Disclaimer: No duh I don't own 'avatar: the last airbender'. If I did this story would be published or something and I wouldn't have to post it on this site. I really do wonder at the point of these disclaimers, I mean it is FAN FICTION .net... anyway!

I stared at my surroundings. It was utter chaos, fire and water meeting and clashing. I searched desperately for the people who mattered. I saw my father, fighting a firebender, steam coming from their elements' contact. I saw him get struck by another firebender, in the back. I saw him collapse.

"NO!! FATHER!!!" My screams alerted the firebenders to my hiding place and forced me to run or be caught. I felt like a coward, but my father had instructed me not to get caught, and now it seemed to be his dying wish.

No! I wouldn't think like that. He was just wounded. Not dead… he couldn't be dead.

A blast of fire interrupted my denial (no, not denial… truth) and brought my mind back to the task of evading the firebenders. I weaved my way through trees until I reached the edge of the forest, where it turned into the beach. Quickly, without a second though, I took water from the sea and formed it into a giant, thin, razor blade. I shot it out behind me and was rewarded with screeches of pain and disbelief.

Not slowing down I ran to the opposite side of the small island where I live, to a thick earthen structure. This 'safe house' had been created long ago, by earthbenders. No-one knew why or when exactly it had been made, but it was where all our non-warrior women and children were hiding. I knew this was where my father wanted me to go.

The stares of the refugees were hard to face. The questions the women asked me about their husbands and children. I couldn't answer any of them. I moved to the corner and put my head on my knees, willing people to stay away, and trying not to think about what I had seen. I heard my aunt's familiar footsteps and took a breath to give me courage to pick my head up.

"Why are you here, Kya? I thought you were going to fight." My Aunt Lanik looked nervous, for good reason.

"Father told me to leave. He said to come here." The words were almost true.

"Oh. How was the battle going?"

"Fine." That word was very far from true.

"Good…" Aunt Lanik trailed off, seeming lost for words. I gave her a nod and returned to my depressed position. Aunt Lanik walked away to tend to her children and I couldn't help but be happy.

I stared at the scene before me disbelievingly. It just couldn't be possible. Our tiny, peaceful, little Island had been turned into a horrific example of the power of the Fire Nation. My heart was screaming no but my head knew I had to accept it. Accept what? That almost everyone I knew and loved was dead, and my home was a wreck? I don't think so.

I started as I heard my name.

"Kya? Kya honey, are you ok?" It was Aunt Lanik, one of the people I most definitely did not want to see. Ok? What did she mean? Was I ok…? WHAT!

"Not exactly," I muttered through my teeth. I glanced back at her and immediately felt bad for being angry. Her hair was loose and flew wildly in the wind, her dress was torn, and her eyes were red from crying.

"I'll be fine." It was an overstatement. A giant one.

"I'm going to try to get something soft for bedding. If you need me just call out, ok?"

"Thank you. I will." I had forgotten that she was in charge of me now. Me and Liluye. I cast a sharp glance at my sister who looked pretty much like I felt. Tears flew freely from her eyes, and her hair and dress were in a worse state than Aunt Lanik's. I sighed. I was so selfish! All I could think about was my denial, and my horrible life. I still had Liluye, and I needed to worry about her. She was sitting under a tree on the large cliff where all of us refugees had gathered, the cliff that offered the best view of the ruin, and she was staring at the battlefield.

"Liluye?"

She looked up at me, and her eyes were blank. "Yes?"

"Um… do you need anything?" She shook her head. I noticed her eyes flick to the necklace that adorned my neck, something Aunt Lanik had done too, but I tried to ignore it. I wasn't thinking about him right now, I couldn't.

"Kya? What if…" She looked back at the battlefield, "What if there are survivors?"

The thought shocked me. It wasn't something I had even considered! The battlefield was so ravaged that it seemed impossible that anyone had survived. Somewhere, deep in my heart, a spark caught and a tiny flame of hope was lit.

"I'm going to get a patrol to look!" I expected her to volunteer but she just nodded listlessly.

I ran to find my Aunt and tell her my plan. When I explained it to her she agreed quickly, and helped me gather the other women.

"Ok ladies, here is the deal. Liluye pointed out that there might be survivors." The women looked as shocked as I had felt. "I am here to get volunteers for a patrol to go find those survivors…" I gazed hopefully at the women, praying that they realized the importance of this.

"I'll go." Kyqqa, an older woman, was the first to speak. Following her lead, several more women spoke up, until they had a sizable patrol.

