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He hears whispers of her name when she wakes from a nightmare. The furs rustle as she tosses and turns and her brother lies blissfully unaware all bundled and warm.
Hakoda rises, checks on his son who lies silent and peaceful in the igloo and then gathers up his daughters' scattered furs. Like an artic snow-hen he gathers his girl to his chest and wipes away tears, rubs noses until she breathes a tiny giggle-hiccup. Then when she began to sway to sleep in time to his breathing he whispers the lullaby that brings the most stubborn child to sleep, smoothes wild waves and brings peaceful dreams.
The necklace at the hollow of her throat makes him hold back his own tears. The charm is the same but the neck is not and he knows that life is not the same without her. He vows to do anything to protect what he has left because he will not let anything touch them.
It is a vow that breaks his heart when he is given the opportunity.
He hears whispers of another name as she rises from another nightmare. Only, Sokka rises first to stay the fear of lurking monsters. But then the others rise into action – the Avatar unbending the water his daughter has unknowingly manipulated in her fright while the exiled prince who does not seem to understand what exactly is happening, raises the flames to cast out any possibility of a hidden enemy in the shadows. The little blind earthbender grumbles and growls as she stomps around to look for a potential threat.
None of it is necessary, it is only a dream. But this little group of child-warriors react as if it was a full blown threat anyway. The prince and the Avatar drag their pallets closer to his daughter while the seemingly tiny and fragile little girl feigns sleep and keeps her feet planted on the ground.
And it is Sokka who stays awake, rubbing soothing circles on her back and singing that old melody to cast out this woman's name – a name that brings snarls to the ones who recognize it- while he gazes warily about. His black sword is unsheathed, ready for battle while his soon-to-be lady sleeps at his back.
And Hakoda breaks a little more for all his lost opportunities.