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The Weight of Air | Chapter 9

Avatar: The Last Airbender

Pairing: Sokka x Original Female Character

Word Count: 15k (haha oops!)

Sorry for the delay in getting this chapter out. Life got ahead of me this week. Hope you enjoy! Let me know your thoughts. :)

Chapter Masterlist

The morning is cool and quiet, the forest still heavy with dew from the night before. Shafts of sunlight filter through the trees in scattered beams, illuminating particles of dust in the air. Somewhere nearby, unseen birds chirp lazily to one another while Appa snores loudly back at camp.

Aira walks alongside Aang and Sokka through the woods, absently twiddling the wooden beads of her bracelet between her fingers as they explore the area surrounding their campsite. The earth beneath their shoes is damp and soft, littered with fallen leaves and twisting roots.

A little ways ahead, Aang suddenly stops mid-step. He crouches down beside something sticking out of the ground. He reaches down and picks up a small sword. It has a curved, jagged blade, and the handle is wrapped in blue fabric.

“Hey look, a sword made from a whale’s tooth,” he says.

The moment Sokka hears that, he practically teleports across the clearing.

“Let me see that.”

Aang hands it over, and Sokka’s entire demeanor shifts the second the weapon touches his hands. The usual joking ease leaves his face, replaced by sharp concentration.

Aira notices it immediately. It always surprises her a little how quickly Sokka changes when something matters to him. One second he’s sarcastic and dramatic, the next he’s focused in a way that makes him seem older. More capable.

Sokka studies the blade carefully, thumb brushing over the carved markings near the handle. “This is a Water Tribe weapon,” he says quietly. Something flickers across his face then—hope, cautious and fragile. Aira notices the way his grip tightens slightly around the sword.

“See if you can find anything else,” he says quickly.

Immediately, the group spreads out.

Aang dives enthusiastically into a nearby bush with absolutely no strategy whatsoever. Sokka, meanwhile, moves carefully through the area, eyes scanning the ground with surprising precision. He crouches near disturbed earth, studies broken branches, examines markings most people wouldn’t even notice.

“Did someone lose something?” Katara asks as she emerges from the trees, looking curiously at her friends as they thoroughly search the forest.

“No,” Aang calls distractedly while still wrestling with leaves. “We found something!”

Sokka suddenly kneels beside a rock half-hidden in the dirt. He reaches down and lifts a small arrowhead between his fingers. Aira steps closer. The metal is darkened. Burned. Sokka rubs his thumb across its surface, and ash flakes away onto the forest floor.

“It’s burned,” he murmurs.

His eyes shift toward several deep gouges carved into the bark of a nearby tree. Sword marks. Aira watches as realization slowly pieces itself together behind his eyes. “There was a battle,” Sokka says. He stands and walks toward the tree, fingers brushing over the damaged bark. “Water Tribe warriors ambushed a group of Firebenders.” His voice grows steadier the more he speaks, confidence building with every clue. “The Firebenders fought back…” He gestures toward snapped branches further downhill. “But the warriors drove them down this hill.”

Aira blinks. Honestly… it’s impressive. She’s used to Sokka acting ridiculous half the time—complaining about food, making terrible jokes, arguing with literally anyone who breathes incorrectly—but moments like this remind her there’s something sharper underneath all of that. He notices things. Patterns. Tracks. Behaviors. Things she would’ve walked right past.

Before anyone can say anything, Sokka suddenly takes off downhill. The others hurry after him. Sokka moves quickly through the rocky slope, leaping over fallen logs and large boulders with practiced ease. Aira struggles slightly to keep pace behind him, nearly slipping on loose gravel.

“Spirits,” she mutters under her breath. “Does he have to run like a mountain goat?”

The forest begins thinning as the sound of crashing waves grows louder. Soon they break through the treeline and emerge onto a narrow beach scattered with driftwood and jagged rocks. Sokka abruptly stops moving, and Aira nearly crashes into his back. He stares silently toward the shoreline, shoulders suddenly slumping.

Aang tilts his head. “Then what happened?”

Sokka’s expression tightens. “I don’t know.”

For a brief second, disappointment settles heavily over the group. The trail had been leading somewhere. Aira can practically feel how badly Sokka wants answers.

Then Katara gasps. “Wait! Look!” She points down the shoreline.

Aira follows her gaze—and freezes. Docked against the beach is a worn wooden ship with a blue sail. A Water Tribe sail.

Sokka’s eyes widen instantly. “It’s one of our boats!”

The excitement in his voice hits so suddenly and so forcefully that it startles Aira. He bolts toward the ship without hesitation. The others follow close behind. As they approach, Aira takes in the details—the curved craftsmanship, the weathered sail, the familiar blue markings matching Katara and Sokka’s clothing.

Katara reaches the boat beside her brother, breathless. “Is that Dad’s boat?”

Sokka places a hand against the side of the ship almost reverently. “No,” he says softly. “But it’s from his fleet.” His fingers trail across the wood carefully, like touching proof of something he desperately needed to believe. “Dad was here.”

Katara smiles immediately, relief and excitement lighting up her face.

Aira hangs back slightly, watching the siblings. She suddenly feels oddly nervous. She’s heard a few stories about Hakoda over the past few weeks—a warrior chief sailing across the world fighting the Fire Nation. Brave. Strong. Respected. The kind of father people stay proud of. Her chest tightens unexpectedly at the thought. She quickly pushes it away.

Katara grabs Sokka’s arm excitedly. “We’re close to him.”

Sokka nods, grinning now in a way Aira doesn’t think she’s ever seen before. Not smug or teasing or sarcastic. Just… happy. And somehow that expression changes him entirely. For a moment, Aira can suddenly picture him as a little kid standing beside his father, trying to learn how to track footprints or hold a weapon correctly. The realization makes something warm twist unexpectedly in her chest.

=====================

Later that night, the waves roll gently against the shore, their crashes blending with the crackling of the campfire. Moonlight stretches across the ocean in shimmers. The salty breeze carries the scent of seaweed and smoke through the campsite, cool against Aira’s skin.

Everyone else had long since fallen asleep. Katara is curled beneath her sleeping bag near Appa. Aang is sleeping on his side on one of Appa’s legs, Momo curled into Aang’s back. Even Appa’s heavy breathing has settled into a slow, steady rumble. But Aira can’t sleep. She sits cross-legged near the fire, absentmindedly poking at the burning wood with a stick. Sparks spiral upward into the dark sky before disappearing among the stars. Her mind feels restless. Maybe it was the ocean. Maybe it was the discovery of the Water Tribe ship earlier that day. Maybe it was the look on Sokka’s face when he realized his father had once stood on this very shore.

Across from her, Sokka walks over and sits with his elbows resting on his knees, staring into the flames. He looks different when he’s quiet. Usually he filled every silence he could find—complaining, joking, rambling, arguing with someone about something. But tonight the energy seemed to have drained out of him, leaving behind something softer and more vulnerable.

Aira studies him for a moment before speaking. “Can’t sleep either?”

Sokka nods silently, staring into the fire, the orange light reflecting off his eyes. A comfortable silence settles between them for a moment. The fire pops loudly.

Sokka’s gaze drifts toward the ocean again. “I keep thinking about that boat,” he admits quietly.

Aira’s expression softens. “Your dad’s fleet.”

“Yeah.” He swallows. “It’s weird. For years he’s just been… this idea. This person I’ve talked about so much that sometimes he almost doesn’t feel real anymore.” He stared down at his hands. “But finding that boat makes it feel different.”

The words linger heavily between them. Aira watches the fire curl around a blackened log. She understands that feeling better than she wanted to.

“You miss him a lot,” she says gently.

Sokka laughs under his breath, though there wasn’t much humor in it. “Yeah.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I mean, I know why he left. The Fire Nation was winning the war. He had to help fight.” His voice lowered slightly. “But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t hard.”

The honesty in his tone catches Aira off guard. Sokka usually carries himself like he has everything figured out. Even when panicking, he turns it into sarcasm or stubbornness before anyone can see too much beneath it. But now there’s no performance. Just exhaustion.

“I used to think,” he continues slowly, “that if I acted strong enough, it wouldn’t bother me anymore.” He gave a weak shrug. “Like if I became ‘the man of the tribe’, then maybe I wouldn’t feel like some weak little kid waiting around for his dad to come home.”

Aira’s chest tightens slightly. Because she knows that instinct too. Pretending you’re fine long enough that maybe one day it would become true.

“But it still hurts,” she says quietly.

Sokka looked at her then. The firelight flickered across his face, softening the usual sharpness in his expression.

“Yeah,” he admitted. “It does.”

The waves crashed against the shore again. Aira drew her knees closer to her chest. “I think…” she started carefully, “missing someone never really goes away. You just get better at carrying it.”

Sokka is silent for a moment. Then he asks quietly, “Your parents?”

Aira nods once. The grief is older now. Less sharp. But it still lives inside her like an ache that flares up when she least expects it. Some days it’s overwhelming. Other days it appears in smaller ways—in memories of her father’s laugh or the scent of her mother’s favorite tea.

“My parents used to tell me that people leave pieces of themselves behind,” Aira murmurs, eyes fixed on the flames. “In the people they love. In the things they teach you. That even when they’re gone, they never really go away.” She swallows lightly. “I didn’t really understand what that meant at the time.”

“And now?”

Aira glances toward Katara and Aang sleeping nearby. “I think I do now.”

Sokka follows her gaze. For a brief moment, neither of them speak. But suddenly, he stiffens beside the fire. Aira notices it instantly. His posture changes first—shoulders tightening, jaw setting, eyes narrowing toward the darkness down the beach. The playful exhaustion from moments ago vanishes completely, replaced by sharp alertness.

Aira follows his gaze. At first she sees nothing but shifting shadows and moonlit waves. Then—a figure. Someone is walking toward them through the dark shoreline. The person moves slowly but deliberately, shoes crunching against wet sand.

Aira and Sokka immediately lock eyes. No words are needed. Both stand at the same time. Sokka grabs his boomerang from beside his sleeping bag while Aira instinctively lowers into a defensive stance, feet shifting lightly against the sand.

“Who’s there?” Sokka shouts, voice hard and commanding enough to wake the dead.

