Chapter IX: Sozin's Comet Part 1: The Phoenix King
"More ferocious," Zuko instructed as Aang passed between him and the Demitar. Flames were flying from his fists and feet as he tried to do as Zuko instructed, but Raya could see that he was struggling a bit to meet the Fire Prince's expectations. Zuko wanted to see Aang turn into a feral beast of flame, and Raya knew that just wasn't in the young air nomad's nature. "Strike like you're striking through your opponent's heart!" Several more blasts emerged from Aang's hands and feet, but he paused and slumped toward Zuko.
"I'm trying," he complained, as the Fire Prince looked down on him sternly.
"You're doing fine," Raya interjected, trying to keep the peace between the two. Zuko wasn't interested in that, though, and crossed his arms.
"I want to hear you roar like a tiger-dillo," Zuko said sternly.
"Rahh . . ." The small sound emitted from the Avatars chest and three jets of flame came each from his mouth and two extended fists on either side of him. He glanced at Zuko to find a less than impressed facial expression.
"Are you kidding me? I said Roar!" Zuko pressed and Aang, brow furrowing, tried again. The sound and blasts that came from him were tenfold of his previous attempt and Raya actually felt goose bumps forming along her exposed arms. She tucked them around her waist and watched Aang look toward Zuko for approval. He gave a small half smile, and for Zuko, that was a lot.
"Who wants a nice tall glass of cool watermelon juice?" The water bender had joined the others that were lounging on the stairs behind the fire bending lesson, and held in her arms three watermelons with bamboo straws sticking out the top. Raya felt her mouth water at the thought and turned to see Aang had the same idea. He had begun to speed away from their lesson when Zuko grabbed the colar of his robes and held him steadily in place, the monk fighting his grip all the while.
"Hey, your lesson's not over yet," Zuko said with agitation.
"Come on Zuko, he's been fire bending all morning. Let's take a break," She said, using words that indicated all of them should take five and enjoy a drink together.
"Yeah, Zuko, it's okay to relax once in a while." The words came from the Kyoshi warrior who was lounging along the broad steps that lead into the back of the house. She was leaning against Sokka who was sitting less than gracefully beside her, laying back against the stone languidly.
"Fine, if you wanna lounge around like a bunch of snail-sloths all day, then go ahead," Zuko said decidedly, turning away from the group and stalking towards the path that lead into the dense foliage around the house. Raya's brow creased and she made to walk after him, but Aang's gentle hand on her shoulder told her that she should just let him cool off. Or was that his voice in her head?
Their connection had been growing exponentially since their first successful attempt, and now, she swore that she was getting flashes of actual words from the Avatar's mind; not just sensations and feelings. At first, it was almost frightening. To feel the presence of another in and on your mind was such a deviation from the normal sanctuary of one's privacy that she didn't know if she would ever be used to it. But now, after it happening so often, and the gentle nature of the air nomad, she felt it less an invasion and more of a natural occurrence. At times it was even comforting, and their communication didn't have to be shared directly in front of their peers.
"He'll come around," Aang said aloud, and turned to accept his watermelon juice. Katara handed Raya the second one and kept the third for herself. Raya thanked her as she took a refreshing sip of the fruits watery nectar and it left tingles along her spine. The day was growing hot and muggy rather quickly, and she hadn't quite realized it until she felt the presence of the chilled liquid. Thank the spirits for water benders, and their ability to create ice, Raya thought to herself. She saw a small smile appear suddenly on the air benders lips and she figured he must've heard her thoughts.
"Maybe Zuko's right," Sokka said after a moment. He had a watermelon in his hand and his lips were tugging lazily at the bamboo straw. "Laying around the house all day has made us pretty lazy . . . But I know just the thing to change that," he said as he stood slowly and gripped the opening of his outfit. "BEACH PARTY!"
Sokka was right, a day at the beach was exactly what everyone needed, and it didn't take long for them to make their way down to the water front. They were still sans Zuko, but she was determined not to let his foul mood ruin her day; no one else was letting it ruin theirs. She wrenched her top off over her head and felt the salty air caress her exposed skin that was not bound by the simple bindings that wrapped around her chest. She removed her bottoms shortly after and revealed bottom wraps similar to the water tribe girls, though Raya's didn't extend as far down her thighs as the water benders. She let her hair down as well, tucking the crowned prince's ornament into the clothing to keep it safe before she made for the water's edge.
