It didn't take long after Avani was forced -literally by Korra- to stay with her past life and his friends, they were still in the sky, flying. The dreading flying.

Aang noticed the slight pale tinge on her skin and took him a moment to realize why, feeling guilty

"Are you okay?" Aang looked at the Earth Kingdom girl; Avani nodded, flashing him thumbs up with just one hand, avoiding looking up, "You don't like flying, do you?"

"Not at all" Avani answered truthfully. "I can't see anything, I can't feel anything"

Aang cocked his head curiously "Feel? See?"

Avani looked up briefly, "Uh, earthbending stuff" she shrugged, looking down again. Aang leaned forward curiously, at one moment he had to learn earthbending, right? Maybe she could teach him! Avani looked up at his silence, recognizing the look on his face, shaking her head "I don't know how to teach what I can do" Aang slumped in disappointment, sighing. Avani shrugged apologetically, she didn't want to take Toph Beifong place as Aang's earthbending master either; besides she wanted to meet the girl herself. The founder of metalbending in person. "Earth comes naturally to me. It's the element I was born" she quoted Kesuk when they told her of her Avatar status. "I heard Air it's the opposite of it. I wouldn't know how to teach you to embrace it while forgetting your native customs. I'm sorry Aang"

Aang sighed sadly, "It's okay, I guess"

After that, they stayed quiet. Avani had a feeling why she could talk to Aang easily; and didn't want to think about it but it was in the back of her mind; They were the same, they understood each other because they had the same spirit.

Avani groaned quietly to herself at that, briefly understanding why Korra sent her to the past; Aang was slowly making her understand her spirit, why she was like him.

A dry cough made her snap of her thoughts, turning to face Sokka whose face was confronted in a painful grimace, still coughing.

"Katara, your brother is coughing his lungs" Avani informed with a slight expression of disgust.

Katara immediately went to her brother's side, worry in her eyes "Sokka?"

Aang turned to face them at the sound of Katara's concerned tone. "Is everything alright?"

Katara looked at the Avatars, worried "I'm afraid not"

Aang and Avani exchanged a look

~8~

Aang landed Appa near the mountains in a ruined city, in a place where they could be hidden from the Fire Nation, setting up camp inside a ruined building.

Katara laid Sokka in the ground, leaning against Appa, huddled in his sleeping bag, sweat on his face as fever settled in.

Avani placed down wood in front of them, lighting up a fire, ignoring the call of the warmth, forcing her breathing to stay calm and not bend the fire, she had done it once and that's what made her fear of being the Avatar begin. Once she finished, she turned to the siblings grimacing when she heard Sokka hallucinating.

Katara placed a wet rag onto his forehead "This should bring your fever down"

Sokka chuckled, "You know what I love about Appa the most? His sense of humor"

Avani's grimace deepened

Katara cleared her throat, awkwardly "That's nice. I'll tell him"

Appa growled

Sokka laughed "Classic Appa"

Aang walked closer, "How's Sokka doing?"

"Not so good" Avani answered, standing up.

Katara nodded in agreement "Being out in that storm really did a number on him"

They turned to Sokka who started sniffing pitifully.

Aang sighed "I couldn't find any ginger root for the tea. But I found a map. There's an herbalist institute on top of that mountain. We could probably find a cure for Sokka there"

"Aang, he's in no condition for travel" Katara pointed out. "Sokka just needs more rest. I'm sure he'll be better by tomorrow-"

Katara suddenly began coughing

Avani took a few steps back, grimacing "Not you too"

"Relax, it was just a little cough" Katara reassured "I'm fi-" She coughed again, this time with greater force, and lightly groaned after.

Avani and Aang shielded their faces at the same time.

"That's how Sokka started yesterday" Aamg told her. He pointed at Sokka "Now look at him! He thinks he's an earthbender!"

Sokka was delirious, flailing his arms as if hitting something "Take that, you rock!"

