As the blue wolf spirit lunged aggressively towards Aang, the air around them thickened with tension. Sokka, still catching his breath from his narrow escape, couldn't help but shout, "Respectful?! Your spirit just tried to eat my head!"
Zuko, observing more closely, noted the unique markings on the spirit's belly. "Those markings... they sort of look like a face..."
Katara, catching on, added, "Aang, look! That's the face you've been making!"
Aang, hovering midair, nodded in realization. "You're right... I think I get it now!" He called out to the spirit as he settled on a nearby rock, trying to communicate with the towering creature. "Stop, big giant wolf spirit! Listen to me! I felt your presence earlier, see? Just like the design on your fur!"
The wolf spirit growled menacingly at Aang, its eyes fixed intently on him. "I knew you were near because I'm the Avatar, the great bridge between the spirits and the humans! My friends and I were traveling to the town of Hira'a when one of us-" He gestured toward Azula, still bound in her icy restraint. "-decided to go her own way. If we've disturbed you, please accept our apologies."
The spirit paused, its growls subsiding slightly as it seemed to consider Aang's words. However, without warning, it launched itself at him again, its massive form a blur of motion.
"Yikes!" Aang exclaimed, dodging just in time.
Katara and Zuko, seeing the imminent danger, leapt into action. "Aang!" Katara cried out, alarmed, as she conjured a protective barrier of ice.
Zuko's concern was palpable as he watched the scene unfold. "Your 'respectful' tactic doesn't seem to be working!" he shouted, preparing to defend Aang.
In a frantic but coordinated effort, Sokka, Kira, Katara, and Zuko launched their respective attacks. Katara's ice spears shattered against the wolf's thick fur, creating a cloud of icy shards. Sokka's boomerang, thrown with precise aim, bounced harmlessly off its head, returning to his hand with a defeated thwack. Zuko unleashed a stream of fire directly into the spirit's open mouth, the flames disappearing into the dark void.
To everyone's surprise, the wolf spirit closed its mouth, smoke billowing from its nostrils, and then let out a loud burp, the sound echoing through the trees.
Zuko stood dumbfounded, staring at the creature. "Did that wolf spirit... just eat my fire?!"
Kira, barely containing her laughter, added, "And burped! It ate your fire and burped at you!"
Azula, still restrained on the ground, could only watch in amazement as the wolf spirit and Appa clashed with elemental fury. Her eyes, usually so full of fire and command, widened at the spectacle before her.
As the wolf spirit charged again, Aang pleaded, "Come on, wolf spirit! I'm the great bridge guy! You don't wanna-"
But his words were cut off as the wolf lunged. Just in the nick of time, Appa intervened, letting out a powerful roar that matched his massive form. With a swift motion, he knocked the spirit aside using the sheer force of his body.
Sokka couldn't contain his excitement, pumping his fist in the air. "All right! Giant spirit animal mega-brawl!"
Aang, however, was still focused on a peaceful resolution. "Go easy on him, buddy! We just want peaceful passage to Hira'a!" he shouted to Appa, concern lining his face.
The skirmish between Appa and the spirit was brief yet intense. With a final, powerful blast of air from his tail, Appa sent the wolf spirit flying. The creature crashed heavily into a nearby outcropping of rocks, the impact sending a shudder through the ground.
