Sokka was feeling adventurous today. He had already taken care of hunting and squeezed in a training session with Katara. It was a shame she didn't appreciate the brilliance of his revolutionary new bending style. The Fire Nation had probably already mastered the predictable, boring, "go with the flow" waterbending—but they wouldn't see his way coming. A true warrior needed creativity.

Katara could smell the overconfidence in the air. She glanced to her right—of course.

Her suspicions were confirmed. She wasn't sure how much bravado and ego one person could have, but Sokka seemed determined to find out. It was annoying, sure, but at least she got some entertainment out of watching him fail spectacularly.

Rolling her eyes, she yanked the hood of his parka, pulling him down into the canoe. And yet somehow, despite the whole maneuver, he remained in his own world, still patting himself on the back.

They passed by their grand village wall—a structure that had kept their home hidden and protected for years. Beyond it, the icy wilderness stretched endlessly, a landscape both familiar and unknown. They reached the canoe, the ice creaking under their boots.

Fishing was the usual plan. In reality, it was less about survival and more of a glorified bending competition—who could catch the most fish with their bending. They were never normal.

But today, Sokka had a better idea.

"Let's skip fishing. We should explore!" He sounded way too excited.

Katara arched a brow. "How? Spirits know how easily we could get lost." Someone had to be the voice of reason here. They had never ventured more than five kilometers from the village—and for good reason.

Sokka hesitated, but he wasn't backing down. "Ten kilometers." He grinned.

She stared. He wasn't joking.

"Six," she countered immediately. No way was she letting him set the terms.

Sokka's smile slipped—just for a second—before he recovered. "Seven. Final offer. And honestly, aren't you supposed to be the kid here?"

Katara smirked. A win was a win. Or was it just a compromise? Either way, she'd take it.

Just because they were waterbenders who grew up in the South Pole didn't mean they were immune to freezing to death.

As they waded through the frigid waters, Sokka kept a constant check of their surroundings. His hunting training had instilled vigilance in him, and right now, that skill was proving useful. After all, they were venturing into 'uncharted' territory.

Katara felt her heart thumping in her chest. It wasn't too bad, right? Just two kilometers more than usual. Surely, her anxiety was being dramatic. Deep breaths, she reminded herself. Panicking wouldn't help, and Sokka was probably too dense to know how to deal with it anyway. Typical.

Sokka, completely unaware of his sister's internal battle, focused ahead. This trip was partly random—an excuse to have fun—but also necessary. It was already well into the morning, and the moon should have been down. But it wasn't. The moon was when both he and Katara were at their strongest. Why not explore when they were in peak condition? It would be a waste not to.

"You know, this is random," Katara muttered. "Why are we even doing this?"

Sokka glanced back, grinning. "For fun."

Katara's stomach dropped. That answer never meant anything good. Before she could react, Sokka plunged his hands into the icy water. She barely had a second to process what he was doing before the current beneath them surged forward with incredible force.

"Sokka!" she screamed as the canoe shot ahead at breakneck speed.

Sokka howled with laughter, exhilarated by the rush, while Katara clung to the canoe for dear life. This was the best day of his life! The Arctic sea echoed with a mix of his elation and Katara's panicked cries.

"Sokka, if I fall into this freezing water, I swear on Tui and La, I will haunt you for the rest of your days!"

Katara, however, was far from amused. She yanked her arms back, trying to counteract the momentum with her waterbending. Instead, the sudden force caused the canoe to flip—violently.

They were sent soaring twenty meters into the air.

Katara barely managed to restrain herself from losing her breakfast as they spun midair. With quick thinking, she manipulated the water below, creating a cushioned landing for the canoe. She gasped for breath, her head spinning, while Sokka, still laughing, wiped tears from his eyes.

"I should do that more often!"

She shot him a glare. "Try it again and I'll test how long you can stay frozen in an ice block."

The water settled as Katara calmed the currents around them. She groaned, palming her face. This was going to be a day to remember—for all the wrong reasons.

Then, a chill ran up her spine.

Katara stiffened. Something was disturbing the water, but it wasn't Sokka. She could feel it—an unnatural shift. A presence. It wasn't just the moon's influence on her bending. This was something greater.

