XXXVI/ Wood stop

Resting after the hasty departure following Zuko's ambush wasn't easy, even if Elsa guiding Appa allowed her friends to have some rest from the hectic events of their new encounter with Zuko. As dawn was rising, the young queen found an autumn-like forest to land in. As the sky bison landed, the thump he made awoke her companions. Elsa took a look at them, relieved they seemed alright after what happened some hours ago.

Her thoughts dwelled again on Zuko, wondering what he would do next. She knew he was still set on capturing Aang, but she could also notice how he seemed unsettled and unhinged, especially when facing her. There was something else that was going on and she wondered if it was tied to what happened to him before his banishment.

A groggy voice broke the early morning silence. "Have we landed?" Sokka mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

As she heard the young water tribe boy, Elsa turned around, her eyes softening as she took in her friends. "Yes," she confirmed softly. "We're in a forest. It should be safe for now."

Aang was the first to fully awaken, his energy returning quickly. "Great!" he exclaimed before jumping from Appa to land on the ground. Momo followed, chittering happily.

Katara stirred next, stretching before shaking her brother gently. "Come on, Sokka. Time to get up," she said, a touch of amusement in her voice.

Sokka groaned but complied, slowly rising to his feet. "Alright, alright. I'm up."

Elsa raised her hands, and with a subtle movement, created icy stairs to allow her friends to get down from Appa more easily.

Katara smiled at Elsa before descending, followed by Sokka. Elsa heard Aang below, thanking Appa for the flight. "Thanks for the ride, buddy."

The sky bison responded with a low, contented rumble, causing the young airbender to chuckle. He then turned to Elsa.

"Thanks, Elsa," he added, looking up at her with a grateful smile.

The young queen smiled back. "You're welcome, Aang," she said before gracefully stepping down the icy stairs to join her friends on the ground.

Everyone gathered around her, and Sokka was the first to speak up. "So, what do we do now, Elsa?"

"We can take some rest and check our supplies," she suggested, her tone gentle yet firm.

Katara nodded, appreciating the practical plan. "That sounds good. We could all use a break after that night."

Aang was optimistic, as always. "Yeah, and maybe we can find some fresh water or food around here."

Sokka's stomach growled in agreement. "Yeah, some food sounds great."

Aang chuckled at that comment while Katara rolled her eyes. Elsa smiled in amusement at the young water tribe's words.

Sokka, though, then looked a bit concerned as he glanced at Elsa. "What about Zuko? He won't give up so easily."

The young queen placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I know. But for now, we need to regain our strength. We'll be ready if he comes after us again."

Katara agreed, her expression thoughtful. "You're right. We can't be on the run without rest."

Aang nodded, his enthusiasm undiminished. "And we'll handle whatever comes next together."

Sokka sighed but relented, trusting Elsa's judgment. "Alright, let's get some rest then."

Katara turned her glance to Elsa, concern in her eyes. "Don't you need to rest too, Elsa? You've been up all night."

Elsa smiled, touched by Katara's concern. "I do. I trust you to handle things for now."

The three children reacted with a mix of pride and determination. "We've got this, Elsa," Aang said confidently.

"Yeah, don't worry about us," Sokka added, trying to sound more awake and alert.

Katara simply nodded, her expression resolute. "Get some sleep, Elsa. We'll keep watch."

The young queen gave them a grateful look before creating an icy blanket and laying down on it, allowing herself to finally relax and drift into sleep. As she closed her eyes, she felt a deep sense of relief and trust in her young companions, ready to face whatever the dawn would bring after some much-needed rest.

Katara, Sokka, and Aang watched her for a moment before turning to each other, ready to take on the tasks at hand. They moved quietly, their steps careful not to disturb Elsa as she finally allowed herself to rest, trusting her friends to watch over them in the tranquility of the forest.

Katara turned to Sokka and Aang, her expression firm but caring. "Let's leave Elsa to get some rest. She's been up all night."

The two boys nodded, understanding the importance of letting their protector recuperate. They moved a bit further from Appa and Elsa, settling under a large tree with leaves tinted in vibrant autumn colors.

"What should we do now?" Aang asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Sokka, trying to take charge, cleared his throat. "Well, we should check our supplies like Elsa suggested. Maybe find some food and fresh water."

Katara raised an eyebrow at her brother, a small smile playing on her lips. "Who made you the boss?"

Sokka pointed to himself, his expression serious. "I'm not the boss, I'm the leader."

Katara's smile grew, and she leaned forward slightly. "You're the leader? But your voice still cracks!"

Sokka's voice did indeed crack as he protested, "I'm the oldest besides Elsa, and I'm a warrior! So—" He deepened his voice comically, "I'm the leader!"

