The Girl in the Ice
White snow covered the Ice Mountains, blue waters around them, showing their reflections. Silence was draped across the land and penguin-seals played all over the ice pieces on a sapphire blanket. It had been six years since the Southern Water Tribe was raided by Fire Nation soldiers and nearly two years since the older men of the Southern Water Tribe left to help the Earth kingdom.
They were in a small canoe, one boy holding a spear waiting for a fish to come by and the other crossing his arms at his adopted brother. Both were wearing the traditional winter coat of their tribe. The adopted male was tall for men at his age and his skin was only slightly tan. He had blue eyes, like the men of the Water Tribes, but he had the hair like the sun with shades of browns in the mix, held back in a wolf tail. The other male, native to the environment, was slightly shorter than his adopted brother and he too had the eyes of his tribe. His hair was in a wolf tail as well but it hung lower and with strands of hair decorated on the right of his face. He was baring a betrothal necklace around his wrist of which he wore for his mother.
"I'm going to get it this time", announced the taller one, quickly, to his short adopted brother. "Now, watch and learn, Taroka, this is how you catch a fish. You have to get it at just the right angle…" Taroka rolled his eyes at the snow colored boy in front of him.
"Sokka, just because you prefer weaponry more than me doesn't mean that I don't know how to use them", countered Taroka in a matter-a-fact tone. Sokka shushed Taroka so he wouldn't scare the fish away… again. Taroka let his eyes wonder and they landed on a big fish swimming by the canoe. He looked back at Sokka to find the 'warrior' preoccupied with his fish. Taroka took off one of his gloves and, after taking a deep breath, started to manipulate the water around the fish raising the water and the fish out of the ocean and to the young Waterbender. "Sokka", exclaimed Taroka, keeping his eye focused on the scaled creature.
"Shh, Taroka, you'll scare the fish away", Sokka licked his lips in hunger, "I can already smell it cookin'." It was then that the shorter Waterbender turned to show Sokka what he had done.
"But, Sokka, I caught one!"
However, Taroka raised the water container too high as Sokka raised his spear to strike, popping the water capsule and releasing the fish into the ocean as well as soaking Sokka. "Why is it that every time you play with water magic, I get soaked", glared Sokka at his adoptive brother on the other side of the canoe.
"It's not called 'water magic', its called Waterbending", corrected Taroka. He was always annoyed by the fact that his brother never called Waterbending by its rightful name. "And it's…"
"Yeah, Yeah an ancient art, unique our culture, blah, blah, blah", he listed lamely, as he had heard this a thousand times by Taroka. Sokka did not care in the least about Waterbending, since he was so special to the tribe when they were little. "Look, all I'm saying is if I had magic powers, I'd keep them and my weirdness to myself. Instead of splashing others with water." He tried to dry out his hair from his wolf's tail, and then saw his reflection, lifted his sleeve and flexed his arm. Taroka chuckled at the grinning warrior.
"You are calling me weird", he countered as he spoke, "I'm not the one who makes muscles at MYSELF EVERY TIME I see my own reflection. Besides you're doing it wrong."
Sokka looked back and glared at Taroka before chuckling himself. Suddenly they hit a block of ice sending them in a current that went through a belt of ice blocks. Sokka and Taroka tried to paddle their way out of the field of frozen water while the grand block tried to crush them on every turn. Until two blocks of ice in front of them were starting to close, "Look out, come on Sokka paddle hard!" An iceberg was coming on the right, "Go left!" But eventually the canoe was crushed and the two had to jump on another ice block. Taroka glared at Sokka, whose spear stood next to him and was pouting. "You call that a left!"
"Don't like my steering", he asked sarcastically. "Well maybe next time, when we face a life or death situation, you should use your damn water magic to bring us to safety."
"Oh, so it's my fault, naturally", Taroka calculated as he stood up and crossed his arms.
"I knew I should have left you back home", he complained, ignoring his brother's response. "Leave it to a girly boy to mess up a warriors work." Taroka snapped then, gritting his teeth and pulling at his hair.
