Author's Note: Hi everyone! This is just a super short story that I was thinking about doing as a full novel if the interest is there. I am exploring my Native American culture and also the spiritual aspect of it that I feel drawn to the most. Of course, some of this info is researched and other parts are what I have intuited and drawn from my headcanon. Let me know what you think about the story. This is a snippet from a storyline I thought of if Hakoda, Kya, Sokka, and Katara lived in the modern world. Cescie (pronounced: seh-shee) is my own creation, but I'd like to think that she would have been a wonderful addition to the A: TLA alternate universe. Always feel free to comment, follow, or favorite, and Happy Reading as always!

Disclaimer: None of the A: TLA characters are my own, but the original characters are all me baby!

The Shaman: A snippet...

Cescie woke up the next morning and knew what she had to do. The spirits made it clear that she would do a Spirit walk to ease Kya's passing into the Spirit world. Kya's spirit wasn't at rest and hadn't been for seven years. Many of the trials Hakoda's family endured was a result of Kya's broken connection to the Spirit world. She needed some long-hidden truths to be revealed for her spirit to finally be at peace. Kya saw a kind and powerful conduit in Cescie and trusted the woman who found a way to love her former husband back to life. After Kya's death, Hakoda had become an empty hull, lifeless and loveless. He found no joy in his life or work and saw no need for the pleasures of life until that day in Las Vegas. It wasn't an accident that Cescie's luggage went missing at the airport or that the pair would meet at the casino's bar that night. They were two lonely people who needed a serendipitous encounter.

Cescie was a chief who wasn't appreciated because she was a woman and was gifted with intense shamanic powers, which fueled jealousy and hatred among some of her people, and Hakoda largely took the abuses thrown at him from his village because of his shame and embarrassment from what was considered his failings as a man. He felt like such a poor husband and thought he didn't even deserve to be chief. It was time that everyone knew the real reason Hakoda wasn't there for his wife that fateful day. By no means was her husband perfect but he was a good man and Kya couldn't be at rest knowing he still tortured himself about a past that wasn't even his doing. It was time for the real story to be revealed and for people to take responsibility for their own lives and actions. Kya would release Hakoda from his self-imposed prison today.

Cescie took a ritual bath in the early dawn just before the sun peaked over the horizon. The tepid water made her alert and aware of the stillness in the pre-dawn light. She smiled at the easy breathing of her husband still in the bed. She heard the faint call of the whales in the sea and the gulls looking for an early breakfast. The peaceful moment was comforting knowing that what she would do today could potentially end or start a war. The days were of course much shorter now that winter was approaching but this task would have to be done today before the next sunrise. She took care to remove the makeup from her shoulder carefully revealing the evidence of her status as a shaman. The mark of the Wolf. She was also considered a Child of the Bear but to receive that brand also would have taken her life the day she was inducted. She would have been too powerful for the mortal world. So, one of the omens had to be suppressed.

The older shaman who guided Cescie through her trial and awakening knew that the Wolf would be the sign that allowed her to unite the nations for the Wolf was revered for its wisdom and prowess. It was the sign of a true leader. It was foretold that Cescie would be gifted by multiple spirits to revive the people and bring back reverence for the old ways not only in her tribe but in all of the indigenous nations. Cescie took her position seriously and though she was no longer acting chief of her tribe she was still and would forever be a shaman. Once clean, Cescie showered as a final cleanse to remove any residue of her previous soak. She didn't want there to be anything on her that would offend the spirits for her work today. A Spirit walk was a high energetic work that required one to be of pure heart and mind as well as single in purpose if the spirits were to hear and allow her to be a conduit for a soul crossed over into the Spirit world or the half lands.

