((AN: I guess this will pleasantly surprise everybody watching me for Avatar stories. x3 Yes, this is gonna hopefully be another series of one-shots. I re-watched the entire series recently, and my muse gave me a few new ideas on what to write. Specifically, things that wouldn't fit into To Muse on Parenthood, or really be addressed in The Comet's Wake without a lot of side-going. And like many, I too have always been curious about the little events that go on between scenes or episodes. And I thought, hey, maybe I'd do my own take on a bunch. x3

And what better way to start off with a little drabble on how the Avatar goes about getting to know his new friends? :3 This takes place between The Avatar Returns and The Southern Air Temple.

I may even take reasonable requests on what to write in this particular collection. My only rules are simple: keep it relatively clean and keep it canon, within the time span of the series itself. Any AU situations or suggestions on alternate ships, I -will- refuse. Just so you know. :3 And don't worry, yes, I'm still working on both of my other stories. To Muse on Parenthood will update when I get ideas for that, and The Comet's wake will update fairly regularly until I run out of buffer. xP Also, yes, any situations in this are canon with both other stories, so they may reference each other from time to time. x3

With that, I hope you guys enjoy! And don't get confused if you see this story in a different category at first. I'm trying the only bypass to this current error problem that FF has regarding uploading new stories. I wish they'd get it fixed already.

And of course, everything belongs to Mike and Bryan. I just take the liberty to play with them.))

A guttural roar rang through the evening sky. The call, intimidating as it must have been, was only the affirmation tone of a massive flying bison as the rider on his head tugged the horn reins in the direction of their next destination. Upon the comfortable saddle on his back, two passengers clad in Water Tribe blue coats to protect against the cold air were still stuck in awe at what had recently happened to their simple lives.

Was it only a few days ago that they were trying to survive in their tiny village as normal, barely scratching a living out on the ice and on the edge of the frozen seas? Living in the shadow of a war and cloaked in constant fear of Fire Nation raids, with only the barest amount of hope to show?

And was it only a day or two ago that by the strangest twist of fate, they had released the world's hope from a hundred-year prison of ice? That they had become the friends and guardians of the Avatar? And that just a few hours ago, they had finished making plans after narrowly escaping imprisonment on the ship of the Fire Nation prince himself?

And now, those two simple teenagers were on their way to a greater destiny. What lay ahead, they could only imagine. What dangers and deadly powers would they face, and what people would they meet? What places and things to see, after being isolated their whole lives in a world of white, snow, and cold? To say the notion was overwhelming was something of an understatement.

Of course, they knew that soon enough it would no longer come as a shock. They, mere children, would be living and surviving together on their own. And they had the objective plain as day in their minds: get the Avatar to the North Pole to begin his Waterbending training. That is, under the hope that they wouldn't be followed all too closely by the Fire Nation.

So much weight on their shoulders, and they were ready to bear it. There was never any intention to turn back. They only looked ahead, over the horizon of the ocean to whatever lurked beyond.

With the bison, Appa, flying a straight course, the Airbender at the head turned and made a grand leap back to the saddle with his new friends. He smiled when he saw them, and they smiled back. Somehow, they also knew that the Avatar was supposed to be this intimidating figure. A spirit made mortal, master of the elements. But the individual before them was also a mere child. A spirited, wide-eyed and round-faced twelve-year-old who, despite his carefree attitude, had proven to be a capable fighter and much more.

Katara certainly wasn't intimidated; she'd hoped for the Avatar's return, and that was a part of what fascinated her about him…but she knew him first and foremost as Aang, a friend whose connection to her was instant and unexplainably strong, and had been so the second he'd awoken in her arms and they'd locked eyes.

Her brother, Sokka, also wasn't intimidated; he still had yet to fully comprehend that this goofy little kid with the blue arrow...who laid out a complex plan that involved riding dangerous animals a few moments ago...was supposed to save the world. Even after he'd seen his eyes and tattoos in a blazing white glow and a feat of Waterbending that only a master could've known.

