Chapter 4: A Mother's Love

Sorry about the long wait, I had tons of projects, finals, summer stuff. Well now it is back on in full swing, expect weekly updates.
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar.


Sokka came bounding into Aang's room, "guess what, airhead," Sokka yelled, then catching himself, he repeated in a more formal tone, "uh, I mean, I have news Avatar Aang."

"Sokka relax, we're friends, you can just call me Aang." Aang said pleasantly from his meditative position.

Sokka chuckled, "okay, thanks. Well anyway, I came to tell you that my mom wants to see you."

"okay… what about?" Aang questioned.

"I don't know, something about our cultures artifacts or crafts sounds like woman's work to me."

Aang sighed, not having the desire to question Sokka on exactly what he meant by 'woman's work.' It was a different culture and Aang considered it an honor to learn about any part of water tribe culture. Nevertheless, Aang was sure that Katara would have something to say about the condescending tone that Sokka used when he called it woman's work. At the thought of Katara, Aang smiled asking, "will Katara be there?"

Sokka smirked back at Aang, "three days and she's already got you wrapped around her finger."

Aang turned brick red at the accusation, "uh, uh, no she-"

"Save your breath lover-boy, Katara said something about waterbending training, which means she will be out on the tundra today.

"Ah," Aang replied, letting out a long breath, eyes darting to the side as his shoulders hunched slightly.

Sokka shrugged, he noticed how happy Katara was around Aang, but he doubted that this kid could really win his sister over. Many had tried, but they had all failed to entice much more than Katara's good-natured kindness or in Hahn's case her fury.

Sokka left Aang alone with his thoughts. Aang was a bit disappointed that he would not be able to see Katara again today. Still, he had spent the whole day with her yesterday and the point of this trip was not to socialize with the chief's daughter, but to learn the southern water tribe's culture so that he could fulfill his duties as Avatar. Despite Aang's efforts to put her out of his mind,\ thoughts of Katara were nonetheless\ drifting into his mind, her smile, her laugh, the way she carried herself with such strength, but he had to stay focused. Aang could not be thinking about his chances with this woman, she was a great friend and he had the rest of this life to sort out matters of the heart. Besides, most Avatars had gotten married in their late twenties or early thirties, mainly because it took that long to become fully realized Avatars. What did it mean for him to have finished so early?

With a long sigh, Aang rose from his meditative position and put on his heavy robes for the day. Aang strode into the hall wondering what it was that Kya would want to teach him today about water tribe culture, which was a topic that Aang was excited to learn more about. This would probably be a lot more fun than hunting had been a few days ago. Just as he swallowed the bile coming up in his throat at the memory of the fishing trip, he bumped into a distracted Katara.

"Oh, sorry Aang," Katara cried, her hands grabbing his shoulder's to steady herself, "I didn't see you, are you okay?"

Aang turned red, "that's okay Katara," smiling his lopsided smile, "I didn't see you either."

"Oh okay, "Katara smiled, "Sokka told you I'm going out to practice with the waterbenders out on the ice today?"

"Uh, he mentioned it, sounds like a lot of fun, any chance can I come later"

"No, sorry Aang," Katara played with her hair, "my mom said you would be learning about an ancient water tribe art form of jewelry making and she said that it would take all day."

"Oh, okay." Aang replied hanging his head.

Katara crossed her hands over her chest, "What, is it too 'womanly' for you. Ugh, Sokka said you would act this way."

"No no, it's nothing like that," Aang cried, waving his hands in front of his face, "I love jewelry making, I did it all the time at the temple." Aang forced a weak smile.

Katara gave him an apologetic smile, "then what is it? You can talk to me." Katara put a hand on Aang's shoulder.

Aang blushed deeper than he had blushed before, "I… I uh sorta kinda maybe wanted to go with you… I mean I really like waterbending…" Aang's hand made its way to the back of his head a cheesy smile on his face.

"Aww that's sweet," Katara got up on her tiptoes and kissed Aang on the cheek. "But you still have stay here." Katara smiled. "I'll be back before dark, bye Aang."

"See uh, see you Katara," Aang replied stuttering.

Katara gave Aang one last warm glace before heading down the hall, into the common room, and out the door.

Aang let out the breath that he forgot he was holding and stood nonplused in the middle of the hallway. He stood there for a moment until he heard Kya call from the common room, "I think you've stood in that hallway long enough Avatar."

"Coming," Aang called as he walked into the common room.

