"Look, mommy! Look!" Lia's excited voice pulls me from my water-painting, and I glance over at her. She's standing by the river, and when she sees me looking she drops into a stance.
She raises her arms and a stream of water rises from the river, winding around her. She twists it, then sends it out in a whiplike motion. She's got the waterwhips down already? But I just showed her the moves a half an hour ago!
But that's my Lia- she's a fast learner.
"That's great, Lia!" She grins at me.
"And watch this!" With barely concealed glee, she forms the water into a ball and squints her eyes. A few seconds later, the ball of water begins to shimmer, then boil. Within moments, it's completely evaporated into the air. I stare. I can freeze water, but heating it? This is new. It's unbelievable. She's barely three years old and she's already almost mastered waterbending. Erga was right about her being a powerful bender.
I've never seen a more powerful bender, not even Aang. And he's the Avatar!
"That's wonderful, Lia." I move to her side and pull her close to me. She wraps her arms around my neck and kisses my cheek.
"I love you, mommy."
"I love you, too, sweetheart. Now, how about learning some new bending moves? I can teach you to lift that whole river at once and control it, if you want."
"Yeah! Yeah! Please, mommy?"
I laugh and drop into a stance.
**__**
Aang laughed and clapped Sokka on the back.
"I'm happy for you, Sokka. You too, Suki." They grinned at him, and the betrothal necklace on Suki's neck winked in the firelight.
"Thanks, Aang. We want to get married as soon as possible. We're just waiting for the rest of the Gaang to arrive."
"I sent a letter to Iroh and Toph, so they should be here as soon as TyLee's boat can pick them up at the Ferry Port in Chameleon Bay and get them all here." Hakoda set down steaming cups of tea as he gave his report, and Suki, Aang, and Sokka smiled at him gratefully.
"And my followers at the Southern Air Temple saw Zuko's war balloon yesterday afternoon, so he should be here soon. I don't know if Mai and Kamil are coming- they're on their honeymoon, after all."
"You have followers at the Southern Air Temple?"
Aang grinned at Suki's question. "I have followers at every air temple. One of the culture professors at Ba Sing Se University set it up- he got nonbender volunteers from the Fire Nation, the Earth Kingdom, and the Water Tribes to sign up and move to the air temples. They're trying to preserve the culture of my people and start up a new group of Air Nomads. It's not the same, but I'm grateful to him."
"Aang, that's great. Maybe the spirits will smile on the attempt and bless them with some airbending babies."
"I hope so! I talked to Roku a few nights ago, and-"
"I'm sorry to interrupt but there's an urgent message for the Avatar!" Aang looked up to see Hakoda's mother rush into the room, waving a slip of paper.
Sokka stood. "Calm down, GranGran. I'm sure it's fine." He took the paper from her and handed it over to Aang, who unfurled it as quickly as he could.
"It says: Avatar Aang, please come as quickly as possible. People are disappearing from our city, too many people for it to be coincidence. We've tried everything but we can't find them or the culprit. We think it may be a rogue spirit. Please, help us, Avatar! It's signed by the chief of the Northern Water Tribe."
Aang looked up and met Sokka's, then Suki's gazes.
They nodded.
"Let's go."
"Now just hold on. You're not-"
"Dad, please. We have to go with Aang and help."
"Yeah. The wedding plans can wait! I know you're worried, but we'll be fine, Hakoda." Suki put a comforting hand on her soon-to-be father-in-law's arm. Hakoda shook his head.
"All I was going to say is that you're not going without me. Get packed and meet in the courtyard in an hour. I'll have the grooms saddle Appa."
Sokka grinned. "Thanks, dad."
____
0.o What does this mean? Why is little Allia so powerful?!
And what is going on in the North Pole?!
COMMENT and vote! (five and I'll update) :)
-Tess
YOU ARE READING
Falling for the Enemy (Sun and Moon Book 1)
Fanfiction*A Zutara fanfic* Kara has been living in a little fishing village in the northern Earth Kingdom for as long as she can remember--literally. She woke up on its shores nearly six months ago, and she knows that if it hadn't been for Aki, she'd be dead...
