Playing With Fire || Book One, Water

Rescue Mission

Kaya felt sick to her stomach. She had not seen Zuko in so long and she was afraid of what he would think off her because of the note she left him 3 years ago. And his hair... That ponytail has got to go.

Kaya pulled her hood over her head further and tied her scarf as a mask so that the chances of him recognizing her were much lower. She stood next to Katara and Gran Gran as Sokka made countless failed attempts to fight Zuko. Kaya had to hold back a laugh to be honest because in her many years of training in the fire nation and as a Kyoshi warrior, she had never seen anyone fight with such little technique, although she did admire his courage.

The prince began threatening the villagers and got in Kaya's face only to turn away and grab Gran Gran instead.

As if by a miracle, Aang reappeared on the back of a penguin. Unfortunately, he turned himself in and Zuko was on his way back to the fire nation.

Katara was so anxious that she was beginning to annoy both Kaya and Sokka out of their minds, although Kaya did want to go and save the Aang, she did not want to have to face Zuko again. He had become a monster, obsessed with restoring his honor. He was convinced that the Avatar would give him his old life back but Kaya knew that he was sorely mistaken.

"We have to go after that ship guys. Aang saved our tribe, now we have to save him." Katara said.

"Katara I-" Sokka began to say but Katara rudely interrupted him.

"Why can't you realize that he's on our side? If we don't help him then no one will. I know you don't like Aang but we owe him!"

"Katara! Are you going to keep talking all day or are you coming with us." Kaya said, cutting her off.

Just then, Gran Gran snuck up on them and asked them what they were doing, however she gave them extra supplies for the journey and told them that their destinies were now intertwined with the Avatar's.

The group realized that there was no way they would be able to reach a ship with a boat and right on cue, Aang's sky bison emerged from the mountain side.

As they glided through the water on Appa's back Sokka was finally able to figure out how Aang would get him to fly and in less than a second, they were soaring through the sky.

"There! I can see Aang!" Kaya yelled.

As soon as they approached the ship Aang fell right into the icy ocean. Katara began screaming his name and panicking and through the water they could see Aang's tattoos beginning to glow as a giant tornado of water formed underneath him propelling him back onto the ship causing the rest of the soldiers including Zuko to fly overboard. Kaya flinched as she watched Zuko fly over the side of the ship but she kept a straight face while Appa, landed.

Katara ran to grab the now unconscious Avatar before anyone could get him. He woke up and thanked the group for coming back to rescue him.

"Could someone please grab my glider? Its over there." And whispered.

"I got it!" Kaya responded.

Just as she goes to grab the glider, Zuko snatches it from her hands. Kaya grabs onto it tighter and faces Zuko.

He froze but still could not make out her face due to the scarf covering it.

"Im sorry." Kaya whispers to him as she guides her other hand up pulling water from the ocean that grabs his ankles and slowly lowers him back into the water. She did not want to hurt him so she was as careful as possible.

Kaya returned the glider to Aang and hurried over to Katara who was struggling to free herself from three guards. Kaya quickly bends the water around them and traps them ice.

"Your a water bender!" Katara exclaims.

"Yeah I guess. Now lets go before anyone else comes!" Kaya responded.

As soon as Appa took off, a fireball was shot at the group. Instinct took over Kaya as she felt a sudden rush of adrenaline. She ran up to the front of the saddle and fired her own icy blue fire towards the incoming fireball exploding it into the side of a nearby iceberg.

Shortly after she had realized her mistake.

"What was that?!" Sokka yelled. The rest of the group stared at her in disbelief.

"You were going to find out anyways and I just saved your life so a thank you would be greatly appreciated." Kaya responded.

Everyone fell silent and avoided asking any more questions because they didn't even know where to start.