Kya gave him a warm motherly smile as he entered the room. Aang was surprised to find that room had been transformed from its usual tidiness to many piles of beads, stones, leather strings, bones, teeth, and other assorted animal by-products. Aang turned a little green at the assemblage then swallowed it down; these animals were long since dead and bared little resemblance to their living forms. Much like the tapestries in the Northern Water tribe, if he did not think about it he could grin and bear it, just think about it as flowers, animal flowers.

Kya gave the troubled Avatar a concerned look, "In the water tribe we respect life by using all the parts of the animals we hunt. The men of the tribe may think only of the usefulness of meat and bone weapons, but the women know better, we know that beauty can come out of death too."

That struck a chord in Aang. "Beauty in death" Aang repeated, "Yeah, the monks talked about how all life has a sacred beauty, I guess creatures can be beautiful in death too."

Kya's smile widened, she gave the airbender a nod, "yes, that's the spirit Aang."

Aang returned the smile, "I guess as the Avatar I will need to learn to understand many philosophies including my own." Aang bowed respectfully, "I would be honored to learn this jewelry making from you, Lady Kya."

"Oh shush with the formalities Aang, in the water tribe we're family remember."

"Oh right, sure, I'll keep working on that." Aang apologized. Looking down and taking a deep breath.

"It's a hard habit to drop after getting it ingrained in your head for this past year. My son is still trying to find that balance."

Aang approached and sat down in front of Kya, "Yeah, he couldn't decide whether to call me Aang or Avatar this morning."

Kya sighed, "Oh, he'll warm up to you eventually; he's under a lot of pressure from his father to become the next chief. It makes him too serious."

"Yeah, he was pretty grumpy on that boat trip two days ago." Aang volunteered.

"I heard about that one, I heard there weren't enough walrus-whales to hunt, he still hasn't been able to make a big kill and he blames himself for it."

"Ah, I see. So, what's this whole waterbending trip Katara is going on?" Aang asked, perhaps a little too expectantly.

Kya gave him a smirk, "I was wondering when you'd ask about her, oh, the waterbenders are training to be the entertainment for the feast, you'll be the guest of honor, so all you have to sit and enjoy the show."

Aang blushed, "uh, right."

Kya looked both ways to check if anyone was around and whispered, "Let me give you some advice, dear. As you know, there is a dance after the ceremony, but Katara will be tired afterwards, so if you want to have her dance with you are going to have to be persistent. I know how you air nomads are shy folk and give up with any resistance." Kya smiled knowingly as Aang squirmed.

"Uh, thanks Kya."

"Well enough chatter, we have some jewelry to make, hmm, shall we start easy or practical?"

Aang eyed her, asking, "What do you mean practical."

"Well, what use is making jewelry if nobody wears it, you may not be as… uh masculine as water tribe men like to think of themselves, but I doubt you will wear any of this." Kya teased.

"What, I'm masculine." Aang argued, clenching his teeth.

Kya giggled, "I know, but unlike Sokka you don't let it go to your head. You are more like my husband, confidant, but not overinflated."

"Thanks."

"You already know how to make necklaces, how about you carve some pendants, we will start with a water tribe insignia."

Aang nodded and grabbed a whale tooth knife to care into the collection of smooth blue stones assorted in front of them.


Sokka and Hakoda made their way to a small tent outside the village. This tent was propped up against a large boulder to provided shelter from the merciless southern winds. On multi-day huts, the hunters would use these tents as shelter as they stalked their prey over miles of frozen tundra., but today it was just a private place to talk away from the feast planning that Bato and Yue were overseeing. The Hakoda grabbed a hold of the flap of the tent and ushered Sokka in. The two of them sat on either side of the fire pit that was the center piece of the tent area and sett aside the day's rations of seal jerky and blubber.

"Dad, did you hear that mom is teaching Avatar Aang jewelry making?" Sokka grinned, "Is he one of those fancy monks we keep hearing about?"

Hakoda shrugged, "and what if he is?" Sokka's grin dropped. "I know some of the hunters have been talking to you about that and you shouldn't listen to them."

"huh."

"There is nothing wrong with being 'fancy' as you call it. Sokka, there is more to being a man than hunting and fighting." Hakoda explained.

"But, some of the other hunters said that…"

"Ignore them Sokka, they think with their muscles, but you are better than that, you've got your head screwed on straight so act like it."

Sokka nodded, "sorry dad."

Hakoda smiled at his son, "it's okay Sokka, with time you will learn that everyone has different ways of acting in the world than you or me. A good leader will understand all people regardless of their different customs and lifestyles."

