NOVEL WEB Chapter 7: 7: The avatar
POV Kira (Older Sister of Katara, Younger Sister of Sokka)
Kira never expected that taking in Aang and his sister, Lin, would lead to this catastrophe. Aang and Katara had activated a distress signal on the abandoned Fire Nation ship, and now—just as Sokka and Katara were engaged in a heated debate over whether the Air Nomads should stay—she noticed something strange.
Since when did the falling snow turn black?
The realization struck her like a tidal wave. They had been found.
"Kira!" Katara's voice rang out as she rushed to her side. "We have to get out of here!"
Kira's eyes scanned the horizon, locking onto the distant ships. "They're here. The Fire Nation... they found us."
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POV Lin (Older Sister of Aang)
Lin knew Aang was the Avatar, and despite his prowess as an Airbender, intelligence had never been his strong suit. But she had underestimated just how much of a magnet for disaster he truly was. Combine his boundless curiosity, a century-long entrapment in ice, and a few well-meaning but reckless friends, and what did you get?
An impending catastrophe.
As she mulled over their predicament, movement on the distant horizon caught her eye. A ship. No—several ships. Their crimson banners snapped in the icy wind, heralding their impending doom.
"Lin!" Aang's voice cut through her thoughts. "What should we do?"
She glanced back at him, narrowing her eyes. "Run."
Then, a woman's piercing shriek shattered the frozen air.
"Fire Nation ships! Hide the children!" Kya's voice rang out, frantic and sharp.
The village erupted into chaos.
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POV Kya (Mother of Sokka, Katara, and Kira)
Kya had weathered many storms—Fire Nation raids, near-fatal encounters, and the burden of raising three warrior-hearted children alone—but nothing could have prepared her for the events unfolding before her eyes.
In one moment, she was tending to daily chores; in the next, war had arrived at their doorstep.
She watched as her mother-in-law, Kanna, tightened Sokka's armor, her trembling hands betraying the mask of calm she tried to wear. Not far away, Kya did the same for Kira, adjusting the young warrior's fur-lined armor and pressing a well-worn spear into her grip.
"Stay safe, Kira," Kya whispered, her voice filled with a quiet desperation.
At the village gates, the two Airbenders stood ready, gripping their gliders with quiet resolve.
"Lin," Kya called to her daughter, "please, be careful."
A silent prayer left Kya's lips. When this was over, would they all still be standing?
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POV Zuko
As Zuko disembarked from her ship, the icy wind whipped her face, but she ignored it. The Avatar was here—she could feel it in her bones.
But what she hadn't expected was for him to be a child.
Her golden eyes narrowed. No matter. The Avatar was the key to her redemption.
She ignited her fists, flames swirling around her fingertips. But before she could launch an attack, she caught sight of Kai stepping onto the snow, his posture as relaxed as if he had just woken from a nap.
"Kai, focus," Zuko barked.
With a frustrated growl, she sent a powerful wave of fire toward the Avatar and the fur-clad warrior beside him.
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POV Sokka
If not for Aang's quick thinking, Sokka would have been reduced to a pile of charred bones. The Avatar had redirected the flames with a gust of wind just in time.
"Sokka, are you okay?" Katara asked, rushing to his side.
"I'm fine, but that firebender is insane!" Sokka shouted as he grabbed his boomerang. "I'm taking her down!"
Zuko's movements were precise and unrelenting. Sokka flung his boomerang at her head, but she dodged effortlessly. His boots skidded on the ice as he scrambled to regain his balance.
Katara countered with a whip of water, but it only seemed to enrage the Fire Nation princess further.
"Nice try," Zuko sneered, her foot slamming against the ground as she launched another fiery assault. "This ends now."
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POV Lin
Then, he stepped forward.
He.
Lin's instincts screamed at her. Every fiber of her being knew—this boy was dangerous. His stance was casual, almost lazy, but that only made him more unnerving. His very presence radiated control, like a predator toying with its prey.
She exchanged a look with Kira. "We strike first."
With a powerful gust of wind, she attacked. Kira followed, lunging with her spear.
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POV Kira
The last time Kira had felt this kind of tension was when she faced a polar bear dog in the wilderness. Beneath its thick fur lay a ruthless, relentless beast.
He was the same.
Lin's air blast surged forward, a force strong enough to send a normal warrior flying.
He didn't even flinch.
Effortlessly, he sidestepped the attack and drew his sword with a smirk. "Ladies, I know I'm handsome, but let's not rush things."
Kira thrust her spear forward, aiming for his chest. With a flick of his wrist, he parried, knocking her weapon aside like it was nothing more than a twig. His golden eyes flicked to the water swirling around Katara.
A moment later, a small splash hit the ground. He barely acknowledged it. "Pathetic."
Kira gritted her teeth. "Lin, now!"
Lin sent a powerful blast of air at him, intent on knocking him off his feet.
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POV Lin
She had expected her attack to throw him back. Instead—
His sword ignited.
With a precise slash, he cut through her airbending.
Then, in an instant, he was on them.
Lin barely dodged his fiery strike. Kira cried out as her spear was knocked from her grasp. With casual ease, he kicked Lin's staff away.
For a terrifying moment, Lin thought she was about to die.
Then, just as quickly, he extinguished his blade and turned away.
"Zuko," he called, his voice low.
Zuko was already engaging the Avatar.
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POV Aang
Flames erupted around him, forcing him to dodge and weave. He barely managed to redirect an incoming fire blast—only for it to strike the village behind him.
"The tents are burning!" Katara cried out, her face pale.
A sick feeling coiled in Aang's gut. His eyes darted to Lin and Kira—both defeated.
His grip on his staff tightened.
"If I surrender," he said, his voice small, "will you let the others go?"
Zuko tilted her head, considering. Her lips curled into a smirk. "You are the only one we need, Avatar. The rest…" Her golden eyes gleamed. "Are irrelevant."
Aang felt his heart sink as he was pulled onto the Fire Nation ship. The last thing he saw before the heavy doors slammed shut was the despair on his friends' faces.