The Gaang found Ayaan, but knew the game was over. He was kneeling, hands clenched until his knuckles were white with an unreadable expression. The forest exactly one step beyond the shocked teen was scorched to ash, burned completely from one point to the next.

"Oh no..." Aang was appalled by the sight. There was a part of him screaming in outrage. But the other half of him was immensely saddened. There was so much destruction, not a thing was left.

"Listen," Sokka whispered, "It's so quiet. There's no life anywhere..."

"No," Ayaan corrected, finding the strength to get off the ground. "It's dying everywhere."

"It's horrible." Gazing upon the now muted ruin of the woods, Sokka used all of the skills Ayaan taught him. The lingering flames, the footsteps in the ash... A large group had marched through here. There was only one nation heartless enough to do this.

"Fire Nation!" Sokka fumed, "Those evil savages make me sick!"

"They've no respect for life or nature." Katara sighed, agreeing with him.

Ayaan remained quiet, searching the blackened earth for any sign of life. This feeling... it was different. It felt heavy. It twisted the air and rumbled through the ground. There was a sorrow so deep it ached. Stepping foot in these woods his scar flared worse than before.

He didn't like it. This heavy feeling, the sight of the scorched woods, made him angry. He took a deep breath to try to calm himself down. He'd been irritable as it was, he needed to stay focused.

There was something wrong with him, so wrong. Before, he'd been able to ignore it, but it just kept getting worse. Since his encounter with that Asrani thing, something had fueled him with rage. It was harder to keep a reign on his emotions.

That's when he heard a weak tweet, distracting him from his once again spiraling thoughts. He let his feet carry him forward, finding a nest fallen from a charred tree. It was brittle and broken, the clutch of hatchlings inside lost. What made it hurt more was the mother bird, covered in soot and vicious burns, refused to leave their side.

She aimlessly nudged her babies, chirping at them to no avail. Ayaan, cautiously, went toward her. The bird's tired, heartbroken eyes found him, instantly wary. Humans had done this. Humans were bad. But the closer he got, the more she calmed.

'This scent... Blessed blood, blessed soul.'

The mother bird let him get closer.

"Shh, girl," He whispered. Lost in a daze, he let his instincts guide his movements. Taking a drizzle of water from his pouch, he spread it across her small body. The coolness would temporarily soothe her pain. Closing his eyes, he sighed, knowing she wouldn't make it. "Rest now."

Unbeknownst to him, the liquid gave off a soft glow.

The bird relaxed completely, and her pain numbed. Now, she was simply tired. Too tired. Too sad. But at least this good human took the pain away. With a final, grateful look toward him, she nuzzled with her babies, and let out a final sigh.

He dug a small hole for them, gently placing them there before covering it. That's when he noticed Aang, trapped in a similar sense of forlorn shock. Going over to him, he placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "...Are you okay?"

Aang gazed up at him, tearing his eyes from the scene. "Why would anyone do this? How could I let this happen?"

"You didn't do this, Aang." Katara defended, standing on the other side of him. "This has nothing to do with you."

"Yes, it does." Aang shook his head, "It's the Avatar's job to protect nature. But I don't know how to do my job."

"Hmm..." At that, Ayaan didn't know how to comfort him. Sure, they were working on amending his lack of elemental training on their journey. But they couldn't do anything for his other Avatar duties.

Frankly, even being called a "blessed child", Ayaan didn't know much about the spiritual happenings of the world. He went off instinct, and deep within himself he knew something was missing.

That missing something was only made worse by his Asrani encounter.

Being a blessed child was more than being stronger than normal with odd hair. But aside from what their Asrar allies told him, he didn't know or understand what the other part of that was.

Aang wasn't the only one a little lost when it came to their titles.

"That's why we're heading North. To find you a teacher." Katara tried to make him feel better, but the boy shook his head.

"For waterbending. No one can teach me to be the Avatar."

Ayaan thought about it for a while before asking, "Do you have any ideas on where to start?"

The Airbender pondered the question before sighing again, "Monk Gyatso said that Avatar Roku would help me."

Ah, they could see the problem there.

Sokka tried to understand it, but nope. Wasn't working. "The Avatar before you? He died over a hundred years ago; how are you supposed to talk to him?"

"I don't know." The boy sighs, Momo flying down to settle in his lap. His other human was sad, he needed to make him happy again. He gave the boy a little nuzzle on his cheek, Aang petting him. "Thanks, Momo."

