Chapter 7: Avatar Aang

The flame shot from my fist and flew to the right of Zuko. I pulled my hand back with disappointment. Zuko was trying really hard not to laugh at me, but I saw the corner of his lip lift a tad.

"You'll get it. Try again," Iroh said. "This time focus on where you want the flame to go. Use your fire as an extension of your hand."

Stepping back on the steel deck of the ship, I stared at my opponent with uncertainty. Zuko stood across from me, ready to block my flames. Iroh had told Zuko that he would be target practice ten minutes ago. The young prince wasn't thrilled, but he decided my tiny flames were no threat. Also, so far I had yet to actually send a flame directly at him.

Getting back into my stance, I felt my legs shake from my lack of stamina. We had been practicing for an hour, which was a little longer than my body seemed to be able to handle at the moment. While Zuko was doing his advanced sets, I practiced the few moves I had learned in the last few days. Iroh wanted me to practice aim today, so when Zuko was done with his own practice Iroh dragged him over.

I tried to hide my exhaustion to not disappoint my teachers. As sweat trickled down my forehead, I breathed in trying to calm my racing heart. I really didn't want to throw fire at Zuko. I didn't want to accidentally burn him. However, Iroh reassured me it would be fine before we started.

Zuko tried to reassure me when he caught that I was still anxious. "If you're worried you'll hurt me, then don't be. I'm very good at defense."

I knew he was right. My flames were so weak still, he could block them easily. Nodding, I took in another deep breath. Then with determination, I moved forward and threw my fist out. A flame shot towards Zuko. He quickly moved his hands to push the fire that headed straight towards his torso to the side. The flames turned to smoke in the air.

"Excellent! Very good, Amara," Iroh said. "Again."

After another ten minutes of shooting fire at Zuko, I finally felt my body burn in exhaustion. Iroh noticed my frame start to tremble.

"I think that's enough practice for today. Why don't you two wash up and then join me back on deck for some tea?"

Zuko shook his head. "I'll pass. I'm going to talk to the captain. I want to make sure we're still on course. If what the prison warden said is true the Avatar is in the area."

Just yesterday evening we had stopped at an Earth Kingdom prison made entirely of metal. Zuko was informed that the Avatar had led a prison riot there and escaped with the earthbender prisoners. They were last seen headed east towards the coast. We were going to anchor in the next hour so Zuko could take a group of men and scout the area.

As Zuko walked off to go talk to the captain in the helm, Iroh looked at me with hope. I gave a smile. "I'll go wash up and be back."

He nodded. "Good. Then after tea we can go work on your reading."

My smile widened. I knew when Iroh said this he was referring to both my reading and my waterbending.

"Also, I must say Amara that you have caught on wonderfully in the few days of training you've had," Iroh complimented. "However, I do want you to be careful. You are still building your strength after sixteen years of captivity… it will take time for your body to get to where it needs to be. I can see you are pushing yourself. I don't want you to get sick."

I sighed. "I just… have so much to learn."

Iroh placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "And you will have years to learn. There's no need to rush."

I nodded.

"Which is why tomorrow I want you to take the day off from bending and studying. We'll be docked on shore through the night. Tomorrow you can spend a few minutes walking on land. It's good to get off this ship whenever you get the chance."

I smiled. "Okay… That sounds… fun."

About an hour later we anchored on the coastline. Zuko took some men with him on shore to scout the area and see if they could find the Avatar's camp. Zuko ordered me to stay on the ship for now, telling me if they found the Avatar and a fight broke out then he didn't want me getting hurt.

Sitting on deck with Iroh, sipping some tea, I asked Zuko who was about to leave, "Is the Avatar really that dangerous?"

Zuko nodded. "He's the reason we ended up at Zhao's harbor. He caused a lot of damage to my ship and injured some of the crew. He's very powerful. Which is why I need to capture him sooner than later. The more he learns about the other elements, the harder it will be to take him prisoner."

Once Zuko was gone, I considered what he had told me. I then asked Iroh, "What will happen to the Avatar if Zuko does capture him?"

Iroh lowered his cup of tea with a heavy sigh. "He will be taken to Fire Lord Ozai, and then most likely imprisoned in one of the strongest holding cells at the Fire Nation Capital Prison. We will not kill him, because then he will be reincarnated and the search will have to begin all over again."

His words caused my heart to ache. "I heard he's only a child…"

I pictured a twelve year old boy chained up in a dark cold prison. In his place, I saw me. Scared. Alone. Trapped.

Iroh took my hand which was shaking. "Don't worry, dear. I have a feeling that won't happen."

His confidence surprised me. I looked at him puzzled. Was he not rooting for the Fire Nation to win?

"Iroh…" I started to speak, but then stopped.

He noticed my hesitation. "We talked about this, Amara. You can tell or ask me anything. I won't get upset."

I let out a heavy breath. "If… the Fire Nation was to win the war… What would happen to the other nations? My mother's people..."

Iroh squeezed my hand. He looked around and saw the guards and crewmen nearby were chatting with one another or doing their daily duties. He spoke so only we would hear. "Can you keep a secret?"

