Hope you liked the last chapter, I didn't get too much feedback on it though. I am actually really curious what you thought about my sister's writing style when trying to write this story.
Well, I'm almost there. I've wanted to write the Ba Sing Se part + The Drill ever since I began this.
She forgot to mention it but it's been just over a year since I began to write this story (book 1 and 2)
I can't thank you guys enough for encouraging me with your reviews, follows and favourites!
Love you guys so much. Hope you enjoy :D
Chapter 11: A Quick Flight
It was a serene morning. They had made camp in a beautiful area with a small waterfall and lots of greenery. The breeze was pleasant and the sky was blue. Again, Eira was grateful that they were out of the more barren, deserty area of the Earth Kingdom.
Sokka and Eira were looking at their maps, figuring out the best route to get to Ba Sing Se, Toph was casually sitting next to the water, her feet moving in it back and forth lazily. Aang was swimming and Eira couldn't see where Katara went. Probably not too far though.
Aang dived underwater as Eira located where they were. Considering how close they were to Ba Sing Se, Eira suspected that they were approaching 'The Serpent's Pass' time zone, but Eira wondered if the events would even take place. They had Appa, they didn't need to-
"WATERBENDING BOMB! YEAH!" Katara's excited voice rang throughout the area and before anyone could react, Katara cannonballed into the water, sending a tidal wave of water out of the pool. The splash sent Aang flying and completely soaked Sokka, Eira and Toph, as well as all of the maps they took from the library.
"Katara," Eira moaned. "Really? We're trying to work here."
"Yep. Working with five thousand year-old maps from the spirit library. Don't worry, I'm sure they're fine after being soaked by a tidal wave of water," Sokka said sarcastically, holding up a soggy map to prove his point.
Eira shook herself and her airbending quickly dried her but she was going to be no help with the maps.
"Sorry," Katara apologised, wringing her hair dry. The apology was somewhat ruined by her cheeky smile but she quickly waterbent the water off the maps so Eira couldn't really complain.
"So have you figured out which route we're going to take?" Aang asked, leaning in to see.
"Well, we spent yesterday, travelling east for Eira's mini-vacation," Sokka began. Holiday, Eira thought. It was her holiday so she guessed that she could decide what it was called. "So we needed to travel further to get here and set up camp."
"But because of Appa, we could fly through his passage around here as the mountains are likely to be guarded by the Fire Nation. It would be easier to fly over them but I think it would be too easy to be seen," Eira explained.
"You sure that's the way to go?" Toph asked.
"Well, we could go around the mountains and avoid the Fire Nation that way but the simplest route would be to go straight through using the passage."
"What's the pass called?" Katara asked.
"The Serpent's Pass." There was a small silence.
"Sounds fun," Toph said sarcastically.
"It's just a name, Toph." Well, not really, Eira thought, remembering the creepy, somewhat seahorse-looking sea serpent from the episode. Hopefully though, they wouldn't have to get near it though, if they were on Appa.
"It doesn't really matter though. As long as we can reach Ba Sing Se and tell the Earth King about the eclipse," Sokka commented.
"Yeah, so let's go!" Aang said cheerfully jumping up.
"To Ba Sing Se. No more distractions." Sometimes, Sokka had a talent for jinxing himself.
As soon as the words left his mouth, three people appeared. Two women, one heavily pregnant, and a man. They all looked relatively happy considering how they looked like they had been walking for miles whilst carrying heavy bags.
"Hello there, fellow refugees!" The man called out as he approached the group. Aang smiled cheerfully at him.
"So, you guys are headed to Ba Sing Se, too?"
"Sure are. We're trying to get there before my wife Ying has her baby," he explained, gesturing caringly to his wife's clearly pregnant appearance.
It may have been just because Eira was British but she never really understood why people could talk so freely.
I mean, realistically, they're running from the Fire Nation, there is a chance we could be from there or get offered money for information, she thought.
"That's great! We could offer you a lift on Appa through the Serpent's Pass," Katara said cheerfully.
The three refugees looked shocked at the suggestion and even when the noticed Appa, they didn't look any keener to join them. They looked like they thought they were insane.
"The Serpent's Pass?" Ying exclaimed. "Only the truly desperate take that deadly route!"
"Deadly route," Toph deadpanned, punching Sokka in the arm. "Great pick you two."
