40. Big Brother(150)
"You're a girl, aren't you?" Naruk taunted. "It's your job to wash clothes."
Sokka looked up from his boomerang. His sister was staring at a pair of pants that Naruk had apparently thrust into her arms. "I'm not washing your dirty clothes!"
"Are too. Now hurry up, little girl."
Sokka strode toward the boy. The ships would be leaving in a week, Naruk with them, but that meant nothing. "Back off. Katara said she doesn't want to wash them."
"She's a girl. It doesn't matter what she wants."
Sokka rushed forward, shoving the boy's chest. Naruk crashed into the snowdrift. Sokka snatched the pants from Katara's hands and threw them at the older boy. "Come on, Katara. Let's go back to the igloo."
"Why did you push him?" she asked, later on.
"You're my sister," he answered. "It doesn't matter whether you're right or wrong; I'll always take your side."
41. Request
"Uncle?"
Iroh opened his eyes. The fire in the hearth had died during his nap, leaving the room chilly. "Yes?"
Zuko crept closer. "I wanted to ask you something."
"What is it?"
"Well . . . it's about Lu Ten."
The name cleaved his heart in two.
"You don't have to answer," Zuko said, retreating. "But . . . He said he'd teach me to play the Tsungi Horn."
The ache in his chest deepened. He said nothing.
"I was wondering . . . if you could teach me."
Iroh hesitated, fighting the wave of grief. "We will start tomorrow."
42. Kyoshi Warrior
"I'm going to be the best warrior ever," Suki declared.
"Yes, yes." Her mother led her inside. "We'll see what you think in a week."
The instructor looked over at their entrance, smiling. She ordered the warriors to continue practicing, then approached. Suki tried to appear formidable. "And who might you be?"
"I'm Suki. I'm seven."
The woman's smile widened. "Then you're old enough to start training."
"Can I wear the costume?"
"Yes, but the uniform's not the important part."
"It isn't?"
The woman pulled her onto the training mat. "Come, Suki. I'll teach you all you need to know."