Chapter 3: Conversations

Eager as Aang and Sokka were to search for Katara, they both knew there were several things they had to do beforehand.

First, and easiest, was having Sokka's wrist looked at by a healer. After he had coaxed Aang out of the Avatar State, he had become much more aware of the throbbing pain in his wrist. Trying to move it, he found that he wasn't able to move it well, and that even trying to turn it resulted in the pain intensifying…it was probably broken. The healers, of course, were overloaded with people wounded in the battle and the situation had not been helped by the chaos Aang had caused in the Avatar State. Thankfully, only a few people had been hurt before Sokka had calmed Aang down, and Sokka's broken wrist was the worst of those injuries. Sokka found a healer who was slightly less busy than the others. After waiting while she dealt with other people's injuries, Sokka entered the hut and the healer quickly set to work on healing his wrist. She spent a few minutes using her waterbending to heal him, and then wrapped his wrist. Sokka's thoughts drifted numbly around the events of the past few days as the cool water soothed the pain in his wrist.

The healer removed the water from his wrist and eyes it critically before giving a short nod. "I'm sorry I can't do more," the young healer told him. "But there are a lot of others who are injured worse, and I need to help them. Still, your wrist is much better than it was. Try not to move it for the next couple days…it should finish healing on its own within the next week or so." The young healer stood there for a moment, waiting for Sokka to respond, to let her know if anything else was hurt. During those brief seconds, Sokka unwillingly noticed that she had a slight resemblance to Katara. Her eyes were a bit paler, her hair a bit darker, her face a slight bit narrower, but the resemblance was enough to make Sokka's heart hurt. The healer even had the same hair loopies.

"Thank you," Sokka said, before quickly getting up and leaving the healer behind. He returned to Aang, who, upon seeing Sokka's wrist wrapped, apologized yet again for causing the injury. Sokka assured Aang that it was fine, that it really wasn't Aang's fault, and that he didn't need to apologize.

"You saw me beating that guy up," Sokka pointed out. "If I were the Avatar, I'd have gone into the Avatar State, too." Aang still looked guilty, but Sokka gave his shoulder a firm squeeze and told him once again, "It's okay. You don't have to apologize."

They left the healers and went to the palace. The second thing they had to do before looking for Katara would be much harder. It was what Sokka had been dreading all morning: telling Chief Arnook about Yue. With each step Sokka's heart beat faster and faster, and Sokka almost felt faint. He thought of different scenarios, trying to think of the best way to say it…

Yue is dead.

There was no good way to say it.

Sokka almost wondered if he could just turn around, take Aang, and leave the city without facing Arnook. He even thought about justifications. Katara is missing, but she could be alive…each moment she's out there alone, her chances of survival dwindle…we have to find her NOW, this is pointless anyways…

But each time Sokka considered that, Aang would be there, offering his support and reminding how you can't run away from your duties. Sokka was supposed to protect Yue. And since he couldn't bring Arnook's daughter back to him, he had to tell him how it happened. Besides, Yue had told him to give her father her betrothal necklace, and Sokka couldn't possibly deny her that.

Aang and Sokka finally found Chief Arnook speaking with Master Pakku on the balcony which overlooked the city. As the two boys stepped onto the balcony, the chief and the waterbending master stopped speaking and turned to face the newcomers. Both of the men's faces were grim and Chief Arnook looked older than he had a few days before. Master Pakku walked away, leaving Chief Arnook alone at the railing of the balcony. Sokka took a breath. He had to do this.

Aang gripped his hand, offering his strength. "Do you want me to help tell him?"

Sokka let out a breath, the shook his head. "No. Thanks, Aang, but…this is something I've got to do alone." Stepping forward, Sokka reminded himself that Aang was not far away. He was still there, and Sokka drew some strength from that. But he wished that Katara was there, too.

Chief Arnook looked at Sokka, eyes somewhat downcast. The chief looked weary…and Sokka knew that it wasn't just from the battle.

He knew.