The figure pauses. Then steps closer into the glow of the campfire. Aira studies him carefully. It’s a middle-aged man with long brown hair that frames his face unevenly, strands blowing across his forehead in the wind. He wears blue Water Tribe robes, the garments hanging loosely around bandages wrapped tightly across his torso and left arm. He looks injured. But not dangerous. At least… probably not dangerous.

The man blinks toward Sokka through the firelight. “Sokka?” he asks breathlessly.

Aira frowns slightly. How does he know Sokka?

Beside her, Sokka’s eyes widen. “…Bato?”

The name hits the air like a spark. Behind them, Katara suddenly jerks awake. “Bato?” she repeats groggily before fully sitting upright. Then recognition floods her face. “Bato!” she gasps. Katara bolts across the sand barefoot before Aira can even process what’s happening. Sokka follows immediately after her, practically dropping his weapon as the two siblings crash into the older man in a fierce hug. Bato laughs warmly despite nearly stumbling backward from the force of it.

“It is so good to see you two,” he says with a smile. “Oh. You’ve grown so much”.

Aira watches the reunion quietly, something warm and strange settling in her chest as she sees the siblings light up around him. The exhaustion in Katara’s face disappears completely. Even Sokka looks younger somehow. Less guarded.

Aang introduces himself to Bato with a polite bow, but before Aira can introduce herself, both siblings bombard Bato at once.

“Where’s dad?”

“Is he with you?”

The excitement in their voices makes something ache softly inside Aira’s chest.

Bato’s smile falters just slightly. “No,” he says gently. “Hakoda and the others should be in the eastern Earth Kingdom by now.”

The shift is immediate. Katara’s shoulders droop first. Then Sokka’s expression dims, though he tries to hide it quickly by looking away toward the ocean.

“Oh,” Katara says quietly.

Aira’s stomach tightens a little at the sight. She knows that feeling too well—that painful flicker of hope right before disappointment settles back in.

The beach suddenly howls with a strong gust of wind that sweeps sand around their feet and sends everyone shivering.

Bato chuckles lightly. “This is no place for a reunion. Come on. Let’s get inside.” Without hesitation, he wraps an arm around both Katara and Sokka, guiding them down the shoreline like they’ve done this a thousand times before.

Aira and Aang linger behind for half a second. The image in front of them feels oddly intimate. Aira looks down briefly. She tries not to think about how long it’s been since someone casually wrapped an arm around her shoulders like that. Bato glances back then, seeming to realize the two airbenders aren’t following them. His expression softens immediately and gestures for them to come along.

Aang brightens instantly and hurries forward. Aira follows more quietly. The group walks along the shore before turning into a narrow forest path illuminated by lanterns hanging from trees. Crickets chirp softly in the brush while moonlight filters through the branches overhead.

Eventually the trees open into a large abbey nestled in the forest.

Aira slows slightly as they approach. The structure is beautiful in a quiet sort of way—rectangular stone buildings connected around an open courtyard, a large shrine standing at the center. Women dressed in long white robes move peacefully throughout the courtyard carrying bowls, herbs, and lanterns. The entire place feels calm. Still. Like the world outside can’t touch it.

As they enter through the gates, Bato speaks again. “Your father carried me here after I was injured in battle,” he explains, absently rubbing the bandages around his arm. “The sisters have taken care of me ever since.”

They approach an older woman standing near the shrine, her white robes flowing elegantly around her. “Superior,” he greets warmly. “These are Hakoda’s children. They’ve been traveling with the Avatar.” He rests his hands proudly on Sokka and Katara’s shoulders. “I found them near my boat.”

The woman’s eyes immediately settle on Aang with gentle awe. She bows deeply. “Young Avatar,” she says kindly, “it brings me great joy to be in your presence. Welcome to our abbey.”

Aang straightens quickly and returns the bow with a bright smile. “Thank you! It’s really an honor to be here. If there’s anything–”

“What smells so good, Bato?” Sokka interrupts suddenly, sniffing the air.

“The sisters make ointments and perfumes,” Bato answers.

“Perfume?” Sokka perks up. “Maybe we could dump some on Appa, because he stinks so much.” He points dramatically toward Appa. “Am I right?”

Silence. Complete silence. One of the sisters slowly blinks at him. Another coughs awkwardly into her sleeve. Katara and Bato simply stare at Sokka with bored expressions. And Aira physically has to press her lips together to stop herself from laughing.

“You have your father’s wit,” Bato says plainly.

=========================

The five of them make their way through the abbey halls before arriving at Bato’s room. The moment he slides the door open, Katara and Sokka freeze in the doorway.

The room is filled to the brim with Water Tribe memorabilia.

A large blue-and-white Water Tribe banner hangs proudly along one wall, its fabric worn slightly with age. Animal pelts line both the floor and the adjacent wall, thick and soft-looking beneath the warm firelight. Spears, clubs, and fishing tools rest neatly in the corner beside a carved wooden chest decorated with swirling blue designs. An urn painted with white wave patterns sits carefully near the back wall.

The entire room smells faintly of smoke, leather, saltwater, and herbs.

Home.

Even Aira can feel it.

She isn’t particularly familiar with Water Tribe customs or decor, but this is almost exactly what she imagined it would look like—simple, sturdy, practical. Nothing flashy. Everything is well-used and cared for.

Beside her, Katara practically lights up. “Bato,” she breathes, clasping her hands together as she looks around the room, “it looks like home.”

“Everything’s here,” Sokka says quietly, running his hand across one of the pelts. “Even the pelts.”

Aang glances around the room with far less enthusiasm. “Yeah,” he says slowly. “Nothing’s cozier than dead animal skins.”

Momo suddenly leaps from Aang’s arms and lands directly in front of a large bear pelt mounted along the floor—the head still attached, jaws frozen open. The lemur lets out a horrified screech. He launches himself back onto Aang’s shoulder so fast that Aang nearly falls over.

Aira snorts into her sleeve. “Momo has a point,” she says, eyeing the bear head cautiously. “That thing definitely looks haunted.”

A small fire crackles in the center of the room, heating a pot suspended above it. Warm orange light flickers across the walls while steam curls lazily toward the ceiling. Bato settles onto a cushion beside the fire and gestures for everyone else to sit.

Katara immediately lifts the pot lid. Her eyes widen. “No way,” she gasps. “Stewed sea prunes?”

“Help yourself,” Bato offers warmly.

“Dad could eat a whole barrel of these things,” Sokka says with a laugh.

The siblings eagerly fill bowls for themselves before offering some to Aang and Aira. Aira accepts hers curiously. The broth is thick and brown, steam curling warmly against her face. Small bits of prune float through the soup alongside herbs she doesn’t recognize.

She takes a careful sip. Immediately, salty and briny flavors spread across her tongue. The broth is rich and warming, the kind of food that settles deep in your stomach and makes your entire body relax. The prunes themselves are strange—slightly chewy, slightly firm. Not bad. Different. Comforting.

Across from her, Aang sniffs his bowl cautiously. His face immediately twists in horror. Aang sticks his tongue out dramatically before forcing himself to take a sip anyway. Instant regret floods his face.

Aira bites the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing. “You look like you’re being poisoned.”

“I think I am,” Aang whispers hoarsely.

The two airbenders settle onto one of the pelts near the fire while Katara and Sokka sit close beside Bato. Almost immediately, the siblings begin bombarding him with questions.

“Bato, is it true you and dad lassoed an arctic hippo?” Katara asks excitedly.

Bato groans dramatically. “It was your father’s idea. He dragged me into it.”

“Did it work?”

“Well… technically the hippo dragged us.”

Sokka bursts out laughing.

As the stories continue, Aira quietly watches the siblings’ faces glow in the firelight. She’s never seen them like this before. Katara usually carries herself like she has the weight of the world sitting on her shoulders. Sokka constantly acts like he has something to prove.

But here? They look younger. Lighter. Every story about Hakoda seems to pull another memory out of them. Another piece of home. Aira stares down into her soup for a moment. She tries to imagine someone telling stories about her mother or father like this. Warm stories. Funny stories. Stories that keep someone alive after they’re gone. A strange ache settles in her chest.

Aang suddenly perks up beside her. “Hey, me and Aira ride animals too!” he says brightly. “One time there was this giant eel and I—”

“So who came up with the Great Blubber Fiasco?” Sokka interrupts immediately.

Aang’s mouth snaps shut. Aira visibly winces.

Ouch.

Bato laughs loudly. “You knew about that?”

“Everyone knows about that,” Katara says proudly.

Aang frowns. “What’s the Great Blubber Fiasco?”

Aira actually leans forward a little, curious now too.

But Sokka waves dismissively. “It’s a long story, Aang,” he says without even looking at him. “Some other time.”

Aang’s shoulders slump. The excitement drains from his face so quickly that Aira’s stomach twists a little. She understands why Sokka and Katara are acting this way. They haven’t been this connected to home in years. But still… Aang looks painfully left out.

Aira gently nudges his shoulder with hers. “We’ll hear the story eventually,” she murmurs quietly. Aang gives a small shrug, though the disappointment still lingers on his face.

As the night stretches on, bowls of sea prune stew are emptied and refilled while Bato continues telling stories about Hakoda and the Southern Water Tribe warriors. Sokka hangs onto every word. Katara asks endless questions. Even Aira finds herself getting drawn into the stories despite not knowing any of the people being discussed. For a little while, the war almost feels far away. Then Bato says something that changes the entire atmosphere in the room.

“I’m expecting a message from your father any day now.”

Sokka and Katara immediately freeze.

“Really?” Katara blurts out.

“Your father said he’d send word once they reached the rendezvous point,” Bato explains. “If you wait here until the message arrives, you can come with me and see him again.”

The room goes silent.

Sokka looks completely stunned. “It’s been over two years since we’ve seen Dad,” he says, almost breathless with disbelief. “Katara!”

Katara smiles softly, eyes distant. “I do really miss him,” she admits quietly. “It would be great to see dad.”

Aira’s gaze instinctively shifts toward Aang. His smile has faded. Something uneasy curls in her stomach. Because for Katara and Sokka, this place feels like home calling them back. But for Aang? Aira glances between the siblings’ excitement and Aang’s silence. And suddenly, for the first time all evening, the room doesn’t feel quite as warm anymore.

