If there was a word to describe how Asha was feeling right now it would be numb. Actually two words, comfortably numb.  The group had decided that the air benders especially needed a break, so there they were. They had found a gorgeous waterfall that cascaded into a deep pool, providing a refreshing relief to the group. 

As canny as it was, all the group members (at least those who had one in the first place) still had their bathing suits; And as much as she despised the idea of relaxing when Gumi was still out there, Katara had forced Asha to take a break.  So there she was, changed, waiting for Katara and numb. Comfortably numb.  

"Ready?" Katara asks, finally reappearing; now clad in her bathing suit.  She only gets a nod, so she takes to approaching the air bender, whose currently mindlessly tracing her newly scabbed over wound.  "I like your stripe." 

Asha peeks up, facing the water bender before glancing further down her arm where a new stripe indeed painted her arm. "

I didn't even realize." She murmured, tracing the stripe with her fingers.  It connected the arrow on her hand (under the cuffed bracelet) all the way to the center arrow on her back. Turning she allows Katara to trace it as well, shivering slightly at her cold fingers. 

"Your arrows are different from Aang's." Katara noted, stepping back to look at the girl's back entirely.

"Yea? His are tattoos, mine- I guess- are badges." Asha raises a brow. 

"No, no. None of his tattoos connect to each other. They stop completely, while yours all fall into the one on your back. It looks like it splits into your other ones." Katara explains, only causing more confusion on the air benders part. 

"No... Do they?" Asha asks, tilting her head. Katara only gestures her head to the pool, where the boys (and Toph) are currently waiting.  

Running over to their meeting place, the boys all looking up at her, Toph not flinching, Asha runs over to Aang, who raises a brow at her as she turns him around.  Tracing her finger along the arrow that runs down his back, she ignores his own shiver, furrowing her brows at the discovery.

"They are different." Asha hums, continuing to look at Aang's arrows.

"What do you mean? What's different? Ash?!" Aang sounds panicked as he reaches around, trying to feel his arrow.

"Not yours." She huffs, her lips twitching at the boy's actions.

"Asha got a stripe!" Sokka yells, scrambling to inspect it closer, Raiko following. However Aang beats them both to it as he grabs Asha's arm, lightly of course, holding it up to his face.

"It's her water bending stripe!" Raiko preens like a bird, smiling like a dork the whole time. 

"Proud mama Raiko strikes again." Toph laughs out, Asha laughing with her.  

___

After the excitement of the stripe had worn off, everyone had gone to do their own thing; Asha thanking the spirits for it as it allowed her, wounded, arm to rest.  Aang and Katara had taken to swimming, Toph even splashing her feet from the edge, while Raiko, Asha and Sokka took to reading.  Zulu and Momo laying beside them, both curled up behind Asha, fast asleep. 

Taking out the two books, Asha was finally able to read the title of the other- Dealing with the Onsra and Avatar- A guide- and immediately handed it to Raiko as she decided on reading the incantation. Sokka sat on a rock above them, reading a scroll he got from the library as well

"Did you know, that Onsras are more likely to get possessed by a spirit than the Avatar?" Raiko asks with a tinge of humor, earning only a groan from Asha. 

"Of course they are." 

"Water bending bomb! Yeah!" Katara yells, jumping into the pool from a ledge further up, calling all attention to her.  She cannonballs into the awaiting water, sending a column of water up. Asha turns to cover the scroll, keeping it dry as she gets soaked, Raiko and Sokka both getting soaked as well. The poor animals let out noises of indignation as their fur and scales respectively drip. Asha can hear Aang and Toph laughing but is preoccupied with the water that soaks the pages of Raiko's book. 

"Sure, 5000 year old maps and books from the spirit library, just splash some water on 'em." Sokka grunts, holding the dripping map further from him.

"Sorry." Katara says, emerging from the water, wringing her hair out. She water bends the water out of the map, Raiko doing the same with the book, before Sokka spreads the map on the ground, where Asha's scroll had previously been laid. Said girl quickly rolls up the scroll, stuffing it in her bag; Aang noticing but not questioning. 

"So, did you figure out what route we're gonna take?" Aang asks Sokka, pushing the thought of the scroll for a later date. 

"Okay. We just got out of the desert, so we must be around here, and we need to go to Ba Sing Se, which is here. It looks like the only passage connecting the South to the North is this sliver of land called the Serpent's Pass." Sokka says, pointing out map features. 

"You sure that's the best way to go?" Toph speaks up, leaning on the bent over Asha, who grunts but allows her to do so.