It would be an interesting journey.

"We should be at our first stop in about a day," Aang informed as he settled himself into his side of the saddle across from the siblings. "Appa's pretty fast."

"You never know," Katara pointed out. "He couldn't fly after we got both of you out of that iceberg. Might probably take him a while to get up to speed."

"At least he's flying now," Aang chuckled. "We can make it anywhere, no problem."

"Psh," Sokka scoffed. "Soon as anyone says that, we will have problems."

His sister lightly backhanded his shoulder. "Sokka, quit being such a pessimist. Be excited for once! We're going all the way to the North Pole, and seeing the world along the way. Think of the adventure!"

"Hehe," Aang giggled, casting a wide smile toward the novice Waterbender. "Sounds like you're not nervous about leaving home anymore."

She smiled back. "I guess not. I will miss Gran-Gran though. I hope they'll all be okay."

"'Course they will," Sokka grinned. "I trained my warriors well. They won't let the village down."

Katara discreetly rolled her eyes, and Aang shook his head. They knew that the warrior had to have been just as worried…but she also figured that so long as the Avatar and the village's only Waterbender weren't there, that the Fire Nation hopefully wouldn't have a reason to bother the small hovel of tents and igloos.

For a while, things were quiet as they relaxed back in the saddle and watched the clouds go by. Except for the occasional rumble from Appa, there was little in the way of talking. Only laying around and watching the ocean below them, or the clouds change color from the sunset as they rocketed further and further away from the South Pole.

It was Katara who decided to break the uneasy silence. "So, Aang, I was thinking. Since it seems we're all going to be flying together for a long while, we should get to know each other better. You must have questions about us, or…about the world, after 100 years and all."

He looked up with a perky grin. "That's a great idea. And you might have questions for me too. After all," he crossed his arms and tried to look proud, "Me and Appa are the only Airbenders you've ever seen."

She laughed. "That's true."

"Really, you're the only person we know outside of our tribe," Sokka added, slumping into the saddle. "Of course, don't expect me to trust you right off the bat."

"I wouldn't ask you to," Aang assured, his hands raised in a gesture of peace. "But if we'll be spending weeks trying to get to the North Pole, we may as well try to be friends, right?"

"I guess," he shrugged.

"Don't mind him," Katara sighed. "He'll grow to like you."

"I don't know, I have that 'evil look' in my eye, remember?" He gave her a toothy grin and quirked his eyebrow, which caused her to snicker into her mitten, before continuing. "So, I guess we can do this by taking turns asking each other questions…like a game. The only rule is that you answer everything, and truthfully."

The Water Tribe siblings nodded with light grins, and Aang continued with a look toward the girl. "You wanna go first, Katara?"

"Sure," she answered with a giggle and tapped at her chin in thought. In reality, she did have many questions for the Airbender…but most of them she discarded, as she remembered that he wasn't at all keen on the idea of being the Avatar yet, and so wouldn't go into anything about it. It would just be a chance to get to know Aang, the simple Air Nomad, who was letting two equally-simple Water Tribe kids travel around with him.

Finally, she settled on a simple first question. "What do you like to eat? I figure I oughta know what to make for dinner for us in the evening."

"Bah, don't you worry about dinner," Sokka grinned as he patted the boomerang sheath on his hip. "I'm a great hunter, remember? I can catch us food, easy. You just have to think about cooking."

"I can worry about whatever I want, Sokka," Katara said with her eyes narrowed, none too impressed with her brother's boasting.

"A-actually, Sokka," Aang put in, sheepishly scratching the back of his head, "I'm a vegetarian; I don't eat meat."

This caused him to sit up and blink at him in surprise. "Don't eat meat? Are you serious? It's the best food, ever."