Aang glances down at the floor. Then he quietly stands. “I think I’m gonna get some air,” he says.

Nobody seems to notice except Aira. Aang slips out of the room unnoticed. Aira hesitates. Then she carefully sets her bowl down and rises to her feet.

“I’ll be back,” she murmurs softly.

Katara barely looks up. “Okay.”

Aira leaves the room and steps into the quiet abbey courtyard. The night air feels cool against her skin after the warmth of the firelit room. Lanterns sway gently beneath the covered walkways while distant waves crash faintly against the shore below the cliffs.

She spots Aang immediately. He’s walking quickly through the courtyard toward the abbey entrance, hands shoved into his sleeves.

“Aang,” she calls softly.

He slows but doesn’t fully stop. Aira catches up beside him. For a moment neither of them speaks. The silence stretches awkwardly between them.

Finally, Aira glances at him carefully. “You wanna talk about it?”

Aang exhales through his nose. “I’m okay.”

“You don’t seem okay.”

That earns the faintest flicker of frustration across his face. “I said I’m fine.”

Aira falls quiet. The breeze shifts softly around them.

Aang immediately sighs, guilt replacing irritation. “Sorry,” he mutters. “I just…” His voice trails off.

Aira waits patiently.

Aang stares out toward the dark woods surrounding the abbey. “They miss their dad,” he says quietly. “And now they might actually get to see him again.”

Aira nods slowly. “That’s a good thing.”

“I know,” he says quickly. “I know it’s a good thing.”

But his expression twists anyway. “They should be happy.”

Something heavy settles in Aira’s chest because she finally understands. If Sokka and Katara leave to reunite with their father… That leaves Aang alone again. The thought clearly terrifies him.

Aira looks down briefly. Because if they leave… Then she loses them too. The realization hits her harder than she expects. Not long ago, she spent years convincing herself she didn’t need anyone. Traveling alone had become normal. Easier, even. No attachments meant nothing could be taken away from her. But somewhere along the way, these people stopped feeling temporary.

Katara’s warmth.

Aang’s optimism.

Sokka’s loud mouth and stubborn heart.

They’ve quietly woven themselves into her life so naturally that the idea of the group splitting apart suddenly feels… wrong, painful even.

Aang kicks lightly at the dirt beneath his feet. “We’re a family now” he says softly. “I don’t wanna lose them already.”

Aira’s chest tightens painfully at the word family. Because he means it. And spirits help her, but part of her does too. She wants to comfort him. Tell him everything will work out somehow. But she doesn’t know if that’s true.

So instead she says quietly, “You won’t lose them.”

Aang looks at her. “But what if I do?”

The vulnerability in his voice catches her off guard. For a second he sounds younger than twelve. Just a kid. A lonely kid carrying the weight of the entire world. Aira opens her mouth, searching for the right words. But before she can speak, Aang shakes his head slightly.

“I just…” He exhales heavily. “I kinda want to be alone for a little bit.”

Aira pauses. Then nods. “Okay.”

Aang offers her a small, apologetic smile before turning and walking farther into the courtyard. Aira watches him go until he disappears around the stone corridor. The silence afterward feels strangely heavy. For a moment, she considers going back to Bato’s room. But she can still hear Sokka and Katara laughing faintly from inside. And suddenly she doesn’t think she can handle hearing that right now.

So instead, Aira quietly slips out of the abbey. The woods surrounding the cliffs are calm at night. Moonlight filters softly through the trees while the distant ocean hums below. Crickets chirp steadily beneath the rustling leaves overhead.

Aira walks aimlessly until she finds a small clearing tucked between the roots of an enormous tree. She lowers herself onto the grass slowly, crossing her legs. Meditation usually helps. Usually.

She closes her eyes and inhales deeply through her nose. The cool night air fills her lungs.

In.

Out.

In.

Out.

She listens to the wind moving through the branches. Feels the earth beneath her. Her mother once told her that the world speaks most clearly when the mind is quiet enough to hear it. But tonight, Aira’s mind refuses to be quiet. Instead, thoughts keep circling endlessly. What if Sokka and Katara leave? What happens to the group then? Would Aang keep traveling alone? Would she?

Her stomach twists. The thought of returning to that endless loneliness again suddenly feels unbearable. And that realization scares her more than she wants to admit. Because attachment leads to loss. She learned that years ago. Her father. Her mother. Her home. Everything. Aira presses her hands against her knees harder. So why does she keep letting herself care anyway?

A breeze stirs around her, lifting strands of hair from her face. Her thoughts drift unwillingly toward Sokka. Toward the way he lights up when talking about his father. Toward Katara’s smile tonight. Toward the warmth of sitting around that fire listening to stories together. Something inside her aches softly. Because she wants that too. She wants a family. She wants people who choose to stay.

Aira slowly opens her eyes and stares up through the trees at the stars overhead. For years, survival was enough. Now? Now she isn’t so sure anymore.

=====================

Eventually, Aira finishes her meditation and decides to head back to the abbey. The walk back is quiet. The forest hums with the sounds of insects and rustling leaves, and for a little while she lets herself focus on that instead of the knot of worry sitting in her chest.

She slips through the abbey entrance and makes her way toward Bato's room. Voices spill out into the hallway before she even reaches the doorway. Sokka is laughing. Katara is talking over him. Bato's deeper voice rumbles between them.

Aira pauses for a moment. The sound should make her feel relieved. Instead, it makes her chest ache. They're so happy. And if the message arrives… They'll leave. The thought comes uninvited. She immediately pushes it away.

Don't be ridiculous.

Of course they would want to see their father. She would too. Still, the idea leaves a hollow feeling in her stomach.

Aira quietly enters the room. The others are gathered around the fire exactly where she left them. Sokka is enthusiastically reenacting some story with exaggerated arm movements. Katara is laughing so hard she nearly spills her bowl. Neither of them notices Aira sit down against the wall. Bato does, offering her a small smile before turning back to the story. Aira smiles back. Then she glances toward the doorway. No sign of Aang. Her stomach twists.

I hope he's okay.

She knows he told her he wanted to be alone. Still. She can't help worrying. Aang always carries so much more than he lets people see.

The room grows warmer as time passes. More stories are exchanged. More sea prunes disappear from the pot. Then finally—

"Hey, everyone."

Aira immediately looks up. Aang strolls through the doorway with both hands behind his head. His smile is a little too wide.

"Sorry I was gone so long."

Katara glances over. "Oh, hey, Aang." She smiles warmly. "I didn't even notice you left."

Aira watches Aang's face. The smile twitches. Only for a second. Then it's back.

"Yep! But now I'm back." He walks into the room. "Sure could go for some of those delicious sea prunes."

Aira raises an eyebrow. Aang hated the sea prunes. He'd made that very clear earlier. Yet now he practically lunges for the pot. He scoops himself an overflowing bowl and shoves a spoonful into his mouth. The moment he starts chewing, his face scrunches. His eyes water. Aira has to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. Aang forces himself to swallow.

"Mmmm." His voice cracks. "So good." Another spoonful. Another grimace. Another forced swallow. "Delicious."

Katara slowly lowers her bowl. Bato exchanges a glance with Sokka. The room falls awkwardly silent. Aira watches Aang struggle through a third spoonful before finally speaking.

"Aang."

"Mhm?"

"You know you don't actually have to eat those."

He freezes. Sea prune halfway to his mouth. For a moment he looks caught. Then he quickly shoves it into his mouth anyway.

"Mmph." He swallows. “I like them now.”

Aira stares. Aang stares back. Neither says anything. Finally she sighs. "You're a terrible liar."

That earns a few chuckles from around the room. Aang groans and sinks lower into his seat. The tension eases slightly. But Aira still notices the way his smile doesn't quite reach his eyes. And when everyone else resumes talking, she catches him staring into the fire. Quiet. Distant. Like part of him is somewhere else entirely.

=========================

The following morning arrives peacefully. Golden sunlight spills across the abbey courtyard, painting the stone paths in warm shades of amber. Birds chirp from nearby trees, and a gentle breeze carries the scent of flowers and incense through the air. Appa lounges near the edge of the courtyard, lazily chewing his breakfast.

Aang stands nearby with his hands on his hips. "Aira!"

She looks up from where she's helping gather supplies.

"I've got today's lesson."

Aira immediately brightens.

"Come on." He leads her toward a massive pile of hay stacked beside one of the storage buildings. Appa lifts his head. His tail swishes hopefully. Aang gestures dramatically.

"Your mission is simple." He points toward the hay. Then toward Appa. "Move hay."

Aira nods. "Move hay."

"Exactly."

Aang demonstrates the movement. His feet spread apart. His knees bend slightly. His arms sweep outward in a fluid circle. The air responds instantly. A small bundle of hay lifts effortlessly from the pile. With another graceful motion, Aang guides it through the air and deposits it neatly in front of Appa. The sky bison happily begins eating.

Aang beams. "See?" Then steps aside. "Your turn."

Aira takes position. She carefully mirrors his stance. Feet apart. Knees bent. Shoulders relaxed.

Aang circles around her. "A little lower."

She adjusts.

"Good." Aang nods approvingly. "See? You're getting it."

The praise sends a small spark of pride through her chest. Not long ago she could barely produce a gust of wind intentionally. Now she's actually learning. Slowly. Messily. But learning.

She takes a deep breath. Focuses. Moves. Air gathers beneath part of the hay pile. The bundle lifts. For a glorious second, everything works perfectly. Aira grins. Then the hay sails directly onto Appa's head.

Thump.

Silence. Appa blinks. A massive mound of hay completely engulfs his face.

Aira's smile immediately vanishes. "Oh no."

Appa lets out a deeply offended grunt. Then violently shakes himself. Hay explodes everywhere. The courtyard becomes a blizzard of straw. Aira throws her hands over her face. When the dust settles, hay hangs from her hair. From Aang's robes. From Appa's horns.

Aira groans. "I was so close."

Aang doubles over laughing. "You really were!"

"That's not helping."

Eventually he catches his breath. "Seriously though." His voice softens. "Your form was almost perfect."

Aira glances up. "Really?"

