'Tigris"

CHAPTER II

Taking a vigilant step backwards, Aang's hazel eyes widened a little. His hands held out to the side, outstretched, he treated her with a regard that one might do with a wild platypus-bear. He needed to take this slowly, gently inform her that he was not in fact her long-lost son. He would do it carefully, sympathetically, not wanting to harm her fragile state anymore then it already was.

"I'm s-so sorry.. I'll do whatever I ca-"

"Listen lady!" Erupted Sokka, his expression one of arrogance and irritance, "Aang here is not your son! I mean, he's probably older then you- probably… But, that's not the point, you're obviously very mixed up and definitely two sandwiches short of a picnic! Aang's the avatar not a momma's boy!"

Slapping the heel of his hand to his creased brow, Aang found himself wincing at Sokka's words. Looking to the old lady, an all-consuming pity swept over himself. What Sokka had said wasn't necessarily wrong, just too… aggressive! Katara stared in horror at her brother's words, how could he not even feel in the slightest bit sad for the old lady!? He was standing now with a hand on his hip, his small chest puffed out in triumph, an expression of self-satisfaction obvious.

The old lady herself stood in a mist of confusion, her eyes searching Aang's face, hoping for some revelation that this was all a joke. Her heart had so briefly been patched up, and now, torn back up again. Her hands were shaking noticeably now, a knarled wooden cane supporting herself.

Feeling Momo spring onto his unsuspecting shoulder, Aang jumped slightly before looking up to the lemur preening himself. Looking back to the woman, he was shocked to see her expression turn to one of utter delight as she watched Momo. Reaching out, she held a crinkled hand before her, beckoning the creature. Momo, who never in his life had responded to any form of human communication, leapt off Aang's shoulder before walking directly to the woman's feet, his eyes slightly glazed over. Even Appa- who had been tearing open a large hessian sack full of grain- stopped to stare in shock.

"There's a good lemur, would you like an apple my friend?" she babbled, reaching into a pocket beneath her shawl, pulling out a gleaming red orb. Greedily snatching out, Momo sunk his teeth into the refreshing fruit's flesh, his eyes closing as he chewed audibly into it. Aang was astounded. Had she misheard them!? A moment ago she was claiming he was her long-lost son, and now she had seemingly transferred the attention over to Momo of all creatures! Then again, as Sokka had so rudely mentioned, she did seem a little crazy. In this kind of isolation, it was to be expected.

His head tilted to the side, Aang found himself smiling weakly, Momo trusted her…

"Gram? Oh god, what are you telling them now!? Is that a cat-rabbit!?"

Looking over to the source of the noise, the children watched as a teenage girl gate-hopped the wooden fence and dashed over in a blur of auburn ringlets. Dressed in a long-sleeved dress of stripes in greys and whites, black tights covered her long slim legs followed by a pair of brown-hide ankle boots, large brass buckles fastening them. Her hands were partially covered with a pair of fingerless hide gloves, shapely fingers protruding out of them. Her hair fell long and wavy down to the middle of her back, the colours of a hundred suns gleaming proudly. A long golden chain hung around her neck before tumbling down her ample chest, a small locket dangling at the end. Her face was almost elf-like, fine featured with the most piercing emerald eyes, her movements graceful, feline. An expression of embarrassment and anxiety was clearly plastered across it, as she arrived at the old woman's side.

Momo, as if snapping out of a trance as he heard the girl's light panting, screeched and darted away from the woman's feet, shooting back up to Aang where he clambered upon his head, curling his long tail around the boy's brow, partially covering his arrow tattoo.

"I am so sorry about my grandmother, she... she's had a hard life." The girl turned to the group standing before her, her jade gaze briefly glancing across each face, barely giving enough time to take in each one. Her voice sounded strained, wary. Lifting up a hand, she brushed a few tendrils of auburn hair out of her face, a weak smile tugging on the corners of her plump, full lips. Her face remained slightly blank before she stepped forward in front of the woman, who had now become distracted with her appearance in a dusty glass window. Straightening her dress out, the girl spoke once again.

"My name is Tigris… But you guys can call me Ti. This is my grandmother, Gram." She gestured faintly to the woman hobbling around the yard. "In case you hadn't realized, this is a horse-bird farm. We breed and train them, the area's perfect to bring them up; peaceful, quiet.. My grandfather also lives here, he's down at the beach, fishing. He cares for Gram, he's the foundations of this place" She shrugged, placing both hands in the pockets of her dress. Sensing that the human-talk had stopped, Appa decided to give a low groan, his thick, heavy tongue draped over his bottom lip as he finally finished the bag of grain. Ti jumped; how had she not noticed that creature!? A faint smile grew as she walked over, a hand outstretched to pat the thick fur of his cheek.

"No!" Sokka darted around to stand before the two of them, his eyes wild with panic. "He'll lick you!" He hissed. At this, a real authentic smile formed on Ti's face, a pair of dimples revealed as a gentle laugh escaped her parted lips.

"Thanks for the warning.. I might want to change into some saliva-proof clothing before I go near this... this-"

"-Air Bison. Ha, that was pretty funny! I mean, the saliva-proof clothes joke, it was funny.." Sokka trailed off, his gaze dropping as he shyly scratched the back of his neck. Tilting her head a little, Ti bit down on her bottom lip, she found it cute if anything. His pompousness made him all the more humorous, his awkward teenage looks somehow sweet.

Aang, at Appa's side in an instant, smiled a huge grin to Ti, a hand pressing into the dense mass of white fur of Appa's belly.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Ti, I'm Aang and these are my companions."

"Your companions?" She queried, an eyebrow arching.

"Well, I mean, my friends, but in a situation like this.." He grinned, he loved breaking the news to those who didn't know. The reactions were all so very different.

"And that situation being…?" She dug the toe of her boot into the ground, the sand grating underneath her.

"I'm the Avatar, Ti. I'm here to make up for anything I missed in the last hundred years. It was my destiny and I refused to accept it. With my friends beside me, I know I can do this, I will relinquish the land, the Fire Nation's reign of terror is over." His face solemn, his nostrils flared, Aang held his glider beside him, his chest puffed out as his hazel regard scanned the idyllic scenery. A pin could have been heard against the silence. Ti's eyes widened at his words. The Avatar? For so long her family had fretted over the vulnerability of their settlement, the Fire Nation could burn it to cinders in seconds. The Avatar had taken it's place amongst the myths and legends, not facts.

Admiration on her face, she was about to speak when Appa turned his huge head around to Aang before wiping the length of his tongue up the small boy's proud stance. Drenched in saliva, Aang held his dripping arms out either side of himself, his shoulders tensed, his face aghast. The repeated silence was broken by a childish cackle from Toph, followed by an entourage of laughs from the surrounding youths. Even Aang found himself laughing hysterically, the playful side of him glowing resolutely. Each one of them doubled over, the farm became filled with laughter it had been devoid of for so many years.