"You are the most sexist, immature, nut brained", Taroka started to rant as through his arms from above his head to his sides to emphasize his words. "I'm embarrassed that I'm part of the same damn tribe as you!" As the Waterbender ranted and yelled, he unknowingly unleashed a wave the large iceberg behind them. However, Sokka did notice when he looked up at the berg starting to crack. "Ever since Mom died, I have been doing ALL the house work BY MYSELF! While you Mr. Kelp-For-Brains are off playing solider with the little kids."
Sokka's blue eyes widened at the sight behind the Waterbending teenager. "Uh… Taroka", tried to point timidly like a child that was afraid to ask what something was.
"I even wash the clothes", the mocha skinned boy exclaimed. "Have you ever smelled those dirty socks of yours? Let me tell ya… NOT PLEASENT", he yelled at the non-bender, Taroka again unknowingly cracking the ice behind them more.
"Taroka, calm down", said Sokka with a squeaking voice.
"No FUCKIN' WAY, THAT'S IT I'M DONE BEING THE FUCKIN' IGLOO MAID! FROM NOW ON YOU ARE. ON. YOUR. OWN!" With that final word and the last slash of her arm, Taroka had complete went through the iceberg and he finally saw the fear on Sokka's face. He then turned to find the tower of ice collapse like a smashed snowball. He looked at the effect, pushing the water and block holding the two Water Tribe people.
As soon as the water settled like a path across the ocean Sokka looked to Taroka and said, "Damn you just gone from weird Water man to Freakish Water Psycho, Taroka."
Taroka stared at the empty space where the tower iceberg used to be. "You mean, that shit was me", the Waterbender asked ridiculously.
"Yep congratulations", a baby blue light started to form under them growing larger and larger as if something powerful was raising from the depths of the great sea. The two boys backed away from the edge of the block they had stayed on and stood up in the middle. Their hearts raced, eyes grew as big as the growing light and bubbles rose, sweat was dropped, and Sokka was close to wetting himself.
Finally it broke the surface and out popped a smaller monument of frozen water. Taroka took a step forward taking a better look at the figures inside the ice. He saw glowing arrows on the small figure and what looked like a large animal. Taroka lifted his brow, confused at what he saw in block. Suddenly the arrows glowed brighter than before and the eyes opened with the same eerie glow as the arrows. The two gasped but Taroka took action, "It's alive", he wasn't sure if it was male or female. "We have to help", he proclaimed taking Sokka's club, one of the gifts from their father.
Sokka called out for Taroka to stop and be reasonable as he grabbed his spear but as always Taroka would not listen to the pale Water Tribe boy. Taroka slammed the club as hard as he could against the thick ice. After five slams, air hissed out at them and breaking the ice in two. The explosion released a large stream of light to the heavens. Nearby Tiger-seals seemed to be howling at the sight.
Meanwhile on a Fire Nation ship
A fifteen year old girl looked down at the ice water, down on her hope of finding the Avatar like she had promised to in exchange for her to have her honor. Suddenly, a beam of light like a ribbon of hope came from the ground and reached for the heavens. Her full, dark brown hair bordering the black of midnight was whipping through the air in the ponytail. Her pale complexion complimenting her amber eyes that widened, even the scar that she bared on her left eye, had widened slightly.
As the beam stood, the surprised look on her face had faded away. "Finally," she breathed as glared at the light, and then turned to her Uncle. "Uncle Iroh! Do you realize what this means?"
Uncle Iroh was a rather round man, whom loved his tea, he kept her down on her feet, kept her hope and spirit up. But the man was fickle sometimes and was too relaxed for his own good. Sometimes she could not understand what he was saying with his riddles. He had a gray train that ended at his right below the shoulder blades, though there were a few blonde and brown hairs here and there.
At the moment Iroh was leaning over small table with his legs crossed while playing a game. "I won't get to finish my game", he retorted drily, looking up to meet golden eyes with his niece. The princess only turned back to the sky, a little hurt that her Uncle did not take this as seriously as it should.
"Well yes but it also means that my search is about to come to an end", she preached as she started at that beam of hope. Iroh did something between a groan and a sigh, then continued his game but the banished princess kept her gaze as the light faded, "That light came from a very powerful source. It has to be him."
