"These are your boats?" Sokka could only ask after hiking to the other side of the tiny archipelago. The surprise on the new beach eased the fatigue in his legs. Almost, anyway.
"They may not seem much, but they've helped us," Suki said, leaving his side for the boats. No doubt, the three more 'warriors' on the beach had tons of questions.
Sokka studied the Kyoshi Warriors' three boats on the moonlit-covered sands. Each was small and sleek, with wood for beams and bows. They almost reminded him of Water Tribe boats. Of his dad's…
Pushing the thought out, Sokka turned to Suki. "Did you build these? You're going to need better boats if you expect to get out of here."
"Not all of us have a flying bison. Come on, we have to be quick," Suki said and turned, while the other 'warriors' (Sokka almost scoffed at that) went to set up a perimeter.
"So, what's the big deal about this mask? What does it do?" Sokka said following Suki, who placed the mask-the one like Kopaka's, that is-into the boat she had walked towards.
"Well, we're not really sure. We've found another by our home, and a… an acquaintance of ours said there might be several around. We hoped to find some. Well, before the Fire Nation did."
"For your 'Toa,' right?"
Suki nodded. "He left many months ago looking for masks like these. We haven't seen him since. Here help me push this boat… unless it's too much for you."
Miffed by Suki's smirking statement, Sokka began pushing. "So... what's he like? Your Toa?" he asked Suki, who pushed with him.
"Well, he's a character. He helped us with our unagi problem."
"'Unagi?'"
"Think of a gigantic eel that can eat fish the size of a house. It almost went crazy after some Fire Nation soldiers tried to capture it."
With one last push, Sokka looked to the now-floating boat. "Well, it's not the craziest thing I've heard of," he said.
"I guess not." Suki turned to him. "Do you have any experience with Firebenders?"
Sokka smiled cockily. "You could say that. I'm quite the warrior back home."
"Oh, really?"
"S-seriously," Sokka stuttered from the red paint contrasting with Suki's skeptical and striking blue eyes. "So, uh, what about you?"
"Not much, even though we've trained for it." Suki looked to her fellow warriors then at the forest. "I really hope we're ready for it."
Noticing the slight softness in Suki's voice, Sokka crossed his arms in some assurance. "It shouldn't be hard. I took out a soldier with just a paddle… That Tahu guy, though? You definitely don't stand a chance." After the slip of his baised tongue, Sokka met Suki's slight-big emphasis on the word-glare. "What? I'm just saying, Kopaka couldn't beat him before, and that guy froze… well, a lot of soldiers to rescue me!"
"You never mentioned that before?"
"Not important!"
"Uh-huh. And I'm sure you think we're better off with you here," Suki deadpanned.
"Well, yeah, but not that much. Do you really think you could take him?" Sokka frowned at Suki's tiny nod, more focused on it than her gaze turning towards the forest. "Okay! Well, why don't you ask him to come here? He'll throw a fireball right at you and you wouldn't even-"
"Watch out!"
Suki's words and body slammed into Sokka's. His back hit the sand, and water flew over, barely covering the torrent of fiery red streaking above. Then-
BOOM!
-it flashed into an orange blaze, the color flying with the bits of wooden planks. A few such bits landed by Sokka's arm, each of their fires doused in the water. Sokka saw the softer red over Suki's eyes as she laid atop of him and asked, "Are you okay?"
Despite secretly liking the closeness, Sokka groaned from his boomerang poking in his back. "Yeah, I think so," he said and sat up with Suki, the two drenched from the waving waters they fell in. Any more words died when Sokka realized the smell of burning wood originated from the giant pyre in place of the ship the two of them had pushed.
Suki got to her feet, her fans at ready like everyone else's. "Get ready!"
Acting first, Sokka slung his boomerang at the bright red flicker in the forest which everyone had noticed. An echoing clang later, Sokka's hopes curved and rebounded as his weapon dug into the beach. "Oh, man!" Sokka groaned, seeing the smoking dent in it.
Sokka turned to see the same flicker grow with every audible step. And it had been the only one, not several. The minute Sokka wondered why, his answer stepped out and stood on the beach. "Oh, man," Sokka whispered and wished he had not tempted fate.
