Chapter Text
~ Early 105 AG ~
* Aang *
“Screeeeeeee! Sc—reeeeee Sc—Scree!”
Aang jolted sharply out of a reverie. He started upright where he sat atop Appa’s huge, fuzzy head and looked around in confusion.
The shrill cry came again, “Screeeee! Sc—scree reeeee!”
Bewildered, Aang studied the foggy gray skies that enveloped him and his air bison for the source of the sound. At last, he spotted a messenger hawk with blue harness and jesses bobbing and weaving, wings beating wildly in Appa’s slipstream.
“Whoa, Appa,” Aang called. “Easy, buddy!”
Aang leapt into Appa’s saddle and reached both hands far out over the lip toward the bird. He caught it on the second try and set the animal on his knee.
“Hey, little guy. What’s so urgent you’re trying to outfly an air bison?” Aang asked the exhausted bird. It gave him only a weak squawk in return and flopped into his lap.
Working carefully so as not to ruffle the bird’s feathers, he fished in the message tube on its back and took out a scroll. The wind whipped at the parchment, threatening to tear it from his hands. Aang read the message once, then twice in growing concern. At last, he tucked the parchment into his sash and the dozing bird into the front of his robe.
Bending a puff of air, Aang catapulted himself back into place on Appa’s head.
“Change of plans,” he told his oldest companion and tugged the reins. “We need to pick up some friends.”
*
“Hmm.”
Katara leaned over Aang’s right arm, her eyes skimming quickly down the message.
“Huh.”
Sokka leaned over Aang’s other arm, doing the same. Momo perched on his shoulder, studying the parchment as diligently as though the little lemur could read.
“Great. Cryptic noises. Sure, nobody bother telling the blind girl anything.”
Toph paced in front of the three of them with her arms crossed and a glower on her face.
“I’m sorry. It’s just— It’s so odd,” Katara began. “Grandfather Pakku wrote to Aang with a message. There’s a problem in the Northern Water Tribe. You know it was just winter solstice here in the north? Well, several of the elders were psychically attacked during their ritual meditation, it’s a kind of communion with the spirits on that day. Apparently, they’re all still unconscious.”
Toph paused her pacing, and her forehead wrinkled under her curtain of bangs, “Huh.”
“That’s what I said,” Sokka chimed in. “Master Pakku writes that, according to the shamans, the spirits in the area around Agna Qel’a have been getting darker and more aggressive in the last few years.”
“He said they felt ‘tainted’ to him,” Aang pointed to a passage. “It sounds…bad.”
“Really bad,” Katara echoed.
“Toph, I’m sorry,” Aang began. “I know Katara and Sokka were supposed to stay with you for longer, but I really think—”
“You need them to come north with you,” Toph interrupted.
Aang glanced around at the group, apologetically, “I’m the Avatar. It’s my responsibility to look into something like this. It’s my job to find out what’s wrong and how to fix it. And, I think going to need Katara’s and Sokka’s help.”
Toph spun on her toes and set her hands firmly on her hips.
“Alright wimps!” she yelled at the courtyard full of busily training students. “I need three volunteers to go down to the village and get some food for my friends. The last ones to volunteer get to run laps and clean the privies!”
* Katara *
It didn’t take long for the three of them to grow exceedingly grateful for the food and the extra blankets Toph pressed upon them before they left left the Beifong Metal Bending Academy. The air grew colder and colder the further north they flew. It was worse on Appa’s back, high up where the winds blew constantly, stealing the heat away from their bodies.
Katara and Sokka huddled together for warmth under a large quilt. Aang, seated as usual on Appa’s huge head, bent the air around him almost continuously to keep a bubble of heat around his body. While Katara’s hair kept her warm, Momo wrapped himself around Sokka’s partially-shaved head in a sort of lemur fur hat. At night when they stopped to make camp, they laid their bedrolls as close as they could and draped Toph’s spare blankets over all.
On the third day, Agna Qel’a finally spread out before them. Its buildings and canals were situated in nested circles that resembled the phases of the moon. The dim sunlight painted the whole in shades of ice white and deep blue from ultramarine to navy. Yellow light from lamps illuminated the walls, roads, canal bridges, and homes.
A sentry on the ice wall that protected the city shouted the alarm, followed swiftly by a clarifying call of ‘friends.’ By the time Appa touched the ground, Master Pakku, Chief Arnook, and several guards had gathered to meet them.
“Avatar Aang! Thank you for coming,” Master Pakku said with a welcoming gesture. Then, he held out his arms to his adopted grandchildren, “Katara, Sokka, it is good to see you both.”
Chief Arnook nodded regally and added, “Avatar, thank you for coming so quickly.” The chief was polite but reserved. He appeared careworn to Katara’s sharp eyes.
“Chief Arnook,” Aang bowed politely, fists lightly touching. “It is a good to see you. Master Pakku said you’re having a problem with the spirits here?”
Katara occasionally worried about Aang’s open, cheerful honesty in all his dealings. It had and probably would in the future leave him open to manipulation and disappointment. However, she could not deny that his attitude often disarmed those who interacted with him.
