Meili never considered herself a leader. Even when she and Jai were together, she typically let Jai lead the way, succumbing to her role of protecting him – keeping him out of trouble. Sure, Meili knew she was smart and had her way with words, but no one really looked up to her. Or followed what she said.
So when Meili was in the middle of warrior training and heard that the Southern Water Tribe princess was challenging the Northern Water Tribe's Waterbending master, Meili knew that Katara actually took her advice: knock some sense into Master Poophead.
After hearing the news, Sokka was immediately on the move, rushing out of the training rooms to head out of the barracks. Even though Meili was avoiding the boy, she knew that it was her fault Katara was acting rash, so she followed suit.
"You don't think she's actually going to fight him, right?" Meili questioned, stumbling in her footing to catch up with Sokka's brisk pace. "I was only kidding last night."
"I know my sister very well," Sokka grumbled, his fists clenched at his sides. "And when she says something, she means it."
The barracks weren't far from the waterbender training grounds, but even if they were, it wouldn't have been hard to hear the angry echoes of Katara's yells.
"Don't you talk about me as if I'm just some small, insignificant girl!"
"Yep, she is definitely trying to fight him," Meili winced, quickening her steps into a run.
Sokka and Meili made their way towards the noise, however the stairs were crowded with various Northern Water Tribe members. Sokka shoved them away, shooing them like flies. The two kids shouldered their way through the crowd, and their vision was met with a large, icy clearing speckled with water reservoirs and frozen towers.
Aang was standing off to the side of the stair rails, worriedly shaking in his spot.
"Aang, what happened?" Sokka questioned, putting his hands on either side of the monk's shoulders. "I thought you guys were going to talk to Master Pakku today?"
"We were!" Aang exclaimed before rubbing the back of his neck bashfully. "Until, well, they started arguing, and then Katara said she would never apologize to a sour old man, and I don't think Master Pakku liked that."
Meili turned her gaze to Katara, who was in the middle of the clearing sharing an even glare with Master Pakku. The black-haired girl let out a sigh, lightly jogging over to Katara.
The waterbender was seething in her spot, clearly agitated. Katara's full brows were knitted together tightly, knuckles white, teeth clenched.
"Katara, I was kidding last night," Meili spoke lowly, her presence joining the waterbender's. "You aren't going to win this fight."
Katara's scowl remained, anger evident in the hardening crease of her brow. "I know, and I don't care. Someone needs to slap some sense into this guy."
The two girls looked at the old waterbender, who was grinning superiorly in their direction.
"When I say you need to go back to the healing huts, it's not me calling you a small and insignificant girl," the master piped up, crossing his arms. "It's me telling you to go back where you belong. Women have no place combat training with us."
Master Pakku turned to walk away, unaware that the two girls he was talking to were more determined to be strong than half of the men there.
Meili looked at Katara, nudging her in the arm with her elbow. "Katara, slap some sense into this guy."
Katara nodded, sliding down into a fighting stance as Meili left to join Aang and Sokka at the foot of the railing once again. The waterbender girl let out a small puff of air before slinging a water whip at the old man's legs.
Sokka stared aghast at his sister, whose attack drew back Master Pakku's attention.
"Meili, what did you say to her? I thought you were going to talk her down from her craziness!"
"Like you said," Meili spoke, turning her attention to the fight brewing in the icy clearing. "When Katara says something, she means it. And I just happen to agree with it."
Master Pakku began to bend two streams of water from nearby pools in retaliation, catapulting them towards Katara. The cold water collided harshly into the girl, causing her to fall in her spot. Master Pakku then bended the water into a circling stream around her, enclosing her in the small water circle.
"I won't hurt you, little girl," came Master Pakku's taunting response.
Katara scowled with a clenched jaw, sticking a foot out to abruptly interrupt the stream. She carefully took control over the water's direction, redirecting the water high into the air. Like a bullet, she sent the water soaring toward Master Pakku, which he blocked with an ice wall.
"You might not hurt me, but I'm sure going to hurt you!" Katara shouted back.
She took off in a sprint, sliding along the ice up the wall of defense. Katara drew up a stream of water and began to shoot icicles at the old master. He stopped them midair, changing them back into a ball of water while Katara slid down the ice wall back to the ground.
Master Pakku directed a hard blast of water toward Katara. The girl froze her feet down in place to hold her position, seemingly unaffected by the hard force of water.
