"She's your what?!" Suki and Lien shouted aloud.
"Younger sister," Sokka replied.
"Are you sure?" Lien asked.
"I haven't seen her in a long time but it's definitely her all right."
"Then why…why aren't you reuniting with her?"
Sokka sighed.
"When she was telling us the story of how she came here, remember how she said that she hated all firebenders for taking her big brother away from her and for hurting her new friend by wiping out the Air Nomads?"
The two stopped and nodded.
"I know she'd hate me already as well as you Lien. So I want to try and keep my real identity a secret. Remember how you reacted to my firebending Suki?"
She looked down ashamed.
"You understand, but my sister is younger and I can sense rage inside her, rage at the firebenders for stealing her brother away. If I told her who I really am anyway, she wouldn't believe me. She'd just believe that I'm a Fire Nation spy. Plus, who would believe that I am from the Southern Water Tribe if I can firebend. Pretty weak cover from her point of view. For now, the two of us are Fire Nation refugees who washed ashore here last autumn."
Suki and Lien looked at each other and nodded. "Very well…Tatzu," Lien said with a wide grin. Suki smiled along with her.
"Thanks you guys."
Someone entered the room.
"Excuse me, the guests are asking for you. All three of you."
"Of course," Sokka said as he stood up and stretched. The other two women walked out and headed to the main eating area where the two were eating. On the way they passed a massive six legged animal who was being tended to by a couple villagers.
"A flying bison," Sokka said in awe as he approached the giant beast and ran his hands gently through his fur. "They're supposed to be extinct. I never thought I'd get to see one alive."
The beast licked his face affectionately. Sokka coughed a bit but chuckled.
"Amazing…see you again little guy," he said. The bison growled and snorted but went back to relaxing. The three entered the main hall where the Avatar, who revealed his name to be Aang, and Katara, were sitting and eating.
"You wanted to see us?" Suki asked, bowing. Sokka and Lien did the same. Katara and Aang looked up.
"Hey there! You guys sure know how to treat an Avatar," Aang said with a cake in his mouth.
"We do try," Sokka said with a wry grin. He looked at Katara and noticed an edge to her smile. He guessed that she was beginning to suspect him and Lien.
"Katara wanted to ask you guys a question."
"Go ahead, we've nothing to hide."
Katara cleared her throat. "Has anyone recently joined your community?"
Suki nodded. "Yes. These two washed up on our shores last autumn."
Katara stood and looked at them with distrust. "Where are you two from originally?"
Seeing no sense in hiding that, Sokka said, "I used to live in the Fire Nation along with Lien. We were on our way to Ember Island when we were shipwrecked and somehow managed to find ourselves this far south."
She reached back and brought out something Sokka hadn't seen in a long time. It was his boomerang. Shocked he raised his arms along with Lien. Suki stood between them.
"Miss Katara please. Tatzu and Lien have been a part of this community since this past fall and they've been helping us better defend against firebenders. They are the most trustworthy outsiders I've had the pleasure of knowing."
Katara glared at the two of them. Sokka got on his hands and bowed low.
"Miss Katara, Avatar Aang, will you listen to me? Yes, I lived in the Fire Nation, but I, along with Lien, hate the war with a passion. Our parents raised us in the belief that conquest only leads to destruction of balance. The Fire Nation's attack on the Air Nomads was a horrendous act and I am ashamed of it, but I wish to make it up to the rest of the world. Avatar Aang, I wish to join you in your journey to save the world."
"I would as well," Lien spoke out. Sokka heard a determination in her voice that he hadn't thought she was capable of. His talk with her and Suki's comforting her afterwards must have helped her grow and grieve properly.
"We won't have the two of you coming along!" Katara nearly shouted at them, but the Avatar placed his hand on her wrist.
"Katara, calm down. I know you don't like the Fire Nation, but I think we should at least give them a chance to prove themselves."
Katara glared at Sokka and Lien, then sighed angrily and sat back down. The Avatar looked at Sokka and gave a small grin.
"Greeting hotman, I'm Aang."
Sokka looked confused. "Hotman?" he asked. "Nobody's used that slang for a century Avatar."
Aang looked a bit sad but shrugged. "Oh, okay. Well, you can call me Aang. I'd prefer it actually."
Sokka smiled and extended his hand. Katara's grip tightened around the boomerang. Aang took the hand and shook it.
"Pleasure to meet you Tatzu." He offered his hand to Lien who took it and shook it as well. "You too Lien."
"It's a great honor to meet you Av-Aang," she quickly corrected herself. Aang beamed.
"I take it you are enjoying your stay?" Sokka asked.
"Very much so!" Aang replied grinning. "The food is terrific!"
