The Making of Me, Chapter 2: A Good Deed
I really should finish editing the next chapter to Rescue Me...I've been incredibly indecisive about the whole thing.
Title: The Making of Me
Chapter: Chapter 2: A Good Deed
Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Genre: Adventure/Friendship
Pairing: none as of now
Characters: Sokka, Aang, Iroh, Zuko, probably more
Rating: G
Summary: Companion piece to Rescue Me. After a failed prison break, Sokka and Aang are on their own. Both have some growing up to do. Training's not all just fun and games, after all.
WIP
It was well after sunset when Appa landed in a stretch of empty plains. Neither boy moved for several long minutes, each dwelling on their own grief. Appa settled down with a tired groan and Sokka stirred enough to raise his head and take in their surroundings. They were miles from the prison rig and Katara and therefore miles from any immediate danger. The surroundings were stark, the light of the moon casting eerie shadows on thousands of rough hewn stumps. A sharp breeze picked up and Sokka shuddered, pulling on his parka. He spared a thought to wonder where they were, before shrugging it off. Appa wouldn’t have landed if there was danger nearby. Sokka scrubbed vigorously at his face, taking a deep, steadying breath, before making his way to the front of the saddle. Aang sat between the sky bison’s horns, his knees drawn up to his chest and face pressed to his knees. He looked vulnerable and lost; something Sokka couldn’t remember him ever appearing in the short time he’d known the airbender.
“Aang?”
Sokka’s voice cracked and he swallowed, opening his mouth to say something else but found he had nothing else to add. Appa groaned again, rousing the airbender. Aang lifted his head, taking in their surroundings. Sokka quietly watched as Aang took in the eerie play of shadow and light on the stumps surrounding them. Wide, gray eyes turned to Sokka and the older boy suddenly realized how young the airbender was. Aang spoke, his voice quivering and thin, “Where are we? What do we do now?”
Sokka felt his eyes burn and he stubbornly pushed down the grief that bubbled to the surface. He had to be strong. Aang needed him. The rest of the world needed Aang. Perhaps, after they got stronger, they could return for Katara. Ignoring the twist of guilt at that thought, he slipped over the edge of the saddle and cautiously looped an arm over the young boy’s shoulders. “We find a waterbending master, then an earthbending master, and, if we’re lucky, a firebending master. Then, we end this war.”
“What about Katara?”
Sokka’s jaw clenched. “After the war-”
Aang wrenched away, nearly toppling off of Appa. “You’re going to abandon her?”
Sokka grimaced. “Aang, we can’t.”
“She’s my friend!”
“And she my sister! My baby sister, Aang!” Sokka shouted, cutting off anything else Aang was going to say. “We can’t-I can’t-I’m not strong enough. I couldn’t save her.”
Sokka covered his face, his gasping breaths sounding loud in his ears. He never felt so disgusted with himself in his life. Even if he counted the time he pushed Katara into the fishing hole when they were younger because she was better at catching fish. A hesitant hand touched his shoulder and Aang’s voice was thick with guilt. “I’m sorry. I’m not strong enough either.”
Neither boy said anything for several long minutes until Sokka took a steadying breath. “I don’t blame you.”
No, Sokka decided. He did not blame Aang. He blamed himself. Aang swiped quickly at his eyes, sniffling back tears. “Do you think she’ll be okay?”
Sokka dropped his hand from his face, staring out at their darkening surroundings. He really couldn’t say. He hoped she’d be okay, but firebenders weren’t known for their kindness. Or the survival rate of their prisoners.
“She’ll be fine.”
He hoped Aang couldn’t hear the lie in his voice. Aang snuffled quietly and nodded, seeming to accept Sokka’s assurance. Appa grunted and turned his massive head toward the sparse trees that surrounded the clearing. A branch snapped and Sokka tensed, whirling around and rising to his knees. Aang crouched next to him, clutching his staff in trembling hands. The twilight cast everything in shadow and for several heart-pounding moments, Sokka could see nothing. Then, a shadow detached itself from one of the trees and cautiously approached. Aang sucked in a breath and Sokka’s fingers tightened around his boomerang and he rose to his feet, calling, “Halt! Who goes there?”
The shadow paused, lifting empty hands. “I mean you no harm. I am Baojia.”
Baojia stepped forward, out of the stretching shadows, peering up at them. He was a stooped old man, bald except for his gray beard. His gaze swept over the two boys, lingering the longest on Aang. “When I saw the flying bison, I thought it was impossible. But, those markings…are you the Avatar, child?”
Aang shifted, but Sokka flung out a hand, demanding, “Why do you want to know?”
Baojia didn’t seem surprised at Sokka’s suspicion, accepting his question as affirmation. “My village desperately needs your help!”
Both boys could hear the desperation in the plea and while Aang was relaxing, Sokka remained suspicious and scanned the trees behind Baojia. He wasn’t about to accept a stranger’s word. Especially after they just escaped a band of enraged firebenders. “Why do you need the Avatar’s help?”
“Our village is in crisis. For the last three nights, a spirit monster comes and attacks our village. He is Hei Bai, the black and white spirit. He’s taken three of our own each night.” Baojia clasped his hands, pleading, “The solstice is drawing near.”
Sokka frowned, folding his arms and tapping the tip of his boomerang against his shoulder. “So?”
“Sokka,” Aang started, but fell silent again when Sokka shushed him.
“The natural world and the Spirit World grow closer and closer until the line between them is blurred. Who better to resolve a crisis between our world and the Spirit World than the Avatar himself? You are the great bridge between man and spirits.”
