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Chapter 1

Four years later...

I sat stock still in the blind I dug. Karra and I had tracked a herd of caribou for the last three days. We were careful to dig our blinds downwind of where they would cross our path.

A large bull stopped to dig in the shallow snow for some roots. He stood twenty yards from me and gave me a clear shot at his broad flank. I slowly shifted onto my knees careful not to make any noise. I nocked a whalebone tipped arrow and slowly drew back the string. I took a deep breath in and narrowed my focus on my target. I exhaled slowly zeroing in on my target. At the bottom of my breath I loosed my arrow and sent it sailing at the animal. The arrow sunk deep into the caribou's shoulder and pierced the heart. The large animal tried to bolt, but he fell before he could take a step. He was dead before he hit the snow. Beside me I heard the twang of a bow. I looked out towards the tundra and saw another felled buck.

"Nice shooting kid." Karra said peeking out of her blind.

"Who you calling kid?" I asked her as I pulled the hide strip down off of my nose and mouth.

"Let's hurry up with our kills before we attract the wolves." Karra said as she made her way to the caribou.

We hurried and bled the deer out and cleaned the animals for packing out. As is custom we cut the heart out and sliced it in half to let the spirit free. We offered up our thanks to Tui and La for the kill and we each ate a piece of raw heart. Once we completed our ritual we packed up our kill and headed to our camp where the dogs were.

"Katara's breasts are already bigger than mine." I said suddenly.

"What?!" Karra said stunned by my sudden statement.

"Katara already fills out her bindings. I barely even need mine."

"What does that have to do with...oh no, we're not doing this again Sokka. You can't keep comparing yourself to your sister." Karra exasperated.

"She's beautiful and talented and loved and perfect." I said downcast.

"Why do you keep doing this to yourself Sokka?"

"I don't know. I always hear the other women in the village tell Katara how beautiful she is and how she'll make such a good wife one day."

"Sokka, you don't even want to be a wife, you've told me a hundred times. What is it you say 'I was made to hunt not to make babies.'?" After a few seconds of silence she continued. "Is this because you turn sixteen in a few days?"

"Well, you're always going to be a hunter and you got married." I regretted those words as soon as I said them. I saw the pain in her eyes and she reached up to touch her betrothal necklace.

"I'm sorry Karra. I shouldn't have brought up those bad memories." I said as I put a comforting arm around her shoulders.

"It's okay Sokka, I know you didn't mean to." She said softly and gave me a smile.

"Come on, we need to hurry up to camp."

Karra and I sat around the fire of our camp that evening and shared stories about our lost loved ones.

"I was so happy that morning. I felt like a woman for the first time in my life. I think that was the first time I ever wore a dress." Karra told me.

"You were so beautiful. The whole ceremony your face was beaming with a brilliant smile." I said as I looked her in the eye.

"I miss that smile of yours. You used to have that smile all the time, now I hardly ever see it." I said sadly.

"Me too, it's just after all the men left things have been so hard. We've been so busy trying to provide for the village that there doesn't seem to be time to laugh and joke."

"I don't know. I seem to manage alright. I even get other people to laugh."

"Usually they're laughing at you, not with you." Korra said with a rare smirk.

"Hey, that's not true! I'm just a funny person." I mock pout knowing full well she's right.

"Need I remind you of the time when you got two hooks stuck in your thumb." I looked down at the round scar on my right thumb.

"The first hook wasn't my fault I'll have you know. Morina's son wasn't looking where he was casting and he hooked my thumb." I defended.

"Well, how'd the other one get in there?" She questioned knowingly.

"Okay, you're right. My life full of misfortunes has been a constant source of laughter for the village." I sighed in defeat.

"Oh come on Sokka, it's not that bad. Your care free spirit has kept the tribe from giving up hope." Karra said trying to cheer me up.

"I think it is Katara's optimism and presence that gives the tribe hope. I swear the way the village flaunts over her you'd think sunshine shines out her butt."

"Really, with this again? Come on Sokka, quit comparing yourself to her already." Karra huffed.

"I know how the tribe looks at me. I'm the chief's ugly, failure of a daughter and Katara's the perfect beautiful daughter. She's even a waterbender for spirits sake." I shouted.

"That's not true; the village doesn't think that of you." She said in a soft voice.

"Yes they do. How can they not? My own father believes that way. I've heard him myself multiple times. I overheard him tell Bato I was a worthless warrior. He even told my mom he wished I was born a boy." I said barely above a whisper.

Karra scooted in front of me and put her hands on either side of my face making me look at her in the eyes. "Listen to me Sokka, you are not a failure. You're one of the best hunters I've ever seen. You are a better shot with a bow than any of the men ever were. And, I think you are beautiful. You have the best eyes in the whole tribe. You're way more fun to be around than your sister ever will be."

