Disclaimer: I don't own any part of Avatar the Last Airbender.
A/N: Alrght then, so I rewrote the first chapter a bit. Mostly just the part concerning Zuko. Several people didn't seem to care for Jee and his crew turning evil all of a sudden and Zuko and Iroh somehow being able to take on an entire ship crew all by themselves... (Zuko-haters...) Anyways, I rewrote it so that Jee and his crew would remain loyal and an OC would take the fall. Added some more friction, you know. Also hopefully brought the sue-trait level of Zuko down a little as well. In addition to all that, as I look back at the rewrite, I kinda like it better than the original myself. So thank you Caellach Tiger Eye and Blue Flyhight for your honest reviews and suggestions to make the story better. As for my silent readers, PLEASE REVIEW. It helps me to know how my story is being received and if I need to rethink my approach. Also tweaked the character interactions a bit and adjusted the other chapters accordingly. Well enough of that, please enjoy the story.
Introduction Summary
It was only an element of luck that caused the Water Tribe siblings to find the Avatar. But what if luck wasn't with them that day? As the Avatar continues to slumber, the world continues along a different path to salvation. A hero realizes his real destiny. A warrior proves his strengths. A healer discovers her fighting ability. A vigilante learns to forgive. An heiress fights to verify her worth. A seamstress finds herself wrapped up in it all. And a mystical, all-mighty being slumbers peacefully at the bottom of the frozen sea.
A Twist of Fate
"It's not getting away from me this time," smirked Sokka as he aimed his spear over the side of the canoe and into the water. "Watch and learn Katara, this is how you catch a fish."
Rolling her eyes at her brother, Katara noticed the outline of a fish in the waters behind the boat. She shot a quick look at her brother who was still focusing intensely on the waters in front of the canoe. She took off one of her gloves and started to feel the water around the fish.
Katara was still a beginner in terms of waterbending and her confidence with her art was still unsteady, but she never passed up an opportunity to practice to get better. She could feel the push and pull of the water as she started to cause ripples in the water. She breathed out to ready herself and began to use a rising motion with her hand to raise up the water around the fish.
She gasped in excitement when a water bubble containing the fish broke up from the water and she began using both hands to control the water and bring the fish closer to the canoe. "Sokka! Look!"
"Shhh…Katara! You're going to scare it away!" he whispered back to her exclamation. "Hmm...I can already smell it cooking."
Katara continued to bend the fish closer. "But Sokka! I already caught one!"
The fish was in his sights, all focus was on the fish in front of him. Sokka drew back his spear to strike it into the water, when he suddenly found himself drenched and heard his sister cry out, "Hey! Ah!" She watched as the fish she caught dropped back down into the sea and swim away.
Sokka placed his spear down in the canoe and turned to face his sister. His expression was not amused. "Why is it that whenever you play with magic water, I get soaked?"
His sister sighed in exasperation. "It's not magic. It's waterbending. And it's…"
She was cut off by her brother. "Yeah, yeah, it's an ancient art unique to our culture, blah, blah, blah." He squeezed some of the water out of his wolf tail haircut. "Look, I'm just saying that if I had your powers, then I'd keep my weirdness to myself."
Katara crossed her arms in defiance. "You're calling me weird?" She smirked. "I'm not the one who makes muscles at myself every time I see my reflection in the water." Her brother was currently doing just that. He shot her a nasty glare just before the canoe began to pick up speed really fast.
Sokka quickly turned his attention back to the front of the boat. A rapid current had formed and was dragging the canoe towards a whirlpool of crashing ice. He grabbed a paddle and began paddling furiously to the right, trying to divert the direction of the canoe. "Watch out!" he heard his sister cry out and just barely managed to avoid a small ice patch that would have blindsided him otherwise. The patches were getting closer together now and things weren't looking good.
"Go left! Left!" he heard his sister cry out again. He considered going right just to spite her for giving him directions, but something in his brain managed to click and he swallowed his pride just this once before he switched to the left and dodged a clashing of two ice patches by a hair's breathe.