"Really." Aang smiles. "The hay landed on Appa instead of flying backwards."

She gives him a flat look. "Thank you for that incredibly high standard."

"You're welcome."

He grins. Then effortlessly airbends the remaining hay off Appa. The sky bison snorts in approval. Moments later another small pile lands neatly in front of him. Appa immediately begins munching. As Aang lowers his hands, something slips from his sleeve. A crumpled piece of paper flutters to the ground.

Before either of them can react, the Superior picks it up. "Aha." Her eyes narrow. "I caught you."

Aang freezes. Instantly. Every trace of amusement disappears from his face.

"You should be ashamed of yourself."

Aira blinks. Aang looks like he's about to be sentenced to life imprisonment.

The Superior holds up the paper. "Littering in the courtyard."

Relief washes over his face. "Oh."

She hands it back.

Aang accepts it quickly. "I-I'm sorry. I'll take care of it."

The Superior gives a dignified nod before walking away. Aira watches him. Interesting. Very interesting. Aang immediately crumples the paper tighter and stuffs it into his robes. Too quickly. Way too quickly.

"What is that?"

"Nothing." His answer comes so fast it nearly overlaps her question.

Aira pauses.

Aang crosses his arms. "It's nothing." Another pause. "Why would it be something?"

Aira stares. Aang stares back. The silence stretches. Finally she blinks. "Uhhh..." She points at him. "You know that makes it sound more like something."

Aang laughs nervously. "Nope."

"Definitely something."

"Nope."

"Suspicious."

"Not suspicious." Aang immediately turns and begins walking away.

Aira watches him go. "...that's the most suspicious thing you've ever done."

Right then, Bato approaches with Katara and Sokka. The siblings look unusually excited. Bato smiles.

"I'm heading down to the beach to inspect the Water Tribe ship."

Sokka practically bounces. "Come on! You have to see this thing."

Katara nods eagerly. "You too, Aira."

Aira glances once more at Aang. He's already halfway across the courtyard, one hand pressed protectively against whatever is hidden inside his robes.

Definitely something.

But whatever it is, she decides she'll let him tell her when he's ready. So she turns and follows the others toward the shore.

===========================

The group of five eventually make their way down to the shoreline. The morning air is crisp, carrying the scent of saltwater and seaweed. Gentle waves lap against the sand while gulls circle overhead. The Water Tribe ship sits where it has been left, weathered by wind and spray but still sturdy. Bato approaches the vessel with a look that immediately softens his features. He reaches out and runs his hand along the wooden railing.

"This ship is sentimental to me," Bato says quietly. "It was built by my father." His fingers linger against the wood.

Aira watches him thoughtfully. She understands that feeling. Not about ships specifically—but about objects carrying pieces of people who are gone. For years, the only thing she had left of her old life had been memories and the wooden carved bracelet given to her by Mei Lee, her mom’s best friend. The thought makes her chest ache.

Nearby, Katara gently trails her fingertips along the railing while Sokka inspects the ship's construction more closely. His eyes dart over every detail with genuine fascination. Aira smiles to herself. For all his complaints and sarcasm, Sokka really loves learning about things.

Suddenly, she feels a tiny gust of wind behind her. Aira turns. Aang is standing a few paces away with his hands clasped behind his back. Whistling. Poorly. His eyes are fixed on absolutely nothing. He looks like someone trying incredibly hard to appear casual. Aira slowly raises an eyebrow. Aang immediately looks away. Definitely suspicious. She narrows her eyes at him. Aang whistles louder.

Before she can question him, Sokka speaks. "Is this the boat he took you ice dodging in?"

Bato's face lights up. "Yep, and it’s got the scar to prove it,” Bato chuckles. Then he turns toward Sokka. "What about you? You must have some good stories from your first ice dodging trip."

The atmosphere changes immediately. Aira notices it before anyone says a word. Sokka's smile fades. Katara's shoulders droop. Even the sound of the waves seems quieter. Bato's own expression falters as he realizes his mistake.

"He never got to go," Katara says softly. The words hang heavily in the air. "Dad left before he was old enough."

Aira glances at Sokka. He's staring at the sand now. Not meeting anyone's eyes. Trying very hard to look unaffected. But she notices the way his jaw tightens. The way his gaze remains fixed on the ground. As though if he looks anywhere else, everyone might see how much it hurts.

Bato's face immediately fills with regret. "Oh." He lowers his hand. “Oh I forgot, you were too young,”

Sokka shrugs. It's an attempt at nonchalance. Not a very convincing one. "It's fine." It clearly isn't.

Aira feels a tug in her chest. Last night around the campfire, Sokka had finally admitted how much he missed his father. How much he wanted to see him. Now she understands a little better. It isn't just missing Hakoda. It's all the moments he missed too. All the lessons. All the traditions. All the memories that were supposed to happen.

Aang steps closer. "What's ice dodging?" he asks.

The question pulls everyone's attention away from the uncomfortable silence. Aira finds herself curious too. She's spent the last day learning bits and pieces about Water Tribe culture, and every new detail fascinates her.

Bato's smile slowly returns. "It's a rite of passage for young Water Tribe members. When you turn 14, your dad takes you–”

Bato turns toward Sokka again. For a moment he simply studies him. The disappointment. The longing. The years that have passed. Then his expression brightens.

"You know what?"

Sokka looks up.

Bato places a hand firmly on his shoulder. "You're about to find out."

For a second, Sokka just stares. "Wait."

A grin begins spreading across Bato's face. The grin spreads to Sokka's face too. Slowly at first. Then all at once.

"Seriously?"

"Seriously."

Sokka looks as though someone has just handed him the moon. His eyes practically glow. Aira can't help smiling. The excitement radiating off him is contagious.

"Come on," Bato says. "Let's get this ship ready."

Sokka immediately rushes toward the deck. "Did you hear that? I'm going ice dodging!"

Aira laughs as Sokka scrambles aboard the ship with the enthusiasm of a child. Her heart swells at his excitement, noticing the sadness leave his eyes, replaced by something brighter. Something more youthful.

==========================

The group sails the boat into the water and slightly away from the shore as Bato explains the task at hand. The salty breeze fills the sail above them, causing the vessel to rock gently beneath their feet.

Aira grips the side of the boat a little tighter than necessary. She doesn't particularly enjoy boats. Flying? Wonderful. Walking? Familiar. Boats? Boats have an unfortunate tendency to sink.

“Ice dodging is a ceremonial test of wisdom, bravery, and trust,” Bato explains. His voice carries easily over the wind. “Back home, it was done by weaving a boat through a field of icebergs.”

“How are we supposed to ice dodge without ice?” Sokka asks.

Bato points toward the horizon. “By dodging those.”

Everyone follows his finger. Dozens of jagged stone pillars jut out from the ocean ahead of them. Some are small. Some are enormous. Sharp rocks rise from the water like the teeth of some gigantic sea monster waiting to swallow them whole.

Aira's stomach drops. We are absolutely going to crash. The more she stares at them, the worse they look. Some lean at odd angles. Others are hidden partially beneath the waves. Narrow channels twist between them in seemingly impossible directions. One wrong turn and—Yep. Definitely crashing. She subtly scoots closer to the center of the boat. Just in case.

“Sokka,” Bato says, “you steer and call the shots. Lead wisely.”

Sokka immediately straightens. His posture changes almost instantly. Aira notices this every time someone gives him responsibility. The joking, sarcastic teenager disappears and something else emerges—someone more focused. More deliberate.

Bato nods approvingly before turning toward Katara. “Katara, you'll secure the mainsail. The winds can be brutal, so be brave.”

Then Bato turns to Aang. “Aang, you control the jib. Without your steady hand, we all go down. Your position is about trust.”

The word trust hangs in the air. Aang immediately stiffens. Aira notices it at once. His shoulders tighten. His smile falters. For the briefest moment, something uncomfortable flashes across his face. Then it's gone.

“I know that,” Aang says quickly. Too quickly. “Why wouldn't I know that? I'm the Avatar. I know about trust.” He crosses his arms defensively.

Aira blinks. ...Okay. That was weird. Again. Lately, everything Aang says seems to have some strange nervous energy attached to it. Ever since Bato told Katara and Sokka about the message from their father, Aang has seemed off balance. Distracted. Like he's carrying around a secret.

Aira leans slightly toward him. “You know, most people who understand trust don't usually announce it like that.”

Aang immediately points at her. “See? That's exactly something a person who doesn't trust me would say.”

Aira stares. “What?”

“Nothing.”

Aira's eyes narrow slightly. Something is definitely up. The question is whether it's worth pushing.

Bato's gaze settles on Aira. "And you, Aira."

Aira straightens slightly. "Yes?"

Bato points toward the bow of the boat. "You're the lookout."

She blinks. "The lookout?"

"From the front of the ship you'll spot hazards before anyone else. Hidden rocks. Sharp turns. Dangerous currents."

Aira glances toward the jagged stone pillars jutting from the sea. There seem to be an awful lot of hazards. Wonderful.

Bato smiles. "A lookout must trust what they see. If you hesitate, the crew hesitates. If you stay silent, the ship suffers for it."

Aira shifts awkwardly. That sounds like a lot of responsibility.

Bato seems to notice her uncertainty. "You strike me as someone who spends a great deal of time observing."

Aira's eyebrows lift. "Is that a polite way of saying I don't talk much?"

A small chuckle escapes Bato. "Maybe. A lookout's role is about confidence. Seeing something and speaking up. Not doubting yourself."

For a moment, Aira falls quiet. That hits a little too close to home. How many times had she stayed silent? How many times had she avoided drawing attention to herself? How many times had she seen danger coming and simply slipped away instead of facing it?

Bato nods toward the bow. "Trust your instincts. Trust your eyes. The crew will be relying on you."

Aira looks toward the front of the ship. The ocean stretches endlessly ahead. Wind dances through her hair. A small knot forms in her stomach.

"I'll do my best."

Bato walks away and sits facing the group of teenagers. “For this to be done right, I cannot help. You pass or fail on your own.”

Aira gulps and carefully makes her way toward the bow of the boat. The farther she moves from the others, the more exposed she feels. From here, she has a clear view of the dangerous waters ahead.

