Open Your Mind

Chapter Nineteen

"I'm not one to complain," Sokka started to whine as Appa soared lazily over the ocean and past several jagged ice peaks, "But can't Appa fly any higher?"

Aang turned his head to glare over his shoulder at the older boy, "I have an idea! Why don't we all get on yourback and you could fly us to the North Pole!"

"I'd love to." Sokka retorted sarcastically and began shaking his rear at Aang, causing Katara and Xiaodan to sigh in exasperation, "Climb on everyone, Sokka's ready for takeoff."

Momo jumped onto his back and chittered. Xiaodan to snorted and kicked the young Water Tribe warrior's in the butt with the bottom of her foot, causing Momo to jump away when Sokka began to flail around. Sokka turned around and glared at the smirking white-haired after regaining his balance, shaking his fist threateningly at her.

"Look," Katara started, trying to keep the peace between the irritated trio, "We're all just a little tired and cranky because we've been flying for two days straight."

"And for what?" Sokka demanded as he gestured with one arm as Momo hopped into his lap, "We can't even find the Northern Water Tribe. There's nothing up here!"

The sound of water splashing drew the four teens' attention and Aang turned around just into to see a large ice spike appear in front of Appa.

"AHHH!" Aang screamed as he jerked Appa's reins to the side and Appa growled as he began to swerve sharply around more ice spikes.

Katara, Sokka, and Xiaodan all screamed and clung to the rim of Appa's saddle as the bison nearly turned completely on his side while flying in the air. Appa tried to fly higher into the air to avoid another spike but the ice seemed to move of its own accord and grabbed onto one of his paws, causing him to spin out of control with Aang clinging desperately to the reins as he swung off Appa's head.

The large bison grumbled as he hit the water on his side the shifted so he was on his belly. He roared loudly as the water around him suddenly froze, keeping him in place.

"They're Waterbenders!" Katara shouted excitedly when she saw the numerous boats begin to surround them, "We found the Water Tribe."

"It's more like they found us." Xiaodan groaned as she moved into a sitting position in Appa's saddle and rubbed the back of her head where she had bumped it against Sokka's when Appa was careening out of control.

The white-haired girl looked at the numerous Waterbenders and warriors on the boats surrounding Appa then casually plucked at the hem of her Earth Kingdom shirt, looking at the matching loose, brown pants.

"I guess it was a good idea we stopped at that village and bought me these clothes..."

"He's heading north, the Northern Water Tribe." Zhao explained coolly as he turned away from the map of the world to look at his advisers with his hands clasped behind his back, "The Avatar needs to master Waterbending. He's looking for a teacher."

"Then what are we waiting for?" One of his advisers asked impatiently, "Let's go get him!"

"Patience, Captain Li." Zhao chided condescendingly, "This isn't some little Earth village we can just march into. The Water Tribe is a great nation. There's a reason they've survived a hundred years of war. The frozen tundra is treacherous, the landscape itself is an icy fortress. We'll need a massive invasion force."

Zhao had started walking around the other side of the low table his advisers were sitting around as he spoke and stopped at the head of the table, looking at each of his advisers coldly as he finished talking.

"There's it is!" Aang exclaimed excitedly as he pointed towards the magnificent wall of thick ice that surrounded the Northern Water Tribe's city.

Xiaodan leaned forward against the front of the saddle beside Katara, no longer interested in making faces at the Northern Water Tribe members that were escorting them towards the city.