I nodded.

"The Fire Nation is not going to win this war. Even now, the tides are changing. The Avatar's return after a hundred years has brought hope back to many, and with this hope is a new found strength. The earthbenders who rioted and escaped that prison are an example. They found their will to fight again. The Avatar is restoring balance, even as we speak."

His reassurance calmed me. Then I was worried. "But… If the Avatar does win… What will happen to you and Zuko, and the crew?"

He released my hand and poured me some more tea. "Don't worry about that at the moment. There is still a lot of time before the Avatar is strong enough to defeat the Fire Nation. I want you to just focus on yourself for now. It's only been a little while since you were brought on this ship. Your health and happiness is what's important."

I felt my cheeks heat up from his kindness. My heart warmed. "I'll never be able to repay you for saving me. I'm so happy… I feel safe with you and Zuko. That's all my mom ever wanted… She wanted me to be safe."

"I truly wish I could've met your mother," Iroh responded. "She seems to have been a wonderful woman."

I felt my eyes burn as tears threatened to spill. "She was… from what I can remember. I was so young when she died, so a lot of my memories of her have faded. I've tried to hold on to as much as I can over the years."

"Your memories may fade… but your heart will always hold a piece of her. And when you waterbend, that is the moment when you will be most connected to her. Your bending is a gift passed from her to you."

Iroh's comforting words eased my pain. I smiled at him with gratitude. "I wish she could've met you too. I think she would've really liked you."

A few hours later, Iroh and I had done some reading and then we went over some waterbending techniques in my room. I was able to form a ball of water now without dropping it, and I could also change the water in a bowl to ice. While Iroh wasn't able to show me waterbending, his verbal guidance and teaching me the proper stances seemed to be helping me improve greatly.

Iroh was right though. I was exhausted. Between firebending practice, literary studies, and waterbending, my whole body felt ready for a long sleep. Iroh noticed my exhaustion as I stumbled on one of the moves he taught me.

"I think that's enough for today," Iroh said. "And it looks like practice went through lunch. I'll have a nice dinner prepared. In the meantime, why don't you get some rest. A nap might do you good."

I decided Iroh was right. "I… am tired."

"Then rest. I'll have Tu Lan retrieve you for dinner. Zuko will probably be gone until late so it will just be the two of us."

Once Iroh left, I undid the ribbon in my hair and rested it beside the other four on my low table. Then I crawled onto my mattress and relaxed. As my exhaustion carried me away, I hoped for peace.

That did not come.

I started to dream…

Running through the forest, I gasped as I heard shouts behind me. Armor clanking echoed in the air. "Stop!"

I glanced back to expect a guard, but I saw nothing but the trees. I kept running, not wanting to be captured. As I rushed through some foliage though, I came out into a clearing. I was horrified when I saw what was on the other side.

Zhao stood across the clearing, and my mother was being restrained by him. She looked just the same as she did before she died. Her blue eyes met my own with terror.

"No! Let her go!" I moved forward, but guards emerged out of nowhere suddenly pointing spears at me.

Zhao scowled. "You freak! I heard about your abilities! I know what you can do!" He shoved my mom to the ground and she fell on her knees.

"Mom!" I tightened my fists. "Please! Let her go!"

Zhao scoffed. "You think you're so strong now. You think because you've tasted freedom you have the power to save her?! You are weak! You can't save anyone!"

I felt furious. "You're wrong! I will stop you, Zhao! I will defeat you!" I shot my hand forward to try and shoot a flame. Nothing came out.

Zhao laughed. "You fool! You are weak! You will always be nothing but a worthless little freak!"

The guards started to move forward. Their spears inched closer.

"Amara!" My mother cried out from where she was on her knees. "Please, help!"

I gasped. "Mom! Hang on!" I saw a stream and tried to pull some water up. It only flowed for a second and dropped back. "No!"

Zhao laughed again. "So pathetic! Just like your mother!" He grabbed my mom by the arm and pulled her back to her feet. His dark eyes stared into my soul. He curled his lips. "I'll end you just like I did to your dear mommy!"

The guards closed in. Their bodies blocked my view. I heard my mother scream. I saw flames behind the armored men.

"NO!"

"Amara!"

Something shook my body hard. I came out of my dream with gasps. Sweat covered my forehead. Tu Lan knelt beside me, his eyes wide with worry. I looked around and saw I was in my room on the ship.

Safe… Zhao wasn't here… safe…

Tu Lan noticed my breathing was calming. He brushed a gentle hand through my hair like he used to when I would have bad dreams. "Amara… it was just a nightmare. You're okay."

I felt warm tears slide down my cheeks. I slowly sat up and tried to wipe my eyes. Tu Lan handed me some water in a canteen, and I quickly drank it to quench my thirst.

As he took the canteen back, he asked, "Do you want to talk about it?"

I shook my head. I really didn't…

Instead, I asked softly, "Tu Lan… do... do you think Zhao will try to get me back?"