Unfortunately, that means she also has a clear view of just how many ways this could go horribly wrong. Jagged stone pillars rise from the ocean in every direction. Some are tall and narrow like spears. Others are broad and uneven, their dark surfaces slick with seawater. Waves crash against them constantly, sending white spray into the air.

Aira's stomach twists. Spirits. Who looked at this and thought, Let's sail directly through it?

The boat rocks beneath her feet as another gust catches the sail. Her pulse pounds loudly in her ears. For a brief moment, she considers suggesting they turn around. Then she glances back toward Sokka. He's already focused on the course ahead, eyes constantly scanning the rocks and the water. Every trace of his usual sarcasm has disappeared. He's completely locked in.

And suddenly Aira remembers how excited he'd been when Bato first mentioned the ceremony. How much this means to him. The nervousness in her stomach doesn't disappear. But she straightens her shoulders anyway.

I can do this.

I won't let them down.

I won't let him down.

The wind whips her hair behind her as the boat cuts through the water. The first cluster of rocks approaches rapidly.

Immediately, Sokka springs into action. "Aang, ease up on the jib!"

"Got it!"

"Katara, steady!"

Katara nods and adjusts her grip.

Then Sokka looks toward the bow. "Aira, how are we looking?"

Aira quickly surveys the water ahead. Her eyes dart from rock to rock. "Two rocks dead ahead!"

"Got it!"

Sokka points immediately. "Aang, less sail! Katara, give him room!"

Aang pulls on the rope as instructed, his movements quick but slightly tense. The sail shifts overhead with a loud snap. Sokka plants both feet and throws his weight against the steering oar. The boat turns sharply.

Aira nearly loses her footing. "Whoa!" She catches herself against the railing just before falling.

The vessel glides past the rocks with only a few feet to spare. Close enough that Aira can see tiny barnacles clinging to the stone. Way too close. The boat clears the obstacle. Everyone exhales.

Then Aira looks up again. "Oh no."

"What?" Katara asks.

Aira points. Three massive stone pillars loom ahead. Much larger than the previous ones. And they're approaching fast.

"Three big ones coming up fast!"

Katara's eyes widen. Aang visibly tenses. But Sokka immediately starts issuing commands.

"Aang, helm to lee! Helm to lee!"

Aang blinks. "What does that even mean?"

Sokka opens his mouth. Pauses. Then realizes he has no time to explain. Sokka grunts and yanks the steering oar with all his strength. The boat swings hard to port. Everyone leans with the motion. The rocks rush past on either side.

For one terrifying second, Aira is absolutely convinced they're going to collide.

Then—They slip through. The stone pillars disappear behind them. The boat emerges safely into open water. For a moment there's stunned silence.

Then Sokka pumps his fist into the air. "Great job!"

A huge grin spreads across his face. The pride there is impossible to miss. Aira finds herself smiling too. Maybe this isn't so bad—Then she turns around. The smile immediately disappears.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me."

Ahead of them stretches an almost solid wall of stone. A maze of jagged rock formations rises directly from the water, leaving almost no visible path through.

Aira points forward. "Uhh, guys?"

Their eyes follow her finger. Katara immediately pales. "There's no way through!”

Bato folds his arms. The concern on his face is unmistakable. Even he looks uncertain. But Sokka doesn't. Instead, his eyes narrow. Thinking. Calculating. Aira watches him carefully. It's almost fascinating. He isn't panicking. He isn't hesitating. He's searching for a solution. Then suddenly his expression brightens.

"We can make it."

Aira glances back toward the wall of stone. Then back to Sokka. Then back to the wall. Then back to Sokka.

"...Can we?"

"Absolutely."

His confidence is either inspiring or deeply concerning. Aira hasn't decided which.

Bato finally speaks up. "Sokka, you've already proven yourself. Maybe we should—"

But Sokka is already moving. "Aang! Aira!"

The two airbenders immediately look at him.

"I'm gonna need air in that sail."

Aira nods instantly. "Got it."

"Aira, follow my lead," Aang says.

She nods again.

Then Sokka turns toward Katara. "Katara, I want as much water as you can get between us and those rocks. Now!"

Everyone moves at once. Aira plants her feet firmly against the deck. Aang raises his arms. She mirrors him. Not as smoothly as Aang. But better than before. She can feel it responding. Flowing around her arms. Aang sweeps his hands forward. Aira follows. Powerful gusts surge into the sail. The canvas snaps loudly. The boat lurches forward.

Beside them, Katara bends a massive wave beneath the vessel. Water rises from the ocean. The wave swells higher, lifting the boat with it.

Aira's eyes widen. "We're actually doing this."

The boat begins climbing. Up the wave. Toward the wall of stone. Every instinct in Aira screams that this is a terrible idea.

Then suddenly the entire boat rises above the rocks. Aira gasps. The ocean stretches endlessly around them. The wind roars in her ears. Below, the jagged rocks pass harmlessly beneath the hull.

The boat clears the wall. Katara lowers the wave. The vessel splashes safely back into the water. For several seconds, nobody speaks.

Then Aira slowly turns toward Sokka. "...That was completely insane."

Sokka beams. "It worked, didn't it?"

Aang laughs. Katara shakes her head. Bato simply smiles.

And though she'd never admit it out loud, Aira feels a small burst of self-pride. Not just because they succeeded. But because when Sokka needed her, she was there. And together, they made it through.

=========================

The group slowly makes their way back to the shore.

Aira's legs wobble slightly as she steps off the boat and onto solid ground. After spending the last hour weaving through jagged rocks and bouncing across rough waves, the earth beneath her feet feels strangely still.

Together, the four teens line up side-by-side on the beach. The afternoon sun reflects off the ocean behind them. Waves roll gently onto the shore, far calmer than they had been during the ceremony.

Bato stands before them holding a small wooden bowl filled with blue paint. For a moment his expression becomes solemn. Ceremonial. Proud.

"The spirits of the Water bear witness to these marks," he says.

Sokka immediately straightens. Katara mirrors him. Even Aira finds herself standing a little taller.

Bato dips two fingers into the paint. "For Sokka, the mark of the wise." He carefully paints a small arch with a dot beneath it onto Sokka's forehead. "The same mark your father earned."

For a second, Sokka simply freezes. Then a grin slowly spreads across his face. Not his usual cocky grin. Something softer. Younger. Prouder.

"For Katara," Bato continues before Sokka can keep talking, "the mark of the brave." He paints a crescent moon onto Katara's forehead. "Your courage inspires us."

Katara smiles shyly. The praise clearly means a lot to her. Aira thinks it's fitting. Katara is brave. Not because she isn't afraid. Because she keeps moving forward anyway.

Bato turns toward her next. Aira feels her stomach tighten. "Uh..." She glances around. "You know I'm not actually from the Water Tribe, right?"

Bato chuckles. "I'm aware." Bato smiles warmly. "For Aira..." He studies her thoughtfully. Then dips his fingers back into the paint. "The mark of the watchful." He gently paints a small eye surrounded by curved lines resembling flowing wind. "Your keen eye protects your fellow warriors from danger."

Aira unconsciously touches the symbol. Warm paint smears against her fingertips. Watchful. The word settles somewhere deep inside her. For years she'd survived by watching. Watching patrol routes. Watching crowds. Watching for danger. Watching for signs she needed to run. She never thought of it as something admirable. Only necessary. Yet somehow Bato makes it sound like a strength. She finds herself smiling.

Then he turns to Aang. "And for Aang..." "The mark of the trusted." He paints a small arch onto Aang's forehead.

Aang doesn't smile. Doesn't react at all. At first Aira assumes he's still upset from earlier. But then she notices his hands. They're trembling. Something twists in her stomach. His expression grows distant. Painful. Like he's looking at something nobody else can see.

Bato steps back. "You are both now honorary members of the Water Tribe."

Aira smiles. Her eyes meet Katara's. Then Sokka's. Both of them are grinning at her. And for a moment she feels warm. Accepted. Wanted. Part of something. Part of them. But the feeling vanishes almost immediately.

Because Aang suddenly takes a step backward. "I can't."

Everyone freezes.

"What?" Katara asks.

Aang wipes the painted symbol from his forehead. "No." His voice sounds small. "You can't trust me."

Aira's heart sinks. The realization hits almost instantly. The way he'd been acting. The forced smiles. The strange tension. Aang reaches into his robes. Slowly. Carefully. He pulls out a crumpled piece of paper. And hands it to Katara. "I should've given this to Bato yesterday."

Silence. Katara unfolds it. Her eyes widen. Sokka grabs it. Reads it. Then reads it again.

Aira watches his face change. Confusion. Recognition. Disbelief. Then anger. Raw and immediate.

"This is the map to our father! You had it the whole time?"

Aira flinches. She's never heard his voice sound like that. Not toward Aang.

Sokka snaps. "You had it the whole time?"

Aira feels herself shrinking. Because she understands both of them. She understands Aang's fear. And she understands Sokka's hurt. Which somehow makes everything worse.

Sokka shakes his head. Disgusted. Frustrated. Heartbroken. "You can go to the North Pole on your own." His voice cracks slightly. "I'm going to find Dad."

Bato immediately steps forward. "Sokka—"

"No." Sokka turns toward Katara. "Katara. Are you with me?"

Katara freezes. Aira can practically see the battle happening behind her eyes. She looks at Aang. Then at Sokka. Then back at Aang. Aang looks terrified. The most terrified Aira has ever seen him.

Finally Katara closes her eyes. Her voice breaks. "I'm with you, Sokka."

Aang's face crumples. And Aira feels her own stomach drop.

Then Sokka looks at her. "Aira?"

The question lands like a stone. Everything goes silent. This is it. The choice. The one she's been afraid of ever since hearing about Hakoda. The one she hoped she'd never have to make. Her eyes drift toward Sokka. She remembers sitting around the campfire with him. Talking about his father. Listening to him admit how much he missed him. She remembers laughing over stale bread. Arguing over bean curd puffs. His stupid jokes. His determination. His stubbornness.

Then she looks at Katara. Tea shops. Shared secrets. Late-night conversations. The easy comfort of having another girl around.

Then she looks at Aang. Her fellow airbender. Her teacher. Her brother in everything except blood. The last living connection she has to the people she lost.