"Were you expecting somebody else?" a cloaked Tahu asked, his sword blazing in the night air.
Katara's mind raced, her feet danced back from the charging spear, and water from the beach swung wildly with her hands. The soldier and spear went down, and a Kyoshi Warrior took down a second before he could take his place. Off to the side, another Kyoshi Warrior disarmed and tripped yet another soldier. Immediately to Katara, one was about to attack Kopaka, who was too busy freezing the arms of a flaming firebender..
"Kopaka!" Katara said and bent the water by her feet to strike the man. It then froze into stiff bindings, thanks to Kopaka's blade.
With a moment to breathe, Katara glanced around. Despite their best efforts, neither her, Kopaka, nor their three Kyoshi allies could stop the Fire Nation soldiers, benders and non-benders alike. When one had been hit, there were still more, either getting up when they should have stayed down.
And they just.
Kept on.
Attacking.
"Woah!" Katara said about the fireball coming at her.
The fan and quickly-time wrist flick of the third Kyoshi Warrior saved her from it. "Don't get distracted!" the warrior said after bringing down the firebender who shot at Katara.
Following the warrior's advice, Katara raised another wave at another fireball, her watery wall hiding the one who threw it. His scarred face became apparent after his next salvo burned at her defense. Lowering what little was left, Katara rolled away to avoid them. The flames followed, from wet ground to dry, and a burning scent forced her to her feet.
"Gah!" Katara yelped and swatted at the tiny flames on the ends of her coat. She barely saw the firebenders behind the little bits of smoke.
Too busy as is, Katara tore her coat off as quickly as possible, spun around, and flung it aside at an incoming firebender. A kick, for all the power Katata put into it, barely kept him back enough for her to slip by him. Her eyes behind her on the scarred boy, she bumped into Kopaka. "Oof!" she said and falling into the ground, right by a patch of grass Kopaka just accidentally froze over.
The sight of her pursuers put Katara back on her feet. By then, more soldiers and benders surrounded her and Kopaka. In the corners of Katara's eye, the Kyoshi Warriors held off the respective opponents for only a little while longer before being surrounded themselves. Cut off from the beach by firebenders, Katara looked to the scarred boy who clearly led them.
The same boy stood firm and met her glare with his. "You won't get away this time."
Katara, back-to-back with Kopaka, had no snappy comeback. Her ears remained deaf to the boy ordering his grey-haired henchman, a lieutenant of some sort. Her mind formed somewhat of a plan. A rather Sokka-esque plan that could be summed up as such:
"APPA! YIP-YIP! YIP-YIP!"
Silence first met the echo of Katara's scream. Then, a distant rustle, followed by a roar.
Initially hiding him to not give away their position, Katara was more than relieved when Apps surged through the forest. The many soldiers, startled by his giant mass of white fur for a body, tried to run. The grey-haired lieutenant shouted for them to hold. It was doing so when the three Kyoshi Warriors took advantage of the moment.
Katara did the same. With a mighty swing of her arm, bits flew off Kopaka's icy patch as cold water. The distracted firebenders in front barely dodged Kopaka's cold wave for a follow-up, which Katara ducked under to head for the ship again. None could reach her nor stop her from going up the ramp.
The shuddering ship did, and on the top of the ramp, Katara saw its large spike of a bow in front lowering onto the water. Instead of more soldiers, large beasts with thick dark hide and three curved horns. There must have been three or five of them, all spreading out before converging on the large bison. Before Katara could wonder, the scarred boy on the beach shouted, "Uncle!"
The scent of tea caught Katara's attention. She found the chubby old man who stepped onto the open deck with a cup in hand. "Don't worry, Prince Zuko! Go to Tahu!" he said.
Katara's vision was split between the old man and teen. The latter went for one of the creatures about to attack Appa, the former walked into her view and said to her, "So, you must be one of those intruders from before. You left quite the impression on my nephew."
Katara slowly walked onto the deck, her eyes scouring to find no else. She didn't turn from her enemy in front. "Funny. I don't remember seeing you."