Aang had a small frown as he straightened up to explain himself to the warrior. Already, they'd found something that they most certainly didn't share in common. "Well, see, I never liked the idea. The monks taught me that all life is sacred, and should be respected. Besides, I like animals, and the thought of eating them…" he trailed off, biting his lip.

He was comforted, however, as Katara gently touched his shoulder with a smile of warmth. "It's okay, Aang. There's always the nuts and berries and things we can gather up, and we'll have to make sure we have enough money to buy supplies."

The Airbender gratefully smiled back. "Thanks, Katara."

"Okay, fine," Sokka begrudgingly acquiesced to the idea, "But for the record, I hope you don't try to press us into being vegetarians. I'm still eating meat, and that's that."

Aang raised his palm in promise. "Don't worry; I won't…the monks also taught me about tolerance. What you guys prefer to do, I won't judge or press it."

"That'll be just fine," Katara said with a light chuckle. "Besides, you can make a lot of dishes with just herbs and stuff."

"Air Nomads are famous for desserts, too," the Airbender grinned. "You haven't lived until you tried a fruit pie."

Sokka cocked his head to the side slightly. "So you eat a lot of pies and stuff, and you're still that thin?"

Aang shrugged with a shy smirk. "Maybe that's just me?"

"Maybe you're just really energetic," Katara laughed, remembering how fast he could run through the snow after a penguin. "Anyway," she turned to Sokka, "Your turn; do you have a question for him?"

"He already asked why I was thin," Aang smirked. "That counts as a question. It's my turn."

"Aw, man!" Sokka grumbled. "Cheater."

"I don't cheat," Aang sagely raised a finger. "I work the angles."

"Mrfle-flbbn Airbenders..." he grumbled under his breath.

He and Katara shared a brief laugh at the warrior's expense before regarding each other again. It only took Aang a second to come up with a question that he secretly hoped would also be a compliment for her. "I like that necklace you have, Katara," he said gesturing to the trinket on her neck. "Where'd you get it?"

"Oh, thanks," she said with a light smile, gingerly raising her hand to frame the amulet between her thumb and finger. It glimmered a whitish blue in the waning sunlight. "It was my mother's necklace. It was passed down to me after…well…" she paused, and the smile faded from her face. It was a strange feeling, sharing her life's most traumatic moment with an outsider.

He watched her, curious, but concerned. "After what?" he gently asked.

She looked back up, and something in her eyes seemed…aged. Sad and worn away. It was a look that no girl her age should have. And yet, behind eyes of blue that were usually so happy and hopeful, there was sorrow. "…After she died," she finished in an even tone.

"Oh…" Aang breathed, clenching his teeth and turning his head with guilt; he never thought his question would inadvertently give her such trouble. His eyes closed. "I'm sorry."

She looked up and saw his troubled expression, which caused her to rest her hand on his arm. "It's okay…you didn't know. And I didn't mind telling you." The smile slowly returned to her face. "You're a friend now. You have a right to ask and to know."

His eyelids cracked open again to face her, and his heart was lifted once again by the warmth in her expression. "I'm glad to hear that."

"If we're done being mushy," Sokka interrupted, causing Katara to shoot him a glare and Aang to blink himself out of the daze he was in, "I'm waiting for my turn again."

"Will you be patient?" Katara groaned. "You're so bossy."

"Just being a big brother, little sister," he mockingly cooed and patted her on the head, causing her to slap his wrist away with an annoyed snarl.

Aang couldn't help but laugh at the display of Sokka visibly getting on Katara's nerves. These two make me wonder what having a brother or sister WOULD be like. "Yeah, Sokka, be patient," he shook his head, "Let Katara have her turn."

Smirking gratefully, the Waterbender looked him over before giving a curious hum and pointing toward his forehead. "I've been kinda curious about your arrows. If you don't mind me asking, what are they for?"