"You blubbering fool!" she hissed. "We've gotten the attention of a spirit!"

Sokka froze, his humor vanishing. A spirit? They had only gone a kilometer past the usual boundary! How could they already be in trouble?

"From where?!" he demanded.

Katara's breath hitched. She hadn't pinpointed the source yet, but the ocean answered for her. A radiant blue glow illuminated the waters beneath them.

Before they could react, the canoe shattered beneath them.

They were sent flying for the second time that day.

They landed, drenched, on a stray glacier, coughing and shivering.

"Great idea, Sokka. Let's explore, you said. It'll be fun, you said," Katara muttered through chattering teeth.

Sokka ignored her, his gaze locked on the massive, glowing iceberg ahead of them.

Her gaze locked onto a dark silhouette trapped within the ice.

Two glowing, piercing white eyes stared right at them.

"Uh… so, Katara, remind me—how do we un-get a spirit's attention?"

Katara ignored Sokka's jokes as she gazed at the figure inside the iceberg—no, not a thing, a person! How did they even get trapped in there? Her mind churned, trying to rationalize what she was seeing. A creeping worry wormed its way into her heart. She had never heard of human-shaped spirits, so what if this was just a boy stuck in an iceberg? Or a girl—though she doubted it.

"Let's help them," she said, turning to Sokka. "They might need us."

Despite being the one who led this exploration, Sokka looked the most taken aback. Did he really do all this with no plan in mind? Just the thought irritated Katara.

"I'm not totally against helping that thing," Sokka muttered, emphasizing the word like it was a curse, "but are we sure we should?"

Katara was running out of patience. What if he was freezing in there? They had no idea how long he'd been trapped! "Just shut up and help if you're going to take so long. He could be dying in there! I'd rather do something!" she snapped, grabbing Sokka's club and jumping toward the iceberg. She swung at it repeatedly, ice cracking with each impact.

A large fissure spread from the center of her strike, racing to the top of the iceberg as if deciding to split in half. A brilliant white-blue light erupted skyward, momentarily painting the sky. Then, just as suddenly as it came, it faded.Light footsteps echoed from within the iceberg.

Katara tensed as she gazed up. A young boy emerged from the ice. Relief flooded her—he was not a spirit. The tension in her shoulders melted away as the boy sighed softly and rolled down the ice—right into her arms.

Sokka stepped beside her, evaluating the strange newcomer. He was weird—Sokka's first conclusion. Who traveled to the South Pole wearing such light clothes? His orange robes covered most of his body, but where his skin was exposed, Sokka could see pale flesh and blue arrows, the largest pointing right to his nose. He had never heard of such people—except airbenders. And those had disappeared at the start of the war.

He was scrawny, too. Not much of a threat. Sokka relaxed.

Katara, meanwhile, found herself uncomfortably close to the boy's face. From what Sokka could hear, she whispered a soft "yes," before the boy abruptly leapt to his feet, startling them both.

"Uh… hey? I'm Aang! And you two are?" His gaze bounced between them, curious yet lighthearted.

"You're okay!" Katara exhaled in relief. "I was so worried—how did you even get stuck in that iceberg?"

"Iceberg?" Aang blinked, then looked around, realization dawning on his face. "Wait… I was in an iceberg?!"

Sokka raised an incredulous brow. "We found you in this iceberg!" He gestured frantically to the massive frozen sphere still within eyesight. He huffed, realizing something. "Wait… why aren't you shivering? It's freezing out here!"

Katara had the same thought. He wasn't even trembling. A worrying possibility crept into her mind—was he suffering from amnesia? He looked so young to be wandering the South Pole alone. If he had family nearby, they'd have heard of them. But there were no rumors, no sightings. Could he be lost? Could he have forgotten his past?

A loud roar suddenly interrupted them.

Before the siblings could react, Aang's face lit up. "APPA!" he shouted in delight. With astonishing agility, he vaulted ten meters over the iceberg and disappeared behind it.

Katara immediately followed, using waterbending to create stepping platforms in the air. Sokka grumbled before reluctantly following.

What greeted them on the other side left them speechless.

