Chapter Text
Sokka and Katara packing up camp as Aang feeds Momo and Aapa.
"Aapa is still a little tired." Aang stated "Lets walk for a bit"
"We need to get to Omashu as quick as we can so you can learn earthbending." Sokka replies
"We wont be getting no where if Aapa is tired" Aang argued
"Aang is right." Katara agrees as she puts something on Aapas back. "It will just be a short walk, and we'll be needing some food."
Katara empties the bag of food showing that there isn't much food left.
"Fine" Sokka gave in "But, only because we need food."
The group comes to a part of the forest wear they see a girl doing her stretches in the woods. Sokka is caught off guard by her beauty, but quickly shakes it off.
"She's gorgeous. Who do you think it is?" Katara mentions
"Im not sure. But, I feel like ive seen her before."
The group watches secretly froma distance for a bit until Katara sees her Waterbend.
"Shes a water bender!" Katara shouts with excitement, but then quickly covers her mouth.
The girl is still very focused on her water bending, but still turns towards them.
"Its fine." She reassures "I knew you were there the whole time."
"Sorry, i just love to see other waterbenders." Katara apologizes
"Theres no shame in that" The girl stops her water bending. "Come, you must be tired."
Sokka pushes his sister out the way and interviens "Actually, we should be heading to-"
"Omashu? Yeah, I understand, but you should atleast have a good meal." The girl walks to a near by cave and pushes a button revealing a secret opening. "I insist"
With big smile Sokka begins walking in "On second thought, we could use some food."
The girl walks in behind Sokka and Katara, Aang, Aapa, and Momo follow close behind.
The girl puts down some bread and tea as an appetizer, for them. And sits as she lets the food cook.
"This is just an appetizer." The girl reassures
"Thank you, we really appreciate your kindness" Aang expressed.
"You don't need to thank me." She tells Aang. She turns to the rest of the group "My name is Okna."
"Nice to meet you. Im Katara, this is Aang, and my grumpy brother Sokka."
She turns to see Sokka with crossed arms and a mad face. "Grumpy is right" She giggles. "Here" Okna pushes the bread closer to Sokka and he takes a bite and smiles. "Food makes everything better doesn’t it."
"Are you alone here, Okna?" Katara asks
"Well, yes. My mother died very recently." Okna replies
"Im so sorry about that. Me and Sokka also lost our mother, and haven't seen our father in years." Katara relates
"Im sorry for your lost, I hope you get to see your father soon." Okna replies
"Yeah, so do I." Sokka whispers to himself.
"Okna? I know this is weird, but have I seen you before?" Aang asked
"Im not sure? Thats up to you to figure out." Okna gets up and continues preparing thier meal. Sokka follows her and looks over her shoulder.
"Is there a problem, Sokka?" Okna asks with an annoyed tone.
"I don't know, is there?" Sokka says as he shoots a nasty look at her.
"You must still be hungry." Okna says as she pushes Sokka off of her.
"Maybe a little." Sokka says with his hands crossed. Okna hands Sokka the spoon with the soup on it. He takes a bite and it is very clear that he likes it. "This is the worst soup i have ever tasted." Sokka lied.
"Are you sure?" Okna questions
"I'm sure" Sokka lies once agian.
Onka rolls her eyes and smiles. Just then a blast is heard and knocks them all over. The pot of hot water lands on Okna and she screams.
"Are you okay?" Sokka yells as he tries to help her. But, she pushes him away.
"I'm fine." Okna immediately runs outside where she is met with fire nation soilders, she signals them to hide.
"Hello, sir. May I help you?"
"We heard that you were a pretty... may I say, wealthy, young lady?" The soilder asked
"Well, you can say that. Why?" Okna asked suspiciously
"We want some of the relects you may have." The soilder states.
"And what will I be getting in return?" Okna negotiated
"You wont be burnt to a crisp." The soilders try to walk In, but Okna closes the cave doors.
"We need to leave." Okna says to the group.
They quickly try to get as much food and moneys as possible, until the Fire Nation breaks through, blasting Okna back, and Aang helps her up.