She let her feet sink into the wet sand that was continuously lapped by the tide. Katara was further out, riding a board made of ice. For a moment she envied the water bender, and wondered what it might be like to manipulate the element. Sokka wasn't far off from the Demitar, pulling himself from the salty depths and running up onto the dry sand; ankles and feet adorned with dry sand stuck to the dampness of his wet body. He began to pile and move sand, and she realized he was making something.
"Check out my Appa sand sculpture," Aang said suddenly from her left, and she moved out of the waters touch to make her way over to the air bender. Low and behold he was sitting atop and relatively accurate sky bison, and Raya had to admit she was impressed with his work.
"Not bad baldy, but check this out," Toph said from her right, and she turned to watch the blind bandit in action. Toph took a light stance on the shifting sand, and raised her pale arms so that they were level with her chest, and straight out in front of her. She clenched her fists tightly and suddenly there was Ba Sing Se. There before them was an accurate replica of the entire city; complete with an Earth King and Bosco figurine.
"Wow, nice! You even made a little Earth King and Bosco," Aang observed.
"I've been working on my sand bending," She said, her arms folded smugly. If there was anything in this world that Toph loved, it was being incredible. And she really was one of the most incredible benders Raya had ever encountered.
"If you like sand art you should check this out," Raya said, remembering that she too had a few tricks up her sleeve, so to speak. She watched as Aang and Toph gathered around her, and bent over to pick up half a handful of sand. She pressed the sand between her palms and formed an enclosure around it, leaving a small hole to which she placed her pale pink lips.
With a deep breath through her nose, she blew gently and steadily into the make shift kiln she had created with her hands, and emerald flames licked out of the spaces left between her slender fingers. Aang looked on curiously, and she wasn't exactly sure how much Toph could make out with them being on sand instead of solid land. After a few more solid breaths, she opened her palm to reveal glass in the place of the sand. Aang looked at it in wonder.
"That's awesome," he said, asking with his hands if he could hold it.
"It's pretty hot still, careful," she warned as she let the hot glass lump fall into his hand. He inspected it with admiration and smiled at her. When he handed it to Toph she looked at bit impressed.
"Woah, you turned earth into glass . . ." She said. "You sure you're not secretly some kind of earth bender?"
"Haha! I'm positive," Raya said with a chuckle. Aang laughed as well, until a fire ball struck just behind him. They all turned and looked up at the source of the flame and Raya frowned. Zuko was looking down at the pair from the edge of a small cliff that over looked the beach, and there was a small tendril of smoke coming off of his left fist.
"What the?" Another strike was launched at them and both Aang and Raya dodged quickly. She heard the word 'run' echoing through her mind as Zuko leapt down from the cliff to make chase.
"What are you doing?" She asked with anger and confusion as she dodged yet another blast. She leapt over Aang's Appa sand sculpture and followed the Avatar up into the leafy foliage of the jungle that surround the royal vacation home.
"Teaching you both a lesson," he said as he launched a volley of fire balls at her and the Avatar. She blocked one, and dodged another as she made sure Aang was okay. He was a bit ahead of her and she paused, turning to face their pursuer. She felt a clench in her chest, and knew it was because she was about to fight Zuko.
"Zuko, stop!" She commanded, holding her ground. The prince came to a slight halt but shot another fire ball at her. She didn't budge and blocked it with her own fire; a green-orange swirl of flame abating around her. "I don't want to fight you!"
"You don't have a choice," he said, his voice hard. He came at her and, not wanting to engage in combat with someone she liked so much; not wanting to hurt him, she sent out a large air blast to knock him far enough back that she could catch up with Aang. Zuko tumbled backwards, and as soon as he regained his balance was racing after her and the Avatar again.
Raya found Aang on the roof of the house, and approached him. "Are you okay?" she asked as she jogged up beside him. He had his hands on his knees and his face was written in confusion.
"Yeah, you?" She nodded at his question and he added, "What's gotten into him? What's he doing?" Raya had no time to answer, as the look on Aangs face told her that Zuko was now standing on the other side of the roof and watching them.
"Zuko, please, I don't want to fight you. Stop this before I blow you off this roof," Aang threatened, but both he and Raya knew it was an empty one, and so did the Fire Prince.
