atla one shots

16- shifters

"AANG!!!!!"

I tear around that corner and spot all the others, corralled by firebenders, and Aang, lying in his side, trying to get back up, but from the looks of it, he's been burned pretty badly. I don't fight it and continue my run as I slam into Azula, tearing into her arm with my teeth. She flings me off and I flip, skidding a few inches back, but growling when she steps towards Aang. I crouch lower as she gets into a stance, and I can feel the eyes digging into my fur. But, I can't stop now, not while facing my sister. 

She starts and I breath fire, halting hers and overpowering it. She skids back, almost over the edge, but not quite. I growl and snarl when she tries to bend at Aang or the others. The other firebenders appear to be scared, so I don't focus on them, figuring the sound I hear behind me means the others have taken their chance to attack the scared benders. I snarl and lunge forward, ignoring the pain along my stomach as I sink my teeth into her shoulder. She screeches and sets my shoulders and one front paw on fire. I yelp and back up, limping when the pressure proves too much for or my bad leg. I guard Aang, not even bothering to try and ignore my instincts.

I move forward a second before Azula and shove her off the cliff, but as I expected, she grabs my scruff and pulls me over with her. The last thing I see before the sky are grey eyes staring at me in horror and sadness, a hand reaching out to try and save me. Then, I'm staring at the sky and trying to decide if this was worth it. Totally. I watch in disbelief as she firebenders to safety, saving herself, but I continue to drop. I wince as something hard is suddenly under me, but slowly roll over. I spot the brown in my vision, before pain consumes me as the burns from stomach, shoulder and paw all attack me. I know the battle is over,especially since all the kids are here, meaning a few of the olders were left behind so they could escape. I wince and drop my ears, scooting to the back of the saddle and lying down.

I know Katara won't heal me, and I am not changing back until I know my family is safe, so I decide sleeping will help me. I doze off the air flying past my ears, the scents of everyone by my nose, the taste of blood, unfortunately, in my mouth and the vague sight of the sky. I wake up with the rough landing. I jump out of the saddle and land gently on the ground, sniffing to find anything suspicious, but nothing comes up. I whine softly, but turn around, prepared to face the wrath of the others. 

"...Sparky? Is that you? What are you? You feel... smaller, but more compact."

"He's... a wolf. A lovely black wolf, with golden eyes and the fur shorter on one side, representing  the scar. He's even got this silver shade running down his back, and branching out like a leaf's veins. He's, actually really pretty. But... why is he a wolf?"

"I'm a rhino because I am hard on the outside and soft on the inside, but I can be really tough when I need to be. Anng,you're a white tiger, because you adapt to new times and are fiercely protective. Katara, you're a snake because you can be cunning and adapt quickly to every change around you, but really hold a grudge. Sokka, he's a polar bear because he's clumsy, but protective and dangerous when pissed off. Wolves? They're pack creatures and rely entirely on their family, while giving everything they have to prove themselves. They also understand the importance of having rules and agreements with others. I personally, am not surprised that Sparky is a wolf."

"I...guess that makes sense. But, why haven't you said anything before now?"

I decide shifting back is probably ok now, and do just that, gently caging the wolf inside. I wince as he whines, but soothingly caress him so he'll settle down. I meet eyes with all of them, before staring at the dirt as I respond.

"Why wouldn't I hide it? From the moment I could change, my father made me ashamed and hate the animal I turned into, for it howled and acknowledged the greatest strengths of our enemy. Azula? She simply loved that I relied on family and enjoyed twisting my views on what family were supposed to be, until I was left curled up and sorting out reality itself, in my head. Mother and uncle were the only ones to ever encourage me, but mother left and uncle... well I never listened to him. Not until recently. But, I was raised with the common phrase "do not change. If you shift, I will torture you until you get the memo." I learned not to change and to lock up myself, so I would never get tortured again. Neither of us like that much."

"I can't blame you for hiding. Can you... Will you shift back for us?"

I pause, and before any of them can say it's ok, I don't have to change for them, I shift, lying down. My burns light up, but I don't move, closing my eyes in submission. I know what I'm doing, and I hope one of them recognizes it. Slow, steady footsteps crunch in my ears, before something soothing and cool settles on the burns and starts to heal them, fixing muscle and tissue. I give a small sigh as it's finished, before gratefully licking Katara's hand. She gives a small smile and then pets along my head and behind my ears. I drop my head onto her lap as she continues, feeling my fur and the few spots where you can feel scars, even from under my fur easing up. I grunt when she pushes on my stomach, but don't do much more.

Soon, the others are crowding around and I whine happily, glad my family accepted me and took me in. I was afraid they'd reject me like many others have. I sigh and lie back down, happily snuggling with Aang, who shares a glance with the others, before shifting. I blink and lower my ears, preparing to stand so they can share some cuddling time. However, arms pin me down and I whine in confusion, before fur rubs against my own. I freeze, before nuzzling and scenting the white tiger back. Soon, the others have shifted and we're all cuddling and scenting and I moan when a sensitive spot is nuzzled. Sokka smiles and does it again, encouraged by my whine, he continues. I continue to whine, eventually giving off something similar to a purr, except it's the beginning of a howl, that won't ever escape. It never does. 

A nudge against my ear causes me to open one eye, and I see small, beady eyes glaring at me from a face that looked similar to some of the saddle stuff. I blink, and then whimper when I understand what she's asking. I lock eyes with each of the others for a few seconds and all of them are begging me to let it out. How can I deny my family? I sigh wearily and sit up, resting on my haunches, before tiling my head back and howling. I love the sound, especially since it holds a special part of me, someone whom I love dearly sang it all the time. The others recognize that and remain quiet throughout the piece, before snuggling closer when I lie back down. I whine and close my eyes, readily slipping into sleep.