Sokka raised an eyebrow, turning to look at Aang. Aang sighed, giving a helpless shrug. “That’s what they told me.”
“Right,” Sokka drawled. “Can you commune with the spirits, O Great Spirit Bridge?”
Aang glanced around their surroundings, anxiously chewing on his lip. “I don’t know. I’ve never tried.”
“If anyone can save us, you can. You would not abandon us,” Baojia called up.
Aang flinched and Sokka frowned. “Aang-”
“I have to try,” he interrupted. “We will go to the village.”
Relief flooded Baojia’s face and the old man bowed deeply. “Thank you, Avatar Aang! The village of Senlin welcomes you.”
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*
To Sokka, the village of Senlin was nothing much to look at. And that was saying something considering the state of the Southern Water Tribes. Buildings were collapsed and charred and the villagers scattered when Appa approached the village, gazing out from darkened doors with shadowed eyes. It was a depressing sight and left Sokka with a growing sense of unease.
A shout drew his attention to the Great House. A tall man stood on the steps frowning deeply at them. Baojia hailed the man and scrambled over the side of the saddle to quickly approach the steps. He bobbed in deference and the man’s frown turned away from Appa.
“You have returned sooner than I thought, Baojia.”
“Yes, Huang,” Baojia confirmed with another bob. “I have brought the Avatar to speak to Hei Bai.”
Surprise replaced Huang’s frown and he returned his attention to Appa with greater interest. The two boys dismounted, lingering by Appa’s side. Sokka kept a wary eye on their surroundings, fingering his boomerang as if expecting firebenders to leap out of the shadows at any moment. Huang greeted them politely enough, but his voice still held a note of hesitance when he said, “I thought the Avatar would be…older.”
Baojia fidgeted. “I assure you, he is the Avatar. The rumors say he’s young and travels on a great, shaggy beast.”
“I know what the rumors say.” Huang sighed. “I just expected a young man…not a boy.”
Sokka scowled at the pointed reminder of their youth. Aang stepped forward with a bow. “I will do my best to restore peace between the village and the spirit Hei Bai.”
Huang smiled. “Thank you, Avatar. Perhaps introductions are in order. I am Huang, Headman of Senlin Village.”
The airbender blinked wordlessly until Sokka nudged him. “I’m Aang. This is Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe.”
“It’s been many years since we’ve had the pleasure of hosting someone from the Water Tribes.” Huang hesitated before cautiously continuing, “And even longer since an airbender has been through. I welcome both of you.”
They were ushered into the Great Hall and offered a small meal which they both picked at with not much enthusiasm. Near sunset, the rest of the village filed into the the hall. Families found each other before searching out a space to settle for the night. Fear and anxiety was on the face of every villager and Sokka felt his own trepidation rise in response. Huang sighed, “We have had many sleepless nights. Many families have lost someone.”
“Baojia said that three had been taken,” Aang said in confusion.
“Yes,” Huang agreed, “but this is not the first solstice we’ve endured Hei Bai’s anger. Many more villagers have been lost. We’ve been searching for someone who can speak with Hei Bai for many years.”
Sokka picked at his food disinterestedly. “Are there people who can talk to the Spirits besides the Avatar?”
Baojia nodded. “There are few. It is dangerous for someone other than the Avatar to enter the Spirit World. The risk of losing your way is great and once you are lost it is rare to return again.”
Huang pushed himself to his feet. “Sunset will be upon us soon. I must check the village before I bar the doors. Avatar Aang?”
Aang blinked, eyes huge, and swallowed thickly. He took up his staff, rising on trembling legs to follow Huang. Sokka fell into step beside the airbender, making sure to keep his voice low when he spoke, “You don’t have to do this, you know.”
Gray eyes darted to him and then away, his knuckles whitened around his staff. “I have to do something. If I don’t, who will?”
With a deep breath, Aang stepped out the door. Sokka watched him pace a short distance before the doors of the Great Hall before he settled in a restless stance in the middle of the square. Appa greeted the airbender with a low groan that had Aang returning a smile and patting the shaggy head before sending the sky bison off with a few words. Huang stopped by Aang’s side, patting the boy’s shoulder in encouragement and then continued to the Great Hall. The doors were locked and barred with grim expressions.
“They will be opened at sunrise tomorrow,” Huang informed Sokka.
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*
A bell tolled, signaling sunset, and many of the windows were closed as families moved deeper into the hall. Sokka stood at a window with Huang and Baojia, keeping an eye on Aang. So far, the village lay quiet and Aang’s restlessness was increasing. Sokka itched to do something, his anxiety growing stronger as minutes passed in silence.
“Hei Bai will make his appearance soon,” Baojia murmured.
A screeching roar made Sokka clap his hands over his ears and duck. Huang and Baojia flinched and several children cried out, but were quickly quieted by nervous parents. Sokka rubbed at his ears, his heart pounding in his chest. “What was that?”
“The great black and white spirit,” Baojia said. “Hei Bai.”
Outside, Aang was still alone though he’d gone completely still. One of the half collapsed buildings exploded in a shower of splinters and another ear-piercing roar rent the night. Aang flinched, spinning to face the demolished building, but there was no sign of the spirit. Sokka reached for his boomerang and started for the barred doors. Huang stepped into his path and Sokka drew to a halt.
“This isn’t right,” he told the headman. “We - I can’t just sit here and cower while waits for some monster to show up!”
Baojia put a hand on Sokka’s shoulder, speaking confidently, “If anyone can save us, he can.”
