Rainbow's Gift (Avatar The Last Airbender Fanfic)

14. The Great Divide

" It is the most amazing wonder in the world!" Aang said excitedly as we landed. He had been talking about the great divide for the past one hour. We walked to the edge of a cliff. "There it is guys, the great divide." He announced like he was a tour guide.

"Wow, I can just stare at it forever." Katara said.

"It is beautiful." I added but Katara gave me a slight scrowl.

"Okay I've seen enough." Sokka said walking back to Appa.

"You're not a nature lover?" I asked but before he could answer Katara spoke up.

"How can you not be fascinated, Sokka? This is the largest canyon in the entire world."

"Then I'm  sure we'll see it clearly  in the air when fly away." He said with a ' fly in the air' gesture but was pushed away by a man in white and yellow clothing. It seemed royal but in the Fire Nation these colours were worn to a funeral of a royal person.

"If you're looking for the canyon guy I was here first." He said rushing towards us. I wanted to say okay, no one asked  but I kept quiet. Sokka had fallen down and I went to help him and he gave me a small smile. That melting feeling was coming back.

"How rude." He complained as he dusted himself .

"Well, let's go see what rude guy has to say."  We headed towards them.

"....... He's an earthbender and the only way in and out of the canyon is with his help." Sokka had gotten behind him started mimicking him. I tried my best not to laugh. "And he's taking my tribe up next." I couldn't help it. I laughed and the guy looked behind him to find Sokka who had stopped his antics.

"Calm down we know you're next."he said.

"You wouldn't be calm if the Fire Nation destroyed your home and forced you to flee. My whole tribe has to walk thousands of miles to the capital city of Ba Sing Se. "

"You're a refugee." Katara said with sympathy.

He huffed. "Tell me something I don't know." I turned away. My people did this. This was the reason why people hated us, loathed us, feared us. I couldn't help but feel sad about it like it was my fault.

"Are you okay?" I jumped a little. I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I hadn't realized some of the tribe had arrived. I looked up at Sokka who was still waiting for a response.

"I'm okay, I just thought......."

"It's not your fault. You're a good person." I was surprised that he knew exactly what was wrong.

"Thank you but you barely know me." I told him with a small smile.

"I know enough." He said gently and I smiled at him. We went back to listening to the talkative guy.

"........That is the Zhang tribe and bunch of low life theives. They have been enemies with my tribe for a hundred years." As they approached, I observed them. They seemed dirty and wore clothing like Bushmen. The talkative guy whistled. "Hey Zhangs , I'm saving a spot of my tribe so don't think of stealing it."

"Where is the rest of Gonjing? Still tiding up their campsite?" A guy from the Zhang who seemed to be the leader.

"Yes and they sent me ahead of them to hold them a spot."

"I didn't know the canyon guy took reservations."

"Of course he didn't. That's the ignorance I'd expect from a messy Zhang, so ill prepared for a journey." The whole tribe started to shout obviously offended by his words.

"I think we should go." I suggested.

"I think so too." Sokka agreed. My leg was already aching from yesterday but I ignored it. I shouldn't have done that competition. Before the rest could speak, we heard rumbles behind us as the rocks moved aside. An old man came out of the small cloud of dust.