Aang as it turned out was a handful to Sokka. Kallik snorted at the antics and instead carried out her usual chores with Katara in tow. Katara continually gushed about him and his wisdom. Aang in the meantime had been running around the village.

"Penguin!" Aang shouted running towards a group which was just outside the village. Katara followed but not before glaring at Kallik that screamed "not a word from you."

"Finally he's gone," Sokka sighed as he watched the two of them run off. "I swear he's like a giant kid."

"Let him be," Kallik signed to him. "He's harmless."

"Alright I'll trust you on that," Sokka replied. "Now can you help me with the recruits?"

"Gladly."

Sokka smiled as she walked in front of his hastily arranged group of young boys. She knew them and they her. All tensed up to see what she'd show them. Kallik decided to start it slow. She gestured Sokka to assume ready stance which he quickly did while dodging her fireball that she'd launched at him.

"This is what the enemy will do," she said in her raspy voice. Some of the children could do the Waves of South but there were some that couldn't so it was easier for all involved for her to talk. Sokka could translate when her voice gave out. "They will show no mercy therefore you must be fearless. They will wipe your family and the Tribe from existence when they can. They're not to be messed with at all."

"Do they all throw fire?" One the boys named Yuka asked.

"No but they are no less dangerous. The Fire Nation hones its people into deadly weapons..." Her voice trailed off as she noticed a flare coming into the sky. There was only one place where that flare could've come from. No. Please no. Spirits have mercy no.

"It's that boy!" Sokka yelled angrily. "I know he was trouble!"

"It's not him or rather he didn't do it intentionally," Kallik signed at him. "He's not malicious."

"I urgh! Fine! But that still doesn't change the fact that the Fire Nation is probably coming now! Ready the armaments! The Fire Nation could be here at anytime and no potty breaks!" Sokka shouted immediately spring to action sending the boys on their way. Kallik meanwhile ran up armaments to see if she could see if a ship was incoming. Instead she saw on the Airbender coming carrying Katara who looked supremely unnerved.

Once they'd reached the village square to the people who'd gathered around Kallik turned her attention back out to the sea. It was calm and the smells were all the same...no there was another.

She breathed in and out before she realized precisely what she was getting. Coal. It's coal. They're coming. And at full speed if she could smell it now before she saw the coal snow. She snorted at their audacious response. As if coming faster wouldn't slow their doom. They were dead people walking as far as she was concerned. She closed her eyes breathing in and out stoking her inner flames burning them brighter and bigger. Smoke came from her nostrils and mouth. She was ready.

"Kallik!" Sokka called out to her. "Come on! You need your war paint!"

She wanted to protest that she didn't need it but she could understand that Sokka considered it important enough and cared enough to share that with her. Even if she found a bit superfluous it was still important to him and she was going to respect that. Kallik ran down to Sokka and let him drag her back to the hut while the others readied themselves for the fight. Mom was out probably preparing the women for whatever came. Sokka quietly pulled out the paint and began decorating her face with the blue dragon makeup that they'd agreed on.

Oh the irony you'd think it's hilarious Zu-Zu. Considering that all their recreations of that play her progenitor was obsessed with she was the heroic dragon emperor while he was the monstrous (well to the Fire Nation at least) water spirit. Now she was being painted in Water Tribe colors as their protector. Something she embraced with pride. Mom was correct they were Tribe and she would never give up on them. Because she like a dragon protected her hoard from invaders.

They took their time getting here. She was thanking the spirits that she'd convinced Katara to be the fall guy in the meantime so she and Sokka would sneak behind to tackle them. From what she could see, it looked like either it was a short commander of the Southern Raiders, or some nobleman son, that was trying to be all puffed up and arrogant. Beside him were two guards. She looked at Sokka and he nodded. She'd take out the leader while Katara and Sokka would take out the guards. While the fool was bellowing about something about hiding something Kallik snuck forward like a Polar bear dog with Sokka spreading out behind.

As the commander snatched Gran-Gran Kallik attacked from behind grabbing his head in a vicious headlock. His helmet prevented him from reaching her he clawed at her arm that was firmly against his neck. Beside her she heard Sokka scream a battle cry followed with a crunch as his club smashed the man's helmet. There was a thud on the ground and the other was tripped up by Katara's subtle bit of Waterbending allowing Sokka to grapple with him making it hard for the firebender to get a good shot.

Finally the commander flung his head back forcing her to loosen her grip least she get a broken nose at the least and he turned grabbing her arm flinging her over his shoulder. She in the last second managed to grab his shoulder armor enough to drag him into the ground. He fell with a crunch as his heavy armor impeded his mobility. Kallik had no such restrictions and crawled over to give him a good beating on the face...which was when she saw the scar. It was a nasty one covering half of his face, and what was worse from what Kallik could see. It looked like a hand as in someone had taken their burning hand and had branded him. It was enough to make her pause in shock, but that pause was enough for the commander who quickly shoved her off with his legs with a frustrated growl that strangely sounded familiar to her.

Kallik rolled and stood up smoke coming from her mouth. But even as that to happened, she still wasn't ready to unleash her flame. Someone had literally branded this guy's face with his hand that was so completely messed up. She heard something coming and saw something slam into the commander making fall rather comically into the snow. Wait...Aang?!

"Looking for me?" Aang said calmly looking at the commander who quickly got up and his firebending dried him off.

