A week of very, very intense training and Katara was as ready as she was going to be. She was taught how to use the small daggers, an assassin's best and only friend while on a mission; or so she was told. Her secret identity was nailed securely into her head that she could list her 'ancestors' up to four generations back, Katara was also told that no matter what she was never to give away her true identity or leave the mission unless told to by the council members or one of their representatives.
The plan was that she was to meet up with a family of spies already settled in at the Fire Nation, Katara wasn't sure where but all she knew was it close to the palace. There she would pretend to be a cousin wanting a better, more exciting life in the city. She would gradually work her way up until she found herself getting closer and closer to the heartless Fire Lord.
Every nerve and instinct in Katara's body and mind told her that this was going to end badly, there was something about the cold, lifeless gaze of the Fire Lord that unnerved her, and then the scar that ran down almost half of his face made her shiver. She only wished she would be able to go with her feeling. She shook her head. No, she couldn't think like that, she should be honoured that out of two nations, it was her that was picked to fulfil the one mission that could end the war in her favour and she wasn't about to stop due to some stupid gut feeling. She would do it for her mother.
Sokka was leaning on her doorway, she hadn't yet noticed he was there and he kept it that way for awhile. He couldn't explain just how he felt he had failed Katara; he thought that it was his destiny to go, not Katara. He argued and argued with the council and had only really accepted that his baby sister was about to go on some crazy, suicidal mission two days ago when her boat arrived in port.
Sokka recalled what he said in his last argument with the heartless Master Pakku.
'No, not Katara. She has been through too much, please not my poor Katara. Take me, I'll go willingly, just not Katara. Not my sister, she is too innocent, I don't want her to have blood on her hands. She should have to go through what we have to" Stressed Sokka who was glaring at Master Pakku who sat comfortably in his chair.
"Sokka, your sister is stronger than you think, you underestimate her" he stated arrogantly making Sokka ball his hands into fists.
"Did you not hear what I said? I didn't say she wasn't strong enough, the Moon knows she would soon be able to kick your arse any day! It's just that she doesn't deserve to go on this mission. You are more or less sending her to her death!"
"Sokka, Katara knows what she is doing! She knows that by completing this mission her name will bring honour and peace to the Water Tribes!" Exclaimed Master Pakku who was now standing up, aggravated by the teenage warrior verbally attacking him.
"So you're happy to send a strong, loving, beautiful teenage girl to her death?" Seethed Sokka, his face was red from anger.
"Yes, I have to"
"You're as bad as the Fire Nation" Spat Sokka as he stormed out of the room slamming the ice wall as he left.
As he watched his sister packing he was reminded of just how much like their mother she was, her long brown hair always tied in a braid, sapphire blue eyes but most of all her personality was just like their mother's. Sokka then felt the feeling of depression wave over him; he was yet again losing an important person to him. But this time, he could have prevented it, maybe if he argued more- Sokka looked up to see Katara shake her head violently.
"I'm so sorry Katara" He whispered. His eyes welled up with tears, but he wouldn't cry, at least he could do one thing to help Katara.
"Katara, your ship is starting to load up" said Sokka causing her to jump as she hadn't seen him standing in her door frame. She looked up with him and smiled, but he could easily she how scared she was.
"I'm scared Sokka" she confessed quietly. Sokka knew how hard it would have been for his stubborn sister to admit just how scared she was. He walked towards her an embraced his little sister. His chest ached as he felt her sobbing into his shirt.
"Shhh, I know Katara, but your strong, I know you can do. If there was any way possible I would swap positions with-"Sokka was interpreted as Katara quickly pulled her head up so she could face Sokka, her face was wet with tears.
"No, Sokka I am going and its final, I do not regret that it is me they chose at all. But I am just scared, I have no idea what it's going to be like and... I just don't like that" Sokka swallowed and nodded. Perhaps Master Pakku was right, maybe he hadn't been how strong Katara was not only physically but mentally.
"Okay, but I swear to the gods if something happens to you I will swim over to the Fire Nation and let loose on whoever tried to harm my baby sister!" he growled. Katara laughed as she pulled away from his embrace, wiping the tears away from her eyes.
"Sokka, you are aware that you aren't a very good swimmer" she teased. Sokka shook his head.
"Katara, I'm being serious, I would wipe out the whole Fire Nation army before anyone touches you!" He said seriously. Katara who wanted to drop such a serious conversation kept trying to distract her older brother.
"Sokka, you and one boomerang could wipe out a firebending army?" she asked raising an eyebrow. Sokka started to pout at Katara's comment.
Katara smiled, she knew she would miss her brother dearly so she went and hugged the pouting seventeen year old warrior.
"I love you Sokka"
"I love you too, but please be careful" Sokka let go of his sister. "As much as I hate to say this I think you should probably go and get your stuff on the boat". Katara smiled and hugged him once more before he left her alone.
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
The harbour of the Southern Water tribe was little, Katara and Master Pakku had cut away a large amount of ice to make a safe harbour for boats to enter, although not many do now that the Fire Nation has hundreds of boats sailing the ocean. The wind was softer today than usual, but Katara still had to hold her fur hood around her head to stop the wind blowing it off. A small crowd of people were crowding around the entrance to one of the ships.
Katara could make out the shapes of her father, Sokka and Gran-Gran. It was hard saying her goodbye to those three. Gran-Gran said it was like losing another daughter, Hakoda was silent, everyone knew he felt he was the worse father ever no matter what Katara said.
"Miss Katara, we'll miss you" came a voice in the crowd, Katara tried to see who said the kind words, but everyone's face was covered by their hoods so she just nodded her head in thanks.
"Good Luck dear"
"You believe in you"
"You can do it Katara!"
The words passed numbly over Katara. If anything it just added more pressure. She made her way to where her small family was. As soon as they said their teary good-byes all except for Katara who vowed not to cry in order to make it easier on her family. She put on a happy face but inside she was trying her hardest not to run away from the cursed boat that would take her to her doom.
Sokka looked at his baby sister as she walked up the plank to enter the boat, her head was held high like it usually is. If there was anything Sokka could have done to stop his sister he would of, but he knew Katara would kill him if he left their father by himself.
The young Water Tribe warrior felt heavy hands upon his shoulders and looked up to see his father looking straight ahead to where Katara stood on the boat. The chief had tears in his eyes and Sokka knew that Katara had never looked like their mother more at that moment in time.
Eventually the ship started to move Katara stood by the rail of the ship waving her hands at the small amount of the people standing in the cold wind. Sokka felt his jaw clench tight as the ship started to get smaller and smaller, they all stood still until the ship could no longer been seen.
A chilling silence fell around the group, slowly people began to leave until it was just Sokka, Hakoda and Gran-Gran staring at the spot where the ship has vanished taking with it a very important person with it.
"She will be fine, she is a fighter" said Gran-Gran making both boys jump as she broke the silence.
"I know she will be but she is still my little girl" said Hakoda sadly squeezing his son's shoulders. "C'mon we should head back in before the cold gets to us".
"I'll be there soon" said Sokka, his voice husky from being silent for so long.
Hakoda nodded. "Okay son, but please don't stay out too long".
As soon as Sokka was sure that he was by himself, he fell to his knees. Kneeling in the snow he let a solitary tear run down his right cheek.
"I'm so sorry Katara" He whispered into the wind, hoping that the wind could carry his apology to where his sister stood on the side of a ship.
Awww poor Sokka! I always liked Sokka even if he was just the comedy guy!
Thanks to all my readers and i hope you enjoy this chapter!
please reveiw!