Tu Lan fell quiet. He thought about something for a moment. He looked like he was contemplating if he should answer or not. Finally, he gave me a small smile. "Don't worry about that, Amara. You are protected. No one will get to you without going through us first. I promise."

As much as I wanted to believe him, I was still scared.

That evening as I ate some dinner with Iroh, I was quiet and distracted. I thought about my time under Iroh's care. I thought about how much joy and happiness I had experienced. I had not felt pain since I last saw my brother.

Was it possible all of this could end? Was Zhao after me? Would he try to hurt Tu Lan… Iroh… Zuko? Was I putting a target on their heads?

"Something appears to be weighing heavily on your mind," Iroh spoke, breaking through my thoughts. "Is there anything you want to talk about?"

I met Iroh's piercing gold eyes. Then I dropped my gaze back to my barely eaten fish. My eyes burned as I thought back to my dream, and my worries.

"I just… I don't want anyone to get hurt because of me," I whispered.

Iroh sighed. "I know you're worried about Zhao… and I do not want to lie to you, Amara… I fear he may try and steal you back. I suspect he has hired some men to follow us. Zhao does not like to lose. But this is why when you walk on land I have so many guards go with you. You are protected."

I picked at my fish again. "I know. I'm sorry… there's still just so much fear… I don't want to go back." I breathed heavily. "But I'll keep working hard to be stronger. I want to be able to protect myself."

"You are already stronger," he spoke. "And you will only grow from here. But I will protect you as much as I can. You've truly become a daughter to me. Your safety is my concern."

I gave a small smile. On the inside though I still felt afraid. I loved being free… I loved finally getting to be happy…

But no matter how much joy I felt, Zhao still plagued my mind. He was still alive. He was still a threat.

If he was after me, and he managed to catch me, I feared this time he would truly kill me. The secret about me was out. This knowledge put a huge risk on Zhao's career. His honor was on the line if the Fire Nation learned about what our father did twenty years ago.

I was his enemy...

That next morning, Tu Lan came to retrieve me to come with him, Zuko, and a few other guards on land for the brief walk that Iroh ordered. When he came, I hid under my blanket not wanting to leave my safe room. I didn't mind being a coward. I felt greatly unsettled about going on land. My dream still weighed heavily on my mind.

Tu Lan tried to encourage me. "There will be myself and two other guards. Also, Prince Zuko. You will be well protected. You need air and some exercise. It will help. You'll stop worrying once you get on land. I promise."

Tu Lan's reassurance got me to leave my mattress and get ready. I was anxious the whole time though. Being on land just put me out more in the open. However, I knew Iroh's heart was in the right place for making me go. He wanted me to see the world, and I wouldn't be able to do that on a rusty ship.

Once I was dressed and had my hair up, I followed Tu Lan through the ship towards the ramp. Zuko and the two other guards were already there. One of the guards was Fe, and he smiled reassuringly at me. I tried to give a smile back, but I was still unsettled.

Zuko stepped over to me. "Uncle asked me to take you on land for a little bit. We need to make this walk brief though. The Avatar does not seem to be in this area so we need to move to the next port as soon as possible. It seems he is traveling along the coast."

I gave a small nod. "Brief sounds good."

Zuko looked at me with surprise. He hadn't expected me to be relieved that I wouldn't be on land long. He didn't question it though. He turned and started to head down the ramp. The guards followed him.

Taking in a heavy breath, I willed myself to move forward. Tu Lan was right: Zuko was a strong fighter, and his guards seemed strong as well. I was protected.

I tried to calm my fear and focus on the world.

The further I walked through the woods, the calmer I did become. I saw more birds and butterflies. There were flowers of all colors. The breeze felt cool but fresh. As we walked, Zuko stayed quiet, seeming distracted by his thoughts. I was certain he was just thinking about the Avatar.

Fe suddenly held up his hand as we were about to reach a small clearing. "Sir. It appears the foliage up ahead has been tampered by something. Pretty fresh. I believe we may not be alone."

We had all stopped upon Fe's words. Zuko went alert. "Scout ahead. Question anyone you see and make sure they aren't a threat. We will remain here."

Fe did so, heading forward and going through the woods. I could see what he meant as he headed in the direction he had seen damage. Low branches were snapped as if someone pulled them to clear the way.

My heart started to pound with angst. I was no longer taking in the forest scene as I realized we were not alone. Zuko noticed my body went stiff and my skin paled. He tried to reassure me. "It's nothing I'm sure, Amara. We just want to be precautious. There's a lot of travelers in this area, so it's probably one of them."

I tried to calm, but something made me greatly unsettled. "I… I think I want to go back to the ship now. I've had enough time on land."

Zuko met my gaze. He sensed my worry. He gave a nod. "Okay. As soon as he gives us the clear we'll head back. Promise."

I crossed my arms with angst. I knew I couldn't argue.

Only a moment later, Fe returned looking a little disheveled. "Sir! I just spoke to a traveler who said he saw the Avatar about a mile east from here. Looks like they headed back in the forest after leaving the earthbender prison like you said."

