Bato, Sokka, Katara, and Aang stand on the Water Tribe vessel. Bato pats the ship lovingly. "This ship means a lot to me. My father built it for me for my ice-dodging. I've still got the scar from it. Do you have any good stories from yours Sokka?"

Sokka shuffles shamefully. Katara speaks, "He never got to go ice-dodging. Dad left before he got the chance."

"Oh," Bato's smile falls. "I forgot you were so young when we left."

"What's ice-dodging?" Aang questions.

"It's a rite of passage for Southern Water Tribe boys when they turn fourteen. You know what Sokka, you're about to find out what it's like."

"What!" Sokka's jaw droops and his face lights up.

"Yeah I mean it."

"How are we going to go ice-dodging without ice?"

"You will be dodging those." Bato points to the large rocks off the shore. Waves crash against the black pillars dangerously. Sokka's face lights up. Katara's face grows wolfish. Aang's face turns slightly green, hard pointy rocks aren't his thing. "Ice-dodging is a ceremonial test of bravery, wisdom, and trust. In our village it was done by weaving a boat through a field of icebergs. Here you'll be dodging the rocks. Sokka you'll be the one steering and calling the shots. Katara if you're up to it you'll secure the mainsail, the winds can be brutal so be brave. Aang you control the jib, without your steady hand we'll all go down. Your position is about trust."

"I know that," Aang squeaks. "Why wouldn't I know that? I'm the Avatar I know about trust!" Sokka looks at him for a moment but ignores Aang's outburst.

Bato sits down at the bow, crossing his legs and folding his arms over his chest. "For this to be done right I cannot help. You pass or fail on your own." Bato falls silent and Sokka immediately begins barking orders. His hands are on the tiller, steering the boat towards the sharp outcropping of rocks. Aang holds the ropes of the smaller sail and Katara the ropes of the larger one.

"Aang, ease up on the jib! Katara, steady!" The rocks are rushing closer. "Aang, less sail! Katara, give him room!" Sokka heaves on the tiller. They pass the first chunk of rocks, the ocean water spraying in their faces. The ship weaves with Sokka's guidance as he sweats buckets. "Aang! Helm to lee, helm to lee!"

As a flyer not a sailor Aang has no idea what Sokka means and lets him know. Aang hopes for the best when Sokka grunts instead of replying, his back pressed against the tiller trying to turn the boat quick enough. Katara strains against the rope in her hands trying to keep the sail steady and not accelerate them. Aang follows her lead. They swerve around a large rock just in time! The hide of the boat passes just inches from the sharp surface. "Great job!"

"Oh no," Katara mutters. The swerve brought them into a tighter space with rocks all around, their edges like knives and no room to sail between them. "There's no way through!"

At that Bato hurriedly stands. Sokka shouts, "We can make it!"

"Sokka, you've already proven yourself! Maybe we should-" Bato doesn't get to finish.

"Aang, I'm gonna need air in that sail! Katara, give me as much water as you can between us and those rocks okay! Now!" Aang begins to create gusts of wind that slam into the sails. Katara pulls the water up under the boat, her arms waving rhythmically. They can do this! Sokka struggles to keep the craft straight. The waves swell and along with them the boat. Higher, higher, higher, Aang's air bending raises it even more. The rocks are getting closer. They're almost on them! The boat passes over them and the waves sink back down into the rest of the sea. The wind stops blowing. Sokka is gasping, leaning on the edge for support. "You guys did a great job!" They all beam back at him, even Bato, especially Bato. He never expected the boy to do something like that, and he is so proud of the kids he helped raise.

Back on shore they have a small ceremony. It's not much but Bato has special blue paint specifically for it. As he dips his fingers into it Katara notices for the first time the burns on his hand. She'd noticed the bandages but it hadn't quite clicked and now in the daylight she sees the red welts. Maybe they're new enough she can help to heal them. She'll talk to him about it later, now she focuses on his words. "The spirits of water bear witness to these marks. For Sokka the mark of the wise, the same one your father received." Bato marks Sokka's forehead with a blue curved line - almost a moon, and a dot underneath it. "For Katara, the mark of the brave. Your courage inspires us. You have proven your bravery in countless ways over the past months but today you proved for the ocean and moon spirits to see. Stay strong." She smiles as he draws a crescent moon on her forehead. "For Aang, the mark of the trusted. From today forward you are an honorary member of the Southern Water Tribe."

Bato reaches forward but Aang's eyes are wide and he steps back quickly. "No, I can't."

"Sure you can!" Sokka claps him on the back.

"No, you can't trust me."

"Aang, what are you talking about?" Katara's voice has a hint of an edge.

Out of his sleeve the air bender pulls a crumpled sheet of paper. "You- you have to understand I was afraid you'd leave. I just got you back Katara. It's a message for Bato." Katara swipes it. "I was afraid!"

"This is a map to our father." She whispers, "You had it this whole time." Her voice rises and so does the water behind her. "How could you! After everything we've done for you, everything I've done for you how could you! I was captured because of you and I didn't tell them a damn thing! I even helped Zuko get ready to get you back from Zhao and you don't fucking tell us you have this! You're out of that damn ice block because of us and you don't tell us when something comes telling us where our father is!" She screeches. "Go to the North Pole by your own damn self!"

"Katara-"

"I don't want to hear it Aang." She turns and storms off.

"Sokka -"

"No Aang, that was below the belt. I'm with her on this." Sokka leaves and Bato throws a glance at the child before walking off leaving the Avatar alone with the surf.

. . .

