The Last Waterbender

Book 3 Chapter 5: Kyoshi Island

Disclaimer: All rights belong to Nickelodeon, Bryan Konietzko, Michael Dante DiMartino, and all the men and women that created the A:TLA show, books, and comics. I take no credit, and I do not mean to break any copyright rules. This is simply a work of fiction made for enjoyment. No money is being made. The lyrics are from the song "The Last Goodbye" by Billy Boyd

Rating: General Audiences. Warning: some scenes contain dark themes and minor violence

Chapter 5: Kyoshi Island

The road is calling

And I must away

"Are we there yet?" Aang asks, falling back against the saddle with a dull thud.

They've been travelling for three weeks now, making their way through the Earth Kingdom as quickly and under-the-radar as possible. Their supplies ran out after the first week, so they've been finding out of the way little farms and offering to help in return for a hot meal while Appa slept. He's been flying as fast as possible, but even flying bison have their limits.

Luckily no one asked them too many questions. They made up story about how they were refugees looking for a place their people could settle. Katara isn't sure how many of the farmers actually believed them, but in times of war, a lot of people go by the "don't ask, don't tell" principle. As long as the kids worked hard and didn't show any signs of a threat, they were welcomed.

But Katara has to agree with Aang - living on the road like this, working hard every day and trying to sleep while flying every night and often only having one or two meals a day is starting to wear on everyone's physical and mental health, not to mention morale.

And she herself is particularly frustrated. She feels like she's supposed to be doing more as the Avatar, not just hiding and evading the Fire Nation. But how can she do her duty as Avatar when she isn't entirely sure what she's supposed to be doing?

"Oyaji keeps the shrine of Avatar Kyoshi," Suki had told her in the first few days of their journey. "He knows more about the Avatar than almost anyone else. He'll be able to help you."

Katara really hopes so.

"Hopefully, as long as this tailwind holds up, we should be there by lunch," Sokka says brightly.

"Lunch," says Aang mournfully. "I don't remember what that is."

Suki laughs. "Don't worry. When my people hear that the Avatar has returned, they'll throw us a huge feast. Then you can eat as much as you want."

That does not reassure Katara at all. Everyone has such high expectations for her. What if she fails? What if she disappoints everyone?

She leans on the side of the saddle and looks out at the ground passing beneath them. Soon she'll be able to sleep on a real mattress and not on a saddle in the air, even if only for a few nights. That's what she's looking forward to most.

"Whatever we decide to do next, I vote we camp on the ground when we sleep," she says. "No offense to Appa, but I'm not a huge fan of sleeping like this."

"Agreed," Sokka says.

"Look!" Suki exclaims. They all climb over to where she's sitting and look in the direction that she's pointing. "You can see the island in the distance!"

Sure enough, Kyoshi Island is laying in the middle of the water, a green colored blip in the horizon. Only a couple more hours and they'll be there.

"This is gonna be the longest two hours of my life," Sokka cries. He lays his head down in Suki's lap. She plays with the end of his hair.

"We're almost home," she says with a small smile.