Through His Eyes

Chapter 2

Looking through the telescope, a smile breaks through Hakoda's stern face. A feeling of warmth surrounds his heart as he looks upon his children on the beach. As their boat approaches, Aang and Toph earthbend a dock for their fleet. Hakoda is met on the dock by Sokka and Katara running towards him at full speed. As they embrace, his heart flutters at being reunited with his children. No matter how many times they are apart, his heart never stops aching to see them again.

As the family broke apart from the hug, Hakoda quickly became dismayed as he saw the swamp benders arrive. Hakoda and Bato wondered aloud to each other about their ability to fight and not wearing pants. A serene swampbender interrupted the Water Tribe men on the docks.

"Pants are an illusion, and so is death," Said the half-naked man, rubbing his belly as he stood between two boats.

Hakoda sighed in exasperation before turning his attention back to his children and their friends on the beach. The thought of his children being soldiers never failed to make him mournful, but he knew it was best of everyone to focus on the present and what this all means. His downcast expression soon turned to excitement at the promise of changing the future for the better. Hope was rising in his heart like the sun on the horizon.

After Hakoda and his men had settled into the camp, the Chieftain found Katara cleaning pots near the fire for their meal. He walked up to his daughter, who was unaware of his presence next to her. As Hakoda stood beside Katara, his heart began to beat fast as he instantly recognized the song being hummed. He remembered the melody. It was a song Kya would sing to children at bedtime. Tears welled in his bright blue eyes as his mind wandered to a memory of his wife with Katara when she was 3 years old. The sound of Kya singing Katara to sleep brought the memory into sharp focus.

Hakoda walked towards the door of his hut as white, soft snow fell to the ground. Opening the door, he walked inside to the warmth of the cozy home. Hakoda's footsteps stopped as the faint sound of Kya singing could be heard from his daughter's room. Her voice was so soft and gentle, it made Hakoda question how his wife could be real. Hakoda leaned against the door. He relaxed as the warmth of the hut and his wife's soothing voice melted away the cold from his bones. Hakoda placed his ear to the door and sighed happily as he heard the words being sung by Kya.

When you cry

Those tears so small

Pouring from the sky

Just let them fall

And plants will grow

Life will begin again

And then you'll know

What could have been

Hakoda wiped the tears from his stinging eyes with the back of his hand. In his current pain for what was lost, he stood in awe of Katara. She not only remembered the old, Southern Water Tribe song but hummed it just as gently as Kya once did. The thought of war entered his mind to bring him back to the beach. Regaining his composure, he quietly placed his hand on Katara's shoulder.

"You know, you sound just like your mom," Hakoda smiled wearily.

Katara, tears shining in her eyes, smiled back to her father, "I've never heard it any other way. Sometimes I sing it to myself when I'm nervous. I miss her."

Hakoda outstretched his right arm and pulled Katara in for a reassuring hug, "I know, I miss her, too. But when you remember her, like the song, she'll always be with you."

Katara finished cleaning the dishes and with Aang's help, served lunch to everyone. After they sat in a circle, eating while they talked and laughed, Sokka, Aang, and Katara discussed how to explain their invasion plan to the troops. The next time Hakoda saw his children was when Sokka unveiled his plan for the invasion to everyone.

Watching Sokka walk up to address the group, Hakoda immediately recognized how nervous his son was. Hakoda chuckled to himself remembering his very first time leading his men to fight the Fire Nation. The Chieftan shivered at the feeling of his voice shaking and his body trembling, but having to try to not show it to his men. While Hakoda was 30 years old at the time, he was still nervous as he had not fought anywhere other than the Southern Water Tribe in his life. He could only imagine, but not anticipate, the amount of disease, pain, and hardships they would face. Standing on this beach, Hakoda remembered that war is hell, and sooner or later, every soldier learns that.

Watching Sokka let his nerves get the best of him, Hakoda decided to take over and finish unveiling the invasion plan to everyone. He knew his son was smart and brave but thought this would be a help for Sokka. Help that Hakoda never got himself. After finishing the speech, Hakoda looked over to his son. Sokka's dejected face made Hakoda wonder if his help made things better or worse. Without time to talk, Hakoda told himself to remember to tell Sokka how proud he was of him the next time he gets a chance.

Swiftly, everyone in the group made their way to the submarines. As Hakoda walked to the hatch on the submarine, he saw Aang and Katara talking alone out of the corner of his eye. He willed his stomach to settle right then and there. Hakoda told himself to focus on the plan and to not jump to conclusions about his daughter and the Avatar.

The next few hours were a blur for Hakoda. Fire catapults and clanging of swords in a flurry of people fighting for what they believed to be right. There was nothing but clamor for what seemed to be hours and then suddenly, a loud boom. An explosion threw Hakoda on the ground. At the moment, all he felt was searing, unyielding pain. Looking down in shock at his injured leg, he blacked out briefly. When he came to, he was being helped back to his men by Katara. Seeing the joy on Sokka's face, the father smiled and felt relief that his children were still alive and well.

Waiting for Katara and Sokka to come back while Hakoda laid down to recover started to drive him crazy. He had time to be left alone with his thoughts, which he protested vehemently. He used this time to look over the plans and anticipate the next moves for when Aang defeats Ozai. Hakoda tried to stay focused on the battle and not let any of his fears creep in. He was relieved to see Katara, Sokka, Toph, and Aang returning to the group, but the looks on their faces were not expressions of victory.

Dozens of fireballs later, the chaos finally died down. Even though they had lost, Hakoda knew that they would ultimately win. The look of disappointment and sadness on Aang's face was enough to make Hakoda sigh in heartbreak. Hakoda knew the cost of war and understood that not every battle would be won. He could tell that Aang was no warrior. Aang was protective and fearless, but not a warrior. Hakoda often forgot about how deep Aang's love for others went. Right then is when Hakoda began to care for the Avatar like his own son. He only hoped that one day he would have the chance to tell Aang how Bato and the rest of the men did not feel that he was a failure. Hakoda knew that Aang continuing to fight after suffering a huge loss showed that he was a true leader.

The familiar roar of Appa flying away with Hakoda's children had become a recurring event. Only this time, they were one step closer to defeating the Fire Lord. This was a retreat, but not a loss. His children were happy and healthy, and the Avatar was alive and well. Hakoda wondered how many times he could wave goodbye to his children as they flew away to uncertainty.