Tsukikage1213, I've decided that this story is going to be entirely for you. That's right, you heard me. You're the only one who's been continually encouraging me to continue and the only who's been reviewing. Plus Shandrey is your character, to top it all off. With that said, I hope you start enjoying YOUR story all the more.

Chapter Twelve

The Turn North

Shandrey and Katara were then silent for a moment, the only sound came from the stream in the gully. Its usual soothing sounds did nothing for their anxieties.

Katara breathed in. "So… are you going to have the baby?" she asked.

Shandrey nodded. "It's an innocent child, it's done nothing wrong. Why would I punish it for simply being conceived?"

Katara raised and lowered her shoulders. "Some women deliberately cause miscarriages simply because they don't want a child."

Shandrey sniffed, wondering how many innocent, young lives were brought to such an end. "Well, that's cruel and barbaric. If Lee loves me the way I love him, he'll love the child as well."

"So you're going to tell him?"

Shandrey bit her lower lip. "I'll… get around to it…" She went over the words in her head, wondering if they were the right ones, because she certainly didn't think they were. "Could we please just talk about something else for now?"

Katara shrugged. "If you want." The young waterbending teen looked about for a change of subject. Since the only thing her eyes laid upon was the surrounding plant life, Katara figured that was a good place to start. "Hey," she said, nudging Shandrey's shoulder. "Did you know that you can pull the moister out of nearby plants?"

"Sure, well…...I always suspected that it could be done. I just never got around to trying." And Shandrey's eyes followed Katara up to her feet; soon after Shandrey followed.

"Well the person who showed me the technique was a little…..insane, but that's not the point here. We're not embarking on a world saving quest just yet, now's your chance to try." Shandrey smiled and nodded.

"Alright, let's see." Shandrey stretched her neck about, to work out some stiffness. She then moved her feet gracefully; with each movement she gained a further insight into the water around her.

"We've got all the time in the world," said Katara. "Take as much time as you need Gram Gram." Shandrey's eyes narrowed.

"I'm going to pretend you didn't say that."

"It was just a-"

"I'm thirty-four okay!" Katara raised a brow.

"Shandrey……..you're not starting to feel moody already, are you?" Still in her ready stance, Shandrey moved her eyes about.

"Nnnnooooo, do I sound moody?" Katara suppressed a laugh. "Never mind." Shandrey shifted her attention back to the plants around her. She heard Katara speaking to her, telling her to become aware of the moisture……just as though she was trying to sense the path of her own blood. Water, like blood, is a fluid; and therefore subject to bending to her will.

"When you realize this……." droned Katara quietly. "…You will be able to draw power from sources you never even dreamed of." At that moment Shandrey opened her eyes and millions of tiny water drops rose from the ground and surrounded her. Katara stepped back somewhat, a grin forming on her face. Effortlessly, Shandrey formed the drops around her into a slowly whirling sphere. As it spun faster and faster the drops merged with each other, forming a completely solid sphere. Then, Shandrey slowed the sphere's spinning and broke it apart into the droplets once again. To Katara's amazement, each drop descended back down to the grass as pristine as before.

"Okayyyy, that's a new one," muttered Katara. "I've never seen anyone put it back afterwards."

"You're teacher didn't know?" asked Shandrey.

"Well, she wasn't really my teacher. And honestly, I don't think she even cared all that much. They were just flowers to her."

"Goes to demonstrate your strength of character compared to her-" Her speech halted and she froze right on the spot. Katara's face went directly from interested to concerned.

"Shandrey?" Katara shook her but she received no response. "Shandrey!" Again there was nothing. She turned back toward their home and screamed at the top of her lungs. "LEEEEEEEE!" Shandrey, meanwhile, was lost in a waking dream.

It was as though Shandrey was forced to stay back within the sidelines as a scene unfolded before her very eyes. She saw two figures sitting across from one another at a floor table. She could not hear what they were saying, only that they were happily sharing a steaming pot of tea. Upon looking about, Shandrey noticed that this was not any ordinary tea house; it was the one Yue had told her was her favorite. Not a second after the thought occurred to her the two figures came into focus and Shandrey was shocked by what she saw. Sitting across from one another, laughing and chatting, was Yue and Hotaru. She couldn't believe her eyes, the most polar opposites in her history sat together and appeared to be acting not only civil but friendly; not that Yue was ever anything but civil. If things were not bizarre enough, Hotaru then turned to Shandrey and her jovial smile turned to a conniving grin. Suddenly the tea house, and everyone around them, began to stumble and freeze. Only Shandrey and Hotaru seemed to notice the difference. Just when Shandrey was beginning to wonder if Hotaru was affecting the environment herself, she felt someone take hold of her shoulder.