"Or", started the older man, "it could be the Celestial light. We have been on this path before Princess Zuka. I do not wish for you to get too excited over nothing." He stopped his game to pay full attention to his abused niece and gestured to the table. "Come, why don't sit down with your old uncle and enjoy some nice, calming Jasmine Tea. I made it, myself, this morning", suggested the tea lover.
"Uncle", Zuka tried to stay calm but was still showing a threat in her words. "With all-do respect I don't need any calming tea. What I need is the Avatar." Zuka looked up at the ship's driver and commanded, "Houdsman set a course for the light!"
'Zuka I wish you would relax if only for a moment', thought Iroh sadly as he was playing his game. Then a dust of wind blew past them both, moving all of the princess's hair and the chips on the table.
Back with Taroka and Sokka
The mist cleared and the crater of ice came to view the two boys set themselves at battle stance, Sokka with his spear and Taroka ready fight with fists. Soon a figure with long hair, glowing arrows and eyes looked down at them. The stream of light had started to disappear making the figure easier to see. It looked ready to fight so Sokka shouted, "Stop!" As soon as he spoke the glowing ceased and the shadow turned into a young girl and fell to the ground with groan.
Taroka gaped and rushed to the body before she hit the ground, making sure she was still breathing. Sokka was… less generous and poked the girl in the head with the handle end of the spear. Taroka ordered Sokka to stop and he obeyed as they both looked at the unknown girl. Her long golden hair, similar to Sokka's, ran across the surface of the ice like a halo, blue arrow tattoos all over her body, the largest one on her forehead. Her clothes were colors of orange and yellow, obviously not from around the Water Tribe. She looked no older than twelve or thirteen. Slowly she opened her eyes to be met by sparkling sapphires and chocolate skin and hair.
"I have to ask you something", she spoke weakly with heavy lid eyes.
"Yes, what is it," asked the Waterbender.
"Please come closer", Taroka leaned in intent to know what was wrong. When the young girl knew she had his attention she spoke again in a stronger and playful voice, "Would you like to go Penguin sledding with me." The Waterbender was taken quite off guard by this but nodded out of his confusion. As soon as the dark skinned boy nodded the unknown girl somehow got up to her feet without using arms or legs. "What's going on", she asked looking around the sky.
"You tell us", spoke Sokka dangerously, "girl." Taroka shook his head, could his brother not think of something better. "How the hell did you get in the ice? And why are not frozen", he asked as he poked the girls stomach.
"I… I am not really sure", she answered simply. She gasped as the sound of a groan accord, the preppy girl ran up the hill of ice into the cavern. "Rudy", the girl exclaimed flying to the large sleeping animal, "You're alright!" Seeing the black furred and white arrowed creature would not move, so she tried to wake her up. She tried to lift her mouth open, though she was not very strong. The two Water Tribe boys walked around the blockade to find the friendly stranger lifting a large beast's lip.
The large beast yawned tiredly and lifting the small girl with his tongue, making her laugh. Sokka came forward with his spear with Taroka right next to him, "What is that thing?"
"This Rudy, my flying bison", she said simply.
"Right", the warrior said sarcastically then pointed to his brother, "and this Taroka my flying brother." Taroka gave the blond a 'are-you-serious' look. The girl looked him strangely suddenly Ruby sneezed, blasting snort at the non-bender, who tried to wipe it off as much as he could. The little girl giggled at the young man's dismay.
"Don't worry that will wash right off", the warrior tried to get it off his cheek, "So do you two live around here?" The spear suddenly pointed straight at her face.
"Don't answer that", commanded Sokka, "for all we know, she could've sent that beam of light to signal the Fire Navy." Taroka only rolling his eyes in annoyance.
"Oh yeah, of course, she's a spy for the Fire navy. You can tell by the evil look in her eye", Taroka spoke sarcastically. Once both teens' eyes were on her, she batted her own to portray innocence. "The paranoid one is my adopted brother, Sokka. You never told us your name."
The young girl blush at the rather good looking boy and tried to answer before sneezing, "I'm Ya… Yaa… YACHOO!" She flew up in the air and then floated back down. This time she answered complete, still with her blush, "My name's Yaanga."