Sokka looked down to the ground, and got on his knees. "I'm sorry, Chief Arnook. You told me to protect Yue…but I failed. She's gone. I'm so sorry, but she's gone." The chief put his hand on Sokka's shoulder, urging him to stand up.

The two of them stood there for a moment. Before the chief looked away, looking to the sky. "The Moon Spirit," he said simply. Sokka nodded. "Tell me exactly what happened."

So Sokka told him.

Aang hung back with Master Pakku as Sokka spoke to Chief Arnook. Aang watched as he got to his knees and apologized, and as he rose and began to tell Chief Arnook what had happened. This day must be really bad for Sokka, he thought. They had both lost Katara, but Sokka had also lost the girl he loved. Two people in one day. Aang thought back to when they had visited the Southern Air Temple. He'd been devastated…seeing it empty, seeing Gyatso…realizing that he really was the last airbender…it had all been so horrible. It was the first time he'd gone into the Avatar State without his life being in danger. Katara had pulled him out of it, offering herself and Sokka as his new family.

And now he and Sokka had lost Katara. He needs me, Aang realized. Like I need him. If Katara is out there, we'll find her…and if she isn't…

"I'm still with you."

They would still have each other, but it would never be the same without Katara.

It seemed that he wasn't the only one with Katara on his mind.

"I'm sorry about what happened to Katara," Master Pakku said, softer that he ever usually was. Aang looked up at the old waterbending master; Pakku looked weary in his own grief. "If I had known that she−that any of our own−was out there, I'd have immediately called off the attack." He scowled. "Kylatok and Nokoda should have stopped the attack as soon as they saw her. I don't know if this comforts you at all, but they will be brought to trial for this. They will probably be banished; the Water Tribes take any form of betrayal very seriously. Though, truth be told, I found Kylatok's broken nose to be pretty satisfying as well."

They were both silent for a moment. "Sokka thinks it's possible that Katara could be alive. We're going to look for her."

"It's possible," Pakku granted. "But not very likely. The wave was as powerful as we could make it, and we intentionally left parts of the city frozen. Katara would have been very lucky to have survived it." The old master stopped and shook his head. "I do hope that Katara has survived. And I hope that we can find her. Yes, we…I will take as many other tribesman as I can and help you look for her. She was the best student I've ever had. She was so eager to learn, so focused. She was talented and ferocious in a way that few waterbenders are." Pakku stopped for a moment. "In truth, she was special beyond her waterbending abilities. She challenged me, challenged my tribe's customs. She fought me, a master waterbender, in order to prove herself, to fight for what she believed to be right—even if it contradicted centuries of tradition. The world needs more people like her. People willing to challenge what is known. People willing to leave everything they've known to help restore balance to the world." He stopped, and looked at Aang. "Her destiny was tied to yours. Hopefully, that means it's not over yet. Just don't rest your hopes on finding her. The disappointment would only be worse."

"So…what now?"

"I'll continue to train you while you're here. But I do believe you have a deadline for mastering the other elements?"

Aang nodded. "Sozin's Comet. It returns this summer."

"Then you will have to move on and find other masters. Do you have any ideas for an earthbending master?"

Aang nodded vigorously. "King Bumi of Omashu! He was actually around before I got stuck in the iceberg a hundred years ago. He's the greatest earthbender I've ever seen, and he's also one of my best friends."

"He's also a great player of Pai Sho."

Aang blinked. "You know him?"

"We've met."

Aang smiled. As bad as things were, he was looking forward to seeing his old friend again. And, hopefully, by the time he and Sokka went to Omashu, they would have Katara with them again.

Sokka told Chief Arnook everything that had happened, every moment that had led up to Yue's death. He told the chief how his daughter had wanted Sokka to give him her betrothal necklace, and did so. He told him how her body had disappeared, and then briefly reappeared as the new Moon Spirit. For a few moments, they stood there, staring out at the sky, knowing that the girl they both loved was out there.

"The spirits gave me a vision when Yue was born," Chief Arnook finally said. "I saw a beautiful, brave young woman become the Moon Spirit. I knew this day would come."