Sokka gave his father a confused look, "But, what about how when Katara got Pakku to train her, that wasn't respectful of the Northern Water Tribe's waterbending customs?"

"Son, sometimes we need to change our own culture when the old ways no longer fit. There will come a time when there will be no difference between the jobs of men and women within our tribe."

"But I thought that men were always the fighters and women always cooked?"

Hakoda laughed, "If you would have read Katara's books you would realize that between the Earth Kingdom and the South Pole there is an island where only the women are fighters."

Sokka gave his father a shocked face, "really."

"Yes, indeed there is."

"Wow, but I bet I could take them."

Hakoda smiled, "You'd be surprised what those warriors are capable of. When I was your age, foolish and naive I thought I would challenge them and I was beaten."

"Really, but you are the strongest warrior I know dad."

"A true warrior does not lie on their own strength," Hakoda flexed then pointed to Sokka's head. "But the weakness of their opponent, I learned that lesson the hard way that day."

"Okay, but what does this all have to do with why Aang has to learn jewelry making?" Sokka asked, giving off a goofy smile while gesturing at his neck, lulling his tongue out.

"As the Avatar, Aang will need to learn all customs regardless of whether the Avatar is a man or a woman."

"Oh, I guess that makes sense… so makes Aang a manwoman? Am I right?" Sokka joked.

Hakoda shook head, "son, you need to work on your humor. Besides the way that boy looks at Katara I doubt he's any different a man than you or me."

"Yeah, I've noticed that too, but Katara's not interested in him," Sokka explained, waving his hand dismisivly.

Hakoda looked forward, staring at a hole in the tent, "I don't know what my daughter wants, she was supposed to marry Hahn, but whenever I try to bring it up she changes the subject."

Sokka's mouth closed, remembering his promise not to say anything to his father about Hahn.

Hakoda did not notice it, but changed the subject. "So are you prepared to speak for the feast in a few days?"

"Well I got this whole speech written out," Sokka produced a large scroll with chicken scratch written all over it. "I need to learn how to do speeches if I'm going to be chief some day."

"Son, you have to relax. Being chief is a large reasonability, but you will do fine."

Sokka sighed, "I know dad, but I always feel like I need to be strong."

Hakoda smiled, down at his son. "Sokka, true strength is not measured in how you present yourself, but what is inside, and inside you burns a proud warrior's heart."

Sokka let his head drop, "but I don't know if I can do it."

"You can do it, I know you can, just drop that fake formality, let it come organically."

Sokka looked abashed, "what fake formality?"

"The way you always bristle when people approach, like when you called Aang the Avatar this morning. You need to learn when it's okay to drop the act; you need to just be yourself."

Sokka dropped his head, "I don't know how to be me, my whole life I've looked up to you and tried to be you, serious and brave."

Hakoda tried to smile, but guilt clouded his features, "I know I haven't always been there for you, things have been tense in the world ever since the last Avatar died, the Fire Nation has over hunted the walrus-whales and stonewalling any attempts at brokering an agreement. I haven't been around enough and I know that."

"It's okay Dad, I know that you have responsibility, I just feel like I need to be brave all the time, but I still feel weak."

"You are anything but weak son, you just need to find your strength within you."

"Thanks Dad, I'll try to find my seal jerky strength" Sokka replied, grabbing a piece of seal jerky and eating it whole for good measure.

"Just keep making jokes like that and you'll do fine." Hakoda patted his son's back.


"There, how does this one look," Aang presented a stone carving with a mix of air and water symbols on it.

"Well that looks beautiful, dear," Kya commented holding the pendant in her hand. "I'm sure any girl would love this as a gift."

"But isn't that an engagement necklace?" Aang questioned.

Kya fingered the pendant, "well no, this stone may be blue, it's nothing compared to the special blue stones that are found in remote caves around the poles. If you hold this close to the light you can see it doesn't reflect compared to this one." Kya untied her own necklace Hakoda had made for her after passing her old one down to Katara to take with her to the North Pole.

"Oh, I see," Aang murmured, admiring the difference in the stones.

"Have you ever thought of marriage?" Kya asked.

"Oh, no, well, yes I mean," Aang blushed remembering back to the thoughts he had had this very morning.

"Sorry dear, I didn't mean to embarrass you, it's just that you are of marrying age and I didn't know if there was a young woman waiting for you back at the temples."

"No, to be honest I've never thought of anyone like that back at the temples," Aang explained.

"Back at the temples," Kya repeated, a knowing smile playing across her lips. "Well Katara speaks so much about past Avatars, how they often got married the same year they became a fully realized Avatar, well at least that's what Avatar Roku did."

