My heart was pounding in my chest, and I glanced around Naheel and I, checking to see if anyone had seen what I had done. I was a monster. I was one of them.
"What's wrong with me?" I breathed, staring at my brother in fear. "What do I do? I didn't mean to do it! It just happened!"
"Is this the first time this has happened?" Naheel asked, his voice rising. He stayed his distance away.
"Yes," I breathed. "I swear, I am not one of...of them. I don't know how this happened - "
"I believe you," My brother sighed, his voice still slightly shaking. "We need to tell Mom and Dad about this though. They can help you."
"But what if they report me!" I cried, tears of fear beginning to well up in my eyes. "Waterbending is fine, but firebending...that's treasonous! Oh, Naheel..."
"It's going to be okay," He extended his hand, reaching out for me. "You haven't committed treason. Come on, Anahi. We shouldn't be out here any longer."
Gingerly, I nodded, and we hurried back home, trying not to run. My whole body was shaking, and when my brother and I burst through the doors, I felt ready to be sick.
"Naheel, Anahi, what's wrong?" My mother stood immediately upon seeing us enter. "Anahi, why are you soaking wet?"
Without a word, I ran into my mother's arms, wrapping my arms around her neck and burying my face into her shoulder. I had never been more afraid in my life. "Mom," I murmured, pulling away, as my father approached me with a warm blanket and led my brother and I over to the fire. I shivered, but not from the cold.
"Anahi, what happened?" My mother looked from me to Naheel.
"What I'm going to tell you," I murmured, looking intently at my parents. "Please, don't get angry. Naheel and I were at the water's edge, just outside the village. He was trying to show me how to waterbend."
"Did you?" My father asked. "Is that why you're soaking wet?"
"No," I bowed my head. "I - I did something else. Something worse." I felt the tears coming again, but I didn't wipe them away.
"Mom, Dad," I murmured, my voice shaking. "Why can I firebend? How is that even possible?"
I looked up to see them exchange a glance, and my mother's face grow pale. "Anahi..." She murmured. "Don't be afraid. Your father and I are not surprised by what happened. We're just glad it was only the two of you."
I looked up and dried my eyes. "What do you mean?" My father gave a weary sigh, and covered his mouth with his hand.
"Before we tell you this, know that your mother and I love you very much," He said gently. "We are your family, and we will always, be your family."
"What are you saying?" I breathed.
"A long time ago," My mother began, her voice calm and level. "When your father and I were newly married, a young woman came to us. She was very pregnant, and all alone, seeking refuge. Your father and I took her in, and she ended up having her baby with us. Her name was Kita, and she told us that her family had forced her into exile for having a baby out of wedlock. She was desperate, and after the baby was born, she begged us to keep her. She couldn't support the baby, and she was already very weak. Your father and I agreed, and Anahi...that baby was you."
"And you were such a blessing," My father added. "You were such a good child, and we have been so happy to be your parents - "
"Kita," I repeated numbly, my real mother's name strange on my lips. "What happened to her?"
"She had to leave," My mother said sadly. "Anahi, there was no way she could have taken care of you on her own. She was still very weak and sick. She begged us to take you in as our own. She said there was no hope for her in the Fire Nation anymore. So we took you in as our daughter."
I stared hard at my lap, unable to process this. My whole life was a lie. I was of the Fire Nation. "Do you know where she went?" I breathed.
"No," My father replied soberly. "Anahi, I'm sorry. I know this must be very hard."
"Who is my real father?" I asked. "Is he Fire Nation too?"
My parents exchanged a hard look, and my father swallowed sharply. "This is going to sound impossible to believe," He murmured, and looked over at my mother. "Sukah, will you go and get it?"
"What's it?" I asked, my stomach rolling. My mother didn't say anything, and left the room in silence. This was all too much.
"Anahi," My father continued. "Kita used to work in the palace of the Fire Nation's Royal Family. She had an affair, and got pregnant with you. Anahi...your father is Firelord Ozai."
"What?" I exclaimed. "No...no, that doesn't make any sense! That's impossible!"
"Ozai was very much in love with Kita," My father explained. "But because of Kita's low status, they could never marry. When Kita's family found out she was carrying a...bastard child, they banished her."
"Why couldn't she have stayed?" I demanded, tears welling up in my eyes. "Why didn't Ozai protect her?"
"Because he was engaged to be married," My mother replied, returning with a small wooden box in her arms. "He couldn't do anything about Kita, and she had no choice but to leave."
"None of this makes sense," I murmured, placing my head in my hands. "My father can't be the Firelord..."
"Kita gave us this," My mother opened the box and extending it to me. "Ozai had given it to her as a gift. She wanted you to have it when we told you, as proof."
I made myself look inside. A small dagger, wrapped in a finely adorned sheath wrapped in leather lay amongst a velvet cushion. The dagger was secured to a thin, golden chain, meant to be worn around the neck. I carefully took the box from my mother and unsheathed the dagger, examining the fire nation insignia on the head of the handle. Carefully, I put it back, and took the dagger, looping the chain over my neck and tucking it into my clothing, out of sight.
"I have to go," I breathed, shakily standing up.
"What do you mean?" Naheel, who had been silent this whole time finally looked up. "Anahi, you can't leave!"
"I can't stay here!" I exclaimed. "Not in the Water Tribe, Naheel! I can't control what I can do, and if someone sees me firebending, I could be arrested for treason!"
"Anahi, you're family," My mother said softly. "We will always look out for each other and protect each other."
I shook my head, tears forming in my eyes. "I - I can't endanger you here. Now that I know what I am...I can't put you all at risk. If I were discovered, they would punish you all too."
"Where would you go?" Naheel asked, his eyes fully showcasing his pain.
"I have to go to the Fire Nation," I said firmly. "The Fire Nation is where I belong. I'll find a master who can teach me firebending, and - "
"This is your home," My mother pleaded. "Anahi, you belong with us."
I shook my head, running my hands down my face. "I love you all," I murmured. "And that's why I need to leave you. It's for your protection."
"Anahi, you're staying here," My father said firmly. "We'll - we'll work something out. But you're staying. You are safe with us."
I didn't believe him. That night, after everyone had gone to sleep, I stayed awake in my room and took everything that I could carry. I packed rolled up blankets and extra clothes in my satchel, and pulled on my thick, warm boots. My movements were shaking and quick, and several times, I caught myself crying. I had to be brave, even though everything I knew was falling apart.
Silent as the night, I stole into the pantry and took everything I could carry. Guilt filled my heart, and before I could bring myself to leave like a thief in the night, I seized a scrap of paper and took a pen to my thoughts.
I'm sorry that I must leave you, but I cannot risk you being hurt by my condition. You have already risked so much just by showing me the love and acceptance that you have. I care deeply about you, and that is why I must leave. I'm sorry for taking the canoe, and for the food I took as well. I hope that you can find it in your hearts to some day forgive me. I only wish to protect you, and bring you honor.
All my love,
Anahi
I left it on the table, and left my home, hurrying out in the dead of the night and leaving the only village I had known by the silent strokes of a canoe.