Post by Moe on Jun 14, 2009 13:51:52 GMT -5
Freedom Lake-
Chapter 1
"Katara, are you done packing yet?" Hakoda called.
"No! I told you, I'm not going. You can't make me!" Katara yelled through her closed door.
Why do I have to go to this stupid camp anyway? He's been talking about it ever since Mom's funeral.
"Katara," her father continued from downstairs, "I already signed both of you up. You're going, whether you like it or not!"
"Cheer up Katara," Sokka said, coming into her room with a duffle bag swung over his shoulder. "It might not be that bad."
Katara crossed her arms and turned to look at her empty suitcase. "Are you sure I have to go, Dad?" she asked.
Her father came into the room. "Yes. It will be good for you and Sokka to get out of the house. The kids at this camp are going to be just like you. I'm sure you'll have a great time!"
Katara sighed and crossed her arms. "Yeah, Dad. Whatever," she muttered as she began packing.
Her mother had died in a car crash a few weeks ago. Both she and her brother were having a really hard time. Then their dad found out about some camp for kids who have trouble with their home lives and losses. Katara didn't want to go to any such camp but apparently she didn't have a choice.
Later that afternoon, they packed the car and drove off. Sokka was listening to his iPod and not paying much attention to anything. Katara sat quietly in the back of the car, looking out the window.
After about two hours, Katara fell asleep.
"We're here!" her father announced.
Katara's eyes shot open and she began to look around. Outside of the car there was a large green building. There was a sign on it clearly saying "Lodge". Her father opened the car door and stepped out. "I'm going to tell them you're here," he said. Katara, who had been in the car for hours, got out as well. The car was parked a the edge of a large green field. The yard was busy will people running back and fourth, playing games, and just sitting and talking. Katara sighed and leaned against the car, closing her eyes. She didn't know how long she had been standing there when suddenly she heard someone scream,
"Twinkletoes! Go long!"
Katara opened her eyes to see a boy running after a ball that had been thrown through the air. In a flash Katara realized he was going to crash into her. She tried to jump out of the way but it was to late. Katara found herself on the ground, rubbing her now sore head.
"Oh! I'm so sorry!" the boy ranted as he jumped to his feet and helped her up. "I wasn't looking!"
Katara laughed softly. "Obviously not."
She took a chance now to get a better look at him. He was about her age; maybe a little younger. He had shaggy black hair and stormy gray eyes. He was giving her strange look and she couldn't help but giggle.
"So, I've never met you before," he went on. "Are you new here?"
She nodded. "Yeah. My name's Katara, and this is my brother Sokka," she said, pointing through the window of the car.
"Nice to meet you, Katara. My name's Aang. Do you know where everything is or would you like me to show you around?"
She smiled and nodded. "Sure, should I get Sokka?" she asked.
"Yeah," Aang said with a laugh. "The more the merrier."
Katara walked back to the car, all the while sensing someone watching her. It wasn't Aang, she was sure of that. She turned back around briefly and spotted a smug-looking boy about her age leaning against the banister of the Lodge, talking to a girl. He was tanned with shaggy brown hair and brown eyes, a lit cigarette hanging from his mouth. He gave a smooth nod to her and she tried to smile back without being…well, frankly, without being creeped out. Then she continued walking until she reached the car.
"Sokka, there's a guy here who wants to show us around. Come on." Sokka yelped as she briskly took his arm and led the way.
"You didn't even want to come here, now you're literally dragging me around," he grumbled. Katara rolled her eyes. "So who's this guy?"
Just as Sokka spoke, they reached Aang. Katara introduced them and they began to venture through the yard, Aang in the lead next to Katara, Sokka behind them.
The camp was smaller than she thought it would be. It was still large, of course, but she was expecting a little more. This was probably better, though. Less people to have to meet, less pressure making friends. She might've made one already, she thought, glancing at Aang. The yard was filled with kids ranging from, by the looks of it, about twelve years old all the way to nineteen.
"This is where we sleep," Aang said, gesturing to two cabins. One was labeled Boys, and one Girls. The cabins were traditional log-houses near the Lodge.
"Can we look inside?" Katara asked.
"Well, you can. Since I'm a guy I'm really not allowed in the girls' cabin. Violation of the rules means punishment," Aang explained.
"Wow. They're really strict here, aren't they?" Sokka asked rhetorically. Aang nodded.
"I'll show you this one, and Katara, you can check that out."
The two boys went inside their cabin as Katara entered hers. The creaking wooden door swung loosely as she let it go and stepped inside. It was dark and dusty, for the most part. The only light came in from a few windows on either side, showing about a dozen bunk beds and a simple bureau here or there. No pictures, no mirrors, no fuzzy blue carpet or stereo. Just…wood. Lots of it. Dull, boring wood that she'd have to look at every day for the rest of the summer. She sighed, trying to make the best of the situation. She wasn't used to a room that wasn't colorful or cozy. At least she found the light switch. She flicked it on, then felt something weird. It was like the cabin…vibrated.
