Chapter 5 – Visions and Universal Lessons
Sokka sat on the edge of a cliff overlooking a quiet, isolated bay. A cool breeze brought the familiar scent of the ocean to his nostrils as he watched the sun's last rays disappear under the horizon. In three days, Master had told him, they'd meet the freighter there that would take them to the islands of the Fire Nation. Their journey to the coast had been without incident; for that, he was grateful. During their two week trek through the wilderness of the western Earth Kingdom, Sokka and Toph had reconnected through shared stories and inside jokes that seemed to leave Master perplexed and left Sokka with a permanent bruise on his left shoulder.
'That's how just Toph shows affection,' he mused as he admired Yue's reflection on the still waters below.
Toph. She said that she had loved him. As a friend, surely. He felt the same about her. But was it more? Could it ever be more? How could he ever love someone the way he'd loved Suki?
With a shake of his head, he tried to dismiss the idea and ambled back to the camp. A low campfire flickered in the breeze. Next to it, Master was showing Toph a special Pai Sho set. The tiles had been carved out of stone. Each tile had an exaggerated relief to differentiate the image. Varying textures indicated color by touch.
"…When placed on a stone board, which I happen to have at home," the Master explained.
"I'll be able to 'see' the board with my earth sense, and move the tiles by bending!" Toph smiled.
As if acknowledging his presence, Piandao continued, "Since you've never been able to play before, I'm sure Sokka would be happy to show you the basics."
"I'll be beating Snoozles in no time," Toph said, confidently.
"I wouldn't be so sure, Toph. Pai Sho is a strategy game, and I happen to be a master strategist," Sokka bragged.
"So tell me, oh great one," Toph teased, "have you discovered a baby moose-lion hunting strategy that doesn't involve getting stuck in a hole?"
"Tha…that," Sokka sputtered, "was …just… the Universe teaching me a lesson."
Toph laughed, "What sort of lesson was that?"
"Some animals are just too cute eat."
"Gotta, say, Snoozles, never thought I'd ever hear you say anything like that," Toph giggled.
Piandao interrupted, "Does the Universe often teach you such lessons?"
Sokka admitted, "More than I'd like."
"You do make it easy," Toph pointed out.
"You are a wise man to learn these lessons from the universe," the older man stated.
With that, Piandao retired to his tent.
"Hear, that?" Sokka smirked. "He said I'm wise."
….
Sokka laid in his bedroll next to the campfire, not quite awake, nor quite asleep. As he drifted in and out of consciousness, he began to feel cold. Shivering, he climbed out of the sleeping bag to add more wood to the fire, but the fire was gone. The world had turned white and gray, an icy wind burned his ears, and driving snow blurred his vision. As he stumbled confusedly about in the blizzard, he saw a silhouette on the horizon. A woman's voice called his name. He trudged through the drifts toward the figure as it came into focus. A beautiful, auburn haired woman clad in a green silk dress with a shining brass headdress and matching fans. Suki.
"Sokka," she called. Her image began to fade.
"Don't go!" he cried. "Come back, I need you!" he pleaded.
Only her voice remained. It whispered. "You'll always have me."
He dropped to his knees, hands over his face, sobbing, "Don't go."
He felt something tugging at his sleeve. He opened his eyes and the blizzard was gone. He was in a park in the middle of a city. A small, black haired girl was looking hopefully at him. She could have been no older than 5 or 6. She had fine features, porcelain skin and brilliant green eyes. "Come play with me," the child giggled as she took off running on bare feet.
More data. Sokka needed more data. He chased after her.
"Who are you? Where are we going?" he called out.
The girl laughed, "We're going to play, silly."
Sokka caught up to her. "I can't play right now. I think I have something else to do."
The child indignantly placed her hands on her hips. "Why won't you play with me? Don't you like me?"
"I don't even know you. Where's your mom, or your dad?"
"Why don't you be my daddy?" the child asked as she faded from his vision.
"Come back! Who are you?" Sokka shouted.
Someone was shaking his shoulders. "Wait, come back. Who are you?" he mumbled. He felt a sharp blow to his shoulder. He opened his eyes and the world came back into focus. Staring back at him were two milky green orbs.
"It's me, Meathead. You OK?" Toph sounded concerned.
"Yeah, just had a really weird dream."
"Must've been a doozy. You were screaming loud enough to wake the Fire Lord," she said flatly.
"I'm fine now. Thanks."
"Yeah, don't mention it," she said turning back towards her rock tent.
As he watched her, a brief memory of a small, black haired girl flashed in Sokka's mind.
"Toph, did you ever think about what having kids might be like?"
She stopped. "You been on the cactus juice again? Get some sleep, Snoozles."
A/N OK, I revised this chapter. I think its a little more clear now. Constructive criticism welcomed and appreciated.