BEFORE LONG, THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS HAD successfully taken down the Fire Nation Soldiers, with some help from Aang, Katara and Kida. Sokka had tried to attack a soldier or two, but someone had always beat him to the punch; literally.

Jet disarms the last soldier and turns around to face Aang, Katara, Sokka and Kida. Aang and Katara look at the boy with amazement, while Sokka seems almost as defeated as the soldiers. He hangs in the background, his arms crossed.

"You just took out an army almost single handedly," Aang states in awe.

"Army? There were only, like, twenty guys," Sokka dismisses.

"And how many did you fight, warrior boy?" Kida challenges. Jet looks between her and Sokka briefly, before focusing his attention back to Kida.

"I thought you would know better than to walk right into a Fire Nation camp," Jet challenges. He smirks and Kida rolls her eyes at him.

"Well, it wasn't exactly my call," she explains, gesturing to Sokka. "We were relying on instincts."

"Out here, that'll get you killed."

"You know I know that," Kida scoffs. "Like I said, it wasn't my choice."

"Wait, do you two know each other?" Aang wonders, tilting his head. Momo crawls onto his shoulder and does the same.

"Sure, we go way back," Jet answers.

He winks at Kida, and Sokka swears that this is the first time he's ever seen her flustered, but the moment passes quickly. Kida regains her composure. While she adjusts her knife to her belt, Jet introduces himself and the rest of the Freedom Fighters to the others. Once he's done, Jet turns back to Kida.

"I've been wondering when we'd see each other again," he states. He walks to stand directly in front of Kida, who tilts her head and smirks.

"Why, you miss me?" she offers.

"Eh, not really."

After a beat, the duo breaks into laughter and Jet pulls Kida in for a hug. Behind them, Sokka clears his throat.

"If you two are done with your heartfelt reunion, can we leave?"

"Why don't you guys stop by the hideout?" Jet suggests. When he sees Kida hesitate, he adds: "At least, for dinner."

"We could do dinner," Katara interrupts enthusiastically. Beside her, Aang nods. Sokka looks skeptical, but doesn't say anything.

Kida, now smiling, turns to Jet: "Lead the way," she says.

»»---------------------►

AFTER SHOWING AANG, KATARA, AND SOKKA around the hideout, the group finally sits down for dinner.

"Tonight, we celebrate another victory against the Fire Nation!" he starts, raising his cup in triumph. Jet stands at the head of the table, During his speech, Kida remembers why she was so captivated by Jet in the first place: his charisma and drive were ever present, especially in the way the crowd, including Aang and Katara, hold on to every word he says. "The Fire Nation thinks that they don't have to worry about a bunch of kids hiding in the trees...maybe they're right. Or, maybe, they're dead wrong," Jet continues. He then gestures to Aang and Katara who sit to his left. "I'd also like to welcome the Avatar and his friends." Jet shifts his gaze towards Kida, who is directly to his right. "And, of course, I'd like to welcome back Kida, without whom the Freedom Fighters wouldn't exist!"

The Freedom Fighters erupt into cheers and everyone starts the feast. From across the table, Aang and Katara look to Kida.

"You started the Freedom Fighters?" Katara asks.

"Yeah," Kida answers. She begins to explain everything; well, not everything, but enough to cover Katara and Aang's questions.

The first time Kida met Jet, he was running from some Fire Nation soldiers that he had stolen food from; when he bumped into Kida and fell, she helped him back up and, together, they fought off the soldiers. After, they shared a meal and some stories over an open fire. It was like finding their other half, someone who understood the rage and hatred they held towards the Fire Nation, and the determination to do something about it. They started the Freedom Fighters for kids like them, kids who had lost so much and wanted take justice into their own hands, to do their part to help save the world from the Fire Nation.

As she tells the story, Kida tries to remind herself that she left the Freedom Fighters for a reason. Earlier, when she hugged Jet, Kida turned back to the thirteen year old girl who was bitter and angry, ready to do whatever it took to make things right. Being back at the hideout amplified those feelings tenfold and reliving all those memories with Jet by her side made her feel like her old self again. It was something that comforted Kida, but also frightened her a bit, too.

Now, two years later, Kida feels like a different person, but maybe she's just gotten better at lying.

"That's so cool! " Aang exclaims after Kida and Jet recount how they used stolen Fire Nation supplies to invent flaming arrows, which they then used to scare off a group of soldiers who were picking on some kids .

"I almost burned off my eyebrows, but it was worth it," Kida muses. Beside her, Jet clinks his cup with hers in agreement, and the two take a sip of their drinks, their eyes shining.

»»---------------------►

"WHAT'S UP WITH YOU, PONYTAIL?" Kida wonders as she approaches the water tribe boy after dinner. While Aang and Katara were still engaged in a vivid conversation with Jet, Sokka had wandered away. Kida finds him leaning against a tree with his arms crossed; she situates herself on the opposite tree and mimics his position.