"Hey! Why don't you punch Eira as well then?" Sokka demanded, indignant.
"She's further away."
"But it doesn't really matter if the route is dangerous right?" Eira said. "I mean, we have Appa. We could fly past any dangers."
"But we don't know what we could meet," Toph countered. "And knowing us we'd run into a bison-eating giant moth-spider."
Eira shuddered. The thought of a moth and a spider combined was creepy enough. Did Toph have to suggest a giant one?
"You should come with us to Full Moon Bay. Ferries take refugees across the lake. It's the fastest way to Ba Sing Se," Tahn explained.
"It's also hidden. The Fire Nation can't find it," Ying added.
Katara mockingly looked contemplative. "Hmmm… peaceful flight across a lake, or the deadly pass?"
Eira crossed her arms. "Fine, I get it. Peaceful flight across the lake it is."
They all stood up, and walked over to Appa.
Aang looked back. "Ying, would you guys like to ride on Appa? It would save you walking there."
Their faces lit up.
"Thank you so much." Tahn escorted his wife carefully up Appa's tail and onto the saddle, the other woman following suit.
"Hmm, I don't think Appa would be happy carrying us all," Eira said, looking at the large group. "How about one group with you guys fly over and the rest of us will walk."
"I'll walk!" Toph quickly volunteered. That wasn't much of a surprise. Eira didn't think that Toph would ever become a fan of flying.
"I'll walk as well, since I suggested it."
"I guess I'll do it," Sokka said, slightly resigned as he jumped off the saddle.
"Perfect." Eira smiled up at Aang who was steering and Katara who was talking with Ying about her baby. "You can lead the way to Full Moon Bay," Eira finished, silently applauding her rhyme. People were always too amused with themselves when they made rhymes.
Aang nodded and they began to fly off, but not getting too high so they wouldn't be able to follow.
To be honest, the groups they made would probably be who she'd choose if she was given the choice. Aang was always going to stay with Appa, except when they visited the Great Divide and he had Appa take the elderly and the sick across, and Katara was going to be better around newer people.
Eira was not good at being social with newer people, Sokka was inherently more suspicious than his sister and Toph wasn't a fan of flying. The one slight problem, however, was the actual walking. It was much further than Eira had expected. You just never got the feel of the length of a journey from a jump cut.
Oh, if only she could do that now.
o.O.o
"I can't believe how many people are here," Eira muttered in disbelief. There were hundreds of people in various states of clothing and distress in the small port. Eira couldn't believe that so many people could be here as well as no one in the Fire Nation finding out. How did they even find out? Through word of mouth?
On a different note, Eira's legs felt like they were on fire.
"So many people's lives have been uprooted by the Fire Nation." Katara looked around in concern. She had considerably more energy to care about everyone.
"Well, I hope you can get to Ba Sing Se safely. Tell your baby we said hello," Aang said sweetly.
Ying smiled warmly. "Thank you, Avatar Aang. We will." Tahn put a supporting arm around his wife and they, as well as Tahn's sister, who Eira found out was the other woman.
"Wait, do you think we can even get Appa past?" Eira asked, suddenly noticing how the port was set out. There was a large wall on the other side, blocking the lake and the Earthbender guards only seemed to let in people with tickets.
"Well, uh, we could just get tickets," Aang suggested, weakly. "Come on, let's check."
"NO ANIMALS IN BA SING SE! A SINGLE NEW CREATURE COULD LEAD TO THE DESTRUCTION OF THE ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM AND THERE IS NO WAY WE'D ALOW YOUR BUFFALO-MANATEE TO ENETER! ARE YOU TRYING TO GET THIS PLACE FOUND OUT BY THE FIRE NATION?!" The woman at the booth yelled at a volume the whole world could hear and spit flew out of her mouth in pure outrage.
"But I'm the Avatar, I'm sure you could make an exception," Aang pleaded. The woman snorted with laughter.
"Ah! I see over fifty Avatars a day and, by the way, not a very convincing costume," she gestured to the group of 'Aang's' in a section of the room, all not very good. One of them looked about fifty years old
"But he is the Avatar," Katara protested.
"Do I need to call security?" The ticket woman threatened, pointing to the men around the cabbage merchant, crying next to his empty cart and a happy platypus-bear.
Katara looked like she was about to protest further but Aang quickly cut in front of her, waving his hands.
"No, that won't be necessary."