Zuko gasped. "What?! He's here!" He went to head in the direction that Fe spoke of, but then he remembered my presence and froze. He looked back at me with uncertainty. He looked torn, not sure what to do. He had promised his Uncle he'd stay with me, but his mission was to capture the Avatar.

Finally, he made his decision. He glanced back at Tu Lan. "Stay with her. I'll be back!" He directed his next order at the other guard. "Come with us." Then he met my eyes. "Don't move from this spot. I won't be gone long." Zuko rushed off with the other guard, following Fe in the direction that they heard the Avatar was headed.

I stayed as I was told. I was disappointed though. I had wanted so terribly to return to the ship. Seeing that Tu Lan was the only guard left did not ease my anxiety. I felt guilty thinking Tu Lan could not protect me without the others, but I had never actually seen Tu Lan fight anything but a ratsnake.

I tried not to think I was in danger though. I knew my fears were just from my past trauma. There was no way Zhao's men would find me so quickly when we just docked the day before... Right?

Instead of fretting, I looked over at Tu Lan with honest curiosity. I asked softly, "He really is determined to capture the Avatar, isn't he?"

Tu Lan sighed. "Yes… from what I understand, capturing the Avatar is the only way the young prince will be allowed home. Seems his father banished him for a reason not even the crew knows."

His reveal saddened me. "He can't go home?"

He shook his head. "Not without the kid."

A twig suddenly snapped nearby. My body jumped and my heart quickened. I turned my head and saw a man with messy black hair and tattered brown clothing. He had a pack on his back, and his hair hung over his eyes slightly. Immediately, I gathered this was the traveler that Fe had spoken of. However, something about him made me uneasy.

As he came into the small clearing, he smirked. "I see they took the bait." The man spoke in a deep and cold tone. He appeared late thirties, and very strong under his tattered clothing. He lifted his head and I saw gold eyes. A firebender.

Tu Lan yanked his weapon out in front of him, sensing immediately that this man was not friendly. "Stop! Who are you? What do you want?"

The man shot his gaze towards me and then back to Tu Lan. He sneered. He dropped his pack which I realized then was just a prop. There was nothing inside it. "I'm the traveler that 'saw' the Avatar. Now that I'm not outnumbered, I'm here to fulfill my mission. Give me the girl, and I won't kill you."

My blood went cold. I couldn't believe it… this is exactly what I had feared. Zhao was trying to get me back. I gasped and felt my body tremble. My heart pounded loudly in my ears.

No… Please no…

Tu Lan shoved me behind him, brandishing his spear to prepare to fight. He spoke with spite. "Zhao sent you, didn't he?"

The man rolled his eyes. "Perceptive." His gaze was dark as he stepped forward, and he looked annoyed. "You really think that toothpick is going to stop me? I'm a firebender. Don't waste my time."

My fists tightened. My heart pounded painfully. I wanted to help, but I knew I was still a beginner. Even if I tried to firebend or waterbend, I wouldn't be able to do much damage. However, I knew if it came down to my life and Tu Lan's then I would have to try.

"Your ability doesn't scare me," Tu Lan snapped. "You're not getting her!"

He narrowed his eyes. "It's Tu Lan, right? He told me you would probably be with the girl. He told me to kill you if I needed to." The man grit his teeth and tightened his fists. "If you don't give me the girl, I will. I have no time for games."

I was horrified. Tu Lan… I couldn't let him die… I didn't want anyone to die for me.

"Tu Lan," I whispered. "Zuko… go find Zuko. I can hold him off."

Tu Lan backed up, causing me to do the same. "Hush, Amara. I am not leaving you. General Iroh would kill me and I'd never forgive myself."

The man scowled. "I'm losing patience. Give me the girl, or I'll burn you to a crisp."

Tu Lan didn't stand down. "You want her, then you have to go through me."

He was amused. "Fine. Your funeral."

Tu Lan forced me back more, and then raced forward. I was horrified as he lunged his spear at the man who easily dodged with swift movements. The man turned and shot a flame at Tu Lan, who dodged quickly. Then Tu Lan swung his spear again, and the man stumbled back swiftly. The man growled, realizing he actually had more of an opponent than he expected.

As Tu Lan dodged the man's flames and tried to strike with his spear, I could only watch in frozen horror. I didn't know what to do. I had only just learned how to aim my fire blasts yesterday. I could start a fire in the grass and maybe alert Zuko, but then I risked killing us all.

As I tried to think over my options in my head, I saw through my wild mind that Tu Lan's hands were hit by the man's fire. He cried out and dropped his spear. Then another blast of fire was shot at Tu Lan's torso and my friend was sent flying back. He hit the ground unconscious, his armor singed.

"Tu Lan!" I was horrified when I saw he wasn't moving. He was too far away for me to see if he was breathing too.

No… no!

In a panic, I rushed between the man and my friend. Jerking my hand forward, a flame shot out and sailed towards the man. His eyes widened and he quickly deflected the fire. However, he had stumbled back in shock.