Sokka let his jaw drop in amazement, he couldn't believe his eyes and neither did Taroka. "You just sneezed and flew, like, ten feet in the air", exclaimed Sokka.
Yaanga looked curiously at the sky, "Really? It felt higher than that." Taroka widened his eyes in realization and a bit of hope.
"You're an Airbender", he said dumbly, more to himself than to the others.
Yaaga made a pose of pride as she made her statement clear, "I sure am."
Sokka ran his fingers through his wolf tail in frustration and disbelief, "Giant light beams, flying bison, Airbenders." He started to walk away to get away from the madness of the group behind him. "I'm going back to the village where things actually make", he paused when he saw there was no path, "sense."
Yaanga looked at the older boy with a caring eye and motioned to Rudy, "Rudy and I can give you a lift." Her offer made the Waterbender chuckle at her preppy voice much like the girls of their village had when they walked by, being the only men at the village. Taroka nodded his thanks to the young one and climbed his way up to the saddle.
Sokka still didn't trust the newcomer that was previously in the ice. "Hell no, there is no fuckin' way we are going on that thing." Yaanga was a bit put off by this language of which the monks of her temple always said never to use. Taroka simply looked at the white warrior with a look that made his annoyance obvious to the world. He pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. How stupid could he get, really? "Besides, I'm sure that somebody will come and save me." Oh that stupid.
"You mean before you freeze to death", countered Taroka, waiting for his witty come back that would never happen. Sokka was trying to think of one before he realized his defeat was inevitable and climbed up the great beast like a child not get his sea prunes. Yaanga kept her permanent smile on her face and her eyes still glittered in wonderment.
"All right", she announced with her upbeat attitude, "first time flyers, hold on tight. YIP, YIP!" With that Rudy seemed to preparing for the big event, tail went up then down, all six knees were crouched down to the floor ready to pounce. Then Rudy jumped into the air, only to flop into the water. Sokka looked unimpressed to say the least and Taroka just had his legs crossed and his arms out of the saddle.
"Wow. That was amazing", said Sokka sarcastically as he fiddle with his spear.
"Don't worry, Rudy's just tired. One he's rested, he'll be flying through the great blue sky. You'll see", Yaanga prophesied with hand motions. Taroka just lay back oblivious to the pair of grey spheres watching him.
Meanwhile on a Fire Nation ship
Zuka slouched over the railing with her long her, the same length as her uncle's, blowing in the night air like a perfect sheet of dark brown silk. She was looking at the Celestial lights dancing across the sky in a contemporary dance again like she did every night. Waiting, waiting for a sign, sound of a hawk, a piece of floating paper, even, but as always nothing came. She heard footsteps of an old man, how she knew was simple.
This happened every time she was up late; it was basically an unbroken circle never to stop. "I'm going to bed now", said the tea loving man behind her, she did not move. Then he faked yawned and spoke again, "Soo tired." None of it worked Iroh sighed at his niece, then walked towards her. He looked up at the sky with her knowing her dilemma all too well, "He hasn't written back, has he?" Zuka remained silent but shook her head no in response. "Perhaps his messenger hawk is lost, we have been moving a lot as of late." Zuka didn't move, not a sound came from her. "Get some rest soon, Princess", he said finally before kissing her scared cheek fatherly and started to walk away.
"I truly believe that I'll catch the Avatar, Uncle", spoke the banished Princess, sounding more to herself than her uncle. Iroh stopped in half step when hearing his niece's pledge. The old man looked at the young girl with dull fire in his golden hues.
"Zuka, even if you are right and the Avatar is here, alive no less, you won't be able to find him," he started, "Your Father, Grandfather and even your Great Grandfather have tried and all have failed."
"That's because none of their honor hinged on his capture. Mine does, and his one hundred years of cowardice hiding are over." Tension filled the air like a smoke from the boiler room.
But before the old man could say anything, the determined young lady was already asleep on the railing, 'I am getting to old for this.' Iroh took the princess of the Fire Nation, partly carrying her, to her majesty's room on the ship. As she lay there on the bed, Iroh couldn't help but notice that his niece looked so much like his sister-in-law, minus the scar of course but still. How the years have gone by?