"NEXT!" They all turned to leave but Toph began to walk back towards the booth. Eira stepped in, stopping her.
"I'm sorry Toph, but she might be right. If we get Appa through the ferry way, we could lead the Fire Nation to this place," she said in an undertone. "I know you could convince her because you're a Beifong but I'm not sure it would be a good idea."
Toph stared blankly, thinking it over.
"Fine. I wouldn't want the Fire Nation to find this place."
"Thank you, Toph."
"Great! This is perfect," Sokka grumbled sarcastically. "Now we'll have to go all the way back."
"On the bright side, we'll be able to fly on Appa this time," Eira said cheerfully. Her legs were still killing her. And here I thought I was getting fitter, she thought, annoyed. To be fair, they didn't usually do a great deal of walking.
"I guess we'll use that pass then," Katara said. "We'll just have to hope that Appa can fly over whatever makes the Serpent's Pass so dangerous."
"Based on the name, I'd guess some sort of serpent," Toph commented.
"I told you, Toph, it's just a name," Sokka said fustratedly.
"Come on guys, let's just go. We need to get to Ba Sing Se quickly, remember?" Eira said despite thinking that Toph and Sokka's banter was pretty funny sometimes.
They began walking back but suddenly a security guard grabbed Sokka's arm and pulled him towards him.
"Tickets and passports, please," she demanded, holding her hand out for them. Eira smiled. It was Suki!
"Um, we're just leaving. Is there a problem?" Sokka asked, looking slightly uncomfortable.
"Yeah, I got a problem with you!" she said dramatically, building up her reveal. "I've seen your type before. Probably sarcastic, think you're hilarious and let me guess, you're travelling with the Avatar."
Sokka blinked in confusion. "Do I know you?"
"You mean you don't remember?" she said aggressively. "Maybe you'll remember this!" She leaned in a kissed him on the cheek. His face immediately lit up but it felt somewhat odd compared to how Eira remembered it. It was slightly muted, almost guilty-looking.
Strange.
"Suki!" Sokka hugged Suki and her face lit up in a similar fashion except with more amusement at her playing around with him.
"Sokka, it's good to see you!"
Sokka, pulled her over to the group, smiling. "Guys, it's Suki!"
"Suki?" Katara exclaimed. "It's great to see you, how have you been?"
Suki smiled. "I've been doing great. I've been working here for a couple of months, but we should talk somewhere else. I can lead you to the guard room."
"Great, lead the way," Aang said cheerfully.
Everyone looked so happy to see Suki, well, not really Toph, Eira thought that she was just going along with the flow following Suki seeing as Toph had no idea who she was. Then again, if Eira thought back, Suki probably didn't really know who she was seeing as they only met briefly when… when Eira brought a ship of angry firebenders there just so she meet back up with Aang, Sokka and Katara… OH CRUD!
What if Suki associated that with her? But she didn't know it was her, so maybe she could make it up to her without her realising.
They walked up into a small tower where one or two other guards were hanging out, their weird plate-like helmets off. Eira still questioned the efficiency of those things, yet apparently everyone in the Earth Kingdom wore one.
"You haven't met Toph and Eira yet, have you?" Katara asked. Suki looked over at the two of them.
"I think I've met, um, Eira, was it? Briefly. But I don't think I've met Toph," Suki said. Toph nodded.
"Same here."
"Oh, well, Suki meet Toph and Eira and Toph and Eira meet Suki," Katara quickly introduced before looking closer at Suki. "I didn't even recognise you at first. You look so different without your makeup! And the new outfit."
Suki made a mocking disgusted face. "That crabby lady makes all the security guards wear them. And look at you, sleeveless guy," she said, gesturing to Sokka's bare arms. "Been working out?"
Sokka smiled at the compliment and flexed his arms. "Ahh, I'll grab a tree branch and do a few chin touches every now and then. Nothing major." Eira and Katara tried to stifle their laughter. He was just ridiculously obvious trying to "act cool".
"Are the other Kyoshi Warriors around?" Aang asked curiously, ignoring the giggles.
"Yeah. After you left Kyoshi, we wanted to find a way to help people. Kyoshi Island had largely remained distant from the war but we decided that we should try, in the spirit of Kyoshi, to lend a hand," she explained. "We ended up escorting some refugees and we've been here ever since."