Sokka’s chin trembled and his jaw clenched. Bad things were happening and again he couldn’t stop them. His sister’s terrified, blue eyes flashed through his mind. He’d already failed once protecting someone. “He still shouldn’t have to face this alone.”
“If we could help, we would,” Huang reassured Sokka, though the words felt hollow. “But we are unable to speak to the spirit. Steel would be useless.”
“Only the Avatar stands a chance against Hei Bai.”
Sokka leveled a look of disbelief on Baojia and hurried back to the window when there was another shrieking bellow. Hei Bai had finally appeared. Monster was the right word to use in describing the spirit. It was easily taller than the trees surrounding the village and several arms sprouted from its body and bent at odd angles. When it turned, Sokka could see far too many teeth in its skull-like head and he knew this creature would probably haunt his nightmares for months to come.
Sokka watched as Aang tried to engaged the spirit with little success. Hei Bai ignored him, bellowing rage and destroying buildings. When Aang did manage to capture its attention, Hei Bai slapped him away and continued the destruction. Huang and Baojia cringed with every failed attempt. Sokka sighed as once again Aang was batted through a building. Aang staggered out of a pile of debris and resumed his attempts. Sokka ran a hand down his face, muttering, “Yeah, we’re all going to get eaten by a spirit monster.”
He turned away from the window and moved deeper into the Great House. He could hear the sounds of enraged destruction, he didn’t have to watch. Baojia remained stubbornly hopeful, gripping the window ledge with white knuckles. “I have faith the Avatar will bring balance to the world.”
Huang moved away from the window a moment later and followed Sokka. The Water Tribe boy shoved moodily at his bedroll, dropping onto it with a huff. The village headman watched the boy, taking note when he half-heartedly examined his boomerang. A crashing close to the Great House had him flinching and he cleared his throat, determinedly ignoring the chaos that was occurring outside.
“What troubles you? It must be more than the Avatar and Hei Bai.”
Sokka’s mouth twisted and his hand tightened around his weapon. “My sister. She-she was captured by the Fire Nation.”
Huang examined the boy closely. “You blame yourself.”
Sokka’s jaw clenched and his eyes burned, but he refused to cry. Crying achieved nothing. The guilt reminded him of his failure.
“You shouldn’t,” Huang said as he settled himself against the wall at Sokka’s side. “It wasn’t your fault.”
“But I-I was too weak to protect her.”
“Perhaps right now,” he agreed, “but you will grow stronger. The mightiest oaks grow from saplings.”
Sokka scrubbed away the tears of frustration, hiding a sniffled inside a cough. They sat in companionable silence, attempting to ignore Hei Bai’s destruction and Aang’s continued pleas. Huang dropped his head against the wall at his back with a quiet sigh.
“When I was a young boy, the forest was dense. It stretched for miles all around. The people of the village lived in harmony with the forest. We used it and took care of it. When a tree was cut down, we always offered thanks for Hei Bai. Hei Bai cares for all the forests in the kingdom and blesses them with abundance, but the center of the forest near our village is his sanctuary.” Huang fell into a contemplative silence for a moment. “Somehow, the Fire Nation discovered it and they razed it. I was a young man by that time, but I was too weak to stop them. I was able to protect the village but, to my shame, I was unable to protect Hei Bai’s sacred grove. And I fear my strength is failing me yet again.” His voice dropped to a low murmur, “I cannot calm Hei Bai’s grief.”
Sokka hugged his knees to his chest, frowning into space. “The forest will grow back.”
A strange expression crossed Huang’s face, as if something obvious was occurring to him for the first time. Sokka was suddenly aware of the silence outside and he jumped to his feet. Huang followed suit more sedately, commenting, “At dawn, Hei Bai returns to the Spirit World.”
The main door to the Great House opened and Aang shuffled in, dusty and bleeding from various minor scratches. Behind him, Sokka caught a glimpse of the sky. It was turning a dull gray. Morning had arrived.
The occupants of the Great House watched silently as the airbender tripped tiredly across the floor and collapsed onto a pallet with a despairing groan. “I don’t know - I couldn’t get his attention. There was too much pain. Betrayal.”
The villagers flinched at his mumbled words and quickly retreated outside to take stock of damages. Aang didn’t notice. He’d fallen asleep as soon as the words left his mouth.
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*
There was a dragon, Aang realized. And it was red. The serpentine beast circled him playfully, brushing ember-warm scales against Aang in welcome. There was something familiar and comforting about the dragon. He was sure he’d seen it before, but couldn’t place when. Dragon sightings had been rare when he’d lived in the Air Temple and it was clear no one had seen a dragon since he awoke from the ice. Sokka claimed they were myths or stories derived from half-drunk sailors who were seeing things. Sokka seemed to say things like that a lot.
“Aang,” a deep voice rumbled.
He whirled in surprise and the dragon passed him again to circle around a much older man. A familiar older man…dressed in Fire Nation robes. Aang blinked. “Roku?”
Wizened features creased in a smile and Roku tucked his hands in his sleeves. “There are things I need to tell you. Come to the Fire Temple on the Solstice in two days.”
“But how do I stop Hei Bai?”
Roku and the dragon started to fade and the former Avatar repeated, “Two days, Aang. The Fire Temple.”
“Wait!” Aang cried.
An image of a sun rose and set twice and an island appeared beneath his feet as if he looked down on it from the sky. It was in the shape of a crescent moon.
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*
Aang woke with a start, sitting upright and disrupting the blanket that someone had draped over him at some point during the morning. Sunlight filtered in through the shuttered windows nearby and he blinked owlishly. The Great House had emptied and he could hear the village working to clear the wreckage from the night before. Aang rubbed his hands down his face and groaned. Last night had been an absolute failure.
