Thalassophobia

Chapter 5: Air Ball

{Hey everyone, I apologize for the wait. Unfortunately, I recently had a fire and a family death, so needless to say I've been a bit... distracted. The link, disclaimers, and usual general information is down below this line, so if you want to skip that and just continue reading the story, go ahead.

Link to episode transcript: https://avatar.fandom.com/wiki/Transcript:The_Southern_Air_Temple
Characters- unless otherwise mentioned- all belong to Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Last Olympians.
Art by me. (There's no art this chapter though, as I'm incredibly tired and stressed.)
From here on out the lore is going to pick up, and likewise Percy's interactions with the Gaang are going to become more... intense? Packed? Both, if anything. Ha.
Additionally, I have exams and multiple events lined up soon, so the next update may take some time. But thank you so much for your endless patience!

Speaking of art, if nothing shows up in previous or further chapters please let me know. I would be devastated if it just casually wasn't showing up this whole time.

Well Wishes,
Crystal Moon~}

    "Wait 'til you see it, Katara! The Air Temple is one of the most beautiful places in the world!"
    Katara frowned, feeling a bit uneasy. Though, to be fair, she hadn't really relaxed since the moment that the Fire Nation's ship had appeared on the horizon of her village. But she couldn't ignore the feeling despite knowing that. They may be used to being wary, but Aang wasn't, and that might be the very reason why she was so off kilter today.
    She turned to look at Aang, who somehow looked excited from her point of view despite only being able to see his back. She hesitated, then spoke up carefully.     "Aang, I know you're excited, but it's been one hundred years since you've been home."
    Despite her attempt to warn him, Aang just smiled broadly, unperturbed at her hidden notion. In fact, it seemed like he hadn;t noticed it at all.
    "That's why I'm so excited!" He said cheerfully.
    Katara hesitated, but continued anyways, brows furrowing as she grew more concerned.
    "It's just that..." She began, "a lot can change in all that time."
    Aang still didn't react, completely missing the meaning of her words, even though her Gran Gran had already mentioned back in their village that the airbenders had all been wiped out.
    "I know," he said with a smile, "but I need to see it for myself."
    Percy popped in from his perch in a tall tree, hanging steadily upside down by his knees on a thick branch.
    "You should probably wake up Sokka, then. He's sleeping like a log and snores like a hog, too. I can't really see him but I just know his jaw is hanging wide open. I'm honestly surprised we could sleep through that."
    Katara rolled her eyes. But Aang's eyes twinkled with a silent laugh as he walked over to Sokka, fully intending to follow through with Percy's advice. Katara suddenly felt that despite him being a pacifist from an Air Temple, Aang might be quite the mischievous kid. Although, maybe she should have picked up on that already with the whole penguin sledding after waking up fiasco.
    "Wake up, Sokka! Air Temple, here we come!"
    Aang's attempt was not quiet, but, much to Katara's chagrin and Percy's not-so-silent amusement, Sokka just rolled over sluggishly like a massive worm and grumbled.
    "Uuuugh- sleep now! Temple later."
    Aang pouted, annoyed for a second, and glanced at Percy, who was now playing with one on the branches above him, clearly already distracted. Suddenly, Aang was struck with a brilliant idea, and the twinkle returned with a new, mischievous glint in his eyes. He quietly picked up a stick from beneath Percy's tree, inadvertently picking up his attention again too.
    He walked back to Sokka, then pretended to gasp in alarm.
    "Sokka, wake up!" He shoved the stick repeatedly into Sokka's side through the sleeping bag. "There's a prickle snake in your sleeping bag!"
    In less than a second, Sokka was up, flailing and hopping around while still tightly wrapped in his blanket.
    "Get it off! Get it off!!"
    All was quiet for a second, then Sokka fell flat on his face, and Percy guffawed, almost falling from the tree, which made Katara giggle too. Aang smiled at the very unhappy Sokka glaring up at him from the dirty ground.
    "Great, you're awake! Let's go!"
    Percy swung around, dismounting and landing smoothly on the ground, before walking to Appa, who was watching them all peacefully from the side. Katara and the others stared at him as he did so, still not quite used to his physical prowess, and the way he shrugged it off like it was normal. Though you can't really call it "shrugging it off" if the person in question doesn't even notice they're extraordinary abilities. Can you?
    Aang shook off his shock first, chasing after Percy with a big smile on his face. That feeling of uneasiness that she'd felt before came back full force, and she found herself praying silently to whatever spirit would listen to keep things going as peacefully as they had for the past 24 hours.