"Thanks Karra, you're the best." I said into her shoulder as she wrapped me in a hug.

After my little emotional display of self doubt was over we ate a small meal of seal jerky and sea prune soup and went to sleep. We needed an early start if we wanted to get back to the tribe by early evening the next day.

I woke up to something nudging me in the back. I was too groggy to really think or care what it was. I just wanted to go back to sleep. I never felt like I got enough sleep anymore. It could have something to do with the nightmares I had almost every night. The battle that took my mom haunted me. It was the first time I saw a man die by another man, but what haunted my dreams the most was seeing my mom dead in a pool of her own blood. Every time I felt guilty, like I should have done more to protect my mom, to protect my tribe. It was just another reminder of my failures.

"Sokka, get your sleepy butt up. We need to get going." I heard Karra say and felt a few more nudges in my back.

"Ugh, okay I'm getting up." I groan as I began to get out of my sleeping roll. I always hated that part. Leaving the warmth of my furs and meeting the freezing tundra in just my tunic and pants.

"Hurry up Sokka, we're running behind already." She said as lazily I put on my parka, fur breeches, and boots.

"All right, jeez don't get your bindings in a bunch." I teased.

She returned the jest by pushing me when I was on one foot putting on a boot. I fell into the soft snow next to my lead sled dog Mikka. She immediately began licking my face, showing me her 'affection'.

"Ack! Mikka no! Mikka!" I tried to say through my peals of laughter and pushing to get my dog to stop licking my face. Thankfully Karra took pity on me and got Mikka off of me.

I sat up and slipped and gave Karra a mock glare. The smile on my face ruined any effect my glare could have had. She just chuckled at me and offered her hand once I put on my other boot. I took her hand and let her help me up to my feet.

"Well now that you're finally ready we can go. I already have the sleds packed up."

I knelt down in front of Mikka and scratched behind her ears. Mikka was born right after my mom died and my focus on training her helped me deal with the losing my mom. I took notice of her because she had bright ice-blue eyes that reminded me of her. Katara looks more like mom than I do, but I got mom's eyes and maybe that is why Mikka is so special to me.

"Mikka, you ready to go home, huh girl?" I cooed. Her answer was her licking me from chin to forehead in one lap. Behind me I heard Karra laughing. I turned to look at her and I saw her shaking her head and laughing.

"The amount of affection you give that dog is just plain gross."

"She's a very good dog."

"She's a spoiled dog is what she is. She eats more seal jerky than I do and she's the only dog that you let give you kisses…..Which is gross by the way." Karra retorted. Everything she said was true, but there was no way I was admitting to that so I just shrugged my in indifference.

I got on the sled and eased off the brake and yelled out a sharp "Hike!" The dogs pulled on their harnesses and the sled lurched forward. Bear and Koto, my wheel dogs dug in hard to get the sled moving. With the added weight of our cargo I pushed the sled from behind to help out my team in the deep snow. After a few seconds of pushing the sled started picking up speed and I had to run to keep up with the sled.

"The trail got covered by the snow storm yesterday." Karra yelled from her sled.

"Mikka will find it. She's good at that kind of stuff." I yelled back.

After a couple of slow hours Mikka did find the trail and we picked up speed. We set a swift pace to make up for some of our lost time from this morning. We were making good time and it appeared like we were going to make it before dinner when I heard the distinctive howl of wolves. "Oh shit." I said under my breath. They must have caught the scent of our caribou. I turned to look at Karra to make sure she heard what I heard. I met her eyes and confirmed she had. She pointed to the left indicating she wanted us to climb the hill we were traveling parallel to, to get the high ground.

"Haw!" I shouted to Mikka who instantly steered the sled to the left to climb the hill. Once we climbed the hill I turned to Karra again. She was the more experienced one and I trusted her with my life. She saw the look in my eyes that screamed 'what do we do' and she gave the signal to rally.

"Whoa." I commanded to Mikka and started to apply the brake.

"Circle up! It is easier to defend that way."

After we circled the sleds I locked down my sled and pulled out my bow, quiver and my machete as fast as I could. My heart was pounding in my chest as I saw a pack of twelve wolves bound up the hill.

"Unhook Bear; he's big enough to take on one or two."

I obeyed without objection and hastily unhooked the massive husky and brought him by my side just outside my sled. Bear growled viciously at the wolves as they began to creep towards us. I quickly nocked an arrow and waited for the impending attack.

"Bear! Stay!" I snapped to keep him in place. "What are we doing? The dogs are getting antsy."

