Azara laid on her back quietly, basking in the glow of the sun as Appa flew along silently. "Those clouds look so soft, don't they? Like you could just jump down, and you'd land in a big, soft, cottony heap?" Katara spoke dreamily as she stared down at the clouds.

"Maybe you should give it a try," Sokka mocked, carving something with his knife.

"You're hilarious."

"I'll try it!" Aang replied, before jumping off Appa's side, his laughter echoing around them. Azara, Katara, and Sokka looked over the side, searching for any sign of the airbender. The sound of Aang's glider caused them to turn around to see Aang plop into Appa's saddle, soaking wet with a wide smile on his face. "Turns out, clouds are made of water."

Katara looked off into the distance, her eyes widening as she spotted the changed landscape. "Hey, what is that?" Azara glanced over, studying the darkened earth. 

"It looks like a scar," Sokka commented as they flew closer. Aang hopped forwards, directing Appa down to the ground. As Appa landed, ash kicked up, making the scene all the more chilling. Azara slid down, staring at the ash that had replaced the once lush forest. There was one likely explanation, and Azara closed her eyes and sighed at the thought of it. "Listen, it's so quiet."

"Aang? Are you okay?" Katara questioned, walking over to the distraught Avatar. Azara walked away, looking through the burned forest. As she walked, some of the ash kicked up. Azara looked down at her boots, surprise on her face at the sight of a small green sprout. Brushing through more ash, she found a few acorns.

Standing up and walking over to a dejected Aang, Azara tapped his shoulder lightly. "Life is still here, Aang," Azara explained, handing Aang the acorns. "These acorns will grow into big oak trees and the forest will grow back. Some have already taken root." Aang smiled up at her, before leaping to his feet at the sight of an old man approaching.

"Hey, who are you?" Sokka demanded, his hand resting on his boomerang.

"When I saw the flying bison, I thought it was impossible! But, those markings . . . are you the Avatar?" the old man asked, walking to stand in front of Aang. The airbender shared a look with Katara and Azara before nodding. "My village desperately needs your help!" the man stated urgently.

Azara walked quietly next to Appa as the man led the group back to his village. As they walked through the town, Azara stared in disbelief at the dilapidated and destroyed buildings. "What happened here?" she wondered to herself as they walked inside a large building filled with villagers.

"This young person is the Avatar!" the old man announced as a younger man, likely the leader of the village, approached.

"So, the rumors of your return are true! It is the greatest honor of a lifetime to be in your presence," the man nodded, bowing lightly to Aang.

"Nice to meet you too! So . . . is there something I can help you with?" Aang asked, staring up at the village leader with mild confusion.

"I'm not sure . . ."

"Our village is in crisis, he's our only hope! For the last few days at sunset, a spirit monster comes and attacks our village. He is Hei Bai, the black and white spirit," the village leader explained, looking grimly at the setting sun.

"Why is it attacking you?" Sokka questioned, standing next to Aang.

"We do not know, but each of the last three nights, he has abducted one of our own. We are especially fearful because the Winter Solstice draws near."

"What happens then?"

"As the solstice approaches, the natural world and the Spirit World grow closer and closer until the line between them is completely blurred," the old man replied, leaning on his cane.

"Hei Bai is already causing devastation and destruction. Once the solstice is here, there's no telling what will happen." The village leader shook his head at the thought.

"So, what do you want me to do, exactly?" Aang asked, still confused at the situation.

"Who better to resolve a crisis between our world and the Spirit World than the Avatar himself? You are the great bridge between man and spirits," the old man smiled, prompting hopeful looks from the villagers as Azara looked at Aang with concern.

"But, Aang doesn't have any training yet. You can't just expect him to magically fix everything," Azara spoke softly from Aang's side.

"I wouldn't expect the Princess of the Fire Nation to understand," the old man spat, causing Azara's eyes to widen in surprise. Stepping back, Azara looked to the floor as Katara walked forwards.

"Hey, great bridge guy, could I talk to you over here for second?" Katara asked, before motioning for the rest of the group to follow her away from the village leader and old man. Feeling a hand on her shoulder, Azara turned to see a concerned Sokka.

"Are you okay?" he asked, dropping his hand.

"I'm fine," Azara nodded curtly, turning, and looking out the window.

"Aang you seem a little unsure about all of this," Katara stated, leaning on the windowsill.

"Yeah, that might be because I don't know anything at all about the Spirit World. It's not like there's someone to teach me this stuff?" Aang sighed, sounding distraught.

"So . . . can you help these people?" Katara questioned, looking unsure about the whole thing.

"I have to try, don't I? Maybe whatever I have to do will just . . . come to me," Aang shrugged as Katara smiled at him encouragingly.

"I think you can do it, Aang."

"Yeah. We're all going to get eaten by a spirit monster," Sokka replied as Azara turned to the village entrance. Aang walked out of the building, staff in hand, as the sun started to disappear over the horizon. Aang called out for the spirit, but nothing happened. "This isn't right. We can't sit here and cower while Aang waits for some monster to show up."

"If anyone can save us, it's him," the old man assured Sokka, but the Water Tribe boy did not look convinced.

"He still shouldn't have to face this alone." The sun set fully below the horizon, darkness enveloping the village as there was still no sign of the angry spirit.

"Well . . . spirit . . . uh . . . I hereby ask you to please leave this village in peace," Aang declared, spinning, and setting his staff down with some sort of authority. "Okay . . . well . . . I guess that's settled then." Aang started to walk back when Hei Bai materialized behind him.

"That's one angry spirit," Azara commented as Hei Bai screamed in Aang's face before rushing around the village, destroying buildings and structures with its arms or screech. Aang followed after it, shouting for the spirit to stop.

"The Avatar's methods are . . . unusual," the village leader commented as Azara sighed.

"It doesn't seem too interested in what he's saying. Maybe we should go help him," Sokka suggested but the old man shook his head, grabbing Sokka by the shoulder.

"No. Only the Avatar stands a chance against the Hei Bai."

"Aang will figure out the right thing to do, Sokka," Katara assured her brother, but she looked similarly concerned about Aang. They watched as Aang was smacked into a building by the angry spirit, Sokka's patience snapping.

"That's it. He needs help," Sokka stated, running to help Aang, Azara on his tail despite protests from the village leader and old man. As the spirit went to hit Aang away again, Azara shot a fire blast at its head. It growled before turning to look at Azara.

"Over here!" Azara yelled, taking off for the other end of the village. She could hear the spirit behind her when something hit her in the side, knocking her into the side of a building. Groaning in pain and clutching her ribs, Azara stared up at the angry spirit as it stopped in front of her and roared in her face threateningly.

Closing her eyes and waiting for the worst, Azara could make out the distinct and familiar sound of a boomerang in the air. The spirit growled again as Azara opened her eyes in surprise. Sitting up, she could see Sokka standing behind the spirit. "Hey! Hei Bai! Over here!" Sokka shouted, waving his arms.

"Sokka, watch out!" Azara warned, getting to her feet as the spirit's arm reached for him. "No! Leave him alone!" Azara yelled out as Hei Bai grabbed Sokka and took off for the woods. Azara and Aang sprinted after the spirit, Aang jumping on his glider and following Hei Bai into the woods. Azara stood at the entrance of the village, her expression distraught as Katara ran to her side.

"Sokka!" Katara shouted after her brother.

"Katara, I'm . . . I'm so sorry," Azara stuttered out as Katara continued to stare into the forest, her face downcast.