A/N: Thanks to everyone for reviews! I just finished watching the tenth chapter of Book One of Avatar. I'm curious now as to what happens next: will there be a new season, or does the same one just keep going? On Nickelodeon's website, there were only 10 chapters displayed in the episode guide, so I'm not quite sure. If anyone knows, answers are appreciated! And sorry I took so long to update!

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Disclaimer: I, a lowly fanfiction writer of a great fanfiction site, do not have the privilege to even wipe slime from Avatar's creators' feet. I only control the characters through writing, recognizing wholly that they are not mine at all.

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The Art of Waterbending

Chapter 4

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Sokka rose early the next morning, venturing out past the village's edge to the snowy beyond. He could see other settlements in the distance; there were three nearby, and at least twelve more on the horizon. At first, when he'd spotted the cluster of villages from the top of Appa, there appeared to have only been five or six, but now the Water Tribe warrior realized there was a great abundance of villages, larger than anything he'd ever expected. What was it like in all those different Water settlements?

He wished to find out, but his instincts instructed him not to stray any farther from the village. Sokka had learned to trust his instincts, knowing them to be as acute as the greatest warrior. Unfortunately, he didn't have the reflexes to match, which was proven so to him yet again as something resembling a bird with large ears landed on his head.

At first, he jumped in surprise, but calmed himself as he realized it was Momo. Sokka chuckled half to himself, expecting a certain Airbender to join him in a few seconds.

His whim proved right, and Aang bounded happily up to him. Aang glanced around at what Sokka was staring at with wandering eyes, shrugging his shoulder when he saw nothing of interest.

"Sokka, why are you up so early?" Aang asked. It certainly was unusual to see Sokka so awake at this time of morning.

"Look," Sokka explained, gesturing to the great number of villages, "there might even be a city out there."

"Wow."

"Don't you and Katara have to start learning to Waterbend? Have you found a teacher yet?"

"We haven't."

"Then you probably should. Come on, let's head back to the village."

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Sokka and Aang entered the village, which had awakened in the short time they'd been gone. Women and children aided each other in cleaning up from the Traveler Festival that had taken place last night; Sokka watched as a young Waterbender washed the charred remains of last night's bonfire into the snow.

"Sokka! Aang! Where have you been? Help me with this, will you?" shouted Katara over to her companions as she lifted up a cart of leftover food. Sokka and Aang walked over to her, and together the three dragged the cart into a tent used for storing food.

Ai opened the flap of the tent, helping Chaisu and a few other teens drag yet another pile of food into the storage area. She spotted the newcomers.

"Thanks for all the help, you three," she said as Chaisu and the other teens released the wooden box they were carrying so that it smashed onto the floor unceremoniously. The food in it almost went over the sides to the ground, but the box was secure, and kept the food secured inside.

"It's no problem at all," commented Katara. Aang bobbed his head up and down in agreement, and Sokka just gave a quick nod.

"Hey, Ai, do you know of a Waterbender that could teach these two," Sokka pointed to Aang and Katara, "advanced Waterbending?"

"Actually, I do. Come with me."

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"Now, this form is called the Smokescreen Evasive Technique. Stream the water around you, and transform it into steam. Be sure to get a lot so it can cover a good area. The point of this move is to help you retreat unseen when there are too many enemies to face off. Now, Aang, you try."

Aang streamed some water into the air, twirling it around in a circle in front of him and suddenly releasing it into the air. A great wave of steam surrounded the training area, and Aang pushed it apart with his Airbending.

"Excellent work, Aang. Now you try, Katara," instructed Kazuki.

Katara streamed some water around her, playing with it a bit before letting it swirl around in a circular motion. She lost her focus as she released the stream, and it splashed to the ground without so much as a bit of the grayish gas emitting into the air. She growled in frustration.

"Relax yourself, Katara. Patience is one of the must-have traits of a Waterbender."

Katara inhaled slowly, and exhaled again. She summoned some of the water from below her around her again, and spun it so that it followed a different circular path. She kept it going slowly for nearly half a minute before the water began to speed up. Katara released the torrent of water and a huge blast of the liquid flew from her hands, ripping up the terrain around them. She gasped, and slapped a hand on her head.

"I can't do it!" she whined.

She didn't notice the looks of awe from Aang and Kazuki directed towards her. Kazuki shook his head in disbelief.

"My dear!" Kazuki started, "you have just completed the Airborne Whirlpool, a move so advanced that even I have trouble doing without it draining all my energy."

Aang nodded, and signaled to the torn terrain in front of the group. Katara's eyes widened with shock.

"I did that?"

"Yes, dear girl, you did. You have it in you; just calm yourself. The more you calm yourself, the more powerful your attacks shall be. Try the Smokescreen maneuver again."

Katara nodded, calming herself. She streamed water into a circle and made it flow at a medium rate around and around. Finally, she released it, and a massive cloud of smoke erupted from the water.

"Excellent!" bellowed Kazuki, immediately pleased with Katara's progress. He'd been teaching her and the Avatar for nearly two weeks now, and the Fire Nation still hadn't come. Kazuki suspected that the Firebenders had been blown off course.

"That's enough for today, you two. It's nearly time to sup, anyway. Come, let us go to the village."

Following Kazuki to the village was the Avatar and a very pleased Waterbender.

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Zuko stomped his foot on the deck of the ship, howling with rage. The navigator had directed them off course, and they had completely missed the North Water continent. He was sure that by now the Avatar had already found a tutor and had half mastered Waterbending. Zuko was deeply upset at the navigator, and it had taken four guards and his uncle's Firebending skills to stop him from throwing the navigator to the icy depths below.

"Prince Zuko, are you coming with us?" interrogated his uncle Iroh. They'd landed on a far northern Earth Kingdom island and would stalk up on supplies before heading back to the North Pole.

Zuko nodded his head yes, thinking of nothing better to do. He followed his uncle off the ship and mounted a Komodo Rhino, urging the beast forward. It would be at least a week before they were ready to leave, so he figured he might go with his uncle and then explore the island.

The Firebenders made their way from the shore through a dense forest. After nearly an hour of travel, Zuko spotted an Earth Kingdom village on the sea.

"There is a place we can get supplies from the locals, sir," informed a guard to Iroh.

"Lead on," said Iroh, very much looking forward to restocking his supply of Jingsang tea.

The Firebenders finally reached the village, demanding supplies from the inhabitants. They didn't have much luck, though, due to the fact that several Earthbenders chased the Fire brigade out of town.

After bartering his way back into the village, Iroh bought supplies from the inhabitants and reemerged from the village with guards carrying several packages of Jingsang tea, water, a lotus tile, food, and many assorted costumes for drama night on the ship.

"What is that?" spat Zuko, gesturing towards a dress and a woman's wig.

"It's for you on drama night on the ship!" Iroh stated happily, becoming very amused at the expression on Zuko's face. Iroh was sure he'd never seen his nephew run faster than then.

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A/N: Whoop! How'd ya like that? Review if you wish, it is very much appreciated.