Chief Arnook certainly appeared relieved at Aang’s immediate attention to the business at hand.
“That’s right. Over the last few years, sightings of dark spirits in the area around the city and harbor have increased. At first the change was slow. However, it seems that whatever is angering the spirits has accelerated. As Master Pakku wrote to you, several of our elders and shamans were psychically attacked during their solstice communion with the spirits.”
“Has their condition improved at all?” Katara interjected.
Master Pakku shook his head, “I’m sorry to say that nothing has changed. Everyone who was affected is still unconscious. The healers are afraid that if they do not awaken soon, they will die.”
Sokka came up behind Katara and Aang, “It sounds like there’s a lot we need to talk about. Perhaps if we started with an overview? The spirit sightings, locations, their interactions with the residents here…?”
Although this request was for the Avatar’s assistance, Aang easily accepted Sokka’s suggestion. They were all used to Sokka taking the lead when making plans and setting priorities. Katara could tell Aang was just as eager to dive into the details as she was, but Sokka’s point was well made. The details would make more sense once they had the big picture.
“Are you sure you want to begin now?” Chief Arnook asked. “I know the journey north is cold and tiring, particularly at this time of year. Perhaps you wish to eat and rest first?”
For all the kind words, Katara sensed that the chief was merely being mannerly. He was worried about what was happening and anxious for his people. He had no wish to wait until the following day to start the conversation. However, he understood the importance of remaining on good terms with the Avatar and his companions.
“We’ll rest once we’ve talked.” Aang flashed the older man a bright grin, “It’ll be easier to sleep tonight if my brain isn’t whirling with questions.”
Chief Arnook nodded his agreement then called over a pair of young men, giving instructions for Appa’s stabling and his guests’ accommodations.
Aang returned to Appa, draped his lanky form over his friend’s fluffy muzzle, and murmured to him. Momo poked his furry head out from the blankets piled in Appa’s saddle and made an inquiring noise.
“You stay with Appa,” Aang said kindly. “We won’t be doing anything fun, and it’s going to be very cold.”
Momo chirped and ducked back under the blankets as Appa trundled after the young men in the direction of the city’s stables.
Chief Arnook gestured the three of them toward the road that led to the tribal government offices, “Let’s see. The trouble began…”
*
It was late when the three of them finally retired to the rooms they’d been given. Not only had their belongings been brought there, but a meal was laid out for them.
Sokka groaned in relief at the sight of several pots which sat on stands over small oil burners. Inside the pots they found seaweed noodles, stewed sea prunes, fish ball stew, and a soup made with kombu, lemongrass, mushrooms, and poached eggs.
As they ate, they reviewed the list of dark spirit sightings that Master Pakku had prepared for them. Katara’s eyes skimmed down the list as she tried to shovel seaweed noodles into her mouth without slurping broth all over the parchment.
“We need to check the local water sources,” she said, swallowing a mouthful. “Not just the harbor, but the canals and maybe the waterfalls around the city. I know they’re frozen over under ice and snowpack at this time of the year, but I think we need to check anyway. It can’t be a coincidence that nearly all of these sightings were near water.”
Aang and Sokka nodded.
“I think you should do that,” Aang suggested. “And, take Sokka with you. I need to go to the spirit oasis first thing tomorrow morning and try to get in touch with these dark spirits. Maybe I can find out what has them so angry.”
Sokka tutted in disagreement, “There are lots of water benders here, not to mention Grandfather Pakku, who can help Katara. Sorry sis, but I think I need to go with Aang. If he’s going into the spirit world, he should have back up.”
Aang looked about to protest, but Katara broke in.
“I agree with Sokka. You’ll need someone to watch out for you in the spirit world. Sokka has been there before. He’s the best choice to keep you safe.”
To her relief, Aang accepted the wisdom of their plan. He gave a token grumble, but did not object any further.
“Do you have to go into the spirit oasis itself to meditate?” Sokka asked. To Katara’s ears he sounded deliberately, falsely nonchalant.
“I don’t have to,” Aang replied. “But, it might be easier. You know, closer.”
“Oh. Yeah,” Sokka swallowed hard. “Right.”
Katara regarded her brother out of the corner of her eye. He shoved his bowl away, although there was still food within.
She reached over and put a hand on his arm, “Are you alright?”
“Yeah, sure. Why not?” Sokka shrugged.
Katara glanced at Aang, and abruptly she remembered why Sokka might not feel alright at all and why he might not want to enter the spirit oasis.
Aang opened his mouth to speak. Katara could sense that he was about to bring up Yue. She shook her head at him. It was late, and they were all tired. If Sokka wanted to pretend that things were fine, they could let him do that for an evening. There would be time later to talk about what he was feeling if he wanted to.
Giving her brother a small smile, Katara squeezed his arm.
“Okay,” she said, keeping her voice deliberately light. “Just so you know. It’s okay if being here is upsetting. If you want to talk about it, you know Aang and I will always listen.”
Without offering Sokka a chance to reply or protest further, she hugged him quickly around the shoulders and stood up from the low table.
“It’s late, and I’m tired. We have an early start in the morning. If it’s alright with you two, I’m going to get ready for bed.”