"Go ahead and do it," Zuko said as she launched another volley of fire toward the two. Both the Avatar and Demitar leapt backwards off the roof, using air to cushion their landing as they leapt through a broken window of the old house and hid around a corner inside. All was silent for a moment before Zuko blasted his way down through the roof and landed easily in the middle of the room. Raya watched as Aang took a deep breath and sent a dresser sailing towards the Fire Prince.
Using fire, Zuko made the dresser explode into pieces and watched as Aang tugged Raya by the arm down the hall. Zuko ran after them, and making a few sweeping motions sent a tunnel of fire after them, engulfing the hall in flames. Raya's eyes grew wide and her stomach felt like it was full of rocks. Aang pushed her behind him and sucked in a breath.
"Enough!" the Avatar declared as he funneled a gale force amount of air through the hallway, extinguishing the flame and sending the Fire Princes sailing out the newly opened hole in the wall. Raya heard him crash through the thick layers of the jungle bellow and her heart began to beat wildly.
"Zuko!" she yelled, pushing past Aang who looked frustrated with the violence that had taken place. He followed after Raya slowly, and she could see the others coming up from the beach in rapid succession to make sure that everything was okay. Katara was at the lead of the group from the beach, worry and anger written across her tan face.
"What's wrong with you?" she asked sharply as Raya knelt beside the Fire Prince. He was kneeling, trying to get to his feet as he looked up at all of them. He met the concern on Raya's face with a hard stare, and then looked past her to Katara. "You could have hurt Aang and Raya!"
"What's wrong with me?" he asked, fury growing. "What's wrong with all of you? Sozon's comet comes in three days, and you're all laying around having beach parties and drinking watermelon juice!" He was clearly frustrated with them as he threw his hands into the air and watched them all become the faces of guilt. "What? Why are you all looking at me like that?" he asked, looking from person to person; his eyes resting expectantly on Raya. The Demitar looked up at him solemnly, her guilty expression tugging at his chest and making him more frustrated.
"Well, the thing is . . ." Raya began, but couldn't take the hard stare she was getting from the Fire Prince. She wished it didn't, but it hurt her somehow. Aang was right there to pick up the slack, however, and for that she was grateful.
"The thing is, I'm not ready. I'm barely a decent fire bender," Aang began.
"And to be honest, your earth bending could use a lot of work, too," Toph interjected. Zuko's face began to soften a little, but he was still concerned as he looked at Aang then back to Raya.
"Aang and I have been discussing it a lot and . . . he's just not ready to face Ozai yet. We were going to wait until after the comet," Raya said, finding her words.
"Why didn't anyone tell me this?" Zuko asked. Raya looked to Aang and he glanced back to her.
I thought you were gonna tell him? The words echoed in each of their minds in unison and they both shrugged into the silence.
"Y'know, this telepathy thing you two have is going to get really annoying someday," Sokka chimed in as he watched their silent communication take place through their facial expressions.
"We should have told you, we're sorry," Aang said finally.
"I'm sorry, too. But you can't wait to face my father. When I was back in the fire nation, he invited me to an important war meeting. When he asked me what we should do about the earth kindgoms hope, Azula said that we should use the comet to burn the earth kingdom to the ground so that a new world could be reborn in fire. The comet . . . It gives fire benders unimaginable power. Aang, Raya, I know you're scared. And I know you're not ready to save the world, but if you don't face my father, and defeat him before the comet comes, there's not going to be a world left to save." Zuko was solemn, his tone grave, and Raya understood the magnitude of the situation. She glanced towards the Avatar, whose face was more distraught than she had ever seen it.
She reached out a comforting hand, and placed it on his shoulder. He looked up at her after a few more moments of horror, as if just suddenly noticing her hand was touching him. She looked into his stormy gray eyes steadily, trying to be the pillar Aang needed.
"I will fight with you until I have no breath left to fight with, Aang. It's okay to be afraid, but you will never be alone," the Demitar said as she pulled the air nomad into a tight hug. He looked as though the slightest breeze would carry him away like a plume of smoke, and she held him as though that would keep him together. He hugged her back immediately and she could feel the anxiety and fear through their connection. It took a lot of self-control to make sure that his feelings didn't overwhelm her; and vice versa.
"I'm with you, too. Team Avatar, remember?" Sokka said, getting in on the hug.
"Me, too," Suki said quickly after.