"Ah," Aang said as he absently traced his own forehead where the azure tattoo was etched. He looked as if he was expecting such a question eventually...and he did, as he had to go through it in his travels long before. "The arrows are symbolic. They're modeled a bit after the sky bison markings." The Airbender grinned proudly. "When an Airbender masters the martial art, he gets arrows to mark him so."

"Huh," Sokka hummed in true fascination. "I just thought it was some kinda cool fashion statement."

"So, wait," Katara cut in, staring at him with wide eyes. "So, you're not only an Airbender, but a master?"

"Yep," Aang said, puffing out his chest. "The youngest Master Airbender ever."

"Man," Katara shook her head. "Even if you're not a Waterbender…yet…it's a real trip to still meet a master bender. I guess you knew what you were talking about when you told me to 'let go of fear'."

Aang nodded. "The monks say that even though the disciplines of the four bending elements are different, the basic ethics of bending itself is all the same. Spirit and an inclination to nature. And confidence," he added with a light smile to Katara.

"Well," she shrugged almost shyly. "I suppose I can try to be so confident when I learn Waterbending."

"You'll do great," he said without pause. Then, he turned to Sokka with a chuckle. "Okay, now it's your turn."

"Finally," the warrior sighed and sat up, narrowing his eyes at the young Airbender. "You never really answered me the first time. How do you think you got in that iceberg and didn't freeze to death? Some kind of Avatar thing?"

"Sokka!" Katara hissed. "No Avatar questions, he's not that comfortable with that, you know!"

"Oh, come on, you never said that was part of the whole questions thing!" he argued.

"It's okay," Aang cut in before any arguments could ensue. "I'll answer any question I can, like I said; it's only fair. As for that…um…you know, what I said before is still true too. I'm not sure how I survived. I can only barely remember how I got frozen. I was flying on Appa over the ocean, when this huge wave sucked us under." His look turned thoughtful. "I remember sinking into this black, endless hole, and letting go of Appa's reins. And then…then nothing else, before you found me."

"Well…" Katara murmured, thinking of the situation. "Your eyes and arrows were glowing when we saw you in the iceberg, and you seemed to be floating in this big bubble of space."

The Airbender's eyes widened slightly, and then he nodded to himself in understanding. "I guess my Avatar spirit saved me, then. I was told that I had that kind of power, but I didn't know that it could be triggered like that."

"Maybe it even kept you alive for 100 years," Sokka intervened, his voice set to a fascinated mutter.

"Maybe…" Aang hummed, his voice merely a pensive whisper.

Then, the thoughtful atmosphere waned as the tribesman sighed and slumped back again. "Bending and Avatar spirits, flying bison…can my life get any weirder?"

"You shouldn't ask," Katara said with an ironic tone, "It will get weirder."

"Then I'd better get used to it soon," Sokka grumbled. "'Cause otherwise, I'm gonna go crazy and beg the Fire Nation to take me."

The two younger children simply laughed. "Katara, my next question's for you," Aang smirked, "Is Sokka always such a grouch?"

"Yes," she answered without hesitation and laughed again.

"Oh, har-de-har," the warrior snorted. "From the looks of things, it seems I might be the only sensible one in this group."

"Sensible?" Katara challenged, her hands balled into fists and resting on her side. "This is from the guy who expects a bunch of five-to-eight-year-olds to defend a village."

"They can!" he growled. "I trained them well."

The laughter continued on…yet as it trickled into silence, Aang started to frown, as it dawned on him that he indeed had something more to ask. A part of him was afraid to do so…but he knew that it had to be questioned, or else, he would never know what the situation with the world was.

Perhaps it was the Avatar side of him that needed that knowledge, for the state of balance that he so had to keep. 100 years was a long time to be kept out of the loop, however the case.

"Guys," he tentatively spoke up, "If it's okay, can I go a second time? I have to know something."

The siblings exchanged worried glances before regarding him again. "Of course, Aang," Katara nodded.

He turned before them and sat up, steeling what resolve he had to be prepared for the answer. "About this war with the Fire Nation that you said has been going on for 100 years…can you tell me…what exactly happened?"

