"Katara, look it's a boat!" Adjusting the pants on the young infant she held in her arms, the fourteen-year-old girl glanced over her shoulder to follow the boy's call. As one of the older girls left in the Southern Water Tribe, a regular part of her duties was to tend to the smaller children while the mothers and grandmothers kept unity among their village during the war.

Her muscles tensed at the boy's words. Instinctively, her eyes searched the sky for the tell all signs of soot which preceded a violent raid by the Fire Nation. She had witnessed more than enough in her lifetime, and remained on edge for the inevitability of the next one. An endless blue sky met her eyes, allowing her to release the breath she had been holding in anticipation, but still didn't allow her to completely let down her guard.

She squinted her eyes, looking to the distance where she could see the bobbing of a tattered boat reaching their shores.

The women slowly ceased their activities as they all looked on, instructing the younger tribe members to seek safety away from the shore.

"Is this another Fire Nation raid, Katara?" She could hear the whimpering in the young boy's voice as his blue eyes turned to her. Clenching the edge of her parka, he sought out shelter behind her legs as did the other children.

"I'm scared."

" I want my mommy." They began to cry.

"Hey now, none of that. Everything is going to be fine." The small bit of confidence she held in calming the children with her words was only possible because of the absence of black snow. If nothing else, this visitor wasn't of the Fire Nation. Whether or not they presented an imminent danger to her people, she didn't know.

The sounds of boots crushing snow could be heard as Sokka rushed to the shore. In his hand was the weapon he depended on the most, his boomerang. As useless as it seemed to Katara most days, she knew that its sharp edges could do damage when needed.

" Sokka, wait!" She called. Directing the children into the doorway of a nearby tent, she pulled down the heavy protective sheet. "You all stay here, and I'll be back for you." Caressing the face of the oldest child, she placed the infant she held in her arms.

"Don't leave us! What if there's bad men coming to take us away?" She asked with tears in her eyes.

"I would never let that happen, that's why I'm going to go make sure if there's a bad man then I can be there to scare him to where he came from." Katara had become their protector throughout the years. Even as a child herself, she had managed to find the strength to be there for those who couldn't help themselves. She swore to never let someone she cared about to be hurt ever again, not if she can help it.

A small tight smile from her helped to quiet their protests. She watched as the shadows cascaded over their faces while pulling the pelt covering taut.

Turning around, she saw that her brother wasn't far away, and raced to catch up.

"Sokka!" She yelled after him. At sixteen, Sokka's athleticism was by far amazing. After being barred from leaving with the warriors of the tribe who left for battle three years ago, he had dealt with the feelings of being inadequate all alone. That's why he trained on the snowy terrain for hours a day, wanting to prove his worth as a man who can defend his people.

Katara's ability was nothing to brush off either. In no time, she had managed to cover the ground her brother had made with ease, catching up to his gait.

"I need you to stay back, Katara." He said curtly.

"No, I will not. I'm coming with you." Ignoring his implied command, she pumped her arms with all her might as they neared the shore. The boat was coming in closer and closer, and the mystery of the unknown still hung in the air. Dodging in between the other tribe people, the siblings finally reached their wall of defense.

With a quick look to his side, Sokka watched his sister take up a defensive stance as solid as his own.

"Damn it, this isn't some game Katara. We don't know who is out there, and I need to focus on keeping us all safe- not on you playing follow the leader." He hissed.

"Well lucky for you, brother, I'm not a child who is here to play games." She said meeting his stare, "I'm here to defend too." Sokka may have his moments in being dimwitted and oblivious at times, but this wasn't one of them. His sister had been raised by the same mother and father as him, and her headstrong attitude was stubborn and impenetrable. Accepting her by his side, he nodded his head in agreeance before turning back to watch the incoming boat.

"From all of our past experiences, a Fire Nation ship has always been the same. Large, metal, and black with soot."

"That's not necessarily the case today." At a closer look, Katara could see the make of the boat much better. It was in no way the same size as a Southern Raider ship, but it still carried a flag of the enemy emblem atop its sail.

"We still have to be cautious, treat this as you would a Raider." His voice dripped with the venom of a ming snake. Sure, every villager detested the site of the Southern Raiders with all that they had, but Sokka's hate went deeper than the ice beneath their feet.

"Stop them by any means necessary." She repeated the mantra he had drilled into her since they were young. Grunting in approval, Sokka saw as the hull of the boat scraped against their icy bank. Looking behind them, Katara saw that everyone had seemingly evacuated, but she knew that those women who were young and fit enough to fit remained in secrecy just like them.

The calm in the air made Katara antsy. As they sat in wait, there had been no signs of bustling soldiers disembarking from the ship. By its size, she figured it could easily hold at least eighty people. That was a small expectancy in relation to the sheer size of the Fire Nation Military, but she knew too well the destruction any of their battalions could do. Her people were strong, but there was only so much more they could take. Before long, there would be no one left at the South Pole for the war to abuse and discard, which would mean another victory for their foes.

Katara refused for that to ever become a possibility.