"Oh, but when I help you its a problem." Sokka complains
"Theres no time to be salty, Sokka." Katara states.
Aang quickly gets infront of the group, and reveals himself. He blows the soilders back, leaving them room to escape.
"My home!" Okna screams.
"Its fine!" Aang comforts. "We have to go."
"No!" She screams
A few Fire Nation soilders raid her home and the other half chase after the Avatar. Aang is about to fight as Okna stands beside him.
One soilder tries charging at Aang, but Okna takes him on. The soilder pulls out a sword on her, Okna uses her water bending slapping him with the water and tripping him. After she trips him she freezes him to the ground. More begin charging at her as the group takes them on.
Okna then uses water to send a big wave at them and wash them back.
"Wow, Okna! That was amazing" Katara praised.
"Thank you. Now, I must-"
Just then Okna's house explodes leaving her still and in disbelief. They all hear "lets go" from a gaurds in a distance as they flee.
"No" Onka cries softly.
"We're so sorry. But, atleast we still have some of your stuff." Sokka tries to comfort.
"We should leave." Okna says with a sad tone as she walks off.
"Aren't you coming with us?" Katara asks "You can hang out with us until we can find a nice village to take you in"
"What? She can't come with us!"
"Sokka!" Katara screams "You can stay with us until you find a new place to live."
Everyone is on Aapa's back, until Aang notices she is getting tired.
"I think we need to land again"
"What? We barely got into the sky." Sokka complained
"Well, she didn't have enough time to rest." Aang argued back
"If Aang says Aapa needs to rest, then she needs to rest." Okna says in a bland voice.
The 4 land and begin to set up camp. Katara comes up behind Okna and puts her hand on her shoulder,
"I'm sorry about what happened. You didn't deserve that."
"Its okay. I have other things I need to focus on." Okna reassures.
"Guess we better get some sleep." Sokka exclaims.
"Now? Why don't we sit around the fire, sing, or even tell stories." Okna puts out.
"What stories would we tell?" Aang questioned and immediately Okna smirked
"Well, it's more of a tale..."
They all sit around a fire waiting for Okna to tell her story.
"Okay, hurry up so we can go to sleep" Sokka rushed.
"Sure. We don't need you anymore grumpy than you are." Okna's reply makes everyone but Sokka laugh.
"Go on. We're listening." Katara reassures.
"Okay, Have any of you heard of Yvonna?"
"Yes! Our mother always told us the story of a gaurdian spirit." Katara replies
"You'd have to be special to be protected by her. But, she can always treat even the what seems to be evil right." Sokka continues with his finger up in the air.
"Yvonna is a name of peace, comfort, and protection." Okna pauses for a second. "The story of Yvonna is quite simple. She's the daughter of a spirit and a human king. She aged abnormally and she even has the powers of a Waterbender and Firebender, and uses it to protect a few select mortals."
"How do you know your being protected by Yvonna?" Aang asked
"You wont until she reveals her spirit self to you. She works better at all times, morning and night, leaving her a perfect guardian."
"Oh, so she's like a myth?" Aang asks
"She's used as teachings. Showing the cycles of life and balance. How every action has a reaction."
"What's the point in telling this story?" Sokka complained
"Just like you, my mother always told me about her. How a flower needs to be warm and refreshed." Okna replies looking down.
"Oh, sorry. I understand." Sokka apologizes, "Our mother used the spirit to tell us how people need to go outside, then be cleaned."
"It's just a cycle." Aang says, "I wonder if the Avatar has anything to do with that spirit."
"Maybe." Okna looks at Aang with a slight smile which leeds him to smile back. Katara notices this and begins to look a little suspicious.
The next morning, Okna packs her stuff up and begins walking the opposite way.
"Why are you cleaning?" Aang shouts
"Thank you for letting me travel with you guys, but I cannot continue with you." Okna goes up to Aang looks him in the eye and hugs him, then walks away.
"Wait!" Aang screams, "Can you stay... For me? I think something is telling me that I need your help."
"If the Avatar says he needs my help. Then I guess you need my help." Aang reaches his hand out and helps her on Aapa, and they fly off.