"What's this? He didn't tell me you were a firebender! He better pay me more for this!" He shot a blast at me, and I quickly dodged. I had been taught a move to deflect flames, but I couldn't remember it at that moment and was scared to try. I did know I needed to get him away from Tu Lan though. I turned and ran through the forest, hoping the man would pursue me. He thankfully did, shouting, "Get back here you brat!"

As I ran, I shouted out for Zuko and Fe. I had a feeling I wasn't running in the right direction though.

"Stop! Don't make me hurt you girl!"

My brother's hired bounty hunter seemed to be gaining on me. My legs were not as long as his, and I still was weak from my years of being locked in a cage. I just made it to a larger clearing with a small pond when the man caught up to me.

He tackled me from behind, his body heavy. I was pushed down into the grass, and I gasped trying to think of anything to get me out of this horrible situation. I moved my arm enough to try and point my palm at him. I shot a burst of fire up at his face, and he gasped as he jerked back to avoid the heat. As he let some of his weight off of me, I tried to wiggle out from under him. He regained himself quickly though.

"Clearly I need to knock you out. You're more a fighter than I expected. You're lucky you're worth more to me alive than dead."

His weight left me, but only so he could jerk me up by my arms and force me towards the small pond. I struggled and grabbed his wrist trying to heat up my hands again to burn him. Panic rose as we got closer to the pond.

"Help!" I cried and thrashed. I screamed. It couldn't end like this. I had finally been saved from my life of imprisonment. I couldn't go back. "Let go! Please!"

He shoved me back down and forced me on my stomach hard. He then pressed his hand to the back of my head and shoved my face down in the pond. I knew then he was trying to knock me out by cutting off my air. As he forced me into the pond, I felt water consume my mouth, nose, and lungs. I tried to struggle and twist from his hold to get back to the air above. I felt panic as I feared I would not make it out of this one.

I had tasted freedom, and now I was going to probably die by my brother's hand. What had I done to deserve this fate?

However, after what felt like the longest minute, the man holding me down suddenly released me. As soon as he did, I tried to push my body above the water. I managed to get a breath of air long enough to spit and cough water out of my lungs. As I tried to move out of the water, I could feel every part of my body was exhausted from my struggle.

Only a moment after I could breathe again, something landed beside me. Hands, smaller than the man's, suddenly grabbed under my arms and helped me up away from the pond. The person pulled me enough to get me back on my knees. They released me once they saw I was holding myself up. My hair dripped and I shivered as chills raced through me. I coughed some more, getting the last of the water out.

"Are you okay?"

A young voice spoke. I focused my blurred vision, and finally saw the world clear up again. I turned my head to see the man that tried to knock me out was on the ground unconscious near a tree. I tried to look around to find my savior. When I saw a boy, probably a few years younger than me, I was confused. Was this my hero?

Then I realized it didn't matter. I had to go. I had to find Zuko. He was sure to be looking for me now. And Tu Lan was injured and needed help. I also didn't want to be near the evil man when he woke up.

I attempted to get to my feet, my body shaking from exhaustion. Finding my balance, I backed away from the person I did not know. He was wearing strange clothes and had weird markings on his body. I didn't take any more time to observe him. Turning, I ran in the direction I believed we had come from.

The boy chased after me. "Wait! Don't go! I'm not going to hurt you!"

He was lucky. I was tired and in pain. I only made it away from the pond about a tenth of a mile, and then I collapsed in the grass trying to catch my breath. He appeared in front of me. I saw he had brown shoes on.

"It's okay. That man won't hurt you anymore. Why was he trying to kill you?"

I still was trying to catch my breath. Finally, I managed to stand again with shaking legs. My body felt ready to collapse. I had been through more than I could still physically handle. I tried to hold myself together. "He… he was just trying to knock me out…"

The boy looked at my red clothing with uncertainty. His eyes then landed on my blue irises. He was confused. He took in my mix of Water Tribe and Fire Nation features with perplexity. "Are you... Fire Nation?"

I finally took in his features. I looked at his blue arrow tattoos on his bald head and hands, orange and yellow clothes, and gray eyes with my own confusion. He was definitely not from the Earth Kingdom. My breathing calmed though as I started to sense he was not a threat. I asked softly, "Are you?"

My question in turn surprised him.

"No." He gave a simple answer. "I'm from the Air Nation."

His reveal made my brows furrow. I had heard from Iroh the Air Nation was destroyed. My mom had even told me that the Air Nomads were wiped out by the Fire Nation.

"I didn't know the Air Nation still existed…" I spoke softly. Then a thought hit me. "Do you know the Avatar?"

He gripped a long wooden staff I just noticed he was holding. "Why?"

I rubbed the back of my neck. "My... guardian and his nephew are looking for him. Just wondering..."

His brows furrowed. "Your guardian?"

I nodded. Then my body shook. "Actually… they are probably worried about me. I'm sure Zuko found Tu Lan by now… do you know the direction back to the coast? I… I can't remember which way I came fro—"

He interrupted me. "You're traveling with Prince Zuko?"

His knowledge of my friend made me surprised. "You... know him?"

He loosened the grip on his staff. He was puzzled by my confusion. "Yes… but you clearly don't know me… I'm surprised. I thought Prince Zuko would have told you about me if you're traveling with him."