"Whoa!" A voice said. Then she heard footsteps on the floor, and a girl came around the corner. She looked like she was about a year older than her, with short reddish-brown hair pulled into a half-ponytail and deep blue eyes. Her T-shirt boldly displayed the camp's name, Freedom Lake, in tan letters against a green color. She had a clipboard in one hand and a whistle hanging around her neck.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to-" Katara started.
"No, no, it's okay. I just didn't know anyone else was in here. You made me jump when you turned the light on," she added, laughing. Katara smiled. "I'm Suki. I don't think I've met you. Have you been here before?" Katara shook her head.
"I'm Katara. My brother Sokka and I just got here today. Are you a councilor?" she asked, gesturing to the clipboard.
"Kind of. I'm a CIT; a councilor in training."
"Oh. Cool. Well, I think I should go now. Sokka's probably waiting."
"Do you want any help?"
"No thanks. One of the guys is showing me around."
"It's Aang, isn't it?" Suki asked, smiling. Katara nodded.
"Yeah, how did you know?"
"Well, he's just about the nicest kid here, so I figured if anyone was friendly enough to come out and ask you, it was him." Katara smiled as Suki continued talking. "I have some things to talk to with the head councilor, so I'll walk out with you."
Nicest kid here…
"Okay. Thanks."
When they got outside, Katara walked down the four front steps of the cabin and met up with Aang and Sokka, while Suki started toward the Lodge.
"So, what did you think?" Aang asked.
"It was very…wooden," she answered. He laughed lightly.
"Yeah, they're not the best cabins. Sokka and I were…Sokka?" Katara looked at her brother and almost laughed at his expression: mouth slightly open, back bent over, arms hanging lazily in front of him, and wide eyes following someone who looked a lot like Suki.
"Sokka? Hello?"
"Katara, who was that girl you came out with?" he asked, completely ignoring Aang's attempts at getting his attention.
"Her name's Suki. She's a councilor in training."
"And she's your age, Lover-Boy," Aang teased. Sokka shook his head, coming back down to earth, and narrowed his eyes at the boy.
"Very funny. Let's just keep moving."
Aang smirked and continued through the camp until a large mass of water came in sight. The grass was now ending, and the area was filled with thick sand.
"I'm guessing this is Freedom Lake?" Katara said.
"You guessed right," Aang answered. "It's one of the few lakes around here that are safe to swim in. As long as you stay away from the crabs, that is."
"Crabs?!" Sokka exclaimed, his voice cracking in fear.
"Calm down. They won't bother you if you don't go near them," Aang said.
"Well, creatures have a tendency to attach themselves to Sokka," Katara explained.
"Ah, I see. Well, you don't have to go in if you don't want to."
Sokka sighed in relief, while Aang turned to continue the tour.
"But you'll be missing the fun."
Chapter 1
"Katara, are you done packing yet?" Hakoda called.
"No! I told you, I'm not going. You can't make me!" Katara yelled through her closed door.
Why do I have to go to this stupid camp anyway? He's been talking about it ever since Mom's funeral.
"Katara," her father continued from downstairs, "I already signed both of you up. You're going, whether you like it or not!"
"Cheer up Katara," Sokka said, coming into her room with a duffle bag swung over his shoulder. "It might not be that bad."
Katara crossed her arms and turned to look at her empty suitcase. "Are you sure I have to go, Dad?" she asked.
Her father came into the room. "Yes. It will be good for you and Sokka to get out of the house. The kids at this camp are going to be just like you. I'm sure you'll have a great time!"
Katara sighed and crossed her arms. "Yeah, Dad. Whatever," she muttered as she began packing.
Her mother had died in a car crash a few weeks ago. Both she and her brother were having a really hard time. Then their dad found out about some camp for kids who have trouble with their home lives and losses. Katara didn't want to go to any such camp but apparently she didn't have a choice.
Later that afternoon, they packed the car and drove off. Sokka was listening to his iPod and not paying much attention to anything. Katara sat quietly in the back of the car, looking out the window.
After about two hours, Katara fell asleep.
"We're here!" her father announced.
Katara's eyes shot open and she began to look around. Outside of the car there was a large green building. There was a sign on it clearly saying "Lodge". Her father opened the car door and stepped out. "I'm going to tell them you're here," he said. Katara, who had been in the car for hours, got out as well. The car was parked a the edge of a large green field. The yard was busy will people running back and fourth, playing games, and just sitting and talking. Katara sighed and leaned against the car, closing her eyes. She didn't know how long she had been standing there when suddenly she heard someone scream,
"Twinkletoes! Go long!"
Katara opened her eyes to see a boy running after a ball that had been thrown through the air. In a flash Katara realized he was going to crash into her. She tried to jump out of the way but it was to late. Katara found herself on the ground, rubbing her now sore head.
"Oh! I'm so sorry!" the boy ranted as he jumped to his feet and helped her up. "I wasn't looking!"
Katara laughed softly. "Obviously not."
She took a chance now to get a better look at him. He was about her age; maybe a little younger. He had shaggy black hair and stormy gray eyes. He was giving her strange look and she couldn't help but giggle.
"So, I've never met you before," he went on. "Are you new here?"
She nodded. "Yeah. My name's Katara, and this is my brother Sokka," she said, pointing through the window of the car.