"You're the Avatar?" The commander said disbelieving. Kallik couldn't blame him it was unbelievable.. and also, she was kicking herself not realizing the connections earlier. It made so much sense now. The Airbending, the confusion, the fact that he was stuck in an iceberg for seemingly 100 years. Mentally she was smacking herself. How did she not make the connection?

"I've spent years training for this, preparing..." the commander said. "You're just a child!"

"Well you're just a teen," Aang replied.

"Huh it explains your weakness," Kallik huffed aloud.

The teen commander roared and shot out flames that were it not for Aang blocking them would've resulted in the villagers getting killed.

"If I surrender," Aang said once there was a pause in the fighting. "Will leave Water Tribe people alone?"

The commander paused loosening his stance and surprisingly nodded in agreement. Kallik was genuinely surprised that he agreed so readily and readied herself for him to turn and say otherwise.

"Set a course for the Fire Nation! I'm going home," the commander said walking up the gangplank with his other bodyguard begrudgingly picking his comrade glaring at Sokka through his eyeholes in the facemask. Aang looked down at everyone sadly as the gangplank closed on him and the Fire Nation men. Then once the gangplank had closed the ship backed away from what was left of the wall sailing off into the distance taking their friend with them.

"We can't leave him," Katara said firmly looking at the retreating ship.

"I won't leave him. I will not allow him to be destroyed by those who defile our Tribe," Kallik agreed giving Katara a firm grip on her hand.

"Well that's just great now will you guys gather up some supplies or are we just going to talk about it?" Sokka asked much to their shock.

"I thought you hated him," Kallik signed a bit confused.

"Well I'm still not thrilled with him but he sacrificed himself and saved us. It's the least we can do," Sokka said with a shrug. "I'll get a canoe."

A bellow from their left interrupted their conversation making them look over. Appa slapped his tail down looking at them expectantly.

"Or we can take the giant bison," Kallik signed with a shrug. "Works for me."

"I'll get the food supplies!" Katara said turning to the camp.

"I'll get camping gear," Sokka said.

And I'll check on Appa, she thought to herself as she approached the flying bison. Appa huffed but allowed Kallik on the saddle. Kallik fiddled with the reins thinking of how fast the beast was on water...wait. Why was she thinking of going on the water when she had a creature known as a sky bison? What did he say to get Appa going?

"Hup hup," she said to no avail. Clearly, that wasn't it. "Up up...um yip yip?!" The last part was shouted because Appa slammed down tail, and before she knew it, she was flying honest to spirits flying. Granted it was in a circle because well she wasn't sure because she was too busy focusing on the fact that she was literally flying.

"I'm flying," she said out loud in shock, her raspy voice becoming even more hoarse with excitement. "I'm flying!" She shouted in excitement ignoring the sharp prong of pain that it brought.

"KALLIK!"

She looked down to see that Mom had called to her. Kallik landed or rather Appa did over to Mom, Gran-Gran and Katara who loaded up with supplies needed for a long trip and looking a bit stunned at the sight.

"I flew!" She shouted legitimately ecstatic. "It can fly!"

"I can see that," Gran-Gran said smiling. "And honestly I most say, I've never seen you this excited about anything."

"I flew in the air!"

"Really? I didn't notice," Katara said with a smile.

"I can see that as well. I have to wonder though if you honestly only leave without saying goodbye? For shame child, I taught you better than that."

"Um I believe the point was expediency," Kallik said sheepishly rubbing her neck her euphoria dying down. Thought of leaving Mom and Gran-Gran and them disapproving of it never crossed her mind. It was just getting Aang back. That in the excitement of her actually legitimately flying no she would not get over that because that was fun sort of made her forget that she would have to say goodbye to them.

"I see, well good thing Katara here has enough sense to say something," Gran-Gran said holding up a pouch. "You'll need this for your throat especially since you'll be gone for a while... and right now, since you've been well exercising it a bit rigorously lately."

Kallik blushed and sheepishly accepted the pouch.

"Do you guys remember how to make it correct?" Mom said looking at the both of them.

"Yes Mom," they both said.

"Is Sokka getting the camping supplies?" Mom asked.

"Yes," Katara answered.

"Good because you're going to need it," Gran-Gran said. "I knew this day would come that you would help out but not this soon."

"Neither did I," Mom said as Sokka came running up with the camping gear. "Sokka take care of your sisters as the warrior you are." She gave him a kunik and a hug at the end then turned to her sister. "

Katara remember to be careful and compassionate with your family," she said doing the same to Katara.

"And Kallik walk tall and know that we love you, you are our beloved daughter. And know that I am so proud of all of you," Mom said giving her a firm hug and kunik.

"We'll help the Avatar," Katara said as Sokka composed himself beside Kallik. "We will stop the Fire Nation."

"I swear that on my honor," Kallik signed to Mom giving her voice a rest. "I will help the Avatar stop the Fire Nation."

"I expected no less, Azula," Mom said stunning both Katara and Sokka with her old Fire Nation name. Kallik guessed that she said so she knew that she was being serious about the matter. "Go well and with our family's blessing and love."

"Azula?" Sokka looked at Kallik funnily. "Is that the name you didn't wanna tell us when you first came?"

"Yes, and there's more to it but I'll explain later OK? I didn't bring it up because it didn't seem important until now," Kallik signed to him.

"OK I trust you."

"Azula? Sounds like you. Fierce, proud, and very theatrical," Katara smiled at her as they got into the saddle allowing Kallik to take the reins.

"I am not theatrical," Kallik grumbled glaring at Katara.

"Yes you are," Sokka said with a smirk. "Now let's get Aang back!"

"Got it. Appa! Yip yip!"