Sokka took a couple of the pieces himself and took a bite.
"This is tasty," he agreed.
"When are you not eating Tatzu?" Lien laughed. Suki joined in. Sokka blushed.
"Hey, I'm a growing fifteen year old guy. Of course I'm always hungry."
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Katara's expression slightly change. He couldn't describe the change and didn't have time to.
"Tatzu, show them how you're a special firebender," Suki encouraged. Lien looked at him and nodded eagerly. Sokka put up his hands.
"I shouldn't."
"What special firbending?" Aang asked. Katara looked at him distrustfully, hand on the boomerang and on her water pouch.
"His fire is beautiful!" Lien said.
"Show them Tatzu," Suki said.
"I wanna see!" Aang said wide eyed. Sokka raised his hands.
"I give in. But we should go outside. Don't wanna accidentally burn down the building."
Aang grabbed a few cakes and ran outside, followed by Lien and Suki. Katara stood and headed out but when she reached the door she slammed it and grabbed Sokka's collar. The boomerang was at his neck.
"You may have everyone here fooled, but I've got my eye on you. If you attempt anything, I will end you."
Sokka nodded. She opened the door and stormed out. He followed.
"What were you two talking about?" Aang asked her when she exited.
"Nothing important," she replied. He looked at her with concern but shrugged it off and glanced eagerly at Sokka.
"I'd stand back were I you," Sokka said. A group of young children were standing next to Aang smiling and giggling. Katara looked exasperated while Aang was beaming and blushing.
"Okay, I won't show you too much considering fire is a dangerous and destructive element if used incorrectly." He inhaled and exhaled, then created a large fireball that shot into the sky. Everyone save for Katara ooed and awed.
"You make blue fire? That's amazing!"
Sokka grinned sheepishly.
"Why is it blue?" a random child asked. Sokka knelt and smiled.
"Blue fire is hotter than most. Normal fire is yellow and orange but if you heat it up it changes to blue."
"Do lightning!" another child begged. They all gave him the puppy eyes, Aang included.
"No way! No lightning!" Katara said angrily.
"But Katara-"
"No Aang, she is right. I'd rather not show you lightning."
"Okay…"
Sokka looked at him and sighed.
"Perhaps another time, okay? Why don't you run off with your friends? They seeme ager to spend time with you."
The young airbender perked up and nodded. He ran off with young girls chasing him. Katara rolled her eyes and blew a raspberry before heading towards the market.
Throughout that day Sokka watched the Avatar. He noticed that he was letting his status as the Avatar go to his head as he showed off for all the younger girls of the village. After one inident where Aang went off to let the children fly on Appa he walked up to Katara.
"I can help carry that if you like," he offered. She glared at him.
"I don't need your help," she growled.
"Miss Katara please, let me help."
She sighed heavily and rolled her eyes.
"Fine!" She handed him the jar she was carrying. He carried it back to her room. He then helped her buy provisions for the journey. Soon the sun was setting. He was busy tending to putting his few belongings on the flying bison when he saw Aang storm out of the guesthouse and head towards the beach. Curious he followed at a distance. He saw the children gathered. Aang was in the water already.
What's taking so long?" Koko, one of the villagers, asked. Sokka chuckled as he pondered how children could have such short attention spans.
"'I'm sure it will be here any second!" Aang shouted back. He then did the marble trick from before. "What about this?"
"Not that again. Boring!" Another girl said.
"Where's Unagi? It's getting late." Koko said as a few of the girls stood up.
"Where're you going? Don't leave!"
"Sorry, Aang! Maybe next time."
The girls stood and left, leaving Aang looking disappointed. After a few seconds Sokka saw someone approaching the shore.
"Katara, you showed up!" Aang shouted happily.
Sokka watched the exchange curiously. He paid close attention to the tones and expressions on their faces.
"So, that's how it is eh?" he muttered to himself as Aang began swimming back to shore. "You may be the Avatar, but you're nowhere near ready for something like that," he muttered. He stopped thinking aloud when he saw the fin of the Unagi. Concerned, he ran to the shore.
It was too late. The Unagi rose from the water, bringing Aang along with it. He joined Katara on the beach. They watched in horror as the Unagi sprayed water on him then attempted to swallow him. Aang jumped and grabbed onto the Unagi. It flailed, trying to dislodge him. After a few seconds Aang lost his grip and flew away into the ocean. He surfaced, unconscious.
"Katara, you get him. I'll repel the Unagi!" he said as he began to get hot. Katara didn't hesitate, she rushed into the ice cold water. Sokka shot a ball of fire in front of the approaching Unagi, hoping to scare it off. It jolted back, startled. He firebent at it a few more times before it sunk into the water.