Momo chittered as she poked his head over Aang's shoulder to see the familiar face. He squawked and jumped onto Suki's shoulder.
"Hi, Momo! Good to see you too!" Suki looked at the group curiously, a question appearing on her face. "So, why were you guys trying to get tickets for the ferry? Wouldn't you just fly across on Appa?"
"Well, we were doing some escorting of our own," Sokka began. "We took some people here on Appa and were going to see if we could fly over the lake, but apparently 'no animals in Ba Sing Se'. We're just going to fly across through the Serpent's Pass. Apparently there might be some scout posts for the Fire Nation around the mountain."
"Oh, that's cool, but why are you going to Ba Sing Se?"
Before Sokka could answer, a distressed voice rang out from below them.
"Avatar Aang, you have to help us!" It was Ying. She, her husband and sister-in-law looked up in desperation. "Someone took all of our belongings; our passports, our tickets, everything's gone!"
"I'll talk to the lady for you," Aang said, jumping out of the guard station and running briskly towards the security woman.
Eira, Sokka, Katara, Toph and Suki ran down to follow him. Eira quickly looked at Ying.
"Did you see what the thief looked like?" she asked. Tahn and Ying shook their heads.
"We were resting along that wall but we only looked away for a second and our bags were gone!"
Eira's eyebrows knitted together in worry. "Hopefully Aang will be able to get something sorted for you, if not, we'll give you a lift." Eira tried to look reassuring but she knew that woman wouldn't allow it, even if Toph used her Beifong passport.
The group walked back. Their expressions confirming her thoughts.
"She wouldn't allow us to get you new tickets. She said without passports, you could be anyone," Aang sighed. "But don't worry. You can ride across with us on Appa again."
Wait, does that mean more walking for us? Eira thought in horrified realisation before shaking her head. If Suki didn't come along it was only… eight of them, including three adults, one of them heavily pregnant.
Eira wasn't too sure about what Appa was happy to carry but she thought that after the Day of Black Sun he struggled with… um, seven or eight kids. One was in a wheelchair and one was quite big so, um….
"Will three of us be walking again?" Toph asked, interrupting Eira's failed mental calculations.
Aang shook his head. "No, we shouldn't need to. I mean we can always take breaks if Appa gets tired."
"Well, that's a relief," Sokka said, stretching his arms.
Suki joined back up with them, still in her guard uniform. "You guys didn't answer me. Why are you going to Ba Sing Se?"
Sokka looked at the refugees then back at Suki. "We've got a plan to stop the Fire Lord, and we're going to tell the Earth King."
Suki's face ran through several emotions. "Okay then. I'm coming with you."
"What? Why?" Suki's face fell.
"I'd thought you'd be happy if I came with you guys."
"No, I do, but-"
"But what?" Suki's eyes narrowed.
"Nothing. I'm glad you're coming with us."
"Then I'm going to go get my armour," she said sharply, turning away and running back to the guard tower.
Sokka stood there, silent.
Eira couldn't help but find it odd. Why was Suki so adamant about coming? They had Appa. It shouldn't be that dangerous so she wouldn't be going just to protect Sokka, right?
Maybe it was just because of their plan to go to Ba Sing Se. Maybe she thought that he would need protecting because of that?
Either way, it wasn't the end of the world. Even if it took a bit longer with all of them flying on Appa, they would still be able to get to Ba Sing Se a lot quicker.
Ying, Tahn and Hua (Tahn's sister) spoke quietly to each other and with Aang and Katara as they waited for Suki.
The wait was a lot shorter than they expected though. Suki probably had super speed or something as she came down in about ten minutes in full Kyoshi Warrior attire and makeup. And Eira couldn't even put on eyeliner in that time.
True, she wasn't very well-versed in makeup usage and, even if she was, months in a different world without it probably would've rusted any makeup skills she had.
"Alright, now we're all ready, let's go," Aang said cheerfully, directing everyone up onto Appa.
Ying, Tahn and Hua all walked carefully onto the saddle, followed by Suki and then the rest of them climbed on, Katara and Aang sitting by Appa's head.
Appa flew off, at a remarkably slower speed, and Aang directed him to the Serpent's Pass.
Eira tucked in her legs as she leaned against the side of the saddle. Suki and Sokka were talking together but something was wrong with their expressions. Both were clearly happy to see each other but both were reluctant. It just didn't make sense.
