Bato of the Water Tribe

Azira had to admit, after having a close call with a volcano, she was more than grateful to be in view of the ocean yet again. She hadn't realized just how much she truly despised fire until she had been burned.

Speaking of which, her burn was healing nicely. It had left a scar, but that was to be expected at this point. Azira made her way down the cliff-face, feet hitting against the dirt as she climbed down.

Sokka had already reached the bottom, gaze locked onto an object in Aang's hand. "It's a sword made out of a whale's tooth!" Aang exclaimed, lifting the sword into the air.

Immediately, Sokka had snatched it out of his hands. His eyes washed over the blade, concentration evident on his face. "This is a water-tribe weapon! See if you can find anything else!" He commanded the group.

Katara had just reached the bottom, confusion on her face. "Did you lose something?"

"Unsure at the moment" Azira said, eyes scanning over the grass. She reached down, picking up an arrowhead. "Here!" She tossed the object to Sokka, who quickly brushed his fingers over the sharp tip.

"its burned." Sokka's eyes flicked around at their surroundings. On a tree near them, there were burn and slash marks. "There must have been a battle. Water-tribe warriors ambushed firetbenders. The firebenders fought back, but the warriors drove them down this hill"

He rushed forward, everyone else close on his heels. Azira knew what he had to be thinking; if they were Water-Tribe,it was likely that they would know his father. She didn't blame him for wanting to know.

Following after him, they skidded down the hill and onto a sandy beach. The only thing in sight was the wide expanse of ocean in front of them.

"Then what happened?" Aang asked, eyes wide as they came to a stop.

"I'm not sure. The tracks end." Sokka admitted, face falling.

"Maybe not" Azira pointed to the east, where a water-tribe ship had washed up against some rocks.

"it's one of our boats!" Sokka's face lit up as he sprinted forward.

Azira couldn't help but feel a pang. It looked all but abandoned. It was her first time seeing Southern Water Tribe war material, and unfortunately, compared to the metal ships of the Fire Nation, it wasn't much.

"Is it dad's boat?" Katara came to a stop right next to Sokka. Azira could feel the hope simmering off of her tone.

"No, but it's one from his fleet." Sokka knew this inherently, he remembered what it had been like to send their father off to war. "Dad was here.

Azira couldn't help but feel another pang. She wondered if her father was worried about her. Or if he hated her. She just didn't know what his reaction to all of this would have been.

He was Ozai's right hand, and top general. And his daughter was currently the biggest traitor in the Fire Nation. It wouldn't have been good for him. Wouldn't have been good for anyone.

Azira just looked around the beach. "This seems like a good place to set up camp. Who knows? There might be some stragglers around here that know your dad. She finally suggested.

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With the fire crackling lowly and smoke slowly drifting into the night sky, Azira felt at home. Laying on the ground with a blanket of stars overhead and the sound of the ocean in her ears, sleep should have come easily.

What she found was that it did not. Azira had always been a worrier, alvways cared about her father, and her friends. She really hadn't given any thought as to how her friends or her father were going to react.

The way that her father could be imprisoned or executed in her stead. The way that Mai and Ty Lee were probably furious with her and couldn't possibly begin to understand how she felt-

Right now, she just felt selfish.

Suddenly, Azira's ears pricked to alert. Movement sounded in the sand and Azira was up in seconds, hands at the ready for a fight. Sokka had a hand on his boomerang, staring into the darkness with a fury.

"Who's there?!" He demanded.

The figure stepped into view, wearing similar clothing to Sokka's. "Sokka?" The man blurted in surprise.

"Bato?!" Sokka retorted.

"Who the what now?" Aang asked in a sleep-deprived tone, rubbing at his eyes.

Azira slowly lowered her hands, gaze still narrowed at the man standing in front of her. It brought a small modicum of comfort that Sokka did indeed know who this man was. But not much.

"Bato!" Katara exclaimed.

The duo of siblings rushed forward, hugging the man. "Sokka, Katara, it is so good to see you two! You've grown so much!"

Aang stepped forward, waving at him. "Hi, I'm Aang!"

Bato didn't get a chance to respond to that particular introduction. "Where's dad?" Sokka questioned.

"Is he here?" Katara cut in.

"No, he and the other warriors should be in the Eastern Earth Kingdom by now." Bato explained. Just then, a chilling wind cut over them and everyone shivered a bit. "This is no place for a reunion." Bato added, leading them away from their campsite. "Let's get inside."

Azira stuck closely to Aang's side, eyes flicking to the younger boy. "Oh don't look so glum. They're old friends, after all

"I know." Aang murmured.

In no time at all, they had followed Bato towards a compound with women in robes. "After I was wounded, your father carried me to this abbey." Bato explained. "They've cared for me ever since." As they approached a woman with a strange head-dress, he spoke up again. "Superior, these are Koda's children. They've been traveling with the Avatar and his protector."

Azira felt a bit of pride surge in her chest and she straightened her shoulders. Traitor to the Fire Nation? Perhaps. But the Avatar's Protector, now that was a title that she could get used to.

"I found them by my boat." Bato finished.

Superior looked to the group, eyes wide at the sight of Aang. "Young Avatar, it gives me great joy to be in your presence. Welcome to our abbey."

"Thank you." Aang bowed, a grin on his face. "It's truly an honor to be here. If there's anything you need"

"What smells so good?" Sokka cut Aang off, sniffing the air.

"The sisters brew ointments and perfumes." Bato explained.

"Maybe we can give some to Appa." Sokka murmured, causing a small grin to cross Azira's features.

They followed Bato yet again into a square room that was covered in animal skins and seemed oddly reminiscent of the Water Tribe. Katara seemed to come to life as soon as she entered the room.