Avani crossed her arms, "I take offense to that"

"A few more hours and you'll be talking nonsense, too. I'm going to go find some medicine" Aang told her. He looked at Avani, frowning "And before you also get sick"

Aang grabbed his glider, starting to head out

Avani frowned, following after him "I'm good. I don't get sick that often. I'm going with you"

"No" Aang shook his head, opening his glider "It'll be faster if I go alone" A flash of lighting stroke. Avani raised a brow, Aang lowered his glider, sheepishly "Uh, maybe it's safer if I go on foot" He turned to Avani, innocently "Could you please keep an eye on them? Make sure they're okay"

Avani sighed, "Fine. But if you take too long, I'm coming after you"

Aang grinned, "I'll run as fast as lighting"

Aang jumped, starting to run with a boost of air, blowing Avani's hair back making her let out a small laugh, "I'd wish I'd be able to do that" she cackled, sitting down in front of the siblings, her smile fading at the remembrance "Oh"

Katara coughed, "You okay?"

Avani forced a smile, "Shouldn't be me the one asking you that?"

Katara smiled weakly "Yeah"

Avani sighed as Momo jumped atop her head, nesting in there "I know, Momo. I hope Aang doesn't take too long"

~8~

Caring for other people wasn't really Avani's strong suit, as she helped Sokka drink water and keeping an eye on Katara whose speech wasn't very legible anymore, grimacing as she gave Momo a water skin.

"No, no, no" Avani murmured as Momo took the skin, flying off. "Is this some kind of punishment, Korra?" Avani lowered her head to her hands, breathing deeply. After a few seconds, something stirred within her making her look up, frowning as she looked toward the entrance. She slowly stood as if in a trance walking toward the entrance "Aang?" Avani murmured, an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach as she stared toward where Aang left, turning to Katara "Hey. Aang's taking too long, I'm gonna check on him and bring him back before you start to hallucinate as well, okay? I'll be right back, Katara. Don't worry"

Katara nodded slowly, crawling closer to her brother, "Bring him back, please"

Avani nodded, turning to leave, determined to bring back the young monk before something happened to him.

~8~

Avani reached a valley swamp, lowering the earth hill she used to carry her to be faster, flattening it to the ground as she looked around, frowning. "Aang?" She called out, the sudden silence making a shiver pass through her back focusing on her seismic sense, not seeing anyone close by. She knelt on the ground, pacing her hand flat on the ground, closing her eyes. After a second of not sensing anything, she stomped her hand on the ground, sending a seismic wave of vibrations around her, opening her eyes in confusion sensing different objects around her disturbing the earth. She stood, observing the swamp with pursed lips "Where are you?" She walked along the shore, wary of what happened the last time she was near water. It was then when she noticed a patch of yellow cloth pinned by an arrow, growing concerned as she recognized the color of Aang's robes, picking it up, the uneasy she felt earlier growing. "Oh, no, no, no"

Avani looked around, before sitting on the ground, the yellow cloth in her hands as she tried to meditate, feeling awkward as she had never done it before "Korra. I need your help" she murmured under her breath, her eyes tightly closed "Aang's in trouble. We are in trouble"

While Korra wasn't showing herself, something stirred within herself and she focused on the feeling, feeling a tug toward a certain direction, subconsciously standing up, eyes closed as she let the feeling guide her. Without her knowing, her spirit wanted to help her past life, something Korra didn't know either but only the shadow spirit. Once an Avatar was sent to the past, their spirit became linked to the current Avatar as if they were one, bound to help each other. If one failed in something, the other had to stand up to help their souls. And that's what Avani's soul was doing, it was leading her to Aang's soul as they were one and the same to help him with his predicament

And unknowing to her, a figure in the trees was following the earth kingdom girl, confused and curious as to how she'd knew how to find where the Yuyan Archers had the Avatar.

