One of the escorts shook her awake that evening. The others had set up camp and were preparing dinner. The escorts prattled on throughout dinner about which firebending teacher would be best. Naomi tried to ask what made each one a good option, but she was ignored for the most part. She got a pitying look from Anana, but that was it. The Northern Water Tribe food tasted bland. She set her plate down and went over to her sleeping bag.

    The others soon did the same and were asleep, but thanks to her earlier nap, Naomi was soon the only one awake. They were camping in a small clearing, with forests all around them. She lay awake, listening to the sounds of the forest. Naomi stood and walked over to the edge of the forest. The sounds were louder now, but she could hear something else. Was that- crying?

She glanced back at the sleeping escorts. If they caught her, she had no clue what they would do, but she would be in big trouble. Then again, They were asleep. They didn't have to know. Besides, this would be the closest thing to a real avatar experience she'd ever had. Naomi took a deep breath and plunged into the forest.

She didn't have to go far. After about a five minute walk, she came across something that startled me, though it probably shouldn't have, considering she was in the fire nation. A red dragon was curled up in a circle. But I was sure I heard crying. Naomi thought. She crept closer and then saw the source of the sound.

A girl with dark brown hair and big amber eyes flooded with tears was huddled in the shadow of her dragon's coils. She looked to be about Naomi's age, and wore a short fire nation red skirt over a pair of darker red pants and a crop top that matched her skirt. She had a pair of shoes that also matched the top and skirt. The whole outfit was very color-coordinated. Her dragon growled softly as Naomi approached. The girl looked up, her face streaked with tears.

"What is it Ruby?" she asked the dragon softly. The girl looked around before spotting Naomi. The girl gasped and got to her feet, struggling to wipe away her tears. "Who are you?" she asked.

"I'm Naomi." Naomi said. The fire nation girl thought for a moment, then gasped again.

"You're the avatar?" she asked. Naomi bit her lip and nodded. The fire nation girl seemed to recover a bit, excitement taking over. She laughed. "Well now I feel pathetic." she said, her voice tinged with embarrassment. "I mean, I just met the avatar, and she finds me like... well this." her face flushed pink. "Well, I'm Zyga." Naomi held out her hand.

"Nice to meet you." she said as they shook.

"Likewise." Zyga said.

"So, out of curiosity, why are you out here crying?" Naomi asked. "If it's a personal matter you don't have to answer!" she hastily added.

"No, it's okay." Zyga said. "I was born a gifted firebender, and I can usually control it just fine, but yesterday, in my village, I was teaching a younger kid, and well... there was an accident. We were doing a mock spar, and a rogue fireblast burned the kid's arm, and set some houses on fire. After the fires were put out, I was-" she swallowed hard. "Banished." Unsure of what to say, Naomi sat down. Zyga followed suit. Naomi placed one of her hands on Zyga's.

"I'm sorry." she said. Zyga looked down, before looking back at her.

"Well, what's done is done. It was my fault. Anyway, how about you tell me what you're doing out here alone." Zyga asked.

"Oh I'm not alone." Naomi said. "Believe me, I am never alone." She said bitterly. "If I'm anywhere but the North Pole, I have at least 30 escorts by my side at all times. They make my decisions, they test everything for safety, I hardly get to use the bending I learn, if they decided to eat my food for me, I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised." Zyga laughed. "Speaking of food though, there should be plenty of that back at my campsite, as well as clean water, if you want."

"Thank you. That would be amazing." Zyga told her. "Lead the way." On the short way back to the campsite, they kept talking, though more quietly now, for fear of waking the escorts. Soon enough, they were back by the fire, and were eating their fill. They talked some more after their meal.

"That was great. Thanks Naomi." Zyga said.

"No problem. This is so nice. I hardly ever get to talk to anyone, and when I do, I'm ignored." Naomi answered.

"I know how that feels. I was pretty much the only sixteen year old in my village, and literally no one had kids that were even like, 18 or 14." Zyga commented. The light emitting from the fire started to dim. Zyga pointed a finger and shot some more flames at it, making it blaze up again.

"You're really good at that." Naomi complimented her. An idea was forming in her head. "This is just a thought, Zyga, but would you... maybe consider being my firebending teacher?" Zyga gave her a startled look.

"Me? Even after I told you what happened while training that kid?"

"Of course. Accidents happen. Besides, I'm a healer, so if anything happens to either of us, we're in good hands." Naomi reassured. Zyga still looked shocked.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"I'll say it again. Of course. It would also be really great to have a friend as a teacher. Someone I could talk to."

"Well if you're sure-"

"I am."

"Then I will."

"Thank you!" Naomi hugged Zyga. "Now we just have to convince the escorts. Easier said than done, but we can do it."

"Let's hope you're right, cause they're waking up." Zyga said. Naomi turned to face the escorts with her.

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Arrrggggghhhhhhhhh. Autocorrect keeps messing up Zyga's name.

-Phoenix