"It's the only way, I mean it's not like we have Appa or Gumi to fly us there."  Sokka looks over to his sister, not realizing his insensitivity as both air benders cringe at the memory.

"Shush up about them. Can't you at least try to be sensitive?" Katara chastises her brother in a hushed voice, the two then looking to the air benders.

"Katara, it's okay. I know I was upset about losing Appa before, but I just want to focus on getting to Ba Sing Se, and telling the Earth King about the solar eclipse." Aang sounds calm, placing a hand on Asha's shoulder (the one Toph isn't currently leaning on).  Asha only nods in agreement.

"Oh, well, okay. I'm glad you're both doing better." Katara gives a surprised, but genuine smile. 

"Then to Ba-Sing-Se we go, no more distractions." Sokka rolls up the map, standing up with a stretch.

"Hello there fellow refugees!" The groups' heads snap towards the new voice, seeing a young man, a very pregnant woman, and a teenage girl- a little older than Katara. 

"Oh no, here we go again." Asha groans, dragging her hands down her face. Dropping her hand, she bends down to pick up her squeaking raptor, allowing the reptile to hide her muzzle in the crook of her folded arms while Asha stands, moving to stand on the other side of Aang.

"Hey, it wasn't all bad last time. Don't tell me you forgot the cave of two lovers." Said Avatar teases, turning his head as the blushing brunette leans onto his back.

"So, are you guys headed to Ba-Sing-Se too?" Raiko asks, looking up to the approaching  family. 

"Sure are, we're trying to get there before my wife, Ying, has her baby." The man reaches over to his wife's pregnant belly. 

"Great, we can travel through the Serpant's Pass together." Katara smiles, only to get horrified looks from the other travelers. 

"The Serpent's Pass?! Only the truly desperate take that deadly route!" Ying cowers, fear lacing her words. 

"Deadly route. Great pick, Sokka." Toph whacks Sokka's arm, causing the boy to wince. 

"To be fair, we are desperate." Raiko offers, holding is hands up in defense to any flying hands. 

"Than you should come with us to Full Moon Bay. Ferries take refugees across the lake. It's the fastest way to Ba-Sing-Se." The man explains, arm outstretched in explanation.

"And it's hidden, so the Fire Nation can't find it." Ying adds. 

"Hmm, peaceful ferry ride... Or deadly pass?"  Katara looks to her brother, sarcasm dripping from her voice. 

"Deadly pass! Let's go!" Asha cheers, throwing her free arm in the air, Zulu awaking at the sudden shaking. 

"No. Asha, no."  Aang groans, dragging a hand down his face; a smile betraying him however. 

___

They had gotten to the landing with little disruption (minus a few whines from Sokka) and now they stood. Facing hundreds of people.  As per habit, Asha and Aang latch onto each other (mostly so he doesn't loose her, also because Asha is a ball of overwhelming Social anxiety) following Katara's lead.  Zulu lays in Asha's satchel, unseen and quiet as her owner walks on, the Onsra at least thinking ahead incase pets weren't allowed-- which they most likely weren't. 

"I can't believe how many people's lives have been uprooted by the Fire Nation." Katara eyes the crowd, a crying child's whine invading their hearing. 

"Thanks, Katara." Asha grunts, getting an apologetic smile. 

"We're all looking for a better life. Safe, behind the walls of Ba-Sing-Se." Than says looking to the same crowd, a frown on his face.

___

Watching in horror as an enormous platypus-bear destroys a cart, and all the goods in it, Asha feels her stomach drop, nerves frying at the aggressiveness at it all.  Guards drag away the  owner of the cart, an exclamation of 'my cabbages!' following.  

"Next!" The Bureaucrat yells, stamping some sort of paper. 

"Um, six tickets for the ferry to Ba-Sing-Se, please." Aang steps up, still clutching Asha's hand. 

"Passport." 

"Uh, no one told us we had to have passports." Aang looks back to Asha, the girl only shrugging with a furrowed brow. The bureaucrat looks ready to call over the platypus bear before Sokka steps next to the air benders.

"Don't you know who this is? He's the Avatar!" He exclaims, gesturing to Aang wildly.

"Ah, I see fifty Avatars a day, and by the way, not a very impressive costume." The bureaucrat eyes Aang, the boy cowering. She then points to the side, a motley group of boys all in costumes. 

"What about the Onsra?" Raiko steps next, pushing Asha closer to the woman. 

"That's a new one." The woman eyes Asha before smirking, stamping a ticket. "Who is he to you?" She gestures to Raiko.