The old man shifted to the side of the ship. "Yes, well… " he said, taking a sip. His eyes trailed to the fighting below. "Quite a beast you have. I would not worry too much for his safety. Komodo rhinos can be very friendly creatures. It merely takes a matter of time to-"
The slap of Appa's massive tail cut him off. Katara herself rocked with the ship, hitting its side as did the old man to see the aforementioned komodo rhinos tossed aside. Said rhinos' growls met Appa's and charged, save for one the so-called prince mounted and rode off into the trees. "Then again…" said the old man, his tea dripping onto the deck.
Seeing what she thought was an opportunity, Katara charged and meant to bend the tea. She didn't expect the old man to dodge it, let alone deflect her oncoming punch and spin her aside. By the time she stopped, she came with a frown of disappointment.
"Now, that was quite unnecessary!" the old man said.
Katara responded by trying to attack again.
'This definitely wasn't part of the plan!'
Sokka's frantic thought turned to ash from Tahu's flaming bolt flying overhead. Water flew, and the charred remains of another boat fell by him. They added another reason to run after doing so for what felt like several minutes.
The first and main reason stood in the corner of Sokka's eye, burning brightly. In the same corner, the five Kyoshi Warriors didn't handle things much better. One or two barely kept their ground. They couldn't land a blow, not when anything bounced off Tahu's bubble for a shield. The rest kept their distance, either having been forced back or sent running from the tongues of the flaming sword (especially when said sword incinerated a fan).
Among the latter, Suki stopped alongside Sokka to swipe at a rogue flame with her fan. "I hope there's a backup plan!" she said.
"Uh, sure! Just gimme a sec!" A second was all Sokka needed to notice Tahu's sword. "That sword! If we can get it away from him, we can-!"
Another fireball interrupted him, but Sokka's plan was understood. "On me!" Suki shouted and rushed forward, soon joined by her fellow warriors.
Sokka scurried the other way, through heat and smoke, for his boomerang. It was still hot to the touch, much like the two burning ships. The girls rushed at Tahu in the meantime, every couple of them swarming to distract him. Though not as manly as Sokka hoped, he didn't complain and at last grabbed his boomerang. That was until he felt some wash up beside him.
"Is that…?" Sokka said about the object lying on the beach, which shone metallic grey in the moonlight. A grunt turned his attention before he could recall Suki's words from before.
Speaking of Suki, she and her warriors kept Tahu busy. His flames danced wildly like his wide swings, each barely keeping the girls back. Having avoided one himself, Sokka had a clear shot in the orange glow of the sword and of the burning boats. Timing it right, his boomerang flew and-WHAM-went right on the mask! Or rather, took it off.
With his boomerang back in his hand, Sokka kept a safe distance from the fallen Tahu, who covered his maskless face with a free hand. The Kyoshi Warriors too were careful to not get too close to the flaming sword still in Tahu's grasp, lest it burned them. "Quick! Get it away from him!" Suki yelled, which was easier said than done.
The intensity of the growing heat, from the sword and its sitting wielder, nipped at nearby flesh. Not enough to lit everyone aflame, but they all had to stay back. Sokka included, he eyed the mask. Recalling Suki's words and what happened from his first encounter, Sokka made a connection. It shielded Tahu, after all. If Sokka could get it, then...
The heat said otherwise. Again, and again, and again. "Oh, for the love of-!" Sokka said and lunged with a yell. He didn't know how he did it, but he ran as fast as he could, reached out, and zoomed back with Tahu's mask in hand. "Here, I got his mask!"
A roar and rustle made Sokka's victory short-lived, especially when a lizard-like rhino charged through the trees. Sokka barely avoided its three horns, as did the warriors. Upon Suki's order, two of them went to face the creature, but its rider, whose scarred eye looked so familiar, had already dismounted in front of Tahu and said, "Tahu! Get up!"
Staring through his fingers, Tahu said, "Zuko? What are you doing here? What about-"
"Uncle is taking care of them!"
Sokka, on the ground, kicked himself from the two fire-wielders standing side-by-side. In time too, since fire whipped around from both. The Kyoshi Warriors had the same thought as Sokka. Suki particularly crouched by his side and said, "Well, it looks like that plan is no good."
"Hey, I never said it was going to be easy!" A hot wisp brought Sokka back to the fire duo holding back the two other Kyoshi Warriors. "We need to split them apart. Can you do that?"