"Smart fishy," he muttered as Katara finally reached Aang. The Unagi rose out of the water but before it could pounce Katara waterbent the water so that it created a waterjet, propelling them to shore. The Unagi dove for them and missed, but that large wave cause them to fly into a small outcropping. Sokka hid as the Unagi shot water at the sea a couple times before heading back down. He ran to where the two had landed. Katara was looking at something else.
"Zuko," she gasped. Sokka stopped and turned. He saw a small Fire Nation warship approaching the island.
"Well, it's been a while since we last met Zuko. What are you doing here?" Sokka wondered aloud. Katara glared at her.
"Don't play dumb with me! Zuko's been chasing us ever since Aang came out of the iceberg! And you know him!? You must be a spy!"
Sokka just glared at her.
"Why would I come here of all places just to be a spy! Also, how would I get a message off to the Fire Nation? You've been keeping an eye on me all day!"
Katara glared but conceded the point.
"Look, we don't have time to fight. I'm heading back to the village to defend it. You need to get the Avatar out of here now!"
Sokka stood and headed back to the village. He reached it and grabbed his sword. He then rushed back to the path and stood in front of Avatar Kyoshi's statue. He drew his sword and waited. After a while, he heard the large footsteps of the rhinos.
"Fire Prince Zuko, you may not enter here!" he shouted when he saw him. He had heard that he had been scarred, but he hadn't known how badly. Zuko stopped and his entourage stopped with him.
"Who are you to dare challenge me?" he asked. Sokka chuckled. He obviously didn't remember.
"Who I am is not important. What is important is your unwelcome presence on this island! Leave or I will force you to!"
Zuko firebent at his feet. Sokka didn't even flinch at all.
"Pathetic. Does the great Fire Prince himself need to resort to intimidation? Then here!"
Sokka firebent at the ground. The fire surrounded the rhinos. Zuko burst through the blue flames, shouting as he firebent at him. Sokka just dispersed it and, leaping into the air, kicked Zuko square in the chest, sending him flying into a tree. Growling with rage, he quickly recovered and shouted, "Head into the city and find the Avatar!"
"Oh no you don't!" Sokka said as he rushed to stop the soldiers, but a flame rupted in front of the rhinos. Lien leaped out of a building and grinned.
"I can handle them! You fight Zuko!" she said.
"Thanks!" He turned to face Zuko once more.
"Whoever you are, you're a traitor to your people!" he shouted as he charged Sokka. Sokka smiled and raised his sword. Zuko, seeing this move, did the same. Sokka was surprised that he hadn't been recognized. He raised his sword and it burst into blue flames, a trick he'd learned how to master here. He launched himself at Zuko.
Surprised by Sokka's ferocity, Zuko fell back. He spun, causing flames to shoot forth in a circle. Sokka leaped above the weak flames and hit Zuko on the back of the head with the hilt of his sword. He didn't want to kill him because he sensed a struggle going on inside the young prince. Zuko collapsed, groaning in pain. Sokka dispelled the flames on his sword and tied the prince to a tree.
"You get to stay there until we're gone," he said. He went to join Lien, who was holding her own, but barely. Sokka charged in with a roar. The soldiers saw him and looked scared. He firebent at them and made them scatter.
"Lien, we've gotta get out of here!" he shouted. She nodded and ran with him to Appa. Aang by this time was fully conscious. When he saw the two of them approaching he motioned for them to hurry. Sokka and Lien climbed up the flying bison and after Aang said "Yip Yip!" the bison lifted off. They all looked back. The village was aflame.
"Oh no," Sokka said. Aang looked back with a look of pain and regret on his face. He saw Katara head over to where Aang was.
"I know it's hard, but you did the right thing. Zuko would have destroyed the whole place if we had stayed. They're going to be okay, Aang."
Sokka saw the young boy sit up straighter. He then suddenly leaped out of the bison.
"What are you doing?" Katara shouted with concern. Lien and Sokka looked down in shock as the Avatar splashed into the water. A few seconds later he came out riding the Unagi. He forced the Unagi to spray water on the village, putting out the fires. After the fires had been stoked, the Unagi threw him up and the flying bison caught him.
"I know, I know. That was stupid and dangerous," Aang said as he climbed up.
"Yes, yes it was," Katara said smugly. She then reached over to hug him. Sokka heard Aang sigh and chuckled softly. Lien looked at him confused for a bit then also chuckled.
"What are you two laughing about?" Katara asked with a hint of anger in her voice. "It's partially your fault the village was burning."
They shook their heads.
"You'll understand when you're older," Sokka said as they flew off towards the setting sun. "When you're older…"
Aaand there you have it! Adventure picks up! Yay!
morbiusgreen