The endless expanse of the ocean had finally yielded to a rugged, emerald outline on the horizon. After three days of continuous travel, the group was weary, their supplies dwindling to a few scraps of dried meat and some wilted vegetables. Appa, too, was showing signs of exhaustion, his powerful tail beating with a slower, more rhythmic cadence. The decision to land was unanimous; they needed rest, food, and a moment of solid ground beneath their feet.
As Appa's massive paws touched the soft sands of a secluded beach, a collective sigh of relief escaped the group. Sokka was the first to jump down, his stomach let out a loud, demanding growl that echoed against the nearby cliffs. "Food," he muttered, his eyes scanning the shoreline for anything edible. "First thing on the agenda: find something that doesn't taste like despair."
Katara and Aang followed, stretching their cramped limbs, while Alec slid down Appa's side with his usual practiced grace. They began to drift apart, drawn by the allure of the lush vegetation and the promise of fresh water, but Alec's voice suddenly cut through the air, a sharp, commanding roar that brought them all to a halt.
"Back! Everyone, stay close!" Alec shouted, his head tilted as if listening to a frequency only he could hear.
"What is it, Alec?" Aang asked, his hand instinctively moving toward his glider.
"We're not alone," Alec replied, his voice dropping to a cautious whisper. He didn't explain further, instead leading them away from the treeline and toward a massive, weathered structure that dominated the nearby landscape. It was a giant statue of Avatar Kyoshi, her stone eyes staring out over the sea with an expression of unyielding strength.
Standing in the shadow of the statue, Alec felt a subtle sense of oppression, a weight in the air that spoke of ancient power and fierce protection. He stepped forward, intending to examine the intricate carvings on the base, but his internal thermal vision—a technique he had refined through rigorous training, though the faces of his teachers remained frustratingly blurred in his mind—flared to life. Multiple heat signatures, vibrant and pulsing with intent, were scattered among the surrounding foliage.
"You can all stop hiding now," Alec said, his voice calm but projected. "Show yourselves. We mean no harm."
Sokka looked around wildly, his hand on his club. "Who are you talking to, Alec? There's nobody here but us and the big stone lady."
Alec didn't look back. He pointed a steady finger toward a dense cluster of ferns directly behind Sokka. "Her. And the four others flanking us."
Before Sokka could even turn, five figures darted from the shadows with the precision of hunting hawks. They were dressed in traditional green armor, their faces painted in stark white and red, moving with a synchronized grace that spoke of years of disciplined training. They moved to surround the group, their movements a blur of green and steel.
"Wait!" Aang cried out, stepping in front of Katara. "We're here with the Avatar! We're not enemies!"
The leader of the group, a girl with sharp, intelligent eyes and a formidable presence, stepped forward. She snapped open a metal fan, the edge glinting dangerously in the sunlight. "The Avatar?" she repeated, her voice laced with skepticism. "How do we believe that? You look like a bunch of Fire Nation spies to me."
She pointed her fan directly at Alec, sensing he was the most dangerous among them. "And you. How did you see us?"
Alec met her gaze through his blindfold, his expression unreadable. "I didn't see you with my eyes. I felt your heat. Your heartbeats are loud, leader."
Suki, the leader, narrowed her eyes, her fan not wavering an inch. "A likely story. Give us one reason why we shouldn't tie you up right now."
As if in response to her challenge, the air around them suddenly hummed with a low, resonant frequency. The eyes of the Kyoshi statue began to glow with a brilliant, ethereal light, and an ominous sound wave rippled through the clearing, vibrating in their very bones. It was a confirmation, a spiritual acknowledgement of the Avatar's presence that none could deny.
The warriors froze, their aggressive stances softening into looks of awe and realization. Suki slowly closed her fan, her gaze shifting from the statue to Aang, then finally back to Alec. "It seems the legends were true," she whispered.
She signaled to her warriors to withdraw their weapons. "I am Suki. Follow us to our village. The village elders will want to see this for themselves."
As they began the trek toward the village, Sokka remained uncharacteristically silent. His eyes were dazed, fixed on Suki and the other warriors with a look of pure, unadulterated shock. It had been years since he had seen girls his own age, let alone warriors who moved with such lethal beauty. His teenage heart, usually preoccupied with meat and sarcasm, was suddenly pounding a frantic rhythm against his ribs.
Alec followed closely behind Suki, his senses still on high alert. He noted the way they moved, the way they guarded their flanks even while leading 'guests.' It was a false sense of security; he knew they were only as trustworthy as the moment allowed.
"Nice village," Sokka managed to stammer out as they entered the outskirts, his voice cracking slightly. Suki didn't look back, but Alec could see the slight tilt of her head, acknowledging the comment.
They were led through the bustling village, the inhabitants stopping to stare at the strange group and the massive bison following behind. Finally, they reached a large, ornate building at the center of the town.
"The Chief's house," Suki announced, stepping aside to let them enter. "Wait here. And don't try anything."