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Content warning: Some swearing in this one!

Aleutian dictionary:

Tal'huti- Great Warrior- someone of the Tribe who is a renowned warrior

Amaina- affectionate term for sister or one who a Tribesmen considers a sister

Amaino- affectionate term for brother or one who a Tribesmen considers a brother

Atta manaeo par ohuna- phrase declaring one (a male) as part of one's family. Meant to be a term of endearment.

Book I: Water

Chapter VII: An Audience with the Chief

Chief's Throne Room

Agna Qel'a, Northern Water Tribe

A few moments later

The Avatar and his companions slowly walked through the Throne Room guarded by the Princess and her honor guards. "Father…I bring guests of honor."

The old king of the North smiled. "Guests…how glorious! Who are they?"

Yue just smiled and gestured to Kuzon. "Allow me to introduce Kuzon of the Fire Nation." Suddenly everyone was on alert. The guards then marched up with their spears.

Kuzon then got into his firebending stance, glaring at all of them. "Come then! Come and get me! I'm not afraid to fight!"

Katara immediately jumped in front of Kuzon holding him back with a hand.

He then stared at her in shock. "Katara…what are you…?"

She then turned to him with a smile, taking his hand into hers lightly squeezing it before letting go. "It's going to be alright. Just let me handle this."

Katara then got in her waterbending stance. She just looked on with a stone cold look in her azure eyes. "Allow me to make something clear to all of you. Touch a hair on his head and I'll render you into a popsicle faster than you can move. He is my friend. Atta maneo par ohuna! You pick a fight with him and you will have a problem with me!"

Sokka grinned. That's Katara for you! Loyal and fierce to the end! Mom would be proud! He then drew his sword. "Same goes for me! You pick a fight with him and you pick a fight with us."

Yue then got in front of both of them with an equally determined look in her eyes. "Count me as well!"

Kuzon just blinked and went quiet. Chief Arnook then just gave them a nod. "Weapons down!" He barked it loud for all the guards to hear.

They turned to him. He just stared. "What? You heard me! Put them down!"

The men all put their weapons down to the ground. He then turned to his daughter. He also took note of Kuzon's golden eyes indicating his Fire Nation heritage. "Yue my dear. Do you trust this boy?"

Yue turned her head back at Kuzon smiling and then back at her father. "I do Father. With my life.."

The Chief then rubbed his chin nodding. "I see then." He then smiled at Kuzon. "Your name? What is your name boy"

Kuzon then blinked at him. "I-I'm sorry?"

Chief Arnook smiled again with outstretched hands, laughing. "Have you gone deaf boy? I'm asking you about your name?."

Kuzon blinked but nodded. He then gave the Water Tribe chief an honorable bow. "Kuzon. Avatar Kuzon Lin Sho. Son of Lin and Ling Sho. Born on the Eastern Fire Island."

The older man blinked. "I...I've heard that name before. Sho…" He then shook his head. "I heard rumors…about a Fire Nation family who managed to birth the next Avatar in their lineage. They were found out by Fire Lord Sozin and…"

Kuzon, rather gruffly, finished the man's words. "...Killed and executed for their failure to present him to the Fire Lord for execution. I lived the whole story."

Everyone then let out an audible gasp.

Katara and Sokka included. Katara turned to Kuzon with a look of shock in her eyes. I knew he'd lost his family before but he never told me the full story. Just how much damage has the Fire Nation done to him?

Sokka then turned to him with sympathy in his eyes. Wow. That's cruel. I knew ashmakers were ruthless towards us Water Tribesmen but I never imagined it'd be worse for their own kind. Bunch of fanatical bastards. Poor kid.

Yue then turned to Kuzon with as sorrowful look in his eyes. She was afraid to say what was on her mind. "How did you…"

Kuzon turned to her with a deadpan in his eyes. "Escape? My father and grandfather gave their lives to keep me safe. My mother and I ran as far as we could until we were sent off a cliff to our deaths. He then stared down at his hand. "That's how I ended up in a frozen iceberg. I should have drowned."