Suki responded by lunging in. With the lizard-rhino distracting her warriors, only two could join her charge. Suki throwing her fan cut an opening between Tahu and the other named Zuko. Her two warriors went high and low for the human of the fire-wielding duo, Suki herself zipping from Tahu's sword.
"Huh, whaddya know," Sokka said to himself and shot to his feet to help.
Swung again, Sokka's boomerang cut above that Zuko guy, went around his opponents who caught his fiery fist, and circled at Tahu's sword. The fire slice about to fall on Suki strayed to the mount distracting the remaining Kyoshi Warriors. Fortunately, it struck closer to the former instead of the latter. Unfortunately, it also spread to the ground closest to them.
Sokka winced at the damage after catching his boomerang. Suki, dodging Tahu's slash, cried, "A little help!"
"Right! You girls, with me!" Sokka told the two Kyoshi Warriors once-engaged with the rhino, who now glared at him. "Uh, pretty please?"
With the two warriors joining Sokka's charge, facing Tahu had been easier: Suki dodged his fire, one warrior swatted aside his slash, another caught his arm, and Sokka drop-kicked him away. "We'll keep this up! Go for the last ship!" Suki said.
A fiery shot from the side kept Sokka from doing such. From the same side was the scarred Zuko getting to his feet, after he had been pushed down. "You're not getting anywhere!" he shouted, his words aflamed like his fists.
Sokka yelled from the onslaught chasing after him, arms hugging his boomerang and Tahu's mask to his chest. His feet helped him outrun each chance of a fiery death by mere seconds. They stopped, albeit briefly, thanks to Zuko's respective Kyoshi opponents. "Go! We'll-!" said one before Zuko had tossed her into her fellow warrior.
"Get back here!" Sokka heard from behind.
"No thanks!" Sokka shouted to Zuko and ran straight towards the waters once more.
Zuko's cry of "Tahu!" rang. It made Sokka notice the great swell of heat in the corner of his left eye. The same swell swung past Suki's particular group, and Sokka fell on the dry sands, a mere few steps from the waters. The red and orange arc, soon joined by a fireball from Sokka's right, streaked over the water to engulf the third and last boat.
Sokka ducked his head under bits of its burning remains, so close to the sand he noticed the Kopaka look-alike-mask landing beside him. "What the…?" he said before remembering the imminent danger named Zuko about to close in on him.
Sokka's accidentally-flung boomerang saved him. It didn't hit Zuko, but it made the firebender halt his charge. His two opponents, who had quickly recovered, took the chance to pin him, with one sweeping his legs and the other taking his arms. "Thank you!" Sokka told the girls and turned back for Tahu.
It seemed like burning the last boat gave the opening Tahu's foes needed. Suki and another warrior each struck at Tahu's sword arm. The third and forth warriors caught the sword arm about to retaliate. Held out to the side, the flame sword dimmed before it flew from Suki's kick. With Tahu in their grasp, the other three whirled him away and down the beach.
"Quick! Push him to the water!" one warrior shouted, but Sokka had a feeling not to do that.
The feeling came true after Tahu stopped by something metallic. Before, the fighting kept Sokka from looking at it. Now, he saw it clearly before Tahu could: it was a mask. A mask like the ones Sokka held, with two empty eye holes. Moonlight shone on its sleeker forehead and two blocky cheeks, each opened with two vents. The same shine also caught Tahu's attention.
"Quick! Someone grab that!" Sokka shouted, but Tahu had already nabbed the mask to slam it on his face, causing it to glow.
What happened next was a blur. Literally. Everything and everyone turned over so quickly that Sokka, knocked off his feet, saw the stars and trees spinning in two seconds. He only let out an "oof!" the minute he fell back to earth face first. His dazed state couldn't keep him from hearing Suki and her four fellow warriors also flying all over from the red streak.
"Eep!" left Sokka's mouth when said streak stopped in front of him with the new mask, now shiny and red like its bearer.
"I'm taking that back," Tahu growled and grabbed his old mask. Sokka was surprised he still held onto it after being flipped, unlike the other one which he laid atop of.
