Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar or the song "What Is a Woman?" from I Do, I Do, lyrics by Tom Jones.

Author's Note: My views on what Kana must have felt about her decision to leave the North Pole. Some of it, obviously, is directly from the show.

What Is a Woman?

This is very strange.
Everything is changing.
Suddenly, a door can slam.
This is very strange.
Suddenly we're strangers,
And I start to wonder who I am.

A pretty young woman sat in the Spirit Oasis at the North Pole, watching the koi fish circling through the reflection of the moon in the pond. She laid out some items on the ground, personal belongings she'd taken from her room at home. She wasn't yet sure whether she was going back.

The woman looked over the items one by one: an ivory carving of a whale her father had made for her when she was a baby; a piece of whale baleen; a necklace of shark teeth that no longer fit her; a pressed flower from the oasis.

Even though the woman had known these items for years, she turned them over in her hands, viewing them as though they were new before tucking them, one by one, into her parka. She felt like a different person today, and these things that used to be old friends now seemed strange and unfamiliar.

What is a woman?
What is she made of?
Why is a woman afraid of
Not being in love?

The last item was a necklace consisting of a simple black ribbon and a bluish stone with the Water Tribe symbol carved onto it. The woman's name was Kana, and this necklace had just been made for her by a promising waterbender named Pakku. She ran it through her fingers like water.

Kana sighed and placed the piece of jewelry around her neck. She had accepted the proposal of marriage, so she might as well wear the betrothal necklace. More accurately, her father had accepted for her; she was given no choice in the matter.

This was the custom of her tribe, so why did it bother her so much? Why did she get the feeling that there should be more to being a woman than having your family give you away in marriage, hoping that someday everything would work out? She was only sixteen years old and didn't feel quite ready to step into something that would last the rest of her life, for good or ill.

Pakku claimed that he loved her, and Kana had no reason to disbelieve him. That was all well and good, but she still had one problem. She didn't love him, and it scared her to think that she would never have the chance to fall in love once she married him. Even if she did find herself in love with someone else, it would only bring pain and dishonor to everyone involved. There seemed to be no good solution.

What is a woman?
What does she long for?
Why is it wrong for a woman
To be all alone?

Kana stood up, looking to the moon for guidance. Why couldn't a woman get a little time to choose what to do with her life? Why did she have to have a husband right away? For that matter, why couldn't the women gifted with waterbending learn to use their abilities for more than healing? So many questions; no ready answers.

Making her final decision, Kana strode purposefully back into the city. The canals were nearly deserted due to the late hour. Getting closer to the ocean, she moved more furtively. She managed to liberate some food stores and found her canoe where it was tethered. It wouldn't take her far, but she had no chance at all of managing one of the Water Tribe ships by herself. She could only hope that one of the things she'd taken with her, or the small amount of her own money she had, would be enough to gain her passage on an Earth Kingdom ship eventually.

She untied the small boat and pushed off, paddling until she reached the locks. Unable to take herself through them, she had to portage the rest of the way to the sea – another reason not to take a larger vessel. Once she'd reached the ocean, she paddled hard to put some distance between her and her home. As soon as she was far enough out that the tide would carry her with little effort on her part, Kana turned to take one last look at the North Pole. Her choice had been made, and she was on her own.

Young girls are April,
With rainbows and changes.
One day, they grow up,
And April is over forever.

In a single day, Kana felt as though she had aged several years. She longed for her childhood, even as she put her childhood home behind her. Too late, she realized how simple things had been then. She wished she had known to enjoy the freedom. Although she had found her own form of freedom now, it was a scary and dangerous version.

Kana determinedly turned her face to the south. There was a sister Water Tribe at the South Pole, half a world away. Although the journey would be hazardous and likely take her a very long time, she felt it was her only choice. She reached up to touch the necklace, which she had decided to keep. It connected her to the family and tribe she was leaving behind. Perhaps, if the spirits were willing, she would find love in the future. She smiled faintly at the thought of handing this down to her own daughter someday, simply as a family heirloom with no strings attached.

Even as one life ended, a new one began. It was the way of the world, and Kana was just beginning to understand.

To be a woman means being lonely.
That's why a woman is only alive
When in love.

--

Member of the Boomeraang Squad: charleegirl, Jesus.Lives, Liselle129, Strix Moonwing, Avatarwolf, MormonMaiden, libowiekitty, Snows of Yester-Year, La Vixen de Amor, chocolatecoveredbananacheese, Aangy, and honorary member SnakeEyes16

Author's Note: I should probably mention that I don't necessarily believe the lyrics of this song, but it's a nice one, anyway. It's also occurred to me that it could work for Ursa as well, so I may these lyrics again later with her.

Review responses:

Vanille Strawberry: Thanks. Although not a huge fan of Jin, I liked seeing a different side of Zuko.

Snows Of Yester-Year: Well, I thought it would be interesting for Yue to see Zuko in a different way from the last time.

TTAvatarfan: Yeah, I figured that would be an adjustment – mortal to spirit. I thought about going into it a little more but decided on just an allusion here and there.

libowiekitty: Thanks!

Let's Just Say I Loath It All: It was kind of hard to stretch out the same theme through the lyrics, but I thought Ba Sing Se would be a good place for her to look.

Justcallmewolfy: Thank you. I wasn't sure "fluffy" would be what people would think of that last chapter.