The gong rings, sending tremors through the ice.
Tonraq's pile of blocks tumble over, and he glares at them, chucking the one he's holding at the ground, leaving a dent in the ice.
"Mommy!" he calls. "What going on?"
She looms over him, hands on her hips. "There's a new baby born, hon."
His head cocks. "Can we go arctic wolf hunting togevver?"
She laughs, scooping him up.
Blasted woman! He was so close to finishing his great Earth Kingdom block tower! Tonraq squirms. Clearly she doesn't understand the gravity of the situation!
"You can't go hunting now, silly," she replies, kissing him on the cheek. "It's a girl anyway."
Girls! All they do is complain and kick over his towers. He's seen the older girls around, cooing at him. "Ew," he says, wrinkling his tiny nose.
"No 'ew,'" she teases. "Remember my friend Kala? It's her baby."
He mulls it over in his head. Kala is a nice lady. She brings him meat.
He does like meat. But a baby girl?
He's decided. He has block towers to defend! His dignity and honor are at stake!
"I don't like babies. Or girl babies."
"Be nice," she scolds. "You two'll be great friends, I know it."
Tonraq squirms again. Her hold is fast! Darn it.
"She's just gunna cwy," he whines, and she sets him down. Success!
He rushes to his blocks, preparing them into an Earth Kingom tower again. He will defend this nation! His people are relying on him! He is a great Southern Water Tribe warrior, sent to defend the helpless!
He places one block on top of another. A base! Yes, this is good. Very good. The bad guys won't stand a chance.
"So who's fighting who?" Mommy asks, plopping down on the ice beside him.
"Earth Kingdom tower," Tonraq points. "And they're fighting the bad guys."
She examines one of the blocks.
"I see. And who're the bad guys?"
This woman! Can't be fooled. Truth be told, he's still fuzzy on the whole bad guys thing.
Who must he defend himself from? Who poses a threat to his society? There has to be someone. Then, genius. He has it!
"Babies," he states, and his tower gains another level.