chapter 2:
"AHH!!! Get It off!Get it Off!" sokka screamed as Yuura grabed his ponytail and was tugging playfully at it.Aang laughed while Katara carried Yuura in her arms and chidded Sokka for shouting so loud.
"My fault?! It grabbed my hair, katara! "
"Well, who asked you to be soo dumb and allowed him to climb your shoulders in the first place?"
"I was trying to be nice."
" Oh yeah, like a baby could understand nice, you nitwit! And by the way, his name is Yuura, not It!"
" What ever, If you ask me,I'll say we throw him in the river and be rid of the menace once and for-" he stopped because Katara's hand had slapped him hard on the cheek.
"Shut it Sokka."She glared at her brother and stomped away. Aang and Toph watched silently before laughing hystericaly.
"Oh that was fresh Sokka, 'throw the baby in the river'. You know she'll kill you before you could touch Yuura," Aang gigled.
" Not only that, she'll make minced meat of you and sell you to the local market, that way, you'll be sent to places far away and eaten by barbarians! Hahaha!!" Toph said in between laughs.
Sokka sat sulkily and crossed his arms."Oh, Shut up!."
Katara sat beside the river and sat Yuura on her lap, facing her. The child looked at her with a blank expresion."I'm sorry for what Sokka did. He's an idiot and a darn well one at that. He doesn't know how to treat babies. But don't worry, he's nice when he wants to be. I won't let him harm you any more okay?" Yuura played with her necklace and gigled at the cool touch of the metal.Katara smiled and cradled him more closely.
She didn't understand why she was so attched to him so quickly. Her mind went back last night at the clearing. She tried to remember the voice that spoke from the hood.but try as she might, she couldn't even vaguely place it.She placed that aside and got up.
"Time to eat,It's already noon."
The gang ate boisterously and finished their meal quickly. Yuura played with them happily.He laughed hysterically, when Aang made faces and laughed even more when Toph used her earth bending ability to torture Sokka.Katara sat watching everything and joined in the fun, by splashing huge waves at Sokka.Sokka was the centre of assault and this drove him crazy .
" Come on guys, we have to go to the city and find Bhumi." Aang spoke suddenly The others went quiet.Katara looked down at the young child.
"But what if no one will take him? Can we keep-"
"No Katara, We cannot keep Yuura with us. It is actually kind of dangerous to bring him with us," Aang answered.
"And besides, you don't want that fire nation brat getting his filthy hands on Yuura do you?" Sokka said sardonically.
Katara picked Yuura up and turnd around so that her back faced them. The young child burped satisfactly and she gently patted his back.
"I have decided something." she began.The others watched her silently while holding their breath.
"I am keeping him."
"What!?"Sokka said in exasperation. Aang slapped his forehead and Toph sighed and looked at her with a scowl,"Look Sugar princess, I know you like babies and may even want one of yourself, but this is serious. we have to give him to someone who can really take care-"
"Yeah, like real mothers, Katara! Listen to yourself!"Sokka cried in irritation.
" And Katara, I don't think it is wise to have a baby with us when we are in constant danger of-"
" Zuko and his god forsaken minions and his dumb fire tricks!" Sokka finished Aangs sentence incredulously. Aang nodded apprehensively at his statement.
Katara spun on her heel ,"I don't care, Yuura is my responsibilty.I'll care for him and if need be, I'll protect him. None of you need to do anything. And Aang he's not,"she stooped and breathed in deeply composing herself," going to be a burden for too long. Someone, will come for him and then, I'll let him go."
The others looked confused. Katara sighed and sat down, putting Yuura beside her on the ground.
"I didn't find him, but someone gave it to me last night."
"What!?" the others cried in unison.
"He asked me to care for him for just a... while." she started.
"It's a he, do you know who it was, which kingdom and why?" Sokka asked his voice raising everytime. Katara shook her head." He only told me to care for him until he returns."
"So this ' he' will come back. When?"Aang asked her.
"Are you two dim wits? She said she doesn't know, so let it be. Fine Katara, you take care of him yourself, but if anything happens, don't come crying to on, lets's go!" Toph said, dragging Sokka by the hand Aang also followed slowly behind, "You know Katara, I 've never seen you so strange like this.Are you sure its just because you like babies or is there something else?"Aang asked innocently.
Katara scowled and stomped past the avatar with Yuura in her hands.