With the blink of an eye Shandrey found herself back in the field near the tree she and Katara had parked themselves under. She darted her eyes in all directions and found that she was leaning back in Lee's arms. Everyone, including her own mother, was crowded around the two. Shandrey continued to take in several deep breaths and she let her head fall back on Lee's shoulder.

REJOINING NAYIA...

Nayia had begun to whittle down her class to only a few students who not only displayed exceptional aptitude but also an exuberant interest in her art. At the moment eleven of the original twenty-five remained under her tutelage.

Currently, the agile ninja was attempting to help on her students achieve the proper stance for a defensive maneuver. Despite her student's success up until now, this one in particular seemed to be a bit clumsy with this new stance.

"Try to imagine your hand as a sight that you use to aim you counter attack," instructed Nayia. Her student nodded and once again attempted to defend herself against a more advanced student. She failed to fend off the attack. Nayia sighed and shook her head. "No no no, you're concentrating too much on everyone else and too little on your opponent. Don't think about who may be watching right and keep your mind on your attacker."

"Yes sensei," said the student obediently. The sound of a door closing grabbed their attention and there stood by the door, accompanied by Simon and Mockingbird, was Hotaru. There was a chorus of gasps and every single one of Nayia's students knelt down before their goddess. Nayia wondered how they could tell it was her, Hotaru had yet again moved to a new host body……one that looked oddly familiar. Hotaru raised a brow at her, as did Simon. With great reluctance that left a bad taste in her mouth, Nayia also lowered herself to floor in prostration.

"Nayia."

"Yes?" hissed Nayia.

"I wish to speak with you," said Hotaru. At this, muttering and whispers broke out among Nayia's pupils. Julian, being among them appeared just as interested but he remained silent. Nayia rose to her feet and followed Hotaru outside. Simon and Mockingbird remained inside to ensure their conversation was kept private. On the other side of the door Nayia leaned against the wall.

"This is a rather critical point in their training, what do you want?"

"I don't think I like your tone Nayia," warned Hotaru. Nayia now used the wall for support as a sharp pain stabbed at her muscles. Hotaru continued the minor torture until Nayia gasped for her to stop.

"Okay! You've…made your point."

Smiling pompously Hotaru said, "Wonderful, now I want you to accompany me and a number of my chevalier on a quest." Nayia shrugged, her body still twitched slightly.

"So, what quest are you talking about?"

"We are retrieving the Moon Crystal." At this Nayia chuckled mockingly.

"Good luck with that, last I heard it was cracked and lost for good." Hotaru almost laughed herself; instead she merely rolled her eyes.

"Oh ye of little faith Nayia," mused Hotaru. "As you well know, the Star Crystal has unto itself special properties. When it is joined with the other three crystals I shall have access to a power unlike anything you have ever imagined." She began pacing around the stock still Nayia. "True, the Moon Crystal was rendered powerless and cast into an abyss of sorts. But it matters not; I can simply form a new one."

"There's no way," said a bewildered Nayia.

"There is a way, I am sure it."

"How can you be sure?" asked Nayia. Hotaru only smiled once again and giggled.

"I am a goddess, gods are allllll knowing."

'Oh brother,' thought Nayia. She folded her arms. "What about my students? I just told you they've entered an important stage in their training."

"A substitute will be provided and your pupils will simply exercise their basic skills until you return. I think you will find that this is more than acceptable." As though Hotaru had mentally signaled them, Simon and Mockingbird exited Nayia's training room. She frowned in confusion when she saw that Julian was following them. Their eyes met and she could see that he was nervous and frightened. She began to follow after him but remembered that he was sadly as fanatical about Hotaru as her chevaliers. He would probably not accept her help.

"Julian…" she whispered. Was this how Shandrey felt when she met Lee the first time? When Nayia first laid eyes on Julian she didn't really think much of him. However, things have begun to change over time. She had won the respect of her students, but there were many more of Hotaru's followers that still despised her rapid, albeit nonconsensual, climb within the ranks. Julian had indeed been a reprieve from the alienation Nayia faced most of the time she stepped out of her room. Was it possible that his kindness was having a stranger effect on her? Was it possible that she was falling in love with him?