"You can't knock me down, old man!" she yelled with determination.
Off in the sidelines, Sokka jumped in his spot, throwing a fist up in the air. "Go, Katara! Kick his butt!"
Aang and the rest of the crowd cheered, while Meili smiled silently to herself.
The two waterbenders kept going at it, exchanging blow after blow, and Meili felt a strange sense of pride overtake her. She was glad that Katara was standing her ground, no doubt … but Meili didn't know why. Katara wasn't doing anything for Meili, and Meili wasn't getting anything out of this fight. So why was seeing the waterbender fight making Meili happy?
Perhaps it was because it meant that Meili's words actually held some weight. What she said mattered to Katara.
Meili's help was wanted and accepted.
This realization alone made Meili slightly embarrassed, but overwhelmingly happy.
Looking at the clearing, it was evident that Katara was beginning to be defeated, but Meili still saw the Water Tribe girl as a winner. Katara's determination and willingness to revolt against an opposing force was admirable. And Meili knew, for a fleeting moment, that if she really did consider Katara as her friend, the waterbender's grit was a trait Meili admired.
Following a rough exchange of freezing water strikes, Katara was soon incapacitated inside of a cocoon of frozen ice spikes. Her arms were trapped away from her body, preventing her from waterbending to escape the icy prison.
Pakku crossed his arms, seemingly pleased by Katara's defeat. "This fight is over."
Katara struggled in her spot. "Come back here. I'm not finished yet!"
"Yes, you are," Pakku spoke sternly, turning to walk away.
The crowd gasped at the scene, and Aang and Sokka looked ready to attack him. Sokka, instead, lightly jogged over to his sister, yanking comically on the ice trapping her, trying hopelessly to free her.
"You're pathetic for fighting her, you know," Sokka said loudly, proudly, turning his attention to Master Pakku. "You're a master. Do you really need validation that bad?"
The old man didn't even bother to glance back. "It is not validation I seek. I just merely had to put her in her place."
Sokka grit his teeth angrily. He didn't want to fight his sister's battles for her, but between the Northern Water Tribe warrior boys and this 'Master Poophead,' he was at his wit's end. Sokka was about to charge forward until the old man bent down to pick up something from the ground.
"This is my necklace ..." Pakku mumbled, brushing the snow from the piece of jewelry draped across his palm.
Katara squinted her eyes, straining to see the small object in his hands. And when she saw the pendant dangling in his hand, she immediately felt a cool emptiness shiver across her neck.
"No, it's not," Katara growled, focusing on her fingertips waving in the air. "It's mine! Give it back!"
With a swirl of her fingers, she melted away the ice caging her body. The water aggressively splashed Sokka, smacking him down toward the ground. Katara was breathing roughly from both anger and fatigue, but Katara didn't care.
"No, you don't understand," Pakku spoke, turning around in his spot.
Katara was about to attack the man once again but faltered when she saw a strange look on the man's face. She had only known Master Pakku for a few days, but Katara observed that he rarely showed any vulnerable emotion. So, when she saw the strange transfixion he had on the necklace, her confusion caused a stumble in her footing.
"I made this sixty years ago for the love of my life ... for Kanna."
Katara almost felt her jaw hit the floor. Almost. But Sokka didn't bother to hide his shock, and his jaw did drop to the ground.
"My Gran-Gran was supposed to marry you?" the siblings said at the same time.
Pakku clenched the necklace tenderly. "So that's what she goes by now, huh? My Kanna…"
Sokka blanched at the mushiness while Katara pressed further.
"It was an arranged marriage, wasn't it?"
"I carved this necklace for your grandmother before we got engaged," Pakku continued, sighing as his fingers traced over the metal-carved Water Tribe insignia. "I loved her. I thought we would have a long, happy life together, but she suddenly left for the Southern Tribe. I never thought she would have met someone else. I thought… maybe she would come back for me."
"But she didn't love you back… or if she did, she couldn't stay somewhere knowing stupid customs would control her life," Katara finished. "It must've been hard for her to do that – my Gran-Gran had a lot of courage."
"I can see the apple didn't fall too far from the tree," Pakku said, walking slowly back over to where Katara was standing. He handed her back the necklace, which Katara immediately strapped back around her neck.
Katara huffed to herself quietly, looking off to the side. "I'm sorry for trying to break your tribe's customs, but this war doesn't care about traditions or rules. We only have until the end of summer to win this war. Aang can't master Waterbending in just three weeks, and he can't teach himself on the way."