"Well, that's true, Avatar Roku did tell me about that, even Kuruk and Kyoshi fell in love, though I don't think Yangchen ever did." Aang wondered aloud.

Kya smiled, "I didn't mean to worry you dear." Kya insisted, "I just wanted you to think about the significance of carving symbols such as this." Kya gestured at the mixture of air and water on the small pendant. "I'm sure that would make a sweet token nonetheless."

Aang blushed slightly, "yeah, maybe I'll make it into a bracelet."

"Well then what are we waiting for."


Katara walked out into the tundra to a large ice flow with her fellow waterbenders. They spun water around and around, changing it to ice, steam, and then back into water again. Faster and faster, they looped the water, separating the bubbles of water and joining them back together. They weaved them between each other, letting the water go as another bender took control of it. Katara felt the push and pull of the water, bended it to her will, felt the exhilaration that bending always gave her. She felt so alive while she bent water, so free and fluid, as if nothing could ever conquer her, no one could ever claim her as a prize. No one could! At the thought of Hahn Katara let out a yell, turning this water into ice spikes and shooting them down into the ground right in front of her. The other benders froze, not sure what to make of her actions.

"Are you alright, Master Katara," A middle-aged bender called Aklaq asked, letting his own bubble of waterfall.

"Uh, oh sorry, I lost control."

Aklaq nodded, "I think that is enough practicing for today."

Katara agreed, "Yes, thank you."

As Katara started to make her way the village Aklaq whispered to the other benders be quiet about this, he would tell Hakoda.


The waterbenders arrived in the village at the same time that Hakoda and Sokka did, Katara gave her dad a quick hug and said that she was tired before making her way into the village. Hakoda looked on at the retreating back of his daughter, shaking his head, remembering his conversation with Sokka.

"Chief Hakoda, I have to speak to you about Master Katara, privately," Aklaq whispered.

Hakoda nodded and led Aklaq to the ceremonial hut while the other waterbenders silently returned to their homes.

"Dad, can I come too?" Sokka asked.

"No Sokka, go see to your sister." Hakoda grunted.

Sokka nodded and left to go inside the family hut.

Hakoda and Aklaq entered the ceremonial hut, the largest building in the whole south pole reserved for feasts and religious ceremonies almost nobody went in it otherwise so it made a good place to have a private talk. Bato had done a good job setting up for the feast that morning, but evening was approaching and all the workers had gone home for the evening to be with their families.

"Friend, it's about Katara isn't it." Hakoda stated flatly.

"Yes chief, during the practice she turned her water into ice spikes and threw them down on the ground." Aklaq answered, throwing his hands up in the air.

"But why?" Hakoda asked stroking his beard.

"She always bends like that when she is angry; perhaps it is the Avatar's appearance that is upsetting her."

Hakoda sighed, "No, she is fond of the boy."

"Wait, but about her betrothed?"

Hakoda stiffened, "Hahn? She does seem agitated whenever his name is mentioned and she will not speak at all about the North Pole besides her training with Master Paku."

Aklaq looked concerned, "Chief, we've been friends for years; you, Bato, and me have gotten into so much trouble together."

"Yes, and I've come to trust your judgment Aklaq, speak plainly."

"Hakoda, have you ever thought that she is not happy with the arrangement of her marriage?"

The words hit Hakoda like a stone, how had he been so blind, why else would she put up her walls. He remembered his own arranged marriage to Kya, how stubborn and bull headed she had been, similar to how Katara was acting now, but much worse. He had slowly won Kya over with his charm and trustworthy nature, but maybe Hahn had failed to do this. "But she is nineteen, how will I find a suitable suitor?"

"A girl like Katara is not meant to marry any Water Tribe man, she is too free willed. Perhaps look to another nation," Aklaq reasoned, putting his arms wide while biting his lip.

"What, Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation, an Earth Kingdom noble. I won't have my Katara marrying someone who can't take care of her," Hakoda's voice rose as his hands fisted.

"I don't know any of those people of whom you speak, but I know someone who does, The Avatar."

"Right, I'll ask for the Avatar's judgment after the feast."

I hope I'm not turning Kya into Mrs. Bennet. *shutters* Sorry if this chapter is not very good. I mainly wanted this to be a break in the Kataang action so I could focus on other relationships, explore my reimagining of Sokka (who is sexist again). Sorry if Sokka is OOC, I'm not good at writing him. In case you are getting curious about this feast I keep mentioning. It will be chapter 7.