Fortunately, Tahu had not noticed and blurred away. Sokka would have seen him grab the fallen flame sword, if not for two feminine screams and sizzling flesh. It was Zuko burning at one of his Kyoshi captors in their shock, not helped by Tahu's speed and his sword knocking the other one down.
"Let's go!" Tahu told Zuko, the scarred teen grabbing his extended hand.
After they were gone, it took Sokka a few seconds to realize the now empty space. "What was that?" he demanded of Suki.
Suki groaned and rose to her feet. "I don't know. I'm just as surprised as you," she said and went over to help Sokka up.
Sokka didn't accept it, instead rising to point at where the fire duo once stood. "No, I mean that! You didn't say you had another mask!"
"I thought I did."
"Not that one!"
If Suki was about to argue, painful hisses and moans turned her to the two fallen warriors, smoke coming off of each exposed and burnt skin. "Quick! Help me with them!"
Picking up the only remaining mask, Sokka followed Suki to do so.
It took everything Iroh had to not cry in dismay as another shock from the bison spilled the rest of his tea onto the tilting deck. His second worry, the Water Tribe girl, came at him yet again. He had to admit, she had spirit, but she clearly was not a trained Waterbender, even if she could bend his tea mere minutes ago.
"I do not want to hurt you, young lady," Iroh said after pushing the girl away. He studied her and the clear frustration on her face. He was blocking her way to the Avatar, and he had not let down his defense or shown any opening in the slightest.
"Keep it together, Katara," she told herself and shifted her weight. Iroh recognized the simple Waterbending form.
He also correctly guessed the bender, this Katara, would try to gather his split tea and attack him with it. Again. "Perhaps, you should try another angle," Iroh advised after sidestepping the glob of hot leaf juice. "Maybe take time to relax between your stances."
"What would you know?" Katara snapped with the glob she brought back around.
"A bit, actually."
Iroh proved his point, somewhat, when he stepped forward to spin Katara by her wrist yet again. He had to give Katara credit. She quickly caught herself to take another stance. Her tenacity shone in her eyes, and her persistence had not wavered throughout the whole confrontation. It would change if Iroh ever used his fire on her, so he planned not to. She could be helpful in the long run.
The ship shaking yet again brought Iroh back to the present. This one was strong enough to splash water onto the deck, right by Iroh and Katara's feet. The former cried as the sizable puddle swelled and soaked the hem of his robes and shoes on the latter's command. A visibly cold breath from Katara passed over Iroh's robe before his hand could squeeze it dry. The water inside it and on the deck grew stiff. Bits of frost spread onto it and Iroh's feet.
Thinking quickly, Iroh breathed. The heat leaving his mouth and nostrils carried over lower body. His feet fumed out their regained warmth, and he inched away from the newfound steam in his icy hold's place. "An interesting move. Remarkable for one so young," he said.
That was when another icy person strolled aboard. It was the one whom Tahu spoke of before, sword and shield in hand. It certainly brought joy to Katara. "Kopaka!" Ah, so that was his name.
As much as Iroh would have wanted to talk to him, the former general turned to what his eye had caught. Lines of smoke rose in the distance, past the beach where the men fought young girls and past the trees which his nephew escaped into. Even those below noticed.
Among those who also saw the smoke, Katara held the most concerned expression. If Iroh was right, she mentioned something of a "Sokka." She was right to be worried. After all, no smoke without fire.
"You should leave. Your friends will be in great danger, if they are not already," Iroh told the two in front. Given how they both side-by-side and looked ready for another fight,
"And why should we believe you?" Katara demanded.
His old eyes falling on Kopaka, Iroh said, "Koti." It was not a word Tahu had taught him.
Kopaka understood it, nonetheless. Iroh saw it in the glowing blue eye before it and the mask turned back to the smoke. "Go," Kopaka said at last.
The young Katara looked shocked, then conflicted. She gave in, but not before she looked to Iroh and said, "We'll get him back, one way or another."
Iroh was sure she would try. For now, Katara and Kopaka rushed back down the ramp. The other three women warriors joined them around the Avatar's giant bison. No one else, not even the rhinos made it too close, while the enemy climbed aboard their vessel (if some did so hesitantly) and flew off.
