A Fire Nation boat bobbed in the water, anchored beneath the mountain. Though the cliffs of the Northern Water Tribe, mirroring the walls of Agna Qel'a, were tall, these mountains towered over even those. Up the mountain, from a bird's-eye-view, there were towers settled within the peaks.

Suhe found herself in the courtyard of the buildings, above the clouds. A reddish light cascaded from behind the towers and then across the sky. Everything grew brighter—hotter. An energy rose within Suhe as warmth spread throughout her body. Looking up, Suhe found a comet streaking across the sky, shedding light and shadows across the temple courtyard.

An assortment of people were scattered around on the ground, unmoving. It was a mix of Fire Nation soldiers and what looked like civilians in yellow and orange garb. On the edges of the courtyard, more soldiers drew in towards the center of the space. They were closing in on a boy. He was an airbender—bald and tattooed with his arrows. He was hunched over, bleeding, and seemingly unaware that they were approaching him. His body was wracked with sobs. Suhe wanted to cry out to him and let him know that he was surrounded, but Suhe could not open her mouth or move.

A brave soldier walked out of the circle of firebenders, nearing the boy as he formed fire on his fists. Before he could send his fist in the direction of the boy, the tattoos on the back of the boy's head started glowing. Fire unlike anything Suhe had seen swept around in a vortex surrounding the soldiers. The boy turned to face the soldier who dared attack him, sending chills into Suhe's being.

Aang.

Before she could think for another second, Avatar Aang created a small ball of fire within his hands before it exploded in a wave of fire across the courtyard. Suhe raised her hands to protect herself and all she could see was red.

Suhe opened her eyes, unmoving. She held her breath until she realized she was safe. What did that dream mean? Why was she dreaming about Avatar Aang? I need to stop thinking about the avatar so I don't worry about it, she thought to herself, eyes becoming heavy with exhaustion. She'd think about it tomorrow. Right now she just needed some sleep.

≋ ⽔ ≋

The next morning, Suhe laid awake in bed, eyes focused on the ceiling. Akki would be leaving Agna Qel'a soon and Suhe didn't want to believe it was true. Turning onto her side, Suhe's face contorted at the thought of him gone. Letting out a sob, Suhe covered her eyes with her arm as she cried. Why did it hurt so much?

Her breath shuddered as she managed to stop crying. Sitting up, she wiped her eyes on her arm, sighing to relieve the stress in her body. She must get up to say goodbye to Akki.

Suhe got dressed, mindlessly going through the motions. She brushed past the cloth over the door to enter the main living area of their home. Mother was already up, in the middle of packing. Suhe almost forgot that they would also be leaving, though it would be by the end of the week.

"How did you sleep, Suhe?" Mother asked, not casting a glance Suhe's way.

Suhe bit her lip, suddenly recalling the dream about Avatar Aang. "Alright." She walked over to the pot above the fire, stirring the sea prune stew to make sure the bottom didn't stick. "Just a weird dream."

"I hate it when that happens," Mother said with a sigh, holding up a garment of clothing before folding it and placing it within a box to move. Her eyes met Suhe's, a look of sympathy crossing her features. "Are you going to be okay?"

Suhe shrugged, sitting down beside the fire, watching the flame lick the sides of the pot hungrily. "I'll be fine." The fire flashed violently for a second, mimicking the ferocity of the fire within the dream. Suhe looked up at her mother, biting her lip in thought. "How did the war start?"

Mother met her eyes, her brows furrowing. "I think Gran Gran said that a comet came, giving the Fire Nation grand power. Unstoppable power." The image of the comet shot through Suhe's mind. "They expected to easily wipe out the nations, one-by-one, but then the avatar, quite young, stood in their way. He was able to warn some of the Air Nomads, helping them escape."

Suhe's blood curdled at the memory of the bodies strewn across the courtyard. "Where are they now?"

Mother shrugged. "No one knows. People suspect they died out, were captured, or have gone back into hiding after the Avatar died."

"When did he die?" Suhe asked. Though she had heard that the Avatar lived for many years, she wanted closure. The dream haunted her and she wanted to know for a fact that the boy escaped unscathed.

"I remember that day vividly," Mother sighed, leaning onto the chest, setting down the clothing. "You were only a few days old, but your father rushed home with the news. He had to leave for the warfront soon after."

Suhe frowned looking at her hands. So that next avatar would be around her age. "Was there really peace before he died?"

"I only lived in the latter part of the peace, but it was better than it is now," Mother replied, clicking her tongue. "Still, even when the Avatar was still around, they were causing trouble. I think the Avatar died peacefully, though...Ong, was it?"

"Aang," Suhe muttered without thinking.

"Oh, yes, Aang," Mother said with a laugh as she continued folding. "Sounds much better than Ong, doesn't it?"

Suhe just nodded, before standing up. "Akki will be leaving soon."

Mother set aside her work, scurrying to the door. "Yes, we must rush to the port."

Suhe and Mother reached the port, weaving in and out between the crowd of people waving off their soldier boys. "Mother, do you see him? I can't—" An arm slipped around her waist, pulling her closer to him. Suhe spun around to find herself in the arms of Akki. A smile blossomed on her face as she reached up to embrace him. "I'm so glad I came in time."

"I am, too," Akki whispered into her hair, his chin resting on her head. Suhe didn't let go in fear it would be the last time she would see him. After a few moments, Akki rubbed her back. "It's time I go."

Suhe's throat constricted as tears pierced in her eyes. "Okay." Stepping back, Suhe watched him through her watery eyes. He still held onto her arm, placing a kiss on the top of her hand. Then his fingers slowly let go of hers and he set foot on the ship. As the ships left port, Suhe had a sinking feeling that she'd never see him again.