Yue nodded. "I'm…so sorry."

One of the soldiers then shouted angrily, pointing at Kuzon. "Likely story! Anyone can come up with a story like that! I don't believe it!"

Suddenly, Kuzon's eyes went white and he was suddenly lifted into the air. The air whipped violently around everyone, causing them to cover their eyes.

Sokka groaned as he tried to resist the pull of the wind. "What's going on?"

Katara turned to him. "I don't know!" She then turned to look up at Kuzon. Slowly the spirit of Avatar Kuruk appeared transposed over Kuzon, speaking in a booming tone. "That's enough!"

Everyone soon stared at him in shock.

Hushed whispers and murmurs could be heard in the room.

"That's Avatar Kuruk!"

"The Great Protector!"

"What's he doing here?"

Chief Arnook then knelt down on one knee bowing his head, speaking with a tone of adherence. "Great Protector!"

Everyone else followed his lead.

Kuruk, as one of the last waterbending Avatars in the Avatar cycle, was known as one of the Great Heroes of the Tribe, otherwise known as a Tal'huti. The word was Aleutian for "Great Hero." The former Avatar's exploits in both fighting off Dark Spiritis and stopping armies of both the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation from invading the lands of his own people gave him almost a legendary status amongst people in the Water Tribes.

Kuruk then spoke again. "Listen up assholes! Avatar Kyikoh has been on my ass for the past four hours demanding I get my ass off the heavenly couch to help my firebending protege here! I did my part! I gave my life for all of you! For the world!" He then scowled. "In case you assholes have forgotten…there's a war going on. Ozai wants all our heads on a platter!" He then stared at the lone solider who had insulted Kuzon. "You there! The idiot with the spear!"

The soldier, not accustomed to being in Kuruk's presence, began trembling all over as he slowly picked up his spear. "Y-Yes tal'huiti!

Kuruk then glared. "Tell me. Do you have to power to bend all four elements? The power to connect with the Avatars of the past?"

The older man shook his head, still shaking. "N-No sir!"

Kuruk then nodded. "That's right. You don't. You are just one soldier." He then glanced around the room, giving everyone a scathing look. "None of you have the power alone to defeat Ozai and bring balance! My successor here…does! I'm only saying this once! You all need to stop being a bunch of judgemental pricks and train him in waterbending already! He's not just any firebender! He's the Tui-damned Avatar for La's sake! Our Tribe needs him…whether you all like it or not!"

Kuruk then sighed letting himself calm down. "I do not want to have to come back here! I quite enjoy my time with my lovely wife in the Spirit World! Am I understood?"

All of them gave him a nod letting out a collective "Yes Great Tal'huti!"

As bold as some of the men were…no one was going to question an order from the great Tal'huti.

Kuruk nodded. He then turned down to look at Katara, Sokka and Yue. "Sokka…my amaino…Katara…my amaina….Yue…my amaina…You are all doing our Tribe proud! Protect the kid here. He's going to need you three...more than he's willing to admit. Teach him our ways."

All three of them gazed at him starstruck. Sokka grinned with pride. Actual praise from a Tal'huti! This is so cool! He then gave the waterbender a thumbs up. "You got it Kuruk! The kid's safe with us!"

Katara couldn't hold in her glee. She had always admired Avatar Kuruk. She had literally grown listening to his adventures as a child. Her mother would read them to both her and Sokka when they were little. "We'll do our best!"

Yue smiled slightly, bowing her head. "Thank you…Avatar Kuruk. You honor us. We shall do our best to keep him safe."

Kuruk nodded. "Good. I've got some ale to catch up on! See you guys later!" The spirit of the former Avatar then disappeared.

Kuzon's eyes soon returned to their normal color. Weakened from Kuruk's sudden takeover of his body, he began plummeting to the ground.

