MAYA [Book 1 - Water]

Chapter 50 - Family Stays

-Maya's Point of View-

*SLAM*

I hurriedly hid the letters back in the chest and covered them with a blanket when I heard the door slammed open.

I saw Sokka stomping his way to our stuff as he hurriedly packed them all.

"Sokka what's going on?" I asked filled with concern. It was very unlikely of Sokka to be angry all of a sudden.

"We're leaving," he replied timidly.

"Why? Did Fire Nation appear?" I asked again but he didn't answer. Just then Katara entered the room with Bato behind her.

"Katara what's going on? Is there Fire Nation outside?" I asked. Katara held me by the shoulder and slowly moved me to the side.

"Sokka, maybe we shouldn't be rash about this," she tried to calm his brother.

"Rash? Katara, Aang lied to us. He knew we wanted to meet Dad, but he purposefully hid the map because he was selfish!" Sokka argued.

Katara didn't answer back to his brother and just went silent. 

"What exactly is happening here?" I asked the two of them.

"Aang had the map to our father's location all this time, but he was hiding it from us," Katara answered sadly.

"And that's why we're leaving him. We're going to see Dad," Sokka answered angrily.

Leaving him?!

"But what about the North Pole? We have to get Aang to master waterbending!" 

None of them answered me. Sokka continued to pack our things. 

"What about you Katara? Wasn't it your dream to become a fully realized waterbender?" I tried pleading with her. I can see Sokka's already made up his mind, but she has doubts.

"We can't leave Aang, we're the only ones he's got," I said to her. All of a sudden Sokka handed us our bag.

"Maya, it's either you're with us or against us," he said seriously.

"No," I firmly declared. "I won't leave Aang..."

"Fine," Sokka walked past me. "I kind of knew you wouldn't be thrilled to see Dad anyway," he turned to look at me, "Since you're not one of us."

My heart sank as I heard the words he said. 

"Sokka, be careful with your words," Bato said.

Sokka left the room and went out to the courtyard. Katara then followed behind him silently, while I just stood there frozen in place.

"Maya, forgive your cousin. He's just angry that is all. I'm sure he didn't mean what he said," Bato consoled me.

I nodded my head at Bato, "I know. Thank you Bato," I said and then I hugged him. "Please take good care of Sokka and Katara."

"I will. You take care too—you and the Avatar," Bato broke off from the hug to grab his stuff. After that, he went outside to Join Sokka and Katara.

I know Sokka didn't mean to hurt me, but he is partly right. If only Bato knew... 

I let out a big sigh before packing my mother's chest inside my bag. I went outside and saw Aang sitting on top of Appa with Momo beside him.

Across the other side of the courtyard were Sokka, Katara, and Bato who were getting ready to leave.

"I guess it's just the two of us now," I said to Aang.