Avatar The Last Airbender: The Sins of the Past [Katara x OC]

Chapter 1-15: The Deserter

We emerge from the forest and approach a roadside kiosk in the middle of a crossroad filled with wanted posters and advertisements for local events.

Katara says, pointing at a poster, "This should give us a good idea of what's around here."

I say, "Hopefully there's a healer's hut or a shop where we can pick up some healing ointments. I'm getting so sick of having a broken arm."

Katara says, "I thought you said it was getting better."

I respond, "It is, but my range of motion is still limited, especially since I only have the one arm."

I grab a map of the nearby village, scanning it for a healer's hut, and Sokka interjects, "See if you can find a menu. I'm starving!"

I roll my eyes, and Aang points at a different poster, saying, "I bet we'll find something to eat here; the Fire Days Festival. 'Fire Nation cultural exhibits, jugglers, benders, magicians'... This would be a great place for me to study some real firebenders!"

I ask, "What about me? I'm a real firebender."

Aang says, "No offense, Ryuza, but you're not exactly at peak firebending condition, especially with one missing arm and the other broken. And you never really completed your bending lessons before leaving the Fire Nation."

I exclaim, "Gyatso taught me what he could, and besides, I was 8! How was I supposed to know that I'd befriend my father's next incarnation and have to teach him?! And that he'd be so dang picky with his teacher?"

Aang gives me a sheepish grin, saying, "Okay, okay, I'm sorry. I still think it'd be a good idea to go to that festival."

I sigh after glaring at him for a short while, saying, "Maybe we should go. I've missed going to my Nation's cultural events, and the food is always incredible at the Fire Days Festival."

Sokka points at a poster on the other side of the board, saying, "You might want to rethink that, guys. Look at this."

We all gather on the other side to see what he's pointing at, only to find wanted posters of me and Aang, mine labelling me as a dangerous traitor that should be taken 'dead or alive'. A bit of an overreaction, but I'll bet that Zhao's the one who sent that out.

Aang exclaims excitedly, "Hey, there's posters of us, Ryu!"

I sigh, saying, "I'm not so sure that's a good thing, Aang. We could get recognized." I think for a moment, then add, "Actually, maybe not."

Katara asks, "What do you mean?"

I respond, "If it's still done the way it was when I was younger, everyone will be wearing masks, since the festival was a way to celebrate the Sun Spirit and the gift it gave us; firebending. Nobody will notice four more tourists; many Fire Nation citizens came from different villages and islands to attend the Festival since only a select few larger villages would host it."

Katara says, looking slightly uncomfortable at the suggestion, "I don't know. I think we'd better keep moving."

I plead, "Oh, come on, Kat! I haven't been to a Fire Days Festival since I had both arms! I just..." I sigh, admitting, "I want to see for myself that not everything about the Fire Nation has been tainted by Fire Lord Sozin and his descendants."

Aang adds, "I have to learn firebending at some point, and this could be my one chance to watch a master up close."

Katara looks between the two of us and bows her head, saying, "I guess we could go check it out."

I smile, mouthing 'thank you' as Sokka exclaims in an opposing tone, "What?! You wanna walk into a Fire Nation town where they're all fired-up with their... you know, fire?"