Things started to settle down after that and the waters calmed back down. "Whew," breathed out Sokka in success. He leaned back in his seat for a quick respite. Glancing at his sister he noticed her relieved expression at the avoidance of the collision. It would have most likely resulted in the destruction of the canoe and then the siblings would have been struck in the middle of the sea with no way back to the village.
Sokka glanced down at the fish basket that they had brought with them. It was only about half full, but he thought that after the close encounter, it was probably time to head back. "So…wanna head home?" he asked. She nodded. Sokka gripped the paddle once more and began the slow journey back to the village.
It had been a full week since Zuko had arrived at the South Pole. For a full week he searched tirelessly through the ice unsuccessfully for his prize. A full week that turned up nothing but water and snow as far as the eye could see.
Zuko slammed his fist down on the ship railing as he stood at the front bow. "Where are you Avatar!" he shouted into the winds.
Sighing, Iroh walked up from behind his nephew and placed a gentle hand of his shoulder. "Nephew, I believe it is about time that we give up on this venture." A couple of the crew on board turned their heads at this. "We've scoured the four Air Temples. We've searched the entirety of the Northern, Western, and Southern parts of the Earth Kingdom. And now we have searched the South Pole. The only places left to look are at the North Pole and the Eastern parts of the Earth Kingdom."
"But that's because those areas are still hotspots of resistance!" countered Zuko. And knowing his luck, that's probably where the Avatar was hiding out.
"I realize that nephew," said Iroh understandingly. "But the Avatar has been missing for a hundred years. Your father, your grandfather, even your great grandfather have all searched for the Avatar and failed. There is no assurance that even if we could search the North Pole and the Eastern Earth Kingdom that we would find the Avatar."
Zuko was trying to stem his fury. He disliked it when uncle's conversions turned in this direction, but as he was quickly running out of spots to search, his uncle's words were starting to have a greater and greater influence on him. They started to sound more correct each and every time. He slammed his fist down on the railing in frustration again. Iroh continued, "Even without searching in those hotspots though, I'm fairly certain that the Avatar is not there."
"And why not?!" demanded Zuko as he faced his uncle once more. "How could you possibly know that without checking for certain?"
Iroh sighed to himself. "Lack of rumors and gossip, my prince," he informed him. "If the Avatar was in such populous locations, then we would surely hear of rumors or sightings. He's the hope of the people to stop this war. No one would be able to stop themselves from trying to share that hope with one another."
Zuko turned back to look over the ice and snow littering the South Pole. This scene stretched for miles in every direction. No one would be able to live out here on their own for long. A couple of arctic gulls flew by overhead. "It's been three years uncle" replied Zuko. "I've come so far in searching for the Avatar and now you just want me to give that all up?"
Iroh nodded solemnly. Zuko wanted nothing more than to return home and restore his honor in his father's eyes. And to do that meant nothing short of capturing the Avatar, the last possible threat to the Fire Nation. But how could he do that when the annoying pest wouldn't even bother crawling out of whatever rock he was hiding under? Maybe there was some measure of truth to what his uncle was saying, but he had to see for himself. He would find a way to search for the Avatar even in the enemy strongholds. Maybe then, his father would see that he did everything that was humanly possible to find the Avatar and could prove that the supposed 'Hero of the World' didn't exist anymore. Maybe that would satisfy his father enough to allow him to lead a campaign to finish the war and prove his worth.
The prince sighed as he continued to look out over the freezing sea. "I'll need to think about this uncle. It's my mission to find and capture the Avatar. I can't just stop all of a sudden. But for some annoying reason, what you're saying doesn't sound completely wrong anymore either. Still, I won't admit defeat yet. I will figure out a way into the North Pole and the Eastern Earth Kingdom's Ba Sing Se to search. This is too important a mission to leave to the reliance of rumors and false sightings."