--

Elm's daughter, Amyah, woke within a room much like the one given to Nayia. Although Hotaru had instructed Ring to only bring one back for her host, it did not stop the chevalier from returning with everyone present in the house. Amyah rose up to a sitting position, rubbing her head of some remaining dizziness. She then swung herself so that she was sitting off the side of the bed and found she had been dressed into a red gown of Firenation design. She stepped around almost aimlessly, thinking maybe she was trapped within some strange dream. At once there was the sound of her door opening and a servant girl entered, carrying a tray of food.

"Good morning," said the girl brightly. "I have brought you some breakfast."

"Where am I?" demanded Amyah.

The servant set the tray down by the bed and looked at her curiously. "Why you are at the Abbey of Eternal Flame, shrine to the everlasting Hotaru."

"The who now?"

"Hotaru, our goddess. This is where she resides and allows us to live among here under guidance."

"You mean you were kidnapped from your home too?" asked Amyah curtly. Her servant kept her smile.

"Oh no, I was born here. Since my education began I have become fluent in eight languages, I possess an advanced mathematical aptitude, and most important of all I have been most happy in the service of my goddess."

"Uh huh, look can you just show me the door?" Oblivious to what Amyah actually meant, the girl turned and pointed to her bedroom door. Amyah moved her eyes between the door and the girl's pointing finger. "Ah ha ha ha, that's uh…cute. I mean show me the way out of the place. I want to go home."

"I am sorry, but I have been told to fulfill your every need…..that is not one of them." She curtsied and began to take her leave.

"Wait! What about my brother?"

"Apologies, but you are my only charge." With that she left Amyah alone in her room with only her breakfast for company.

Amyah raised her eyebrows and sighed. "I'm in very big trouble."

KITSUNE VALLEY………………

The husband and wife sat next to one another in their room. Lee was quick to remove her from the general public of the valley. Even after they were within the private confines of their bedroom Shandrey refused to speak of it. Lee so desired to help but her aversion to allow him was beginning to try his patience.

"This is the second flight from reality you have taken since we have decided to seek out these crystals."

"They're not dreams, Lee." Said Shandrey.

"Yes, so I assumed." He saw with growing irritation that Shandrey was once again silent. "Shandrey I cannot help if you remain a stone. If they are not dreams then what are they, exactly-"

"Memories!" snapped Shandrey. She retained control of herself and sighed. "Hotaru is reaching out to me and forcing me to watch memories she shared with Yue."

"Why?"

"To taunt me, to scare me, to make me think twice about going through with this, who knows…….all I know is that I'm afraid it might be working." Lee took her shoulders.

"You cannot allow her to sway you."

"They were friends Lee," said Shandrey with the tiniest of smiles. "When they were younger they would play together. How can someone go from being your best friend to your worst enemy, and not only that, the enemy of mortality itself?"

"Who can say," said Lee. "Who can judge what really happened within Hotaru's mind? At this point it is irrelevant. All that matters is what is happening now, and what we must do about it." Shandrey nodded. "I was able to disrupt Hotaru's link and prevent her from reestablishing it."

"Much obliged," said Shandrey with a smile. It faded just as quickly however. "Lee there's something else I have to tell you." He tilted his head at her. "For a moment, before you saved me, I was able to hear Hotaru's own thoughts."

"Yes, and….."

She bit her lower lip before continuing. "Lee, she does have Nayia." Lee's eyes narrowed at the news of his sister. "Which would mean that she must also have the Star Crystal."

"Then we shall simply have to find the others before Hotaru does, as we have all agreed."

"I just hope it's that simple when we find them." He smiled and hugged her.

"Don't burden yourself with such thoughts. Now, when shall we leave?" Perhaps it was her desire to be done with their troubles for good, or the fire Lee's voice; but Shandrey felt a rising passion grow within her. Something she had not felt in years. She stood up with a determined smile.

"Two hours ago."

