[Word count: 4,036]

| chapter - one |

\ strong as wit /

"Oka?" I call out, wandering around our hut that spewed out nothing but greenery and herbs. "Oka?" I repeated, but she didn't seem to answer.

My great grandmother had always been the crazy one in the family, but she was also very wise. She was brilliant when it came to herbs and medicine, she taught me everything she knew just in case I'd ever stumble upon a bad situation.

I sigh as I knew she was probably preparing food for Miyuki, a fluffy white cat that Oka owned. She could never live without Miyuki. But I understood, she is just like me. I could never live without Kaz.

Speaking of Kaz, he screeched and I flinched causing me to think he was an intruder coming to attack me. But when I swirled around and saw him perched on a wall full of Oka's favorite flowers, I let out a shaky sigh.

"Oh, Kaz, don't do that to me. Nearly had me thinking you were part of the fire nation or something of the sort." I hummed rubbing circles around my chest to calm my rapid heart-pace.

Kaz was my messenger hawk, who ironically was from the fire nation. Now how I got him was a memory that I was not willing to share anytime soon, not until I feel flourished with some type of none-sensical closure.

"Come on down Kaz," I coaxed, bringing my arms out to him and stood on my tippy-toes. "Oka wouldn't want you to destroy her favorite blooms, now would she?"

He grumbled lightly as though he were thinking about it, but also didn't want to.

I raised my brows and held my hips, my dark hair falling over my left shoulder, "Do you want to eat with Miyuki for the next week?"

Kaz screeched and jumped into my arms as I let out a laugh, "I thought so."

Kaz and Miyuki never really got along, but they tolerated each other the best they could. Birds were the prey of cats after all.

"Midori, dear!" My head perked at the sound of Oka's croaked voice. "Come here would you? I need your help finding these plum blossoms!"

"Ah, classic Oka, always forgetting exactly where her own plants are." I giggle. "Coming!" I holler this one out.

I set Kaz onto a wooden table, "Stay put and don't let Miyuki bite." I wink, as his wings cuddle tighter to his body. "I'm joking, you'll be fine." I give the feathers on his head a little scruff.

But by the time I entered the room Oka had already said, "Oh! There it is, never-mind." As she picked it from the branch.

"Finally..." I heard a young voice, and I was a little shocked to see someone else here other than me and Oka and our pets, to say the least.

Looking over my eyes grow wide, as if I've seen a ghost. It was a young boy who wore the clothes of an Airbender and had a blue arrow over his bald head.

I gave him a little point, "Your..."

"Oh, hello!" The boy greeted with a nervous smile. "I'm Aang."

I finished my sentence, "... Your the Avatar."

I didn't expect to just meet the Avatar out of the blue, this had to be some sort of foolery or a joke. But then again... Oka was never really good at jokes...

"Yeah, I get that a lot..." Aang chuckled quietly, as he grabbed the small wooden bowl Oka had brought back. "Thanks for all your help!"

Without hesitation Oka wacked his palms off of the bowl, as I held my mouth to keep my laughter from embarrassing the supposed Avatar.

"Hands off!" Oka warned. "What do you think you're doing?!"

"Taking the cure to my friends." Aang's neck sucked into his shoulders as he rubbed the top of his hand.

I couldn't help but burst out, I couldn't keep it in.

"What's so funny?" He asked, looking at me with a raised brow.

"I'm sorry," I try to stop myself, seeing as he might be desperate. "but that's not a cure."

Oka giggled and nodded, "Midori's right, this isn't a cure; it's Miyuki's dinner!" She rubbed the cat's fur, "Plum Blossom is her favorite."

And that proved my thoughts from earlier to be correct, of course it was her dinner. I had a hunch, even though this happens around the same time, every single day. But still. Still.

"What about my friends?" Aang questioned.

I wanted to talk to the Avatar, I had so many questions but yet there was also so little time. I knew now wasn't a good time for it though, considering he was so worried about his friends.

"Well," Oka hummed and held her hands together with a smile. "all they need is some Frozen Wood Frogs. There's plenty of them down in the Valley Swamp."

Aang looked both disgusted and weirded out, "What am I supposed to do with frozen frogs?"

"About that..." I whispered, being disgusted myself as I rubbed the back of my head.

"Why suck on them of course!" Oka had too much of a proud smile on her face, it was almost disturbing.

"Suck on them?!" Aang was dumbfounded as he eyebrow seemed to twitch.

"It's gross, but, it works." I shrugged.

"The frog skin excretes a substance that'll cure your friends," Oka explained with a calming voice. She raises a finger, "but make sure you get plenty, once those little critters thaw out, they're useless!"

