Author's Note:
Hello everyone and welcome to another chapter. This one isn't set in a particular episode but it does have an extensive mention of the episode 'The Deserter'. Thank you everyone for your continued support (especially since the review system seems to finally be working again) and I hope you enjoy the chapter.
I own nothing.
Spirit in the Night
Sokka sat awake by the fire thinking about a lot of things.
Ever since they'd parted ways with Bato they'd pushed on with their journey, now they had a deadline of the end of summer they were wanting Aang to start learning waterbending as soon as possible. The waterbending scroll Katara had stolen from the pirates had been very helpful, however it could only teach so much and both Aang and Katara had gotten a handle on most of the moves it showed, they needed a proper master. Sokka also had his own personal reasons for getting to the Northern Water Tribe as soon as possible that he kept quiet from the other two, they believed he was eager to learn from the northern warriors, and he was, but he also had a hunch that he might learn something about the beast there.
He had noticed a long time ago that his burden was somehow connected to the moon, a full moon always seemed to put the beast at ease and whenever it graced the sky he could feel it touching something inside him. Katara's waterbending seemed to get stronger whenever the moon was out or full and he remembered how Gran-Gran would say that the Water Tribes were connected to the moon. If the beast had connections to the moon then someone in the Northern Tribe might know more, as far as they knew the Northern Tribe had lasted against the Fire Nation better than the Southern Tribe. They had many waterbenders and other masters that could hold the knowledge he wanted so it was his best chance at the moment, and Jeong Jeong seemed to agree with him.
In all honesty, Sokka would admit that he thought the guy was crazy and untrustworthy, he may have deserted the Fire Nation military but he was still a firebender and Sokka had not seen any reason to believe that firebending was a good thing. All he'd ever seen it used for was death and destruction and the evidence of that use had been obvious on their journey, firebenders were the reason Hei-bai had become angry and started attacking that village, firebenders were the ones who decimated their home with the regular raids and taken his mother away and firebenders were the people who terrorised those they'd conquered. As far as he was concerned, the world was better off without firebending.
But Jeong Jeong made him rethink that idea a little, he also seemed to know far more than he let on.
The deserter had largely been training Aang but in the times he left the boy for long periods he'd shown an interest in Sokka. They didn't speak with each other at first (though the man did call him an oaf at one point) but Sokka knew that the master was watching him even as he continued to train Aang, it wasn't until later that they actually engaged in conversation.
Sokka had been using the rest they were getting to do some fishing, it was a task he didn't really have time for normally because they were constantly on the move but it was one he enjoyed. It was his equivalent of meditation in that he would think a lot while he fished and he'd found his thoughts drifting onto the words the old man had said during the whole Jet debacle.
You're not alone.
It had to mean that there was another, or others, with his curse, but how had the old man known it was him? He couldn't shake the feeling that the man had not just recognised the beast, but that he'd been the one the beast lurked inside. It confused him but he'd found nothing since then that supplied any answers or indicated that there was another like him.
Sokka sensed someone nearby and he turned his head to see Jeong Jeong standing on the bank staring at him, it wasn't a hard or suspicious stare but more like one of intense interest, Sokka stared uncomfortably back until the man finally spoke, "You bear a great burden young one."
It wasn't a question or an accusation, it was a simple statement and Sokka wasn't sure how or if he was to respond.
Jeong Jeong looked away from him and out over the river, "Many believe that the four elements are what drive this world but they forget that there are other forces that also help maintain balance."
"Like the spirits?"
The man nodded at Sokka's tentative question, "Yes, but they work with other forces in order to mark the world." Jeong Jeong kept his intense gaze upon the horizon, "Many times the spirits have done great things, both good and evil, in the world, however these things have only occurred due to the decisions and wills of others. Nature has forces that continue to act regardless of what those within the world do, seasons will always change, day will always become night and life will always continue. The creatures of the world do not have faith in spirits nor spend time in deep meditations on the natural laws of the world, yet they still obey those laws and continue to live within their boundaries, it is their instinct and a part of their very being. Everything is born with strengths and weaknesses, skills and flaws, and to deny those is to deny existence. No one chooses to be what they are born to be, a firebender will always be a firebender, a waterbender will always be a waterbender and denying what they are will not change that, all they can change is what they do with what nature gives them."