Iroh nodded in response to his nephew. This was probably the best he could hope for from the teen right now. The anger at being banished was still there. The desperate need for acceptance from a father who would not give it reflected in the prince's eyes. At least Zuko was starting to become more open to the words of guidance from his uncle now; more than he was at the start of this foolhardy errand three years prior anyways.
Lieutenant Zekk, who had joined after the crew reassignments at the last port, approached the two. "Prince Zuko, sir. There's a matter that I wish to discuss with you about my fellow Lieutenant."
Zuko turned to face Lieutenant Zekk. "Do you mean Jee? Well go on then."
"Actually sir, the matter is a little more grave than that. We should probably go somewhere more private to discuss this," requested Zekk in a lower tone of voice this time.
Iroh raised his eyebrow in suspicion. "Well then, perhaps I should go as well. I've known Jee for several years. Perhaps I can help settle this matter."
Zekk hesitated for a moment before saying, "I would be honored if you might assist in this matter."
The group proceeded below deck and began heading towards one of the conference meeting rooms. Zekk remained silent the entire walk down the walkway. Zuko didn't seem to notice but Iroh had been reading situations for years and something wasn't sitting quite right with him.
Reaching the conference room, Zekk opened the metal door and bowed respectfully. "After you Prince Zuko…"
The young prince was about to walk into the room, when Iroh placed a hand on his shoulder. "Just a moment nephew, you wouldn't mind if I went in first?"
Looking at his uncle weirdly, Zuko let the old General walk past him and into the room. Five blasts of fire immediately zeroed in on Iroh as he walked into the conference room, but the Dragon of the West's reactions hadn't dulled even in his old age. He instantly put up a ring of flame to intercept the surprise attacks. "Uncle!" shouted Zuko as he raced to the old man's side.
"What is the meaning of this?" demanded Iroh coldly as he glared at Zekk while remaining in his bending stance and Zuko dropping into one. The sound of cold, hard metal could be heard slowly being drawn in several parts of the conference room. Iroh's eyes swept the area to see four crew members now wielding weapons in addition to the five firebenders also in the room.
"This, Dragon of the West," started Zekk confidently as he walked into the room shutting the metal door behind him and securing the lock, "is us as a loyal crew carrying out the orders of the Firelord. Banishment wasn't the only thing he had on his mind towards his son. Should the prince even begin considering to quit his mission, then he did not learn anything from our Agni Kai and you all are ordered to kill him on the spot," recited Zekk. "These are orders from the Firelord himself to the more loyal portion of this crew. The Fire Nation cannot afford to allow weakness to rule it."
"My father wants me dead?!" questioned Zuko in shock as his bending stance faltered a bit.
"I'm just a soldier," answered Zekk as he dropped into a firebending stance as well. "Orders are orders. I don't know the why, but I don't particularity care. The Firelord was very clear. You deviate, you hesitate, you falter; you die. The crown will go to someone more worthy of it, like your sister."
"I knew that my brother had very little love for his son, but to go so far as to order for his death!" Iroh cursed. The wizen old man's mind was in a whir as he desperately tried to calculate their odds against such numbers. It didn't look good. 'Keep them talking,' Iroh's mind shouted at him. "Is this why my crew has started to get slowly reassigned over the past few months? Did my brother think that my crew was getting to be too loyal to me instead of him?"
"Right on the money for both accounts!" replied Zekk with a smirk. "For being such an accomplished General, it sure took you long enough to realize this was happening! Your former crew is now outnumbered three to one and even if they try to stand with you, any resistance won't be able to last long. But enough talk!" Zekk launched an intense fire blast at Zuko.
The prince just barely managed to dissipate the flame as it was launched from such a close range. Without pause, Zekk was upon the teenage prince.
Several crew members descended upon Iroh in a fury. They knew that the Dragon of the West was capable even in his old age and they didn't want to let him start to build up momentum in the battle. Iroh ducked under the thrust of a short sword aimed at his head as he shot a quick glance at his nephew, who was on the defensive against Zekk and two other crew members that had joined the Lieutenant. They needed to get out of this room as fast as possible.
