𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐋 ᵃᵗˡᵃ

Chapter Two: I Hate Hippies

   I sat in the middle of the saddle, my head in my hands. Katara patted my shoulder; Aang glanced back at me and frowned; Sokka just glared.

"How did I get here? What happened?" I asked. Katara bit her lip.

"Well, we were flying to Omashu-we still are- when this bright light came out of nowhere. I couldn't see anything. When the light faded, you were passed out in the middle of Appa's saddle."

"Annabeth," Aang started, "did anything like that happen to you?"

I raised my head. "Yeah. I was sitting in the treehouse, looking at the moon. Then my ring started to glow, and I was engulfed in light."

Katara gasped, "Can I see that?" She pointed at my ring.

"Sure." I tugged at it. Now it comes off. Katara studied the gem for a few minutes, then flashed a triumphant smile. "What?"

"This, my friend, is a Moonstone!" Her eyes glimmered with excitement.

I snorted, "No kidding." Her smiled faltered, then returned.

"No, no, I mean this is a special Moonstone. From the Moon Spirit."

I rubbed my temples. "Okay, you've lost me."

Aang laughed, "Well, you'll have to tell her another time, because Appa needs a break. I'm gonna land us at that lake." He steered Appa downward.

We landed at the shore, and everyone climbed down from the saddle. "Are you coming?" Katara asked. I shook my head.

"I need some time to think." Because I still had no idea what was going on.

Sokka was the last one off, and before he disappeared over the edge of the saddle, he hissed, "I still don't trust you," and gave me the universal I've-got-my-eye-on-you sign.

I rolled my eyes, "I think I can live with that." Left to myself, I leaned back and closed my eyes, trying to wrap my head around my situation.

Okay. So, my ring glows. I'm in the Avatar cartoon. My moonstone is not just a moonstone. Aang and Katara like me, but Sokka doesn't. They saw the light too. I can handle this ... I can handle this ... It's probably just a very vivid, awesome, amazing dream. I shifted and felt something in my pocket. "No way ..." I reached into my pocket and pulled out my cell phone. My cell phone. I pumped my fist into the air. "Yes! Something useful came over with me!" I turned it on and tried to call my mom. I really wanted to tell her that I was okay. There was only one problem.

The Avatar world didn't have cell service.

With a groan, I slipped the phone back into my pocket and climbed out of the saddle. Sokka floated in the middle of the lake, while Aang and Katara practiced-

"Waterbending!" I gasped. Waterbending was cool on TV, but up close it was amazing!

Katara shot ice spikes, which Aang deflected with water whips. I applauded, and they bowed. "That was the coolest thing I've ever seen!" I cheered. Aang gave me a strange look.

"Really? You've never seen waterbending before?" I shook my head. "How come?"

"Where I come from, we don't have waterbending. Or airbending, earthbending, and firebending."

All three of them gaped. "No bending?!"

"Just where exactly did you come from?" Sokka demanded. I sat down on a boulder.

"You wouldn't believe me." Seeing their dubious glances, I inhaled and began, "I come from a whole different world. I live in the United States of America, which is a country in the continent North America. We don't have bending, but we do have cars, airplanes, cell phones, all kinds of technology. The U.S. doesn't have a king or lord; instead, we have a president. At school, instead of learning bending, we learn math and science and reading. Oh, and we wear clothes like this." I gestured to myself. "All in all, we're way different from you guys." I finally took a breath and watched their reactions. Sokka stared at me; Katara frowned; Aang smiled and said, "That makes sense."