It clicked then. Air Nation. A twelve year old kid. "Wait… You… you're the Avatar?" I blinked. I was stunned. "He made you sound so… violent…"

My comment made the boy laugh. "He clearly is scared of me then. But I'm not. I'm peaceful. He's the one flinging fire at me." He then turned serious again. "But who are you? I didn't see you when I was last on Zuko's ship at the South Pole."

I rubbed my arm. I didn't know what to do. The Avatar was something Zuko wanted, but I didn't have it in my heart to attack the kid in front of me. He looked like a gentle spirit. He had saved me. He hadn't attacked me at all, and he didn't look like he was going to.

"I'm… Amara…"

He took in the information. He asked again, "Why are you with Prince Zuko?"

I crossed my arms suddenly uncertain how much to tell this kid. "They saved me from a bad man. They're taking care of me."

"Is this bad man the one I knocked unconscious?"

I shook my head. "No… that man was just hired to bring me back." I let out a heavy breath. For some reason, I felt I could trust this young boy. "The bad man is my… brother."

"Your brother?"

I nodded. "Half-brother actually." I shivered. My hair was still dripping so the water was making me a little cold. "Thank you though… for saving me… I was scared I would be forced back..."

"I was glad I was flying over the right place at the right time." He stepped closer to me. He held his hand out. "My name's Aang."

I stared at the hand with question. Was I supposed to do something?

He saw my confusion. "Haven't you ever shook someone's hand before?"

I grimaced. "Uh… no. I haven't done a lot of things."

He looked like he wanted to pry. Instead, he grabbed my hand and held it. He moved it up and down. "There. That's how you shake someone's hand. It's a greeting, just not as formal as bowing."

I stared at his hand with surprise. I gave a small smile though. "Okay."

He let go. "You look from the Water Tribe… but also Fire Nation… are you both?"

His perception made me look away from him anxiously. He saw he was correct. "Wow… I guess I'm right."

I backed up with uncertainty. Aang noticed I was suddenly afraid.

He quickly tried to reassure me. "I won't tell. Sorry. I just haven't seen someone part Water Tribe and Fire Nation before. Surprised me, that's all."

I rubbed my arm again. "That's because as far as I know, I'm the only one."

He nodded. "Well then that just makes you really cool." He smiled.

His immediate acceptance bewildered me. My uncertainty towards this boy calmed again.

I thought for a moment. Then I asked softly, "Is... is it true you can bend more than one element?"

He grinned and nodded. "Yeah. I mean, I haven't learned a ton about water, earth, and fire yet, but that's why I'm traveling with my friends. I'm going to learn them so I can stop the war."

His determination surprised me. But so did his reveal.

"You're traveling with others?"

He nodded again. "Katara and Sokka. They're around your age. I met them actually right when Zuko tried to first capture me. They helped me escape from an iceberg at the South Pole."

My breathing hitched. "You're traveling with kids from the Southern Water Tribe?"

He nodded. "Yeah." He stared at my blue eyes and tan skin again. Then his eyes widened. "Wait… Is that where you come from?"

I went to answer. I wanted to meet them; To see if they knew of my grandma and aunt. However, a voice cut me off. "Amara!"

Aang's eyes widened. We both recognized the voice to be Zuko's.

"Uh… you should probably go to him. He sounds worried," Aang said, taking a few steps back. "I need to get back to my friends anyway. They're probably worried too. I told them I was just going to scout the area. I'm sure we'll see each other again though. Nice meeting you."

He went to leave.

"Wait!" I took a few steps. He stopped and looked at me with a questioning gaze. I gave a small smile again. "Thank you… for saving me… Avatar Aang."

He smiled back. "You're welcome. Stay safe, Amara." He hit his staff then and orange wings suddenly popped out. I was bewildered as he ran and then jumped into the air. A gust of wind shot from beneath him and he glided away above the trees, out of sight.

"Amara!" Zuko shouted again. I heard his footsteps as he raced in my direction. My eyes stayed on the spot Aang had gone, amazed by his recent action. So that's what an airbender could do...

"Amara!" Zuko broke through the trees and rushed over to me. He grabbed my arms with worry. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

I looked at Zuko with surprise. Then I glanced back at the direction Aang had gone.

"What happened to the man that grabbed you?"

Zuko was still asking me questions. I met his gold eyes in shock. Finally, I said softly, "Aang… he saved me…"

Zuko's brow furrowed. "Aang?"

"Sir! We found him! It's the traveler from before. He deceived us." Fe was suddenly there, dragging the man who grabbed me earlier over to us with the help of the other guard. Zuko pulled from me and stepped over. The man had regained consciousness, but looked in pain. "We found him near the pond. There was a struggle by the bank. Looked like he was trying to knock her unconscious in the water."

Zuko stepped over to the man who was now on his knees. The young prince's fists were clenched in fury. "Did Zhao send you?! Did he command you to kill her?"

The man was groggy, but managed to say, "I wasn't going to kill her. That wasn't the order. But she was trying to firebend. I needed her unconscious."