"I'm certain there's a way," Ayaan said, almost sighing. He pointed at Aang. "The Avatar, 112 years old, an Airbender, got glowing tattoos, flies; must I go on?"

"...No. I see your point." Sokka nodded, letting the known facts wash over him. "If it's Aang, there's a way. We just don't know it. Yet."

While that made Aang feel better, Ayaan didn't relax. When it came to their group, the word 'yet' was the last thing he wanted to think about.

.

.

Zuko, fully dressed in his armor aside from his helmet, pushes through tall stalks of bamboo. He'd spent the last few weeks tracking the Avatar and his group, training non-stop in between. Barely resting, his effort finally bore some fruit, as they'd finally picked up their trail again.

He knew their difficulties in tracking them had something to do with that warrior, Ayaan. He vividly remembered the trap they waltzed into when they first encountered him in the south. The kid wasn't the one keeping their trail thin, it was Ayaan tactfully removing their traces. Anything that was left was due to the children with him, but they were slowly learning.

No, he was teaching them. Was he also showing them how to hit like a moose lion on drugs? The thought brought a shiver to the prince. Hopefully, they were terrible students, because he didn't want to experience tracking a ghost. So why, when he finally has some good news, does his uncle decide to wander off?

He hopes he's not trying to find new things to make tea out of. His uncle is many things, and a tea addict is one of them, unfortunately. Though all of the tea he makes is excellent. But he has heard the unusual story or two from his men, particularly, Lee, who's said Iroh could get a little... eccentric in his search for tea.

They even gossiped about having to stop him a few times, his Uncle laughing them off as 'good ole times'.

Please, spirits he didn't believe in, let this not be that. He didn't need to stop him from poisoning himself, did he? He had enough to deal with as it was! Just remembering everything he had to get a single good lead left him infuriated all over again.

"Uncle!" If he had his candles, they'd be flaring and flashing right now. Bulldozing his way through the ferns and bushes, he kept searching. "It's time to leave! Where are you?" Frustration continued to build, he puffs out smoke from his internalized flames, "Uncle Iroh!"

From beyond a few trees, he heard a familiar voice, "Over here!"

"Uncle?" Making his way to where he heard his uncle, he's hit with a flash of steamy mist. Coming through it, he almost wished his father had completely blinded him in his scarred eye.

In a pool of water was his uncle, clothes folded on a branch not far away. He, without a care in the world, was relaxing in the heated waters. There was a blissfully content expression on his face, as he hadn't had the luxury of a full bath like this in months.

Spirits that had no regard for him, why? Just why? Someone, omit this from his memory. Please, with haste. Save him from the mental strain of this image.

"We need to move on. We're closing in on the Avatar's trail," Finally, "and I don't want to lose him." Again wasn't said.

"You look tired, Prince Zuko." His uncle relaxed more into the bath, "Why don't you join me in these hot springs and soak away your troubles?"

"My troubles cannot be soaked away. It's time to go!" He didn't need to deal with this right now. For all he knew the trail could be gone, again!

"You should take your teacher's advice and relax a little. The temperature's just right. I heated it myself!" Breathing steam through his nose, Iroh reheats the bath to his preferred temperature, scorching hot.

"Enough!" Please, let him regain his patience. Zuko swats the steam that wafted in his direction, "We need to leave now. Get out of the water!"

"Very well!" Without a lick of shame, Iroh stands up from the bath immediately. Though not as long as he'd liked, he had soaked enough.

Zuko did not have the same opinion. The teen covered his eyes, though they'd already been stained with the cursed image. "On second thought, why don't you take another few minutes?"

My eyes! My poor eyes! That wasn't something he ever, ever, needed to see. Spirits, why do you forsake him?! Let him have peace of mind! Cleanse his brain of that horrendous image, please, and thank you!

"But be back at the ship in a half-hour or I'm leaving without you!"

Iroh, delighted to have more time, relaxed into the bath again with a sigh. Ah... this was heaven. Zuko really should have indulged in the soak. It would help his frazzled nerves and loosen his aching muscles.

His poor nephew had been training almost non-stop since their encounter with the Avatar and Blessed Child. It was quite unhealthy. That is why he was taking any chance to get the boy to slow down, such as finding a random pool of water to make into a hot spring.

There was a lot on his nephew's mind, many expectations he knew wouldn't be fulfilled. He wished dearly that the prince could see his worth. Zuko should be proud of his strength, he should know his honor is far from lost. If anyone was honorless, it was his brother.