"We're in this together," Katara said, adding herself to the tangle of arms and bodies. Even Toph found herself getting in on the group hug. "Come on, Zuko. Being part of the group means being part of group hugs," Katara said as she opened an arm in invitation. He hesitated, but finally a small smile found its way to the prince's lips and Raya felt his arm, warm and strong, press into her back as they all hugged.
X
"There's one very important technique you need to know before you face my father," Zuko said to both Aang and Raya as they stood in the court yard together. "How to redirect lightning." A large smile formed on Aangs face and Raya tried not to laugh. She knew there was nothing that got Aang more excited than learning powerful bending techniques.
"Now, if you let the energy in your own body flow, the lightning will follow it. You turn your opponent's energy against them," Zuko said as he pointed two fingers outward and let them follow the chi path that lead down to the stomach, and up through the other arm. Then he repeated it in reverse, and then again, and again. Aang and Raya both began to practice the movements with him.
"That's like water bending," Aang said excitedly as he continued the motions.
"Exactly. My uncle invented this technique himself by studying water benders."
"Have you ever had to use it before," Raya inquired, wondering if it worked.
"Once, against my father," Zuko said, his face turning into a mask of remembrance.
"What was it like?" Aang asked.
"Exhilarating. And terrifying. You feel so powerful holding that much energy in your body, but you know if you make the wrong move, it's over," Zuko said with a serious expression. Aang's demeanor changed slightly from excited to concern.
"Well, I mean, not over-over. There's always Katara and a little spirit water action, am I right?" Aang said, turning to the water bender hopefully. She had been observing them form the steps with Momo on her lap.
"Actually, I used it up after Azula struck you with lightning," she said apologetically.
"Oh," Aang said, shoulders slumping.
"You'll have to take the fire lords life, before he takes yours," Zuko said, his voice grave. Raya could feel the churning that began in Aang as he was once again confronted with taking the Fire Lords life. It was completely out of the question for an air nomad to take the life of anything, or anyone. In their teachings, all life was sacred, and as one who had earned the sacred tattoos, Raya had done her best to abide by the nomad's rules and teachings. She knew that for someone like Aang, someone who had grown up in his entirety in the way of the nomad, it would be pure torture to even consider the idea of relieving the Fire Lord of his life.
"Yeah, I'll just do that," Aang said halfheartedly as he watched Zuko walk away. He glanced down at the ground and then up at Raya, and she knew he would soon be seeking her advice and counsel. As one of the only two air benders, and masters left on the planet, she was his only source of their traditions, knowledge, and ways of life. They had disucussed many things about the nomads since she had found him, but this would be the most difficult discussion yet.
"I'm going to start dinner, I think," Katara said, seeing that Aang needed some one on one time with the Demitar. Raya smiled in her direction with a nod, and Aang waved and smiled. She took her leave, leaving the Demitar and Avatar alone in the stone court yard. Raya walked over to the fountain that no longer ran and sat along the edge, looking down into the basin where water should have been.
"D'you think there's a chance this would run again?" She asked, looking over to Aang who was walking over to join her.
"I don't know. Maybe. If there's still water in the pipes," he said tentatively.
"Is there?" she asked, pressing.
"Katara could-"
"If I recall correctly, Katara isn't the only water bender I've been traveling with," the Demitar said with a quick smile. "Try," she encouraged. The Avatar took a deep breath and leapt up onto the edge of the fountain. He held out his arms at chest level, and his hands were open, palm down. She could see and feel him concentrating as he did so.
"I feel it down there," he said slowly, still pulling at it.
"Bring it up," she urged.
"It's pretty far . . ."
"You can do this." It didn't take another thirty seconds and water was swelling up into the basin of the fountain from the mysterious depths below. She smiled and happily looked at Aang who was admiring his work. She felt the sense of pride coming off of him, and it in turn made her feel proud.
"I've wanted to see water in this fountain since we got here," he said as he sat down at its edge a short distance from Raya. She nodded in agreement. "I never considered the fact that I could bring the water up."
"You can do a lot of things, even if you don't think you can," she said gently.
"If you're suggesting I can take Ozai's life even if I don't think I can, you're wrong," he said sternly, looking at her with hard eyes.
"That's not what I'm saying at all . . . Aang, believe me, I know what you are feeling, and thinking. Literally. But also because I studied with the air nomads, too. I took the vows, earned the sacred tattoos, and follow all of the teachings the best I can in this new world. You're not alone in your inability to take his life," Raya commiserated with the distraught Avatar, and gave him a steady gaze.