Iroh twisted out of the away of another short sword, disarming the assassin with a well placed elbow strike to the man's wrist. He grabbed the outstretched arm and chucked his opponent into two others that were trying to approach from the side. He shot another look at his nephew, who was still near the door that they had entered. 'Good,' he thought as he smoothly deflected another fireball. Centering himself and gathering his breath; his arms shot out with a large firewall at the majority of his opponents and kept up the intensity of the wave as he pushed backwards to the door. Dropping his attack, he unsecured the door lock and threw it open. "Nephew!" he shouted.
Zuko dodged a fire punch from Zekk by twisting slightly to the side and countered with a round kick engulfed with flames. The impact knocked Zekk against the wall, but two of his lackeys jumped into the fray to cover him. Zuko leapt into a spin avoid a flaming fist and leg from each of his two new opponents at they attempted to take out both his head and his legs at the same time. He brought up his arms in a cross over his face to shield himself from a series of fireballs that followed. He heard his uncle shout, "Nephew!" and spied the old General standing in the doorway. When the next fireball came at him, he threw out his arms as he deflected it and brought them back together quickly in a clap of fire that threw his two opponents on the defensive. Keeping his guard up as he reached his uncle, he jumped backwards out of room while still facing inwards to watch for any other attacks.
A dagger flew through the smoke and impaled itself deep within his left shoulder. Crying out in pain, Zuko noticed Zekk's face smirking in triumph at him through the smoke. Iroh slammed the door shut and melted the lock shut with a blast of fire. "Agni!" cursed Zuko as he wretched the dagger out of his shoulder and threw the weapon to the floor. As Iroh turned to inspect the wound, they heard footsteps racing down the walkway. Falling back into bending stances, they remained firm as Jee and three other members of their crew approached them in a rush.
"Sir!" reported Lieutenant Jee with urgency in his voice. "The crew is mutinying! There are soldiers shouting that everyone loyal to the Firelord should kill Prince Zuko. They say that he has turned traitor and plans to sell out war secrets to the Water Tribes here in the South! Those that have been sailing with you all these years General Iroh realize that this is nonsense. There's no way that either of you would do something like this. However, all the new blood that joined due to the crew reassigning at the last port are being swayed over. Fights have broken out all throughout the ship as these insurgents continue spreading their lies!"
"We know," replied Iroh as he dropped his stance and gestured to Zuko's bleeding shoulder.
"Sir!" stressed Jee as he reached into the soldier pouch on his uniform and pulled out a roll of dressings. Jee had been a soldier for years and this old veteran was always prepared. Within moments, he had dressed Zuko's shoulder wound. "That's the best we can do right now. I don't know if the infirmary has been compromised, but we better not risk it. Let's get you two to the mess. We've secured it from these upstarts and are using it as a make-shift base of operations."
An explosion of fire erupted down the hallway as a gaping hole appeared in a portion of the wall and several of the assassins that had attacked Iroh and Zuko flooded out. Jee moved in between the fire nation royals and the enemy. "Shan! Get the General and the Prince out of here!" Jee jumped back a step as he deflected a wave of fire and countered with two fireballs of his own.
Zuko felt his uncle tug him lightly on his good shoulder. With the initial assassination attempt over, his emotions had had a chance to overtake him. He had lost himself in thought at the realization that soldiers had just tried to kill him under his father's orders. "Nephew! We need to listen to Jee and get to the mess hall!" Snapping out of his reverie, Zuko shook his head clear. It was time for action, he could think later. Shan, Zuko, and Iroh took off down the walkway as Jee and his other two men were systemically retreating one step at a time, while launching single bursts of fireballs to buy time for the fire royals to get away.