Luckily, Katara acted quickly, waterbending whatever water from her pouch using it to create a mini whirlpool around herself. Then, she launched herself into the air. She managed to catch him in her arms bridal style. "I've got you."

She felt herself blush as she looked him over. He looked very at peace. The slight waviness of his hair and the slight glance into his golden yellow eyes as he instinctively closed them. Seeing him like this tugged at the waterbender's heart. She just smiled affectionately at him. She knew how strong he was and that he probably kept a lot of things secret from them. There was no doubt to how much he struggled with, however there was a light to him, a light that drew him to her. She knew that she wanted to be his light as she felt he was hers..in a way. "Kuzon…I want you to know that no matter what happens…I'll keep you safe." As she lowered the two of them to the ground. Sokka and Yue came running to her.

Yue called out. "Is he alright?"

Katara took one look at her and then at Kuzon. She had basic medical knowledge. As the former Mother to her village, that was a requirement. "Let me check." She then pressed two fingers to his carotid artery. As she expected, she felt a pulse. A slight smirk and turned to the others. "He's going to be fine, guys. Just fine. He's just exhausted. I think the transformation wore him out."

Yue smiled, putting her hands to her heart. "Oh thank goodness."

Sokka nodded. "What she said. I mean he did call over one of his past lives. That was kind of badass."

Katara gave both of them a nod. "It was." She smirked at the two of them and then turned her head to glare at Chief Arnook. "So…" She spoke, her voice barely holding in her anger, "I'm giving you two choices Chief Arnook. You can either let me and my brother take Kuzon somewhere he can rest or…I can force my way out. Your choice."

The men audibly gasped at her, shocked that a young girl would ever dare address their monarch in such a harsh manner.

Yue just stood there in shock. She…just threatened my father…in front of the guards. How…interesting.

Chief Arnook blinked at her in shock but then laughed. "Well well. You are quite the maverick young lady. I'm not used to having my female subordinates address me in such a crass manner."

Katara said nothing, crossing her arms at him.

The Chief then tapped his chin in thought. "Heh. Well the great Kuruk did vouch for him. Our people need his help to fight this war. You may go in peace." He then turned to Yue. "Yue…will you show them to their quarters here in the palace?"

Yue smiled and gave her father a bow. "Of course Father." She then beckoned for Katara and Sokka to follow them. Follow me you two. I will lead you to your quarters."

Katara gave her a nod. "Lead the way your highness." The three then walked off, finding their way into the city.

Moments later

Sokka and Katara, once they secured Kuzon in his room and practically threatened a guard to guard him lest he lose his life, came back for Ranna.

The young dragon, beyond elated to see her waterbending friends, rushed over to them, nuzzling both their faces with her stout.

Katara laughed. "It's good to see you too Ranna."

Sokka chuckled, grinning at the red dragon. "Yeah. Sorry we kept you in here so long."

Ranna nodded her head as if to signify that she understood. She then noticed that Kuzon wasn't among them. The dragon's eyes then got pouty as she let out a howl.

Sokka blinked at her and then turned towards his sister. "You think she's still hungry?"

Katara shook her head. "No. She knows Kuzon isn't with us. She's worried about him."

The dragon then turned her head to him as if to confirm Katara's suspicions.

The waterbender smiled at her.

Sokka blinked again at his younger sister. "Since when do you speak dragon?"

Katara then turned to her brother scoffing. "I don't speak dragon Sokka. We both know that Ranna has a connection to Kuzon. They have a bond. She may not be able to emote it like we humans can but she does care for him. She's worried about him. I can sense that."

Sokka nodded with crossed arms. Katara then slowly approached the dragon and touched her hand to her stout. "Hey. It's going to be okay. Kuzon is going to be fine. He's resting in his room. Sokka and I came to bring you to him. Do you trust us?"

Ranna let out a low roar to indicate she did.

Katara then patted her gently on the stout. "Good girl. Come on. Let's go." She then began walking out of the cave with Sokka following her.

Ranna then soon followed, her loud steps and frame gathering quite the attention from the townspeople.

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