A massive bison stood before them, easily four meters tall and twelve meters long. Its thick fur ruffled in the icy wind, and its six legs planted firmly in the snow. Sokka gawked at the sheer size of the beast.

Aang grinned, patting its fur. "I still didn't catch your names, but this is Appa, my flying bison."

Sokka narrowed his eyes. "Flying bison?" He glanced at Appa's tail—it was massive, but did it really generate enough lift? He scoffed. "Sure, and this is Katara, my flying sister."

Aang gasped. "Your sister can fly? I thought only airbenders could do that!"

Sokka facepalmed. "It was sarcasm."

"Ouch!" Sokka recoiled as Katara smacked the back of his head. "Ignore him," she huffed. "I can't fly. And his name is Sokka."

Aang chuckled at their sibling antics. "Nice to meet you both!"

Sokka crossed his arms. "Alright, Aang. You're not from around here. Where are you from? And what was that massive beam of light?!"

Aang perked up. "I'm from the Southern Air Temple, and I—wait, what beam?"

Sokka's jaw tightened. "The giant beam of light that just shot into the sky? The one that probably let the entire Fire Nation know we're here?"

Aang scratched his head. "Huh. Must've been the iceberg…" He trailed off, looking genuinely confused.

Before Sokka could press him further, Katara practically vibrated with excitement. "You're an airbender?!"

Aang blushed under her eager gaze, ducking slightly behind Appa's ear. "Uh… yeah."

Sokka nearly laughed. Oh, he knew what this was. Katara was finally meeting someone her own age who wasn't her brother. This was young infatuation at its finest.

As Appa swam back toward the village, Sokka leaned back and sighed. By now, Katara and Aang had already rushed into the village, eager to introduce Aang to the others. Sokka, however, took his time, lounging on Appa's back as the bison floated lazily. He sighed, "Kids..."

A voice laughed beside him. "Are you even in a position to say that?" Kaya smirked.

Sokka groaned, rubbing his face. "Please don't start."

Kaya folded her arms. "Not respectful to talk to your elders while lounging on a bison."

Sokka huffed, sliding off Appa with exaggerated effort. "Fine, fine. What now?"

She smirked, eyeing him. "For starters, want to explain what happened to your canoe?"

Sokka was taken aback by the question, unsure how to explain what had happened. He scratched the back of his head, eyes darting anywhere but Kaya's. "It was, uh... destroyed," he muttered, finishing with a cough as if that would somehow mask the word.

Kaya raised a brow. Of course, she heard him. With a sigh, she crossed her arms. "You know very well that I want more information than that, Sokka."

Slumping in defeat, he realized there was no escaping this. "Let's at least go inside before I explain everything," he suggested, hoping to delay the inevitable. Kaya nodded and led the way to her igloo.

Upon arriving, Sokka sank into the nearest chair, bracing himself. He launched into a full debriefing—how the 'exploration' turned into an unexpected discovery of a 'spirit,' and how they somehow ended up riding home on a flying bison. Even now, he still doubted whether the bison could actually fly.

Kaya listened carefully, her expression unreadable. When he finally finished, she let out a slow breath. "Sokka, how much do you know about airbenders?"

He paused, thinking it over. "Not much? Are you trying to say he's actually a spirit disguised as an airbender?" he asked, mild confusion creeping into his voice.

Kaya sighed deeply. Where did he even get that idea? She shook her head. "So, not very much, I'm guessing..." She met his gaze. "Airbenders, or Air Nomads, were a group of pacifists who lived simple, spiritual lives. Because of their high spirituality, it's said that every single one of them was born a bender."

She hesitated, a pained look crossing her face. "But as I said—they were pacifists. And what happens to pacifists in times of war?"

Sokka's expression darkened. "They don't fight back because of their beliefs?"

Kaya nodded. "In fact, they never even had a standing army. At the start of the Hundred Year War, the Avatar was supposed to be born among them. Fearing the Avatar's intervention, the Fire Nation launched an attack on the Air Temples. They didn't just invade, Sokka—they committed genocide."

Sokka's stomach twisted. That explained why he had barely ever heard about airbenders—because they were all gone.

Kaya let the weight of her words settle before continuing. "And yet, it appears you've found one. In an iceberg, no less."