The breath stilled in both Sokka and Katara's lungs. They both knew that this was coming. Aang could deny his role as the Avatar all he wanted…but soon enough they all knew it would have to be addressed. And for a second time they all felt it…this weight on their shoulders that no group of children should ever have to hold. Fate worked in weird, cruel ways…but at least for Katara, there was always the hope that there was a meaning to the madness they were sure to face.

"Well…" Katara began. "From what Gran-Gran has told us, the Fire Nation just one day led an attack on the other three kingdoms. For a long time, they've been just…destroying everything, trying to take over the Earth Kingdom. Our father and the men of the tribe are out helping with the war, but…we don't know really how they're doing. All we know comes from passerby traders…nobody's won yet."

"And they've been ruthless in their attacks," Sokka added, his voice dark. "Our tribe used to be much bigger. But they've been wiping us out with raids…before that ponytailed freak came to capture you, the last raid came when Katara and I were young."

Katara's eyes squinted shut, as she was reminded of that particular day. Her mother's death stung her in the heart and sent violent chills into her blood, ever since. "And when Gran-Gran was a girl," she eventually spoke through trembling words, "They used to come to capture Waterbenders." Her eyes opened again, and that sorrowful, aged look was there, heavy in her appearance. "That's why I'm the only one."

Aang took it all in with utter disbelief. Now that he had the time to actually think about it, he found it hard to let it in. He couldn't open the doors of his mind allow every frightening, horrid, appalling detail that stared him in the face.

He was lost for 100 years.

The Fire Nation was warring with the rest of the world.

The potential for what he could see in this vastly different age scared him to the very core. And for the first time, he truly wondered. Why did I run away?

"Aang?" Katara softly beckoned and scooted closer to the stunned Air Nomad, with Sokka on his other side and acting out of genuine concern.

Their mere presence, friendly and comforting and close, seemed enough to bring him out of his daze and ask the question that he feared the most.

"And…the Airbenders? They're not really…extinct…are they?"

They didn't answer for a long moment. The truth was in their actions as they both averted their gaze away from him.

Still, he knew he had to press on. "Remember the rules," he said. "Answer everything."

It was true…they were still within the boundary of their agreement, and they had the honor to follow it. This was the test of true friendship, a test that would be given to them again and again throughout their journey to keep them together…whether they could rely on each other for every grain of truth and every harrowing obstacle.

"According to the story…" Katara began hesitantly, "The war started with an attack on the Air Nomads. And…they were wiped out."

"So…it's very possible that you could be the only Airbender in existence," Sokka confirmed. "I'm sorry."

Aang's first instinct was to not believe it. In the time frame of his own head, he was only with his people just days ago. How could he possibly know how to imagine fitting another time frame of 100 years of war in between?

"…I can't be the last Airbender," he confirmed, mostly to hear it for himself. "My people wouldn't have sat around just waiting for a war to happen. Some of them had to have escaped."

His two friends shared uncertain, uneasy glances before giving him equally encouraging smiles. "Maybe so. Hey, you never know until you see, right?" Katara stated, her optimism unfailing.

He slowly smiled back. "Exactly. And besides, we'll be able to see for ourselves soon enough. Our first stop is the Southern Air Temple, where I'm from."

Katara's eyes lit up with fascination. "Really? We get to see an Airbender temple?"

"Yep," Aang grinned. "You guys are lucky."

Sokka snorted. "I'll be lucky if we survive this whole trip." He leaned back on the edge of the saddle again. "So, um…whose turn is it to ask questions again? I lost track."

"Aang went twice," Katara recalled. She had decided to keep her close position next to the Airbender, not even giving a second thought on doing so.

"Well, actually, my first question was a joke," Aang pointed out with a short laugh.

Katara nodded. "So, it's my turn."

"Ask away," he said with a short bow of his head and a flourish of his hand, for humor's sake. Somewhere in the background, Sokka muttered something incoherent.

