The Lunar Warrior [ATLA FF]

Book 1: Water | 5 | Trouble Incoming

[A/N] I frequently switch between using 'Gran-Gran' and using her actual name, 'Kanna'. I hope it isn't too confusing.

Ayaan stood at the forefront of the villagers who had gathered at the entrance. Katara and Aang could be seen walking up to them. Seeing Aang, the children were elated, running up to him with smiles on their faces. The adults, however, seemed offended by his very presence there. Katara looked up at them, understanding their anger; she was ready to defend Aang. But the moment her eyes met Ayaan's, she flinched.

She had never seen that look in his eyes before; silent rage.

Sokka breaks away from the crowd, standing beside his brother as he points an accusing finger at Aang, "I knew it! You signaled the Fire Navy with that flare! You're leading them straight to us, aren't you?"

"Aang didn't do anything! It was an accident." Katara protested, defending her friend. Katara and Sokka glared at each other as Ayaan watched Aang silently, a hard look in his eyes.

"You 'accidently' set off a signal flare?" Ayaan's voice was hard as stone, cold as ice. Aang could tell immediately that they were in big trouble for this mistake.

Aang spoke up, trying to explain himself. "Yeah... We were on the ship and there was this booby trap, and, well—we booby-ed right into it." At this, it was Gran-Gran who gasped. The other villagers, mainly the elderly of them, were also shocked at this bit of news.

Ayaan was shocked at first too. That quickly transformed into anger as his gaze turned to his sister, who should have known better than to go anywhere near that ship.

"What were you doing on the ship? Or even close to it? Have you lost your mind, Katara?" He was flabbergasted at the amount of thoughtlessness his sister had displayed. What would have convinced her to go on a ship that was explicitly forbidden for any of them to be near? That ship was a bad symbol in their tribe. It was a grim reminder, an omen, and she thought it wise to go on it? Something like that?

She felt unbelievably small beneath his gaze, which was filled with disappointment in not only her, but Aang as well. He had put so much trust in the both of them, had battled all of his instincts to let her leave for a bit to have fun with her new found friend, and this is what he was rewarded with?

Ayaan didn't have the words.

"Katara, you shouldn't have gone on that ship! Now we could all be in danger!" Their grandmother added, fear and worry in her tone. Katara couldn't deny that. With that flare still lazily drifting in the sky, the Fire Navy was bound to show up. Aang, realizing that Katara was in trouble, spoke up on his mistake.

"Don't blame Katara. I brought her there. It's my fault."

"You what?" Ayaan spat furiously. "Why would you take her there?! Didn't she tell you that it was forbidden?"

"She asked me to teach her waterbending, and I told her that to be a bender, she had to let go of fear. She didn't want to go on the ship, but I convinced her. Please don't be angry with her." Aang pleaded. "It was one of the first things I was taught as an airbender, to not be afraid of my element. So I figured the same thing could apply to waterbending."

'To not fear your element, huh? A solid concept, understandable. But this...' Ayaan thought. "Rules are put in place for a reason, Aang. No matter how good your intentions were, your actions have put us all at risk." Ayaan added grimly. He closed his eyes, hardening his heart as his mind had came to a conclusion.

Sokka jumped at the confession, using it as his excuse. "Aha! The traitor confesses! Warriors, away from the enemy." The children that had gathered around them sadly walked away, returning to the embrace of their mothers. Their gazes found Ayaan, hoping he would have mercy and change Sokka's mind, but what he said next crushed their hopes.