Book 1: Hikaru

Freedom Fighters

We were in the middle of cleaning up camp, when Aang noticed something.

"Where's Momo?" he asked, then we heard an animal cry for help.

After walking through the forest, we found the source of the cry. Up in the treetops, were three animal traps and in one of them was Momo.

"Hang on Momo!" shouted Aang as he airbended himself to the tree holding the trap. He gently lowered the trap to Sokka, Katara, and I, and we released him. Momo leaped out of the trap, eating the leachy nuts from the trap, then the two hog-monkeys, whined sadly. "Alright you too," said Aang as he leaped into the trees to help them.

"This is going to take forever," said Sokka as he threw his boomerang at the trap ropes.

"That works," said Aang coming down from the tree.

"Hey Sokka," I called as I examined the traps, "Take a look."

"These are Fire Nation traps," observed Sokka, "You can tell from the metal work. We'd better pack up camp and get moving."

Once we returned to our base camp we went straight to work, packing up. As Katara and Sokka packed up their stuff, I went through my bag to make sure everything was there. As I climbed aboard Appa and lied down in the saddle, I heard Sokka say, "No flying this time."

"What?" asked Aang, "Why wouldn't we fly?"

"Think about it, somehow Prince Zuko and the Fire Nation keep finding us," explained Sokka, "It's because of Appa, he's just too noticeable."

"What? Appa's not too noticeable," argued Katara.

"He's a gigantic fluffy monster with an arrow on his head! It's kinda hard to miss him," Sokka pointed out, making Appa growl.

"Sokka's just jealous, because he doesn't have an arrow," Aang comforted Appa.

"I know you all want to fly, but my instincts tell me we should play it safe this time and walk," explained Sokka.

"Who made you the boss?" asked Katara.

"I'm not the boss I'm the leader," said Sokka, making Katara laugh.

"You're the leader?" laughed Katara, "But your voice still cracks!"

"I'm the oldest and I'm a warrior!" snapped Sokka who then deepened his voice, "So I'm the Leader."

"If anyone's the leader, it's Aang," said Katara, "I mean he is the Avatar."

"Are you kidding he's just a goofy kid," argued Sokka.

Proving his point, Aang was hanging upside down on Appa's horn, "He's right," Aang agreed.

"Then there's Hikaru," pointed out Katara, "She's older than you and has the greatest skills out of all of us."

"She's only older than me by a year!" snapped Sokka.

"Don't bring me into this," I said stopping them, "I've got enough on my plate as it is."

"Why do boy's always think someone has to be the leader?" asked Katara, "I bet you wouldn't be so bossy if you'd kissed a girl."

"I've kissed a girl," defended Sokka, "You..just haven't met her."

"Who GranGran?" taunted Katara, "I've met GranGran."

"No besides GranGran!" snapped Sokka, "Look, my instincts tell me we have a better chance of slipping through on foot and a leader has to trust his instincts."

"Ok, we'll try it your way oh wise leader," said Katara.

"Who knows?" smiled Aang picking up his pack, "Walking might be fun."