"They've never waited this long before, should we-?" Katara's words were cut short as her brother held up a closed fist. There had finally been movement from the ship. As a door lowered slowly, a dark figure could be seen striding from the ship.

"Be ready." Sokka raised up from his squat, into a stance that would allow him to lunge at the perfect speed at any moment.

Katara's hands shook as she began to call forth the water around her. As the only remaining bender of her tribe, she was of great value when it came to ensuring their safety. Though, she had no basis to go off of, she knew her abilities were only subpar. She spent much time meditating and calling to the spirits Tui and La to embed in her the knowledge of a water bending master. Being alone in her training with absolutely no guidance, sometimes she felt lost as she practiced techniques she could only piece together in her own mind. She always figured that when the time came, she would be able to deal enough damage to hinder an enemy with her bending like now.

If only the bundle of nerves in the pit of her stomach would disappear.

Sokka raised his left arm, giving a four finger signal he knew would be seen by those lying in wait around him. Cocking back his arm, be prepared to send his first offensive strike to the intruder. Angling his boomerang, he sent it off into the sky, knowing that with his practiced trajectory it would come back to meet his target at just the right moment.

Katara saw the glint of his weapon race off towards the sun. Waiting for its return, she studied the emerging figure closely as it stepped out fully from the shadows of the ship. She had to blink her eyes a few times to make sure what she was seeing was real.

"It's an old woman…" She said in surprise.

"Don't be swayed just yet, that means nothing." Sokka reminded her. He didn't want his sister to begin relaxing her caution just because of an old woman. He always wanted her to know to never let her guard down, for anyone is capable of the worst.

Reaching to his boot, he unsheathed a hidden knife, carved by his father. Flipping it by the handle, he held it tightly in his palm, mentally calculating the reemergence of his boomerang as it came back into view. Bouncing with adrenaline, he prepared to go in for the attack as he watched it careen towards the woman. Through muscle memory, Sokka rushed forward with a battle cry, thinking that his boomerang had made its contact by now. Katara followed behind him, until her attention was stolen by the sudden wall of ice encasing the small woman.

Their charging came to a halt as the sight of the metal weapon lodge within the ice told them their plan had been thwarted.

It was then that Katara dropped her own small stream of water she had been struggling to maintain. Her blue eyes widened with astonishment and tears of recognition as she watched the ice disappear back into the ground. The white haired woman bent down to retrieve the boomerang, examining it with a quiet chuckle.

"She's one of us…" Sokka noted in confusion, never completely leaving his fighting stance.

"She's a water bender." The look of joy beamed bright in Katara's eyes. "Thank you Tui. Thank you La."

Praises of thanks sang through the main igloo as the tribe gathered around their lost sister. Sokka and Katara's grandmother clapped her hands to her face as warm tears streamed down her wrinkled cheeks.

"On this day we give the highest of thanks to the spirits for reuniting us with our sister, Hama! After so many years, she has finally found her way back home. Thank you from all of us!" With her face turned up, she closed her eyes as the sounds of voices around her joined in.

Katara stood by the large dangling cauldron of sea prune stew, waiting for the bowl she held to be filled. Smiles decorated many of the faces around the igloo as for the first time in years, there were sounds of celebration in the air of the Southern Water Tribe. She weaved in between the children who danced across the floor as the soft sounds of traditional drums filled the room. With her eyes set on Hama, she stood quietly, yet eagerly by her grandmother's side, wanting to introduce herself.

Seeing her granddaughter appear with the look of childlike wonder set in her eyes, Kanna ushered her forward.

"Go on, Katara. Introduce yourself to our sister Hama." With a deep breath, Katara slowly lowered to her knees before the woman as she sat on a pallet of furs. The room quieted in respect, as they all knew the magnitude of the moment for the young girl. Her blue eyes brimmed with tears as she reached out her offering of stew.

"By the grace of Tui and La, the Southern Water Tribe has gained another heart beat." Placing the bowl before her, Katara raised her fist to her chest.

"A beat that shall never die, by the spirits will, we live on." With three steady thumps against her chest, Katara lowered her fist as she raised her head to the soft pads of Hama's palms against her cheeks.

The woman's gray eyes twinkled as her lips pulled back into a smile.

"Thank you, child. I can feel the strength of our people coursing through your body, am I wrong?"

"No, Master Hama. You are not wrong." Drawing back in delightful surprise, Hama raised an eyebrow at the title.

"Master? Could it be there are still water benders here after all these years? How?" Looking up to Kanna, she could see a flash of sadness across her face.

"Sadly, Master Hama, I am the sole remaining water bender of our tribe." Katara's fists tightened against her tunic as she reeled in her emotions. "Until now, that is."

Silence filled the room as the group reflected on the day that Katara's existence among them had almost come to an end. Sokka sat towards the back of the room, stroking the fur of their pet polar dog as his jaw tightened from his flashbacks.

"That's why I come to you to ask to be your student! Through your teachings, I can honor those we have lost, and make sure that the Fire Nation can never win against us again!" She begged.

