The Dragon Princess and the Wolf Warrior

Chapter 5 [~|~] The Avatar State

Azara and Katara walked into the sanctuary together, side by side. Azara's eyes widened as the light from the hall revealed rows upon rows of statues. "Statues? That's it? Where's the meat?" Sokka whined as Azara bit back another sarcastic comment.

"Who are all these people?" Katara asked as she moved to stand next to Aang. Azara wandered around the states, her eyes landing on the last statue in the line. "I'm not sure. But I feel like I know them somehow. Look! That one's an airbender," Aang pointed out as Azara walked closer to the last statue.

"And this one's a waterbender. They're lined up in a pattern: air, water, earth, and fire."

"That's the Avatar Cycle!" Aang gasped as Katara started to walk down the line.

"Of course. They're Avatars. All these people are your past lives, Aang," Katara smiled as Azara stepped in front of the last statue in the cycle. Staring up at the Fire Nation figure, Azara's eyes focused on his face, feeling like his eyes were staring into her soul. Glancing up further, Azara stared at the pin in his hair, the symbol of the Fire Nation royal family.

"Past lives? Katara, you really believe in that stuff?" Sokka scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest.

"It's true. When the Avatar dies, he's reincarnated into the next nation in the cycle," Katara explained as Aang moved to stand next to Azara, staring up at the same statue. Katara walks over, shaking Aang out of his momentary daze. "Who is that?"

"That's Avatar Roku, the last Avatar before me," Aang said, staring up at the statue.

"Yeah . . ." Azara trailed off her voice sounding far off. "How the Fire Nation has fallen since his death," she muttered to herself as Sokka walked over.

"You were a firebender? No wonder I didn't trust you when we first met," Sokka commented, causing Azara to roll her eyes.

"There's no writing. How do you know his name?" Katara questioned, looking down for a plaque or anything to identify the statue.

"I'm not sure. I just know it somehow," Aang shrugged, as Azara turned to him.

"He's your most recent past life, Aang. If you have a strong connection to any other Avatar, it would be him," Azara spoke as a mystery noise echoed through the room. Scrambling, the group hid behind two statues, Katara and Aang on the left with Sokka and Azara on the right. Peaking around the statue, Azara noticed the shadow of the figure, raising an eyebrow at the odd shape.

"Firebender. On the count of three, we attack him," Sokka whispered to Aang and Katara, who nodded. Azara grabbed his shoulder and shook her head.

"That's not a firebender," Azara stated quietly, but Sokka shook off her hand and held up a finger over his lips, signaling for her to be quiet. Rolling her eyes, Azara crossed her arms over her chest as Sokka readied his club.

"That firebender won't know what hit him," Sokka nodded, jumping out from the statue, but lowering his club as he spotted the lemur. Azara, Katara, and Aang stepped out as well, the group staring in surprise at the animal.

"Lemur!" Aang shouted, a wide smile on his face.

"Dinner . . ." Sokka trailed off, causing Azara to roll her eyes again.

"Don't listen to him. You're going to be my new pet," Aang comforted the lemur, inching closer.

"Not if I get him first!" Sokka retorted as they both lunged for the lemur. Screeching, the lemur turned and ran back down the hall, Aang and Sokka on its tail. Azara and Katara shared a look, equally unimpressed looks on their faces.