The woman donned her ceremonial robes of leather cloth, beads, and feathers. She carried her headdress and prepared to wear it once she arrived at her destination. Cescie didn't tell her husband what she had planned today but it was enough that he agreed to follow her for her spiritual mission as she called it. Sokka and Katara readily agreed to come too. Perhaps seeing Cescie in her role as a shaman piqued their curiosity so they came without complaint. Cescie smiled at the favor the spirits bestowed. She only hoped that favor would extend to the house she was about to visit. When the teens and Hakoda realized where Cescie was headed it was too late. She put on her headband and stood humbly at the door and knocked. Hakoda went wide-eyed and glanced at his children who also shared his look. What is this woman doing? Doesn't she know where they are? The door opened slowly, and a frail older woman stared at her daughter's broken family in disbelief. They dare show up here? The little whore who her daughter had to defend against that thug and the weak-willed husband who let Kya run to her death? Sokka was alright but he couldn't very well split himself between his two families, so he had to suffer too.

This woman… Isn't she the strange American woman that married Hakoda? She's not even Yupik! What is she doing here and what was her ridiculous outfit? Loti tried to close the door, but the strangely dressed woman spoke quickly in rough Alutiiq. "I have come to offer my services as a shaman to your family to right a wrong and free your daughter's stalled spirit. May I speak with you and your husband?" Loti stared at the woman for a long moment. An angakok? There hasn't been a shaman in their village for a long time. The strange woman with coppery-brown skin and long, thick grey and black hair had no lie in her eyes and Loti reluctantly allowed them in. She shuffled into the living room though she didn't offer them a seat. She figured they wouldn't be here too long once her husband saw them. Hakoda swallowed thickly. Was this really the best idea? The tension with Loti alone was enough to choke the life out of everyone in the room. Before he could tap his wife and make their escape, Otuk walked into the room chuckling at a joke from his son who walked beside him.

The room instantly went silent as he saw his disgraced former son-in-law and grandchildren standing awkwardly in the middle of the room. The only person who seemed to look like they knew what was going on was the oddly dressed wife of Hakoda who wore an unfamiliar robe of leather and feathers. Cescie smiled and bowed respectfully. She repeated her sentence in Alutiiq to Otuk whose eyes widened in shock. This is what his dream was about! He had been forewarned that an angakok would come to visit and that he should treat her with respect and kindness for she would reveal all the hidden things. Otuk couldn't help but smile because she was Hakoda's new wife who would bring justice to his daughter. He wouldn't trust his dream fully without asking for a little proof that she was indeed a shaman. "How do I know you aren't just wearing a costume? You don't even look old enough to be a shaman." He grunted. Cescie nodded reverently and quickly opened her robe to the shock and surprise everyone in the room. Hakoda thought he would faint at the thought of his wife disrobing in front of his in-laws. Sokka's eyes grew to the size of moons and Katara covered hers. Loti and Cescie rolled their eyes knowing she wouldn't dishonor herself in front of strangers.

Cescie had on a haltered shift underneath which revealed her arms and shoulders. Otuk gasped at the sight of her branded tattoo of the wolf on her shoulder. He knew that some shamans from other tribes were given the mark of their totem and imbued with the power of that animal. The wolf is highly regarded by his people too. He would hear what she had to say. Otuk sighed deeply. "We have not had an angakok in our land for a long time. I feel that some of the ill omens in our lives have happened because we forgot about the old ways. I was given a dream that you would come, I just didn't expect it to be you specifically." He said with a chuckle. Hakoda took a deep breath. That was on him too. Chiefs were designated as the social and political leaders but were also responsible for either choosing a spiritual leader or becoming one. Cescie smiled as she refastened her robe; she understood that too. "I'm only here to help." She said quietly. "I have been receiving messages from the Spirit world that Kya is not at rest. Her spirit is caught between the half lands because there are things that must be confessed and made right before she will be at peace. I have been asked to conduct a Spirit walk." Loti and Otuk looked at each other and then at Cescie.