Next day
Yaanga awakened with a start after having such a dream as that terror. The Airbender was in such a daze before getting looking at her surroundings, a tent the same color as her clothes which hung a string above her like chandelier. Quickly, she got herself dressed as if it were an emergency; suddenly a voice came to her ears. "Are you decent", asked the Waterbender from outside the tent. Her eyes went dreamy as his musical voice came to her ears and wished for it to come again. "Hey, are you awake?"
"Yes, I'm awake", answered the twelve year old making her way to the sheet door. "So are we going Penguin Sledding or not?" Taroka looked at the younger girl's large grey pearls that stared up at him with hope. Why was she staring at him like that? Was there something wrong with him or something of that sort?
"Later, first I want you to meet the village", the black haired boy proclaimed, dragging Yaanga to the middle of the village where all the residence was present. "Yaanga, this is the entire village. Everyone, this is Yaanga." Yaanga smiled at such attention given to her, she waved politely.
"Hello", she bowed; everyone stared wonderingly at her like a new discovery. Yaanga was slightly hurt by this, why were they so lenient of her? Did she smell? "Why do they look so scared", asked the Airbender, showing slight hurt in her grey pools. A women in her old age stepped up from the crowd with a wrinkled, deadpan face and a monotone voice. Her hair was in loops like many of the women in the village but her hair had faded to grayish white with dark strands of hair in the mix.
"It's because the children have never seen a Airbender, even the adults have not seen one for years. Everyone thought they were extinct. That is until my grandsons found you", Yaanga looked at the women with confusion painted on her pale face and repeated 'extinct' to herself under her breath.
"This is my grandmother, Kanna", introduced the Water Tribe boy, not seeing the shocked and confused face on the guest's face. Taroka could sense some distress from the girl but chose to ignore the state she was in; she would get over it soon.
"Call me, Gran-Gran", said the aged woman with a blank expression on her tanned face. Behind the two benders, Sokka let his curiosity get the better of him as he stood up from his spot by the tent and snatched the staff of which she was holding.
"What is this thing", asked Sokka rudely, "Some kind of weapon? You can't stab anything with this." He twirled it around his hands as if testing its unknown power. Yaanga somewhat giggled at the warrior and used Airbending to suck the staff back in her hand and out of his.
"It's not for fighting, it's for Airbending silly", she explained as wings popped out of the staff. The children giggled at the gesture and called it magic because of the new wonder shown before their very eyes, but Yaanga corrected them. "No, not magic, Airbending. This device lets me control the air currents around my glider to fly." She demonstrated what that would look like by moving the glider with her hands.
The skeptical warrior, of course, shared his oh, so brilliant knowledge of the world. "You know, the last time I checked humans can't fly", he said passionately.
Yaanga got into the ready position for lift off before saying, "Well then you might want to check again." After that she took off into the air flying like a sea raven on winter breeze. Everyone looked at the girl's performance with excited eyes except for Gran-Gran whom stayed in her monotone state. But Yaanga's eyes only landed on Taroka; seeing his amazement made her all the more happy, so happy in fact she didn't see where see was flying. She landed in large formation of snow, causing her head to get stuck in frozen white snow.
The Airbender tried to pull her head out of the hole she had just made and finally succeeded in getting out. Yaanga fell a good few feet from her unfortunate landing place. The Waterbending boy rushed to the clumsy child as she tried to get out herself, Taroka chuckled lightly at Yaanga, "That was… interesting." He laughed at his "warrior" sibling mourning about his precious watchtower of ice and snow like a child that had broken his toy.
"Great, just fucking great. You're an Airbender, Taroka's a Waterbender, together you can just like the time away", insulted Sokka as he inspected the damages. Yaanga gasped excitedly at the fact that had passed Sokka's non-silent mouth.
"You're a Waterbender?"
"Well, I mean, yeah, but not yet", Taroka stuttered, trying to sort out the thoughts flashing through his mind. How this girl made him feel? Her innocence was starting to get annoying and her perkiness was becoming a ring and a buzz in his ears. Then it was the monotone voice woman to the rescue.