Aang was quiet for a moment, "You're insane aren't you?"

"That's riiight." Oka croaked with a crooked smile.

I nodded in agreement and gave a thumbs up, "You get used to it around here."

Turning to the table, she noticed Aang wasn't moving, just mindless staring. "Well don't stand there all day." Oka scoffed. "Go!" She flung her spoon, which had gunk of Miyuki's dinner flinging into the boy's face.

Which caused me to cringe as I found that pretty gross, her dinner wasn't the best looking...

When I watched as Aang went out the door, I realized my chances to talk to him were dwindling. "Aang, wait!" I called out, following him.

As I stepped out of the hut I brought my arms up to my chest and shivered, the wind had gone wild and I was freezing. But that didn't stop me from talking to this boy, and so I pushed forward.

"I have so many ques-" I paused, seeing Aang squatting to the ground, with arrows stuck to his shoes as he tried to pull them out. "-tions..." I trailed off.

I looked to the trees and I saw them. I saw the men with clothes of bandits and bows loaded with arrows aiming towards the Avatar as he struggled to get those arrows out of his shoes.

I knew I had to do something, I couldn't just stand here and watch him get pummeled by arrows, even if he was the Avatar. I looked to my hands and wondered if I still had it in me, it's been a little while since I've used my bending as we're never in any real trouble. The only other time I used it was to practice in the hut, and that's about it.

But now was a time for anything. And so, I let my power subdue my thoughts as I let it go into full use.

Aang opened his eyes, realizing arrows bounced off of something big and hard. He saw a large wall of rock shielding him from any more.

He looked back in shock, "You're an Earthbender!"

I gave him a small smile and a shrug, "Kinda... not that good though..."

I then see more arrows fly in my peripheral vision, as they seem to be aimed at me. Aang thought quickly as he swiped his arm up, sending air to direct them away from me just inches from my face.

I grow another wall of rock in another angle as more arrows come, I keep my hands at the ready for any more. My reflexes open to use at any moment when needed.

"Why're you all the way out here instead of at Ba Sing Se? Or any other Earth Kingdoms surrounding the area?" Aang asked.

But as I saw the bandits jump down from their trees, my rock walls fall as Aang gets the last arrow out of his shoe, "There's no time to explain right now!" I hollered through the wind.

Aang ran and I followed behind him. I could've gone back inside the hut and called it a day, but Oka was in there and I didn't want to put my great grandmother at risk. It was too dangerous, I didn't want to lead them right to her even if the building was behind us. They didn't know that, they seemed so focused on us right now.

But I slid to a halt as we came upon a large cliff, waving my arms to keep my balance.

"On my mark we jump!" Aang began to count down from three.

"What?!" I yelled. "You're beginning to sound just as crazy as my great grandmother!"

"You'll be fine, just trust me!" Aang assured. "Jump!" And he jumped.

He was the Avatar, and surely I should trust him. So, I jumped. And I screamed on my way down as my eyes began to sting from the rapid wind drying them at an unhealthy pace, and the trees getting closer and closer. As the bandits jumped moments later.

As my head and body are about to bang into multiple trees, Aang seems to help me by using air to keep me from hitting them harder than I should. Because I may of been a bender, but I was no Avatar and nor was I immortal.

"On my mark once again, make a wall!" Aang yells through the wind.

And the moment I felt as though we were getting a little too close to the ground, "Now!" He commands.

With quick swift grace I raise my hands up as much as the wind would allow me, and grow a very tall wall from the ground. As I watch Aang use his feet to slash air which cut the bottom of my rock wall completely, and we both landed on it like superheroes.

I fall onto my knees on the wall of rock and quickly grab onto it, sinking my fingers deep inside the rock using my bending, to keep me from falling off. As the wall of rock slid down the rest of the steep hill, as Aang keeps an eye on the bandits and his hands at the ready to slash any air at them at any moment.

My fingers loosen and we fling forwards as my wall of rock slammed against an old tree. Aang and I both crash into the water with a large splash and a groan.

"A frog!" Aang hollered with excitement, as I rung my hair out and spat out a mini water fountain.

But he let out a sharp gasp as an arrow knocked it out of his hand, as we looked up at the bandits gaining on us. It was like they were the speed of light, they were relentless.

As I followed Aang through the water, I scooped up frozen frogs by the hand-fulls, and handed them to him as we both dodged ongoing arrows.

But as we stumble upon a fallen tree, Aang jumped as his arm was hooked to the dead tree with arrows as he groaned to try and get free.

