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

The Boy in the Iceberg - Part 4

"Aang!" Katara called out in search of the young airbender. She had been doing chores all day but still sought time with her new companion. Hearing laughter, she followed the sound.

Chuckling, "Hey, come on little guy. Wanna go sledding?" He dove for the closest penguin. Katara joined him. "I have a way with animals. Yack! Yack! Yack! Yack! Yack!" Aang imitates while waddling around like a penguin. Katara giggled at his antics.

"Aang, I'll help you catch a penguin if you teach me waterbending."

Aang let go of the tail of the penguin that had been dragging him around. Looking at Katara, "You got a deal. Just one little problem; I'm an airbender, not a waterbender." Walking to where Katara stood, "Isn't there someone in your tribe who can teach you?"

"No," she replied sullenly, "you're looking at the only waterbender in the whole south pole."

"This isn't right. A waterbender needs to master water. What about the North Pole?" Aang suggested, "There's another water tribe up there right? Maybe they have waterbenders who could teach you."

"Maybe but we haven't had contact with our sister tribe in a long time. It's not exactly turn right at the second glacier. It's on the other side of the world."

"But you forget. I have a flying bison. Appa and I can personally fly you to the North Pole. Katara, we're gonna find you a master."

"That's—I mean... I don't know. I've never left home before."

"Well, you think about it. But in the meantime, can you teach me to catch one of these penguins?"

"Ok, listen closely, my young pupil. Catching penguins is an ancient and sacred art," Katara bowed, "Observe." She pulled out a fish and tossed it to Aang. He caught it and all the penguins surrounded him until she couldn't see him anymore. All Katara could hear is the chime of his giggles lost in the puddle of penguins.

***
Sokka sat dejectedly, heaving a sigh. All day he'd been thinking about Aang's arrival and what it meant for the village. Was he doing what was right by letting him stay or would he be putting the tribe in danger? He did his best to imagine what his father would do but couldn't help but second guess his decisions.

"What's wrong?" Y/N asked.

Her quiet question spooked Sokka more than he'd ever admit. He looked up at her. Hair pushed away from her face, a thin sheen of sweat above her brow, and the soft huff of her chest had Sokka failing to find the words that were on the tip of his tongue. Strands of fish filled her hands, each perfectly gutted and clean. Lightly kicking the toe of his boot, she caught his eyes with her own, an expectant look on her features.

"Did you catch those all yourself?" Sokka couldn't help but ask. They were rarely that successful working as a group. Not to mention group trips took all day. It wasn't uncommon for them to be trekking back right before the sun dipped below the horizon, just enough light for them to make it back to the village without getting lost. There were still a few hours till sunset and she was already back.

"Of course I did," she replied. "So, what's wrong?"

His worries had slipped his mind with her arrival. A pit of frustration settled back in his gut as his earlier worries flooded the forefront of his mind again. Sokka wasn't sure if he should confide in her. She'd probably just chastise him for being immature or something. Then again, he valued her opinion far more than he let on. "What do you think of this Aang character?"

"Well," taking a moment, she gathered her thoughts, "I'm not entirely sure what to think at this point." She went quiet in case he had more to say but she could tell he was hesitant. Adjusting the catch in her grasp, she resettled herself into a more comfortable stance. "What I do know is that I haven't seen Katara this happy in a long time."