Sound Bender (Avatar: The Last Airbender) #Wattys2017

||Chapter 23 - Air Fuels Fire||

Before I start this chapter, There will be a note at the end which I would really appreciate if you guys would read it, thanks and enjoy the chapter! -Golden

Himoko's POV

Adrian and I came into view of the village as the sun began to rise in the east. I spotted Katara sitting at the gates into the village with a blanket wrapped around her, looking tired and hopeless. I left Adrian's side, running over to her. My footsteps must have been loud because she looked up at me, startled. I crashed down onto my knees, calming down my heart rate

"I'm so sorry, Katara. I couldn't find them." I apologized to her with my head bowed, disappointed in myself. I felt her grab hold of my hands as she sniffed, blinking away her tears, "It's okay... They are probably on their way back now." She replied, staying hopeful. Adrian walked by us, reaching the old man who pulled him into a tight hug

"Where did you find her?" I overheard the old man ask

"Way too deep into the forest west of the village. She was almost early breakfast for a Yumi." Adrian stated, doing his best to keep his voice down, but was failing miserably if I could hear it

"Good thing you got back from hunting today, or else it may have gotten her." Adrian nodded, catching me looking at them with my peripheral view. I quickly averted my gaze, staring at Katara who seemed to be lost in thought, worry etched into her features over her older brother and Aang

"I will go help make breakfast, Himoko, will you be fine out here?" I nodded, looking back up at Adrian. He sighed but nodded, leaving the three of us by the gates

"Katara, they will come back." I assured her, looking over my shoulder at the forest behind me. The old man nodded in agreement

"You two should get some rest, your brother is in good hands of the Avatar."

"Thank you." Katara thanked him with a small nod, snapping out of her thoughts

"What is your name? I forgot to ask you." I asked him, "It's Jin. I will fetch some water for you two, and Adrian will have breakfast for us all shortly." I watched him leave, waiting until he was out of ear range to speak to Katara

"Did anyone else go looking for Sokka and Aang besides me?" She shook her head

"I almost but I was held back, I guess they didn't want to lose more people... Then early, and I mean really early this morning, Adrian came back from hunting Arin told me. I-I don't like him... He gives me bad vibes." She informed me, tugging the blanket around her closer. I switched sitting positions, criss crossed while bent forward to look at her as she mostly kept her head down

"Why? He seems pretty nice, and knowledgeable." I told her, acting as if I had just met Adrian

"Arin and Jin told me that many people outside of the village get intimidated by him when they see his eyes, he is part Fire Nation believe it or not." She told me and I faked a small intake of air

"He is?" She nodded, looking directly up at me

"I wouldn't trust him too much if I were you, Himoko. Anyone Fire Nation is bad news."

"But he is only part Fire Nation, isn't he? So that doesn't give you the right to instantly brand him as untrustworthy." I told her

"I know its bad of me but... I can't help it, all of the Fire Nation has done has been awful and horrible things-"

"-And you can't get past that... I get it, people of that Nation took away my parents, my whole culture away from me long before I was born, but when I look at Adrian, he doesn't seem that way. If he was horrible, then he would have let the Yumi get me."