Tearing down the walkway, a door burst open and a soldier jumped out of the one of the rooms with a short sword raised over his head. Zuko caught the man's hands before he could bring his weapon down and shoved him back into the small room he had attacked from. Grabbing the door, he shut it and melted the lock. Iroh pushed past his nephew and with a drive of fire, assaulted another group of insurgent swordsmen that were charging at them. "This way!" urged Shan as he diverted the group down another walkway that led to the mess hall.
The trio threw open the doors to bear witness to a group of their supporters tied up in the corner of the room and several insurgent firebenders facing them. The earlier group of swordsmen was quick to cover the way they had come from. All three of them dropped into bending stances. "Surrender," one of the enemy firebenders ordered.
Shan glanced nervously between the fire nation royals and the overwhelming number of insurgents. Without warning, his switched his fists from facing the enemy to the back of both the fire royals' heads. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I've got a wife and kid back home. I can't die here…"
Iroh stared back at Shan with disappointment as he gave the man a seldom nod of understanding. He lowered his bending stance, while placing his hand on his nephew's arms to lower his stance as well. The leader of the insurgent firebenders smirked as his men took Iroh and Zuko into custody. The group walked onto the ship deck where Zekk awaited them.
"Looks like victory is mine, General Iroh," he grinned in satisfaction. "You'll be thrown in jail for collaborating with a traitor along with everyone else foolish enough to side with you." He turned to Zuko. "My orders are to kill you here." A ball of flame sparked to life in his right hand.
However, a stream of fire flew down from the observation deck to collide with the two guards that secured both Iroh and Zuko as Jee stood with tall with his arm outstretched from the attack. The Dragon of the West capitalized instantly on the reversal of the situation and twisted back to launch a massive fireball at the barrels of blasting jelly that were stored next to the catapults on the deck. Zuko spun around with an arcing wave of fire to push back the insurgents as the barrels exploded. A large blast of fiery destruction swept across the deck as it blew a large hole on the top of the ship. Racing towards the lifeboats, Zuko paused only to grab a single broadsword that was lying at his feet, dropped by one of the guards that Jee had torched. Nearing the crafts and leaping into one, Zuko disabled the engines of the other lifeboats with fireballs. Iroh shot a look back at Jee who was still standing on the observation deck and launching fireballs at the insurgents to add to the confusion. Their eyes locked and a nod of understanding crossed between them. There was no time for Jee to reach them and flee as well. He would stay with his crew.
"Time to go uncle," announced Zuko as he dropped the lifeboat into the water and started the engine to get away. Suddenly the two heard the humming of multiple engines. Two lifeboats circled from the other side of the main ship. "Shit," cursed Zuko. "They're using the crafts on the other side of the ship. Get us to shore uncle! We're at a disadvantage here."
The pursuing life boats were gaining on the pair as they attempted to reach shore. "We need to move faster!" shouted Zuko. He turned to the back of the boat. "Hang on uncle!" Zuko raised his hands to shoot out a constant burst of fire to propel the lifeboat faster. Precious few seconds were gained before the firebenders on the other lifeboats began to copy the prince's methods. However, the shore was close and they managed to reach it mere moments before their pursuers.
Iroh and Zuko leapt off the lifeboat and onto the shore to face the continued threat. Lieutenant Zekk walked off one of the lifeboats flanked by several benders and soldiers. He was clearly not happy. "Alright you troublesome brat! This was supposed to be a simple matter to off you and toss your lifeless body overboard into the freezing arctic sea. I never would have guessed that things would work in your favor this much. You did well, but I can see the exhaustion in your bodies. You can't continue this useless struggle much longer."
"Watch me," countered Zuko as he charged at Zekk.
"Zuko! Stop!" demanded Iroh in a panic. Zuko just barely managed to notice several javelins being flung from the soldiers behind Zekk as the man smirked at the success of his taunt. The prince wouldn't be able to dodge in time. His eyes widen as death in the form of wood and steel rained down upon him. Suddenly something slammed into his side and Zuko felt himself flung into the ground several feet away.