"Now, Katara, we must allow some time for Hama to rest and find herself at home before any of that can happen. Let's save this for another time, dear." Kanna placed a light hand on her shoulder, urging her back before Hama reached out to stop her.

"No worries, Kanna." This time, the feeling of Hama's hand on Katara's face tightened as her eyes darkened.

"I will teach you everything I know, Little One. I'll make sure that you too gain the rightful title of master." Katara's chest heaved in exhilaration as her grin stretched her face to capacity.

"I am honored, Master. You will not be disappointed." She promised joyfully.

Sokka's brow furrowed as he saw the change in the woman's demeanor as she spoke her last words to his sister. There had been a vicious flash in her eyes that now settled on the doting girl before her. Beside him, the polar dog he had been petting began to quietly whine as he covered his face with his paws in unease.

For some reason, Sokka knew that the animal could feel the same twisting emotions as him.

A week had passed since the return of Hama to the village. There seemed to be a new wave of determination amongst the water tribe. Their sense of pride had been renewed after being blessed with another of their kin. Those who had been around when Hama had fought to her limits against the Fire Nation on her own recounted the stories of years past.

With her arrival, Sokka had also noticed the change in his sister as she seemed attached to the woman's every move. He had noticed how little time she spent doing her usual duties, and once made the mistake of pointing it out to her.

"How can you stand there and say that I need to refocus myself, Sokka? For once, my prayers have been answered—I now have a teacher who can show me how to take control of my abilities, of my water bending! Why can't you be happy for me just this once?"

They had their arguments that were typical of brothers and sisters, but this one had pushed them into an unusually long period of avoidance. Sokka couldn't get a word out of his sister, no matter how hard he tried. Despite their fights, Sokka and Katara had always relied on each other through the emotional and mental bond of children who have been separated by their parents through the acts of war.

He had never realized it before, but Katara was the only friend he truly had, and not being on speaking terms with her hurt more than he would like to admit.

With a piece of blubbered seal jerky in hand, Sokka fought his natural instinct to go wolf down dinner with everyone else, and instead slowly ventured out to the ship that had brought Hama to them. With all of the kids preoccupied by their mothers, he would finally have a chance to explore the inside of the enemy vessel without worrying about them wanting to tag along. All kids were taught at a very young age to steer clear of anything left behind by the Fire Nation, for the hidden threats still presented a danger to them all, and leaving them dormant and undisturbed was best.

The wind nipped at his cheeks as he approached the vessel. There would never be a day that the hairs on the back of his neck didn't stand at full attention when coming face to face with anything from the nation of destruction.

As he stepped aboard the platform Hama had descended from, he knocked off the snow from his boots in a territorial way. Making sure that he left marks of the water tribe in his wake. A gloved hand slid along the wall of the ship as he walked further into darkness.

Sokka couldn't believe what he saw as he traveled through the small rooms of the ship. The walls were covered in regalia made of materials he had never seen before. Eyeing them closely, he noted the inscriptions in place, praising generals of the Fire Navy that he couldn't care less about.

"…honorable leader of troops…" He scoffed. "You're all a bunch of lousy thieving murderers." He grunted as he ripped the scroll from the wall, tearing it to shreds. Moving on, he came upon a room shroud in thin rays of light that managed to come in from outside the ship.

At the center of the room stood a table with a large piece of parchment paper depicting a map of the world. His pace quickened to get a closer look. Sokka grinned as he took in the different things that had been written upon the map. They were plans of some sort, how old they were, he had no idea. Studying it closer, he hoped that there was still valuable information lying at his fingertips. Being at the south pole, news of the war was hard to come by. The few letters that his father had sent in the last three years had been the extent of his knowledge of the outside world. He started to notice a pattern with the information on the map.

"This is a map of major ports." Before he could become overwhelmed and immerse himself into the map, he quickly removed it from its binds, rolling it up to be tucked away inside his parka.

He continued shifting through the room, picking up any papers of importance along his way. Sokka was going to make sure he learned all he could about this war. What better way was there than right from the enemy themselves?

Sokka wasn't sure how long he had spent on the ship that afternoon. Through the windows he could see the sky darkening fast. Just as he began to make his way back out, he came across a door that hadn't been opened. Not wanting to leave an inch unseen, he went to reach for the knob only to find that it had been locked. Throughout his time exploring, he had begun to form questions on exactly how Hama managed to man a Fire Nation ship on her own with no trouble. No doubt her water bending was helpful in navigating the vessel, but just how did she manage to make it all the way here without encountering another ship en route? He had many theories of his own, but had hoped that seeing how she lived and survived on the ship would give him much needed answers.

After a couple more failed attempts to open the door, Sokka reached for his boomerang at his hip. Stepping back, he measured out a good aim before hitting away at the knob. His weapon helped to bend the knob, giving him enough lead way to kick the door in.

His heavy breathing filled the dark room as he finally stepped through. Before him stood barrels and barrels of weapons. His throat tightened as he came closer to them. His memory drudged up images of those warriors of his village who had met their untimely end be way of the deadly weapons decorating the room.

With tentative fingers, Sokka reached for a particularly intimidating object.

