Part 1: Introductions
When the news spread of the impending volcanic eruption on Kyoshi Island the world rallied to their aid. Their nearest neighbours, the Southern Water tribe and the Earth nation were the first to respond. Katara of the Southern Water tribe, hero of her people, led a group of warriors to help defend the island that was home to the brave Kyoshi Warriors and her brother Sokka.
She stood on the prow of the ship as they sailed into Kyoshi Island's only bay, the glistening blue sea gave way to a smooth, bright beach then to lush, fragrant pine forest. Above the peaceful scene loomed the sullenly smoking volcano, its frosting of snow gleaming eerily in the sun. Katara leapt lightly from the prow of the wooden ship and a wave rose from the bay to meet her feet and carry her gracefully to the shore.
She had been merely a child the last time she was here, wide eyed and innocent, despite the hardship of her upbringing. She'd only just started out on her adventures with the Avatar. Katara was a woman grown now. A full five years had passed since she and her friends, and warriors from across the world had brought about the fall of the Fire nation's domination. Since then they had all worked hard to rebuild the world in an era of peaceful cooperation. After seeing Firelord Zuko settled in his benevolent reign, she, the Avatar Aang, her brother Sokka, Master Earthbender Toph, and Sokka's wife; Kyoshi Warrior Suki had travelled back across the Earth nation for year. They'd used their knowledge and Bending skills to help with the reconstruction of many devastated communities and spreading the message of peace between the nations.
Eventually Sokka and Suki had settled back on Kyoshi Island, they had built a home and Sokka had set up lines of communication to the other nations so that the Kyoshi warriors and he could be called on whenever there was need of them.
Toph had returned to her home in the Earth Kingdom and disappeared for a whole three years. Until one day the news arrived that she had actually taken advantage of her family's enormous financial resources and secretly constructed a new temple for Earthbenders. Tunnelled into the living rock of a mountain, the temple was presided over by the rare badger-moles. Many Earthbenders now travelled to the temple every year seeking to pay tribute to the badger-moles and learn the deepest secrets of Earthbending. Toph apparently taught very few of them herself, stating officially that 'None of them could live up to the standard of her first pupil even if he was a pansy Airbender'
Katara and Aang had travelled on together to the Southern Water Tribe to help them rebuild and renew their ties with their sister-tribe in the North and establish a new spirit of Southern Waterbending.
And it was at the South Pole that Aang and Katara had finally parted ways. Feeling beholden to her people Katara had chosen to stay on, to help build the Southern Water temple and expand the original meagre village to accommodate the growing population. Aang had felt the pull of the winds, he knew it was his duty to travel the world, seeking wisdom and helping to end conflict and bring balance where he could. He had left her four years ago to the day, flying out into the world on his devoted Sky Bison Appa, with only his promise that he would return.
Katara made her way up the beach glancing back to see the other Water Tribe warriors clambering down from the ship in a more conventional manner and beginning to unload supplies. Katara waved then continued on to seek out the First village of Kyoshi and its Chief, Oyaji. A cool breeze cut through the warmth of the summer day, lifting the loops of dark sienna hair that framed her elfin face and ruffling her blue tunic. She hugged her muscular arms briefly around her lithe frame. She was used to being rugged up against the cold of the South Pole and it was taking her a long time to readjust to the constantly changing conditions of the temperate regions.
She jogged up the beach and along the narrow path through the forest which led up to the First village with its monument to the Avatar Kyoshi and rows of wooden buildings. A small crowd of people were gathered around the front of the Chief's house which sat at the very end of the row. The group seemed to be primarily men and women from the village as well as green clad Kyoshi warrior women and the Chief Oyaji with his thick thatch of grey hair and beard.
A broad shouldered young man stood on the deck in front of the Chief's house, his back to the crowd, speaking while he pointed to a detailed map hung on the wall in front of him.