"I know . . . I'm sorry I keep snapping at you, this is just really stressful. There has to be another way. I just don't know what that is yet . . ." he said, pensive. She could tell he was struggling with this a lot before he found out they were still going to face the fire lord, but now it was all that consumed his thoughts. 'Could I do it?' Raya thought to herself in that moment.
"I'd never ask you to," Aang said aloud.
"Sorry, I didn't mean for you to hear that," she apologized. "I was just being philosophical."
"It doesn't matter. I know this is my responsibility," Aang said decidedly.
"I'm the Demitar, it's just as much my responsibility," she countered.
"The pillars of the world," he said softly.
"Hm?" she asked, not sure exactly what he'd said.
"I read it in a book once, when we were in the library of Wan Shi Tong. Sokka was looking everywhere for anything he could find on the Fire Nation, so I went off for a bit to look for information on the Avatar and Demitar. There was an entire section in there dedicated to us . . . It was so amazing. But I only ever got a glimpse at the first few pages of the first volume."
"Why?" Raya asked.
"Wan Shi Tong sank the library after he discovered Sokka had lied to him about what he wanted to find there."
"Ah . . . That's unfortunate," she observed, her sudden hope of one day finding the library herself now quelled.
"But what I did read was really inspiring, and one of my favorite parts was: The Avatar and Demitar are the pillars of the two worlds. At the time it seemed like a lot of responsibility, and it still does, but now that I have you – I'm just happier. I still get scared thinking about what I'll have to spend the rest of my life doing, whether I defeat Ozai or not. And if I do, where will my life take me, will I have a normal life with a family?"
"We will defeat him. And I think you can have anything you want in due time," she said, her thoughts wandering to the Fire Prince. Was there a future for them? Would she be able to be there for him and the world, if he even wanted her that way at all? She cast her eyes down into the water and tried to push all of the 'what if's' and self-doubt away from herself.
X
Dinner was as usual, and everyone sat around eating and chatting, except Aang. Even after he and the Demitar had talked, Aang still seemed incredibly distraught, and Raya could feel the waves of anxiety coming off of him. She held her plate, pushing the food around as she watched Aang set his plate aside, not a bite eaten. Before she could move from Zuko's side to sit with the Avatar, Katara joined the group with a medium sized wall scroll in her hand.
"I have a surprise for everyone!" Katara's voice came suddenly from behind them as she walked around to the side of the group. "I was looking for pots and pans in the attic when I found this!" she said excitedly as she let it unroll before them. They saw a drawing of a toddler running through the sands of the Ember Island beaches. "Isn't baby Zuko cute," she cooed as she and the others looked on at the image. Zuko seemed less than please which made Katara frown. "Oh, come on Zuko, lighten up."
"That's not me," Zuko said as he sat his empty plate aside. "It's my father." The group gasped in unison and looked at the small child, knowing he was now on a throne somewhere; an evil ruler.
"But he looks so sweet and innocent," Suki said.
"That sweet and innocent kid grew up to be a monster, and a terrible father," Zuko said, looking away from the image as though it repulsed him.
"But he's still a human being," Aang chimed in for the first time all night from his lonely spot away from the group.
"You're going to defend him?" Zuko asked, incredulous.
"No, I agree with you: Fire Lord Ozai is a terrible person, and the world would probably be a better place without him." Aang stood now and was walking to stand in front of the group, his face hard with thought. "But there's gotta be another way."
"Like what?" Zuko asked skeptically. Raya shot him a hard look and the Fire Prince flinched.
"I dunno . . . Maybe we could get a bunch of glue! And I could use glue bending to stick his arms and legs together, that way he couldn't bend anymore!" Aang said animatedly, and sadly looked as though he were hopeful that that may be an option. No one looked enthusiastic about it.
"Yeah . . . Then you could show him all his baby pictures, and that'll turn him good again," Zuko said sarcastically. Raya scowled at Zuko, and looked over to Aang sympathetically as the rest of the gang giggled.
"Do you really think that'll work?" Aang asked sincerely.
"No!" Zuko said, irritated. Aang huffed with a great heave and his shoulders slumped as he began pacing back and forth in front of the group.
"This goes against everything I've learned from the monks . . ." Aang said, holding his hands out in frustration. "We can't just go around wiping out people we don't like," he said, referring to himself and the Demitar.