Sokka blinked, trying to process it all. "But spirits can't imitate bending, right?" he asked cautiously.

"Exactly," Kaya confirmed. "Spirits may govern aspects of the world, like Tui and La with the moon and ocean, but they do not bend those elements. They embody them. The only living creatures known to bend are humans, badgermoles, and flying bison. But bison only use air to fly, and badgermoles move earth instinctively."

She looked at Sokka expectantly. "So what does that tell you?"

He ran a hand through his hair, thinking hard. "A boy from an extinct people just so happens to be alive, frozen in an iceberg, when those people were wiped out to stop the Avatar?" He frowned, the puzzle pieces finally clicking together. His breath caught. "Are you saying he might be the Avatar?"

Kaya nodded solemnly.

Sokka stared at her, his mind racing. "How is that even—" He trailed off, trying to grasp the enormity of what she was saying.

"It's the only thing that makes sense," Kaya said. "A boy in an iceberg, a living flying bison, and you said his eyes glowed?"

Sokka swallowed hard and nodded. "Yeah, just for a moment."

Kaya exhaled. "Only the Avatar enters the Avatar State. He is the Avatar, Sokka."

"Wait, wait, wait!" Sokka threw up his hands. "Are you saying he's been in that iceberg since the start of the war?!"

Kaya nodded again. "That's the only explanation. You've found a boy who shouldn't exist, from a people who no longer exist—who were wiped out to prevent the Avatar's return."

Sokka let out a low whistle, running both hands through his hair. "So... I just stumbled across the world's greatest treasure, huh?" He groaned, slumping forward. "How am I supposed to break the news to him?!"

Kaya hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "He probably already knows he's the Avatar. The monks might have sent him away to protect him from the Fire Nation's attack."

Sokka shook his head. "No, not that part. The part where he's been gone for a hundred years. That everyone he knew is dead. How do I tell him that?"

He exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "It hasn't even been three hours since I met the kid, and now I have to tell him his whole world is gone?"

Kaya's silence was answer enough. There was no easy way to say it.

Sokka leaned back, staring at the ceiling. "Spirits help me…"

Just then, Katara and Aang rushed into Kaya's igloo, with Katara hastily pushing Aang forward. "He's Aang, an airbender Sokka and I found!" she announced gleefully.

Kaya chuckled at Katara's enthusiasm before gesturing toward the other occupant in the room—Sokka. He waved lazily at his sister and Aang. "I already told her everything."

Katara pouted, disappointed that her chance to relay the story had been stolen, but she quickly let it go. Meanwhile, Aang shuffled awkwardly under Kaya's gaze before offering a polite greeting. "I'm Aang. Thank you for letting me into your tribe."

Kaya smiled warmly at the boy. "I'm Kaya, one of the older women in the tribe. I'm sure you've had your fun today?"

Aang grinned and nodded so quickly that everyone worried his head might fly off.

Sokka sighed deeply, offering a silent prayer to the spirits before exchanging a glance with Kaya. She wore a small frown but didn't stop him. It was best to rip the bandage off quickly.

Katara felt unease creep into her chest. Had Sokka and Kaya already found out about their 'adventure'? Her anxiety must have been obvious, as Kaya—ever observant—took note of the tension in her posture. Did Katara know what they were about to discuss?

Aang, meanwhile, blinked in confusion, watching the silent exchange unfold. What in the world was going on? Sokka kept glancing at him with a heavy expression, Kaya's face had turned solemn, and for some reason, Katara was suddenly sweating. Wait… could they communicate with their minds? His own nerves spiked, and without even knowing why, he joined them in their silent panic. Did they know about the flare signal?!

Earlier That Day

After leaving Appa behind, Katara had taken Aang on a brief tour of the village, though 'brief' wasn't exactly the right word—there wasn't much left of the Southern Water Tribe to explore. The first igloo they visited was Katara's home, where her grandmother, Kanna, was waiting inside.

For Aang, the moment felt… strange. He had visited the Southern Water Tribe before, long ago, but now it was so much smaller. The lively settlement he had once seen was gone, replaced by a fraction of its former self. The absence of the people who once lived here weighed on him, though he couldn't put it into words.

