Avatar: The Legend of Anzen Hyriu, Book 1: The Legend of Beifen

Chapter 29

Chapter 29

The Avatar in the North

I got my things ready to leave. I could see the boat approaching. I had gotten Arnook's message two days ago. I was very unnerved about the Avatar being in the capital. Would I see him? What's he like? What if I start becoming friends with him? No, I couldn't let myself become friends with him. Otherwise it would be too hard if I had to face him.

I was standing by the docks. There was a large crowd for my goodbye. Shan and I stood next to each other awkwardly. I hated saying good bye to him and my other friends in the Fire Nation. It was one of the worst parts about this whole set up. I visited them enough to become friends but always left before the friendship could really get going.

The ship docked, and some men began to load the ship up with Earth Kingdom goods.

"Well, Hyriu," Master Lee said, "Here we are again. Just keep practicing, and I hope to see you soon. Goodbye."

"Goodbye, Master Lee," I bowed respectfully.

I looked over at Shan. He gave me a brother-like hug.

"See you later, dude," he said.

"See you," I replied.

"Come back soon," he said.

"I will," I assured him.

I got on the boat, and it started to leave.

"Fare you well, Anzen Hyriu. May your return be quick and safe!" Mayor Tanlan said.

I gave him a nod and waved. I began water bending and air bending to make the boat zoom away, but I stopped. I couldn't help the boat take me away from my friend. Finally, when I couldn't make out who was who, I helped the boat speed away. Mazushi Village shrunk from view.

***

The capital wall loomed over me. I had put on a cloak wrapping my face up, so I could sneak back into our house. I climbed in my bedroom window. The curtains were drawn. I saw a basket on my bed. It was a get-well basket sent by Princess Yue. I walked out and saw Wei and Hiko eating dinner.

"Hyriu!" Hiko said and hugged me.

"Ha ha. Hey, Hiko," I said.

"Ah good, I have already made arrangements for you to start walking around again. I have said you have gotten better but are very contagious. I think you could go out tonight because you look very tired, which makes you look kind of sick," Wei chuckled.

I went on a walk with Wei to the Chief's Palace. In a large field in front of the palace, I saw Master Pakku standing by a group of teens. As we got closer, I noticed a Water Tribe girl talking with someone - a boy in orange and yellow clothing - Air Nomad clothing. He had a blue arrow tattooed on his head; the sign of a master air bender. He laughed a lot and didn't seem very serious. All the same, I tensed when I saw him.

"Deep breath, Hyiru. Don't worry, just relax," Wei said when he noticed my reaction.

We walked up to the group.

"Ah, Master Wei, and oh look, he brought the newly healthy Hyriu. Wonderful, now maybe he'll get the rest of us sick for two weeks," Pakku said to us.

"I assure you, Master Pakku, Yugoda has said Hyriu is no longer contagious," Wei said.

"Humph," Pakku had an amused glint in his eyes even though his face didn't show it.

I saw the boy and girl looking at us, and behind them, I saw Princess Yue walking up with a guy I didn't recognize, but he looked related to the girl.

Princess Yue hugged me, "Hyriu, you're feeling better!"

"Ha ha yeah, thanks for the basket," I said and glanced over at the guy she was with.

"You are very welcome. Oh, sorry this is Sokka and his sister, Katara."

I greeted them.

"Nice to meet you, er, Hyriu, is it?" Katara said and shook my hand.

She had a sweet voice and smiled a lot, though I got the felling she wasn't one to be messed with. She had on a large blue coat. She had long brown hair in a braid. Two strands of hair on either side of her face looped back to join the braid. She seemed to be about my age.

"Careful Katara#;# I don't want you getting sick. I don't care what anybody says. He could still be covered in germs," Sokka said, eyeing me.

He looked a bit older than me and had his hair in a wolf tail with the sides of his head shaved. He was also taller than I was, but not by much.

"Sokka, if Yugoda says he's fine, I'm sure he is," Katara said.

"Whatever. Nice to meet you," Sokka shook my hand gingerly.

I turned to the bald kid in Air Nomad clothing.

"Hi, I'm Aang, the uh, Avatar," he said.

He sounded a little unsure about being the Avatar, but he had a confident expression. He looked like he was only twelve years old.

Wei stepped forward, "I am Master Wei, Hyriu's guardian. It is an honor to meet you, Avatar Aang, you two as well, Sokka and Katara."

"Likewise," Aang said.

"Wait#,# are you both water benders?" Katara asked excitedly.

"Yeah," I said a little confused.

"Oh wow, I still can't believe how many of you there are up here," she said in a dream like voice.

"Um, sorry? What do you mean by that?" I asked, even more confused.

"Oh, I completely forgot to say," Princess Yue laughed, "Sokka and Katara are from the Southern Water Tribe. That is where they found Aang."

"What? You're from the Southern Tribe? That's incredible. I can't believe you traveled half way around the world," I said. "Wait, what did you mean when you said you were surprised by how many of us there are up here?"

Katara's face darkened, "The Fire Nation hit us pretty hard. They sent a lot of raids, and soon, there were no water benders in the South. I am the only one left."

"Oh wow. I knew the Fire Nation hit the South hard but..." I stopped.

"Yeah, the last raid was when our mother died..." her voice broke, and I saw her hand drift to a necklace she was wearing.

I felt a connection to Katara and her brother.

"I know it won't help, but I'm really sorry. I lost both my parents in a Fire Nation raid. I was also given this," I showed them my scar.

I saw a look of shock go across their faces, and I knew Katara understood what I went through.

Wei cleared his throat. "Well, Hyriu, you are still tired, and I am sure Master Pakku would like to continue training the Avatar."

"Yes, as touching and heart throbbing as that moment was, training must not stop because you made a new friend."

After a quick visit to Chief Arnook, we walked back to the house, though when we started leaving I saw one of Pakku's students glaring at me. The glare looked very familiar; almost like...no it couldn't be. I was just jumpy about meeting the Avatar and his friends.

"Well, Hyriu, our plans were to leave tomorrow morning, but if you want to stay we could. I noticed you and Katara seemed to get along, so I don't mind if-" Wei started to say.

"No," I cut him off, "I don't want to be friends with her, with any of them."

Wei gave me a questioning look.

"Just in case I have to...you know. I don't want to be friends with someone that I might have to fight." Wei nodded, "Like Pakku said, training must not stop just because I made a new friend."

I wasn't planning on anything stopping my training.