Rai grips the sword and she goes past the chief and begins to head towards the deck. "No stop!" The chief grabs her arm and steers her away from the deck.
He leads her to the stables and he says wait here. I'll be back. He comes back with Aang and Rai's things. Chief wha-"you have to get to the air." He says. "It's the only way. I can't leave you here with them!" "You can protect Aang." He says.
Rai watches him put her things onto the saddle and some other supplies. He helps her onto the saddle and then he straps Aang on as well. He goes to the end of the stable and he says "you have to be quick."
Rai nods and she takes out a piece of paper and says "give this to Sokka." The chief nods and he says "now go! yip yip is the command to fly."
Rai nods and she says "come on Appa. Yip yip." Appa roars and takes to the sky and Rai turns standing on the back of the bison and she blocks attacks from Cinder and Hazel. She flattens herself onto the bison and begins to rise further into he air. She levels out and hangs onto the reigns....
Rai opens her eyes and sees clouds above her. Mamma! Rai runs to a woman with sparkling blue eyes. Come here daughter. She picks the girl up and spins her around. Then they lie once more in the grass. When is papa coming? He says he'd be here. I know darling. Rai! Papa! Rai giggles as lu ten lifts her into the air and sets her down on the blanket. My father is making tea Rai. Yay! Tea! Tea! A three year old Rai makes the fire crackle in her excitement. Lu tens eyes widen father - I saw that son. Iroh smiles your daughter indeed has the spark. Rai is holding her hand over her tea cup like she has seen her mother do over water her face scrunches up the tea slowly rises out of the cup in a swirl Rai stop that! Lu ten snaps. Rai's eyes widen and the tea splashes back into the cup. She begins to cry and she runs off towards one of the trees. Lu! Kai says.
Kai they're coming. Kai sighs and she runs after Rai. Lu ten stands up to greet Ozai and his children. Zuko looks around and says where's Rai? Over there little cousin. Zuko grins and runs off. Rai brightens at the sight of her favorite cousin. They lie on their backs together talking about the clouds.
Rai....Rai are you ok? Rai ...Rai!
Rai sits up quickly and blinks. She pushes away from the boy before her and she looks away.
"That is your name isn't it?" Rai nods but doesn't say anything.
"My name is Aang" he says and Rai turns. He carefully gets closer to Rai who has her eyes on the sky. "Did you know those people?" Rai nods. "Were they your friends?" Aang asks. "No aang" Rai whispers. "Then why...were they there for me?" Aang asks. "No but you're lucky they don't know about you" Rai says.
"What do you mean?" Aang asks. Rai looks up and she sees a large Grimm hovering over them she grabs the reigns with one of her hands and she says Appa dive! "Let me" Aang says taking the reigns with both hands Rai holds onto the saddle her face turning red from exertion ...they avoid the Grimm and the large feathers shooting down from the sky like daggers. They land in the forest some time later and Aang gets off first and then he helps Rai off. "Rai...where are we?' Aang asks. "Safe" Rai says she begins to walk in a direction and Aang follows her. She stops and peers behind a curtain of vines and he hears her let out a sigh.She goes through the curtain and he follows her. "Whoa.." he whispers. "What is this place?" "This is my grandmothers cottage." Rai goes to the door and she puts her hand on the wooden carving of a lotus flower she breathes deeply and presses the center of the flower and the door comes open. Rai?" Rai opens the door and Aang follows her inside.