“Oh, Aang, you’re awake.”
A shadow fell over him and he looked up. Sokka, dusty and disheveled, squinted down at him in concern. Aang stared at him, brow furrowed. “What? What happened to you?”
Sokka glanced down at his clothing, rubbing at a stain on his blue tunic. “Huang asked if I could help out for a bit and, since you were out like a rock, I agreed. You looked like you were dreaming.”
Aang pushed away the blanket and rolled off of the thin pallet, stretching his arms and back. “What happened?”
Sokka frowned, rubbing a hand over his hair and looking at Aang critically. “You mean after the spirit monster leveled several more homes?” The airbender shrugged uncomfortably and Sokka sighed. “You came in here around dawn and passed out. Hei Bai disappeared after that.”
The floorboards creaked under Aang’s feet. “I don’t know what to do, Sokka. He wouldn’t listen to me.”
“What do you mean?”
Aang gestured toward the open door and the village beyond. “It’s like he couldn’t even hear me.” He paused, chewing on his lip. “Avatar Roku wants me to go to the Fire Temple on the solstice. He had something to tell me.”
Sokka lifted an eyebrow. “He couldn’t tell you when he told you about the Fire Temple?”
Aang’s shoulder lifted in a helpless motion. “I don’t know. He faded before he could say much.”
“Okay. Okay,” Sokka held up his hands in appeasement. “So where is the Fire Temple?”
“On a crescent-shaped island?”
Sokka pinched the bridge of his nose as if warding off an oncoming headache and sighed. “Right. We’ll ask Huang or that old wandering man, Baojia. We’ve got a day and a half to figure it out. Come on, help us move some firewood.”
Huang met them at the door, smiling when he caught sight of Aang. “Good afternoon, Avatar Aang.”
The airbender blush, ducking his head. “Good afternoon, Headman. I’m sorry about-”
Aang trailed off, his eyes darting out over the village and he winced as he saw that more buildings than he realized had been demolished by the furious spirit. Huang sighed, turning his own eyes to the village. “You tried.”
Aang gripped his staff. “But I should be able to communicate with Hei Bai! I’m the Avatar! Nothing I said seemed to matter.”
Huang glanced down at the disappointed boy, humming thoughtfully. “Perhaps it’s not so much what you can tell him, but what you can show him.”
“I don’t understand.”
Huang nodded and scanned the village. “Baojia, if you are able today, take the Avatar and Sokka to the forest.”
The old wanderer bowed, looking at Aang. “I can take you now. We should be able to return before sunset.”
Aang looked to Sokka for his thoughts, but the older boy only shrugged. With no reason to delay, the three of them set out, passing under the trees that surrounded the village. Aang skipped up to walk next to Baojia. “What did Headman Huang mean? What are you showing us?”
“It’s actually something Master Sokka told the headman last night,” Baojia said with a smile. “Headman Huang thought it might be a good idea to look into it so we’re going to Hei Bai’s home to see if the thought has merit.”
Surprised, Sokka picked up his pace. “What did I say?”
“You told the headman that the forest would grow back. It’s been many years since the Fire Nation razed Hei Bai’s forest so we’re going to check.”
“You haven’t checked before?”
Baojia shook his head regretfully. “No. The villagers are afraid of angering the spirit even more if they were to go into the sacred area.”
“So we’re just going to walk into sacred land and hope a giant spirit monster doesn’t decide to kill us?” Sokka asked incredulously.
Aang thought he had a point, but Baojia smiled sagely and confidently stated, “We have the Avatar with us.”
The hard look Sokka sent the young airbender told Aang all he needed to know about what he thought of that. Aang frowned back, hefting his staff and straightening his shoulders. He was the Avatar. The Bridge to the Spirit World. He brought balance to the elements…even if he didn’t know the other three elements. He could learn. He was going to learn.
They broke through the trees and came to an abrupt halt. Aang stared, eyes wide. They’d landed in the area the day before, but Aang had been too upset and heartbroken to pay his surroundings any mind. And then Baojia had shown up. Ash and charred logs spread across the valley for what looked like miles. It was a giant scar in the midst of a flourishing forest. Aang’s shoulders sagged.
“What happened here?”
Baojia sighed sadly, moving forward to place a hand against a burned tree. When he pulled his hand back, his palm was black with soot. “The Fire Nation believed that Hei Bai would prevent them from conquering the Earth Kingdom and burned the forest down. I doubt it is even discussed in their history scrolls.”
“Hei Bai should be eating the Fire Nation then,” Sokka grumbled.
The old wanderer turned a frown at him, but Aang spoke up quickly, “So why are we here?”
Diverted, Baojia stepped further into the charred landscape and lifted his hand in a sweeping gesture. “Huang thinks that you just need to show Hei Bai that the forest will grow back in time.”
Aang stared out at the barren landscape, feeling disappointment rise. There was no way they’d be able to show the spirit that the forest would grow back. Sokka moved across the valley, his feet kicking up small clouds of dirt and ash, clearly disinterested in the task. Aang didn’t know the first place to begin looking. It didn’t seem like anything could grow out here.
An exclamation from Baojia had Aang leaping to his feet in surprise. The old man came hurrying over to him, something cupped in his hands and a giant smile spread across his weathered features. “Look at this,” he breathed, holding out his hands. “It’s coming back. The forest.”
Aang peered into the wrinkled hands Baojia held out to him. He stared. It was a seed. It was covered in ash, but the bright green shoot was plain to see. His heart raced as Baojia placed the small seedling into his hands.