"It's a wolf's tail."

"Right," Kida says. "I came here because Jet wants your help on a mission tomorrow."

"What? No way!" Sokka exclaims.

"That's exactly what I said. There are much better fighters than you."

Sokka scowls. "No, I mean, we're leaving, now."

"I think we should stay the night and help Jet with whatever he has planned," Kida states. "Look, I know Jet. I trust him."

"That isn't exactly a comfort," Sokka retorts. "Considering I still don't trust you. I mean, why hide the fact that you were a Freedom Fighter? So you could lure us back to your treehouse, delay us getting Aang a waterbending teacher and stop us from defeating the Fire Lord?"

"Spirits, you're paranoid, aren't you?" Kida remarks, tilting her head. "If I wanted to stop you guys, I wouldn't have saved you from those pirates."

"I wouldn't say you saved us, " Sokka scoffs, causing Kida to roll her eyes. Even though Kida has proven herself multiple times that she can handle herself in a fight, it seems like Sokka won't accept, or respect, Kida's capabilities because she's a girl. "Whatever, the point is that my instincts are telling me not to trust this guy."

"I think history shows that your instincts aren't exactly reliable."

"Wanna bet?" Sokka challenges.

"What?"

"If I'm right about Jet, then you stay behind. You can lead your little anarchist group and leave the saving the world to me, Aang, and Katara."

Kida narrows her eyes. "You just really want to get rid of me, don't you?"

"If there's nothing to worry about, then you should have no problem," Sokka answers cheekily.

"Fine," Kida scoffs. "But, if I'm right, then I stay travelling with you guys. And, you have to admit that I'm a better warrior than you."

"Why do you even want to travel with us?"

Kida thinks about it for a second. In truth, part of her wants to forget about all this Avatar business, but she knows that she can't run forever; sooner or later, destiny will catch up with her, and Kida prefers to be one step ahead. Plus, she owes it to the past, and to her family, to see this through.

"It doesn't matter," Kida says, simply avoiding answering his question. "Do we have a deal or not?"

She removes herself from the tree so that she stands directly in front of Sokka. Then, she sticks out her hand, which he eagerly shakes. Kida's skin tend to be warm, but when her hand meets Sokka's, it instantly cools down: his skin is cold and balances hers out nicely. Kida wonders if it has something to do with him growing up in the South Pole, but she also wonders why she even notices such a thing in the first place.

"We have a deal," Sokka assures with a smirk.

As Kida walks back to the dining area, she tries to ignore the sinking feeling in her stomach, and prays to all the spirits that Jet hasn't planned anything too drastic.

»»---------------------►

THE SOUNDS OF LEAVES CRUNCHING WAKE KIDA IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. She springs up from her sleeping mat, knife at the ready.

"You were always a light sleeper," Jet comments. He sits down next to Kida, his legs crossed. Kida sets down her knife and shifts her position so that her back is against the wall. Their knees are almost touching.

"I always had to be," Kida points out.

"So, I guess you didn't find him."

Leaves rustle outside and Kida shivers. She was hoping that Jet wouldn't bring it up, but then she remembers that it's in his nature to hold onto things. "At this point, I'm sure he's dead. I couldn't even track down the soldiers who took him."

"Then, why didn't you come back?"

"I didn't need to."

"You belong here, Kida," Jet whispers. "Fighting beside us, against the Fire Nation."

She plays with the ring on her finger. "I...I can't, Jet," Kida murmurs. "Traveling with the Avatar is my way of freeing the world from the Fire Nation. I promised Aang and Katara that I would help them. And I don't want to let them down. "

"And Sokka?"

"Sokka doesn't really care," Kida explains. "Why, you're not jealous, are you?" Kida teases, but her smile falls once she realizes that Jet wasn't in a joking mood. "Are you okay?"

He ignores the question. "There's something I need you to do," Jet states dryly. He turns to Kida so he can meet her gaze. "Can I count on you to be a Freedom Fighter, one last time?"

»»---------------------►

SOKKA KNEW THAT HIS INSTINCTS WERE RIGHT, and he couldn't wait to rub it in Kida's face.

When he overheard Jet's real plan, Sokka got captured before he could warn Aang and Katara. Now, he just needs to find a way out of these Freedom Fighters' grasp and a way to save an entire village of people from drowning.

Simple enough.

As he thinks of a way out, an arrow flies passed him and pins one of the Freedom Fighters to a tree. Two other arrows do the same to the other Freedom Fighter, and a few more arrows soar through the air to secure them, with no chance of getting free anytime soon. Then, Kida jumps down from above and in front of Sokka.

"You so owe me," she taunts. Kida removes the knife from her belt and cuts the ropes that bind Sokka's hands.

"And you so lost the bet," Sokka counters.

Kida shakes her head. "Let's stop Jet from destroying an entire village, then we'll talk about the stupid bet."