"You are an excellent waterbender," Pakku noted. "And I could definitely see you being a great aide in this war. But I'm sorry, my hands are tied. I can't teach you."
Meili felt her blood run cold, anger welling upside of her chest.
"You know what? I'm tired of this double-standard," she spoke gruffly, angrily, drawing in a few whispers from those within the crowd. "The men can learn to fight but the women can't? Do you even care about winning this war?"
"Meili…" Aang whispered slowly, moving to place a hand upon the girl's shoulder, but she was already out of reach.
With purpose, Meili walked up in front of Katara, shielding the girl from Master Pakku's disconcerted gaze.
"He needs to hear this." Meili paused, her eyes finding the bewildered gazes of the tribesmen. "No, they all need to hear this."
Taking a deep breath, the girl grabbed ahold of her hood, lurching it down roughly to expose her identity to the crowd. Her gaze was unwavering, passing over the judgmental eyes of many warrior men she had met.
"While you guys have been sitting around, barricading yourselves away from the war, people are losing their lives every day," Meili spoke, voice full of conviction.
She jerked her hand in the direction of the Water Tribe siblings, her finger making a direct line toward their stunned faces. "Katara and Sokka's father, one of your brothers, is out there right now fighting for our freedom. It is absolutely sickening to see that you would rather bench capable warriors because of their gender than win this war."
"You women will never be warriors!" a voice shouted in the crowd, and the statement was followed by several hoots and hollers of other men.
"How dare you call yourselves warriors!" Meili shouted, moving towards the crowd with quick steps. Katara stumbled in her spot, moving to hold the girl back.
"Meili, you've said your piece," Katara reasoned, and noted that the girl's body was beginning to radiate a dangerous sort of heat.
"No, they're cowards!" Meili chastised, her arm combating the restraints of Katara's cold grip. "They would rather stay stuck in their own ways than defeat the enemy. This isn't a game – this is our future."
"That's enough."
The strong voice stopped all conversation echoing around the clearing. Chief Arnook, General Tahnuk, and Princess Yue gracefully made their way into the scene. Chief Arnook was the one to have spoken, holding his head high.
"Chief Arnook!" Aang spoke up, zipping over to Meili and Katara's side. His eyes were anxious, causing him to smile nervously. "We're sorry for starting such a large commotion—"
The Avatar was silenced by the chief raising his hand gently. The action was calm, small, but commanding in presence.
"I understand your frustration," Chief Arnook spoke gravely. His eyes looked conflicted as they moved from Aang to Meili. "We haven't seen the war through you and your comrades' eyes, Avatar. With these extenuating circumstances, as Chief of the Northern Water Tribe, I want to overlook our current training customs in favor of preparing to defeat the enemy."
Meili, Katara, Aang, and Sokka all looked shocked at the news.
"R-Really?" Katara questioned weakly.
Chief Arnook nodded before turning out towards the crowd. "If anyone has any questions, they are to report directly to me. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Chief Arnook," the crowd spoke at once in a bluster.
The crowd began to disperse, and Aang and Katara seemed to celebrate their small victory. Even Meili look pleased, her smile soft compared to her previous snarls of complaint.
Sokka smiled wistfully in the background; he was so happy for his sister. Katara talked about finding a master the moment she knew she could waterbend. Katara's eyes were glassy as she hugged Meili, thanking the black-haired girl for standing up to Master Pakku.
Seeing Meili stick up for his sister and their father warmed his heart. Katara was everything to him; after their mom passed, Katara was the closest thing he had to a mother. It brought Sokka some relief to know that if he wasn't around, Meili would protect his sister just like he would.
Sokka turned to leave but noticed one of the warriors still standing upon the stairs where the crowd used to be. After a quick squint of his eyes, Sokka recognized the tall brawny stature to be Sitka's.
Sokka found himself instinctually walking over to the boy. Sokka wasn't sure what propelled his legs to walk forward, but Sitka's gaze was focused upon Meili, who was too busy talking to Katara to notice either of them.
With their previous interaction still lingering in his mind, seeing Sitka stay back left a sour taste in Sokka's mouth.
Sokka didn't like the guy. And he sure as hell didn't want him hanging around his group.
"Can I help you?" Sokka inquired dully. His eyes were relaxed, but the clench of his jaw let Sitka know that something was wrong. Sokka was too easy to read.