The prince turned to look back and gasped at what he saw. His uncle was kneeling on the ice with a javelin protruding from the left side of his gut. The Dragon of the West coughed up some bright red blood that stained the pure white snow on the ground. He was panting in pain heavily. "No," whispered Zuko quietly. "NO!" He rushed to his uncle's side.
He eased the old General to lie on his back. His eyes kept staring at the wound. He was no medic. He had no clue how to help his uncle. "It's okay," reassured Iroh. "Go! Get out of here. Run, run and live." Iroh grimaced in pain.
"No uncle!" Zuko held the old General's hand. He was in tears. "I won't leave you!"
"As touching as this moment is, I've still got a job to do," taunted Zekk as he waved three of his men forward to finish the deed.
Zuko's head spun around sharply. "You…" he growled out in a low threatening voice. He grasped the single broadsword he had on him and started to walk towards the insurgent commander. The three swordsmen that Zekk had signaled forward attacked the exiled prince in a tri formation. Zuko cut them down without mercy, his eyes never leaving Zekk as his steps slowly moved forward rhythmically. This unnerved the remaining enemy force to no end.
A silence fell over the group. Men kept charging Zuko only to be defeated without causing the angered prince to falter in his steady walk towards Zekk. "Kill him! Kill him!" demanded Zekk frantically. When no one answered his call he looked around to see himself the only one, besides Zuko, that was still alive and standing. He involuntarily took a couple of steps backwards.
"Hey, hey, wait! Don't kill me!" he pleaded. "I was only following orders."
Zuko would not be detoured on his march. Stream was rising from his footsteps in the snow. All he could see was red and the face of the man who dared to harm his uncle. Zekk cowered back in fright.
The prince was almost upon him when suddenly pain shot through his body and he dropped to his knees in agony. He drove his broadsword into the ice to keep himself upright. He clutched his shoulder in pain. Breathing was getting harder and harder to do. He was starting to feel incredibility hot, much hotter than a firebender normally feels. What was happening?!
Zekk dared to open his eyes when he heard Zuko's curse of pain. He managed to regain his confidence and smirk at what he saw. He rose back to his feet. "What's happening to me?!" demanded Zuko through gritted teeth.
The Lieutenant chuckled at the boy. "Nothing much," he jeered. "Just the poison from the dagger finally taking effect. If left untreated, you'll be dead within the next four hours." He drew another dagger. "Though, you don't have to worry about that. I'm a merciful guy. I'll end everything here right now."
Zekk brought the dagger down to end it all. Zuko's hand shot up to grab the man's wrist in a wristlock. He pressed down on a pressure point on the back of the hand to force the man to his knees as he slowly rose to his feet. "I've faced nothing but pain all my life," stated Zuko calmly. "This is nothing." He pulled out his broadsword from the ice and Zekk's eyes went wide. "Go beg Agni for forgiveness. You'll find none here." The exiled prince finished the job.
Dropping his weapon, Zuko limped back over to his uncle. The man was still conscious but just barely. Suddenly pain erupted in the prince's head and his vision swirled. The boy collapsed onto the ground next to his uncle as his legs gave out from under him. The last thing he remembered seeing was the sight of several pairs of feet rushing towards him before everything went dark and the sweet embrace of unconsciousness took him.
It had been a good day for Sokka. He had had a wonderful dream about singlehandedly defeating a wooly platypus-bear and saving the village's meat supply from being raided. Waking up, he was greeted to sweet aroma of tri-seafood soup, which consisted mainly of whale, seal, and crab meat. He practically floated out of bed and over to breakfast.
After getting dressed, he rounded up the local young boys for their morning warrior lesson. They had actually gotten through his lecture without the need for any potty breaks, which in and of itself was an epic win. He even managed to dodge getting drenched today when his sister's practice with her magic water went astray yet again.