"Ok, so from the intelligence we've gathered on the mountain these past couple of years we are pretty certain that the volcano will erupt in this direction, due south, towards this village. That means that the other villages on the island are pretty much gonna be safe. BUT, just in case, the Earthbenders have created a large shelter on the northern side of the island, protected by this mountain...here" and he prodded a point towards the top of the map. "All of the villagers from Kyoshi Island have been moved to the shelter over the past couple of days; except for us because we're going to do everything we can to defend the First village, established by Avatar Kyoshi herself."
"The Earthbenders have also created trenches around the northern perimeter of the village" again he jabbed the map emphatically "that should redirect the majority of the lava iaround/i the village, so really our main worry is burning rocks and hot ash which can easily start fires in the houses. We have stores of water set up here, here and here and a well here. We'll organise fire fighting details to put out any fires as they occur"
"I might be able to help with that" Katara called
The young man turned around with a scowl ready to berate whoever had interrupted him.
"Katara?" he yelped, and forgetting his speech for a moment, he bounded down the stairs, pushed through the crowd and hauled her into a rough bear-hug. Katara hugged her brother fiercely in return.
"It's good to see you Sokka" She said, grinning into his shoulder "Nice speech"
"Thanks" he muttered
"How many times have you practiced it?"
Sokka looked mortified "Maybe once or twice" he answered defensively
They released each other as the crowd parted and Chief Oyaji approached them and bowed deeply to Katara.
"Lady Katara of the Southern Water Tribe, I humbly welcome you back to the Island of Kyoshi"
Katara bowed in return and replied "Chief Oyaji, we of the Southern Water tribe are honoured to be able to help our friends and neighbours in their hour of need. We have brought food, medicine, strong warriors and of course myself to try to help you in any way possible to defend your people and your historic village."
"We thank you, Lady Katara"
Then the atmosphere relaxed and one of the green-gowned Kyoshi warriors stepped forward and embraced Katara warmly.
"Suki!" she exclaimed "How are you?"
"I'm very well, my lady"
Katara grinned at her teasing "Glad to hear that Mrs Sokka of the Southern Water tribe"
Suki pulled a face "Urgh, don't call me that, you make me sound like some pompous noble, if anything it should be Warrior Suki of Kyoshi and escort!" Katara laughed aloud though luckily Sokka had made his way back up the stairs and had resumed his speech so he hadn't heard their exchange.
Katara became serious again "I'd better go back and help the other warriors with the supplies"
"I'll come with you" Suki offered.
"What about Sokka's plans?"
"Please" Suki scoffed "I must have heard his speech about a hundred times, I was his practice audience!"
The two women linked arms and they strode back down the path to the beach.
"How are you these days Katara, how's everything going in the south?" Suki asked warmly.
Katara hesitated, choosing her words carefully.
"Everything is great. Our village is getting so big now. I'm helping build new houses nearly every week! And the temple is up and running, Master Pakku and I have a class now, mostly Waterbenders that have emigrated from the North But now one little boy from the Southern Water Tribe has shown Waterbending abilities too, which has the tribe leaders overjoyed!" Katara chattered, hoping to disguise her feelings of dissatisfaction with her current life that had been creeping up on her of late.
"That's great!" Suki enthused "You came alone though?" she added
"Oh yes, well the students are still too young to be fighting volcanoes and Master Pakku didn't want to leave them indefinitely without a teacher so in the end only I could come. A group of warriors is with me though; they'll be able to help with defences and with the clean up."
"Oh" said Suki pensively "I sort of meant, I thought...Aang...might be with you..."
"Oh" Katara studied her shoes for a moment, pushing down a wave of emotion, closely akin to grief, that welled in her gut "No. He's not. Last time I heard, he was in the Fire Nation helping Zuko quell some troubles with the returning colonists"
"I'm sorry to hear that, I had hoped..." Suki didn't finish
"I know" Katara answered, silently agreeing with her, she hoped it too, with all of her heart.
"He'll be here" Katara suddenly said fiercely. She looked up at Suki trying to fill her voice with confidence she didn't feel. "I'm sure of it. He won't let Kyoshi be destroyed"
Suki nodded but a frown ghosted across her face and she gave Katara a one-armed hug.
"Yeah, he'll be here"