The Woman in the Iceberg

Chapter 2

Aang and Sokka immediately took one step back
"that Nini??!"
Nini looked kind of confused.
"I'm not sure what you heard of me but-"
"Okay, stop right there", Sokka cut her off,
"Guys, we need a moment to discuss this situation" He looked pretty serious while saying that. Just how Sokka always looks when talking in a serious voice with this therapist face on. The Gaag all looked at Sokka kind of confused. But then Katara made a closer step to him so the others started to make a small circle.
"look", began Katara, "I know how this must look like. I didn't think that she was alive either. I truly thought that it was just a creepy story from our mother. But somehow- she is indeed alive. And in our age! I know how this must sound like but... She knew our mother. This could be our only chance to get a bit closer to her" The last words Katara said with tears in her eyes, touching her necklace.
"I know. I wanna know more about our mother too. But- Do you really think it's not scary at all to go into a stranger's house, who is actually supposed to be dead??" Underlining his words he made a scary face and looked to left and right.
"He has a good point" Toph started in
"We've just gone to a stranger's house and look where it got us. We were almost killed. Not to mention that she was a water tribe member too"
"Hey, do you wanna say that all water tribe members are evil??" Katara fronted back
"honestly, you kind of made me curious how she made it." Aang threw in.
After a while of silence, where everyone overthought this one decision, Katara finally said:
"Okay, then it's decided. We're going to her and find out more about mother"
"Katara wait-" But Sokka was too late, Katara was already walking up to Nini, who was waiting quite inpatient.
"We would be happy to accept your invitation"
"Awesome!" Nini said with excitement
"I can make you all some warm Tea and a great meal. We got all kinds of nation costs.... sea prunes, custard tarts..."
"Did you say custard tarts??" interrupted Aang, looking helplessly on his stomach. He looked Nini right into the eyes and said with a bright smile on his face:
"I think we would be happy to join you"
Nini explained that she and her parents live up the hill, a bit isolated from the village the three just came from. While Katara and Aang looked excited, Sokka walked next to them with an offended face.
"don't worry Sokka" Aang tries to cheer him up with his particular voice "She is our age. And I can somehow feel that there isn't a great danger coming from her. She looks actually pretty nice. Plus she has custard tarts at home" He said with a wink
"Alright, alright" Sokka agreed
Finally, the Gaang arrived at the home of Nini.
It was a little cottage, which would be still big enough for letting Appa in. In the front, there was a cute little garden, which must have been taken care of every day.
"Here we are" Said Nini with a smile.
Inside the house, it seemed even bigger. The gaang stepped right into a large room. On the left side was already the laid table with the most granted food. Along with Dried fish, sea prunes, and many variations of seaweed, there were also real traditional water tribe food like five-flavor soup or freeze-dried cucumberquats. Next to possum chicken, smoked with branches or dried grasses over a smoking pit fruits, there were also lots of vegetarian food. Salted vegetables along with dried sweet potato and some traditional air nomad Dumplings, filled with vegetables such as cabbage and ginger, chayote and carrot, and tofu curry. For the dessert, they had pumpkin pie, fruit tart, and of course some custard tarts.
The Gaang looked stunned at the laid table with empty stomachs.
Right next to it in the corner was a comfortable-looking fireplace with two armchairs circling it. On the right side, there was the kitchen with all the supplies that are needed for cooking this great meal. In the right corner there was a stair which probably led to the bedrooms and the bathroom.
"Wow",stunned Aang, "This is some cottage"
"Wait. Aren't your parents gonna eat with us?" Asked Aang guilty. He didn't like it when people stepped back just because he's the avatar. Even though these people didn't even know that he's the avatar, Aang still felt guilty.
"oh they already ate" Said Nini calmly
"Now come on, the food isn't waiting forever!"
The Gaang didn't hear that twice. With watered mouths they immediately sit and ate this delicious food.
The Gaang wasn't sitting long until Katara poured out with her questions.
"How do you know my mother. And why are you in our age? Are you from the watertribe? I've never seen you there. What are you doing in the firenation?"

"haha, hold on hold on" Said Nini with amusement.
"I will tell you everything, I promise"
And while everyone was eating, Nini spoke.