(1) Augmentum | Zuko

Chapter Fifty-Two

The sun is high in the sky as Rana follows Aang, Katara and Sokka, they are following Aang really. He wanted to show them something. Rana has to admit that she's really now in the mood to deal with them today. She just wants to be alone. To sort out her head. Her heart. She needs to.

"Here it is, guys, the Great Divide" Aang announces as they reach the edge of a great canyon. Katara looks impressed. Sokka and Rana less so.

"Wow! I could just stare at it forever" Katara comments warmly.

"Okay. I've seen enough" Sokka admits, Katara turns to him.

"How can you not be fascinated, Sokka? This is the largest canyon in the entire world." Sokka stands with Rana, next to Appa and holding his reigns, obviously ready to leave.

"Then I'm sure we'll be able to see it very clearly from the air while we fly away" Sokka adds. Suddenly a man in an ornate white robe rushes past Sokka, rudely pushing him out of the way.
"Hey! If you're looking for the Canyon Guide, I was here first!" He warns them.

"Ooooo...canyon guide. Sounds informative" Katara comments. Rana looks at Appa who glances at her, she shrugs a little at his expression.

"Believe me, he's more than a tour guide, he's an earth-bender," The man tells them. "And the only way in and out of the canyon is with his help. And he's takin' MY tribe across next!" While he is speaking, Sokka emerges from behind him and silently starts to mock him by opening and closing his hand in the 'this guy talks too much' gesture. After the Scout's speech, he looks at Sokka, who feigns innocence and walks off back to Rana who is smirking a little.

"Calm down, we know you're next" Rana comments with annoyance. The man points at her.

"You wouldn't be calm if the Fire Nation destroyed YOUR home and forced YOU to flee" He scolds, she sighs and looks at Sokka who gives her a look back, because the man has a point there. "My whole tribe has to walk thousands of miles to the capital city of Ba Sing Se!"

"You're a refugee." Katara realises.

"Humph. Tell me somethin' I don't know" In the distance, a mass of people approaches.

"Is that your tribe?" Katara asks him.

"It most certainly is NOT." The man argues indigently, offended by the thought. The other people approaching the group. They are dressed in rude animal skins and look generally unkempt. "That's the Zhang tribe. A bunch of low-life thieves. They've been the enemies of my tribe for 100 years" The man whistles rudely at the Zhang. "Hey, Zhangs! I'm savin' a spot for my tribe so don't even THINK of stealing it!" A huge Zhang woman walks towards him menacingly. The Scout leans back, somewhat intimidated.

"Where are the rest of the Gan Jin? Still tidying up their campsite?" She asks him. The scout leans forward to push the Zhang Leader back.

"Yes! But they sent me ahead of them to hold a spot"

"I didn't know the canyon Guide took reservations"

"Heh! Of course, you didn't. That's the ignorance I'd expect from a messy Zhang! So unorganized and ill-prepared for a journey" The entire Zhang tribe begins to grumble loudly at this. An angry mob is about to form. Aang and Katara are looking disconcerted, Momo behind them in the background sitting on a pile of rocks on the lip of the canyon. Suddenly, the sound of moving earth is heard and they all turn to Momo. The rocks underneath him quiver and begin to split apart. Momo jumps out of the way as the rocks are picked up and thrown away by an old man, the Canyon Guide, in a straw hat and green clothing.

"Sorry about the wait, youngsters" He offers and then gestures to the majestic canyon below them. "Who's ready to cross this here canyon?"

"Um..." Katara then points to the right at the other groups. "One of them I think"
"I was here first! My party's on their way!" The scout points out.

"I can't guide people who aren't here" The Zhang filing past the four kids and the fuming Gan Jin Scout.

"Guess you guys'll have to make the trip tomorrow." The Zhang leader mocks the scout. Just then another tribe enters the canyon entrance area. The Scout points to them in triumph.

"Wait! Here they come!" The Gan Jin walk in stately order towards them. They are all dressed elegantly and wear formal expressions on their faces, the Zhang Leader whips around to look at the newcomers.

"You're not seriously going to cave in to these spoiled Gan Jins! I mean, we're refugees too! And we've got sick people that need shelter" The Zhang leader scolds as she points a finger into the Guide's chest.

"I...uh...well..." A white-haired man, the Gan Jin Leader, stands next to the Scout.

"We've got old people who are weary from travelling" The scout admits.

"Sick people get priority over old people" The Zhang leader argues.

"Maybe you Zhang's wouldn't have so many sick people if you weren't such slobs"

"If you Gan Jins weren't so clean, maybe you wouldn't live to be so old"

"I could smell your stink a mile away"

"Well, Aang" Katara starts. "Ready to put your peacemaking skills to the test?"
"I... don't know" Aang whispers. "A fight over chores is one thing. These people have been feuding for 100 years"

"Everyone, listen up!" Katara shouts over the arguing of the two tribes. She points backward at Aang, a fierce look on her face. "This is the Avatar! And if you give him a chance, I'm sure he can come up with a compromise that will make everyone happy" The two tribes look to Aang for a moment in silence.

"Uh...you could share the earth-bender and travel together?" Aang offers.

"Absolutely not! We'd rather be taken by the Fire Nation" The Gan Jin leader points accusingly at the Zhang. "Than travel with those stinking thieves" The Zhang Leader points an accusing finger at the Gan Jin Leader.

"We wouldn't travel with you pompous fools anyway!"

"I am not pompous!" General pandemonium breaks out as the tribes begin to yell at each other. Rana raises an eyebrow watching this all unfold. It's a little amusing to her. They all think the Fire Nation is the real problem, and she's not saying it isn't a big one, but they can't even spend a day with one another to cross a canyon without fighting and bickering. It's no wonder the Fire Nation found it so easy to tear these lands apart.

"Alright! Here's the deal!" Aang yells and everyone falls silent to listen to him. "We're all going down together and Appa here will fly your sick and elderly across. Does that seem fair?" He asks. The two leaders nod their grudging approval.

............

Appa's saddle is now full of elderly and sick Gan Jin and Zhang, the two groups eye each other suspiciously in the saddle as they sit as far away as possible from each other. Aang touches Appa's face as Appa makes a noise that makes it clear that he's upset about this.

"Sorry, Appa. You'll have to do this on your own" Appa grunts as Rana approaches them.

"No, he won't" Rana argues. "I'll go with him...." Aang looks about ready to argue with her. "With Noi, I can watch over you from the sky...make sure the way ahead is clear"

"Okay," Aang whispers and nods.

"Take Wartortle and Rockruff with you" Rana adds as she moves to Noivern, Sokka follows her. Wanting to talk before she goes.

"You've been quiet this morning" Sokka points out. "Everything okay?" She turns to him as she adjusts Noivern's reins.

"Yeah, just have a lot on my mind" She answers. "Obviously" He snorts and nods. "Look, I lived my life practically on my own, for years, and now I am stuck with you three, all the time" She adds with a slightly teasing tone but she's not joking. She's not used to being in such close quarters with people. "Every now and then, I need some space...to think about stuff"

"Stuff?" He teases, she shakes her head and smirks a little. "Sounds exciting" The two of them share a look, he nods and she nudges him before she climbs up onto Noivern's back, pulling the crystal ball from her necklace to call on Wartortle and Rockruff, who instantly appear beside Sokka. Rana reattaches the ball and then pulls on Noivern's reins, pulling him up into the sky followed close by Appa.