He held the Jii spear in his hands lightly. Being this close to a weapon that has too often been used to cut down his people brought the taste of bile into his throat. Looking around the room, he realized that there was no way he could possibly touch a single thing in here.

Standing here looking at the curved ends of the spear he held seemed to quell the anger and rage he expected finding a cache of weapons would fuel. He thought that he would be more than willing to take this back to be hidden away for the next attack. He wanted nothing more than to give the Fire Nation a taste of their own misery.

Tossing the weapon aside, he decided that his revenge would be wholesome in the best way possible, and not carried out through the creations of the people who he swore to fight against. He wouldn't allow for any of their blades to help him fight for the honor of his home.

Intent on leaving the room, Sokka felt a strange energy reach out to him. Slowly turning around, his eyes fell upon another door tucked into the corner of the room. With slow and even steps, he made his way towards it. Being in the south pole, feeling cool air was never surprising to him, but at this moment, he found the cold draft wafting through the cracks of the door worthy of concern.

"I told Kanna I would find you here."

Sokka nearly jumped out of his skin at the surprising voice right behind him. Twirling around, he found Hama to be just within arm's length of him. To call himself shocked would be an understatement.

"I didn't hear anyone come in." He stated. His words held a hint of confusion as he took a step back from both her and the door. Hama's hands remained folded within the sleeves of her newly donned parka. Her eyes seemed to mirror the smile upon her lips as she nodded her head.

"If you had been in my shoes, you would know how to exist without being heard or seen too, my dear."

"Right…" Sokka responded. His eyes darted back towards the door when Hama's face soon stood in front of him, blocking his view. Perturbed, he straightened his back and cleared his throat.

"Come, I'll escort you back to the village." Reaching out his arm, he offered it to the older woman as she took it with gratefulness.

"Yes, I would greatly appreciate that. I've been gone from the ice for so long that I haven't quite gotten my footing." She laughed softly as Sokka led the way. While they exited the ship, Sokka couldn't help but think Hama had been watching him the entire time. He had done plenty of hunting with his father to be able to detect approaching prey. It was as if the roles had been reversed, proving Hama to be the more experienced predator.

"Whatever lies behind that door, she doesn't want to come to light." He thought to himself. Looking to the older woman, he nodded as she continued to speak, not registering anything she said as he became lost in his own thoughts. "You may be able to fool everyone else, but I won't fall for your act so easily."

"Well, dear?" Hama patted his elbow bringing him back to the moment.

"I'm sorry?"

"I was saying being the son of the Chieftain of the Southern Water Tribe makes you a pretty important figure here, doesn't it?"

"I…I guess so." He scratched the back of his head at her words. He didn't exactly have anyone to brag to when it came to technically being a member of a "royal" family. What they had in place was much more humble than other nations. "I just try to do my part while the rest of the warriors are off fighting."

"Rest of the warriors, huh? That's right, the men are off sacrificing themselves every day in fierce battles while a young boy stays back to defend the village." Sokka in no way missed the quip she made. "One day, you too will become a strong brave man like them."

"I wouldn't have it any other way." He said through a clenched jaw.

"Master Hama! There you are…" Katara ran towards the two as she spotted them approaching the village.

"That there is a strong girl. She embodies the will of our people, both past and present. I've never felt such great potential in a person before." Sokka knew that he in no way sought out the appraisal of Hama, but for some reason her words nicked at a small wound deep down. "She reminds me of myself."

Sokka's free gloved hand tightened, and before he could say a word, Katara had reached them.

"I see you were able to find Sokka. What? Got lost in your game of exploration again?" She teased. Taking hold of Katara's arm, he replaced his body with hers as he handed Hama off.

Katara's smirk faltered as she was met with nothing more than an icy stare from her brother. She was used to Sokka meeting her with quick jabs without fail, but this time something told her he was in no joking mood.

"You know what, Katara? I'm going to go check around the village and make sure that everyone is safe. And you?" He took a step closer as he lowered his voice so that only she could hear, "You can go waste your time learning a new magic trick."

"It's not magic, its water bending!" She called after his retreating back. "If you would just-!" Stomping her foot, she gave up trying to respond to his dig.

"Now, don't allow that to get the best of you. Silly comments are just that—silly." Hama reassured her, clasping her shoulder beneath her wrinkled hand.

Feeling embarrassed from her outburst, Katara straightened her posture, wanting to appear more mature in front of such a legend.

"Please don't be offended by what he said." Folding her hands before her, she looked at the older woman from the corner of her eyes as they walked on the thick ice.

"It's just… some people here don't really understand bending—including myself." Her voice became soft with sadness as she spoke. "Between everything with the war and defending our home, we sometimes forget just how important water bending has been to our people."

A solemn breeze followed the pair as reflection flashed in Hama's eyes.

"Do you know what has helped to keep me alive for all these years?" Her voice shook as old memories began to trudge their way back to her mind.

Hama stumbled over the lifeless bodies littering the ground of her home. She panicked as she watched the blood of her friends and loved ones join the soot covered snow before her. Her body remained in a crouched position, as shaking hands reached out to water benders of her tribe who had fallen to the destruction of the Southern Raiders.