~8~

Avani stopped walking, opening her eyes, confused as to where she was, looking around as she noticed a Fire Nation fortress in front of her, paling considerably as she noticed a soldier about to notice her, not seeing where to hide when suddenly the back of her shirt was tugged behind, violently being pulled back, hidden under some boxes, gasping as a hand covered her mouth.

Slowly, after a moment the hand was removed her mouth, slowly turning to face her attacker, confused as to why she didn't sense him -probably as she was disoriented when she opened her eyes- seeing a blue mask staring at her. Avani opened her mouth when the blue mask placed a finger in where the mouth was supposed to be.

Avani closed her mouth, furrowing her eyebrows. "Who are you?" She asked. Blue mask didn't answer, turning toward the fortress. "Okay, doesn't matter. Do you know where the Avatar is?" Blue mask turned to face her, tilting his head aside for a moment as if surveying her, wondering who she was. "Fine, don't tell me. I need to find him, his friends are sick and they need his help. I don't know where I am, I just know he's here somehow. I will find him on my own" Avani spat, standing to leave when blue mask grabbed her arm to stop her. Avani looked to him. He seemed to be considering, lowering his hand and nodding toward a tower. Avani followed his gaze and grimaced, "Great, more heights"

Avani looked back at the blue mask and frowned, never hearing about him before. Could she trust him to save Aang?

~8~

Zuko couldn't let Zhao to have the Avatar, he needed him. Needed him to restore his rights as the Fire Nation prince, his honor, his father's love. But he also didn't want anyone to classify him as a traitor, so that's why he disguised himself, put on a mask to hide his identity and rescue the Avatar from Zhao's claws, to get him for himself. However, he didn't count the presence of that peasant earth Kingdom girl.

Zuko had been aware of the Avatar getting caught by the Yuyan Archers at that swamp minutes before that girl appeared. He was going to leave, deeming her unimportant when she saw her bending the earth, for a moment wanting to laugh seeing the poor technique of earthbending he had ever seen when the stupid girl stomped her hand on the ground, not bending the earth but her head snapped toward the Yuyan Archers fortress for a moment before she noticed their arrows. Zuko grew curious, wondering what kind of earthbending move she had used, or if she used one. He stayed there watching her, almost snorting when she awkwardly tried to mediate. However, he noticed when she slumped, her muscles relaxing as she stood as if in a trance, walking toward where he knew the fortress was localized. Zuko silently followed the girl until she stopped, her eyes opening and he could have sworn he saw her eyes glowing, blinking only to see her green eyes as she looked around in confusion.

Zuko then knew if the girl was looking for the Avatar and knew how to find him, he could use her if by any chance the Avatar slipped through his hands again, not like he was planning to lose him. He saw a Yuyan archer close by, pulling the girl back to his hiding place, covering her mouth so she wouldn't make a sound.

After a moment, he slowly let her go, and she turned to face him, confusion in her eyes as she stared at him as if trying to recognize him. Something he didn't, being the first time he ever saw her. So the Avatar likes to pick up strays, Zuko mused to himself bitterly. He placed his finger in his mouth to silence her when the girl opened her mouth and as if understanding the situation, the girl did so, relieving Zuko from having to forcefully trying to shut her up.

The girl frowned, "Who are you?" Zuko didn't answer, unsure if the Avatar ever talked about him wanting to capture him. He however, turned away wanting to capture the Avatar. "Okay, doesn't matter. Do you know where the Avatar is?" the girl snapped, annoying Zuko of the horrible Earth Kingdom peasant's manners. Zuko turned to face her, titling his head, giving her a look over. She was younger than him, about the Avatar's height but didn't look as young as him, her hardened features, -Earthbender's trait- Zuko scoffed mentally, meant she wasn't as innocent as the monk. "Fine, don't tell me. I need to find him, his friends are sick and they need his help. I don't know where I am, I just know he's here somehow. I will find him on my own" the girl spat, standing to leave but that's what Zuko needed. He needed her to confirm him she knew how to find the Avatar and she hadn't done it by accident. He grabbed her arm, stopping her. The girl turned to face him, annoyed. Zuko lowered his hand, nodding toward the tower he knew Zhao had the Avatar, wanting the girl to trust him so he could capture both of them. The girl followed his gaze and grimaced, "Great, more heights"