Before he could dwell on it, Katara ushered him forward. "Gran Gran, look! This is Aang!"

Kanna seemed surprised at the sight of him, studying him carefully before coughing into her fist. "Hello, young man. I'm the current elder of this tribe. And who might you be?"

Aang scratched the back of his head and grinned. "I'm Aang, Katara's friend."

Katara huffed. "You can say more than that."

She turned to Kanna excitedly. "Gran Gran, can you believe it? He's an airbender! From the Southern Air Temple! I didn't know there were more airbenders still around!"

Kanna, however, didn't share her excitement. Her brows furrowed slightly. "I thought they preferred to stay in hiding."

Aang tilted his head at the phrasing. Airbenders didn't hide, exactly. They simply lived quietly, keeping to their traditions and staying away from unnecessary conflict. It was just the way they were—humble, pacifist nomads. Her choice of words felt… off. But before he could question it, Katara grabbed his wrist and pulled him along.

"Come on! We still have the rest of the village to visit. We don't have much time before sundown!"

She hurriedly dragged him out of the igloo, leaving Kanna deep in thought. She stared after them, her mind racing. Was she seeing things? Or had her eyes and ears deceived her? She had only seen airbenders once before, back in her youth—nearly twenty years after the war had begun…

Katara and Aang made their way around the village, introducing him to the remaining members of the tribe.

Truthfully, it didn't take long.

The realization weighed heavily on Katara. The Southern Water Tribe was a shadow of what it once was, its people scattered, its numbers dwindled. The war had left them isolated, broken.

She hated admitting it, but it was the truth. And she wasn't happy about it.

Aang, for all his usual cheer, noticed her somber expression as they walked. He didn't say anything—but for the first time since arriving, he felt the full weight of just how much had changed.

Trying to shrug off her heavy thoughts, Katara turned to Aang. Before she could get a word out, he spotted a penguin and dashed after it. She sighed, the question she had in mind put on hold. Well, at least she didn't need to rush—judging by his clumsy attempts, he wasn't catching that penguin anytime soon. With a small smile, she followed leisurely behind.

By the time they had wandered well beyond the village, Aang finally gave up his pursuit. Katara patted his shoulder and said, "You're doing it all wrong."

Aang blinked at her in confusion. She smirked and made him an offer. "If I help you, will you tell me about the world?"

Excitement bubbled in her chest. This was the first time she had met someone from beyond her tribe—of course, she wanted to know everything.

Aang's face lit up with an innocent smile, and he eagerly upped the ante. "I'll do even more! I'll help you travel across the world!"

Katara's eyes widened. "Deal! You can't take it back!" She grinned smugly, as if she had just trapped him in an unbreakable contract.

Aang, too caught up in his excitement, brushed it off. "Right—now, the help?" He was already looking around, ready to try again. He couldn't remember the last time he had gone penguin sledding, and the mere thought filled him with giddy anticipation.

Katara sighed at his enthusiasm, then flashed a cheeky grin. Without a word, she pulled out some bait and held it in front of her. Immediately, penguins swarmed toward her.

Aang gawked at the simple yet effective tactic. "Oh," he muttered, before quickly snatching up the fish Katara tossed him. Holding it close, he let the eager penguins surround him as well, giggling in anticipation. He handed the fish to the nearest one and immediately latched onto it.

"Katara! Katara! Get yours—let's go penguin sledding!" he shouted gleefully. She had promised earlier, and now he was cashing in.

She laughed at his antics. Was this what it felt like to be a child, free from expectations and responsibilities? She honestly loved it. Following his lead, she grabbed her own penguin.

Moments later, their laughter echoed across the frozen tundra. They raced between crevices, slid through icy tunnels, and reveled in the sheer joy of the ride—until, at last, they found themselves face-to-face with an ominous, towering ship.

The laughter faded.

Katara's stomach twisted as she stared at the rusted metal hulk before them. It loomed in the icy wasteland, a silent relic of a war that had stolen so much from her people.

Aang, oblivious to its significance, merely tilted his head. "Whoa. A Fire Nation ship! What's it doing here?"

Katara swallowed, her voice quieter now. "It's been here for a long time."

And suddenly, the cold felt much deeper than before.