Was she powerful enough to perform a Spirit walk? The last angakok who could do such a thing was Hakoda's father, but he too was not Yupik by blood and that was many, many years ago. Hakoda looked at his wife intently. A Spirit Walk? He knew she was a powerful shaman because he was on the receiving end of her insights on more than one occasion, but a Spirit walk… That required strength of mind, character, and body. Shamans have collapsed and been on the verge of death from lesser activities. Cescie's mind and character were impeccable but her body… This work could kill her. But looking at the determination in her eyes Hakoda knew Cescie knew that too. His voice was barely a whisper. "Are you sure about this?" Cescie took her husband's hand gently and briefly. "It is the will of the spirits, Hakoda. Whatever happens to me, happens, but this work must be done. I will begin by creating a sacred circle." She said without faltering. Otuk had to admire the woman for her strength. At least one person in their family was courageous enough to stand up for the family. He only hoped Hakoda would one day take a page from her book.

Cescie looked at each person in the circle and began with Sokka and Katara. Next, she positioned the youngest of Otuk and Loti's children in order to the oldest. How she knew without knowing them was already evidence that she was not operating under her own power. She finished with Otuk and then Loti. She perceived Loti was the most receptive and willing to connect so she would use her as the catalyst for the walk. Hakoda looked around at how his wife positioned each person in the circle. Hakoda was the only one who wasn't officially in the circle or sitting. "Uh, honey, shouldn't I be sitting next to the children in this circle?" he asked with more than a little curiosity. Cescie held back the urge to laugh at his voice rising a few octaves and said solemnly, "Actually, Hakoda, you're on trial today. There are issues that must be resolved between not only you and your in-laws but also between you and your children so you must stand here. All things will be understood in time." Cescie whispered cryptically. She mouthed the words "trust me" to Hakoda gently so that only he could see it and he hung his head. Okut and Loti smirked at that. Even his own wife knew he was guilty, and she would not be impartial. She must indeed be a shaman. They would allow this moment of truth. But Hakoda hung his head for another reason; It wasn't shame as much as he realized he didn't trust Cescie often enough. His wife was so much more intelligent than he often gave her credit for. Whatever she was about to do was to help everyone. He could already tell Kya's family was open to receiving her knowing she wasn't showing favoritism or even deference to her own husband. Cescie was willing to bare everything if it meant she could bring reconciliation between the two families.

She looked around at each person in the sacred circle until her eye fell on the youngest son in Okut's family and pointed at him so that no one was confused as to who she meant. "My dear, will you bring me a bowl of fresh snow? Not yellow, or green, not solid ice, just snow." She said with a smile matching the mischievous one of the younger. Oren smirked because that was exactly what he had planned to do to the wife of the man who killed his sister, but quickly straightened up when his father glared at his audacity to potentially offend a true shaman. Oren ducked his head from his father's scrutiny and went out with a clean bowl to complete the woman's request. Katara and Sokka bit back laughs for their cousin's sake knowing this was supposed to be a serious moment. They too straightened up quickly when Cescie raised an eyebrow and gave them a look that was all too familiar. Oren came in shortly after handing Cescie the bowl with much more reverence than before and went to take his seat in the original place he was instructed to sit. Cescie took the snow praying a special incantation over the bowl asking that its original use be converted to a spiritual one. She then washed her face, her hands, and then her feet with the snow. Okut handed her a clean towel which she took gratefully to remove the freezing cold water. Cescie was now ready.

"Everyone please close your eyes and Loti hold my hands. Whatever you hear, see or feel just be still and listen. Speak when spoken to and always respectfully. The spirits are granting us a boon; let us always be grateful." She spoke evenly and with authority. "I will begin now." She said kindly. Cescie began to sing and pray a song of thanksgiving to the Spirits for the opportunity to touch heaven and earth. The room grew colder but not uncomfortable. The younger children squirmed in surprise, but everyone remained in place. Cescie began to pray for the spirit of confession to come forth and for all in the circle to release anger, strife, and unforgiveness so that they could hear the messages of the heavenly realm for them. Otuk squirmed uncomfortably at the forgiveness part but worked on doing what he was asked. After a long moment, the room grew quiet and still almost unnaturally so. There were no echoes and the room felt insulated and cut off from the rest of the house. They were now in the half lands. A familiar voice filled the space.

