Time: 5:06 PM

Well, here I am again, after my looooonng absence. I apologize. Anyways, I started writing again, and here is another drabble that will be a little longer than a one shot. I am planning on this one being the alternate ending to Snow Petals on Her Face. It kind of picks up after chapter 9. There was no fire navy raid. Hakoda was still wounded, but he got better as he got on the ship and headed up north, where he got some guidance and became a better fighter than he ever hoped of becoming. Sooooo... hope you guys like it. I will try to make a few more chapters of this one. )

Please review...because it makes me oh, so happy!

Disclaimer: Nope, don't own Avatar: the last Airbender.


The boat was reaching land soon enough now; becoming so close that he could see the village and all the small tents and a few buildings that had once been built by the waterbenders, back in the day.

Hakoda breathed in deeply, taking in the crisp, ice shattering salt air of the south pole. As he exhaled, it was shaky and unsure.

"Is it right for me to come back now?" he whispered to himself, "It's been a while."

Five years actually. He had been gone five long years, travelling up to the northern water tribe and being welcomed with open arms. After he had been injured here by Caelan, with a wound that had left his pride and love behind here, he had started over in the north, building character and strength and everything a young man should have in his life. Or so he thought.

He sighed as he watched the village become closer and closer now. But why do I feel so empty after all these years. I'm a more skilled warrior than I could ever be. I've learned waterbending stances to help with my forms and even fought a few fights against the fire nation on a trip to the earth kingdom as a test. I can conquer anything….but…why?

He reached up and rubbed his chin, his beard covering a good portion of his face. Once he started training up in the north, he had decided that he needed to change something about his life. He had grown out his hair a bit….. about the length of his ears, and kept some facial hair. It made him feel older, and since he wasn't around people he knew anymore, he could have a clean start and try to forget his humiliating finish and failure at becoming the chief of the Southern Water Tribe.

"Stop thinking about it Hakoda," he told himself harshly, and grabbed the rails of the boat in front of him.

In no time at all, the boat had run up against the ice, and he and some other travelers helped pull the boat into the docking area. Once they were situated, Hakoda helped pull down the sails and fold them according to ritual. He knew he was wasting time, because he knew that he was incredibly nervous to come back to the place he had left for so long.

He went into the small cabin he shared with three other guys, and grabbed his things. He was the last traveler off the boat.

Stepping back on the crunchy snow after being on the sea for so long made him feel wobbly. But his training had taught him not to show emotion or what he was really feeling. Nobody would know he didn't have his land legs yet, and nobody would care. He wondered if anyone would even remember him.

Hakoda walked a few steps and stopped, just staring at the village. It was bare outside at this time of day, especially it being the coldest part of winter. His mind wandered off to where he would stay. He had briefly thought about it when he first decided to come back, but it hurt to think about it too much, so he just gave up and decided that he would find some way to stay somewhere.

He vaguely wondered if his fort was still intact. He would have to go check it out as a last resort if needed, but being twenty five now, he needed to face facts and grow up from this little village, something he had learned the hard way up in the north.

He closed his eyes and breathed in deeply, took a steady step and marched gracefully into the village.

The arch was still intact, and as he walked under it, he tilted his head back and stared at it, remembering how many times he would just stand here and look up at it when he was a child.

Hakoda smiled softly to himself, and shook his head. One single bead hung near his face, the one he had decided to start again after Bato had so wonderfully cut it off that one time, those five years ago.

He tugged his shoulder bag tighter, his old sword bouncing off his right leg. Walking through town again, almost seemed….. like…. Old times. Hakoda breathed again and walked through the village streets, looking for that oh so familiar childhood home of his.

Finally, upon reaching it, he stopped, hearing his footsteps crunch in the snow and become silent.

It's now or never, he urged his body forward.

He ducked through the tent flap, his height almost too tall for comfort. When he stepped in the main room, he shifted his eyes up from the floor, and looked straight ahead, seeing an older woman in the kitchen area, her back to him. His eyes smiled softly, and his mouth quirked up slightly.

The woman was humming to herself softly, moving around the small kitchen and cutting something.

Hakoda's heart was torn. How could I have ever left her? He closed his eyes sadly, and breathed heavily. I didn't mean to hurt you, I just needed to figure out my life, and become the man I was meant to be.

The humming stopped, and Hakoda's eyes opened instinctively.

She was staring straight at him, her eyes wide, mouth open slightly. The cloth she was carrying raw seal meat in fell from her fingertips and crashed to the floor with a plop. Hakoda swallowed nervously, and tried to smile.

