Greetings, avid readers!

I'd like to start with thanking all the reads, favs and follows in this story. Even if silent, your support means a lot. As for the ones that took their time to write a review, thank you as well!

I ddi not forget, I was to post this yesterday and work just kept coming and suddenly I looked at the clock and I had to clock-out. I'm sorry okay. Waiting to get paid so I can go buy me some foooooooooood.

My weekly obsession is... wood panels. Yes, I've been addicted to home décor lately. And yes, I'm still patiently waiting for Ms. LiAnne Kay to publish tHE GOODAMN BOOK!

eiliakkailie, guess you just have to wait and find out!

Brain Fart, thank you!

Dommie, I would have to disagree with you. My proof? The Last Agni Kai. So much you can do with air-bending? Yes, that I have to agree with.

This is my first try at a Avatar fanfiction. Go easy on me. Reviews and flames are always welcomed, for they keep my cat and I warm at night.

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar nor any of the characters. Such credit should go to Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. I do own a... certain amount of characters that will be recognized further into the story.

Thank you, and enjoy the chapter!

Chapter X: The Outside World

X—X

"And he just starts judging me, and I didn't like it, so I hit him with a rock. Smack in the middle of the forehead." Toph shrugged. "Even left a mark."

"Toph, that's not a nice thing to do to people." Katara reprimanded.

"Well, he kind of had it coming." Ahria frowned. "Didn't he?"

"Oh, absolutely! He was a dick and a wimp!"

"See?"

Katara rolled her eyes with an exasperated sigh. Aang simply smiled and shook his head. Out of all the people, he thought Ahria would get along with, Toph was quite probably the last on the list. But she had proven him wrong, now engaging in storytelling adventures and complaints with the noble people around her.

"I see the clearing up ahead," Katara announced, and Aang smiled brightly.

"Appa!" he shouted and ran the rest of the way.

The small group was quick to follow them, and Ahria flinched when the sun hit her eyes. She stepped on something soft and looked down to see sand, pearly yellow and smooth. She felt Toph's callous hand on her wrist as reassurance, and she nodded. She looked ahead and gasped.

Lying on the sand with its eyes closed, was a massive sky bison with heavy white fur and dark brown underfur, and light brown markings, with an arrow mark on its forehead. Two horns sprouted from the side of its head, and its muzzle was currently burying itself in Aang's shirt.

The bison turned on its stomach and flopped, making Katara giggle. She saw Aang brush its cheeks and attempt to hug the massive beast. Toph and Ahria stepped up to them and the creature opened its eyes, dark brown pools staring into her very soul.

"Appa, this is Ahria! She's a friend!" Aang introduced. "She'll be traveling with us, we need to go to the South to get Sokka and Suki and then to the Fire Nation to get Zuko, and then we'll come back here!"

"Hi, Appa." Ahria reached out a hand, and the sky bison sniffed before breathing heavily, closing its eyes once more. "Is that a good thing?"

"Well, Appa doesn't really fall asleep when he's around people he doesn't like so... you're safe." Katara nodded.

"Good to know then. I'd hate to be kicked out mid-flight." Appa groaned, and she giggled. "Best not tempt you, huh?"

Aang grabbed her hand and placed it on the sky bison's cheek. She giggled and began petting it, even earning a satisfied groan from the animal. "You're the cutest most gigantic bison I have ever met."

They heard a chirr from above and looked up to see a familiar head pop out from above Appa. A small round face with large eyes watched them carefully. Ahria gasped and covered her mouth with her hands, eyes tearing up. The animal jumped from Appa's head and landed on Aang. A winged lemur with bright green eyes, large ears, and white and brown fur.

"Rea?" Katara frowned. "Are you okay?"

"It's just..." she gasped. "I thought they were all gone."

"Well... Momo is still around and kicking." Aang declared.

"Momo?" she called softly and the lemur turned to look at her.

It started sniffing the air, and she smiled. Aang nudged his arm closer to her and Ahria reached out a hand. Momo climbed up Aang's arm and began sniffing her opened palm. Suddenly, it jumped and curled itself around Ahria's neck, its tail wrapping around her upper arm. Ahria felt something wet against her cheek and noticed Momo was pushing its nose against it.