He looks so small standing there. So alone. And suddenly she knows. Not because she wants to choose. Because she can't leave him. Not now. Not like this.

Aira swallows hard. "I'm sorry."

Sokka's expression falls. Only slightly. But she sees it. And it hurts. Then Sokka nods. Once. Short. Stiff. "Yeah." His voice is flat. "I get it."

Katara looks between them sadly. Bato gives both airbenders a sympathetic look. Then the three of them turn and begin walking. Aira watches until they disappear into the trees. The beach suddenly feels much emptier.

Beside her, Aang sniffs quietly. Trying—and failing—not to cry. "You don't have to stay with me." His voice cracks. "They're your family."

Aira turns toward him. "They are."

Aang stares at the sand. "I don't expect you to give that up because you feel bad for me."

Aira steps closer and places a hand on his shoulder. "They're my family." She smiles softly. "But so are you."

Finally Aang looks up. His eyes are red.

"We're the last two airbenders," she says quietly. "We need to stick together."

Aang's lip trembles. "But how can you trust me after what I did?"

Aira thinks for a moment. Then shrugs. "You made a mistake."

Aang looks unconvinced.

"Aang, you're twelve."

"I'm actually one hundred and twelve."

"You know what I mean."

A weak laugh escapes him. Good. That's better.

“You may be the Avatar, but you’re still human. And humans make mistakes. It’s how we learn and grow into better versions of ourselves.”

Then suddenly he steps forward and wraps his arms around her. Aira hugs him back immediately. Holding him tightly. The way she'd wanted someone to hold her after she'd lost everything.

He buries his face into her shoulder and cries. Aira closes her eyes. Her own chest aching. For him. For Katara. For Sokka. For all of them. She doesn't know when they'll see each other again. A week. A month. Maybe longer. Maybe never. But as she looks out toward the empty path where the Water Tribe siblings disappeared, she holds onto a single thought.

At least they have each other.

===============================

After Aang finally calms down, the two airbenders decide to return to the abbey and gather their things. There isn't much else they can do. The journey to the North Pole still waits for them. Even if it suddenly feels a lot lonelier.

The walk back through the forest is quiet. Not the comfortable kind of quiet Aira usually enjoys. This one feels heavy. Every footstep crunching against fallen leaves seems louder than normal. Neither of them knows what to say.

Aira keeps her eyes on the path ahead. Truthfully, she hurts. More than she wants to admit. She understands why Sokka and Katara left. She really does. Hakoda is their father. Their family. They've spent years wondering where he is, worrying about him, missing him. If someone told Aira her parents were still alive somewhere, she would cross the world to find them too.

So she understands. But that doesn't stop it from hurting. Her chest tightens. Because she is their family too. At least she thought she was. The thought makes her immediately feel guilty. That's not fair. Of course they chose their father. But still… She misses them already. The realization stings.

Aira shoves her hands into her sleeves and exhales slowly. This is what happens. Every time. Every single time. People leave. Sometimes death takes them. Like her parents. Sometimes betrayal takes them. Like Jet. Sometimes life simply pulls them in a different direction. But the result is always the same. One day they're there. The next day they're gone.

The forest seems quieter because of it. She glances sideways at Aang. He isn't crying anymore. But he still looks small somehow. Smaller than usual. His shoulders are slumped. His eyes remain fixed on the ground. Every now and then his jaw clenches. He's angry. Not at Katara. Not at Sokka. But at himself.

Aira recognizes the feeling immediately. The endless replaying of mistakes. The constant if only. If only I had done this. If only I had said that. If only I had been better. She knows that cycle. Knows how dangerous it can become.

"You okay?" she finally asks softly.

Aang lets out a humorless laugh. "No."

Fair enough. Aira nods. "Yeah." Silence settles between them again.

After a few moments Aang speaks. "I ruined everything."

"No you didn't."

"I did."

Aira sighs. "You can't undo what happened."

"That doesn't make it better."

"No." She looks ahead. "It doesn't."

For a while neither speaks. Eventually the abbey comes into view through the trees. The white stone walls somehow seem less welcoming than before. The place feels emptier now. They retrieve their belongings and load them onto Appa's saddle in near silence.

Aira rolls up her sleeping bag. Aang secures his glider staff. Nobody jokes. Nobody talks. Even Appa seems quieter. When everything is packed, they climb aboard. Appa rises to his feet with a grunt and begins lumbering down the trail leading away from the abbey.

Aira glances back one final time. Something catches her eye. Further down the path. Three figures. Her breath catches. Sokka. Katara. Bato. They're walking away. Heading toward Hakoda. Heading toward the reunion they've dreamed about for years. The sight hits harder than she expects.

For a brief moment she imagines calling out to them. Running after them. Giving Katara one last hug. Telling Sokka—Telling Sokka what? She doesn't know. So she remains silent. Watching them disappear further down the trail. Away from her. Away from Aang. Away from the family they'd built together.

Beside her, Aang stares too. His expression twists. Pain. Regret. Guilt.

"I'm an idiot." The words come out barely above a whisper.

Aira looks at him.

Aang grips Appa's reins tighter. "I had one job." His voice cracks. "One job."

"Aang—"

"I was selfish." He laughs bitterly. "I didn't want them to leave."

Neither did I. The thought appears before she can stop it. Aira swallows.

"We all do selfish things sometimes."

Aang shakes his head. "This was different." He turns Appa toward the beach. Toward the Northern Water Tribe. Toward a future that suddenly feels uncertain.

"I was scared."

Aira doesn't respond. Because she understands. Fear makes people do strange things. Fear had dictated most of her life.

Suddenly hurried footsteps approach. Both airbenders turn. Superior is practically rushing down the path toward them. Her robes billow around her legs.

"Avatar! You must leave immediately!"

Aang groans. "Okay, I get it." He tugs Appa's reins. "Everybody wants me gone."

Superior blinks. Then continues. "A group of people came to the abbey looking for you."

Aang freezes. The frustration immediately vanishes. "What?"

"A fierce-looking woman with a horrible monster. And a young man with a scar."

Aang's eyes widen. "Zuko."

Aira immediately straightens. The name sends a chill through her. Suddenly she isn't thinking about Katara and Sokka anymore. She's thinking about Fire Nation ships. Soldiers. Running. Hiding.

Superior nods. "The beast was using the scent of a necklace to follow you,"

Aang frowns. "A necklace?" Then realization slams into him. His eyes widen in horror. "Katara!"

Aira feels her blood run cold. The necklace. The one Katara lost. The one Zuko had found.

"Oh no."

Aang immediately jerks Appa's reins. "Aira, we have to go."

She doesn't need convincing. Katara and Sokka might be angry. They might be hurt. They might not want to see either of them right now. But none of that matters. Not if Zuko finds them first.

"Then what are we waiting for?"

And the two airbenders race down the trail after their family.

==========================

Meanwhile, Sokka and Katara walk alongside Bato, following the map toward their father's rendezvous point. The forest is quiet around them. Too quiet. Only the crunch of leaves beneath their boots and the occasional rustle of branches disturb the silence.

Sokka keeps his eyes fixed on the path ahead. He should be excited. He is excited. Isn't he? For years he'd imagined this moment. Countless nights spent staring at the ceiling of his tent, wondering where his father was. Wondering if he was safe. Wondering if he ever thought about home. Now he finally has a chance to see him again. So why does his stomach feel twisted into knots?

Beside him, Katara seems unusually quiet too. Every now and then she glances at the map before looking away again. Neither sibling says what they're thinking. They don't need to. The absence walking beside them is loud enough.

Aang.

Aira.

The image of the two airbenders standing on the beach keeps replaying in Sokka's head. Aang looked devastated. That part made sense. The kid practically blamed himself for everything. But Aira…

Sokka frowns. He remembers the way she'd stood there between them all. Caught in the middle. The way she'd looked from him to Aang and back again. Like no matter what choice she made, she was going to lose something. And then she'd chosen Aang. Not because she was angry. Not because she didn't care. Because Aang needed her.

The realization makes Sokka's chest tighten. He kicks a pebble off the trail.

Maybe I shouldn't have left like that.

The thought comes uninvited.

Maybe I should've listened.

Maybe I should've cooled off first.

But every time he remembers the map crumpled in Aang's hands, the anger resurfaces. Aang lied. He hid something important. Something that belonged to Katara and him. And yet… The anger doesn't feel as sharp anymore. Just heavy.

Suddenly, a distant howl echoes through the trees. The sound carries through the forest, mournful and lonely.

Katara glances toward the woods. "That wolf sounds so sad."

"It's probably wounded," Sokka says automatically.

Bato shakes his head. "No." The older warrior listens carefully. "It's been separated from its pack." Bato's expression softens. “I understand that pain. It’s how I felt when the Water Tribe warriors had to leave me behind,” Bato says. “They were my family, and being apart from them was more painful than my wounds.” His hand unconsciously brushes the bandages beneath his robes.

Silence settles over the trail. Sokka lowers his gaze. Family. The word hits harder than expected. Immediately he's back on the docks of the Southern Water Tribe watching his father's fleet disappear into the distance. Watching the ships become smaller and smaller until they vanished beyond the horizon. He remembers trying to stand tall. Trying not to cry. Trying to be strong because that's what warriors did. But mostly he remembers feeling alone. His chest tightens.

Then another memory surfaces. Aang hanging upside down from Appa's horn. Laughing so hard he nearly falls off. Or Aira attempting to meditate beside Appa only for Momo to land directly on her head. Or Aira laughing so hard at one of Sokka's jokes that she accidentally snorts water through her nose.

The memory nearly makes him smile. Nearly. Then he remembers the beach. Aang standing there looking terrified. Aira trying not to cry. The way neither of them stopped him. The way neither of them blamed him. The way they simply watched him leave. Something twists painfully in his chest.

They're family too.

The realization lands with startling clarity. Not just traveling companions. Not just friends. Family. Aang. Aira. Appa. Momo. The whole ridiculous group.

Sokka wonders how they're doing right now. Aang's probably beating himself up. Aira's probably trying to comfort him. And both of them are probably convinced Katara and Sokka are gone for good.

"Sokka?" Katara's voice pulls him back to reality.