"My teacher." Asha stutters out, sweating profusely.  With a roll of her eyes, the Bureaucrat stamps yet another ticket. 

"I don't see why they need both the Onsra and Avatar- if that's really who he is. Onsra go ahead." She waves off Asha and Raiko, both walking to side slowly.  

"Besides, no animals allowed. Do I need to call security?"  The Bureaucrat sneers, eyeing Momo as he jumps on Aang's shoulder. 

"That won't be necessary!" Aang holds his hands up in surrender. 

"Next!" 

Toph strides forward, waving off the other kids. Taking out a green document she shows it the Bureaucrat, who stares in awe. "My name is Top Bei Fong, and I'll need four tickets.

"Oh! The Golden Seal of the Flying Boar, it is my pleasure to help anyone of the Bei Fong family." The Bureaucrat bows with a flourish, awed by the document and Toph herself. 

"It is your pleasure. As you can see I am blind, and these three imbeciles are my valets." Toph arrogantly snorts, gesturing to the other three behind her. Asha and Raiko standing nearby, watching with a humored look. 

"But the animal..."

"Is my Seeing-Eye Lemur." Toph interrupts, Momo hopping onto her shoulder. 

"Well, normally it's only 1 ticket per passport, but, this document is so official, I guess it's worth four tickets." The Bureaucrat rapidly stamps four papers, handing it to the girl. 

Walking away, the four meet up with Raiko and Asha (Toph handing out the tickets as she passes those who needed one). 

"How was that?" Asha asks with a smirk, Aang just grabbing for her hand.

"Painful. How did she believe you and not me?" Aang replies with a question of his own, Asha shrugging as the group walk towards the loading docks.

"Alright, we scammed that lady good!" Sokka cheers from behind the group once their in the clear, the rest rolling their eyes.  Their halted by Sokka being grabbed from behind, spun by an attractive young woman in uniform. 

"Tickets and passports please." She demands firmly, hand held out.

"Is there a problem?" Sokka steps back, intimidated by the girl.

"Yeah, I've got a problem with you." She pokes his chest. "I've seen your type before, probably sarcastic, think your hilarious, and let me guess, you're traveling with the Avatar." The girl continues, the group watching poor Sokka.

"Do I know you?"  Sokka narrows his eyes. 

"You mean you don't remember?" The girl yanks Sokka by his collar. "Maybe you remember this." She kisses his cheek, shocking not only him, but Raiko and Asha as well. 

"What just happened?" Toph whispers, nudging Asha with her shoulder. The brunette blinks wildly before shaking her head. "Some girl just kissed Sokka's cheek."

"Willingly?!"

Asha nods, not that Toph can see it before gently pulling Aang's hand to get his attention, which he gives her quickly. "Who's she?"

"Same question." Toph and Raiko whisper, scarily in sync.

The woman seems to notice the new group members, turning with a small wave. "Come on, there's obviously a lot of catch up to do. I have a place we can talk." 

___

"Are the other Kyoshi warriors around?"  Aang questions, standing against a wall with Asha by his side. 

After introductions from both ends, they found themselves on a wall overlooking the docks of the Ferry landing, Suki (As Asha had come to learn) eagerly asking the brunette several questions about being the Onsra, which Asha happily answered, before they took their own turns returning questions about Suki. 

"Yeah, after you left Kyoshi, we wanted to find a way to help people. We ended up escorting some refugees, and we've been here ever since." She pauses, Momo jumping up next to her. "Hi Momo, good to see you too. So why are you guys getting tickets for the ferry? Wouldn't you just fly across on Appa? " Suki asks, looking as the group looks down. 

"Appa is missing. We hope to find him in Ba-Sing-Se." Katara looks to Aang, who only pulls Asha closer to him as he burrows himself into her neck.

"I'm so sorry to hear that. Are you doing okay?" Suki asks, causing everyone to look to him. 

"I'm doing fine. Would everyone stop worrying about me! What about Asha?! She's missing Gumi!" Aang snaps, annoyed, before going back to his wallowing, trying desperately to ignore the gazes on him

"Avatar Aang, Onsra Asha, you have to help us!" Their heads twist as Ying yells up to them. "Someone took all of our belonging. Our passports, our tickets. Everything's gone!" She cries out, Asha and Aang quickly getting up to go and meet the family. 

 "I'll talk to the lady, you go help Ying calm down; we can't have her giving birth here." Aang directs, letting go of Asha as she nods; missing the warmth she provided as soon as he did. 