A drop of blood fell from her face, landing on the back of her freezing hand. Shaking, she lifted her fingers to her bruised cheek, chains rattling in the process. The sound of metal riveted through the air, declaring her bondage she had fought against so adamantly to avoid.

"Pick up the pace! Unless you would like to join them." A fire nation scoundrel barked from behind. A rumbling sound grew in Hama's chest as she shouted in rage. Pulling on the chains, she made an effort to reach behind her to choke the life out of the man who dared to speak so frivolously about her fallen friends.

The butt of a sword he held in his hands caused lights to flash behind her eyes as she lost her balance.

"Try all you want, savage. The fight for you is over—make this any harder and the trip back will be very interesting." He clenched a fistful of her disheveled hair as he leaned menacingly into her ear to whisper the threat. Pushing her away, he kicked a body strewn in his path drawing another growl from Hama.

"Not even Tui and La can save you from me!" She gritted her teeth together as angry tears raced down her cheeks. In the background she could vaguely register the sounds of cries coming from those who were left in the village.

Children, women, and the elderly watched on as their last defender was dragged through the carnage.

Looking over her shoulder, Hama's eyes landed on a bystander who had become one of her closest friends since her arrival to the South Pole.

Kanna.

Biting her lips, Hama's rage left her shaking as she watched her friend cover her mouth to keep herself from breaking.

"Spirits, stand with me! Spirits, lend your strength!" She shouted into the sky.

"Quiet!" A soldier shouted as they neared the landing of the ship she was to be held prisoner aboard. Digging her feet into the ground, Hama turned to face those who gathered behind her.

"Spirits, lead me back home!" Her eyes bulged from their sockets as she strained her voice.

"Lead me back home!" Her throat burned as a strong hand quickly closed around it as she was nearly lifted from her feet and forced onto the ship. Left with the view of the pure snow she had known all her life riddled with the atrocities of war once again, Hama let out a blood curdling cry as the steel door closed for the last time.

Katara stopped in her tracks as the older woman stared into her eyes with an intensity she had never felt before in her life. With all attention on Hama, she shook her head as she awaited the woman's revelation.

"The blood of my comrades running in every crevice of this here land." Hama's voice deepened as she saw flashes of the sight in her mind. "Do you know why, Little One?"

Katara's eyes blinked rapidly as she tried to veil her shock.

"I—I can only imagine why." She chose her words carefully.

After a moment of silence, Hama's face became marred by a scowl.

"I refused to die knowing that the warriors I fought beside of had their blood spilled by the hands of Fire Nation brutes." Curling her wizened hands into a fist, Hama could fill the blood coursing through her and Katara's bodies.

"I promised their spirits I wouldn't let them suffer the tribulations of the afterlife they were forced into. For each drop of blood, they spilled, was another drop of life I absolutely could not disgrace. Honoring their sacrifices is what I've dedicated my everything to." Closing her eyes, Hama relaxed her body, suppressing her senses as she turned to the young girl.

"You're a special girl, Katara. You and I are no different, you see. For my time, after all was said and done, I'm sure it was believed that I would be the last water bender this tribe would ever see. But now I see that Tui and La had so much more in store for us when you were born." Reaching down, she grabbed the girl's hands in her own, removing the gloves she wore to trace the lines of her palms. It was then that Katara noticed Hama had yet to don a pair of her own, something most people did despite the cold climate being their native home.

Her eyes followed the sharp points of her nails as they moved smoothly against her palms, trailing to the blue veins at her wrists.

"The water tribe blood courses through us all, but even more rests in our veins. The power to bend the essence of life, the strength of all those we have lost to the war resides within us." Grabbing ahold of Katara's chin, Hama forced her eyes to meet her own. In her blue depths, Hama saw the look she had been hoping for. One of amazement and fealty.

"I want to teach you how to harness the power that rests deep down. The power that has been passed along through the years."

"The power of our blood."

Katara's heart raced. This was it—this was the acceptance she had been waiting for. To her, Hama's words spoke of a promised apprenticeship beneath a legend. Katara would jump at any chance to take up her offer.

"Tell me, Katara. Will you accept the gifts I have to give to you?"

Katara shook with excitement she almost couldn't contain as she smiled brightly.

"Yes, Master Hama! It would be an honor to learn from you!"

Tilting her head back in satisfaction, Hama watched the glee that fell over the young girl.

Patting her elbow, she linked her arm with Katara's, moving them along.

"The fate of our people rests with you, Katara. I'll make sure that you have everything you need to serve and protect the water tribe."

Looking down at the older woman, Katara nodded in response as they made their way back to the village.

Several months had passed by since the arrival of Hama to the Southern Water Tribe. The energy within the village seemed to have revved up to a height that had almost become foreign to the people there. The revitalization of the people could be seen everywhere.

The elders walked around with their backs straight as memories of their past and the pain they had been through gave them a new reason to stay strong. Seeing their sister Hama return at her age with confidence and fearlessness they didn't think she would have definitely had an impact. Those who could remember the fateful day she was dragged away had spent the years mourning the death they were certain she had to have succumbed to while gone.

