The Thief |Sokka

TWELVE

There was nothing like riding on Appa's back. The wind was strong, threatening to push one off even, if they weren't careful, and it was a lot colder up in the sky. The view from above was incredible, even if at times dizziness was inevitable when you looked down below the saddle. Some would argue this was not the best experience. Jaya, however, would have to disagree. She didn't know what flying felt like, but she imagined this was the closest she could get to it.

The freedom she felt on Appa's back was nothing like she had felt before. She could go anywhere, whenever she wanted, for as long as Aang agreed. Plenty had been the times they had decided on a location on a whim or they had decided to change their minds mid-flight and go somewhere else. Sometimes they left having no destination in mind, others, like now, they had a clear plan. It didn't matter much to her where they went. She enjoyed the trip too much to complain. And yet, this time, it was a bit different.

Aang and Jaya had left, aiming to eventually reach the Fire Nation capital, a mere few hours ago. They hadn't wished to hurry, knowing there was no point in arriving earlier than they were supposed to. Jaya might have been part of the reason they had been late – Aang couldn't find her for most of the day when they were supposed to leave as she had claimed she had found a quiet place she had never managed to meditate at before. She had managed to accept Aang's glare when she attempted to play innocent and from then on, she had no choice but to stick to their loose initial plan.

The reason she seemed to not be all that willing to leave the air temple had nothing to do with any nostalgia she felt at the location. It had everything to do with the place they were supposed to be going next.

Jaya hadn't stepped foot into the Fire Nation capital in five years, ever since the war ended and she left to travel the world with Aang and train to become a proper airbender. She wasn't looking forward to returning. In all other nations she had travelled to she was known only as an airbender but there, her reputation preceded her. She didn't know how many people she would meet but she was sure there would be some of them that would remember her old days, and those were some days she would rather she left behind.

She had never mentioned it to Aang but he seemed to know anyway. Her brief moment of trying to hide, using meditation as an excuse had been what had betrayed her, but she suspected he had known for a while now. He never spoke of her past but now it seemed like he had suddenly remembered everything and had no means to stop.

He spoke of Sokka, Katara, Zuko and Toph, his friends that would be coming, and how he had not seen some of them in years. The topic of Katara had been a sore one for months now, ever since she had decided their relationship was not working out and he could not give her what she wanted. Jaya was glad to hear him speak about her in a manner that wasn't sad, although she knew he still had regrets. She supposed this trip was a hard one for both of them, for different reasons.

Nightfall found them not all that long after they had started flying—she supposed her little attempt at making them late had bore fruit—and so Aang led Appa to a meadow where they could rest for the night and they started to set up camp. Jaya and Aang had been camping together for years so this was no unknown endeavour. Aang left to gather wood for their fire while Jaya stayed back to take out their tent. By the time Aang was back, she had managed to set the tent, feed Appa and dig a small hole where Aang would put the wood for fire he had gathered. He got back in the meadow, so loaded with wood she had trouble seeing his head. He said nothing as he set the firewood in the small pit she had prepared and sent a small fireball at it. Jaya sat down next to the fire, watched his small flame slowly get bigger and bigger. Aang sat down beside her after a moment.

"Is there someone you are looking forward to seeing again the most?" Jaya asked as she leaned forward and opened her palm. She blew a gentle gust of wind towards the flames to make them blossom more dangerous. Aang leaned back on his hands and looked ahead in the darkness of the forest he had ventured to only a few moments before. Jaya kept on playing with the fire, twisting a finger here and then there, watching as it danced under the light current of wind she exposed it to. She had expected the long silence that followed her question so there was no surprise at the quiet that stretched on and on. Part of her for a moment wondered if he was going to speak at all but she still didn't push him. The only indication he had heard her and was considering her question was the long sigh he let out.