___

"What's it like being the Onsra?" Asha looks up to Suki at the question; the girl now back in her traditional garb and makeup as they travel to Serpant's pass. They had agreed to lead the family of three (Four if you count the baby) through the dangerous pass, Suki coming with them, and gave up their own tickets for no-way back. 

"What do you mean?" 

"Well, you have to master all of the elements as well, right? And you can enter the Avatar state?" Suki questions, watching as Asha turns her attention back to watching Zulu chase Momo.

"Yeah, I suppose so. Why?"  

"So you can fight as well, right?" Asha finally looks back, nodding as she does. Suki seems nervous, fidgeting with her sleeves before asking her next question. "Can you teach me some things? I only know what they taught at Kyoshi island, but being in the world has taught me that there are so many other fighting styles and-"

Asha interrupts Suki with a hand and a small smile. "Yeah, I can try and teach what I know from working with an old friend, but I can't promise it'll be any good-" This time Asha is stopped as the older girl wraps her arms around the brunette.

"Thank you! I can't tell you how much this means to me." Suki exclaims before separating, Asha nodding her head with a small smile before focusing on the conversation in front of her. 

"Look at this writing, how awful."  Ying gasps as they approach the gatepost. 

"What does it say?" Toph asks, stepping next to Asha and Suki. 

"Abandon hope." Katara reads out.   

"How could we abandon hope? It's all we have." Ying cries miserably, hiding her face in her husband's chest.

"I don't know."  Eye peer to Asha as she starts, Aang walking back to her. "The sisters used to say it's just a distraction. Unnecessary in the long run." Asha looks down as she says it, lips down turning into a frown. 

"The monks said the same. So maybe we do need to abandon it."  Aang adds, looking to the group. Incredulous looks being the air benders only reaction. 

"What are you talking about?"  Katara looks to the two. 

"Hope isn't going to get us into Ba-Sing-Se, and it's not gonna find Appa and Gumi. We need to focus on what we're doing right now, and that's getting across this pass." Aang steps through the gate as he talks, Asha following closely behind. 

"If you say so." Raiko looks to the two, allowing everyone to fall in before him. 

Walking single file along a perilously narrow path, they walk in silence, nothing but the clinks of the air benders' staffs echoing around them. 

"The fire nation controls the western lake. Rumor has it they're working on something big on the other side, and they don't want anyone to find out what it is."  Suki breaks it, a fire nation war vessel cruising in the distance.  It approaches, causing the travelers to stop and crouch along the wall to remain out of sight.  All their eyes shoot back as the path under Than gives way, Toph acting quickly with Earth bending before launching him back up and into the arms of his family. 

"I'm okay."  

"Doesn't matter, they've spotted us!" Asha yells out, leaping off the cliff, Aang right behind her. Sending a fireball back to the ship with a wave of air, the two open their gliders, watching as the ship catches fire.  They circle back with ease, landing behind Toph and watching as the ship burns on the lake. 

___

Without looking back, Aang can tell it's Asha who approaches him. Her footsteps are light and almost unnoticeable, the only thing giving her away is the crunch of the small pebbles beneath her feet.

"It's okay to miss Appa." She stops walking a few paces behind him, giving him space. "But it's not okay, to act like you stopped caring. What's going on inside your head?" She resumes walking, closing in on Aang. 

"You saw what I did out there. I was so angry about losing Appa, I couldn't control myself. I hated feeling like that." 

"But not letting yourself feel anything is worse. I know sometimes it hurts more to hope, and it hurts to care, but  I need you to promise me something." She gently pulls his head toward herself with a careful hand. 

"And that is?"  His voice is flat, defeated. 

"Promise me that you won't stop caring. You'll remain that caring, sweet boy I grew up with." She looks up to him, his eyes avoiding hers.  He steps away, bowing to her as she frowns. 

"Thank you for your concern Asha."  She watches him walk away, only to turn and lean on a tree, giving a heavy sigh. 

She knew, deep down, this whole thing was an uphill battle. She was pushing a stone up a steep hill, gravity working with all it's damnedest against her. She just hoped that Aang would come to help her before she slips. 

___

Ironically enough, Asha had found herself trudging down a steep slop, Aang leading the group. The only difference between now and yesterday, was the obvious distance between Asha and Aang, both metaphorically and physically. Instead of leading in the front with Aang, Asha was currently in the back with Raiko, head down and a deep from set on her face. Zulu squeaks from Raiko's arms, gaining no reaction from her owner. 

