The Story of Aya: Book 2~Earth

Swampy Desires

I had forgotten just how beautiful the Earth Kingdom truly was as we flew over it. It was a quiet ride, leaving me to admire the swampy green below us. 

Sokka was busy sharpening a blade, while Katara was reading a scroll. Both of them seemed slightly bored, but it was better to be bored than to be in fights all the time. 

The swamp started to rise closer to us, and I gazed over at Aang, confused. 

"Hey, you taking us down for a reason?" Sokka asked, but Aang didn't respond. Sokka stood up, ready to take the reins from Aang. "Aang, why are we going down?"

Aang seemed to snap out of his thoughts. "What? I didn't even notice?" He pulled the reins to go up, but Appa kept going down towards the swamp.

"Are you noticing now?" Sokka said, sarcastically. Katara stood up and joined Sokka, while I stayed where I was to watch.

"Is something wrong, Aang?" Katara asked.

"I know this is gonna sound weird, but I think the swamp is...calling to me?" Aang questioned himself. 

"Is it telling you where we can get something to eat?" Sokka looked around as we went through the trees. 

"No I, I think it wants me to land there," Aang says.

"No offense to the swamp, but I don't see any land there to land on." Sokka frowned.

Aang quirked an eyebrow. "I don't know. Bumi said that to learn earthbending, I would have to wait and listen." He glanced down at the swamp, seeming to contemplate going down. "And now I'm actually hearing the earth. Do you want me to ignore it?"

We all peered over the sides at the swamp. With the clouds rolling in, it did seem a little spooky. 

"I mean, it's a little creepy, but that might also be the weather helping with that." I suggested. 

"I don't know, Aya. There's something...ominous about it." Katara said.

Momo started to fidget and chirp as we continued to descend to the swamp, and Appa joined in as well, roaring loudly. 

"See?" Sokka pointed out exasperatedly. "Even Appa and Momo don't like it here."

"Okay, since everyone feels so strongly about this, bye, swamp." Aang appeared slightly annoyed as he shook the reins. "Yip yip!"

Appa ascended upwards, away from the swamp, but something started to rumble loudly behind us. I looked back to see a large tornado following us, even gaining on us. 

"Uh Aang? You might want to throw in an extra yip." I called out nervously. 

Sokka turned, his eyes bulging out of his head. "We gotta move!"

Appa swerved as Aang yanked the reins around. The tornado was still on our trail, just about to suck us up into it. I stood up, trying to disperse the tornado with my bending, but Sokka suddenly started to fly up. I grabbed his hand, Katara grabbed his other as we both tried to keep him from flying away. 

Aang let go of the reins and jumped into the saddle with us. He formed a ball of air around us, trying to keep us from the tornado's effects. He couldn't hold it for long, and it burst. I lost my grip on Sokka as we were all thrown in different directions into the swamp. 

I threw my hands out in a panic and shut my eyes, willing myself to stop falling. I didn't feel myself moving anymore, and I opened my eyes again, tentatively.

I was inches above a small pool of water. I sighed in relief, but I forgot I was holding myself up, and fell into the muddy water with a gasp. 

I sat up, wiping the mud off of my face. I made a ball of air around me, drying off my top by sending the mud and water in other directions.