The spirits knew this would happen? They had planned it from the beginning. They planned to sacrifice Yue from the beginning of her life…that was why the Moon Spirit gave her life. Why? Sokka thought. Why did it have to be her? She was the most amazing, kind, and selfless girl I've ever known…why did you choose to take her away?

That was why.

Sokka understood it then. It was because Yue was so kind, so selfless that they chose her. The Moon Spirit had to give life to someone who would be willing to give it back. Someone who would choose the world over themselves.

"You must be proud." It was all he could really say to Yue's father.

"So proud. And sad." The silence resumed for several more minutes before Chief Arnook turned to him. "Master Pakku told me that your sister is gone."

"We don't know for sure." Sokka frowned. "Apparently she got swept away in the wave that destroyed the entrance to the city. That doesn't necessarily mean that she's dead. She could be out there somewhere."

Chief Arnook nodded. "Master Pakku said the same thing, and asked that he be allowed to take some other members of the tribe to go searching for her. Apparently, he's already found quite a few people who want to help."

Sokka looked up, eye widening, before a smile worked its way forward. He turned around to see that the old waterbending master was still standing next to Aang. "Wow. I didn't realize he cared that much."

"I believe that he sees something in her−a bit of himself, maybe, or a part of a life that could have been. Sokka," the chief said, brows creasing sympathetically. "I hope you find your sister. I know that you were…close to my daughter. I wouldn't wish another loss upon you so soon."

"Thanks. I hope I find her, too." I have to.

"You promised we'd find Katara together!"

"I know, Aang, it's just…"

"Just what, Sokka? You said we'd look for her together, but now you're saying you don't want me there?"

"It's not so simple, Aang…"

"What do you mean? Sokka, look, I have to help find Katara, she wa-is my friend."

"I know, but-"

"But what? You think I'll go into the Avatar State if she really is gone?" Aang was quiet for a few moments, and Sokka didn't say anything. "Sokka, I can handle it now…I mean, I won't freak out like I did earlier…"

"That's not it," Sokka told him. He sighed, pressing his palm to his forehead. "It's not that I don't want you there. Honestly, I kind of need you there, especially if she's really…but when I said we'd look for her together, I wasn't really thinking. Now that I've had the chance…I just don't think you should see what's out there."

Now Aang was just confused. So…he does want me there, but he also doesn't want me there? "What do you mean?"

"Bodies, Aang. The aftermath of the battle. A lot of people were swept away in that wave. Fire Nation people, granted, but still human beings. Not to mention the ships that were sunk by the Ocean Spirit. The thing is…you're twelve." Aang blinked. Why was Sokka telling him his own age? "I forget that sometimes. But I've been thinking…I'm not sure that you should have to see this. It…may be a bit much."

"Oh." So Sokka was trying to protect him. Aang sort of appreciated it. And, admittedly, it did sort of scare him once he thought about it. He knew, of course, that a lot of people had been killed. But to go up close to them? It would be…disturbing, and Aang felt sort of nauseous just thinking about it. But I have to go. Even if it makes me sick, because… "When you promised me that we'd look for Katara together, I promised I'd be there with you. We promised each other. Because we need each other. You just said it yourself, Sokka. You'll need me if Katara is…gone." Aang didn't want to accept it. Not unless he had to. "We are doing this together, okay?"

Sokka just stared at him for a few moments before smiling. "I should've known I couldn't talk you out of coming with me. Fine, we'll still look for her together. But, if you feel…bad or, anything, we'll come back and drop you off, okay?"

Aang agreed, but he resolved to be strong so that Sokka wouldn't have to be alone. You won't leave me and I won't leave you, he thought. The two boys got onto got onto Appa. The other tribesmen were still organizing, and would join the search the next day. "Okay, Appa, are you ready to find Katara?" Appa let out a large rumble. "Yeah, me too. Yip yip!"

And the boys began their search.

Probably gonna merge this with chapter 2. Some day.