"Wake up!" I burst into the cabin where everyone else was staying. Etka and I had long since passed the regular change in shifts, and everyone was still fast asleep.
Kateri bolted awake with a start, jumping out of bed and throwing the blankets off of her. "What is it?!"
"Land!" I exclaimed, moving to rouse my brother. "We've reached land!"
"We're here?" Naheel asked, pulling a blanket over his shoulders. His eyes went to the loose robe I had sloppily tied around myself, and he took off the blanket and gave it to me.
"Bundle up, guys," He said, grabbing another blanket and making his way up on deck. I followed him, and saw him throw it at a shirtless Etka who was struggling to grab all of our clothes in time.
"Make yourself look presentable," Naheel grumbled, passing Etka to make his way towards the sails. "You're going to meet her parents." Etka bowed his head and passed me on his way back below deck to change, and I got the feeling that Naheel knew exactly what we had done.
We sailed along the coastline as the sky began to fade into a brilliant dawn. Naheel's discontent didn't last for long, and he and I began to recognize landmarks we had seen so many times before. I kept grabbing Etka by the sleeve and pointing out a great fishing spot, or hunting ground, or the place where Naheel and I went penguin otter sledding as children.
Suddenly, we saw the gentle plumes of smoke rising into the early morning dawn, and my heart swelled with happiness. "That's it!" I cried, tears welling up in my eyes. "That's my village!" I wrapped Naheel in a tight hug, and I knew he was glad to be back too.
The white igloos and snow covered houses visible from the shore, and the fleet of fishing boats running parallel to the docks that bordered the village. They patiently sat along the harbor patiently, ready for the day. Never had I been so glad to feel the cold air on my face, to have the icy wind cut through my clothes like a knife. This was my home. This was where my family was.
There was a shout from ashore, and I saw a village man named Ashok on the docks, making his way out to sea for the day. "An Earth Kingdom ship!" He cried, alerting the others, and then he saw my eager face, beaming out at him. Ashok's face fell in complete shock, and he spun around to alert the small trickle of seafarers beginning to make their way out into the docks.
"It's Anahi!" He cried, and the crowd began to surge forward. "She's back!"
"Anahi!" I heard a deep-throated cry, and my heart lurched forwards in my chest. The second the boat was docked in the harbor, I leapt over the side, my feet landing with a thud onto the deck.
"Dad!" I cried, bursting forwards into a sprint. I cleared the docks in two strides and then I saw him. His black hair turning grey, his tanned skin lined and weathered from life on the seas, his grey eyes brimming with tears as he began to run towards me. My father.
I met him head on, throwing my arms around his neck and nearly knocking him backwards. "You're home," Nasuh breathed, pulling apart from me and taking my face in his hands. Tears brimmed in my father's eyes, and he beamed at me as if I contained the sun. "Anahi, I can't begin to explain how afraid Sukah and I were that we would never see you again."
"I'm so sorry," I said, bowing my head. "I never meant to cause you pain... I was just so scared that you would be hurt because of me - "
"Anahi," My father pressed his lips together, shaking his head. "We are so glad that you have come home. Let's move on."
I wrapped my arms around him tightly and squeezed, pressing my lips to his cheek before I let him go.
"Naheel!" Nasuh called, and I followed him over to the boat as he embraced his son. My father was able to bury his face in the shoulder of my taller brother, and I heard him murmur a humble thank you in my brother's skin.
After we had been reacquainted, it appeared that our three other companions had attracted quite a bit of attention. Kita, Kateri, and Etka stayed aboard the ship, watching what was going on below in reservation.
"Who have you brought with you?" Nasuh asked, as the crowd of fishermen seemed to dissect the trio with a fierce, untrusting gaze.
"These are our friends," Naheel said, extending an arm. He wore a smile, but I could see his nervousness. Then it hit me. The water tribe villagers might not welcome Kateri, Etka, and Kita into the village so easily. Especially Etka.
"This is Kateri, Etka, and Kita," Naheel introduced them, waving them down from the ship. "Kita is Anahi's biological mother."
Nasuh's face flooded in recognition, and he took a step towards my mother. "I never thought that we would see you again..." He breathed, and then shook his head. "I have to find Sukah right away. She needs to be here."
My father turned away, nodding at me before hurrying off to find his wife, and Kita slowly made her way onto the deck and beside me. Etka began to follow, but suddenly, Ashok stepped before him, planting a firm arm against his shoulder and stopping him in his tracks.
"Hang on now," Ashok frowned at Etka. "You don't look Earth Kingdom." He squinted, staring hard at Etka's face, and the latter drew back in alarm.
"I'm a friend," Etka said sternly, and Naheel stepped up.
"Etka and Kateri can be trusted. They helped us escape the Fire Nation - "
"Fire Nation!" Came a cry, and Ashok pushed Etka back with a stiff hand.
"The eyes!" He shouted, narrowing his own. "He's got golden eyes!"
"Ashok!" I cried, stepping forwards and placing myself between him and Etka. "Enough! Etka and Kateri will not hurt you."
"Are they firebenders?" Someone yelled out, and Ashok puffed out his chest, getting ready for a fight.
"Yes, but - " Naheel tried, but I cut him off.
"Look at me!" I cried, my eyes flaring in anger. "Do I not look like them? You had no problem with me before, Ashok."