He stops walking. The others stop too. Sokka stares at the forest floor. Then exhales.

"We need to go back. I want to see Dad." His voice is firm. More certain than it's been all day. He looks toward the horizon. "But helping Aang and Aira is where we're needed most right now."

Katara studies him. Then a smile slowly spreads across her face. “You’re right.”

Bato watches both siblings quietly. Pride fills his expression. “Your father will understand, and I know he’s proud of you,” Bato says.

“Thanks, Bato,” Sokka smiles.

Bato reaches into his robes and pulls out the map. He presses it into Sokka’s hands. “Take this in case you want to find us. I’ll leave a message at the rendezvous point.”

Bato opens his arms. The siblings immediately step forward. The three Water Tribe members embrace tightly. When they finally pull apart, Bato gives each of them one last smile. With that, Bato continues down the trail toward Hakoda and the warriors.

Katara and Sokka watch until he disappears among the trees. Then they exchange a glance. A shared grin spreads across both of their faces.

"We should hurry," Katara says.

Then, without another word, the siblings turn around and begin jogging back down the trail. Back toward Appa and Momo. Back toward the Aira and Aang. Back toward the family waiting for them.

=============================

Several minutes later, Sokka and Katara make their way down the forest trail toward the abbey. Their pace is brisk, almost eager. The sooner they find Aang and Aira, the better.

Sokka can already imagine the look on Aang's face when they tell him they're coming back. The kid will probably cry again. The thought almost makes him smile. Almost.

Aira will probably just cross her arms and say, "Took you long enough." Then she'll secretly be relieved. At least that's what Sokka hopes.

The knot in his stomach has finally started to loosen. Things aren't fixed yet. Aang still owes them an apology. But they can work through that. That's what families do.

The trail bends around a cluster of trees.

Katara glances toward the abbey in the distance. "I hope they haven't left yet."

"They haven’t." Sokka sounds more confident than he feels. "They're probably still packing."

Suddenly a strange noise echoes through the forest. A deep rumbling growl. Branches crack. Birds burst from the treetops. Sokka immediately freezes. Every instinct screams danger. His arm shoots out in front of Katara. She stops instantly.

The noise grows louder. Closer. Whatever it is, it's moving fast. Very fast.

Sokka narrows his eyes. "What is that?"

The ground begins to vibrate beneath their feet. Katara takes a cautious step backward. Then the creature explodes down the trail towards them. Both siblings stumble back in shock. The beast is enormous. Its long tongue hangs from its mouth. Its claws tear grooves through the earth as it charges toward them.

"What is that?!" Katara gasps.

Sokka has absolutely no idea. And that terrifies him. Perched atop the creature sits a woman neither of them recognizes. Her expression is smug. Beside her—

Sokka's stomach drops. "No."

Zuko. And behind him sits Uncle Iroh. The beast skids to a halt before them. For a brief moment nobody moves. Nobody speaks. The woman studies them. Then her eyes land on Katara.

"So this is your girlfriend."

Sokka blinks. What?

"No wonder she left you."

Katara's eyes narrow. Sokka's face twists in confusion.

The woman continues. "She's way too pretty for you."

Normally this would start an entirely different argument. Katara would probably be yelling. Sokka would definitely be yelling. But neither of them can spare the energy. Not when Zuko is just a few paces away.

The prince slowly dismounts the creature. His boots crunch against the dirt. Every step feels deliberate. Threatening. He stalks toward them.

"Where is he?" His voice is low. Dangerous. "Where's the Avatar?"

Sokka immediately shifts into a defensive stance. Katara mirrors him.

"We split up." Sokka shrugs. "He's long gone."

Zuko stops walking. His golden eye narrows. "How stupid do you think I am?"

Sokka doesn't even hesitate. "Pretty stupid… Run!"

Both siblings immediately spin around and sprint. The forest blurs around them. For one brief second Sokka thinks they might actually make it. Then he hears a wet snapping sound. A blur shoots past him. Something strikes his back. His entire body seizes. His legs stop working. His arms go numb. The world tilts sideways.

Sokka crashes face-first into the ground. Beside him Katara falls too. The air explodes from his lungs. He tries to move. Nothing happens. His fingers won't obey. His legs won't obey. He can't feel anything. Panic floods his chest. What— What happened?

Katara lands nearby. "Sokka?" Her voice trembles. "I can't move."

"Me neither."

They both lie helplessly on the forest floor. The creature casually retracts its tongue. Like catching prey is the most natural thing in the world.

Zuko folds his arms. "What are we supposed to do now?"

Sokka glares at him from the ground. Or at least he tries to. The creature suddenly lowers its head. Its massive nostrils flare. It begins sniffing Katara. Then Sokka. Back and forth.

The woman watches carefully. "It's looking for a different scent. Perhaps something the Avatar touched."

Sokka's heart drops. No. No no no. The map. The map Aang held. The map he'd carried all day.

The creature suddenly snorts. Its head jerks toward Sokka's belt. Toward the folded parchment tucked into his clothing.

Zuko immediately snatches the map. The creature inhales deeply. Then lets out an eager growl. Its body turns toward the coastline. Toward the abbey. Toward Aang and Aira.

Sokka's stomach plummets. No. Please no.

Zuko grabs him by the back of his tunic. Effortlessly lifting him from the ground.

"Hey!" Sokka shouts. Or tries to. The paralysis turns it into little more than a strained grunt.

Katara receives similar treatment moments later. The siblings are unceremoniously dumped onto the creature's back. The woman climbs aboard. Zuko follows. The creature immediately lunges forward.

The forest becomes a blur. Trees rush past at terrifying speed. Sokka struggles against the paralysis. Nothing. He can't move. Can't fight. Can't warn anyone. The realization fills him with dread. The beast is following Aang's scent. Following the map. Following the trail straight to him. Straight to Aira. Katara meets his eyes. The fear in hers mirrors his own. Sokka swallows hard.

Please be gone already.

The thought repeats over and over.

Please have left.

Please be in the sky.

Please be anywhere but the abbey.

The creature races onward. And all Sokka and Katara can do is watch helplessly as it carries them toward their friends.

==============================

Eventually the creature carries them all to the abbey. It bursts into the courtyard but then starts walking in circles. It looks up and sees Aang flying through the air on his glider with Aira on his back. Aang flies straight towards them, effectively knocking the creature back as it tries to attack with its tongue. This movement causes everyone to fall off the creature’s back. Katara and Sokka both land on their stomachs with a thud, still unable to move.

Aira jumps from Aang's back before they both land on the ground. Her boots hit the stone courtyard hard. Pain shoots through her knees, but she ignores it. The creature lets out a shrill roar and lunges toward them. Appa immediately charges. The sky bison slams his massive body into the beast, sending it crashing through part of the abbey wall. Stone explodes outward in a shower of dust and debris.

For a brief moment, Aira thinks they might actually have the advantage. Then Zuko steps forward. Fire blossoms around his fist. Aira's stomach drops. Zuko thrusts his arm forward and launches a blast of fire.

"Aang!"

Aang sweeps his staff through the air. Wind erupts from the glider and disperses the flames before they can reach them.

The two boys immediately engage. Fire. Air. Fire. Air.

Aang glances toward the ground. Sokka and Katara lie completely motionless where they fell. His face tightens.

"I got this!" he shouts. "Go help them!"

Aira hesitates. Every instinct screams at her not to leave him alone with Zuko. But then she sees Katara's unmoving body. Sees Sokka sprawled face-first against the stone. Fear shoots through her chest. She nods. Then runs. The closer she gets, the worse it looks. Katara's eyes are open. Sokka's eyes are open. Neither of them move. Not even a little. Aira's heart nearly stops. For one horrible second she thinks they're dead.

"K-Katara?"

No response. Aira drops to her knees beside her.

"Katara!"

Katara's eyes shift toward her. Relief crashes through Aira so hard it almost makes her dizzy.

"I'm okay," Katara says weakly.

Aira lets out a shaky breath. Spirits. They're alive. She quickly slides an arm beneath Katara's shoulders.

"Come on."

Katara can barely help. Aira drags her across the courtyard. Every muscle in her arms strains. The fight behind them continues. Explosions. Crashing stone. The roar of the creature.

Aira finally manages to prop Katara against a section of wall. Then she immediately turns around. Sokka. She rushes toward him. Sokka is considerably heavier. Of course he is.

"Why do you have to be so heavy?" she mutters.

He just grunts in response. She grabs him beneath the arms. Pulls. Nothing. Pulls again. This time he slides several inches. Aira grunts.

"Spirits..."

Her shoulders burn. Her back aches. She drags him across the courtyard one exhausting step at a time. By the time she reaches Katara she's breathing heavily. She gently lowers him beside his sister.

"There."

Aira bends over with her hands on her knees. "I really need to get stronger."

She crouches beside them. "Are you guys okay?"

"We're okay," Sokka says. His jaw clenches. "But that animal paralyzed us."

Aira immediately looks toward the creature. The giant beast is still battling Appa. "How long does it last?"

"We don't know," Katara says.

A loud crash echoes through the courtyard. Everyone turns. Aang smashes through a pile of rubble. Aira's heart lurches.

"Aang!"

Dust fills the air. Zuko stalks toward him. Slow. Determined. Terrifying. Aang tries to push himself up. Zuko raises a flaming fist. Aira doesn't think. She moves. She sprints across the courtyard. Wind gathers around her feet. Her palms. Her arms. She thrusts both hands forward.

A powerful blast of air slams into Zuko's side. The prince is launched several feet before hitting the ground. He skids through the dirt. For a moment Aira feels victorious. Then Zuko stands. Slowly. Angrily. His eyes lock onto hers. The look makes ice crawl down her spine.

Oh. That's not good.

Zuko charges. Fire explodes from his fists. Aira dodges left. Heat rushes past her face. She counters with another air blast. Zuko dives aside. The attack misses. He closes the distance frighteningly fast. Too fast. His fist shoots toward her head. Aira ducks. His knuckles pass inches above her hair. She grabs his arm. Just like Jet taught her. Use their momentum. Redirect. Don't resist. Move.

