CHAPTER 14 -- SHOPPING

"Come."

"What?" Aang was pulled out of his trance-like state of awe by the sound of Twila's voice, and the feel of her hand on his arm. She smiled at him, a faint twitching of her lips.

"You must rest and refresh yourself. When the Elders are ready, they will see you."

Aang frowned. When they were ready? Now that he was here, he wanted to get it over with. "Can't I see them right now?"

Twila shook her head. Aang was about to say something else, when Twila jumped off the cliff! A pale blue light surrounded her, and she floated in midair. She glanced back at him, frowning.

"Come." She held out a hand, and, reluctantly, Aang took it. The light felt like water against his skin, without the wetness. It was strange.

It slowly spread across his own skin from the point of contact, until he, too, was completely covered. Looking down, Aang realized that he was floating in the air just like Twila! In fact, they were descending rapidly toward the city--the strangest thing of all was that Aang couldn't feel the movement.

He looked around with wide eyes--could all Aradens bend this way? Was this even bending? As they landed on a smooth, sandy path, Aang forgot all about the Elders and his reason for being there.

Letting go of Twila's hand, Aang took several steps forward, drinking in the city with his eyes. It was even more beautiful from down here than it had been from above!

"Avatar Aang." Reluctantly, Aang turned back to Twila, who was smiling that faint, barely-there smile again. "You may explore all you wish once we've freshened up, but please, let us hurry."

"Where are we going?" He fell in step beside her, his gray eyes roaming over Araden's graceful towers and swooping curves.

"To my home. We will await the summons of the Elders there."

**__**

It looks... so different.

That's my first thought when I see the city Ba Sing Se. The walls that once divided the huge city are gone--earthbenders scurry around, removing rubble from the collapsed walls. The green-topped roofs and hard-packed streets stretch out for miles--I'd known Ba Sing Se was big, but without the walls... without the walls, Ba Sing Se is a sprawling monster.

I glance down at Lia, take her hand. Her eyes are the size of dinner plates as she looks around--this is the first time she's REALLY seen Ba Sing Se. I smile and brush her hair back off her forehead, making her look up at me. Her bright smile is infectious, and I find myself grinning down at her.

"Come on, let's find the train!" Still holding her hand, and with fresh excitement building in my chest, I walk into the hustle and bustle of the Port. The money I got from selling our little skiff jingles in my pouch, and Lia's happiness has put a bounce in my step that wasn't there before.

She skips along beside me, pointing out new sights every time she sees one. A tiger-monkey does circus tricks atop a gaily festooned stall, its brightly clothed master plays along on a strange stringed instrument I've never seen before. Lia laughs and claps, and the man smiles and waves.

"Kara? Is that you, child?" I turn at the voice behind me--an elderly woman walks toward me with a cane. I recognize her as one of Uncle's most frequent customers, and smile brightly.

"Rai, hello!" She embraces me in a tight hug, then smiles down at Lia. "And who would this be?"

"This is my daughter, Allia. Lia, say hello."

Lia smiles shyly and buries one hand in my skirts. With the other, she shakes Rai's hand solemnly. "Hello."

Rai grins, delighted. "What brings you to this part of the city, Rai?" I absently stroke Lia's hair, following Rai as she walks toward a stall down the street.

"Oh, just doing a bit of shopping." She looks over at me, her faded green eyes sharp in her weathered face. "How long are you in the city for, Kara?"

"I haven't decided yet--a few months, at least."

She laughs softly and pats my arm. "Good. Then you can help me with my shopping!"

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Okay guys, I've gotten a bit lax these past couple chapters, because I'm back on a writing spree. (FINALLY!) But starting up again with this one, five comments and ten votes before I update, okay, guys? I love reading y'all's comments, but I get so few when I don't set a limit. Not that I don't appreciate the ones I get, because I do! You guys are amazing, really. :) I'm just comment-greedy... XD

-Eon