Soft feet padded against the dirt floor; Quickly, quietly, efficiently and overall, purposefully. The brunette's hair, now cut to just below her shoulder blades, flowed behind her like an effortless waterfall as her cerulean eyes narrowed, brows furrowed in determination with a small smirk playing on her lips. 

There were now several bandages littering her body, wrapped around cuts, scrapes and burns alike. A bright white one wrapped tightly around her thigh, hiding the malicious burn scar that marred her once supple skin. It, of course, had once scarred over, but due to her constant movement (and inability to sit still) the scar continuously broke open, leaving no choice but to clean it free of the scab and keep it wrapped.  

It had been two weeks since the Ba Sing Se incident. Two weeks since the two last saw any of their friends. Two weeks since the Onsra saw her Avatar. And she may not have shown it, but Asha was heartbroken. She had tried connecting Aang, constantly in the first few days, but was left disappointed every time. So she cut back on trying to connect. She focused on training, hiding from the Fire Nation; forcing people to think that the Onsra was dead. It was Raiko's idea, to provide the illusion, she just went with it. They knew the Avatar was alive, since Asha was fine- well, the new fine. If Aang had died, Asha would be able to feel it; her own body shutting down, either from heartbreak or stress. But the girl was fine. 

As of currently, the two were in the middle of a training exercise, in the middle of the night. In the two weeks of being separated, Asha turned nocturnal; Raiko following right after. They hadn't seen Zulu or Gumi either, both assuming they were with their friends, so they traveled during the day and trained during the night. Why the dragon and raptor companions left them, Asha may never know, but she was glad. The battles the two have had to fight were not pretty, and sure, Asha left everyone standing but they were badly wounded. Things she wasn't proud of, but she wasn't in the right state of mind; still not, to be honest. She would have outbursts of insanity, falling prey to the instinct and urge to do real damage. She always regained control, but it got real close sometimes. And that scared her.

Asha's bright eyes swirled with mischief and perversity, locked on the blonde in front of her. He was currently sitting cross-legged in front of her, eyes closed and in deep meditation. Perfect. 

Pulling small orbs of water from her canteen, Asha jumped to the branches in the trees with the help from air bending. She felt like a carnivore (ironically, since she was still a vegetarian) hunting her prey.  She winced slightly at the crack the branch made, almost giving her location away.  Asha let out a silent sigh of relief, still holding the water orbs, when Raiko's eyes remaining closed; shielding the emerald orbs from the world before him. 

With a final look to Raiko, Asha jumped into action. With a flip for style, Asha twirls in the air, going to hurl the water towards Raiko as she gains momentum but is halted by an orb of water splashing over face; halting her momentum.  She flops to the dirt ground, the orbs of water in her own hand falling beside her with a lackluster 'pop'. 

"Fair 'nough." The girls voice is muffled by her face in the dirt, Raiko smirking as an eye pops open. 

"Face it Asha. I'm still the master."  The blonde stands, cracking his back and stretching out his stiff joints before standing.

"Yeah, yeah. Sure, whatever you say Blondie." The brunette sits up, knocking at the side of her head to get rid of any excess mud, doing the same to the other side shortly after.

The girl then stood as well, dusting off her new outfit. Her old air nomad outfit was destroyed in a fight, killing the girls spirit, but giving her a chance to find a new style. Which was, surprisingly enough, Fire nation clothing. Currently, she was wearing a soft red shirt the puffed up at the arms, tightening around her wrists. It cut off just under her rib cage, exposing a small bit of her (now tanned) stomach. The bottoms were a darker shade of red, same design (puffing at the legs then tightening at the ankles), her red sash from her air nomad outfit still tied around her small waist. It was the only thing she could save. She left her hair in a side ponytail, bangs hanging on either side of her head, keeping the necklace Aang made her tied tightly around her neck in a choker fashion.  It was one of the few things Asha kept. She kept very few things, such as the books from the library, the incantation, a canteen for water, and finally the picture from the Northern Air Temple (the one Aang drew). After the incident with the sister, Asha grabbed it.  All of her limited belongings were kept in a satchel that tied around her thigh-- the one not wrapped in bandages of course.

Raiko had changed as well, losing the trench coat and boots in exchange a red body suit, black armor covering his chest, shoulders, thighs and calves. Gold trims the armor and front of the knee high boots he sports. It was a bit formal, but Raiko almost made it look casual by the rest of his demeanor. 

"Anything from Aang?" The blonde looks to Asha, ready to start their journey again as the sun peeks over the horizon. They would get sleep later in the day, then start the routine all over again. 

