Aang stood wih arms raised,"Ok, you caught me. I'm the avatar. Doing the avatar thing, keeping the wold safe. Everything checcks out. No firebenders here. So, good work, eveybody. Love each other, respect all life, and don't run wih your spears," the three began walking from the hall,"We'll see you next time!"
The guards stopped them by crossing their spears and Katara spoke up,"You can't keep us here. Let us leave!"
I didn't know my grandpa's plan, but I was a bit sad for them,"Lettuce leaf?" My grandpa asked while holding up his salad and chewing it.
I slapped my forehead right as Sokka whispered,"We're in serious trouble. This guy is nuts."
"Tomorrow, the avatar will fave 3 deadly challenges, but for now, the guards will show you to your chamber."
The old guard by Bumi asked,"My liege, do you mean the good chamber or the bad chamber?"
"The newly refurbished chamber."
"Wait, which one are we talking about?"
To stop the nonsense, I spoke up,"I know which one! I'll show them myself."
I stood in my decadent robes and walked toward my new friends somberly," I'm sorry, guys." I apologized to them as we walked through the halls," I really am sorry. I didn't know this would happen."
Aang laid a hand on my shoulder easily - I was pretty short for a 16 year old," It's not your faul, Argent."
I sighed,"This is your chamber."
I slammed my palm into the stone wall and it lid down making a crude doorway," You can earthbend?!"
I faced the group,"Not very well. My talents lie in other things. I will see you three in the morning."
"Wait!" Katara called.
I turned,"Yes?"
She looked away in an embarrassed manner,"Can you stay a little longer?"
I eased her with a smile,"Sure."
We talked for hours and were good friends fast.
"I hope I'm not being too nosy, but why do you look so different from the king and where did you get those scars?" Aang asked.
I pressed fingers against the right side of my face,"Well, my parents were two very different people. My mother was a water-bender and my father an earth-bender. So, that explains my different eyes. My scars are from some fire-benders that attacked years ago. It was a poorly planned ambush, but they got in a lucky hit. One of their swords got me right across the face as you can see. I have no sight in my right eye."
Sokka spoke cautiously,"Where are your parents?"
I frowned,"My mother was killed that day and my father died in the war years ago."
" I'm sorry," he expressed.
"It's alright," I assured hiim,"Death is apart of life, and there isn't much to do to stop it. Unless youre my grandpa, then you just keep aging."
We laughed and the mood lightened,"How old are you?"
I took a handful of snowy hair," No doubt a question because of this. I'm 16. I don't know why I was born with this hair, I just was."
Momo, who was in my lap, yawned," It's time for bed then."
We all said our reluctant 'good-nights' before I left the room. My sleep that night was not a peaceful one.
______________________________________
It was morning and instead of robes, I wore my 'battle dress'. To explain it simply, it was a black, skin-tight, high-collared, long-sleeved kimono with a short hemn in the front up to my high thigh; an emerald green, corset-style breast plate of articulated armor wrapped around my torso and ended at my curvy hips. There was a holster on each thigh to hold my secondary weapons and my feet were bare besides a green pair of sleeves on the pads of my feet that were thin enough, so I could feel the ground. My main weapon, a massive, crescent blade was strapped to my back for easy access. My white mane of hair cascaded to my knees in messy spikes and my bangs framed my face the same way.
Aang had just been brought in and forces to compliment Bumi's new purple robes,"I don't have time for your crazy games! Give me back my friends! We're leaving!"
"Oh! I thought you might refuse, so I will give your friends some special souvenirs. Those delightful rings are made of pure genomite. Also known as Creeping Crystal. It's crystal that grows remarkably fast. By nightfall, your friends will be completely covered in it. Terrible fate really. I can stop it, but only if you cooperate."
Sokka screamed,"It already began creeping!"
Aang relented for his friends and we were all escorted down to a cavern where Aang would complete his first challenge. A strong waterfall was in the middle of the room and a key on the end of a chain hung inside the water. A ladder was beneath it, but anyone could see it would be a foolish attempt.
"It seems I've lost my lunchbox key, and I'm hungry," Grandpa told Aang," There it is, would you mind fetching it for me?"
"Argent! Can't you do something?" Katara pleaded as the crystal creeped up her arm.
I grimaced," Sorry, Katara. I'm not good at earth-bending. I might just make it creep faster."
Sokka quickly intervened,"Yeah, please don't."
At that moment, a stalagmite lodged right above the king's head, a key in his face. Aang did it!
"There's your key! I want my friends back now!"
" I need help with another matter. I've lost my pet Flopsy."
