Whispers Of Embers Beneath Waves

Chapter 6

“There goes our only exit,” Sokka grumbled. He fell flat on his back on the dirt paved flooring. “Man, that guy was crazy. Everyone alright? Momo?” 

The lemur perked up from inspecting a coin and nodded. 

“Carpet?” Sokka turned to the flying rug. It also nodded. “Any of you have an idea of a way out?” Momo then held up the lamp at him, squawking and shoving it at him. “Momo! You took the lamp from him?” 

The lemur only smiled mischievously, one that Sokka always returned. 

For once, Sokka was able to see the lamp correctly. The body of the lamp had four symbols on each side. Air, water, earth, fire. All the elements. The handle of the lamp was shaped in swirls and curves, representing Air. The lid was sharp edged and square; Earth. The bottom of the lamp had suns and streaming fire designs engraved at the base; Fire. And at last, the spout was smooth and had faint markings of waves and whirls for Water. 

Sokka’s thumb grazed over the water symbol, nostalgia hitting him like a huge bended wave. As his fingers rubbed over the surface, a blast of orange and yellow smoke shot out of the nozzle of the brass lamp. 

Sokka dropped the lamp with shock but that didn’t stop the smoke from coming out. As more orange and yellow poured out, Sokka could hear a faint voice that sounded like a little girl screaming from inside the lamp. 

The fumes finished flooding out and Sokka, who looked at Momo for confirmation, made out the shape of either a really short person or a child. 

“AGHHHH!” The voice screamed itself out as it came into formation with the smoke. Carpet was twirling in the air excitedly at this. “Appa! I missed you, buddy!” 

Sokka squinted. The vapor created the shape of a young man, blue arrows on his limbs and bald head. The top part of his body was normal but trailing down, his feet were the remaining fumes. 

“Wow, it’s been a while since I got out. I’m still not so used to this form. When was the last time I went outside? Must’ve been during my Roku phase…” 

“Appa?” Sokka mumbled under his breath with overwhelming confusion. The smoke boy took notice of Sokka, finally. 

“Oh, hi! Are you the new master? Wow, you look really different from the other old and rusting guy and-” The boy gasped. “-oh my Spirits! Is that a lemur?” 

“Uh, yeah. His name is Momo,” Sokka spoke quick but nonchalantly. He was still puzzled, befuddled, even. “Sorry, who are you?” 

“I’m Aang! It’s nice to meet you, Mr. What's-your-name!” Aang shook Sokka’s hand eagerly, energy bouncing off of him like a basketball. 

“It’s Sokka,” he said plainly. 

“I’ve never seen a ‘Sokka’ before. You must be the first!” exclaimed Aang. “So, where’s your boss?” 

“My….what?” Sokka blinked at him blankly. 

“Come on. Every scrawny guy(Sokka scowled) who comes in to get me always works for that one guy with the ridiculous sideburns. His plans never work, though.” The magic smoke boy elaborated, his hand waved in circles as he talked. 

“The old guy?” Sokka cocked an eyebrow. “He left me to die here and Momo stole the lamp.” Then, his hand reached to scratch Momo’s chin. “Smart little lemur.”  

“So, you must be the one that opened up my lamp,” Aang gasped and marveled at the deadpanned boy. Then, he began explaining the rules. “Three wishes last time I checked, no wishing for dead people to come back, no wishing for other people to fall in love with other people-” 

Sokka almost choked. “Woah, slow down!” He put his hands up. “What are you, um, no offense.” 

“None at all! I’m the Avatar.” Aang beamed at him. 

All this time, Sokka had thought that the Avatar legend was just a story, a mere fairytale used to comfort kids. But, now, seeing Aang and seeing the lamp, the smoke, everything, he realized his whole life and beliefs were based on lies. 

“The…the….” Sokka may just actually faint this time. 

“Yeah, I try not to make such a big deal out of it,” Aang grimaced, seeing Sokka’s expression. “Uhm, like I said, I can grant you three wishes. And I can do cool tricks like this!” 

Sokka brought himself courage to see what Aang was doing. He had conjured marbles and spun them around in his palm, mid-air. You’ve got to be kidding me. Sokka told the universe. 

“Anyways, there are only a couple limits to the wishes like making people fall in love, raising the dead, killing, I’m a pacifist myself, you know? Oh, and one more. No wishing for more wishes.” Aang took an exaggerated deep breath from the rants. “So, what’s your first wish gonna be?”  

Sokka opened his mouth to say something but Aang began to talk again. 

“Wait! Let me guess—money. No, fame! You want to be the Firelord!” The Avatar guessed, clapping his hands together at each guess. Sokka shook his head on every one of them. 

“I mean-” He slyly shot a scheming glance at Momo, which the lemur confidently returned. “-being an Avatar-genie-thing, limits just shouldn’t be a thing. I mean, how powerful are you if you can’t even raise someone from the dead?” 

Aang scoffed, pretending he wasn’t hurt. “I have lots of power!” 

“Eh- I don’t know. I bet you can’t even get us out of this cave,” Sokka continued to taunt. “Let’s go, Momo. We’ll find our own way.” 

Momo jumped to Sokka. “Carpet, you coming?” Sokka called it over. Carpet shook its head and refused to leave Aang’s side. 

“Hey, I can get you out!” Aang declared. “And, ‘Carpet’ has a name.” 

“It has a name?” Sokka was learning new things everyday. 

“He also happens to have he/him pronouns.” Sokka never would’ve guessed he’d get scolded for pronouns by the Avatar. “His name is Appa, since you didn’t know.” The arrow headed boy side eyed him. “Anyhow!” He called Sokka’s attention back. “I can get you out, no problem!”

With a loud snap and a blink of Sokka’s eyes, they were on Appa’s back. “Appa, yip yip!” 

At those magic words, Appa soared upwards to the ceiling of the cavern. Sokka braced himself for impact at the rocky surface, screaming in terror. Until…nothing. They had passed through successfully! 

“WOOO!” Aang cheered as they went flying into the sky.