Avatar - The Last Airbender (Storyteller Version)

Chapter 4: Winter Solstice

As the weeks passed, Katara, Sokka, and Aang's travels continued. Then, one afternoon, the children came to a forest somewhere in the Earth Kingdom. But a large scar of charred earth cut through the middle of it. Looking closer, the three travelers saw that much of the forest had been burned down. When they spotted heavy boot tracks in the dirt, they knew that the Fire Nation was responsible. This desolate sight broke Aang's heart.

AANG: Why would anyone do this? How could I let this happen?

KATARA: Aang, you didn't let this happen. It has nothing to do with you.

AANG: Yes, it does. It's the Avatar's job to protect nature, but I don't know how to do my job.

KATARA: That's why we're going to the North Pole: to find you a teacher.

AANG: Yeah, a waterbending teacher. But there's no one who could teach me how to be the Avatar. Monk Gyatso said that Avatar Roku would help me.

SOKKA: The Avatar before you? He died over a hundred years ago. How are you supposed to talk to him?

AANG: I don't know.

Katara was sad to see Aang so gloomy. Presently, she spotted an acorn on the ground. She picked it up and brought it to the Avatar.

KATARA: These acorns are everywhere, Aang. That means the forest will grow back! Every one of these will be a tall oak tree someday, and all the birds and animals that lived here will come back.

AANG: Thanks, Katara.

As Katara and Aang smiled at each other, an old man approached the children. His name was Kay-Fon, and when he spotted Aang, he informed him that he needed help. He took the travelers to his home, Senlin Village, in the center of the forest. Much of the houses in the village were badly damaged, but the central hall was still standing. Key-Fon brought the children into the central hall and explained the situation.

KAY-FON: For the last few days at sunset, a spirit monster comes and attacks our village. He is Hei Bai, the black and white spirit.

SOKKA: Why is it attacking you?

The leader of Senlin Village spoke.

SENLIN VILLAGE LEADER: We do not know, but each of the last three nights, he has abducted one of our own. We are especially fearful because the winter solstice draws near.

KATARA: What happens then?

KAY-FON: As the solstice approaches, the natural world and the spirit world grow closer and closer until the line between them is blurred completely.

SENLIN VILLAGE LEADER: Hei Bai is already causing devastation and destruction. Once the solstice is here, there is no telling what will happen.

AANG: So what do you want me to do exactly?

KAY-FON: Who better to resolve a crisis between our world and the Spirit World than the Avatar himself? You are the great bridge between man and spirits.

AANG: Ri-i-ight, that's me.

KATARA: Hey, great bridge guy, can I talk to you over here for a second?

He followed Katara to a window.

KATARA: You seem a little unsure about all of this.

AANG: Yeah. That might be because I don't know anything at all about the Spirit World. It's not like there's someone to teach me this stuff!