Chapter 1- Premature
Date: 05-24-12
Author: SanctuaryX09
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, nor do I own the movie I'm loosely using as inspiration.
Author Note: This is a semi-AU, with some things held true, and others that do not fit with the Avatar-world. The distinctions should become clearer with every chapter, but please do not hesitate to ask. I would love to clear things up for the readers, as it would also help me think through the story.
Author Confession: I haven't read through the chapter enough to catch all the (probably numerous) grammar mistakes. My excuse: As a biomedical engineering major, the only thing I remember how to write is a properly phrased hypothesis.
Premature
Chief Hakoda made two, very crucial mistakes. First was that he had initiated the madness. The second was that he told Katara…perhaps prematurely, he reflected.
"There is no way in La's name that this will happen. He's from the Fire Nation! Or does that mean nothing to you now?"
"I know this sounds awful snowbear, but it has already been arranged. "
"No, my marriage to Narukk was already arranged since I was three years old. 14 years later, and I'd finally convinced myself that it would be great. But now there's this… abomination of diplomacy… dad please, you can't send me there. Our worlds are too incompatible, I'll hate it there and they'll hate me.
"I'm sorry Katara. Believe me, I don't want this, but as the family of the chief, we have to make sacrifices."
Katara's face grew steadily redder, blue eyes storming dangerously. Hakoda winced from experience, bracing himself for the most convincing puppy polar-dog eyes he'd ever received.
… …
Snarling, and wiping away angry tears, she stomped out of the hut, shoving her cousin out of her path and into the snow with a whip of her hand. Sokka walked into the hut, shaking snow off his ponytail and muttering about magical water. His blue eyes widened at his uncle who's weary face looked worn with an age he did not yet posses.
"What's eating Katara? Did her polar bear-dog plushy get used as bait again? I swear it wasn't me this time, I just figured the penguin-seals would go for that kind of fluffy, cuddly thing –"
The Chief's somber gaze effectively cut him off.
"No. This is far more serious. I realize you and your cousin are close, and after giving her the news, I need to ask you to talk it through with her."
Hakoda sighed inwardly at the look of consternation on his nephew's face. Sokka had just been 5 when Hakoda's sister and her husband had passed away, in the same horrible accident that took his own wife. Hakoda took the boy in and since then, the two cousins had been inseparable.
Sokka often taught his little 'sister' the sword fighting skills he was learning from his own master, adamantly stating that the daughter of a chief should never be helpless, even though he teased her daily by declaring women to be useless in real fights, ignoring that Katara was well on her way to becoming a master of waterbending. Through his proud tutelage, Katara had become quite proficient at throwing katanas with devastating accuracy. Yet, though the prodigal swordsman that he was, Sokka was never able to get her comfortable with swords. She was a hazard while wielding a traditional water-tribe sword, and this Sokka had to learn first hand.
Wistfully smiling at the memories of his fiery little snowbear and her self proclaimed master-of-pointy-and-throwy-things cousin, Hakoda turned to his nephew, inviting him to sit, and told him exactly what had incensed Katara so much.
… …
"Huh."
Hakoda sensed the rising tumult, the resistance in the young man clearly evident in his blue eyes. Sokka's ever present, easy-going smile was gone. With no other option he tried cajoling, then switched tactics and tried logic on the boy.
"Please talk sense into her Sokka. She will not listen to mine anymore. I have told that if she won't do this for her dad… she must, for our people. As must you."
Sokka stood from the seat, and bowed stiffly and formally and Hakoda frowned as he watched fists form tightly, as if Sokka struggled to maintain a semblance of restraint.
"I'm sorry. I'm not going to play along. I mean she's absolutely right! Why should she have to spend her life in that avaricious nation, that's responsible for so much grief and pain! I'm not explaining anything to her, uncle."
Hakoda rose, and strode towards his young-chief-to-be.
"Sokka, this is an order! From your chief. Don't throw away your future as our leader just because you cannot see the sense in this decision yet. And believe me boy, I will take such actions. Do not make me do this."
Sokka stiffened, gave a curt nod, and strode away from his uncle. Before he left, he turned, sealing his fate.
"I won't let you take her future away, uncle. That's all I know."
Read and Review! I'd love to hear feedback on any aspect of this story. It's been a while since I've written anything fictional , let alone a fan fiction.
Word Count: 732
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