Dawn rises over the Pandoran landscape, and over the vast lush rainforest a flock of Banshees fly overhead as one squawks out. Beneath the canopy, insects and birds chirping fill the forest's chorus along with animals calling in the distance. A clan of Prolemuris swings in the branches as a pair of Viperwolfs patrol their hunting route.
Aang and the the others have already left the Omatikaya Tribe and leaving the Pandoran forest. They were on all Appa, though their Banshees were following behind them and proving as loyal as a vault to them.
"Crazy what we've learn these past three weeks." Sokka said.
"I know, and it almost like the whole forest is alive like with the swamp." Aang said.
"In some ways I think you're right, Aang." Katara said.
"I'm just glad we don't have to worry about that big black thing anymore." Sokka said.
"At least it got a taste of skxawng." Toph mocked.
They then laughed as Sokka had an annoyed look.
"I think it might've like skxawng more." Katara teased.
They then laughed as Sokka shook his head but smiled almost amused.
They continued flying as then Appa grunted looking uneasy, even Gyatso and the Banshees in tow looked unsettled as they chittered.
"Hey, what's the matter, Appa?" Aang asked gently patting his head.
Toph then smelled a charred scent in her nose.
"Anyone smell smoke?" Toph asked.
They looked around as then Ty Lee noticed a faint trail of smoke in the distance.
"There!" She exclaimed.
They turn to it and exchange uneasy looks and they turn towards it.
And when they arrived, they were horrified seen what was once forest is now a charred wasteland.
"There's nothing life." Suki said.
"What happened here?" Aang wondered.
"This looks too big for any forest fire to happen regularly." Katara said.
"But... Firebenders couldn't do this." Sokka said. "Not with Sozin's Comet gone."
They wander through the ash landscape as many charred crisp bodies of countless animals lay dead.
"It's almost like they were burned alive." Aang said horrified at the thought.
They looked around as then Sokka noticed a gold object amongst the gray. He went over to it and grabs a golden hairpiece, but thought it looked familiar.
"Guys, what's this?" He asked.
They then joined him and saw it.
"Wait, isn't this...?" Ty Lee asked recognizing it.
"Azula!" Aang gasped.
"But... t-that's impossible." Katara said. "We saw her can dragged with that thing."
"We better get to the Fire Nation." Aang said not liking this.
It wasn't until sunset that they finally returned to the Fire Nation Capital, and they already explained everything to Zuko as he held his sister's hairpiece.
"Where did you get this?" Zuko asked.
"We found it in a forest burnt down." Aang said. "But we don't understand how she could've escaped."
"And how could she have remained unseen for a year?" Suki inquired.
"I don't know." Zuko said. "But my sister seems more resilient than I thought."
"We gotta go after her." Sokka declared.
"Whoa, whoa, hold on." Katara quickly said. "Even by some crazy chance Azula's alive, we have no idea where she is now."
"Could the Omatikaya Tribe help us track her?" Ty Lee asked.
"I think it's best we don't get them involved." Aang said. "But I think I may have an idea on how to stop if we meet again."
"How?" Katara asked.
"During our time with them, Etykan once me of another Na'vi tribe somewhere along the Eastern Sea." Aang explained. "Maybe they can help us. If Azula's alive still, their ways may help us stop her for good."
The others turn to each other.
"Let's hope you're right about it." Katara said. "When do we leave?"
"We'll leave by morning." Aang said.
The next day, Aang, Momo, Sokka, Katara, Suki, and Ty Lee flew out over the eastern-most tip of the Fire Nation's island chain on their Banshees as Mai, Toph, and Appa stayed behind to watch over things at home.
Flying east, they head for the other Na'vi tribe.
After two days of flying, they reach the Eastern Sea where is was completely unexplored and one of the few areas that the Fire Nation left alone throughout the war. And even if Azula tried to track them down, it was unknown territory for her.
Another day has pass when they finally approached an island with a a ring of rock encircling it almost between the shallows and open sea. The waves crashed against them as they flew over as people yipping were heard below as some were by a few pools of water harvesting food.
The people chattered as they turned to the newcomers.
And Aang and the others flew towards a grove of mangrove trees where a village stood as a man blows a long note through a shell announcing the village of their arrival. And Aang knew this was the place.
Awa'atlu, a village of the Metkayina Tribe.
The people of the tribe were heard yipping and hooting as they turned to the newcomers as their village were woven tarps linked to the trees over the water and connecting to many hut-like structures.
They flew around as many of them dove into the water as the group of five flew over the village as Gyatso trills out. And the Metkayina man continues blowing out through the conch shell as Aang whoops out flying by.
They continued flying as the villagers begin to gather on a strip of beach and descends as a few villagers in the water turn to them as they landed and Gyatso squawked. The group climbed off their Banshee and Aang sees the villagers beginning to gather and approach them. He exhales patting Gyatso's neck.
"On me." Aang said.
