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

Chapter Ten

Satomi's P.O.V.
I once again knock Sokka flat on to his back before he can land a single blow. His hand to hand combat training is coming along slowly. And I am simply waiting for him to instinctively perform a move, so I can begin teaching him a few moves so that he will get better.

"Again," I say unphased, but the work has Sokka sweating. He pulls himself to his feet panting. His hands are jerky, and his face is red. "Wait," I say walking forward. I place my hand on the back of his head. We trained yesterday until he could not move, and he tired easily. He is burning up and not just with the exercise. I rush to Katara and place a hand on her forehead as well. She has the same warmth. I check Aang, but he is fine thankfully. I look over the front of Appa and spot the ruins of Taku. "Land there," I tell Aang pointing to them. He looks at me quizzically. "Appa needs to rest anyways. I can explain later if it doesn't itself," I say as Appa circles down. This confuses Aang even more. "Just trust me," I sigh my patience wearing slightly thin. I have not slept since I woke before landing in the harbor town two days previous. I was up all night practicing the forms. I hear a thud and turn to find Sokka on his back. "That was it," I tell Aang rushing to Sokka. His eyes flutter open, and it is clear he is sick. I wet a cloth and place it on his head. I trace small patterns on the inside of his wrist and listen to his rambling. "Why did you say nothing about feeling ill?" I whisper.

"Need to train. Need to get stronger," he coughs. My lips press into a firm line at his stubbornness.

"You will not get stronger by training while you are sick. It will only make you weaker," I inform the stubborn teenager. "If you do this again I will no longer train you. If you need a break tell me. I do not care to grant you one. I train you at your pace not mine," I say. He doesn't reply instantly leaving a gap in the conversation.

"Okay," he says. I nod and leave it at that as Katara kneels next to me. I allow her to tend to her brother as Aang guides Appa into a large room. I begin to set up camp in the room beyond it which is just as large. I set up beds and the works for the sick siblings. Aang tends to Appa and Katara to Sokka. Once I have finished I leap back on to Appa. "Alright Katara," I say offering her my hand she takes it and stumbles to her feet. I wrap her arm over my shoulders and jump off Appa with her. I land solidly taking the jolt for both her and me. I help her to the camp and ease her to the ground. She coughs violently, and I grimace. She's sick too. They will need some medicine to get over this.

I leap back on Appa and pull Sokka over my shoulder with a huff. I jump off Appa and stumble as I hit the ground. I manage to stick the landing all the same. Aang is already by Katara, and he watches her carefully. He lights up around her. She will be good for him. He stands when I approach and helps me lie Sokka on one of the beds. Katara begins tending to him and her coughing resumes. Sokka, on the other hand, is going on about how Appa can speak, and he can earth bend. I snort out a laugh at this. Oh, I hope I don't get what he's got.

"He got this from being exposed to the storm," Katara concludes. I nod in agreement. "Aang could you go look for some ginger root?" Katara asks coughing. He nods and sets off looking for the herb. I remain standing in the shadows. I keep a careful eye on Katara. Her hands are beginning to tremble a sign that she isn't feeling well.

"How are you holding up?" I ask her. She coughs again before answering.

"I've just got a little cough," she replies with a smile.

"Katara, your hands are jerky if not trembling," I point out to her. She looks to her hands to assure my statement. She is not surprised to see what I said is true. She just shrugs it off. "You have the same illness as your brother," I inform her. She doesn't get a chance to reply as Aang bounds in the room. He sits down in front of her.