Zuko smirked under his mask

~8~

Zuko and the girl stealthy managed their way in, Zuko always leading the way, only stopping whenever the girl placed a hand in his arm. The first time she did so, Zuko grew annoyed and wanted to snap and throw her as a distraction but didn't after she explained in a whisper she could sense guards coming closer and if they would have continued they were going to get caught. Again, Zuko had the curiosity of asking how she was able to do that but refrained himself. He'd ask his uncle later. The girl was like his warning flare, telling him of the danger ahead beforehand.

Zuko and the girl crawled over the roof after sneaking through the shadows and the boxes from a wagon, pausing when they heard Zhao's speech, "We are the sons and daughters of fire, the superior element! Until today only one thing stood our path to victory, the Avatar. I am here to tell you that he is now my prisoner!" The crowd of Fire Nation soldiers cheered. The girl looked worried while Zuko scowled under his mask, hurrying his pace prompting the girl to follow him, eager to get the Avatar and his little tracker away from that fortress. "This is the year Sozin's Comet returns to grant us its power! This is the year the Fire Nation breaks through the walls of Ba Sing Se and burns the city to the ground!"

The girl and Zuko steadily and stealthily infiltrated the fortress, reaching the corridor the Avatar was held.

Zuko swiftly and silently knocked down a soldier, picking up his helmet, looking at the girl who looked slightly impressed. Zuko peered around the corner where he saw four guards standing outside a chamber, throwing the helmet toward them, jumping toward the ceiling. The soldiers looked up as the helmet bounced down the corridor. One of the guards followed its trajectory down the corridor, turning in a corner and seeing an smiling earth Kingdom girl

"Hello" The girl greeted cheerfully, hands behind her back. The soldier snarled making the girl's smile grow as she looked up "Sweet dreams"

The soldier wasn't able to voice his confusion when Zuko jumped down from behind him, starting to fight him, the soldier firebended toward him but Zuko swiftly avoided the Fire, easily subduing him. The girl clapped, rocking in her heels. Zuko rolled his eyes, tying up the firebender in the ceiling, turning to face the guards who came to see what was the commotion. The girl closed her eyes for a moment, sensing the dust particles in the air, and was able to create a small boulder, surprising Zuko for a moment for seeing the mastery of the girl without visible earth around her, as she threw the boulder toward the guards harshly, knocking them out.

The girl smiled, cracking her fingers, "It feels good bending without fear"

Zuko frowned in confusion. Did she come from a village earthbending was forbidden? While that was common around the Earth Kingdom, that didn't explain how the girl came to travel with the Avatar

~8~

The girl opened the chamber door after Zuko stopped the last standing guard from ringing the alarm horn and fighting him with water to extinguish his flames. "Aang!"

"Avani?" The Avatar looked up, relief evident in his eyes as he saw the girl. Zuko frowned, that boy trusted very easily. Zuko brandished his swords, approaching the Avatar, making him jump in surprise, pulling his arms back in fear "Woah!"

"It's okay!" The girl -Avani- reassured. The Avatar turned to face her, unsure. A small smile from the girl made the Avatar relax slightly, something that surprised and confused Zuko as he thought only the peasant Water Tribe girl was able to do that. "He's a friend, sorta" she frowned, "He helped me find you"

Zuko raised a brow, not waiting for a response as he cut the chains holding the Avatar with his two swords. Without another word, he turned around and walked away, but kept his ear open to hear his new prisoners' conversation

"Katara's deadly worried" The girl told him "You took so long"

"Had a little trouble as you can see" The Avatar chuckled sheepishly. Zuko rolled his eyes "How did you find me though?"