"All right", Gran-Gran said, "that's enough, play. It's time for work, Taroka." Once they were out of earshot, Kanna spoke, "Don't put all your hopes into this girl, child."
"I know, Gran-Gran, but I got a feeling that she's filled with wisdom. She might be able to teach me more about Waterbending", countered the Waterbender looking down at the short woman. They both looked back at the children and bender; seeing them try to get her staff off her own tongue. Taroka was slightly embarrassed by this and gave a nervous chuckle to his grandmother, 'Please let her be a good teacher for me.'
Meanwhile on Zuka's Ship
"Again", commanded the old Firebender. Zuka blow fire from both fists at two soldiers like a two headed dragon as she jumped over the two whom bended fire back never removing her concentration. To the untrained eye, it would have looked perfectly executed but to the trained eyes of Iroh, it was improper. The old man sighed in disappointment while getting up from his spot away from the scene and proclaimed sternly, "No. Power from Firebending comes from the breath. Not the muscles." Iroh's niece was becoming frustrated he could tell. Her eyes filled with the inner fire and her nose scrunched in annoyance. However she needed to hear this speech… again, "The breath becomes energy in the body. The energy extends passed your limbs and comes out as fire. Get it right this time."
Zuka growled at her uncle in protest, "Enough, I've been doing this segment all day. Teach me the next set. I'm more than ready for it."
Though she was only fifteen years in age, she still struck the hearts and souls of every soldier in the ship with fright. Her voice was venomous as she spat the words. She could practically feel the fear burning out of their armor.
Iroh disagreed with her, still, "No, Princess, you are impatient. You have yet to cover your basics. DRILL AGAIN!" Zuka growled once more like enraged dragon than an anger teenager and through a large fireball at one of the tutors pushing him away all the way to the bow of the boat.
"The Sages say that the Avatar has to be the last Airbender. He must be over hundred years old by now, that is plenty of time to master all four of the elements. I'll need more than just basic Firebending, if I'm going to take him down. You have to teach me the fucking advanced set." Zuka rarely used curses but she was using them now out of her anger. Neither Benders' glares wavered from each other. Silence blanketed the deck of the boat and tension grew between them.
Iroh broke the silence with an irritated sigh, "Very well." The youth smiled at first, "but first, I must finish my roast duck."Zuka made a look of disgust as she watched Iroh eat his cooked bird then stole some for her. Though Iroh protested she still ate the roast duck.
"I skipped my lunch to come to practice, Uncle", the girl said with a mouthful. "Besides, you stand to lose a few pounds."
At the Sokka's and Taroka's village
Sokka was giving one of his famous speeches, "Now men, it is important that you show no fear when facing a Firebender. In the Water Tribe we fight till the last man standing. For without courage, how can we call ourselves men." The children in front of him looked at him dumbly with innocent eyes of blue.
"I gots to go pee", announced a small boy from the back.
"Look, until your fathers come back from the war. They are counting on you to be the men of this tribe and that means no potty breaks!"
The young boy persisted, "But I really have to go." The oldest warrior that stood before them sighed and asked who else needed to go use the facility. When all the little children raised their tiny hands in the sky, he dismissed them.
"Hey, Snowflake", called out Taroka. "Have you seen Yaanga? Gran-Gran said she disappeared over an hour ago." Suddenly the Airbender appeared out of nowhere seeming to look for something. "What are you looking for?"
"The bathroom. But all I found was some yellow snow", said Yaanga doing the potty dance like a child. Both Sokka and Taroka rolled their eyes at the response while the little kids laughed.
"Taroka, get her out of here", demanded Sokka. "This is a meeting for warriors only." Then they saw that the children were using Rudy as a slide landing in a pile of snow. Taroka smiled at the grins and happy expression on the kids' faces while Yaanga giggled as Sokka went to grab his spear. "Stop it, all of you. What is wrong with you? There is no time for fun and games when there's a war going on."
Yaanga kept her grin on and raised a brow, "What are you talking about? What war?" Sokka and Taroka looked at the young girl with ridiculous looks of disbelief.
"Your joking, right", asked the Waterbender in confusion. Yaanga's eyes wonder from the older boys to the black and white figure.