"Well, we've never really seen a sky bison, like you said," Katara said with a quick glance down to the back of Appa's head. "Is he yours, or did the monks have some kind of place to keep them, or what?"

"Both," Aang chuckled as he leaned over the edge of the saddle to stroke the fur on the bison's back. "They're bred by the nuns at the Eastern Air Temple and kept by the traveling Air Nomads. We all get sky bison to ride on when we're young, and they're kept in huge stables. Appa and I are lifelong friends. Right, buddy?"

The bison let out a mirthful roar in response.

It never failed to give Sokka a slight chill when he heard (and felt) the beast's vocalizations. "So, this big fluffy monster doesn't eat people, right?"

Aang barked a laugh. "Are you kidding? Appa wouldn't hurt a fly. He's as vegetarian as me."

"Whew," Sokka sighed.

Katara laughed. "Something else to know about Sokka; he's paranoid."

"Hey, paranoia can save your life," he said, his finger in Katara's face.

She sighed and shoved him away. "If that's true, you're living in a bubble of it."

"I like my bubble," Sokka pouted. "Don't poke it."

"Oooh, poor Sokka and his bubble," Katara mocked, reaching over and 'poking' the air in front of her brother. "Look, I'm poking it!"

"Hey! I said no poking!"

"It's gotta pop sometime…"

"You will not pop the Sokka bubble."

POP!

At the sound of the air loudly imploding nearby, all arguing ceased; courtesy of Aang's sneaky Airbending maneuver as he grinned at the two of them with his hands still holding a little ball of wind.

And then, the young Avatar was laughing hysterically with his new friends joining in soon enough. This instant, included with the feelings of comfort and true sense of loyalty between them all, told him that he would never regret taking this journey, so long as they were together.

"Okay…I guess you're okay, kid," Sokka snickered as he regained his composure and patted the Airbender on the shoulder.

"Glad you finally approve, big brother," Katara said in a snarky manner as she too rested a hand on Aang's arm.

In the next moment, there came a tonal roar from Appa as they flew over a few patches of land on the water.

The Airbender leaned over the side to see what was up. "I guess Appa's tired after all," he relayed. "It's almost dark anyway; we should land and make camp somewhere. And tomorrow we can make for the Patola Mountain Range."

"Fine with me," Sokka said as he stretched his arms out in front of him. "I'm dyin' for something to eat."

"Keep your pants on," Katara said as the bison touched down on a small island filled with evergreen trees. "For all our sakes," she muttered.

Sokka snorted as he leaped off the bison first, boomerang in hand, to take a quick look around the area and make sure it was safe enough for them to sleep there…one could never be to careful with the Fire Nation, he reasoned.

As Aang started off himself and waited for Katara to throw down the sleeping bags, he smiled. "I got one more question to ask you, if I might."

"Sure," she said with a smile back as she reached for them. "It's your turn anyway."

"That's true," he chuckled and caught the bags in floating cushions of air down to his hands as they were tossed. "It's a simple one. Do you guys think you'll like traveling with me?"

As Katara handed him the last bag and regarded him with curious eyes, Aang couldn't help but silently rethink his question. If YOU will like traveling with me.

Her instant smile was genuine, only serving to intensify the truth of her answer. "Of course we will, Aang." She looked away briefly. "I admit, I'm still nervous about leaving home and everything…but I like it already too. I'm happy to get this opportunity, to get out and learn Waterbending and see the world…and definitely to help end the war. And don't be fooled by Sokka's attitude. I'm a hundred percent sure he is too."

Heartened by the answer, Aang had an ever-mirthful smile as he walked around to Appa's tail and climbed it to offer her a helping hand down off the saddle.

"Then I'm happy as well," he relayed with sincerity in his youthful tone as she placed his hand in his.

And from that day onward, the three young travelers could only learn so much more, and grow that much closer.