“There’s hope.”
Title: The Making of Me
Chapter: Chapter 2: A Good Deed
Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Genre: Adventure/Friendship
Pairing: none as of now
Characters: Sokka, Aang, Iroh, Zuko, probably more
Rating: G
Summary: Companion piece to Rescue Me. After a failed prison break, Sokka and Aang are on their own. Both have some growing up to do. Training's not all just fun and games, after all.
WIP
It was well after sunset when Appa landed in a stretch of empty plains. Neither boy moved for several long minutes, each dwelling on their own grief. Appa settled down with a tired groan and Sokka stirred enough to raise his head and take in their surroundings. They were miles from the prison rig and Katara and therefore miles from any immediate danger. The surroundings were stark, the light of the moon casting eerie shadows on thousands of rough hewn stumps. A sharp breeze picked up and Sokka shuddered, pulling on his parka. He spared a thought to wonder where they were, before shrugging it off. Appa wouldn’t have landed if there was danger nearby. Sokka scrubbed vigorously at his face, taking a deep, steadying breath, before making his way to the front of the saddle. Aang sat between the sky bison’s horns, his knees drawn up to his chest and face pressed to his knees. He looked vulnerable and lost; something Sokka couldn’t remember him ever appearing in the short time he’d known the airbender.
“Aang?”
Sokka’s voice cracked and he swallowed, opening his mouth to say something else but found he had nothing else to add. Appa groaned again, rousing the airbender. Aang lifted his head, taking in their surroundings. Sokka quietly watched as Aang took in the eerie play of shadow and light on the stumps surrounding them. Wide, gray eyes turned to Sokka and the older boy suddenly realized how young the airbender was. Aang spoke, his voice quivering and thin, “Where are we? What do we do now?”
Sokka felt his eyes burn and he stubbornly pushed down the grief that bubbled to the surface. He had to be strong. Aang needed him. The rest of the world needed Aang. Perhaps, after they got stronger, they could return for Katara. Ignoring the twist of guilt at that thought, he slipped over the edge of the saddle and cautiously looped an arm over the young boy’s shoulders. “We find a waterbending master, then an earthbending master, and, if we’re lucky, a firebending master. Then, we end this war.”
“What about Katara?”
Sokka’s jaw clenched. “After the war-”
Aang wrenched away, nearly toppling off of Appa. “You’re going to abandon her?”
Sokka grimaced. “Aang, we can’t.”
“She’s my friend!”
“And she my sister! My baby sister, Aang!” Sokka shouted, cutting off anything else Aang was going to say. “We can’t-I can’t-I’m not strong enough. I couldn’t save her.”
Sokka covered his face, his gasping breaths sounding loud in his ears. He never felt so disgusted with himself in his life. Even if he counted the time he pushed Katara into the fishing hole when they were younger because she was better at catching fish. A hesitant hand touched his shoulder and Aang’s voice was thick with guilt. “I’m sorry. I’m not strong enough either.”
Neither boy said anything for several long minutes until Sokka took a steadying breath. “I don’t blame you.”
No, Sokka decided. He did not blame Aang. He blamed himself. Aang swiped quickly at his eyes, sniffling back tears. “Do you think she’ll be okay?”
Sokka dropped his hand from his face, staring out at their darkening surroundings. He really couldn’t say. He hoped she’d be okay, but firebenders weren’t known for their kindness. Or the survival rate of their prisoners.
“She’ll be fine.”
He hoped Aang couldn’t hear the lie in his voice. Aang snuffled quietly and nodded, seeming to accept Sokka’s assurance. Appa grunted and turned his massive head toward the sparse trees that surrounded the clearing. A branch snapped and Sokka tensed, whirling around and rising to his knees. Aang crouched next to him, clutching his staff in trembling hands. The twilight cast everything in shadow and for several heart-pounding moments, Sokka could see nothing. Then, a shadow detached itself from one of the trees and cautiously approached. Aang sucked in a breath and Sokka’s fingers tightened around his boomerang and he rose to his feet, calling, “Halt! Who goes there?”
The shadow paused, lifting empty hands. “I mean you no harm. I am Baojia.”
Baojia stepped forward, out of the stretching shadows, peering up at them. He was a stooped old man, bald except for his gray beard. His gaze swept over the two boys, lingering the longest on Aang. “When I saw the flying bison, I thought it was impossible. But, those markings…are you the Avatar, child?”
Aang shifted, but Sokka flung out a hand, demanding, “Why do you want to know?”
Baojia didn’t seem surprised at Sokka’s suspicion, accepting his question as affirmation. “My village desperately needs your help!”
Both boys could hear the desperation in the plea and while Aang was relaxing, Sokka remained suspicious and scanned the trees behind Baojia. He wasn’t about to accept a stranger’s word. Especially after they just escaped a band of enraged firebenders. “Why do you need the Avatar’s help?”
“Our village is in crisis. For the last three nights, a spirit monster comes and attacks our village. He is Hei Bai, the black and white spirit. He’s taken three of our own each night.” Baojia clasped his hands, pleading, “The solstice is drawing near.”
Sokka frowned, folding his arms and tapping the tip of his boomerang against his shoulder. “So?”
“Sokka,” Aang started, but fell silent again when Sokka shushed him.
“The natural world and the Spirit World grow closer and closer until the line between them is blurred. Who better to resolve a crisis between our world and the Spirit World than the Avatar himself? You are the great bridge between man and spirits.”
Sokka raised an eyebrow, turning to look at Aang. Aang sighed, giving a helpless shrug. “That’s what they told me.”
