𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐋 ᵃᵗˡᵃ

Chapter Eight: I Think Aang Just Crashed and Burned

~Annabeth's POV~

I took a bite of my peanut-butter and jelly sandwich, smiling as Amy chased the squirrel that had stolen her food.

"Come back here, you little sandwich thief!" she yelled. Jacob laughed so hard he started choking on his lemonade. I snickered and patted his back.

"Ahh!" I jumped up at Amy's scream. She stared at me, a horrified look on her face as she pointed to my hands. I looked down to see green flames surrounding my fists.

Jacob scrambled away, glaring at me.

"Guys ..." I took a step forwards, and fire flared at my feet and spread across the grass, burning the picnic basket and blanket. The air was full of smoke, and I couldn't breathe. "What's happening?!"

Then the smoke cleared, and there stood Aang, Sokka, and Katara. "Guys! You gotta help me!" I stumbled toward them, and they shifted into defensive stances.

"We can't trust you ..." Sokka murmured.

"You're a firebender ..." Katara whispered.

"You'll try to hurt me ..." Aang growled.

"You're dangerous," they chorused. "We can't let you get away." Aang swung his staff, an air blade flying towards me. Katara sent a water whip my way. Sokka threw his boomerang. The smoke came back, and flames licked at my feet. I cowered at the sight of the attacks coming toward me, closer ... closer ...

"Ahh!"

I sat bolt upright, panting and clutching my blanket. The moon shone pale in the sky, thousands of stars accompanying it. My friends laid nearby, deep in sleep. Aang was curled up a few feet in front of me, mumbling something about leechee nuts.

I slowed my breathing and stood up slowly. I crept past Aang, trying not to wake him.

Appa groaned as I approached him. "Shh, Appa, it's okay. I just need to grab something. Go back to sleep." The bison yawned, rested his head on his paws, and closed his eyes. I climbed into his saddle and carefully picked up my bow and quiver.

Thwang! The arrow embedded itself in the center of the tree trunk. Thwang! Another arrow split the first in two. I pulled back on the string, taking aim.

"Beth?"

I jumped, and my arrow flew off into the forest. I whirled around to see Aang standing behind me, rubbing his eyes. "Aang. You startled me." I tried to keep the irritation out of my voice, but I didn't do a very good job.

He yawned, "It's the middle of the night. Why aren't you sleeping?"

I turned back to the tree, nocking another arrow. "Couldn't. I figured if I must be up, I should at least do something productive."

He came up beside me. "How long have you been awake?"

I frowned, "A few hours. Now, shush." I closed my left eye, took a deep breath, and exhaled. I released the arrow, and it hit just above the other two. I growled in annoyance.

Aang swung his head from side to side, taking in the many trees with arrows sticking out of them, like so many pincushions. "Well, I still think you should get some rest."

Thwang!

"Okay, then ..." He walked away, a frown on his face.

*****

"Ack! Momo!" Sokka screeched.

I looked up from my quiver, smirking in amusement. Momo had just tried to grab a spider out of Sokka's mouth. I shook my head and looked back down at my arrows.