Sokka wants to point out that she only thought it was stupid because she lost, but he thinks better of it. Instead, he follows Kida as she walks through the forest.

The two share the events of their time apart: Sokka explains how seeing Jet mistreat an innocent old man increased his suspicions, so he eavesdropped on Jet, which got him captured; Kida fills him in on how her suspicions were raised when Jet asked her to raid a nearby Fire Nation camp by herself to steal some supplies. She thought the request was strange because usually supply-gathering responsibilities are rotated within the group, and it's always, always, done in pairs. So, Kida pretended to go along with it, with the realization that Jet had just wanted her gone. She eavesdropped on a couple of Freedom Fighters this morning (which, as Kida pointed out, she was clearly better at than Sokka seeing as she didn't get caught). Hearing the plan to flood the nearby village, Kida understood why Jet didn't want her close; he obviously knew Kida wouldn't agree with.

"On my way to stop Jet, I heard you and, well, now we're here," Kida finishes.

In the silence that follows, Sokka asks something that had been on his mind from the beginning. "If you trusted Jet so much, then why did you leave the Freedom Fighters?"

Kida pauses to think, then explains: "Look, Sokka, let's just say that Jet and I...we were too similar. Both of us were so focused on revenge that it clouded our judgement when we were together. It's like we fed into each other's rage so much that we lost sight of what really mattered. I figured that we would do more good for the world if we were apart. That's why I left."

"And to find someone."

"What?"

"I heard you and Jet last night," he admits. He wants to say I guess I'm not so bad at eavesdropping after all, but decides not to.

"I told Jet that's why I had to go," Kida states, her eyes glued to the ground. "I just...I didn't want things to end badly between us. And it was partially the truth; I mean, I was hoping to find someone."

"Who?"

"Don't we have a village to save?" Kida asks, clearly wanting to change the subject. She stops walking and turns to Sokka. "Why don't we figure that out, first, then I'll give you my life story."

Sokka would be lying if he said he wasn't intrigued by the concept of learning more about Kida; however, there was also no way he would admit that out loud.

"Okay, I have a plan," Sokka informs. "But, I'm gonna need you to trust my instincts."

"Fine," Kida sighs. "Just this one time."

»»---------------------►

BY THE TIME SOKKA HAD SUCCESSFULLY WARNED THE VILLAGE, he walks back up, with Appa, Momo, and a group of villagers to the entry of the forest to find Aang, Katara, Kida, and Jet already there, near the edge of a river. Katara had waterbended ice around Jet so he was stuck to a tree. Kida has her bow drawn, an arrow threatening to hit Jet's forehead if he makes another move.

"This was never what the Freedom Fighters stood for!" she yells.

"What would you know about what we stand for!" Jet shouts back. "You're just a traitor who left us."

"No, Jet," Sokka interjects, making his presence known. Everyone turns towards him, and the group of villagers behind him. A look of relief passes through Katara and Aang's eyes. Kida lowers her bow slowly. "You became the traitor when you stopped protecting innocent people."

Katara and Aang join Sokka on Appa, with Kida trailing behind.

"Kida," Jet pleads. Kida stops in her tracks, but doesn't look back.

"Goodbye, Jet," she snaps.

Kida climbs onto Appa, and the group flies away.

»»---------------------►

"I'M SORRY THAT I DIDN'T HONOR OUR BET," Kida whispers. Sokka didn't even realize that she was awake.

At this point, both Aang and Katara had passed out, so it was up to Sokka to navigate the sky on Appa. There was something peaceful about flying through the night sky, and for some reason he has the feeling that Kida has feels it, too.

"Don't worry, I'll win the next one, too," Sokka retorts. He hears Kida scoff and smiles to himself. "Hey, can I ask you something?"

"You can, but I can't promise an answer."

"Why did you save me? I mean, once you realized what Jet was actually planning, you knew that you lost the bet. You could have just run away, and been on your own again. There was no reason for you to come back. "

"Other than to save an entire village," Kida points out.

"You know what I mean."

"I did it for Aang and Katara. They seem to be attached to you, for some reason," Kida states. "And, again, I wasn't going to let all those people die. I just hope you don't mind that a girl saved you from danger. Again."

Sokka almost chokes on his words. Had he just admitted that Kida had actually saved him? Did he inadvertently suggest that she was decent in a fight, better than himself, and that she would probably be a useful to the team?

Even in the dark, he can sense Kida smirking in triumph.

"My instincts saved that village in the end," Sokka says defensively. "So...yeah. We could have done it with, or without you."

Kida doesn't respond. She shifts to look up at the stars.

"I bet that one day, you'll admit that you need me," Kida mumbles, clearly falling asleep. "That's one I intend to win, Ponytail."

Sokka wonders if Kida will even remember suggesting that bet. Nonetheless, he has to bite his lip to keep from smiling.