"Alright. Follow me, and if I tell you to run, RUN" I knew there might still be Firebenders down there, and I was the strongest fighter here, due to my waterbending.

The women nodded and we made our way through the forest, toward the ruins. The smell of acrid smoke was ever-present, and every-so-often a breeze would blow bits of ash through the trees. We burst upon the battlefield quite suddenly, the trees turned to charred stumps. I looked at all the bodies and my courage quailed. I didn't want to see the faces, drudge up the memories. I didn't want to face the death. I wanted to continue the charade that they were merely 'gone' on a 'journey' or something like that. I could tell the other women felt the same; they were looking at me for direction. Inspired by their confidence in me, I told them to search the bodies: if the warrior was dead put them in a designated spot, for burial; if alive find me and I would try to heal them.

After giving out the instructions I embarked on my own search. I passed by the bodies that I didn't explicitly recognize and searched instead for my family. I reached the place where I had seen my father fall and saw his prone form. I knew without looking at the face that it was him, it had to be. I couldn't make myself feel for his pulse, I didn't want to put salt on my wound. It was obvious that he was dead.

I moved on quickly, not wanting to see the images that were pushing on the edges of my vision, the memories of my father's death. I instead searched for my mother. I was hoping she would have gotten out of there as soon as she saw that we were losing. My mom wasn't a coward, but she wasn't an idiot either. I couldn't find her, but I stumbled across the one form I had hoped so much that I wouldn't see.

He was breathing! I couldn't believe it, it was more than I had ever hoped for. His wolf's tail had been pulled out and his hair was covering his face. I knelt down gently and brushed it away, sighing at the sight of his gorgeous face. I felt his pulse: it was weak, but there. Biting my lip to give me courage I moved my gaze down to his ravaged body. Burns laced his torso and legs, and his soft anorak was ripped to shreds. A drop of water splashed onto the blue fabric and I realized that it was a tear. Desperate, I pulled water from the nearby sea, and tried to heal him, but there was too much. I gasped as the water fell off my hand and splashed onto him, useless.

"Oh Helaku. Why did I leave? I should have come and found you. I should have helped you. It's all my fault. All of this is my fault!" I screamed in frustration. I was the one who had alerted the Fire Nation that we were even here. Our tiny little Island of Nuuk, which had previously escaped notice, was now ruined and it was all my fault. I tore my hair out of its braid, the customary grieving action. I lay my head on Helaku's chest and listened to his faint heartbeat.

My reverie was interrupted by a hand on my hair. I lifted my head quickly and saw that it was Helaku's hand. His eyes were open and they were staring into mine. I sighed.

"Oh Tatkret, what did we get ourselves into?" He smiled weakly, and I tried to return it, to no avail.

"I'm so sorry, Akiak. So very sorry." I felt the tears coming back. He reached up gently to touch my necklace.

"It wasn't your fault. Know I love you. I always will. I will be waiting in Qilaq for you."

Qilaq: that was the spirit world. No! I though, vehemently, but I knew it was no use. Our lips met one last time and I wanted to scream with frustration and anger. Why did he have to leave me? What was the point of life without him?

"Kya," hearing my name from his lips was like splashing my face with cold water; it stung and almost hurt, but ultimately it felt good. "Kya, before…." He couldn't make himself say it so I nodded to show I understood,

"Pikatti, your mother's not dead. The Fire Nation captured her."

"But why… why would they want her alive?" This revelation confused me. He shook his head and then grimaced at the effort.

"I don't know. I just saw them taking her onto their ship." I nodded again; it seemed all I was capable of.

"I love you Kesuk. Anana, Cikuq, Miki, Pitsiark, Yuralria, Siku, Takubvik, Shtiya, Quvianuq, Anernerk, Iqniq, Annakpok, Nukilik, Quannik. My Tlate Hiin and my Shila…" His voice faded to a whisper and his hand dropped from my face to my lap, to meet my own hand.

"I will always be your Atka." His eyes faded and his grip fell slack. And I finally let loose the sobs that I had been holding in since the beginning of the Fire Nation's attack, letting myself be consumed by them.

I stared out at the raging sea, practically feeling the power of the waves. I was so intent on the ocean I nearly jumped out of my skin when I felt a tap on my shoulder.

"Liluye! What is it, Nukka?"

"I'm worried about you." She spoke bluntly, but kindly.

"I'm honored. But why?" Ok, I admit, it was a stupid question. It got only an eye roll from her.

"Do you want to go fishing with me and Saqqari?" Saqqari was our cousin, a girl about Liluye's age.

