"And just how is this supposed to make him obey me? He might as well attempt to snap my fingers off."
Sokka flashed her a quick smile. "Wolf cubs love seal meat, Princess. Just move the sliver around a bit. Watch his response."
Azula shook her dark head. "I clearly said goodbye to my sanity in agreeing to accompany you here. Not only am I freezing my ass off, surrounded by desolate fields of ice. Now you've gifted me with this little hellcub of a creature. Well thank you, husband to be! Please let me remind you that I've still got time to reconsider my decision."
He pressed up behind her to caress her hips. "I know how to heat you up. Every part of you."
"Don't I know it."
Frowning, she focused on the furry creature before her, moving the slice of meat in her dainty fingers. A sudden twirl, and…
"Ah!" An incredulous laugh as the tiny wolf cub jumped up, did a perfect bow and landed at her feet. Azula's yellow eyes lit up in bright astonishment.
Sokka reached out to embrace his bride to be from behind. His breath was warm on her neck.
"Now, feed him the meat. He was a very good boy. You need to reward him."
She offered the red slice to the tiny furry creature. ""His name's Sozin. We already agreed on that, right?"
He giggled in her ear. "All right, Azula. Whatever you say. He's my betrothal gift to you. Your own personal Southern Water Tribe pet."
A wry smirk. "I thought the name of my private pet was Sokka."
He swung her around to gaze down at her. The tightfitting coat, a combination of red Fire Nation cloth and white Polar leopard skin, suited her perfectly. The red bloodstone pendant of the betrothal necklace that he'd carved painstakingly for her gleamed between her collarbones.
"Ok, Princess. Just don't forget to replenish my father's supply of fire flakes. I fear the old man's getting addicted to them. As am I."
He pulled her in for a long kiss. She melted into it, creating a heat that thawed the snow around them. Spirits, he needed to get her back home this instant. She-
"Ow!" The sharp bite nicked his shin.
The tiny wolf cub was jumping excitedly around them, nibbling at any part of Sokka that it could reach. Azula leaned down to pull a sliver of meat out of the pouch at his waist to feed the furry little beast.
"It's all right, Sokka. You just don't understand these things. You can't allow a Fire Nation creature to get hungry. It will attack. Feed us when we're famished, and we'll bow down to you. By the way, don't tell your father I said that."
She shot him a wicked smile and clasped his arm to pull him back to the Water Tribe village. Sozin followed in their tracks, yipping happily. The arctic sun stayed put, gilding their disappearing backs.