Avatar: Fire and Ice - Book One: Currents

Chapter Two: The Avatar Returns

We ran for our lives. Aang used airbending to push himself ahead and we didn't stop until we had reached our small Southern Water Tribe village. Katara doubled over panting. 

Once at the village gates our sledding group was met with mixed reaction. The little kids ran to play with Aang while the women and Sokka glared.

"I knew it!" Sokka said. "You were signaling the Fire Navy with that flare of yours."

"Aang didn't do anything!" Katara protested.

"Ya, we were on that ship-" 

As Aang said that I winced, now we were in real trouble.

"-and there were booby-traps. We boobied right into them, it was an accident."

"Katara you could have put us all in danger."

"Don't blame Katara or Umalali. It was my fault, I brought them there."

"Ah ha!" said Sokka like an old detective. "The traitor confesses. Warriors away from him. The traitor is banished from our village!"

"Why is it your decision?" I asked. "Shouldn't it be the elder's?! You're only fifteen!"

"Yes!" said one of the village women. "A child shouldn't make those decisions."

"I think the air nomad should be banished!" said Gran-gran."

"I disagree." My Grandmother interjected."They're just kids. Kids make mistakes, you of all people should understand that Khana."

"So should you." Gran-gran retorted. "It is decided. By democratic vote the airbender-"

"Traitor!"

"-will be banished from this town for good."

The playful expression melted off of Aang's face. He solemnly walked over to Appa.

"Bye Aang. It was nice meeting you!" I said.

"It was nice meeting you too."

"Wait!" Katara said. "If Aang is banished the so am I"

She ran after him reaching Appa.

"Hey where are you going?!" Sokka asked furiously.

"Aang is going to find me a waterbending master! He's taking me to the North Pole."

Aang tilted his head obviously confused. 

"I am? Great!"

"You're really leaving us for him?"

"Yes I am."

There was a moment of silence before Aang shifted.

"Katara, I don't wanna come between you and your family."

"So your not taking me?"

Aang shook his head.

"I'm sorry."

"Fine!" she huffed.

Aang mounted Appa and they slowly rode away. Gran-gran gestured to Katara.

"Come now we have work to do." Khana said.

I walked over to my Grandmother we had work to do around town too.

"You did the right thing."

"What do you mean?" I asked thinking she was referring to staying here.

"Exploring that ship. It's time you found out."

"Found out what?"

"What they do." she replied. "I'd rather this way than any other."