Ablaze || Aang x Reader

3: A New Start

I stood carefully on the driftwood, and thankfully it didn't sink. Then I lifted my glider to be open, flat side facing me so that I could bend air to sail me through the ocean faster.

It worked! I was glider surfing! There were even times when the waves led me into mid air. It was awesome!

In the time I had until I reached land, I thought of what I would do. The Fire Nation definitely doesn't want the Avatars around to stop their war for power, so as soon as they know who Aang and I are, they'll hunt us down. Fire Nation soldiers will follow me around to every village I visit.

Aang is very careless over his identity. He was never good at those games where one person is a 'spy' and the rest have to figure out who. He always lost. It's only a matter of time before someone figures out who he is. For now, I'll pretend to be a novice earthbender — because that's technically what I am, and hopefully someone will let me take refuge until news of where Aang is reaches me. I mean, a hundred years without an Avatar, everyone will go crazy when they find out who he is.

Right as I finish my planning, I start seeing land and I put my plan into action.

I land on the shore of this island, closing my glider. I know for sure there's a village here, I saw some civilization from the water.

I began looking around when there was a rustling behind me as I was tackled and pinned to the floor face-down.

"Who are you?! What is your business on Kyoshi Island?!" demanded the person currently jabbing their knee into my spine.

"Woah! I'm just here trying to find somewhere to take refuge from the Fire Nation! My name is... Yeniu. I swear on my missing mother's possible grave that I come in peace." I said.

Not a word of what I just said was true, but I'm pretty sure she bought it because she let me go and helped me up.

"I apologise. We do not get many refugees here. If you let us, we can take you back to the village and we'll take care of... this." The teen girl clad in warrior paint and a green fighting uniform gestured to all of me, and then to more girls like her behind her.

"Yeah, I know I'm not exactly the most well-kept at the moment. But I would be most grateful for your help." I said.

She nodded and began guiding me back to the village. We made small talk on the way and I learned that her name was Suki and that I am on an island created by Avatar Kyoshi herself. She seems like a pretty cool person if I do say so myself.

We entered the village and she led me  far enough in the village that some people gave me strange looks.

We approached an official looking building and she guided me in through the open door. Suki gestured to a chair near a table in the corner and I sat.

"So where are you from?" she asked as she picked out some fruit from a bowl

"Um... it's really far from here. I've been travelling for months. It's near Ba Sing Se. When I was younger, I spent most of my time trying to imagine what it's like inside. Then my village was attacked so I had to flee." I replied, fiddling with my scarred hand. Not one word was true.

"Oh, I'm sorry. You're welcome to stay here if you'd like. My house has an extra room and I'm sure my mother and sisters wouldn't mind."

"You have sisters? How many?"

"Four, but we're not really sisters. We're just friends but you wouldn't be able to tell if no one told you."

We made some more small talk until eventually another Kyoshi Warrior came in and handed me some light blue civilian clothes.

"Alright, if you go down the hall, third door to the right, you'll find the washroom. You can shower there — remove the remaining dirt and stuff — we'll wash and repair your clothes, you can wear the other clothes my colleague just handed you in the meantime." Suki said, "Oh, and here's some ointment. I know your burn is healed, but it helps with sensitivity and makes it smoother."

She handed me a small clay pot.

"Thank you so much. Seriously, I don't know what I would've done without you. I owe you one." I said.

"It's no problem. I'm happy to help. When you're done, find the Kyoshi Warriors' training building. We don't train outsiders, but I'd like to give you a tour of the village."

"Okay, see you!" I said, waving and walking down the hall and into the washroom.

I placed the ointment and my civilian clothes on the counter. I proceeded to peel off my water-and-sweat-soaked airbender clothes, plopping them next to the clean ones. I turned the water on and stepped into the shower, letting the water run down my back as it gradually got to the right temperature.

I noticed three clay pots labelled 'Shampoo', 'Conditioner', and 'Body Wash' on a small set of shelves in the corner and used each.

In about fifteen minutes, I had finished my shower and put on my new clothes. Luckily, a head band was part of the outfit, and I could cover the tattoo on my head and no one would question why I'm wearing it. The pants were a little big, but I just rolled up the cuffs and applied the ointment to my scar.

The now-healed burn stretched from the tip of my left fingers and all the way up my arm to fade out at my collarbones and mid-shoulder blade. The ointment — once applied — sank into my skin and had a lingering cooling effect. It was strange, but nice. I left the washroom with my dirty clothes in hand.