"So, these last few days you were holding out on us, huh?" Sitka questioned, his dark blue eyes turning to look at Sokka. He wore a lopsided grin, the expression challenging in a way.
"Look, I don't know what your problem is, but stay away from us."
Sokka stopped in front of the boy. Sitka was leaning against the railing, draping his body almost superiorly along the staircase. Even though he was standing a few stairs higher than Sokka, the Southern Tribe boy still noted Sitka's tall figure looming over his.
"Why?" Sitka grinned, bracing his hand along the rail to lean over towards Sokka. "Trying to protect the little lady?"
Sokka clenched his jaw firmly. "I'm just coming over here to tell you to watch yourself. That's all."
"Oh really?" Sitka remarked, tsking his tongue in the roof of his mouth teasingly. "Tsk… even I can see through that lie, Sokka of the Southern Tribe."
The tall boy stood up, cracking his neck before crossing his arms in front of him.
Sokka crossed his arms in return, unknowingly battling for dominance. "Just know that I've got my eye on you."
Sitka's gaze was steely, challenging Sokka's own, as he stared down at the boy. Sitka's eyes briefly flickered to the white-cloaked girl in the clearing, intentionally riling up the younger boy at the foot of the stairs.
"I'll see you two tomorrow at the training session."
Sokka scowled harshly as the tall boy walked away, seemingly stalking up the stairs to return to the town.
Meili was by herself for the first time in what seemed like forever. Aang and Katara had yet to return from waterbending practice, and Sokka had stepped out for some fresh air.
This left Meili home alone – well, not entirely. The girl lounged on the couch in the living room, nibbling on some bread, and handed small pieces to Momo in between each bite.
The tiny lemur was sitting atop Meili's crossed legs as she reclined back against the arm of the chair. He chattered and clicked when he wanted some more food, and Meili obliged politely. It wasn't like she had anything better to do.
Meili absentmindedly thought about Monk Gyatso and his words.
"Some friendships are strong enough to continue for many generations."
The words echoed around in her head, giving her a slight headache.
Why did the spirits have to be so confusing? What made matters worse was that Meili was an orphan. She didn't know who her parents were, let alone any members of her past lineage. Meili would never know how she and Aang were connected… if they even were.
She huffed, throwing the remainder of the bread onto the floor. Momo hurriedly jumped from the furniture, scrambling to snatch up the food.
Monk Gyatso said Aang didn't understand, couldn't grasp, the destruction some people were capable of. How was Meili supposed to teach Aang about that? The girl threw her head into her hands.
Right when she felt like ripping out her hair in frustration, the door to the icehouse swung open.
Meili perked her head up, her conscience softening when she caught sight of Katara and Aang entering the room. The two looked tired, wiped out from the hours of training. Right after the fight with Master Pakku and the subsequent arrival of Chief Arnook, the two benders were invited by Master Pakku to train.
That was almost eight hours ago, and now they were back looking absolutely exhausted.
"That was one of the best and worst days of my life," Katara said sluggishly, slouching through the doorway. With stiff steps, she walked to the couch and sprawled out next to Meili. "I'm so tired. I feel like I won't be able to move for another ten years."
"What did he make you guys do?" Meili questioned, her eyes moving from Katara to Aang, who looked just as tired.
"We didn't even do any crazy bending. Half of the time we were there, he made us hold the water whip pose. That's it! I thought my arms were going to fall off!" Aang yelled, flopping to the ground. He landed with a comical gush of wind blowing out around his body, knocking Momo and the bread up into the air.
"Why did he do that?"
Katara sighed. "The water whip is one of the most basic forms. Master Pakku said that if we train our body to automatically return to that position, we can switch to another attack easier."
Momo scurried on top of Aang's stomach, the bread clutched in his hands. The Avatar rubbed a hand atop the animal's head softly, even though the muscles in his arms were screaming in opposition.
"I just feel like there's so much to do, and we don't have enough time to do it," Aang spoke quietly.
The room's temperature turned cold after that statement, causing Katara to sit up in her spot.
"Don't say that, Aang," she consoled. "It's all going to work out."
"But what if it doesn't. What If I fail? What if I become known as the worst Avatar ever?"
"Then they would be wrong," Katara stated in rebuttal, her mouth pulling up into a small smile. "We're going to get through this. We have a plan and weeks of preparation that the Fire Nation won't see coming."
