Avani was freaking out. She desperately wished she was dreaming or hallucinating for that much water that got into her brain or something because there was no way she was in front of Avatar Aang.

After telling him she believed in him to win, she fell quiet. She couldn't stop staring at the three of them. Or Appa or Momo. The sky bison as soon as she got closer to him, stared at her with curious and knowing eyes. She slowly pet his face and Appa closed his eyes in content. She had a moment of bliss when she did so, muscles relaxing as if the closeness to the animal soothed her, eased her soul. It took a few moments for the shock to resister as she noticed the way Appa looked at her and Aang, dropping her hand slowly

"You know, don't you?" She whispered. Appa growled lowly, licking her. A small laugh bubbled from inside her throat, rubbing her lips together to stop it from coming out, but a wide smile was present in her face.

Aang walked closer, curiously "Appa likes you" he smiled, looking between them. "Don't you buddy?"

Appa growled as if in agreement making both Avatars smile.

She then traveled after the storm with them, she didn't know why they were trusting her, she was a complete stranger. Sokka didn't even trust her. But, Aang simply told her to hop in, didn't wait for neither of the siblings to ask what they thought when he grabbed her arm and airbended them up Appa's saddle. Katara though, wasn't opposed to having another girl joining them, besides they had just saved her from a storm, she wanted to make sure she was alright.

"Um, are you sure?" Avani questioned after being quiet all the trip while in the air, her tight grip on the saddle turned her knuckles white as she felt insecure. She  absolutely hated flying. She couldn't 'see' anything and her connection to earth was gone. She felt like falling at any second. She felt weak. "You just met me"

"It wouldn't be very Avatar-y like if I left you out there alone after saving you from that storm, would it?" Aang asked, turning to face her. As soon as he said so, he could have sworn he saw a flash of guilt and sadness pass through her face that made him curious "We can take you to your home"

Avani shook her head sadly, "I have no home anymore"

Katara looked at her sadly and sympathetic "What happened?"

Avani chose her words carefully, realizing that if she was back to the Hundred Year War, she couldn't exactly tell them the problems she was facing. "My village was burned to the ground" and that wasn't a lie. Firebender revolutionists did so. And she couldn't feel bad if they mistook that for her village being a casualty of the war instead from her home being burned for not wanting war. "I was lucky to escape"

Sokka's face softened slightly, looking away "Oh"

Katara and Aang looked sympathetic.

A swirl of guilt went inside Avani that made her want to tell Aang she was like him; that she also had a burden in her shoulders but that would mean admitting the harsh truth of her identity which, she knew she wasn't ready yet for it. If she was indeed in the past and they weren't playing a joke on her, then Aang was really the Avatar and the war was very real. She kept quiet all the way in, not even bothering to ask where they were headed, she was a newcomer and didn't know a lot of what happened in-between the Hundred Year war to at least give Aang a hint or advice, she just knew he stopped the Fire Nation on the day of Sozin's Comet.

Katara placed a hand in Avani's arm, comfortingly "I'm sorry to hear that. My village, our village" she looked at Sokka, sighing softly "Was also attacked by the Fire Nation, we've witnessed a lot of villages suffering of the same"

Aang sighed guiltily "None of this would have happened if I had stopped them"

Avani looked up, frowning as if she somehow felt his guilt, shaking her head "Oh, no. Aang, this wasn't your fault-" she made sure to say quickly, not wanting the young monk to blame himself for something he had no control; for something she had to stop. Aang, Katara and Sokka looked at her curiously. Avani gulped "They uh, the Fire Nation, was chasing me for-" time of the truth, Ava. Say it. "Running. They don't like earthbenders"

Sokka blinked "You're an earthbender?"

Avani cringed. Not exactly the truth she was hoping; but it felt nice to tell others about her bending. "Yes. I-uh, I don't actually use it that much. Earthbending is forbidden"

The three exchanged knowing looks

"By any chance you don't come from mining village?" Katara asked gently

Avani bit her lip; "Why?"

"We recently saved several earthbenders from a fire Nation rig" Aang answered; Avani stared at Aang. He already saved her grandfather? "And we made a friend there, Haru. Maybe you two know each other"

Avani furrowed her eyebrows; she couldn't tell them she was from mining village, they could ask her grandfather and he could easily tell them she's not from there, "No. Not mining village, but a village close by" she lied "Kinda got the same treatment"

Katara sighed, "Well, hopefully Tyro and Haru won't only save their village but the others. They want the Earth Kingdom back" she gave Aang a smile, "You bring hope"

Avani looked at Aang whose cheeks turned slightly pink "That was you, Katara. I only helped"

Avani frowned "Isn't that the Avatar's job, though?"

Aamg shrugged sheepishly, "Yeah"

Avani nodded slowly, becoming slightly nervous "So, are you uh, are you going to drop me somewhere? I'm okay now, I don't think you'll want me to travel with you, wherever you're going"

Aang looked down, thoughtfully. While Avani was right and what they had to do was take her somewhere safe, Aang didn't want her to go; he couldn't explain it, it was as if something was telling him to keep her close, the same something that told him he knew her somehow.

"But where would you go?" Katara asked

Avani shrugged; somewhere where she could find a way to return home?, "Find my way home"

"But you said it was invaded" Sokka pointed out, frowning "That's not safe"

"You can come with us" Aang blurted out; the siblings and the girl turned to face him, stunned. Aang blushed "I mean, returning to your village is a risk for you among the Fire Nation arresting earthbenders, with us it'll be safer. Well, not that much but we protect each other" he finished with a hopeful smile.

Avani looked between them, nervously. "I uh-" Stay with them. Avani jumped slightly, widening slightly her eyes as she heard Korra's voice in her head, 'they're your way back home'. "Okay. I'll travel with you" she finished, worried to return home, and if staying by the Avatar's side and his friends was going to help, then so be it. She just had to be careful on not saying she could bend other elements.