That was something Zuko was interested in hearing as the three walked along the corridor, Zuko making sure no one had seen them.

"Uh, well" The girl began shyly. "I had a feeling. I don't know what it was about but it lead me toward a swamp. That's when I saw this yellow cloth pinned to one arrow. I don't know what happened but suddenly something lead me right here, where our, I don't know if he's a friend, he won't say a word since he pulled me back from being spotted found me and lead me to you"

"Weird" The Avatar said after a moment. Indeed weird, Zuko thought but that didn't matter, he now could have an easier way to find the Avatar again if he needed it. Frog sounds were suddenly heard and the Avatar gasped. Zuko whirled around to face them, seeing the Avatar trying to pick up some half frozen frogs crawling on the floor, "My frogs! Come back! And stop thawing out!"

"Aang?" The girl, confused tried to help him but Zuko had enough, their chattering was already too loud asking to be found.

Zuko scowled, coming back to them, picking them up by their collars, carrying them out

"Wait!" The Avatar struggled, "My friends need to suck on those frogs!"

The girl looked disgusted "Seriously?"

Zuko didn't pay attention to them, finding them equally annoying. He lead the way, relieved the young ones caught the severity of being silent as they tried to escape. The three walked silently in the sewer system underneath the fortress. The girl whispering the whereabouts of soldiers and where they could hop out of the sewer, both boys impressed by that aspect of earthbending they couldn't make the girl tell them what it was called. 'You'll find out at your time, Aang. You're not ready' were her words, something in them that let Zuko know she knew more than she let on, that she was as wise as the Monk. Something that frustrated him.

The three hoped out of a grate, walking into one of the courtyards. They began scaling a rope on the innermost wall of the fortress. The girl hittung Zuko's back repeatedly, annoyed him "This is why I hate heights!" She exclaimed as suddenly a soldier announced loudly their whereabouts

"There, on the wall!"

Another soldier appeared at the top of the wall they were climbing, cutting the rope making the three fall down the wall, the Avatar screaming.

Zuko closed his eyes for the impact when he suddenly fell a gust of air putting him down softly, turning to face the Avatar who had used airbending for a soft landing. Zuko stood, unsheathing his swords and they ran.

"The Avatar has escaped!" Zhao shouted "Close all the gates immediately!"

The Avatar and the girl passed Zuko, the Avatar turning briefly to him "Stay close to me!"

"Time to practice" The girl grinned.

The gate in front of them was closing, being blocked by many soldiers. The Avatar airbended a blast of air that blew them out of the way. The girl stomped her feet on the ground, sending two hills of earth toward the gates to stop them from closing, in the way knocking down several soldiers

Zuko seemed slightly impressed, trying to follow them but got surrounded by soldiers, stopping, starting to fight them off. He noticed the Avatar and the girl returning to him once he saw a slab of earth knocking down two soldiers and a blast of air sending them flying away. The girl and the Avatar fighting side by side seemed like they were one person, they were in synchrony as if they knew the movements the other was going to do, reaching Zuko who seemed surprised they returned for him as the three fought the soldiers, the Avatar airbending all the soldiers away from them, allowing them to run.

The girl turned to the gates, seeing her earth was destroyed by fire, allowing the gates to close. She stomped her feet on the ground, catapulting the three of them toward the top of the wall, taking Zuko and the Avatar by surprise, the Avatar using airbending to stabilize himself and Zuko his reflexes while the girl landed smoothly. They immediately got surrounded but the Avatar send a swift kick of air toward their way, picking up a stick and using it as an helicopter blade plucking Zuko off the wall, heading to the next courtyard, both seeing the girl bending the earth to create big columns of earth -hitting soldiers in the way up- to jump toward the next courtyard, flashing them thumbs up. The girl sent boulders of earth toward the spears thrown at Zuko and the Avatar so they wouldn't be hit, the girl facepalming when they crashed against the wall, falling to the ground, flattening the earth column to land next to them as the Avatar's stick went spinning away, the girl sent a sob of earth toward the soldiers as a distraction so the boys could stand up without trouble.

