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

The Avatar Returns - Part 1

The bright flare sailed across the sky. Everyone in the village rushed out of its walls to get a better look. A flare could only mean trouble.

The ropes of fish slipped from y/n's hands as she prepared for a dash toward the light. Before she could pick up any speed, Sokka stuck an arm out, stopping her in her tracks. They shared a look, and he only shook his head, eyes serious and sure. He picked up the fish she dropped, taking it to the storehouse. Before he could get too far, she snatched one from his hand, not letting him pick up all her slack. She was confused by his calm. What she didn't know was that there was a storm brewing beneath the surface of his skin. The pit that once resided in his gut had melted away with the boil of his blood. No longer was he doubtful, he knew what had to be done for the safety of the village. For y/n. For his sister.

With the fish hung up in the coldest igloo in the village, the pair retraced their steps on the lookout for Katara and Aang. They spotted them at the same time, rushing over to the congregation of village people.

"Yay! Aang's back!" All the children rushed to meet Aang and Katara who just appeared over the snowy hill.

Practically seething, Sokka shoved his way to the front of the crowd. Y/N wasn't far behind, though not sharing the same intensity as the younger boy.

"I knew it! You signaled the Fire Navy with that flare!" He accused Aang, pointing violently at the offender. "You're leading them straight to us, aren't you?"

"Aang didn't do anything. It was an accident." Katara tried to reason with her brother.

"Yeah, we were on the ship and there was this booby trap, and well we—we boobied right into it," Aang explained, scratching the back of his neck. A slight blush tinged his cheeks.

"Katara, you shouldn't have gone on that ship. Now we could all be in danger." Gran Gran warned.

"Don't blame Katara. I brought her there," his head fell, "It's my fault," Aang admitted.

"A-ha! The traitor confesses! Warriors, away from the enemy! The foreigner is banished from our village." All the children walked back to Sokka. Eyes falling to their feet, disappointed by the decision, but listening nonetheless.

Y/N tried to interject, "Sokka," but her tone was too pliant, and the boy cut her off.

Features stern, he stared Aang down. "No, I'm keeping my promise to dad. I'm protecting Katara from threats like him."

"Aang is not our enemy!" Katara shouted, obviously frustrated with her brother, "Don't you see? Aang's brought us something we haven't had in a long time—fun."

"Fun? We can't fight the firebenders with fun!"

"You should try it sometime," Aang said, attempting to ease the tension. It didn't help.

"Get out of our village, now." Sokka's command was eerily soft and severe, not matching the volume of his previous accusations. His austere tone sent a shiver down y/n's spine.

"Grandmother, please, don't let Sokka do this," Katara begged, stepping forward.

"Katara, you knew going on that ship was forbidden," Gran Gran reprimanded, "Sokka is right. I think it best if the airbender leaves."

"Fine, then I'm banished too!" Katara turned around and grabbed Aang's arm, "Come on, Aang, let's go." The boy, though reluctant to follow, still processing the ongoing discussion, followed her lead. She marched them towards the grounded sky bison.

"Where do you think you're going?" Sokka huffed.

"To find a waterbender. Aang is taking me to the North Pole," Katara grimaced.

"I am? Great!" Aang agreed. No one saw the guilt in his eye that he quickly blinked away.

"Katara, would you really choose him over your tribe?" Sokka asked. "Your own family?"

The crisp crunch of snow halted under their stilled feet. But they didn't turn back towards the village. An ache squeezed Katara's heart, her lungs, and she held her breath, wishing the feeling away.

Over her shoulder, Aang spoke gently for her ears only, "Katara, I don't want to come between you and your family."

Y/N stayed silent simply unable to find anything to say. She knew it all escalated far too quickly. Katara and Sokka were both too stubborn for their own good. She understood where they were both coming from. For once, a real opportunity presented itself to Katara and the hope she clung desperately to since discovering her bending. Yet, Sokka couldn't betray his loyalty to his father and the tribe. Y/n couldn't either, but she wanted Katara to get her needed training. Torn between the siblings, she kept quiet, her loyalty to her people and their safety winning out in the end.

Aang walked gently passed Katara, his hand slipping into Appa's thick fur. He stroked gently down his coat, refusing to meet the eyes of the heartbroken girl behind him. She let out the breath she'd been holding, like a silent acceptance of his decision.

"So you're leaving the south pole? This is goodbye?" Katara uttered.

"Thanks for penguin sledding with me," he forced a smile.

"Where will you go?"

"Guess I'll go back home and look for the airbenders. Woah," his eyes widened comically, "I haven't cleaned my room in a hundred years. Not looking forward to that," his grin fell as he leapt his way onto Appa's head, grabbing the reins. "It was nice meeting everyone."

"Let's see your bison fly now, Airboy," Sokka challenged. An elbow nudged his side and he turned. Y/n stood firmly beside him. He sent her a questioning look, but her eyes were drained of emotion, and he rolled his eyes. Sokka turned back to Aang, Appa, and Katara and so did she.

"Come on, Appa, you can do it," Aang encouraged his beastly pet, "Yip Yip!" The bison stood but made no attempt to fly.

"Yeah, I thought so!" Sokka couldn't help but sneer. y/n smacked the back of his head, and he shot her another glare. Her unsmiling expression didn't shift, didn't turn into a shit-eating grin, she didn't even snicker. But the dullness disappeared, a brightness flashing behind her eye like a freshly-lit match. He recognized the bubbling ferocity and silently promised her to shut up—though he wasn't happy about it.

One of the children rushed out after him. "Aang, don't go. I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you, too," He glanced at the little girl. His gaze shifted to Katara. "Come on, boy," and with that, he was gone.

Gran Gran walked to Katara, "Katara, you'll feel better after you—" but Katara shifted out of the elder's reach.

"You happy now? There goes my one chance of becoming a waterbender!" Katara stormed off.

A pang of unspoken guilt bubbled in both y/n and Sokka's stomachs, but they did their best to conceal it from each other and from themselves.

As the crowd dissipated, Sokka brooded his way back through the village gate. y/n's eyes followed Aang and Appa as their figure shrunk into the horizon. A fierce, indescribable admiration flickered through her chest as they dipped out of sight. Body heavy with more emotions than she had prepared for, she made her way back to her tent.