Walk The Path

Chapter One

"No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path..." Gautama Buddha

Aang situated himself in his soft bed under the covers. He looked up at the clear, dark sky and began to dream. In his dream he saw his family as a faded memory. His mother, his father, and himself, together laughing in their quiet home in Southern Air Temple City. He saw the lush, green hills and earthy browns of the temple. He remembered mastering airbending at the youngest age ever, 12 years-old. His mind replayed his parents hugging and kissing him when they found out he was the Avatar. One by one, his friends all began to turn away from him, unnerved by the idea of him being a powerful being. He didn't feel normal anymore. The only people who saw him as Aang, and not Avatar Aang, was his guardian, Gyatso, and his parents who died in a car accident a month after being told he was the Avatar. Everything surrounding the announcement of him as the Avatar was marred by tragedy. He had no real friends and now, no parents.

His airbending teacher, Gyatso, adopted him and moved him to Kyoshi High School in the hope that he would gain more friends. He didn't want this life. His dream quickly melted away to nothing. The air from his lungs became trapped and all he saw was black. He remembered what Gyatso told him to do when this panic attack happened and he promptly expelled air from his lungs whilst his belly drew back into himself. He felt stable but still fragmented. He wasn't sure if he would ever feel whole again. Gazing back up into the endless sky, he drew a long breath before unexpectedly falling asleep.

He awoke with a start and a groan as his phone alarm blared near his ear. He placed his hand on his stomach with the hope that this motion would settle the fluttering he felt in his gut. The lithe airbender moved into the lotus position on his bed and began to mediate. Deep inhale, deep exhale. He started to set his intention for the day, "Even though I've never been to a school before, this will be a great day." The Air Nomad culture strongly believed that children should be taught at home with their parents or elders, and not in a formal school with other children. He was aware of the nervousness coursing through his body. Aang was beginning a new chapter of his life. He was a fully realized Avatar but a new student in high school. He was reminded of the burdens that have been placed on him. He never wanted this. He just wanted to be normal. Nothing about his life was normal.

He airbended out of his comfortable covers and began to change into new clothes for the day. Gyatso picked out an orange tshirt with brown pants. Aang shook his head at the row of new clothes bought by his guardian, all different shades of orange. "If it's not broke don't fix it, I guess," he said to himself. He promptly dressed and walked downstairs to be met with Gyatso in the kitchen.

"Hey, sleepyhead! Got some eggs and fruit to get you ready for the day!", Gyatso told Aang cheerily. The young airbender groaned at his guardian, "I don't have time...but thanks. I'll eat it in the car." Wrapping up the breakfast, he waved goodbye to Gyatso and walked out the house to his car. Aang squinted at the brand new white sedan that was uncommon for most kids his age that weren't rich. The United Council of Nations awarded him the car upon mastering all four elements. He sighed when he thought about the irony in giving a monk something flashy and not at all modest. But, he knew he would have to drive for school and when urgent matters unfolded, so he accepted it reluctantly Clumsily holding his book bag and breakfast, he unlocked his car and began to drive to his new high school.

"Sokka, this song is trash, pass me the aux cord!", the blue-eyed teenage girl yelled while driving haphazardly down the road. Her brother became indignant at this statement, "Katara, you wouldn't know good music if it hit you in the ass! And your driving is terrible! Women drivers..." At this statement, she became infuriated with her brother. "I can't believe how sexist you are! The fact that I'm related to you is just...ugh! You are the most chauvinistic, ridiculous-" Katara's rant was interrupted by their car slamming into a brand new white car directly in front of them. "Katara, what did I tell you? You're too emotional! Dad is gonna kill us! And this guy seems rich, ohhh man," Sokka exclaimed. With an exasperated sigh, Katara hesitantly opened her car door without saying a word to her brother.