The Avatar stood, running for his stick but a guard stopped him, taking several swings at the Avatar with his sword. Zuko went to his aid, throwing the guard over the wall. The girl and the Avatar at the same time used earthbending and airbending respectively to throw the other guards off the wall, surprised by their synchrony, being the first time they noticed it.

The three began to fight their way out, climbing the second wall that stood against their success, knocking soldiers left and right as they tried to climb using scaling ladders. For a moment, Zuko wanted to firebend, to use it as an advantage but refrained, not wanting them to find out who he was. With two mighty blasts, the Avatar depopulated the two scaling ladders nearest him as the girl and Zuko knocked down one final soldier off their way. The Avatar brought over two scaling ladders, stepping onto the one Zuko just emptied. The girl grabbed another as the Avatar handed one ladder to Zuko.

"Ava jump on my back" The Avatar told her. "He'd jump on yours" Zuko hesitated but when the girl grinned, jumping to the Avatar's back, he had no choice but to follow. The Avatar began to use the ladders as massive stilts, shedding one each time a step was taken. One of the ladders had still some soldier left. The Avatar looked behind his shoudler at his companions "Give me the next one!"

Zuko did as told, managing to jump in time to that one before the soldier burned it up, jumping toward the final wall, but neither of them were able to hold on, falling to the ground. Zuko scowled, drawing his swords. Four firebenders unleashed their flame on them, but the Avatar pushed him back as he airbended some of the flames away and the girl threw her hands up, crossed over her face to create an earth wall to protect themselves from the rest of the flames. Zuko looked shocked by the action, looking between the small benders, surprised they were protecting him like that.

Suddenly they heard Zhao exclaiming "Hold your fire! The Avatar must be captured alive!"

Zuko saw his opportunity, pushing the girl behind him, not risking her being captured -his only way to find the avatar if he escaped- and instantly appeared behind the Avatar as the Earth wall crashed down by the girl being snapped out of her concentration. Zuko crossed his swords in front of the Avatar's throat, surprising the kids, feeling slightly betrayed.

After a moment, the gates were opened and Zuko sensed the girl slightly relaxing, as if noticing his motives, smirking under his mask. Zuko began to back away, nudging the girl behind him to the same, his sword still at the Avatar's throat. Zuko frowned under his mask, having the feeling that was too easy. That Zhao wouldn't have let them go without a fight.

The girl frowned, cocking her head aside. Zuko kept her in his peripheral all the time and wondered what she heard.

"Beware" The girl murmured at him, her sights on the fortress, a frown in her face as she stared at it intently. It was when he heard the swoosh of an arrow being released that made him look toward the fortress, an arrow impacting right in his mask

Zuko fell backwards at the impact, both teens turning to him horror. The Avatar gasped turning around, airbending up a huge cloud of dust around the three of them, exchanging look with the girl, both of them seeming to have a telepathic conversation as the Avatar knelt in front of Zuko, removing the blue spirit mask, gasping in recognition.

"Who is it?" The girl asked in a hush

The Avatar gulped, backing away in horror, "Zuko. The guy we told you about?"

The girl backed away as well, starting at the teenager, eyes flickering around his face and burn in the side of his face, pursing her lips "What do we do? We can't just...."

"Leave him here" The Avatar finished, both nodding at each other, eyes full of compassion for someone who just saved them. "Come on" The Avatar said, kneeling next to Zuko, about to pick him up

The girl looked up, sensing the Yuyan Archers coming closer, "Allow me"

She lightly tapped the ground, forming a small hill of earth underneath Zuko and bended it up, the Avatar grabbed his legs and the girl his arms. Both of them carrying the Fire Nation prince away from his own nation, confused as to why it happened

~8~

Morning came, Avani and Aang had laid down Zuko in a secure part of the forest, both sitting near him in a large root.

