The Wind and The Flame

Chapter Four: Alone With Aang

Aang and I rode his sky bison as we headed in the direction of the sun warrior temple. I was so bored. "We've been riding for hours. I don't know why, but I thought this thing would be a lot faster." The bison grunted and Aang turns his head to me, "Appa's right, Zuko. In our group, typically we start our missions with a more up-beat attitude. And the reason you think he would be faster is because he's constantly outraced your ships." Aang smirked at his joke. I roll my eyes and lay down grumbling, "I don't believe this." Aang crawls up closer to me and pats my shoulder, "Don't worry you'll get the hang of it." As he looks into my eyes I feel a warmth in my chest that I know has nothing to do with firebending. I look at him, "You really think I can change that much?" Aang nods, "Months ago I couldn't picture you as the caring type, but you watched me while I slept and you sang to me." I gasp and back up, slightly panicking, "You heard that? I thought you were sleep!?" Aang giggles, "I was but it was so beautiful I woke up to hear the rest of it." I groan and cover my face, which definitely was NOT blushing." Aang smiles and returns to steering Appa, leaving me in my embarrassment.

After another hour we spotted an island with intricate temple ruins on it. "Whoa", Aang and I said simultaneously. It was honestly quite impressive, I must admit. Appa landed and we climbed down. As we walk trough the ruins I started feeling nostalgic. "Even though these buildings are ancient, there's something eerily familiar about them. I can tell the Fire Sages' temples are somehow descended from these." Aang looks at me, "Okay. We've learned something about architecture." I smile a little and shake my head. "Hopefully, we'll learn something about firebending too. The past can be a great teacher", Aang says as he walks forward. I notice a glint of light along the ground, but before I could stop him, he walked across it. Spikes came out from the ground and Aang was falling right toward them! "Aang!", I cried out. The young avatar used his airbending to blow himself onto the other side.

I breathed a sigh of relief, I forget how smart he can be sometimes. "Are you alright Aang?" Aang looks at me from the other side with a panicked expression, "Zuko, I think the past is trying to kill me." I bend down and look at the wire, something worried me. "I can't believe it." I pick the tripwire up and examine it. "This booby trap must be centuries old and it still works." "There's probably a lot more. Maybe this means we shouldn't be here", Aang says looking dejected. Poor kid looked like he needed a hug. Wait where'd that thought come from?? Besides there were spikes between him and I.

I take two steps back and run toward the wall adjoining the path. By running on the wall I jump off, reaching the other side of the spikes. I look at Aang as I pat some dust off my clothes, "Where's that up-beat attitude you were talkin' about?" I smile at him, making him smile back. As we walk on, leaving the trap behind I think aloud , "Besides, people don't make traps unless they've got something worth protecting." Aang giggles and we walk on. He's actually really cute when he laughs, the most pure and innocent child I've ever seen. It pains me to think, he'll have to kill my father in the end. I'm not worried about my father dying, I'm terrified Aang won't be able to do it. I know my father won't hesitate to wipe the smile off Aang's beautiful face, permanently...

TO BE CONTINUED

OKAY GUYS MY APP IS GLITCHING OUT WHILE WRITING THIS STORY SO IMA END THIS CHAPTER HERE. ILL TRY TO UPDATE IT QUICKLY! THIS STORY IS NOT OVER!