Meili stayed silent, picking absentmindedly at her nails. Part of her agreed with the monk. Sure, the Water Tribe was big, but the Fire Nation had fleets. Advanced weaponry. Armor. Numbers.
This upcoming battle was going to be different than any Freedom Fighter raid she had experienced. It wasn't going to be a few tens of soldiers; it was going to be a few thousand.
"Yeah, but they have a different morality than us. The Fire Nation hurts innocent people," Aang mulled, closing his eyes. "I just don't understand why it has to be this way."
"He doesn't understand," Monk Gyatso's words repeated in Meili's mind.
"Unfortunately, it just does," Meili murmured. The two waterbenders turned to look at the girl, making her turn her head away. "The sad part is… everyone thinks that they're the good guys. Half of the Fire Nation soldiers are just doing what they're told, and they think what they're doing is right."
Aang seemed to perk up. "Well, maybe we can change their minds! What if we find a way to show them our side?"
Katara smiled halfheartedly. "Aang… that's a sweet thought, but the war has gone on for far too long now. People were born into this way of thinking. It's not a mindset that can be changed overnight."
Meili looked down into her lap. Katara's words were the truth. It was why Meili kept her firebending a secret. It was why she wished she wasn't a firebender. For a hundred years, the Fire Nation wreaked havoc across the world. They were the bad guys.
She was the bad guy.
Aang deflated once more, pushing himself up from the ground with a powerful gust of air.
"I'm tired. I think I'm going to get some rest."
"Okay," Katara said, watching the monk slowly slink towards the hallway before disappearing into his room.
The living room was silent, save for the quiet sounds of Momo munching on the bread. Katara let out a small sigh.
"Where's my brother?"
Meili shrugged, lounging back out on the couch. "Beats me. He went out for some air about an hour ago."
"It seems like the pressure is getting to all of us, huh?" Katara questioned, her eyes kind and smile soft, but sadness enveloped her disposition.
"Don't worry, Princess. You're going to master waterbending. If anyone can do it, you can."
Katara looked a little surprised. "Aw, that was a real compliment from you."
Meili blushed in embarrassment. "Can't any of you guys just let me be nice without calling me out for it?"
Katara laughed into the palm of her hand. "I'm sorry. That means a lot to me, though, especially coming from you."
Meili sat quietly in her spot, thinking of what to say, not knowing how to put it.
"You know… I… I envy you, Princess."
Katara faltered in her place, her blue eyes falling upon Meili's figure. At that moment, Meili looked so small, so frail. "You… what?"
"I mean like… I wish I was more like you," Meili reiterated, her fingers clumsily finding one another again. She anxiously picked at the appendages. "You're just everything I'm not."
Katara scooted closer to the girl, putting a consoling hand on her shoulder. "Don't say that. We were all made differently, and those differences make us unique. They make us who we are."
"Yeah, but…" Meili trailed off, her fingers stopping in the tracks. "People don't fear you. Waterbending is so free and beautiful. With fire, I just ruin everything I touch."
Katara paused for a moment, pondering in silence, before grabbing ahold of Meili's hand still fastened in her lap. "This is about your scar, isn't it?"
Meili stared at the russet hand falling delicately upon her own. "Yes."
Meili had never openly admitted it, but her past was what was holding her back. It was the one thing that reminded her that she was a failure. But there was something about Katara that was comforting, warm, accepting. Meili had never met someone like that before.
And while trusting others did make Meili feel weak, for some reason, trusting Katara made her feel strong.
"You know I'm always here to listen … whenever you're ready to share. You don't have to do everything on your own anymore."
And Meili knew that.
For as long as she could remember, she had to shelter away all her feelings. She had to take care of Jai, so she had no time to be weak. He needed someone to take care of him, and Meili had to be that person.
But all those years of neglecting her own problems were starting to take their toll. Walls were beginning to come undone. Her mask was falling in front of her new comrades, and she knew it was only a matter of time before her secrets were revealed.
Would they leave her like everyone else?
Or would things be different this time?
"Thank you, Katara," Meili said softly, standing up from her spot. "Now, how about we go to bed? We both officially have training in the morning."
Katara smirked, standing up. "Don't remind me. My arms still hurt from today."
Sokka walked around the icy streets lazily, half sulking, half brooding. He had so much on his mind. Between his growing feelings for Meili and the rising urge to protect her, the news of her joining the warrior training sessions unconcealed was eating away at his stomach.