He took off hunting after that and managed to poach a giant sea crab not too far from the village gates. As he searched his bag for some rope to help him haul his catch back to the village, he found some blubbered seal jerky buried near the bottom. It was a delicious snack on the return trip. All the adult woman of the village thanked him for the crab meat, which was only natural he thought. Being the lone warrior in the village meant that this much was only expected after a successful hunt.
Yes, all in all, today was turning out to be excellent for Sokka. He settled onto a mound of furs that acted as a comfortable chair in the corner of his watchtower as his eyes slowly closed for an afternoon nap. He started dreaming about a ridiculously attractive girl coming to the village and meeting him. Just before he managed to see her face, a large explosion ripped through the village. Sokka jumped several feet into the air from surprise and landed on the unforgiving ice floor of his tower instead of back down on the furs.
He managed an "Ouch…" before a secondary explosion fully woke him up. He immediately scanned the seas from his watchtower. A gigantic mushroom cloud of fire was plainly stretched on the western horizon. The plume of black smoke rose into the air in waves as several smaller explosions continued to ring out. He pulled out a telescope from his bag and scanned the wreckage. It was a Fire Nation ship that was exploding and Sokka was relieved that it was an enemy ship that was taking damage. Maybe it was his father coming back to defend the village from a Fire Nation assault!
Suddenly some movement caught his eye and he viewed in closer on three lifeboats racing for the shoreline with all urgency. The small lifeboats beached themselves just outside the village, which was just barely obstructed from their view by a large snow dune. Even the villagers couldn't see, only Sokka was privy to the events from the height of his tower. 'And they thought the tower was a useless creation,' mused Sokka.
His attention turned back to the people leaping out of the boats. He let out a small curse at the fact they were all obviously Fire Nation. Then suddenly the larger troop of men attacked the group of two and one of the small group members went down. Then a blaze of fire and steel was seen from the other as he single-handedly defeated the large group. The lone fighter seemed to be fighting for his downed comrade. Sokka could see the last two talking but at this distance there was absolutely no way to figure out what about. Then only the two members of the smaller group remained. Both were clearly critically injured.
Sokka bit his bottom lip. His mind was spinning with thoughts. 'They are Fire Nation, just let them die. But they were just fighting the Fire Nation, maybe they're rebels? Doesn't matter, everyone from the Fire Nation is evil. But I can't just let two men die when there's a chance that I can save them. But what if they attack us later?' He turned back to the scene. The lone fighter was limping back to his downed comrade.
"Sokka!" called out his sister from below. "What's going on?!" The explosions had finally ceased and Katara had noticed her brother staring intensely with his telescope out of the village.
"Stupid morality…" grumbled Sokka to himself as he jumped down from the tower and landed in the snow next to his sister. He pointed to three of the nearby adult women that had gathered all the children together. "Please, I need your help. Please come with me." The three women looked at each other, but decided to follow the boy as he rushed out the village gates.
Sokka turned the bend and saw firsthand the view from behind the snow dune. He nearly emptied the contents of his stomach onto the ground, but barely managed to keep the bile down. He was a warrior, and if he couldn't even handle looking at these sights, then how was he going to participate in them? Several bodies of the Fire Nation soldiers littered the ground with either burn marks or sword wounds. The three women gasped at the sight as they caught up to the boy.
The young wanna-be warrior steeled his resolve and rushed to the side of the two fighters he had seen in his telescope. Things did not look good. The teenage fighter who caused all this destruction was laying face first in the snow with a wound in his shoulder that was bleeding freely. A strange green pus was oozing from the wound as well. He wasn't moving, save for a slight display to show he was still breathing. The older man was just barely hanging onto consciousness due to his massive blood loss. "My…nephew…Help…him…poison…" the older man got out before he too lost consciousness.
Sokka was no medic, but even he knew that wounds like these were seriously life and death injuries. With the help of the three women that had accompanied him, the Water Tribe villagers carried the two unconscious men back to their village. The entire walk back Sokka listened to the teenager, that looked about his age, mumble out over and over again, "Why father? Why?" and "Hang on uncle. Please don't die."