𝑾𝑨𝑽𝑬𝑺 || 𝑨𝒂𝒏𝒈 (𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 1)

Jet*

Bored out of her mind, Jade sat with her legs crossed on the ground as she drew shapes with her finger. Not too long ago, she had been in awe of the forests and completely fascinated with the nature around her. But now that they had been traveling for weeks, she was growing used to the woods. Too used to them.

Aang suddenly broke the silence as he glanced at the area surrounding them. "Where's Momo?"

Almost as if responding to his question, a loud screech echoed throughout the forest. They followed the sound of the desperate cries to an area of the forest that looked no different than everywhere else. Above their heads, multiple animal cages were suspended in the tree branches.

Jade frowned. "Who would do that to the poor little animals?"

"Hang on, Momo!" Aang leaped up into the trees and onto the branch where Momo was trapped and suspended from. Hanging upside down, he lowered the trap down to the ground below. Katara and Sokka pulled on the metal bars and opened it, allowing Momo to hop out.

But instead of being afraid or fazed by the events, the lemur munched on the lychee nuts from the trap. Jade and Katara frowned while Sokka groaned and facepalmed in annoyance.

Aang, who had lowered to the ground, looked back up at the trees. The animals in the other traps were whining pleadingly, crying out for help.

"All right," He smiled and jumped back up again. "You, too."

As their friend climbed the branch, Sokka sighed and pulled out his boomerang. "This is gonna take forever."

Tossing it into the air, he cut across the cages' ropes in one swoop. When the traps dropped to the ground, Aang glanced down.

"That works."

Opening the last of the traps, Katara, Sokka, and Jade allowed the animals to run free. As they scurried up the trees, Aang hopped back down to join his friends. Jade turned to watch Sokka as he bent down and observed the metal traps.

"These are Fire Nation traps; you can tell from the metalwork." He stated. "We better pack up camp and get moving."

~㊌~

As Katara reached up to hand a sleeping bag to Aang, Sokka looked over.

"Uh-uh." He stood up and approached them. "No flying this time."

"What?" Aang frowned when Sokka pulled the sleeping bag out of his hands. "Why wouldn't we fly?"

"Think about it; somehow Prince Zuko and the Fire Nation keep finding us." He pointed out. "It's because they spot Appa — he's just too noticeable." 

Jade furrowed her brows. "What are you talking about? How is Appa too noticeable?"

"He's a gigantic fluffy monster with an arrow on his head! It's kinda hard to miss him!" 

Appa groaned. Seated up on the bison's head, Aang rubbed his fur. "Sokka's just jealous 'cause he doesn't have an arrow."

"I know you all wanna fly, but my instincts tell me we should play it safe this time and walk." Sokka insisted.

Katara smirked and leaned closer to him. "Who made you the boss?"

He pointed to himself. "I'm not the boss, I'm the leader." 

"You're the leader?" She chuckled in disbelief. "But your voice still cracks!"

"I'm the oldest, and I'm a warrior, so -- " He deepened his voice dramatically. "I'm the leader." 

"Not that the voice wasn't very macho, but why isn't Aang the leader?" Jade inquired. "You know, considering he's the Avatar, and all."

"Are you kidding — he's just a goofy kid!"