The Fire bender, the Avatar, and the Deity, oh my

The Fire Sages

[a/n: I just realized Cat Owls are just soft Gryphons. So I decided that Ōumi is still a kitten and will be big enough to ride by book 3. Also I'm trying to decide whether or not I should change this to a Sokka fic, because he doesn't get nearly enough love. Just warning you guys that Lynn will most likely have some conflicting feelings because I'm conflicted. I'll let you guys let me know what you want. Anyways, enjoy!]

Lynn's blue eyes shifted from her sleeping pet to the water below. "Guys, we got company. Zuko's back."

Sokka let out an exasperated groan and threw his hands in the air. "Ah man, doesn't this guy ever take a break!"

Katara glanced to the older water tribe girl. "You said he was banished. Would he really follow us into Fire Nation waters?"

Lynn gestured to the boat that was gaining speed. "What do you think? He's an idiot. This time around he'll get more than a scar."

Katara and Sokka didn't have enough time to let the concern in Lynn's voice to sink in before a fireball was sent their way. Pulling out the Kyoshi fans she still carried around, Lynn sent it flying back with a gust of air.

Sokka let out a relieved sigh. "I'm so glad they let us keep those!"

Lynn's grip righted as Katara and Aang urged Appa to speed up. "Me too, but it won't be much help against the blockade."

Lynn smirked to herself. "Wait, I've got an idea, keep going!"

She shifted so she was standing in the middle of the bison saddle. Turning to her left, she got in a fighting stance, still holding the fans [which were still wide spreed] to act as if she was holding a ball of air. All her weight shifted to her right foot as her left foot swept in front of her as her right hand rose and her left dropped. As she continued to turn and shift her body, her arms kept switching positions and the air around the bison created a giant bubble, acting as a force field.

[For those who are bad at visualizing, I'm providing a video down below. Just imagine she's doing it with the Kyoshi fans and a lot faster than depicted.]

Fireball after fireball was thrown at the teens, but they were all deflected by Lynn's force field. Despite her arms going numb, she didn't falter in her movements [though they did have one close call when one attacked from below.]

Finally past the blockade, she stopped and let out an exhausted huff as she finally sat down. "Nothing like running a blockade to improve your arm workouts."

Sokka nodded as he watched the ships grow smaller. "Yeah, nothing like it."

The rest of the flight was uneventful besides the fight Ōumi got in with a sea vulture. The cat-owl was perfectly fine besides a scratch on her ear, but it was nothing a little water bending couldn't fix.

Lynn let out a sigh as she climbed down from the bison. It was a long walk to the temple.

The four teens knelt down as they eyed the temple. "I don't see any guards."

Lynn shook her head at Sokka's remark. "Their wouldn't be. 100 years ago, it was only ever the fire sages. At least...that's what my mother used to say. They're most likely inside."

Sokka threw his hands in the air. "Well, that's just great!"

Lynn glanced at the water tribe boy. "That just means we have to be careful."

Despite 'being careful', they still found themselves being chased by the fire sages. They had no choice but to follow the one person who seemed willing to help them.

As the sage explained how the doors work, Lynn traced her fingers along the beautiful metal work. "Maybe we don't need to open the doors. The fire saved will do that for us."

Everyone turned to the girl. "You can blast each of the holes separately. We can send Momo in and it will look like we seceded. Naturally, they'll try to follow. Bada bing, bada boom, we're in!"

Aang nodded enthusiastically . "I have no idea what that means, but what she said!"

Sokka beamed and wrapped an arm around the other teen. "Now that's what I'm talking about!"

Katara grinned. "This just might work."

Lynn bowed dramatically before they got into position. As the plan was set into motion, a hand covered her mouth and she was pulled back against someone's chest. She froze as cold metal touched her skin. "Not so fast, you two are coming with me."

Aang raised his hands in surrender. "Zuko, don't."

Lynn's eyes met her brother's. "Go, I've got this." Her brother hesitated for a moment before obeying and Lynn made her move, and it was a low one, too. One swift kick backwards was all it took to topple the banished Prince. Not even bothering to turn as she ran, Lynn yelled "Sorry" over her shoulder.

All Zuko could do is watch and growl as she [quite literally, in this case] ran out of his clutches once more.