"Sure you can, you're the Avatar and Demitar. If it's in the name of keeping balance, I'm sure the universe will forgive you guys," Sokka said with his usual comedic air.
"Urgh! This isn't a joke Sokka!" Aang said, his temper exploding. This was a side of the Avatar Raya had never seen before, and she didn't like it. She could feel every emotion he had swirling through him like a torrent of force, and it knocked the wind from her a little. She placed a slender hand on her chest and took a deep breath. "None of you but Raya understand the position I'm in!"
"Aang, we do understand. It's just," Katara said, trying to calm him.
"Just what Katara? What?" he asked, his fury growing towards them.
"We're just trying to help!" Katara countered.
"Well when you figure out a way for me and Raya to defeat the Fire Lord without taking his life, I'd love to hear it!" Aang said, stomping off in a huff. Raya clutched at her chest as she felt his anger dissipate and turn into guilt and sadness. She finally felt her breath coming more normally and worked to block out the connection for the time being.
"Aang, don't walk away from this!" Katara said, making to follow him.
"Don't," Zuko said, and Katara paused. "He needs time to sort it out for himself." Raya wanted to follow as well, and was sure he needed her counsel, but Zuko was right. What Aang really needed at the moment was his own peace of mind.
Raya helped Katara clean up the plates, and everyone turned in without bothering Aang. Raya wanted to, but knew the others would frown on it since they had agreed to give him some solitude to sort things out. She lay wide awake on a bed in one of the many rooms of the royal vacation home and followed the wood grain patterns of the ceiling with her eyes until she felt irritated.
She swung her legs over the side of the bed and dressed herself. The moon was full and its light poured down through the window that adorned her room. She didn't care what the others said, she wanted to know Aang was not having a mental break down. It was odd but she couldn't feel him. She brushed off any concern, and thought that he had simply blocked her out, out of anger.
She made her way through the halls and found the balcony where they had meditated many times since their arrival to the royal vacation home. She saw a few burning candles and some offering, but not Avatar. She sat down and tried not to let the panic she felt creeping up consume her just yet. Folding her legs and taking a meditative posture, she reached out to him with her mind.
Nothing. Her heart began to race and she felt the metallic tang of adrenaline in the back of her throat. What was this? Where could he possibly be? Even if he was blocking her out, she would still be able to feel his presence no matter where he was. She felt nothing, though. It was as If he had disappeared from the face of the earth.
Raya tried several more times to reach out to him, but was left with nothing but her own thoughts in the dark. She opened her amber eyes quickly and looked around herself again. His glider was still perched on the railing, and she knew he wouldn't go far without it. That gave her some sense of comfort, but she knew something was still wrong.
Picking herself up off the floor, she did the only thing that made sense to do next.
"Zuko . . ." she said in to the darkness of the room, hoping her would hear her. "Zuko, please, get up."
"Come on, Uncle . . . its Saturday . . ." she heard him reply in his sleep. Her face reddened.
"What?" she asked, loudly.
"Huh? Wh- Raya?" the Fire Prince asked as he tried to get his wits about him. He finally made her out in the doorway and squinted. "What is it?"
"I can't find Aang," she said, pushing aside the fact that he had called her uncle in his sleep. There were much more pressing issues at hand.
"So? He's probably hiding somewhere meditating or sleeping or something." Zuko rolled over and closed his eyes.
"I can't feel him, anymore, either," Raya said, and the panic was edging into her voice. Zuko heard her words, but also heard the tone of her voice changing as she tried to keep her composure. He sat up like a bolt.
"What do you mean?" He asked quickly.
"I mean I can't feel his mind at all. I think he's blocking me, but I should still be able to feel that; I can't feel anything though. Nothing." Raya looked to the Fire Prince for comfort and noticed that the sun was peeking through the window. She must've been trying to reach him with her mind longer than she thought. The weak rays of early morning light revealed Zuko's tousled, slept on hair and his naked chest. She averted her eyes out of politeness, and heard him exit the bed and dress. Before she could decide if it was safe to look again, she felt him at the door.
"Come on, we have to get the others."
X
"What do you mean Aangs gone?" Sokka said as he looked around the balcony.
"I mean I can't feel him anymore," Raya said.
"Well, his glider's still here. And so are Appa and Rai Jin. He's probably somewhere on the island." Sokka deduced as they all turned to follow him out the door. As they made their way to the beach, they noticed Aangs foot prints and promptly went to investigate.