Seeing her in the flesh proved that they couldn't have been any further from reality.

On the shores of the village bobbed the small boat Sokka had taken earlier that morning for a fishing trip. Docking, he climbed out, hoisting the day's catch over his shoulder. Trudging along, he watched as the village seemed lively for the early morning.

Typically, Katara had always joined him for morning catches. It had been a time for them to bond, though they mostly bickered back and forth. It had still been special to him, and since the return of Hama, he found himself reminiscing about all the times that they spent together becoming sparse now.

He thought that she needed him as much as he did her in times like this, but it seemed now Katara was more than preoccupied with her new dedication to bending, and Hama.

"Gran Gran, I'm back." He called towards the family's tent. Dropping the sack outside to keep the ocean smell from their home, he pulled back the thick sheets to find his grandmother on the ground tending to a pot of stew. A lopsided grin fell on Sokka's face as he inched his way near.

"I didn't know you were making sea prunes?" Dropping to his knees, the teen watched anxiously as his stomach growled. He felt the fur of their polar dog rub against him.

"Nanook, get in line. If anyone gets a taste, it's me." He said to the dog. Groaning, Nanook shifted his feet as he watched the ladle Kanna lifted to Sokka's mouth.

Sokka quickly took in the hot food before Nanook could manage to sneak in a taste. His eyes closed as he warded off the heat of the stew. Light licks at his cheek attempted to catch what hadn't made it into his mouth.

"If you weren't such a messy eater, Nanook would never get to enjoy my cooking." Kanna laughed as she watched her grandson shoo away the pet.

Turning him over on his back, Sokka distracted him with belly rubs as he snuck another mouthful.

"Did Katara help you make this?" He asked his grandmother.

"You know your sister has her morning trainings. I figured it would be nice for her to return to a nice bowl of sea prunes when she's finished." Returning the lid to the pot, she caught the slight look of annoyance in Sokka's expression.

"Early morning, mid-morning, afternoon, evening—when isn't she training? It's like she's barely even here anymore." Sitting back, he propped his forearms against his knees as he stared at the dog contorted in happiness on the ground.

"If she's the water bender meant to protect the tribe, what good is she if she's always away from the tribe?" His words held a tone of resentment behind them that didn't go unnoticed.

"Sokka, you know learning from Hama is an honor to Katara. She's never been happier, and we should join her in that feeling."

"Yeah, well, good for her." Tenison filled the space between them before Kanna placed a hand on his shoulder, turning him to her. His brows were burrowed in thought, a common occurrence at the slightest mention of Hama. She tried her best to figure out what it was that bothered Sokka, but now she was at her wit's end.

"Exactly what is wrong with you, Sokka? Though you may have never taken your sister's abilities seriously, she does. She respects Hama just like everyone else in the village but you it seems."

"Gran Gran—it's not that I don't care about Katara learning new…tricks. It's just that—" Clipping his words, Sokka held back as what he really wanted to say didn't seem appropriate. How could he tell her that woman hailed as a hero for their people made his blood freeze with suspicion? It would be like committing a sin to say a bad word about Hama, and upsetting his grandmother wasn't exactly on the list of things he set out to do in life.

"Just what?"

Looking to her, he shook his head. "Nothing, Gran Gran. Nothing." Standing tall, Sokka searched the tent for his boomerang.

"I'm just going to go clear my head a bit." He mumbled, scratching his neck with the point of his weapon. "I'll be back soon in time to eat." Behind him trailed Nanook as he made his way across the icy ground. Watching his retreating frame, Kanna hoped that one day Sokka would be able to move past this slump he seemed to be in endlessly.

As he walked through the village, Sokka's eyes landed on the fire nation ship that rested on the outskirts. He had tried many times since his first brief exploration to return to the ship, but it never failed that Hama would be right there with him.

The further he moved into the tundra the quieter it became. Tossing the boomerang, he played his own little game of fetch with Nanook who ran ahead. He didn't really have a destination in mind, but he would be lying if he said the hopes of finding the secret training spot Hama and Katara disappeared to wasn't on his mind.

He had scouted out the areas often, but it seemed like they were able to find special places unbeknown to him. He thought he knew every inch of the south pole, yet he could never stumble across the two benders.

The feel of wind against his cheeks encouraged him to try his search another go. Maybe he would finally catch a break.

He hadn't known how long they had been walking, but as Sokka and Nanook climbed a steep hill, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. His hunting trained ears picked up the slightest sound of voices nearby. Looking to the pup beside him, he lowered his hand, indicating the dog to follow his commands as they crept quietly to the peak.

Down below, Sokka's eyes narrowed as he saw the old battlefield that all had been forbidden from visiting. In the crux of the wreckage of Fire Nation ships, he spotted the lithe forms of Katara and Hama moving in unison.

"What are they doing here?" He whispered harshly. Creeping closer, he attempted to get a better vantage point as he retrieved a small scope from his hip. Settling in, he focused the lens to get a view of the session.