A brother... it had been a while since he thought of another that held that title. The enemy became a rival, then a mentor, then a friend. As years passed, they were brothers in all but blood, Atka.

The man was an enigma to the world and himself, but that didn't stop him from being kind. He traveled the world in search of something, something spiritual that the then-younger Iroh couldn't understand.

The monsters got to him before he could achieve it, however.

If only he'd known what he knew now... His ignorance caused him to be a liability. They used him to get to Atka. It was a folly he'd never forgive himself for. But this time... this time he could do something. He was glad he'd managed to get to Ayaan before that Asrani slave, Sanho, did any serious damage.

The Asrar trio managed to heal the wounds he could see. He was glad his assistance in that fight had been enough.

His own nation housed those monsters. It was a stain he could never clean. Now that he knew, he searched for the signs. The things the Asrar taught him to look for helped. They were older than even The White Lotus, existing for far longer than they had.

Blessed Children are more than loved by spirits. They are part spirit, more connected with the spirit world than even the avatars themselves. No one knows how this connection is made, their birth unknown, but the spirits keep them close, worshiping and honoring their birth. There is a mark upon them that none but the enlightened can see, placing them apart from normal mortals.

That boy, Ayaan, had that mark. It rested on his forehead. Atka, had the same, calling it the symbol of the ocean. It was one of the reasons Iroh had been shocked when he first saw the young warrior. It was like his friend had returned from the grave.

Maybe... that was the case? Maybe his familiarity wasn't just his own? But he didn't dare hope. Even if not, he'd keep that boy as safe as he could. The Asrar would ensure their safety from the Asrani, even if it cost lives. The company the Avatar's group kept was a fiercely loyal one.

He'd only met the Asrar a few times, especially when his friend had been alive. They practically worshiped the ground he walked on.

Iroh laughed fondly, remembering how awkward his friend had been at the attention. Living alone for so many years in a secluded part of the South did nothing for his social skills. His minute expressions took time and care to fully understand. The youth that had become Zuko's rival had that same attitude. He could tell at a glance.

Truly, the youth was a mini-Atka! Seeing their dynamic in another generation was gratifying for Iroh. He wondered if that boy, Ayaan, was looking for the same thing his friend was on his journey.

He hoped he found it, and stayed safe as he does. He hoped the Avatar grew stronger as he learned the skills he needed. He hoped his nephew, one day, saw how worthy he was as both a person and the crowned prince. He could only hope, and help them along when he could.

Relaxing in the bath, he let his worries leave him, if only for a moment. He was lucky to find a place like this. He would fully indulge the extra time his nephew graciously gave him!

Though maybe he should have left when his nephew first asked.

How did he let himself get captured? He's let his senses go in his old age.

Pity. He must have made the bath a little too perfect.

.

.

Some time passed as the Gaang continued to assess the burned forests. There was hardly anything they could do here, so they were considering leaving. Ayaan couldn't shake the off feeling he got from the place, and Aang continued to mope.

"Hey guys, ready to be cheered up?" Katara called, getting the boys' attention.

Ayaan tilted his head as Aang sighed, "No." No sooner did he answer did an acorn promptly hit his head, smack dab on the arrow. "Ow! Hey, how is that cheering me up?"

The boomerang specialist was amused though, openly giggling, "Cheered me up—" He was also hit with an acorn, right on the temple. Katara's aim was flawless. "Ow. Yeah, I deserved that for laughing, didn't I?"

"It's called 'Karma', Sokka." Now it was Ayaan's turn to be amused. Katara, seeing his slight smile, felt like cheering. Her plan was already working!

"These acorns are everywhere, guys," She explained. "That means the forest will grow back! Every one of these will be a tall oak tree someday, and all the birds and animals that lived here will return."

"Thanks." Aang finally felt his solemn mood lift. He promptly took his acorn, making a hole, and planting it. There really were other acorns all over the place. He took and planted more, keeping one of them in his pocket to remind him everything would be okay one day.

"Here you go, Ayaan." Katara also tossed Ayaan an acorn, the older teen catching it easily. He stared at the seed, "I know you love forests as well. So I thought planting a few seeds would make you happy, too."

"Yeah." The first time they came across a large forest, Ayaan had been mesmerized. He climbed to the top of the tallest trees to simply watch life go on. Not to mention all the little critters that would come up to him. He loved forests almost as much as he loved any source of water. Almost.

His mood improved a little, he whispered, "Thank you."

Katara smiled. A win! Small, but it's a win! She'd made him happy! "You're welcome."