He turned back to Sokka, "Remember this as you look for your answers and do not lose sight of who you are." He turned and began to walk away but he left one more parting phrase, "The legend of Amaruq has long been told in the Northern Water Tribe."
That was all Jeong Jeong said to him but Sokka was certain that the man knew about his burden and had given him a hint. Why he'd not been any clearer Sokka didn't know but it was the only real lead he had to finding some answers, as such he wanted to reach the Northern Water Tribe so he could look into this 'legend of Amaruq', it might tell him more about his curse and maybe how to deal with it.
Looking inwards he found the beast to be quite content for the moment, likely because it had been let out quite recently, and he wondered about it. Why did he have it? Where had it come from? These questions had crossed his mind many times before but he still couldn't answer them, until he got to the North Pole he could only guess at such things.
There was a soft rustling sound and Sokka stood up and looked towards the dark forest that surrounded their camp.
From out of the trees stepped a large wolf that stood and gazed at him, Sokka instinctively went into a defensive stance, boomerang held ready, but the wolf made no move to come any closer. For ages the two of them simply stared at each other until Sokka slowly sheathed his weapon and relaxed his stance. It was a gut decision but he was certain that their night time visitor wasn't an actual wolf, rather it was a spirit wolf and he was willing to bet it was here for him. The wolf inclined its head before turning and heading back into the trees, it stopped and looked back and Sokka realised it wanted him to follow it.
A part of him wanted to wake up the sleeping Aang and Katara before doing anything but he was sure that whatever this spirit was here for it was for him only, it may give him more clues as to his curse if he followed it. The wolf gestured with its head and silently Sokka followed, leaving the others behind.
The forest was unusually quiet and still as if in respect for its spiritual guest and Sokka felt slightly unnerved by it. His guide was equally silent and the fact it could move with no noise whatsoever convinced the teen even more that it was a spirit. Onward it lead him through the trees and Sokka became slightly concerned he wouldn't be able to find his way back to the camp, regardless he kept following the wolf and slowly he noticed a change in the forest.
The trees were becoming larger and more ancient and Sokka was beginning to feel an odd, almost spiritual energy around him. It felt strangely raw as if it was more primitive than the spiritual feel to the inner sanctum of the Air Temple, there was something untamed about it that brought excited energy to him rather than the content peace Aang always said he got from meditation. It made him want to run and leap, to expend physical power purely for the fun of using it, to sprint through the forest on some great chase or hunt, blood pounding and pulse racing as you charged after whatever it was you were trying to catch. It surged his senses, making him far more aware of his surroundings than he usually was and scents flooded his nose telling him far more about the forest around him than any human could discover themselves.
In the heart of this great wood, the wolf came to a stop before a mighty statue.
It had been carved from a stone that stood in the centre of an old clearing and it towered over him. It was clearly a werewolf and it stood proudly upon its hind legs, its front paws held out to the sides in a pose that exuded power and strength. Strangely enough the face had not been carved into a snarl or a howl as Sokka expected, instead it was displaying a confident, friendly smile, the kind you would find upon a statue or picture of a noble hero. It projected an aura not of ferocity or savagery but of safety and trust, like you could rely upon the creature to defend you against all odds. It stood upon a round pedestal and the teen could see that a large circle had been carved around the werewolf's paws. In the centre of the circle was another carving that looked sort of like some kind of fish but he couldn't tell for certain. Writing was carved around the base but he couldn't read it, he looked towards the spirit wolf in askance but it had completely disappeared. He glanced around the clearing and but couldn't find the wolf anywhere, looking back to the statue he found himself instead facing a fire and that the clearing had disappeared as well.
Somehow he'd ended up back at the camp, where Katara and Aang still slept, right next to the fire.
He sat in his original position feeling more confused than ever, why had the wolf shown him that statue? What did it mean? He'd hoped to get at least one answer tonight but instead he had more questions. He contemplated trying to find the statue again but something told him he'd never manage it if he tried.
He sighed in frustration and looked up at the starlit sky, perhaps he would find something at the Northern Water Tribe.
PS-So more mystery and we'll be at the Northern Water Tribe next. Please let me know what you thought and I'll hopefully update soon.