Aboard his nephew's vessel, Iroh made sure the bison flew towards the smoke. Then, he gave orders to bring in the rhinos. It had been a quick process, since the rhinos were already tired out enough for the men to hurry them into the ship's hull with little resistance. Some men themselves came back aboard, each with their fair share of reminders of their fight. Iroh knew they would need much rest. A vacation would do them, including his nephew and Tahu, some good.
From out of nowhere, something red zoomed right onto the ship. Everyone else relaxed, albeit slightly, when they recognized Tahu's red body. A more relaxed Iroh smiled at him and his nephew. "Ah, you're back so soon! And I see you have a new souvenir!" Iroh said.
Tahu covered said souvenir with his familiar mask, which took shape over it. Zuko's face popped in front. "Uncle, is he-"
"The Avatar is still secure, Prince Zuko," Iroh assured, if only to calm his nephew.
Zuko did not. Standing tall, he spoke to his uncle within earshot of everyone. "We have to leave immediately. Our work won't stall them forever."
Iroh sighed once Zuko had marched off. Tahu himself had joined the young prince at the ship's bow. After everything that happened, they needed some time to themselves.
As for himself, Iroh went back inside. He needed a cup of tea. Maybe he could make one for the Avatar, too.
Sokka knew how things had turned out after Appa returned without his owner. He was relieved when his sister and Kopaka slid off the beast, safe and sound. Suki found need in the other Kyoshi Warriors with Katara, as well as Katara herself, in order to care for those injured by Tahu and Zuko. Thinking back on the two made Sokka's blood boil while he watched helplessly over the two girls.
Except they weren't just girls. They were warriors. Their scars more than prove what was already true.
With Katara around, their pain settled if only just by a bit. Sokka wandered around, having enough on his mind to pass the time to mull over. Not to mention, he had enough rest from the fight. After waking up over an hour later, he went over to Kopaka's side. He wasn't sure how the so-called Toa kept still and watched, but Kopaka did.
"Are they…?" Sokka began, but Kopaka's shaking head stopped him. "Right. Figures. They probably think we might not be good enough to fight."
"I don't know about that," Sokka heard Suki, who walked towards him and Kopaka. "It might not seem much, but we managed to make those Fire Nation soldiers fight hard. They're tired out, if anything."
So were they, but Sokka didn't say that. He did ask about the injured. "Will… will they make it?"
"We were trained just in case something like this happened." The confidence peeled away to reveal Suki's unadulterated relief. "But yes. Spirits, yes. Your sister was a great help."
"Yeah, she does that." Sokka paused to look at the other Kyoshi Warriors by Katara, then back at Suki. "You… fought well. You all did."
Suki looked at him, surprise. "Thanks. You did, too," she said with a tiny smile. "Even if you were just running around."
"Hey, that's what legs are for. I merely used them to the best of my advantage." Sokka's usual decorum shone and faltered with his smile. "You know, we need all the help we can get. We could give you a ride-"
"Thank you, but I'm not sure if all of us can fit on your bison. Besides, you're in a hurry, and my warriors need me now." Sokka gave a low "oh," to which Suki quickly added, "But, if you need us, you can always visit Kyoshi Island! It's not far from the southern tip of the Earth Kingdom."
"I'll remember that." A reminder popped in Sokka's mind as it jutted out of his shirt. "Speaking of remembering, you should have this mask back just in case."
"Yeah. Thanks," Suki said after receiving the mask with a curious, yet grateful sare.
It wasn't long before Appa's impatient growl signalled their departure. After Katara helped to make sure the injured were cared for, Sokka and her had gone over their supplies. They agreed they would need to make a few stops to resupply. They still had some money for that, thankfully. Kopaka himself kept watch up to the last before he went to join Katara and Sokka on Appa.
"Kopaka, wait!" Suki called to approach Kopaka. Sokka was disappointed she hadn't reconsidered on not joining him. In fact, he was confused as Kopaka when Suki held out her fist to him. "My Toa showed me this. I don't know where he learned it from, but he said it was a sign of good fortune."
After looking at his free fist, Kopaka bumped it against Suki's and mounted Appa at last. Sokka himself remained quiet on the bison's head until Katara finished her "I'm sorry we have to go" speech. "Try to stay alive, okay," Sokka told Suki.