As the siblings continued to cheer up Aang, Ayaan went back to where he'd buried the birds. He planted the seed at the base of their burned tree, near the mound he'd made. With a small prayer and a little bit of water, he hoped it would grow big and strong. One day, a new family would make a nest there. He hoped they lived full lives, and never encountered such a tragedy again.

After he said his prayer, he heard a curious sound. A tweet. On the wind was a chorus of little tweets and chirps that made him search for where it came from. Transparent talons appeared in his peripheral, but just a moment later it was gone. Another tweet got his attention, making him face the mound again. What he found confused him.

A small bud had sprouted, one that shouldn't have grown so quickly. Vibrant and green, the small plant seemed to have a glow to it. But that had to be a trick of the light. Or maybe it was his eyes. Or his ears.

He did not just hear the mother bird and her chicks, and he did not interpret it as a thank you and farewell. He did not see a plant sprout in moments. No, he must be seeing things. There's no way he saw that.

This last week had been more stressful than he thought.

That's when he heard footsteps, and his guard rose again like it never left. He didn't have his trusted spear, but he'd gotten the hang of his temporary weapon well enough. With a twist of his arm and a flick of his wrist, the blade of the spear was at the stranger's neck, an old man now scared out of his mind.

From his stance to his trembling eyes, the teen could tell he wasn't a warrior of any kind. Worn shoes, and eye bags, he'd been walking for a while in these woods. Why was he out here? Why had he approached them? Ayaan thought of endless what-ifs as he continued to analyze the man. Irritable and cautious, he kept his weapon up until Sokka slowly put a hand on his shoulder.

"Whoa, bro. It's okay." Sokka carefully lowered Ayaan's arm, his brother's icy eyes never leaving the now terrified old man. However, this reaction was about what he was expecting from his sleep-deprived brother. Battling through constant fluxes in emotion and nightmares would do that to a hardened warrior.

"..." Ayaan, after a moment, calmed his glare. He gave Sokka an appreciative glance before both boys returned their attention to the old man.

Deciding to be the diplomat for the group, Sokka began the questioning. "Who are you?"

"My name is Kay-fon." The old man said, his voice weary, "I come from Senlin village just a ways from here."

A town was near the woods? Good to know. They'd be able to restock their wares and money, hopefully. Ayaan stayed silent as Sokka continued, "Is there something we can do for you, sir?"

"Yes, I think so." The old man answered. He watched Ayaan a bit longer, wary. It was an understandable response. But the more he saw, the more a slow realization dawned in his eyes before he looked toward Aang, "When I saw the flying bison, I thought it was impossible! But those markings..."

Kay-fon, with hope in his eyes, asked Aang, "Child, are you the Avatar?"

At that question, everyone's eyes widened. This was the first time anyone ever asked if he was the Avatar. Usually, it was Aang who told others first as an introduction. Knowing the Avatar was on the good side of the war, people would welcome them openly. Though this wasn't used in all places, needing stealth above all else.

This person, however, asked specifically for the Avatar. He seemed frantic for it to be true, and that put Ayaan a little on edge.

Did it have anything to do with the almost suffocating feeling this forest gave off? For some reason, after the initial influx of pain, his scar was still. There wasn't the usual warning of danger he'd learned the hard way not to ignore.

Ayaan didn't know how to feel about his scar's unusual silence. By now, he was expecting it to flare up as it usually did, but nothing. It was as numb as he was used to it being. It didn't do anything like when he'd first stepped into the forest.

He knew something ominous was afoot. Anyone with eyes could tell. Someone was asking for the Avatar for crying out loud. But his scar didn't act up this time. It didn't ache, sting, or tingle with discomfort. If anything, it was cold. A soothing, almost welcomed cold compared to what was normal.

He'd never experienced it doing that. Or maybe it had, and being in the South negated him feeling it. Being surrounded by glaciers, one expects it to be freezing. He enjoyed the low temperatures, though. The cold reminded him of home.

So no, it wasn't right to say it was silent. Something was tingling beneath the burned skin. But it wasn't a warning of danger as he was used to. No, this was different. But what? What did it mean?

'Why?'

For now, he couldn't worry about it. Another aimless thought to let wander.

Aang looked toward the siblings, and Katara nodded encouragingly before answering the old man. With his hopes answered, Kay-fon pleaded, "My village desperately needs your help! Please, follow me!"

Ayaan let out a frosty breath before following his siblings and the old man. Whatever awaited them, he could only pray his... temporary spear was enough to protect them.