Path Ahead

The Old Masters

Aang woke to sunshine in his face. It wasn't a completely unpleasant awakening, and he sat up from his "bed" on Appa's leg and stretched. He felt...well, not exactly refreshed, but at least rested enough to get through the day. He was still a little sore, but his young body was adapting quickly to the new exertions he was demanding of it.

Looking around their improvised campsite, he could see that he was the first to be moving about. One person, however, sat as still as a statue, giving every indication that he hadn't moved all night.

"Zuko? Didn't you sleep?" Aang whispered. As though his voice were a summons, Katara stirred nearby. She would soon be fully awake.

"I couldn't," replied Zuko softly. Aang airbended off of Appa, careful not to wake the bison, and walked over to Zuko. He thought he understood. He sometimes wondered what Monk Gyatso would think of him now, how he would feel about the choices Aang had made. Zuko was getting the chance to find out what his uncle thought, and it made sense that he might have mixed feelings.

"What's going on?" came Katara's voice as she sat up in her sleeping roll.

"It's morning," Aang announced cheerfully.

"I guess we should get ready to go, then," she said, and without further hesitation, she thumped her brother's chest with the flat of her hand.

"Oof! What!" he practically yelled, raising his boomerang in one hand and reaching with the other for the sword that lay in its scabbard beside him. All the activity disturbed Toph, who sat up and yawned.

"What's all the fuss about?" she demanded as Katara and Zuko set out to wake the others.

"It's time to go to Piandao's," Aang answered everybody. He leapt up to Appa's back to fetch some breakfast. He was suddenly very hungry.

"You have no earthly right to be so chipper in the morning," Sokka complained, and Aang looked down to see his friend gazing blearily up at him.

"This'll cheer you up," he responded, tossing down a pear. The sight of food did seem to perk Sokka up, and he caught it deftly with his free hand.

"Foo dunt sulve evvything, you know," Sokka mumbled around a full mouth, but Aang just grinned.

"I thought it did for you," Katara shot back at her brother. He glowered, but he was down to just a core by the time Aang reached the ground with his arms full. Sokka tossed the core aside to snatch another helping, and Momo caught the discarded core in midair, landing with his prize and munching on what little fruit was left on it. Aang distributed the food, going up for another armload to give to Appa.

Once everyone had eaten, they risked the short flight up to land in Piandao's sheltered garden. They had just dismounted when Piandao's servant emerged from the house, approaching them and bowing somewhat grudgingly.

"Master Piandao requests that you be brought to him at once," he said, and without waiting to see if they were following, he turned around and went back inside.

"Friendly," quipped Haru.

"Piandao is much nicer," Katara assured him. The sword-master was waiting for them just inside the door when they entered.

"I thought I might be seeing you again," he said, smiling. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"We thought we should return something to you," Aang replied enigmatically, reaching into the pouch tied at his waist. He withdrew the white lotus tile and offered it. Piandao took it thoughtfully.