He felt slightly insane, feeling awkwardly possessive of the girl who showed barely interest in him. Was this what his father called 'the chase'?
When hunting, easy game was no fun to capture. But the animals that got away made them more rewarding to catch. The thrill of the chase was exhilarating to some hunters, and some even became addicted to the feeling.
But Meili wasn't a tiger seal… or a llama deer… or a pigeon duck… she was a girl.
A girl that's driving me absolutely crazy, Sokka thought to himself.
The young boy stopped atop one of the many frozen bridges covering the water canals, kicking the railing in front of him. He didn't anticipate the railing to be rock hard, and after a painful collision, Sokka comically rubbed his toes over his boots, hoping to soothe the pain.
Curse Meili and her stupid mind-games and her stupid grin and her stupid lips… Sokka ruffled his hair dramatically. He told himself that she didn't matter. He didn't care about her or the warrior boys she will be sparring against. Or Sitka and his irritating glances and comments.
"Is everything okay?" a soft voice questioned gently.
Sokka immediately turned in his spot, only to see the princess taking an evening stroll. Sokka remembered that he was angrily gripping his hair and quickly righted himself to appear more regal.
"Oh, P-Princess Yue," Sokka stammered, bowing immediately in his spot. "Is your night good? Wait – I mean, uhm, are you having a good night?"
Princess Yue laughed lightly into her hand at the boy's goofy mistake, joining him by the bridge.
"Yes, I am. Thank you for asking."
Sokka smiled sheepishly. "Y-Yeah of course."
Princess Yue caught sight of the boy's rigid shoulders, contrasting his typical silly demeanor. She sighed, crossing her arms. "You're troubled, Sokka of the Southern Tribe, aren't you?"
"Troubled?" Sokka feigned incredulousness. "Who: me? Psh, no!"
Princess merely looked at him pointedly. With no rebuttal, Sokka sighed, slumping against the railing of the bridge.
"I see why you like her," Princes Yue spoke quietly, her voice almost a whisper fading out over the railing, echoing across throughout the streets.
Sokka rose his eyebrows. "Like who?"
"You know, that bandit girl."
Sokka blushed, albeit slightly, before standing upright like the princess was. Yue was very pretty, but he never knew just how pretty she was until he was this close. Her eyes were clear blue, with snow-white lashes falling over them like a canopy. Her cheeks and nose were slightly red, adding subtle saturation to her cool, olive skin.
"Am I that easy to read?"
"You are," Princess Yue smiled, a small, light smile. "At least to me."
"You're actually pretty hard to read, you know," Sokka stated, his eyes drawn to her pale white locks wavering in the winter air.
"Really?" Princess Yue questioned; shock was evident on her face. "What have you been trying to figure out?"
"Why you seem so sad all the time," Sokka said, turning to face the girl. "You're a princess. You have everything you could want. You have a loving father, you're engaged, your people love you… you're happy, right?"
Princess Yue smiled again, but it was no genuine smile. The slight upturn of her mouth never reached her eyes.
"I should be happy, but…" Princess Yue trailed off, her fingers gracing the metal of her betrothal necklace.
Sokka saw he fingers hover over the engraving, his nose slightly scrunching at the poor craftsmanship abilities of Hahn. "It's an arranged marriage, isn't it? You don't love him."
Princess Yue nodded her head slowly, letting out a small breath of air.
"She's so bold… and brave. I wish I were more like that."
"Like who?" Sokka asked.
"Your sister … and the friend you like."
Sokka blinked his eyes in confusion. "But you're a princess!"
Princess Yue let a small noise come out of her throat, and Sokka thought it was a snide snort unbefitting of a royal.
"Yeah, I'm a princess that can't even tell my own tribe how I feel. You and your friends have only been here for a few days, and you've already stood your ground against our customs. I feel like a coward."
Sokka put a hand on the princess's shoulder. "Don't feel like that. We are just outsiders looking in. And you're royalty here, so you're supposed to uphold the law, not break it."
"Yeah, but is it truly a law if it's not fair and just?" Princess Yue questioned, turning her blue eyes to look up at Sokka.
The Southern Tribe boy felt his shoulders slump. "I guess not."
They were silent for a moment, and Sokka dropped his hand back down to his side. The two of them looked out over the bridge down at the streets below, feeling the cold reminder of winter nip at their noses.
