Next chapter, and I remind you it shall be Zuko/Sokka

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"What did Aunt Wu tell you, Sokka?" Aang finally asked the next day when they were traveling again, Appa's reins in his hands, on top of the flying bison's head as they flew over the earth.

"Nothing but some bogus junk," Sokka replied nonchalantly, "Something about change, burden and junk like that. It was nothing and it won't come true." He folded his arms and leaned them on the edge of the saddle, in the back corner of the saddle, watching the scenery down below.

"Aunt Wu hasn't been wrong yet though." Katara reminded her brother, absent mindedly scratching a sleepy Momo behind the ear, the little lemur purring contently; both of them up front in the saddle by Aang. Sokka didn't reply, staring down at the ground, deep in thought. Katara and Aang exchanged confused looks; Sokka wasn't usually one to just stop an argument.

Sokka's mind wondered as he watched the clouds roll by. He couldn't help but think about the prediction, because technically, Aunt Wu hadn't been wrong in any prediction she's made. 'Coincidence' he'd told himself, but really, a man... He shook his head, no, he wouldn't let himself be intimate with a man, it was wrong, it wasn't accepted anywhere in this time of war. Men needed to be with women to make children so that families and heritages would be passed on... besides, it wasn't as if Sokka had ever really considered that possibility for himself, it had been brought to his attention, he'd never dwelled on it before; until now, that is. He cursed that old fortune teller vulgarly in his mind for pulling such thoughts in his head. He couldn't even think of that possibility, he had to think about rearing children to carry on his own people, the very few people they had in the South Pole... didn't he?

Suddenly there was a loud rumble and all the humans (And one little Momo) Looked up, listening; Sokka's stomach was growling.

"Man, I'm hungry." Sokka whined, deep thought broken on account of empty stomach. Aang laughed and Katara giggled.

"Don't worry Sokka," Katara said and pointed over board, down to the ground below them where a village was coming into view fast. It was settled far from the ocean in the middle of the earth kingdom, in the middle of a vast plain. "Look, we can eat and rest there."

"Alright!" Aang exclaimed and directed Appa down, the huge flying bison grumbling loudly before plummeting down, landing in tall grass

The village, Haruka, was a quiet and calm place, for being far from the water they were only a little village with little shops and huts, though large fields of crops on the outside of the village. Corn mostly. The group (Minus Appa, who was eating grass in the field) was in the middle of the village, in a huddle.

Sokka shook his money bag upside down, looking crest fallen as only bits of dust fell from it, "Great, we're out of cash." Katara watched the dust fall, disappointed and Aang pouted. "I guess we'll have to find work."

"It does look like our only option." Katara agreed and blushed when her own stomach whined. "Now I'm starting to feel hungry." Momo, who sat on Aang's head, slumped down, clutching his little tummy, flopping to the ground, in a starving heap.

"Me too, and apparently Momo also," Aang said, scratching his now lemur free head. "Where should we work?"

They had decided to keep low key because news always traveled fast about the Avatar through fire-benders. Katara had broken the news to the boys that there should be no more free meals with the chiefs or kings of every village they visited. Common people, was the visual they were trying for. Ordinary travelers.

The group soon tried to find a restaurant or a job with quick pay, but no one was hiring, everyone had a job in the remote village and they didn't trust the strange group as quickly as most had. Even a rancher with a herd of Horse-oxen refused their offer for help.

Sokka finally plopped his rear end on the steps of a building that seemed unoccupied, the sun already in a position that signaled past noon.

"This is ridiculous," he stated as Aang and Katara joined him on the steps, "There's no job anywhere"

"Yeah, and the people aren't that nice," Katara commented, all the people in the village ignored their presence.

"Well we haven't tried this building," Aang said, pointing to the building behind them. The siblings looked to the dark building, seeing it might be a meeting hall or something of the sort.

"I bet it's like all the other places," Sokka said, but neither of his companions really paid attention to his opinion.

"I'll go check!" Aang announced and bounded up the steps to the door, Momo and Katara following, and last but not least, Sokka got up with a tired sigh and lagged after them.

Aang reached the door and knocked enthusiastically, the rest of them soon joining him in front of the door. They waited; though no one came.

"See, nothing," Sokka said.

"Try again Aang," Katara encouraged. Aang raised his fist to knock again, but before he did, it opened to reveal a woman in an old red kimono. She blinked once questioningly at them before speaking.

"Yes?" She asked softly.

"Ma'am," Katara started, "We're looking for work for food and boarding. You wouldn't have anything would you?" The woman at first looked like she was going to turn them away like all the others, but then she paused, rethinking the situation, glancing at both Katara and Aang.

"Well, I suppose," she said, "But I don't have much money. I could offer you food and shelter though." The whole group brightened.

"Really!" Aang exclaimed and the woman smiled softly.

"Yes," She said and moved aside for them to come in, "We can discuss it inside though, there's a lot to do." They all entered and the door shut behind them. They were in a small lobby. And the woman gestured for them to follow her to the room beyond that, where there was a large room and a stage in the way back, along with many seats. Katara and Aang were a little excited to see the stage, looking around at the earthy curtains along the wall and the forest like background on stage. "I'm having trouble with a couple of actors that dropped out before the show tonight," She gestured to Katara and Aang, "You two would be perfect for the roles."

"What about Sokka?" Katara asked, looking to her brother. Sokka quickly shook his head in protest.

"No way, I don't want to be any part of being on stage." He said and the woman broke in.

"I only need two actors, and I don't have time to persuade someone not willing to act," she said strictly, she had a short time schedule enough as it is. "You can eat, then you can rehearse, then you can stay the night." And with that a plan was set in motion and the woman went on to quickly tell them what Katara and Aang would be doing.

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This does have a point, bare with me