Avatar: The Last Airbender - Book 1: Water Reader Insert

The Boy in the Iceberg - Part 2

"Ah... sure?" Katara's reply was hesitant and the three were baffled by the odd request, "I guess." It seemed the boy was unaware of the peculiarity of his presence.

With a flutter of wind, the mysterious child floated into a standing position.

The odd action brought more memories from y/n's childhood. She couldn't help but remember the tales her mom told her before she slept. She felt that his strange movements could only be a product of air bending, but the art was thought to be extinct. Her mother always spoke of the tattoos of the airbender monks. They, like her family, were killed by the Fire Nation.

Maybe this boy could be the long-lost Avatar she'd always heard about. The last known one was to be an Airbender after all. All she knew was that the Avatar had disappeared. But there was no way this kid was the Avatar she'd once heard tales of, he'd have to be a hundred years old.

The mysterious kid then asked, "What's going on here?"

"You tell us! How'd you get in the ice? And why aren't you frozen?" Sokka demanded

"I'm not sure," he answered sounding as confused as they felt. Then, from inside the iceberg, a growl shook the air, the ice, everything. He scampered up the side of the iceberg toward the noise.

They followed around the side, finding an opening to where the boy was.

In the distance, he spoke, "Appa, are you all right? Wake up, buddy." He was sitting on the tongue of a large, furry, horned creature. The sleeping mass was like nothing they'd ever seen before. Granted, they really only knew of the penguins and polar bear dogs of the south.

"Haha! You're okay." He exclaimed as the beast yawned. He hugged the creature.

"What is that thing?" Sokka asked, partly disgusted, partly intrigued.

He was happy to explain, "This is Appa, my flying bison."

"Right. And this is Katara, my flying sister. Oh, did I mention y/n here can breathe underwater?" He slapped the eldest on the back. Instinctively, she elbowed him in the gut. He chuckled to hide the pain, rubbing the sore spot.

The bison let out a growl and Katara and Y/n backed away.

"Look out!" the kid shouted, ducking.

Within seconds the beast sneezed and coated Sokka in a layer of green mucus. Y/n gagged as Sokka freaked, trying to clean himself off. Katara ignored her brother, stepping closer to the boy and the beast.

"Don't worry. It'll wash out."

Sokka pressed a gloved hand to his face. Stings of snot were dripping from the glove as he pulled away. Y/n couldn't help but gag again. Yet, once she got over her initial repulsion, she couldn't help but chuckle at Sokka's luck.

"So, do you guys live around here?" the kid asked.

"Don't answer that!" Sokka recovered, shoving his spear into the kid's face. "Did you see that crazy bolt of light? He was probably trying to signal the Fire Navy."

"Oh, yeah, I'm sure he's a spy for the fire navy," Katara sassed, shoving Sokka away, "You can tell by that evil look in his eye." The child gave them an innocent smile.

"The paranoid one is my brother, Sokka," who rolled his eyes. "You never told us your name."

"I'm – ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, AH-CHOO!" The kid sneezed and flew high into the air. Like a snowflake, he floated back to the ground, only further confirming y/n's suspicions. "I'm Aang," he replied, rubbing his nose.

"You just sneezed and flew 10 feet in the air," Sokka uttered.

"Really? It felt higher than that."

"Oh! You're an airbender." Katara pointed out.

"Sure am."

"Giant light beams, flying bison, airbenders—I think I got midnight sun madness." Sokka walked off, grabbing y/n's wrist dragging her along with him, "We're going home to where stuff makes sense." She tugged her arm from his grip. She had no plans of leaving Katara alone with the newcomer and it wasn't like they had any way to get back home anyway. She had to stifle a grin when he realized that fact for himself. His pout made her laugh again and she pat his head gently, the best form of comfort she could offer. He could only huff at her patronization.

"Well, if you guys are stuck, Appa and I can give you a lift." Aang offered. He hopped onto the bison's head with a show of his abilities.

Katara happily accepted, "We'd love a ride, thanks." She ran toward the beast and climbed onto its back.

"Oh, no! I am not getting on that fluffy snot monster," Sokka whined. y/n rolled her eyes and climbed on, joining Katara. She smiled fondly to herself. Today was turning out to be quite the adventure.

"Are you hoping some other kind of monster will come along and give you a ride home?" She teased, hoping he'd recognize his own stupidity. "You know, before you freeze to death."

He was about to talk back when she sent him a glare, a warning for him to stop while he's ahead. With a sigh, he trudged up to Appa and crawled into the saddle. All waiting to go, Katara looking super excited, Sokka with a pout and crossed arms, and y/n relaxing into her seat.

Piolet Aang announced, "Ok, first-time flyers, hold on tight. Appa, yip yip."

Appa leaped in the air, hovering. But as soon as he was up, he fell back down. At least Appa was able to swim them back to the village.

"Come on, Appa, yip yip." Aang encouraged his furry friend.

"Wow, that was truly amazing," Sokka cracked.

Y/n rolled her eyes again. Sure, it wasn't quite the ride home they were promised, but she wasn't one to question a good thing. Especially when the alternative is being stuck on an ice island with Mr. Sarcastic longer than she had to.

Sure, she liked Sokka, he was practically family and a good friend. Yet, while he tried to play adult, he was so childish that he annoyed her to wit's end. She could only tolerate his behavior to an extent, and more often than not, he managed to cross the line.

"Appa's just tired. A little rest and he'll be soaring through the sky. You'll see." Aang was looking back at the three traveling with him, his gaze settling fondly on Katara.

"Why are you smiling at me like that?" she questioned.

Aang stuttered, "O-oh, I was smiling?" A subtle blush dusted the boy's cheeks.

Sokka groaned and y/n leaned back, getting comfortable. They could tell it would be a long ride home.