"She doesn't know, you know," Princess Yue interrupted the silence.
"Know what?"
"That you like her."
Sokka sighed, flexing his fingers anxiously from within his gloves. "Oh, yeah I kind of knew that already. Meili's just …" he trailed off trying to find the best way to put it, "complicated. One day she's all over me and the next she wants nothing to do with me. It's beyond confusing."
Princess Yue laughed lightly into her hand. "Us girls are not that … complicated."
"Are you kidding me? That's the furthest thing from the truth."
"I'm serious, Sokka of the Southern Tribe. You just have to pay attention."
"To what, her yelling at me?"
Princess Yue sighed, maybe even slightly agitatedly, a tone Sokka didn't think he would hear from the girl. "Don't listen to her words, listen to why she's speaking them."
The princess sighed, placing her hands on her hips. "I'll help you. Give me an example of what you consider yelling."
Sokka paused for a moment, tapping his chin thoughtfully.
"Well, she says she wants nothing to do with me, but then asks me questions about my past," Sokka huffed, his voice raising an octave. "Oh! And she'll tell me to leave her alone, right? But no! A little while later, she's practically begging me to stay by her side."
Sokka huffed, crossing his arms in front of him. "And – and she's always saying I'm so annoying, but then she'll start blushing if I'm anywhere near her. It's like she's two different people!"
Princess Yue shook her head, but a small hint of mirth played upon her lips. "You really don't know anything about girls... Say, you're a hunter, right?"
"My dad taught me how to hunt, yeah," Sokka nodded. "Why do you ask?"
"Do you have seals in the Southern Tribe?"
"Yeah, in the South Pole, we have arctic seals and tiger seals."
Princess Yue nodded. "Well, here in the Northern Tribe, we have turtle seals. They're a lot like tiger seals: they're aggressive, territorial, and combative."
Sokka rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm … not sure I understand."
"Turtle seals are hostile when they're approached, but after a few fish, they calm down and become friendly," Princess Yue spoke. "Do you get it?"
Sokka placed a hand upon the railing. "I … need to give Meili … fish?"
Princess Yue made a small face at his dense response.
"Turtle seals are only mean and aggressive because they are scared. From what you've told me, Meili doesn't understand relationships the way you do," Princess Yue elaborated. She placed a hand upon Sokka's gripping the railing. "When you found me again at the welcoming party, you told me Meili was an orphan. Don't you think that would make her scared to love?"
Sokka's eyes fell downward, his gaze lingering on the princess's gloved hand resting upon his own. He always thought that Meili was just unaware of her feelings but never scared of them. Could this be why she kept him at a distance?
She said the other night that she didn't want to hurt him or lose him because she was scared… but he thought it was because of the war. Sokka never thought she could be afraid to love him.
"Now that I think about it, I guess that makes sense…" Sokka trailed off, seemingly deep in thought. "So, you're saying that Meili's only pushing me away because she is afraid to like me?"
Princess Yue feigned shock. "Wow, you're so smart!"
"Ha ha, very funny," Sokka deadpanned, moving his hand from her grip.
"I would just be patient," Princess Yue spoke kindly. "She'll let down her walls when she's ready."
Sokka nodded. "I appreciate you talking with me. It really means a lot."
"Anytime," Princess Yue smiled. She paused for moment, as if to examine Sokka's face, before her cheeks flushed in a slight glow. "I know Meili may not realize it now, but she's very lucky to have a guy like you."
"T-Thanks," Sokka blushed himself. They stared at each other for a few moments, neither one of them moving, before Sokka suddenly laughed awkwardly to himself. He turned away abruptly, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
"Well, uhm, I should be heading off to bed. Katara's going to start wondering where I am, and I need to rest for, uh, warrior training –."
"I understand, Sokka of the Southern Tribe," Princess Yue smiled. "I will see you around."
Princess Yue began her descent back down the bridge, leaving Sokka to stare at the back of her figure as she all but glided away.
AN: Hello my lovely readers! This is a little bit of a ~filler~ chapter unfortunately, but it is really needed to expand upon the character development going on. We are nearing the end of Book One: Water! Who's excited for what's in store for Book Two ;)
As always, thank you for reviewing!
TheUncommonBlack and Vosck : I'm glad you liked the last chapter! The next one will have more Meili and Sokka interaction so stay tuned. :)