--

Katara didn't have much in the way of personal belongings; having left the majority of it with her friends. But Shandrey was insistent that Katara have something else other than what would be considered pajamas today. Katara folded what she assumed she would need and rolled it all into a satchel which she would wear diagonally across her back. Of course Katara never let herself forget her backup water supply, namely the slender canteen that also wound around her back. She had barely picked up everything when her movements faltered. For a moment Katara felt as though she was back with Aang, Sokka, and Toph; eager to start on yet another adventure. Katara tried not to feel despair at every turn, knowing that in some way at the end of this quest she would find a way home. It was difficult to put such feelings aside though, they were as persistent as she was. And Katara was not one to give up. Her hand carried her things the rest of the way and soon they were slung over her shoulder and she was out of her room. As she made her way out she scarcely paid attention to anyone or anything in her path and nearly collided with Shandrey's mother. They both gasped slightly and the aged woman giggled lightly from her amusement of the encounter.

"Sorry," muttered Katara. She began to continue on when she realized something. "Wait, I think I ran into you before…..didn't I?"

"Yes, when you first arrived and stormed out towards the lake," responded the woman, so named 'Susan'. Katara nodded, feeling only slightly less embarrassed.

"Well I hope I wasn't too rude or anything."

Susan dismissed it immediately. "Don't fret over it, dear. With all my Shannon's been through I'm surprised she's maintained her sanity all these years." Susan then continued on her way, coincidentally in the same direction that Katara was going.

"You know," said Katara catching up. "Shandrey and I have been talking about things we've both been through and I was wondering…." She paused uneasily. "Did she really take down a firebending vampire sorceress? I mean, all of those things rolled into one very bad person?"

"Indeed she did," replied Susan grimly.

"You're sure that she's not embellishing any of the details, I know whenever I'm in a fight my imagination can run wild-"

"Everything was as Shannon said," said Susan definitively. She could sense that Katara was still somewhat doubtful. "Let us just say that……I used to have two daughters." Katara scrunched up her face in confusion for a moment. All of a sudden it hit her harder than a sky bison ever could. She stopped dead in her tracks and shook her head.

"Oh no no no, that's……that's just not right."

--

The gang of four; Shandrey, Lee, Elm, and Katara all gathered at the highest point of the valley. They pulled on large wool coats and supplies in preparation for their arctic trek. Susan watched them with growing apprehension. Shandrey checked her wristband compass, tapping it a few times for her own comfort.

"Okay, listen up." She drew their attention. "From what Katara has told me, Yue's village was deep within a mountain range. Unfortunately this means that the closest I'll be able to get us to the shrine is ten miles at the least."

"So we'll have to walk it," said Elm.

"Looks that way," replied Shandrey. "If we make good time we should make it more than half way before nightfall." Once more the group checked their equipment. Susan walked up to Shandrey and began straightening areas of her coat.

"Mother," groaned Shandrey. "Is this necessary?"

She looked up into Shandrey's eyes. "You know I die every time you do this."

"Can't be helped," said her daughter sadly. Susan reached forward and placed her hand on Shandrey's stomach. The waterbender's mouth slacked open. Susan adopted a tiny smile and shook her head.

"Did you think you could hide something like that from your own mother?" Shandrey was speechless. "Just remember your family, and the life inside you." Shandrey took her mother's hand and nodded. She then turned to the rest of the group. They looked at her expectantly.

"Alright, just hold on. I've only gone this far once and the ride was a little bumpy," she warned. "Here we go." From a flask similar to Katara's, Shandrey drew a long stream of water and formed a perfect circle around them. With one more hand movement from Shandrey it rose up in the form of a dome. Reflective patterns by the water bounced off their faces and clothing. They watched her without fail, something that she wished they would stop doing; as if her concentration couldn't suffer any more nervousness. She then began to mumble a verse in a dialect undoubtedly known only to her and the dome around them became opaque. Just Shandrey had warned the ground beneath them suddenly began to shake and tremble with such ferocity that they were taken off their feet. Shandrey however struggled to remain in control, lest they be dropped somewhere extremely inconvenient. Katara looked about wildly, trying to see through the bubble for any sign of land. Her view was completely cut however, thus she had to place her trust entirely with Shandrey. And it was not in any way misplaced, for not a moment later one more tremendous shake told them they had reached their destination. Shandrey dropped her arms and nearly fell to her knees. Lee caught her midway and the bubble fell also.

Elm took a few steps out of the circle while Katara and Lee helped Shandrey back to her feet. The world around them was a frozen tundra, stretching in all directions for miles and miles. There were mountains within walking distance, but they too surrounded the group. The staff wielding bender pulled a hood over his head as he watched the sun light bounce off the highly reflective snow.

"We made it," he said calmly.

"Nice landing," said Katara.

