I was barely able to get this chapter online for today. Tomorrow i'll have more time to write. Prepare for some Earth Kingdom action in the following chapter!

Chapter 10: Leaving the tribe

When Mako stepped through the door of his house, he was immediately hugged to death by his mother. "Oh thank the spirits you're safe! I thought you would get yourself killed out there!" Mako's mom , Laka, said in one big relieved breath.

"Don't worry mom, I'm fine… Hey, where's dad? I need to speak to you both." After Mako reassured his mother that everything was fine, his expression turned serious.

His mother was confused by his tone of voice, but she answered him anyway. "Your father is in the bathroom, bending the tub back together… What do you want to talk about?"

Knowing his mother would ask what it was about, he dodged the question so he didn't have to repeat what he wanted to say. "Let's go to dad first, then I'll tell you."

Not long after, he found his dad in the bathroom. Kuda was bending every item that broke during the attack, back together to its original state. He saw his son standing at the entrance when he called him forth. Mako did as he was told and embraced the man he called his father.

"I'm so glad you made it out alive, Mako. Master Pakku said you held your own quite well today." His dad was obviously proud of his son for doing well in his first battle.

"Thanks dad…" he let go of the older man and his expression turned serious once more, "… but I have to talk to you guys about something." He turned to the both of them and wanted to explain further. "I want to go with the avatar on his journey to end this war." He said with determination in his voice.

His father and mother both looked at Mako, then back at each other, and back at Mako. His father spoke after a while. "You want to leave the north pole?" they didn't like the idea of their youngest son risking his life in a never ending war.

Mako saw their looks, but didn't lose his confidence on the matter. "Yes, and I will be leaving today."

His parents looked at each other once again, followed with a sigh from both. "Mako, is this because Kyra didn't want to marry you?" his mother spoke to him in disappointment.

"No, I'm leaving to end this ridiculous war and protect our people." He tried to stay calm, but was agitated when Kyra was mentioned.

Kuda frowned and raised his voice, "Well I'm your father, and I say you stay here." Laka nodded while her husband was speaking.

Mako had to let out a sigh, when he heard his father's response. "Dad… you know I love you and mom, but I have to do this. I don't know what to do with my life."

His father was quick to respond in an angry scowl. "Why can't you figure that out in the north pole? You think you'll find it with the avatar?" His father walked up to him, until he was right in Mako's face.

Mako didn't want to give in by looking away, so he kept staring back at his father. "Yes."

"Well then go!" his father yelled at him, swiftly turning back around and leaving Mako and his mother standing in his wake.

After an initial moment of silence between him and his mother, Laka broke the silence by reassuring Mako. "He doesn't mean it, he wants you to stay."

Mako looked at his mother with a frown still on his face. "Yeah… I know."

He went into his room while he spoke further. "I was just coming back to tell you guys I was leaving, I didn't know it would turn out this way." He turned to his mother with an apologetic look in his eyes.

His mother quickly slung her arms around him as best she could, and whispered: "How can I keep you from going?"

Returning the embrace, Mako had to let a smile appear on his face. His mother never gave up quickly. "You can't."

He heard a sniff coming from his mother when she started speaking again. "I'll miss you." She sounded so sad, Mako wanted to lift her spirits.

"Me too. But don't worry mom, I'll come back. Tell dad I'll miss him too." He figured that this would be the last time he would see his parents, so he got a little emotional.

"I have to get going now…"

"Alright… be safe Mako." his mother released him from her hold and went to talk to Kuda, wiping away a tear when she walked away.

He looked over his room and collected the things he would need on his journey. He saw his axe hanging on the wall and moved to take it with him. When he had everything he needed, Mako went to the palace so he could join the Gaang to leave his homeland.

He came up to the palace, where he saw the Gaang all hugging each other. Katara saw him coming up to them and immediately felt a blush creep in on her face. She remembered his lips on hers the night before, and felt those bugs flying around in her stomach again.

She released the group's embrace and moved in Mako's direction. When they stood in front of each other and couldn't look the other in the eye. "H… hey, Mako." She hesitantly greeted him.

Mako looked up at Katara to see that she was looking at her feet. "Hey Katara…" he replied.

When he spoke, Katara glanced at him but didn't see a bag or something that would indicate he was coming with them. Immediately feeling disappointed, Katara voiced her concerns. "You aren't coming with us?"

"Well… if you'll still have me, I would love to accompany you." Mako saw Katara's expression change from disappointed to ecstatic in the blink of an eye.

"Great!" she threw her arms around him when she heard his reply.

"Mako!" Kuda was running up to the palace, yelling so his son would hear him. "Wait son!"

When his father reached him and Katara, Mako wondered what his dad was doing here. "Dad? What are you doing here?"

His dad was looking as if he would die from exhaustion, he was breathing heavily. "I didn't want to let you leave with us fighting."

Mako didn't want his father to do this in front of Katara, so he interrupted him. "Dad…"

Kuda wanted to finish, so he went on. "If I can't get you to stay, I want to let you know that I love you and hope you'll be safe."

Mako saw the emotional glint in his dad's eyes, so he took a step forward and embraced his dad for one last time. "Thanks dad." he whispered, so only his father would hear.

They stood there for a moment, until his father let go and walked away back to this house.

Mako stood there, watching his father leave when he heard Katara speaking to him. "Are you alright?"

Mako started to smile when he heard her. "Better than ever." He felt relieved that he and his father didn't left things on the wrong foot.

Katara too was relieved that Mako wouldn't be too down while they would be traveling. "Good… are you ready to leave then?"

He saw his father look back at him just before he rounded the corner, "Yeah, let's go."

Aang and Sokka greeted the new addition to their group and quickly took him in as their own.

His first flying experience was kind of frightening, but he adapted quite quickly. They were flying away on Appa heading for Omashu, leaving the northern water tribe behind them. Mako looked back at his homeland, proudly watching how his tribe still thrived after a 100 years of warfare. He turned back around when he could no longer see his tribe, conversing with his new friends and Katara. They flew off into the horizon with the rising sun on their backs, in search of new adventures.

AN: Have you read it? Then you still have to review! come on, get to it! (please? XD)