The air bender doesn't even look up as Katara yells something about single file, she just complies, falling behind Raiko without further fuss.  Just the fact she had said less then five words to him made Raiko keep a hand on Asha's wrist at all time, making sure she didn't fly off on her own. 

"Your an air bender, your supposed to be high spirited or something." Asha only winces as Toph smacks her head with presumably Aang's staff. 

"That's not what being an air bender means. At least not what the northern air benders meant." Asha groans, rubbing her head, eyeballing the bubble of air around them before  looking to the large, dark shape that passes by them. 

"What is that thing?"  Katara asks, struggling to keep concentration.   

Furrowing her brows, Asha slowly takes her own staff out of her holster; moving her body to cover the family currently huddled in fear. It's silent for a few seconds, tensions within the bubble growing.  Just as muscles stop tensing (Asha still staying tense), the creature crashes through the walls of the bubble; threatening to drown them all. Giving a quick tug to Asha's arm, getting her attention, Toph motions quickly. The two girls successfully move their limbs, creating a large column of Earth below them, pushing everyone to the surface.  

Toph hands Aang his staff back, Asha beside her, coughing up water. Patting the poor girls back, Raiko watches a shiny dorsal fin circle their small sanctuary.   

"Jeez, Asha. Swallow anymore water and you would've become a fish." Raiko tries joking, the poor girl still hacking away. He's shoved to the side as Aang recovers from the shock of what happened-- the blond shrugging as he allows the two their space, as the obviously needed to work out whatever happened between them.

"What happened?" Aang questions kneeling beside the fallen girl just as Asha's coughing ceases; a pool of water under her.  He only gets a shrug from the water bender when he looks to the blond, causing Aang to roll his eyes as he rubs the girls back. Her heavy panting ringing through their ears as the only form of sound.

It's silent, dread growing within the group before, once again, the silence is disrupted by a jade sea Serpent erupting from the lake, letting out a deafening roar as it rears back. Aang steps in front of Asha at the sight, staff ready as everyone else looks up in horror. 

"I think I just figured out why they call it the Serpent's Pass!" Sokka yells pointing upward. "Suki, you know about giant sea monsters. Make it go away!" 

"Just because I live near the Unagi doesn't mean I'm an expert!" Suki shouts angrily. 

"Oh great and powerful sea serpent, please accept this humble and tasty offering. Thank you." Sokka holds up the two smaller animals. Both Raiko and Katara yelling at him before grabbing Zulu and Momo. 

The serpent lunges toward the group, Aang sweeping an arc of wind toward the creature, punching it backwards. Hearing his counterpart get to her feet, her staff in hand, Aang turns to Katara.  

"Asha and I'll distract him. Get everyone across." His voice holds authority, Asha standing beside him with her glider wings free.  The two take off as the serpent recovers, snaking after them.  They easily elude the serpent, gliding around it with ease. 

Katara watches as Asha turns her body, standing on her glider like a surfboard, preforming some water bending moves as she passes the serpent. Asha freezes the ice around the monsters midsection, only to groan as the creature turns its body, destroying the minimal barrier; continuing to pursue the air benders.

The duo quickly pick up pace as they circle the serpent, Asha still riding her glider like a surfboard while a whirlpool quickly forms around the serpent, the pressure rendering the serpent helpless. The spinning eventually gets to monster as it's neck cracks against the nearby cliff-side, the unconscious serpent slinking into the depths.   The air benders gliding back to the cheering group soon after.

Asha stumbles as she lands, placing a hand on Katara's shoulder to stop her from falling. "Never make me spin like that again." The water bender only laughs at her.

"There's the wall! Now it's nothing but smooth sailing to Ba-Sing-Se!" Sokka cheers as a large wall is seen in the distance. 

"Oh no!" Ying doubles over, clutching her stomach as everyone's eyes snap to her. 

"What's wrong?" Sokka becomes apprehensive very quickly as the family ease the woman to the ground.

"The baby's coming!" 

"You just had to jinx it, didn't you?" Asha glares to Sokka, smacking him over the head with her staff.

"Now?! Can't you hold it in or something?"  Sokka asks, recovering quickly with his arms up just in case the air bender went in for a second smack.

"She can't just hold in a baby!" Asha yells, panic apparent in her voice as she runs her hands through her hair.

"Calm down you two, I helped Gran-Gran deliver lots of babies back home." Katara offers, Asha taking a breath as she does. 

"This isn't the same as delivering an arctic seal! This is a real...human...thing!" Sokka yells, completely panicking. 