"Sure." Fishing would be a nice distraction. I didn't know what I was going to do. All I could do was stay here; help the women raise their children with no hope of ever being able to do the same with my own. All the other men my age had been killed, and the boy closest to me was 6 years younger. It felt stupid and trivial to even think about, but I was certain that the traditional future as a mother and wife would not be possible to me here on Nuuk.

"Kya! Kya!" My sister was staring at me impatiently

"Oh, sorry. I was just thinking." I shook my head, irritated that I had become morose again.

"Yeah, that's why I worry." Liluye spoke softly, as if she were speaking to herself. "C'mon"

I gazed up at the stars, mournfully. I had made my decision… I would go rescue my mother from the Fire Nation. I did not know how I would manage it, but she was all Liluye and I had left, and I had to save her. I sighed heavily, looking back at the small, ragged encampment we had managed to erect in place of the burnt village. It didn't look like much but it was a start, and working on it had kept all the women from thinking too much about all they had lost. I didn't want to leave, not now. I had become the guard, the warrior, the protector of the little group of refugees. I was the only waterbender left, the only warrior left. I felt guilty for leaving but it was something I had to do. Now, if I could only figure out how to get away.

All of a sudden I spotted a white spot moving across the sky. Alarmed, thinking it was some new Fire Nation technology; I ran and woke some of the women up. We were shocked when none other than the Avatar, on his flying bison, set down in the middle of our makeshift camp. He frowned at the raggedness, not a judgmental frown, but a sad frown.

"Hello, I'm Aang, and these are my friends Sokka and Katara," He motioned to the two people behind him, a boy and a girl. I noticed that they were wearing water-tribe clothes, and the girl carried a water pouch much like mine, one to carry bending water in.

"You're… You're a bender… a waterbender." I gaped at her

"Um, well, I'm the avatar…" Aang gave me a puzzled look

"No, blockhead, she was talking to Katara!" It was the boy, Sokka, who spoke. I nodded my agreement

"Oh, um, sorry…" He glanced back at Katara, evidently embarrassed. She smiled encouragingly, first at him, then at me.

"Yes, I'm a waterbender. A master. As are you, I see." She pointed to my own bending-water pouch.

"Yeah…" I sighed, "The only one left here"

Katara's eyes got wide at my statement.

"Left…" she took in the rough camp, "What… what happened?"

We settled in around the campfire and took turns telling the visitors our tale. When we were done Aang looked miserable.

"So, this is really all my fault. I led the Fire Nation ships to the Northern Water tribe and thus, to Nuuk." Katara frowned,

"No Aang. The Fire Nation was bound to attack the Northern Water Tribe sometime. You saved them."

He didn't save us, I thought bitterly. But I couldn't let him feel guilty for something that wasn't his fault either. I bit my lip, prepping myself for what I had to say.

"Actually, it was my fault. The Fire Nation would have passed us completely, except that I was out fishing and practicing my waterbending and they saw me, and followed me back here."

There, the truth was finally out. I didn't know if everyone had known it, or if my father and the council had kept it secret. From the even and supportive looks of the women I was guessing they had known it.

"It was the fault of no one person. We could sit here passing the blame all day. Ultimately, it was the Fire Nation's fault, and they have to be stopped." Sokka's words were firm.

"So… what are your plans?" It was my Aunt Lanik who spoke, as if trying to make small talk.

"I'm going the Earth Kingdom to learn earthbending, then the Fire Nation to learn firebending, and then I'm going to defeat Ozai and bring balance back to the world." The Avatar spoke the words as if he was talking about tomorrow's menu. It made me shiver to hear the Fire Nation spoken of in such calm tones.

Suddenly a thought hit me like a wall of ice.

Fire Nation.

I had my plan.

I hugged my Aunt Lanik reluctantly.

"Thank you so much, for everything. Without you…" I didn't have to finish the sentence; the tears in her eyes mirrored my own.

"Be careful. You may be a warrior and a waterbender, but that is a harsh world out there. Come back to us Kya." A smile softened her care-worn face. Aunt Lanik was not old by any means, but she had gone through many, many hardships.

"I will. I promise I will." She released me and stepped back, wiping her eyes carefully. When she turned away she revealed the sight I had been most dreading. My sweet Liluye was standing there with a look of pure sorrow on her face. She ran into my outstretched arms, tears flowing.

"Wh… why Kya? Y…you're a…all I ha…ve left." Sobs punctuated her sentences, and her words were muffled by my coat.

"Shhhh, Nukka, it's all right. I'll be back. I'm not all you have left, mother is still alive. I have to save her Liluye; I have to bring her back here!" The words were almost a whisper, as much convincing me as her. She pulled her face out of my coat and took a deep breath.