"I miss my friends" Aang told her, smiling sadly, hands surrounding his knees. "One of them is still alive and I saw him recently, Bumi. He became the King of Omashu. We were really great friends. He is a mad genius" He laughed, a teary sound that made Avani's heart ache, as if feeling Aang's pain, touching her chest in confusion, staring at him sympathetically. Aang was looking at Zuko, but talking to her "One hundred years, Ava. I can call you Ava, right?" He asked, turning to to the girl. Ava nodded slowly, smiling slightly. Aang smiled back, "You know, you remind me of someone. I don't know who but I'm glad you joined us" Avani looked down, forcing a smile "You said you didn't know earthbending. What I saw last night, that wasn't not knowing"

"I don't even know what I was doing" Avani admitted "I just didn't want any of us to get caught. I've done it for my friends before and won't stop doing it"

Aang sighed sadly, "You must miss them"

Avani shrugged, "My best friend betrayed me" Aang's eyes turned sympathetic, touching his chest as if feeling that kind of betrayal, horrified, sympathetic, feeling as though he himself had suffered it. "I do miss my mom however"

Aang lowered his hand, "I wish I could help you"

Avani turned to Aang, "I know you can. But, I don't even know what you're supposed to help me with" Aang frowned. Avani shrugged sheepishly, "I had a dream. You were in it, and somehow you're supposed to help me see something within me. I have to accept something or I don't know. I can't leave until I do"

Aang nodded, "Whataver it is, I'm gonna help you. I promise" he told her, determined. Avani smiled slightly "That's my job as the Avatar. Help others" Avani's smile faded at that but Aang didn't notice as he turned to Zuko as he groaned, waking up, seeming to be in a daze. Avani stayed quiet, letting Aang talk, not knowing his motives of making conversation with someone who wanted him as a prisoner "You know what the worst part of being born over a hundred years ago is? I miss all the friends I used to hang out with. Before the war started, I used to always visit my friend Kuzon. The two of us, we'd get in and out of so much trouble together. He was one of the best friends I ever had, and he was from the Fire Nation, just like you. If we knew each other back then, do you think we could have been friends, too?"

Zuko stared at the airbender as if considering. For a moment, Avani wanted him to consider, to join the Avatar. At one moment, Aang was going to need a firebender master and according to history, Zuko became his master. She wanted it to happened earlier. That way they could save the Northern Water Tribe Princess. They could save more people, but as soon as Zuko let loose a huge fireball at them, she knew it wasn't posible yet.

Aang grabbed her arm, airbending them away from him, dodging the fire. Avani hoped into Aang's back as he flew them away in a current of air, hoping from tree branch to tree branch, away from the Fire Nation Prince.

~8~

Aang and Avani reached the swamp again and she helped him collect frozen frogs to cure the water Tribe siblings. They both returned to the ruined building, both of them quiet. Aang was downcast, having hoped for Zuko to change sides and become his friend, Avani in the other hand was deep in her thoughts, trying to find a meaning on her being in the past, why was it important she stayed with Aang and his friends.

Aang and Avani put frogs in their friends' mouths.

"Suck on these" Aamg told them, collapsing backward onto Appa's tail with a sigh, "They'll make you feel better"

Avani sat in front of the Fire, hugging her knees close to her chest

Sokka spoke with his mouth full of frog, "Aang, how was your trip? Did you or Avani make any new friends?"

Avani and Aang exchanged a look, both sad, thinking the same "No, I don't think we did"

Avani watched Aang roll over, concerned and sad for him, not realizing what she and Aang were feeling was a mix of their own feelings. A small laugh let out of her that prompted Aang smile slightly as they watched their friends trying to spit the now moving frogs out of their mouths, briefly feeling better, smiling slightly