"Wow, you really are a powerful angakok, Cescie! Thank you for helping me get here." The ethereal Kya said standing in the middle of the circle smiling and holding a small baby boy who resembled Sokka but didn't have a wolf's tale still being too small to wear one. Kya smiled again. "Whoa, I never thought I'd see the day my family would cooperate with Atka again." She said referring to Hakoda. "Must be something in the air. Hello Ata, Aana, Irneq, Panik… glad to see you all in the same room for once. I assume you all know why we're here?" She asked to the surprise of everyone in the room except Cescie who was holding Loti's hands in a deep trance-like state. Her eyes remained closed. She didn't move her mouth or body, so they knew it was no trick of the eye. Kya was truly standing before them. "Mom!" Katara and Sokka yelled in sync. Kya held up her hand gently but firmly stopping them from approaching. "I can't touch you. It would hurt Cescie. She's my conduit and has been very kind to me so I'd like to return the favor, but I'm so glad to see you both, kids. I miss you so much." She said with a sadness only a mother could feel. Loti swallowed against her tears. She felt it too. The kids sighed and Katara fought from devolving into a puddle of emotion. They sat down quietly and waited. They were grateful just to be able to see their mother one last time. Kya greeted her siblings and turned to her parents.

"Ata, Aana, I know that there have been so many stories floating around about what happened the day I died, but I came here because none of them are true." Her parents' eyes shot open. They realized quickly that they weren't ready for what they were about to hear. Perhaps things are truly never what they seem. Kya sighed and looked at her husband. "Isn't that right Hakoda? It's time we put away the falsehoods, cover-ups, and hurt. There isn't anything to protect anymore. They need to know what happened, truly." She said gazing into her husband's eyes. Hakoda swallowed hard. Telling them what really happened was the last thing he wanted. It was too much for his soul to bear. "What would it change, Kya? If I tell them what happened, will it bring you back? Will it right every wrong?" Hakoda whispered with deep frustration and shame. Kya saw the fear in his eyes. Pride actually. He was really afraid to be vulnerable and allow his family to find healing and closure. "It will change everything, Hakoda. You will be free. My family can put me to rest and I will have peace and go to the Spirit world with our son. Tell the truth," Kya hissed with urgency. They only had a little time left. If he refused to be free on his own she would help him. The spirit world gave Kya many insights about her life that she didn't see before she died. She knew her husband had been taking the blame for something that wasn't his fault. This machismo façade had to be unveiled today. This would be the only opportunity.

Kya sensed that Cescie couldn't hold onto her spirit for much longer. Her body was strong, but she was supporting too many souls at once. "Tell the truth!" Kya screamed her voice sounding cold and fiery all at once. Hakoda shook like a leaf in a strong wind. His voice trembled but he found it. "I-I wasn't having an affair the day Kya was killed. I was set up by Meredith and Atika. Atika asked me to do a welfare check on Meredith because she hadn't heard from her in days." Hakoda sighed as if he was in pain. Perhaps he was. Sokka and Katara remembered the rumors. Hakoda slept around. Hakoda didn't care about his wife or daughter. Hakoda was too much of a coward to deal with Bradley Morza. Something told them that what he was about to reveal was the truth. Otuk shook with rage. This wasn't what he expected to hear. He wanted to hear his son-in-law confess to neglecting his daughter. Confess to leaving her to fend for herself. Confess to being a poor father and husband. Kya looked at her father and shook her head. "You must let your anger go, Ata. Hear him out." Loti let the tears she held back fall in abundance. Kya had come back just to protect her family once again. She couldn't rest because those she loved were in chaos.

