Chapter 6-Benders by Blood

Everyone froze at those words-even the supposed air benders but everyone kept their fighting stances ready to fight if it was needed.

The supposed air benders looked nothing like the monks Aang remembered and if he hadn't in fact seen them felt the air around the arrow as it whizzed past him, he wouldn't believe it. But they could, and there was no need to state the obvious.

'But I thought the air benders are supposed to be dead'

So of course Sokka being the tactful person that he was had to go ahead and do it anyways.

'They are' Aang said softly his eyes never leaving the people in front of him. 'But some of the monks could have gone into hiding. And if that did happen' Aang paused too scared to even consider the thought.

Could it be that he wasn't the last air bender after all?

'If that were to be the case and then the monks…well if they had any kids then air bending would have been passed down. From generation to generation.'

He turned to the attackers in front of him who hadn't moved an inch since he started speaking. The group consisted of 3 boys in the back around Sokka's age all of who had dark hair brown skin and light brown eyes, testimony to their mixed heritage. In the middle were a boy around Aang's age with brown hair, green eyes and lightly tanned skin and a boy around Katara's height with long black hair and jade green eyes. At the front was a girl around Katara's age with flaming red hair and pale skin similar to Aang's and coal black eyes. She held 2 fans like the kyoshi warriors the gang had encountered in the island so long ago. Next to her was a boy with the same eyes and blond hair. He had at his side a sword made for speed rather than power. He was also holding a crossbow meaning that not only was he the leader he was also the one who shot the arrow.

'That's what happened isn't it? You guys are benders by blood and one of the monks must have taught you'

'What if we did' the boy at the front said not lowering his weapon.

It was then that Katara remembered Zuko. She tried to get to him but stopped dead on her tracks what could only be described as a wind blade zoomed past her. Cutting a strand of hair off. A single cut appeared on her cheek and started to bleed.

The girl with the two fans stood on a deep stance-fans positioned to attack if needed.

'Not a wise idea to move' she said smirking coldly at Katara. 'Next time it won't be just a scratch'

'Hey listen you....' Sokka started stepping in front of Katara in full on protective-brother mode.

The girl moved in a blur shooting one wind blade after the next. Sokka jumped to the right ducked and kept ducking. It was a style similar to Suki's but completely different due to her air bending. With movements too fast for the eye to see she became a human windmill-using the circular movements the air benders were known for but all of her attacks came from the fans. She created shields with them as well as blade-like winds that as Katara found out could cut deep into the skin despite their subtle nature.

Eventually the girl made Sokka dodge straight into a wall. She laughed acting her age but kept her fans at ready like the warrior she was.

'Risa that's enough' the boy with the crossbow said irritably.

'Honestly this is why I never take you anywhere. If you're going to kill him do so already. But by the gods stop playing around!'

'Oh and like you have room to talk Arashi' she shot back coolly.

Katara turned to address the blonde

'I just want to heal my friend' she said in her most diplomatic voice.

'Don't you need to use your water for that' he said coldly 'how do we know you're not going to attack us?'

'I'm not!' Katara snapped forgetting all about diplomacy 'and anyways you're the one that shot him!'

'He's a fire nation' the girl said coldly 'and I bet he's a fire bender. Why should we do anything else besides making sure he dies'

'You have my word that he won't harm any of you' Aang stated his pacifist nature as well as his new friendship with the prince taking over.

Arashi regarded him with a condescending look.

'Oh I see. And why should your word count for anything'

'Because I'm an air bender too' Aang said, then added more confidently 'because I'm The Avatar'