Heimat | Aang

THIRTY-NINE

Aang never told the Dai Li he was leaving. In his haste, all he spared time to do before leaving was to whistle for Appa and then start getting dressed. When he was finished, he grabbed both his belongings and Tapeesa's just in case anything were to happen to the palace while he was gone, or in case Tapeesa needed anything, and without another thought, he left the room.

Through the window.

The room King Kuei had given him was facing the back of the palace and wasn't too high up. The air served as a good enough cushion to him as he landed moments before Appa flew over the palace and started landing in front of him. He moaned lightly to him in greeting as he landed and at once, Aang jumped on his neck and after putting his and Tapeesa's belongings on the saddle, he reached for the reins.

"We need to hurry, buddy," he said, briefly glancing at the palace to ensure no one had followed. "Yip yip."

The sky bison rose in the air without a moment to spare and at once, Aang steered him southwest. To Omashu.

Aang refused to rest unless it was Appa that couldn't fly for any longer, eager to reach the cave of the Two Lovers as quickly as he possibly could. He had only been forced to stop once, when Appa could not fly any longer and against his gentle prodding, had started to lose height. Aang then had stopped and for a few hours, he had managed to get some much needed rest before he kept on going. And now, about two days and a half after his last interaction with Tapeesa, he was reaching the entrance of the Two Lovers.

"You stay here, buddy," he told Appa as he jumped down, his gaze set on the entrance to the cage that had once been shut down but had been opened since. Appa didn't need any further prodding. He had never liked caves anyway. When Aang glanced back, it was to see him head straight for the small lake beside the entrance. Assured he would be alright, he looked back to the cave. Then he entered.

Aang ran through the cave, his speed faster than a tornado's as he rushed through the corridors, looking for any sign of Tapeesa and Kuei on his way. He kept on running until finally, he caught sight of them both lying on the ground. He stopped running that way, instead choosing to run at a normal pace as he reached them. He kneeled next to Tapeesa.

"I found you," he spoke, hands raising to cup her cheeks. Tapeesa appeared exhausted, but she still gathered the courage to look him in the eye. Her eyes were bloodshot, her skin seemed pale, her lips were dry. Aang frowned at the sight of her and as if she had no more strength, she leaned against his touch. He was about to insist he carried her out when King Kuei spoke up.

"Avatar Aang, Tapeesa told me you would come," he exclaimed, although even his voice was not as excited as it usually was, riddled with exhaustion. When Aang brought himself to look away from Tapeesa, he noticed Kuei seemed to be in a similar position as she was, but his happiness for finally being saved ruled out his exhaustion. Tapeesa seemed to not have that kind of power anymore.

"I told you I would," he told him, "I cannot get rid of your chains. Unless I go into the Avatar state but even that isn't certain."

King Kuei's eyes widened. "I am going to see you go into the Avatar state? Please do it!"

Aang frowned at his enthusiasm. "I am not sure if I can-"

"If you can command the ocean," Tapeesa croaked out, "then you can bend a pair of silly metal."

Aang nodded slowly. "I will try."

Carefully, he took his hands away from her face, careful to not jostle her in his removal and after standing up, he closed his eyes. When he next opened them, they were glowing along with the tattoos all over his body. Kuei let out a surprised gasp that was lost on him as he started moving his arms as if he were earthbending. At his first move, nothing happened. At the second, the shackles started to tremble.