Tonraq's stare down the southern tribe city was a cold one. Without knowing anything about its people, Tonraq was placed in charge of both hemispheres out of traditional heritage. Every year he visited the south, he noticed the distinct differences between both societies.
The north valued tradition, the south valued innovation. The north valued honor, the south valued change. The north's community came from family and clans, the south's community valued the city's prosperity, not necessarily a neighbor's well being.
The differences traced back since the reconstructions efforts from the great war. While the south saw the aid from the north as kindness and hospitality, the north saw it as an honor mission to make up for abandoning the south during the war. The south was innately altruistic, while the north was innately noblestic.
It was why the south accepted all equaltopia exiles, regardless of origins, and why the north only accepted waterbenders for tribal security. It was why the north had a military on par with the fire nation, and why the south didn't even need an army. Like the rising sun and setting sun, the distinctions between the two tribes was why Tonraq was viewed as a tyrant in the south, and a hero in the north.
Tonraq often wondered what would've happened if the roles were switched, if Unalaq stayed in the north, and Tonraq had moved to the south.
Unalaq walked up the snowy hill off the edge of the shore. The snow was deep. His winter boots kept him from sinking. Unalaq brushed passed the light flurry of snow as he reached his brother on the hilltop.
"Tonraq," Unalaq called out, "I spoke with Varrick. He told me you're preparing for war."
Tonraq rolled his shoulders, "can you believe this is the spot where Avatar Aang met Katara? Who'd have thought snow never changes."
"Tonraq," Unalaq said, "if a war comes, will it be for invasion, or to liberate Republic city?"
Tonraq looked off for a moment. Again, he was distant. Away from village politics and people. It was just him and his family, his brother, the only person left in the world that truly cared about his well being.
Tonraq throw a rush of water at him. Tonraq's body swirved as snow raised up and spread across the air in Unalaq's direction.
Unalaq easily dodged and ducked, he raised his streams of snow toward Tonraq, and did his best to launch streams of water and ice in Tonraq's body.
Tonraq should've been and earth bender. The brother's differences were often described as air and earth. Wheras while Unalaq had an aura of calm and knowledge on his head, Tonraq was a force of brute strength. Strong, heavy with side movements, it seemed like he always moved like a mountain would, cutting through whatever path lay in his wake.
Unalaq was even quick in bending. Like a thin airbender, Unalaq's movements mimicked speed and agility. He couldn't touch Tonraq. And this, was their annual tradition. Tonraq would make sure to battle Unalaq before every glacial spirits festival, and he would never speak to him until the battle was finished.
Unalaq had never won a battle against him. Not since they were kids, not since the battles began after Korra's disappearance.
Most believed she died. It wasn't uncommon for kids to fall into oceans while wondering outside. Unalaq never admitted it out loud, but it was always grimmly on his face, my daughter is gone forever.
Every action, every behavior, each decision could all be tied back to losing his daughter. His years long stoicism and hard iron fist as chief, it sprouted out of his desire to compensate for loss. Even after his wife had died from grief, none of it had hurt as much as losing his daughter Korra.
Tonraq the stone. Tonraq, the icicle heart. Water that hits like steel. He revolutionized the north, made them equal in power to the Fire Nation and republic. With no family, only his duty remained.
Unalaq came to the south because Tonraq had nearly abandoned the tribe. Unalaq made the conscious decision to help the south where Tonraq neglected it. Without the north's wealth, the progress was slow, and it almost seemed hopeless to ever match the north.
Tonraq stomped on the ground like an earth bender. A snow wall rose, and it nearly encapsulated Unalaq. Unalaq split the snow wall by spreading his arms, but Tonraq came charging at him like a mammoth.
Tonraq smashed his body against Unalaq's body, and Unalaq fell back in the snow immobile. Before Unalaq could get up again, Tonraq stomped a foot on Unalaq's chest.
"Looks like I win again, brother."
Unalaq lost his breathe. When Tonraq stepped off of him and Unalaq got up coughing. With a a frown he answered, "yes brother. Just like every year."
Tonraq extended his hand out to lift Unalaq with a smile. Unalaq disliked the smugness , but with a man who had so little, Unalaq could at least let him feed his ego.
Unalaq stepped up, "I know you're creating a world army. An army with northern tribe warriors, and earth Kingdom soldiers."
Unalaq nodded, "that's no secret."
"It's an invasion force. You're amassing an army to invade Equaltopia."
"It's a defensive force, if the equalists ever choose to attack, they'll have to prepare for a full force of three nations against them."
Unalaq raised an eyebrow, "three?"
Tonraq said, "we've made a treaty with the Fire nation. If Equaltopia attacks the earth kingdom first, they'll aid us in an invasion."
"A world war..." Unalaq took a seat on the ground. He looked off to the ports. The boats were minuscule, the bare minimum for the southern tribe. They were nowhere near as prepared for war as theother nations. "I can't… My people can't go to war."
"Our people, brother. No one will be alone. The Equalists are monsters, we don't deserve to be afraid of them."
Unalaq didn't say much. In a war against Equaltopia, no one could be sure that equalist technology wouldn't make them formidable against the war. While they lacked numbers, the machinery they had at their disposal made them unfathomable.
"What should I tell the council."
"Nothing," Tonraq said. "We aren't at war, but when the day comes, be prepared to assemble your forces."
We don't have a military force, Unalaq wanted to say. What scared him most was Tonraq's use of the word when, like war was inevitable. "If a war comes," Unalaq said slowly, "please don't make me forcefully conscript people. No one should go to war if they don't want to."
"That wouldn't be necessary," Tonraq said, "we need volunteers, not recruits. I'd rather have one soldier who wants to fight than ten soldiers that don't."
Unalaq nodded. He was glad Tonraq was honor bound, a conscription would've have bodded well with the southerners. Tonraq asked, "have you... Talked to Desna about Equaltopia?"
Unalaq raised an eyebrow, "we've spoken about it a few times... Why do you ask?"
"He sent me a letter, he wants to join my army." Unalaq's face paled. His son joining the army was the last thing on his mind. Tonraq, as considerate as he could be, said, "I only told him what I've told everyone, we're a defensive force and nothing more. The first line of defense against Equaltopia, with no guarantee of safety or war... He's told me that he still wants to join."
Unalaq walked toward the village. Tonraq followed next to him, "he's sixteen, we both know he's old enough to make his own decisions."
"I know," Unalaq said quietly, "I can accept whatever decision he makes. It's Eska I'm more worried about."