𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐋 ᵃᵗˡᵃ

Chapter Six: The Mystical Swamp That We All Hate ...

~Katara's POV~

I sighed and stretched out on Appa's saddle, my eyes closed as I listened to the sound of the wind whistling and pages turning. A couple of days ago, Beth decided to check her bag and see if anything had "come over with her". When two books slid out of her bag, she shrieked so loud that Aang almost fell off of Appa. Beth was so happy to have something in her language; apparently, she couldn't read our writing. She called it "Chinese". Whatever that was.

"Hey, Beth," I heard Sokka say, I opened one eye and wondered why my brother had such a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Would you say you're pretty distracted right now?"

"Mmm," she replied, turning a page. Sokka grinned and picked up his boomerang. Beth's eyes flickered up for a brief second, before returning to her book. Oh, boy. I yawned and sat up, an eyebrow raised.

"So, you wouldn't be prepared for a ... SURPRISE ATTACK!" he yelled, flinging his boomerang at her. Without looking away from the book, Beth caught the boomerang, twirled it in her fingers, then threw it back at Sokka, knocking him off his feet.

I rolled my eyes. "Sokka, it doesn't work if you yell out, 'Surprise attack'." Beth smirked with a chuckle. I sat up and unrolled one of my scrolls, while Sokka grumbled and went back to sharpening his machete.

Then, Appa started to drift downward. Sokka looked up and asked, "Um, why are we going down? Aang? Hello?"

Aang sat up. "Oh, we are? I guess I didn't notice ..."

I glanced at Beth, who had a dazed look on her face, "Beth?" When she didn't respond, I scooted to the front of the saddle where she sat and snapped my fingers in front of her face.

"Huh? Is something wrong?" she asked, suddenly alert.

Aang glanced back at us, then looked ahead. "I think ... I think that swamp is calling to me."

Beth turned and stared at the fog-covered swamp. "Yeah. I hear it too," she said quietly.

I frowned. Ever since we left Omashu, Beth seemed ... distant. She didn't say much, and when she did talk, it was quick and simple speech. And every time Aang mentioned their great mail chute escape with Bumi, Beth tensed and stared at her hands, as if she expected them to burst into flames. When I asked Aang about it, he said that she had been given a fright while fighting Azula. Yet Beth didn't strike me as someone that scared easily; she jumped off of Appa, for Spirit's sake! I really wanted to know what was up with her, but I didn't want to be nosy.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when Beth poked me and murmured, "Aang's  wondering whether we should land at the swamp. Any thoughts?"

"That place seems kind of creepy. Ominous. I don't think it would be a good idea to go anywhere near it," I said, peering at the swamp. Momo chittered and darted into Beth's bag. Appa groaned in agreement.

Aang sighed, "Okay, then. Bye swamp. Come on, Appa, Yip, Yip!" He cast one more look at the swamp, the look on his face mirrored by Beth's. Appa groaned and flew up.

Beth turned around, squinting at something in the distance. Her eyes widened, and she began shoving her things into her bag, much to Momo's irritation. "Aang, you better fly faster, cause we have a problem!" she yelled. I turned and watched as a giant tornado raced toward us. Appa sped up, but the tornado reached us quickly.