"So Zhao did send you," Zuko spat. "You go back to your leader and tell him the next time he tries something like this again my Uncle and I will tell the world about the crimes of his father!"

The man hung his head. He knew he was outnumbered.

"And if you dare come near her again, I won't be as merciful!"

Fe released him. The man got to his feet and rushed off.

Zuko sighed. He looked over at the guard I still didn't know the name of. "Head back to the ship and gather some extra hands to help Tu Lan."

The guard bowed and ran off to do as he was ordered.

"Amara… let's go," Zuko said, turning back to me. "We need to get you back to the ship."

My thoughts went back to my friend. "Tu Lan… is he okay?"

Zuko nodded. "He's injured but he'll be fine. He was conscious enough to tell us you were taken. We'll get him back to physician Ju on the ship. He wanted us to go after you first."

My eyes watered. "He's okay… thank goodness… I… I was afraid he was dead… he wasn't moving."

Zuko frowned. "No… he's fine. Just some burns, but he'll recover. And you're okay too. The danger is over. I'm sorry… I shouldn't have left you. The information was false. We didn't see any sign of the Avatar. I was a fool for leaving you like that. Uncle's going to scold me when he finds out."

"The Avatar… he's not dangerous," I whispered.

Zuko was surprised. "What?"

I crossed my arms and shivered. "Aang's nice."

He finally understood. "Aang… The Avatar… He's the one that saved you?"

I gave a small nod. Then my delayed fear came out uncontrollably. A sob escaped me as I recalled my previous fight and flight. "I'm sorry Zuko! I tried! But I couldn't fight him! I couldn't hit him with my fire! I'm sorry! I'll try harder!" I started to cry more and fell forward into Zuko. I was just tired. My adrenaline was fading. Everything had been so terrifying. My body felt ready to collapse. I just needed to cry.

Zuko sighed, hugging me to him as I had my breakdown. "Fe. Run ahead to the ship and let my uncle know what happened. Tell him I'm bringing her back now."

I heard Fe rush off. Zuko continued to hug me, and I felt him press his mouth to my hair. "It's okay, Amara… I won't leave you like that again. I was rash... I'm sorry."

I shut my eyes, soaking in his warmth. "I… was so scared… I was scared I'd never see you or Iroh again."

He hugged me closer. "It's over… you're safe now." He pulled away then and looked me over. "Are you hurt anywhere?"

His question made me feel the aches on my body. My ankle pulsed from the man tackling me. I didn't want to complain though. "I'm… okay. Just tired. I want to go back to the ship..."

He nodded. "We'll go back now. Can you walk?"

I gave a small nod. He released me and started to head in the direction of the ship. I went to follow, but my ankle erupted with a stabbing pain and I gasped. Zuko heard and turned in just enough time to grab my arms and hold me up as I stumbled.

He noticed my discomfort. "What's wrong?"

I shut my eyes. "My ankle… It hurts…"

He crouched and moved my pants leg up slightly on the leg I was favoring. He sighed. "It's definitely bruising. Probably twisted. We'll have Ju look at it when we get back." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Uncle is definitely going to scold me now."

My eyes burned. I didn't want Zuko to be in trouble because of me. "I… It's not your fault…"

He stood straight again. His gold eyes pierced into my own. "It is. I promised Uncle that I'd look out for you… I broke that promise leaving you in the woods like that. You were almost taken because of it. And now you're injured too."

I shook my head. More tears fell. "It's not your fault… it's Zhao's… it's always Zhao." I covered my eyes. "Why won't he just let me go? Why won't he leave me alone?" More tears fell. "Why is he still trying to hurt me?"

Zuko hugged me again to try and calm me down. I pressed my face into his shirt sobbing. He let out a heavy breath trying to figure out what to say to comfort me. Finally, he said, "He's just a monster, Amara… but I promise you that one day he will pay for everything he's done to you. I'll be sure of it."

His promise eased my pained heart.

"We need to go… Uncle will worry if we don't get back soon. It will be faster if I carry you."

He pulled from me, but only so he could turn his back to me and make me put my arms around his neck. Then he scooped me up around the knees. I gasped as I left the earth. He carried me on his back with ease though. As he walked us away from the pond, I rested my head against him.

I couldn't help but feel safe as his familiar warmth gave me comfort. The danger had passed… I was still free. I was still with Zuko and Iroh. My heart steadied from the relief that took me over.

As my crying calmed, I thought back to my hero again. The boy with the arrow tattoos was not dangerous. He was a gentle soul who cared about others. And I was secretly rooting for him from this day forward.

Thank you for saving me, Avatar Aang… Stay safe...

Third Person POV

Aang watched from a high tree branch out of sight as Zuko carried the exhausted black haired girl on his back. The Avatar was shocked. He couldn't believe he was seeing the hot-headed prince show so much affection towards the girl. He had been even more amazed when the teenager hugged the girl as she cried.

Clearly Zuko wasn't as evil as he seemed.

