Avatar: Rebirth

Chapter 9: Raava

I didn't know what to say, didn't know what to do. I just sat there, staring into Wan's brown eyes, searching for something, although I don't know what.

Questions swirled through my head. Who is this Raava? What's Harmonic Convergence? What do these rings have to do with all this? Why am I seeing visions of the other Avatars?

Why am I the only one who can see him?

There was another thought tugging at me, one that made me feel guilty for every action toward Wan. "I can't believe you've been alone for 9,999 years," I said aloud, not really meaning to. I felt really bad for all those times I'd yelled at him or made him worry. I felt even worse for leaving him in the forest, even though that wasn't my fault. And I felt bad for giving him hope eight years ago, only to have him wait that long, although I didn't even know he existed.

Of all people to get stuck with, it was me. He should've ended up with someone sweet and caring, someone with a pretty face. Maybe he could have found a better friend in her, could've found happiness. Or even love.

Ugh, what are you thinking May!?

Seeing my distress, Wan tried to reassure me. "Don't worry about it, May. It's in the past now." He smiled. "It wasn't as bad as your probably think it is. A person can get used to solitude." Everything about that, from his words to his smile, felt forced.

I sighed. "You don't have to lie to make me feel better, but I appreciate the thought." Before he could say anything else, I bright him into a hug once more. "I alyways enjoyed my solitude, living alone in the Eastern Air Temple. But I've always been a little lonely. I miss my friends from my home village. I can't imagine what 9,999 years by yourself would feel like."

He sighed, and deep and heavy sigh. "You don't even know, Maylin." His voice sounded so tired and sad. "I, I'd walk through a village unnoticed. They wouldn't even feel it if I bumped into them; I passed right through their bodies! I tried for so many years to get someone's attention. But I never did. Until you."

I borrowed my face into the crook of his neck. "You made me realize how much I missed being around another person. How much I missed having a friend." His arms tightened around me.

"I have one more thing to ask you, May."

"Go ahead," I told him.

"Do really believe everything I'm telling you?"

"I promise you, I do."

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We stayed like that for awhile, for so long that I fell asleep in his arms. I didn't recall ever moving but when I woke up, I was surrounded by the warmth of Yi's tail, protected from the coldness of the snowy ground around me.

Even though it was close by, I decided not to fly to the Eastern Air Temple, instead taking a straight route to the Southern Water Province. We were already behind on our schedule.

To ease the boredom of flying, Wan and I had long conversations. They'd range from questions about Raava to what was the best way to cook a fish. Although he didn't say to much about Raava, just told me I'd see when I got there.

A few days before we reached our destination, I had another strange dream. I wasn't myself. I couldn't control my actions or my feelings, as though I was reading seeing a scene from a book in that character's eyes. A strange man from one of the Water Provinces was attacking me. He wrapped an icy cold tentacle of water around my body, pulling from me something glowing.

It appeared to be a small spirit, shining with a white light. The man struck at it until it dissolved into the air. I screamed as I felt my heart stop.