The flight didn't take long. They landed at the opening to the pass. It was a small strip of earth that bridged through the water between them and the Outer Walls of Ba Sing Se.
From what she saw, Eira was right about the blockades. If she craned he head, further down, she could see several ships but they would be hidden if they flew close to the walls of earth that made up the path.
Eira, Aang, Katara, Sokka, Suki and Toph climbed down to look around. An ornate wooden arch marked the pass.
"This is the Serpent's Pass? I thought it would be more twisty, you know, like a serpent. I guess they misnamed it," Sokka said.
"It doesn't look nearly as dangerous as it sounded," Katara admitted.
"But it does look like it if you look here," Eira commented, pointing to several carvings in the wood.
"What does it say?" Toph asked.
"It says, 'abandon hope'."
"That's awful," Katara said. "How can we abandon hope? It saves people. It saved the earthbenders on that prison ship."
"You know, one day I'll get filled in on these little inside stories," Toph muttered.
"Yeah, but we need more than just hope," Eira said, not hearing Toph. "Or you're just waiting around for something to happen."
Aang looked around the area. "It seems like a simple fly over. Might take a stop or two. Seems pretty long."
"Okay, if you say so," Katara said.
They flew quietly and slowly along the path, occasionally getting glimpses of a couple of large lakes filled with Fire Nation Ships.
Ying, Tahn and Hua looked over in quiet horror.
"The Fire Nation controls the Western Lake," Suki explained. "Rumour has it that they're working on something big on the other side of it and don't want anyone to find out."
"Knowing the Fire Nation, I'm not sure I want to find out." Toph couldn't see anything but she was guessing by the silence that it wasn't good.
They didn't talk, trying to not cause any sort of disturbance that would call them to the attention of the Fire Nation but by Murphy's Law, something had to happen.
A rock above them decided that it was the right time to break away from the top of the ledge and fall at them. Before any of them did anything, Toph punched her fist upwards and the rock split, falling either side of Appa.
The pieces fell down with a loud splash and of course the Fire Nation ships noticed.
"Guys! I think they noticed us!" Eira yelled as a fiery ball was sent flying towards them.
Aang noticed and Appa swooped down, moaning in protest, dodging it but causing more rocks to split from the ledge and tall down at them.
Eira knocked a lot of them back with airbending and Toph did the rest.
"Twinkle Toes! We should get out of here!" Toph said quickly, pushing her hands outwards and sending a bolder flying back at the ships.
"On it!" Ying, Tahn and Hua were huddled together, clearly terrified. Katara noticed and tried to calm them down. Aang took Appa on a diversion and it was sunset before they were out of the Fire Nation's eye and could find a good place to camp.
Eira yawned loudly, stretching out. She looked at the sun setting over the water. She was pretty sure that happened in the show too. I guess Appa was slower and more noticeable, Eira thought as she laid out her sleeping bag.
"Sokka, you have to see this view." Eira snapped back into focus as she saw Suki pointing over at the sunset.
"Yeah, looks great," Sokka replied. The two of them looked out at the sunset and Eira smiled. Suki and Sokka always were very sweet together.
Eira looked back at Appa. She had been trying to kind of chart things out in her little journal about what Appa affected. She knew for certain that it meant that the Dai Lee and their leader, Eira couldn't remember his name, wouldn't be able to use him for blackmail, but that just all snowballed into a bunch of things Eira wouldn't be able to figure out.
She'd been taking advantage of her prior knowledge of events and now she actually changed a major event, two major events including saving Yue at the North Pole, she was pretty scared. When she came along she had been thinking about changing those things but… was she too much of a coward?
Eira laughed. No, she was still going to try and change things, save people. She'd already done some of it so there was no real point in stopping now.
She just got too introspective. It wasn't very healthy to obsess and figure these things out.
The sun finally set and Eira lay down, rested her head on her sleeping bag and went to sleep.
"Eira," a voice hissed. Eira's eyes opened sluggishly and she saw Suki leaning over her.
"Suki? What is it?" Eira whispered, trying not to sound tired. Suki looked a bit conflicted.
"I-I want to talk to you about something. Can we go over there?" She pointed away from the camp. Eira nodded and stood up, slightly wobbly. The two girls walked over and Suki sat on a large rock.
"So… what do you want to talk about?" Eira asked, curious. Suki tugged at her short auburn hair.