The girl though... Aang couldn't help but think there was something strange about the girl who was being carried away. Aang recalled gliding over the trees and feeling drawn by a strange energy source to her location. When he arrived in the area, he heard the girl's screams and quickly jumped into action.

He had briefly forgotten about the energy he had sensed, and flew over to see a man holding the teenager down and shoving her head in the pond to drown her. Aang had landed quickly and shot a powerful gust of air at the man he could see was Fire Nation, throwing him off the girl and making him crash into a tree. Once he was unconscious, Aang rushed over to the girl who had managed to pull herself out of the pond. He helped her away from the water, and let her go when she was on her knees. When he saw her mix of Fire Nation and Water Nation characteristics, he finally understood why he felt so much spiritual energy from the girl. She was clearly special.

Amara…

Aang continued to watch the two teenagers until they disappeared beyond the trees. As they walked away, he felt the energy go with them. Clearly there was something more to this girl than just being of two nations...

He sighed and grabbed his glider. With a blast of air he took back off towards where he had left Sokka and Katara a few miles away. When he got back to the camp, he found the two Water Tribe kids pacing with worry.

He landed and his furry flying lemur friend named Momo rushed over and jumped on his shoulder. The long eared and long tailed creature chattered excitedly, glad his buddy had returned. As Aang headed towards his friends and the giant furry flying sky-bison named Appa, everyone looked over at him.

The oldest of the group, Sokka, stomped over with frustration (although he was secretly relieved). "Where have you been?! You said you would only be gone for a minute! It's been like half an hour!"

Aang rubbed the back of his neck as he stared at the tall fifteen year old. Sokka wore his water tribe shirt and pants, and had his brown hair in a ponytail. His light blue eyes revealed the concern he was trying to hide.

"Sorry," Aang said. "I'm back."

Katara came over as well. Her brown hair was in a long braid, and she had a hair-loop on both sides of her head. She also wore her water tribe clothes. Her neck was bare from her missing Water Tribe necklace. Her blue eyes were a shade darker than Sokka's. "You had us worried sick! We thought Zuko captured you!"

"I met someone," Aang said with a shrug. Momo hopped off when he moved his shoulder. "I got a little side tracked."

Katara put her hands on her hips. "Aang! We talked about this. It's not safe to befriend every person you meet."

He walked past his friends and plopped down to sit cross-legged. He stared at the dying flames of the campfire in thought. "I know… but she needed help. It's my duty to save people."

Sokka and Katara looked at one another with confusion, and then walked over to Aang. They sat on both sides of him.

Katara had calmed finally and asked, "You saved someone?"

Aang nodded. "Yeah. A girl… probably the same age as Zuko. She seemed in distress. A firebender was trying to knock her unconscious by shoving her face in some water. I flew down and knocked the guy out." He frowned. "She seemed really scared… of everything. She tried to run from me, but she fell after only a short distance. I finally got her to talk to me…"

Sokka was curious now. "Why was the man trying to hurt her?"

Aang shrugged. "It had something to do with her brother. She escaped him I guess, and he was trying to get her back. Seems her and her brother don't get along." He looked at Katara. "She was definitely special though. I could tell she was part Water Tribe based on her complexion and blue eyes. She kind of looked like you from the side, but also different. Had pretty freckles. But her black hair was definitely Fire Nation. I think her parents are of two different nations. She didn't deny it when I asked her if she was Fire Nation."

Katara's eyes widened.

Sokka scoffed. "What?! That's crazy. No Water Tribe person would ever fall for a Fire Nation person. That's unheard of."

Aang shrugged again. "I'm not sure how. I'm just saying what I saw… and when I mentioned you both were from the Southern Water Tribe her eyes got all wide. She seemed excited by that."

Katara finally asked, "What was her name?"

Aang stared at the small fire thinking back to the mysterious girl. "Amara…"

Katara thought for a moment. "I've never met her or heard that name before... but we've had people leave the South Pole in the past so it's possible one of her parents could be from our tribe."

Aang nodded. "Yeah. Possible. I just wish I knew more about her. She's traveling with Prince Zuko. There's got to be more to her story."

"What?!" Sokka jumped up. "You found that out and you don't think that makes her a threat?! She could've captured you!"

"No," Aang said, meeting his friend's horrified gaze. "She wouldn't have. She was nice… really timid. I think she's been hurt a lot in the past. "

Katara spoke up. "Hurt? What do you mean?"

He stared back at the fire. "She just seemed really frail… Like one wrong touch could shatter her." He sighed. "Honestly, the look in her eyes made me think of the earthbenders we freed the other day. I think she was a prisoner in the past, and Zuko freed her."

Sokka scoffed again. "I doubt Zuko would save a girl when he's so focused on capturing you."

Aang thought back to Zuko's affection towards the girl. "You know… I think there's more to Zuko than meets the eye…"

Katara rolled her eyes. "And I think you had too much of an adventure this morning and we should move on. If Zuko's nearby, then he could already be heading this way. We should move out."

As the group started to pack up camp, Aang still thought about the strange blue-eyed girl. He had a feeling he would be meeting her again. For now, she would remain a mystery.