Hakoda sighed not bothering to remove the tears that fell from his reddened eyes. "I wasn't going to go because I figured Meredith was on another one of her benders. Happens all the time, but Atika was so worried that I figured it was better to be safe than sorry, so I went to her house and knocked on the door." he whispered. Everyone knew just how manipulative Meredith O'Hare could be and had a sinking feeling that they knew where this story was possibly going. Hakoda took a deep breath for courage. "Just before I turned to leave, Meredith opened the door clearly inebriated or so I thought. She was acting reckless and I thought I would put her back in her house and call Atika to come and take care of her. She pretended to pass out in the snow." Hakoda worked his jaw to keep from punching something. Loti closed her eyes against the growing knowledge of what happened to her son-in-law. "I reached down to pick her up and she jabbed me with a hypodermic needle. That was the last thing I remember. When I came to, my whole world was upside down: Kya was gone; Morza was too and I was branded an adulterer and a coward," He ended his voice giving out. It made sense to everyone listening. Meredith O'Hare was a nurse and had access to anything she wanted to use to render a man unconscious. She also knew about Bradley Morza because Katara had first shared with her what had happened that day after school. Meredith would have also been aware of Hakoda's investigation seeing as she had to report the abuse to him. She could have easily colluded with Bradley to ruin Hakoda for rejecting her advances and to get Hakoda off of Bradley's case.

Kya looked ashamed for a moment, then called out to her father. "Ata," she said. He looked up knowing that she was about to shatter his prejudiced notions about his son-in-law. "Ata, Hakoda told me not to go to that man's house. He made it clear he would deal with Bradley Morza himself. When I didn't see Hakoda's truck at Morza's house, I had had enough of waiting. I got impatient. I went there, foolishly—I went, and it cost me my life and my son's life. I didn't trust my husband enough to do what he said he would do, Ata, and he would have dealt with the situation that day if that wretched woman had not been scheming against us. She drugged my husband, she held him there against his will and raped him. She took pictures to ruin him," Kya said angrily. Hakoda jerked at the reality of his wife's words. He knew in his heart what his mind refused to believe. It was too shameful to think he was a victim attacked and used by a woman in that way. He was afraid the others would think less of him too and just wouldn't believe it, but that wasn't enough of a reason to hide from the world. His family needed this truth.

Otuk was shaking firmly holding on to his knees. He desperately wanted to believe that his son-in-law was responsible for his daughter's death and now he was faced with a real choice: Forgive or live in a lie. Kya saw the struggle in her father's eyes. "Ata, you taught me better than to judge a man on hearsay and to not act on impulse. I did both. I have accepted my fate. It is time for you to accept yours. All of you. Forgiveness is a choice. Hakoda has spoken his truth. I've spoken mine. It's time for you to speak yours. What will you do?" she challenged. The siblings and niece and nephew all looked at each other. This story was wild but perfectly believable because they knew Hakoda deep down and they also knew Kya. They too had been willing to listen to the lies because it was easier than accepting the truth that wasn't as easy to see. They knew what they would do. Oren was the first to speak up. "Hakoda, I haven't been fair to you and I did a lot of disrespectful things to you and my niece and nephew out of anger because of what I thought you did to my sister. I now know none of it's true. I know it will take time, but I want to be a family again." He said humbly. Katara and Sokka stared at their uncle. He was never the one to take a firm stance on anything except how much he hated them! He had openly rejected their family and expressed his disdain for them to anyone who would listen. This had to be the spirits at work.