She giggled, Aang seemed satisfied with the turn of events and Katara smiled. Toph felt the relaxation coming from everyone, even Katara and nodded. She did not understand at first why the waterbender acted so hostile towards the female airbender, but feeling the delight coming from Aang, she was starting to grasp the reason.

Ahria reached behind herself to take something from her bag. She showed it to Momo, who tilted his head with a chirp. It was the little winged lemur that Aang had seen Mako give her when they left. "See? It looks like you!"

Momo made grabby hands and Ahria let him take it. "Be gentle... it's precious."

The animal seemed to understand, for it twisted and turned the object in its hands, but always kept a careful hold. Toph suggested they spend the day at the beach, given that the sun was halfway down the sky, and Ahria volunteered to find dinner.

Everyone agreed, and Aang set off to help Ahria while Toph and Katara readied their camping site. The sun was almost over the horizon, and Katara was cooking dinner. Ahria petted Momo, who snoozed on her lap as she talked to Toph about whatever.

"This is delicious, Katara. Thank you." Ahria bowed her head.

"You're welcome." the young woman nodded and began eating her own.

"So, Rea." Toph declared "What is it like in the... what is it called again?"

"The Air Dome? It's good, I guess. The people are all nice. The biggest fight we have is about who gets the first fire cake when Aiguo has the ingredients to bake them. The Elders are all... conservative, but they mean well. They keep us safe." she declared.

"Do they teach airbending there?"

"They do! They have the academy for the most... promising and prestigious students." she looked down at her bowl. "Their training is overseen by the Elders and Air Bending Masters."

"But not all airbenders are promising." Toph frowned.

"No, so we build the common grounds." she looked up and grinned. "Airbenders that don't conform to the... levels they expect are taught at the common grounds, which is basically a large field in the lower parts of the city where everyone can go to. At first, it was students teaching other students, but a few airbending masters started stopping by and... quietly teaching everyone."

"Segregation?"

"Hm... prestige mostly. But at the naked eye, yes."

"Where did you study?"

"In both. Started my life in the academy, finished it in the common grounds."

"What happened?"

"I got kicked out."

"Uuuh, did you do it on purpose?" Toph asked.

"No, I... I wish I could say it was that, but..." she licked her lips. "I didn't live up to the expectations placed upon me. My teachers would see my father, and how powerful he was, and just... expected me to be the same. When I didn't become an airbending master by the age of 13, they... kicked me out."

"I'm so sorry." Katara let out.

"It's all good!" she grinned brightly, and Toph frowned. "I found the common grounds, and they helped me become who I am today!"

"Those people are fools." Aang declared. "You have an astonishing amount of control over your airbending. It's... amazing."

"Thank you, Aang." she smiled.

"Did you make that toy?" Toph asked.

"Hm? Oh, no. Mako made it for me as a goodbye gift. He knew my favorite animal is the winged lemur. He always gave me either a toy or an embroidery."

"Old Mako?"

"Yeah. He is a rough edge, but he is so kind. He took me in when... I lost my family. I was looking for a place to stay, and I found his house. We've been living together since."

"And his family?" Katara asked.

"Mako doesn't have any. His wife died at childbirth, and his son was cast out by the elders." she shrugged, "At first, he did not want me around, but I wasn't home all that often. Then one day, when I was to leave to have dinner, he asked me to share a meal with him."

"That's so sweet!"

"He's still rough edges and an old man that will kick me out of the house with a stick." she giggled. "But I'm the only family he has left, and he's the only family I have."

"That sucks ass," Toph commented.

"It does."

They finished dinner quickly, and Ahria volunteered to help Katara with the dishes, but the young woman pushed her away, telling her to get some rest. Instead, she called Aang, who went happily. Toph cuddled up to Appa and Ahria did the same, cradling the little lemur to her chest. When everything was set, Katara and Aang joined them, and everyone fell asleep.

A/N: I know this was a bit of a short one, but we're getting there! PPlease bear with me, things will get excited. Keep in mind, I'll keep this story up or drop it depending on your feedback.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to review if you want, or if you don't, I hope you liked it!

First to review gets a cookie!

Lots of love from this weirdo,

LoneeWolf :)