"Thanks," replied Shandrey fleetingly. She, Lee, and Katara did the same as Elm and pulled up their head protection. In turn they each extended their own walking staffs. Lee cast a look over the horizon then looked back at Shandrey and Katara.

"Where do we proceed?"

"Well…." Began Shandrey. "The shrine is supposed to be situated directly over the North Pole." She opened the compass around her wrist and saw it strongly pointing to their left. "So all we have to do is follow the needle." Without further pause the four of them began their long walk into the mountains. They're timing with their arrival could not have been better. The sun had just risen, meaning that they had several hours of not only sunlight but just above sub-zero temperatures. The terrain on the other hand was in some places very unforgiving. Snow covered and concealed many sharp rocks, which also wore an invisible ice coating. Their walking sticks came in quite handy not only to relieve some weight but also to steady themselves if and when they would lose their balance. Lee led the way, followed by Elm, and behind him by a fair distance were Shandrey and Katara. A storm was bound to emerge at any time but at the moment only a few snow flurries were floating about in the air. They made their way through a crevice which gave them the impression they were walking through a path that had been cut out of the mountain itself.

"So here you are again," said Katara as she hiked close behind Shandrey. The two men ahead of them were just out of earshot. "I keep finding out more and more about you, will this turn out to be your last adventure?"

"Every last one seemed to be," replied Shandrey. "You would think I would want to change my life for the better."

"Hmph, I know you do," said Katara. They stepped over a low rise. "Is Lee really the only one who doesn't know about your child?"

Shandrey's head moved about, almost a cross between shaking it and nodding. "He pretends not to know a lot of things, sometimes for my benefit. It's funny, once in a great while he'll do something for himself."

Katara used her hand to steady herself against a ledge. "The rest of the time it's all for you huh?"

"I really do wish he would be more selfish sometimes," said Shandrey quietly. "I know he would make a terrific father. I just worry that telling him now will make him take insane risks…….just for me."

Katara glanced upward with a smirk. "Well you really don't have any business going out on a trip like this, four months pregnant." Shandrey stopped and looked back at Katara. The young waterbender shrugged. "You know you don't right?" Shandrey hesitated for a moment, and then continued on.

"Maybe not, but the way to ensure the safety of my child is be on guard I suppose, instead of just sitting at home waiting to hear a long series of bad news. But you are right about one thing, having this child, maybe reaching the end of having to save the world finally…….it does make one look forward to changing their life." The two of them scaled a small mound and found themselves overlooking a tremendous gorge. The failing light over the horizon sent a wide beam over the canyon, presenting them with billions of mesmerizing sparkles. Katara stepped up beside Shandrey. Both of them allowed themselves to be captivated by the natural beauty.

"I'll tell you this," said Shandrey. "I'm going to change my life." Even unaware that a looming force was shadowing them, Shandrey and Katara managed to convince themselves that they were there simply to gaze upon the world. Shandrey twisted her neck in order to glimpse Lee as he doubled back to ensure they hadn't fallen behind. He met her eyes and balanced himself on his walking staff. She hoped that with her telling smile she had communicated something to him of an almost supernatural nature.

--

Their trek carried them on yet many more miles, both Shandrey and Katara admitted that the distance and intricacy of the mountain range was longer and more complex then they previously thought. It really had no bearing on their journey other than it would take longer.

As Lee's feet crunched through the snow and the flurries bounced off his face an odd feeling struck him. He slowly came to a halt, an action which went unnoticed by the others as he had now moved to the back of the line. He moved his eyes about from side to side, as though trying to detect an invisible foe. Silently, the wary samurai moved out of sight. Shandrey stuck her walking staff into the snow and paused for a drink.

"Who would've thought walking in freezing temperatures would make you this thirsty."

"You have no idea," said Katara. Elm stretched his arms and neck and upon doing the latter noticed that Lee was no longer in sight.

Turning back to the girls he asked. "Where's Lee?" Shandrey slowly lowered her canteen from her mouth and looked about wildly.

"Lee?...Lee?!" Her voice echoed throughout their surroundings but there was no reply. "He wouldn't have just wandered off," she said. "Something's wrong, come on-we have to find him."

"Shandrey," said Elm darkly. They turned their eyes in Elm's direction. Ever so slowly approaching them was Ring; in her hands she held a long chain at the end of which was a steel ball. "Who's that?" asked Elm, already reaching for his staff.