"I just… Sokka's been acting… different and I, uh-" Suki paused, collecting herself. "I was wondering if you like Sokka."
"Sure, he's cool and all," Eira said, not really understanding.
"No, I mean, if you like him." Eira didn't respond immediately. Then it clicked, and she burst out laughing, covering her mouth to try and muffle it. She tried to stop but just ended up laughing at the fact she was laughing. It went on for what felt like hours before she finally stopped.
"So, is that a no?"
"Y-yeah. Of course I don't like Sokka in that way. He obviously likes you," Eira said, recovering from her laughing fit. Suki however didn't look as sure of the fact.
"He's been acting distant ever since we met up. He barely looks me in the eye or anything."
Wait, could this be… "Actually…" Eira started. "I might know why."
Suki's eyes immediately focused. "Why?"
Eira sighed. "This is probably Sokka's choice to tell you but when we travelled to the North Pole, to get Aang a waterbending teacher, Sokka met a girl," Eira said. "A princess called Yue."
Suki's face fell. That was what Eira was afraid of. "She was supposed to die when we were there."
"What?!"
"When she was born, she was saved by Tui, the moon spirit and when the Fire Nation attacked the Northern Water Tribe, a firebender was supposed to kill Tui and she was supposed to sacrifice herself to become the new moon spirit," Eira explained.
Suki looked incredulous. "You keep on saying 'supposed to', but that didn't happen, right?" Suki crossed her arms. "Then why are you saying that?"
"Well… It's hard to explain," Eira said, hoping Suki would try and let it go. Silence. Of course not. "Alright. I saw the events that were going to take place- don't ask me how- and seeing that, I stopped the firebender and saved her life." Eira looked guiltily at Suki. "I'm sorry I made this awkward for you and Sokka and-"
"Don't apologise for saving someone's life. That was a good thing to do, Eira," Suki said quickly. "I'll talk to Sokka. To be honest, I probably should've talked to him to begin with."
Suki got up and was about to leave.
"Wait." Suki looked back as Eira stood up.
"What is it?" she asked. Eira shook her head. It wasn't the time.
"It's just-don't worry about it, never mind."
"Alright, then."
The two girls walked back to camp silently and Eira settled back down to sleep. She should've told her about how she led more firebenders to Kyoshi Island. Then again, it would've been attacked anyway. And they managed to stop them anyway.
o.O.o
"Okay, it should be a quick flight across the water. No problem," Katara said happily. Toph didn't share her enthusiasm.
"Oh boy," she said sarcastically. "More flying and above water. Great."
"It's only this, Toph," Aang said. "After that we're in Ba Sing Se and no more flying for a while."
"I guess that's better."
They all climbed on Appa in the same arrangement as before and Aang quickly checked behind him before directing Appa to fly.
"Yip yip!"
Appa flew a decent height above the water but at the same slower pace as the other day. It shouldn't really matter though, Eira thought. We're too high to be seen by the serpent.
Eira looked down at the deep blue water. Yep, nothing- Wait, what is that? A black shape curled around in the water. Oh no.
"Aang can Appa fly higher?" she asked hopefully.
"Why?" Aang had a confused expression on his face. The sea serpent answered. It leaped out of the water with a screech and Appa lurched to the side, narrowly avoiding it.
"Since when could to do that!?" Eira yelled. Could all aquatic creatures leap out of the water like that?
"Appa!" Aang took hold of the reins and pulled them upwards. Appa ascended but it was too slow. The serpent leaped out of the water again and Appa had to sharply change direction again.
"We need a distraction!" Sokka yelled. "Suki, do you know what to do?!"
"Just because I live near the unagi doesn't mean I'm an expert!"
In a burst of adrenaline, Eira took her glider and jumped off Appa towards the serpent. It was the stupidest thing she had ever done in her life. She was flying towards it!
"Eira!" She heard screams coming from Appa but she continued. She swooped around its face and caught its attention.
It dived back in the water and began to follow her. She twisted in the air and avoided it as it tried to catch her.
"Eira!" Eira looked up and saw that Aang had joined her.
"Aang, try and lead it away from Appa!" Eira shouted, spinning to hit the serpent with airbending.
"On it!" Aang copied Eira and struck it with air. He dived into the water and came out in a funnel of water.
Eira shot at it with a slash of air and with the combined airbending and waterbending they sent it flying into the side of the ledge. It fell back below the water and, exhausted, Eira and Aang both glided back, being caught by Appa.
