When Sokka came back to the Southern Water tribe Katara and Zuko were there. "Sis!" he shouted when he saw her. As soon as he was close enough he dropped out of the ship and swam to shore. "You shouldn't travel when you're six months pregnant." He looked worried. Zuko stood nearby. "I've been keeping a careful eye on her. She's been fine." Sokka nodded at him. "Thank you."
Zuko had grown up from his bitter teenage self. The anger that so often hovered around his eyes was replaced with kindness. Even as Sokka watched him, Zuko played with some of the village children. He seemed so happy these days, and Sokka noticed the love in his eyes when he looked at Katara. "Where's Iroh?" Sokka asked, referring to his 3 year-old nephew. "Oh he's staying in the capital. He's a firebender you know." Katara had always seemed proud of her little family. They were her everything. If it hadn't been for her warm, motherly nature, the Fire Nation wouldn't have trusted as easily as they did.
She hugged her brother tightly, tears in her eyes. The brother she had looked up to so much was gone, replaced by a strong, brave leader. He had trained into a conditioned warrior. After he hugged her he helped unpack the ships. Despite her large stomach, Katara shouldered his pack and walked to his little tent.
After Hakoda died and Katara left, Sokka gave their large home away to another family in the tribe. He know owned a small tent in the village. It was just big enough for some old family things and his personal items. She unrolled his sleeping bag and felt something hard in it. She pulled out a whalebone knife with Sokka's name carved carefully into the handle. As she rubbed it she noticed a faint mark around it. She bended some water around it to magnify it. A heart, lightly carved and rubbed out could be seen. She put the water back in a pot. Whoever gave this to him must have liked him.
It was late into the night when Katara brought up the knife. "Who gave you the knife in your sleeping bag?" Sokka blushed. "This uh… warrior girl I met when I was up North. She gave it to me." Sokka refused to talk about it anymore that night but Katara was interested.
It was early morning as Sokka pulled on his shoes. Zuko called for him outside. "Come in." Sokka said. Zuko came in holding a messenger bird on his arm. "This came for you." Sokka unrolled the message.
''''''''
Sokka sat down to write a response to her, his run could wait a little while.
Dear Karuko,
I hope it's better behaved then my old bird. That one bit me several times before it just left. Running's my kind of mediating, that's why I do it so much. The seals are brown with darker brown spots on them. Rachu reminds me of my sister when she was little. She would bend in odd little bursts, usually getting me very wet. Katara actually came to see the tribe while I was gone. She'll be leaving soon, seeing as she's six months pregnant. I'm sure she'll appreciate the stone. Would you like it sent back to you afterwards? I usually run northwest, up an ice mountain and back down to the village. We might be coming back next summer. Your knife works great, thank you for it, Sokka
