As I walked inside the forest, I suddenly heard a bunch of screeching and a roar.
"It seems that a fight is happening."
The roar, while seeming to come from a strong beast, sounded like a cry for help.
Meanwhile, the lighter and weaker screeching sounded like the laughter of a bunch of smaller beasts.
I quickly gripped my spear and took a stance as the sounds got closer to me.
Thump, thump!
Is it because I'm scared of the incoming unknown beasts or excited for my new fight?
My heart was beating faster than normal.
Shriiiieekkk-!!
Thud.
Shortly after, I saw a white beast with a long body and wings so small they wouldn't enable it to fly, running from a group of smaller black beasts with similar body and without wings.
The white beast was particularly majestic even with the blood that covered most of its body, while the group of black beasts looked like something you would call evil at first glance.
The group of black beasts, from my estimation, was around 15 in number.
But that didn't stop the white beast from occasionally biting some of them to death as it weakly retreated from a losing battle.
Even if the beast managed to retreat, I knew it wouldn't survive very long from the loss of blood due to the cuts and bites all over its body. But something was making it determined to fight and escape.
Something important.
I'm not stupid, I understood what was important for that beast since my parents also fought for me and Katara.
Indeed, the beast must have had a child it wanted to protect.
Just then, the white beast stopped running and dropped. It was breathing but slowly losing its life.
I didn't interfere the whole time and waited for the beast to weaken to the point that even if I defeated the group attacking it, it wouldn't have the strength to attack me.
I could defeat the black beasts, but then the attention of the white beast would be on me, and I didn't want to be the one to kill it.
Before the black beasts could bite the white beast to death, I stepped in.
All of them looked at me with blood on their teeth.
Grrrrr--!!!
They all took defensive positions as if seeing a bigger threat.
Yes, unfortunately for them, they met me.
Shortly after, one of them attacked.
I waited for it to reach the range of my spear before cutting its head in half horizontally with precision and speed.
I kicked it in the air to avoid getting its blood on my clothes.
Thud.
It landed without any sign of life.
Even seeing one of them get slashed to death, it didn't stop the beasts from attacking without any sign of fear.
They must have been used to winning using numbers...
Whoosh!
I walked as I spun the spear around.
I didn't even bother counting as I slashed all of them in half. But when I was three steps away from the white beast, I heard no sign of life except from the white beast in front of me.
"Hey there."
The beast looked into my eyes weakly, its breathing fast to keep itself alive, but there wasn't enough time.
"I promise that I will see the child you are protecting. If it's getting attacked, I will protect it. If it's big enough to protect itself, I will leave it on this island. But if it is still small, I will take it with me and care for it."
I knew it didn't understand me, but I wanted it to sense my intention, even if it was unlikely.
"You can rest now."
The beast then slowly closed its eyes, and its breathing stopped.
It was dead.
I didn't feel anything when I saw the beast in front of me die. It was unfortunate, but it was part of life.
The beast itself must have killed many animals to survive, and while I disliked the black beasts earlier, they were also killing to survive.
But still, I would keep my promise.
I turned around and looked at the black beasts I had slain.
"Are they edible?"
I at least wanted to come back to Katara and Aang with something in my hand.
But when I looked at the black beasts bodies, I could already imagine what Katara would say to me if I brought them to her.
--Are you crazy?!
I could guarantee that would be her first words.
I laughed before I started walking again, leaving the unfortunate encounter behind.
I was walking in the direction where the white beast had retreated, as this is where its child must be.
Hmm?
I hadn't even noticed, but it was getting a little dimmer.
I should hurry before it gets dark since Katara and Aang would be worried.
After a while, I found a large rock in the middle of the forest, and close to it were the children of the beast I was looking for.
There were two little babies similar to their parent, sleeping peacefully together without any worries.
"Ah, I must start thinking of names for them now."
Indeed, I would have to take them, not just because of the promise but also because of my dream of having a companion like Appa.
However, I noticed something different between the two of them.
One of them had large wings, while the other had small ones, similar to their parent.
"Is flying based on gender for their species?"
It certainly looked like it.
I slowly approached them, not wanting to disturb their sleep.
I carried the two of them in my arms without waking them up.
Katara was starting to get worried for Sokka.
It was getting dim, and they were on an unknown island with unknown dangers.
And Sokka was exploring it alone.
"Aang, can you look for Sokka?"
Just before Aang could reply, another voice interrupted.
"No need, Katara."
Katara and Aang looked at the owner of the voice, surprised.
"Sokka, just what did you bring us?"
Katara frowned at the thought of something.
"Don't tell me... this is what you said we would eat?"
I laughed at the change in atmosphere around Katara.
I could already tell what was on her mind, so I quickly clarified.
"Haha, I had an unfortunate encounter with their parent, so I feel like I should take care of them."
Katara sighed in relief before she and Aang approached me, looking at the little things in my hands.
"Did you already name them?"
"Not yet, but I want to take one and give you the other so we can each have a companion pet."
Katara immediately smiled and made her pick.
"Great, I want the one with large wings!"
"No! You will take the one with small wings since it's female, and I will take the one with large wings since it's male."
I didn't really know if I got the genders right, but my observation was probably correct.
Katara sighed and accepted the decision.
She gently grabbed the one with small wings and spoke.
"Alright then, I will name you Moa, and you will be my companion starting today."
She hugged Moa, causing her to wake up and then immediately fall asleep again, feeling the warmth.
I also thought of a name and said, looking at my new pet.
"You will be Zuno from now on."
'And I hope you can also fly like Appa.'
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