"It looks like home! Katara breathed out.

"Everything's here, even the pelts!" Sokka added, hands brushing over the soft fur on the ground.

"Yeah...nothing's cozier than dead animal skins." Aang said in slight discomfort.

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Azira found Aang sitting on the bow of the Water-Tribe boat, glum expression in the pale light of moon. Swallowing slightly, she wished that she were better at comfort. She climbed up next to him.

"You know, it's okay to be a little insecure about things, Aang. Even the Avatar has emotions and feelings." Azira said after a moment of silence.

Aang just looked really worried, eyes flicking to her. "Do you think they're going to leave me?"

"What? No, of course not!" Azira said, shaking her head. "They're your friends."

"Our friends."

"Yes, our friends, Aang. And friends don't abandon one another. They just miss their father" Azira said, placing a hand gently on his shoulder.

Do you ever miss your grandmother or father?"

Azira swore she literally felt the blood drain from her face. She sucked in a breath, eyes casting out at the expanse of ocean. Endless, limitless, full of potential.

"No Azira finally said. "l don't. But I didn't have a relationship with them like Sokka and Katara have with their father."

"You wouldn't leave me, right?" Aang whispered, eyes pricking with tears.

"Hey Azira said in a gentler tone than she had ever used in her life. "I am not going anywhere. It's you and me, kid chose my side. Now come on back, you need some sleep."

Aang just flung his arms around Azira, who froze at the contact. At the hug. In fact, she couldn't remember the last time she had been hugged. "You're really good, Azira." Aang breathed out.

With the feeling of blood pumping in her ears, she wasn't so sure.

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The next morning, Azira felt much more rested than she had in a while. She was in a good mood, probably because of Aang. They approached the boat, with Bato sighing contentedly as he patted its hull.

"This boat is sentimental to me. It was built by my father." Bato explained.

"Is this the boat that he took you ice dodging in?" Sokka questioned.

"lce dodging?" Azira questioned in a quizzical tone.

"Yes, and it has the scar to prove it! It's a ritual for becoming a man." Bato explained. "I bet you have a good story, Sokka."

"He never got to go. Dad left before he was old enough." Katara answered, noting her brother's look of dismay.

"Oh..I forgot. You were too young." Bato said, eyes narrowing at him. *You know what, you're about to find out!" Bato insisted

A short while later, they were sailing on a boat. Azira had to admit, for the finery of the Fire Nation, this boat cut much faster and smoother on the water.

"lce dodging is a ceremonial test of wisdom, bravery, and trust. In our village, it was done by weaving a boat through field of icebergs." Bato explained, standing at the helm.

"How are we supposed to ice dodge without any ice?" Sokka questioned pointedly. Azira had to agree with the question, until her eyes laid on the rocks in front of them.

"You will be dodging those." Bato stated, pointing ahead at the rocks. "Sokka, you steer and call the shots. Lead wisely. Katara, you secure the main sail. The winds can be brutal, so be brave. Aang, you control the jif. Without your steady hand, we all go down. Azira, I'm told you're a skilled waterbender. You will sense ahead and warn of danger. For this to be done right, I cannot help. You pass or fail on your own.

With that, Bato sat down. They sailed forward, waves whipping around them as they came into view of the rocks.

"Aang, ease up on the jif!" Sokka called.

Azira's hands steadied on the side of the boat as she closed her eyes, sensing ahead. "We have shallow rocks upcoming in the water!"

"Katara, steady!" Sokka caled, pulling the steer to the side slightly. "And less sail!"

They whipped to the side, cutting cleanly around the shallow rocks. They headed forward, and Azira sensed more water pooling up ahead. "We've got larger rocks up ahead!"

"Aang, helm to leave!" Sokka called.

"What does that even mean?!" Aang called back. He tugged on the rope as hard as he could, forcing the sail slightly to the side. They weaved right around the large rocks, bobbing through the water at a steady pace.

Now came the rapids, as they swiftly moved. "Great job!" Sokka called to the group.

"Uh.there's no way through!" Katara said, eyes wide at the sight of the rocks.

"Oh yes there is!" Azira insisted.

"Agreed!" Sokka said. "We can make it through!"

Bato was quick to get to his feet. "You've already proven yourself! Maybe we should-

Azira's gaze didn't leave Sokka's features, which just remained firm. "Aang, I'm going to need air in that sail! Azira, find us a way through that doesn't involve us dying! Katara, help Azira bend a way through the rocks."

Between the fast beats of air pushing against the sails and Katara and Azira's combined bending, they sailed harmlessly right over the rocks and into smooth waters.

A short while later, they all stood on the beach. "The Spirits of Water bear witness to these marks." Bato said, ceremonial paint in hand. "For Sokka, the mark of the wise. The same mark your father earned. For Katara, the mark of the brave, for courage inspires us. For Azira, the mark of foresight; the ability to think ahead is a useful one.

Bato painted a constellation on her forehead and Azira couldn't help but beam. "And for Aang, the mark of the trusted. You are now an honorary member of the Water Tribe-

"l can't" Aang said in a quiet tone. "You can't trust me."

"Kiddo, what do you mean?" Azira asked, voice sharp against the silence.

Aang revealed a crumpled up piece of paper in his robe. "A messenger gave me this for Bato." Katara quickly grabbed it, eyes pouring over i "You have to understand, I was afraid that you-

"This is a map to our father! You had it the whole time?! How could you?!" Sokka demanded, eyes wide with anger.

"Go to the North Pole on your own! I'm going to find dad!"

Azra just watched silently, unease on her face. If Aang had been honest, they probably would have chosen to stay with them. "Sokka-" Azra started.

"No!"