“Right,” Sokka drawled. “Can you commune with the spirits, O Great Spirit Bridge?”
Aang glanced around their surroundings, anxiously chewing on his lip. “I don’t know. I’ve never tried.”
“If anyone can save us, you can. You would not abandon us,” Baojia called up.
Aang flinched and Sokka frowned. “Aang-”
“I have to try,” he interrupted. “We will go to the village.”
Relief flooded Baojia’s face and the old man bowed deeply. “Thank you, Avatar Aang! The village of Senlin welcomes you.”
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*
To Sokka, the village of Senlin was nothing much to look at. And that was saying something considering the state of the Southern Water Tribes. Buildings were collapsed and charred and the villagers scattered when Appa approached the village, gazing out from darkened doors with shadowed eyes. It was a depressing sight and left Sokka with a growing sense of unease.
A shout drew his attention to the Great House. A tall man stood on the steps frowning deeply at them. Baojia hailed the man and scrambled over the side of the saddle to quickly approach the steps. He bobbed in deference and the man’s frown turned away from Appa.
“You have returned sooner than I thought, Baojia.”
“Yes, Huang,” Baojia confirmed with another bob. “I have brought the Avatar to speak to Hei Bai.”
Surprise replaced Huang’s frown and he returned his attention to Appa with greater interest. The two boys dismounted, lingering by Appa’s side. Sokka kept a wary eye on their surroundings, fingering his boomerang as if expecting firebenders to leap out of the shadows at any moment. Huang greeted them politely enough, but his voice still held a note of hesitance when he said, “I thought the Avatar would be…older.”
Baojia fidgeted. “I assure you, he is the Avatar. The rumors say he’s young and travels on a great, shaggy beast.”
“I know what the rumors say.” Huang sighed. “I just expected a young man…not a boy.”
Sokka scowled at the pointed reminder of their youth. Aang stepped forward with a bow. “I will do my best to restore peace between the village and the spirit Hei Bai.”
Huang smiled. “Thank you, Avatar. Perhaps introductions are in order. I am Huang, Headman of Senlin Village.”
The airbender blinked wordlessly until Sokka nudged him. “I’m Aang. This is Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe.”
“It’s been many years since we’ve had the pleasure of hosting someone from the Water Tribes.” Huang hesitated before cautiously continuing, “And even longer since an airbender has been through. I welcome both of you.”
They were ushered into the Great Hall and offered a small meal which they both picked at with not much enthusiasm. Near sunset, the rest of the village filed into the the hall. Families found each other before searching out a space to settle for the night. Fear and anxiety was on the face of every villager and Sokka felt his own trepidation rise in response. Huang sighed, “We have had many sleepless nights. Many families have lost someone.”
“Baojia said that three had been taken,” Aang said in confusion.
“Yes,” Huang agreed, “but this is not the first solstice we’ve endured Hei Bai’s anger. Many more villagers have been lost. We’ve been searching for someone who can speak with Hei Bai for many years.”
Sokka picked at his food disinterestedly. “Are there people who can talk to the Spirits besides the Avatar?”
Baojia nodded. “There are few. It is dangerous for someone other than the Avatar to enter the Spirit World. The risk of losing your way is great and once you are lost it is rare to return again.”
Huang pushed himself to his feet. “Sunset will be upon us soon. I must check the village before I bar the doors. Avatar Aang?”
Aang blinked, eyes huge, and swallowed thickly. He took up his staff, rising on trembling legs to follow Huang. Sokka fell into step beside the airbender, making sure to keep his voice low when he spoke, “You don’t have to do this, you know.”
Gray eyes darted to him and then away, his knuckles whitened around his staff. “I have to do something. If I don’t, who will?”
With a deep breath, Aang stepped out the door. Sokka watched him pace a short distance before the doors of the Great Hall before he settled in a restless stance in the middle of the square. Appa greeted the airbender with a low groan that had Aang returning a smile and patting the shaggy head before sending the sky bison off with a few words. Huang stopped by Aang’s side, patting the boy’s shoulder in encouragement and then continued to the Great Hall. The doors were locked and barred with grim expressions.
“They will be opened at sunrise tomorrow,” Huang informed Sokka.
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*
A bell tolled, signaling sunset, and many of the windows were closed as families moved deeper into the hall. Sokka stood at a window with Huang and Baojia, keeping an eye on Aang. So far, the village lay quiet and Aang’s restlessness was increasing. Sokka itched to do something, his anxiety growing stronger as minutes passed in silence.
“Hei Bai will make his appearance soon,” Baojia murmured.
A screeching roar made Sokka clap his hands over his ears and duck. Huang and Baojia flinched and several children cried out, but were quickly quieted by nervous parents. Sokka rubbed at his ears, his heart pounding in his chest. “What was that?”
“The great black and white spirit,” Baojia said. “Hei Bai.”
Outside, Aang was still alone though he’d gone completely still. One of the half collapsed buildings exploded in a shower of splinters and another ear-piercing roar rent the night. Aang flinched, spinning to face the demolished building, but there was no sign of the spirit. Sokka reached for his boomerang and started for the barred doors. Huang stepped into his path and Sokka drew to a halt.
“This isn’t right,” he told the headman. “We - I can’t just sit here and cower while waits for some monster to show up!”
Baojia put a hand on Sokka’s shoulder, speaking confidently, “If anyone can save us, he can.”
Sokka’s chin trembled and his jaw clenched. Bad things were happening and again he couldn’t stop them. His sister’s terrified, blue eyes flashed through his mind. He’d already failed once protecting someone. “He still shouldn’t have to face this alone.”
