Zuko quickly regains his focus and wastes no time in launching a series of fire blasts at Aang. As he voices this, Aang's true identity is revealed to the entire village, as he had never told them he was the Avatar. Zuko realizes and is shocked to discover that the Avatar is merely a twelve-year-old boy rather than the ancient master he was expecting. Dismounting the animal, Aang uses airbending and his staff to send a spray of snow at Zuko and his men he stands and faces the prince, asking him if he is "looking for ". Zuko duels Aang, who revealed himself to be the Avatar in order to save the villagers.īefore he can attack, however, Aang arrives, riding on the back of an otter penguin, and knocks Zuko off his feet. Enraged at being caught off guard, the prince prepares to deal a vicious strike with his firebending. Zuko defeats him with much ease as all Sokka manages is a lucky hit, which occurs when his boomerang strikes the back of Zuko's helmet. He grabs Kanna threateningly and Sokka attacks Zuko again. Zuko demands the location of the Avatar from the villagers, expecting to find an old man somewhere in the village. Sokka charges at him, but the more experienced Zuko requires only his bare hands to counter Sokka's primitive weaponry and he is almost dismissive of his presence at first. Zuko quickly descends, accompanied by a few soldiers. Sokka continues to stand bravely, only balking in order to avoid the ramp that descends from the ship. In time, Zuko's ship arrives at Wolf Cove its mere approach collapses Sokka's makeshift walls and towers. Sokka is ready to defend his tribe against the incoming Fire Nation. Sokka and Zuko prepare individually for their nearing encounter: Zuko dons a traditional Fire Nation soldier's uniform and helmet, while Sokka readies his weapons and applies warpaint to his face. Aang suddenly spots Zuko's ship approaching the village and, realizing the severity of their predicament, he quickly decides to help defend his new friends, leaving a dozing Appa behind. Meanwhile, Aang and Appa rest on a wind-carved ice formation and Aang, acting as if Appa can talk to him, tells Appa somewhat dejectedly that he liked Katara. Sokka hurriedly readies the young children for the imminent combat with the Fire Nation. Katara, frustrated that they have banished Aang, snaps angrily at her grandmother, leaving Kanna looking saddened. A downcast Aang and Appa depart from the village, setting course for the Southern Air Temple, where Aang previously lived. As Aang states that he does not want to come between Katara and her family, she rethinks her decision and sadly decides to stay.
However, Sokka asks her if she would actually choose Aang over her own family. Katara, outraged by the decision, initially resolves to leave with Aang, who had offered to take her to the Northern Water Tribe to find a master waterbender who could teach her. A bitter argument ensues, in which Sokka decides to banish Aang from the Southern Water Tribe for his perceived betrayal, an action Kanna agrees with. Because of the mishap, the safety of the village has been compromised. Returning from the site of the shipwreck, Aang and Katara are greeted by many angry faces in the village, their accidental triggering of a flare on the ship having warned the Fire Nation of their presence. Synopsisīelieving Aang signaled the Fire Nation by setting off a flare at the shipwreck, Sokka banishes him from their village. Katara and Sokka decide to accompany Aang on his travels to the Northern Water Tribe to find a waterbending teacher for both Aang and Katara. Katara and Sokka fly on Appa to save Aang and the three manage to escape. Aboard Zuko's ship, Aang frees himself and battles Zuko. Aang returns to the village where he reveals that he is the Avatar and surrenders himself to Zuko on the condition that the latter leaves the village be.
Later, Zuko attacks the Southern Water Tribe village and demands the Avatar be surrendered to him. Upon returning to the tribe, Aang is promptly banished by a furious Sokka for alerting the ship of the Fire Nation prince.