Ola, Oren's older sister looked at Katara. "I haven't been fair either. It wasn't right of me to call you those names and assume you wanted that terrible thing that happened to you. You didn't deserve to be attacked any more than your dad did, and I never should have spread all those rumors about you. I'm really sorry and I hope you can forgive me too." She said wiping tears from her eyes. Katara inhaled sharply. She looked at her mother. "Aana, I'm sorry that I hated you for leaving me. I blamed you for my terrible life. I was so hurt and afraid and I didn't know how to deal with losing you. Cescie helped me with that a lot but this is what I needed the most. I just really miss you. Can you forgive me?" she whispered. Kya chuckled softly and smiled. "Of course, that's why I'm here now. Can you forgive me for not using wisdom and letting my anger get the best of me? I never meant to leave you, princess." She said softly. Katara gave a sob and nodded knowing that her mother truly did love her and didn't want to abandon her. She suddenly realized that she also had something to say to her father. "Ata…I've said some really awful things to you. I know my words cut you deeply and you took them even when you didn't have to do it. For a long time, I blamed you for what happened to me and Mom's death too and I resented you. I disrespected you. I never knew how much you had been hurt too. I'm sorry…" she cried softly. Hakoda felt weak and collapsed to his knees. He didn't expect this much to happen on Cescie's little spiritual mission but for once it felt like the world wasn't falling on his shoulders to crush him to powder. Loti looked to her husband.

Otuk sighed deeply knowing what it was his wife wanted from him. His own children showed resilience and made the necessary step to end the chaos and hatred between the two families. He didn't know how much more time he had but if he didn't do what he knew was right this instant, his daughter could potentially be stuck in the half lands forever. "Hakoda," he began reluctantly. "It's clear that even beyond the grave my daughter loves you enough to defend you. I didn't seek the truth. I didn't judge righteously, and I damaged a good relationship with my son-in-law and missed out on being with my grandchildren. I know that what you had to share with us wasn't easy, but I also know it's the truth. My heart tells me it is, and I want to make things right." Otuk got up and walked over to Hakoda. He held out his hand. Hakoda took it warily but Otuk helped him up and put his arm in a Water Tribe handshake clasping his forearm firmly and nodding. "I'm sorry I doubted you, son. Please forgive me for treating you so badly all these years. I want to work at being a family again," He said confidently. At this, Hakoda broke. His façade finally shattered into pieces and he began to cry. Oruk pulled Hakoda into his arms and let him release all the pain, heaviness, and shame that kept him from being the chief he had always known he was. Kya smiled at her father and husband knowing that finally, she and her son could go to the Spirit world where they belonged. It was hard saying goodbye, but not when she knew the future was a little bit brighter and her family would be OK.

"Akta, it's time for me to go. Cescie is pretty damn amazing. Hakoda, please treat her like the queen she is." Kya said with a bright knowing smile. Her eyes widened as she saw the sun begin to set. "I have to go now, everyone. If Cescie holds on to me too much longer it will hurt the baby. Congratulations by the way…" Kya said to Hakoda as she and her little boy began to fade from view. Within a few seconds, Cescie inhaled sharply breathing as if she just emerged from being underwater. "Hakoda? Did you talk to Kya?" she asked after trying to catch her breath. Oruk released Hakoda who immediately went to his wife and put his arms around her protectively. He let her lean into his shoulder. Hakoda rested his chin in the crook between her shoulder and neck and sighed deeply taking in her scent. "Yes, honey. We talked to her. Thank you…" he said with more gratefulness than he could express. Cescie sighed. "Oh, good—I," Cescie stopped mid-sentence and grabbed the nearest container to her. It was the bowl that held the recently melted snow. She vomited several times hurling and gagging over the bowl to everyone's shock and disgust. Cescie put the bowl down with shaky hands.

"I don't know what that was. I'm sorry about your bowl." She despaired. Loti shook her head. "I think I may have an idea. You got a minute?" she asked with a knowing smirk reminiscent of her daughter's. Fifteen minutes later Cescie walked out of Loti's midwifery clinic like she had just seen a ghost rather than be a conduit for one. Hakoda watched his wife warily. "Cescie, you good?" he asked carefully. His wife blinked. "I'm having a baby," she said almost starstruck. She looked up at her husband holding her hand to her mouth. "Oh my God, honey we're having a baby…" she whispered more to herself than her husband. Loti laughed at the deer in headlights look between the husband and wife. "It appears the baby will be here in time for spring. Congratulations!" she said cheerfully. Sokka and Katara stared at their father and stepmother and then at each other. They shook violently when they realized what their parents had to do to get a baby. That thought gave them the oogies…