Two Lovers And The Cave

"You two are going to be done soon, right?" Sokka called from his spot floating in the river. "We have a lot of ground to cover if we want to make it to Omashu today"

"What, like you're ready to go now, Mr. Relaxation?" Katara questioned, turning to face her brother.

"l could be ready to go in two minutes." Sokka retorted defensively.

"But that doesn't mean that you will be." Azira pointed out from her place on the banks of the river. Her bare feet were dipped in, but today was not a day that she felt like swimming.

Or really training or doing anything.

"Hey, youre relaxing too! This is progress!" Sokka pointed out, earning a wave to the face. Seriously though, is this the first time you've relaxed?"

Azira wasn't quite sure, to be honest.

Given the tension that permanently resided in her shoulders, she was unsure if she had ever been given the chance. In between tiptoeing around Hana, being someone totally different with her father, and then always in line with Zuko and the others-

It was childhood and girlhood that had been stolen from her.

It was a strange thing, realizing that she had never had those things. Never known them in a way that anyone else had.

"I guess" Azira finaly mumbled out. She tuned out, letting the sun wash over her in a mid-morning glow.

In the middle of her relaxing moment where she finally felt like she might be able to take a nap-soft music began to fill her ears. And not relaxing sleep-happy music. But traveler weary annoying music.

Azira blinked open her eyes, glancing to the side to see a group of wandering nomad singers coming down the path. "Hey! River people" The guy with an instrument exclaimed.

"We're not river people." Azira deadpanned.

"Then what kind of people are you?" The guy questioned.

"Just people" Aang gave a shrug.

"Cool! I'm Chong, this is my wife Lily.

We're nomads. Happy to go wherever the wind takes us." Chong exclaimed.

"That's great! I'm a nomad too!" Aang said, eyes lighting up with excitement.

Azira leaned towards him. "l don't think it's the same thing" she whispered.

Almost a dozen braids later on Appa, Azira was beginning to think that these people weren't weird, per say. They did an elaborate crown of braids around her head and though Azira wasn't one to pride herself on vanity, she did think it made her look rather pretty.

"It sounds like you guys have been everywhere." Aang exclaimed.

"Not everywhere" Chong cut in. "But where we haven't been, we've heard about through stories and songs."

"They said they'll take us to see a giant nightcrawler" Aang cut in excitedly.

"That seems a bit-hmm..out of touch with what were trying to do Azira stated pointedly.

"I'm with Az" Sokka shrugged. "It's up to me. We need to get to Omashu. No side tracks, no worms, and no running off to sing."

"Bro, you've got destination fever" Chong advised. "You wory too much about where you're going."

"Focus less on the where and more on the going" Lily said in a lofty tone, smiling and nodding in his direction.

"Oh..Mah..SHU!" Sokka stated emphatically.

"Nice pronunciation." Azira said simply.

"No, you're both right though." Katara said, pulling a flower from her hair. "We need to get to King Bumi so you can learn Earthbending."

"You know, there's an old story about a secret pass through the old mountains.

It's a real legend and as old as

Earthbending itself Chong began to sing about the pass, causing Sokka and Azira to lock eyes in mirrored annoyance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the end, they had decided to take the tunnel, so as to avoid the Fire Nation patrols that continued to watch for Appa. It was inevitable that they would have to the inconspicuous way, but that didn't make it fun.

"So which way is the tunnel?" Sokka looked about as pleased as Azira was about the development.

"Well it's not just one tunnel. The lovers didn't want anyone to find out about their love, so they built a whole labyrinth." Chong replied.

Azira and Sokka came to a screeching halt. "Labyrinth?" They both echoed at the same time.

"Oh yeah, this gets better and better."

Azira murmured, continuing to follow after Chong and his wife.

"All you need to do is trust in love. Well, according to the curse."

Yet again, Sokka and Azira stopped. "A curse?"

"Hey we're here!" Chong exclaimed, pointing ahead at the dark tunnel with markings on the outside of it.

"Can we back up to the curse part?" Azira deadpanned. "I'm a deep believer in spiritual curses and such."

"The curse says that only those who trust in love can make it through the caves. Otherwise, you'll be trapped in them forever and die." Chong explained.

Azira turnmed to Sokka. "This is the dumbest thing we've ever done. And I jumped off of Appa to save you once."

"Dang that's cold" Sokka murmured.

Once inside the tunnels, Azira couldn't help but be more quiet than normal.

Not only did she feel extremely

claustrophobic, it reminded her of Hana and the cave where she would take her victims.

The place where she had lost her mother. Where she had nearly lost her soul.

Azira's arm latched onto her other arm, focusing on keeping one foot in front of the other and continuing to move. She

needed to not lose her cool. Needed to keep it together. She couldn't afford not to.