"I haven't tried recently." Asha answers truthfully, running her fingers through her ponytail.  She hears a groan from Raiko, signaling his disappointment. 

"Okay, I get you miss Toph and all, but there's nothing I can do. He hasn't been answering for the past two weeks."   The brunette stretches once more, her bare feet starting to pad against the ground once more, this time slowly; already aching in anticipation for the journey ahead. 

"For your information, Toph and I are just friends." The boy grunts following the girl further into the forested area, continuing to grumble all the while. 

___

It happens when Asha is peacefully napping, her leg dangling off the branch she's currently perched on. The sun was high in the sky, it's rays landing on Raiko armor and reflecting off, making her wince whenever one hit her the wrong way. The blonde chose to lay on a fallen log in the sun while Asha chose to lay in the shaded branches of a nearby tree, even if it was semi-perfunctory with the reflection off Raiko's armor.

It startles the girl so badly that she falls from the branch, landing with a yelp and a thud, irritating her wounds and battle scars. 

'A-Asha? Please, please tell me your okay.'  It's the same voice she had been craving to hear from for the past two weeks. It rings through her head and for a minute, she contemplates being petty and leaving him in the silence; but she decides against it. 

'Aang? Of course I'm okay, I think the real question is, are you? I felt you get hit. How are you feeling?' Asha has to stop herself from the barrage of questions she wants to ask. Relief can be felt pouring in from Aang, the same emotion flowing freely through Asha's own veins. 

___

When Aang woke up disoriented and confused, he was at first he was shocked by the fire insignia all over his room, causing him to hobble out of the room as fast as his wounded body could carry him. He remembers getting hit in the back by Azula, but more pain soars through his thigh, making him believe that Asha was, most likely, hit as well, making guilt bubble in his gut. 

He woke up when the sun was high in the sky, soldiers chasing him as he attempted to run away, getting to the deck before his staff finally failed him, falling out from under him.  It took him fainting and a brief explanation from Katara to get mostly caught up. He hasn't seen his girlfriend, but saw Gumi and Zulu with Appa (Momo already perching himself up on Aang's shoulder), so he assumed she was asleep in another room, resting rightfully so.  Aang had tried to go look for her, but was stopped by Katara offering a healing session.  Maybe one day he could convince Asha to do it for him as he much preferred her hands on him than Katara's. 

He then was thrown into the heat of battle, Sokka having to hold him back all while claiming that they needed to keep him a secret, a surprise attack waiting to happen if you will. 

Then he was left alone. Refusing to go out if he had to cover his arrow. Toph, Katara and Sokka left, leaving him to his own thoughts.  His...thoughts. The very thoughts that Asha could hear. 

But what if she couldn't? When he was shot is seventh Chakra was locked, maybe that effected his ability to speak with his Onsra. Maybe it locked his eight chakra as well?

He tries anyway, his voice shaky for sure. Hesitant and afraid of what would happen if she doesn't reply. He's thanking the spirits as he does get a reply, relief flowing from him like an uncontrolled river.

'Aang? Of course I'm okay, I think the real question is, are you? I felt you get hit. How are you feeling?' 

She sounds shocked, this brings a frown to Aang's face. He knew he had been out for a while, but she should've known he was awake.  But nonetheless, happiness flows from him and Asha like a free river.

'Yeah, I'm fine. I- I need you right now. Where are you?'  

There's a hesitation in the reply back, a wave of anxiety rushing in from Asha that no amount of relief can cover up.

'Aang, where are you?'  

'On the ship? You never answered my question, where are you?'  Aang sits up, wincing at the pain in his back. He now feels his own anxiety break through from him, like an old dam. 

' Aang, Raiko and I were left behind. If I were to guess, we're deep in fire nation territory, close to an ocean. '  

Just like that, Aang can feel the failure coursing through him once again. He not only failed the world, but Asha once again, but this time, would be the last time. 

'Hang tight. I'm coming to find you.'

___

The last words said remained echoing in Asha's ears. She had told Raiko of the conversation and was debating going to find Aang. He was injured badly, but still willing to come find her. If that wasn't commitment, she didn't know what was.

"I say we try to find them." Raiko grunts, ready to soar onto the open waters once more. He watches as Asha stands, taking her staff and twirling it; releasing the glider hidden within. 

"Let's do this." 

___

The two stick close together, Asha taking to the skies as Raiko rides a wave, bending the water to his own will. They can cover much more land (Or water) with this tactic and it works for them easily.