"It's called a baby, and I helped to deliver plenty of those too! Now," She looks over the group, authoritative. "Aang, get some rags. Sokka and Raiko, water. Toph, I need you to make an Earth tent. A big one. Asha, Suki, come with me." The two girls follow Katara into the newly made tent.

Asha stares in disbelief as Ying holds onto her daughter and husbands hands. It's obvious she's in pain, late stages of labor as she heavily gasps, sweat dripping down her face.  In a way it reminds Asha of the vision she had at Aunt Wu's, the vision nearly being lost in her brain and to time. She's pulled back to the real world as Katara pulls her between Ying's blanket covered legs.  

"Ying, I'm gonna need you to push!" Katara instructs, moving Asha's hands to where they need to be. She yells to her brother, but it's just a hum to her. She hears a thud, but again, it's lost to Asha's racing heartbeat. 

___

Aang enters the tent with slumped shoulders, his eyes immediately looking for Asha per habit. He spots the girl kneeling before a tub of water, presumably washing the blood of her hands. Her skin is pale and her eyes look tired, but a certain energy buzzes around her.

"How was that?" He almost laughs at her grimace, the girl momentarily pausing her scrubbing with a cloth. 

"Is a  horrifyingly new, yet cool experience acceptable?" She humors, resuming washing her stained hands before looking up to Aang with a playful smile.

"Yeah, I guess it is." That drives a laugh out of the boy. 

"It's a girl." 

"I heard. Wanna come see with me?" Aang holds a hand out to Asha, the girl rolling her eyes but taking it nonetheless. 

"I helped deliver her." She giggled out, the two approaching the new family.  Aang rolls his eyes at the smart remark. 

The two stand at the back, the baby still visible as she snoozes. Aang lets out a bittersweet smile, holding Asha closer to him. 

"What should we name her?" Than turns to his wife, looking proud of Ying. 

Aang can't help but hope for him to be in the exact same position (Well maybe not exact) with Asha one day, their newborn cradled in her arms as he looks down at her with pride. He can only imagine the love welling up inside of the new dad as he can feel his own bubble in his gut over something that hasn't even happened yet.

"I want our daughter's name to be unique. I want it to mean something. "

"I've been going through a really hard time lately. But, they've made me... hopeful again."  Aang turns to Asha as she wipes his tears, a soft smile on her face as she holds his cheek in her hands. The parents seem to hear him, looking back to their daughter.

"I know what I want to name our baby now. Hope." Ying smiles, the air benders looking over to the mom. 

"That's a perfect name. Hope." 

___

Watching from a tree outside of the tent, the air benders watch as their friends gape and coo at the small baby. Asha had gotten more than her fair share of baby watch and needed some air, and Aang followed her out.  Aang and her had been having small conversation, neither addressing the elephant in the room, until Aang let out a huff, turning to Asha with a look that already had her dreading what he was about to say.

"I thought I was trying to be strong, but really I was just running away from my feelings. Seeing this family together, so full of happiness and love, it reminded me of how I feel about Appa... And how I feel about you." Aang pulls his counterpart by her hips, wiping her tears with his thumb before they get the chance to fall. Both know what needs to happen, even if neither want to admit it.

"You need to stay here with them. I'll find them though." Aang whispers, leaning closer to the girl.  Without another word, Aang is shocked as Asha connects their lips, the girl holding his face in her hands as she desperately tries to cling to him before he leaves; Aang's shock wearing off as he wraps his arms around her waist, returning the tight grip without a second though.  He can feel her sad smile twinge against his lips, his own returning the action before pulling away. 

He looses himself in the adoration swimming in his Onsra's eyes.

"I know you will." She smiles, Aang pulling her into another hug as he hears the others approach.  Letting her go, Aang turns to the rest of the gang, all of whom are now out of the tent. 

"Asha will stay with you guys. I promise I'll find Appa and Gumi as fast as I can though. I just...I need to do this." The boy looks up as Toph hands him his staff. 

"See ya in the big city." Sokka smiles, stepping back. 

"Say hi to the big fuzzball for me. And the over-sized purse." Toph slugs his arm, causing Aang to wince. 

"You'll find them." Asha steps forward again, her and Aang hugging quickly. 

"I know. Thank you Ash." He whispers softly to the girl.

Opening his glider, Aang gives a final glance back as he takes off. Asha still watching him as the others turn. 

Eventually, the girl falls out of sight as well, leaving Aang alone in the air with only his thoughts and Momo.