"You, too. Good luck on your journey," Suki said, her voice sounding as if Sokka would not see her again.
Flying off across the twilight sky, Sokka hoped it would not be the case.
Suki wasn't surely why her emotions fell while the sun rose. Maybe it was the few hours of sleep. Maybe it was the fact the boat the Kyoshi Warriors used was a wreck. She definitely knew she and the others were stuck until they could get the boats fixed again.
"How is the work coming along?" she asked after waking up.
"We've barely gotten far," said one warrior over the two others working on the skeleton of the boat. "Using the trees nearby are helping, but only just. We won't be leaving anytime soon."
Suki frowned, and she glanced at the other sleeping Kyoshi Warriors. "Alright, I'll let the others know. We can ration some of that rhino meat for a night. It can last us for a while."
Then, another warrior on watch cried, "Get up! Something is coming from the ocean!"
Suki whirled around from the other Kyoshi Warriors waking. "Are you sure?" she asked, given a nod and a telescope.
Looking through the gaps between the trees, Suki found the ocean. By the rising on the horizon was a tiny dot with a giant wave behind it. Suki barely saw the tiny island behind both. There was no way a ship could move that fast, constantly growing larger and more… brown?
The more Suki looked, the more familiar it was. "Is that..?"
The answer ran in front of Suki, kicking up sand over her face. Coughing with her warriors, Suki herself waved the cloud away with a fan. Her eyes widened, meeting a pair of slanted eyes. They glowed orange through the mask, a brown copy of the one Tahu stole. This wearer, brown too and slightly hunched, was far friendlier and more recognizable.
"Pohatu?" Suki asked.
With a smile, the brown Toa waved a three fingered hand. "Heya Suki, everyone! How have you been?" That smile fell upon the scorched beach. "On second thoughts…"
"Pohatu, there is something you should know!"
"Don't worry, Suki. You can tell me when everyone is safe and sound. It has to be a story."
"But there was another Toa and-"
Pohatu's gaze stopped Suki. She never saw him whirl so quickly. "Another Toa? I was searching all over the mainland for one. Are you sure?" Suki nodded. "Well, where is he?"
"He's gone," Suki said, disappointed. She wasn't sure if it was for Kopaka, though.
Pohatu's shoulders slumped, acting just as disappointed. Then, he chuckled. "Well. I guess I'll have to find them. Anyway, did you find another mask?"
Suki produced the grey replica of Kopaka's mask. After giving thanks, Pohatu scooped up the mask and slammed in on his own, overflowing him with its energy. Like with Tahu. Suki sighed to know she was staring at Pohatu, not the red Toa she just encountered.
"That is some mask! It will definitely help me with my search," Pohatu said. "Now, you and the other warriors should get some rest."
Search? Suki put it aside. "But what about our boats?"
"Don't worry. I'll handle it! I gotta head out after that. Sorry, but I can't really say." Pohatu ran to the wreckage on the beach. Knowing his speed, it would probably be several blurry minutes and swirling pieces later before the boats rested on the beach, good as new.
In the meantime, Suki stepped back and heard a warrior ask, "Is it just me or are we missing out on something?"
AN: And that's the end of the chapter. Sorry it took so long to put it up. I kept finding myself stuck on how to write out certain scenes. Also, I'm not quite sure about the quality of the story for chapters 4 through 6. I'm fine with the overall plot, but it's just the tinier details that I think need work. More than likely, I will try to re-edit and maybe even revise them later down the line (that reminds me, I need to revise the prologue and edit the first 3 chapters). For now, I hope what I wrote is at least good enough. Speaking of which, special thanks to Toa Coy 2.0 and H.R.C. Stanley for pre-reading the chapter. I appreciate it, you guys!
Also, I am reaching out for co-authors to help with this story (again). Given the wait between the previous chapter and this one, I think I clearly need the help to produce future chapters much, much quicker (I already have a general plot covering book 1 of ATLA, I just need to write out the chapters themselves). Any help would be greatly appreciated. Sorry to say this yet again, but please don't expect the next chapter anytime soon.
Until next time, take care and thank you.
Raika out.