Balance | Old Version

Chapter 66

Elua's POV.

We all run out of the cave, the bugs following after us. We stop running as we come up to the edge of the rock we're at the top of and are given no choice but to turn around and fight. Aang sends a gust of air at one of the giant bugs, while Toph hits a few with rocks.
"What are you doing?! That rock almost crushed me!" Sokka shouts as Toph almost crushes him with a rock.
"Sorry, I can't tell where they are in the air!" Toph shouts to him.
"I got this one," Sokka says as he starts to swing his weapon at nothing, we all look at him in confusion.
"Sokka, there's nothing there," I tell him, he stops swinging and realizes that I'm right.

"I guess my head's not as clear as I thought," He says as he looks around in confusion.
"We have to get out of here! I'm completely out of water to bend!" Katara shouts as more bugs begin to surround us. Suddenly, one of the bugs grabs Momo and starts to fly off with him.
"Momo!" Aang yells in concern. "I'm not losing anyone else out here," He says as he opens his glider and follows after the bug.
"Come on, we're going down," Katara says as they quickly walk over to the side of the rock, but I don't follow and turn in the direction Aang went.
"I have to go help Aang," I tell them as I open my glider and get ready to take off, ignoring the pain.

But, before I can take off, Sokka quickly takes the glider from my hands. I look over to him in annoyance.
"He can handle it, you're still hurt," Sokka states as he helps me follow Katara and Toph.
"Toph, shoot a rock right there. Fire!" Katara shouts as one of the bugs flies down to us. Toph stomps down and bends a rock at one of the bugs and hits it.
"Yeah! You got it!" Sokka cheers. "She got it, right?" He asks, still not able to trust his mind.
"Yes. Now let's move," Katara says as we continue to walk down the rock. But, when we reach the bottom, a bunch of sandbenders surround us. Aang flies down to us and lands in front of us with a not so happy look on his face.

"What are you doing in our land with a sandbender sailer? From the looks of it, you stole it from the Hami tribe," An older man says as he glares at us.
"We found the sailer abandoned in the desert. We're traveling with the Avatar. Our bison was stolen and we have to get to Ba-Sing-Se," Katara explains, and he seems to calm down.
"You dare accuse our people of theft while you ride in on a stolen sand sailer?" A younger man asks threatening. I frown as I recognize his voice.
"Quiet, Gashuin. No one accused our people of anything. If what they say is true, we must give them hospitality," The older man tells the younger one.

"Sorry, father," Gashuin says.
"I recognize you, you're the one that stole Appa and injured me," I say as I glare at Gashuin.
"Are you sure?" Katara whispers me, I nod.
"She's right. I've heard his voice...and never forget a voice," Toph says angrily.
"You stole Appa! Where is he? What did you do to him!?" Aang shouts in rage as he takes a bending stance.
"They're lying! They're the thieves!" Gashuin shouts.
"Where is my bison?!" Aang yells, his anger getting out of control as he breaks one of there boats in half. "You tell me where he is, now!" He yells again as he breaks another boat. 

"What did you do?" Gashuin's father asks him in anger.
"I-It wasn't me!" He stammers in fear.
"You said to put a muzzle on him!" Toph shouts.
"You muzzled Appa?!" Aang yells as he's tattoos begin to glow and his anger increases.
"I'm sorry! I didn't know that it belonged to the Avatar!" Gashuin shouts in panic.
"Tell me where Appa is!" Aang orders, his voice echoing.
"I traded him! To some merchants! He's probably in Ba-Sing-Se by now! They were going to sell him there!" Gashuin tells him as he backs away. "Please! We'll escort you out of the desert! We'll help however we can!" He tells Aang, but it was too late, he was already in the Avatar state.

"Just get out of here! Run!" Sokka tells them as Aang begins to airbend and make sand fly everywhere. They all run away, but I stay put and watch as Aang slowly rises into the air.
"Elua!" I hear Sokka shout, but I ignore him and grab Aang's hand as he floats in the air. He looks down at me, his eyes glowing, a look of fury on his face, but it doesn't phase me and I stay calm. I slowly bring him down to me and when he's low enough, I wrap my arms around him. He begins to calm down and come out of the Avatar State, I look down at him as he wraps his arms around me too. I slowly lower us to the ground and hold him as he cries for the loss of Appa, and I do too.