"PENGUIN!" Yaanga shouted at the top of her lungs and used Airbending to run to the fancy creature, leaving the two Water Tribe boys in her dust. How could she not have heard of the war?
With Yaanga
White snow covered the ice as she tried to chase four winged penguins toppling over as they ran away. Yaanga was starting to get frustrated in more ways than one. The sounds of their squawking from their furry mouths, but she giggled the frustration away with joyful sounds. She looked up from the snow to see a blue coated boy. "I have a way with the animals watch," and she mimicked the penguin in front of her with joking feelings.
Seeing such acts made Taroka chuckle as she was dragged. "Listen, if you teach me Waterbending I'll help you with Penguin Sledding."
"Okay there's just one teeny tiny thing", said the girl almost sadly. "I'm Airbender. Don't you have other Waterbenders in your tribe that can teach you?" Taroka's smile disappeared from his face as he turned away from her in despair.
"Well, no actually, there isn't. You're looking the South Pole's very last Waterbender." Yaanga gasped in horror and tried to hug him but he pushed her away from him. He never did like hugging that much. Yaanga was like the little sister he never had, probably never will. That could just be a good thing though.
"That's awful. A Waterbender should master Waterbending", she cried rather loudly, as though his hearing was failing him. "Wait, what about the North? There are probably a whole lot of Waterbender that could teach you." Taroka looked back at the Airbender.
"Ya see, Yaanga, we haven't had contact with our sister tribe in a long time. I mean, it's on the other side of the world, not just around the next glacier", countered the Waterbender pessimistically.
"Rudy and I could give you a lift. He is a flying bison after all." He was unsure of this offer; he had never left the home before. The thought of everyone in the tribe being lead by Sokka the Idiotic was the worst idea ever. But then again, when was the last time he did something for himself. Yaanga saw this and said, "Well, you think about it, okay? In the mean time, can teach me how to catch one of these penguins?"
Taroka shrugged. "Alright, watch every closely little one. This is the art of the ancients, observe." He got a fish from his pocket making the penguin go in a riot around them.
10 minutes later
The sounds of cries and laughter sounded through the valley as they sped through the snow. Going over snow banks and into caves, Taroka couldn't remember the last time had had this much fun. "I haven't done this kind of stuff since I was a kid", he exclaimed as they entered through another cave.
"You are a kid", laughed the Airbender getting a head start from the Waterbender.
"No I'm not. I'm teenager big difference", interjected Taroka jokingly. They simply laughed like there were no worries in this world at all. How they never wanted this fun to end. But as soon as the two were out of the tunnel the penguins stopped and in front of them stood a monument of a ship lifted by ice. Yaanga looked at the transportation device with wonder and question while walking towards it. "Its Fire Navy ship", the bender of water said, answering an unheard question, "and a damned memory for my people."
The bender of air looked back at the boy before jumping to the deck, "Come on let's go check it out." Taroka protested but she had already made her way to the navigation room of the vessel. With a defeated sigh, he climbed into the ship and slowly drove himself to find the annoyingly happy girl. After a few moments he finally found her, in the weapons room no less. "I don't understand, why would the Fire Nation attack the Water Tribe?" Yaanga's voice was saddened and confused with a bitter word in her voice.
"It's been like this for years", Taroka tried to explain but was cut off quickly.
"Years? I haven't heard of any war about the Fire Nation and you're telling me that this has been going on for years?" Taroka's face was thoughtful, think of some explanation of some kind.
"How long have you been in that ice", he asked.
"I don't know a day or two maybe", she answered.
"I think it might have been more like a hundred years", Yaanga looked at him ridiculously. "Think about it, you have never heard of any war with the Fire Nation and on top of that, you're an Airbender of which no one has seen in a hundred or so years."
"Well, I guess that kinda makes since. But do I honestly look like a 112 year old girl", she said as she put down a random weapon she had picked, suddenly gears were heard and the entryway they came in at was blocked and a flare was launched into the air. "Come on, we have to get out of here." Yaanga grabbed the Waterbender's hand and used Airbending to launch themselves in the air unaware of the smirking gold eyes watching them from a far.