"Someone very very annoying," replied Shandrey. Without thinking twice Shandrey commanded the snow around her and formed a whirlpool before her, ready to perform any number of counter attacks. "What've you done with Lee!" she demanded.

"He is no longer any concern to anyone," said Ring in a deadpan. "The most logical thing to have done was to abandon this futile travesty." And then she began swinging her ball and chain before in a great circle. Her eyes moved on all three of them, obviously deciding which one would be the best first target. Like a lighting strike, Ring threw her weapon forward and it wound itself around Elm. With a great heave she threw him from side to side into the canyon walls and to the ground. Her other hand, bearing her red ring let loose a powerful bolt of energy which Elm blocked by suddenly raising an earthen shield. Like any respective earthbenber he then sent his rocky shield sailing directly towards her. Ring thought little of it as she merely cut the projectile in half with another red beam. The dust cleared in time for her to see that Shandrey and Katara were sailing on either side of her upon frozen waves that they created. They then proceeded to turn the falling snow into hundreds of frozen bullets. Ring found herself relentlessly bombarded by the snow bullets and having released Elm from his bindings cast her chain weapon up at Katara. The young waterbender threw up a shield but the force of impact was quite strong and not only shattered Katara's shield but also sent her falling to the ground. Ring's chain wound and unwound within her arms then began diving down upon Katara. Shandrey landed nearby and with a sweep of arms and feet commanded the snow to carry out of the steel ball's path. Ring snapped her neck around at Shandrey and though the chevalier was incapable of feeling or expressing emotion, there was no doubt that there was aggravation in eyes.

"Nice try," hissed Shandrey.

"ARRGGHHHH!" Elm suddenly appeared out from behind Shandrey and swung his staff Ring. She unnaturally bent backwards to avoid his swipe then righted herself with a freakish amount of speed. Using her foot as a launch pad, Ring sent the metal sphere soaring at Elm. Easily he knocked it away and with a pump of his fist discharged a bright ball of fire. Ring found a section of her hair singed as well as her face suffering second degree burns. Katara rejoined Shandrey and Elm. Elm was the last among them to first bear witness to Ring's unnatural endurance. Before their eyes she painlessly and wordlessly stood still while the hair on her head and flesh on her face returned to normal. Elm raised his eyebrows.

"Okay, you guys have seriously raised the bar on 'crazy'." Ring suddenly traced her destructive beam in a horizontal path right before their feet. All three of them were knocked off their feet. Shandrey just made out the sight of the metal ball coming towards her. She raised her hand to deflect and send it back at its master when an unexpected feeling hit her. Suddenly, Shandrey was nauseous. Her vision went blurry; the disturbing feeling of throwing up and massive fatigue overwhelmed her. Her counter attack was uncommitted and the ball struck her hand.

"AHHH!" Shandrey cradled her hand and fell back even further. She saw a growing circular shadow on the ground knew she was going to be hit. However it never struck her. Shandrey turned around quizzically to find the metal sphere was hanging in mid-air over her head. Elm and Katara looked just as perplexed and apparent so did Ring. Ring then saw everyone looking at something in her foreground. She twisted her head and saw Lee; sword drawn and hand outstretched. His telekinesis doing a fine job of ensuring Ring's weapon didn't harm another inch of his wife.

"Might want to make sure I'm dead next time," he said. He then smirked and with the aid of his powers hurled the ball and chain, connected tightly to Ring's arm, far off into the canyon.

"Now he shows up," mumbled Katara. Lee darted down beside Shandrey and took careful hold of her wrist. As soon as he began to pick it up she hissed and yelped.

"OW! Oh-yeah that…ahh….that hurts…"

"It's broken," said Lee. He rubbed her hand gingerly. "Can you and Katara heal it?" Shandrey took several breaths and nodded.

"Y-Yes…"

"But it will be an all night job," added Katara. "It looks like its going to be dark within the hour; it'll be too cold to travel." Lee nodded. Katara helped Shandrey to her feet And Lee turned to Elm.

"Elm, we need a shelter." The red head smiled and tossed his staff to Lee.

"Can do." Expertly, he proceeded to carve a moderately sized cave out of the side of the canyon. They followed Shandrey inside one after the other and Elm covered the entrance.

This chapter was overdue as it was, for that I am sorry. For those of you who are missing the cannon cast of Avatar, stop worrying. Besides, when fighting an ultimate evil you may or may not need backup. Right? They are of course….immortal. :)