to Sokka for an explanation. He shook his head sadly.
"Appa's gone."