Katara chuckled, glancing at Aang who was hanging upside-down from a branch, his feet sticking out in the air. "If anyone's the leader while Elsa's resting, it's Aang. I mean, he is the Avatar."

Sokka crossed his arms, looking at Aang skeptically. "Are you kidding? He's just a goofy kid!"

Aang, still upside-down, grinned and nodded. "He's right."

Katara sighed, shaking her head. "Why do boys always think someone has to be the leader?"

Her brother reacts. "Hey! Elsa's guiding us and she's a girl."

Katara rolled her eyes. "Yes. But she's older than all of us and she is guiding us more than leading us."

Sokka sighed and threw his arms into the air in exasperation. "Look, let's just do what Elsa asked us to do," he finally said.

Katara and Aang exchanged amused glances but nodded in agreement. "Alright," the waterbender relented, her tone more serious. "We need to check our supplies and find food and water. Let's start with that."

Aang flipped off Appa and landed gracefully beside them. "I'll scout the area for fresh water," he volunteered eagerly.

"Good idea," Katara agreed. "Sokka and I will check our supplies and see what we need."

Her brother nodded, relieved that they had a plan. "And maybe you'll catch some fish or something. I'm starving."

Aang chuckled as he moved away to look for a water source while Katara shook her head in mock exasperation at her brother's words.

The two water tribe siblings then moved a bit away from Appa and the resting Elsa, finding a spot under a large tree with vibrant autumn leaves. They began to unload the supplies they had bought the previous day, laying them out to take stock.

"We've got enough food for a few days," Katara noted, counting the items. "But we'll need fresh supplies and more water soon."

Sokka nodded, glancing over the supplies. "At least we're not completely out. I'm glad Elsa's been helping us manage everything."

Katara looked at her brother, a hint of a smile on her lips. "Yeah, she's really taken charge. It's nice having someone older around to guide us." She cast a glance at the sleepy form of Elsa, noting the calm expression on her face as she rested.

Sokka followed her gaze, agreeing with a thoughtful nod. "Yeah, you're right. That makes things less tiring for us."

Katara glared at him, "Sokka, be serious!"

The water tribe boy looked sheepish before saying, "But yeah, it's good to have someone like her."

Katara smiled softly. " I know. It's comforting, but at the same time, it's strange. We've always had to handle things ourselves."

They fell into a comfortable silence, both lost in their thoughts and memories. After a moment, Sokka glanced at his sister, his brow furrowed. "Hey, Katara. I've been thinking. Do you think Elsa was right to let Zuko go when we left the lagoon?"

Katara's expression tightened as memories of their encounter with Zuko were flashing through her mind. "I'm not sure," she admitted, her voice conflicted. "Part of me thinks she was too lenient. Zuko has been so restless in capturing Aang."

Sokka's eyes darkened with his own thoughts. "Yeah, I know what you mean. But remember what we learned on Crescent Island about his past? It's complicated."

Katara sighed, the weight of their shared trauma evident in her voice. "It is. And it makes me wonder if there's more to him. But I can't forget what he's done."

Sokka nodded, his expression mirroring Katara's inner turmoil. "Same here. It's hard to see him any other way, but maybe... maybe Elsa's right. Maybe he's more than just the enemy we know."

Katara looked at her brother, the conflict clear in her eyes. "I want to believe that, but it's hard. He's still chasing us, and that makes it difficult to give him a chance."

Sokka's gaze softened, understanding her struggle. "Yeah, it does. But Elsa seems to see something in him that we don't. Maybe it's worth considering."

As they continued to ponder, they heard Aang's voice, light and curious. "Maybe it's tied to her experience."

The two water tribe siblings turned around and saw the young airbender arriving.

"Did you find water?" Katara asked.

Aang shook his head, a bit disappointed. "No."

Katara reassured him with a smile. "It's alright."

Sokka sighed. "So much for water and fishing."

Aang and Katara chuckled at his pouted face. The waterbender then looked back at the young Avatar with an intrigued expression. "What do you mean it is tied to her experience?"

Aang sat down beside them, his eyes serious. "Elsa told me about a time when she was afraid of her powers. She felt isolated like she was a danger to everyone around her."

Sokka nodded, recalling that discussion. "Yeah, I remember. She was scared of hurting people, just like Zuko is desperate to prove himself."

Katara looked thoughtful, connecting the dots. "So you think Elsa sees a bit of herself in Zuko? How? They have nothing in common."

Aang shrugged. "I don't know for sure, but maybe. She might see someone who's struggling with their own inner battles, just like she did."

He then added, "And from what you told from their exchange in Roku's temple, it's clear that Zuko is through a lot if he thinks capturing me would allow him to be back home and to have his father's love."

Sokka scoffed. "Good luck with that. We won't let him do that, no matter how hard his princely life was."

