The Avatar's Guardian: The Lost Story (Avatar the Last Airbender fanfic)

Chapter Nine

Satomi's P.O.V.
I munch on my dried fruit quietly as the others converse while eating. I listen in silence as I guide Appa closer to the north pole. They speak lightly and laugh as the screams press louder in my head. It's getting harder ever day to push the sound away and keep the memories at bay. It won't take long for me to begin lashing out at my friends when I wake from nightmares or at the barest mention of the memory. They do not know that I possess such a memory though. The odds of it coming up in conversation are slim.

"Do you want me to take over for tonight?" Sokka asks standing as Katara and Aang settle down to rest. I shake my head a small smile on my pale lips. 

"No, thank you for the offer. Go get some sleep Sokka," I tell the elder teen. He smiles faintly.

"Don't over work yourself," he smiles before settling down for the night himself. I nod in response. The world falls silent aside from the wind, and the occasional snore from Sokka. I take this as my cue to begin my work. I stand and remove my cloak and glider. I toss them to the side and move to the first stance. I take in a deep breath with closed eyes, and then I begin. I snap into action swiftly and run through the air bending forms. The air snaps around me crisply without much strain on my part. Air bending has become as easy as breathing to me now. I land my last form solidly and stop. I pull myself back so that I stand straight. I unscrew my water container's cap and pull the water from its shroud. I move through the water bending forms next swiftly. The motions are familiar and come easily. I bend the water back to its home after I have finished. I shove my hand into my pocket and pull a few pebbles from within its depths. I use these to work through the earth bending forms twice. They are still shaky at best, but it will not take long to revive my skills. I go through the motions again, and it sends sweat down my back. I shove the pebbles back into my pocket as I finish. I take in a deep breath and move through half of the fire bending forms twice. They are steadily getting better, but I can feel that they are far from great. I will get there. I pull the pebbles back out along with the water and work through the avatar forms. I don't know how long I move through the forms, but I am brought back into reality by someone shifting in their sleep. I extinguish the fire and shove the pebbles back into my pocket. I release my hold on the air and bend my water back into its container. I screw the lid back on quickly and swing my head to the trio. Aang shuffles once more in his sleep as the world falls silent as before. I pluck my cloak from the ground and swing it over my shoulders. I tie it on quickly and snap my glider to my back. I take my position of flying once  more and wait to be relieved. It's light now. I must have been lost in those forms for a while. I breathe out a sigh my limbs burning and aching with the exercise, but I know that it will not last for long. Nothing ever does. A hand is placed on my shoulders not long after. I tilt my head back to find Sokka standing with a smile on his lips. He offers me a hand to help me to my feet. I accept it, and he gently hauls me to my feet.

"Thank you," I smile. He nods.

"Go get some sleep," Sokka tells me sitting down. I nod having no desire to argue with him on this matter. I settle down against my bag when the back of my neck prickles furiously. I shoot up instantly, and Aang follows me in this action not two seconds after. There are bags under his brown eyes not deep or dark, but it is enough information to conclude it was a nightmare.

"Are you okay?" I whisper to him. He nods rubbing his forehead.

"Yeah, I dreamed I was falling is all," he replies simply his hands trembling slightly. I nod.

"I'm here if you want to talk about anything Aang," I say softly so only he hears me.

"I know. Thank you Satomi," he says before wandering off. I settle back against my pack and let sleep take me, but it is not to a land of wonders and laughs. It is the exact opposite. I have nightmares of being tied up by Jet and placed in front of the tree. I watch him slaughter Aang and Katara with a smirk plastered to his face. I watch the dam blow, and the water flood the town full of people. I wake with a start and release a blast of air directly in front of me. I squeeze my fingers into fists to stop it. My hands begin to warm up as I realize what I have done. I feel my friends' gazes on me now as the world rapidly rushes to catch up with itself.