I threw rocks at the bandits, and even tried to bend the mud below their feet under the water as that was technically earth. But, it didn't effect them. I was in slight shock, my mouth agape.

I then gritted my teeth and brought up my hands, "Come on then, fire some more arrows so you can get a face full of rock." I threatened.

As they seemed to take my bet lightly, they fired their arrows once more. And I was ready. But Aang had other plans, as he swiped his arm up and made a shield of ice around us.

And as the ice cracked with their arrows, Aang had other plans, "Go find my friends and Momo - my lemur, they're on a mountain not too far from your great grandmother. And look for Appa, my flying bison. He's big, with fur and an arrow like mine with horns. Impossible to miss!"

The ice wall cracked some more, "Go now! I've got this!"

And right as the ice wall shattered I wasn't in sight, but that didn't stop the bandits. I was hiding in the brush close by, as I watched as Aang did his best to bend an element at them. But they won in the end, pinning his other arm against the dead tree with more arrows. And then finishing it up with the cherry on top, captured him in a mini net as he looked terrified.

I felt disappointed in myself because I knew I could've stopped them if I just thought more outside the box, but I also felt a little proud of myself that I was able to defend the Avatar, out of all people to help save.

But he gave me a task and I was determined to fulfill it, I wasn't going to let the Avatar down. And so, I escaped into the forest and went to scout for his friends and flying bison.

As I fled through the forest and tracked down where the mountain Oka was resided on, I put my fingers into my mouth and whistled as it echoed off the trees of the night. And within mere minutes, Kaz was flying through the sky and screeching as he landed swiftly on my shoulder.

I smiled greatly, "Good boy!" There was no way I was leaving him behind, not ever.

I went on top of hills and tree stumps in search of this mountain Aang spoke of, I looked everywhere. But all I could see was Oka's mountain.

"Think, think, think Midori." I spoke to myself and hummed. "Ah!" My eyes sparkled at an idea.

I stomped the ground and squeezed my fist together as Kaz held on tight, the ground lifted us up above the tree line on a large rocky platform.

"See a giant flying bison on a mountain Kaz?" I asked as I used both hands to hold over my forehead and squinted my eyes to search closely.

Kaz screeched and I looked at him as he pointed his beak and ruffled his feathers, I looked towards his bickering. "There?" I pointed and he gave a sharp nod in approval.

I saw exactly where he pointed at, and there it was. Or, at least, I assumed it was the flying bison Aang was talking about. It was large with white fur, and I was pretty sure that was an arrow on it's head. I could be mistaking, but I was certain.

"We're close by!" I smiled, showing teeth. "We could get there before sunrise!"

Kaz hung on tightly once again as I lowered the rocky platform back to the ground and was on my way. Kaz spread his wings and flew ahead, leading the way as I followed close behind. He knew the way, he had better eye-sight than me. So I trusted him fully to lead me to Aang's friends.

And we had arrived in no time, I was no flier but I was quite the fast runner. Got it from mother, but the thoughts of her felt like a splinter in my chest. As I quickly sewed up the patch by shaking my head, and not thinking about the past but of the present.

Once reaching the top, I did my best to keep my gasp in as I sucked in the information of my surroundings. The bison - erm - Appa as Aang had put it. Appa was much larger than I would've ever thought. But he was also cute and furry.

And I looked around as all this junk was around the place as well, hearing a gurgle I saw a lemur fly in with more junk. "Oh... you must be Momo." I leaned down on my knees to take a good look at him. "Aren't you cute." His eyes practically glowed back up at me.

"Has baldy returned?" A voice echoed with a cackled laugh at his own joke.

I looked, only to see two individuals laying on Appa. The boy in a hefty sleeping bad, and the girl just in her clothes.

I gasped noticing their clothes and the color, "You two are from a water tribe!" I was fascinated. I never really saw one in person, let alone two. These mountains were often lonely, and I've been up here for majority of my life.

"Look at me Katara! I can water bend!" The boy says groggily as his nose and mouth were vacant with snot and saliva, as I scrunched my nose in slight disgust. He flops his arms around and giggles.

"That's nice, Sokka." The girl next to him had her eyes low, as she sounded just as weak.

Aang was right, they were very sick. My eyes brightened as I had almost forgot, "I have just the thing for you two!"

I pushed my hands in every pocket and hidden pocket that I had on my person, only to realize I actually had nothing.

"What?" I breathed. "I could've sworn I..." I sighed in distaste. "I'm sorry, guys. They must've thawed out already and got away..."

I went to go sit on the steps of the mountain and watched the moon slowly drift through the stars. Another thing I couldn't do correctly, fantastic...