"Hold your ground and try and keep Bear from getting isolated. And don't miss with your arrows, you won't get many opportunities." She spoke sharply but calmly.

"O-okay" I stuttered as my heart hammered in my chest.

"Hey calm down. Take a deep breath. If you stay calm we'll get through this just fine."

I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. It would be a death sentence to fall apart now. One of the wolves broke away from the others and started skirting around to my left. I drew the string back and took aim at the skirting wolf knowing that if it snuck out of attention it would mean big trouble. I released a breath and loosed the arrow. The arrow went sailing in an arch and sank into the wolf's hind leg. The wolf tumbled to the ground and let out a shriek in pain. I took no time to nock a new arrow and turn my attention back to the pack. The eleven remaining wolves scattered in all directions causing chaos. The dogs began to panic. I had to shout over the chaos to get the dogs to calm down and before they played right into the wolves. One wolf darted in towards the circle.

"Get 'em boy!" I shouted to Bear.

Bear charged after the lunging wolf. I drew my bow back to take out any wolf attempting to join the fray against Bear. I heard commotion behind me as some of the wolves had circled around to Karra's side. Bear reached the wolf and took it down by the neck. The massive wheeler over powered the smaller wolf and had it on the ground by its neck. Another wolf charged in to help against Bear. I took aim and let my arrow fly and stopped the charging wolf in its tracks as the arrow buried in its chest.

"Sokka!"

I whipped around at Karra's scream. There were five wolves closing in on her and she had already lost her bow. I responded instantly by readying an arrow and firing it at the nearest wolf to her. My arrow grazed the side of the wolf's head leaving a superficial wound, but it was enough to distract the wolves. I quickly reloaded my bow and fired again. This time I hit the mark and hit the wolf in the neck dropping it instantly. I shot another arrow and hit another wolf in the front leg causing that wolf to scamper away. I fired off another arrow that landed in the rib cage of another wolf. I nocked an arrow and took aim at the fourth wolf, but before I could draw the string back I caught something out of the corner of my eye. I turned my head just in time to see a large wolf in mid leap. Before I had a chance to react the wolf slammed into me and sent me sprawling to the ground, losing my bow in the process. I rolled from my back to my hands and knees quickly and made for my bow. Before I could reach my bow the wolf latched onto my forearm in his powerful jaws. I screamed out in pain as his teeth sunk into my flesh. The wolf then began to yank and shake his head violently. I cried out again as the pain surged up my arm. I had to react quickly or it would be all over for me. So I pulled out the knife I carried on my hip and I buried it hilt deep into the wolf's neck. The wolf didn't let go so I pulled the knife out and stabbed again and again and again until he fell lifeless with my arm still in his mouth.

"Oh spirits Sokka!" Karra screamed and rushed to my side.

Karra pried the dead wolf's mouth open enough for me to pull my arm out. I began to look around at the carnage. My mind was in a fog and everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. I knew Karra was yelling something at me but it came out muffled in my ears and I couldn't make out what she was saying. I saw that the rest of the pack was retreating back down the slope.

A sharp stinging slap across my face woke me out of my daze and I heard Karra yell; "Stay with me." My eyes began to focus and I looked up at her for the first time since she rushed to my side. Our eyes met and I could see the panic in her eyes.

"Is it over." I managed to finally say.

"Yes it's over, but we need to hurry and get you back to the village."

I nodded to her and let her help me to my feet. I looked around and finally got a clear view of the aftermath. I saw the bodies of nine wolves; seven of them were dead and two were wounded.

"We need to put them out of their misery." I said pointing to one of the wolves that was still alive.

"You stay here and let me take care of them." Karra responded.

Karra make quick work of the wounded wolves and immediately returned and bandaged my arm. I went around and retrieved as many arrows as I could while Karra packed a few of the dead wolves onto the sleds. We try to take everything we kill but in this instance we only had enough room to carry a couple of wolves per sled. I made sure that she packed the one that attacked me as it was the biggest and I would enjoy making something out of his pelt. There's a certain satisfaction relishing in my victory over near death from that wolf.

Bear made it out of his fight relatively unscathed; he only had superficial wounds. I gave Bear a well deserved treat before I hooked him back in his spot at the wheel position.

Karra led the way back to the village. She set a blistering pace to try and make it to the village tonight. My arm wouldn't do well if we had to camp out another night. Karra insisted we reach the village as soon as possible to have Gran-gran take care of my wound.

We made it to the village late that night. As soon as we cleared the outer wall of the village Karra yanked me from my sled and dragged me to Gran-gran's tent. I was starting to become very tired and weak from the loss of blood and I let her lead me on.

I lost consciousness just after hearing Gran-gran gasp and saw the look of horror on her face.