Departing

He watched as Aang cautiously circled him, hands raised for bending.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" he questioned, stopping. "Because Luri said that-"

"The same thing any other healer would say. No disrespect to her; but my fighting days aren't over yet. Now come on." Sokka held the sword with his right hand, his other arm limp at his side in a sling.

"Alright," Aang launched forward, coming upon Sokka in an instant.

Sokka brought his sword up, but Aang quickly dodged the attack, sliding behind him and tripping him.

The swordsman pushed to his knees, anger coloring his face. "You didn't have to do that."

"You wanted me to!" Aang protested, extending a hand.

Sokka swung his sword back around, using the flat side to his friend on the shoulder. He stumbled to the side, clutching at his bruised arm. "Hey!"

"You don't help your enemies up do you?" Sokka smirked, throwing his weapon forward again. This time Aang dodged it, airbending himself upwards.

Sokka glared up at him as he hovered momentarily. "How am I-?"

"You'll have to learn how to fight a bender." Aang slipped back to the ground, landing a few feet away.

The two stood silent for a moment, each waiting for the other to move. Finally Aang took his turn, sending a blast of air forward without easing up.

Sokka thrust his sword into the ground, holding onto his tightly as the wind tore at him. When it had passed he brought his blade back up, running forward with it skimming the ground.

He slashed out; missed. Attempted again and received the same result.

"Come on Sokka!" Aang yelled, ducking to dodge a blow. "I'm not even trying!"

It was surprising that he was talking like this, but Sokka was glad of it. He needed the insults to get himself in shape.

"I've seen better from the swamp benders!"

Sokka didn't begin to explain how little sense that made, instead he brought his sword down hard, smacking Aang in the leg with the flat part again.

This time the avatar dropped to one knee, griping over his second bruise. When he looked up again, Sokka had his sword to his neck.

"Satisfied?"

Aang nodded with a smile, pulling to his feet. "Just don't let Luri know, she'll kill you."

Sokka wasn't paying much attention; instead he was glancing over Aang's shoulder. "I don't think I'm the problem. Just make sure your girlfriend there doesn't tell." He nodded, causing Aang to spin around, blushing.

Zuli stood at the end of the clearing, holding a basket of clothing. "I was just… going to the river to wash some clothes." She turned to leave face also bright red.

"Need some help?" the avatar offered. The girl smiled and nodded; so the two were off toward the river.

Sokka started back through the trees toward the village, sheathing his sword. He could still fight; just not as well as before.

Once back at the village, he quickly made his way back to his hut, unlatching his belt, ready to put the weapon safely next to his bed, as if it'd never left.

He pushed the door open; dropping the sword to the ground. "Luri! You… startled me." He picked the item back up. He knew he looked like a child caught in the act of stealing; with his head bent low and cowering under he old gray eyes.

"I see you went training." She said with an observing tone, though there was anger and something else. What else? "I told you not to do that."

He remained silent a moment, lifting his head. "But Luri-"

"How did you do?"

He stared at her questioningly, but smiled a bit. "I beat Aang. Actually, I don't think I could ever beat Aang, but I got him to his knees."

She nodded and to his surprise it was an approving nod. "Then I misjudged your will to fight Master Sokka. You still can and I believe you always will, even when you're old and wrinkled like me." She laughed at that, rising from her chair across the room. "Zuli has spoken to me about this girl you spoke of. Toph. I only assume she is the Toph, who disappeared years ago. I think its time you visit her."

His eyes widened at the realization. The pure joy of leaving the village, but at the same time; he was sad to depart from these people, whom nursed him back to health. Who were growing closer and closer to being almost like family.

He would miss them.

He stayed for week, then another; deciding it was better to become skilled at using one arm while keeping the other safely bound at his side. He also needed to learn how hunt with but one hand.

He was becoming fonder and fonder of this village, which told him, one evening; it was time to leave.

He brought Aang away from he village and away fro Zuli, whom he'd spent the past two weeks with. Not one second went by without the two being together. And whether they realized it or not, it was going to be extremely hard for Aang to leave. That was why he was going to break the news to him early.

They'd neared the river, where some of the women were returning from their day's worth of washing clothes. Once they'd passed Sokka turned to face Aang. "Its time we leave Aang."

The Avatar's eyes were full of sorrow. He nodded. "When?"

"Tomorrow."

He looked extremely upset about this as he turned to leave. But it was better to leave now then later; when he and Zuli would be even fonder of each other.

Sokka sighed, lifting his gaze to the dusk sky above. "Spirits forgive me for taking him away from this. From his happiness." Then he turned and took the same path his friend had moments before.

"Sokka," Luri stepped out of the crowd of people, holding a leaf bound bundle.

Sokka slid off of Appa; having just tossed his bag in. "Yes?"

"These herbs with help your arm if it were to start hurting. Just don't take too much at a time," the elderly woman smiled. "We've also prepared a couple meals for you." She signaled to the crowd, in which a small child came from, holding a large bag of food that was too heavy for him to bear.

Sokka picked it up easily, running his hand over the boys head affectionately as he ran off to hide in his mother's skirts.

"Your village has been too kind to me," he began, but found his voice cracking. "Thank you."

The healer only nodded, smiling at him like she'd never done before. She no longer was that snappy old woman who bossed you around. He realized how much a person could really be beneath everything. Was there someone else inside him? Someone that wasn't a monster?

"Its time Aang," he called, turning away before he had second thoughts of leaving.

The avatar had been standing off to the side, speaking quietly and hurriedly with Zuli. He had been holding her hand, but as he started forward, he let go.

"Sokka," he approached cautiously. "You said you needed to take this journey alone. I didn't understand at first, but now I do. And I think I've found my place for the moment."

Sokka stared down at his friend blankly for a moment, then smiled softly and sighed. "I think you're right." He managed to climb back onto Appa taking his pack back out and sliding back to the ground. "I think you have found your place." He embraced the Avatar tightly, feeling that sorrow clutching at his heart again. "I'd better be out of here," he pulled away.

"Yeah, before you cry." Aang smiled that same goofy smile; then retreated back to his place next to Zuli.

Sokka began his long trek towards the woods; waving goodbye with his only useful arm. He didn't know if he'd ever return, or if he did; when. But that didn't matter at the moment. What mattered was that he was on his way to Toph. That was, of course, after he confronted the one man he should have weeks before. The man that took away something Sokka had cherished.