“If we could help, we would,” Huang reassured Sokka, though the words felt hollow. “But we are unable to speak to the spirit. Steel would be useless.”
“Only the Avatar stands a chance against Hei Bai.”
Sokka leveled a look of disbelief on Baojia and hurried back to the window when there was another shrieking bellow. Hei Bai had finally appeared. Monster was the right word to use in describing the spirit. It was easily taller than the trees surrounding the village and several arms sprouted from its body and bent at odd angles. When it turned, Sokka could see far too many teeth in its skull-like head and he knew this creature would probably haunt his nightmares for months to come.
Sokka watched as Aang tried to engaged the spirit with little success. Hei Bai ignored him, bellowing rage and destroying buildings. When Aang did manage to capture its attention, Hei Bai slapped him away and continued the destruction. Huang and Baojia cringed with every failed attempt. Sokka sighed as once again Aang was batted through a building. Aang staggered out of a pile of debris and resumed his attempts. Sokka ran a hand down his face, muttering, “Yeah, we’re all going to get eaten by a spirit monster.”
He turned away from the window and moved deeper into the Great House. He could hear the sounds of enraged destruction, he didn’t have to watch. Baojia remained stubbornly hopeful, gripping the window ledge with white knuckles. “I have faith the Avatar will bring balance to the world.”
Huang moved away from the window a moment later and followed Sokka. The Water Tribe boy shoved moodily at his bedroll, dropping onto it with a huff. The village headman watched the boy, taking note when he half-heartedly examined his boomerang. A crashing close to the Great House had him flinching and he cleared his throat, determinedly ignoring the chaos that was occurring outside.
“What troubles you? It must be more than the Avatar and Hei Bai.”
Sokka’s mouth twisted and his hand tightened around his weapon. “My sister. She-she was captured by the Fire Nation.”
Huang examined the boy closely. “You blame yourself.”
Sokka’s jaw clenched and his eyes burned, but he refused to cry. Crying achieved nothing. The guilt reminded him of his failure.
“You shouldn’t,” Huang said as he settled himself against the wall at Sokka’s side. “It wasn’t your fault.”
“But I-I was too weak to protect her.”
“Perhaps right now,” he agreed, “but you will grow stronger. The mightiest oaks grow from saplings.”
Sokka scrubbed away the tears of frustration, hiding a sniffled inside a cough. They sat in companionable silence, attempting to ignore Hei Bai’s destruction and Aang’s continued pleas. Huang dropped his head against the wall at his back with a quiet sigh.
“When I was a young boy, the forest was dense. It stretched for miles all around. The people of the village lived in harmony with the forest. We used it and took care of it. When a tree was cut down, we always offered thanks for Hei Bai. Hei Bai cares for all the forests in the kingdom and blesses them with abundance, but the center of the forest near our village is his sanctuary.” Huang fell into a contemplative silence for a moment. “Somehow, the Fire Nation discovered it and they razed it. I was a young man by that time, but I was too weak to stop them. I was able to protect the village but, to my shame, I was unable to protect Hei Bai’s sacred grove. And I fear my strength is failing me yet again.” His voice dropped to a low murmur, “I cannot calm Hei Bai’s grief.”
Sokka hugged his knees to his chest, frowning into space. “The forest will grow back.”
A strange expression crossed Huang’s face, as if something obvious was occurring to him for the first time. Sokka was suddenly aware of the silence outside and he jumped to his feet. Huang followed suit more sedately, commenting, “At dawn, Hei Bai returns to the Spirit World.”
The main door to the Great House opened and Aang shuffled in, dusty and bleeding from various minor scratches. Behind him, Sokka caught a glimpse of the sky. It was turning a dull gray. Morning had arrived.
The occupants of the Great House watched silently as the airbender tripped tiredly across the floor and collapsed onto a pallet with a despairing groan. “I don’t know - I couldn’t get his attention. There was too much pain. Betrayal.”
The villagers flinched at his mumbled words and quickly retreated outside to take stock of damages. Aang didn’t notice. He’d fallen asleep as soon as the words left his mouth.
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*
There was a dragon, Aang realized. And it was red. The serpentine beast circled him playfully, brushing ember-warm scales against Aang in welcome. There was something familiar and comforting about the dragon. He was sure he’d seen it before, but couldn’t place when. Dragon sightings had been rare when he’d lived in the Air Temple and it was clear no one had seen a dragon since he awoke from the ice. Sokka claimed they were myths or stories derived from half-drunk sailors who were seeing things. Sokka seemed to say things like that a lot.
“Aang,” a deep voice rumbled.
He whirled in surprise and the dragon passed him again to circle around a much older man. A familiar older man…dressed in Fire Nation robes. Aang blinked. “Roku?”
Wizened features creased in a smile and Roku tucked his hands in his sleeves. “There are things I need to tell you. Come to the Fire Temple on the Solstice in two days.”
“But how do I stop Hei Bai?”
Roku and the dragon started to fade and the former Avatar repeated, “Two days, Aang. The Fire Temple.”
“Wait!” Aang cried.
An image of a sun rose and set twice and an island appeared beneath his feet as if he looked down on it from the sky. It was in the shape of a crescent moon.
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*
Aang woke with a start, sitting upright and disrupting the blanket that someone had draped over him at some point during the morning. Sunlight filtered in through the shuttered windows nearby and he blinked owlishly. The Great House had emptied and he could hear the village working to clear the wreckage from the night before. Aang rubbed his hands down his face and groaned. Last night had been an absolute failure.