***

My eyes fluttered open to a voice, as I shook my head and sat up. I just realized I had fallen asleep and was leaning against a small rocky pillar. Kaz in my lap as he began to wake up as well. I looked to the sky to see the sun had risen.

As the sun hit my skin and clothes, I felt as energetic as ever and smiled.

Until the voice spoke again, "Momo... I said water..." It was Katara.

I looked back to see Momo had put a crown atop her head, and tried to stifle a chuckle with my hand.

"I'll gladly get some water, I'm a little thirsty myself." I spoke, as I grabbed a vase that I assumed was one of the junk Momo had brought during the night. "I'll be back, I promise."

And so, I headed into the forest once again, Kaz on my shoulder like the loyal messenger hawk that he was. The forest was stunning at this time of morning.

But as I continued, I began to hear a voice. It sounded like Aang...

"You know what the worst part about being born over a hundred years ago is? I miss all the friends I used to hang out with..." The boy explained, his voice shallow. "Before the war started, I used to always visit my friend, Kuzon."

I listened intently, as I sat against the hill on the other side of him where I wasn't seen. I wondered who he was talking to.

He continued, "The two of us? We 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."

My brows furrowed and I listened more. "If we knew each other back then, do you think we could've been friends too?"

It felt like mere seconds as a guy wailed and I heard the sound of fire blow, I looked up to the sky to see Aang hop away on the tree tops.

I wondered who'd do such a thing and so I climbed the hill. Only to see another boy, who seemed to be my age at least, and tall. Wearing black clothing that reminded me of a ninja, a pony tail and a large scar over his left eye. As he looked to the sky with a soft gaze, but also a tired one.

I eventually found my voice, "Why did you attack the Avatar like that?" I knew he did, I heard the fire.

Spooked, the boy turns and throws a blast of fire at my face. With clear instinct and fast reflexes I brought my hands up, and blocked his blow with rocks.

"Woah, woah, woah!" I scoffed. "I'm not going to hurt you, it was just a question!"

"Hmm," The boy hums and puts his arms down. "An Earthbender, I see."

He then adds, "I'm gonna have to ask you to follow me, if you know who the Avatar is, you will have valuable information."

I crossed my arms and shook my head, "I'm not going anywhere with you..." Kaz screeches at the boy in favor of me.

"I guess we're doing this the hard way, then?" The boy raised a brow.

"I guess so..."

Without him even realizing it I flicked my fingers and parts of the ground lifted up and he flung into the hill behind him. This made me grin as I got my hit in, first. I'd been practicing with that.

The boy gritted his teeth with a growl as he pushed himself onto his feet, I could see a bunch of built up anger in his features. He thrusted his fists and blew fire my way, as I made my infamous wall of rock go high into the sky.

Quickly forming a chain made of earth, I tailed whipped him around the ankles which caused him to fall again.

The boy breathed, "You're stronger than I expected..." I was caught off guard by his sudden compliment. Not knowing whether that was a blush or just pure confusion. "... but I am more determined."

It was like a flash of cloth as the boy threw something in the blink of an eye, and before I knew it Kaz had been caught in a bag and hit the ground.

"Kaz!" I yelled out, trying to get to him to let him out.

"Uh-uh." The boy shook his head with a death gaze, and a side grin. "I don't think so."

I didn't expect fire to push against me as my skin singed in heat, although it wasn't enough to leave any long lasting burns. I was shoved against a tree with an 'oomph', and slumped onto the ground below.

The world around me was fuzzing in and out, as all went dark.

***

"Prince Zuko!" A man chimed. "Orders?"

"Set sail." A voice said back. "Now no more disturbances-"

My eyes fluttered open, as I saw the same boy that I fought in the forest just moments after Aang left, sit in front of me across a metal table.

"-I have this girl to attend my questions to." The one known as Prince Zuko.

I didn't know him, but I was sure I was about to learn his name. As I was tied to the chair I sat on, and it wasn't comfortable. When I heard a low screech I looked up at the corner of the room, to see Kaz in a cage. I relaxed with a sigh, knowing that he was okay and safe - well, for the most part, at least.

And older man with a greyish-white beard and a bit more hefty on the body came on in with a small platter.

"Herbal tea for the young lady?" The older man asked with a kind smile.

I looked from him back over to Zuko, not knowing what he expected of me fully. Considering, I didn't know much about the Avatar as I just met him not even hours ago.

But I wasn't about to let this boy walk all over me, Firebender or not. And so I gripped the handrest of my chair tightly, preparing myself to not say a single word, no matter what.

-----
Here's chapter one! :)

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