It was a challenge, and Ashok looked surprised that I would dare. He was several years older than Naheel, and I had known him nearly my whole life. Ashok was taken aback by my comment, and I straightened up, lifting my chin.
"How can we trust them?" Ashok frowned, crossing his arms over his chest. "How can you expect us to blindly accept people from the Fire Nation?"
"Ashok is right." We all turned around and my heart leapt into my throat. Two of the village elders stood before us, their arms crossed in an identical manner. Shotek and Takoa were ancient twin brothers, and two of the most senior members of the council.
It was Takoa who had spoken. Unlike his twin, his silver hair hung past his shoulders, framing his his strong jaw and piercing eyes. "We know nothing about these strangers. All three of them."
"Kita is my birth mother," I blurted out, beginning to panic. They were going to kill Etka, I knew it. I stepped back, standing in front of him protectively. Shotek raised a hand, silencing me without words.
"Your companions will speak for themselves," He said sternly, and I felt my face burn.
"Anahi is telling the truth," Kita spoke up, her voice steady and strong. "I came to the Water Tribe eighteen years ago after being exiled from the Fire Nation. I was pregnant with Anahi, and I was so weak and sick I thought that I would die. Nasuh and Sukah found me and took me in, and even though they were expecting a child themselves, agreed to take Anahi after she was born and raise her as their own."
"What of her father?" Shotek asked, and I cast a fearful look over at Kita. Our eyes met, and she understood immediately.
"Anahi's father and I were of different social castes," Kita explained carefully. "Our families did not approve of the match, and did not approve of the pregnancy that resulted afterwards. I was unmarried and pregnant, and I had no where to go. Through the grace of Sukah and Nasuh, Anahi and I are still alive today."
"But you did not stay with them," Takoa added, prompting Kita on further.
"No," Kita said gently. "After I left the Water Tribe, I found refuge in the Democratic Alliance - a secret organization whose goal was to take down the Fire Nation's oppressive monarch, Firelord Ozai."
At the mention of Ozai's name, scowls and murmurs of hatred and disgust passed through the crowd. Kita had passed their test. My eyes found Etka's, and I saw the worry and fear that he felt as the attention shifted to Kateri. She would get away too, but by the look in Etka's eyes, he too knew that he was already damned.
Shotek and Takoa seemed to accept Kateri's story, as she told of her life as a Sister, and how the Fire Nation Army destroyed her home and all of the Sisters in it. Soon enough, the focus was passed to Etka, and I stepped beside him, my heart racing.
"My name is Song Etka," He explained slowly. "And...and I know that you won't like what I have to say, but please, hear me out - "
"Speak up, boy," Someone called out, and Etka flinched. I wanted to take his hand, but I feared the crowd would turn on us.
"My name is Song Etka," Etka spoke up louder, raising his chin. "And I was a Captain in the Fire Nation Navy."
The crowd erupted, and several men charged towards Etka. Etka raised his hands above his head, barely managing a weak protest before two men seized him by the front of his robes and threw him off the wooden docks and onto the harsh snow.
Kateri lunged forwards, firing a bolt of lightning at the ground just before Etka to drive off his attackers. Someone screamed, and I knew they would turn on her too.
"Stop!" I cried, forcibly pushing my way forwards and grabbing Kateri by the wrist. "This isn't the way!"
"She attacked us!" Came a shout, and I pushed Kateri unceremoniously behind me, shielding both her and Etka with my body.
"Kateri was defending him, and I will defend him too, if it comes to that," I said fiercely, my eyes passing over everyone in the crowd. My neighbors, my peers, those who I'd looked up to my whole life were beginning to surround us, drawn to the commotion near the docks. My heart was racing, and I didn't see my parents anywhere. This was not at all how I imagined my homecoming would be.
"You would defend one who has killed hundreds of our people!" Someone shouted, and I saw Ashok's fiery eyes blazing at me. He threw a blaming finger at me as he yelled. "You are a traitor, Anahi! Every man, woman, and child from the Fire Nation is exactly the same! Every one is a stone-hearted killer!"
His words hit me like a slap. I recoiled in shock and hurt, stepping back into Etka. He laid a hand on my shoulder and murmured my name gently. He was about to continue, when a harsh, commanding voice rang out above the crowd.
"My daughter was raised alongside you, Ashok!" Sukah shoved her way towards the center of the crowd. Her braid was coming loose and her grey eyes were full of anger and passion. The fire in her eyes was shocking and the command in her voice was unlike anything I had ever seen. "I will not allow you to host a witch hunt to satisfy your thirst for blood! This matter will be dealt with by the council. I will not allow my daughter to be held under trial by a mob."
I stared in awe at her, and in that moment, I had never been more proud and in awe of my mother. Right behind her was Nasuh, his face set in stone as well. Suddenly, I felt an overwhelming sense of safety. My mother was here. She wouldn't let anyone hurt us.
"She has Fire Nation blood!" Ashok snarled, turning on her, but my mother stood her ground. "You knew this and you still took her in!"
"You will stand down, Ashok!" Sukah thundered, moving imposingly in front of me. "You are not a council elder, unless a lot has changed in the past few minutes."
Her words sent a knife through Ashok, and he stepped back, struggling to retain a wounded pride. My gaze met my mother's, and she reached out, taking my hand. "Come, Anahi," She said firmly, her eyes locked on mine. There were a thousand things that I wanted to say to her, but I held her hand in stunned silence as we all walked to the Council building.