"The fever around your cuts is going down and they seem to be healing well." Iroh is changing the bandages again. The peeling stings but Zuko ignores it and just wants to get back to life as usual. He's been practicing strategy and studying a lot lately since moving is still a little painful but his uncle isn't quite as much fun to spar with over a map as Katara is. Hell if Katara were here this wouldn't be a problem. He'd be healed and he'd have someone to talk to. His room is so empty now without her to keep him company. He hates to admit it but he misses the water bender. He is getting on good terms with members of his crew though. "How close to the Western Air Temple are we?"

"Still another two days and then half a day on foot." Iroh rubs the salve in. "Have you thought about who will come with you yet?"

"We're going in with ten other men: Jee, Hyeng, Korsono, Yoro, and Sho are on the list. We'll fan out and look. Maybe we'll find something. Hopefully." Zuko murmurs the last word to himself. His uncle didn't give him a straight answer when he asked about the Air Nomad Army but he has a feeling he won't like what he finds. If he's been lied to about something as simple as that what else has the Fire Nation taught him that isn't true.

. . .

Katara is throwing things off of Appa. Her knapsack is thrown. Sokka's sleeping bag is thrown. Her heavy robe is thrown. Sokka's bag of Goddess only knows what is thrown. Their cooking supplies are thrown. She grabs her knife, about to toss it from Appa's saddle also. Never give up without a fight. Oh she fought all right. She fought with her tribe to come with him. She fought with her brother about trusting him. She fought with Zuko about him and the war. Now to add to the list she's fought him about him being a self-serving, annoying, bratty, childish prick! She tucks the knife into her belt, grumbling as she climbs down from Appa. Screw him and his stupid arrow.

Sokka walks up behind her and nudges the pile on the ground. "I can't believe he'd do something like that! We're better off without him."

Katara nods her agreement but wonders how exactly she'll become a water bending master without going to the Northern Water Tribe. She nibbles her lip. She can go after they meet up with Dad. "It looks like it's about a five day walk if we head out now."

Bato comes up slowly, "Kids, I know he did something wrong, but-"

"I don't want to hear it," Katara counters. Sokka nods.

"I know, but I'm going to say it anyway. The Avatar's a little kid and you guys are the only family he has left."

Katara ignores him and Sokka looks a little guilty but shoulders his pack. They set out, Bato giving a respectful bow and his thanks to the nuns. The path they need to take winds inland before branching off towards the sea again. No one speaks but Katara huffs and clenches her fists in frustration every now and then. Sokka's guilt is slowing him down. He's starting to feel worse about leaving the kid but there's no way in hell he's going anywhere away from his sister, not so soon after he got her back. Off in the forest somewhere a wolf howls. It's a long and mournful cry. Katara stops for a moment to listen. "That wolf sounds sad."

"It's probably wounded."

Bato shakes his head. "No, it's been separated from the pack. I understand that pain. It's how I felt when the Water Tribe warriors had to leave me behind. They were my family and being away from them was even more painful than my wounds."

Katara knows what he's trying to say but she hears a different meaning. He hurts because he was away from his family, when she was separated from hers what did she do? She made friends, she learned bending, she thought of them yes, but she was so busy with other things that it hadn't bother her except late at night. Is there something wrong with her for that? She feels guilty about how easy it was to slip into a life with the fire benders.

Sokka's talking to her. "Katara?"

"Huh?" She hadn't heard a word he said.

"I said we need to go back for Aang. Bato's right, he's our family now too. As much as I want to see Dad, going to the North Pole and helping Aang out is more important."

She levels a stare at him. "After what he did you want to help him?"

"He messed up, we all do. It was a mistake and I'm sure he's learned from it. Believe it or not I think Aang needs us."

Katara huffs. "Fine." She wants to see her dad but she does owe Aang. She never would have left the Southern Water Tribe if not for him. She turns around and smiles sadly at Bato. "I never got the chance to ask if you wanted me to try and heal your wounds."

He laughs, "Don't worry. I'm tough, I've handled worse. Now you two get back to your Avatar I'm sure he misses you. I know where to go from here."

"Are you sure?" Sokka hands him the map anyway.

Bato pulls both kids into a hug. "You've grown so much. Your father would be proud of you, of what you've both done. He'll understand why you couldn't come." Sokka pulls away, tears in his eyes. The last time he saw his father was two years ago and who knows how long it'll be before they see him again.

Back at the abbey Aang mopes, slowly putting his belongings back onto Appa. The saddle is so big and so empty without Katara and Sokka. Appa roars. "I know buddy, I know. We're almost ready to leave. There's just a little bit more I want to organize before we head out." Truthfully there's nothing left to do. Everything is packed neatly away and they're ready to go, Aang just doesn't want to admit it. He doesn't want to leave by himself. He keeps telling himself maybe, maybe they'll have a change of heart and come back. What he did was pretty awful though so he doubts it.

All doubts are washed away as a lanky Water Tribe boy walks up and leans casually on Appa. Katara stands behind him, still scowling a little. "Weren't thinking of leaving without us were you?"

Aang's face nearly splits in half with a smile. "You guys came back!"

"Of course we did!"

"But what I did, that was terrible of me."

Katara replies, "Yeah, it really was but Sokka realized you're our family too. Right now you need us more."

"Thanks Katara." Aang blushes a little out of happiness and some other emotion he can't quite name.

"Now," Sokka rubs his hands together, "Northern Water Tribe here we come!"

. . .

Short chapter I know and I'm sorry. I just didn't want to make Chapter 9 too terribly long in comparison to my usual length. Thank you everyone who is reading and enjoying this story! I'd love to hear your thoughts!