Katara nodded with a determined expression. "Neither do I. And I know Elsa wouldn't."

The three of them fell silent, the weight of their conversation settling around them. Aang's brow furrowed in thought, his eyes reflecting the internal struggle he was grappling with. Sokka broke the silence, looking down at their supplies. "Have we checked everything?"

Katara rolled her eyes playfully. "Sokka, we just did."

Her brother looked sheepish for a moment before straightening up again. "Right, right."

Aang glanced around the clearing, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "Hey, where's Momo?"

Katara furrowed her brow, glancing around. "I don't know. I haven't seen him since we landed."

Sokka shrugged. "He's probably strolling in the woods, looking for food."

Suddenly, a high-pitched screech echoed through the forest. The gang looked around, alarmed. Aang jumped to his feet, eyes wide with concern. "Momo!"

Without waiting, he dashed in the direction of the screeching. "Aang! Wait!" Katara called, quickly following him. Sokka sighed but followed suit.

They sprinted through the forest, the autumn leaves crunching underfoot. After a short run, they spotted three animals in cage traps hanging by ropes from tree limbs. Momo was trapped alongside two hog monkeys.

"Hang on, Momo!" Aang yelled, using his airbending to leap from trunk to trunk, swiftly reaching the top of the tree. He undid the trap mechanisms and carefully lowered Momo to the ground where Katara and Sokka were waiting. They opened the trap together, and the winged lemur scurried out with a lychee nut in his mouth, looking unfazed.

Sokka grunted in frustration, facepalming. "This is gonna take forever," he muttered, throwing his boomerang to cut the hog monkeys free. The animals fell before Aang could reach them.

The young airbender landed back on the ground, a dirt cloud rising around him. He watched as the hog monkeys scampered away. "That works," he said with a grin.

Sokka knelt down to examine the traps. "These are Fire Nation traps," he said, his voice serious. "You can tell from the metalwork. We'd better wake up Elsa and get moving."

Aang and Katara exchanged worried glances before nodding. "Right," Aang agreed. "We need to stay ahead of them."

They hurried back to the clearing where Elsa was still resting. Katara gently shook her shoulder, and Elsa's eyes fluttered open. "What's wrong?" she asked, sitting up.

"We found Fire Nation traps in the woods," Sokka explained. "We need to get moving before they find us."

Elsa's expression hardened as she stood up, quickly gathering their supplies. "Let's go then. We can't risk staying here any longer."

The three children acquiesced in agreement and rushed to pack up their belongings and supplies. Despite her weariness from a night of restless vigilance barely restored by a moment of rest, Elsa moved with determined urgency, her ice-blue eyes scanning their surroundings with a protective intensity. In a wave of her hand, she dismissed the icy blanket she created to take a rest.

As they gathered their things and began to pack them onto Appa's saddle, Sokka glanced up and shook his head. "Uh-uh! No flying this time."

Elsa looked at the water tribe boy, her eyebrows slightly raised, intrigued by his words. Aang, confused, asked, "What? Why wouldn't we fly?"

Sokka took the sleeping bag from Aang's hands. "Think about it: Somehow Prince Zuko and the Fire Nation keep finding us. It's because they spot Appa; he's just too noticeable."

Looking at the sky bison, Elsa couldn't help but agree with the young water tribe boy. She was however the only one who thought that way as Katara crossed her arms.

"What? Appa's not too noticeable!" the waterbender protested.

Sokka pointed dramatically at the sky bison, condescendingly. "He's a gigantic fluffy monster with an arrow on his head! It's kinda hard to miss him!"

The bison yawned, and Aang grinned. "Sokka's just jealous 'cause he doesn't have an arrow."

Elsa was inwardly amused by her friend's answer, but she felt that Sokka was right as Appa was not only big but also unique in his features. Or rather, unique considering they didn't see any other of his kind so far.

Sokka rolled his eyes. "I know you all wanna fly, but my instincts tell me we should play it safe this time and walk."

Katara turned to Elsa. "What do you think, Elsa?"

The three children looked at the young queen expectantly. The latter considered their options, her mind weighing the risks and benefits. "There could have been other reasons why Zuko and his people found us," she began, her voice calm yet firm. "But Sokka has a point. It's been only less than a day since we escaped Zuko and his men and two since the Winter Solstice. If we fly, we may be noticed again."

Aang's face fell, and Katara frowned slightly while Sokka was grinning, happy to see that Elsa agreed with him.

"But flying is faster," Aang argued, his brow furrowing.

"I agree it is practical," Elsa said as she knelt to look at the young boy in the eyes. "but we haven't seen others of his kind so far. If they were tied to your people, how do you think everyone would guess where we are going once they see him?"

