This is my first story ever.

So please be kind, as far as I know I'm more of an artist than a writer....but you never know :D

Disclaimer: Avatar: The Last Airbender is owned by Paramount Pictures, a division of Viacom. All the copyrights belong to them. Only the ideas contained within this story are property of the author.

Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko also get the credit as they created the Avatar world *bows down*


Prologue

No one could predict what would happen after the war had ended and after Ozai's rule was through.

Everyone knew for certain that Zuko would rule as fire lord. But what they didn't know was that the stench of death would linger. Families of loved ones lost could not overcome their grief and the supporters of the war could not overcome themselves.

Vigilante groups supporting Ozai seemed to pop up all over the world where minds had been effected by his tyranny, where hands had been influenced by his violence.

The idea of a superior element was still at large, only this time, the leaders of the nations were not at the wheel.

Ice Dodging

Sokka sat back against the side of the boat as it rocked tenderly. The young men at the mast and the rudder shouting backwards and forwards to each other, each of them barking a different order that the other wanted to partake.

But the warrior didn't care. Over the past weeks he had grown more and more relaxed with taking the young males of the tribe ice dodging. He still remembered his first trip...he jumped at every white shape that appeared on the water. But now he had learned to let them do it. Every now and then he would look up to make everything was in check, but apart from that, it was a very cushy job.

His father had appointed him this duty as of lately to try and train him early in what was required of the chief. Mostly it was going along with hunting parties ensuring that the men were being trained adequately in combat...and of course ice dodging.

But today was a bit different. His fellow sea-goers (as he liked to call them) suggested going a bit further out to see rather than staying close to shore like they usually did. Their reason being that since the number of waterbenders in the southern water tribe had increased, the size and quantity of glaciers had decreased. This was mostly the cause of the bender's practice session involving manipulation of the chunks of ice.

Sokka agreed, confident that the job would stay the same.

"Sokka, we're approaching the glacier run!"

Maybe not.

He jumped up from his relaxed position and looked over the side of the boat. Indeed they were approaching the run. Two large formations of ice towered over the water, with only a narrow pathway between them serving as the boats passage. His mouth agape at the sight. Huge glaciers that reminded him of his rock dodging were approaching and he could only wince as memories of his first time out flooded back to him.

As they entered the run the vessel picked up speed. It rocked frequently as ice slammed into the wood.

But he couldn't help the young warriors, they had to figure it out on their own. He was only there for moral guidance, and at the moment he felt more useless than ever.

He watched in horror as they narrowly missed each iceberg in turn. A few times the hull scraped against them, and it was a few more than he wanted to encounter, but after quickly examining the contact area and finding no damaged he would relax...until the next one came into view.

Had it really been four years since his first time? Anyone paying attention to him would think he had never done it before. If anything, he was the one that needed moral support.

After a few mild panic attacks, the orders coming from the boy's mouths were finally replaced with cheers and accomplished smiles. They were still in the run but the number of glaciers had thinned out and they were sure they were in the clear.

But the congratulations were silenced when one of the young men shouted something incomprehensible and pointed at the end of the run. Indeed there was something to mumble loudly about. A large iceberg blocked majority of their exit out of the run. But they were obviously were still going for it, even as Sokka held grimly onto the rim of the ship.

The water was picking up its current as it rushed for freedom and the boat was being carried along with it. This was when Sokka started to relax.

Instead of contradicting one another, the warriors seemed to want to co-operate in the face of doom. One would shout something and the other would follow. One would mess up and another would help. This continued until each man was at his own station and each action require to pass the blockage was done.

But as they approached quicker and quicker, and the true size of the ice became apparent, every member on the small vessel seemed to be finding something to hold on to.

Muscles tensed as the frozen tower collided with their only means of keeping them out of the frozen water.

As Sokka picked himself from the deck of the ship, being knocked down from the force, he noticed the warriors gathered around the opposite side of the craft.

He hoped with all his might that they were not sinking as he joined them. One kindly pointed out the attraction and Sokka's eyes went wide.

Cliffhangers are good yes?

Please R&R, it would be extremely helpful and appreciated

8)