The Phoenix Priestess || Book One: Water

The South Pole

"Who... are you exactly...?"

Smiling brightly, the brunette looked to her fellow female with lightened scarlet eyes. It was an almost comical experience, getting to the South Pole the way that she had. In short (she wouldn't go into too much depth of her travels), she had explained to Katara and Sokka that it had involved a crazy cabbage man, a group of way too friendly pirates and a whole lot of bartering with precious Fire Nation relics that she had stolen along her journey. It had taken her a couple of years to get to where she was now, and she was sure that a few bits of gold wouldn't be missed. After all~ the Fire Nation was way too busy waging a war to miss a handful of stolen items along the way.

"I'm Aori—it's nice to meet you!" she said with a smile, gladly supplying the village (that had slowly began to make their way over to them) with her name. It was simply pleasantries, and seeing as she was only known as Suzaku anywhere else, her real name would do just fine. The villagers looked to her with curiosity and mild distrust, and she didn't blame them. As far as they were concerned, she was some Fire Nation scout, and they were defenseless because all of their men had left to fight in the war. The dark-skinned girl who had addressed her previously and introduced herself as Katara was currently holding back one known as... Sokka? That was correct, right?

"Please, she's obviously Fire Nation! Look at those eyes, and her skin!" he was shouting as Katara angrily berated him for judging based upon appearances.

Her smile fell a bit, but she nodded out of confirmation for his accusations. "It's alright— Sokka, you are correct. I'm a refugee. Traveling by myself, I escaped the Fire Nation six years ago. I have not returned or set foot on Fire Nation soil since, nor do I entirely intend to."

Katara smiled a bit, a look of... was that pity? on her face. The last thing Aori wanted was pity, but she didn't say anything as she continued to smile, her previously saddened-expression now back to the jovial countenance she had held previously. Katara stepped forward, a happier smile upon her face. "Well, it's nice to meet you Aori. I speak on the behalf of my brother—" at which she gave him a rather scathing look. "that the Southern Water Tribe welcomes you with open arms." An older woman then stepped forward, having the same hair style as the girl before her, and Aori bowed politely. The elderly woman smiled softly as she placed her hand on the brunette's shoulder, causing her to lift her her head.

"We know not what exactly brought you here to our village, young one, nor do we intend for you to tell us your full story." her kind expressions and soothing words eased the teenager's heart, and she couldn't help but to smile back. "But your toils have been long and thus you are welcomed. If Sokka is so worried about you being a spy, then he will be overjoyed to hear that you will be staying with him and Katara in their tent." That look about her was sly, and Aori held back a laugh as the "brave warrior" smiled and nodded, only to realize exactly what his elder had said and a look of horror crossed his face.

"I think that's a great idea Gran Gran! Aori... This way, please!" Katara exclaimed happily, practically dragging her new friend to their now-shared tent, rolling out a sleeping bag for her and everything. "So, you'll have to tell me what the world is like!"

"Ah, I see now..." The pale girl said with a smirk. "Shelter but only with promise of worldly information. This is a trade I'd be happy to make!"

As Katara showed Aori to where she'd be sleeping for the remainder of her stay (however long that would be, she wasn't exactly sure), they talked about everything and anything, and actually found that they had decently similar interests. Sokka didn't seem to happy with their sudden friendship, but he was satisfied enough that he could watch over her and make sure she didn't harm his sister or the village. That was good enough for him. Aori was older than both Sokka and Katara by a few years, so it was only natural that the young warrior found himself equally intrigued by her stories of travel...

___________

Soon, months passed to almost a year, and Aori was pretty much fully integrated into the tribe. She had chores and responsibilities given to her, and even Sokka had come around to joking with her and trying to get her to laugh any chance he could, but Aori's face was hard to break. Of course, Katara said that Sokka used to joke more, but that was before all the men in the village left for war. She had also explained how he had become a bit more hard-hearted due to feeling like he was the villager's last defense against any possible Fire Nation attacks, and she honestly couldn't blame him for his distrustful nature after all that had happened to them.

This actually managed to be the topic of their current conversation as they both tended to cooking in the big igloo-kitchen. A somber presence filled the room as Katara quietly spoke of the fun she and Sokka used to have before everything changed and took a turn for the worse. "That Fire Nation! They've ruined everything! They killed my mother, they've torn apart my family!" Katara was saying her voice getting steadily louder as she grew more passionately angry with each point.

Aori had stopped stirring as soon as Katara had spoken those words, and her lip trembled. She wasn't going to cry—a younger Aori might have, but a long time ago she had made a promise to herself that she wasn't going to cry anymore. That didn't change the fact that she was still saddened, and Katara looked to her with a face full of regret. "Aori... I'm so sorry, I-"

"No, don't apologize. You have every right to be as angry as you are." the pale-skinned brunette's lip trembled as she spoke, scarlet eyes narrowed in anger, but not at Katara. "I grew up loving my country. Sometimes, I remember that childlike innocence that used to make me believe that the Fire Nation was this great nation..." she trailed off for a moment, taking a deep breath and closing her eyes. After all, it was such a long time ago that she'd been able to look at the world from such a simple place. Before... before everything changed. Her eyes snapped open again. "After having seen the suffering of the world firsthand, I knew for certain that it was all just a lie. Especially about the so-called 'greatness' of the Firelord. Ozai... Ozai is the worst!!" A guttural snarl sounded in her throat as she spit out his name, but as Aori became angrier, her hands over heated and burned through her fuzzy winter gloves. The metal spoon she happened to have been holding melted slowly in her hands, the steam from the heat meeting the crisp air shocking her into remembering her place. Tossing the spoon onto the snow covered floor with a gasp, she looked to Katara, whose eyes were wide in shock.

All this time she had controlled her temper. All this time, she had made sure she hadn't used her fire bending. Sometimes, to stay in practice she would sneak off somewhere into the glaciers beyond the village to practice, but she always made sure she wasn't followed. Now, the secret was out. "Katara, I-I...!"

"You're a Fire Bender...?" she spoke softly, as if choosing her next words carefully.

"Yes, I... was going to tell the village eventually. It's just, my nation is so highly mistrusted, and I love everyone in the Southern Water Tribe... I... I didn't want to be banished." Aori said, hanging her head in shame. To think, she was ashamed to be a Fire Bender! How the world had beaten some sense into them all—fire was uncontrollable, anger and flame were one and the same—or at least that's what everyone thought.

Katara looked pensive for a moment, and Aori wished she could know what was going on in her head, but all seemed to be resolved as that look turned into one of determination. "I want you to show me... Because I'm curious. I've never seen another type of bender before. I will tell the village, and Sokka as well, but... I'm sure this won't change their opinion of you. I know I haven't changed my opinion of you." she finished with a smile, and Aori couldn't help but to startle the girl by throwing her arms around her in a hug.

"Katara... you don't know how much you mean to me..." Aori mumbled, her voice muffled by Katara's hood. She hadn't had siblings—or if she did, they were had after she was taken by the Fire Nation... Katara and Sokka, being a few years younger than her, were the closest thing to siblings that Aori had ever had. Now, she felt a surge of protectiveness rush through her body—she would protect them from the even crueler world outside of the South Pole. For as long as she could, anyway. Feeling a gentle hand on her back, Aori knew that no matter what, here... here she was accepted, and here she would stay.