Author's Note: I have to admit I've been pretty nervous about this. Believe or not, it's hard to pick up where you left off after awhile. Here'sa short chapter to thank everyone for their reviews, and to say "Hey, I'm back!" I seriously hope it's as good as the last, and if so...Yay! I'd love to continue! There's alot to come up, so keep reading please.
The broken family spent weeks alone, waiting, shivering, crying, filled with anxity, worry, and dispair. Sokka and Katara eventually didn't count the days, they just blended together in a warp of bitter hopelessness. Somedays Koada left the alcove, claiming it was safe enough to gather food. Some days he didn't. While trying to cheer up Katara, Sokka could only hold back the tears. He knew deep down his father was right, as as long as he was there to protect Katara, it was his place NOT to cry. But thrashing thoughts raced in his mind. Is Mom really dead? Dad didn't say he actually found proof. What happened to all my friends? The elders? Why did the fire nation attack in the first place? Whatwill the village look like? Will it be scary, covered with blood? When will we leave this miserable place?
But as Katara leaned against his shoulder, shuttering softly, all he could think about was the time before. Cutting his finger, the snowball fight, his sister's laughter, his mother's smile, her kissing his wound even thought it was small, the spear she made him...and suddenly it stuck him.
Her spear. It was like a momento. The last thing she did for him...and he left it behind, hurrying after his father. Throwing his head into his knees, his hands tighted.
"Sokka..." Katara's brillant baby blue eyes were so dull and lifeless now. Her mother's confidence in her heart died along with Kana.
And Sokka just bravely forced a smile. "I'm alright. How 'bout you? You cold, Katara?" And seeing his sister made him remember what Kana would have said.
"Oh, Sokka. You're too young to think about things like that. Just enjoy being a kid. Your dad and I are here to take care of you, and we always will be. Now matter what happens." Then she would laugh, and smile. "So stop being a warrior and do something like your sister, would ya? You're too serious sometimes." She always wanted him to have a sense of humor about things. Just take it one step at a time and see what happens. As long as he had his sister...for that moment, he believed Kana would live on through her eyes.
Finally, after another two weeks dragged on, the signal was sent. It was safe to come home at last. But Koada and his children knew in their hearts it wouldn't really be home. A huge hole would just be left lingering to be filled. Kana was what made it home, not the igloo itself.
Trudging through the familar snow path, Sokka and Katara weren't even close to ready for what they were forced to see.
The air smelled of fresh blood, even though the battle over. Snow, insted of it's usual crispy white, was a brillant red, making the hills surrounding the igloos look like giant wound. Swords stuck in the ground, dead bodies covered the village in a mass. Ashes floated on pale faces, marking the fire nation's place. Katara let out a blood curdling scream, burying her face in Koada's shirt front. Sokka, of course was frightened. His worse fears had been met. His only hope now was that Kana got away safely, and left for another village...but he highly doubted it, no matter how much it hurt. The weeks before changed him. Cold wind hitting his face, he picked up the only white snowflakes at his feet, keeping his eyes on them. He couldn't bare to look up. He didn't want to go home now! There's no way he wanted to see his mom's favorite fur rug...bloody.