They begin to make their way as the villagers were heard yipping, and they can they had similar clothing like with the Omatikaya, but many have tattoos of different designers likely representing their culture of the sea.
"Hello." Aang greeted them.
The people softly whisper unsure what to make of the five strangers, but they can see they pose a threat but are still wary and suspicious towards.
"We don't know why they are here." Said a woman in the crowd.
Then, two boys around their age approached them with suspicious looks, but Katara and Sokka made "I See you" gestures hoping to gain some trust.
"Where did they come from?" A man in the crowd said.
"Just be cool." Aang said.
They then saw a young girl around the same age sliding off a marine creature of some kind and got up as she joins the crowd.
"Who are they?" One of the two boys said.
"Do not. Rotxo, Ao'nung." She said.
She sighed turning to the newcomers.
And then, three men riding on large predatory fish resembling cross between a Flying Fish and gar called Skimwings dramatically arrived as the Skimwing were held up by parge wing-like fins powered by powerful strokes of their tails as one flew in the air as it's rider shouts out and his Skimwing snarls as he wears the clothing of a chief.
He and the two other riders flew over them and then gently glided down to the water, and he climbs off his Skimwing with a spear in his right hand and approaches.
He was Tonowari, the chief of the Metkayina, the Reef People.
"I See you, Chief." Aang greeted as they both exchanged gestures.
"Avatar Aang." He said as word of them has reached here recently.
Aang can see he was a tough leader. And the others exchanges greetings in Na'vi. But he was the least of their worries as the Tonowari's wife, Ronal, appeared and looks to be a few months pregnant.
"I See you, Tsahik." Aang greeted.
"Why do you come to us, Avatar Aang?" Tonowari asked.
"We hope to learn from you." Aang said.
"We are Reef People." Tonowari said. "You are Land People. Let alone outsiders. Your skills will mean nothing here."
"Well, we will learn your ways." Aang said and turns to his friends. "Am I right?"
"Yes." Katara said as Ronal circles them examining.
"Their arms are thin." Ronal said. "You will be slow in the water."
"You can adapt." Aang declared. "We will adapt. Okay?"
"Our friend is the Avatar." Katara said. "He saved us many times and ended the war. He even led us to victory against the Fire Nation."
They all remained silent for a few moments.
"Avatar Aang is a great leader." Tonowari said to his tribe. "All Na'vi now know his story. But we Metkayina... are not at war." He turns back to them. "We cannot let you bring any war here."
"We're done with war." Aang said. "Okay? We just want to keep the world safe and in balance."
"And learning your ways will help us." Katara said.
Tonowari and Ronal turn to each other as he sighed, and the two looked to be in a mental conversation. And in the end, Ronal nods finally agreeing despite her reluctance.
Tonowari then inhales sharply.
"Avatar Aang and his friends will stay with us." Tonowari declared to his people. "Treat them as our brothers and sisters. Now, they do not know the sea. So they will be like babies taking their first breath. Teach them our ways, so they do not suffer the shame of being useless."
Aang chuckles softly.
"Thank you." Aang said gratefully.
"My son, Ao'nung, our daughter, Tsireya, will show you what to do." Tonowari said.
"Father, why do..." Ao'nung protested.
"It is decided." Tonowari said.
"Come." Tsireya said. "I will show you our village.
Later, they followed Tsireya on the tarp just a few feet over the water as Plesiosaur-like creatures called Ilus swam around trilling. And they are the Direhorse of the ocean as two nuzzled being as social as dolphins. And the group follows Tsireya along the tarps.
"This way." Tsireya said.
They followed her as one Metkayina villager on an Ilu watches as the Ilu squeaks curiously of the newcomers.
"Hello." Katara greeted.
"Just up here." Tsireya said.
"No, no." A mother held her child back from coming closer to them.
They soon arrived to a tent as an Ilu below squeaks and swims off.
"This is for you." Tsireya said.
"Yeah, this will work." Aang said. "This is great. It's nice, right?"
"Really nice." Ty Lee said.
Towards sunset, a calm atmosphere fills the coastal waters as birds calling flying overhead. And a Metkayina man tosses a net out.
"Okay, guys, fall in." Aang said as they team huddled. "Okay. Now we need to be at our best behavior. I mean it. Learn fast. Pull your weight. Don't cause trouble. You got it?"
"Yes, Aang." Sokka said.
"And let's not breath a word about Azula here." Katara added. "Last thing we want is a bloodbath here."
"Now we're gonna get through this." Aang said. "We're gonna get through this if we have each other's back. All right?"
"Team Avatar sticks together." Sokka said.
Author's Note:
And now, Team Avatar learning the Way of Water.
And here's to the 1 year anniversary of Avatar: The Way of Water.
Now I still haven't seen Season 8 of Dragons: The Nine Realms yet, but I have heard something about Jun breaking up with Tom in the first episode, if anything I think after a stunt and his lone wolf behavior nearly getting him killed when trying to lure Jörmungandr back to it's cage.