 Looking down, the brunette seems to spot something-- narrowing her eyes as a raven drifting on a peice of broken wood, looking defeated and depressed, comes into view.

Whether she knew the person or not, Asha had to help(maybe). Soaring down, she was left shocked as a bright orange glider floated beside the boy, who clung onto the driftwood with white knuckles. Scooping up the glider, Asha bends a platform of ice- like an attachment- to the board, landing with grace. 

"Wanna tell me why you have a glider?" Her voice is threatening, demanding to know of any information that may lead her to Aang.

"Ash?" The raven looks up, familiar grey eyes peering into her crystal blue ones. 

"Aang?!" Asha is quick to bend down, pulling the shivering boy closer to herself as he nuzzles into her; his arms, dripping wet and cold, wrap around her hips tightly, not that she pushes him away. She, in fact, does the opposite.

"Oh my gods, I thought- I thought that you were gone forever!" Asha cries out, her head nuzzling into Aang's as she pulls him in closer.

"N-not a chance." Aang pauses, still holding on to his girlfriend.  "I love you too much." 

"I love you too." She wails, tears she didn't she was holding back bursting free as she presses soft kisses to the shivering boy's temples.

___

With help from Raiko, the two air benders find themselves on a small island, lava flowing freely down the edges. Their gliders unfortunately receiving more damage then they could most likely sustain during the journey to this island.  The two sat on a cooler part of the island with Aang laying his head in Asha's lap as she runs her fingers through his newly achieved hair,  Raiko standing further on look-out. 

"I never thought I would get the chance to run my hands through your hair." Asha giggles, smiling softly. Something she hasn't done for a long time. 

"I never thought you would either, to be honest. Feels nice though." Aang hums in contentment. He knows Katara will beat his ass once they find them. Asha knows it, Raiko knows it, and to be honest, they were going to let it happen- mostly for a good laugh. 

And because Raiko and Asha are going to, in turn, beat her (and the others of course) ass.

"Asha, what happened to you?" Aang strains to look up to the girl, his neck straining as he looks to the bandages on her cheek. 

"I got into a few fights, some got a lucky hit. It-" 

"I meant in Ba Sing Se." 

The girl falls silent, swallowing tightly and looking down to Aang, resuming running her fingers through his hair- she hadn't even realized she stopped. 

"Aki got me. You got hit and I felt my world, just... die. She took the dirty shot,  a dishonorable thing to do really." A smile reappears on her face, even if he could feel the pain and remorse that came when she thought of the incident. 

"I'm-"

"No!" Her shout shocks Aang, but he remains on her lap. "No. It's not your fault at all. Don't you ever blame yourself for one bloody second for what happened. I mean it Aang. I love you and it hurts to watch you do that to yourself." Asha holds his cheeks, using both hands. With a peck to his lips, Aang smiling at the contact, Asha connects their foreheads. 

"You tried you hardest and sometime, setbacks come with trying your hardest. But never failures. Just a delay to your success."  Asha's words strike a chord in Aang, the boy feeling tears prick the corners of his eyes. 

"I love you, don't forget that." 

"I love you too, Ash." Aang sits up as her wraps his arms around Asha, connecting their lips once more as his own hands come up to cup her cheeks.

They separate as the sound of footsteps becomes louder, almost like a small herd of animals. Yet, the duo knows who it is.  She springs to her feet with Aang in toe as the footsteps grow closer and closer.

The two air benders collide with Katara, Toph and Sokka. Katara letting out a cry of happiness as Sokka and Raiko hold them in a group hug, any thought of embarrassment gone from their minds. 

"I thought you died, Nova! I would've brought you back from the dead for leaving me with Sokka!" Toph snickers, holding onto Asha tightly. 

"Aw, don't be like that." Asha laughs as well, Toph holding her tighter. 

As they separate, Toph slugging Asha in the arm causing the girl to yelp before turning around and slugging her back; Raiko holds the two staffs towards the air benders. 

"I don't know about you, but I think Asha knows what she has to do." Raiko focuses on Asha, the girl taking her broken glider with shaky hands and an even shakier smile.

"No, I know. If someone saw it, it would give away our identity. It's better for now that no one knows we're alive." Aang grabs his glider as well. 

The two walk over to a stream of Lava, one on either side of the flowing stream. They spin their staffs for the last time before thrusting them straight up into the lava, turning as they ignite into bright flames. 

"That's right, Team Avatar's back baby!" Sokka cheers loudly.

"Oh my god!"