“Oh, Aang, you’re awake.”
A shadow fell over him and he looked up. Sokka, dusty and disheveled, squinted down at him in concern. Aang stared at him, brow furrowed. “What? What happened to you?”
Sokka glanced down at his clothing, rubbing at a stain on his blue tunic. “Huang asked if I could help out for a bit and, since you were out like a rock, I agreed. You looked like you were dreaming.”
Aang pushed away the blanket and rolled off of the thin pallet, stretching his arms and back. “What happened?”
Sokka frowned, rubbing a hand over his hair and looking at Aang critically. “You mean after the spirit monster leveled several more homes?” The airbender shrugged uncomfortably and Sokka sighed. “You came in here around dawn and passed out. Hei Bai disappeared after that.”
The floorboards creaked under Aang’s feet. “I don’t know what to do, Sokka. He wouldn’t listen to me.”
“What do you mean?”
Aang gestured toward the open door and the village beyond. “It’s like he couldn’t even hear me.” He paused, chewing on his lip. “Avatar Roku wants me to go to the Fire Temple on the solstice. He had something to tell me.”
Sokka lifted an eyebrow. “He couldn’t tell you when he told you about the Fire Temple?”
Aang’s shoulder lifted in a helpless motion. “I don’t know. He faded before he could say much.”
“Okay. Okay,” Sokka held up his hands in appeasement. “So where is the Fire Temple?”
“On a crescent-shaped island?”
Sokka pinched the bridge of his nose as if warding off an oncoming headache and sighed. “Right. We’ll ask Huang or that old wandering man, Baojia. We’ve got a day and a half to figure it out. Come on, help us move some firewood.”
Huang met them at the door, smiling when he caught sight of Aang. “Good afternoon, Avatar Aang.”
The airbender blush, ducking his head. “Good afternoon, Headman. I’m sorry about-”
Aang trailed off, his eyes darting out over the village and he winced as he saw that more buildings than he realized had been demolished by the furious spirit. Huang sighed, turning his own eyes to the village. “You tried.”
Aang gripped his staff. “But I should be able to communicate with Hei Bai! I’m the Avatar! Nothing I said seemed to matter.”
Huang glanced down at the disappointed boy, humming thoughtfully. “Perhaps it’s not so much what you can tell him, but what you can show him.”
“I don’t understand.”
Huang nodded and scanned the village. “Baojia, if you are able today, take the Avatar and Sokka to the forest.”
The old wanderer bowed, looking at Aang. “I can take you now. We should be able to return before sunset.”
Aang looked to Sokka for his thoughts, but the older boy only shrugged. With no reason to delay, the three of them set out, passing under the trees that surrounded the village. Aang skipped up to walk next to Baojia. “What did Headman Huang mean? What are you showing us?”
“It’s actually something Master Sokka told the headman last night,” Baojia said with a smile. “Headman Huang thought it might be a good idea to look into it so we’re going to Hei Bai’s home to see if the thought has merit.”
Surprised, Sokka picked up his pace. “What did I say?”
“You told the headman that the forest would grow back. It’s been many years since the Fire Nation razed Hei Bai’s forest so we’re going to check.”
“You haven’t checked before?”
Baojia shook his head regretfully. “No. The villagers are afraid of angering the spirit even more if they were to go into the sacred area.”
“So we’re just going to walk into sacred land and hope a giant spirit monster doesn’t decide to kill us?” Sokka asked incredulously.
Aang thought he had a point, but Baojia smiled sagely and confidently stated, “We have the Avatar with us.”
The hard look Sokka sent the young airbender told Aang all he needed to know about what he thought of that. Aang frowned back, hefting his staff and straightening his shoulders. He was the Avatar. The Bridge to the Spirit World. He brought balance to the elements…even if he didn’t know the other three elements. He could learn. He was going to learn.
They broke through the trees and came to an abrupt halt. Aang stared, eyes wide. They’d landed in the area the day before, but Aang had been too upset and heartbroken to pay his surroundings any mind. And then Baojia had shown up. Ash and charred logs spread across the valley for what looked like miles. It was a giant scar in the midst of a flourishing forest. Aang’s shoulders sagged.
“What happened here?”
Baojia sighed sadly, moving forward to place a hand against a burned tree. When he pulled his hand back, his palm was black with soot. “The Fire Nation believed that Hei Bai would prevent them from conquering the Earth Kingdom and burned the forest down. I doubt it is even discussed in their history scrolls.”
“Hei Bai should be eating the Fire Nation then,” Sokka grumbled.
The old wanderer turned a frown at him, but Aang spoke up quickly, “So why are we here?”
Diverted, Baojia stepped further into the charred landscape and lifted his hand in a sweeping gesture. “Huang thinks that you just need to show Hei Bai that the forest will grow back in time.”
Aang stared out at the barren landscape, feeling disappointment rise. There was no way they’d be able to show the spirit that the forest would grow back. Sokka moved across the valley, his feet kicking up small clouds of dirt and ash, clearly disinterested in the task. Aang didn’t know the first place to begin looking. It didn’t seem like anything could grow out here.
An exclamation from Baojia had Aang leaping to his feet in surprise. The old man came hurrying over to him, something cupped in his hands and a giant smile spread across his weathered features. “Look at this,” he breathed, holding out his hands. “It’s coming back. The forest.”
Aang peered into the wrinkled hands Baojia held out to him. He stared. It was a seed. It was covered in ash, but the bright green shoot was plain to see. His heart raced as Baojia placed the small seedling into his hands.
“There’s hope.”