The Little Waterbender (unedited)

The Storm

Traveling through the water by a wall was much harder than I thought it would be. Rather than just trying to float in partial current going one way, I now had to float against a strong tide going toward the wall, and one pushing away.

"Well, Aang? Where was the artifact?" I asked. We had already traveled about 1200 meters from the floor and the ocean was only so deep.

"It's just up here. Stuck in the wall. Come on. We're almost there." Though we had been traveling for quite some time, I could tell there was something up with the little fish. He seemed too... insistent.

"Katara," my brother grabbed my arm. "Does he seem rather odd to you?"

"Yea. I don't know what's up with him. He seems so... interested in getting us to the surface."

"Mostly you, little sister. Hang on, slow down."

Sokka and I slowed to almost a float, trailing so the little fish couldn't hear us.

"I don't think we should continue on. You need to get back or Dad will be furious." Sokka kept looking over his shoulder, as though our father would suddenly appear.

"I still have awhile, Sokka," I whined, I knew he was thinking about turning back. "Please. I want to continue. What if it is the right one? Sokka, we could be heroes!"

"I just don't want dad getting suspicious is all, Katara. And besides, Aang seems too suspicious," Sokka sighed, running his hand through his overgrown hair. "Look, how about this. I'll go back and tell Dad that... I don't know, you might be a little late because you're saying goodbye to Gran and a few friends. And complaining a lot."

"Sokka, it's not in your nature to lie. You don't have to do that for me." I placed a hand on his arm, hoping he was serious. "And I'm sure Aang is fine. He's just really excited for us to see this."

"He doesn't seem excited," my brother grumbled, hunching down and crossing his arms over his chest. "He seems suspicious, that's what."

"Sokka," I glared at him in warning. The little fish had just realized we weren't following as closely as he thought we were.

"Come on guys!" He called, slowly making his way back to us. "We're almost there!"

"Coming! Just a second, Aang!" I turned back to my brother.

"Alright, if you don't want me to lie. Then you come back and tell him yourself before coming back." He brushed my hand off his arm. "I want you to find this thing. I can try to lie."

"But, won't Dad know you're lying? I mean the last time you tried he-"

"Oh, I'm sure he will," Sokka laughed, interrupting me. "But I won't say where you are. I'll try to stall. I promise. It's the least I can do."

For the second time that day, I launched myself into my brother's arms. "Thank you, thank you thank you! You are by far the best brother in the whole world!"

My brother chuckled and pushed me away. "Go be a hero, little sis."

With that, he began to swim back home. I watched until he was deep enough I couldn't see the red gleam of his tail and floated a little longer.

"Katara? Where did Sokka go?" Aang swam down to float next to my head. "Doesn't he want to come?"

"He's stalling for me Aang," I tilted my head towards him. "Isn't that amazing?"

"Yea, whatever." Aang turned around, swimming back up quickly. "He's a great brother."

"Aang!" I flipped around to look up at the fleeing fish. "What has gotten into you? It truly is amazing that he's doing this for me!"