Responses to Reviews:

RonaldM40196867: Who knows? Maybe he did. In all seriousness though, I don't especially wish that.

Zigzagdoublezee: Yes! It's an interesting setting.

As Always, Please Review!

Yue was ushered into a large, dark room, lit only by a couple of lamps in each corner and a larger fire in the centre of the room. A thick cloud of incense smoke hung in the air, making it difficult to think about anything else. Bowls littered the floor.

"Avatar Yue. Your coming was foretold."

A figure stepped into the centre of the room. She was an older woman, with grey hair put into an ornate hairstyle and relatively expensive looking robes. She bowed.

"And you're Wu, I assume," Yue replied, returning the bow. "They say you can see the future."

"I do have that ability," Wu said modestly. "Foresight is a powerful thing. Do you have- did you have- diviners in the North Pole?"

Yue stiffened at the mention of her home.

"Our elders are wise," she said, "but I don't think any of them would claim to be able to do what you say you can."

Wu laughed softly. "You share your friend's scepticism?"

"Sokka?" Yue clarified. "I don't not believe you, if that makes sense. I know the spirits exist, and they are capable of immense wonders."

"Like hearing the prayers of a desperate father," Wu nodded sagely. "And acting to save the life of his daughter."

"You know about that?" Yue gasped.

"It is obvious simply from looking at you," Wu said. "For those who know what to look for."

"The white hair isn't enough of a giveaway?" Yue asked, semi-sarcastically.

"It's certainly one of them. Not the only one. You are unique. You appear to be imbued with not one but two spirits. The Moon Spirit, who gave you life, and the Avatar Spirit, which gives you purpose."

"They said that's why you wanted to see me."

"Oh yes,", Wu's eyes gleamed. "I try to use my abilities to look out for Mukapu village, but in practice the things people want to know are so frightfully... mundane. 'Aunt Wu, does the one I love feel the same way', and 'Aunt Wu, when will the tax collectors from the Governor come.'"

She paused.

"I'm not complaining of course. Helping the village is going to be mundane a lot of the time, but it is no less important for it. People still need to know if the harvests will fail, or their businesses will turn a profit. You, though, you are a fresh new challenge, and I would be honoured to offer my knowledge to assist you in your struggle."

"I hear you're also telling people about the Fire Nation," Yue said.

"It allows the people peace of mind," Wu replied. "If the Fire Nation come, I can provide us with enough warning that we can be far away by the time they get here. But since they are ignoring us, that is not necessary."

She sat down, and gestured for Yue to do the same.

Yue hesitated, and then sat down, noticing for the first time the pile of animal bones in one of the bowls. She eyed it uneasily.

"Mine is an ancient art, practised since the days of fhe first Avatars long ago," Wu pronounced. "We call it Pyro-osteomancy. All you must do is pick up a bone and cast it into the fire."

"And that lets you read my future?" Yue asked.

"It lets me interpret the cracks that form in the bone because of the heat," Wu said. "And that, yes, lets me read your future."

The Avatar looked again at the animal bones, before gingerly picking one up and, reluctantly, tossing it onto the fire.

For a moment, the flames swelled alarmingly, illuminating Wu's face, before settling back down to a steady crackle. Yue watched the bone seem to warp for a few moments, before a splintering sound rent the air and the first cracks formed.

Wu squinted at it.

"That's... odd." She said.

"It is?" Yue felt her heart sink. Of course this had been a bad idea.

"Something about your future is... undefined," Wu struggled for words. "Difficult to read. As if something's not entirely right."

"Can you tell me anything?" Yue pressed. "About the war? About my earthbending teacher? About my father?"

Wu squinted again.

"I'm sorry," she said. "The war is hazy. I can tell you it will end quickly. There will be a great battle, with the future of the very world at stake. And you, the Avatar, will be right at the centre of it. But I cannot tell you how, or who will win. Everything is in flux."

"Well that's great," Yue pronounced, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "What about the others?"

"You will find what you seek," Wu said. "But you shall have to look in an unexpected place for it."

Then she looked again. Really moved her head in close to make sure. Her eyes widened, and she looked up at Yue.

"But..."

"But what?"

Wu sighed.

"I am sorry, Avatar. I am aware that knowledge of the future can be a curse as much as a blessing."

Yue's heart sank into her stomach. Of course it was bad! She had known that before she had come in!

"What is it?" She asked with resignation.

"It says... it says that you shall be called upon to make a great sacrifice, before this war can end."

"A sacrifice? What kind of sacrifice?" Yue asked urgently. "Do my friends all survive? What about Sokka?"

Wu shrugged.

"I cannot know until I read their futures," she said. "All I can give you is yours."

Yue gulped.

"Do I survive?" She asked.

Wu looked at her, apologetically.

"Forgive me," she said, "Like I say, there's something not right about your destiny. Almost like it's changing. Or maybe it has already changed, long ago."

"Changing?" Yue asked, leaning forwards, intrigued.

"Shifting, from one moment to the next."

What a cop-out, Yue decided. She leaned back again and sighed.

"So you can't even tell me that."

"No," Wu said flatly. "I'm afraid that I can't. I really don't know what's causing this, it works with everyone else..."

"So how do you know about the sacrifice then?"

"I can still read some things!" Wu said. "Just not all. That's as much detail as I can gather."

"Well," Yue stood up, hiding her disappointment and irritation. "Thank you for trying, anyway."

This whole thing had been almost entirely pointless, save for giving her a brand new set of things to worry about. And top of the list was the great sacrifice she was apparently expected to make. Wu hadn't even said she'd win, which meant the sacrifice could be death and defeat. But even if it was not, it could be her friends, or her life, or any number of other things.

"You're welcome, Avatar," Wu said obliviously. "I am sorry I cannot tell you more."

Yue bowed, as politely as she was able, and then made for the door, shaken by how much Wu seemed to know, and how little she still knew.