"Nice to meet you, Katara. My name's Aang. Do you know where everything is or would you like me to show you around?"
She smiled and nodded. "Sure, should I get Sokka?" she asked.
"Yeah," Aang said with a laugh. "The more the merrier."
Katara walked back to the car, all the while sensing someone watching her. It wasn't Aang, she was sure of that. She turned back around briefly and spotted a smug-looking boy about her age leaning against the banister of the Lodge, talking to a girl. He was tanned with shaggy brown hair and brown eyes, a lit cigarette hanging from his mouth. He gave a smooth nod to her and she tried to smile back without being…well, frankly, without being creeped out. Then she continued walking until she reached the car.
"Sokka, there's a guy here who wants to show us around. Come on." Sokka yelped as she briskly took his arm and led the way.
"You didn't even want to come here, now you're literally dragging me around," he grumbled. Katara rolled her eyes. "So who's this guy?"
Just as Sokka spoke, they reached Aang. Katara introduced them and they began to venture through the yard, Aang in the lead next to Katara, Sokka behind them.
The camp was smaller than she thought it would be. It was still large, of course, but she was expecting a little more. This was probably better, though. Less people to have to meet, less pressure making friends. She might've made one already, she thought, glancing at Aang. The yard was filled with kids ranging from, by the looks of it, about twelve years old all the way to nineteen.
"This is where we sleep," Aang said, gesturing to two cabins. One was labeled Boys, and one Girls. The cabins were traditional log-houses near the Lodge.
"Can we look inside?" Katara asked.
"Well, you can. Since I'm a guy I'm really not allowed in the girls' cabin. Violation of the rules means punishment," Aang explained.
"Wow. They're really strict here, aren't they?" Sokka asked rhetorically. Aang nodded.
"I'll show you this one, and Katara, you can check that out."
The two boys went inside their cabin as Katara entered hers. The creaking wooden door swung loosely as she let it go and stepped inside. It was dark and dusty, for the most part. The only light came in from a few windows on either side, showing about a dozen bunk beds and a simple bureau here or there. No pictures, no mirrors, no fuzzy blue carpet or stereo. Just…wood. Lots of it. Dull, boring wood that she'd have to look at every day for the rest of the summer. She sighed, trying to make the best of the situation. She wasn't used to a room that wasn't colorful or cozy. At least she found the light switch. She flicked it on, then felt something weird. It was like the cabin…vibrated.
"Whoa!" A voice said. Then she heard footsteps on the floor, and a girl came around the corner. She looked like she was about a year older than her, with short reddish-brown hair pulled into a half-ponytail and deep blue eyes. Her T-shirt boldly displayed the camp's name, Freedom Lake, in tan letters against a green color. She had a clipboard in one hand and a whistle hanging around her neck.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to-" Katara started.
"No, no, it's okay. I just didn't know anyone else was in here. You made me jump when you turned the light on," she added, laughing. Katara smiled. "I'm Suki. I don't think I've met you. Have you been here before?" Katara shook her head.
"I'm Katara. My brother Sokka and I just got here today. Are you a councilor?" she asked, gesturing to the clipboard.
"Kind of. I'm a CIT; a councilor in training."
"Oh. Cool. Well, I think I should go now. Sokka's probably waiting."
"Do you want any help?"
"No thanks. One of the guys is showing me around."
"It's Aang, isn't it?" Suki asked, smiling. Katara nodded.
"Yeah, how did you know?"
"Well, he's just about the nicest kid here, so I figured if anyone was friendly enough to come out and ask you, it was him." Katara smiled as Suki continued talking. "I have some things to talk to with the head councilor, so I'll walk out with you."
Nicest kid here…
"Okay. Thanks."
When they got outside, Katara walked down the four front steps of the cabin and met up with Aang and Sokka, while Suki started toward the Lodge.
"So, what did you think?" Aang asked.
"It was very…wooden," she answered. He laughed lightly.
"Yeah, they're not the best cabins. Sokka and I were…Sokka?" Katara looked at her brother and almost laughed at his expression: mouth slightly open, back bent over, arms hanging lazily in front of him, and wide eyes following someone who looked a lot like Suki.
"Sokka? Hello?"
"Katara, who was that girl you came out with?" he asked, completely ignoring Aang's attempts at getting his attention.
"Her name's Suki. She's a councilor in training."
"And she's your age, Lover-Boy," Aang teased. Sokka shook his head, coming back down to earth, and narrowed his eyes at the boy.
"Very funny. Let's just keep moving."
Aang smirked and continued through the camp until a large mass of water came in sight. The grass was now ending, and the area was filled with thick sand.
"I'm guessing this is Freedom Lake?" Katara said.
"You guessed right," Aang answered. "It's one of the few lakes around here that are safe to swim in. As long as you stay away from the crabs, that is."
"Crabs?!" Sokka exclaimed, his voice cracking in fear.
"Calm down. They won't bother you if you don't go near them," Aang said.
"Well, creatures have a tendency to attach themselves to Sokka," Katara explained.
"Ah, I see. Well, you don't have to go in if you don't want to."
Sokka sighed in relief, while Aang turned to continue the tour.
"But you'll be missing the fun."