Bella [AANGXOC]

Chapter 6: Caught

While we followed Aang up the hill I devised ways to get into my father's room. The best that I could come up with is to either suggest to stay the night and when everyones asleep go up there or get everyone distracted then go up there.

Aang led us farther up and the snow began to get more common.

"Bella firebenders were here, you can't hide it." Sokka said to me.

"I can for Aang's sake, if he finds out the Fire Nation invaded his home, he'll be devastated." I said.

"Hey Guys! I want you to meet somebody." Aang yelled from in front of us. 

He stood on the stairs gesturing to a statue sitting beside him, it was an old man in robes with an air nation necklace on.

"Who's that?" Sokka asked him.

"Monk Gyatso. The greatest airbender in the world." 

"He taught me everything I know." Aang said as he turned to the statue. He cupped his hands and bowed to it.

"You must miss him." I said placing a hand on his shoulder. He stood up and nodded. Then he ran off.

"Where are you going?" I asked him.

"Air temple sanctuary. There's someone I'm ready to meet." Aang said. 

Sokka, katara and  I ran up to the stairs to catch up with him and followed him down a long hallway.

Finally Aang stopped when he reached a giant door with a bunch of air symbols on it.

"Aang no one could have survived in there for a hundred years." I said.

"It's not impossible, I survived in an iceberg for that long." He said.

"Good point." I replied.

"Bella, whoever is in there might help me figure out this avatar thing." Aang said gazing upon the door.

"And whoever's in there might have a medley of delicious cured meats!" Sokka said his eyes wide and rubbing his hands. He ran towards the door, probably expecting it to open, but instead he faceplamed right into it and fell backward. He got up and tried to push it open.

"I don't suppose you have a key...?" Sokka asked hopefully.

"They key Sokka, is airbending." Aang said.

He stepped back and lifted his arms. He blasted air into the two pipes sticking out. It sent a signal all through the door then it swung open.

Inside it was dark, and Aang immediately walked in. I was hesitant but soon I walked in and Katara and Sokka followed me.

"Hello! Anyone home!" Aang yelled and it bounced off the walls in echoes.

We walked farther in and soon some lights turned on and we saw that the room was full of rows and rows of statues. All the way up the room were ledges with even more statues, all different looking people.

"Statues...That's it!" Sokka said.

"WHERES THE MEAT!" Sokka yelled.

"You really thought there would be meat?" I asked him.

"Don't crush my dreams Belle." Sokka said walking through the statues following Aang.

"Who are all these people?" I asked Aang.

"I'm not sure but I feel like I know them somehow." Aang said. I studied the statues, Air, Water, Earth, Fire, Air, Water, Earth...

"It's in the avatar cycle!" I said.

"You're right." Aang said.

"Avatar cycle..." Sokka said.

"Air, water, earth, and fire." I said.

"They're avatars, these people are your past lives Aang." Katara said.

"Past lives, you guys really believe in that stuff." Sokka said.

"It's true, when the avatar dies he is reincarnated into the next nation in the cycle." I said. Aang walked over to a fire nation avatar and stood there staring at him, I walked over to him.

"Who's that?" I asked him.

"Avatar Roku, the avatar before me." Aang said.

"You were a firebender? No wonder I didn't trust you when we first met." Sokka said walking over to us. I internally face palmed.

"There is no writing, how do you know his name?" Katara asked him.

"I don't know I just know it somehow." Aang said.

"You just couldn't get any weirder could you?" Sokka asked.

We all went quiet when we heard a sound outside and saw a shadow in the doorway.

"Firebender, get behind the statues." Sokka whispered, we did as he said and got behind of the statues.

"Don't make a sound." Sokka whispered.

"You're making a sound!" Katara said. Aang and I shushed her.

I looked at the shadow, it was getting bigger, and it's ears...longer?

"That's not a firebender. It's a lemur." I said standing up.

"BELLA SIT DOWN." Sokka said.

"Look!" I said pointing at the black and white fluffy animal sitting in the doorway.

"Lemur!" Aang yelled.

"Dinner..." Sokka said.

"Don't listen to him, your gonna be my new pet!" Aang said walking over to the lemur.

"NOT IF I CATCH HIM FIRST!" Sokka said running at it.

The lemur's tail went straight up and spiky then he ran down the hall, while Aang and Sokka followed it.

"Boys." Katara said and turned back to look at the statues. This was my chance. Aang and Sokka and gone, If I just slip out without Katara noticing, she won't know where I have gone.

I quickly ran out the doors, I heard her calling me so I ran even faster, this time using airbending. I ran all the way down the hill Aang took us up and all the way to the tower. I pushed the door open, looked behind me and stepped inside. I ran up the layers of steps until I reached the floor. I was so out of breath but it was worth it because in front of me was the door with the sign that read KETU.

Panting, I looked at the door knob, it wasn't a knob at all it was a pipe with a round edge. 

I stepped back and I didn't hear the tower doors open.

I extended my arm and raised my hand and I didn't hear the footsteps.

I shot air out of my palm and this time I heard it.

"Bella..."