They cheered as they landed, glad to be on the other side. Appa flew for only a couple more minutes before resting just as they saw the outer wall of Ba Sing Se.
"There's the wall!" Sokka exclaimed in relief. "Now it's nothing but smooth sailing to Ba Sing Se."
"I concur," Eira agreed, lying against Appa on the ground.
"Oh no!" Ying clutched her swollen stomach and groaned in pain.
"Ying, what's wrong?" Eira asked, fearing the inevitable.
"The baby's coming!" she cried. Tahn and Hua quickly rushed to her side.
"What?! Now? Can't you hold it in or something?" Sokka said, clearly panicking. Not that Eira could say much.
"Sokka, calm down," Katara said. "I helped Gran-Gran deliver lots of babies back home."
"This isn't the same as delivering an artic seal!" he exclaimed. "This is a real…human…thing!" Katara crossed her arms.
"It's called a baby and I helped her deliver plenty of those too." Katara turned to the others. "Aang, get some rags. Sokka, water. Toph, I need you to make an earth tent, a big one." Toph quickly earthbent a large tent close to Ying. "Suki, Eira, come with me."
Eira quickly raised her hands in objection. "I really won't be any help. I'll go get the water."
Sokka looked at her with thanks as Eira rushed off back towards the lake, after grabbing a bowl.
She ran quickly, trying to steady her breathing. Ying would be fine. Ying would be fine. She was in the show and nothing had changed concerning that.
Eira filled the bowl with water and walked back, keeping it steady while walking at a decent pace.
"Eira, where's that water?!" Hearing that she entered the tent and, well, let's say she didn't want to describe the "wonder" of childbirth.
As soon as she had given Katara the water she ran out of the tent as soon as possible.
"Thanks, Eira," Sokka said. He, Aang and Toph were sitting outside.
"You owe me, Sokka. You would've fainted like an old woman if you went in that tent," Eira said matter-of-factly. Sokka scoffed.
"Yeah, right. I'm tough," he said, puffing out his chest. Eira rolled her eyes, smiling.
Aang was smiling serenely. "I think it's cool we got to help them here." He looked in the direction of the tent. "It just gives me hope, you know? They'll be able to start a safe life in Ba Sing Se."
Eira's smile faded slightly. Safety in Ba Sing Se. Well, she hoped they would be able to have that.
"It's a girl!" Katara announced. They all ran inside the tent and saw Ying, Tahn and Hua huddled together happily, gazing at the tiny baby in Ying's arms.
"She sounds healthy," Toph said, smiling.
"She's beautiful," Suki said in agreement. Sokka looked at the baby with a weird expression.
"It's so… squishy looking." Eira elbowed him.
"Wow, Sokka."
"What?" Eira laughed.
Aang looked so happy to see the baby, his big grey eyes shining.
"What should we name her?" Tahn asked.
"I want our daughter's name to be unique. I want it to mean something," Ying said. Eira felt her eyes watering. They were so happy to have their daughter. They loved her so much already. She blinked her eyes dry.
"You should name her something beautiful," Katara suggested.
"Something beautiful," Ying mused. She looked up at Tahn. "I know what I want to call her. Hope, like what she brings."
"That's a perfect name." Tahn hugged Ying with one arm so he could still see his daughter.
The group left the tent to give the family some peace and quiet.
"When should we leave for Ba Sing Se? Or are we staying for the night?" Toph asked.
"We shouldn't stay the night," Eira said quietly. They were on the same timeframe. The drill would still be almost there.
"Why not? We're not in that much of a rush," Sokka said, looking at Eira strangely.
"Yeah, and they deserve some rest," Katara added. "They just had a baby."
"I think we'd just all feel safer once we're there. I mean, Suki did say that the Fire Nation was probably planning something close."
Everyone looked at Suki. She looked unsure. "Well, yes. There's the rumour about the western lake but it's not that big of a deal."
"I'm just going to check it out then. I just have a bad feeling." Eira went over to collect her glider and began to fly over the ledge. She stumbled into a landing and narrowed her eyes at the view. Ba Sing Se's outer walls were there. An incredibly short flight. And a massive drill was heading straight for it.
Hope you liked. Please, please review. It sounds weird but I use your reviews to help improve and motivate myself. So, tell me what you think and thank you for reading.