Aang wanted to argue but stopped, realization dawning on his face. "You're right," he admitted, his voice tinged with sadness.

"See?" Sokka interjected. "It's not like there are tons of sky bison flying around."

Elsa sent him a firm look to scold him and the young water tribe boy stepped back. The young queen glanced at Katara and Aang sympathetically. "Listen, it's just for a short time, a day or two at worst. If Zuko and his people think we mainly travel thanks to Appa, then we need to rely on that belief to make a short move before flying again."

Katara nodded in understanding. "Alright, we'll walk," she said.

Aang stepped over, now wearing a backpack while Momo was sitting on the top. "I'd prefer to fly, but I trust you, Elsa. Who knows? Walking might be fun."

Elsa offered a small smile at the young Avatar's energy. She once again thought of Anna and how she was bouncing in situations where she didn't meet the expected result she wanted. Having that in Aang was both a bittersweet reminder but also a pleasant feeling, especially with the world they were dealing with.

Sokka grinned at hearing those agreements, satisfied. "Good decision."

The young water tribe boy was about to retrieve the supplies to bear them when Elsa stood up and said, "Wait."

Sokka froze, a confused frown replacing his grin as he looked at her. ""Wait? Why?"

"Just because we're not flying for the time being," Elsa explained, her gaze sweeping over the group, "doesn't mean we need to overburden ourselves."

Aang reacted immediately, starting to settle down his backpack. "Oh, okay, that makes sense. I guess Appa can carry some of our stuff."

Elsa nodded in approval. Katara turned to the young queen, her brow furrowed in curiosity. "What do you suggest, Elsa?"

Elsa nodded, appreciating Katara's willingness to understand. "We can bear supplies but not burden ourselves, especially as Appa can support the bulk of what we have. We need to stay light and mobile."

The three children reacted, exchanging glances. Aang lowered his backpack with a grateful sigh. Katara sent Elsa a thankful smile. Sokka, however, remained sceptical.

"Are you sure?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of doubt. "What if we need something we left behind?"

Elsa met his gaze with an unwavering confidence. "We'll adapt, Sokka. We always do. Besides," she added, a playful glint entering her eyes, "I wouldn't want to deprive you of the opportunity to hone your survival skills."

Sokka rolled his eyes, but a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He knew she was right. They had faced far worse challenges than carrying a light pack for a few days.

"Alright, fair point," he declared with a mere shrug of his shoulders.

Aang looked relieved as he adjusted his now lighter backpack. "I guess this does make walking a bit more fun."

Katara smiled at Elsa, a touch of admiration in her eyes. "Thanks, Elsa. We really appreciate your help."

The young queen returned the smile, feeling a warmth in their growing bond. "Of course. We're a team, and we need to work together. Let's make sure we're ready to move."

With a newfound sense of efficiency, they began to distribute the supplies, placing the heavier items onto Appa's saddle while keeping their own loads manageable. they began sorting through their supplies. Aang, ever the helper, scurried around gathering smaller items. Katara meticulously selected essentials, packing them efficiently. Sokka, much to his own surprise, found himself enjoying the camaraderie of working together towards a common goal.

Despite her weariness from the night spent mostly awake, Elsa did the same, preparing a bag while her ice-blue eyes were scanning their surroundings with a protective intensity. The last thing they needed was to have a sudden attack or an unexpected visitor.

Finally, with their packs lighter and their spirits lifted, they set off into the vibrant red-leafed forest. The trees provided a beautiful, albeit temporary, sanctuary as they moved further from the clearing where they had rested. Elsa, clad in the Earth Kingdom dress beneath her pale blue cloak, walked at the front, her senses attuned to any potential dangers.

The air was crisp and cool, carrying the sweet scent of decaying leaves. Golden sunlight dappled the forest floor as they walked, casting playful shadows that danced amongst the trees. Despite the ever-present threat of the Fire Nation, a sense of calm settled over them.

Aang, his youthful curiosity piqued, skipped ahead, examining the intricate patterns on fallen leaves and chasing flitting butterflies. Katara chuckled at his antics, her eyes twinkling with amusement. Even Sokka, usually focused on pragmatism, couldn't resist a smile as he watched Aang's infectious enthusiasm.

Elsa smiled at her companions. Despite their current situation, the fact they were still carefree while also achieving a sense of responsibility was a warm sight to her. She thought once again of Anna and how much she grew even if she stayed the energetic, optimistic and fiery young sister she had been before she managed to reconnect. More than ever, despite her unique situation and the circumstances of her presence here, she felt grateful and glad to have encountered and befriended these three children and to have become their companion and mentor, a situation she had never really thought to take, even if her role as queen of Arendelle had already shown her how she could help people in her own way outside of what her responsibilities and duties indicated.