He watched as Katara brought her hands in meticulously, controlling her breathing. A black box rested at Hama's feet that drew in his interest. As she bent down, confusion hit him as he saw a slew of arctic mice escape their entrapment. He could see that the same puzzlement he had was shared on his sister's face as she listened intently to what Hama had to say. As the woman's hands moved fluidly in the air, the arctic mice froze in their places.

Soon their small bodies were lifted, twirling in circles as Hama controlled them.

Sokka's mouth opened wide at the sight just as Katara stumbled back onto her haunches.

When Hama's motions suddenly stopped, Sokka swore she stared straight at him through the small lens.

Grabbing the collar on Nanook's neck, he pulled them back down the hill.

"Run!" He whispered into the dog's ear. Staying on his tail, Sokka followed, refusing to turn around.

"I—I don't understand! What just happened to them?" Katara gripped at the soft snow between her fingers as fear briefly entered her body at the sight of the small mice being contorted right before her. Looking up to Hama, the older woman's attention seemed to have been elsewhere.

Tears filled her lids as she watched the mice slowly return to the ground. The small creatures became timid as they huddled together in exhaustion.

Hama's eyes hadn't fooled her, she knew she had seen unwelcomed eyes just over the hill before them. Turning her attention back to her mentee, she folded her hands inside her sleeves as the girl coiled away.

"You look disturbed, Little One." She spoke calmly.

"They looked like they were in so much pain." She hesitated. The months she had spent with Hama had all been a prelude to the big reveal she promised to show her. Today was supposed to be that day. Katara was a fast learner which Hama always complimented her on. She had flown through the basic moves all benders needed, forming her true foundation. The strength and capabilities she had shown gave Hama confidence in knowing that she was ready for the next step.

Reaching out a helping hand, Hama watched as Katara faltered slightly before taking the offer. The young girl's body trembled as she took a deep breath, wiping away the tears that managed to fall free.

"Steady yourself. I'm sure what you just witnessed was overwhelming." Giving a solid slap to the sides of her arms, Hama commanded her to relax.

"The strength we have been nurturing inside of you for all this time shall not go to waste. Do you understand?"

Sniffing, Katara was embarrassed for her obvious fear she failed to hide in that moment.

"I'm sorry Master Hama, but I just don't understand what I witnessed." Shaking her head, she tried to calm herself.

"What did I witness?" Something told her that the answer she would receive wasn't one she was willing to hear.

With a flick of her wrist, Hama guided the mice back into her contraption, drawing an audible sound of disgust from Katara.

"The element of water is the element of change, Katara. One moment it can provide salvation to those willing to allow it to wrap itself around them. Underestimate the power, and you will find yourself drowning in its subtle ravenous nature."

"When I was imprisoned, they kept me from water at all times. Do you know how devastating that can be? All life needs water to sustain itself, but what happens when a water bender is barred from the very essence that makes us who we are?"

Katara remained silent as the woman continued on.

"It breaks us in a way no person should have to suffer. With everything they took from me, I made sure to find something to take its place. In the nation of beasts, I learned the limitations water placed on my being. Without it, I was nothing."

Lifting a water whip from the snow, Hama moved it gracefully through the air before Katara, passing it along to the girl, she allowed her to take control of the whip.

"It was then I realized how water was everything. This snow, the clouds above. Water is present in places we often neglect to realize." The icy tone of her voice paralyzed Katara, causing her to drop the whip.

"I told you, Little One. The blood of our people runs strong through your veins. Night after night I repeated those same words to myself, searching for a way out of my predicament. It didn't take long for me to understand just how powerful we can be."

Hama's eyes travelled upwards along the steel bars of her cell. The shackles on her wrists were crusted with her dried blood and torn flesh as evidence of her daily fight against them. Her lips ached to have just a taste of water.

By this point, she had lost track of the last time she was given a torturously small amount of the elixir.

She learned long ago that calling to the guards would be useless as her cries would go unanswered. Looking across the room, she saw the slumped body of an older bender from her tribe she had barely recognized on her first day. The woman had kept her back turned, never acknowledging the new arrival. There were only so many of them left, with Hama having the longest expiration date among the group it seemed. The urge to give in to despair was contagious. Every day, she fought against it.

If she gave in, then the Fire Nation would have another victory on their hands.

She couldn't die…she wouldn't.

Hama listened to the sounds of heavy boots as they moved about freely. In her peripheral vision, she watched as a guard took a long swig from a metal pitcher. Catching her eye, the man paused before standing to his feet. With the mouth plate of his helmet removed, Hama could see the smirk etched onto his face as the shadows danced around him. Without a word, he slowly tilted the pitcher allowing every bit of the water to fall onto the ground just outside her cell.

Clenching her fists, she watched as it ran towards her, stopping short and out of her reach.

"It's not quite time for your next sip, but hopefully this will hold you over until then." He mocked her. Sauntering away, Hama grinded her teeth to keep herself from lashing out. She knew that if she attempted to bend the water from the ground, she would have to suffer another round of fire lashes. Her back tingled at the thought as her fresh batch still healed on its own.