For a split second she thinks it works. She lifts her leg. Aiming for his stomach. Then Zuko twists free. Effortlessly. His hand snaps around her ankle. Before she can react—

He yanks, and the world flips. Aira crashes onto her back. Her head slams against the ground, and stars explode across her vision. Everything spins. The sky. The courtyard. The fire.

No. Get up. Get up. GET UP.

Her vision finally clears. Just in time to see a fireball hurtling toward her. Her breath catches. She rolls. But not fast enough. Flames scrape across her shoulder and upper back. Pain erupts through her body. Aira screams. The smell of burnt fabric fills the air. Tears instantly spring to her eyes.

A powerful gust suddenly erupts overhead. Zuko is thrown backward. Aang lands between them. Breathing hard. Eyes fierce. The two boys immediately re-engage. Air and fire collide once more.

Aira tries to stand. Her legs wobble. The burn throbs with every heartbeat. Anger mixes with the pain. She lost. Again. Not because she didn't try. Not because she froze. Because Zuko was simply better. Stronger. More experienced.

The realization stings almost as much as the burn itself. If Aang hadn't intervened—No. She doesn't finish that thought.

A gentle hand settles on her uninjured shoulder. Aira flinches violently.

"It's okay," a calm voice says. Superior kneels beside her with concern in her eyes. "Can you stand?"

Aira swallows. Then nods. "Y-yeah."

Superior helps the young girl stand before guiding her toward the wall where Sokka and Katara sit. Every step sends a sharp sting through her shoulder. The fabric of her tunic has been singed away in places, exposing angry red skin underneath. She tries not to show how much it hurts. The last thing she wants is for anyone else to worry about her.

The siblings immediately notice her condition.

Katara's eyes widen. "Aira!"

Sokka's face hardens with concern. "What happened to your shoulder?"

Aira glances down at the burn. "It's fine."

"It doesn't look fine."

"It's a small burn."

"Aira—"

"I'm okay," she insists, perhaps a little too quickly.

The truth is she's furious. Furious that Zuko beat her so easily. Furious that she froze for half a second. Furious that Aang had to save her. Most of all, she's angry because she wanted to protect her friends. Instead, she became someone who needed protecting.

Her jaw tightens.

Sokka notices. "You don't have to pretend it doesn't hurt."

Aira lets out a quiet huff. "It hurts."

"That's more believable."

Despite being paralyzed, Sokka somehow still manages to sound smug.

Aira rolls her eyes. "Don't make me drag you across another courtyard."

"I'd like to see you try."

"You weigh as much as Appa."

"I do not."

"You're right. Appa's lighter."

Katara snorts. For a brief moment, the tension eases. Then another loud crash shakes the courtyard. Everyone turns. The giant beast barrels through part of the abbey. Chunks of stone tumble from a nearby wall. Aang narrowly avoids being crushed by falling debris. Aira's stomach twists.

Come on, Aang.

Before she can dwell on it, one of the sisters rushes toward them carrying a small clay jar.

"I believe this may help."

The nun uncorks the container and places it beneath Katara's nose. Katara takes a hesitant sniff. Immediately her entire body jerks. Her fingers twitch. Then her arms. Then her legs.

The sister moves the jar beneath Sokka’s nose. He inhales and his whole body jolts. He springs upright so suddenly that everyone jumps.

Another roar echoes through the courtyard. The three teens look up. The creature is still tearing through the abbey, it’s nose twitching as it moves.

Sokka's eyes narrow. The strategist in him immediately goes to work. "That thing sees with its nose… Let's give it something to look at."

“The perfume?” Superior asks.

Sokka nods. "Exactly."

Aira blinks. "Oh." A slow smile spreads across her face. "Oh, that's actually brilliant."

"Of course it is." Sokka folds his arms.

Katara groans, “Please don’t inflate his ego even more than it already is.

The sisters quickly get to work. Several nuns push large urns of perfume into the center of the courtyard. The sweet scent immediately fills the air. Flowers. Citrus. Herbs. Spices. Dozens of fragrances all blending together.

The creature's nose twitches nervously. It already looks uncomfortable. Katara sweeps her arms upward. The perfume erupts from the barrels in shimmering streams. The fragrant mist swirls through the courtyard.

The beast freezes. Its nostrils flare. Once. Twice. Then panic sets in. The creature begins huffing wildly. Its head jerks from side to side. It stumbles backward. Whines. Roars. Sniffs again. The animal completely loses its bearings. It lets out a frantic screech. Then starts lashing out blindly. Its tongue shoots across the courtyard.

The sticky appendage slams directly into the woman that was riding it before. The bounty hunter barely has time to yelp before collapsing to the ground. A second later the tongue snaps in another direction. This time it strikes Zuko squarely in the chest. The prince freezes. His eyes widen in horror. Then he topples over sideways like a felled tree.

Aira can't help it. She bursts out laughing.

Sokka immediately joins her. "That was incredibly satisfying."

"Agreed."

Even Katara struggles to suppress a smile.

The creature lets out one final distressed cry. Then it bolts. Straight through the damaged abbey wall. Stone explodes outward as the beast disappears into the forest.

The courtyard falls silent. Everyone stares after it. Aang lands nearby and stares at the paralyzed Zuko.

"Good work guys,” Aang smiles.

For the first time since everything fell apart at the ceremony, the four friends are standing together again. And for Aira, that's enough to make the ache in her shoulder feel a little less painful.

===========================

After helping the sisters clear away fallen stone and broken beams from the abbey, the four teens decide it is best to leave before Zuko regains feeling in his limbs. The last thing any of them want is another battle.

The sisters insist on treating Aira's burn before they depart. She sits quietly while several of the women carefully apply a cooling ointment to the angry red skin on her shoulder and upper back. The medicine immediately eases some of the throbbing pain.

"It should heal nicely," one of the sisters assures her as fresh bandages are wrapped around her shoulder.

Katara kneels beside her, watching the process closely. "I can take care of it on the road."

The sister smiles. "I'm sure you can."

Aira glances at Katara. "You sound very confident."

"I am." Katara folds her arms proudly. "I've patched up this idiot enough times." She gestures toward Sokka.

"Hey," Sokka protests.

Aira snorts.

The sister finishes tying the bandages. "There. Just don't overexert yourself."

Aira immediately looks away.

Katara notices. "So she's definitely going to overexert herself."

"Definitely," Aang agrees.

A short while later, Appa soars into the evening sky. The abbey grows smaller and smaller beneath them. The ocean reflects the setting sun like molten gold. Orange and crimson clouds stretch across the horizon, painting the sky in brilliant colors.

For a while, nobody speaks. The wind whistles through their hair. The steady rhythm of Appa's flight fills the silence. Aira finds herself staring at the horizon. The past two days feel like a blur. The fight with Zuko. Almost losing Sokka and Katara. Thinking they were leaving. Thinking she'd never see them again.

Her chest tightens slightly at the memory. She hadn't realized how much the siblings meant to her until she'd watched them walk away. Thankfully, she doesn't have to imagine that anymore. They're here. Still here.

"So..." Aang finally says from Appa's head. His voice is careful. Almost nervous. "Where do we go now?"

Everyone knows what he's really asking. Aira sees him glance over his shoulder. Waiting. Bracing himself. Sokka and Katara exchange a look. Then Katara smiles.

"We're getting you to the North Pole."

Aang visibly relaxes. "Really?"

"Yeah," Sokka says. "We've already lost enough time as it is."

Aang stares at them. For once, he seems completely speechless. "Don't you want to see your father?"

The question hangs in the air.

Sokka's expression softens. "Of course we do." He looks toward Aang. Then toward Aira. "But you guys are our family too."

Aira's breath catches slightly.

"And right now," Sokka continues, "you need us more."

Katara nods. "And we need you."

For a moment, nobody says anything. Aira finds herself smiling. A real smile. Not the polite kind. Not the guarded kind. But the kind she hasn't worn much since her parents died.

Aang suddenly perks up. His eyes sparkle. “I wish I could give you a little piece of home, Katara, something to remind you–”

“I’ll be okay,” Katara reassures.

“Still, just a little trinket.” Aang says with a smile and a glint in his eyes. “Maybe something like… this?” He says as he holds up a necklace. It’s a black choker with a beautiful pendant attached to it. The pendant is blue with Water Tribe markings carved into it.

“Aang!” Katara gasps. “How did you get that?”

“Zuko asked me to be sure I got to you,” he says playfully.

“Oh, that’s so sweet of Zuko,” Katara plays along. “Would you give him a kiss for me when you see him?”

Before he can answer, Katara leans forward and plants a quick kiss on his cheek. Aang freezes. Completely freezes. His face immediately turns bright red and his entire body locks up.

Sokka looks horrified. Aira immediately bites her lip. Neither of them last more than two seconds. They burst out laughing.

Aang groans. "Guys."

"Oh, this is priceless," Sokka says.

"I think he stopped breathing."

"I did not!"

"You definitely did."

As the laughter dies down, Sokka's attention shifts toward Aira. His expression grows more serious. "How's your shoulder?"

Aira immediately answers. "It's fine."

Sokka raises an eyebrow. Katara raises an eyebrow. Aang raises an eyebrow. Three skeptical faces stare at her.

"It's fine," she repeats.

To prove it, she rolls her shoulder. Instant regret. Pain shoots through her arm. Aira immediately winces.

Sokka points at her. "See?"

"I hate that you saw that."

"It was impossible not to."

Katara sighs. "You need to take it easy."

"I'm taking it easy."

"No."

"You literally just tried to prove your injury didn't hurt."

Aira opens her mouth. Then closes it. Fair. "But my training—"

"We'll continue once you're healed," Aang says.

"But—"

"No buts," Sokka interrupts. "Your wound needs to heal."

Aira looks toward Katara.

Katara nods. "No buts."

She looks back toward Aang.

He nods too. "No buts."

Aira stares at all three of them. Three against one. Not fair. Absolutely not fair. She lets out the longest sigh she can manage.

"Fine."

Aira carefully leans back against the saddle, making sure not to put pressure on her bandaged shoulder. The conversation gradually shifts to lighter topics. Appa flies onward through the fading sunset.

The burn still hurts.

The future is still uncertain.

The Fire Nation is still hunting them.

But Aira isn’t alone, she’s with family. And somehow, that makes everything a little easier to bear.