She brought one hand up to her open mouth, slightly shaking her head back and forth, as if she couldn't believe it.

"H-Hakoda?" she asked quietly, her voice sunken and older.

He blinked and swallowed once again, trying to smile back at her happily, "H-hey ma," he started.

She interrupted him by moving as fast as she could and plowing into him. The only sound that was being made now was the cries that escaped from her lips as she cried happily into his parka.

"Oh Hakoda, Hakoda, my son," she sobbed, her voice catching in her throat.

Hakoda bit his lower lip to prevent himself from crying as well. Oh how good it felt to see his mother again. His arms were wrapped around her tightly as well, his eyes closed. It didn't matter now how much he had trained himself to control his emotion. All that mattered now was that he was home and his mother was welcoming him with open arms.

"Oh ma," he whispered into her dark hair, that was now tinted with a bit of grey, "I've missed you so much."

She sniffled and pulled away from him, her eyes filled with tears, and she shook her head again slowly. A small grin spread across her face and she raised a hand, reaching up to his face and cupping his cheek. "It doesn't matter Hakoda," she sniffed again, tears continuing to run down her face, "All that matters now is that you are home and well."

He laid his head on her hers, one single tear escaping his eye. "Thank you ma, you don't even know how much that means to me."

She closed her eyes. "You had more guts than I did at your age. I'm still wary at going back to visit my own tribe."

He patted her head, feeling like comforting her, "I know mom, I know. This is so very hard for me to be able to come back here. I'm just glad you're welcoming me back."

She hugged him once again, "Forever and ever Hakoda. For. Ever."


Hakoda sighed when putting his things in his old home. It was left as he remembered; untidy. He groaned. You would think that someone would pick this up after five years. Yeah, you Hakoda.

He mumbled something to himself and picked up some things that had fell over, and sat on his bed thoughtfully, rubbing his rough face.

"What do I do now?" he whispered to his tent, "What is my purpose of coming back here? What am I supposed to do now that I am here?"

Groaning again, he threw his hands up in the air and laid back on his bed covered in furs.

He sat straight up. He knew what he could do here in the village! He ran his hand through his hair quickly, making sure it wasn't sticking in all directions, and put half of it up in his traditional wolfs tail.

He walked purposefully outside, tying his sword to his hip once again, feeling as natural as ever. He would go and talk to Caelan. Chief Caelan. Hakoda stopped in his tracks.

"That's right," he growled angrily to himself, "He's the chief." Breathing out a heavy sigh, he didn't feel like going to see him anymore today.

What else can I do?

Hakoda wandered the streets, being careful which ones he chose. He tried to remember which ones were with disagreeable people and which were his friends. He walked by Bato in the market area, seeing him having cornered a girl, who looked maybe nineteen or twenty, and was leaning against the wall, talking to her. She shied away, holding her purchase closely, blushing furiously.

Hakoda took a double take. Bato? Flirting with a girl? Hakoda blinked his eyes and then grinned.

"That sly ol' Bato," he said to himself, and walked right by him. He would have to pay a visit to him later, once when he was alone.

Hakoda walked outside the village snow walls. He looked both left and right, and turned sharply right.

I guess I have time now to visit my fort, he thought, not knowing where else to go. He was completely bored, and wasn't sure if he should talk to anyone else. He was afraid the rest of the village wouldn't accept him as his mother had. Certain people. He shook his head and bit his lip, pushing those thoughts from his head.

Fifteen minutes later, he found this fort.

"Almost forgot where it was," he said to the wind, "How foolish of me." He grinned and found the flap tied tightly, just as he had left it. He knelt and untied it, opening it happily, ready to see the memories of his childhood. The good ones.

As soon as he opened it up and stepped in, he stopped. Inside was a girl, maybe twenty or so, sitting in the middle of the room, playing with something.

His breath left his chest and he struggled to gasp for breath and not even show it. His heart was beating wilder than it had ever been in five years. Not even when he was in the heat of battle had it been beating this fast.

The girl felt the presence of someone in the doorway, and shifted her head, a graceful smile lining her face. But as soon as she saw him, her smile faded and her face paled, her long loose brown hair waving around her, bringing out her features. Her cobalt blue eyes widened and her mouth fell open.

They stood there staring at each other for the longest time, until he finally broke the silence.

He choked on his word, "K-Kya?"

Why was Kya here! In his fort?

And why was there a child next to her sitting on the floor!