The squeaks of an elephant rat coming to enjoy the spoils of her torture brought her attention back to the puddle. The small animal climbed into her cell comfortably lapping at the ground.

Staring at the way its belly expanded, Hama became lost in concentration. Was it her dire thirst or her connection to the element that had her hearing its course through the rat's body?

Her head thumped as she became hyper aware of the composition of the animal's body.

All life contained water, right?

Scooting her fingertips along the ragged ground. Taking a look to the guard, she saw that he was preoccupied in conversation, giving her just enough of a distraction to go out on a limb and try something new.

Leveling her breathing, she focused on the energy around her, searching for the source of water within the rat's body.

She felt as though she possessed vision strong enough to see every highway of veins, and the blood that travelled them throughout the rat's body.

Flexing her fingers, she watched as the rodent trembled in fear. Its squeaks became more urgent before it was paralyzed on its small legs. She could feel it call out for help as she manipulated it closer and closer towards her.

Quickly reaching out a hand to snatch its body out of the air, Hama's fingers tightened around its fat body as she realized the greatness she had unlocked.

A fit of giggles bubbled in her chest, becoming difficult to mask as she held the rat close to her heart.

She thanked Tui and La for finally sending her an answer to how to overcome her situation.

"We possess something far more valuable than any other bender in this world. We have the key to life right at our fingertips at any given moment." She chuckled as she reminisced on her last days in the cell.

"Every single day I dedicated my time to working those elephant rats. I learned every little trick I could until I was confident enough to try my new skills on a much larger target. The day I mastered this art of blood bending, was the day I knew no one could ever stand in my way to freedom."

"Blood bending?" The words felt strange on her tongue as Katara thought of the way the mice had been contorted into such stiff positions.

"That—that doesn't seem natural, Master." Katara was unable to keep her comments to herself. Throughout her time with Hama, she had never questioned a word that came from the older woman as she was her biggest inspiration. But now, she felt a tug at her heart at the idea of controlling another's blood. Her muscles tightened at the thought, causing her body to feel foreign to her.

"There's nothing unnatural about the art." Pulling the girl close, Hama's eyes became serious. "I am passing on this technique to you, Katara. It's my most prized achievement, and I don't take this lightly. Choosing to train you has brought us to this point. Carry on my legacy."

Clouded by the words of honor, Katara looked on surprised. "Your legacy? I am in no way deserving of such a tremendous gift, Master Hama." She spoke humbly.

"Nonsense, the prowess you have shown me far exceeds what I had at your age. Possibly even when I was a full-grown bender. To have no foundation in your gift and yet command it with such precision is astounding. That is why you are more than deserving to learning everything I have to offer."

Katara's hands lifted to the curls at her neck. The young girl was beyond flattered at Hama's words, but she struggled to deal with the uneasiness that blood bending brought with it.

Looking to her feet, she bit her lip as she considered her next words.

"Master, all I have ever wanted was to learn the art of our people. I want to be able to protect my friends and family here, to restore our village to its greatness." Lifting her head, she held Hama's gaze.

"Even then, I'm not sure if this—technique of yours is something I could do." Rubbing her arm, Katara wondered if she had offended the woman as she took a step back.

"Do I sense judgement in your tone?" She asked quizzically, instantly drawing objection from the girl.

"No! Of course not! I—"

"Do you think this art as unworthy of your attention?" She hammered on. "Had I not discovered this ability, I wouldn't be standing before you as I am today. I'd be buried in a grave with all the other water benders the Fire Nation murdered."

The heaviness of her words drew silence and embarrassment from Katara as she bowed her head.

"I don't do what I do simply for my own fun, Katara. I do this for all the people who have fallen before me. The people I once stood beside in fighting the true evil in this world." Taking a hold of the fabric around Katara's neck, she pulled the girl in close. "Protecting ourselves against tyrants at all costs should never be looked down upon."

"Y—Yes." Katara stammered.

"They've all taken someone from us. I saw dozens of my friends torn down by them. Had it not been for them, this village wouldn't have stood as long as it has. Never forget that. Never forget what they have taken from you as well, Katara."

During their time together, Hama had come to learn to horror that haunted Katara from her childhood. The story of how her mother stood defiantly in her place, proclaiming to be the water bender as raiders had been in search of had fueled Hama's anger towards the nation who had been relentless in terrorizing her home even after she thought they had taken all that there was to take. She needed Katara to realize it was time for her to fight in her mother's name. To never let her sacrifice go unappreciated.

The feeling in her toes numbed as she remembered the sight of her mother's eyes in her last moments. The nightmares she'd had of the sharp sword piercing her mother through the heart had remained vivid for most of her life, but Katara chose to try her best and ignore them during the day time. As Hama spoke, she had opened up a closed off memory she didn't want to deal with in that moment.

"Trust in me, and I shall bring you to redemption. I will show you how to protect all that is dear to you." Hama's hoarse voice played on what little remained of the girl's innocence.

Guided by her fears, Katara offered herself to Hama's teachings hoping to find salvation.