"I understand, Annakpok. You are as the waves; strong, and determined to reach your goal. I will not stop you, for I want to see that goal as much as you do. I love you sister." She buried her face back into my coat and held me tight. I held her back and sighed at her maturity. When had my little girl of a sister turned into a young woman? I would hate leaving her now, when we needed each other most, but it had to be done. Suddenly knowing that if I stayed any longer I wouldn't leave, I broke our embrace.

"Tell Saqqari that she is a master fisher, and I will miss her. Tell all of our cousins that." Liluye nodded tearfully.

"Goodbye Shila" she smiled sadly

I was reminded so much of my last goodbye, to Helaku. This is different, I scolded myself; I will see Liluye again. I knew I would, I had to. I gave her a small wave and ran quickly, leaving the tent, and the whole makeshift village behind me.

"Why is she here?" Sokka was indignant, and I was hurt.

"You could just ask me you know! I AM standing RIGHT HERE!" I was practically yelling. Aang had already told me I could travel with them, I hadn't expected any opposition. Sokka ignored me and looked to Aang.

"I told her she could come. She needs to get to the Fire Nation." Aang yawned.

"WHAT! Why would ANYONE want to go to that place?" He finally looked at me, but it was a look of shock

"We want to," Katara remarked dryly.

"We are different! We are with the Avatar!"

"It's my mother, she was captured by them. She is probably somewhere in the Fire Nation being tortured right this second, and she might die all because YOU ARE AN ARROGANT, EGOTISTICAL, CHILD!!!" I really did yell that time, and I noticed that Aang and Katara were snickering.

"WHAT'S SO FUNNY?" I whirled on them, then embarrassed that I had continued yelling I repeated it in a quieter tone, "Er… what's so funny?"

"Oh, don't worry, we aren't laughing at you, we are laughing with you. Everything you said was true, and it is rather nice to see Sokka get put in his place every once in a while." Katara smiled kindly, and offered me a hand up onto the flying beast. "Well then, we better get moving!" Sokka grunted as I climbed into the saddle, and moved to the far opposite corner.

What a wonderful way to start a journey.

I watched the Island until I could see it no more. When that moment came I moved to the front, near Sokka.

"I'm sorry I called you arrogant. And egotistical. And…." It was hard, "A child."

He stared at me in surprise

"Really?"

"Well, it would be pretty bad to start off a journey already having an enemy. The Fire Nation is a bad enough enemy, I don't need any more."

He smiled, and I noticed a bit of respect enter his eyes.

"You're right. I forgive you. And, I apologize too. I… well I don't really know why I didn't want you to come. I just… I don't know. I'm sorry about your mother. My mother was killed by the Fire Nation." He stared into space for a few minutes before returning his gaze to mine. "So… truce?"

I held out my hand, "Truce!"

He shook it and then laughed, "I don't even know your name! Aang, how could you not have told us her name?"

I heard Aang take a sharp breath. Why would he do that?

"It's Kymnsshfysha" he muttered. It just sounded like a bunch of letters thrown together. I frowned,

"My name is Kya, Kya of Nuuk." Sokka's eyes grew wide and he gasped.

"No…"

Katara's eyes were wide also, but as Sokka moved away from me, she drew closer.

"That was our mother's name." Her voice was merely a murmur, and she stared unseeingly at the sea.

Wonderful.

(A/N)

All of the names Helaku calls Kya are Inuit (well, supposedly: I am not Inuit, so I cannot completely and utterly vouch for their utmost authenticity. )

Here are translations:

Akiak – brave
Anana – beautiful
Anernerk – Angel
Annakpok - Free (not caught)
Cikuq – Ice
Iqniq – Fire
Kesuk - water, sky
Miki – small
Nukilik - is strong
Pikatti – companion
Pitsiark – beautiful
Qannik – snowflake
Quvianuq – Joy
Sakari – sweet
Shila – flame
Shtiya - my strength
Siku – ice
Tatkret = moon
Takubvik - apple of the eye
Tlate Hiin - twinkle upon the water
Yuralria - dancing one.
and what she always calls Liluye - Nukka - younger sister.

Also, Nuuk is a city in Greenland!

A quick side note: I asked my friend and fellow Avatar lover to find a cool Inuit-ish name. She came up with Liluye. I loved it (still do, it is so pretty!) Turns out it means…

"Singing Chicken Hawk that Soars…"

HA! There is a bit of humor in your day!

Thanks for reading!
~LS