She nearly jumped in fright as a large bat-like creature swung out from the shadows. "Wolf-bat!" Azira screeched, dodging its claws to her face.

Sokka jumped forward, swinging the torch at the creature to fend it off. Fire sparked near Appa and he crashed into the side of the cave. Rocks began falling and Azira lunged forward, catching onto Sokka's arm.

They fell at the same time, finding themselves totally and completely separated from the others. Sokka was quick to light one of his other torches, a dim alow of light falling over the two of them.

"Cave-in." Azira murmured, staring at the pile of rocks. "We could dig for hours and wouldn't get through."

Sokka swallowed nervously, staring at the expanse of darkness ahead of them.Then our only choice is to go forward."

But Azira didn't move an inch. She just stayed sitting on the ground and staring at the dark. She murmured something, but it was just inaudible noise to Sokka.

"Az, I can't hear you.

"l can't" Azira finally sniffed, looking up at Sokka.

Almost immediately, all signs of annoyance melted off of Sokka's features, replaced quickly with concern and compassion. "Hey, what's going on?" Sokka asked gently, kneeling next to her.

"I don't- don't like caves like this." Azira murmured, feeling her cheeks burn. She felt more than stupid for being scared, but here she was.

"Yo're-scared?" Sokka asked in confusion.

"No!" Azira snapped. "No, I." She trailed off, just staring at the dim light of the torch. "My mom died in a cave like

this.

No other explanation necessary silence had filled the cave and Sokka felt the weight of her words on his shoulders. He knew what it was like to lose a mother. Knew what it was like to feel traumatized anytime he thought of the place his mother died.

It was suffocating. Like he was drowning.

Sokka just extendeda hand. "I know we can't get out of here unless we try.

You're not alone. And l get it."

Azira stared at the hand extended to her, breath bated for just a moment.

Finally, she took the hand, allowing him to help her to her feet. " know you do "

And she didn't mind when their hands remained entwined as they walked.

"You don't talk about her much." Sokka broke the silence a few minutes later.

"l don't remember her much. I don't, don't realy know my dad. And my grandmother-she's.she's worse than the

Fire Nation."

Sokka wasn't really sure he wanted to find out what that meant. But he could feel the truth of her words-he heard it in the conviction in her tone.

"Makes sense."

"Do you." Azira bit down on her tongue, trying not to feel guilt. "Do you remember your mom much?"

It was silent for a moment-and for that moment, Azira was certain she had just ruined their entire friendship. Then he spoke, voice filled with warmth and fond remembrance. "l remember a lot.

More than Katara, anyway. The only

thing I can't really remember is how she looked."

"It fades with time." Azira agreed quietly. "Sokka..l know your mom would be really proud of you."

He looked to her with sincerity and beamed. "Thanks, Az. Yours would too."

No, no she wouldnt. Azra was a monster and she knew it.

"Thanks" felt as if she were being choked

"What do you think of the curse?"

Sokka finally questioned, glancing her way as they climbed through a particularly rocky nortion of the cave.

"The curse?" Azira thought about it for a moment. Well I'm not sure love really..exists."

At that, a frown crossed Sokka's features. "What do you mean?"

"If anyone really loved anyone else, no one would get hurt."

"l think because we love people, we have the capability of hurting people" Sokka said in a quiet tone.

"My parents didn't love each other. And neither did my grandparents. And.."

Azira suddenly felt very small. "l don't

think I'm capable of love." A sharp and swift punch to the arm shut her up quickly. "OW!"

"Well that's not true!" Sokka insisted.

"Come on, you love Aang.

"Well so do you!"

"Well yeah, he's like the annoying little brother we didn't know we needed." Sokkaa pointed out.

"Okay, I'll give you that one." Azira admitted.

"And you love Katara."

"Most of the time" Azira corrected.

"When she's not being a bleeding heart or lusting over older boys that aren't worth her time."

"See?" Sokka questioned smugly.

"Well what about you?"

"I think you love me too. You just won't ever say it."

Azra nearly laughed. "Funny."

"Hey Az?"

"Yeah?"

"Our torch is about to go out."

Azira swallowed nervously, clutching onto his hand tightly. "Okay. Well I think well find our way out. You're the smartest person I know. And do not be smug about that."

Just as the light went out and she was certain that all was going to be lost, a dim light appeared above them.

A small gasp escaped from Azra's lips. The-the gems. They light up in darkness. It must lead us out of here!"

"Maybe miracles do exist." Sokka murmured.

And they didn't stop holding hands until they were securely out of the cave and Katara and Aang were in sight. Not that either one of them particularly minded.