They had arrived as the sun was falling, drowning in the freezing water. The dying rays bounced off of the gleaming white ice and into the eyes of the waiting people of the Southern Water Tribe. Kana stood, watching as her neighbours and friends gathered around the icy shore, squinting against the harsh white light. They could make out, barely, figures on the boats, some taking down the sails and others standing evenly at the edges of the boat, making gentle motions with their hands. The boat propelled forward with every movement, closer toward the waiting crowd.
"Waterbenders!" People whispered around her. "Our sister tribe has come at last!"
The boats grew closer and closer, eventually slowing down and bumping harmlessly against the ice. At the head of the closest and most elaborate boat stood a man. He was comfortable inside a deep blue parka, most likely stuffed with warm, feathery down. His hair had receded all the way back, until it was naught but a flowing ringlet, white as his snowy beard. His face was lined with wrinkles, from yelling and fighting and living, and his eyes- so familiar- were piercing, unforgiving blue.
At the nod of his head, he and his companions jumped gracefully down from the boat, landing softly on the ice.
"People of the Southern Water Tribe!" Pakku said in a strong voice that carried along the crowd and ricocheted off the icy terrain. "We are waterbenders from your sister tribe in the North!" He raised his arm and made an elaborate rotation of his wrist. Snow rose from the ground, swirling around his head before falling back to the ground. Giving them proof. Kana snorted. As if they needed any. But, then again, Pakku was always prone to drama.
"We come, perhaps too late, to help you rebuild your home! Please, may we speak to your chief?"
A voice rose from the crowd. "Hakoda is gone to fight in the war. But Kana is still here."
Pakku's blue eyes swept toward the person- a young woman- and his gaze then swept across the crowd. Of course Kana was easily visible. Not much of the Southern Water Tribe was left, and she was among one of the few elders. She stepped forward.
"We welcome you, brothers, to our home." And with that short line, all knew that the meeting and need for polite ceremonial manners was over. Many of the younger children launched at the waterbenders, pestering them with questions. Kana turned her back on this gathering and slowly made her way to her igloo. Once inside, she sat on one of the two wooden makeshift chairs and waited.
She did not wait long. Without bothering to knock or announce his presence, he stepped into the small hut, looking around somewhat disdainfully. Ignoring the wooden chair she had pushed toward him, he bent himself a chair of ice and snow. An awkward silence ensued.
"Who is he?" Pakku asked quietly. Kana was tempted to say "Who was who?" But decided against it. She knew who he meant.
Who is grandfather to Katara and Sokka? Who is Kya's father?
The man who replaced me?
"You always were a moron," Kana said, no hint of scorn in her voice. Pakku immediately bristled, but before he could open his mouth Kana continued. "Pig-headed, stubborn, a sexist jerk. And you've met Katara and Sokka, haven't you? Of course, Sokka would be the more obvious. He's exactly like you, in almost every detail. Didn't you think that was strange?"
Pakku made a kind of strangled noise, finally catching on. Kana sighed.
"You," she said simply. "He was you."
-shot-