"They lead straight into the water," Katara observed.
"And we're right on the verge of an epic battle," Sokka said.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Zuko asked.
"It means Aangs probably on a spirit world journey!" Sokka decided.
"Wouldn't that mean his body would still be here? And Raya's still here too. She could reach him if he were in the spirit world." Zuko was right. Sokka slumped his shoulders and then looked thoughtful again.
"Well, he has to be somewhere on the island then. Let's split up and look," Sokka said, taking Suki's hand. "Toph and Katara, you guys go that way. Raya and Zuko, that way," he said, directing the two toward the other side of the island. Raya nodded and the two fell in step together as they made their way to the end of the island.
The search on foot was getting them nowhere, and Raya finally suggested they hop on Rai Jin to search the beaches and other parts of the island. He agreed, but warned they would have to stay out of sight of those in the town. Raya agreed, and found her dragon waiting patiently for her beside Appa. The sky bison was eating mouthfuls of hay as he blinked at the two fire benders.
Even from the sky their search proved fruitless and Aang was nowhere to be seen. It wasn't long before they spotted the rest of the gang assembling on the steps at the front of the house and Raya directed the large white dragon to land. She was hopeful as the beast hit the dirt, but the looks on everyone's faces told her there was no sign of him.
Raya moved toward the stares with Zuko behind her and they all looked at each other in disappointment.
"I take it we all had the same luck then," Sokka said as he slumped back on the stairs.
"Wait. Did anyone else notice that Momo's missing too?" Toph piped up. Everyone looked around and realized it was true. They were one companion short.
"Oh no!" Sokka said, his voice overwrought with distress. "You know what this means? He finally did it . . . Appa ate MOMO!" Sokka said as he dramatically pried the sky bison's mouth open to peer inside. "Don't worry buddy, I'm comin' for ya!" he said as he climbed over the beasts tongue. In no time flat, Appa spit the water tribe boy out onto the dirt in a bubble of saliva.
"Sokka, Appa didn't eat Momo . . . He's probably with Aang," Katara said, unamused.
"That's just what Appa wants you to think," he said as he slicked the creatures spit off his clothing.
"Enough Sokka," Zuko said suddenly, and Raya could hear the agitation in his voice. He was worried. "We have a real problem here. Sozin's comet is two days away and Aang is nowhere to be found." The group all looked up to him from their place on the stairs as he stood above them on the landing. He shifted uncomfortably. "Why are you all looking at me?"
"Well . . . You are kinda the expert on tracking Aang." Katara said with an apologetic shrug. The Fire Prince realized this was absolutely true and knew exactly who they needed to find in order to find Aang.
"Zuko, I don't wanna tell you how to do your job, but why are we all headed toward the earth kingdom?" Sokka asked form the bison's back. They were all in the air now, Raya upon Rai Jin at the bison's side.
"Just trust me," Zuko said.
X
Raya landed beside Appa in a dank wooded area, and Zuko was waiting for them all to dismount.
"It's this way," he said, and they followed without question. Raya couldn't help but wondered what they were looking for here that held the key to finding Aang. They weren't even near the Fire Nation anymore, and that was most likely Aang's current location. The thought of not knowing where Aang was once again plunged her into a frustrated guilt. She was the Demitar, the one who was supposed to be connected inexorably to the Avatar, and yet she had no idea where he actually was; again.
"Um, and the reason you've brought us to a seedy earth kingdom tavern is what?" She heard Katara ask, and as she looked up she realized they were in fact headed through the door of a tavern. It was dimly lit and smelled vastly of Sake and broken dreams.
"June," Zuko said simply, pointing out what was easily the most cunning and beautiful looking woman in the room. She had a cup of sake in her hand and fought off over five men easily without spilling a single drop. Raya couldn't help but admire the strength and agility she possessed, as well as the beauty. Her slick black hair fell around her back and shoulders like satin, and Raya absently touched her own fine white hair with envy. She'd always wanted lovely dark hair, like her mother. But she'd ended up with thick white locks of snow white hair, like her father.
"She's beautiful," Suki said, saying what almost every one of them was thinking.
"We're here for her mole," Zuko said.
"What? Her skin is flawless," Katara chimed in.
"Not her skin, her sheershew. It's a creature that can sniff out anything and anyone anywhere in the world. It's our one chance at finding him." He stepped away from them and approached the bounty hunter.
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